A/N Gosh darn this chapter was difficult to write. I blame it on Fred and Draco because they both demanded something and wouldn't allow me to delete. Oh well. What can one do but obey? Blarg. Hope you guys like it. :D
Also, there's a new POV in this chapter! Actually, at the very beginning. I have to admit, I don't think I ever want to get in this person's head again, at least not in this story...
There was something wrong. Very, very wrong. A Malfoy had waltzed into their home. It wasn't just any Malfoy, oh no, it had to be that greasy, slime ball, egotistical little snot nosed ferret. The ferret who deserved to be stuffed and have his head exhibited on a pole.
She didn't know how the prat got the nickname ferret, but it seemed to fit him to a tee. When he had walked into their kitchen and one of the twin's forced him to sit at their table, she had only been able to gape at him.
He didn't deserve to be there. He didn't deserve to be around her family. What she couldn't understand the most was why her mother just brushed it off. She had asked her mother - or perhaps it was more like yelling - why the hell he was there and what kind of sick joke were the twins playing.
Her mother just popped her over the head and told her to be kind to the... the... Merlin, she couldn't even think the words her mother uttered.
As soon as dinner was over Ginny had stormed upstairs and slammed her door closed. She paced mercilessly as she tried to figure out what her family knew. Was it all a joke? Was she the only one left out of the joke? Her father hadn't looked pleased and had taken her mother into the living room to talk to her.
When they had come back in, her dad still hadn't looked happy. He didn't say anything for the remainder of supper, but the twins took over the conversation. If someone - mainly Ginny - tried to ask something of the ferret, they would ignore her and steer the conversation elsewhere.
All she wanted to know was why the fuck the blonde prat was there.
Ginny glared at the door, wondering what she was going to do. The ferret and Fred had already left; she had looked out her window and watched them leave. George had stayed to get the last of their stuff. She slammed a fist down on her desk, her red hair spilling over her shoulders.
She wanted answers! Of course she was in her right to be angry.
Harry.
Harry couldn't lie. Ok, he could lie, but he couldn't lie well. He would tell her. If not, Sirius would tell her. He had been grinning when Ferret-Face sat at the table. He knew what was going on and either him or his godson was going to tell her.
Storming out of her room, Ginny stomped down the stairs and found the two she sought after in the living room with Ron and Hermione. She walked straight up to Harry who was sitting on the floor beside Ron and snarled, "How could you just sit there and act as if nothing was wrong?"
"Um... What?"
"Gin, calm down. What are -"
"You too!" She stabbed a finger in Ron's direction. "It was only a few days ago that you were saying he was an inconsiderate prat who didn't know what was right or wrong. Yet today you sat there as if nothing was out of the ordinary. How? I have no idea because of all the people to come into our home, it was Ferret-Face! How is that even possible, Ronald?" Ginny was at her wits end. "It couldn't have been the twins because Mum would never have gone along with a joke like that and Dad was angry!"
"Ginny, it was just the twin's -"
"No!" She screamed, wondering where their parents were. "It couldn't possibly be the twins because Mum wouldn't have stood for it!"
"Ginny, you need to calm down." Sirius stood from his spot on the armchair, holding his hands up as if that would placate her.
"Merlin! You all know why he was here and I don't! If you guys would just grow a pair you'd realize I'm old enough to understand what's going on! Instead you treat me like I'm still nine!"
"It's obviously because of your temper," a new voice snapped out.
Ginny whirled on George who was standing against the door that lead to the kitchen. He had a scowl in place. "I wouldn't have a temper if you all will just trust me and tell me what's going on for the first time in your lives!"
"Ginny, we weren't even supposed to know," Hermione said, walking forward to stand in front of the redhead girl who turned her glare onto Hermione. "We learned by accident. It's not our secret to tell."
"Yet you found out." Ginny stalked to the fireplace, grabbed the floo powder and tossed it into the flames. "Then so will I." She stepped into the green flames as George rushed to her, but she shouted out, "Weasley Wizard Wheezes!" before he could reach her.
She was yanked up into the fireplace when she realized - belatedly - that George could apparate to his flat, but she didn't care. She flashed through other houses, barely getting any glimpses of the inside of the homes.
