Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize as belonging to someone else. ;-)
A/N: There's an appearance of Peeves in this chapter. Hopefully I did him justice, but I don't think I did too well. But I tried my darnedest! I just wanted you all to know.
Ginny, Don't be a Hero
"Do you really think this wise, Lucius?" Narcissa was asking in a hushed voice.
"Of course, my dear. That boy has got to be taught a lesson! Another day up here and he'll be ready. I've sent word to Voldemort. He'll be arriving tomorrow night."
Draco cracked open an eye just in time to see his mother's head disappear down the trap door, quickly followed by Lucius. As soon as the door was shut, Draco sat up and stretched. It had been two weeks since he had regained consciousness and discovered that he had been kidnapped. In that time he had gotten no more information out of Jerry, "the gofer." It was quite a shock to be awakened in the middle of the night by his own parents! Obviously they had not known he was awake or he was certain he would have been hit with a memory charm.
As Draco laid back down on the hard floor, pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. He couldn't believe that he hadn't figured it out by now!
His father was furious that he refused to join Voldemort and; no doubt, Lucius was still smarting from Draco's relationship with Ginny. Add his father's demented scheming to the scenario and you had the perfect recipe that ended with Draco kidnapped by his own father and stuffed in his own attic!
"Naturally, my father would see my unwillingness as merely an obstacle to be knocked down. Three weeks in this stuffy place with hardly any food would be a perfect solution to weaken my mind in order to coerce me into receiving the dark mark," he mumbled to himself. "Probably by placing an enticing plate of food before me," he added as his stomach groaned.
He winced from the hunger pains and sat up once again. After the first day he had been conscious Draco had received no more of the delicious hot food from his father's table. Rather, he was fed just enough bland food and tepid water to keep him alive. He was weak in both mind and body and-had he not just realized what was going on- his father's plan may have worked. Being ignorant until he was sitting before a plate heaped high with his favorite foods would have been catastrophic.
A smile flickered across Draco's face. His father had just ruined his own plan! Draco had an entire day to get prepared and think of reasons why he would rather starve than become a death eater. He mentally began to make a list:
I simply don't want to be a death eater. I don't believe in their methods. They're too "all about blood and carnage."
What would Ginny say? I could try and explain that I simply needed to get out of here and healthy again. That it was the only way. But . . .
It's not like it matters what Ginny would say because becoming a death eater would obliterate any chances I have of being able to so much as speak to her again.
This train of thought continued until sleep overtook him once again.
Ginny looked up and down the corridor before approaching the door and peeking through the small window that adorned it. She had spent the last week puzzling over Professor Dumbledore's elusive behavior concerning Draco's disappearance. Every time she had approached him and asked if he had found anything, the headmaster would simply smile at her and reassure her that they would find Mr. Malfoy soon.
She was beginning to doubt that Dumbledore was really that concerned about finding Draco. He hadn't even explained to the student body why Draco Malfoy was no longer around! Hadn't even presented a false tale to put them at ease! Instead, he let rumors run rampant concerning the whereabouts of the Slytherin.
The idea had to come to her three days ago when she had overheard Professor McGonagall informing Professor Flitwick of an important staff meeting they would be holding on Friday at five o'clock. Certain that if Draco was not the subject of this meeting he would most likely be mentioned, Ginny immediately owled the twins requesting one of their latest inventions: Snooping Snaps. It was 4:30 on Friday and they had arrived only an hour before. Ginny had immediately tried them out by leaving one of the ginger snaps under a chair in the common room (she didn't want anyone to eat it!), returning to her dormitory, and placing the receiver in her ear. She had heard everything within ten feet of the chair loud and clear.
Satisfied that the room was empty, Ginny quickly ducked into the staff lounge and set a snap under one of the couches. Hastily returning to the door, she peeked into the corridor before fully emerging from the room. As she turned towards Gryffindor common room, she heard the unpleasant sound of a gleeful poltergeist bounding down the hallway.
"Well! If it isn't the icklest Weasley!" Peeves squealed in delight, "Nosing around the staff lounge? I should tell the headmaster, I should!"
Ginny smiled calmly and mentally rolled her eyes at the nuisance. It would do no good to plead with him, so she tried a different tactic. "Did you know that Earl Kinsley stole a really big quidditch trophy from the trophy room? And Filch blamed you." Ginny lied. "You were nearly kicked out of the castle, did you know that?" She shook her head sympathetically.
