A/N: I would say thanks for all the reviews, but I only got one. :( Thanks Amarie Helyanwe...everybody should read her fic The Americans, it's really funny. Also, for some reason where I would signal the POV changes, it didn't work. I'm so sorry, but you're going to have to figure it out.

Disclaimer: see chapter 1.

OK EVERYBODY: This chapter is dedicated to my friend Sam (aka Fluffy) in honor of his 17th birthday on June 12th. (Today).

OK...enjoy chapter three!!!

Malfoy in the Iron Mask

Chapter 3

To her surprise, the portrait swung open, revealing a dimly lit room. She walked in, jumping slightly as the portrait closed behind her, and looked around. There was a fireplace, unlit, and to her right there was a bookshelf from floor to ceiling. On the wall behind her were two paintings- one on each side of the door. One was a Muggle painting of the Tower of London and the other was a wizard painting of the same. Left of the door was a huge four poster bed...an occupied four poster bed.

Cautiously, Ginny made her way towards the bed. Its inhabitant was male, and Gin moved closer to see what he looked like. Had she not clamped a hand over her mouth, she would've gasped aloud. Whoever it was wore an iron mask over his face. What cruel sort of person would force someone to wear an iron mask? Not even a Death Eater would stoop that low. From the looks of it, it appeared to be magical and there didn't seem to be anyway to get it off. Scarcely daring to breathe, Gin leaned over the person. There were only three holes in the entire mask, two for the eyes and a larger one for the mouth.

Suddenly, Ginny found herself staring into two dark gray eyes. Caught off guard, she screamed. The person merely stared, not saying a word, just watching. Ginny couldn't take it anymore and without a backwards glance, she bolted from the room and didn't stop running until she reached the kitchens. Then she went to the library in search of Hermione.

I did not open my eyes as I heard someone enter the room. I heard the person walk towards me and took note that this person's step was different from that belonging to Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey. Nor did I recognize the step as one belonging to any of the others that had visited me. I came to the conclusion that this was someone entirely different.

I willed my eyes to stay closed as I felt the person loom over me. Finally, not able to stand the suspense any longer, I opened my eyes. She screamed and immediately backed off. I sat up a bit, ignoring the pain that shot through me as I did so and merely watched her, not talking. She appeared to be around five-five or five-six. She had some freckles, red hair, and dark brown eyes. Without warning, she fled from the room, leaving me to ponder who she was and why she was here.

"Hermione!" I managed to gasp out as soon as I saw the older girl.

She looked up and smiled, "Hey Gin! Did you uh...just run a marathon or something?"

I rolled my eyes, "No, 'Mione, I was just...running."

She gave me a skeptical look, "Sure Gin, whatever."

"No, I'm serious," I whined.

"Okay, I'll believe you for now," she said and then looked behind me, "Hey Ron!"

"Hey 'Mione, Gin!" Ron said, sounding cheerful.

"Where's Harry?" I asked. I wanted to ask him if I could hold onto the Marauder's Map for a bit longer.

"Right here," replied a deep voice, and sure enough it was Harry.

"Come on then, let's go!" exclaimed Hermione.

"But it's not noon yet!" Ron protested.

I piped up, "So we're a bit early."

"Yeah Ron, what do you have a date or something?" Harry asked.

"Yes, actually, I do!" Ron exclaimed, effectively stopping us all in our tracks. He continued, "Do you remember me owling this one Durmstrang student last year?"

"Yes, why?" Harry asked.

"Well," Ron began, looking unsure, "we've been owling each other back and forth since then..."

"And...?" Hermione prompted.

"And well, she's coming here for a term!"

"Cool Ron," I said, "but what does this have to do with us..." I trailed off, realizing the obvious.

"Oh!" Hermione said, "You mean she's coming today?"

"Yeah," I don't think I have ever seen Ron turn so red over a girl before.

"That's wicked, mate! When's she coming?" asked Harry.

"She's port keying right to the edge of Hogsmeade at noon," Ron's face was no longer equivalent to that of a tomato.

"That's great and all Ron, but I for one will meet you in Hogsmeade," said Hermione.

"Me too," I echoed, "But Harry, do you mind if I hold onto the map for a bit longer?"

"No Gin, not at all."

"Thanks Harry!"

"Sure."

I turned and hurried after Hermione. When we got to Hogsmeade, the first thing we did was go to Madame Malkin's to purchase dress robes. Hermione, after trying on several, finally settled on a gorgeous set of navy robes. I had picked out a dark green for myself, which Hermione said looked very good on me (A/N: minds out of the gutter, please! LOL). Unfortunately, I almost had to sit down when I saw the price-four hundred and fifty galleons!!!

"I knew it wasn't meant to be," I said dramatically, before my seriousness was lost in a fit of laughter, "But 450 galleons! Merlin, that's a lot of money!"

"Yes, it is," Hermione agreed, "but it was silk."

"True but...oh well. Come one, let's go to Honeyduke's! I need chocolate!" I exclaimed, frolicking ahead.

The smell of Honeyduke's was unbelievable. Any kind of candy you want is yours. Hermione went to the front counter to get bottomless bags. We got Flavor Pops-which change to any flavor you want; Mood Pops-which change flavor according to one's mood; all flavors of Wizard Taffy (which lasts twice as long as Muggle taffy according to Hermione); sugar quills, and of course, lots and lots of chocolate! As I was about to pay, I paused, thinking of the mysterious man in the iron mask and said, "I'd also like a bar of your Dark Honey Chocolate, please."