When she landed, she raced out of the floo room - which was in a back room where most people couldn't enter - and headed for the stairs that would take her to the flat. She heard a loud curse behind her and she knew she had a head start on George.
Quickly, she tapped the rhythm on the wall; her mum had made her practice it in case she had to go to the twins' flat. She took a glance behind her and saw George almost to her. She quickly entered and slammed the door behind her so that he had to stop and waste time opening it.
Racing up the stairs, she opened the door. She opened her mouth to scream for Fred, but two things happened to stop her. One, a hand was clamped over her mouth and two, Fred was leaning forward on the couch and staring at Ferret-Face who sat on an armchair. Neither of them were blinking.
"Don't you see what they're doing?" George muttered in her ear. "He's performing Legilimency on Blondie."
Ginny tried an age old trick that almost always worked: she licked his palm. She felt his hand twitch and she almost had the chance to escape, but his spare hand clamped down on her shoulder and kept her in place. His hand never left her mouth.
"Not gonna happen, Ginny."
Right before Ginny was about to stomp down on George's foot, Fred blinked a few times before shaking his head. "Bellatrix."
Ferret-Face looked ashen and his body swayed before he pressed a few fingers to his temple.
"She has it in her vault."
Fred stood and walked over to the blonde and gently took the younger wizard's face in his hands as he crouched down to be at eye-level. He rubbed Ferret-Face's temples as if massaging a headache away.
Having more than enough and becoming more confused by the minute, Ginny brought her foot down harshly on George's. Her brother cursed, causing Fred and Ferret-Face to look up in quick succession.
She would get her questions answered. "What the hell is he doing here?"
Fred, who had looked odd while staring at Ferret-Face, stood up and placed himself in between her and the blonde. Now she faced a Fred she had never met before. His face was in a scowl and his eyes blazed with anger. His whole body was tense and his mouth was clenched tightly. "That's not the right question."
"What?" Ginny blinked, confused.
"That isn't the right question." Fred walked forward until he towered over his sister. "What are you doing here?"
"Because apparently my whole family is insane!"
"Excuse me?" Fred's face fell until she couldn't see any emotion on it. Her blood ran cold as he just stared at her.
"He's a Malfoy, Fred!" She pleaded with him so that he would understand. "His father's a death eater! He's a death eater in training."
"You need to leave. Now."
Stealing her nerves, Ginny threw her head back and growled out a, "No." She saw Fred's eyebrow twitched. "Look, I don't know what he's done to you, but it's not good! He just entered our house, ate with us and learned things about us that he'll pass on to Vol... Voldemort. He's planning to kill us all!"
"That's enough!" Fred growled before he reached out and grabbed Ginny's arm tightly. "You don't know anything!"
"Then tell me!"
"Freddie, you're hurting her."
But Fred ignored George, glaring at Ginny. "It's not for me to tell you."
"Then whose is it? Certainly not his because everything he says will be a lie!"
"You know nothing of who he is, what he's done or his life! You can't say anything without knowing the truth!"
"Oh, so everything he's told you has been truth? You know for a fact that he doesn't lie? That he doesn't omit the important parts? You know his life? You know what he's gone through? You know who he is? He's a spoiled rich boy whose parents dote on him because he's their only son!"
"Ginny," George tried to interrupt again.
"And how would you know?"
"Look at his bloody clothes! His hair! The way he acts and talks! The way he holds himself as if everything should be given to him on a silver platter!"
Before Fred could say anything more, the two were shoved apart by a forceful gust of wind. Ginny flew into an armchair and Fred onto the couch. George was still standing, except he was facing one of the doors.
With a huff Ginny looked over to stare at what had caught George's eye. Ferret-Face was putting his wand away, a few parchments held in his hands.
"Blondie," Fred's voice had Ginny turning and watching as Fred struggled to get up, but couldn't. "What are you doing?"
"Ending an argument."
Ginny snorted. There was no way he could end the argument. She hadn't even started yet. Something was thrust into her hands and she blinked when she realized that Ferret-Face was standing in front of her. He released the parchments he held and she looked down at them in her hands.
Narrowing her eyes she snapped, "What are these?"
