A/N: Sorry I'm a day or two late! But I better put this up!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. There, I said it! I hear that's the first step. Lol

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Chapter 15

"A day you'll never forget"

After they finished eating Hermione and Ron sat close to each other as they saw the stars fill the sky. It was such a magical night and Ron had brought an extra blanket so they could cuddle. He anxiously kept looking around but always stopped when he locked eyes with Hermione.

"So… how did you do all this? I don't think this was a spur of the moment kind of thing," she said grinning at smell of daffodils.

"Obviously, Neville helped me. You were going to the wrong person for information Hermione. Ginny didn't know a thing," he said winking.

"Well, you've become so tenacious Ron!" she said laughing. "Or maybe it's just me loosing my edge?"

"Make you slip do I?" he said with a grin.

"Something like that… Or maybe it's just that I can't keep my head with you around… Other thoughts fill it instead,"

"Like?"

"Just being close to you… That's all I really need,"

"Hermione…" sighed Ron.

And then it happened again. He tore his gaze away from hers and looked around. Hermione was upset. Doing that in the middle of an emotional moment got the better of her. She sat up right and gave Ron a cross look.

"Ok, what's going on? You look like you're waiting for something to happen,"

"I… well - I sort of am," he said shyly.

"Well what? Why don't you just tell me?"

"I… I can't… not right now anyway. You'll understand later," he said in a nervous voice.

"Oh? How much longer?" she said still upset.

"Not too long. It's should almost be time. Please, just trust me, it's all for the best,"

"What?"

***

Harry, Ginny and Draco continued down the tunnel. One hour had passed and time was growing short. Draco's silence had left them wondering as to why he didn't want to confront them on Harry's question. As they were finally rising upward in a slope, Harry decided to try one final time.

"So, why did you say we've wasted the days? I think we have the right to know,"

Draco growled. It looked like he couldn't handle the stress of what was on his mind and the unassailable questioning that Harry made. He slowed his pace.

"It's just - if we don't hurry - we may be too late," said Draco with clenched teeth.

"For what? Your father can't get any worse can he?" asked Harry.

"No, but there's more at stake now,"

"Please tells us Draco, we're here to help you aren't we?" pleaded Ginny.

It was then that he stopped. Draco turned around and gave them a look.

"Yes, you're both here but where are the others?  Having their date I assume? For some reason I doubt it! I think at least one of them is waiting for them," he said as Harry and Ginny looked back puzzled.

"What?" they both asked.

"There's a snitch in this group and I'm not talking about Quidditch! By my guess, it's Weasley,"

"What?!" said Ginny outraged.

"It's the only explanation. They're coming. They're coming to take my father away,"

"Who's coming?"

"The Ministry of Magic,"

Harry and Ginny looked at Draco surprised. The silver-haired boy turned around and continued to walk up the slope. He took out of his pocket a piece of parchment and, without turning, handed it to whom ever was behind him. Ginny took the parchment and began to read aloud.

"Dear Draco,

I've been hearing recently of an assembly that took place here, at the ministry, involving your father. It was too amazing for me to comprehend, but the committee seems to have a suspicion that your father is in fact alive! I'm not sure if I believe them but I thought that you should know about this. It seems that someone in the vicinity of Hogwarts has written to them about his whereabouts and rumor has it, they'll be heading there at night of the 14th of February. Although your father was a follower of the Dark Lord, he did allow me a job here at the ministry many years back and I felt, in his memory, I should at least contact you. I hope all resolves itself soon.

Signed: Anonymous Ministry Official

Ginny looked at Draco's back as they finally reached the top of the slope and climbed out, into the Shrieking shack. The house was still dingy and dusty but now that the boards had been forced open since their last visit, they could quickly walk out of the house and towards the Victorian where Lucius was staying.

"Why do you think my brother -" began Ginny as she was quickly cut off.

"Isn't it obvious? Why was he so eager to volunteer to take care of my father to start with?" started Malfoy.

"Well… first of all… he… I know he felt bad about your situation and -" said Ginny.

"Bad? He used me for his stupid romance games!!"

"It's not like that!" said Harry angrily.

"That's right! Why didn't you take care of him?" said Ginny in her brother's defense.

"How was I supposed to get to him as often?" retorted Draco.

