There were a few other students from Hogwarts meandering around Hogsmeade by the time Ginny arrived in the city. She went and bought Morgan her quill first because she knew she'd forget otherwise. She then did some shopping for her brothers: some parchment for Ron and a few pranks for Fred and George. Afterwards, Ginny headed to her favourite store: the bookshop. There was a display for a book by S. Anastasia Whisp, niece to the memorable Kennilworthy, author of Quidditch Through the Ages. After checking it out, she added the book to her basket. A few more selections, and Ginny went to the counter to pay.
Ginny had wanted to be back to Hogswarts by lunchtime, and as it was quickly approaching, she prepared to leave the city. Initially, she'd planned on spending more time in Hogsmeade, but there was only so much to do there. As she turned a corner, she heard "stupefy" behind her, and suddenly, Ginny couldn't move! A blindfold was put over her eyes and then she heard "mobiliarmus." Still frozen, Ginny began floating away, unsure where she was going or why. She was set down a few minutes later.
Still blindfolded and petrified, she couldn't feel anything. Someone muttered "ennervate," and Ginny struggled to get up, then realized she'd been chained down. Whoever was talking, Ginny didn't recognize the voice.
"Ginny, Ginny, dear sweet Ginny. Such a foolish girl. You should know better than to meddle where you don't belong. Of course, after my little lesson, I think you'll see how wrong you are. Crucio!" Ginny screamed as horrible pain racked her body. When it ended, Ginny slumped under her chains.
"You thought you could help Draco, did you? I'll tell you, he's not helping anyone. You're so naive, and trusting. You think he's good, don't you? If he is, I'll eat slugs... Like your darling brother did. Do you remember that, Ginny? Your first year at Hogwarts, when you opened the Chamber of Secrets? Of course you remember that." The voice was smug, and Ginny was hit again with the Crucio curse. "Don't worry though, your brother's just fine now... Safe at a Quidditch game..." The voice was mocking, the words lulling. Ginny began to panic; what were they doing to Ron?
The blindfold was removed, but Ginny couldn't see behind her. She was in a small room, with four wooden walls surrounding her, chained to the dirt floor. The door opposite her opened then closed, and Ginny knew her tormentor had left under in invisibility cloak. This at least told her something: whoever it was couldn't apparate. She knew she must still be somewhere in Hogsmeade, as she hadn't been moved very far. She struggled vainly against her bonds, but they were magical.
Ginny wanted to cry, but wouldn't let herself. She was still in pain from the curse, and no one knew she was missing. The only people who would notice her gone were at a Quidditch game, and Draco wasn't expecting her back to Hogwarts until lunch, and it was only 11:30. That wasn't for another hour, at least. And besides, suppose what the voice had said was true? Ginny didn't want to think that. Why should she listen to an evil person over Draco himself? ~*~
Meanwhile, at the Quidditch game:
"I'm going buy a drink. Anyone want anything while I'm gone?" Ron asked. Harry and Morgan were in the middle of cheering a fantastic play by the Arrows, but managed to ask for drinks.
"Thanks, Ron," Morgan called after him. She turned to Harry. "Thank you so much for inviting me; this is awesome!"
"No problem. If it were just Ron and I we'd be fighting over who's going to win the whole time." Morgan laughed.
"This is a close game," she said. "It's anyone's guess, really."
"Yeah," Harry said, then paused. "I'm glad you came." Ron returned with a holder and three drinks. He handed them to Morgan and Harry in turn, then removed his from the little cardboard holder.
"Huh?" He pulled a folded up paper from the bottom of the holder. Opening the note, Ron read it. His eyes going wide, he passed it to Harry, who read it then cursed under his breath. Morgan got worried.
"What? What's wrong?"
"Ginny." One word, spoken slowly by Ron.
"What about her?"
"It says they've got her. But who's they? And what do they want with her?" Harry's brow creased in thought.
"I don't know, but we can't do anything here!" Ron said. "What should we do?"
"We could leave," Harry suggested. Both Ron and Morgan's faces fell.
"But Harry! We don't know that anything's actually wrong, I mean, that note could mean anything."
"And the game's not even half over!" Morgan protested. Harry was shocked.
"You guys care so much, don't you?" Morgan blushed.