He raised an eyebrow, but didn't answer. He looked exhausted. Ginny shook her head and continued to glare until he tapped the papers before he turned to sit next to Fred. Fred pulled Ferret-Face onto his lap while the blonde tried to escape. George shook his head and sat next to his brother and poked Draco's arm while saying, "I don't see why you still struggle."
Ferret-Face just sniffed and looked over at her.
Rolling her eyes, she looked down. It was the Daily Prophet. It had only just come out, which was strange because the days edition was already out. This one must have come out later while they were eating.
Her hair falling around her shoulders, Ginny's eyes widened when she saw the headline.
LUCIUS MALFOY
Murder or Accident?
It has recently come to our attention that a week ago Philanthropist Lucius Malfoy was found deceased at his estate - where a building had come tumbling down - by none other than his beloved wife, Narcissa Malfoy (née Black).
While details of the incident are sketchy, Aurors are looking into the cause of the collapse.
This leads us to the heir of the Malfoy legacy or rather the disgraced son, Draco Malfoy. The young man has recently lost everything. Draco's mother, Narcissa, has in fact disowned him, stripping him of his inheritance including his last name. He is no longer a Malfoy.
This raises more questions. Did Draco have something to do with his father's death? If so, why did Draco want his father dead? What did Draco gain? Where is Draco now? Will Draco be arrested?
The Ministry is having no luck in finding Draco, though they assume that he will continue on at Hogwarts this coming school year. If so, will the young man be brought in for questioning?
Stand by, my dear readers, for when this reporter finds the answers; I will report everything in full detail!
Rita Skeeter
Ginny threw the paper to the ground and looked at the other parchments that Ferret-Face had given her. They were legal documents for his disownment.
"Did you kill your father?" Ginny asked quietly as she placed the papers on top of the Daily Prophet.
Ferret-Face stared blankly at her for a moment before he slapped Fred's hands away and stood. "Tell me, Ginevra, what would you typically do if someone was to point their wand at someone that is dearly important to you?"
"Curse them, of course."
The blonde inclined his head. "What if you know that the person would be able to protect themselves from most curses?"
"I don't know."
The Slytherin nodded as he brushed his clothes off. "I don't suppose you do." He then walked through a door and disappeared from sight.
Ginny stared after him before she looked over at Fred. "He didn't answer the question."
"Yes, he did." Fred tried to stand up, but he still couldn't. He was still stuck and he growled, pulling out his wand and ending the spell. He stood up, glared at his sister and walked after Ferret-Face.
"No, he didn't!" She shouted after him, but Fred didn't answer.
"Ginny, he did."
The girl tried to jump to her feet, but apparently she was under the same spell as Fred had been and she couldn't. "How was that an answer?"
"Think about this, Ginny: someone had their wand pointed at Fred and that person was a known duelist, but there was a wall behind him. It was either Fred or the other person."
"He killed his father to save Fred? Are you kidding me? And Fred believes that? He could just be saying that to get in our good graces!"
George growled, grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the flat and back towards the floo room. "His father is dead, Ginny."
"So? It could be some extreme plan!"
"Ginny, would you kill your father if Dumbledore asked you too, if it would end of the war?"
"No! But I'm not him! He would!"
"You don't know him!" George finally shouted, pushing her into the back room. "If you have to, find Blondie tomorrow on the train and talk to him, but one of the other three will have to be there."
Ginny tossed her hair over her shoulder, "Fine. But I still call this bullshit." She marched over to the floo, tossed in the floo powder, entered the flames and shouted, "The Burrow!"
"Draco."
The blonde turned towards Fred. He cocked his head to the side as he waited for Fred to say something else.
"Why did you do that? She would have read it in the papers."
"Your sister reads the news?"
"Ok, maybe not, but she would have heard about it tomorrow on the train."
"Yes and she would have then made an ordeal on the train instead of here."
"She might tell people that you actually confessed to the crime!"
Sighing, Draco walked forward and placed his hand gently over Fred's mouth. It would do nothing if Fred wanted to keep talking, but the Weasley twin fell silent at the motion. "Yes, but how many people would believe that I would tell her what I have or have not done?"
Fred sighed and went over to the bed, collapsing on it while dragging Draco with him to sit on his lap. "You said that Moldy Voldy gave you a letter of sorts?"
