"Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become."
-Unknown
Chapter Ten
"You really have to go don't you?" It was Thursday night and Draco and a small group of seventh year Slytherins would be leaving the next morning. The letter from Lucious Malfoy arrived earlier that day and the Slytherins put on solemn faces for the entire school. But I knew it was a fake, I knew their true intentions.
"Yes I do. I promise you everything will be okay. I'll come back to you, I won't let my father or the Dark Lord take me away." He replied while moving forward to embrace me.
"I won't let them either. But what if they want to initiate you early? What if he makes you and the rest of the seventh years become Death Eaters before you graduate?" I worriedly asked. I glanced up into his silver eyes that seemed so dull with apologies and pain.
"He can't, they can't. It would be too risky especially with such a large population of us. If Dumbledore or someone else was informed somehow then they would be in trouble. They can't take such risks during such fragile times." He replied.
"It's getting late and you need your rest for this weekend. I shouldn't be taking up so much of your time." I don't know what possessed me to say that, but I wasn't sure I could be in his presence without wanting to kiss him, wanting to hold him and never let go. I couldn't jeopardize our friendship that way.
"Sleep does very little to me but you are right about it getting late. People will begin to worry if we are both missing for such a long time." He replied. Oh how I would miss him, even for a few days.
"I'll be back by Sunday afternoon at the latest. Until then Virginia."
And suddenly the very thing that has plagued my dreams for the last few weeks came true.
He leaned over ever so slightly and placed his lips on mine, and all I could think about was how much I never wanted this moment to end.
"Draco…" I sighed when the kiss ended. He turned around and began to leave.
"Draco!" I shouted a little louder when he didn't respond the first time.
When he turned around and stared his brilliant silver eyes into my own brown ones I felt all conscience thought leave my brain. I didn't want to admit it…but this was someone I could love, and he could break my heart. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to mend another broken soul again…
"I know you're only helping me because of my past depression…and I'm thankful for that help. But you could break my heart if I let you…"
"Virginia…Ginny…I would never do anything to hurt you intentionally." And he sealed that promise with a final kiss before leaving through the doors of the Astronomy deck.
What have I gotten myself into?…
"Add two sets of snakes teeth and then stir for five minutes." Professor Snape read off as he cut up some dried green herb. From my seat a few feet away it looked like a plant called Janovive. It was used only in small protection potions. Suddenly an idea formed in my mind…suddenly I knew what these experiments were for.
"These experiments are to find a repellent for the Unforgivable Curses, aren't they?" I asked him as I began stirring my current potion. He dropped his knife down upon the table and for a short few moments he seemed stunned. Or caught.
"You're a very clever girl Miss Weasley."
"I would have figured it out eventually Professor. The Janovive that you are cutting up gave just made it the process a little quicker for me. It's only used as a protection against minor hexes. But added in with snakes teeth and possibly some mandrake leaves and toads eyes it might be a powerful repellent for some more advanced hexes, or minor curses." I explained.
"Yes Miss Weasley, that was the original plan for the potion."
"But if you add newt eyes instead of toads it might create a longer effect Professor. Newt eyes tend to have a more lasting effect when mixed with mandrake leaves."
It was like a light bulb being turned on in his head and as he turned to face me a look of astonishment crossed his face. Was it something I said?
"Merlin's Beard you're right. Where have you learned so much about potions because I assure you in my classroom very few students tend to pay attention." He was clearly still flabbergasted at my recent outburst.
"I read about it in an Advanced Potions book my brother Charlie gave me for Christmas last year. That and during the summer I like to experiment on my own with what few materials I have. It's a passion of mine; to research different methods and mix things. If I was a Muggle I assume I'd be some kind of Chemist, an equivalent to a Potion researcher. They're very similar and I've made it my duty to learn as much as I could about both subjects…and now I'm rambling…I'm sorry. We should go back to the potion now. When should I add the Janovive?"
"I never thought I'd see the day when a student of mine would show such…interest…in my subject; someone besides a Slytherin that is. You are truly amazing Miss Weasley. With a clever mind like yours and such a skill for potions, you could do a great deal in our world."
