When the Adventure Only Begins
By: FireSprite
Binding Love Tears Us Apart: IV
A/N: Well this is certainly longer than I thought it would be And it did take me longer than I thought too, but in the end, I think it was worth it. I really really like this chapter- I don't know why, it just do. Uh I have no idea why I called this chapter 'Binding Love Tears Us Apart' I just thought that was a interesting notion, so I stuck with it- being the poetic me I am. *g* I hope you like this! Enjoy!
P/S: Please note the censor has gone up to PG-13
Disclaimer: JK wrote it, I stole it. It's not mine, so please don't sue.
~
Ginny watched Draco sleep, her eyes caressing his features. When he slept he was always left himself vulnerable, and she felt a need to protect him from the unknown evils that lurked about in his sub-conscience.
His childhood has damaged him so much, She thought, it has taken so much trust and love for him to let me expose those fears and help him when he felt them attacking within.
He was her shining knight in armour, as she was to him. Looking down at him, he whimpered slightly, his features changing slightly to that of a lost, scared child, and he tightened his grip on Ginny's waist.
'Draco.' She whispered, smoothing out his hair with her hand 'Draco, wake up.' He stirred, slowly, before opening his eyes. Blinking, he sat up and looked at her. 'You had another night terror.' She said, calmly.
He didn't say anything, he just stared at her for a moment. Then slowly, he smiled. 'Thanks.' He whispered 'It was' His face became impassive. 'It was so cold there I wanted to wake up so much.' He shivered and Ginny shushed him, as she wrapped her arms around him.
'It's all right.' She whispered 'I'm here; you're awake; everything's fine.'
Draco only nodded his head and looked at her out of the corner of his eye. She smiled faintly, one that seemed a bit fake to him. She was worried, about him, about herself, about their future.
He was so used, She thought sadly, He had been tossed aside like a rag doll in his home for years; only polished and shined up for important social gatherings. After showing his perfect face for a couple hours, he was once again destined to be thrown back onto the floor of the dungeon, where only the house-elves saw him. He despised those house-elves, it was a constant reminder of how cruel his parents were.
He had seen things he didn't want to see; done things he hadn't wanted to do; moulded himself into someone he was not, just for crumbs of affections he parents would throw his way once or twice a year.
Ginny was worried about herself as well. What was happening to her? What was going to happen to her? How could she survive Dark Magic when she had barely survived it the first time. And this time, would Harry be so keen as to save her?
She sighed, an audible sigh, and Draco looked up at her cross legged form, as she sat on the bed, next to him. He took her hand and rubbed it assuredly.
'Don't worry' He whispered 'Dumbledore He'll help us, I'm sure.' He spoke, in vain, trying desperately to erase the pain and worry that shone in her eyes. He didn't know that all that pain wasn't for herself, that perhaps, some of it, perhaps, it was reserved for him and what the future would bring.
~
Ron looked out along the grounds, one hand shielding his eyes from the sun as it shone down on the class of Care of Magical Creatures.
'Where is he?' He hissed to Harry, as he dropped his hand to his side and turned to face Hagrid's latest "project".
'Who?' Harry asked, absentmindedly as he scrunched up his face, watching the "creature" (If you could even call it that) wiggle on the dewy grass.
'Malfoy! That's who!' He said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. 'He's probably with Ginny' He said, glowering.
'Ron, leave them be.' Hermione said calmly, as she attempted to take notes on the creature. Ron shot her a glance, before crossing his arms and glaring up at the castle. Harry thought it was mildly childish, but nevertheless offered to go and check on Ginny for him, if he wanted.
'Thanks, Harry.' Ron said, gratefully 'But you tell her she still owes me an explanation!'
When Harry had climbed back into the common room without Ginny, Ron had been furious. It had taken Harry forever to finally calm him down, telling him not to be upset at Ginny. She would tell him what was going on, there was more to the story than Ron envisioned. Ron had at last head back to bed, still silently fuming.
'All right, Ron' Harry sighed 'Hagrid!' He called across the lawn, 'I forgot my dragon gloves, can I go get them?' He asked the giant who was trying to heal whatever damaged it had ensued upon Dean.
'Sure 'Arry!' Came the distracted reply; Hagrid was quickly pressing a cold cloth to the burn. Harry turned and walked quickly up the hill to the castle, desperate to find Ginny and see how she was fairing. He missed her. It was as plain as that. Even if he couldn't have her as a lover, he still wanted her as a friend. She is so sweet and beautiful and witty and He thought sadly, and she'll never be mine.
His pace slowed as he realised this. Shoulders slumped, he stared at the floor. Sighing, he looked up and saw a flash of red hair. And just as expected the flash of silver was right beside her.
They were standing together in the corridor, entwined in each others arms, Draco held her head with his hand as he stroked her cheek with the rough of his thumb. She leaned into his hand, savouring the feel of his skin against hers. He whispered something to her. She looked up, with her sad amber eyes and softly nodded her head. He gave her a small smile, squeezing her just slightly and then led her down the corridor, arms around her small, sad shoulders.