Draco's mind took him back to when he was arguing with Fred about entering his mind. His mother's owl, Athena, had come into view of the window and began tapping loudly until they let her in. "I did."
"Why'd you burn it?"
"Because that's what it directed me to do at the end."
"Well, do you want to talk about it?"
"There isn't that much to talk about. All the missive said was that my mother wants nothing to do with me and he is quite... pleased with my actions. It proves my loyalty to him for staying alive and ingraining myself further into the 'light'."
Fred wrapped his arms around Draco, burying his nose into the blonde's neck. Draco sighed as the soft breath tickled his skin. Soft lips gently made their way across the back of Draco's neck. "I'm sorry."
Blinking in confusion, Draco turned and stared at Fred. "What do you have to apologize for?"
"You had to chose between me and your father. You shouldn't have had to. I'm sorry."
Draco's heart clenched and he had to close his eyes tightly. He couldn't come up with any words he could say. What could he say? That it was ok? That everything would be fine? That he'd made the right decision? That it didn't still hurt? Because he wasn't ok. He knew everything wouldn't be fine. He felt as if he made the right choice; he knew if Fred hadn't been there he probably wouldn't have stopped his father from...
Slowly Draco turned so he was straddling Fred's hips. Fred's eyes went wide when Draco settled back down onto his lap. The blonde tried not to wiggle, but it felt... odd sitting that way. Pushing his thoughts away, Draco met brown eyes with his blue ones. "Do not apologize for something you have no control over."
Large hands cupped his cheeks even as Fred shook his head, "You don't understand. I won't say I'm sorry for that, but I am sorry that you're feeling the way you are and I wish I can do something to stop that."
Draco leaned down and hid his face where Fred's shoulder met his neck. He pressed a soft kiss there, blinking at the taste. It was slightly salty, but it wasn't bad. He pressed another kiss on the skin in front of him. He didn't realize that Fred had tensed up, gripping Draco's arms in his hands.
"Draco?"
"Mmm?" Draco peppered Fred's neck with kisses. He hadn't stopped when Fred spoke. Not thinking, wanting to do anything but think, Draco used his left hand to grab Fred's hair and yank gently to the side. More pale skin appeared for him to get at, and he didn't waste the opportunity, moving up Fred's neck slowly.
"This better not be Malfoy or I'll be in such a foul mood."
Unable to stop himself, Draco chuckled before nuzzling his nose against Fred's chin. "He's not this patient."
"Fair point."
"Mmm." Having to straighten his knees, Draco looked Fred in the eye, "You talk too much."
"Only -" Fred's sentence was cut off by a soft kiss. Draco jumped as Fred sighed and gripped the blonde's waist. He pulled back, though, when he felt Fred's fingers flex multiple times as if he were angry. Fred groaned and said, "You might want to get off, Blondie."
A blush wormed it's way up Draco's face and he swore to himself that he would never kiss Fred again . It shouldn't have hurt when Fred rejected him. He shouldn't have tried to distract himself with Fred.
But when Draco tried to worm away, Fred tightened his grip. "It's not you, Blondie, it's just -"
"Stuff it," Draco muttered. "I should have know that -"
"Draco!" Fred snapped, but the blonde wasn't having any of it.
"Stop! I know you won't stay with me after the war. I know you probably think I'm a thorn in your side. I know you only stay with me because I'm... a puzzle or -" Draco lost all word capacity when he let out a long, low moan. His eyes flashed downwards, his eyes widening. "I... I..."
Fred had pushed Draco down on his lap, something brushing against the blonde and caused Draco to respond the way he did. His blush darkened and his mouth parted just a bit. "Wh-?" He groaned as Fred twisted his hips into Draco's, Fred mimicking Draco's sound.
"Now that you're listening," Fred whispered hoarsely. "You really need to get off unless you want to finish what you started."
"It feels..." Draco couldn't come up with the words that fit what he felt. It was... different... yet... good. And he didn't really get what Fred meant by 'finish what you started' bit. He hadn't started anything... at least he didn't think he had. Fred was the one who pulled Draco into his lap after all.
