Ginny stood alone in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, or nearly alone.
It was hard to feel suitably lonely and self pitying when there
was a sobbing ghost in the same room.
"Sodding bastard!" she said, kicking a book someone had carelessly left lying on the bathroom floor. Who's book was that anyway? No one ever came in here.
"You should be careful whose books you kick around Weasley." Ginny turned and saw Draco Malfoy leaning against the wall, wearing his school robes, a book bag, and his trademark smirk.
"Er..."
"Let me guess? Didn't see me?" He picked up the book and slipped it into his bag.
"Yeah...sorry. I was angry at...um...Ron because he was..."
"Work on your excuses Weasley. For a minute there I admired your spunk, calling me a bastard and all."
"I-I d-didn't know you were there," she stammered.
"Still, a good old fashioned "fuck off" might have been nice" He shrugged his shoulders very carelessly, as if to illustrate his disappointment.
"Can we just get to work?" she started to back away nervously, her eyes scanning the room for the bag she had brought.
"Why Weasley? Am I making you uncomfortable?" He started to walk toward her....
They heard the toilet flush.
"Bollucks!" shouted Ginny, remembering that was the stall where her books were located. "Myrtle, if my books just went down there I'll kill you!"
Moaning Myrtle flew out of the stall and right up to Ginny's face.
"I'm already dead! Thank you sniffle for sob rubbing it in my sniff sniff face! Why is everyone so sniff cruel to poor sniffle Myrtle? I just sit here sniff sniff minding my own business! You're a very nasty girl!" she shouted, then noticed Draco. "Oooh! You're a naughty girl, you are. You've got a boy with you. Hansome one too. Oooh, I'm going to tell your brother!" Myrtle laughed gleefully, then dove into the sink. Ginny hoped she wasn't on her way to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Well," said Draco, "she sure showed you."
"Fuck off."
Draco grinned.
"That's more like it. Let's go."
"What about my books?" she protested.
"Can't you do anything yourself, Weasley?" he took out his wand. Ginny didn't hear what he said, but the next thing she knew her books were sitting by her feet, a couple were a bit wet, but otherwise no worse for the wear.
"Blech," said Ginny, picking up the wet books.
"Here, put them in my bag," said Draco, holding it open for her. Ginny muttered a drying spell then placed the books in Draco's book bag, shooting him an uneasy glance.
"You aren't going to do anything are you? Make them disappear? I do know some nasty hexes myself, mind you," she threatened.
"I'd love to stay and flirt Weasley, but I've got a death to plot, if you want to come, then follow," he said, pretty much ignoring her comment, and picked up his bag.
"Flirt!" Ginny was both embarassed and disgusting. She wasn't flirting, was she? She looked at his face and saw that annoying smirk again. She was really beginning to hate that smirk, and hate him more than ever.
"Here Weasley, put this on." He had handed her his invisibility cloak.
"Don't you need it?"
"Do you always have to question me? You're gonna have to work on that, red." So now he had nicknames for her? She'd kill him now if she didn't need his help.
"Bastard," she muttered as she disappeared under the cloak. He smiled. Not a smirk, a smile. He loved getting people riled up, and with Ginny it was easy.
They walked the rest of the way in silence. They had to. It would have looked really odd for Draco to be talking to what appeared to be thin air, and if Harry or his friends saw him they would suspect an invisibility cloak, having had their own experiences with one.
The finally reached the Slytherin Common Room.
"Marvolo," said Draco. Ginny committed that password to memory, although with her luck it would be changed the following day.
No one was there, most of the students were at the Dining Hall for lunch.
"Grab my hand." Ginny did as instructed and they walked toward a bookcase which only had a few books scattered on its shelves.
Seconds later they were in Draco's study, standing in front of the bookshelf there. It presented a far more impressive collection than the Slytherin Common Room.
Draco let go of her hand and plopped himself down on the couch. He picked up a copy of the Daily Prophet and started reading the the Quidditch section.
"Aren't you supposed to be helping me?" Ginny asked, raising her eyebrows. Draco mockingly raised one eyebrow in response. "Well? I've decided we're going to have to fight him...I'm sure he'll be doing something with You-know-who this year, he always does. So, you know, we could...go in and help him along? You-Know-Who, not Harry. Er...I mean, with three against one Harry's bound to fail, right?"
Draco folded his paper, put it down, and looked straight at her.
"I think you'd better leave the planning to me."
