Ginny sat up in bed and wondered what she had done. All she knew was that Draco had gone from soothing to rigid in a split second. She worried. What had caused this drastic change in him? Well one thing was obvious; sobbing was NOT a good idea at all. Draco must have suddenly realized she was talking about her family and was intending to punish her. At least that's the only logical conclusion she could come to seeing as how he left out exactly the way as last time he had decided to leave her alone for a week. Ginny groaned aloud, not wishing to repeat those horribly boring seven days. What would she do if Draco left her alone again? Not only would she not be able to get his wand to perform the counter charm, she would have nothing to do either. Of course, she had Harry and everyone's letters to keep her entertained but those lasted for five minutes and only came every two days at most. She got up and got dressed quickly, as if doing things fast may make the time Draco was away with his wand pass faster. Only, she noticed a spot from today's breakfast on her robes.

"Zally!" she called testily. The elf appeared with a little pop.

"Yes Ginny?"

"There's a spot on these robes! I need new ones."

"Yes Ginny, right away." she said and was gone with a pop, returning half a second later with new robes.

"You don't have to approve my request with Draco anymore?" she asked the elf, interpreting its hasty return.

"No Ginny."

"Expand," Ginny said. She had grown used to the house elf and had long ago given up on manners with it. It was after all, only a house elf and the more she ordered it the happier it seemed to be.

"Master Draco sir just said that Zally didn't have to ask him for things for Ginny anymore."

"When?" she questioned.

"Three days ago Ginny," she said

"And why don't you call me miss?"

"Master Draco Zally was supposed to address Ginny as just Ginny and nothing else."

"How many house elves do the Malfoy's own?" she asked out of pure curiosity.

"Five Ginny,"

"Do you like working for the Malfoys?" she asked.

"Yes!" the elf said, "Zally is a good elf and is a good house elf to her family!!" Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Dismissed." she said and the elf vanished. House elves were pathetic, simple-minded creatures, yet Ginny couldn't help but reflect how much she had to act like a house elf to get Draco to do what she wanted. It was stupid. But now what would she do? If Draco wasn't here she was powerless. She sincerely hoped Draco had just remembered something very important. Something that would make him go rigid because he had forgotten to do it and it had to be done right away.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

A week after the first time Harry had gone to find the fireplace the Weasleys decided it was time for another visit. After Harry had delivered the counter-charm they were certain Ginny would be with them again soon and thus, hadn't bothered to send Ginny any owls with this assumption in mind. However, after a week of silence and no appearing Ginny, everyone was beginning to worry she had been caught or something went wrong and whole heartily agreed it was time for Harry to pay another visit to the Malfoy Manor. This time Ron was to accompany him. It was decided that only kids should go for now. The ministry couldn't do too much to them. It was common knowledge that Harry and Ron were arch enemies with Draco Malfoy at school and all the Weasleys hoped the Ministry would only perceive it to be a harmless school prank carried only a bit to far. And Minister Fudge would hardly punish Harry Potter.

"Malfoy Manor," Ron said throwing a bit of floo powder in and Harry followed suit. Harry felt the now familiar yet still highly dreaded spinning start and seconds later there they were in the Malfoy Manor, landing with a small thud and a muffled 'ugh' from Harry. Mr. Malfoy was working at his desk across the room and looked up, his face betraying how annoyed he would be to receive visitors at the time. However he looked back down shaking his head and muttering, "stupid house elves break everything." Mr. Malfoy returned to scribbling with a long peacock feather quill. Very carefully, Ron and Harry shuffled towards the door and Harry silently steered Ron in the direction of Ginny's room.

Meanwhile, six days of almost constant worrying and anticipation of Draco's wand's return was beginning to take its toll on Ginny. She hadn't gotten any letters from her parents and was worried that Draco or Mr. Malfoy had intercepted them. What if Malfoy didn't come to visit her before he left for school? She wouldn't be able to get out without that wand, and he had to be inside the room too! What would she do to for human company? Was her only option for interaction with a living thing Zally until Christmas? And then, what if he didn't come home for Christmas? Thoughts like these had been spinning through Ginny's head for the last day. What if they were just going to leave her here and let her go insane? Or worse, what if they were going to use her for some sort of ritual or torture her for information? Not that she had any. To top it all off, she was starting to feel ill, but she waved away her constant nausea with stress. She wasn't completely bored, just lonely, due to Zally's sudden appearance with parchment, new ink, quills and books so she had found something to occupy her time. Zally had appeared just three days ago saying, "Master Draco Sir thought Ginny might be bored," and since than Ginny had been writing. Still nothing filled in for human companionship. There was of course the charm to keep her busy too. By now she was certain she could perform the charm given the chance. The sheet not only contained the charm and a brief history but also a lengthy section on the theory behind it. Ginny was completely baffled about what she had done and how she could get Malfoy back under her thumb. Apparently damsel in distress would no longer work? Seductress maybe? But oh that would be a hard change to make. So deep was she in thought about all the possible problems and solutions that a sudden knock near the door caused her to jump and she had to muffle a startled cry.

