Chapter 3
At the Burrow
Breakfast was proceeding quite normally at the Burrow. Well, normal that is, for the Burrow. Fred and George were playing their usual tricks; Mrs. Weasley was bustling around serving breakfast; Pidwegon was chirping madly around the kitchen leading Ron to climb on chairs attempting to capture the fluffy tennis ball; Mr. Weasley was trying to get ready amongst the chaos, and Percy kept apparating and disapparting around the table to get away from Fred and George. Amid the clatter of the morning, not a single Weasley noticed Ginny's absence. To add to the disorder four barn owls flew in through the open window, three of them dropping purple envelops, unmistakably from Hogwarts, at Ron, Fred and George's spots. The fourth circled around as if to locate someone, hooted loudly then dropped its delivery right into the jam Mrs. Weasley was preparing. Without missing a beat Molly Weasley picked up the envelope and cleaned it off with a wave of her wand.
"Ron," she said, "go and wake Ginny up. It's not like her to sleep in this late. Tell her that her letter from Hogwarts has come."
"Arg, all right," he groaned, and leaving Pigwegon squeaking madly around the kitchen. Ron set up the stairs thinking of how nice it would be when Harry came. Harry always seemed to make the chaos at the Burrow much more tolerable. Perhaps it was because everyone, Fred and George included, liked Harry and tried to impress him. Ginny at least would stop chatting and just blush whenever he was around.
"Ginny!" He yelled through the door. No reply. "Ginny," he yelled again, "breakfast is ready, you just got your Hogwarts letter." Again there was no reply. "Ugh," he moaned and pushed the door open, "Ginny will you g-" Ron stopped and looked around, "Ginny?" again no answer, "Ginny?" he called bewildered. "Gin are you in here?" he was met with silence. Ginny wasn't in her room, she wasn't downstairs, she had to be somewhere in the house. "GINNY!" He yelled stepping out onto the landing. "GINNY WEASLEY, " he yelled in panic, "GET DOWN TO BREAKFAST THIS INSTANCE!" the only sound that met his ears was the clatter from the kitchen downstairs. The realization that Ginny wasn't anywhere in the Burrow hit him like a bludger in the stomach. "MUM, DAD, IT'S GINNY!!!" he called running down the stairs back into the kitchen. "Ginny's missing," he announced bursting into the kitchen.
"MISSING?!" The whole family chimed at once, a sudden hush falling over the kitchen. Even Pidwegon notice it, for he gave one last hoot and fell to the floor with a soft thump.
"Ron, really there must be some mistake." Percy said supremely.
"She's not in her room Percy, she's not here, and Mum's right, it's not like her to sleep in."
"Arthur," Mrs. Weasley said, "go to the ministry, and tell them that Ginny is missing." her voice was unusually calm. Mr. Weasley nodded and with a pop was gone. For once, the Burrow was absolutely silent. No one knew quite what to say.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ginny awoke, unusually late. Something wasn't right. The bed was soft and warm all right, and she could feel the warmth of sunlight streaming onto her face. Yet, she had that nagging feeling that there was something wrong. And it hit her. The memories of last night came flooding back to her at the same time the pain in her lower body registered. Turning over she saw the last thing she wanted to, the sleeping figure of Draco Malfoy. However, she reasoned there could be an advantage to Draco still being here. His robes, along with his wand, was most likely lying across the room where he had thrown them last night. She moved to get out of bed, grabbing her robes so she could quickly exit when she obtained the wand. When she crept past Draco, apparently asleep on the bed, a cold hand grabbed her wrist, making her jump.
"You weren't planning on leaving were you Weasley?" he drawled, cold gray eyes dancing with evil delight.
"N-no" she stuttered in surprise.
"Good," he smiled, "now hand me my robes." Ginny, really not wishing to see Draco naked obeyed and retrieved his robes for him
"Can I go home now?" She asked him weekly. Another question she knew the answer to but hoped to appeal to Draco's human side.
"Of course not Weasley, you belong to me now." He said pulling his robes over his head.
"But, but, my family they're going to wonder where I am, they'll come looking for me." she protested in panic.
"Oh yes, undoubtedly your father has already gone to the Ministry with the news that precious Ginny Weasley is missing." he smiled and continued, "but my father Ginny, why my father will appear to be sympathetic. Don't you see, he'll help your father look."
"No, my father will never trust your father Malfoy."
"He'll have no choice," he laughed again, Ginny hated that cold laugh, "My father will insist on leading the search at the ministry! And what with the rumors of Voldermort rising, it will be good publicity for the Malfoy name."