Peeve was staring at her with a puzzled look. This was obviously not the reaction he had been expecting-and hoping-for. "Yes, you're on probation now," Ginny embellished, "Filch was suppose to tell you, but of course he didn't. He didn't want you to know because if you did he figured you would behave until the probation was lifted. He's very determined to have you thrown out, you know. I'm sure he's just waiting for you to screw up one more time so that he can bid you good riddance."
Peeves began to splutter. "They can't do that! I didn't even steal the blasted thing!" he exclaimed, completely forgetting that he had just witnessed Ginny sneaking around the staff lounge. Without another word, he zoomed down the corridor. No doubt in search of a chance to unmask the real wrongdoer on the matter.
Smiling to herself, Ginny returned to her dormitory and proceeded to work on her homework. At five o' clock she had just placed the receiver in her ear when Chloe entered the room.
"Ginny!" she exclaimed, "Hurry up! We're going to be late for dinner!"
"Shh Chloe!" Ginny hissed as she heard the sound of a door opening in her ear.
"I just had the most bizarre experience, headmaster," Professor McGonagall was saying. "I was on my way here when Peeves comes tearing down the corridor screaming that he's been framed!"
"Framed?" Dumbledore's voice chuckled across the earpiece, "That's impossible. There are no pictures of him in the castle."
Ginny stifled a giggle at this remark and continued to pretend to do homework for Chloe's benefit.
"What are you laughing at, Gin?" Chloe asked.
"Oh nothing," Ginny replied, wishing that Chloe would go away. "You know, I've got a ton of homework to do tonight. So maybe you could bring me something from dinner?" she flashed her friend a hopeful smile.
Chloe gave her an odd look before nodding. "All right, I'll bring something back."
"Thanks!" Ginny replied a little too enthusiastically. She had turned her attention back to the staff lounge before Chloe had even left the room.
"The thing is . . . I checked all the school records and there is no Earl Kinsley attending this school. And when I checked the trophy room, nothing was missing!"
"Yes, well, Peeves has always been one to make up stories," came Professor Snape's voice. He had apparently arrived while she had been getting rid of Chloe. "He was probably just distracting you while he trashed your classroom."
McGonagall must have tried to go check on her classroom, for the next thing Ginny heard was: "Now Minerva, sit down. I'm sure your classroom is fine, and if it isn't . . . well, whether you check on it now or later, the damage will still be there. Right now we have a more important matter to deal with."
"You're right, Albus," McGonagall sighed.
"I'm assuming we're here to discuss the whereabouts of Draco Malfoy?" asked Professor Flitwick.
"That's correct," the headmaster sighed wearily. "As you all know, last week I interviewed Ginny Weasley. Unknowingly, she gave me some valuable information. You see, as it turns out, Draco dumped Ginny on account that his father threatened that something terrible would happen if he continued to date her. Well, Draco assumed that Lucius was threatening Ginny, but . . ." The headmaster let the sentence drop off.
Ginny felt a slight shiver go down her back at the mention of that name.
"Are you suggesting that Lucius was threatening Draco himself and not Miss Weasley?" Snape asked incredulously.
"But Draco's his son!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed.
"You think that matters to one such as Lucius Malfoy." McGonagall stated quietly.
"What I'm suggesting, Severus," Dumbledore answered, ignoring the others' comments, " is that Lucius has two motives for being the one behind the disappearance. Draco is probably at the Malfoy Manor this very moment."
All pretenses of doing homework as she listened were forgotten. Ginny rose from her bed and moved to the window. Lucius Malfoy had kidnapped his own son? That was low, even for Mr. Malfoy.
"Two?!" McGonagall was exclaiming, "I'm afraid you've lost us, Albus. You've only mentioned one." Ginny heard murmurs of assent in response to the comment.
"I did a little digging and found out from various contacts that Draco recently informed his father that he has no intention of joining Voldemort. Apparently, Mr. Malfoy threatened him. Not only that, but when I informed the Malfoys of their son's disappearance they didn't even try to act worried," Dumbledore explained.
"So we have two motives and a possible location. Now what?" Snape asked.
"Now we decide who is going to keep an eye on Miss Weasley until Lucius is in Azkaban."
"Ginny?" McGonagall asked, "Why would someone need to keep an eye on her?"
"Because Lucius may very well threaten Ginny again in order to get Draco to join the death eaters."
Ginny removed the receiver from her ear and threw it across the room. She didn't want to hear anymore. Didn't need to hear anymore. Returning to her bed, she tried to focus on homework, but all she could think about was that Draco very well might end up a death eater and it would be her fault.
