A/N: Heya guys. CHOO CHOO WOO WOO! All aboard the writers block express!
Yes I've had an absolutely huge, fat ass sized block of wood hammered into
my brain, and I had quite a lot of difficulty progressing, hopefully this
chappie is okay. Plz tell me how you think the story is progressing, I
would really appreciate any input you have to offer. School is also holding
me back, with course work in all. So I will try my darndest to update
sooner rather then later.
Big hugglez to all you fabtabulous people who reviewed so far, u rock! *_* ^_^ ^_~ .
Oh yeah, I um, attempt to write parselmouth here, so laugh all you want I don't give a shit! Don't bother trying to say it.
AND ONE MORE THING! IM AM CHANGING THE RATING SOON TO A (R.) this is because I want to do bloody, gory scenes and maybe a sex scene.(?), I undecided yet, give us a buzz and tell me what you think yeah.
Chapter 8: A wounded eagle and a romantic dragon
*~*
Pain.
Pain is all I feel now, for I am trapped in an eternal torment, bound there by malice and insatiability. My pure soul trapped deep within the enduring obscurity of evil. I am caught in the ever lasting dark, and I am to remain there - for I have no soul anymore, my soul is as good as gone because of my blind promise.
Because that is what I did, I sold my soul. Do you know what it's like? Having your very mortality ripped from your body and crammed in a bottle that is corruption. You never forget all the joy and contentment that leaves you, leaving only the regret, revulsion and misery that is your life - and that, is just promising your soul to someone.
The truth is; I sold my soul for a woman - a fiery temptress who does not share my feelings - my love. Because of her dismissal, I tried to force myself upon her - taint her with my passionate, obsession for her. I'll never stop thinking about the way she tasted - the way her wonderful feminine body felt against mine.
- The look of pure terror and panic she gave me, when I refused to impede my lustful approaches on her body - our friendship and her soul.
(Sighs) I just wanted to feel the softness of her lips - to smell the pleasing scents of her long fiery locks.
Now I am confined within my self - devils snare must be wholesome ecstasy, compared to this barbaric imprisonment of feelings that I'm dealing with right now.
Undetectable walls are trapping my little lingering signs of goodness, and now the wicked suppressed deep down within my withered black empathy, is wreaking disarray upon those I care about the most.
I am merely a shell of my normal self - a pawn, if you will, in the game of life. A man who is desperately in love but has no heart left to feel the love with.
Now, I am fighting my own feelings, deep down in my empty suppressed conscious, with only my mysterious obsession with the woman I worship as an ally.
Now, I am - an Eagle with broken wings.
*
"You will be mine."
"Come to me, let your self go." The voice was echoing now, growing clearer and more coherent.
"Be in me, I need you."
Ginny was in the middle of having an extraordinarily bizarre dream; she was standing on the very edge of a precipice wearing a long black cloak that covered her entire body. Beyond the cliff, out in the world, there was the sky and the sea - it all seemed normal enough.
Except, in the vast world of dreams, where your mind runs free - and in this dream - the sky was intense; brighter then the whitest unicorn, home to titanic clouds bordered with shiny silver metallic linings, afloat in the unfathomable cerulean sky.
This - was heaven.
True, it was a wondrous view to behold. Feeling at peace, Ginny sat on the cliff edge, dangling her legs over the side, something below sure felt warm against her legs. She glanced downwards to the sea and screamed a piercing scream.
There was an immense ocean made of fire and molten rock, what seemed to be a sinister fortress loomed in the smoke, towering forebodingly above the sea. Big shots of heat were firing into the air making the air around her stiflingly hot. It was welcoming her - inviting her into Hells warm embrace.
A long timber bridge materialised before her, tempting her further. She walked without hesitation across it as though in a profound stupor; her dainty feet bearing the heat of the orange flames licking their soles. The redhead seemed to float rather then walk to a golden column that stood at the very end.
Once she had laid her petite feet upon the column, there was a blazing sound behind her - the bridge had caught fire. It began withering into black soot, diminishing into the hellhole below her.
Ginny found, that she was at unexplainably at harmony. The inferno around her was strangely soothing. She glanced to the heavens above - mysteriously they terrified her. The luminosity and intensity of the sky was stinging her eyes, scaring her.
Why was she afraid of the good - the light. Was she being judged? Was this what was happening? It was as though she was stood before a grand court, the ostentatious judges good and evil.
Then something new happened.
A colossal black dragon appeared from the fortress, it spread forth its gigantic wings, screeching deafeningly as it did so. Ginny watched the monster beat its huge black wings and climb into the air as graceful as a swan.
Once in the air it headed straight for her, screeching vociferously as it approached her, growing closer by the minute. The dragons scaly skin had a shiny appearance, like that of coal: shiny yet hard.
Ginny simply watched, soullessly, as it landed on the pillar top; which, disregarded by the red head, had expanded to the size of a quidditch pitch.
The dragon snapped its jaws forebodingly and reared onto its back legs roaring dreadfully at her; yet Ginny showed no fear, she was staring her future straight in the face - staring into death.
Unexpectedly the dragon silenced its cries - as if discerning defeat - and closed its eyes, where it began to minimize and change into something else: something human.
The person stretched out their arms and a long black cloak appeared, smothering their body completely. Ginny strained to see the form, unable to tell whom it was.
Then the surroundings changed, transforming into another dream.
She was standing at the start of an aisle inside a church -or was it a house? On each side of the walkway sat women along with men in black mantles and masks; they were deatheaters, and they were all staring expectantly through their masks, apparently waiting for her.
"HATHONRATHAS HACSHUCROO HAKOMORASHINA HATHIHIYONAS HISSTHANIS."
Ginny heard the harsh hissing quite close to her head and turned around to discover her father. Arthur looked terrible, it was like he had been beaten all over his body because his face was cut and bruised. His eyes were bloodshot and they carried a vaguely insane appearance.
"Dad? What are you - I don't understand -"
Suddenly, she felt breathing at the top of her neck from behind her, making her backbone quiver with dread and fear.
Ginny turned around gradually, then screamed, shattering the dire silence.
Stood before her was Voldemort with an impression of unadulterated lust on his face, but it didn't look at all like him. His features were - if possible - much kinder somehow; his body was also large and muscled whereas normally he was rather gangly.
At that very moment she realised who it was. It was..
Something was poking her arm, 'Boy that's annoying!' she looked downward at the poking's source and gasped at her elegant dress, it was the only white object in the room. Long and flowing it closely resembled the gown worn to her Hogwarts graduation ball.
A bright light seemed to emit from the dress, blinding her eyes; she shielded them with her hands, feeling faint and dazed. Ginny closed them securely to obstruct the impressive light that was still visible through her skin.
Then she was travelling, somehow, back to reality, back to her world.
~
"Please Miss, wake up!"
"What on earth? Go away." Ginny slurred rolling onto her side.
"Miss! Young miss!"
Ginny gradually and very carefully squinted an eye open, she could perceive the gloomy outline of her hand. Taking her hands away completely, she saw a curious pointed face with wide brown eyes peeping at her strangely.
'Oh shit!'
Gasping in astonishment, Ginny sat up and took a long studious look at the possessor of the auburn orbs.
Taking in the long ears and red pillowcase toga, the youngest Weasley placed a thoroughly relived hand on her chest and sighed; it was just a house elf.
"Wait a minute.." She whispered frowning at the creature, however the white fabrics hanging down next to her caught her attention, answering her question for her. This obviously wasn't her house. Ginny looked roundabouts her stunned.
She was presently sitting upright - if truth be told she was rather snug - within a gargantuan king sized bed, with white drapes flowing down the sides like bright waterfalls of fabric; it extraordinarily resembled her Hogwarts dorm bed, but obviously much bigger.
Opposite her, there were extremely lofty windows feeding bright sunlight into the room, French doors were locked at the bottom. To the left of her, there was a vast walk-in wardrobe with an impressive vanity mirror along with a huge dressing table; as we all know, it's every woman's 'dream' to have a wardrobe the size of a hair salon in her bedroom, then insisting to her husband that they simply must go shopping, because clearly she hasn't got enough clothes.
Ginny's clothes - 'Where the bejebus have they come from?' - only filled up a tiny quantity of space inside it.
To her right there was the rustic oak double door, and next to that there was a giant fireplace crackling merrily away with small ice blue flames, the mantelpiece above it was crammed with small books, begging to be read. 'Must check them out later.'
Ginny rubbed her eyes, leaving big black smudges on her hands. Was she dreaming? She pinched herself hard on the arm, 'Ouch!' yes, that seemed real enough, was she deluded then?
She turned her attention back to the house elf that was now giggling behind its hand, giving her a cheeky look. Ginny raised an amused eyebrow, narrowing her eyes.
"What's the matter?" she demanded curiously, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. The red head noticed that she was dressed in a pair of pyjamas, which were made of a rich burgundy silk. The garment front boasted a crest that read: "D.M.".
Shaking her head sceptically, Ginny returned her notice to the giggling house elf.
"Well?"
The elf snorted priggishly and sat on the floor staring at Ginny's face, pointing rudely at her.
"Begging your pardon miss, but you have large black patches under your eyes!" The creature squeaked shrilly.
"Miss looks very much like a muggle creature Hattie was shown once by master." The elf tittered.
Ginny pursed her lips at the misfortune of being laughed at, but quickly she saw the amusing side and laughed too. The elf snorted again and stood up becoming as quiet as a mouse, giving her a solemn look.
Ginny stopped abruptly - these undoubtedly were comical creatures. At Hogwart's they were hiding away in the kitchens and Ginny always knew they were there, but she had only ever seen one up close at the Quidditch world cup when Harry was chatting contentedly to Winky.
'The poor creature mustn't get out much.' She thought watching the elf.
"Did you say your name was Hattie?" Ginny enquired gently. The elf nodded vigorously flapping her huge bat like ears.
"Yes Miss. Hattie the house elf."
"And you mind telling me where I am Hattie?"
Hattie curtsied, benevolently. "Of course young Miss. Miss is at Angels Vineyard."
Ginny gave the elf a questioning look. "Angels Vineyard? And where would this place be exactly?"
