Draco Malfoy Promises To Be A Good Boy This Year

Chapter Twenty

Muggle Travels

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When I came to again, I was very groggy. I tried to lift my head. "Wha's wrong wi' me?" I slurred out.

Snape looked down at me. He was carrying me as he walked along. "You're sedated, Draco. You're going to be all right and so is Ginny. Just rest right now so I can think."

I turned my head listlessly. Harry was carrying Nathaniel. His jaw was set hard, but he looked at me. "She'll be okay, Draco. Snape knows what to do."

I turned my head a bit more. It looked as if Ron might have gone a little hysterical too, since he was out cold, heavily sedated like I was. As Tom carried his limp form, his small red head rolled back and forth helplessly. Ron's head illustrated how I felt inside. Completely helpless.

Harry quickened his pace to catch up with Snape's long strides. Once he had fallen into step beside Snape he spoke. "Sir, how are we going to get home? We don't know anything about the magical traveling devices around here."

I ignored the talk about how to get home. Instead I was looking at Nathaniel. I reached out a hand and managed to grip his little fist. I wished I were more alert so I could carry him myself. He turned his dark head and gurgled at me happily. I smiled. Poor little guy. He had the ability to forget things so quickly. I wish I could.

Snape smiled at Nathaniel and gave me a reassuring squeeze. "What do you know about Muggle technology, Harry? Would you know how to get us onto an airplane?"

Harry faltered. "Maybe. I've never been on one before, but I think you just buy tickets or something."

Hermione was holding onto Ron's limp hand. "My parents are Muggles." She glanced at Snape nervously. "I've been on a plane."

Snape nodded. "Good. We're going to have to take a plane to get back to England. From the time I spent in the school I know that there's a Muggle airport in the next major city. I can apparate with two of you and the baby for a short distance. Riddle, do you have enough strength to take Hermione and Ron with you?"

"I think so," he said softly.

"It won't be far." Snape hoisted me a bit. I whimpered Ginny's name. "Shhh…we'll be back for her. I want you to relax, remember?" Snape turned to Harry. "Hold on tightly to my arm, Harry. I haven't done this much with other people and I don't want to loose you on the trip." Harry obediently held onto his arm and fidgeted nervously. "Hermione, you hold onto Riddle. And you…" he said to Tom, "…if you try anything funny I will find you and I will kill you." Apparently Snape didn't trust Tom in the slightest.

Tom was very submissive. "I'll get her there, and Ron too."

Hermione tentatively took Tom's arm and nodded. "I'm ready."

Snape and Tom locked gazes with each other. "You know the meeting place?"

Tom nodded. "I know it well."

"Good." Snape held on tightly to me and in with a pop we were in darkness.

*****

Not a minute later, we reappeared in a dark alley. I could hear cars honking in the streets and I twisted my head around to take everything in. Tom popped into view with Hermione and Ron, still in his arms. Ron was starting to come to and he looked at me. "'Lo, Draco."

"'Lo, Ron."

He put a hand up to his head and rubbed it uncomfortably. "Where are we?"

Snape spoke. "The airport is right across the street. Do you have on anything under your robes?"

"Yes," said Hermione.

"Good, take them off. We're going to try to look like Muggles." Snape set me down and started to strip off my Black School robes. "Harry, Hermione, pull off Ron's robes. We have to hurry to catch the next plane."

They did this in silence as Snape tugged off his own robes. Luckily he was wearing a white shirt and black leather pants underneath. Hermione gaped at him. She wasn't used to seeing her teacher looking rather dashing.

Once we were all looking more like the Muggle population, carrying our robes in our arms, we headed out of the alley. Ron and I looked at each other, still not having the use of our weak legs. Even though we were all dressed like Muggles, Ron and I were being carried, which you didn't see just everyday. We were an odd looking group.

Snape strode quickly across the street leading the way. The rest followed, quite nervous. I had the feeling we were the first group of wizards to ever fly on a Muggle airplane in such a big group. A clueless group, at that.

