Title: The Truth About Trees

Author: Tiny Q

E-Mail: one_legged_lesbian_seagull@hotmail.com

A/N: Hi all!  Well here it is!  The 10th chapter!  I can't believe I've made it to 10 and I'm still not done!  Bah!  I suppose it's good for all of you who enjoy it, but not good for me. I want it out of my head!  I want to finish it before I go to University in September or at least get it all out.  But saying that it probably won't happen. 

Now on to more important issues: I read OotP, loved it and adored it and plan to draw a hundred pictures from it.  But it apparently conflicts with this story now.  For one, Ginny's all datey and Draco's a complete and utter ass.  I really didn't like him in the book.  Terrible of me to say, I know, but I still have hope that he'll learn.  HE HAS TO!  Gah!  All I really need to say though is that I am going to continue on with the plan I have and not use anything from the fifth book.  I suppose this is an alternate universe fic now, but then, aren't all fan fics?

Disclaimer:  The usual: I own nothing.  ~sniff~  No sanity, no Draco.  Yet I still own my nose.  If anyone is interested in a slightly used nose, I'll begin negotiations at $5.99.  ~grin~

The Truth About Trees

Chapter 10

Caged

~*~

            There were once two friends who lived on a mountain in an old, forgotten valley.  The surrounding nature and creatures were their friends.  Yet one tree in particular was the most precious to them, a large, massive tree that had been there many an age.

            One day, the two friends were forced to go on a quest of grave importance.  The entire world's existence depended upon it, though the valley itself would not be affected.  The human of the two friends signed his name into the bark of the tree so it would never forget them.  The elf of the two simply drew his name in the sand fearing harm to his massive friend.

            When it came time to leave, the human found that he could not find his elvish friend.  He looked high and low until he found himself at the large tree.

            He stood there and stared at the giant plant for a moment.  It seemed more intimidating that it ever had before.  The human once again said goodbye to the tree and began to leave, figuring his friend was somewhere else.

            It was then that the mighty tree reached down, grabbed a rock and threw it at the human.  He was so shocked at what the tree had done that he just stood there.  Rock after rock was thrown until the human had the sense to run. 

            Yet it did not help.  Still the rocks came, getting larger every time.  He jumped into the water figuring a massive tree such as that could not swim.  He was mistaken.  The tree caught him and dragged him down, seeking his revenge. 

            The elf was never found.

~*~

            I awoke from the dream with a start, holding back a yelp of surprise.  It really hadn't made any sense, a dream like that.  Why would a tree want to seek revenge?  Not to mention poses the ability to swim.  Yet I sat there for a moment, breathing heavily, hearing the blood rush though my ears.  I tired to shut the dream away, tried to erase the image of the giant angry tree from my mind's eye.  It was one of those tricky dreams though.  The kind that just don't like to leave.  But it was then I realized something was wrong.

            Terribly wrong.

            I wasn't in my bed at Hogwarts.  I wasn't even in my dorm room anymore.  But I was still in a bed.  A massive one covered in silk sheets and over stuffed pillows.  It simply wasn't mine.  I was beginning to feel a touch of panic, and I mean who wouldn't if they woke up from a dream like that only to realize that their teddy bear is missing, not to mention the rest of their residence.  And it wasn't like I was just in some room.  I seemed to be in a cave.  Not one of those dank and dreary caves.  It was actually rather well lit, but it was still a cave. 

            I was beginning to get the feeling that perhaps I was still dreaming.  Either that or I had walked in my sleep somewhere where there's a cave.  Favoring the former option I pinched my arm.  Yet all I accomplished was to draw blood.  I stared at.  Not good.  I looked around.  My surroundings were still the same.  Really not good.

            But I was now beginning to realize that my location was not the only thing that was not right in this picture.  No.  My hair was different.  It had been short and sexy the last time I checked, but now it was long and wavy.  And not just, "Oh wow.  You have long hair." type of long.  It was the sort of long that was like: "My God!  How long have you been growing that stuff for?!"  If I stood up it would be far past my knees.  And it was thick and full, not that limp scraggly stuff you usually see when hair gets too long. 

