As Ginny woke up, she didn ´t know where she was and had a hard time
remembering what had happened. She was lying in a broad bed, which made her
feel like a dwarf. She had never seen this room before. It was gloomy and
looked as if it was from an old knight book.
"Where am I?" she asked quietly.
"In Bruna," answered a calm voice and Ginny turned around to Lucius Malfoy, who sat in one of the armchairs," how are you, dear?"
"A bit dizzy, how long have I slept?"
"About a day."
"What about Charlie and Bill and the others?"
"Charlie is here too. But he is badly hurt. There is something wrong with his spine. The mediwitches are still occupied with him."
"And Bill?" She asked, knowing the answer inwardly already.
" I´m sorry, really sorry," Lucius caughed her, as she sank down crying, and held her gently. Ginny clung to the foldes of his robes. She cried for a while and Lucius was stroking her hair comfortingly. As she finally calmed down, he gave her a silk handkerchieve.
"I´m really sorry for you," he waited patiently until she found her façade again, " do you want to eat something now?" he asked gently and Ginny nooded. Despite all the shock she felt hungry, very hungry.
"Good, good," Lucius stood up," I'll send you Clair and Draco to bring you some food. Rest a bit. You are still weak."
Ginny nooded again and leaned back , trying to get order in her thoughts. She had survived and Charlie too. By the thought of Bill and the others deep sadness filled her heart. But she tried to think about others things. She had to be strong. Here she were safe from the vampires but she was in the hands of outlaws, the enemies of wizarding world, chased by dementors and aurors. But she was surprisingly unafraid. Without the Malfoys she would have died in the woods. And they were friendly, astonishly friendly - but she as definitly too tired to worry about that.
The door were opened and Clair and Draco came in. Together, they carried a tablet with fresh bread, soup and a cup of tea.
"Here you are."
"Thanks," she concentrated on her food. She had he feeling that she had nearly starved. Finally she finished. And nothing eatable was left on the table.
"Did you enjoy your dinner ?" asked Draco amused as he took it away.
"Yes, thanks." Now when she was full she looked more closely at the two of them. Clair seemed to have grown a bit during the half year that they hadn´t seen each other. Draco hadn´t changed much, apart from that he was wearing his hair long now. It quite suits him, she thought, but dismissed the thought quickly.
"What are you doing here?" she asked instead, " everyone is searching for you."
"Oh, we found refuge here in Romania. We had some connections because of Dumstrang, so they promised not to hand us over," explained Draco, " so we are living and working here, for the time being."
"We are sometimes in Bulgaria, too," added Clair," yesterday we were on the way back."
"Yeah and than we got lost, because your father was absent minded," Draco smirked," but it was luck."
"Yeah, it was. And I´m very grateful to you."
"It´s allright. You had a lot of luck. Most people don´t survive a vampier attack."
"Are there often attacks here?" asked Ginny terrified.
"In the last few months, yes. Before there was one attack in the last two or three years. But in the last three weeks there have been ten attacks. And each time they become more dangerous," Draco scolwed, "but we shouldn´t speak about that now. You are still exhausted. Don´t do too much. Maybe you would like to rest a bit."
"Yes, I shouldn´t be tired anymore, but ..."
"You have hard days behind you. You are safe here. Just rest as long as you want," said Draco gently. They left the room and Ginny leaned back. But although she was tired she couldn´t sleep. There was to much to think about. But just about ten minutes later another clapping on the door was heard.
"Come in."
A woman about 20, with intensive black eyes and long dark hair came in."Hello. Uncle Lucius tought you could need a bit help with sleeping."
"Uncle Lucius?" asked Ginny curious.
"Yes, my mother is his sister in law, " explained the girl and gave her a cup of hot milk with honey," I´ m Raven. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you." Ginny looked confused at her. Since when Mr. Malfoy had a niece other than Tonx? She couldn´t remember having seen Raven before.