All he wanted to do was kiss Draco until neither of them could breathe. Well, shagging sounded better, but hell, he waited for what seemed like forever for the blonde. He could wait a bit longer, but shagging did sound good. Now he had said blonde in his lap, who had been happily kissing his neck and was now staring at him with wide, blue-gray eyes that were filled with confusion and lust.
Groaning, Fred bent forward and dropped his head on Draco's shoulder. "I know how it feels, but seriously you're going to kill me with what you're doing."
"What am I doing?"
His hands tightened even more on Draco's hips and the Weasley feared he was going to bruise the blonde. "You're sitting in my lap. You were kissing my neck which is hot as hell. All I can think of is what I'd like to do to you, but can't do since I don't want you to do something you don't want to do."
He had just talked himself into releasing the younger wizard just as Draco shifted a bit. Fred groaned again, unable to stop his hands from making their way to Draco's lower back. "Blondie, why are you doing this?"
Silence stretched on for a while. Fred felt his heart clench when he realized just why Draco was doing what he was doing. He leaned back and looked Draco in the eyes.
"Draco, are you doing this because of what happened?"
All it took was for Draco to lower his eyes to the side for Fred's fears to be confirmed. Yet Draco opened his mouth and answered anyway, "Yes... and no. I want..." The blonde took a deep breath before continuing, "I want to feel something other than how much I hate myself."
"Draco..."
"Let me finish. I hate myself because of... of my father. I hate myself because of my mother. Everything I do in this war I hate. Your father being attacked. Your mother's worry for you, though she might not know of it, will be because of me. But what I hate myself most is wanting you when I can't have you."
The words grabbed at Fred's chest and refused to let go. "You said that I think of you as a puzzle?"
Draco nodded, still not looking up.
"You are a puzzle, Draco. One that I won't get bored with, ever." Fred wrapped his arms firmly around Draco and pushed the smaller teen into his chest. "And the whole part about you not having me because you can't? That's not possible. You already have me."
"But George, he -"
"He's my twin, yes, but I already chose you."
"But -"
"No buts. I could have left with George, I didn't. I could have left you to help George at the store, I didn't. I could have stayed at the Burrow with my brother to help him pack some things we left, I didn't. He's my twin, you... I can't let you go. You're stuck with me. If you go off and run away, I'll just chase you until I found you again."
"But -"
"Stop saying the blasted word!" Fred kissed Draco's neck and sighed. "I don't care what you want. Friendship, company, a shoulder, a pillar or something more I will give it to you."
He felt Draco sigh and lean against his shoulder. "I will not... I can not stay here after the war. I will go somewhere away from Britain."
"Then I'll go with you."
Draco grabbed Fred's shoulders and pushed himself back, almost knocking Fred in the chin. "The shop?"
"You were going to say but in front of the sentence, weren't you?" Fred grinned at him. When Draco didn't smile Fred sighed again. "I'll go where you go. Coming back will be easy. I can apparate if it's close enough or I'll just floo or get a portkey. Easy peasy."
"Why would you chose to come with me?"
"Do I need a reason? I want to." Fred pulled Draco back against his chest, just wanting to hold onto him. 'You'll just have to deal with it."
The two sat there in silence, content to just hold each other. Fred kept his head bowed, his nose resting on Draco's neck. The blonde smelt like fresh grass and wind. They didn't move until there was a soft knock on the door.
Fred stiffened. He didn't think Ginny would come back, but his sister was as stubborn as they came. He leaned back, kissed Draco on the forehead and moved him to the bed even as he felt his anger come back to the surface again.
He marched over to the door and opened it just a little. Carefully positioning himself so he could block whoever was at the door from seeing Draco, he felt himself sag a bit in relief when he saw George who asked, "Hey, how's blondie?"
"He's fine. Draco, George will stay with you. I need to go see Mum. Ginny needs..." He couldn't finish his sentence, his anger constricting his throat.
"No." Fred's head whipped around. He meant to say something, but Draco wouldn't let him. "You need to stay and calm yourself. Let your sister calm down as well. You don't want to cause irreparable damage."