            I grabbed at it, staring at in disbelief.  My hair would never look like this of I actually grew it.  Never.  It's just too thin.  In the process of looking at it however I noticed that my clothes had changed as well.  I was now dressed in one of those white old fashioned nighties.  The kind you would normally never get me within twenty feet of.  I hate nighties.  It makes me feel like I'm sleeping in a dress.  And for some reason my legs always get tangled up in them.  Their just all around ucky feeling sleep wear. 

            But seriously now.  What the hell was going on?  I sure as hell didn't do this.  And who on Earth would?  Or want to move me to a cave and put me on this expensive looking bed?  It just wasn't right.  And how did they get me here?  Did they snatch me up in my sleep?  And if so, then how did they get past all the people in my dorm?  They are not heavy sleepers.  Well Sam isn't anyway, can't say much for the rest of the lot.  That girl always hears me when I move about, not to mention try to leave the dorm.

            Then it hit me.

            The tree.

            Something had grabbed me and pulled me out of the tree. 

            I felt my heart stop. 

            I've been kidnapped. 

            Suddenly, memories of the two fifth years rushed into my mind.  Was this the same creature that had grabbed them?  But then why this "nice" treatment?  Well it would be nice if you consider hair growing charms, old fashioned clothes and comfy beds from unknown parties nice.  Did the others receive the same treatment?  Then why did they end up in the hospital wing?  Was that where I was going to end up when all this was through?  I felt fear grip my heart so hard I almost whimpered. 

            Scrambling to my knees, I crawled over to the edge of the massive bed I was on.  I was intent on getting out of here before who ever brought me came back.  Yet the closer I got to the edge of the bed, the more my heart dropped.  There were bars all around the bed.  I hadn't seen them before because they seemed to be made out of some sort of opaque crystal that didn't catch in the light and was entirely transparent.  Only when I was nose to bar did I realize it was there. 

            So I did the only rational thing a girl in my position would do: I began to bang on the bars.  And trust me I hit them as hard as I could, using fists, shoulder and foot.  But it didn't seem to work very well.  They didn't even make a noise when struck!  So then I grabbed onto one and began to pull and tug as hard as I could, bring my feet up to rest on bars on opposite sides.  Only good that did was to get my body completely in the air.  Yet still no response.  Pushing didn't seem to help much either. 

            Now I was really starting to panic.  I was trapped.  Suddenly the bed didn't seem as big as it had before.  In fact it seemed quite small.  Very small.  I moved to attempt escape on another bar. 

            "You do know trying to escape is futile," a voice said rather snootily from my right.  It was a rather rough voice that somehow reminded me of wind on bark.

            I turned my head towards it and bit back a startled cry.  The creature before me looked like a tree!  I don't even want to consider the irony of the situation, not to mention the thought that this was the creature who had changed my clothes. 

            It didn't look exactly like a tree though.  Actually, if it wasn't all green and had bark like skin, it probably could have passed for a pretty good looking guy.  If you went for excessively lanky.  And if you could look past the face.  The body was that of a toned and well muscled guy, but the face did not seem to reflect the rest of the body.  It seemed too sinister, a touch too ugly.  Not Quasimodo mind you, but just, I don't really know how to describe it.  Just wrong. 

            And it almost seem to realize this as well for it had longish, green-black hair all in dreads falling into it's face.  All muddy and flecked with tree leaves of a lighter shade.  Yet even behind it I could see bright golden eyes staring through at me.  I shivered.  They seemed to pierce right through me.  Worse than Dumbledore's, and that's saying something. 

            "What are you?" I gasped, finding my voice.  I couldn't take my eyes off of it.  Terribly rude I know, but I just couldn't.   It stared back at me with a mixture of amusement and a hint of maliciousness.  Good going Ginny, just insult the thing why don't you.  Great way to make friends.  Especially friends who apparently have you in a cage.

            "I'm surprised that you don't recognize me," it said idly, looking down at it's nails.  They were about four inches long and the same green-black color as it's hair.  I tried not to think of how badly they would hurt to have dragged down your flesh.  "I'm sure they teach you about my kind in that school of yours."

            I stared at him blankly.  Nope.  I do not think we have ever learnt about anything like this thing.  I think it would give people nightmares.  It was just so unnatural and yet so natural it was almost lovely.  What a juxtaposition.

            "No," I said slowly, backing away slightly from the crystal like bars.  I was getting this terrible feeling that the thing could get in.  And I couldn't get out.  "I don't think we have ever learnt about, uh, your kind."

