DarkFaerieyMagick: Lol, yes, I am pretty excited to write this next chapter! I surprised you all with that little sneak peak, didn't I? You all thought Narccissia was DEAD!!! AHAHAHAHA!!!

Pixie-Poison: I'll hold you to that promise! I hate soppy Draco's who are all like "Oh Ginny! I love you so, so much!!! " Ugh…gross…lol enjoy this next chapter!

Ami-ImaTomLOVER: yes, it is sad…all the more reason to hate Lucius though!

Emily: Thanks for your support!

beckysue2: Wow, #4? Congrats! When I have children, I wan't 2 girls…don't laugh, but I want to name them Summer, and Rain…yes, my kids are defiantly going to get picked on!

Blond Chicky: Well, good news! Layb is getting better! Thank you for thinking about him for me in this rough time. Your support was greatly appreciated!

Articthunder: My GOD Rina! Ur such a geek! Lol, stop making fun of me!

Violets-in-Spring: Mwahahaha!!! Lol, enjoy this chapter then!

Loyal Rose: Aww! That's so sweet! Do you still have that puppy? I hope so…well, I'm not so sure what Layb has, it is a long medical name, something like, Muskatofuites…only not, cuz that ord I just worte has 'Tofu" at the end…what it does is it slows down his blood stream and weakens his heart, so it is hard for him to move. But, there is a cure!!! He had been on the medication for two weeks now and we are finaly starting to see an improvement, he still can't walk, but he is eating again, and his eyes seem so much more alive! I could almost dance for joy! He is not going to die! As soon as it is safe for him, I am going to bring him out side and we will run together to his pack! I hang out with the wolves a lot, except when their hunting…that is dangerous even for me, and they trust me! The blood lust is not something you should mess with…especiall the only thing protecting your inner organs is a thin layer of skin. I just can't wait for Layb to get better! Thank you so much for your support! I really needed it!

Ashen

MissyNoGrace: lol, I am glad you like fluffy fluff! Lol, I hope you are okay! Are you still sick?

Annabeave: lol, all in good time my friend, all in good time.

pamie884: lol, yup, soon we will find out what the presents are, no worries!!! Yes, it is sad about Draco! Read and find out more!!!

THIS CHAPTER IS DETICATED TO LOYAL ROSE, FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE TO SUPORT ME WITH HER KIND WORDS. THANK YOU!!!

An Emerald Ring

Chapter 16: Frostbite and Button

Ginny set the candle down next to her book. It was somewhere around midnight, and her parents had finally gone to bed. She looked fondly around her room, she had missed it at Hogwarts. It was the lightest of blue with graceful fairies painted in brilliant colours. They actually flew around, and spoke to her when she was lonely. Minilla, A small fairy dressed in a soft purple dress sat on one of the painted flowers next to her desk.

"You should be in bed Ginevra! It is almost midnight!" The tiny fairy whispered with her sweet little voice. Ginny grinned at her.

"Nuh-uh, it's Saturday! I never sleep on Saturday nights, you know that..." She turned back to her book. The potion she was making up called for one last ingredient, 'Mugwort'. She pulled some out of her trunk and crept over to her fire place, where the cauldron lay, steaming. She dumped it in and watched with satisfaction as the dark blue liquid turned silky silver. She then put out the fire and left it to cool. It was a difficult potion to brew, and she only made it on special occasions. It was an energy potion, so even if she stayed up all night, all she had to do was drink that in the morning, and have enough energy to go through the rest of the day. Satisfied with her work, Ginny crept down the hall, her feet making no sound, her eyes piercing cat-like, through the darkness. Finally, she reached the back door. Then she was gone, running silently as if on wings. The moon's thin crescent sent its heavenly light onto earth, bathing Ginny's skin in its sweet bliss. Soon, Ginny stopped. She was standing almost knee deep in the snow. Wearing nothing but socks, and a thin green nightdress with thin straps for sleeves. She suddenly felt the peace of the moon vanish as it slid behind a cloud, and now, nothing but the frosty wind accompanied her. Cutting at her soft skin. Her heart hurt, and she suddenly longed for someone to hold her, shelter her from the cold…but there was no one. She was all alone. Ginny stood there for nearly thirty minutes, letting the cold winter's fury attack her, let it numb her to all. Finally, when she was sure she was going to get frostbite, she returned to the house.

Draco walked into the cold stone mansion. There was no sound, no smell, no colour. Only grey white and black. For the longest time, this had been his home…but now…not it felt like prison. He gave his cloak and trunk to a near by house elf, and then walked towards the West Wing Library. There were seven libraries through out the house. Two on each of the floors, except the fourth. There was only one on the top floor…Draco had never been in that one…and never wanted to be. That one was dangerous. The books in there could do unimaginable things to the people that touched them. His father had once had one in that library that held Voldemort as his sixteen-year-old self…yes, that place was dangerous. He walked into the library. It was one of his favourite rooms in the house. The shelves were all mahogany red, almost every book was a different colour. There 2 were brown armchairs. The leather soft and worn. The rug was scarlet and amber, soft and fuzzy, even through his black leather shoes. There was a woman sitting in one of the chairs, in front of the huge fireplace, where a fire was roaring merrily, making the room warm and comforting. The woman turned to look at him as he came in. She was a pretty woman, her skin smooth, her hair a beautiful golden blond…like honey. Draco looked at the woman solemnly. Her eyes were so sharp and alive, they sparkled insanely and she smiled at him. He tried to smile back, but he found there was a lump in his throat.