"Ginny!" she heard Ron's voice say.

"RON," she flew to the door and was so excited about seeing anyone, let alone her favorite brother, she forgot about the charm. "Ouch!!" she hissed as the door burned her skin.

"You okay Ginny?" Ron asked.

"Yes, it's just this charm. What are you doing here? Why haven't you sent any owls?"

"We thought you'd be back by now, so I'm checking on you. Harry's with me by the way. Why aren't you back? We're all worried sick!"

"Hey Harry," Ginny said absentmindedly, "Oh Malfoy hasn't come to see me and I was planning on getting his wand while he slept in the morning after he well, you know-" about now Harry vowed to kill Malfoy, "-but I haven't seen him for a week! I have no clue what I'm going to do!"

"Is there anything we can do?" Harry asked.

"No, nothing at all. Unless either one of you knows how to do the Imperious Curse. Or happens to be Draco Malfoy."

"Polyjuice Potion!!" Harry suddenly said.

"Wouldn't work," Ginny informed then dejectedly, "For one you couldn't get inside without Malfoy's wand and even if you sent it to me the sheet specifically said Polyjuice potion wouldn't work."

"Oh, Sorry," Harry said.

"Can we bring you anything else?" Ron asked earnestly.

"Not really, they're feeding me and all," she sighed.

"Footsteps!!" one of the boys hissed. Ginny ran back to the bed, grabbing a book on the way to look casual. The two boys outside the door flatten themselves against a wall. But hearts beating loudly the watched as Lucius walked briskly by not even coming close to hitting them. Once he turned the corner and the footsteps died away they both ran back to the door, "Gin," Harry said wrapping his knuckles lightly, "Ginny? It was just Mr. Malfoy passing by."

"Harry? Ron?" she said approaching the door her voice serious yet, shaking, "That was way to close, I don't want you guys coming back. I'm already on thin ice for, something, but if Mr. Malfoy had found you there, I don't think he'd ever let me out. That's not to mention how much danger Harry is in by being here. Just- just go on with your lives." she said, voice still audibly shaking.

"Ginny we can't!" that was Harry.

"But you have to! Look, I don't know if I'll even get out until Christmas. Go to Diagon Alley and get your school stuff. Don't let the Malfoy's know you know I'm here."

"Gin, no way!" Ron protested.

"Yes," she hissed, "For all we know I'm serving as bait for Harry too! Just send me owls to keep me busy."

"Gin-"

"I mean it!" she said. "Look I've dealt with Malfoy so far haven't I? Once he goes to school he obviously can't bother me too much. I'll find a way out of here."

"Ginny, we're worried!" Harry's voice spoke up.

"Don't be. I'll be fine. Now go!" she commanded through the door.

"I'm not saying to ignore me but just don't come anymore! You've given me everything I need. Now stop putting us all in danger! I'm thankful that you came but please, I don't need Mum and Dad worrying about me more. Tell them I'm fine and that I'm really close to getting out. Don't forget to tell everyone I miss them very much."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, now go."

"Alright Ginny," Harry said hesitantly still not sure if he should accept her reasoning, "hang in there, don't let Malfoy get you down."

"I won't"

"Bye Ginny. We all miss you." Rob chipped in.

"I miss everyone very much too. Bye." she said.

"Bye." Harry said and started back towards the floo room, grateful that they had seen Mr. Malfoy walk by.

The sound of their retreating steps brought tears to her eyes. Right then and there she made a decision, she would do whatever it took to get out.