            The creature cocked it's head.  "Pity," it said almost mistily then stepped towards the bed.  It moved so oddly, so unnaturally that I felt myself recoil slightly.  He stopped and stared at me with those eyes for a moment, seeming to sum up all that I was.  I didn't like it.  Not in the slightest.  "I'm a Tree Daemon," it said simply, seeming to smirk.  It was far worse than Malfoy's smirk could ever be.  I suddenly wished that Malfoy was beside me.  "You can call me Joe."

            "Joe?" I asked in surprise before I could contain myself.  Stupid stupid stuipd.

            "Well I need a name, don't I?" it sneered.  Well I guess it's a "he" then if it has a name like "Joe".

            "Of course," I said quickly.  Perhaps a little too quickly.  "It just seems a little, odd."

            He stare at me again for a moment and I felt goose bumps run along my arms.  Then Joe's slit of a mouth seemed to crack into a grin.  I tried not to grimace.  "I suppose it does.  But that is of no matter.  I can no longer change it."

            I started.  It was talking to me as though it wanted me to understand.  That it wanted me to think that there was nothing amiss.  That people were taken from trees everyday and put into this situation.

            "Why am I here?" I asked quickly, before I even realized what I was saying.  Ginny, you dolt! 

            The grin did not fade away as I feared it would.  "Ah humans," it said with a slightly dreamy tone, staring at me with what almost appeared to be adoration.  "Always so quick to demand knowledge."  He stared a moment longer.  "But I will tell you I suppose.  It's the least I can do."  I don't like the sound of that.  Not one little bit.  I remained silent and listened though.  "You are my new pet."

            "Pet?" I asked in total disbelief.  This can not be happening.  It can't!  This is ridicules!  I am not someone's bloody pet.  I never even had a pet of my own let alone be someone else's.  I stood quickly despite the fact that there was no where to go.  "I am not your bloody pet," I spat.  I didn't care if he got angry.  I was fed up.  I wanted out.  Now.

            "Oh, but you are," it cooed.  "My new and precious pet."  He strolled up to the cage like wall and grabbed onto them.  But they did not move out of his way or bend to his will.  Good.  So he couldn't come in.  Well that was a relief I suppose.  "My precious with the ever lovely red hair." 

            I stood there, bare foot and probably trembling like a leaf.  Though if it was from rage or fear I am not quite sure.  I don't really care.  All I cared was that apparently my family's trademark had made me be someone's pet.

            "Such lovely red hair," he continued, looking longingly at my overly long tresses. 

            Fuck.

~*~

            Snape and McGonagall had been a bit t-ed off when they arrived.  Ok, perhaps a bit more than t-ed.  More along the lines of pissed and enraged.  It wasn't pretty.  Not at all.  But I managed to get off fairly easy if you ask me.  Only a week of detention.  Nothing too big.  Though they have yet to inform me of what I will be doing.  At least I'm not going to be doing it with Weasley.  I think they're scared that we'll try another attempt at beating the crap out of each other if we're stuck together. 

            So after their little rant and that horrid woman who calls herself a matron had finished with me, I left.  I had an odd urge to go find Weasley.  The female version.  But I convinced myself that it wouldn't be good and that she probably need some time to herself.  I knew I would after all that shit.  And besides, it was getting rather late.  She was probably in her Common Room already or perhaps even in bed.  Hey, you never know.  Perhaps she has this thing with going to bed a touch early. 

            So I traveled down to my own Common Room.  There was barely anyone in there and I found myself plopping into an overstuffed chair.  My dorm room just seemed so final for some reason.  The chair let out a small whoosh of air as I sat but no one seemed to notice.  And so here I sit, thinking.  It's probably not the smartest thing to be doing, especially when my sanity is concerned.  Because I'll give you three guess as to which person instantly jumped to my thoughts as my butt settled itself into that chair.

            Weasley.

            And she won't leave.  I just keep seeing her face.  That damned face as she yelled at her brother.  As she stood there and silently cried at his harsh words.  Her sympathetic face when she looked at me after the fight.  Gah.  I shook my head violently in an attempt to get her image out, regardless of the looks I received.  My house probably thinks I'm nutters already, what's a few more incidents anyway?

