Draco stopped a few feet from his bedroom door after storming out on
Ginny. He couldn't keep losing himself like that when she thought about
Potter. It simply wasn't the Malfoy way. Originally, he had planned to go
practice Quiditch on his new Firebolt his Aunt had sent him for his
birthday. However, changing his mind, he went to his father study instead.
Mr. Malfoy wasn't at the ministry just yet; he claimed it would be to
suspicious if he suddenly decided to be on time the very day Ginny Weasley
was discovered missing.
"Father?" Draco said stepping into Mr. Malfoy's study.
"Yes?" he asked looking up from his desk.
"It's Ginny,"
"What about her?" his father snapped.
"I can't seem to get her to break. She's hopelessly in love with Potter." Draco stammered. Mr. Malfoy stopped rustling parchment and looked up at his son. "I know it's only been a day but still..." he trailed off.
"Come sit down boy." Lucius said and sitting down at the desk himself and gestured to a chair across from him. Draco obeyed making himself comfortable in his father's study. "Now tell me the problem with the girl again, don't you find your birthday present suitable?"
"Oh yes father, I'm enjoying my gift very much, she was quite entertaining last night." Lucius beamed, proud of his son, "However, when we were," he cleared his throat, "together, I think she was thinking of Potter."
"You think?"
"Well, know actually," he corrected, "she keeps getting this grin, and when I told her Potter hated her, well she positively screamed at me."
"Draco," Lucius said, "Although taunting the girl may be entertaining, I think what you really need to so is tame her. It will be an interesting end of holiday project."
"She belongs to me doesn't she? Why can't I taunt her?"
"Because, my son, there is no tool like being able to manipulate someone. If you can tame this girl, make her become yours, and expel any thoughts of Potter from her head, then I'll say that I've gotten you a worthwhile birthday present."
"Tame her, but how Father?"
"Well there are two ways really, putting them together would be quite effective. The first is to kill her with kindness. Be kind and authoritative at the same time. The second technique is to be sure she depends on you for everything. Whether it be food, clothing or a 'friend', you must be the one provide it for her."
"I understand. So to start, may I give her her own room? And perhaps I'll bring her her lunch myself."
"Precisely!" Lucius Malfoy chimed brightly, "I believe you have the idea. Now, however, I must get to the ministry, I've already missed a lot of the fun revolving around your birthday present. I certainly don't want to miss anymore."
"Have a good day." Draco said bidding his father goodbye and with a pop Lucius Malfoy was gone from the study.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry Potter came upstairs after a terrible 'birthday' lunch with the Dursleys. Of course, the problem with the 'birthday' lunch was that it wasn't a birthday lunch at all. They had forgotten his birthday yet again, but since going to Hogwarts and finding out he was a Wizard, this failed to bother him. He opened the door to the smallest bedroom in number four Privet Drive, only to have two owls immediately drop letters at his feet. The first owl he recognized as Pig, the second, he didn't recognize at all, but he quickly concluded it was a Hogwarts owl due to the letter it had delivered. Pig squeaked loudly and flew over the Hedwig's cage to rest, hooting gladly at the successful delivery. Harry put the Hogwarts letter aside to read later, no doubt in contained the same information as always. Expecting a birthday card, he was eager to read Ron's letter. However, when he opened the envelope a letter far from a birthday card met him.
Dear Harry,
Something horrible has happen. Ginny is missing! It must have happened during the night because when I went to get her this morning to come down to breakfast, she wasn't there. Dad told the ministry and Lucius Malfoy of all people is leading the search. I don't trust him, Mum doesn't either, but Dad says we don't have a choice. I just thought you should know. Be careful, no one knows why 'they' took Ginny.
Ron
Harry's brow furrowed upon reading the news. He rescanned the note several times to be sure he had read it right. The note offered very little information, in truth almost none. It wasn't even dated. Again he cursed his separation from the Wizarding World when on Privet Drive. No doubt the letter was old, writing to him wouldn't be the first thing on Ron's mind for one thing, and Pig wasn't known for his fast deliveries. Unlike Hedwig, Harry thought, who could find and deliver almost anything to anyone in a matter of days. That gave Harry an idea. If Hedwig could find anyone, perhaps he could find Ginny. After all, Hedwig did find Sirius while he was in hiding from the Ministry. Why couldn't she find Ginny? Then, even if Ginny couldn't write back, and Hedwig couldn't tell him, he would at the very least be able to inform the Weasleys that Ginny was okay. He sat down at his desk and began to compose two letters.