I can't just sit here and let the teachers hover over me while Draco is in danger. Even if he becomes a death eater, his loyalties will lie elsewhere. And You-Know-Who knows that. I've got to try and save him before it's too late. If it isn't already.
She ignored that last thought and hurried to get her Firebolt.
Draco looked up and anxiously watched as the trap door was slowly opened. He let out the breath he had been holding when he saw that it was just Jerry bringing him dinner.
"There ya go," Jerry said, the excitement in his voice was obvious. "Eat quick. Your fa . . . . the boss wants you cleaned up and in the library within the hour."
Draco felt his stomach drop. So Voldemort had come after all. Draco had been hoping that somehow he had misheard his father, but apparently he wasn't that lucky. His father always met Voldemort in the library. Draco figured it was because it had no windows and was the center of the secret passageways and tunnels that honeycombed the Malfoy house. Should the ministry show up during one of his visits, it was a simple matter of smuggling the dark lord into one of the many tunnels. The ministry only knew of two passageways and, should they ever find out about the others, Voldemort would be long gone before they figured out which one he had taken.
Sighing heavily, Draco glanced down at his plate and felt his jaw drop. Before him was a plate heaped high with hot delicious food and a large goblet of pumpkin juice to go with it! What did this mean? How were they going to tempt him with food by allowing him to eat it with no strings attached?
Thoroughly confused, Draco took a small bite of the potatoes and let them melt in his mouth. He could only hope the food was untouched by magic, because he would rather risk the chance of veritaserum than eat one more crust of moldy bread.
Moments after he had wiped the plate clean with his tongue, Jerry popped up and took the plate and goblet. He motioned with his head.
"C'mon, I'm to take ya to yer room to clean up and change into decent robes."
Draco nearly fell off the ladder as he climbed down. Spending three weeks cramped up in the attic with meager food and water had left him weak and barely able to stand on his feet. Jerry took him by the arm and half dragged him through the vast mansion. It felt like days had gone by before Draco was standing before the door to his bedroom.
"D'ya think you can bathe and dress yourself or shall I send an elf to help ya?"
"I'll be fine," Draco replied.
"Alright then, I'll be standing out here and there're guards below the windows as well. So know funny business!" Jerry wagged a finger in his face before slamming the door shut.
Turning, Draco was pleased to see steam coming from his personal bathroom. A nice hot bath would be just the thing to relax his aching muscles.
He took his time bathing and washing his hair and was just buttoning his shirt when Lucius barged into the room.
"Are you quite ready, Draco?" he demanded.
Not even bothering to look surprised at seeing his father, Draco pulled on his robe.
"No, but I assume it doesn't matter," he replied softly.
Ginny's hand rose and wiped at her sleep-deprived eyes. She had been flying for nearly twenty-four hours with only a brief stop at the Leaky Cauldron that morning for a nap and breakfast. Luckily, Tom had been ill and the man running the place for him didn't know her. Otherwise she would have been on the first train back to Hogwarts.
It had been disgustingly easy to sneak out of Hogwarts. She had just put on her cloak when Chloe had entered the dormitory carrying a plate of food. Her friend had eyed her quizzically.
"I thought I'd go down to the pitch and fly for a bit," she had said, indicating the broom in her hand.
"What about your homework?" Chloe had asked, setting the plate on Ginny's trunk.
"Oh, it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would. But thanks for bringing me dinner. I'm starving!" She hadn't wanted to raise Chloe's suspicions any higher and so she had set down her broom, sat on her bed, and proceeded to wolf down the food.
"Thanks!" she had said and bolted from the room before Chloe could make a comment.
In the common room she had run into Harry who-still hoping that her feelings for him would return-offered to go flying with her. Luckily, Ron and Hermione had chosen that moment to have their daily argument and so Ginny had snuck out while Harry-and the rest of the Gryffindors-watched in fascination.
After that it had been a cakewalk. She had thought to retrieve her earpiece before leaving the dormitory and had been pleased to hear the staff meeting still going on. She had walked out of the castle and towards the pitch. She flew around for a while in case anyone was watching and then disappeared into the sunset.
And so here she was: bloodshot eyes, messy ponytail, wrinkled robes, and about ready to fall off her broom. Just then she saw it. The Malfoy Mansion gleamed from a nearby hilltop like a beacon. She wasn't sure what type of beacon, but it was a beacon nonetheless.