The creature cleared its throat importantly. "Angels Vineyard is in this country named Spain." She said pointing and indicating to the floor. "Hattie has served here for 6 years now!" the elf squeaked egotistically.
Ginny smiled and got out of the cosy bed onto a cool marble floor, this without doubt made a change from frosty floorboards.
"Good for you. Um, Whom do you serve here?" she asked warily, trying to memorize what happened before she woke up.
She remembered seeing Blaise next to the lake, and that he tried to -, well she didn't want to remember that particular part of their meeting.
She remembered going back to the house and seeing Draco, he reassured her about the incident. Somehow she ended up in the living room, she didn't remember that, and Blaise and 3 others came bursting in, then - then-
'OH I can't REMEMBER!" she cried to herself. The house elf's voice bought her back to reality.
Hattie sighed sorrowfully. "Master died 30 years ago. But we have a new master now."
"Huh? Oh how unfortunate. Your new master, what's his name?" Ginny requested sitting back down on top of the bed.
"Well, *we* call him master, but his actual name Is Dri - Draco Malfe, um Malfi, um well, Hattie does not know how to say it."
Ginny gasped eagerly. "Malfoy, Draco Malfoy? Really? May you take me to him please?"
The elf stooped sincerely. "That is why I is waking you up miss. We cannot rouse him, so we thoughts, perhaps the pretty miss can."
Ginny smiled slightly embarrassed by the complement and stood up for a second time. Hattie bowed leading the way out the door, her ears flapping comically as she rushed along.
The corridor they were walking along was lengthy as well as impressive. The wall was covered with portraits of fair-haired people Ginny guessed were the Malfoy ancestors. There were at least 10 identical dark oak doors on either side of the landing; this place could get confusing fast.
They approached the very end of the corridor and stopped outside double doors that matched Ginny's.
Hattie opened the entrance with an out stretched hand and bowed Ginny in. In return, Ginny smiled kind-heartedly as well as nodding her head in recognition. 'Bless her.'
The room was extremely similar to hers; apart from the door and wardrobe were the opposite way around. She took one lingering look at the portraits, admiring their contents prior to focusing her attention on the flaxen man sound asleep on the bed.
She grinned audaciously; glad that it was Draco she was waking up right now. Walking up to him, Ginny gave Draco a once over before sitting down lightly next to him. He looked similar to the same cherub she woke up to last time - still handsome and perfect; although he had a bruise on his left cheek, and a slightly swollen eye.
However, sometimes, well, most of the time - that cute little angel could be turned into a sly devil.
Ginny could still remember his teasing from Hogwarts. At least 3 times a week he would make some snide comment, or try to snipe Ginny about her: family, brother, crush on Potter and most frequently; Weasley hair. Even so, every time she remembered the bad, a little bit of the good crept in too, like the dance they shared and the special "occasion" down by the lake.
Chasing these memories to the back of her mind with a pitch fork; The red head stroked his face warmly with the back of her hand expecting him to stir - Hattie was right, there was no movement what so ever.
Frowning at his unwillingness to wake, Ginny cupped his face with the hand and leant down leisurely. Swiping her fiery mane over the other shoulder, Ginny kissed him tenderly on the lips.
Even after this treat Draco still wasn't waking, so Ginny deepened the kiss making it more powerful and intense whilst stroking his cheek delicately. Abruptly she felt a response to her kisses, his lips opened slightly returning the sweet kiss. Seizing the chance - and getting some revenge - Ginny nipped him delicately on the lower lip, causing him to jump slightly.
The red head sat up and tucked a few wandering locks out of his eyes so she could see his thunderstorm eyes. Those, Ginny thought, were his best features on his handsome face, but those eyes could turn as hard as stone if provoked. Draco blinked quickly and smiled, he hadn't woken up to a sight like this for a while.
Rubbing away the pain lingering in his chest, he sat up gradually and gazed around his room, utterly astonished. Ginny let him get a good look at his surroundings before she interrogated him, but did she want to hear what was about to be said?
Draco rubbed his eyes hastily, and grabbed Ginny pulling her onto the bed. He rolled onto her groaning in pain slightly, which caused her to giggle and snap out of her worried thoughts.
He stroked her lips with his right hand before embracing her in another kiss. Ginny blushed slightly and allowed her eyes to flutter shut, enjoying his alluring embrace. Her lips opened up for him and she shuddered as his tongue sought her own, teasing and tasting. After 2 minutes of soft hearted- breathless kissing, Draco finally broke the embrace smirking slightly.
Ginny smiled appealingly, blushing somewhat noting the lustful look he gave her. Woah! That look could make even butter melt with pleasure. She stroked his rugged hair admiring its colour and shininess.
"What was that for?" she purred playing with a strand of hair, twirling it around on her forefinger.
Draco gave a lopsided smile at her absent-minded action. "I simply wanted to prove I wasn't dreaming that's all."
The red head bit her lip cheekily at his response, why did she always do that when he was around? Raising a suggestive eyebrow, Draco licked his lips intent on kissing her again. He closed his eyes then leant forwards expecting to taste her sweet lips. Ginny smirked sinfully and rolled out from under him causing him to get a face-full of duvet.
Ginny snorted into her nose and laughed openly at his hard luck, these men can't assume they'll get everything now can they? The cheeky red head jumped off the bed, undertaking a modest pirouette on the marble floor, whilst on the bed Draco glowered scornfully at her and rubbed his chest.
"Tease." He pouted sitting up, and swinging his legs out of the bed, patting his torso.
Ginny laughed, wrinkling her nose cheekily and blowing him a kiss. Somehow, she could always be her self in front of him. Although she didn't actually 'know' him that well, Ginny couldn't help but feel as if they had known each other for ages.
"Aren't I just," she sighed simply.
Ginny shook her head and went over to the window, which had the same elegant French doors. "The house elves had to wake me up just so that I could get you up, you're a heavy sleeper." She chided trying to undo the latch on the window.
"How on earth do you open this thing??" she huffed when it didn't open, resorting to twiddling the latch dumbly.
Draco laughed openly at her and came over to the window. "Here," he said, twisting it to the right and pulling it open. Ginny jumped slightly at his close proximity and shuddered involuntarily. Damn! Why was he capable of doing that to her? Making her spine turn to jelly at his very touch.
Ginny felt her cheeks glow and noticed how the breeze outside caught in her chest, the warm salty sea air swimming in her lungs. She gasped at the vibrant shades of blue out in the world and walked slowly out onto the balcony, staring around at the vast landscape materialising before her eyes.
There was no other word to describe the view; it was beautiful, outstanding, extraordinary, enchant- well ok maybe there was more then one word.
The immense balcony backed onto a stunning view of the Mediterranean Sea, the calm clear water stretched across the horizon for miles and was sparkling brilliantly, closely resembling an azure blue crystal. Coral reefs were hiding beneath the calm water, like untouchable gemstones locked away in a museum. The rock pools lingering near by were also begging to be explored.
The sand on the beach was littered with huge rocks and clumps of seaweed that had washed on shore the night before. There was a small arch in the cliff side about 20 metres down the coastline, which revealed more cerulean blue sea.
The beach stopped and sloping rocky cliffs stole the view, boasting hidden caves and ivy covered crevices. Above the cliffs there was a small field of wheat, then row upon row of luscious green grape vines. It truly was an amazing site.
Each row stretched on for at least a mile, sprouting vines of delicious green and red grapes. There was a small dirt path separating each row like a small system of roads within a vast city.
Ginny's eyes wondered on further and rested on an attractive garden growing from below her, there were hundreds upon hundreds of flowerbeds each sporting blues, purples, reds and oranges, hell there was every colour known to man! She noticed that right at the back of the garden, growing up the side of the sun house, that a huge bush of red roses were enjoying today's sunlight. There were tall palm trees planted every few feet setting the boundary for the garden.
In the very centre of the garden there was a huge fountain, it was even more spectacular then those at Hogwarts when the triwizard tournament was held. As the most fetching feature in the garden, you couldn't help but look at the fountain, it basically screamed attention seeker. The statue in the middle was cut to revel a grand Pegasus, rearing up onto its powerful hind legs and spreading out its huge eagle wings in preparation for flight. Big jets of sparkling water were being shot up silently around it creating a cage of water around the winged horse.
At head height, miles and miles away to the left in the distance, there was a huge mountain range, and what appeared the be a small village was peeping through the vastness of green; many of the small rustic houses were camouflaged behind the tall palm trees and olives.
Ginny finally turned her attention back to Draco, who was watching her expectantly.
"Well? What do you think?" he enquired scanning the landscape quickly with superior eyes.
She took another breathtaking look around the scenery before answering.
"Its wonderful," she breathed taking his hand in hers. "It like some amazing fantasy."
Draco smiled proudly, at least being related to Lucius had some advantages. But now wasn't the time for thinking about him, they were away from all that. Sighing he stroked her hand with the pad of his thumb.
"But how did we get here? I barely recall anything." Ginny requested after a moment in a quiet voice, a little confused.
"Well as you know, Blaise and the other 3 men were in the living room when I came down the stairs."
Ginny nodded her head in answer; Blaise's 'illustration of love' was still fresh in her mind.
"I didn't recognise one of them, but the tall guy with Brown hair was McNairs son, Robin and the other man with golden eyes and ebony hair was Blaises cousin, Angelus. Well, we fought each other and Angelus managed to stun you."
Ginny shivered involuntarily again, and moved forwards towards the balcony a tad more, dropping Draco's hand. The blonde frowned at her, slightly hurt that shed dropped his hand, but he couldn't blame her. These last 4 days had been the most tiresome, frightening and confusing of her grown up life.
"Look, Ginny I could stop if you -"
"No, just tell me. I want to know." She replied quietly.
Draco raised an eyebrow at the back of her head, but continued with his story.
"Well if you're sure. Blaise lit a floo fire and called for Malfoy Mansion. Then after that, tried to render me unconscious, but I managed to remain awake long enough to stun him and get me and you safely to here."
Ginny's eyes were widened in amazement when he finally finished; undoubtedly she was relieved she hadn't been awake.