"It's not that, but really, let's think about this. What in the world could Ginny possibly have gotten herself involved in that's bad? She's the quiet girl who talks to no one but Hermione and us. Surely Hermione didn't do something wrong. So whatever this note means, it's got to be a joke. We don't even know who it's from!"
"I see your point. After first year, Ginny doesn't bother doing anything that could remotely be trouble," Ron said. Harry looked doubtful. Slowly, he agreed. Ron threw away the note, and they continued watching the game. ~*~
Back at Hogwarts:
It was lunchtime. Draco scanned the Great Hall, but couldn't find Ginny. He supposed she'd taken longer in Hogsmeade than she'd anticipated. Just like a girl when shopping. Still, he wondered when she'd be back.
Draco noticed Colin and Lavander sitting next to each other- not a good sign. The two usually didn't cavort openly. They left together just as Draco finished eating. He stole after them, oblivious to Goyle and Crabbe's exclamations of him leaving food on his plate.
"So she thinks he's evil now!" Lavander was cackling to Colin when Draco could finally overhear them. Colin snorted.
"It's a shame he's not."
"Which is strange, considering his father... I don't understand how he could be a prominent DeathEater and his son not be influenced."
"It wouldn't be so bad if he was indifferent, but no, actually trying to help people? How silly is that? It could be worse though, he could suspect us."
"He's not that smart."
"Not even with that stupid girl helping him?"
"She's dumber than he is! I'm in class with her, remember? Just because she's got the best scores academically doesn't mean she has any common sense."
"Ah, too true." Draco felt his stomach knot. They had to be talking about him and Ginny. They knew he was trying to 'help' people, and thought his father was a DeathEater. That much was okay, just so they didn't figure out he was keeping a giant file on them all. But what did they mean, she thought he was evil? Something was not right.
"How long do you think she'll last?" Colin asked presently.
"Not much longer. She didn't cry though. Tougher than she looks. Won't matter in the end." Lavander responded pleasantly. Draco felt sick. What had she done to Ginny?
"Oh, but it's my turn next!" Colin whined. "And we don't have much time. Somebody's bound to notice if she's gone too much longer."
"Who? The only people that might care are at that game. Did you deliver the note?"
"Yep. He got it; I saw them all read it. They talked, and then just sat there! Can you believe that? Not going to her aid, how cruel is that?" Colin laughed.
"Ohh, but I was going to have so much fun if they decided to look for her!" Lavander pouted. Draco had heard enough. He listened to them until they disappeared into their common room then headed to his own. He gathered a few things he thought he might need then left the castle using the secret passage under the whomping willow. He came out of the trapdoor at the shack in Hogsmeade, only to see Ginny passed out and chained up a few feet away from him. She looked a mess. He rushed over to her.
"Ginny!" He tried reviving her, but she wouldn't stir. Taking out his wand, he removed the chains. He tried again to wake her, and this time, she slowly came to.
"Draco?" Ginny's voice was faint. She'd been chained for over an hour.
"Shh," he told her, and checked her carefully for wounds. Then he picked her up and started back through the tunnel. Somehow, he managed to smuggle her to the hospital wing without being seen.
"What happened to her?!" Mme. Pomfrey demanded. Draco shrugged helplessly; he honestly didn't know. Ginny'd been given a sleeping draught and would not wake for a few hours. Draco sat next to her until Harry, Ron, and Morgan came in. He eyed them.
"You knew she was in trouble."
"No, we didn't!" Ron said, indignant. "What are you doing here anyway, Malfoy? What do you care?"
"I found her," he answered angrily. Ron shut his mouth.
"How did you know we knew she was in trouble? Not that we did, but why did you think that?" Harry asked.
"I heard someone talking, said you'd gotten a note but didn't do anything about it."
"We thought it was a joke," Morgan insisted. Draco raised an eyebrow at her.
"I ask again, Malfoy, why do you care?" Ron spat. Draco couldn't answer that, and angrily left the room. If he had, he might've blown the cover on their sleuthing, or worse. The three Gryffindors watched him leave. The noise had apparently woken Ginny.
"Ron? Harry? Morgan?" She was still weak, but would be fine.
"Ginny!" Ron hugged her, then Morgan, and lastly Harry. "What happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it, Ron, please. I'm not feeling very well, could you get Mme Pomfrey?" When the nurse arrived, she ushered the three out and asked Ginny what was wrong.