Ron, [the first one said]
Thanks for letting me know. I'll be careful but Dumbledore has me here for a reason, I believe I'm rather safe (but bored) here on Privet Drive. Would you still like me to come to stay with you? Of course I'll understand if your house is to busy or you just don't want a guest around. Hagrid will take me to Diagon Alley if I can't get there. I'm sending Hedwig to find Ginny. I plan on writing her a little note; if Hedwig comes back I'm sure she'll find a way to tell me if Ginny is okay. Good luck, and give me regards to your entire family.
Harry
Harry tied the letter to Pig's foot and sent him out the window. Hedwig hooted a bit upset at loosing a delivery to such an owl.
"Oh calm down," Harry said to his owl, "I have something much more important for you to do," and again he began to compose a letter.
Ginny,
Are you okay?? Ron owled me to tell me that you are missing! I plan on sending Hedwig out immediately to find you. Of course I know you probably aren't able to write back but Hedwig won't let this letter be taken by anyone but you. Hang in there! I hope I can see you at platform 9 ¾ come September 1.
Harry
P.S. Mr. Malfoy is leading the search at the ministry. It seems odd to me too!
"Hedwig," Harry said as he tied the letter to her leg, "This is very important. You must deliver this letter to Ginny Weasley, Ron's little sister, and ONLY Ginny Weasley. Okay?"
Hedwig gave a dignified hoot and affectionately nipped Harry's finger before soaring out the window.
"Now there's nothing to do but wait," Harry commented watching the snowy owl fly away.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Draco Malfoy stopped in front of his door, preparing to go meet 'the shrew'.
"Ginny!" He called pleasantly as he opened the door to find her sitting by a window staring out onto the grounds.
"Can't you give me a little peace?" she asked, her voice sounding strained.
"That's precisely what I'm here to do!" He chimed spiritedly. She was really making this too easy.
"Excuse me?"
"Well you can't stay in my room for the whole time your here. I figured I mine as well give you a comfortable room for your own, and how about a house elf to take care of you."
"No thank you," she said defiantly still gazing out the window. Well he certainly wasn't expecting that.
"Pardon?" He replied politely.
"I said NO THANK YOU," She turned to face him, tears welling up in her eyes, "I can take care of myself fine thanks."
"Well then," he said a little frazzled by her rejection, "I must insist on your own room. Certainly you don't want to sleep on the floor here or share my bed." For a few seconds she held his gaze, as if trying to contemplate his motives, but after those prolonged seconds she decided that whether his motives be good or bad, she would very much like her own room, and yes, even her own house elf. Without so much as a word she rose from her chair and prepared to follow Draco to whatever room he led her too.
The pair walked in silence along the halls, Ginny unwillingly admiring the grandness of the Manor and Draco cursing himself for allowing her that bit of control. How was he supposed to be authoritative, calm, and 'friendly' at the same time? Never had he imagined that he would look up to Dumbledore but right now he was. Dumbledore always managed to be authoritative, calm and friendly all at once. But how did he do it? Once Draco thought about it he realized that Dumbledore was just known to be powerful. It was a fact. Well, he was powerful too; he just had to prove it to Ginny. So with a devilish grin he pointed his wand at the carpet in front of her just as they were passing a staircase, raising it a few inches. Ginny, still looking up at the walls and ceiling tripped and nearly stumbled down the stairs.
"Be careful," he said, as he moved to catch her and she fell into his strong arms, "you almost tripped. You could have been seriously hurt." Ginny a little shaken from her near fall studied him for a second. He was holding her tight, her cheek pressed up against his toned chest. Draco towered almost a foot above her, and from what she had seen, and felt, she recalled with a wince, he was also rather strong. Suddenly, she remembered where she was and no near fall down the stairs could make her grateful to the boy who was holding her.
