Author's Note: Ahhh!!! I just deleted my story…*wipes tears* tries to compose self… failing utterly…. Okay, well, I had five chapters all written and posted…then I made some chapter changes…deleted the story…and now I have to repost everything!!!! And gone now are my precious reviews which I had come to treasure so much….^_^ haha…which means I have to start all over.

This doesn't seem like Draco/ Ginny but it'll become more evident in the following chapters. Be patient. =) And just to be safe, I don't own anything… yet…maybe the plot…I'd like to think I have enough creativity to come up with my own plot at least. =P

Chapter 1 Escape

"You failed me, Lucius," Voldemort's cold voice rang clear in his head. "Crucio!" The ever present coldness of a dementor's presence filled Lucius Malfoy and he could feel himself fall over the brink into insanity as his worst memory filled his entire mind.

"No!" Lucius gasped out, forcing away the memory and the insanity. "Don't think about that," he ordered himself. "Remember, that you have the potential the be more powerful than Lord Voldemort ever was." Power, ambition, Lucius clung on to the thought with all his might to maintain his sanity.

It had been over a year since Lord Voldemort had fallen and all the Death Eaters were sent to Askaban. The presence of the dementors, the overwelming wave of misery and bad memories was enough to drive any normal wizard or witch to insanity after the first three days. However, Lucius was not normal; after over a year in Askaban, he still possessed some degree, however minimal, of sanity. The key to his survival, was the knowledge that he, Lucius Malfoy, had the potential to surpass even Voldemort in power. During Voldemort's second rise, Lucius had secretly brewed an immortality potion and cast a spell so that he would be immortal. The potion and spell not only prolonged his life but enhanced his powers to a level beyond even Voldemort himself. However, after Voldemort's fall, when Lucius was stripped of his wand and thrown into Azkaban, his newly strengthened powers proved meaningless, and he was as weak as a newborn kitten. Yet the knowledge of his potential power was enough for Lucius to maintain his sanity, and because it was not a happy thought, the dementors could not suck it out of him.

The door opened and Lucius looked up to see a dementor enter his cell to bring him a chunk of stale bread and a cup of moldy water. A wave of coldness engulfed Lucius, and he could the hiss of Nagina, Voldemort's pet basilisk.

"You ssssmell sssweetly of failure Luciussss," Nagina said, her tongue flicking out. "My masster alwayssss feedssss me thosssse who fail him."

"I am more powerful than Voldemort," Lucius snarled to himself, pushing away the coldness and the awful memory. Hungrily he snatched at the bread the dementor had brought in. Outside his cell, he could hear the moans and screams of fellow prisoners.

"No James! I never betrayed you," Lucius recognized the wails of Peter Pettigrew. Wormtail, Lucius mentally spat at the name. He was such a weak person; Lucius never understood why Voldemort hadn't fed him to Nagina in the first place, always whining, simpering, and failing to complete his tasks. But it doesn't matter now, Lucius thought. We have both ended up in Azkaban. I am as weak as him. "NO!" Lucius cried out viscously at the thought. "I am powerful, more powerful than any wizard. I will get out of here." And suddenly, a realization came to Lucius. He was powerful; he had powers, animagi powers. He had the ability to transform into a snake and escape his confinement! Immediately, Lucius tried to shiftshape, but he was too weak. Over a year in Azkaban had sapped his strength. Concentrating, exerting all his will, Lucius tried again to change into a snake. Very slowly, his bones melted together, his skin melded and formed a diamond pattern, which slowly became scales. In place of where Lucius once was, sat a snake, small enough now to slither pass the bars. No one noticed the snake as he slithered out of Azkaban.

"Anything new Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"No," Ginny sighed. "I've been keeping tabs on all the Death Eater suspects that claimed to be under the Imperius curse, and they're behaving perfectly. Not one toe out of line. They've been reporting every week what they've done and accomplished, etc."

"Excellent," Hermione approved. "Let's hope they stay that way."

Ginny nodded, but Hermione could see she looked dejected. "What's wrong Gin?"

Ginny smiled sheepishly. "Well, it's just I thought being an auror would be exciting. And well, it's been half a year and nothing's happening."

Hermione laughed, "Well, I'm not complaining. You were still at Hogwarts, but when I first became an auror, it was hectic trying to root out all the Death Eaters and sending embassies to the giants, etc. I certainly don't mind the current peace and quiet."

At that moment, Hermione's owl flew in carrying an envelope. "Hello Iaina," Hermione cooed, taking the letter from her talons. "Ginny, will you give her a treat?" She asked absently, while opening the letter.

Ginny fed Iaina a treat before leaning over Hermione's shoulder to see the letter. "What does it say?"

Hermione finished reading and looked up, her face pale with shock. "It's from you brother, Ron. He says Lucius Malfoy escaped from Azkaban. They can't find any traces of him."

"What!" Ginny exclaimed. She grabbed the piece of parchment and read the letter herself. "Phoenixes," she breathed. "Escape from Azkaban, that's impossible."