"Shall I read something to you? Maybe it would calm you," the girl interrupted her.
"Why not."
"Good." She began to read the story about a young girl, which had the great ability to listen to the people. After Ginny had swallowed the milk and Raven had read a few pages to her, she felt very sleepy. She snuggeld up in their blanket and then she was asleep.
"Mr. Malfoy," Lucius looked up as one of mediwitches come into the dining room." Yes?"
"It´s the young man, Mr Weasley," the mediwitch whispered something in his ear and Lucius sighed deeply. Just what he needed now! But he felt in a strange way responsible for the two young people, and earning their trust could be helpful for his plans anyway.
Charlie lay in his bed. The last days seemed like a never ending nightmare. The attack of the camp, where his brother and his friends had died, the flight, the fall, the days alone in the wood. He had lost consciousness after a while. He could hardly remenber that someone had found him, almost not waking up when Lucius Malfoy - it was impossible not to recognize the face and the blond hair - apparated with him.
Than a lot of mediwizards and witches fussed over him. But also the numbness of his brain hadn´t hindered him from realizing that he couldn´t move his legs. Finally he had asked what was wrong with him. This question had caused a discussion between the mediwitches and than a quick leaving of the room. Charly looked at the wall, longing for an answer. So he was relieved, when someone came in. But it was no mediwitch, but Mr. Malfoy, who sat down beside his bed.
"Mr. Weasley. How are you?" he asked politly.
"Better. I thank you very much." Charly looked up to him and added in his mind - although I have no idea, why you helped us. But it wasn´t important to him anyway, not now.
"You´re welcome. I have to talk to you. "
"Oh, they sent you," Charly realized," I know, that my spine was hurt. That there is something wrong."
"More than just something," Lucius took this hand," you ´ll be paralyzed from your hips down."
Charley swallowed. He had expected this but . He decided to change the supject, still feeling Lucius hand which was stroking his own in a oddly calming way, not wanting to cry before the Slytherin:"Is Ginny allright?"
"She woke up this afternoon. She will be okay."
"Good. But ..."
"Do not worry. I´ll care for her."
"Thanks."
"You should rest now."
Charlie nooded and closed his eyes still holding Lucius´ hand. He shifted to one side, away from Lucius, silently crying until exhaustion made him sleep again. Lucius freed his hand carfully not wanting to wake him, and stepped away.
Ginny was in the dark high frequent cries around and then she saw Bill. He was bleeding and reaching his hands out to her. "Ginny help me!"
She run to him, but as faster she run, the slower she was. Bill seemed to get further and further away. Desperatly she tried to reach him. But the shadows grew stronger and suddenly he was surrounded by them.
"No, no," Bill cried and tried to struggle free. But the vampires dragged him down. Ginny cried and wailed but she couldn´t help him.
"No, no ... "
"Ginnny, Ginny," someone shook her," sh, it´s just a nightmare."
As she opened her eyes, Mr. Malfoy was at her side again. She flew into his arms.
"Sh, everything´s allright ," he craddled the trembling girl in his arms. Ginny snuggeled nearer. She felt a bit comforted, while Lucius stroked her hair.
"I´m sorry, that I woke you up," she murmured.
"It´s okay. I havn´t slept. I was just in my study. I have to think about a lot things."
"Oh, the attacks."
"Yes, the attacks worry me a lot."
"Why don´t you just fight the vampires? You can fight vampires, can´t you? "
"Yes, you can, but it´s difficult and the greatest difficulty are the ruling families," explained Lucius," they have been enemies since about six hundred years ago. Romania and Bulgaria might officially be friends, but without these two families nothing works properly."
"I see," murmured Ginny and Lucius felt her relax in his arms.
"This strugggle has a long tradition," Lucius continued to speak about history, until Ginny slept. Then he laid her gently back on the bed and covered her up. It seemed that it would be more exhausting than he thought to care for the two of them.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
"So what is up with Sirius?" asked Harry urgently and grabbed the letter out of the hand of Mrs. Weasley. He read it and became very pale.