"I would rather be dead than here." she spat, straightening up and brushing off her robes. Draco couldn't help but reflect on how 'wonderfully' his father's plan was working out.
"Here we are," Draco said as they reached their destination. He opened the door to reveal a room much like his own except the décor was all pink. Ginny couldn't help it, her eyes growing wide in astonishment. The room was probably three times the size of her real one at home and ten times as nice.
"This is where you will be living." Draco said interrupting her gawking, "I'm going to assign you a house elf because I believe you need one. Women always need something. However, most of the time I will personably be bringing you your meals. You see Ginny, it gets rather boring around here, and I could do with a little company. Also, I'll see my mother about getting you some robes." with this Ginny glanced up at him expectedly never had she had new robes, always hand-me-downs, "Well you can't possibly want to stay in those. Anyways I'll leave that to me mother she'll know what style and colors you'll need. I'm sure there's some magazines over there, a chess set," he drawled on, "are you any good at chess Ginny?"
"Yes," she said absent mindedly still gazing in awe around the room, "I'm the best in the Weasley family."
"I'll have to play you sometime, I'm quite good myself. If you need anything, just call Zally, that's your house elf, and she'll check with me. Okay?"
"My elf has to check with you?" she questioned coming back to her senses.
"Why yes, of course she does." Ginny glared a second at him before turning towards the window.
"I like this room." she stated matter-of-factly.
"Why's that?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Because it has a window, and I can see what appears to be a quiditch pitch."
"You enjoy quiditch?" he inquired politely.
"Not particularly," she shrugged, "but I'll watch you play from here. Harry's going to be quiditch captain you know," she was still staring out the window, "and I'm sure he'll love to hear how you play. Of course, I doubt he'll need my help, after all, he's beaten you every time we play Slytherin." She turned towards him, eyes dancing with delight at the low blow she had just dealt. Draco balled his fist and dug his nails into his palm. He long to teach her a lesson, to hex her within an inch of her life until she admitted that Potter was no match for him.
Instead of cursing or hitting her he calmly replied, "Well, if I believed that I was in any danger of you telling Potter how I fly, I would cover the window. However, seeing as how you belong to me now, and I have no plans of letting you go for a few years at least, I see no reason to deny you the opportunity to admire the view of me on my new Firebolt." She turned her head back towards the window, his words repeating themselves in her head. 'A few years at least??' That was far to long. She felt Draco's presence behind her. "If you'd just let me show you a good time Ginny, I think you'll find life here at the Manor relatively enjoyable." She remained staring out the window not answering his question. Several long minutes passed in which Draco saw Ginny bring her hand up to her face, undoubtedly to wipe away tear. Draco refused to leave until she acknowledged what he had said. Finally she spoke.
"What's my house elf's name again?"
"Zally,"
"Well get her for me now, I'm hungry. I haven't had anything to eat since that wee bit of Dinner some elf brought up when I was in your father's study."
"You know, supper does sound good," he ignored the tone in her voice and treated it like a request, "I'll bring some up in about an hour. Maybe then we can have a game of chess?"
"An hour's a long time Draco, and I'm not about to willingly play you in chess. That would involve spending time around you." Draco cringed, every fiber of his being wanted to curse Ginny into the next century, but he had to be friendly yet controlling, thus making her wait an hour for her supper. How dare that girl talk to him that way? She had seen and felt what he could do to her.
"Well if you'll excuse me I have some quiditch practicing to do." He exited closing the door behind him and of course locking it.
Ginny was absolutely seething. That horrible git! How DARE he keep her here for a few years? Why, she would miss the best years of her life! Locked up in a blasted room doing nothing but being a good lay for Malfoy when he felt the need. She had a weapon though. He hated her crush on Harry. Thus she resolved to intensify her love for Harry, making sure Malfoy saw how undaunted she was by him.
Moments later she saw a small black dot mounted atop a broom rise from the ground of the quiditch pitch. The dot zoomed around making sharp turns and diving occasionally. Ginny was certain he was trying difficult stunts for her benefit, just for the sake of showing off. He turned and dived at an extraordinarily sharp angle. However, mid way through the dive, he somehow lost his grip on the broom and fell off, plummeting a good ten or fifteen meters to the ground. Ginny watch extremely amused as Malfoy flailed his arms as he fell. For the first time since she had been stolen from her room she smiled, and proceeding to collapse onto the ground in fits of laughter.
