Draco Malfoy, Seeker Of Souls

Chapter Five

The Golden Key

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I think that we really should form a comedy troupe. Four kids just cannot walk down a hallway properly without making a huge fuss.

"Draco! Quit treading on my feet!"

"What are you babbling on about, Ron? I'm a whole person away from you! Hermione is next to you, Git!"

"Hermione!"

"Honestly, sorry!"

Admittedly, we were grumpy and frightened. Tom was the only one who was silent. Silent and determined, I thought. Harry was scrunched up next to him under the cloak, but he kept eyeing him suspiciously. "I'll be glad when we get this over with. I've never channeled before," said Harry.

It was time for Brainiac to put in her two cents. "I've read about channeling before."

I rolled my eyes. "I saw that coming."

I was elbowed sharply. "Ahem. As I was saying, I read that channeling can be very useful, but also dangerous the more times you do it. We ought to be alright doing it this once, but to be possessed multiple times can be risky."

I was too excited to be terribly frightened. I didn't feel like listening to cautions. "Yes, yes, yes. Just hold Ron's hand and stay back like a good girl and you'll be fine. I'll do the talking, thanks."

I suddenly had three people glaring at me for sounding like my old arrogant self. I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Tom suddenly spoke and my companions jumped nearly a mile. "We're at the bathroom now."

We all looked at him, and then at various spots on the stone floor. We looked and felt so immature compared to Tom. Tom who was brilliant and handsome and calm. I found myself wanting to be just like him.

I pulled the cloak closer around my shoulders. "Now, everyone be quiet so we don't wake up Moaning Myrtle. We'll never find Ginny if she has her wish."

Ron cackled. "Plus she thinks Harry is the very best! She'll drag him down into the pipes with her someday, just watch!"

"Oh, leave the poor girl alone!" Hermione scolded. Once again, I received the mental image of Hermione and Myrtle being one in the same. I started to laugh. Ron looked at me as if I was crazy.

I winced and cleared my throat. "Well, at any rate, down into the Chamber we go."

We crept into the bathroom and Tom moved forward to hiss the command to the sink, as the others observed him warily. We then all plummeted down towards adventure.

*****

Free from the obstructive cloaks, we moved about the large chamber, looking things over. Ron hadn't been down in the Chamber Of Secrets since Second Year, and Hermione hadn't been at all, so they were a good deal nervous and curious. According to Harry, Ron hadn't made it into the main chamber at all, so this was all new to him. As for Harry and me, we were right at home….almost. It was strange without Ginny.

Hermione and Ron disappeared down a corridor while Tom knelt down in front of the statue of Slytherin. I pulled out my wand and motioned for Harry to join us. "Hey, there's a really pretty pool in this room!" Ron's voice called.

"DON'T GO IN THE POOL!" Harry and I screamed at the top of our lungs.

Tom rolled his eyes. "Oh, honestly! There's not a drop of magic in there. Try to trust me a little, won't you?"

Harry crossed his arms and sulked.

Once everyone had gotten his or her jollies out, we all knelt in front of the statue of Salazar Slytherin. I brandished my wand with a flourish and instructed that everyone close his or her eyes and concentrate on what I was saying. I thrust my wand to the sky and called out in my strongest voice, "Oh, great Salazar Slytherin who's blood courses through my body, as well as that of Tom Marvolo Riddle! I, Draco Lucius Malfoy beg your assistance once more to find your own true daughter Virginia Weasley!" I had my eyes closed so tightly that they hurt. I could feel Tom start to rock in place next to me.

Ron grumbled something to the effect of, "She is NOT his daughter! This is stupid!" and then the sounds of the chamber faded and I could hear the sound of the whooshing Souls flying through the air.

I cried out in excitement. "Open your eyes! Oh, open your eyes!"

I reached out and held onto the arms of those next to me. We were floating above the ground, facing the throne like before. Hermione cried out and clutched onto me, staring at the golden throne with surprise. Her cry echoed and sounded distant in the huge round room.

Tom was again sitting on the throne, only this time Ginny was not in his lap. The familiar green light filled his eyes and he tilted his head slightly. "You have returned, Seeker."

Harry's voice drifted to my ears. "Is he talking to me?" Harry thought of himself as the ultimate of all Seekers and I knew it.

"He calls me Seeker," I said, my voice fading into nothing.

Slytherin floated a few inches off of the throne. "I did not expect you until you had the body of the Lost with you. What is it you wish to ask? The time grows late and her body slips farther into sleep."

I felt suddenly panicked. What did he mean, her body was slipping into sleep? "I wished to see you again to tell you…I think I lost the key you gave me. I can't find it anywhere." I lowered my eyes. "I'm sorry, Sir."

Slytherin appeared to laugh. "Worry not, Seeker. You shall have your key. When the time is right, all shall be set before you."

I floated a bit higher than Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "I also wanted you to meet the others. They're my…friends, you see. They'll help."

Slytherin's eyes flashed once. "I see. They are indeed here to help. But they do not trust me." He floated off the throne and plucked a Soul from the air above him. "Don't worry, little children. You shall have your Soul and no harm will come to you here."

The Dream Team shivered, but looked longingly at the Soul. We all knew it belonged to Ginny.

Ron was pleading. "Please…just let me have it! Oh, please!"

The light in Slytherin's eyes started to die out and Tom's dark eyes were seen filtering back in. "We're exhausting him," I whispered and then spoke up quickly. "Thank you, great Salazar Slytherin. We will return again when we find your daughter, Ginny." I closed my eyes and when I opened them again, I was in darkness. I sat up quickly and looked around the room frantically. I was in bed in Snape's room. I sucked in my breath and cried out in panic. Snape stirred, but didn't move.

I ran through the castle, until I reached the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. I wasn't there thirty seconds before my three friends burst out. We all looked at each other in wonder for several minutes, before tripping back to bed. We had nothing to say about it that night, except that it was extraordinary.

As I crawled back into bed after bringing Nathaniel over from his bassinet to sleep with me, I felt a sharp stab of pain in my back. I reached my hand under my quilt and pulled out the large golden key. My eyes widened. I now had the key to the Hall of Souls.

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Note: Thanks to everyone who left nice reviews! Sorry for the delay…writer's block and lack of inspiration is plaguing me right now. *Sigh* Anyway, the next chapter should be easy to write since it's such a big exciting part! Finally we will be able to see what happened to Ginny! But what will she be like exactly? Find out next time!