A/N: same old, only own those unrecognisable from the books

The lyrics at the beginning are from 'Down With The Sickness' by Disturbed

The lyrics in the middle are from 'Remember Me This Way' by Jordan Hill and 'Where the Birds Always Sing' by The Cure

The funeral part was inspired by my babes Lauren, x-broken-x, who is also a great writer and much better at tearjerkers than me.

Thanx to all for reviews and keep reviewin plz babes. Enjoy =) xx

Chapter Fifteen – Tears and Roses

Drowning deep in my sea of loathing
Broken your servant I kneel
It seems what's left of my human side
Is slowly changing in me

Looking at my own reflection
When suddenly it changes
Violently it changes
There is no turning back now
You've woken up the demon in me

Ginny's face was expressionless as she re-read the letter on her crossed legs, angry tears threatening to spill over as her eyes skimmed over the bits that leaped out. She didn't look up when Draco entered the room and collapsed on his back across the bed, his hand snaking up her crossed legs and sneakily inching under her skirt. He froze when he saw the look on her face and reached up to lift her chin.

"What's wrong?"

Wordlessly she pushed the letter towards him and he scanned it, the old parchment feeling thick and uneven in his hands as he squinted at the scrawled black words, his mind working overtime as he took in the French passages. It seemed to be addressed to someone called Ivie Riley (A/N: pronounced Ivy) from who appeared to be Kendra's father as it was signed with his family's crest.

...Je vous félicite sur déchiffrer la première moitié de la Prophétie, et pour qu'essayer l'empêche de venir au sujet de mais malheureusement ; ce n'était pas la jeune fille vous la première pensée. Vous étiez bon dans supposer elle étiez une fille de Weasley, juste pas une que vous avez tuée réellement...

...I congratulate you on deciphering the first half of the Prophecy, and for attempting to prevent it from coming about but unfortunately; it wasn't the young girl you first thought. You were right in assuming she was a Weasley girl, just not the one you actually killed...

Draco let the parchment slip out of his hand and turned to Ginny who was staring out of the window with such agony and rage burning in her normally joyful eyes he flinched, desperate to comfort her but aware she wouldn't want him to. She was practically crackling with rage, her hair seeming to give off static as she clenched her fists into balls, blood seeping over her fingers as her nails dug into her palms and cut into the flesh.

He felt the sudden rush of heat emanating from her that warned of her coming Change and he backed away slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements as her anger was too far gone for her to control. Her hair shot up and the thin shield of sunset colours surrounded her, as he backed against the wall waiting for the Change to pass.

Slowly the heat faded and she returned to half-normal state that follows the Change, her eyes still blazing with anger as she barged out of the room, down through the back doors and out into the garden, Draco racing after her and thanking god the house was empty. She seemed to have retained some of her normal self as she was heading away from the house where she could hurt someone or break something and out near the lake where she proceeded to rampage around, ripping up trees, blowing balls of fire at them in a blaze of fury.

Draco put out all the fires out with the small jets of water he could produce in his normal state, silently following her and keeping out of her way as her anger burned her up inside. Eventually she slowed down and froze at the edge of water, her chest heaving and her eyes throwing off white-hot sparks. Draco carefully approached her, one hand outstretched, she jerked when he touched her but he didn't falter, not noticing her skin was burning his hands as he edged closer.

"Ginny."

Her eyes focused on him through the two vertical pupils and he could have sworn he saw a flicker of the usual Ginny in their depths. Tears leaked out of her eyes as she bristled at his touch but when he wrapped an arm around her shoulders she collapsed sobbing onto his shoulder, he enveloped her in his arms awkwardly, frantic to comfort her but not having any idea how. She wrapped her arms around his waist and continued to sob into his chest, neither of them noticing when the heavens opened at Draco's misery and drenched the pair of them in seconds.

She broke down against him and his knees gave way beneath them, the pair of them dropping to the floor with a loud splash, Ginny's heartbroken sobs drowned out by the thundering rain as Draco rocked them back and forth slowly, his hand stroking her neck and the bare small of her back as he murmured comforting words into her ear, smoothing her drenched hair out of her eyes as he kissed her cold forehead over and over again, whispering endearments against her hair.

