Lessons

Chapter Two – In Which Some Past is Unveiled

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Last chapter: There was nothing but sand between her and the ocean, a few old boards marking the place where her piano once stood.

Her heart's pace quickened in cold rage and sorrow. She spun around and stormed back to the manor. Lissy ran to keep up with her mother's hurried pace.

"I won't call him father, mum! No matter how much he wants me to."

Ginny stopped mid-step and dropped to her knees so her eyes met Lissy's perfectly. She hugged her daughter close and kissed her forehead. "Go play in our new castle," she signed. "Perhaps the servants will indulge you with some sweets."

Lissy looked from her mother's hands to her sad brown eyes. "No, I won't leave you. I won't call him papa. I won't call him anything. I won't even look at him."

Ginny smiled weakly and shook her head. "He is your papa now. He is our life. I will have a talk with him tonight. Perhaps he shall bring the piano back. You understand you need to be on your best behavior, you understand that-"

"I understand, mama." The girl reached out and clasped her mother's moving hands in her own. "I just wish we could go back to Grandma's house."

Ginny nodded and Lissy knew they both wanted the same thing.

"Someday, my dear..." Her hands paused as she trailed off. "But for now, we will live in this castle with its servants, like princesses."

Lissy giggled. "Like princesses."

Ginny left Lissy in the care of the muggle house staff. She questioned a maid on the whereabouts of her husband. Quick to aid her new mistress, the servant led her through the convoluted route to her husband's office, meandering through hallways filled with ancient weaponry and artwork. Though well lit with large picture windows and chandeliers, every turn gave Ginny a foreboding tug. She paused in front of his door, uncertain about whether or not she should confront him in her current state. Finally fury overcame caution and she twisted the doorknob and entered with out a knock.

Marcus was sitting calmly behind his desk, and did not raise his head from his work to acknowledge her.

"I knew you would be here soon enough." He could hear her labored breathing, and thoughts of the famous Weasley temper rose in his mind. Before he had time to think further however, Ginny stalked over to his desk and knocked astray his papers, dirtying them with ink and coffee.

He looked up slowly in time to see her reach out and grab his lapels. He rose when she pulled him.

"I warned you of the consequences of your actions, Virginia. You will pay the price now. Your piano has been sold."

Before her slap could hit his face he grabbed her hands and pulled her close. She narrowed her eyes and struggled against his grasp. He threw her to the ground easily and stood over her like a snake over a wounded bird. "Think of this as a lesson for the future."

She stood shakily and raised her chin, a storm brewing in her eyes. After a few moments she spun and walked out of his door, her steps echoing in the cold halls.

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"How did your mother lose her voice, dear?"

Lissy was in the kitchen, munching on shortbread cookies laid out before her by the cook. The grey-haired woman reminded her of her Grandma Molly, and Lissy warmed up to her immediately.

She pondered the question thoughtfully. "She stopped speaking when my father died."

"And who might that be?"

"He was her music teacher. She was his most prized student, the best opera-singer in the land. When he died, she was in so much grief that she vowed to never sing or speak again."

"Really, now. That's quite a tale," the cook replied with twinkling eyes.

"That's the truth." Lissy made sure to give the woman one last innocent glance before slipping off her stool and skipping out the kitchen. "Thanks for the cookies."

"Any time Lissy."

Once out the kitchen, she decided to wander the daunting castle like her mother suggested. She was wearing one of her new dresses and indeed felt like a princess on the spiraling staircases and Persian carpets.

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I am not my daughter's real mother. She was born when I was eleven-years-old to my brother Bill and his wife, Cecilia. I do not know if Lissy truly can't remember her birth-mother, or if she simply does not talk about it. The human mind can do powerful things to block out the unwanted. Lissy was nearly five years old when I adopted her. A frightful mess she was, trembling from surviving an ordeal her mother could not. The war had just started and Bill was off fighting the forces of Voldemort. Hogwarts closed and the Burrow was empty save for Lissy and me. Even my mum picked up her wand and set off to aid in the fight against the Dark Lord.

It was my responsibility to look after the pale-haired child and I suppose that is how I became her mama. I still had my voice then and I sung her lullabies that soothed away her dark memories. I taught her to play the piano and I saw myself in her as I watched her pound the keys to scare away murky demons from the past. We were safe there, guarded by wards Dumbledore had put up himself.