"What? Why? I'm perfectly capable, look I even brought an outline....er...its in your bag," she said, opening his book bag and rummaging through it.
"Ginny, calm down." His use of her first name startled her, though his tone was the same typical Malfoy drawl. "I know you're nervous around me, at least I hope that's the excuse for your senseless babbling. And let's face it, you've got every reason to be. I'm an intimidating man." He gave a small laugh. Ginny was livid.
"Don't flatter yourself Malfoy. And using my first name is not going to have any effect on me," she spat.
"So it worked then?" he drawled.
"I really am going to kill you," Ginny informed him, pulling out her wand. "Right now if you don't dislodge that stick from your arse and actually do something useful. I've got a plan, and I'm sick of being the awkward Ginny Weasley everyone knows. So shut up, listen, and I will tell it to you, without the so-called "senseless babble." Alright?"
"I'm all ears Weasley." Draco turned around slightly so that his head was resting on one arm of the couch and his feet were hanging slightly off the other. He grabbed a pillow and put it behind his head, and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Go on, but make it quick, we've got to leave soon."
Ginny let out an exasperated sigh, wondering if she should reconsider her little alliance with Draco Malfoy, but it couldn't hurt to let him in on the plan. If he really wanted Harry dead, he wouldn't tell her secrets.
"Every single year, or almost every year, Harry has some sort of encounter with You-Know-Who. Every year Harry defeats him. I know He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named wants Harry Potter dead. He wishes it with every fiber of his being. I felt it, I felt it from the diary, and every witch or wizard living knows it.
" If The Dark Lord did not have to fight alone, he may be able to destroy Harry. We could help him without any of his Death Eaters knowing he had help. He would get the glory of killing The Boy Who Lived, and you and I would have the satisfaction of knowing Harry Potter's blood is on our hands. Our's,"
Ginny had never delivered such a powerful speech in her life, and she knew it. She didn't know how she had managed to sound so calm. She thanked the spirit of the Tom Riddle she had known for giving her that strength.
Draco was speechless. Ginny had transformed before his eyes from a nervous girl to a self assured woman. He had a new respect for Ginny Weasley. A respect he didn't know he could posess for any born of that family. He sat up, suddenly worried about the state of his hair, it would be a mess after lying down.
"Alright Weasley. It sounds like a great plan," he said, flattening his hair with the palm of his right hand. "Tomorrow we'll get to work. Now, we have to go. Let's get the cloak on. You keep it locked in your trunk, if you could afford one with a lock." The insult felt awkward on his lips, but Ginny didn't seem to notice. She felt this meeting had been a waste, but tomorrow....tomorrow things would start to happen.
"Gin, where were you? We missed you at lunch," asked Ron when he, Harry, and Hermione walked into the Gryffindor Common Room and spotted Ginny rereading Quidditch Through the Ages on a chair near the fireplace.
"I had a headache, and by the time it was gone I figured lunch was almost over," she lied. Ginny was surprised that the lie came so easily to her, without even a blush.
"Aw why didn't you tell us Ginny? We could have brought something back for you," Hermione said sympathetically.
"I could go ask the House Elves for some pastries," Ron suggested, grinning. Hermione shot him an annoyed glance and he burst out laughing.
"Ron, you shouldn't take advantage of them!"
"Leave him alone Hermione, he's just trying to bug you," said Harry. Ginny was annoyed. How thick could he be? Ron and Hermione always acted this way toward each other. It was how their relationship worked. Oh well, soon he would be gone and unable to bother them, or anyone else.
Draco had a free period after lunch, so once Ginny Weasley had gone he headed to the Prefect's Bathroom to think. He hoped Moaning Myrtle wouldn't be there, seeing her once in one day was plenty. She was more annoying than Peeves, at least Peeves was funny. Besides, he didn't want any distractions. If he was going to pull off killing both Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley, he'd need to plan well.
He opened his trunk and dug out a crumpled piece of parchment, reading it over carefully.
"To prove yourself worthy of Initiation, you have been given the task of killing Ginny Weasley. She is the youngest sister of Harry Potter's best friend, and killing her would be a blow to Potter himself. Do this, and you will be a Death Eater in time for the assault on Hogwarts."
This note had come from his father at the beginning of school, and he had not let it be seen by anyone else. He knew killing Potter was not part of his mission, but he had a spell in mind that might enable him to kill them both. It fit perfectly with Weasley's plan because he would need the power of The Dark Lord for this spell.