"But, how did you get us here? I mean - Regular Floo powder can't be used to journey to other countries." She enquired inquisitively.
Draco sighed knowingly, reminiscing something undoubtedly from the past.
"When I was 16, my grandfather, Gregory gave me a bottle of blue powder once when he was visiting us. He told me to keep it with me at all times for when I was in dire need of escape. I was totally confused, but took it without question. Later that nigh I was still unsure as to what it was, and did a test with a book. I threw it in the fire and managed to send it to Blaises house, he flooed me back saying asking me why I'd just sent him a book about potion making. I was excited that I'd discovered it was floo powder, and told him it was none of his business."
"Then I thought, maybe - just maybe, I could go further then England. I got another book from my bookshelf and sent it to my grandfather's mansion in Greece. I waited, there were no obvious signs it hadn't worked. But then he flooed me back saying I received your book ("which broom?") Telling me not to let anybody - even my father - know that he'd given it to me." The blonde man swept a hand back through his hair; obviously he hadn't divulged this information to anybody before.
"So I kept it a secret. Nowadays I always take the bottle with me wherever I go, it's been surprisingly useful in the past when I - err - well, when I needed to escape from the aurors. They almost cornered me once. but never mind about that, it's called long-range flooing powder."
Ginny arched an impressed eyebrow. This man certainly had an endless supply of useful gadgets.
"Very Interesting." She whispered guardedly, trailing off into her immense thoughts.
Something was bugging her, why did they - the deatheaters - want her? What was so unique about Miss Virginia Anne Weasley? Well, what ever the motive for her capture was, she couldn't return to Hogsmeade, it was too hazardous there. If they were after her, then she might of placed her family in jeopardy, and they say times were supposed to be safer not dangerous.
Next to her, Draco was thinking along the same lines too.
Why did they desire Ginny? When he saw the deatheaters he thought they were there to detain him. Furthermore, what did Blaise mean 'Our master has big plans for Ginny?' why did his father, Lucius, require her.
One thing was obvious, they mustn't ever go back to England; otherwise they would certainly be captured. Nevertheless, how would he tell that to Ginny? She had nephews and a niece, at home, back at the burrow. Her brothers, sister-in-law mother and father also, she couldn't just stop seeing them unexpectedly, and they'd suspect something for sure.
"Come on. I want to go exploring." Ginny declared pulling on his hand, her normal voice resumed. Draco jumped faintly at her disturbance.
"Come on Draco!" she chortled, giving him a mischievous smile.
Draco glimpsed downwards at her PJ's and upon recognising them as his, he grinned charmingly. They were at least 2 sizes to big for her; the legs were baggy and long and the sleeves were like small wings, but the sumptuous curves hidden beneath were doing her justice.
Ginny noticed his scrutiny and reddened faintly, "What? I'm as surprised as you, I woke up with them on." She chuckled, giving him a small twirl.
Draco stopped her, holding his hands together on her waist. Then he slowly walked towards her, his eyes narrowing evenly. "I know, I put you in them." He smirked bringing her into his strong body. Ginny gasped in addition to giving him a look of absolute disbelief.
"You're joking aren't you?" she demanded feeling embarrassed. Draco laughed freely at her; wow, he had hardly laughed at all before Ginny wandered back into his pointless existence.
"Unfortunately, yes I am. But," he added snaking a hand under her top to the soft skin on her back, stroking it sensuously. "Its nothing I haven't already seen before."
Ginny chose to ignore this and pouted at his bantering, she pinched him hard in the chest.
"Hey!" he glowered, rubbing his sore fair flesh. "That hurt."
The red head pursed her lips, before sighing resignedly. "Oh poor baby," she cooed, "Show me where it hurts."
Draco raised an arrogant eyebrow and smirked, he slowly unbuttoned his shirt to the afflicting area. "Here," he said pointing to the red mark throbbing on his pale skin. Draco gaped at her in awe as Ginny bent down and kissed his skin above his toned six-pack, causing him to groan into his throat. She stood up again and gave him a lustful pout.
"Does it hurt anywhere else?"
Draco smiled darkly, "Here," he said pointing to his collarbone. Abruptly Ginny planted a soft kiss on his neck, sucking his skin gently.
"Here," he pouted, pointing to his cheek. Ginny placed another soft kiss on his red cheek, unfortunately a deep purple colour was now appearing. The red head knew where this was leading, but she'd play along for the moment. He licked his lips playfully, "And. here," he whispered, pointing to his lips.
Ginny smiled attractively and embraced him in the 3rd kiss she'd shared with the blonde man that morning.
*
"Bring them in!" Shouted the grisly haired judge, above the hustle and jeering of the crowd surrounding him.
The people sat on the benches and chairs surrounding the high bench in the courtroom were whispering furiously, angry mumbles and shouts could be heard from the minister's box next to the judge's throne.
The light coming in through the window was young; it was only the early hours of the morning. Some of the people sitting in the courtroom were still in their nightgowns or Pyjama's. This was an emergency hearing called by Harry Potter, and if it was an emergency - as it was right now - then you came dressed how you were when you received the call.
Harry's report, made only 7 hours ago, had been an interesting tale indeed.
Suddenly, the door in the corner opened and 4 Aurors came bustling into the hall. The first to enter waved his wand at 2 chairs sitting solitary in the middle of the room, causing them to glow a bright gold for a moment before returning to their normal colour.
Behind this auror was McNairs son, Robin. He was hanging like some grotesque puppet about 6 inches off the ground and was deeply unconscious. After Robin, there was another auror, this time flagging the unknown deatheater, who was also floating in the comical puppet fashion.
The bailiffs lowered the comatose men into the chairs, making sure their arms were resting on the chairs arms, and their floppy lolling legs were in line with the wooden chairs legs. Finally satisfied, the first Auror flicked his wand at the chairs and huge gold chains snaked their way out the back of the chair binding their torsos, arms and legs to the wooden seats.
The judge looked down upon the men, immense dislike present on his features. The door behind him opened slowly, snapping him back to reality. 6 important looking men filed into the room, taking their seats in the comfortable looking box beside him. Then everybody in the room stood as the minister of magic, Arthur Weasley, entered the room nodding his head curtly to the judge and seating himself between 2 old men in the centre of the box.
"Be seated." boomed the judge plopping down in the red throne. Everybody obeyed, keen to get on with the trial.
"Rosemont, wake the prisoners!"
Rosemont - one of the bailiff Aurors, - stood before the deatheaters and pointed his wand at Robin and cried, "Enervate!" immediately Robin began to stir, Rosemont moved to the other man. "Enervate!"
Robin tried to rub his head, but his arms were currently being forced against his side by the chains. His eyes flew open and he gasped. To his immense discomfort, he found the judge staring coldly at him, and this was enough to scare anyone. The brown haired man scanned the room taking in the observing faces glaring down on him.
"Robin David McNair," growled the judge, "You have been bought before us today to answer the charge of murder. It is my job, along with the jury to decide your fate."
Beside Robin, the second deatheater was struggling with his chains, trying to worm an arm out of his imprisonment like an animal ensnared in a trap.
"DENEATHER ANDRAS! WOULD YOU DESIST YOUR STRUGGLING! YOU WILL BE GOING NO WHERE UNTIL YOU ANSWER MY QUESTIONS." Bellowed the judge, fury evident on his character. Deneather sighed vehemently and scowled spitefully at the older man, his eyes narrowing with extreme loathing.
"But - but I haven't done anything!" stuttered Robin, his eyes wide. "I haven't 'done' anything for a while! And on what basis are you charging me with murder?!"
The judge pursed his lips nastily and turned his eyes into small slits, "Harry Potter, one of our finest and most trusted Aurors, visited a Miss Virginia Weasley's home at 9.00 pm. When he arrived, the front door was wide open. Now, unless you are an absolute maniac, you don't keep your front door wide open at night for the world to see! Mr potter then entered the premises and found you and Mr Andras unconscious on the floor. Seeing you lying there, and the furniture in ruins, it was obvious that a struggle had taken place." The grisly old judge cleared his throat, regaining his voice once again.
"Mr Potter then searched for Miss Weasley but there was no sign of her, and upon searching the house more thoroughly, Mr Potter discovered her clothes were all missing!"
He took a long breath and peered down at Robin as though trying to see through him, into his mind and past all the deceit that he was hoping to pass off as the truth. But if he chose to do so, then they always had veritaserum.
"What have you done with Miss Weasley?" He enquired shortly, breaking the uneasy silence after his previous question, hoping to catch him off guard.
Robin looked around the room at the faces staring at him and Deneather. His gaze met that of Arthur Weasley; the older man looked the worse for wear. He was looking deeply concerned and drained; his eyes were rock hard, alarming the brown haired man slightly, apparently Arthur Weasley, minister of magic wasn't always benign and cheerful.
Deneather leant across and whispered into his ear. "Just say it. We don't have to tell them anything. We c-"
"THERE WILL BE NO CONFERRING IN THIS COURT ROOM!" Screeched the judge. "YOU KILLED HER DIDN'T YOU!" he bellowed again, turning red in the face.
"YOU KILLED A DEFENSELESS WOMAN! THEN, IM GUESSING YOU BURNT HER CLOTHES SO EVERYBODY THOUGHT THAT SHE HAD LEFT THE HOUSE! IT MUST HAVE BEEN JUST ANOTHER POINTL-"
"SILENCE!!"
The judge snapped his mouth shut and turned his head slowly to the source of the angry voice. Arthur was standing, giving him a warning look. Impressed whispers sounded through out the court; normally Arthur Weasley was a quite patient man who didn't raise his voice unless it was his own children.
"We cannot assume that these men have committed murder Michael. We do not, under any circumstances, jump to mindless conclusions to get what we want. That, is not our way, this you know."
Michael took a deep calming breath. Feeling slightly embarrassed. "I'm sorry minister, I should not of been so blind."
"As these men before us have proved, we all make mistakes." He raised a sceptical eyebrow, not even believing his own words. He just hoped that he was right.
"Now," he said turning back to the deatheaters, Robin flinched slightly as though the minister was brandishing a whip. "Tell me what I want to know and maybe, just maybe I will be more lenient in your sentencing."