"Draco, Ginny? What the hell are you doing out here?!"

Draco jerked his head up at a drenched Noah and Juno, standing hand in hand at the top of the hill, shading their eyes with their free hands as they surveyed the couple entwined on the muddy banks of the lake. Draco shook his head and got steadily to his feet, lifting Ginny up with him and draping her arm around his waist as she leant against him and he half carried her up the hill towards the house.

"What's going on?"

Draco shot Noah a look and he immediately closed his mouth, his eyes fixed on Ginny who was sitting at the kitchen table staring at the blank wall with huge empty eyes swimming with tears. He briefly told the two of them about the letter through telepathy as he forced a mug of hot chocolate into Ginny's hands and wrapped her in a towel a frantically bowing house elf had just delivered.

Picking her up he carried her gently upstairs and laid her down on the bed, performing a simple sleeping charm on her until she was breathing evenly. He grabbed the letter from the floor and retreated back down the stairs to where Noah and Juno were sat in stunned silence, their hands entwined on the tabletop as they sipped absently at their hot chocolate.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Ginny's eyes flickered open and she sat up slowly, her eyes taking in the thick branches coated in heavy green leaves forming a ceiling above her head. From the angle of the sun slanting through the leaves and splintering on the floor of moss and broken bits of leaves and trees she could tell it was about noon. Her heart leaped and she scrambled to her feet licking her dry lips when three figures dashed into the clearing shoving each other and shrieking with laughter.

The sun reflected off the three heads of vivid red hair, one tied in two French braids down her back, the other with it falling as a sheet down her back. Ginny darted behind a tree, not sure whether they could see her or not but she wasn't taking any chances, she peered around in time to hear the yells and thundering of hundreds of feet before the tall lanky boy with shaggy red hair appeared besides her dragging the two girls behind him.

She bit her lip hard when the littlest girl slipped, her hands and knees hitting the floor with blinding force as she struggled to release her foot. The boy as busy trying to physically fight off at least four of the figures in long hooded cloaks besides her as the girl retreated back to help the other girl.

Finally the girl's foot was freed and the boy darted over, tugging harshly at her sleeve as one of the figures barrelled towards them. This time Ginny could see the huge black eyes, one covered by an eye patch over her right eye and the thin-lipped mouth forming a sneer as she lunged at the three children.

A tear slipped down her cheek and landed silently on her collar as she watched the elder girl shoving the younger one violently out of the way, following the others the girl slipped as her ankle was snatched at by the woman. The pair of them went down and a loud crack rent the air, a sound that had haunted Ginny for years as she watched the little girl struggling like a wildcat against the boy's restraining arms as he tried to tug her out of reach of the figures.

Looking around Ginny saw the clearing was deserted save for a little girl, taller than the average for her age with pale skin covered in a slight dusting of freckles and lying in a pool of red that, upon closer inspection, was her rich red hair half covering her face and shoulders. Breathing heavily Ginny watched as the boy released the girl, unable to hold onto her any longer as she bit and clawed at his arms in her desperation to reach the girl.

In slow motion she ran across the clearing, plaits flying as she landed on her hands and knees next to the girl, her small warm hand creeping into the girl's cooling slightly bigger hand before the boy dropped his own freckled hand onto her shoulder and the pair of them silently scooped the girl up, managing between them to carry her out of the clearing without a word.

Someone was screaming and Ginny thrashed around furiously before her eyes snapped open and she saw Draco's concerned eyes staring into hers and she realised it was her that had let out the shriek that had chilled his blood. He took her in his arms once again, stilling her trembling with his body heat as he stroked her hair and laid her head on his shoulder.

Draco only just held Ginny down when the door burst open and Dumbledore barged in, the real panic flaring in his eyes making Draco's heart leap into his throat. But once Dumbledore saw the pair of them on the bed, Ginny still shaking and staring around wildly his eyes softened and he dropped down onto the bed next to them.

"Miss Weasley?"

Ginny turned to look at him, still clasped in Draco's arms and was quite obviously glad of it as she twisted her hands into his shirt and pulled him closer.

"Cohen's parents have just arrived and have made arrangements for his burial tonight."

