A/N: Thanks to all who read this story, more thanks to those who review.
Disclaimer: I hereby claim that I own nothing. Anything that you recognize from Harry Potter obviously belongs to JKR. Some ideas of the plot belong to Elizabeth Peters from her Amelia Peabody Mysteries. There fore if you try to sue me for this story I will point to this and laugh in your face. No, It doesn't matter that it is in point 5 font, it is still here and it is basically the fine print of this story. Besides, I am a student and there fore have about a nickel to my name so you would only lose money in trying to sue me.
~*~*~The Dark Side of the Moon~*~*~
(The Summer after Draco's Fourth Year)
Hey Marcus,
Yeah it's me again. You probably figured that out all by yourself. At least I would have hoped that you would have, I've only had this owl since I was nine years old. Well, In response to you're previous owl, no I am not in any relationships, and no I don't want you to set me up with another of your half-witted so-called "hot babes". My father may approve of them but I personally want something with more than one brain cell. I won't be at the mansion for a few weeks; father got us tickets for a cruise. Of course there will be no muggles or mud-bloods, as my father so fondly calls them. Why does he have to be such a racist bastard? Probably the same reason he always treats me like shit. O well, what are you going to do? Nothing of course, why do I have to be so damn weak? Wouldn't my father just have a fit if he knew how weak all his instilled views have made me? Ha! He doesn't even notice that mother is sick, he continues to deny it so I am left to help her as best I can. I've decided to take a medi-wizard course next year at Hogwarts. Them maybe she won't continue to die slowly. God! She looks worse every time I visit, why do I have to feel so hopeless? Why the hell are you the only one that I can tell all this shit to? Not like you're even reading this, you haven't read anything I've sent you since second year! Well, no point in writing more since you won't listen anyways. How the hell did I get stuck with you as a friend?
Your so-called best friend,
Draco
Draco stood up from his crouched writing position and looked around. 'So this is what it has come to' he thought bitterly. His only solitude was on the roof of his house. He had taken to coming to this spot on the roof over his bedroom during the previous summer when he realized what a piece of scum his father was. The next day he was leaving on that stupid cruise. 'I doubt my father would even notice is I left at one of the stops we make, he'll be to busy "socializing" with Voldemort's groupies. Maybe that's what I'll do, I'll just leave when we reach that port in Bulgaria or wherever it is.' Draco's mind was churning as he climbed off the roof and ties his letter to the leg of his owl, Bali. He made his plans to escape his father; he didn't know what he would do after he got away but just figured that would be where his sweet-talking skills would come in
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(The summer after Ginny's third year)
"I can't believe it, I'm stuck here visiting Charlie in Bulgaria when I could be home laying on my bed and reading that new book I had to leave behind because' it wouldn't fit in my bag!" Ginny was pacing around her makeshift room in one of the tents her family was using and talking to her pet cat, Bastet. "Of course mom would view Ron's broom as being SO much more important than my book so of course I just HAD to pack that stupid broom in MY bag and ended up having to leave MY book at home just to make room for RON'S bloody broom!" Bastet had gotten up without Ginny noticing and was now pacing beside her owner. "And another thing! Why can't I EVER go near the dragons? That is SO unfair, I love them but I'm not allowed near them because I'm the littlest! When will someone ever treat me like a real person and not just the 'littlest weasley'? I mean I have friends my own age but they still treat me like I'm the youngest! Why are you the only one who will take me seriously?" She asked the last question as she scooped up the little white cat from beside her. "If we ran away and made a new life for ourselves then maybe I could get a real friend. So Ginny began making plans to escape and become her own person.
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(about a week later, both Ginny and Draco have escaped and are busy running through the woods)
Draco had managed to slip away while his father had been talking to another Voldemort groupie. He had taken his belongings and slipped over the sideof the ship and swam to shore which was less that 100 Meters away. Draco was a strong enough to swim through the currents mainly because of so many years of playing quidditch and practicing sword fighting. When he was free of the water he began to make his way through the forest at the edge of the water. He broke into a run when he thought he heard footsteps behind him.
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Ginny packed her belongings while her family was saying good night to the dragons and left around midnight after everyone was fast asleep. She ran through the forest eager to be away, Bastet at her side. After traveling for about an hour, she began to slow to a walk. She was well accustomed to long periods of exercise because with six older brothers it was hard to be out of shape and not be caught for a 'fun session', her brothers idea of fun which involved chasing their sister for hours on end just for the fun of it. She picked up her pace again as she thought she heard footsteps. Ginny chanced a look over her shoulder. Seconds later she ran head into something very solid. She picked herself up, very shaken and looked up to see a rather large tree. She started on her way again making sure to focus on what was in front of her.
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Draco stopped, this time he knew it wasn't his imagination, he had definitely heard some sort of noise. He pulled out his wand and sent a stunning spell through the trees in the direction the noise had come from. When he didn't hear anything else he started off in the direction of his stunning spell. Through the darkness he could see a small form lying motionless on the ground. As he approached the figure he realized that it was indeed human for it was wearing a cloak and the figure was also holding something in it's arm. Draco turned the figure over and could make out a feminine face under the deep cloak hood. He let his attention wander from the face to the creature in her arms which was beginning to stir. The creature was a small white cat who looked up at Draco inquisitively. Draco shuddered when he saw the intelligence in the cat's eyes. He looked the girl over briefly for any injuries that would make it unsafe to move her before gingerly picking her up. He continued to head off in the direction he had previously been going. Draco figured he would leave the girl at the first town he came to.
A/N: This is where shout-outs will go when I start getting some reviews. (hint hint, wink wink, nudge nudge) Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter the next one will (hopefully) be up by tomorrow seeing as my classes are canceled cuz' of the US holiday!