            I was slightly surprised that word of the fight had gone around the school by the time I had made it back here.  I was sent a few dirty looks from other houses.  (Which I simply sneered back at)  And then there were a few Slytherins who had congratulated me.  One even had the nerve to welcome me back into Slytherin.  I had promptely snarled the question of where exactly I was returning from and sent him scurrying along in quite a hurry.  It's not like I have been that out of character lately.  Ok.  Maybe I have been.  But it's all her fault.  I just can't get her out of my head.  See?  Right back to her.

            An idle thought passed through my mind and I turned and whacked my head against the armrest of the chair.  Nothing.  So I did it again.  And again.  And again.  It made a satisfying thunk every time it hit.  But after several attempts nothing extraordinary had happened.  Well except if you consider a pulsing headache something extraordinary.  It seemed my new and master plan to beat the red head out of my own head was a failure.  I don't know how I ever thought inflicting pain to my head would ever really help.  Sorry head.

            Looking around the room I noticed people staring.  "What?" I demanded as nastily as I could.  Even I was surprised at how harsh it had come out.  All present, all in the younger years, turned away quickly.  A few even left.  My satisfaction was short lived however when another wave of pain over came my head.

            And with this pain she returned.  What's with her?  Can't she just leave me alone?  It's not like I am in her mind every minute of every day.  Merlin I hope I am not in her head every minute of every day.  That would just be wrong.  Very wrong.  It's bad enough that she is in my head.  It's not normal to be thinking about a Weasley this much.  Even if she is a girl Weasley.  But then, I did tell her that what she was didn't matter.  And I didn't lie.  So then why do I keep trying to force myself to believe it lately?  She obviously took what I had said to heart, but why am I resisting?  I hadn't actually meant to say it, but I did.  I know I can't take it back.

            But look where it's all gotten me.  People are beginning to doubt that I am still the cold blooded and evil Draco Malfoy.  I'm just waiting for the day my father owls me about the "most dreadful rumors" he's heard.  I also get the crap kicked out of me by her brother, who I might add, is larger than is normal for a human.  As well, I have the girl declare me I as her friend.  And she is now permanently on my mind. 

            Oh bloody hell.  I should just face it already!  Face the terrible and horrible reality of it.  But it's just so wrong!  There is no way in hell that I will allow it to be true.  Yet I have this sinking feeling that it is.  I'm obsessed with Ginny Weasley.  I have feelings for Ginny Weasley.  Feelings I wasn't even sure I was capable of feeling until now.

            I promptly turned and whacked my head a few more times. 

            This can not be happening.  It can't.  It just can't.  But it made sense I suppose.  I attacked her brother for her.  There is no way I can blame it on my own need to defend my ego.  Well maybe that was in there too but it was too small an amount.  I had Christmas dinner with her.  I wanted to kiss her.  And the scary part is: I think I still do. 

            Where did I go wrong?  Maybe I should have stuck to my father's plans for me.  Being a Death Eater must be so much easier than living this fucked up life.  I can't believe I just thought that.

            I stood up suddenly and went to my dorm and got ready for bed.

            I didn't sleep well.  Not well at all.  I couldn't get to sleep in the first place.  It seemed Crabbe and Goyle were louder than ever last night.  Like bloody foghorns they were, bouncing back and forth.  And when I wasn't listening to their terrible orchestra, I was thinking about her and how I shouldn't be thinking about her, which ultimately led me to think about her even more.  And when I finally did fall asleep I had the most terrible dream.  It was about this guy and an elf and there was this tree.  And the tree killed them.  After that I couldn't sleep any more.  Not that it mattered.  It was time to get up any way.

            Breakfast was dull and the food was nothing special.  Few people talked, it is Monday after all.  No one ever really has energy on Monday.  Save Dumbledore.  He's always a bundle of energy no matter the time of day.  Loopy old man. 

            It wasn't until Potions that things got a touch interesting: Weasley wasn't there.  And Snape glared at me the entire class as though I would and should know.  At first I assumed that she was simply late, but as the seconds then minutes and hour passed by on the clock I began to realize that she wasn't going to show up. 

            I felt something in my chest that was a feeling that I had become quite friendly with over my time at Hogwarts: disappointment.  It was rather startling.  I mean, I felt disappointed that a Weasley wasn't in class, sitting beside me, doodling up her usual storm, tossing her hair and being-  Ok.  See what I mean?  Obsessed!  It's just so wrong! 

