It was like seeing your best friend after being apart for over a decade. A reunion, in it's simplest of forms: two old friends, chatting about the times they had shared and of the times that recently had come to pass.

Harry and Ginny sat at her kitchen table, busy chatting away about what each of them had been doing for the past year. Harry seemed less perturbed then Ron about the idea of Ginny dating Draco, much less being in love with him.

But then again, Harry had always been the more understanding type, always there to lend a listening ear to his friends. Ginny, sadly, had not been included in this circle of friends...until now.

"Do you like working at the Ministry? I've heard it can be pretty repetitive, which is why I never applied." Harry said, taking a sip of the lemonade Ginny had given him.

"Yea, actually I do. It is repetitive in some respects, but it also isn't. I get to meet new people all the time, but then again there's always mounds of paperwork. It's easy enough for me though..."

Ginny looked at Harry, a smile forming over her lips. "Would you like to go out onto the balcony? It's dark out now...I think we can see the stars."

Harry grinned and stood up, following her towards a glass laden door in her living room. She unlocked the door and slid it open, pulling aside the heavy curtains in front of it.

The night breeze blew gently across her face as she stepped carefully out into the moonlight. She turned and watched Harry join her, his glasses reflecting the heart of the moon.

The view was spectacular. Ginny's flat was actually on a very high part of town, overlooking a valley of apartments and city buildings. Visible were the glows of a thousand lamps and street lights, a few turning on or off at every which moment.

The sky was a blanket covered in diamonds, stars poking out of their seams to aid in lighting the night sky. A few clouds moved slowly across the stars, covering them like a hand covers another hand.

Ginny stood at the edge of the balcony, her arms resting comfortably on the ledge. Harry stood next to her, his elbows on the ledge and his legs crossed at the feet.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Ginny said, not looking away from the endless sea that was the city.

"Definitely."

The air was soundless. So far away from the city, it seemed as though nothing were moving. It seemed as though the city weren't even alive in this dense and chilly night.

Harry turned to face Ginny, his eyes studying her features in the moonlight. Wow, he thought to himself, she really is beautiful.

Suddenly a cloud moved over the moon and Ginny's face disappeared in the darkness. Harry reached out, almost as if to make sure she was still standing there. His hand found her's, clenched on the ledge.

"What's wrong?" he said, trying to relax her tense hand.

When she didn't speak, Harry turned around and jumped in surprise.

A dark shadow stood in front of them, a wand held in it's hand lighting up a small portion of it's face. Harry could see Ginny now, though he wished he couldn't.

The look on her face scared him even more than he would have normally been scared. Her eyes were shut and she looked as if she weren't breathing; almost deadly still.

Harry couldn't believe himself. Why can't I move? He thought, his mind wandering over to the wand in his pocket. If I could just get my wand...why can't I reach for it?

The figure moved suddenly, their wand whipping out in front of them. Harry saw Ginny arch her back, arching into the air. She rose off the balcony floor, her fire hair draping behind her.

What's going on? Harry had never seen anything like it. And yet, while he should be doing something, he felt completely motionless. No! I can't let this happen!

He felt nausea come over him and almost tumbled over, his stomach contracting in odd ways causing his mind to race wildly. The feeling disappeared almost immediately and he suddenly felt movement.

He reached wildly for his wand and jumped at the figure who was now preparing to apparate.

"Let go of her!" Harry yelled, as he raised his wand at the figure. The figure didn't even move, didn't even acknowledge Harry's presence. " I said let go you good for nothing bastard!"

This did it. The figure turned suddenly, it's wand pointing directly at Harry. Ginny fell to the ground with a thud; snapping out of the trance.

"Don't make any sudden moves Potter..." a timid and squeaky voice said, very surprising given that the figure had seemed so menacing. Harry immediately recognized the voice.

"How did you get away? I thought you were dead Pettigrew!"

"Yes, you would think that, huh? Crucio!" A blast of light shot out of Pettigrews wand and hit Harry square in the chest. He doubled over in pain, the most excruciating pain ever. He felt his insides being torn apart and ripped out of him, he felt his brain resizing itself and his skeleton contorting in odd ways.

This was how he felt anyways, what was really happening was he was lying still on the ground, screaming in pain.

Ginny screamed, startling Pettigrew who obviously thought she was still unconscious. She stood up fast and tried to hit Pettigrew, only to have herself put in full body bind.

"You are so foolish. Ta ta Potter." Pettigrew said, taking the curse off Harry and apparating instantly away, Ginny clutched in his arms.

~*~

A winding staircase curled around the thick stone walls of the chamber. The only light could be seen cascading from torches clinging to the damp walls.

Ginny's head felt heavy and her throat dry. The musty smell of the chamber filled her nostrils and intoxicated her, causing her to feel drowsy and sickly.

She lifted her head heavily off the stone cold floor, trying to sit up. She heard a faint whisper behind her that seemed so distant and yet so close. Turning around she saw two dark figures standing in the shadows, conversing with eachother.

One of the figures was smaller and was busily twittering away excuses about something. Ginny couldn't comprehend what the man was saying, nor what the taller figure was saying.

Everything began to go darker and Ginny felt her head go light. She didn't even feel her head hit the floor.

~*~

Harry ran. He knew the one person he had to tell because he knew the exact reason for Ginny's capture. It's all your fault, Malfoy...he thought angrily. But then again, it was his fault Ginny had been taken...he didn't even do anything.

But what could he have done, Pettigrew had performed Imperius on him and he hadn't been able to move. He could overcome the curse, but for a moment or so it took him time to fight it.

He hadn't even heard Pettigrew whisper the curse, but he knew it's effects well.

"MALFOY! Open the goddamned door!" Harry yelled as he reached the door to Malfoy Manor. He began to pound his fists against the large wooden door as he felt tears streaking down his face.

"Malfoy, I swear to -"

A timid house-elf had just opened the door, it's tiny face peeking out of it. "Is you wanting to see Mr. Malfoy, Sir?"

"Yes, damnit, where is he?"

"Upstairs...come with me, Sir." The tiny house-elf opened the door wider and Harry stepped in. He began to sprint up the stairs where the elf had pointed him to.

Reaching the first door, he kicked it open and found Draco sitting at his desk, papers surrounding him and a quill in his hand.

"What the...what are you doing here Potter?" Draco said, standing up immediately.

Harry was out of breath, and resting his hands on his knees he looked down at the ground and began to speak, his breath coming in hard rasps.

"Ginny...Ginny's been taken." he said, clearing his throat and looking up at Malfoy, who looked paler than usual.

"What do you mean? By who?"

"Pettigrew...Voldemort's got her." Harry said, walking towards Draco now, a tear streaking down his face to join the earlier ones.

Draco looked like he had seen death in front of him. "I...I have to get her...I know exactly where she is..." he said, his hands shaking.

"No! Don't you see? This is what Voldemort WANTS! He wants you to go there all knight in shining armor to save the girl! Then he's going to kill you!"

"How do you know about that?" There was a slight pause in which the two men looked at each other, expressionless.

"Ginny told me."

Draco stood there for a moment, just looking at Harry, an expressionless look still on his pale face. "Well, what's the plan, hero boy?"

Harry grinned slightly, and, for a quick second, it seemed as though a bond of understanding were formed between them, something most would have considered impossible.

~*~