He reread the parchment once more before burying it again in his trunk, then set off for the Prefect's bathroom.
"Sodding bastard!" she said, kicking a book someone had carelessly left lying on the bathroom floor. Who's book was that anyway? No one ever came in here.
"You should be careful whose books you kick around Weasley." Ginny turned and saw Draco Malfoy leaning against the wall, wearing his school robes, a book bag, and his trademark smirk.
"Er..."
"Let me guess? Didn't see me?" He picked up the book and slipped it into his bag.
"Yeah...sorry. I was angry at...um...Ron because he was..."
"Work on your excuses Weasley. For a minute there I admired your spunk, calling me a bastard and all."
"I-I d-didn't know you were there," she stammered.
"Still, a good old fashioned "fuck off" might have been nice" He shrugged his shoulders very carelessly, as if to illustrate his disappointment.
"Can we just get to work?" she started to back away nervously, her eyes scanning the room for the bag she had brought.
"Why Weasley? Am I making you uncomfortable?" He started to walk toward her....
They heard the toilet flush.
"Bollucks!" shouted Ginny, remembering that was the stall where her books were located. "Myrtle, if my books just went down there I'll kill you!"
Moaning Myrtle flew out of the stall and right up to Ginny's face.
"I'm already dead! Thank you sniffle for sob rubbing it in my sniff sniff face! Why is everyone so sniff cruel to poor sniffle Myrtle? I just sit here sniff sniff minding my own business! You're a very nasty girl!" she shouted, then noticed Draco. "Oooh! You're a naughty girl, you are. You've got a boy with you. Hansome one too. Oooh, I'm going to tell your brother!" Myrtle laughed gleefully, then dove into the sink. Ginny hoped she wasn't on her way to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Well," said Draco, "she sure showed you."
"Fuck off."
Draco grinned.
"That's more like it. Let's go."
"What about my books?" she protested.
"Can't you do anything yourself, Weasley?" he took out his wand. Ginny didn't hear what he said, but the next thing she knew her books were sitting by her feet, a couple were a bit wet, but otherwise no worse for the wear.
"Blech," said Ginny, picking up the wet books.
"Here, put them in my bag," said Draco, holding it open for her. Ginny muttered a drying spell then placed the books in Draco's book bag, shooting him an uneasy glance.
"You aren't going to do anything are you? Make them disappear? I do know some nasty hexes myself, mind you," she threatened.
"I'd love to stay and flirt Weasley, but I've got a death to plot, if you want to come, then follow," he said, pretty much ignoring her comment, and picked up his bag.
"Flirt!" Ginny was both embarassed and disgusting. She wasn't flirting, was she? She looked at his face and saw that annoying smirk again. She was really beginning to hate that smirk, and hate him more than ever.
"Here Weasley, put this on." He had handed her his invisibility cloak.
"Don't you need it?"
"Do you always have to question me? You're gonna have to work on that, red." So now he had nicknames for her? She'd kill him now if she didn't need his help.
"Bastard," she muttered as she disappeared under the cloak. He smiled. Not a smirk, a smile. He loved getting people riled up, and with Ginny it was easy.
They walked the rest of the way in silence. They had to. It would have looked really odd for Draco to be talking to what appeared to be thin air, and if Harry or his friends saw him they would suspect an invisibility cloak, having had their own experiences with one.
The finally reached the Slytherin Common Room.
"Marvolo," said Draco. Ginny committed that password to memory, although with her luck it would be changed the following day.
No one was there, most of the students were at the Dining Hall for lunch.
"Grab my hand." Ginny did as instructed and they walked toward a bookcase which only had a few books scattered on its shelves.
Seconds later they were in Draco's study, standing in front of the bookshelf there. It presented a far more impressive collection than the Slytherin Common Room.
Draco let go of her hand and plopped himself down on the couch. He picked up a copy of the Daily Prophet and started reading the the Quidditch section.
"Aren't you supposed to be helping me?" Ginny asked, raising her eyebrows. Draco mockingly raised one eyebrow in response. "Well? I've decided we're going to have to fight him...I'm sure he'll be doing something with You-know-who this year, he always does. So, you know, we could...go in and help him along? You-Know-Who, not Harry. Er...I mean, with three against one Harry's bound to fail, right?"
Draco folded his paper, put it down, and looked straight at her.
"I think you'd better leave the planning to me."
"What? Why? I'm perfectly capable, look I even brought an outline....er...its in your bag," she said, opening his book bag and rummaging through it.