"He'll organize his own search." she stated, with an air of defiance.
"So he might, but he'll never find you." Ginny thought fast, Draco was right, Mr. Malfoy had the ministry in the palm of his hand, and searching alone, well, her father was very unlikely to find her. Perhaps Harry though, when seeing she was gone would notice he had feelings for her and would come looking for her. Oooh she could see it now. He would zoom into the room upon his Firebolt, whisking her away from Draco. The look on Draco's face would be priceless when he realized that not only had he not broken her crush on Harry, but instead he had made Harry love her! A small smile crept onto her lips as she pictured her heroic rescue by Harry.
"Oh Weasley," Draco's bitter drawl interrupted her thoughts, "Don't plan on Perfect Potter saving you either. I can see that smirk on your face. He probably won't even care that you're gone. Now that I think of it, your family may even be happy that you're gone. After all, everyone knows that the Weasley's have more children then they can afford to feed. They might welcome the 'loss'." Draco smiled; he was enjoying playing with her mind.
"My parents would never be happy to loose me, or any of us." She walked towards Draco threateningly. Insult her father's ability to find her, even insult her, but never could he imply that her parents didn't love her. The smirk left Darco's face for a split second as a flicker of fear flashed in his gray eyes.
"Oh innocent Weasley," he sighed, regaining his composer, "Of course, I'll believe whatever you say." he mocked her, "even if you say that Potter will come and save you. Well Weasley, I have news for you. 'Perfect' Potter finds you annoying and an embarrassment. Perhaps your parents will try and find you but Potter, no Potter will be glad you're gone."
"Shut-up MALFOY! HARRY IS TWICE THE PERSON YOU'LL EVERBE!" she finally shouted. BAM a burst from the end of Draco's wand hit her, forcing her back. She let out a scream of pain and surprise and slumped down against the wall she had fallen back onto.
"Listen Ginny," Draco said standing above her, "I own you, I can do whatever I want with you. I allow you bicker, it amuses me, but don't you dare threaten me, ever. I never want to hear you telling me what to do, and never ever EVER do I want to hear you defending Potter in my presence." He grew more and more agitated with each command. By the last one Ginny feared he might curse her. Finally he sped out of the room his black robes wiping around the corner of the doorframe. Ginny heard the almost sickening sound of the door locking behind him, followed by Malfoy's retreating steps.
At the Burrow
Breakfast was proceeding quite normally at the Burrow. Well, normal that is, for the Burrow. Fred and George were playing their usual tricks; Mrs. Weasley was bustling around serving breakfast; Pidwegon was chirping madly around the kitchen leading Ron to climb on chairs attempting to capture the fluffy tennis ball; Mr. Weasley was trying to get ready amongst the chaos, and Percy kept apparating and disapparting around the table to get away from Fred and George. Amid the clatter of the morning, not a single Weasley noticed Ginny's absence. To add to the disorder four barn owls flew in through the open window, three of them dropping purple envelops, unmistakably from Hogwarts, at Ron, Fred and George's spots. The fourth circled around as if to locate someone, hooted loudly then dropped its delivery right into the jam Mrs. Weasley was preparing. Without missing a beat Molly Weasley picked up the envelope and cleaned it off with a wave of her wand.
"Ron," she said, "go and wake Ginny up. It's not like her to sleep in this late. Tell her that her letter from Hogwarts has come."
"Arg, all right," he groaned, and leaving Pigwegon squeaking madly around the kitchen. Ron set up the stairs thinking of how nice it would be when Harry came. Harry always seemed to make the chaos at the Burrow much more tolerable. Perhaps it was because everyone, Fred and George included, liked Harry and tried to impress him. Ginny at least would stop chatting and just blush whenever he was around.
"Ginny!" He yelled through the door. No reply. "Ginny," he yelled again, "breakfast is ready, you just got your Hogwarts letter." Again there was no reply. "Ugh," he moaned and pushed the door open, "Ginny will you g-" Ron stopped and looked around, "Ginny?" again no answer, "Ginny?" he called bewildered. "Gin are you in here?" he was met with silence. Ginny wasn't in her room, she wasn't downstairs, she had to be somewhere in the house. "GINNY!" He yelled stepping out onto the landing. "GINNY WEASLEY, " he yelled in panic, "GET DOWN TO BREAKFAST THIS INSTANCE!" the only sound that met his ears was the clatter from the kitchen downstairs. The realization that Ginny wasn't anywhere in the Burrow hit him like a bludger in the stomach. "MUM, DAD, IT'S GINNY!!!" he called running down the stairs back into the kitchen. "Ginny's missing," he announced bursting into the kitchen.
