Summary: Ginny Weasley disappeared within a week of graduating from Hogwarts, and Draco Malfoy swore that he would find her if it killed him. Now, three years and an anonymous tip off later, it just might do that. And if he's not careful, her too. In order to protect the world and the woman he fell in love with from a new and perhaps even more dangerous threat, he must swallow his pride and team up with his childhood nemesis before someone else disappears.


Disclaimer: I own nothing. I'm a University student. I have no money.


Note: This part was originally put up as a separate story, because of the reasons I've already explained in Chapter 5. However, I couldn't get it up with the rest of the story because of something stupid that my computer was doing. This bit is rather important to the story, so I'm putting it up where it's supposed to be. Or where it could go, at any rate.



Interlude: Part 1


Ginny had no idea how long she had been sitting in her prison. She did know that it had been at least one day, but without any light to judge by, it was impossible to tell any passing of time beyond that. She didn't even know how big her cell was, it was that dark. She sat, staring at what she assumed to be the opposite wall, wondering whether or not it was time to be sleeping, eating, or playing. The last option was out of course, given her situation, and since they never gave her food anyway, that only left sleeping. And she really didn't want to sleep. So she wondered instead. She wondered if Silvanna had arrived at Hogwarts safely, she wondered if Dumbledore had sent her to Draco. She wondered if Draco understood why she left in the first place. She wondered if she was going mad. Simple things really. At least remembering was something to do. As long as she had things to remember, she would be fine.

****

"Where are we going?" She asked, as she ran down the lawn trying to keep up with him.

"Somewhere else."

"I gathered that. Why are you taking me somewhere else with you?"

"I already explained that."

"Just because I'm the only one you find worthy of your time, doesn't mean that you can just drag me around on whim."

"Ah, but you know that you want to do something else anyway, does it matter if it's with me?"

"No...I suppose not. But if you try anything funny, I swear..."

"You'll hex me into next week. I know, I've heard it all before."

"So where is this glamorous 'somewhere else' that you seem so eager to get to?"

"Around."

"Well, that narrows the field a bit. Have you gone mad, Malfoy?"

"Not yet." He grinned at her wolfishly, and she wondered for a brief moment if she should have declined the invitation, but figured, what the heck, she had her wand. He still had a grip on her hand, and she was starting to get rather tired of trying to match his long strides. But she couldn't deny that the running felt good, even if she was following the bane of her brother's existence. A brisk October wind was brushing against her cheeks, and ruffling through her hair, and sunlight was glinting off the lake, making it a beautiful day. She laughed. Malfoy turned to look at her and he grinned again, looking very pleased with everything. A look she never would have guessed he could have. He looked carefree, and happy. Suddenly, she knew that there must be more to Draco Malfoy than met the eye. She was so busy studying him that she didn't notice they had run off a cliff face until they were on the way down.

****

She smiled grimly, remembering that time in her existence. Life had been good then. She had discovered a new purpose, finding out what made Draco Malfoy tick. And it had been fun. The times that had followed had been some of the best that she ever had. Of course, none of those times were as vivid in her memory as the first time she ever had to trust him.

****

"MALFOY!!" She screamed as they fell. She couldn't believe this, she'd just done what every mother in the history of the world has recited to her children. 'If so and so were to jump off a cliff, would you do it too?' She could even hear the words in her mind. She distinctly heard him chuckle.

"Open your eyes, Virginia. You never know what you might see."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you just dragged me off a cliff, and we are falling to our deaths. If I open my eyes, I'll see you laughing at me."

"Why should I laugh at you?"

"Because, you probably have a way out of this, and leave me in mid air to die."

"Really, Virginia. Is that what you think of me? I'll have to work on that. I'm not going to leave you here to die."

"How do I know that you're telling me the truth."

"I never lie. Trust me." Ginny kept her eyes firmly shut. "Ginny....I swear on my life that I wouldn't do anything to you that I wouldn't feel safe doing." He pleaded with her. Maybe it was that pleading note that made her do it, or maybe it was something else, but she opened her eyes. He smiled at her.

"There now. Was that so hard?"

"Harder than you might think. Now what are we doing?"

"Take a look for yourself." She looked around cautiously, and noticed that the only reason she thought she was still in mid air was because she had jumped on him when her feet initially left the ground. He was holding her up, while he stood on...

"What is that?" She asked, pointing at the board he was standing on.

"That? Oh nothing much. Just something I found out here one day. Come on." Then he put her down and led her off of the surface, and into a dense bush.

"Malfoy, where are we going? And if you say somewhere...."

"It's a secret."

"A secret from who?"

"Everyone who doesn't understand."

"I'm not sure I understand." She said quietly. He stopped moving for a moment and studied her.

"You do. You don't know that you do, but you do." He told her. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well I'm glad that one of us is so sure about that."

****

All it had been was a small clearing that was practically impossible to see from anywhere. Just a little sheltered bit, that no body knew about, and nobody would find. Perfect for thinking. She had even told him that at the time. And he'd agreed with her. He was right of course. She did understand. She understood perfectly. She only hoped that he would understood her reasons the same way she understood his. Ginny drifted in and out of sleep for a while before another strain of thought took over.