She landed just outside the grounds and skirted them until she came across a statue of one of the first Malfoys. She had forgotten his name, but remembered that -in their many conversations concerning the mysteries of the estate- Draco had told her you could enter the library through a secret passageway that opened by pushing down on the right thumb of the only statue on the edge of the grounds.
Ginny did so and watched as the statue slid to the right revealing a hole in the ground. She peered in and saw a staircase leading into the passageway. Checking behind her to see if she was being watched, she started down the stairs and heard the statue slide back into place just as she reached the bottom.
"Lumos" she whispered as the darkness enveloped her. The tip of her wand immediately lit up and Ginny moved forward.
It must have been an hour before Ginny arrived at another set of stairs. She assumed that these led up to the library and took the steps two at a time. At the top was a bookshelf. Obviously that was what concealed the passageway on this side. Draco had never mentioned it or how to open it and so she began to quietly pull down books. Hopefully she wouldn't attract anyone's attention.
Her search for a way to open the shelf was forgotten when she realized that there were voices coming from the library.
"Draco, I don't think you realize how truly liberating becoming a death eater really is," Narcissa was saying. Draco's face remained blank and he gave no sign that this was having any affect on him, although it definitely was. Being surrounded by a tight ring of death eaters with his parents and Lord Voldemort directly in front of him was rather unnerving to say the least.
"That's enough Narcissa," Lucius interrupted, clearly at the end of his rope. "We'll simply have to try another form of persuasion. Son," he said, kneeling in front of Draco so as to be at eye level with him, "if you don't join us there will be consequences. Ones which, I'm sure, will scare Ginny Weasley to death."
All efforts at appearing unmoved fled with that comment. Draco's eyes widened and he stared at his father as he comprehended the threat. How could he have been so stupid? His father wasn't so daft as to think that good food was all it would take to convince Draco. He would have to threaten something-or someone- Draco truly cared about. I'll just act like I don't care. That ought to make them reconsider their tactics.
Draco realized his mistake a second too late. In those moments he had spent pondering his father's strategy, his eyes had given away his true feelings. And Lucius was looking right into his eyes.
"Join me, Draco," Voldemort chose this moment to intervene. "Not only will you save your little friend, but I'm sure you'll enjoy assisting in my current campaign," an evil smile crept across his snake-like face.
Draco looked into the red eyes. What was he talking about? What was his "current campaign?"
"Help me get my revenge! Help me kill Potter!" Voldemort exclaimed.
Ah, now it makes sense. They'll kill Ginny and I'll miss my chance at getting rid of Potter. Really, I may loathe him, but that doesn't mean I want him dead! Still, there is Ginny to consider . . .
"Yes Draco!" Narcissa added, a manic look in her eye. "We're going to get him on the next Hogsmeade weekend! You simply must be there. Imagine, after all these years, you can finally be rid of him."
"That's enough Narcissa!" Lucius snapped, "You shouldn't tell the boy too much. After all, he hasn't even agreed to join us yet." He turned towards his son, "You wouldn't want anything to happen to the girl, would you?"
"No! Draco, no!" A muffled voice cried from behind a bookshelf. Looking between two death eaters, Draco saw that it was missing quite a few books. Just then, whoever was back there pulled the correct book and the shelf swung open. Out stumbled a frazzled and sobbing Ginny Weasley. In one hand she dragged her broom while the other pointed a very unsteady wand in Voldemort's direction..
"Forget about me Draco!" she cried through her tears, "I'm not worth becoming a death eater! I'd rather die than see you do it."
"Gin . . ." he began but was quickly interrupted by Voldemort.
"Stupid girl!" he exclaimed, "Obviously you have learned nothing in the last two times you have dealt with me. Crucio!"
"Ginny!" Draco screamed as her body writhed on the floor. However, his voice was drowned out by the sound of several voices shouting, "Stupefy!" Draco crumpled to the floor as ministry of magic wizards swarmed into the room.
A/N: Haha! Another cliffy! I'm so evil. But don't worry, no more cliffies from now on. Next chapter SHOULD be the FINAL chapter of this lovely, lovely story. Then I'm hoping to find the time to go back through Getting to Know You and betterfy it.
A/N2: Well, I didn't give much time for a lot of reviewers before I posted this. Which makes my job a whole heck of a lot easier! :-) I took way too long putting up chapter 16 and so there are way too many reviews to go through. Therefore I'm just going to thank the three that got their reviews in after I posted chapter 16 and before I posted this:
Lilmelon: Thanks for reviewing. I hope you like the rest of the story.
Notdapunkprincess: thanks for reviewing.
Quidditchcaptain14: Thanks for reviewing!