Cast Away

~* Merry Christmas everyone! *~

Chapter 12 ~ Invasions

The holidays were fast approaching, and Sigma had left Ginny distraught. Her last words played over in Ginny's head for weeks after Sigma had gone. She understood why her friend had to leave, but Ginny didn't accept it. She had become silent again, not speaking to anyone, avoiding everyone, even Maria, who constantly grew to need her.

Ginny wasn't going home for the holidays as she had decided before coming to Hogwarts. Ron was going home, so were Julia, Drew, Phillip and Maria. Alistair, Colin, Cassandra, Hermione, Harry, Ginny and some first years would be the only Gryffindors staying over Christmas.

Some people had come to Ginny asking where Sigma had gone, but to be honest, Ginny had no clue where her friend was. She hated being asked where Sigma was, it only reminded her of the last night she had seen Sigma.

Ginny was on her way to the last class before holidays started, History of Magic, her least favourite class. Normally, she would sit there and talk to Sigma the whole lesson, but in the past few weeks, Sigma was no longer there. Ginny fought back her tears as she took her seat in the back, alone.

It wasn't long before Ginny had company, Maria. She walked over to Sigma's regular seat and sat down. Ginny looked at her, wondering why Maria was sitting with her.

'Hi Ginny, how have you been?' She asked, genuinely concerned. Ginny gave a small smile, but said nothing. Maria continued, 'I'm sorry about Sigma, it must have been hard,' Ginny sighed. 'Well, I'm going back on the train tomorrow, I have to tell my parents about the baby,' Maria put a hand on her stomach. She was only seven weeks pregnant, nothing showed yet.

'Good luck with that,' Ginny said, not really paying much attention to what Maria was saying. Maria sighed heavily.

'Look Ginny, there's nothing you, or anyone else, can do or say that will bring her back! She's gone, why can't you accept that?' Maria hissed.

'I know she'll come back,' Ginny said sternly.

'How do you know? She could be halfway across the world by now!'

'Just something she said…' Ginny trailed off, not really wanting to repeat Sigma's words.

'What did she say?' Maria pushed. Ginny took a deep breath. She had memorised Sigma's whole speech.

'She said a lot of things, but the thing that she said which made me realise that she'll be back is "Our paths will cross sooner than you think.".' Ginny told her.

'How do you know she doesn't mean in a month? A year? Ten years?' Maria argued.

'Shut up Maria, this pregnancy has made you deluded,' Ginny snapped. Maria's eyes widened, and her mouth hung open.

'After all I've done for you, this is how you treat me?' Maria said shrilly.

'All you've done for me? What have you done for me? You ignored my warning about this stupid pregnancy in the first place, you yelled at me, you treated me like dirt, you seem to cling to me because Phillip has left you, that, Maria, is what you have done for me.' Ginny said. Maria scowled, picked up her books and quills, and went over to Cassandra and Julia.

~***~

Draco Malfoy paced in the Slytherin common room. He knew that Maria Brently would be easy to get in bed, but Ginny was a tougher challenge. Draco made up his mind to get Maria first, get the easy out of the way so that he may have more time to work on Ginny.

Draco may have been big headed, but he certainly wasn't stupid. He, along with the rest of the school, had noticed that Sigma Orionis had mysteriously disappeared, leaving one very depressed Ginny. Draco knew that Ginny would be vulnerable to any support, as the Gryffindors hadn't been very supportive towards her.

Maybe I'll get Ginny first, and leave Maria 'til later, Draco thought with a smirk. He stalked over to the Slytherin notice board, and scribbled his name down to stay the holidays. He had been keeping his eyes and ears open, and knew that Ginny would be staying for the holidays. Draco had also found out that Ginny's brother wouldn't be staying, an added bonus. However, Granger and Potter were staying. Draco was certain that they wouldn't take care of Ginny that much, so he was in with a clear shot, so to speak.

~***~

Ginny went with Harry and Hermione to see Ron off at the Hogsmeade station. She was a little sad that her brother didn't want to stay the holidays, but Ginny knew it would be better without him.

'I'll send your Christmas present by owl,' Ginny whispered to her brother as she hugged him goodbye.