"Father?" Draco said stepping into Mr. Malfoy's study.
"Yes?" he asked looking up from his desk.
"It's Ginny,"
"What about her?" his father snapped.
"I can't seem to get her to break. She's hopelessly in love with Potter." Draco stammered. Mr. Malfoy stopped rustling parchment and looked up at his son. "I know it's only been a day but still..." he trailed off.
"Come sit down boy." Lucius said and sitting down at the desk himself and gestured to a chair across from him. Draco obeyed making himself comfortable in his father's study. "Now tell me the problem with the girl again, don't you find your birthday present suitable?"
"Oh yes father, I'm enjoying my gift very much, she was quite entertaining last night." Lucius beamed, proud of his son, "However, when we were," he cleared his throat, "together, I think she was thinking of Potter."
"You think?"
"Well, know actually," he corrected, "she keeps getting this grin, and when I told her Potter hated her, well she positively screamed at me."
"Draco," Lucius said, "Although taunting the girl may be entertaining, I think what you really need to so is tame her. It will be an interesting end of holiday project."
"She belongs to me doesn't she? Why can't I taunt her?"
"Because, my son, there is no tool like being able to manipulate someone. If you can tame this girl, make her become yours, and expel any thoughts of Potter from her head, then I'll say that I've gotten you a worthwhile birthday present."
"Tame her, but how Father?"
"Well there are two ways really, putting them together would be quite effective. The first is to kill her with kindness. Be kind and authoritative at the same time. The second technique is to be sure she depends on you for everything. Whether it be food, clothing or a 'friend', you must be the one provide it for her."
"I understand. So to start, may I give her her own room? And perhaps I'll bring her her lunch myself."
"Precisely!" Lucius Malfoy chimed brightly, "I believe you have the idea. Now, however, I must get to the ministry, I've already missed a lot of the fun revolving around your birthday present. I certainly don't want to miss anymore."
"Have a good day." Draco said bidding his father goodbye and with a pop Lucius Malfoy was gone from the study.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry Potter came upstairs after a terrible 'birthday' lunch with the Dursleys. Of course, the problem with the 'birthday' lunch was that it wasn't a birthday lunch at all. They had forgotten his birthday yet again, but since going to Hogwarts and finding out he was a Wizard, this failed to bother him. He opened the door to the smallest bedroom in number four Privet Drive, only to have two owls immediately drop letters at his feet. The first owl he recognized as Pig, the second, he didn't recognize at all, but he quickly concluded it was a Hogwarts owl due to the letter it had delivered. Pig squeaked loudly and flew over the Hedwig's cage to rest, hooting gladly at the successful delivery. Harry put the Hogwarts letter aside to read later, no doubt in contained the same information as always. Expecting a birthday card, he was eager to read Ron's letter. However, when he opened the envelope a letter far from a birthday card met him.
Dear Harry,
Something horrible has happen. Ginny is missing! It must have happened during the night because when I went to get her this morning to come down to breakfast, she wasn't there. Dad told the ministry and Lucius Malfoy of all people is leading the search. I don't trust him, Mum doesn't either, but Dad says we don't have a choice. I just thought you should know. Be careful, no one knows why 'they' took Ginny.
Ron
Harry's brow furrowed upon reading the news. He rescanned the note several times to be sure he had read it right. The note offered very little information, in truth almost none. It wasn't even dated. Again he cursed his separation from the Wizarding World when on Privet Drive. No doubt the letter was old, writing to him wouldn't be the first thing on Ron's mind for one thing, and Pig wasn't known for his fast deliveries. Unlike Hedwig, Harry thought, who could find and deliver almost anything to anyone in a matter of days. That gave Harry an idea. If Hedwig could find anyone, perhaps he could find Ginny. After all, Hedwig did find Sirius while he was in hiding from the Ministry. Why couldn't she find Ginny? Then, even if Ginny couldn't write back, and Hedwig couldn't tell him, he would at the very least be able to inform the Weasleys that Ginny was okay. He sat down at his desk and began to compose two letters.