Robin and Deneather stared straight ahead, unable to say or do anything. Robin dared a peek at the minister; he was glaring at them expectantly through even eyes, sizing both of them up.
The window was still open, and now floods of sunlight were shining on them both warming their bodies. A bird - a black bird could be heard calling out to the morning, welcoming the new day that was growing ever closer. Robin looked out the window into the light and sighed wistfully. Deneather looked across at his fellow and understood what he was about to do, and he too looked to the window.
The brown haired men looked back to the judge, and then to Arthur. "MORSMENTADRE SEST KEDAVRA!" They cried simultaneously. Suddenly the pair began to writhe around in their chairs, as though their bodies contained live snakes eating away at the organs within.
"Rosemont, Peterson! Stop them! Untie them imm-"
However, what came next was atrocious. Firstly Robin screamed a shrill piercing scream, silencing the hall and abruptly projected a terrifying waterfall of blood from his mouth, spraying it everywhere. His eyes were blood shot and were on the verge of exploding - which they unexpectedly did popping like balloons. Next to him Deneather followed the same fate, spraying blood everywhere, whilst all around him people were screaming in terror and fight.
Then robin hiccupped and his head fell limp on his shoulder, he was dead. Beside him Deneather gurgled and also gave up the struggle. The people around the dead deatheaters were crying or shouting angrily. Some of the younger minority were staring from the blood pooled on the floor, to the dead men; their mouths open in shock and in preparation to vomit.
Arthur mopped his brow with a handkerchief from his pocket; beads of sweat were trickling down his face onto the wooden floor. The men surrounding him looked just like him, beads of sweat forming on their chiselled foreheads. One of the elder men in the box seemed unfazed by what had just happened and just watched simply as the Aurors began the ungainly work of un strapping the blood soaked men from their chairs, and carrying them out of the room.
Michael stood and walked over to the minister, steering him silently into the corner. "What are you to do now Arthur? Now nobody knows where your daughter is."
The greying red head gave him a pensive look. It was true; his only source of finding his daughter was gone. But something told him deep down, or was it hope, that his daughter was alive. It was just one of those 'feelings' like when you go out, even though you've packed every single thing possible, you always manage to leave something behind.
"Where ever my daughter is, she will be safe and sound. After all, she's a Weasley - she can undoubtedly look after herself." Arthur murmured in an undertone to Michael. He wasn't going to let anybody give up; this was his own flesh and blood that was missing.
But - what if they were blowing everything out of proportion? What if Ginny had just gone away for a few days, and the deatheaters were just there by coincidence? Yes, that could be it - perhaps. But it wasn't like the young red head to just disappear, she would of told someone if she was going away. right?
Arthur rubbed his forehead with a weary hand, his eyes hooding in fatigue. He cast an uneasy glance over his shoulder around the hall. The furious and scared faces flashing amongst the crowd, arguments and speculations washing over everybody. This was mayhem.
Shaking his head in slight annoyance, the m.o.m strode past Michael to the bench and banged the mallet on the wooden box. All around the courtroom the livid conversations ceased, in the corner the woman hitting an older man with her bag haltered, gawping at Arthur. The faces once again became tentative and sympathetic, as they were earlier.
The greying red head cleared his throat, feeling over-come with a number of different emotions. Somehow he felt a great wave of thanks to the people sitting before him, after all, they'd given up there spare time to be here, and all they got out of it was a suicide before their very eyes.
"Witches and Wizards. I - don't really know what to say, I am as speechless as you are." He rubbed his head, "It seems that the deatheaters are not to be underestimated, I can tell you now that we were oblivious that they could, well, that they could sacrifice themselves so their information remains undiscovered. We must be extra vigilant now, as some of you know, 2 days ago deatheaters broke into my home, if I'd been home.." He flashed his eyes.
"My fellows and I will hold an emergency meeting after Michael dismisses us all. Good day to you."
Arthur stepped down off the box and held the mallet out to Michael. The grey haired man took it resignedly and struck it on the box. "Case dismissed."
Immediately everybody disapparated, undoubtedly wanting to tell their other halves or colleagues what had just happened. Michael, Arthur and the other 6 men exited the room through the door behind them and strode along the stone corridor, the youngest looking man swayed and fell to the floor, apparently it had only hit him that 2 men had just died a death most horrific.
"What will you do know Arthur?" requested Michael, striding to keep up with the ministers quick pace.
"Well, one thing is for sure, we must question everybody in Hogsmeade about Ginny. I think we have gone about this the wrong way. My daughter may have gone away for a while; we must check the house for any clues to see if she has done so. I'll get Harry and his team to look into this more thoroughly. But in the meantime, we must keep this from the press. Send an owl to everybody at the meeting and tell him or her not to divulge any information of yet, as we haven't enough to go on. Any hurry Michael, we haven't much time before the daily prophet, or worse still Rita Skeeter gets a hold of this."
The older man nodded his head understandingly; everybody knew what Rita Skeeter was capable of when she picked up her acid green quill - nobody was safe.
"Very well Arthur, I will send a stern message to those present today that they will be charged if they talk, for those that all ready have, I will have the D.A.S clear it up." And with that, Michael nodded his head to the M.O.M and rushed away down another corridor.
Arthur paused to watch him go, he hoped - for his sake, that nobody apart from his family and those present today, found out about this. If anybody knew - especially the deatheaters - that he had a weakness, then they could hurt him in ways he could never imagine.
"Minister, if you please. We have business to attend to." Piped a man on his left.
Mr Weasley sighed profoundly, "Yes. Yes we do, let us get down to it."
The man waved a hand to his right, indicating that they should leave. Arthur heaved again and walked off down the corridor, his head swimming with worry and fatigue.
*
"Don't worry mum, we'll hear from her soon. Nobody in their right mind would capture the ministers daughter, she's to well known, people would notice if she went missing."
"Don't be stupid Ron, that's a perfectly good reason why they'd 'want' to capture Ginny. She'd be the perfect bargaining chip. I don't know how anybody could be so cold hearted."
Molly gave a small sob as Hermione added more sugar to the tea. Bill waved his wand at the empty plate on the kitchen table and 20 or so more short bread cakes appeared.
"Percy how could you say something like that?" snarled Penelope, nodding her head towards Molly, who was rubbing her left temple emotionally.
Percy opened his mouth to retaliate but the severe 'Percy if you open your mouth again look' Penelope was giving him was enough to shut him up. Hermione placed the tray of tea on the table and took the seat furthest away from every one else. The brown haired woman had felt extremely uncomfortable since arriving here 6 hours ago.
His mother had woken up Ron in the early hours of the morning; Hermione could distinctly hear her telling him that Ginny and Leo were missing. From that moment on Ron, Hermione, Bill Percy and Penelope had come over to the burrow to console her.
"HERMIONE?" shouted Ron, standing in front of her. Hermione jumped and stared at her spouse.
"I'm sorry, what's wrong Ron?" she said gently looking him straight in the eye, Ron frowned slightly at the look she gave him. That look was rather new.
"Well I asked you a question, didn't you see Ginny yesterday morning?" he requested slowly, so nobody missed what he said. Molly and Bill frowned slightly, clearly nobody had informed them about this.
The brunette shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Well, yes in the morning." She replied in a small voice.
"How come you didn't tell us sooner Hermione?" barked Percy, standing before her. "6 bloody hours we've been here and you haven't mentioned it once!"
She looked down at the floor, this was her family and she hated lying, but Ginny was like a sister, best friend and soul mate to her, she needed to protect her.
"I saw her yesterday morning, she was telling me about Leo and how they met. But then she - err - remembered that she was meeting up with him and left."
Ron raised a sceptical eyebrow whilst the others frowned in curiosity.
"Who's Leo 'Mione?" Ron asked crossing his arms.
Hermione stood up and looked out the window out into the morning. There was a light mist lingering over the countryside, and a glistening frost littered the grass giving it that diamond effect.
"Leo. Leo Walker, he's Ginny's friend, nothing more. She's known him for over a year now, and they've - err - kept in touch ever since."
Molly glowered slightly. "There was something I didn't like about that boy, he seemed rather 2 faced, you know something he's not."
"Maybe Ginny and Leo were, um out last night or something, and they got back late-"
"Think logically Ron, maybe Leo captured Ginny. They always say that murderers are always someone you-"
"PERCY WEASLEY. WILL YOU SHUT UP!?" Penelope shouted her blue eyes flashing. "You're not helping the slightest, at least Ron isn't being an insensitive prick!"
Molly gave her daughter in law an appraising look. Across from her Hermione was biting her tongue, she couldn't stand lies. She needed to get out of there away from everyone.
She spun around and they all turned to face her. She bit her lip nervously and swallowed. "Would it be alright if I had a lie down Molly? All this - it's making me, a bit emotional."
Ron frowned at her curiously, as did everyone else. She made her eyes water for effect, pushing the guilt to the back of her mind. Molly stood up and held her daughter in law in her arms.
"Oh Hermione, We all miss Ginny dearly, I dare say she'll be with us soon."
Hermione rested her head on her mother in laws shoulder and sighed sadly. Only one thing was on her mind: What had that bastard Draco done? It must have been very 'very' bad if they had resorted to running away. If she knew Draco Malfoy, he didn't run away from anything.
Molly patted her back lovingly, and sat back down next to Bill. Hermione gave her a small smile and swept out the kitchen and up the stairs to Ron's room. It was still the same old orange, with the walls and ceiling covered in the bright colour.
She searched frantically around for a quill and a piece of parchment. She had to do something, to help Ginny, and eve if that meant lying to everybody. If Ginny and Draco were to survive, then they'd need a helping hand. Hermione didn't know exactly what was going on between him and the deatheaters, and why it involved Ginny, but she knew that she had to protect them.
Finally finding some parchment in Ron's old school trunk along with a quill, Hermione began to write.
'Ginny had better appreciate this. She owes me big time.'
A/N: WOAH, are my hands tired! Hey all omg how long was this chapter, 16 pages in size 9 font. God knows how much in 11. IM SO SORRY I HAVENT UPDATED as frequently as I used to. IM totally swamped with schoolwork and have been neglecting my story. (Tomato thrown from off stage.) Yeah I'm sorry. Oh well enjoy!