"I just can't deal with them right now, Mme Pomfrey. Could you do me a favour? Please?"
"Of course, honey, anything you want."
"Get Draco? But don't let anyone know he's coming to see me." Pomfrey smiled and left, returning a few minutes later with Draco. He hadn't gone far when he'd left.
"Ginny," he said, softly. She tried to smile. "Can you tell me what happened? If not, it's okay."
"They thought it was a joke?" She asked, and tears started to slip down her face, finally. She hadn't cried yet, but hearing her best friend tell Draco they hadn't believed she was in trouble hurt more than anything else. Draco hugged her.
"All the note said was, 'we have Ginny.' Hardly enough for them to go on..." He tried reassuring her. Personally, he was mad at them too for casting it aside like that. He hadn't thought they were that stupid.
"You're not evil," Ginny told him decisively. Draco laughed.
"Of course I'm not. I knew you wouldn't believe them."
"How did you know they-"
"I saw Lavander and Colin leave lunch together. Thinking it strange, I followed and overheard them saying it. It was just luck I happened to take that passage to Hogsmeade and find you."
"Thank you," Ginny said, earnestly. "I couldn't recognize the voice, it must've been disguised... I'd been on my way out of the city, when someone surprised me from behind with a 'stupefy.' They moved me to the shack; I suppose it was. Whoever it was said some nasty things and tried to discourage me from helping you." Draco hugged her again, but didn't let go.
"Go on..." Ginny began sobbing now, and Draco was at a loss. He held her. "What is it?"
"They did- they did Crucio," she whispered. "Twice." Though Ginny couldn't see it, Draco's eyes blazed. They'd pay. No questions anymore.
"Shh, it's okay; you're safe now," he told her. She slowly stopped crying, and he let her go. Mme Pomfrey came in; it was time for him to leave.
"Ginny, dear, I want you to stay here tonight. How do you feel?"
"Sore."
"Yes, well, I don't know what happened, you won't tell me, but I'll help you as best I can," Mme Pomfrey said plaintively.
"If I could have some sort of painkillers, I'll be fine," Ginny mumbled. If she told her what had happened, Dumbledore would be alerted, and she'd have to tell everything. That wouldn't help anything. The nurse returned with some pills and left her to sleep. ~*~
"How can she not be here?!" Colin screamed. He cursed; somehow Ginny had gotten away. Now they couldn't do Imperio on her, dammit.
Ginny had wanted to be back to Hogswarts by lunchtime, and as it was quickly approaching, she prepared to leave the city. Initially, she'd planned on spending more time in Hogsmeade, but there was only so much to do there. As she turned a corner, she heard "stupefy" behind her, and suddenly, Ginny couldn't move! A blindfold was put over her eyes and then she heard "mobiliarmus." Still frozen, Ginny began floating away, unsure where she was going or why. She was set down a few minutes later.
Still blindfolded and petrified, she couldn't feel anything. Someone muttered "ennervate," and Ginny struggled to get up, then realized she'd been chained down. Whoever was talking, Ginny didn't recognize the voice.
"Ginny, Ginny, dear sweet Ginny. Such a foolish girl. You should know better than to meddle where you don't belong. Of course, after my little lesson, I think you'll see how wrong you are. Crucio!" Ginny screamed as horrible pain racked her body. When it ended, Ginny slumped under her chains.
"You thought you could help Draco, did you? I'll tell you, he's not helping anyone. You're so naive, and trusting. You think he's good, don't you? If he is, I'll eat slugs... Like your darling brother did. Do you remember that, Ginny? Your first year at Hogwarts, when you opened the Chamber of Secrets? Of course you remember that." The voice was smug, and Ginny was hit again with the Crucio curse. "Don't worry though, your brother's just fine now... Safe at a Quidditch game..." The voice was mocking, the words lulling. Ginny began to panic; what were they doing to Ron?
The blindfold was removed, but Ginny couldn't see behind her. She was in a small room, with four wooden walls surrounding her, chained to the dirt floor. The door opposite her opened then closed, and Ginny knew her tormentor had left under in invisibility cloak. This at least told her something: whoever it was couldn't apparate. She knew she must still be somewhere in Hogsmeade, as she hadn't been moved very far. She struggled vainly against her bonds, but they were magical.