"What´s Remus writing?"
"He says that Sirius disappeared. He just wanted to get some things for the house - and he hasn´t come back yet."
"But maybe he just got lost or met an old friend."
"Or he had an accident," Harry interrupted him," or someone got him - maybe there are still some deatheaters left."
"There are no deatheaters left in England," said Mrs. Weasley calmly," I´m sure this is not as bad as you think."
"I want to go to Lupin's. Now."
"It´s okay, we are going with you," Ron told him, " don't be afraid. I´m sure we´ll find him soon. I just send an owl to Hermione and then we go there through the floo network."
"Okay," Harry calmed down a bit. He waited almost patiently while the Weasleys got prepared for traveling. In two minutes they appeared in the fireplace in Remus´ living room.
"Everything allright?"asked Mrs. Weasley.
"Yes." They steppd out of the fireplace.
"Harry, Ron, Molly," Remus rushed to them.
"What about Sirius?" asked Hary anxiously.
"I have no idea," Remus sighed," he just didn´t come back."
"I think, we should not loose our minds," said Molly," maybe there is just a very simple reason for this," she smiled calmingly," I think we should go to everywhere he could be and to the hospitals ."
"You are right. Would you go with Ron to St. Mungos and the smaller hospitals?"
"Surely."
"Good. I'll go with Harry to town."
The whole afternoon Harry and Professor Lupin went through shops without finding any trace of Sirius. Discouraged they come back to the house. Mrs. Weasley and Ron hadn´t had any sucess either, but Hermione had arrived in the meantime.
"Ron, Harry," she rushed to them, but could read in their eyes that they hadn´t found him.
"And I so hoped you had found him in the meantime."
"Us too," Ron sighed," what the hell could have happend to him?"
"Don´t swear," his mother scoweld, "I´m sure we find him. Arthur is coming too after work."
"The ministery will find him," Hermione tried to convince Harry, Ron and even more herself. So they waited impatienly for Mr. Weasley to come. Mrs. Weasley tried to make conversation.
"You are going back to Hogwarts?" she asked Lupin.
"Yeah, Dumbledore has pushed through that I teach defence against dark arts again. The parents and the school governors don't seem too happy with the decision, but."
"You are a good teacher," sai Ron," you were the best teacher we ever had in that subject. I´m sure you can convince them."
"Thank you, Ron, but being a werewolf is not the best quality for being responsible for children." Before anyone could answer him Arthur Weasley appeared in the fireplace.
"Dad," called Ron," there you are. You will help us to find Sirius, won´t you?"
"Of course. Sorry, that I´m so late but the ministery is gone completely mad."
"What happend?" asked Molly worried.
"Remember that lists? Louisa Hampship shall be imprisoned. Just because she was maried to a Slytherin once."
"But they divorced twenty years ago. And she was badly hurt in the fight against the deatheaters."
"I know, it´s mad. And I told Gabriel exactly that. I think I made an impression on him. I know it´s important to find the last supporters of you know who, but it´s getting a bit out of hand. But never mind. What happened to Sirius?"
"That´s exactly what we don´t know," sighed Remus," he´s just disapeared, he wanted to buy some things in Diagon Alley, but he never seemed to have reached it."
"And he´s not in St. Mungos or one of the smaller hospitals," added Molly.
"So, maybe we should have a look in the muggle world. When he had an accident . I'll just ask some collegues from the ministery."
"Yeah, that´s an good idea. We could have a look in the muggle hospitals in the meantime," said Hermione.
"And how?"
"Easily, we just call them."
"With a felefon?" Mr Weasley sounded interested.
"Sure," Harry smiled the first time this evening.
"Good, but not this evening. It´s nearley midnight," Remus sighed as he saw Harry´s face," I´m as afraid as you, but we all need to rest before we can go through that again."