Something flickered at the back of her eyes as Draco ignored Dumbledore completely, his voice only just penetrating his ears as he watched Ginny flinch.

"They haven't found a place to have the service yet..."

Draco exchanged a look with his mother standing in the doorway before cutting across Dumbledore.

"Have it here."

Raising a silver eyebrow at Narcissa who nodded Dumbledore smiled briefly before getting to his feet and sweeping over to the fireplace. Tossing in some Floo Powder an older version of Cohen appeared in the flickering green flames and Ginny winced, burying her face in Draco's shirt already drenched in the sweat from her body.

Once the arrangements were made Dumbledore nodded at Draco, dropped a quick comforting hand on Ginny's shoulder and quickly left the room to prepare for the funeral.

"Are you sure you're up to this?"

Ginny nodded and got to her feet, wandering unsteadily over to the bathroom, climbing under the pounding boiling water and absentmindedly scrubbing at her pale skin before giving up and slumping against the white tiled wall, her forehead pressed against it as steam surrounded her and tears overcame her once more.

Hearing her Draco erupted into the room and dragged her out of the shower, once more holding her and drenching himself in the process. With the hand that wasn't stroking her trembling shoulders he turned off the shower and dropped a plug into the bath, switching on both taps and adding some of the scented bath salts his mother used.

Lowering her into the hot soapy water he stripped off his clothes and slipped in behind her, conjuring a sponge and soaping her shoulders and back. He dropped a kiss on her shoulder before tipping some shampoo into his hands and massaging it into her hair and scalp, the soothing scents calming her down until she was sighing and wriggling under his hands.

He rinsed off her hair and she smiled at him before twisting around awkwardly so her back was against the taps as she leant back in the water, rising up with soapy suds cascading down her breasts as he watched her hungrily. Pushing all miserable and angry thoughts to the back of her head Ginny conjured another sponge and the pair of them wriggled around in the huge marble bath splashing each other like little children before soaping each other definitely not like children until Ginny had her first experience of sex in the water which was something she'd never forget.

After kissing his way down her body Draco proved how long he could hold his breath for and Ginny admitted defeat willingly. Grinning wickedly up at him Ginny rotated their positions and disappeared under the water. Rising up blinking water out of her eyes, her eyelashes stuck together like starfishes Ginny sighed and glanced at the clock, nearly concussing herself when she leapt up and slipped, just missing hitting her head on the bath by inches.

Draco shook his head as he watched her scramble back into the bedroom to get ready and lay back in the water, watching the stars that provided the light darting around against the midnight black of the ceiling. Climbing slowly out of the bath he wrapped a towel around his waist and wandered into the bedroom to find Ginny applying lip gloss to Bella while she chattered away from the bed in a pair of black pants and a black jumper with her hair pulled up into a long ponytail.

Kissing Ginny's bare neck he made his way over to his wardrobe and stared in thoughtfully, pulling out a pair of black cords, a black short-sleeved shirt and a pair of black dragon-hide boots he rootled around in his drawers for a fresh pair of boxers while idly tuning into Ginny and Bella's conversation about Bella's new pony.

"Mother asked Dumbledore and he said Priscilla can pull the hearse with the others."

Bella grinned, clapping her hands in excitement as Ginny disappeared behind the ornately carved black mahogany screen to change. Emerging in a plain black silk dress that fell to the floor in swirling shimmering folds and clung to her slender hips and high jutting breasts Draco caught his breath silently. No one had any right to look that good.

Ginny was unaware how beautiful she looked as she adjusted the thick straps and pulled on her high heeled black shoes as Draco took her place behind the screen.

"You named your horse Priscilla?"

Draco snorted when Ginny turned to Bella curiously as she performed a simple straightening spell on her hair and pulled on a matching jacket nipped in at the waist, all the while fighting tears and putting on a false happy face for Bella.

"Yes, I named all of the horses besides Drake's."

Ginny helped the girl shrug into her black jacket as she talked and grabbed her purse from the table while they waited for Draco who took longer than anyone else purely to live up to their expectations.

"Go on then what are they called?"

Bella ticked the names off on her fingers as she spoke, her eyes on the ceiling as she concentrated, wrinkling her nose and chewing her tongue.