It bothers me how everyone I know seems to tell me how I'm destined for such 'great things'. How could I be? I'm barely passing all my other subjects save for Potions and Muggle Studies. How can one be so destined for something if they can't pass a simple Transfiguration class?
I wasn't sure if I should thank him or respond to his compliment some how. I choose neither. Draco trusts this man and I trust Draco. Anything I told him would be kept in secret unless necessary.
"I thank you for your compliment sir, but I have to disagree with you. My brothers'…well…they are destined for great things in this world. Why I wouldn't be surprised if Percy was elected the next Minister of Magic within the next few years. Bill and Charlie are far more intelligent than I'll ever be. Fred and George are far cleverer, and Ron is far more adventurous. No, I'm not destined for anything except to just survive in this world along side everyone else, but thank you just the same." I replied to him while occupying myself with the task at hand.
He didn't look like he believed me all that much while he added the leaves to the potion.
"With a mind like yours you should have been a Slytherin. You would have been able to achieve your goal without the spotlight of your brothers over your head. It's a shame really that the hat choose you for Gryffindor."
"But the hat didn't really choose me for Gryffindor sir." Did I just say that? Did I just admit to my teacher what I've kept secret for so long?
"What do you mean it didn't choose you for Gryffindor?" He asked while turning those black eyes on me.
I sighed. I couldn't take back the words so I decided to just admit my dark truth.
"The hat wanted me in Slytherin but I begged for it to change me to Gryffindor. If my brothers found out that I was not in their house they probably would have disowned me. I did it to save their pride, I haven't thought about it in so long I've nearly forgotten."
"It's a shame, that. You could have done so much for our house. We need someone with a clever mind and a good heart. You don't find too many of those in times such as ours."
"I don't suppose so, but you still have a lot to boast about, a lot to be proud of. Salazar Slytherin was very noble in his day and I have learned many good witches and wizards have come from your house." Was I trying to defend him? His house? Was I sane? At that moment I highly doubted it.
He chuckled a bit, a deep soft chuckle that lasted only a few short seconds.
"These are dark times Virginia Weasley, dark times caused by dark wizards. Most of whom came from my house, most of whom I went to school with. Very few Slytherins hold 'noble' qualities nowadays."
Conversation for the most part ended there. The only spoken words were questions of comments about the recent potion we were involved with. It wouldn't be ready to test until the next day for it needed at least 12 hours to simmer. By the time I crawled into bed that night it was nearing midnight but it didn't matter for tomorrow was Saturday, a Hogsmeade day, and I planned to use the free time to gather more books from my friends in London. It has been a while since I have visited and I did promise to stop by once school started. But things have delayed my visitation and tomorrow was as good a day as any.
A slight pulsing at my throat erupted me from my sleep a few hours later. From the darkness outside I gathered it was past midnight. I glanced down at the necklace that Draco gave me not too long ago.
"Something's wrong." I whispered to no one in particular.
I gripped the stone as a wave of nausea overtook my stomach. Blinding visions blurred rapidly into my mind.
"Something is very wrong."
Darkness surrounded the dark cloaked figures as they gathered around a single burning fire. A thin figure stood at the center of the group and a small circle of young wizards gathered around him. One by one the young looking wizards walked forward and knelt to the lone thin man. The young wizards lifted their sleeves as a small tattoo was etched on their left arms. Faintly…oh so faintly that it was almost hard to see if you didn't know what to look for.
"Pledge your loyalty to me." The thin figure shouted to the young group.
"We are at your command lord." They responded. A circle of older looking, black- cloaked wizards let out a small roar of approval.
"My children you make my old heart proud. Now, I release you back into your own world…make me proud my loyal followers. Know this, we will not stop until the last Muggle falls at my feet. Together we will create a perfect society, together we will take over this world."
To the left of the dark thinned figure stood a tall blonde-haired boy next to an older looking dark haired figure.
Draco…
"Ginny!" A voice shouted from above me. I tried to open my eyes but everything was hazy and my head was pounding so horribly at my temples.
"I think she's waking up Professor." Another voice continued. The tone of voice sounded familiar but I couldn't think past the throbbing in my head.
"Ginny, can you hear me?" I recognized that voice, it was the sound of my head of house; Professor McGonagall.