"Do I know you?" She asked him. Draco almost choked on the lump in his throat, wishing he knew how to cry so it would go away.

"You used to," He told her, his voice cracking. He hugged her to him. he felt like he was going to die, his throat hurt so much. If only he could just cry!

"I did?"

"Yes, you used to love me Mother...but then, you husband betrayed you...and now you don't even recognise your own son..."

Narccissia laughed. It was a beautiful laugh, that reminded him of Ginny, it tinkled like bells through the library.

"I have a husband? He must be terribly handsome. I hope he comes for me soon. This horrible man comes and says awful things to me…yes, I would like to leave soon."

Draco's heart was pounding so hard in his chest, that he wished he was dead. He felt like he was suffocating…the lump in his throat almost making it impossible to breath…but yet, not a tear came to his eyes…he had just…forgotten how to cry.

"Trust me mother," he whispered into her ear, holding her even closer, "If I could, I would take you away…forever. But we must wait, until the time is-"

"Draco?" Draco jumped, letting go of his mother and turning abruptly to the door. His Father stood, watching him. And elegant sight, his father was. Dressed in black and silver. His thin bond hair falling down his back in perfectly straight wisps. Draco suppressed the immediate urge to kill his Father, and stood still, every muscle tense, his mind whizzing. Had his Father discovered him? Did he know the truth? Did he know that Draco was free from his mind control?

"What are you doing?" He asked suspiciously.

"Speaking to my mother." Draco carefully kept all emotion from his voice, he stood straight and tall, with all the air of a proper Malfoy. This was all made thrice difficult because his Mother was now on the floor, whimpering in fear at the sight of Lucius.

His Father seemed to accept this answer and nodded.

"Very well. Draco, Avery has come with news. You are to receive the Dark Mark in a few months. The Dark lord feels that you are ready, I will have something appropriate bought for you, and you are to be on your best behaviour, or you will be killed. Also, it is not mandatory, but I would prefer if you had your wife chosen by that time. The Parkinson's girl would make a very appropriate wife." Draco almost threw up. The Dark Mark? Over his dead body…

"Yes Father." He said all emotions kept back, undetected.

Lucius nodded. "Dismissed." Draco left the library, and his Mother. He heard Lucius leave through the opposite end of the library, his mother still on the ground. Draco proceeded up to his room and collapsed onto his bed. He observed his surroundings. He had no particular fondness for this room, and rarely spent time in it. He only came here when he was tired, or when he wanted privacy. This is the only place he could be where Lucius must knock before entering. The ceiling, walls, and floor were all made of Grey stone. His four-poster bed was painted black and was hung with green and silver hangings. He had a fireplace, a desk, and a dresser, all painted black, with the exception of the fire place. He also had a small window, mostly to let his owl, Kiathran, in and out. It was covered with black-out curtains otherwise. At the moment, his trunk was sitting neatly under the window, with Kiathran's cage on top of it, and Ginny's gift. It was a moment before he realised he was shaking; he quickly rid himself of the nuisance and called for his personal house elf, Button.

Button threw herself at his feet and kissed the hem of his robes.

"What can Button do for Master Draco?" She squeaked, still clutching at his leg lovingly.

He gently shook her off and ordered her to stand up straight.

"Listen Button. I have a very special job for you, do you understand?" Button smiled at him and picked at her tea cosy.

"Anything sir! Anything for you!"

"Alright. This is a direct order from your primary owner. Nobody, I mean nobody, not Lucius, not Bellatrix, not anybody, will know about this. You will die before you let these instructions escape your lips."

"Button will sir! Button will keep her mouth sealed, she will!"

"Good. Now, see that there?" Draco pointed to Ginny's gift. Button nodded enthusiastically. "At precisely, twelve thirty tonight, you will be up here in my room, you will then take that parcel with you to a little place called 'The Burrow'. You are then going to find that family's Christmas tree and put it with the other presents. You will then come back, silent as a mouse, and go to bed. Understood?" Button nodded again.

"And you will speak of this to nobody." Draco added again, just to be safe.

"No sir, Button will speak of this to no one!" The little elf assured him, and Draco nodded, satisfied. The last thing Draco needed was his Father finding out he had feelings for the Weaselette. Christmas was in two days; he just hoped nothing went wrong.

A/N Soooo, did you like it? Huh? Huh? How is Draco going to escape the Dark Mark? Will Ginny like her present? Will Button get caught? And what about to Draco's Mother? Answers to some of these burning questions next time on 'An Emerald Ring'!

Ashen

Layb is getting BETTER!!!!

Sneek Peek!!! (not so sad this time!)

Ginny walked back into the huse, bits of ice stuck to her bare legs, she melted it off with her wand, then froze. Something was in her family room. She held her breath and crept forwards. "Who would break into their house? They had nothing good to take! Fear clawed at her heart as she crept closer -