Darkness Falling
Chapter 3
Disclaimer: See Chapters 1 and 2
Lucius Malfoy, who had escaped from having to go to Azkaban because of a large cash infusion to the Ministry, had had a busy day. Not only had he had to attend a meeting of the Death Eaters, but he had had a visit from the First Evil and its henchman, Caleb. The First had told him that Ginny Weasley would be coming to visit him soon and that he should make any necessary preparations for her arrival. Lucius had done so, sending his wife and son out to Diagon Alley for the rest of the day and telling the Ministry that he was busy with 'family matters'. But privately he doubted that any child of Arthur and Molly Weasley would willingly enter this house. Therefore he was shocked when, as promised, Ginny Weasley dropped out of the fireplace. Then he watched the Boy-Who-Lived smash into the ancient wards that guarded the Malfoy family home from intruders. It had been very amusing and Lucius was glad that he had been there to witness the look of horror on Potter's face as he hit the shields and bounced off. Doubtless the boy would cry "Wolf" and run to Dumbledore but that was only to be expected. With such thoughts in mind he turned his attention to the Weasley girl standing before him.
Ginny looked around fearfully at the room, only now realising what a dangerous situation she might have put herself in. This was the lair of the Weasley family's most hated enemies, and all of the Weasley children had been cautioned not to enter this dreadful place. But all in all, Ginny decided, it didn't look too bad. The room was decorated in the colours of Slytherin, green and silver, and was tastefully furnished. With this in mind, she focussed on the master of the house.
"Well, well, well. I never expected to meet you here Miss Weasley. Can I offer you something to drink? Or a bite to eat?"
Ginny shivered. This was not what she had been expecting at all. It rather appeared as if Mr. Malfoy had known she was coming. But that was impossible. Wasn't it?
"No thank you, Mr. Malfoy. But thank you for offering."
"Very well Miss Weasley. In that case what can I do for you?"
"Well, um, I was wondering, if it's not too much trouble, if you could possibly either let me stay here for the rest of the holidays or find me somewhere else to stay. Could you? Please? And I want to talk to Mayor Wilkins. It's about Buffy Summers."
He looked thoughtful. "I suppose as a favour to Richard Wilkins, I could let you remain here for the rest of the holidays. We'll have to get you some new clothes though, I think. Your family are not going to be happy with you after they find out about this."
Ginny's face turned to ice. "I don't give a damn about what the rest of my family thinks. They are too concerned with Scarhead and Miss Lets-Slay- Anything-On-Two-Legs to care about me. Why should I care about what they think?"
Lucius Malfoy had smiled then, realising that the battle for the mind of Virginia Weasley had just been won. He had sent her and a House Elf to find a room that she liked and to help her get ready for afternoon tea. When Narcissa and Draco had returned with the school supplies, he had told them about their newest guest and what the ground rules with regard to her were. Narcissa had reacted with her usual icy imperturbability but Draco had not taken the news well. He had gone on at length about how disgraceful it was to be under the same roof as a Weasley, and had just started going on about how she always hung around with her brother, the Mudblood and Potter when a Body Bind Hex had hit him from behind and sent him to the floor. Ginny Weasley stood over his fallen form and kicked him hard in the ribs. "Never EVER compare me to ANY of those three or any other Weasley. As far as I am concerned, they are no longer my family."
She then kicked him again, lower this time. Lucius had winced and Draco had looked like he wanted to curl into a ball, but, of course, he was still frozen in place. An evil grin had settled around Ginny's mouth and she had lent down, closer to Draco. Neither Lucius nor Narcissa could see what she was doing. A moment later, Ginny straightened up. When he saw what she had done, Lucius burst out laughing. Narcissa had struggled to keep a smile from her face. Lucius offered Virginia his arm, and they, together with Narcissa, went off to the dining room for tea. They left behind them a Draco Malfoy still frozen, with his eyes rolling in helpless rage. And Weasley red hair.