Ginny wanted to cry, but wouldn't let herself. She was still in pain from the curse, and no one knew she was missing. The only people who would notice her gone were at a Quidditch game, and Draco wasn't expecting her back to Hogwarts until lunch, and it was only 11:30. That wasn't for another hour, at least. And besides, suppose what the voice had said was true? Ginny didn't want to think that. Why should she listen to an evil person over Draco himself? ~*~
Meanwhile, at the Quidditch game:
"I'm going buy a drink. Anyone want anything while I'm gone?" Ron asked. Harry and Morgan were in the middle of cheering a fantastic play by the Arrows, but managed to ask for drinks.
"Thanks, Ron," Morgan called after him. She turned to Harry. "Thank you so much for inviting me; this is awesome!"
"No problem. If it were just Ron and I we'd be fighting over who's going to win the whole time." Morgan laughed.
"This is a close game," she said. "It's anyone's guess, really."
"Yeah," Harry said, then paused. "I'm glad you came." Ron returned with a holder and three drinks. He handed them to Morgan and Harry in turn, then removed his from the little cardboard holder.
"Huh?" He pulled a folded up paper from the bottom of the holder. Opening the note, Ron read it. His eyes going wide, he passed it to Harry, who read it then cursed under his breath. Morgan got worried.
"What? What's wrong?"
"Ginny." One word, spoken slowly by Ron.
"What about her?"
"It says they've got her. But who's they? And what do they want with her?" Harry's brow creased in thought.
"I don't know, but we can't do anything here!" Ron said. "What should we do?"
"We could leave," Harry suggested. Both Ron and Morgan's faces fell.
"But Harry! We don't know that anything's actually wrong, I mean, that note could mean anything."
"And the game's not even half over!" Morgan protested. Harry was shocked.
"You guys care so much, don't you?" Morgan blushed.
"It's not that, but really, let's think about this. What in the world could Ginny possibly have gotten herself involved in that's bad? She's the quiet girl who talks to no one but Hermione and us. Surely Hermione didn't do something wrong. So whatever this note means, it's got to be a joke. We don't even know who it's from!"
"I see your point. After first year, Ginny doesn't bother doing anything that could remotely be trouble," Ron said. Harry looked doubtful. Slowly, he agreed. Ron threw away the note, and they continued watching the game. ~*~
Back at Hogwarts:
It was lunchtime. Draco scanned the Great Hall, but couldn't find Ginny. He supposed she'd taken longer in Hogsmeade than she'd anticipated. Just like a girl when shopping. Still, he wondered when she'd be back.
Draco noticed Colin and Lavander sitting next to each other- not a good sign. The two usually didn't cavort openly. They left together just as Draco finished eating. He stole after them, oblivious to Goyle and Crabbe's exclamations of him leaving food on his plate.
"So she thinks he's evil now!" Lavander was cackling to Colin when Draco could finally overhear them. Colin snorted.
"It's a shame he's not."
"Which is strange, considering his father... I don't understand how he could be a prominent DeathEater and his son not be influenced."
"It wouldn't be so bad if he was indifferent, but no, actually trying to help people? How silly is that? It could be worse though, he could suspect us."
"He's not that smart."
"Not even with that stupid girl helping him?"
"She's dumber than he is! I'm in class with her, remember? Just because she's got the best scores academically doesn't mean she has any common sense."
"Ah, too true." Draco felt his stomach knot. They had to be talking about him and Ginny. They knew he was trying to 'help' people, and thought his father was a DeathEater. That much was okay, just so they didn't figure out he was keeping a giant file on them all. But what did they mean, she thought he was evil? Something was not right.
"How long do you think she'll last?" Colin asked presently.
"Not much longer. She didn't cry though. Tougher than she looks. Won't matter in the end." Lavander responded pleasantly. Draco felt sick. What had she done to Ginny?
"Oh, but it's my turn next!" Colin whined. "And we don't have much time. Somebody's bound to notice if she's gone too much longer."
"Who? The only people that might care are at that game. Did you deliver the note?"
"Yep. He got it; I saw them all read it. They talked, and then just sat there! Can you believe that? Not going to her aid, how cruel is that?" Colin laughed.