"You are right," admitted Harry. His head felt, as it was wrapped in cottonwool.
"And tomorrow we will find him."
"I hope you are right."
TBC
"Where am I?" she asked quietly.
"In Bruna," answered a calm voice and Ginny turned around to Lucius Malfoy, who sat in one of the armchairs," how are you, dear?"
"A bit dizzy, how long have I slept?"
"About a day."
"What about Charlie and Bill and the others?"
"Charlie is here too. But he is badly hurt. There is something wrong with his spine. The mediwitches are still occupied with him."
"And Bill?" She asked, knowing the answer inwardly already.
" I´m sorry, really sorry," Lucius caughed her, as she sank down crying, and held her gently. Ginny clung to the foldes of his robes. She cried for a while and Lucius was stroking her hair comfortingly. As she finally calmed down, he gave her a silk handkerchieve.
"I´m really sorry for you," he waited patiently until she found her façade again, " do you want to eat something now?" he asked gently and Ginny nooded. Despite all the shock she felt hungry, very hungry.
"Good, good," Lucius stood up," I'll send you Clair and Draco to bring you some food. Rest a bit. You are still weak."
Ginny nooded again and leaned back , trying to get order in her thoughts. She had survived and Charlie too. By the thought of Bill and the others deep sadness filled her heart. But she tried to think about others things. She had to be strong. Here she were safe from the vampires but she was in the hands of outlaws, the enemies of wizarding world, chased by dementors and aurors. But she was surprisingly unafraid. Without the Malfoys she would have died in the woods. And they were friendly, astonishly friendly - but she as definitly too tired to worry about that.
The door were opened and Clair and Draco came in. Together, they carried a tablet with fresh bread, soup and a cup of tea.
"Here you are."
"Thanks," she concentrated on her food. She had he feeling that she had nearly starved. Finally she finished. And nothing eatable was left on the table.
"Did you enjoy your dinner ?" asked Draco amused as he took it away.
"Yes, thanks." Now when she was full she looked more closely at the two of them. Clair seemed to have grown a bit during the half year that they hadn´t seen each other. Draco hadn´t changed much, apart from that he was wearing his hair long now. It quite suits him, she thought, but dismissed the thought quickly.
"What are you doing here?" she asked instead, " everyone is searching for you."
"Oh, we found refuge here in Romania. We had some connections because of Dumstrang, so they promised not to hand us over," explained Draco, " so we are living and working here, for the time being."
"We are sometimes in Bulgaria, too," added Clair," yesterday we were on the way back."
"Yeah and than we got lost, because your father was absent minded," Draco smirked," but it was luck."
"Yeah, it was. And I´m very grateful to you."
"It´s allright. You had a lot of luck. Most people don´t survive a vampier attack."
"Are there often attacks here?" asked Ginny terrified.
"In the last few months, yes. Before there was one attack in the last two or three years. But in the last three weeks there have been ten attacks. And each time they become more dangerous," Draco scolwed, "but we shouldn´t speak about that now. You are still exhausted. Don´t do too much. Maybe you would like to rest a bit."
"Yes, I shouldn´t be tired anymore, but ..."
"You have hard days behind you. You are safe here. Just rest as long as you want," said Draco gently. They left the room and Ginny leaned back. But although she was tired she couldn´t sleep. There was to much to think about. But just about ten minutes later another clapping on the door was heard.
"Come in."
A woman about 20, with intensive black eyes and long dark hair came in."Hello. Uncle Lucius tought you could need a bit help with sleeping."
"Uncle Lucius?" asked Ginny curious.
"Yes, my mother is his sister in law, " explained the girl and gave her a cup of hot milk with honey," I´ m Raven. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you." Ginny looked confused at her. Since when Mr. Malfoy had a niece other than Tonx? She couldn´t remember having seen Raven before.
"Shall I read something to you? Maybe it would calm you," the girl interrupted her.
"Why not."