            So I shoved my disappointment down, and continued on with the lesson.  The girl must have slept in or something.  No big deal.  She had not shown up that one time that she had been sick near the beginning of the year and it wasn't like I was all thinky then.  She did seem rather upset when she left, perhaps it just carried on.  And with this thought I moved to my next class, though I found myself searching the students in the crowd for a spot of red.

            I did this all day too.  I looked around for her in the halls and listened to conversations to see if anyone was talking about her.  I heard a few other interesting tidbits but nothing concerning her.  I am beginning to think that perhaps I could become some sort of spy though.  I did do some pretty wicked ease dropping if I do say so myself. 

            But that's all beside the point really.  The real point is that I never saw head nor tail of her.  Nor did I hear anything.  It was almost as if no one cared.  Or that she didn't exist to begin with and I had been imagining her all year.  Now the latter I knew was impossible or I would have to be completely out of my mind and the former is just preposterous.  How could you not care about her?  She's the kind of person you can't help but care for.  I have got to stop thinking like this!  I don't even sound like Draco anymore, let alone a Malfoy! 

            After lunch I began to really worry though.  She wasn't there.  I know she hasn't been eating much lately, but to miss a meal entirely?  It just didn't happen.  I was beginning to get the feeling that something just might be wrong.  And there was this pressure on my heart, something like a constant ache of a tooth that seemed to agree with this feeling.  It's really starting to bother me that I do have a heart.  Oh sure I knew I had one.  I just never knew it worked properly.  I thought it was broken after years of it being shot down and my keeping its existence well hidden from others but me.

            I finally decided to ask one of her friends in between my next class if they had seen her.  But there was a bit of a problem with that plan: I didn't really have any idea who the girl's friends were.  Well save the Dream Team of course.  And after startling the crap out of several sixth years I decided this plan was not a smart one.  So I came up with a better one: I would wait until supper and if I still had not heard or seen anything, I would take action.  But what kind of action could I really take?  I ignored that question.  I would find some action, even if I had to run about the school in my boxers.  Though what good that would do Weasley I'm not quite sure...

            By the time I was released from my afternoon classes I still had not seen any sign of red.  Well, that's not entirely true.  I did see her brother on the way to the Great Hall for dinner with his arm draped over Granger.  I ignored them and they I.

            I sat down at my table, avoiding most of the people I knew, sticking to the end where I had a view of the Gryffindor table.  I looked over it casually, sweeping my eyes all along it.  Yet she wasn't there.  The feeling in my heart spiked.  The fact that I had been pushing aside all day finally began to push back. 

            Something was wrong. 

            I sat there for a moment, stunned.  What now?  Where could she have gone?  She couldn't be in the Hospital Wing, could she?  Was she still in bed?  Why weren't the teachers caring?  Where was she?

            There was panic in me now.  I haven't felt panic in such a long time.  If I would have stopped to think about it I'm sure I would have been appalled.  I hurried out the hall, not quite sure what I was going to do.  I had no idea where she even was and here I was trying to track her down.  I had the sudden idea to check trees, the memory of my dream returning to my mind with added urgency.  Was that what that had been all about?  Some message? 

            I hurried off in the direction of the Main Doors, when someone caught my eye, turning down one of the main halls.  One of Weasley's friends.  I knew it was one of them.  He had been the one she had stood with before Christmas dinner.  I hurried after him, struggling to seem as though I simply had somewhere important to go rather than reveal the panic that was steadily rising within me.

            "Hey," I called as the boy ahead of me came once again into view.  It was definitely him.  The hair gave him away.  Yet he continued on as though he hadn't heard me.  What was his name again?  I know he used to have a camera...  Guess that will have to do.  "Hey!  Camera boy!  Hold on a moment."

            The curly haired boy stopped and turned around, facing me with a frown.  "What do you want, Malfoy?" he demanded.  "I don't have time for your antics."

            "It won't take too long," I drawled, walking quickly to stop in front of him.  I never realized how short the guy was.  It was almost comical.  I guess that explains the big hair.  Compensation.  "I just want to know if you've seen Weas-Ginny today."

            A surprised look flashed across the younger boy's face, then a mask of suspicion fell over it.  He looked at me with a frown, seeming to try and bore through my head.  It was as if he was trying to see if I had something evil and Slytherin-like planned for her.  I tried not to glare back.  That wouldn't do me any good.  It was surprisingly easy.  I just kept her in mind.

