Draco Malfoy, Seeker Of Souls

Chapter Four

Draco Calls A Conference

**~~~~~**

The very next day, I sat in my best robes with Snape and Dumbledore in his office. Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, his eyes smiling at the two of us. "So you want an audience with the Weasley's, as you call it?"

I nodded. "Yes, Sir. I think they have to know where Ginny really is. It's all very well for the students to think she's sick, but her own parents should know the truth. It's only fair, since we're going on a very dangerous mission soon." I grasped Snape's hand. "Please, Severus…I don't think Mr. Weasley would tell the Ministry if we asked him not to. Not if he knew his daughter would be in danger if he did. Maybe he could even help somehow."

Dumbledore gazed hard at Snape over his spectacles. "That has been my feeling since the start, although I did give you permission to handle things as you saw fit. You are the one with experience in the Black School of Spain."

"Unfortunately…" Snape muttered, but he looked at Dumbledore. "If you're sure, Professor, that they will not be in hysterics and try to contact help, then we should tell them. It's up to me to get Miss Weasley out of that school, not the Ministry of Magic. And I won't risk anything going wrong."

Dumbledore rose and went to a small door at the other end of the circular room, placing his hand on the knob. "Not to worry, Severus. I have already explained to them that Ginny is not sick, but in a place that had to be kept a great secret. They were dismayed and frightened, but they are ready and willing to hear and to help."

I looked at Snape, a half smile on my face. I had the distinct feeling that Dumbledore most likely told them weeks ago where Ginny was being held. Dumbledore wasn't the kind of man who would keep something like that from her parents, even if Snape and I were. I should have known that.

Dumbledore opened the door and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stepped into the room. Mrs. Weasley was crying slightly as she went to me and embraced me. "Are you alright, love? Are Harry and Hermione all right? And how's my Ron? We've been so worried since Professor Dumbledore told us where Ginny was. We had a feeling, of course. We knew she couldn't be sick. We felt it and were expecting it."

"That was why we didn't want to," I tried to explain. "Because we didn't want you to be sad. Please don't be upset at me." For some reason it meant the world that she forgave me."

"We're not upset, dear. We're glad you all got out of that place safely. As for our little girl…we're sure we'll get her back."

Mr. Weasley nodded. "Dumbledore told us a while ago. We've been in touch and coming up with solutions. But I hear that Severus has a plan."

Snape stiffened and stood up. "I do. But I will need the boy's help." He gestured to me. "We will get Miss Weasley out again. However, we will need your support when we retrieve her because we're not sure how she will be when we find her. I'm almost certain that she is alive, but I'm not sure if she will be your daughter in mind and spirit."

Mrs. Weasley nodded bravely and Mr. Weasley took her hand in support. "We will do whatever we can to help. We're ready and we're not afraid."

I stood next to Snape, who put a hand on my shoulder. I wondered how the Weasley's could be so calm. They were doing fabulously.

Dumbledore conjured up a pot of tea and some cups. He flicked his wand and the tea magically poured itself. "So, Severus, now that we have all the help and support we need, when would it be best to go in after Miss Weasley?"

Snape brooded for a moment. "Sunday. On Sunday there are no classes and everyone is in their rooms and quiet. We should be able to get in and find Miss Weasley without anyone noticing. I will wait at the gate to open and close it, as Draco does not possess the powers to do it. He will have to find Miss Weasley on his own. Or perhaps…" He looked at me. "Take Mr. Potter along with you. You may need someone to help carry her. Or a backup if something happens."

Mrs. Weasley pressed a hand over her heart. "Oh, nothing will go wrong, will it?"

I puffed out my chest. "I will make sure nothing happens, Mrs. Weasley. I'll get her back in one piece."

"And I will be nearby if they need me," Snape added.

Dumbledore went to me and placed a hand on my head. It made me feel safe and comfortably drowsy. "I put my full trust in these boys, Mrs. Weasley. If anyone can get your daughter back safely, it is them and Severus Snape!"

*~~~~~~*

Even so, that evening I was too nervous to eat dinner. I sat at the Gryffindor table with Harry and the others, but we just picked at our food. They were all thinking the same thing I was. What if Ginny was dead, or we couldn't find her? Or she was beyond repair? I needed more help to get through the Black School and I thought I knew where to get it. As I checked my watch, Hermione stabbed her pudding violently with her spoon. "I don't want you doing it again, Draco!"

I jumped. "What?"

"What you told us this morning about what you did last night with Tom, Draco. I know you're thinking about going down there to the Chamber of Secrets again to see if you can channel Salazar Slytherin for more help. Well, it's just too dangerous! There has to be another way to find Ginny's Soul than with some evil magical key that you don't have anymore and probably never did."

Ron snorted. "Sometimes you're just too sensible! I for one think that if Slytherin is the only one who can help us, we should accept it."

Harry nodded. "What if Draco really did have the key? What if it really leads to some chamber of Souls or whatever it is?"

Hermione pouted. "I thought you were usually more intelligent than this."

Ron slapped a hand on the table, his temper flaring. "It's not a question of intelligence…it's all about finding my sister! I agree with Harry!" Several students looked at us curiously, so we tried to look normal.

I rose from the table. "I for one am going. I need more information. If any of you want to come and see for yourselves that Tom can channel Slytherin, then we'll be glad for the company. Otherwise, you can go search the library, Hermione, and see who comes up with the most information sooner." I grinned with superiority. Hermione could be so dull! Besides, I was dying to see the room of Souls again. And Tom, too. I missed him when he was down in the dungeons and the whole transmission of Slytherin through him had been nothing short of amazing.

Hermione could tell that she was on the loosing side. "What time, Draco?"

"Two o'clock. After Snape has gone to sleep. I'll sneak out and meet you outside the Potions classroom then. We'll all go down and get Tom together."

Hermione shrugged. "I don't like this. But Ron is right. If there is even the slightest chance that this will help Ginny, we have to do it." She took Ron's face in one of her hands and turned it. She laughed. "You still have lipstick on your cheek from your mum!"

Harry grinned. "You should have seen it, Draco. Mrs. Weasley ran to Ron when we came down to the Great Hall and started planting kisses all over his face. It was all very sweet and sappy and all." Harry made a quick kissing gesture at Ron before popping a blueberry into his mouth.

Ron glowered and rubbed at his face, but I laughed. "I guess that explains why Nathaniel looked the way he did when my nurse brought him down for dinner."

Little Nathaniel was sitting next to me on a cushion, calmly eating Neville Longbottom's discarded peas from off his plate. But he had two big red lip marks on both of his cheeks that I hadn't taken the time to wipe off.

"Poor kid," Ron remarked. "No one deserves that."

I laughed again and hoisted Nathaniel onto my hip. "I'm going back to Snape's room, but I'll see you outside the potions classroom. Oh, and bring the large invisibility cloak with you too. I have yours already, Harry."

Harry's eyes went wide. "You what?"

I swiped a hand through the air nonchalantly. "Oh, I just borrowed it."

Harry rolled his eyes. "You really can't be trusted."

I grinned. "I know." And I was off.

*~~~~~*

Note: Hi everyone! Sorry if this chapter wasn't too exciting, but it had to be written. I decided that Dumbledore would not have told a lie to the Weasley's about Ginny just being sick and that they really should know. Sometimes I have the kids in life threatening situations and I forget about the hysterical parents and then don't know how to handle them. So thus, they now know and have decided to help. That's what I get for writing myself into a corner. lol Anyway, no harm done. Next chapter should be the second transmission with Slytherin and then the actual rescue of Ginny, which we've all be waiting for. Thanks so much for the reviews! Until next time! *hugs*