O yesh, Reviews would be appreciated.
Big hugglez to all you fabtabulous people who reviewed so far, u rock! *_* ^_^ ^_~ .
Oh yeah, I um, attempt to write parselmouth here, so laugh all you want I don't give a shit! Don't bother trying to say it.
AND ONE MORE THING! IM AM CHANGING THE RATING SOON TO A (R.) this is because I want to do bloody, gory scenes and maybe a sex scene.(?), I undecided yet, give us a buzz and tell me what you think yeah.
Chapter 8: A wounded eagle and a romantic dragon
*~*
Pain.
Pain is all I feel now, for I am trapped in an eternal torment, bound there by malice and insatiability. My pure soul trapped deep within the enduring obscurity of evil. I am caught in the ever lasting dark, and I am to remain there - for I have no soul anymore, my soul is as good as gone because of my blind promise.
Because that is what I did, I sold my soul. Do you know what it's like? Having your very mortality ripped from your body and crammed in a bottle that is corruption. You never forget all the joy and contentment that leaves you, leaving only the regret, revulsion and misery that is your life - and that, is just promising your soul to someone.
The truth is; I sold my soul for a woman - a fiery temptress who does not share my feelings - my love. Because of her dismissal, I tried to force myself upon her - taint her with my passionate, obsession for her. I'll never stop thinking about the way she tasted - the way her wonderful feminine body felt against mine.
- The look of pure terror and panic she gave me, when I refused to impede my lustful approaches on her body - our friendship and her soul.
(Sighs) I just wanted to feel the softness of her lips - to smell the pleasing scents of her long fiery locks.
Now I am confined within my self - devils snare must be wholesome ecstasy, compared to this barbaric imprisonment of feelings that I'm dealing with right now.
Undetectable walls are trapping my little lingering signs of goodness, and now the wicked suppressed deep down within my withered black empathy, is wreaking disarray upon those I care about the most.
I am merely a shell of my normal self - a pawn, if you will, in the game of life. A man who is desperately in love but has no heart left to feel the love with.
Now, I am fighting my own feelings, deep down in my empty suppressed conscious, with only my mysterious obsession with the woman I worship as an ally.
Now, I am - an Eagle with broken wings.
*
"You will be mine."
"Come to me, let your self go." The voice was echoing now, growing clearer and more coherent.
"Be in me, I need you."
Ginny was in the middle of having an extraordinarily bizarre dream; she was standing on the very edge of a precipice wearing a long black cloak that covered her entire body. Beyond the cliff, out in the world, there was the sky and the sea - it all seemed normal enough.
Except, in the vast world of dreams, where your mind runs free - and in this dream - the sky was intense; brighter then the whitest unicorn, home to titanic clouds bordered with shiny silver metallic linings, afloat in the unfathomable cerulean sky.
This - was heaven.
True, it was a wondrous view to behold. Feeling at peace, Ginny sat on the cliff edge, dangling her legs over the side, something below sure felt warm against her legs. She glanced downwards to the sea and screamed a piercing scream.
There was an immense ocean made of fire and molten rock, what seemed to be a sinister fortress loomed in the smoke, towering forebodingly above the sea. Big shots of heat were firing into the air making the air around her stiflingly hot. It was welcoming her - inviting her into Hells warm embrace.
A long timber bridge materialised before her, tempting her further. She walked without hesitation across it as though in a profound stupor; her dainty feet bearing the heat of the orange flames licking their soles. The redhead seemed to float rather then walk to a golden column that stood at the very end.
Once she had laid her petite feet upon the column, there was a blazing sound behind her - the bridge had caught fire. It began withering into black soot, diminishing into the hellhole below her.
Ginny found, that she was at unexplainably at harmony. The inferno around her was strangely soothing. She glanced to the heavens above - mysteriously they terrified her. The luminosity and intensity of the sky was stinging her eyes, scaring her.
Why was she afraid of the good - the light. Was she being judged? Was this what was happening? It was as though she was stood before a grand court, the ostentatious judges good and evil.
Then something new happened.
A colossal black dragon appeared from the fortress, it spread forth its gigantic wings, screeching deafeningly as it did so. Ginny watched the monster beat its huge black wings and climb into the air as graceful as a swan.
Once in the air it headed straight for her, screeching vociferously as it approached her, growing closer by the minute. The dragons scaly skin had a shiny appearance, like that of coal: shiny yet hard.
Ginny simply watched, soullessly, as it landed on the pillar top; which, disregarded by the red head, had expanded to the size of a quidditch pitch.
The dragon snapped its jaws forebodingly and reared onto its back legs roaring dreadfully at her; yet Ginny showed no fear, she was staring her future straight in the face - staring into death.
Unexpectedly the dragon silenced its cries - as if discerning defeat - and closed its eyes, where it began to minimize and change into something else: something human.
The person stretched out their arms and a long black cloak appeared, smothering their body completely. Ginny strained to see the form, unable to tell whom it was.
Then the surroundings changed, transforming into another dream.
She was standing at the start of an aisle inside a church -or was it a house? On each side of the walkway sat women along with men in black mantles and masks; they were deatheaters, and they were all staring expectantly through their masks, apparently waiting for her.
"HATHONRATHAS HACSHUCROO HAKOMORASHINA HATHIHIYONAS HISSTHANIS."
Ginny heard the harsh hissing quite close to her head and turned around to discover her father. Arthur looked terrible, it was like he had been beaten all over his body because his face was cut and bruised. His eyes were bloodshot and they carried a vaguely insane appearance.
"Dad? What are you - I don't understand -"
Suddenly, she felt breathing at the top of her neck from behind her, making her backbone quiver with dread and fear.
Ginny turned around gradually, then screamed, shattering the dire silence.
Stood before her was Voldemort with an impression of unadulterated lust on his face, but it didn't look at all like him. His features were - if possible - much kinder somehow; his body was also large and muscled whereas normally he was rather gangly.
At that very moment she realised who it was. It was..
Something was poking her arm, 'Boy that's annoying!' she looked downward at the poking's source and gasped at her elegant dress, it was the only white object in the room. Long and flowing it closely resembled the gown worn to her Hogwarts graduation ball.
A bright light seemed to emit from the dress, blinding her eyes; she shielded them with her hands, feeling faint and dazed. Ginny closed them securely to obstruct the impressive light that was still visible through her skin.
Then she was travelling, somehow, back to reality, back to her world.
~
"Please Miss, wake up!"
"What on earth? Go away." Ginny slurred rolling onto her side.
"Miss! Young miss!"
Ginny gradually and very carefully squinted an eye open, she could perceive the gloomy outline of her hand. Taking her hands away completely, she saw a curious pointed face with wide brown eyes peeping at her strangely.
'Oh shit!'
Gasping in astonishment, Ginny sat up and took a long studious look at the possessor of the auburn orbs.
Taking in the long ears and red pillowcase toga, the youngest Weasley placed a thoroughly relived hand on her chest and sighed; it was just a house elf.
"Wait a minute.." She whispered frowning at the creature, however the white fabrics hanging down next to her caught her attention, answering her question for her. This obviously wasn't her house. Ginny looked roundabouts her stunned.
She was presently sitting upright - if truth be told she was rather snug - within a gargantuan king sized bed, with white drapes flowing down the sides like bright waterfalls of fabric; it extraordinarily resembled her Hogwarts dorm bed, but obviously much bigger.
Opposite her, there were extremely lofty windows feeding bright sunlight into the room, French doors were locked at the bottom. To the left of her, there was a vast walk-in wardrobe with an impressive vanity mirror along with a huge dressing table; as we all know, it's every woman's 'dream' to have a wardrobe the size of a hair salon in her bedroom, then insisting to her husband that they simply must go shopping, because clearly she hasn't got enough clothes.
Ginny's clothes - 'Where the bejebus have they come from?' - only filled up a tiny quantity of space inside it.
To her right there was the rustic oak double door, and next to that there was a giant fireplace crackling merrily away with small ice blue flames, the mantelpiece above it was crammed with small books, begging to be read. 'Must check them out later.'
Ginny rubbed her eyes, leaving big black smudges on her hands. Was she dreaming? She pinched herself hard on the arm, 'Ouch!' yes, that seemed real enough, was she deluded then?
She turned her attention back to the house elf that was now giggling behind its hand, giving her a cheeky look. Ginny raised an amused eyebrow, narrowing her eyes.
"What's the matter?" she demanded curiously, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. The red head noticed that she was dressed in a pair of pyjamas, which were made of a rich burgundy silk. The garment front boasted a crest that read: "D.M.".
Shaking her head sceptically, Ginny returned her notice to the giggling house elf.
"Well?"
The elf snorted priggishly and sat on the floor staring at Ginny's face, pointing rudely at her.
"Begging your pardon miss, but you have large black patches under your eyes!" The creature squeaked shrilly.
"Miss looks very much like a muggle creature Hattie was shown once by master." The elf tittered.
Ginny pursed her lips at the misfortune of being laughed at, but quickly she saw the amusing side and laughed too. The elf snorted again and stood up becoming as quiet as a mouse, giving her a solemn look.
Ginny stopped abruptly - these undoubtedly were comical creatures. At Hogwart's they were hiding away in the kitchens and Ginny always knew they were there, but she had only ever seen one up close at the Quidditch world cup when Harry was chatting contentedly to Winky.
'The poor creature mustn't get out much.' She thought watching the elf.
"Did you say your name was Hattie?" Ginny enquired gently. The elf nodded vigorously flapping her huge bat like ears.
"Yes Miss. Hattie the house elf."
"And you mind telling me where I am Hattie?"
Hattie curtsied, benevolently. "Of course young Miss. Miss is at Angels Vineyard."
Ginny gave the elf a questioning look. "Angels Vineyard? And where would this place be exactly?"
The creature cleared its throat importantly. "Angels Vineyard is in this country named Spain." She said pointing and indicating to the floor. "Hattie has served here for 6 years now!" the elf squeaked egotistically.