As we left, Hermione turned to me, "Gin, why'd you buy a bar of Honeyduke's best chocolate? It's terribly expensive."

She was right, of course, they charge twelve silver sickles for one bar of chocolate. I explained, "It's delicious, and I bought it on impulse." Which was true, I just left out who I bought it for.

She gave me 'the look.' But apart from that, the only thing she said was, "Okay Gin."

At quarter till noon, Hermione and I went to the Three Broomsticks for butterbeer. We each bought two bottles to go-one for now and one we shrank for later. The, with quick glances at one another while drinking our butterbeers, we headed to the edge of Hogsmeade to meet Harry, Ron, and Ron's 'friend.'

An hour later, it probed to be somewhat of a mistake. Ron's friend turned out to be a total bitch, and I didn't even want to think about spending a term with her...ugh. She was the exact opposite of what she'd been in her letters. Not able to stand her anymore, I left them and walked around Hogsmeade for a bit while enjoying a Mood Pop. It was sour to match my mood. There's only so many times one can walk up and down the streets of Hogsmeade in a day, so I stopped in at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes to say hi to Fred and George.

"Hey Gin!" Fred said, coming over to give me a hug, "George is in the back working on our latest. I've got to get back and help him for a bit," he winced as a loud popping sound was heard, "and help him, so go ahead and look around. You can have anything you want."

"Thanks bro!" I called after him. I looked at the poster to see what their latest project was and snorted with laughter. In big, bold print the poster said:

GOT PIGS?

Do you want your pigs to enjoy the luxury of MUDBATHS? WITHOUT having to worry about WORMS??? Then have we got a solution for you: Weasley's Wormless Mudbaths, exactly as the name implies.
 Release date: December 1 (just in time for the holidays!)
Free Trial Available: No. See sample starting Nov. 15th out back.
Pre-orderable: Yes.
Questions? Comments? Free money?! Contact:
Fred and George Weasley
c/o Weasley's Wizard Wheezes
Hogsmeade Village, England owl49
 Shaking my head at my brothers' antics, I moved over to where their Chocolate Drinks are. They have: Butterbeer Chocolates, Pumpkin Juice Chocolates, Firewhiskey Chocolates, and Merlin's Beard Chocolates. No, the Merlin's Beard Chocolates do NOT taste old man beard hair. Merlin's Beard is a type of drink. Supposedly, it's an original, but Charlie says it tastes an awful lot like Vodka. The nice thing about their chocolates is that, with the alcoholic ones, you can't get drunk because there's no actual alcohol in them. They only taste like the real thing. It was bloody genius of Fred and George. But you can get sick from too much chocolate.

Since I knew mum would KILL Fred and George if she found out I had either a Firewhiskey Chocolate or a Merlin's Beard Chocolate; I picked up one box each of Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice Chocolates. Little does mum know, but Fred and George sent me a box of Firewhiskey Chocolates and Merlin's Beard Chocolates last Christmas and for my birthday as well.

I hung around the shop for another ten minutes or so before I left, knowing I'd see them sooner or later. They have a habit of just showing up without warning. I didn't bother going back to the Three Broomsticks to wait for Harry, Hermione, Ron, and that bitch. So instead, I walked back to Hogwarts. Or rather, I started to walk, but then the nice day got the better of me and I wound up skipping back to Hogwarts. Rather silly of me, I know, but I was in a cheerful mood. So cheerful in fact, that I dropped everything I'd bought in my room and headed down towards the kitchen with nothing but my wand, the map, a shrunken bottle of butterbeer, and a bar of Dark Honey Chocolate.

Twenty minutes later found me stepping through the portrait hole. This time, however, I was prepared. Sure enough, as soon as I turned my attention to the bed, he was there. He wasn't sitting up, but he was awake, and his dark gray eyes were watching me. "Hello," his voice sounded sort of croaky, for lack of a better word, like it hadn't been used much.

"Hi," I replied softly.

He didn't ask me who I was but merely, "Why are you here?"

"I-I honestly don't know. I guess I just, I don't know, wanted to see..." I paused for a moment, before deciding to admit the truth, "I was awake the other night and saw people leading you, so I was curious."

"About the mask?"

"No, just in general," I stated truthfully.

"Well, now you know I guess. So what now, are you just going to leave?"

"No. I'd like to stay, if you don't mind."

"Not at all. I'd enjoy talking to someone."

Grinning, I pulled out the bar of chocolate and the small butterbeer. "Engorgio," and instantly a normal-sized butterbeer was in my hand.

"What is it?"

"Butterbeer and chocolate," I stated simply.

"I haven't had either one in a long time," he said, "Thank you."

I smiled and handed them to him, "You're very welcome."

"What's your name?" he asked me, while eating the chocolate.

"Virginia," I said softly.

"The chocolate is delicious. Thanks Virginia."

My name sounded...different coming from him. Probably because I'm used to everyone calling me Ginny. "What's your name?"

"Drac-Dray. Yeah, I'm Dray," he said.

A/N: It's kind of lame. I'm sorry. But please, please, PLEASE review! Let me know if you like this fic!!! (I only got ONE review for the last chapter, and I'd like to get more than that. Let me know if I'm doing a good job!)