Chapter 3
Disclaimer: See Chapters 1 and 2
Lucius Malfoy, who had escaped from having to go to Azkaban because of a large cash infusion to the Ministry, had had a busy day. Not only had he had to attend a meeting of the Death Eaters, but he had had a visit from the First Evil and its henchman, Caleb. The First had told him that Ginny Weasley would be coming to visit him soon and that he should make any necessary preparations for her arrival. Lucius had done so, sending his wife and son out to Diagon Alley for the rest of the day and telling the Ministry that he was busy with 'family matters'. But privately he doubted that any child of Arthur and Molly Weasley would willingly enter this house. Therefore he was shocked when, as promised, Ginny Weasley dropped out of the fireplace. Then he watched the Boy-Who-Lived smash into the ancient wards that guarded the Malfoy family home from intruders. It had been very amusing and Lucius was glad that he had been there to witness the look of horror on Potter's face as he hit the shields and bounced off. Doubtless the boy would cry "Wolf" and run to Dumbledore but that was only to be expected. With such thoughts in mind he turned his attention to the Weasley girl standing before him.
Ginny looked around fearfully at the room, only now realising what a dangerous situation she might have put herself in. This was the lair of the Weasley family's most hated enemies, and all of the Weasley children had been cautioned not to enter this dreadful place. But all in all, Ginny decided, it didn't look too bad. The room was decorated in the colours of Slytherin, green and silver, and was tastefully furnished. With this in mind, she focussed on the master of the house.
"Well, well, well. I never expected to meet you here Miss Weasley. Can I offer you something to drink? Or a bite to eat?"
Ginny shivered. This was not what she had been expecting at all. It rather appeared as if Mr. Malfoy had known she was coming. But that was impossible. Wasn't it?
"No thank you, Mr. Malfoy. But thank you for offering."
"Very well Miss Weasley. In that case what can I do for you?"
"Well, um, I was wondering, if it's not too much trouble, if you could possibly either let me stay here for the rest of the holidays or find me somewhere else to stay. Could you? Please? And I want to talk to Mayor Wilkins. It's about Buffy Summers."
He looked thoughtful. "I suppose as a favour to Richard Wilkins, I could let you remain here for the rest of the holidays. We'll have to get you some new clothes though, I think. Your family are not going to be happy with you after they find out about this."
Ginny's face turned to ice. "I don't give a damn about what the rest of my family thinks. They are too concerned with Scarhead and Miss Lets-Slay- Anything-On-Two-Legs to care about me. Why should I care about what they think?"
Lucius Malfoy had smiled then, realising that the battle for the mind of Virginia Weasley had just been won. He had sent her and a House Elf to find a room that she liked and to help her get ready for afternoon tea. When Narcissa and Draco had returned with the school supplies, he had told them about their newest guest and what the ground rules with regard to her were. Narcissa had reacted with her usual icy imperturbability but Draco had not taken the news well. He had gone on at length about how disgraceful it was to be under the same roof as a Weasley, and had just started going on about how she always hung around with her brother, the Mudblood and Potter when a Body Bind Hex had hit him from behind and sent him to the floor. Ginny Weasley stood over his fallen form and kicked him hard in the ribs. "Never EVER compare me to ANY of those three or any other Weasley. As far as I am concerned, they are no longer my family."
She then kicked him again, lower this time. Lucius had winced and Draco had looked like he wanted to curl into a ball, but, of course, he was still frozen in place. An evil grin had settled around Ginny's mouth and she had lent down, closer to Draco. Neither Lucius nor Narcissa could see what she was doing. A moment later, Ginny straightened up. When he saw what she had done, Lucius burst out laughing. Narcissa had struggled to keep a smile from her face. Lucius offered Virginia his arm, and they, together with Narcissa, went off to the dining room for tea. They left behind them a Draco Malfoy still frozen, with his eyes rolling in helpless rage. And Weasley red hair.