Ginny smiled and got out of the cosy bed onto a cool marble floor, this without doubt made a change from frosty floorboards.
"Good for you. Um, Whom do you serve here?" she asked warily, trying to memorize what happened before she woke up.
She remembered seeing Blaise next to the lake, and that he tried to -, well she didn't want to remember that particular part of their meeting.
She remembered going back to the house and seeing Draco, he reassured her about the incident. Somehow she ended up in the living room, she didn't remember that, and Blaise and 3 others came bursting in, then - then-
'OH I can't REMEMBER!" she cried to herself. The house elf's voice bought her back to reality.
Hattie sighed sorrowfully. "Master died 30 years ago. But we have a new master now."
"Huh? Oh how unfortunate. Your new master, what's his name?" Ginny requested sitting back down on top of the bed.
"Well, *we* call him master, but his actual name Is Dri - Draco Malfe, um Malfi, um well, Hattie does not know how to say it."
Ginny gasped eagerly. "Malfoy, Draco Malfoy? Really? May you take me to him please?"
The elf stooped sincerely. "That is why I is waking you up miss. We cannot rouse him, so we thoughts, perhaps the pretty miss can."
Ginny smiled slightly embarrassed by the complement and stood up for a second time. Hattie bowed leading the way out the door, her ears flapping comically as she rushed along.
The corridor they were walking along was lengthy as well as impressive. The wall was covered with portraits of fair-haired people Ginny guessed were the Malfoy ancestors. There were at least 10 identical dark oak doors on either side of the landing; this place could get confusing fast.
They approached the very end of the corridor and stopped outside double doors that matched Ginny's.
Hattie opened the entrance with an out stretched hand and bowed Ginny in. In return, Ginny smiled kind-heartedly as well as nodding her head in recognition. 'Bless her.'
The room was extremely similar to hers; apart from the door and wardrobe were the opposite way around. She took one lingering look at the portraits, admiring their contents prior to focusing her attention on the flaxen man sound asleep on the bed.
She grinned audaciously; glad that it was Draco she was waking up right now. Walking up to him, Ginny gave Draco a once over before sitting down lightly next to him. He looked similar to the same cherub she woke up to last time - still handsome and perfect; although he had a bruise on his left cheek, and a slightly swollen eye.
However, sometimes, well, most of the time - that cute little angel could be turned into a sly devil.
Ginny could still remember his teasing from Hogwarts. At least 3 times a week he would make some snide comment, or try to snipe Ginny about her: family, brother, crush on Potter and most frequently; Weasley hair. Even so, every time she remembered the bad, a little bit of the good crept in too, like the dance they shared and the special "occasion" down by the lake.
Chasing these memories to the back of her mind with a pitch fork; The red head stroked his face warmly with the back of her hand expecting him to stir - Hattie was right, there was no movement what so ever.
Frowning at his unwillingness to wake, Ginny cupped his face with the hand and leant down leisurely. Swiping her fiery mane over the other shoulder, Ginny kissed him tenderly on the lips.
Even after this treat Draco still wasn't waking, so Ginny deepened the kiss making it more powerful and intense whilst stroking his cheek delicately. Abruptly she felt a response to her kisses, his lips opened slightly returning the sweet kiss. Seizing the chance - and getting some revenge - Ginny nipped him delicately on the lower lip, causing him to jump slightly.
The red head sat up and tucked a few wandering locks out of his eyes so she could see his thunderstorm eyes. Those, Ginny thought, were his best features on his handsome face, but those eyes could turn as hard as stone if provoked. Draco blinked quickly and smiled, he hadn't woken up to a sight like this for a while.
Rubbing away the pain lingering in his chest, he sat up gradually and gazed around his room, utterly astonished. Ginny let him get a good look at his surroundings before she interrogated him, but did she want to hear what was about to be said?
Draco rubbed his eyes hastily, and grabbed Ginny pulling her onto the bed. He rolled onto her groaning in pain slightly, which caused her to giggle and snap out of her worried thoughts.
He stroked her lips with his right hand before embracing her in another kiss. Ginny blushed slightly and allowed her eyes to flutter shut, enjoying his alluring embrace. Her lips opened up for him and she shuddered as his tongue sought her own, teasing and tasting. After 2 minutes of soft hearted- breathless kissing, Draco finally broke the embrace smirking slightly.
Ginny smiled appealingly, blushing somewhat noting the lustful look he gave her. Woah! That look could make even butter melt with pleasure. She stroked his rugged hair admiring its colour and shininess.
"What was that for?" she purred playing with a strand of hair, twirling it around on her forefinger.
Draco gave a lopsided smile at her absent-minded action. "I simply wanted to prove I wasn't dreaming that's all."
The red head bit her lip cheekily at his response, why did she always do that when he was around? Raising a suggestive eyebrow, Draco licked his lips intent on kissing her again. He closed his eyes then leant forwards expecting to taste her sweet lips. Ginny smirked sinfully and rolled out from under him causing him to get a face-full of duvet.
Ginny snorted into her nose and laughed openly at his hard luck, these men can't assume they'll get everything now can they? The cheeky red head jumped off the bed, undertaking a modest pirouette on the marble floor, whilst on the bed Draco glowered scornfully at her and rubbed his chest.
"Tease." He pouted sitting up, and swinging his legs out of the bed, patting his torso.
Ginny laughed, wrinkling her nose cheekily and blowing him a kiss. Somehow, she could always be her self in front of him. Although she didn't actually 'know' him that well, Ginny couldn't help but feel as if they had known each other for ages.
"Aren't I just," she sighed simply.
Ginny shook her head and went over to the window, which had the same elegant French doors. "The house elves had to wake me up just so that I could get you up, you're a heavy sleeper." She chided trying to undo the latch on the window.
"How on earth do you open this thing??" she huffed when it didn't open, resorting to twiddling the latch dumbly.
Draco laughed openly at her and came over to the window. "Here," he said, twisting it to the right and pulling it open. Ginny jumped slightly at his close proximity and shuddered involuntarily. Damn! Why was he capable of doing that to her? Making her spine turn to jelly at his very touch.
Ginny felt her cheeks glow and noticed how the breeze outside caught in her chest, the warm salty sea air swimming in her lungs. She gasped at the vibrant shades of blue out in the world and walked slowly out onto the balcony, staring around at the vast landscape materialising before her eyes.
There was no other word to describe the view; it was beautiful, outstanding, extraordinary, enchant- well ok maybe there was more then one word.
The immense balcony backed onto a stunning view of the Mediterranean Sea, the calm clear water stretched across the horizon for miles and was sparkling brilliantly, closely resembling an azure blue crystal. Coral reefs were hiding beneath the calm water, like untouchable gemstones locked away in a museum. The rock pools lingering near by were also begging to be explored.
The sand on the beach was littered with huge rocks and clumps of seaweed that had washed on shore the night before. There was a small arch in the cliff side about 20 metres down the coastline, which revealed more cerulean blue sea.
The beach stopped and sloping rocky cliffs stole the view, boasting hidden caves and ivy covered crevices. Above the cliffs there was a small field of wheat, then row upon row of luscious green grape vines. It truly was an amazing site.
Each row stretched on for at least a mile, sprouting vines of delicious green and red grapes. There was a small dirt path separating each row like a small system of roads within a vast city.
Ginny's eyes wondered on further and rested on an attractive garden growing from below her, there were hundreds upon hundreds of flowerbeds each sporting blues, purples, reds and oranges, hell there was every colour known to man! She noticed that right at the back of the garden, growing up the side of the sun house, that a huge bush of red roses were enjoying today's sunlight. There were tall palm trees planted every few feet setting the boundary for the garden.
In the very centre of the garden there was a huge fountain, it was even more spectacular then those at Hogwarts when the triwizard tournament was held. As the most fetching feature in the garden, you couldn't help but look at the fountain, it basically screamed attention seeker. The statue in the middle was cut to revel a grand Pegasus, rearing up onto its powerful hind legs and spreading out its huge eagle wings in preparation for flight. Big jets of sparkling water were being shot up silently around it creating a cage of water around the winged horse.
At head height, miles and miles away to the left in the distance, there was a huge mountain range, and what appeared the be a small village was peeping through the vastness of green; many of the small rustic houses were camouflaged behind the tall palm trees and olives.
Ginny finally turned her attention back to Draco, who was watching her expectantly.
"Well? What do you think?" he enquired scanning the landscape quickly with superior eyes.
She took another breathtaking look around the scenery before answering.
"Its wonderful," she breathed taking his hand in hers. "It like some amazing fantasy."
Draco smiled proudly, at least being related to Lucius had some advantages. But now wasn't the time for thinking about him, they were away from all that. Sighing he stroked her hand with the pad of his thumb.
"But how did we get here? I barely recall anything." Ginny requested after a moment in a quiet voice, a little confused.
"Well as you know, Blaise and the other 3 men were in the living room when I came down the stairs."
Ginny nodded her head in answer; Blaise's 'illustration of love' was still fresh in her mind.
"I didn't recognise one of them, but the tall guy with Brown hair was McNairs son, Robin and the other man with golden eyes and ebony hair was Blaises cousin, Angelus. Well, we fought each other and Angelus managed to stun you."
Ginny shivered involuntarily again, and moved forwards towards the balcony a tad more, dropping Draco's hand. The blonde frowned at her, slightly hurt that shed dropped his hand, but he couldn't blame her. These last 4 days had been the most tiresome, frightening and confusing of her grown up life.
"Look, Ginny I could stop if you -"
"No, just tell me. I want to know." She replied quietly.
Draco raised an eyebrow at the back of her head, but continued with his story.
"Well if you're sure. Blaise lit a floo fire and called for Malfoy Mansion. Then after that, tried to render me unconscious, but I managed to remain awake long enough to stun him and get me and you safely to here."
Ginny's eyes were widened in amazement when he finally finished; undoubtedly she was relieved she hadn't been awake.
"But, how did you get us here? I mean - Regular Floo powder can't be used to journey to other countries." She enquired inquisitively.
Draco sighed knowingly, reminiscing something undoubtedly from the past.