Ron, [the first one said]
Thanks for letting me know. I'll be careful but Dumbledore has me here for a reason, I believe I'm rather safe (but bored) here on Privet Drive. Would you still like me to come to stay with you? Of course I'll understand if your house is to busy or you just don't want a guest around. Hagrid will take me to Diagon Alley if I can't get there. I'm sending Hedwig to find Ginny. I plan on writing her a little note; if Hedwig comes back I'm sure she'll find a way to tell me if Ginny is okay. Good luck, and give me regards to your entire family.
Harry
Harry tied the letter to Pig's foot and sent him out the window. Hedwig hooted a bit upset at loosing a delivery to such an owl.
"Oh calm down," Harry said to his owl, "I have something much more important for you to do," and again he began to compose a letter.
Ginny,
Are you okay?? Ron owled me to tell me that you are missing! I plan on sending Hedwig out immediately to find you. Of course I know you probably aren't able to write back but Hedwig won't let this letter be taken by anyone but you. Hang in there! I hope I can see you at platform 9 ¾ come September 1.
Harry
P.S. Mr. Malfoy is leading the search at the ministry. It seems odd to me too!
"Hedwig," Harry said as he tied the letter to her leg, "This is very important. You must deliver this letter to Ginny Weasley, Ron's little sister, and ONLY Ginny Weasley. Okay?"
Hedwig gave a dignified hoot and affectionately nipped Harry's finger before soaring out the window.
"Now there's nothing to do but wait," Harry commented watching the snowy owl fly away.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Draco Malfoy stopped in front of his door, preparing to go meet 'the shrew'.
"Ginny!" He called pleasantly as he opened the door to find her sitting by a window staring out onto the grounds.
"Can't you give me a little peace?" she asked, her voice sounding strained.
"That's precisely what I'm here to do!" He chimed spiritedly. She was really making this too easy.
"Excuse me?"
"Well you can't stay in my room for the whole time your here. I figured I mine as well give you a comfortable room for your own, and how about a house elf to take care of you."
"No thank you," she said defiantly still gazing out the window. Well he certainly wasn't expecting that.
"Pardon?" He replied politely.
"I said NO THANK YOU," She turned to face him, tears welling up in her eyes, "I can take care of myself fine thanks."
"Well then," he said a little frazzled by her rejection, "I must insist on your own room. Certainly you don't want to sleep on the floor here or share my bed." For a few seconds she held his gaze, as if trying to contemplate his motives, but after those prolonged seconds she decided that whether his motives be good or bad, she would very much like her own room, and yes, even her own house elf. Without so much as a word she rose from her chair and prepared to follow Draco to whatever room he led her too.
The pair walked in silence along the halls, Ginny unwillingly admiring the grandness of the Manor and Draco cursing himself for allowing her that bit of control. How was he supposed to be authoritative, calm, and 'friendly' at the same time? Never had he imagined that he would look up to Dumbledore but right now he was. Dumbledore always managed to be authoritative, calm and friendly all at once. But how did he do it? Once Draco thought about it he realized that Dumbledore was just known to be powerful. It was a fact. Well, he was powerful too; he just had to prove it to Ginny. So with a devilish grin he pointed his wand at the carpet in front of her just as they were passing a staircase, raising it a few inches. Ginny, still looking up at the walls and ceiling tripped and nearly stumbled down the stairs.
"Be careful," he said, as he moved to catch her and she fell into his strong arms, "you almost tripped. You could have been seriously hurt." Ginny a little shaken from her near fall studied him for a second. He was holding her tight, her cheek pressed up against his toned chest. Draco towered almost a foot above her, and from what she had seen, and felt, she recalled with a wince, he was also rather strong. Suddenly, she remembered where she was and no near fall down the stairs could make her grateful to the boy who was holding her.
"I would rather be dead than here." she spat, straightening up and brushing off her robes. Draco couldn't help but reflect on how 'wonderfully' his father's plan was working out.
