please, don't listen to anything i'm saying, it's 3:00 in the morning...)
Chapter Nine: Unexpected Visitors
Ginny's dreams had begun to subside. She no longer would awake, drenched in sweat, her heart pounding furiously inside her chest. She no longer found herself taking sidelong glances at Draco to see if he were safe in the Great Hall. She began to concentrate on having fun, for the holiday was nearly over. The worst thing that could happen, she thought, is forgetting what I've learned when school starts back up. But Ginny hadn't counted on one thing.
The morning that the other students arrived, not everyone showed up. The answer as to why came in the Daily Prophet. Half a dozen students from Hogwarts went missing during the holiday. The odd thing about it was that every single kid that went missing had a parent in a top department at the Ministry. This coincidence was pointed out in the article, making some of the other students shiver with fear.
"Don't worry, Gin." Ron said, putting his arm around her shoulders. "The Muggle Department isn't anywhere near the top…we're safe."
But Ginny's forlorn look wasn't for herself…it was for Laura. After Ron left Ginny turned her head to face her friend. Laura's usual chatter was gone and so were her smiles. Ginny knew that Laura's Father was an Unspeakable. He couldn't even tell his family what he did, but the Department he was in was pretty high up.
"Don't worry, Laura." Ginny said softly. "You're safe at Hogwarts."
The students were constantly reminded of their missing classmates. In their honor many memorials had been put up around the school and the conversation as of late had been turned towards the absences. It was obvious to the Professors what was going on for the third night back Dumbledore stood up before dinner and made a statement.
"It is sad to see some of our friends not here with us, but we must carry on." He paused. "The Ministry is working tirelessly to search for the missing persons and defensive enchantments have been placed around the castle, something that hasn't been done in a hundred years. We are all quite safe here, within the Hogwarts grounds, which brings me to my next subject; Hogmeade's visits are cancelled. And please, for your safety, remember that safety lies in numbers."
As Dumbledore sat down, Ginny looked over towards the Slytherin table and saw that Draco had just got up to leave. Ginny had an overwhelming urge to get up and follow him, but Laura's presence beside her stopped her. The Great Hall was very quiet during dinner, and only a few whispered conversations could be heard. After dinner the students were told to go directly to their common rooms.
~*~*~
The arrival of the Daily Prophet was greatly anticipated by the whole school. Even Dumbledore could be seen skimming the paper for any mention of the kidnapped children. No new discoveries were made and no leads had come to light. It was very disheartening for the student body to know that kids their age had been kidnapped and possibly being treated very badly, if not downright tortured, by Voldemort's followers.
Those students that had parents in high positions in the Ministry were rarely seen anywhere alone and spent all of their free time in their house common rooms. Laura was among them.
Laura and Ginny were both doing homework for separate classes besides the fire. Laura was sitting on the ground, her books propped on her knees while Ginny was sitting in a chair beside her. Laura closed the book then rummaged through her book bag for another.
"Oh no," She moaned.
"What is it?" Ginny asked, looking down.
"I was supposed to check out a book to research ancient runes and I forgot to, what with all…you know."
"It's not too late," Ginny said.
Laura looked up at Ginny pleadingly, "Would you go to the library with me? I—I don't want to go alone."
"Of course I will." Ginny stood up and helped Laura to her feet.
The library wasn't too far from their tower. Ginny found it hard to keep up with Laura's fast pace, but she knew the reason behind it. Only a few groups of people were in the library, Madame Pince keeping her eyes on the students. She smiled as Ginny and Laura entered, then returned to the others.
Ginny followed Laura to the runes section and waited until Laura found the book she needed. Laura searched the shelves twice before declaring the book she needed wasn't there any more. Ginny suggested asking Madame Pince who had it then going to that person and ask to borrow it. Laura agreed and headed towards the front desk.
"Let me see," Madame Pince looked over her check-out list for the title. "Aha, it was checked out earlier today by Draco Malfoy."
Laura gave a small whimper. It had been rumored around school that Malfoy's father had a connection with the missing people, along with other Slytherin student's parents. The only thing that kept all the kids from blaming the entire Slytherin House was the fact that one of their own was missing. Goyle had never returned to school, and his name was on the list of the missing persons.
"It's ok, Laura." Ginny reassured her as they headed back to their common room. "I'm pretty sure I can get the book for you."
"No, Ginny, there's no telling what he'll do. He may be scouting out other Ministry Official's children and reporting them to his Father."
"Laura," Ginny said. "Remember, my Dad's low in the Ministry." Ginny smiled. "Besides, I think I have something of his that he'd be willing to make an even trade."