Once we were inside I opened my mouth in awe. So many people mulling all around with suitcases and other baggage, purchasing tickets, talking loudly, and running in all directions to various gates. I clung onto Snape's shirt, feeling very vulnerable in my sedated and weakened state. Snape held me strongly. "Were do we go now, Hermione?" Even Snape looked intimidated.

"I'll go get tickets." Hermione pulled out a little change purse from her jeans pocket and headed towards the counter.

Harry reached out and grabbed her arm. "Wait, how are you going to pay for this?"

Hermione grinned and pulled a little piece of plastic out of the little purse. "Charge card."

Harry's eyes widened. "You have one of those? A Muggle one?"

"Of course. My parents gave it to me in case of an emergency. I can't think of a better one than being stuck in Spain."

As she ran off, Harry turned to us. "We'll have to pay her parents back. This is going to cost a fortune."

Snape nodded.

Hermione soon came running back clutching six tickets in her hand. "We're in luck! There's a plane leaving for London in fifteen minutes. But we have to hurry! It's all the way across the terminal!"

Snape nodded. "Lead the way."

Hermione started to run. Snape looked at Tom. "Can you run with Draco? He's lighter than Ron."

"Sure." He and Snape traded burdens and they started to run. I was so jostled that I thought I would be sick, but part of me wanted to laugh. Hermione was a few good feet ahead of us, belting along. Meanwhile, the two tallest of our lot were running with two nearly grown boys in their arms and the other boy was carrying a small child. People were staring at us as we ran like hell down the crowded halls.

Somehow we made it to our gate just as it was loading. Hermione thrust the tickets at the flight attendant and we headed down the boarding tunnel and into the plane. Harry looked terrified and so did Ron. "Are we going to die, Hermione?" Harry asked. He could face Voldemort, but an airplane was terrifying. Ron looked as if he was going to throw up.

"It's just like a big broom, Harry," comforted Hermione.

Snape nodded, but he was dreadfully pale too. He promptly strapped Ron and me into seats and placed Nathaniel on my lap before sitting down in the seat next to me. "Hold onto him tightly, Draco. He needs you until Ginny is returned."

Nathaniel lay stomach down on my chest and dropped off into an exhausted sleep. I wrapped my arms gently around him and hummed to him. Ron leaned towards me and rested his head on my shoulder. Once again, Ron and I were bound together in our agony.

Harry and Hermione were sitting together across the aisle from us, Tom next to them. Harry was clinging to Hermione's hand in a death grip. "I want to get off. I want to get off."

"Remember to breathe, Harry." Hermione was nearly laughing. I smiled at her. It was a relief to see someone showing good emotion. She smiled back. "Okay, Draco?"

I nodded. "Is this beast going to take off soon?"

In response the plane jolted and started to move towards the runway. Poor Harry had his head down between his knees. I laughed weakly. "See that paper bag there? That's for you should you…er…need it."

Harry lifted his head and glared at me. "Shut up, Malfoy."

I grinned and rested my face in Nathaniel's black hair. As soon as I got back to London I couldn't wait to change his little sleeper which he had been wearing for weeks. Now that I thought about it, I couldn't wait to change my own sweater and jeans. Feeling at peace for the moment with Nathaniel on my chest I was able to go to sleep.

*****

How we eventually arrived in London I'm not sure. I was asleep and I didn't wake up again until we were at Hogwarts again. We must have taken a portkey at some point but I wasn't conscious for it. I wondered if Ron and I had been sedated again. I woke up on Snape's bed and sat up, feeling quite like myself by that point. Snape was across the room messing with potion equipment. "Professor Snape? Father?"

Snape jumped slightly at my statement of affection, but he smiled. "So you're awake now. Maybe you can help me look after this scamp." He stood up tall and I saw that Nathaniel was hiding under his robes, peering out at me and giggling.

I held out my arms and Nathaniel ran to me, throwing himself into them. "Mumma?"

I scooped him up and sat him on my lap. "Professor…?"

Snape sat next to me. "Draco, when you're not in class, you may call me Severus if you wish. I'll look after you now."

I nodded. "Severus…will we really find Ginny again?"

"Of course we will. We will never give up on her. I have a plan. I told you that."