"MISSING?!" The whole family chimed at once, a sudden hush falling over the kitchen. Even Pidwegon notice it, for he gave one last hoot and fell to the floor with a soft thump.
"Ron, really there must be some mistake." Percy said supremely.
"She's not in her room Percy, she's not here, and Mum's right, it's not like her to sleep in."
"Arthur," Mrs. Weasley said, "go to the ministry, and tell them that Ginny is missing." her voice was unusually calm. Mr. Weasley nodded and with a pop was gone. For once, the Burrow was absolutely silent. No one knew quite what to say.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ginny awoke, unusually late. Something wasn't right. The bed was soft and warm all right, and she could feel the warmth of sunlight streaming onto her face. Yet, she had that nagging feeling that there was something wrong. And it hit her. The memories of last night came flooding back to her at the same time the pain in her lower body registered. Turning over she saw the last thing she wanted to, the sleeping figure of Draco Malfoy. However, she reasoned there could be an advantage to Draco still being here. His robes, along with his wand, was most likely lying across the room where he had thrown them last night. She moved to get out of bed, grabbing her robes so she could quickly exit when she obtained the wand. When she crept past Draco, apparently asleep on the bed, a cold hand grabbed her wrist, making her jump.
"You weren't planning on leaving were you Weasley?" he drawled, cold gray eyes dancing with evil delight.
"N-no" she stuttered in surprise.
"Good," he smiled, "now hand me my robes." Ginny, really not wishing to see Draco naked obeyed and retrieved his robes for him
"Can I go home now?" She asked him weekly. Another question she knew the answer to but hoped to appeal to Draco's human side.
"Of course not Weasley, you belong to me now." He said pulling his robes over his head.
"But, but, my family they're going to wonder where I am, they'll come looking for me." she protested in panic.
"Oh yes, undoubtedly your father has already gone to the Ministry with the news that precious Ginny Weasley is missing." he smiled and continued, "but my father Ginny, why my father will appear to be sympathetic. Don't you see, he'll help your father look."
"No, my father will never trust your father Malfoy."
"He'll have no choice," he laughed again, Ginny hated that cold laugh, "My father will insist on leading the search at the ministry! And what with the rumors of Voldermort rising, it will be good publicity for the Malfoy name."
"He'll organize his own search." she stated, with an air of defiance.
"So he might, but he'll never find you." Ginny thought fast, Draco was right, Mr. Malfoy had the ministry in the palm of his hand, and searching alone, well, her father was very unlikely to find her. Perhaps Harry though, when seeing she was gone would notice he had feelings for her and would come looking for her. Oooh she could see it now. He would zoom into the room upon his Firebolt, whisking her away from Draco. The look on Draco's face would be priceless when he realized that not only had he not broken her crush on Harry, but instead he had made Harry love her! A small smile crept onto her lips as she pictured her heroic rescue by Harry.
"Oh Weasley," Draco's bitter drawl interrupted her thoughts, "Don't plan on Perfect Potter saving you either. I can see that smirk on your face. He probably won't even care that you're gone. Now that I think of it, your family may even be happy that you're gone. After all, everyone knows that the Weasley's have more children then they can afford to feed. They might welcome the 'loss'." Draco smiled; he was enjoying playing with her mind.
"My parents would never be happy to loose me, or any of us." She walked towards Draco threateningly. Insult her father's ability to find her, even insult her, but never could he imply that her parents didn't love her. The smirk left Darco's face for a split second as a flicker of fear flashed in his gray eyes.
"Oh innocent Weasley," he sighed, regaining his composer, "Of course, I'll believe whatever you say." he mocked her, "even if you say that Potter will come and save you. Well Weasley, I have news for you. 'Perfect' Potter finds you annoying and an embarrassment. Perhaps your parents will try and find you but Potter, no Potter will be glad you're gone."
"Shut-up MALFOY! HARRY IS TWICE THE PERSON YOU'LL EVERBE!" she finally shouted. BAM a burst from the end of Draco's wand hit her, forcing her back. She let out a scream of pain and surprise and slumped down against the wall she had fallen back onto.
"Listen Ginny," Draco said standing above her, "I own you, I can do whatever I want with you. I allow you bicker, it amuses me, but don't you dare threaten me, ever. I never want to hear you telling me what to do, and never ever EVER do I want to hear you defending Potter in my presence." He grew more and more agitated with each command. By the last one Ginny feared he might curse her. Finally he sped out of the room his black robes wiping around the corner of the doorframe. Ginny heard the almost sickening sound of the door locking behind him, followed by Malfoy's retreating steps.