Without thinking, Harry's feet carried him down the hall, after them. He was curious as to where they were going. He saw them stop suddenly and he took cover around the corner. Peering around the corner, he watched as Draco raised his hand and knocked on the gargoyle, slowly but surely. It opened without so much as a hesitation.
Dumbledore must have known they were coming but how?, thought Harry, as he watched them disappear up the stairwell. Then reality sunk in. She's told him-Draco about everything. Harry felt hurt and angry at this for some unknown reason. I was the one who she told first, I was the one she trusted enough to let out her secret, why am I not the one in there with her?, he wondered.
Sighing, he ran his hand through his hair and trudged back down to Hagrid's class- who were busy milling about, their creatures forgotten on the grass. When Ron shot him a quizzical look, Harry just shook his head and look down at the grass.
My what green grass that is, he thought in dismay.
~
'Miss. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy, may I inquire as to why you are here?' Dumbledore said, almost gravely, as if he knew the answer- yet he still hoped; prayed, that this was not the reason they were sitting in front of him, on the chairs provided. Draco took Ginny's hand and she looked at him for a moment before she opened her mouth.
'Professor I'm pregnant.' She said, her sad eyes watching his reaction.
'As I feared.' Dumbledore said, looking down at his clasped hands, which lay on the desk. 'Tell me Do you feel the Dark Magic within you?' He asked, slowly, in a calculated voice. It took a moment for Ginny to answer. How does he know?, she wondered. He wouldn't be involved in this Would he? No no not Professor Dumbledore. Yet He's aware of the situation
Lost in her thoughts, it took Draco to bring her back to reality, when he squeezed her hand. Shaking her head slightly, she looked up and answered.
'Yes Every second of every minute of every day.' Dumbledore sighed and took off his glasses, wiping them as he did.
'I had hoped that this would not come to pass again.' Another sigh. 'Well, I believe it is time for you to know This is not the first time Tom Riddle has tried something of this sorts.'
Ginny looked at the Professor in shock and instinctively tightened her grip on Draco's hand. She shot a glance at Draco as Dumbledore went over to a cupboard and opened it up, extracting something from within. Draco looked drained. He was quite pale (more so than usual), his lips tightly drawn into a single line as he stared at the old teachers desk, lost in thought. He felt her looking, though, and gazed over at her.
He didn't try any thing like saying: 'It will be all right' or 'Don't you worry'. He didn't try to smile, to make her feel as though this would all blow over in a matter of seconds.
He simply held her hand and whispered 'I'm here for you, day and night.' Ginny felt herself smile, glad he was there for her, that she could count on him if anything came to pass. She nodded and turned back to Dumbledore as he placed a pensive on his desk.
He looked at the two before speaking. 'It has happened before, this spell. He used it right after he graduated; right before he officially left to go and transform himself to what we know as Lord Voldemort today.
'What he did was a direct hit towards my family; towards me.' He said, his voice full of sorrowful 'I believe he was trying to create a heir, as he is trying now. A legacy- one to carry on the family evil, to learn from his mentor, to aid in his conquests.
'Tom Riddle did the same exact incantation to my niece, Elisabella, when as her misfortune would have it, she was kidnapped by one of his closest friends.
'A week we looked for her, to no avail. Then she mysteriously turned up, one night, on my doorsteps.' He stopped for a moment, before continuing.
'I feel you need to know what happened to her, in order to fight this, once again. The future is only brighter when we learn from our mistakes in the past, for to repeat them would be yet another mistake written into stone.
'Therefor, I feel it necessary that you understand that night, she turned up. The question is: Do you feel that you will be able to make the journey into my inner most thoughts?' With this, he looked at the two students, awaiting their response.
'I do.' Ginny said, right away. 'I don't want the past to repeat itself.'
'As do I.' Draco said.
'Then it is settled.' He said, placing the pensive in front of them. 'You may enter my memories; I shall stay out here, to help you out when the time is right.'
Nodding, Ginny stepped forward, holding on to Draco's hand. For a moment, she looked at the silver liquid swirling around in the small basin. Then she slowly dipped her hand in the liquid, closing her eyes and waiting Waiting for the feeling that she was being thrown into nothingness. Soon, it came. The swirling and the falling; still feeling Draco holding her hand, she opened her eyes as she fell onto the floor.
~
The room was dark, the blue light from the sky shining into the open window; the curtains drawn. A lone man sat in a chair; it seemed Ginny and Draco had landed in the living room of a modest house. He sighed, once and continued reading the paper that lay in his hands.
Walking quietly (still feeling as though she was visible), Ginny led Draco over to where the man was sitting.
Her heart in her throat, she looked down, and recognised the man as the Professor. Younger, yes he was. His beard wasn't as long, he looked, perhaps taller, as he sat in the chair, yet The old spark in his eyes was missing, replaced with a blank stare.
Ginny read the title of the article he was looking at and nodded sadly. Right there in front of them, it read:
Elisabella Dumbledore; missing.
Aurors stumped by the girl's disappearance
The article went on to describe the night she disappeared; how there were no clues, not even a note; how she had vanished into the night's shadows.
Suddenly, there was screaming, then, frantic rapping at the door. Dumbledore jumped up, and ran out of that hall, faster than Ginny could have imagined.