"Well… If you knew about that tree then you -"

"I knew how to get in it from Hogsmeade! The only time I ever used that entrance was when the castle was taken over! I had no clue how to stop that wretched tree from killing me and opening it from inside the Hogwarts grounds!"

This was enough. Draco was steaming hot and everything inside him was built up to this moment.

"Fine! I don't need any of you! This isn't your problem! Why are you even helping me?!" he said as he marched away.

"No! Wait!" shouted Harry.

"DRACO!" shouted Ginny suddenly as the boy turned his head. "Please! You've got to learn to trust us! Don't turn away from us!" she finished in a sobbed whisper.

"How – how can you say that? I couldn't even trust my own father!"
"And yet you're trying to do your best to save him. Ginny's right, just let us help,"

Draco tightened his fist. "Why were they being so nice?" he thought. "It can't be cause they're worried about me and my father… no one does things for others without getting something in return… What if… What if they're working with Weasley and this is just a trick! Well, I can't let my guard down! I can't let them win!" And with that Draco stormed out of the room as fast as he could and out the shrieking shack. Harry and Ginny chased after him hoping that they could make him realize that he needed them on this.

***

"They should be here any second now…" said Ron looking out.

"Who? Tell me what's going on?" asked Hermione curiously.

"I can't tell you yet but it should be any moment now. Trust me Hermione you'll love this!"

There was soon a faint rustle in the snow-covered bushes and Ron looked utterly delighted. From beyond them and into the preserved magical flowerbed came two very familiar sights.

"Oh! Well! What on earth are you doing here?" Hermione asked smiling.

"I called them out to do me a favor. It makes things more official with witnesses," said Ron smiling. "And they agreed to do this so…"

"It's been a while since we've seen you both, what's that you've brought with you?" said Hermione laughing as the two figures approached.

***

Harry and Ginny ran over the hill passed the rest of Hogsmeade. Draco was easy enough for Harry to catch but Ginny had to pace herself or she'd faint so they slowed down. Finally they reached the house and saw from afar the boy disappear into it. They followed suit and made their way onto the first step of the staircase and hear Draco shut the door. Once up, Harry raced to it.

"No! Let us in!" said Harry slamming his fist.

"Calm… down… Harry!" said Ginny still regaining her breath. "Alohamora!" she said as the door burst open.

The first sight to meet their eyes was that of Lucius sitting calmly on a chair. His eyes shut tight and his head hanging limply like dead weight. Then Draco appeared from a shadowy corner and looked at the two.

"It's done. He should be coming two in about a minute or so. If you really have no business here anymore please leave," he said looking at his father.

"Please? Are you really asking nicely?" said Ginny.

With a mock sigh Draco answered: "Why do you do this all the time? Honestly you're more annoying then Potter, Weasley," said Draco in a surprisingly calm voice.

Ginny looked down then turned her eyes to Harry.

"How long until the potions takes effect?" asked Ginny to Harry.

"It should be instantly… but,"

"I stunned him. It was the only way to get him to drink," said Draco looking at them defensively.

"Will... will you be alright with him here? I mean, when he wakes… he probably won't know much of what's going on or even what happened to him. Can you deal with that… Draco?" said Harry as Draco turned his head suddenly surprised to hear his first name being uttered.

"Why -"

"We're just trying to help. Just trying to make you see we're not enemies. We're just trying to be friends," said Ginny.

"Friends?" said Draco as he looked at the girl moved.

Friends? Becoming friends with them? Could this really be possible? Suddenly there was a groan and Lucius's head rose up and stared at the three teenagers. They looked back hopefully as Lucius was about to say a word however… there was a loud crash and sounds like lightening bolts! There were people running up the stairs and surrounding the house. Voices could be heard from everywhere invading the echoing halls of the Victorian. Then a familiar face entered the room, looking surprised to see this odd group together.

"Oh no… so it's true then! I didn't want to believe it Harry. I really hoped I wouldn't find you here. Ginny? What on earth are you doing here?" asked Arthur Weasley, the newest minister of magic.

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IMPORTANT: For your attention everyone I will be gone on vacation for the next month so I won't be able to put up any story for a while. I'll see what I can do about bringing my diskette with me to add on my vacation but it's very doubtful that I can check regularly.

But PLEASE continue to review! If I get a nice surprised when I get back then I might be putting up more at lightning speed! Thank you!