'Have a great Christmas everyone,' Ron smiled and boarded the train. Ginny's heart sunk as she realised this would be the first Christmas since she'd come to Hogwarts that she would be spending without Ron. Ginny hated that idea. She had never felt so alone, her best friend gone, her brother gone, she had no one to talk to over the holidays. Ginny sighed as she watched the train pull out of the station and chug off. This would be a long holidays.

Back in the Gryffindor common room, Ginny noticed how empty it looked. Cassandra sat with Colin and Alistair, Hermione with Harry, and the bunch of first years huddled in a corner. Ginny sat alone. She longed for Sigma's company, but she knew this was impossible. Sigma wasn't herself, and she needed space, time to sort herself out, hopefully sort herself out. The fire was roaring, and the wind whistled through the one open window.

Ginny stood and headed for the portrait hole, but she stopped when she heard Harry's voice.

'Where are you going, Ginny?' He asked.

'No where, just for a walk around the lake… alone.' Ginny told him.

'Why?' Hermione asked.

'I need to clear my head,' Ginny told her. Hermione didn't argue. She remembered how bad Sigma looked that night when Ginny had been left in the Forbidden Forrest, and knew that it was for the best Sigma was gone.

'Oh, Ginny, before you go, take this,' Harry handed her a blank piece of parchment.

'What is it?' Ginny gave a confused look.

'This,' Harry dramatically paused, 'is the Marauders Map.' He finished.

'What does it do?' Ginny asked, never having seen the map before this moment. Harry took out his wand and tapped the parchment.

'I solemnly swear I am up to no good,' He said. Ginny watched the lines snake over the parchment as if it were a spiderweb. Ginny gasped.

'This is amazing!' She cried, noticing a dot labelled Severus Snape moving through the dungeons near his office. 'It tells you exactly where everyone is! How did you get it?'

'Fred and George gave it to me in my third year,' Harry explained.

'Yes, it does seem like something they would have,' Ginny said thoughtfully.

'My father and his friends made it when they were at Hogwarts,' Harry told her.

'Really?' Ginny asked. 'How coincidental that you come to have it in your possession,' She said.

'That's what I thought too!' Hermione piped up.

'Well, I'll be off now, thanks for this Harry, I'll give it back later,' Ginny folded the map and exited the common room.

As she walked the many corridors of Hogwarts, Ginny followed the teachers dots on the map. She thought this would be a safe way not to be caught. However, another dot emerged walking the hallways, Draco Malfoy.

Must be out for a midnight prowl, Ginny thought bitterly. She silently hoped that he would be caught and given a detention, but didn't let him deter her from getting to the lake.

Ginny was in the Entrance Hall when she stopped watching the map, she figured it would be safe her almost being outside. She folded the map and slid it into her pocket. Just as she was walking past the sloped hallway leading to the Slytherin dungeons, someone stepped out in front of her, blocking her path. Ginny was about to scream, when the person put a gloved hand over her mouth. He stepped back so that Ginny could get a look at him, Draco Malfoy.

'Malfoy! What are you doing!' Ginny hissed as he took his hand away from her mouth.

'I thought you could use some company,' Malfoy said sarcastically.

'I don't want your company you slimey git,' Ginny said bravely. Malfoy grabbed her by the wrist rather hard, and pulled her so that her eyes were mere inches from his.

'Whether you want my company or not, you have it.' Malfoy said through his teeth, and pushed Ginny away. She tumbled and lost her balance, falling in a heap on the floor.

'I hate you!' Ginny cried, propping herself up with her hand, her face flushed and red.

'Of course you do,' Malfoy said in a dangerously low tone.

'What do you want?' Ginny said, standing up. Draco narrowed his eyes.

'All I want is to get to know your friend, Maria, a little better,' Draco winked at her. Ginny looked shocked.

'You can't be serious? Maria?' Ginny seemed a little offended by this. She had thought he had been interested in her, all though she would have turned him down. Ginny would have had fun denying Malfoy, but here he was, asking about Maria.

'I've heard things about her, and I would like to talk to her, get to know her,' Sleep with her, Draco smiled at his thoughts.