I nodded again. "Where are the others?"

"They are in their dorms sleeping. We're hoping they can all go back to classes for the rest of the year. We don't want them to get too far behind. As for you and Tom, it might be a while. Tom is currently locked up in a room in the dungeons. I haven't yet decided if I want him to attend school here or not."

"You've got him locked up?"

"He's not safe yet. I have to speak to Professor Dumbledore about him."

I shifted Nathaniel so I could tickle his little round tummy. "Are Ginny's parents very worried?"

Snape got up and dug around inside of Nathaniel's diaper bag, which had been retrieved from Snape's flat with the rest of my things. He pulled out a tiny green sleeper with a garter snake on the front for me to dress him in. "Her parents don't know about what happened, nor does your mother or Sirius Black. The ministry kept it very quiet, not even telling Arthur Weasley, who works there. I promised I could get you all back and I did. Well, I almost did. Ginny will be back soon enough."

"So they think we're just at school?"

"Yes. For the moment that's what they think. They might have to be told eventually, but not until Ginny is back safe and sound, with all hope. They had quite enough of a scare last summer."

I got up, still holding Nathaniel, and went to look out of the window. Spring was flying towards us with a vengeance, driving away the long cold winter. And when Spring was finally here and the flowers were in full bloom, Ginny would be back with us…her little family.

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Note: This is the end of "Draco Malfoy Promises To Be A Good Boy This Year", but it's not the end of the series. I wouldn't just leave you like this, trust me. lol You will all find out what happens to Ginny in the next book. I sincerely hope you all enjoyed this one and are not too upset at me for leaving it like this. But rest assured that book 3 will be starting up with the explanation of what happened to Ginny. I'm going to start it in another book because once I start writing I often can't stop again! If for some reason I can't think of anything else after we learn what happens to Ginny, I will simply add those chapters into this story. But for the time being, this is a good stopping point. Oh yes, I will be adding the addy to the new story here as soon as part one is up.

Time for shoutouts!

~*Ginny*~ , Firebolt909, and w&m_law: You're my darlings! I have no idea what I would do without the three of you. I swear, you're my best friends here on ff.net. Thank you so much!!! And yes, Amy, I do like torturing you. ;) But you get a kiss from Nattie.

Stark-raving-loony; maidmarian62; Hogwarts chica; Nicky Lignerson (Yes, Thomas is rather obsessed with Ginny, isn't he?) ; Ron; Draco'sGirl; Sakura and Sarinia (who had a very exciting idea for a romance aspect – hey, Ron and Hermie did kind of get together. See? See? hehe); LilyAyl (Who was absolutely SURE Thomas was Tom Riddle); Lunamew (Who is not a fan of Pansy, needless to say); Hermione (Who gave me the Granger aspect of things. I'll have to draw a picture of just Hermione and Ron for you!); StrangerWithMyFace (Hey babe!!); Cassandra; Lana Mavi (Draco without a shirt is a very good thing!!); Princess Potter; Ginny In A Straight Jacket (LOVE the name!); Sabrina Potter (I still can't figure out if "Don't Stop Stupid" is supposed to be good or bad. *scratches her head*); Hally Lillian Potter (What's up, hon!); Jan Girl (Such a flatterer…*blushes*); Harmony Slytherin (Who compared me to Cassandra Claire, and although I haven't read her stuff, I know that's pretty special! *grins*); Ke Malfoy (Don't worry, babe. Ginny's a fighter!).

Whew! I couldn't mention everybody, but anyone who gives me a review goes down in my book as being dreadfully well loved! Anyway, I just want you all to know that you write the best reviews and you're all so sweet! I hope you stay tuned for the next story! Love to you all!

~Lady Grizabella

setsuna_haruka_michiru@yahoo.com

ANNOUNCING BOOK 3: Draco Malfoy, Seeker Of Souls

Draco and the others are back in search of both Ginny and her soul. But will she be the same when they find her? Will her soul be saved? Draco, Ginny, Baby Nathaniel, Tom Riddle, Harry and the Dream Team, and Severus Snape!

(The link is in my profile)