"Well, Sirius did it once himself," Hermione reminded. She smiled wryly. "Well Ginny, is this enough action for you?"

Ginny looked up guiltiy, "I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to ask for trouble."

"It's alright," Hermione laughed. "Go back to work; it's doubly important now that you keep an eye on all the past Death Eater suspects out there."

The news of Lucius Malfoy's escape from Azkaban spread like wild fire in the magical community. Ginny's spies informed her that the wizards they were watching for any dark arts activities seemed to be suddenly tense and alert, as if for a sign, but otherwise kept up with their normal jobs. For three months, nothing happened. Although aurors were still trying to find Lucius Malfoy, it was no longer exciting news. There were no signs of muggle murders or tortures or any Dark Mark sign. Then one week, Ginny received an owl from one of her spies telling her that the Death Eater suspects Archibald and Evelyn Esticher who had claimed to be under the Imperius Curse were missing. They had disapparated from their house and failed to come back within 24 hours, a stipulation that they were under in order for the Ministry to keep an eye on them. Two days later, every death eater suspect that Ginny had been keeping tabs on disappeared. Ginny found herself bombarded with owls as her spies informed her about the happenings, and Ginny, in turn, reported to Hermione.

"Oh phoenixes," Hermione gasped. "This is serious."

"Yeah," Ginny said grimly. "This isn't exactly a coincidence anymore, first Malfoy, then the Estichers, and now…"

"Something's going on," Hermione said. "But what? Voldemort's gone, Harry made sure of that. Why this sudden Death Eater gathering?"

"Not every Death Eater," Ginny said. "There are still the ones imprisoned in Azkaban. But we better relocate them soon. The dementors are no longer trustworthy guards; they'll turn to the Death Eaters as soon as they're contacted."

Hermione nodded gravely. "I'm going to notify the Minister and other Ministry members at once."

* * * * *

A few days later, Ginny found herself back in Hermione's office. Whatever it was, Ginny could tell by Hermione's expression that it wouldn't be good news.

"The Ministry's agreed it's important that we relocate the prisoners in Azkaban," Hermione told Ginny. "Each prisoner is going to be sent to live in a muggle house where they will be completely stripped of any magic."

"That's it?" Ginny asked in disbelief. "What if they just walk right out the house, or what if Lucius and his escaped Death Eaters come?"

"Which is why," Hermione explained. "Each prisoner will be guarded 24/7 by a fully trained auror that the Ministry has selected. That auror will literally be living with the prisoner, keeping an eye on him/her. In addition, each house will be some very powerful protective spells around it so that no Death Eater will be able to rescue the prisoner."

Ginny frowned in confusion, "So where's the bad news in all of this?"

Hermione sighed. "I'm sorry, Ginny, I really I am. I protested, pleaded, tried everything for your sake, but in the end, even your brother Ron agreed you were best suited for the job."

Ginny could feel every fiber in her body tense as Hermione spilled the news.

"The ministry selected you, Ginny, to keep an eye on Draco Malfoy."

It took a moment for Ginny to digest the information.

"What!" Ginny exclaimed, in a deadly soft, disbelieving voice.

"I'm really sorry Ginny," Hermione apologized. "But—"

"Draco Malfoy?" Ginny interrupted. "The same one who went to Hogwarts with us? The one whose father happens to be Lucius Malfoy? That Draco!"

Hermione nodded mutely.

"And pray tell me why I was the one selected?" Ginny demanded, straining to maintain control over herself. "Why not you? Why not Harry? Why not Ron? Why not some other auror? WHY ME!!!!!"

"You fit all the requirements," Hermione said simply. "You're the only one who fits the requirements."
"Explain."

"Well," Hermione began. "You are a fully-trained auror—"

"For only six months," Ginny hissed. "With absolutely no experience."

"The Ministry chose to overlook that minor fact," Hermione said. "What they did note was that you have some experience regarding muggle objects because you took Muggle Studies and your father is famed for his fascination with muggles. And considering you will be living in a muggle house, it is vital you have some muggle knowledge."

"Why not find someone whose muggle-born?" Ginny cried. "Like you, why not you?"

Hermione smiled sourly. "They did consider me, but I convinced them that guarding Malfoy was a bad idea because within a week he'd probably be dead or close to it. So they had me keep an eye on Crabbe instead, if that's any comfort to you. And Ron will be guarding Goyle."

Ginny had to smile at that. "You guard Crabbe?"

"Don't laugh," Hermione warned. "At least it's not Malfoy."

Ginny's face darkened at the reminder. "Hermione—," she pleaded.

"I'm sorry," Hermione smiled sympathetically. "I really do pity you, but it was the Ministry's decision."

"How much time do I have to prepare before I begin my new…job?" Ginny asked.

"The Azkaban prizoners are being relocated in three days," Hermione informed her.

"Three days!" Ginny cried. "I have three days and then I'm going to be living with Malfoy!"

"And I'm going to be living with Crabbe!" Hermione snapped. "Please Ginny, consider the suffering I'm going through."

"Except that I'm going to be suffering so much more living with MALFOY," Ginny retorted. "And in three days!"