"When I was 16, my grandfather, Gregory gave me a bottle of blue powder once when he was visiting us. He told me to keep it with me at all times for when I was in dire need of escape. I was totally confused, but took it without question. Later that nigh I was still unsure as to what it was, and did a test with a book. I threw it in the fire and managed to send it to Blaises house, he flooed me back saying asking me why I'd just sent him a book about potion making. I was excited that I'd discovered it was floo powder, and told him it was none of his business."
"Then I thought, maybe - just maybe, I could go further then England. I got another book from my bookshelf and sent it to my grandfather's mansion in Greece. I waited, there were no obvious signs it hadn't worked. But then he flooed me back saying I received your book ("which broom?") Telling me not to let anybody - even my father - know that he'd given it to me." The blonde man swept a hand back through his hair; obviously he hadn't divulged this information to anybody before.
"So I kept it a secret. Nowadays I always take the bottle with me wherever I go, it's been surprisingly useful in the past when I - err - well, when I needed to escape from the aurors. They almost cornered me once. but never mind about that, it's called long-range flooing powder."
Ginny arched an impressed eyebrow. This man certainly had an endless supply of useful gadgets.
"Very Interesting." She whispered guardedly, trailing off into her immense thoughts.
Something was bugging her, why did they - the deatheaters - want her? What was so unique about Miss Virginia Anne Weasley? Well, what ever the motive for her capture was, she couldn't return to Hogsmeade, it was too hazardous there. If they were after her, then she might of placed her family in jeopardy, and they say times were supposed to be safer not dangerous.
Next to her, Draco was thinking along the same lines too.
Why did they desire Ginny? When he saw the deatheaters he thought they were there to detain him. Furthermore, what did Blaise mean 'Our master has big plans for Ginny?' why did his father, Lucius, require her.
One thing was obvious, they mustn't ever go back to England; otherwise they would certainly be captured. Nevertheless, how would he tell that to Ginny? She had nephews and a niece, at home, back at the burrow. Her brothers, sister-in-law mother and father also, she couldn't just stop seeing them unexpectedly, and they'd suspect something for sure.
"Come on. I want to go exploring." Ginny declared pulling on his hand, her normal voice resumed. Draco jumped faintly at her disturbance.
"Come on Draco!" she chortled, giving him a mischievous smile.
Draco glimpsed downwards at her PJ's and upon recognising them as his, he grinned charmingly. They were at least 2 sizes to big for her; the legs were baggy and long and the sleeves were like small wings, but the sumptuous curves hidden beneath were doing her justice.
Ginny noticed his scrutiny and reddened faintly, "What? I'm as surprised as you, I woke up with them on." She chuckled, giving him a small twirl.
Draco stopped her, holding his hands together on her waist. Then he slowly walked towards her, his eyes narrowing evenly. "I know, I put you in them." He smirked bringing her into his strong body. Ginny gasped in addition to giving him a look of absolute disbelief.
"You're joking aren't you?" she demanded feeling embarrassed. Draco laughed freely at her; wow, he had hardly laughed at all before Ginny wandered back into his pointless existence.
"Unfortunately, yes I am. But," he added snaking a hand under her top to the soft skin on her back, stroking it sensuously. "Its nothing I haven't already seen before."
Ginny chose to ignore this and pouted at his bantering, she pinched him hard in the chest.
"Hey!" he glowered, rubbing his sore fair flesh. "That hurt."
The red head pursed her lips, before sighing resignedly. "Oh poor baby," she cooed, "Show me where it hurts."
Draco raised an arrogant eyebrow and smirked, he slowly unbuttoned his shirt to the afflicting area. "Here," he said pointing to the red mark throbbing on his pale skin. Draco gaped at her in awe as Ginny bent down and kissed his skin above his toned six-pack, causing him to groan into his throat. She stood up again and gave him a lustful pout.
"Does it hurt anywhere else?"
Draco smiled darkly, "Here," he said pointing to his collarbone. Abruptly Ginny planted a soft kiss on his neck, sucking his skin gently.
"Here," he pouted, pointing to his cheek. Ginny placed another soft kiss on his red cheek, unfortunately a deep purple colour was now appearing. The red head knew where this was leading, but she'd play along for the moment. He licked his lips playfully, "And. here," he whispered, pointing to his lips.
Ginny smiled attractively and embraced him in the 3rd kiss she'd shared with the blonde man that morning.
*
"Bring them in!" Shouted the grisly haired judge, above the hustle and jeering of the crowd surrounding him.
The people sat on the benches and chairs surrounding the high bench in the courtroom were whispering furiously, angry mumbles and shouts could be heard from the minister's box next to the judge's throne.
The light coming in through the window was young; it was only the early hours of the morning. Some of the people sitting in the courtroom were still in their nightgowns or Pyjama's. This was an emergency hearing called by Harry Potter, and if it was an emergency - as it was right now - then you came dressed how you were when you received the call.
Harry's report, made only 7 hours ago, had been an interesting tale indeed.
Suddenly, the door in the corner opened and 4 Aurors came bustling into the hall. The first to enter waved his wand at 2 chairs sitting solitary in the middle of the room, causing them to glow a bright gold for a moment before returning to their normal colour.
Behind this auror was McNairs son, Robin. He was hanging like some grotesque puppet about 6 inches off the ground and was deeply unconscious. After Robin, there was another auror, this time flagging the unknown deatheater, who was also floating in the comical puppet fashion.
The bailiffs lowered the comatose men into the chairs, making sure their arms were resting on the chairs arms, and their floppy lolling legs were in line with the wooden chairs legs. Finally satisfied, the first Auror flicked his wand at the chairs and huge gold chains snaked their way out the back of the chair binding their torsos, arms and legs to the wooden seats.
The judge looked down upon the men, immense dislike present on his features. The door behind him opened slowly, snapping him back to reality. 6 important looking men filed into the room, taking their seats in the comfortable looking box beside him. Then everybody in the room stood as the minister of magic, Arthur Weasley, entered the room nodding his head curtly to the judge and seating himself between 2 old men in the centre of the box.
"Be seated." boomed the judge plopping down in the red throne. Everybody obeyed, keen to get on with the trial.
"Rosemont, wake the prisoners!"
Rosemont - one of the bailiff Aurors, - stood before the deatheaters and pointed his wand at Robin and cried, "Enervate!" immediately Robin began to stir, Rosemont moved to the other man. "Enervate!"
Robin tried to rub his head, but his arms were currently being forced against his side by the chains. His eyes flew open and he gasped. To his immense discomfort, he found the judge staring coldly at him, and this was enough to scare anyone. The brown haired man scanned the room taking in the observing faces glaring down on him.
"Robin David McNair," growled the judge, "You have been bought before us today to answer the charge of murder. It is my job, along with the jury to decide your fate."
Beside Robin, the second deatheater was struggling with his chains, trying to worm an arm out of his imprisonment like an animal ensnared in a trap.
"DENEATHER ANDRAS! WOULD YOU DESIST YOUR STRUGGLING! YOU WILL BE GOING NO WHERE UNTIL YOU ANSWER MY QUESTIONS." Bellowed the judge, fury evident on his character. Deneather sighed vehemently and scowled spitefully at the older man, his eyes narrowing with extreme loathing.
"But - but I haven't done anything!" stuttered Robin, his eyes wide. "I haven't 'done' anything for a while! And on what basis are you charging me with murder?!"
The judge pursed his lips nastily and turned his eyes into small slits, "Harry Potter, one of our finest and most trusted Aurors, visited a Miss Virginia Weasley's home at 9.00 pm. When he arrived, the front door was wide open. Now, unless you are an absolute maniac, you don't keep your front door wide open at night for the world to see! Mr potter then entered the premises and found you and Mr Andras unconscious on the floor. Seeing you lying there, and the furniture in ruins, it was obvious that a struggle had taken place." The grisly old judge cleared his throat, regaining his voice once again.
"Mr Potter then searched for Miss Weasley but there was no sign of her, and upon searching the house more thoroughly, Mr Potter discovered her clothes were all missing!"
He took a long breath and peered down at Robin as though trying to see through him, into his mind and past all the deceit that he was hoping to pass off as the truth. But if he chose to do so, then they always had veritaserum.
"What have you done with Miss Weasley?" He enquired shortly, breaking the uneasy silence after his previous question, hoping to catch him off guard.
Robin looked around the room at the faces staring at him and Deneather. His gaze met that of Arthur Weasley; the older man looked the worse for wear. He was looking deeply concerned and drained; his eyes were rock hard, alarming the brown haired man slightly, apparently Arthur Weasley, minister of magic wasn't always benign and cheerful.
Deneather leant across and whispered into his ear. "Just say it. We don't have to tell them anything. We c-"
"THERE WILL BE NO CONFERRING IN THIS COURT ROOM!" Screeched the judge. "YOU KILLED HER DIDN'T YOU!" he bellowed again, turning red in the face.
"YOU KILLED A DEFENSELESS WOMAN! THEN, IM GUESSING YOU BURNT HER CLOTHES SO EVERYBODY THOUGHT THAT SHE HAD LEFT THE HOUSE! IT MUST HAVE BEEN JUST ANOTHER POINTL-"
"SILENCE!!"
The judge snapped his mouth shut and turned his head slowly to the source of the angry voice. Arthur was standing, giving him a warning look. Impressed whispers sounded through out the court; normally Arthur Weasley was a quite patient man who didn't raise his voice unless it was his own children.
"We cannot assume that these men have committed murder Michael. We do not, under any circumstances, jump to mindless conclusions to get what we want. That, is not our way, this you know."
Michael took a deep calming breath. Feeling slightly embarrassed. "I'm sorry minister, I should not of been so blind."
"As these men before us have proved, we all make mistakes." He raised a sceptical eyebrow, not even believing his own words. He just hoped that he was right.
"Now," he said turning back to the deatheaters, Robin flinched slightly as though the minister was brandishing a whip. "Tell me what I want to know and maybe, just maybe I will be more lenient in your sentencing."
Robin and Deneather stared straight ahead, unable to say or do anything. Robin dared a peek at the minister; he was glaring at them expectantly through even eyes, sizing both of them up.