How she wished she could see him just once more. There were so many 'if only's' in her life. If only she'd told him, if only he'd found her, if only she'd returned a year ago, if only she'd talked to anyone else, if only this, if only that. It was a nightmare of thought that just wouldn't go away. And then there were the number of times that he could have found her, if it hadn't been for Blaise. It was a curious friendship that she had with the older girl, but worthwhile nonetheless.

****

"Well, I must say I never thought I'd find a familiar face way out here." A voice stated from behind her. Ginny turned around quickly, startled. She was even more startled when she realised who it was that was standing behind her.

"Blaise Zabini? Is that you?"

"Of course it's me. And it's Barbara now, if you don't mind."

"Barbara?"

"Yeah. I discovered that Blaise was a tad conspicuous. And, when you don't want to be found, being conspicuous is not something you want to be." The girl said with a shrug. She gestured to a table to her right. "Shall we sit?" Ginny sat, she was tired and could do with some rest. Blaise took the liberty of ordering the pair of them some drinks and then looked pointedly at Ginny.

"So, what could the great Virginia Weasley be running away from. So far that she ends up in a town considered backward, even by Muggle standards?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not great. And don't call me Virginia. I left that name behind."

"So what do you want to be called?"

"Just Ginny. That's what everyone calls me."

"Alright. Ginny, why are you running away?"

"Why did you?"

"Reasons that you can't comprehend."

"Try me."

"You tell me first."

"Fine. I'm pregnant, and I'd rather not have everyone I love try and kill each other over it."

Blaise blinked at her.

"You ran away because you're pregnant? What kind of reason is that? I thought babies were happy things."

"Only when they're really planned for."

"It's Draco's right?"

"Yes."

"Hmm."

"Why did you leave?"

"I needed to be away from everything that had ruined my life. That included magic. And unfortunately, everything, everyone, that came with it."

"I see. I guess I can understand that. After all, you had one of the hardest times during the war." Ginny sipped her drink carefully.

"You knew what happened to me?" She asked, sharply. Ginny looked surprised for a moment.

"Of course. I thought most people did know. Didn't they?" Blaise shook her head vehemently.

"No one. Except Dumbledore. He was the one I gave the information to, and he swore he wouldn't tell anyone else. So how do you know?" She questioned. Ginny looked a little frightened. She thought for a moment.

"I don't know. I just do."

"That's very odd. But, I guess it doesn't matter now, does it."

"I suppose not."

"Back to you then, I don't understand why someone with all that you had would want to leave it. You had it so perfect, a loving family, good friends, a great boyfriend, a future... why should a mere baby change all that?" Blaise mused, almost to herself. Ginny pondered a moment on that.

"I want my future to be with Draco. But I want him to make his own life before I force a baby on him. If my absence makes it easier for him to make his own name, then so be it." Blaise nodded

"I suppose I can see why you would leave him. Temporarily at least. You are planning on going back at some point, right?"

"Eventually. After he's done what he wanted to do. I just need to keep people from finding me until I'm ready to go back."

"Well, there's a way. It'd keep most people from finding you. And it would work."

"What might that be?"

"Find a secret keeper. You'll be able to avoid people easier."

"Do you have a secret keeper?"

"Hell, no. The magic involved with secret keeping is immensely powerful. I gave up even the simplest forms of magic a year ago. Besides, anyone looking for me, has to be pretty intent on finding me. I don't like to get found." Blaise said, slugging down her drink.

"I found you."

"Ah, but technically, I found you. And I bet you weren't even expecting to see me ever again." Ginny gazed at the girl sitting across from her, a calculating look on her face.

"It's perfect then." She said. Blaise raised an eyebrow at her again.

"I get the feeling that I'm not going to like this. What's perfect?"

"You could be my secret keeper. I can perform the spell on my own. No one would think of you as secret keeper to a measly Weasley."

"No way. No magic. Ever again."

"Please Blaise. Draco will try his best to find me, and I don't want him to, until I'm ready. As you say, you don't like to be found, and even if someone was looking for you, they wouldn't connect you to me." Ginny pleaded. Blaise looked as if she was considering it.

"Are you sure you can perform the proper spells?"

"Yes. You forget who you're talking too. When you're best friends and your boyfriend are leading a fight against the dark wizard who tried to kill you at one point, you tend to pick up a lot of powerful magic."

"Ah yes. There is that too."

"So. Will you do it?"

"I'll do it. But, promise me that you will never come to me again. Don't get me wrong, I like you, but you are a witch and..."

"I know. Don't worry about it. You'll never see me again."

"And neither will anyone else. Unless something happens to me of course."

"Of course."

****


Ginny had kept her word. She never saw Blaise again. She vaguely wondered where the other woman might be at that moment. She chuckled slightly.

"Well, wherever she is, she's probably having a better time than I am."


End of Interlude