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Draco Malfoy's dinner was interesting affair at Flint manor. The ministry had stationed him at New Zealand for the very purpose of spying on Marcus Flint, a death-eater rising quickly in the ranks. After sealing the piano sale, he was invited to dine with Marcus and the new Mrs. Flint.

He had heard of the unfortunate wedding from various ministry and inner circle sources. Apparently, Marcus had agreed to spare Percy Weasley's life in exchange for her hand in marriage. Marcus and Percy were known rivals at Hogwarts and the animosity obviously still remained. Even Draco was surprised that Flint hated the Weasleys enough to bind himself to one of them in bitter matrimony. He suspected that Flint had married her because of her resemblance to his ex-girlfriend, and the pressing wishes of his mother that he married soon.

The meal was served in the formal dining room with Mr. and Mrs. Flint seated at opposite ends of the ridiculously long redwood table. She did not know of Draco's double agent status and greeted him with nothing more than a pert nod. She communicated only with her daughter, a chatty girl that reminded Draco of the Ginny Weasley he had known so long ago. Sometimes Lissy would translate her mother's gestures for Marcus and Draco to understand. More often than not, it was only a request for salt or pepper.

"Congratulations on your marriage," Draco said carefully as dessert was served.

"Did you hear that, dear? Mr. Malfoy is kind enough to congratulate us."

Ginny ignored this and continued to concentrate on her plate. Marcus laid his fork down and repeated himself. "Did you hear what I said Virginia?"

She looked up with indifference and signed her words to him.

"She says thank you Mr. Malfoy and also that she doesn't feel well. She would like to retire to the library and regrets missing coffee," Lissy elucidated carefully.

With a cold nod, Ginny then rose from the table and left.

"Very well, Lissy, you may be excused as well. I have a surprise for you in your room and perhaps you would like to see it," Marcus said after Ginny had shut the double doors to the dining room.

The girl simply shrugged and smiled. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow Marcus. Good night, Mr. Malfoy."

When she too had left, Draco leaned back into his chair and pushed his plate away. "You've got quite a lot on your hands here," he chuckled.

"You have no idea. I barely have the energy to deal with those two with our Lord expecting me to unearth the spells he needs." Marcus ran a tired hand through his dark hair. "By following our fathers into the inner circle, our own lives are also sacrificed to the cause. I sometimes can't remember why."

"Power," Draco answered. "We do it for power."

"Of course," he said, drowning down his glass of wine.

Draco left that night feeling genuinely sorry for both husband and wife.

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It was late by the time Marcus entered her bedroom through the crackling fire. This time however, Ginny was ready and she stood as his head and shoulders entered her room. She lifted a paper that had been resting on her desk thrust it out at him.

He looked at her suspiciously and snatched it from her hand. "Our marriage will not be consummated until my 18th birthday," he read with clenched teeth.

She tilted her chin proudly as if to dare him to challenge her, her eyes glinting dangerously in the firelight.

"Fine!" he snapped, crumpling the paper and tossing it into the flames. "You will have no excuses at that time and no objection with the company I shall keep!"

Ginny's lips pursed tightly and her hands twitched to retort. Instead, she nodded politely and motioned to the door for him to leave. His angry eyes looked her up and down as he strode by her. Without warning he grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her to him.

She felt her voice rising in the back of her throat in protest, but as usual, no sound came out. Marcus' lips mashed against hers painfully and she could do little to protest. Her hands pushed at his shoulders and later at his arms as they encircled her. His crooked teeth bit and sucked at her lower lip until she opened her mouth for his tongue. She shook her head and backed away, trying to break free of his embrace. They broke apart when she fell back on to the bed. He immediately pushed himself on top of her, but he did not kiss her again.

"Until your birthday arrives, Ginny. You can't fight me then."

She exhaled when she felt his weight ease of her and stared numbly as he left through the floo with a resounding crack. Lifting a cold hand to her bruising lips, she blinked away rising tears. She had less then a month before that night.