'Maria is a very foolish girl, but not stupid enough to go for someone like you.' Ginny said firmly.

'Are you sure?' Draco said in a smooth tone, and he stalked away, leaving Ginny puzzled.

After that, Ginny didn't feel like going for a walk around the lake, she checked the large grandfather clock in the Entrance Hall, 1.37am. Ginny decided to call it a night, and she headed back to the Gryffindor common room.

Waiting for her, sitting on one of the lounge chairs, was Cassandra. When Ginny walked into the common room, Cassandra jumped up to meet her.

'Hi… Cassandra,' Ginny seemed surprised that Cassandra would be waiting for her.

'Ginny, I need to talk to you, it's about Sigma,' Cassandra said, she sounded urgent. Ginny's expression changed from confusion to seriousness, and worry.

'What about her?'

'Let's sit down,' Cassandra suggested, leading Ginny to the same lounge chair that Cassandra had been waiting for her on. Ginny followed Cassandra's lead and sat down.

'What's wrong? What about Sigma? Do you know something?' Ginny questioned immediately. Cassandra slowly shook her head. 'What then?' Ginny yelled frantically.

'I was asleep, dreaming about a Hogsmeade trip. I was in Zonko's Joke Shop when Sigma came in, she looked a lot like she did just before she left, except her hair was more tattered with more dull blonde regrowth, and her right eye was half black.' Cassandra began.

'This was in your dream?' Ginny asked, and Cassandra nodded. 'She must have the ability to infiltrate dreams… she could have been trying to reach me, but I wasn't asleep!' Ginny cried.

'She didn't say anything, but it looked like she was looking for something important.' Cassandra stated. Ginny creased her brow.

'What could she have been looking for?' Ginny asked, more of a thought than a question expecting an answer.

'No clue,' Cassandra said. 'I just thought you should know that she was in my dream, unwillingly.' Ginny nodded.

'Thank you for telling me, I'm going to sleep, just incase Sigma tries to reach me.' With that, Ginny left Cassandra, and headed up the girls staircase.

~***~

'I couldn't get it Master,' Said an all too familiar voice. A bony fist slammed onto a large oak desk.

'I suggest you get it then,' Came the reply. Sigma nodded, and lowered her head, she had failed one too many times, and was lucky to still be alive.

'It keeps relocating though, this time it went to a dream… sir, the gem knows it's being hunted,' Sigma said.

'Silence! I do not wish to hear your mindless rabble, you will get me that stone.'

'And if I don't…?' Sigma asked timidly. The man she spoke to turned around, an evil crin plastered on his boney, white face.

'Then you will be used as its replacement,'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

the counter ~ I really don't care about whatever it is you are trying to do or say, just leave me alone, okay?

VoiCeZWiThiN ~ Thanks! Yes, Hermione was a little catty, but she was supposed to act that way. Yes, poor Sigma, but keep in mind that she doesn't have control over her actions. Maria made a sensible choice in her situation, whether that choice stands or not, we will have to wait and see. Thank you for reading and reviewing!

Tigeress61290 ~ I can't wait til LOTR3 comes out here! Two more days! Anyway, thanks for your review, did you like this chapter? I hope so, and I know that the last part is a little confusing, but it will become more obvious as chapters progress!

Darcy16 ~ Thank you for thanking me for thanking you for reviewing! Hehehe. Draco is beginning to put his plan into action, getting Ginny confused is something he wants to happen. That way she will be confused and upset (about Sigma). I hope you liked this chapter!

rose petel ~ I'm glad you liked that chapter, don't hesitate to ask any questions or guess what you think might happen, because it is a big help to me! Thank you for reading and reviewing.

amanda2680 ~ Everyone has different views of Blaise, since JK never actually said whether the character is male or female. I chose to make Blaise male in this story so that Draco can have an underling. Sorry for the confusion!

HarryzBabe ~ Oh yes it is sad what Sigma is going through, nothing that should happen to a fifteen year old girl! Poor thing. She is lost and confused, and she doesn't have control over her actions anymore, so we can forgive her for some things which she may do… thank you for reading and reviewing, I hope you liked this chapter!