I must apologise again for the shortness of the last chapter, in particular. There have been complaints that all my chapters are too short but I want each chapter to have it's own event and as this is my first fan fiction (and my first piece of creative writing outside GCSE coursework) I find it difficult to extend them. Anyway, this is not a novel, just a little fan fiction. To Midnight Mistress, I did think about this while writing this chapter but I decided to assume that the Slytherins knew about the bet and were too afraid of Malfoy to purposefully say something to mess it up. Not a particularly good explanation but I hope you forgive me. Sorry about all this rambling. Thank you again to all reviewers.

Chapter 7

On the Monday following the Hogsmeade visit, Draco made his way down for breakfast only to find that a dark brown owl was waiting for him with a letter. He took it quickly and looked at the elaborate writing – it was from his father. He grabbed some toast and left the Great Hall for his private room, a sinking feeling in his stomach.

Ginny had watched him cross the room and knew something was wrong. At first she thought it was because of her but then she had noticed the letter in his hand and quickly realised whom it must be from and what it was about.

Draco sat down at his desk and carefully opened the letter with a silver opener in the shape of a snake.

"I have arranged for you to visit Malfoy Manor this coming weekened," it read. "I will come up to the school for you on Friday at 6 o' clock. Be ready and waiting in the entrance hall. Tell anyone who asks that it is a private family matter. You know what this is about."

Draco put his head in his hands, willing himself not to cry.

Calm down. I can get out of this. I'll go to Snape or Dumbledore. But, then they'd know father is a Death Eater and I'd be killed. Maybe I can run away. But, then they'd probably find me and kill me anyway. Shit I can't get out of it.

The rest of the week flew by. Draco avoided everybody, spending all of his spare time locked in his room, thinking up elaborate escape plans that wouldn't work, and only going to the Great Hall when he was in danger of fainting from hunger. He even avoided Ginny; partly to protect her from the horror of him being in the presence of death eaters and most probably Lord Voldemort (he didn't want to think about anything else that might happen) and partly to protect himself, because he knew she would make him tell Dumbledore.

Ginny had noticed Draco's anguish and was worried about him, although she didn't mention it to anyone.

Around 5 o' clock on Friday afternoon, Draco entered the Great Hall and sat pushing his food around his plate. He had resigned himself to the fact that their was no escape, having racked his brain and coming up with no plausible excuses as to why he couldn't become a death eater.

Somehow, I don't think, "I don't want to" will go down very well.

For the first time this week he forced himself to look over at the Gryffindor table, in the hope of seeing Ginny. She was there staring at him and her worried face lightened Draco's heart slightly.

She cares.

They stared at each other for a while, Draco drinking in the warmth from her eyes as if he needed it to survive.

Finally, he looked at his watch and seeing that it was now 5.45pm, he made his way silently out of the room. Ginny watched him go and got up to follow him, ignoring Ron's silent questions.

She found him sat with his head in his hands, at the bottom of the staris in the Entrance Hall, a small traveling case next to him. At first she thought he was leaving for good but then realised that there was no way that his many possessions would fit into such a small case.

"Where are you going?" she asked quietly, sitting down next to him.

"Home," he mumbled, "private family matter."

Ginny reached down and took his hands away from his face so she could look at him.

"You don't have to do this"

"Yes, I do. There's no escape. My father will be here in 5 minutes. You better go. If he finds you with me…Just go. I'll speak to you on Monday."

He kissed her hand.

"Please. Go"

Ginny stroked his cheek looking into his eyes, trying to show him that she was there and she would help him. She leaned over and kissed his cheek, then got up and left for Gryffindor Tower.

Draco walked slowly round his room, picking up various objects and looking at them without seeing. His door opened and he turned round to find his father stood there with the ever-present stern look on his face.

"You are to be ready by 7 o' clock tomorrow evening. Wear you best robes and make sure you look immaculate. This is a very important meeting for both of us. You have to make a good impression."

And with that, Lucius turned and left, closing the door behind him. Draco got into bed feeling more miserable than he had ever done before. He found himslef thinking of Ginny and his memories of her comforted him as he drifted off to an uneasy sleep plagued with strange and twisted nightmares.

He woke late the next morning and had his breakfast in his room. He spent the rest of the day wallowing in his own self pity until it was time to get ready. He did as his father had asked, not wanting to see or feel the consequences if he did not and made his way to the reception room at the front of the house. Lucius was waiting for him.

"Very good, you're early," Lucius drawled. "Sit down."

Draco did as he was told, trying to make his face express the excitement he was meant to be feeling.

"Listen to me very carefully, Draco. You will not say anything tonight. Nobody will speak to you, as this is your first meeting. You will simply listen and observe. No talking. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"It is time to leave."

Lucius handed Draco a dark mask, put his hand on Draco's shoulder and together they disapparated.

They arrived in a dark forest clearing where other masked figures stood in a large circle. A bonfire had been set in the centre giving them an eerie, illuminating glow. Draco looked down at the ground and watched the shadows of the flames dance.

After a while, he felt a hush descend upon the group and a cold feeling crept over his heart. He could see a cloaked figure stood behind the fire and he held his breath as the person lowered their hood. A thin white face appeared, staring at the circle of Death Eaters through scarlet eyes. His nose was flat, like that of a snake and it had thin slits where nostrils should be.

Lord Voldemort.

Draco was chilled to the core. He stared transfixed at the skeletal head until his father beside him nudged his arm and Draco realised he was meant to kneel as the other Death Eaters were doing. He slowly got down on his knees feeling completely helpless. The cold inside was overpowering him as he heard a high, mirthless laugh. He glanced up but could only see the fire, now glowing orange with the central flames a vivid red.

Like Ginny's hair.

Memories of Ginny flooded Draco's mind warming him like a hot bath. He no longer felt weak and helpless. He was in control but he knew he had to keep quiet and appear submissive to save himself. And then he would be able to see Ginny again.

He could hear screams of pain as Lord Voldemort tortured a hooded Death Eater who had obviously done something wrong. But the sound seemed distant and removed. Draco continued to stare at the glowing flames, knowing that thinking about Ginny was the only thing protecting him from becoming like those around him – heartless, cold, unfeeling Death Eaters.

It's my heart. That's whats doing it. I can love. I am in love. I love Ginny.

He repeated these words over and over in his head, oblivious of the proceedings surrounding him, until he and his father were back in the reception room at Malfoy Manor.

"You've done well. I'm pleased. You will go back to Hogwarts tomorrow morning. You may go now."

"Thank you, father."

Draco slept soundly that night, knowing that Ginny had saved him, without even meaning to.

I know now what I have to do.