            "Well?" I asked impatiently, crossing my arms and pulling myself up to my full height.  He didn't seem to notice.

            "I haven't seen her," he said finally, the suspicion falling away.

            "What do you mean you haven't seen her?" I demanded, the feeling in my stomach spiking worse than ever.  "Where could she be?"

            "I don't know," the boy said, worry making itself present on his face now.  This guy's like a book.  He's so easy to read it's rather scary.  I'll have to remember that.  "She wasn't there this morning when we usually walk together.  I thought she was sick, but it seems like no one has seen her."

            Well, if he hadn't seen her then she definitely wasn't around and there was definitely something wrong.  But now the question was apparently what was wrong?  Did she fall off a tower turret or perhaps did she jump?  She doesn't seem that unstable, and I would usually laugh at such a thought, but come to think about it, she left in a bit of a state.  Why didn't I go after her?

            I turned my attention to the short, curly haired Gryffindor, opening my mouth to respond.  Never got the chance though.

            "No Hermione," a voice said firmly from the direction of the Entrance Hall.  It sounded like Potter's.  And it wasn't too happy.  Quite the contrary really, he sounded absolutely livid.  "I'm sick of this.  Either tell me what's really going on or just leave me alone."  There was a slight pause.  "And don't give me any of this bull shit that there is nothing wrong.  I know there is."

            "But there isn't Harry," another voice rang through to me.  Granger.  There was another pause.  I assumed that the wonderful Boy Who Lived was glaring.  A terrifying experience I'm sure.  "Harry, I only want what's best for you.  We only want what's best for you."

            "Like hell you do," Potter snarled.  Their voices were getting louder.  Camera Boy and I turned to face the entrance to the hall we were in to see the Dream Team come round the corner.  They began walking towards us, seeming not to notice us.  But how could they not?  Two blonds, I say that's quite a sight.  Ok, I'll shut up.

            "Ever since you broke up with me and started going out with him," he pointed at Weasley's older brother.  "I've noticed a change.  You don't want to be around me anymore.  You don't want anything to do with me anymore!  And don't give me that look, both of you.  She snaps and starts fights over the simplest things just to scare me off.  She tries to make me feel guilty for being around the two of you.  What kind of friend is that?!"  His voice was considerably louder now as they approached.  "What is it you want me to do?  Disappear?!  Cause if that's what you really want I will gladly take my-"

            "Ehem," I said simply, rather sick of the black haired boy's raving voice.  It really is irritating, like a jarvey with a bad head cold.  Not pleasant I tell you.  "I would hate to interrupt this touching moment," I said as pleasantly as I could.  In other words I sneered as harshly as I could.  All three of them turned and glared at me.  Apparently their malice could be shared with others beside the three of them.  "But-"

            "What do you want, Malfoy," Weasley spat before I could continue.  Stupid git. 

            I stared at him.  There are a lot of things I want, now that I come to think of it.  Weasley's head on a stick.  Potter's head on a stick.  Granger's head on a stick. My father's head on a stick.  What is it with me and sticks? 

            Pushing my sudden fascination with sticks aside I replied: "I want to know where your sister is, Weasley."

            "I thought I told you to stay away from her," he snarled, taking a step towards me, leaving the shelter of the other two who simply stood back, watching the proceedings.  Didn't they usually hold the brute back?

            "You also told me that if I hurt her that you would kill me," I drawled.  I knew I should have kept my mouth shut but I just couldn't help it.  It was too easy.  "I interpreted that as a cancellation of your first warning."  Weasley looked about ready to strike.  "Not that it matters," I added quickly.  "She is apparently no longer around."

            "What?" Weasley demanded, stopping quite suddenly in his approach.  "What do you mean?"

            They didn't notice.  How quaint.  It actually made me quite angry, to tell you the truth.  Now I was worried and angry, but I tried my hardest not to show it.  "She hasn't been to any of her classes today," I said, trying to keep my voice as even as possible.  I think it went alright, but Ganger frowned at me.  I ignored her and continued: "And I am beginning to doubt that she was in your Common Room last night either.  Or didn't you three notice?  Didn't you care?" 

            One would expect the accused at this point to look rather guilty or at least look a little distressed.  But they didn't.  Actually they glared at me as if it were my fault entirely.  I am really starting to think that the three of them are more screwed than I first gave them credit for.  And that is really rather sad because I never really thought very high of them in the first place. 