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I don't know what I expected to find in this marriage with the Virginia. I barely noticed her at Hogwarts. She was after all just another Weasley with another batch of freckles and mop of red hair. Then again, I barely noticed anyone my last two years at school – that is anyone but Katie Bell. She was everything that I wasn't: sweet, brave, and Gryffindor. We were each other's dark secrets: I her guilty pleasure and her, my reluctant angel. We shared clandestine kisses and warm nights in every nook and cranny Hogwarts had to offer. It took me a long time to realize how much I needed her and by the time I did, it was too late. She was Katie Wood by then and I was already initiated into Voldemort's inner circle. In the end, she was still a Gryffindor and I a Slytherin.

The war's end is not far now and it looks bleak for my lord's side. I sold Ginny's piano because I knew that it would hurt her, the same way Katie hurt me when she sent me the wedding invitation. The Woods are dead now and perhaps I will be soon. Either way, Lissy and her mother will be free of me before long and until then, I will be sure to enjoy Percy Weasley's little sister as my reluctant angel.



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Time passed slowly, yet the days flew by for Ginny and Lissy. The latter adapted quickly, as all children do, to Flint manor and its luxurious lifestyle. She had servants to play with her, to teach her, and her mother's piano soon disappeared from a concerns. Ginny was glad to see her happy, but could not find her own in their new life. Marcus spoiled Lissy, filling her room with every item she asked for, though he barely gave a second glance to his wife. Then again, who would to a mute?

Ginny tumbled deeper into depression with each sunrise and sunset, without a soul to speak to besides children's chatter with her daughter. Her heart ached for her family and her fingers and soul itched for her piano. She knew Marcus had sold it to Draco, a rich bastard that couldn't even play. Malfoy had told her himself one afternoon on his daily flying trip when he swooped down to have a chat with the new Mrs. Flint as she strolled along the beach. In fact, it would be on another one of these afternoon meetings that he would make a proposal that would change her life forever.

Lissy was working on her lessons with Aunt Marcy, the Flint's motherly cook. With nothing to do, Ginny grabbed her bonnet and set out for the inviting beach. She often stared across the horizon and wondered if anyone had the stamina to swim through the ocean home, or the guts to die trying. In a rare moment of relaxation, she lay down in the sand and gazed into the endless blue sky. The sun shone brightly, blessing her with lazy comfort and warmth, her eyes closed and she almost forgot where she was. As she lost focus, she drifted to her past. She was laying on the Great Lawn on the last days of term, snuggled in the arms of Harry as he tugged playfully on her auburn curls.

But there was no hand by her or arm around her waist, but rather an unwelcome shadow above her. She was no longer in England, but under the New Zealand sky back in bleak reality.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Flint."

Ginny's eyes snapped open and she sat up abruptly, startled to find Draco Malfoy starring down at her.

"I was about to suggest that you go indoors, unless you wanted even more freckles." He reached down and held out a hand to help her up. Grudgingly, she took it.

"Would you like to join me for tea, Mrs. Flint?"

She glared at him, dusting sand of her pale green sundress as she did so. He took her hand and held out his broom.

"I insist. I have a proposition for you."

His touch was strangely cool in the warm weather. She pulled her hand back and turned to walk away.

"There is a way for you to have your piano back."

She stopped abruptly and turned to look at him quizzically.

"For a price. I'll explain over tea."

He held out his hand again, and she took it without hesitation.

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End of Chapter Two

MEMEMEMEMEME - it's nice to know we're good for skimming. ^^ *** allie – yay! we updated early (well early for us) this time! Lol thx for reading *** jess – don't watch the piano till the fic's over. It's a great movie!…kinda scarring, but still great! *** Kai – lol…hope some of ur questions were answered! And hope we did good on those finals _ *** lady of scarlet darkness – hehe…so we had that chat about renting the movie…^_~ I'm not a fan stalker _ _ *** viy – all the clues really piece together huh? It IS kinda strange as far as love triangles go…but meh..hehe *** Elizabeth – hi lissy's namesake! Lol…glad u could make it back for the second chapter. This one's dedicated to you! *** Arella Hallo – we've simply updated! Lol….so ur questions was answered in this chapter…any new questions? Review! ^_^ *** Sirenna – can't wait for the skammish party…and draco factors in…NEXT CHAPTER! Dun dun dun!

Next chapter: the story finally kicks off ground.