"But she -"
Closing his eyes firmly, Fred tried to reign in his anger when Draco yet again interrupted him. "Is just confused. Think about it for a moment. If the only information you had to go by was how I act in front of everyone I would not want to know me, either. I wouldn't trust myself. Then, out of the blue, I come to visit your family. Your family who, for some reason, is ok with me being there. You're the only one who doesn't know why and everything you know, everything you've been taught has been turned completely around.
"Give her time. I'm sure she's just confused and confronting her will only make it worse."
Fred nodded and leaned against the doorframe, closing his eyes. He didn't want to listen to the blonde. He wanted to go back and yell at his sister, but Draco didn't want him to. It didn't help matters that the blonde was right. It was going to be a long night.
Draco glanced around the platform. Nott was glaring at him with Crabbe and Goyle cracking their knuckles behind him. Blaise gave him a nod with an ecstatic Pansy on his arm. When she went to run over to Draco, Blaise leaned down to whisper something in her ear and she frowned. However, before the two entered the train, she waved at Draco.
Everyone else were either trying not to look at him or were blatantly pointing at him as they whispered back and forth.
Half the Slytherin's looked ready to murder him while the other half had huge, disbelieving eyes. Apparently the Dark Lord had already told most of his followers that Draco had defected and if they had the chance, they had to bring him in front of the Dark Lord.
For appearances sake, he had to stay close to the trio and he was already imagining the headaches he was going to receive. He was thankful that he no longer had fits if he was harmed and that the trio could successfully block their minds from moderate attacks.
It was better than he would have ever hoped. By Christmas they might be able to stop a random attack for more than a few seconds.
The skin above his heart heated for a second before returning to normal, a constant reminder of his mum's life hanging by a thread, depending on every action he made even if she didn't want him. His left fist clenched, his burnt skin hadn't healed properly like he had hypothesized.
Entering the train, he made his way to one of the back compartments that were still empty. He opened the door and quickly closed it behind him. Casting a silencing charm and a locking charm, he sighed as everything else but the room ceased to matter.
"You might as well come out. I know you found a way to smuggle yourself in."
There was nothing but silence for a while until a small green snake slithered onto his leg and rose its head to stare at him.
"Change. What are you waiting for?"
The snake shimmered before Fred was sitting on his lap. Draco's eyes immediately widened and he pushed Fred off him. The Weasley fell cackling to the floor. "You asked me to change, Blondie." He stood up and leaned until his face was inches from Draco's. "Are you going to blush?"
"Do not be preposterous."
"Darn." Fred quickly shortened the distance until he placed a kiss on Draco's nose again, a soft smile in place. Then he laid himself down on the seat beside Draco so he could place his head on the blonde's leg. Draco thought of sending him toppling to the floor, but decided against it. He just gave the other boy a pat on the head.
"I believe I told you not to come."
"And I told you that you would have to deal."
"You have a store to run with George."
"He can run it on his own."
"You have your own life."
"But I'd prefer to spend my time with you."
"That's dangerous time."
"You're worth it."
Draco didn't know how to answer that, so he just placed his left hand in Fred's hair. The two didn't speak at all for the rest of the ride. Fred had fallen asleep as Draco slowly ran his fingers through the auburn hair.
Maybe, just maybe, his life was worth fighting for.
A/N Sorry this is so late. I've been trying to write, but all I've wanted to do lately is read. I haven't even finished the next chapter yet. Which is bad for me because I'm usually three chapters ahead... So... yeah... But I will finish this. I know for certain of two things that willhappen. Plus I can't give up on this. It's my baby. :)
Anyway... that tiny little scene? I didn't have any plan on having that in there, and I don't plan on doing others like it that often (as you can tell since this is already 50 chapters long and barely has any parts of that romance fluffy stuff)... I actually hadn't planned on having anything like it in Behind the Mask because I'm not comfortable writing those scenes. The few times I've tried, they've always sucked (at least I think so). And that little bit that I did write? Yeah... I got stuck on it for more than a few days. Draco and Fred refused when I tried to take it out multiple times, little buggers. LOL. So, even though this fic is rated M, I hope you guys all realize that there won't be anything graphic between Fred and Draco.
Sorry for the long rantish thing, I'm writing this when I'm half asleep, not always a good idea...
Anyway, thank you guys for reading and reviewing, you are all the best!