            "Are you trying to implying that I don't care about my sister?" Weasley suddenly growled, the shock of my news seeming to have washed from his mind.  It must be nice to have such a simple mind.

            "I'm not trying to implying anything," I said simply.  "I am just saying that your sister is missing.  But then after that display of yours last night, how can you expect anything different?"

            "Why you-" Weasley began and seemed ready to strike.  Potter and Granger lathched onto him in an instant though.  Guess they still do that after all.  Wouldn't want to give the red head another detention, now would they?

            "Ron," Potter warned, then turned his four eyes to me.  "Are you telling the truth Malfoy?" he demanded.

            "No Potter," I sneered, suddenly not really caring if I didn't sound as I should.  Drawling just seemed so out of place.  "I'm just making up some stupid story to send you in the wrong direction so I can sneak into your dorm room, steal all your underwear and create some sort of shrine."  Potter looked rather startled.  "What do you think?"

            "Where is she then?" Granger asked, a worried expression coming to rest on her face.  I wonder if it's real or if she is just pretending to care.  I personally don't care what the answer was.

            "Why would I be asking you if I knew?" I spat.  "Or do you think that I'm behind it to begin with?"

            "I'd think that," Weasley growled, pulling against the two holding him back.  He moved them a few inches.  I stood my ground.

            "Of course you would," I growled.  "I just spent the last year talking to your sister so I could steal her away from you.  How convenient that it should happen after you showed her the monster you really are."  I paused, frowning at them.  "With friends like you three, it's no wonder she went off to find a person like me to replace you.  Even a supposed Death Eater is better than the Dream Team."  With that I stormed past them heading for the main doors.

            "So you admit that you're a Death Eater then?" Weasley screamed after me.  I turned and gave him the finger, ignoring the look of shock on Granger's face.  It's not like she's Miss Perfect to begin with.

            I turned the corner and was out of range of their death glares.  I really don't know why I said what I said, but honestly it felt a little good.  To say out loud that I wasn't a Death Eater.  Even if I said I really was with my voice dripping with sarcasm. 

            I had just reached the main doors, when I heard feet running behind me.  I turned, expecting to see the trio brandishing wands.  Instead I saw Weasley's short friend, frowning at me.

            "What do you want?" I growled, glaring down on him.

            "I'm going to help you find Ginny," he said, coming to a stop in front of me.

            "Really?" I drawled, glancing at the door, feeling that if only I could get to it, I could escape all the idiots of his place and find Ginny.  Oh great.  Now I'm calling her "Ginny".  Happy day.  Goodbye sanity.

            I glared at her friend, opening my mouth to say something nasty that would scare the git off.  But all the nasty and bitter words that had been resting on the tip of my tongue seemed to refuse to be released.  So I said the only thing I really could: "Fine."

            I then turned and stormed out of the castle, making towards the tree where I had first seen her hang from so many moths ago.  Yet as I walked swiftly towards it, resisting the urge to run, ignoring Wealsey's friend, I began to think.  But it wasn't the usual thinking about Weasley, which would have been totally warranted granted the situation, instead I was thinking about the Dream Team.  And not in a plotting conniving Slytherin way, but in a way of simple disgust.  How could three friends be torn apart so easily?  As a person who has never really had any friends it's rather disgusting that they could throw away something so precious over such a petty thing.  I've always envied Potter and his little group of followers.  I can admit that now.  And it makes my blood boil to see them throw something I could never have away. 

            And they were hurting other people in the process.  Like Weasley for example.  If she's hurt, I will personally kill all three of them.  I don't care if I do end up in Azkaban before my father for it would be worth it.  They would deserve it.  For using others, for using her, in their little game.

            "Where are we going?" Camera Boy's voice suddenly sliced through my rather angry thoughts.  I turned about and glared at him.  The little sixth year didn't flinch.  Flinch damn you, flinch.

            "There," I said angrily, giving up on my seemingly futile pursuit.  He followed my finger to the quickly approaching tree.  The tree. 

            "A tree?" he asked rather daftly.  I held my tongue from saying something like "yes, a tree".  As if that answer would help put his simple Gryffindor mind at ease.  I honestly don't see what Weasley sees in this guy.  He's like a stick.  Or something equally as stupid.