The window was still open, and now floods of sunlight were shining on them both warming their bodies. A bird - a black bird could be heard calling out to the morning, welcoming the new day that was growing ever closer. Robin looked out the window into the light and sighed wistfully. Deneather looked across at his fellow and understood what he was about to do, and he too looked to the window.
The brown haired men looked back to the judge, and then to Arthur. "MORSMENTADRE SEST KEDAVRA!" They cried simultaneously. Suddenly the pair began to writhe around in their chairs, as though their bodies contained live snakes eating away at the organs within.
"Rosemont, Peterson! Stop them! Untie them imm-"
However, what came next was atrocious. Firstly Robin screamed a shrill piercing scream, silencing the hall and abruptly projected a terrifying waterfall of blood from his mouth, spraying it everywhere. His eyes were blood shot and were on the verge of exploding - which they unexpectedly did popping like balloons. Next to him Deneather followed the same fate, spraying blood everywhere, whilst all around him people were screaming in terror and fight.
Then robin hiccupped and his head fell limp on his shoulder, he was dead. Beside him Deneather gurgled and also gave up the struggle. The people around the dead deatheaters were crying or shouting angrily. Some of the younger minority were staring from the blood pooled on the floor, to the dead men; their mouths open in shock and in preparation to vomit.
Arthur mopped his brow with a handkerchief from his pocket; beads of sweat were trickling down his face onto the wooden floor. The men surrounding him looked just like him, beads of sweat forming on their chiselled foreheads. One of the elder men in the box seemed unfazed by what had just happened and just watched simply as the Aurors began the ungainly work of un strapping the blood soaked men from their chairs, and carrying them out of the room.
Michael stood and walked over to the minister, steering him silently into the corner. "What are you to do now Arthur? Now nobody knows where your daughter is."
The greying red head gave him a pensive look. It was true; his only source of finding his daughter was gone. But something told him deep down, or was it hope, that his daughter was alive. It was just one of those 'feelings' like when you go out, even though you've packed every single thing possible, you always manage to leave something behind.
"Where ever my daughter is, she will be safe and sound. After all, she's a Weasley - she can undoubtedly look after herself." Arthur murmured in an undertone to Michael. He wasn't going to let anybody give up; this was his own flesh and blood that was missing.
But - what if they were blowing everything out of proportion? What if Ginny had just gone away for a few days, and the deatheaters were just there by coincidence? Yes, that could be it - perhaps. But it wasn't like the young red head to just disappear, she would of told someone if she was going away. right?
Arthur rubbed his forehead with a weary hand, his eyes hooding in fatigue. He cast an uneasy glance over his shoulder around the hall. The furious and scared faces flashing amongst the crowd, arguments and speculations washing over everybody. This was mayhem.
Shaking his head in slight annoyance, the m.o.m strode past Michael to the bench and banged the mallet on the wooden box. All around the courtroom the livid conversations ceased, in the corner the woman hitting an older man with her bag haltered, gawping at Arthur. The faces once again became tentative and sympathetic, as they were earlier.
The greying red head cleared his throat, feeling over-come with a number of different emotions. Somehow he felt a great wave of thanks to the people sitting before him, after all, they'd given up there spare time to be here, and all they got out of it was a suicide before their very eyes.
"Witches and Wizards. I - don't really know what to say, I am as speechless as you are." He rubbed his head, "It seems that the deatheaters are not to be underestimated, I can tell you now that we were oblivious that they could, well, that they could sacrifice themselves so their information remains undiscovered. We must be extra vigilant now, as some of you know, 2 days ago deatheaters broke into my home, if I'd been home.." He flashed his eyes.
"My fellows and I will hold an emergency meeting after Michael dismisses us all. Good day to you."
Arthur stepped down off the box and held the mallet out to Michael. The grey haired man took it resignedly and struck it on the box. "Case dismissed."
Immediately everybody disapparated, undoubtedly wanting to tell their other halves or colleagues what had just happened. Michael, Arthur and the other 6 men exited the room through the door behind them and strode along the stone corridor, the youngest looking man swayed and fell to the floor, apparently it had only hit him that 2 men had just died a death most horrific.
"What will you do know Arthur?" requested Michael, striding to keep up with the ministers quick pace.
"Well, one thing is for sure, we must question everybody in Hogsmeade about Ginny. I think we have gone about this the wrong way. My daughter may have gone away for a while; we must check the house for any clues to see if she has done so. I'll get Harry and his team to look into this more thoroughly. But in the meantime, we must keep this from the press. Send an owl to everybody at the meeting and tell him or her not to divulge any information of yet, as we haven't enough to go on. Any hurry Michael, we haven't much time before the daily prophet, or worse still Rita Skeeter gets a hold of this."
The older man nodded his head understandingly; everybody knew what Rita Skeeter was capable of when she picked up her acid green quill - nobody was safe.
"Very well Arthur, I will send a stern message to those present today that they will be charged if they talk, for those that all ready have, I will have the D.A.S clear it up." And with that, Michael nodded his head to the M.O.M and rushed away down another corridor.
Arthur paused to watch him go, he hoped - for his sake, that nobody apart from his family and those present today, found out about this. If anybody knew - especially the deatheaters - that he had a weakness, then they could hurt him in ways he could never imagine.
"Minister, if you please. We have business to attend to." Piped a man on his left.
Mr Weasley sighed profoundly, "Yes. Yes we do, let us get down to it."
The man waved a hand to his right, indicating that they should leave. Arthur heaved again and walked off down the corridor, his head swimming with worry and fatigue.
*
"Don't worry mum, we'll hear from her soon. Nobody in their right mind would capture the ministers daughter, she's to well known, people would notice if she went missing."
"Don't be stupid Ron, that's a perfectly good reason why they'd 'want' to capture Ginny. She'd be the perfect bargaining chip. I don't know how anybody could be so cold hearted."
Molly gave a small sob as Hermione added more sugar to the tea. Bill waved his wand at the empty plate on the kitchen table and 20 or so more short bread cakes appeared.
"Percy how could you say something like that?" snarled Penelope, nodding her head towards Molly, who was rubbing her left temple emotionally.
Percy opened his mouth to retaliate but the severe 'Percy if you open your mouth again look' Penelope was giving him was enough to shut him up. Hermione placed the tray of tea on the table and took the seat furthest away from every one else. The brown haired woman had felt extremely uncomfortable since arriving here 6 hours ago.
His mother had woken up Ron in the early hours of the morning; Hermione could distinctly hear her telling him that Ginny and Leo were missing. From that moment on Ron, Hermione, Bill Percy and Penelope had come over to the burrow to console her.
"HERMIONE?" shouted Ron, standing in front of her. Hermione jumped and stared at her spouse.
"I'm sorry, what's wrong Ron?" she said gently looking him straight in the eye, Ron frowned slightly at the look she gave him. That look was rather new.
"Well I asked you a question, didn't you see Ginny yesterday morning?" he requested slowly, so nobody missed what he said. Molly and Bill frowned slightly, clearly nobody had informed them about this.
The brunette shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Well, yes in the morning." She replied in a small voice.
"How come you didn't tell us sooner Hermione?" barked Percy, standing before her. "6 bloody hours we've been here and you haven't mentioned it once!"
She looked down at the floor, this was her family and she hated lying, but Ginny was like a sister, best friend and soul mate to her, she needed to protect her.
"I saw her yesterday morning, she was telling me about Leo and how they met. But then she - err - remembered that she was meeting up with him and left."
Ron raised a sceptical eyebrow whilst the others frowned in curiosity.
"Who's Leo 'Mione?" Ron asked crossing his arms.
Hermione stood up and looked out the window out into the morning. There was a light mist lingering over the countryside, and a glistening frost littered the grass giving it that diamond effect.
"Leo. Leo Walker, he's Ginny's friend, nothing more. She's known him for over a year now, and they've - err - kept in touch ever since."
Molly glowered slightly. "There was something I didn't like about that boy, he seemed rather 2 faced, you know something he's not."
"Maybe Ginny and Leo were, um out last night or something, and they got back late-"
"Think logically Ron, maybe Leo captured Ginny. They always say that murderers are always someone you-"
"PERCY WEASLEY. WILL YOU SHUT UP!?" Penelope shouted her blue eyes flashing. "You're not helping the slightest, at least Ron isn't being an insensitive prick!"
Molly gave her daughter in law an appraising look. Across from her Hermione was biting her tongue, she couldn't stand lies. She needed to get out of there away from everyone.
She spun around and they all turned to face her. She bit her lip nervously and swallowed. "Would it be alright if I had a lie down Molly? All this - it's making me, a bit emotional."
Ron frowned at her curiously, as did everyone else. She made her eyes water for effect, pushing the guilt to the back of her mind. Molly stood up and held her daughter in law in her arms.
"Oh Hermione, We all miss Ginny dearly, I dare say she'll be with us soon."
Hermione rested her head on her mother in laws shoulder and sighed sadly. Only one thing was on her mind: What had that bastard Draco done? It must have been very 'very' bad if they had resorted to running away. If she knew Draco Malfoy, he didn't run away from anything.
Molly patted her back lovingly, and sat back down next to Bill. Hermione gave her a small smile and swept out the kitchen and up the stairs to Ron's room. It was still the same old orange, with the walls and ceiling covered in the bright colour.
She searched frantically around for a quill and a piece of parchment. She had to do something, to help Ginny, and eve if that meant lying to everybody. If Ginny and Draco were to survive, then they'd need a helping hand. Hermione didn't know exactly what was going on between him and the deatheaters, and why it involved Ginny, but she knew that she had to protect them.
Finally finding some parchment in Ron's old school trunk along with a quill, Hermione began to write.
'Ginny had better appreciate this. She owes me big time.'
A/N: WOAH, are my hands tired! Hey all omg how long was this chapter, 16 pages in size 9 font. God knows how much in 11. IM SO SORRY I HAVENT UPDATED as frequently as I used to. IM totally swamped with schoolwork and have been neglecting my story. (Tomato thrown from off stage.) Yeah I'm sorry. Oh well enjoy!
O yesh, Reviews would be appreciated.