"Ohh, but I was going to have so much fun if they decided to look for her!" Lavander pouted. Draco had heard enough. He listened to them until they disappeared into their common room then headed to his own. He gathered a few things he thought he might need then left the castle using the secret passage under the whomping willow. He came out of the trapdoor at the shack in Hogsmeade, only to see Ginny passed out and chained up a few feet away from him. She looked a mess. He rushed over to her.
"Ginny!" He tried reviving her, but she wouldn't stir. Taking out his wand, he removed the chains. He tried again to wake her, and this time, she slowly came to.
"Draco?" Ginny's voice was faint. She'd been chained for over an hour.
"Shh," he told her, and checked her carefully for wounds. Then he picked her up and started back through the tunnel. Somehow, he managed to smuggle her to the hospital wing without being seen.
"What happened to her?!" Mme. Pomfrey demanded. Draco shrugged helplessly; he honestly didn't know. Ginny'd been given a sleeping draught and would not wake for a few hours. Draco sat next to her until Harry, Ron, and Morgan came in. He eyed them.
"You knew she was in trouble."
"No, we didn't!" Ron said, indignant. "What are you doing here anyway, Malfoy? What do you care?"
"I found her," he answered angrily. Ron shut his mouth.
"How did you know we knew she was in trouble? Not that we did, but why did you think that?" Harry asked.
"I heard someone talking, said you'd gotten a note but didn't do anything about it."
"We thought it was a joke," Morgan insisted. Draco raised an eyebrow at her.
"I ask again, Malfoy, why do you care?" Ron spat. Draco couldn't answer that, and angrily left the room. If he had, he might've blown the cover on their sleuthing, or worse. The three Gryffindors watched him leave. The noise had apparently woken Ginny.
"Ron? Harry? Morgan?" She was still weak, but would be fine.
"Ginny!" Ron hugged her, then Morgan, and lastly Harry. "What happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it, Ron, please. I'm not feeling very well, could you get Mme Pomfrey?" When the nurse arrived, she ushered the three out and asked Ginny what was wrong.
"I just can't deal with them right now, Mme Pomfrey. Could you do me a favour? Please?"
"Of course, honey, anything you want."
"Get Draco? But don't let anyone know he's coming to see me." Pomfrey smiled and left, returning a few minutes later with Draco. He hadn't gone far when he'd left.
"Ginny," he said, softly. She tried to smile. "Can you tell me what happened? If not, it's okay."
"They thought it was a joke?" She asked, and tears started to slip down her face, finally. She hadn't cried yet, but hearing her best friend tell Draco they hadn't believed she was in trouble hurt more than anything else. Draco hugged her.
"All the note said was, 'we have Ginny.' Hardly enough for them to go on..." He tried reassuring her. Personally, he was mad at them too for casting it aside like that. He hadn't thought they were that stupid.
"You're not evil," Ginny told him decisively. Draco laughed.
"Of course I'm not. I knew you wouldn't believe them."
"How did you know they-"
"I saw Lavander and Colin leave lunch together. Thinking it strange, I followed and overheard them saying it. It was just luck I happened to take that passage to Hogsmeade and find you."
"Thank you," Ginny said, earnestly. "I couldn't recognize the voice, it must've been disguised... I'd been on my way out of the city, when someone surprised me from behind with a 'stupefy.' They moved me to the shack; I suppose it was. Whoever it was said some nasty things and tried to discourage me from helping you." Draco hugged her again, but didn't let go.
"Go on..." Ginny began sobbing now, and Draco was at a loss. He held her. "What is it?"
"They did- they did Crucio," she whispered. "Twice." Though Ginny couldn't see it, Draco's eyes blazed. They'd pay. No questions anymore.
"Shh, it's okay; you're safe now," he told her. She slowly stopped crying, and he let her go. Mme Pomfrey came in; it was time for him to leave.
"Ginny, dear, I want you to stay here tonight. How do you feel?"
"Sore."
"Yes, well, I don't know what happened, you won't tell me, but I'll help you as best I can," Mme Pomfrey said plaintively.
"If I could have some sort of painkillers, I'll be fine," Ginny mumbled. If she told her what had happened, Dumbledore would be alerted, and she'd have to tell everything. That wouldn't help anything. The nurse returned with some pills and left her to sleep. ~*~
"How can she not be here?!" Colin screamed. He cursed; somehow Ginny had gotten away. Now they couldn't do Imperio on her, dammit.