She followed, wondering who it could be; she felt Draco walking behind her- he too curious. The clock chimed in the background indication that it was precisely twelve o'clock.
'Elisabella!' She heard Dumbledore say. Ginny ran into the hall, to find a sobbing girl, who looked about twenty, in the arms of her headmaster. She had dark brown hair, which was mussed terribly; her eyes shadowed, revealing that she had not slept in many days; her clothes were tattered and dirty and she looked terrified.
'Oh Uncle Albus!' She cried, shaking and breathing heavily, as though she had just run a mile. 'It was horrible I He' She tried to say, but just couldn't seem to get the words out 'Tom Riddle!! That bastard did something to me!' She managed to shriek out, before collapsing, leaning on her Uncle to support her.
'Shh' The professor said, soothingly. 'You're fine now. Let's go inside, all right? We'll sit you down Get some tea into you You're safe now.' He spoke, stroking her hair, comfortingly, his eyes revealing how much he was relieved. 'Come.' The girl nodded, and Ginny felt Draco's arms around her as the followed the Professor and the girl into the living room.
Instantly, a kettle and two mugs appeared. As Dumbledore sat the girl down on the couch, the kettle magically poured the tea into the mugs. Dumbledore handed one to Elisabella as he sat down.
'We'll tell you're parents you're here as soon as you tell me what happened, all right?' He spoke quietly, in a calm tone.
Once again the girl nodded and raised her eyes to look at her Uncle, proudly. She took a gulp of tea before she spoke.
'Riddle!' She spat 'He did an incantation. He gave me his heir I am supposed to support his monster for nine months, feed it, keep it safe, so he can come back; ravage the word with his beast! He can do what he wants, I will not let it live! I'm a Gryffindor, and damn well proud to say that I will die before this thing ever comes to life!'
~ The scene changed quickly, for some reason, the girl and the professor both dissolving before the very eyes of Ginny and Draco. ~
There sat the Professor again, but this time it was not in a house. He was seated with thousands of other wizards and witches, in a beautiful church.
The ceilings stood high, defiant; the benches were hand carved out of red oak, delicately, designed to inspire even the most mundane minds; and at the front stood a man dressed in the most elegant clothes Ginny had ever seen.
'Today we mourn the loss of Elisabella Dumbledore' The man spoke in the most sincere voice. 'She was a Gryffindor, proud, skilled and most of all brave. She save the world for us, the witches and wizards who knew her best, her friends, her foes. She did it all for us, let us always remember her and how much she loved and was loved.'
The last word echoed in Ginny's mind as she felt herself being pulled out of the world she was standing in by a strong hand. Tears in her eyes, she opened them
~
Professor Dumbledore looked at the pair. 'So you see,' He said, quietly, his voice shaking slightly. 'Elisabella saved us; she died for us. I will not allow this to happen again, I assure you.'
'Thank you.' Ginny whispered, looking down at the floor.
'I think it's best if I excuse you from classes today.' He said, with a nod. The tone indicated that the meeting was finished 'I'll let you know what we will be doing once I owl some important contacts.'
'Yes, all right' Ginny said, as she turned to leave with Draco.
'Draco? Could I have a word with you for a moment?' Dumbledore asked, kindly.
'Yes sir.' Draco said 'Gin?' He asked, looking over at the silent figure.
'I'll wait for you outside.' She said, before disappearing down the stairs.
Draco turned to Dumbledore and sat down in the chair Ginny had previously sitting in.
'Draco...' Said Dumbledore 'This is a grave time. I must send out owls. We will need help in fighting this; I want you to stay close to Ginny. Don't let her out of your sight for long.'
'Yes sir' Came the sullen reply.
~
Draco exited Dumbledore's office quickly, desperate to find Ginny and make sure she was all right. When he walked past the gargoyle into the hall, he stopped. Something wasn't right. It was quiet, and where was Ginny? She said she'd wait for him. Looking around he finally saw her down near the end, in the shadows of the hall.
Running over, he saw she wasn't moving. Her eyes were closed; hair spraying across her pale face. She was slumped against the wall, unmoving.
'Gin!' He cried, when he looked down at her.
Her stomach was glowing green...
Shout outs:
w&m_law (Yes, I think it's been changed so much But I'm glad you like it this way!) Bella (Well As you can tell from the starting of this chapter- Ginny really is his light. Thanks for everything Belle) Dixie Flower (Thanks you! I'm glad you like the plot) *~*GinnyPotter*~* (Thanks!) Carrie (Thanks for the review Carrie, I love your stories!) morgan (Yes, morgan, Draco's inner good! Why can't any one see he could be nice if her tried! But thanks for your reviews- They always make me laugh!) Angel Eyez (Thanks for the review) Arime Setta (Yes, this is a G/D story, for sure, I just thought I'd add a little G/D/H love triangle!) Ella (Thanks Ella, you're reviews are always soo nice!) BoyFlea (Thanks a lot, I'm glad to see I've improved!) Princess Luna (Can Dumbledore help Ginny? Well We'll have to see now won't we? Lol)
Reviews would be very nice. How long does it take you to write 'I like it'? Please review; you'd make me happy!