"Ginny, calm down." His use of her first name startled her, though his tone was the same typical Malfoy drawl. "I know you're nervous around me, at least I hope that's the excuse for your senseless babbling. And let's face it, you've got every reason to be. I'm an intimidating man." He gave a small laugh. Ginny was livid.
"Don't flatter yourself Malfoy. And using my first name is not going to have any effect on me," she spat.
"So it worked then?" he drawled.
"I really am going to kill you," Ginny informed him, pulling out her wand. "Right now if you don't dislodge that stick from your arse and actually do something useful. I've got a plan, and I'm sick of being the awkward Ginny Weasley everyone knows. So shut up, listen, and I will tell it to you, without the so-called "senseless babble." Alright?"
"I'm all ears Weasley." Draco turned around slightly so that his head was resting on one arm of the couch and his feet were hanging slightly off the other. He grabbed a pillow and put it behind his head, and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Go on, but make it quick, we've got to leave soon."
Ginny let out an exasperated sigh, wondering if she should reconsider her little alliance with Draco Malfoy, but it couldn't hurt to let him in on the plan. If he really wanted Harry dead, he wouldn't tell her secrets.
"Every single year, or almost every year, Harry has some sort of encounter with You-Know-Who. Every year Harry defeats him. I know He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named wants Harry Potter dead. He wishes it with every fiber of his being. I felt it, I felt it from the diary, and every witch or wizard living knows it.
" If The Dark Lord did not have to fight alone, he may be able to destroy Harry. We could help him without any of his Death Eaters knowing he had help. He would get the glory of killing The Boy Who Lived, and you and I would have the satisfaction of knowing Harry Potter's blood is on our hands. Our's,"
Ginny had never delivered such a powerful speech in her life, and she knew it. She didn't know how she had managed to sound so calm. She thanked the spirit of the Tom Riddle she had known for giving her that strength.
Draco was speechless. Ginny had transformed before his eyes from a nervous girl to a self assured woman. He had a new respect for Ginny Weasley. A respect he didn't know he could posess for any born of that family. He sat up, suddenly worried about the state of his hair, it would be a mess after lying down.
"Alright Weasley. It sounds like a great plan," he said, flattening his hair with the palm of his right hand. "Tomorrow we'll get to work. Now, we have to go. Let's get the cloak on. You keep it locked in your trunk, if you could afford one with a lock." The insult felt awkward on his lips, but Ginny didn't seem to notice. She felt this meeting had been a waste, but tomorrow....tomorrow things would start to happen.
"Gin, where were you? We missed you at lunch," asked Ron when he, Harry, and Hermione walked into the Gryffindor Common Room and spotted Ginny rereading Quidditch Through the Ages on a chair near the fireplace.
"I had a headache, and by the time it was gone I figured lunch was almost over," she lied. Ginny was surprised that the lie came so easily to her, without even a blush.
"Aw why didn't you tell us Ginny? We could have brought something back for you," Hermione said sympathetically.
"I could go ask the House Elves for some pastries," Ron suggested, grinning. Hermione shot him an annoyed glance and he burst out laughing.
"Ron, you shouldn't take advantage of them!"
"Leave him alone Hermione, he's just trying to bug you," said Harry. Ginny was annoyed. How thick could he be? Ron and Hermione always acted this way toward each other. It was how their relationship worked. Oh well, soon he would be gone and unable to bother them, or anyone else.
Draco had a free period after lunch, so once Ginny Weasley had gone he headed to the Prefect's Bathroom to think. He hoped Moaning Myrtle wouldn't be there, seeing her once in one day was plenty. She was more annoying than Peeves, at least Peeves was funny. Besides, he didn't want any distractions. If he was going to pull off killing both Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley, he'd need to plan well.
He opened his trunk and dug out a crumpled piece of parchment, reading it over carefully.
"To prove yourself worthy of Initiation, you have been given the task of killing Ginny Weasley. She is the youngest sister of Harry Potter's best friend, and killing her would be a blow to Potter himself. Do this, and you will be a Death Eater in time for the assault on Hogwarts."
This note had come from his father at the beginning of school, and he had not let it be seen by anyone else. He knew killing Potter was not part of his mission, but he had a spell in mind that might enable him to kill them both. It fit perfectly with Weasley's plan because he would need the power of The Dark Lord for this spell.
He reread the parchment once more before burying it again in his trunk, then set off for the Prefect's bathroom.