            Finding nothing better to say that would sound reasonably intelligent, I remind silent and jogged the rest of the way to my destination.  There was no one there.  I felt my heart sink further.  She wasn't here.  She was no where around here.  I began to look around the tree, becoming more and more frantic in my search.  I honestly don't know what I was expecting to find.  Her sitting there, laughing at me from one of the elevated branches.  Calling me a fool for worrying like a ninny and then leap down into my arms?  I don't know where that last bit came from. 

            I continued to glare up at the tree.  You stupid thing.  You stupid, retarded thing.  Why didn't you protect her?  Why didn't you keep her here?!  Ok, Draco.  You've lost it.  You're talking to trees in your head. 

            "Isn't that Ginny's cloak?" Camera Boy suddenly asked from the other side of the oversized plant.  I peered round it and looked to where he was pointing.  Sure enough, there was her cloak, hanging in the place where it had hung last time.  Why didn't I look there in the first place?  You stupid git.  "Why's her cloak in a tree?"

            "It's a long story," I said absently, looking at the hanging garment.  It seemed so alone.  But that's ridicules.  How can a cloak look lonely? 

            I forced my eyes away from it and began to search the ground, walking around the tree as I went.  Then I saw something.

            "Hey Camera Boy!" I called from the opposite end of the tree.  He came around with a scowl on his face, clutching Weasley's cloak to him.

            "My name's Colin," he growled, glaring.

            "Yeah, whatever," I said dismissively.  "I think that she fell."  I pointed to a depression in the earth that seemed about the right size of Weasley's ass.  Not that I ever stare at it.  That would be wrong.  Malfoy's don't look at Weasley's asses.  Mule or otherwise.

            "And then something took her away," the self-called Colin added, nodding to the area beside the ass-print where large foot prints were impressed about the base of the tree.  "Into the forest," he concluded.

            I followed the path with my eyes, seeing that indeed the prints lead into the dark forest.  The forest with all those terrible creatures in it.  With the werewolves. 

            I bit back my fear of those damned things and walked towards it.  If I want Weasley back then no wolf or werewolf or giant spider is going to stop me.  A moment later I sensed Colin walking behind me.  I glanced back to see the determined look on his face and his wand in his hand.  I dug about in my cloak for my own wand and pulled it out.  At least I wasn't going to be alone.

            "Lumos."

~*~

A/N: Well there you have it.  A kidnapping!  Bwa ha ha ha!  And hopefully there will be a rescue.  ~nods~  Unless I become evil and decide that I want to end things soon.  It would be so easy to just cut out a few characters if you catch my drift...

Many thanks to: Lallie(Sorry about the lack of happiness my dear. But it was exam time. You weren't that happy either. So there), Cactuskitty(I think I might have to go book shopping soon. I think I will read it when I get the chance. :p ), Lady Laughs-A-Lot(Maybe, maybe not...), tulzdavampslayer(I don't care if you swear but I think They might ~looks worriedly at Them~), Isadora(Yeah, sometimes you just have to let it all out. It's amazing how good you feel afterwards), SteelAzalea(I don't usually deal in "big fluffy romance" scenes, but I'll see what I can do), Gusha(I suppose it did), Writing*-*Wonder(Yes, not hurting Q is good. Very good), TorQ(~thinks about plot~ Yeah, I am too), hpfan90(You know, hurting the computer will do you no good. ~grin~), yourgrandmother(Actually, it's my Oma. But thanks so much for what you said. Meant a lot), BlinkSki182(Wow. Thanks so much!), charredrose(Perhaps it could be. ~shrug~), Amber(Well, seeing as you said please. :D), dracoscutie(Did it flow? I haven't read it through in an age), oliverwoodsgirl(Snape can do wonders, except when he makes you burst out laughing during class), peaceoutgrlmehi(First, let me say I am terribly sorry about your dad. But you are not a bad person. The simple fact that you feel guilty for things out of your control proves otherwise. And don't worry about it, I'm glad to be an ear. Oh, and if you and your group try anything, I have 6 yr old boxes of unsold Girl Guide cookies, and I know how to use them. ~glares~), Cay(No, no Azkaban for Roinnikins... yet), kneh13(Yeah, but you got to love it here, mad cows and all.), Jacaranda, and Rockelle(Like the new name ~grin~)