Chapter 22
They did run, they ran until their sides ached and their lungs heaved, but they could not escape. The villagers closed in around them, brandishing a variety of weapons from simple pitchforks to finally made swords.
Ginny and Draco were forced to stop. They were surrounded.
Draco's mind worked quickly, trying to think of a way out of this. There must be something he could do.
Ginny's wand was out, but the though gave Draco little comfort. They were still outnumbered, thirty to one. Not very good odds even on a good day.
His gaze fell on the small, limping man who had met them in the street. His expression was no longer hidden. Instead, a dark, murderous look of hatred and fear showed on his countenance, and Draco wondered what they had done to offend the man so much. Okay, so maybe they'd broken into his cottage, but it had looked deserted. That wasn't any reason to want to kill somebody, was it? Surely if he explained who he was he could get the man to back off, and take the crowd with him. How much would it cost? A few hundred pounds? That was easy.
He stepped towards the man, intending to speak, to try to reason with him, but the man jumped back, as if Draco had tried to attack him.
The people's angry shouts grew louder, but still they hesitated, not wanting to do anything else until this man-apparently a leader of sorts-gave them permission.
The man studied them, his eyes coming to rest on Ginny in a way Draco did not like. He won't get her, he swore. They can take me as a prisoner if they like, or even kill me, but he won't get her.
The intensity of the thought stunned him momentarily, as for the first time, he finally came to realize just how much he cared about the younger girl. He didn't just care for her, he loved her. The realization spurred him into action.
"Pretend to put your wand in your pocket Ginny, but give it to me," he commanded softly, holding his hand behind his back and moving close to her so that the change of hands would be hidden in their cloaks.
Ginny hesitated, but gave it to him after a moment. She didn't know exactly what he had planned, but she was willing to trust him. She didn't have any ideas, except to start shooting them down one by one with hexes, curses, jinxes…anything and everything she could think of. But that would only get her so far, before they were overwhelmed by sheer numbers and her wand was taken from her. Tense and nervous, she waited to see what Draco would do next.
Meanwhile, Draco had just made up his mind. Right now, it was impossible for both of them to escape. But if he used Ginny's wand, if he cleared a path through the people for her, Ginny could escape. She could run back into the forest and hide herself. They'd never find her, the woods were too big.
He'd be left to suffer the consequences of course, but he'd be left with a wand in his hand and a chance to fight. Maybe he'd even be able to escape too. Though, he thought wryly as he glanced around and the angry, blood-thristy crowd, that isn't very likely.
One glance at Ginny though assured him that he was doing the right thing. The scared, frightened look in her eyes as she looked at the mob around them and the trust in her eyes when she had handed him her wand made him even more determined.
She trusts you, Draco, you can't let her down.
"When I tell you to, run towards the forest as fast as you can, and don't look back, you understand?"
"But what about-"
"Just do it, okay?" he ordered sharply. Why couldn't she just listen for once?
Ginny must have seen something in his eyes then, because her own brightened, shining with tears she refused to let fall. After a moment, her lips pressed together in an expression of grim determination and her face hardened. Draco knew she would do as he asked.
He took a deep breath. "Okay, now!" he shouted.
Ginny took off, racing towards the edge of the circle that was closest to the woods. Thankfully, it was also the thinnest section of the crowd.
Thanks be to whoever or whatever helped with that, Draco thought vaguely as he fired off the first curse, right into the first man who blocked the way. He dropped as if dead, though Draco knew he hadn't killed him. He probably should have though…
The crowd stood silent, stunned, but only for a moment as Draco continued to throw spells at the people who stood in Ginny's way. Then they surged towards him, grabbing at his arms and legs, pulling the wand out of his fingers and throwing it to the ground. Draco heard a snap as it was trampled. Fists pounded at him and through a haze of pain Draco wondered if they were going to beat him to death. It felt like they were doing a good job of it.
An inky darkness rose before his eyes then, and Draco just had time to wonder if Ginny had made it to safety before the blackness washed over him.
At the edge of the forest, hidden in the trees, a young girl looked back, eyes filled with tears. Draco had told her not to look back, but no one was chasing her anymore. It was as if she was forgotten, now that they had Draco. Maybe the man with the limp had told them not to worry about her, they already had a victim. The tears ran down her cheeks, sobs wracking her small frame as she saw the mob surrounding the body of the only boy she'd ever loved. Hitting him, kicking him, killing him.
She watched as Draco's body went limp, as he quit struggling. But the villagers didn't care, they would have kept beating him if a loud voice hadn't rose above their angry shouts.
"Stop this at once." A familiar, hated voice.
Ginny watched as the villagers quieted, backing away from Draco's still form.
"Would you kill him now," the limping man asked them, his voice surprisingly commanding, full of authority, "or would you honor your new gods with an offering?"
The reply was immediate. An offering to please their gods.
He's not dead, the thought struck Ginny like a blow, giving her hope when she thought all was lost. But she didn't have much time. They were going to…to give him as an offering to their gods. Ginny didn't know what exactly that meant, but she didn't like the sound of it. She felt her blood run cold.
She had to save him. She didn't know how, but Draco had risked his life for her, and she could do no less in return. Only this time, she would get them both out. Somehow.
Her thoughts turned to the limping man, then one that had started all this. Obviously, he hadn't liked them using his cottage, but this? He had wanted Draco dead, had wanted them both dead. And why? Because they were witches? Suddenly Ginny realized what her ancestors must have went through years ago, when they had suffered witch hunts. But that stuff wasn't supposed to happen anymore. It was supposed to be history.
Ginny watched as the villagers lifted Draco into the air and carried him away down the street. Her cheeks were wet and her heart ached, but a purposeful look had settled over her face. They weren't making any kind of "offering" out of Draco. Not if she could help it.
A/N: Hmm, so what will Ginny do? Find out in the next chapter!
Thanks to those of you who reviewed my last chapter, even though it took me so long to post it.
Draco~Gin*gurl: Actually, that's exactly wanted it to be: a place out of time. A small village that just hasn't really progressed with the rest of the world because of it's isolation. And thanks!
Angel Jane: Yeah, it's been a long time. *grimace* Too long. Oh well, I'm back now, and we'll see the end of this story now. Thank you so much for reviewing and for adding me to your favorite authors list.
HeatherWeasley-lover: Hi! Great to see you've stuck with me, thanks! But you've got to quit changing your name on me Heather, every time I go to write these little notes I have to look it back up. JK.
Turtlerabbit: Thank you for the highest of compliments!
Hpdancer92: Glad you like it.
Dragonsprincess: Thank you, as always, for your review. Your thoughts are always entertaining. So, did this latest chapter fulfill any of your hopes for what was going to happen, or has it left you guessing again? *grins*
Allie*: Well, not much to say here, seeing as how I already said it all in the email I sent you, lol. Thanks for reviewing of course, I like to hear your comments on my story. How is yours coming, btw?