Laura looked questioningly at Ginny, but Ginny refused to let any more information out. Once they reached the Gryffindor Tower Ginny headed up to her room and produced the Animagus book from the bottom of her trunk, put a shrinking spell on it, then placed it in her pocket. She left the tower quietly, making sure her brother wasn't watching, then headed down the dungeons towards the Slytherin Dungeon entrance.
Ginny didn't know what she was hoping for, perhaps that the entrance was open and she'd just be able to walk in, or that Draco was waiting for her. But neither had happened. She looked around and noticed the quietness of the corridor. It seemed she'd have to return to the shadowy corner and wait for someone to come out to ask to speak with Draco.
Just as Ginny was getting comfortable she heard the stone statue move and someone stepped out. Ginny was about to get up and speak, but she stopped as she saw Draco appear. He looked very shaken up about something, and checking both ways of the corridor to make sure no one was there, he headed down one way. Ginny began to follow him, trying not to lose him past the corners. This time she didn't want to hide herself, she wanted to catch up with him before she lost him.
"Draco!" She yelled rather softly, not wanting it to echo off the walls and reach any one else's ears. When she heard no reply she began to run.
She barely saw his body turn a corner up ahead and she yelled again, running faster to catch up. She entered the front of the castle and saw Draco head for the doors. She ran after him but he was already outside. Ginny opened the doors herself and saw him head towards the Forbidden Forest. She stood there for a few seconds, trying to decide if she should follow him or head back to her own Tower. She wanted to get the book tonight so Laura wouldn't get bad marks on her homework, but she also didn't want to be caught outside the castle passed curfew.
Ginny took a deep breath, then headed out the doors.
~*~*~
The sun was setting fast and Ginny could barely make out Draco's form in the dark. She ran faster and faster, her feet sinking softly in the muddied ground. The cold air chilled her lungs and she could feel the heat rise in her cheeks. She looked up and for a moment she thought she lost sight of Draco, but then she saw his hair shine in the last rays of the sun. He was at the edge of the forest now, just standing there. Ginny was nearing him now, but it wasn't until she was a couple yards away that he noticed her.
"What are you doing here?" He asked sharply as she came closer.
"I've been trying to flag you down ever since you left the dungeons."
Draco's eyed widened. "I thought I made myself clear in my note." He growled.
"Look, I realize you don't want me to follow you any more, but this isn't for me, it's for Laura. You have a book she needs and I was wondering if I could borrow it from you."
"You followed me out here for a stupid book?" He sounded incredulous.
"Er, yes." Ginny said rather stupidly. "I yelled your name but you didn't hear me."
"Look, you have to leave, now." Draco began to push Ginny back towards the castle.
"Wait, what about the book?" She dug her heels into the ground so he couldn't push her any more.
"I'll give it to you later."
"But Laura needs it now…I even brought this to barter with." Ginny moved aside so Draco couldn't push her any more and she brought out the shrunken book from her pocket.
"Great," Draco said, taking the book and putting it in his own pocket. "You can go back to the castle and I'll bring you the book."
"But you don't know which one I want."
"You can tell me later." Draco once again began trying to push her back to the castle but to no avail.
"What are you doing out here anyway?" She asked.
"Going for a night stroll, now leave me alone!" He shouted.
"Draco, you're going to get into trouble if you're out here passed curfew." Ginny said rather sternly, but a deeper voice coming from the forest startled Ginny.
"Yes, Draco, you'll get into a lot of trouble." Lucius Malfoy stepped out from the shadows of the forest and came towards the two.
Ginny stared dumb founded as Lucius came ever nearer, his evil smirk glowing in the darkness. He put a hand on his sons shoulder then looked from Draco to Ginny.
"I'm glad to see, Draco, that you've done the impossible and gotten little Virginia alone. Does anyone else know she came out here with you?"
"No, sir." Draco said, looking down at the ground.
Ginny's fear increased as she listened to this short conversation. Her eyes flittered from Lucius to Draco, then back to Lucius as he continued.
"Your letters sounded very unhopeful when you said that you couldn't get her alone. I'm glad to see that you were finally able to do what I asked you to do long ago. Now, go back up to the castle and wait further instruction."
Ginny's eyes began to water and she hoped Draco wouldn't leave her with this man, but to her dismay he turned his back towards them and began to walk.
"What are you going to do with her?" He turned to ask.
"That's none of your business, is that clear?"
"Yes, sir."
Ginny watched as Draco's body grew smaller and smaller and finally he could no longer be seen. She made to turn around, but before she could accomplish that she heard Lucius mutter something and she blanked out.