"Good." She began to read the story about a young girl, which had the great ability to listen to the people. After Ginny had swallowed the milk and Raven had read a few pages to her, she felt very sleepy. She snuggeld up in their blanket and then she was asleep.
"Mr. Malfoy," Lucius looked up as one of mediwitches come into the dining room." Yes?"
"It´s the young man, Mr Weasley," the mediwitch whispered something in his ear and Lucius sighed deeply. Just what he needed now! But he felt in a strange way responsible for the two young people, and earning their trust could be helpful for his plans anyway.
Charlie lay in his bed. The last days seemed like a never ending nightmare. The attack of the camp, where his brother and his friends had died, the flight, the fall, the days alone in the wood. He had lost consciousness after a while. He could hardly remenber that someone had found him, almost not waking up when Lucius Malfoy - it was impossible not to recognize the face and the blond hair - apparated with him.
Than a lot of mediwizards and witches fussed over him. But also the numbness of his brain hadn´t hindered him from realizing that he couldn´t move his legs. Finally he had asked what was wrong with him. This question had caused a discussion between the mediwitches and than a quick leaving of the room. Charly looked at the wall, longing for an answer. So he was relieved, when someone came in. But it was no mediwitch, but Mr. Malfoy, who sat down beside his bed.
"Mr. Weasley. How are you?" he asked politly.
"Better. I thank you very much." Charly looked up to him and added in his mind - although I have no idea, why you helped us. But it wasn´t important to him anyway, not now.
"You´re welcome. I have to talk to you. "
"Oh, they sent you," Charly realized," I know, that my spine was hurt. That there is something wrong."
"More than just something," Lucius took this hand," you ´ll be paralyzed from your hips down."
Charley swallowed. He had expected this but . He decided to change the supject, still feeling Lucius hand which was stroking his own in a oddly calming way, not wanting to cry before the Slytherin:"Is Ginny allright?"
"She woke up this afternoon. She will be okay."
"Good. But ..."
"Do not worry. I´ll care for her."
"Thanks."
"You should rest now."
Charlie nooded and closed his eyes still holding Lucius´ hand. He shifted to one side, away from Lucius, silently crying until exhaustion made him sleep again. Lucius freed his hand carfully not wanting to wake him, and stepped away.
Ginny was in the dark high frequent cries around and then she saw Bill. He was bleeding and reaching his hands out to her. "Ginny help me!"
She run to him, but as faster she run, the slower she was. Bill seemed to get further and further away. Desperatly she tried to reach him. But the shadows grew stronger and suddenly he was surrounded by them.
"No, no," Bill cried and tried to struggle free. But the vampires dragged him down. Ginny cried and wailed but she couldn´t help him.
"No, no ... "
"Ginnny, Ginny," someone shook her," sh, it´s just a nightmare."
As she opened her eyes, Mr. Malfoy was at her side again. She flew into his arms.
"Sh, everything´s allright ," he craddled the trembling girl in his arms. Ginny snuggeled nearer. She felt a bit comforted, while Lucius stroked her hair.
"I´m sorry, that I woke you up," she murmured.
"It´s okay. I havn´t slept. I was just in my study. I have to think about a lot things."
"Oh, the attacks."
"Yes, the attacks worry me a lot."
"Why don´t you just fight the vampires? You can fight vampires, can´t you? "
"Yes, you can, but it´s difficult and the greatest difficulty are the ruling families," explained Lucius," they have been enemies since about six hundred years ago. Romania and Bulgaria might officially be friends, but without these two families nothing works properly."
"I see," murmured Ginny and Lucius felt her relax in his arms.
"This strugggle has a long tradition," Lucius continued to speak about history, until Ginny slept. Then he laid her gently back on the bed and covered her up. It seemed that it would be more exhausting than he thought to care for the two of them.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
"So what is up with Sirius?" asked Harry urgently and grabbed the letter out of the hand of Mrs. Weasley. He read it and became very pale.
"What´s Remus writing?"