~

Late that night Draco Malfoy was standing in the middle of his room. He was trying desperately to muster up enough courage to make himself apperate to the other side but couldn't bring himself to do it. His father had taught him the skill during the past summer but he had ended up splinching himself once and had since lost his appetite for apperating. He was quite glad when he left for school that September and had an excuse not to practice for a whole ten months. This summer he had been putting off trying again, getting splinched was not an experience he cared to repeat. But now it was only a week and a few odd days until he went back to Hogwarts and he knew he needed to try again before he lost his chance less he wanted his father to be even more disappointed in him. Draco took a big breath and closed his eyes. 'Just go to the bed' he told himself, 'it's damn near impossible to splinch oneself when apperating within the same room.' Finally he gathered up all the courage he had and closed his eyes. He concentrated hard, picturing himself on the bed safe and in one piece. "Appero," he whispered and shut his eyes tight. When he dared to wink open one eye he was still standing directly in the center of the room where he had been. Draco let out a frustrated cry and burst a vase into a thousand pieces. No one ever said the Malfoy's were known for their good tempers.

Ever since he had walked out of Ginny's room he had been in a sour mood. The house elves had even begun to avoid him. The girl was getting to him. She was going to his head, and not the one he wanted her too. Tonight though, he was just too upset to care, he desperately needed to get out some of this frustration and a visit to the girl would be perfect. He stormed out of his room and down a bit to hers. He usually entered her room sly, as a fox but today in all his frustration he opened the door sending it flying on it's hinges into the opposite wall. He found Ginny curled up in an armchair she had pulled up to the fire reading a book he had ordered Zally to bring her. She looked up upon his noisy arrival. His eyes met hers but he couldn't read what was in them. They were big and was that fear, relief, or possibly dread? Draco didn't know and didn't care. She put down her book and looked right at him. He walked over to her and pulled her roughly to her feet.

"Draco," she said, "where have you been?"

"I haven't felt like visiting you."

"Oh," there was a pause. Draco liked it this way. He was a good foot taller than her and he loved holding her like this. She seemed so defenseless and he felt so powerful. No, he didn't harbor any feelings for the girl. He just wanted a pet, and Ginny was a good pet. "Well I was lonely without you," she said suddenly, and begun to run his fingers on his chest, undoing a button, "You won't stay away that long again will you?" she asked innocently and looked up at him with big brown doe eyes. Draco snatched her fingers roughly from his chest and as she let out a surprised gasp he covered her mouth with his. Ginny, he was surprised to find, responded with a great deal of urgency. Yes, Ginny would make a perfect pet. He couldn't wait to send her letters from Hogwarts and have her reply that she had missed him. Draco couldn't help but reflect that he had accomplished his goal as he ran a hand up the inside of Ginny's robes only to hear her respond, "Malfoy" in a breathy sort of way. Ginny wanted him and not Potter. Life was good. This assumption made that night's little session much more enjoyable for him, but a bit painful for Ginny.

In truth, Malfoy was partly right. Ginny didn't really think about Harry all that much anymore and was even surprised by her lack of excitement in his visit that day. She couldn't help but reflect on all this as she waited for Malfoy to fall asleep. Soon his breathing became deep and when she put her ear delicately to his chest she could hear his heart beating in a persistent and oddly soothing rhythm. Again she went to fetch his wand. She found it tucked in the pocket of his robe. Malfoy really was stupid to just leave the wand there. She went to the door holding her breath. If the spell didn't work she didn't know what she would do, and she had just told Ron and Harry not to come back. Before, she was sure she could, but now, actually facing the challenge she was beginning to have her doubts.

Taking a deep, and what was supposed to be calming breath she raised Draco's wand. "Tepesco Procaptus" she whispered the charm. Cautiously she reached out to touch the door, ready to pull back her hand in case it burned. To her delight the door was a perfectly normal temperature. Every fiber of her body wanted to jump and scream in celebration. The sheet also said that the door would be warm to the caster's touch, 'foveo," she whispered the warming charm. Very rarely did Malfoy ever touch the door, just used his wand to open and shut it, but she put it on as a precaution. Any day now she would burst into the Burrow. An ear-to-ear smile on her face, Ginny went back to bed and lay down next to Malfoy.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I hope you like. I'm almost done with this but I've started getting involved in writing Perfectly Dark (Yes, that is a shameless plug to get you to read it) so I don't know how long until I get the rest up. I'll try to finish before I go on Vacation in two weeks. No Promises though.