"Where am I?" I croaked out at last. My throat hurt too and I desperately wished for a glass of water.
"You're down in the infirmary. The O'Kelly's heard you scream and then you passed out. You've been out for nearly six hours." She replied.
"Do you remember what happened?" Fiona asked.
"Girls, I appreciate your concern but I must speak to Miss Weasley alone for now. The carriages to Hogsmeade leave soon. Why don't you go get ready, Ginny will be here when you return." To not sound so harsh, McGonagall finished her plea with a smile and waited for the twins to leave.
"We'll tell your brother and the others you're awake okay?" Maggie asked as she was on her way out. I nodded in reply. It's not like he'd really care anyway.
"Now Ginny, I want you to try to recall what happened last night." She asked me as soon as the door closed behind Maggie. Should I tell her about the necklace Draco gave me? He never said to keep it a secret, but I doubt he wanted anyone to know about it. And what about the vision I had? Was it really a vision? Did I really see Draco and the other 7th year Slytherins become initiated as Death Eaters? Didn't he promise me they wouldn't? No, I couldn't tell McGonagall. But perhaps I should tell Dumbledore… Would he understand? Would I be breaking Draco's trust and would him and the other Slytherins get kicked out and thrown in Azkaban? Would I ever see him again? It was all too much to think about right now.
"I had a nightmare professor." I replied in a small voice.
"Nightmares rarely tend to cause people to go into a coma for six hours." She replied. Damn.
"I'm not sure what it was really. I was dreaming and then this immense darkness took over and then I woke up and my head was pounding and I started screaming. I don't remember much about it though. I really don't." So it wasn't a total lie. Just not very in depth.
"I want you to spend the day down here and rest. I may be over exaggerating but I'm still going to have to inform the Headmaster about this. Now you go back to sleep and I'll be down to visit later in the afternoon." She patted my shoulder gently and then left the room a few minutes later. As soon as the door closed it seemed to open again. This time it was Professor Snape.
"You saw the rally didn't you." He asked in that dark whisper-like voice of his. How did he know?
"How?" I asked back.
"How what? How did I know? Well Draco is my most prized student and he confides in me more so than anyone. I know about the necklaces, how they're a connection between the two of you. I overheard part of your story to McGonagall and I pieced the two parts together. You saw Draco's initiation last night." It wasn't really a question, more a statement of fact. I couldn't lie to him though, he knew, somehow he knew.
"How would you know about the initiation?" I asked as I turned to look at him. His pale face showed shadows underneath dark black eyes. His tasseled hair showed that he obviously didn't get much sleep.
"You were there weren't you? You knew about this? You saw them all pledge themselves to that…thing!" I nearly screamed at him. I didn't blame Snape, but since he was the only one in the room and I needed to release my anger on something, it just made things easier.
"Yes I was there Miss Weasley. I watched students from my own house willingly pledge their lives to the Dark Lord." He looked so unbelievably…hurt…for a second. The look quickly passed and was replaced by anger.
"Why now! Why did it have to be now! Why does he need their loyalty now and not after they graduate!"
"You misinterpreted the ritual Miss Weasley. It was not their official initiation but a…pre-initiation ceremony…you could say. The mark the Dark Lord gave them is only a faint reminder to them that as soon as they graduate they will go through the official ceremonial ritual and at that point the dark mark will become more…visible. Right now they are like…squires…you could say. You're familiar with Medieval terms are you not?"
I nodded my head in reply.
"Well Draco and the others are merely squires to the real Death Eaters. They will be forced to go to some assemblies and partake in certain…tests…to prove their loyalty. They will follow and learn from their elders and when the time is right, and after they've proven their sincerity, they will undergo a final ritual where the dark mark will be burned into their skin and they will have earned the full title of 'Death Eater'. As for your previous question why now? Well I can't really say for sure. Maybe Voldemort is feeling insecure about some of his subjects and wants new recruits that he can mold in his image while they're still young. I can't really say for sure."
I sat back against the pillows of the bed and tried to take in all the information that I was given. Draco was a Death Eater…or nearly one. I knew the day would be coming but I hadn't expected it so soon! Why was life so unfair! And why did I care so much!
Because you love him Ginny…