"He says that Sirius disappeared. He just wanted to get some things for the house - and he hasn´t come back yet."
"But maybe he just got lost or met an old friend."
"Or he had an accident," Harry interrupted him," or someone got him - maybe there are still some deatheaters left."
"There are no deatheaters left in England," said Mrs. Weasley calmly," I´m sure this is not as bad as you think."
"I want to go to Lupin's. Now."
"It´s okay, we are going with you," Ron told him, " don't be afraid. I´m sure we´ll find him soon. I just send an owl to Hermione and then we go there through the floo network."
"Okay," Harry calmed down a bit. He waited almost patiently while the Weasleys got prepared for traveling. In two minutes they appeared in the fireplace in Remus´ living room.
"Everything allright?"asked Mrs. Weasley.
"Yes." They steppd out of the fireplace.
"Harry, Ron, Molly," Remus rushed to them.
"What about Sirius?" asked Hary anxiously.
"I have no idea," Remus sighed," he just didn´t come back."
"I think, we should not loose our minds," said Molly," maybe there is just a very simple reason for this," she smiled calmingly," I think we should go to everywhere he could be and to the hospitals ."
"You are right. Would you go with Ron to St. Mungos and the smaller hospitals?"
"Surely."
"Good. I'll go with Harry to town."
The whole afternoon Harry and Professor Lupin went through shops without finding any trace of Sirius. Discouraged they come back to the house. Mrs. Weasley and Ron hadn´t had any sucess either, but Hermione had arrived in the meantime.
"Ron, Harry," she rushed to them, but could read in their eyes that they hadn´t found him.
"And I so hoped you had found him in the meantime."
"Us too," Ron sighed," what the hell could have happend to him?"
"Don´t swear," his mother scoweld, "I´m sure we find him. Arthur is coming too after work."
"The ministery will find him," Hermione tried to convince Harry, Ron and even more herself. So they waited impatienly for Mr. Weasley to come. Mrs. Weasley tried to make conversation.
"You are going back to Hogwarts?" she asked Lupin.
"Yeah, Dumbledore has pushed through that I teach defence against dark arts again. The parents and the school governors don't seem too happy with the decision, but."
"You are a good teacher," sai Ron," you were the best teacher we ever had in that subject. I´m sure you can convince them."
"Thank you, Ron, but being a werewolf is not the best quality for being responsible for children." Before anyone could answer him Arthur Weasley appeared in the fireplace.
"Dad," called Ron," there you are. You will help us to find Sirius, won´t you?"
"Of course. Sorry, that I´m so late but the ministery is gone completely mad."
"What happend?" asked Molly worried.
"Remember that lists? Louisa Hampship shall be imprisoned. Just because she was maried to a Slytherin once."
"But they divorced twenty years ago. And she was badly hurt in the fight against the deatheaters."
"I know, it´s mad. And I told Gabriel exactly that. I think I made an impression on him. I know it´s important to find the last supporters of you know who, but it´s getting a bit out of hand. But never mind. What happened to Sirius?"
"That´s exactly what we don´t know," sighed Remus," he´s just disapeared, he wanted to buy some things in Diagon Alley, but he never seemed to have reached it."
"And he´s not in St. Mungos or one of the smaller hospitals," added Molly.
"So, maybe we should have a look in the muggle world. When he had an accident . I'll just ask some collegues from the ministery."
"Yeah, that´s an good idea. We could have a look in the muggle hospitals in the meantime," said Hermione.
"And how?"
"Easily, we just call them."
"With a felefon?" Mr Weasley sounded interested.
"Sure," Harry smiled the first time this evening.
"Good, but not this evening. It´s nearley midnight," Remus sighed as he saw Harry´s face," I´m as afraid as you, but we all need to rest before we can go through that again."
"You are right," admitted Harry. His head felt, as it was wrapped in cottonwool.
"And tomorrow we will find him."
"I hope you are right."
TBC