"Here we are," Draco said as they reached their destination. He opened the door to reveal a room much like his own except the décor was all pink. Ginny couldn't help it, her eyes growing wide in astonishment. The room was probably three times the size of her real one at home and ten times as nice.
"This is where you will be living." Draco said interrupting her gawking, "I'm going to assign you a house elf because I believe you need one. Women always need something. However, most of the time I will personably be bringing you your meals. You see Ginny, it gets rather boring around here, and I could do with a little company. Also, I'll see my mother about getting you some robes." with this Ginny glanced up at him expectedly never had she had new robes, always hand-me-downs, "Well you can't possibly want to stay in those. Anyways I'll leave that to me mother she'll know what style and colors you'll need. I'm sure there's some magazines over there, a chess set," he drawled on, "are you any good at chess Ginny?"
"Yes," she said absent mindedly still gazing in awe around the room, "I'm the best in the Weasley family."
"I'll have to play you sometime, I'm quite good myself. If you need anything, just call Zally, that's your house elf, and she'll check with me. Okay?"
"My elf has to check with you?" she questioned coming back to her senses.
"Why yes, of course she does." Ginny glared a second at him before turning towards the window.
"I like this room." she stated matter-of-factly.
"Why's that?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Because it has a window, and I can see what appears to be a quiditch pitch."
"You enjoy quiditch?" he inquired politely.
"Not particularly," she shrugged, "but I'll watch you play from here. Harry's going to be quiditch captain you know," she was still staring out the window, "and I'm sure he'll love to hear how you play. Of course, I doubt he'll need my help, after all, he's beaten you every time we play Slytherin." She turned towards him, eyes dancing with delight at the low blow she had just dealt. Draco balled his fist and dug his nails into his palm. He long to teach her a lesson, to hex her within an inch of her life until she admitted that Potter was no match for him.
Instead of cursing or hitting her he calmly replied, "Well, if I believed that I was in any danger of you telling Potter how I fly, I would cover the window. However, seeing as how you belong to me now, and I have no plans of letting you go for a few years at least, I see no reason to deny you the opportunity to admire the view of me on my new Firebolt." She turned her head back towards the window, his words repeating themselves in her head. 'A few years at least??' That was far to long. She felt Draco's presence behind her. "If you'd just let me show you a good time Ginny, I think you'll find life here at the Manor relatively enjoyable." She remained staring out the window not answering his question. Several long minutes passed in which Draco saw Ginny bring her hand up to her face, undoubtedly to wipe away tear. Draco refused to leave until she acknowledged what he had said. Finally she spoke.
"What's my house elf's name again?"
"Zally,"
"Well get her for me now, I'm hungry. I haven't had anything to eat since that wee bit of Dinner some elf brought up when I was in your father's study."
"You know, supper does sound good," he ignored the tone in her voice and treated it like a request, "I'll bring some up in about an hour. Maybe then we can have a game of chess?"
"An hour's a long time Draco, and I'm not about to willingly play you in chess. That would involve spending time around you." Draco cringed, every fiber of his being wanted to curse Ginny into the next century, but he had to be friendly yet controlling, thus making her wait an hour for her supper. How dare that girl talk to him that way? She had seen and felt what he could do to her.
"Well if you'll excuse me I have some quiditch practicing to do." He exited closing the door behind him and of course locking it.
Ginny was absolutely seething. That horrible git! How DARE he keep her here for a few years? Why, she would miss the best years of her life! Locked up in a blasted room doing nothing but being a good lay for Malfoy when he felt the need. She had a weapon though. He hated her crush on Harry. Thus she resolved to intensify her love for Harry, making sure Malfoy saw how undaunted she was by him.
Moments later she saw a small black dot mounted atop a broom rise from the ground of the quiditch pitch. The dot zoomed around making sharp turns and diving occasionally. Ginny was certain he was trying difficult stunts for her benefit, just for the sake of showing off. He turned and dived at an extraordinarily sharp angle. However, mid way through the dive, he somehow lost his grip on the broom and fell off, plummeting a good ten or fifteen meters to the ground. Ginny watch extremely amused as Malfoy flailed his arms as he fell. For the first time since she had been stolen from her room she smiled, and proceeding to collapse onto the ground in fits of laughter.