Chapter 14:
Beltane
Beltane morning
had dawned with the same dismal gray skies as the day before. The rain showed
no sign of letting up. All through the day, from breakfast to lunch to dinner,
the thunder and lightening pressed on. After dinner, Harry's scar had
begun to hurt so badly that he announced that he would retire to his room to
try and get some rest. Ron and Hermione had disappeared somewhere, and for the
first time in months Ginny found herself all alone with only her thoughts to
keep her company. She decided not to go into the noisy common room, opting
instead to go sit alone in the corridor. It was a dismal alternative to the
garden, but since she was apt to get struck by lightening if she ventured into
the outdoors in this weather, she chose the next best thing.
She was just
thinking how odd it felt to be all alone again when she heard someone clear
their throat.
"Excuse
me, deary?" Ginny looked up, realizing that it was the fat lady who had
spoken.
"Hm?"
The Fat Lady
looked at her importantly. "There's a fellow from Slytherin here who
says he's got urgent news about your boy Potter." Ginny jumped up
fro the floor.
"Let him
in! Quickly!"
The Fat Lady
shook her head. "I'm afraid he doesn't have the
password."
"Then
I'll go out! Gobbledygook!" The portrait swung open and she rushed
outside to see a very wet Draco standing before her.
"Ginny,
you have to come quickly! Something's happened to Harry!"
Ginny felt her
heart beating frantically against her ribcage. Draco started to run, and Ginny
followed him, dashing through puddles and soaking her robes in the process.
"Just a
bit further…" Draco yelled, trying to be heard over the rain.
"Around this corner… and… gotcha!"
Ginny stopped
in her tracks. "What…" Her eyes went wide as she felt a hand
cover her mouth and found her arms held to her sides by a strong arm. She tried
to turn her head to see her captor, but she was too weak to struggle against
whoever was holding her. Draco's face twisted into an evil sneer.
"Good
job, son," Ginny heard her captor say. "It seems our lord and
master was right… these young idiots are bound by their love. It is their
love that makes them weak… not like us." Draco nodded.
"It seems
so."
Lucius Malfoy
handed Ginny over to his son, who held her arms just as tightly. Ginny found
his hold a bit easier to struggle against, but unfortunately Lucius pulled out
his wand just as she could have broken free.
"Imperio!"
he cried, and Ginny found herself unable to move. Lucius began to stalk away,
and Draco followed.
"Walk,"
Lucius said to Ginny, and she found her legs moving involuntarily. The
imperious curse, she thought despairingly.
The walked and walked until they were off the school grounds. Then Lucius
raised his wand again; there was a quick flash of light, and the all
disapparated, to appear moments later inside the cold stone walls of Malfoy
Manor.
*****
Lucius, Draco
and Ginny made their way to the rooftop of Malfoy Manor.
"You
should prove to be most useful to us, Miss Weasley," Lucius remarked
casually. "By now I'd imagine you've figured out why
you're here. You," he looked at her over his shoulder and smiled,
"Are going to be instrumental in the downfall of Harry Potter!" Her
eyes went wide with panic. "Did you wish to say something?" Lucius
said maliciously. "I didn't think so. You see, Ginny, we already
had bait, but then we decided that maybe it just wasn't enough."
The rain pounded down on them as the stepped onto the rooftop. Ginny felt her
throat tighten. There, tied to a large wooden stake, was Sirius. She noted with
dismay that there was another stake beside him. I wonder who that
one's for…
Lucius commanded her to step over to the stake, and
then he watched as Draco tied her hands behind her back and secured her to the
post. Ginny tried frantically to move her mouth.
"You really want to say something,
don't you?" said Lucius, amused. "Well, I don't see
what harm it could possibly do." He waved his wand carelessly.
"You'll never get away with
this!" She cried. "Harry's to smart to fall into your
trap!"
Lucius sneered. "I'm not so sure about
that. As we speak, the boy is on his way here.
Ginny gave a dry sob. "Whatever it is you
want, he'll never give it to you." Lucius only laughed. Ginny
turned her eyes to Draco. "You played us!" Ginny was red with
anger. "We trusted you! We became your FRIENDS!" Draco shrugged
indifferently.
"Do you really think I'd be FRIENDS
with the likes of you? I was never you FRIEND. I'm playing on a higher field."
"You
bastard…" Lucius raised his wand and Ginny was silent again.
"Watch
them," he snarled at his son, who nodded. "It is time for our
master to seek his revenge…"
*****
Harry
lay face down on his bed, trying not to focus on the pain in his scar. It hurt
now more than ever. For the past two days he had been plagued by worry, and he
was not feeling any better now.
He
started at a sudden tapping sound at his window. He looked out to see a great
horned owl flying outside, feathers soaked with rain water. He cracked open the
window and the owl flew inside, dropping a very wet letter on the bed. Harry
slid his finger under the dark red seal and opened the envelope, pulling out
the paper from inside, and read.
Mr.
Potter,
Follow
the owl if you ever wish to see your godfather or the Weasley girl again.
Harry
didn't hesitate. He grabbed his Firebolt, which was standing by the bed,
cranked open the window a bit further, and leapt out, hovering outside and
waiting for the owl to show him the way.
They
flew for quite a distance, and then the owl began to swoop towards the ground.
Harry followed just in time to see the large bird land on top of an old
football and disappear. A portkey… Harry
landed quickly and placed his hand on the football, feeling a familiar sinking
sensation in the pit of his stomach. He was on his way.
*****
Lucius
Malfoy stood beside his Lord and Master Voldemort on the rooftop, anxiously
awaiting the arrival of the boy. This is the hour, He thought excitedly. Here and now. This is
where we take the field.
"He
is coming," Voldemort said icily. Seconds later, Harry appeared in a flash
of light. It took him a few seconds to adjust to his surroundings. His eyes
widened as he saw Ginny and Sirius. Then he saw Draco, Lucius and Voldemort.
"Malfoy,
you son of a bitch…" Draco's sneer matched his
father's. Harry turned his eyes to Voldemort. "I knew it was
you."
"At
last, Harry Potter. I've waited a long time for this day. Prepare to meet
you end.
Harry
set his jaw and pulled out his wand. "You think I'm afraid of you,
Voldemort?"
"I
think you should be."
Harry
glanced at Sirius and Ginny. "Let them go. Your fight is with me, not
them."
Voldemort
grinned evilly, showing a row of rotting teeth. "That is precisely why I
will NOT let them go, Potter. I want to see you suffer." He raised his
wand. "Crucio!" He yelled, sending sparks towards Harry, who jumped
out of the way, falling into a puddle near the edge of the roof. His wand flew
out of his hand, and Harry watched as it tumbled off the rooftop. Voldemort
advanced towards him. "And now," He said, a frightening grin passing
over his face, "You die." He raised his wand above his head.
"Avada—"
Harry
closed his eyes. Kadavra.