"There's Priscilla and Elvis. Then Pockets and Sparky."

Ginny nodded at each name and sent out a silent vote of sympathy to the horses as Draco finally sauntered out and dragged on his black suede jacket, holding out an arm for Ginny but instead having Bella grab his hand in her right and Ginny's in her left so she was swinging between them. Sending Ginny a weak smile over the little blonde head between them he started towards the door.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Ginny cowered down into her seat near the back pew of the small chapel at the back of the Malfoy's land, her hand tightly gripped in Draco's as she bit her numbed lips to stop her tears and stared fixedly at the beautiful white coffin before them. She smiled blankly at the various people who waved at her as they passed to get to their seats and was thoroughly glad when the Vicar got to his feet at the front and began his sermon.

"Many people have asked to pay their own personal tributes to Cohen and the parents of our dear departed friend have given some of them permission, first of all we have Miss Ginerva Weasley singing her favourite song in our friend's honour."

Ginny felt Draco start slightly as he turned to look at her getting to her feet and swiftly walking down the aisle and stopping just before the casket, one hand on its smooth shiny surface as she turned to face the silent room. She didn't speak a word, just opened her mouth and began and after the first line tears began to flow. Her voice was clear and piercingly sweet and soared up to the rafters of the room, raising the hair on everyone's heads as Draco shivered at the raw emotion melting into the exquisite voice.

"-Every now and then

We find a special friend

Who never lets us down

-Who understands it all

Reaches out each time we fall

You're the best friend I have found

-I know you can't stay

A part of you will never ever go away

Your heart will stay

-I'll make a wish for you

And hope it will come true

If life will just be kind

To such a gentle mind

If you lose your way

Think back on yesterday

Remember me this way

Remember me this way

-I don't need eyes to see

The love you bring to me

No matter where I go

And I know that you'll be there

Forever-more a part of me and everywhere

I'll always care

-I'll make a wish for you

And hope it will come true

If life will just be kind

To such a gentle mind

And if you lose your way

Think back on yesterday

Remember me this way

Remember me this way

-And I'll be right behind your shoulder, watching you

I'll be standing by your side, all you do

And I won't ever leave

As long as you believe

You just believe

-I'll make a wish for you

And hope it will come true

If life will just be kind

To such a gentle mind

And if you lose your way

Think back on yesterday

Remember me this way

Remember me this way

Oh

This way –"

There was absolute silence save for a few sniffles as people blew their noses and turned to sob into others' shoulders as Ginny returned to her seat, somehow feeling better as though she had done her part now to make it up to Cohen for not being strong enough. Of course the guilt would never fully leave her until she had made Kendra pay.

Draco, seeing Ginny's face harden and her eyes deaden knew exactly what she was thinking and gave her hand a squeeze as Cohen's best friends, a pair of twin brothers got to their feet.

"Cohen's closest friends have their own final gift for Cohen; they wish to recite a song as a poem."

"-The world is neither fair nor unfair

The idea is just a way for us to understand

But the world is neither fair nor unfair

So one survives

The others die

And you always want a reason why

But the world is neither just nor unjust

It's just trying to feel that there's some sense in it

No, the world is neither just nor unjust

And though going young

So much undone

Is a tragedy for everyone

-It doesn't speak a plan or any secret thing

No unseen sign or untold truth in anything

But living on in others, in memories and dreams

Is not enough

You want everything

Another world where the sun always shines

And the birds always sing

Always sing

-The world is neither fair nor unfair

The idea is just a way for us to understand

But the world is neither fair nor unfair

So one survives

The others die

And you always want a reason why

But the world is neither just nor unjust

It's just trying to feel that there's some sense in it

No, the world is neither just nor unjust

And though going young

So much undone

Is a tragedy for everyone

-It doesn't mean there has to be a way of things

No special sense that hidden hands are pulling strings

But living on in others, in memories and dreams

Is not enough and it never is

You always want so much more than this

-An endless sense of soul and an eternity of love

A sweet mother down below and a just a father above

For living on in others, in memories and dreams

Is not enough

You want everything

Another world where the birds always sing

Another world where the sun always shines

Another world where nothing ever dies-"

Ginny bit her lip but dutifully got to her feet as everyone filed out in single file after the coffin carried by Cohen's father, two older brothers and his brother-in-law.

The trip to the little graveyard behind Hogsmeade was uneventful but almost pulled Ginny apart again as every person they passed as they rolled by in many four-seater carriages, pulled by invisible horses that were all borrowed from Hogwarts, raised their hats to them or bowed their heads in respect. The curtains in each shop and house windows closing magically as they passed and opening as the last carriage went by and the huge Hogwarts bells tolling in time to the clopping sound the invisible horses made with each step.

Stood by the open grave Ginny nearly broke down again as the casket was lowered slowly in time with the Vicar's voice and she dropped her single white rose, beaded with dew, into the darkness as the dirt was piled on top the casket.

"Ginerva? Draco? We need to talk."

Hollow with misery Ginny nodded and trailed after Dumbledore to the castle, Draco keeping a tight grip on her hand as he ground his jaw to keep from starting an argument or sniping at people which was his way of dealing with a feeling as unfamiliar as sorrow for someone else.

Once in Dumbledore's plush office the pair of them turned to look at their headmaster with wary eyes, Draco's arm draped across the back of Ginny's chair as they waited.

"We have reason to believe that a woman known as Ivie is back in England."

Draco felt Ginny stiffen and the letter danced before his eyes but his expression didn't falter at all.

"This news is disturbing as she is not only wanted by the Ministry of Magic here but in most of the countries all over the world."

Ginny's voice was blank and expressionless, a fact that made Draco shiver; Ginny was never blank, he could always tell exactly what she was thinking.

"Because she's a Dark Kida."

Draco jumped as if he'd been stung and turned to look first at Dumbledore then at Ginny who was glaring into the fire.

"But... but they're not real. My Father told me they died out years ago."

Dumbledore considered him for a moment, his head slightly cocked to one side as he put his long fingers together and looked down at them.

"Did your Father tell you the details of the Dark Kida's?"

Draco shook his head as Ginny turned to look at him curiously, her eyes still oddly blank instead of the usual sparkle.

"Well they are, I assume you both know, the hand-picked crueller Death Eaters. For a Death Eater that was their top ambition but it took a very cruel act to put you in for consideration."

Dumbledore paused and turned to look at Ginny who was only half-listening as she stared into the fire again.

"How did you know Ivie was a Dark Kida, Miss Weasley?"

Ginny jumped and stared at him, her throat closing up as memories once again resurfaced bringing a cold sweat and goose bumps with them.

"She had the mark."

Dumbledore nodded and turned to Draco who was watching them both somewhat suspiciously.

"A Dark Kida is only distinguishable from a Death Eater by the additions to their Dark Mark. There is a knife through the skull's head and blood droplets from the snake."

Ginny shuddered and Draco's grip tightened on her.

"Now, normally I wouldn't be even considering putting the pair of you in danger. But given the circumstances and your individuality..."

Dumbledore emphasised the last word with a glimmer of the old sparkle in his eyes as he laid his hands flat on the table.

"There is no reason why you shouldn't be allowed along, if you consent that is."

Without any hesitation Ginny nodded, something that looked suspiciously like hope flaring in her eyes as Draco nodded as well. Hearing the door open the turned to find the remaining Four smiling gravely at them.

"I will leave it to you to devise a plan that is suitable given the information we have."

Dumbledore rose to his feet and tossed a file of parchment onto his desk, crossing to the door and giving them all a ghost of a wink as he closed it behind them.

"I think two of us should handle the security, Juno, Noah?"

Juno and a very pale Noah nodded at Blue who nodded in return and turned to Frankie who was looking faintly green.

"If we find the rest of the Dark Kida's?"

Frankie nodded and he turned to Draco and Ginny who was looking suddenly extremely defiant.

"I want Ivie."

The five of them turned to stare at Ginny as she got to her feet and stalked across to the window where Hogwarts students were having snow fights and building snowmen innocently.

"Ginny I really think..."

Noah started before trailing off lamely at the look she sent her best friend, her face half shadowed by the slanting rays of the rising moon.

"No. She's mine."

There was a venom in her voice none of them had ever heard from her before and it sent the temperature in the room plummeting.