Disclaimer: Not mine

Thanks to: My Beta Dom, and to my one reviewer for the last chapter, icanreadandcount. I thought Dean should get a mention.

***

To Russia

***

It was a beautiful memory, Ginny had to admit. It was just the sort of place she should have realised he'd bring up.

The summer before she was to start Hogwarts her father had taken her aside and asked if she wanted to go on a broomstick ride. She'd been thrilled, and had said yes immediately. They had left in the early afternoon, and had arrived at their destination near dusk.

It was a beach, and it seemed to Ginny to span forever. The sun was beginning to set and the sea and sky were a blur of reds and oranges.

Once there, he had sat down and motioned for her to sit next to him. He put his arm around her in a way that he hadn't done since she was a small child.

"I know it may seem that I pay more attention to your brothers than you," He had whispered, "But I just want you to know that you're more than your mother and I could have ever wished for. You've brought us so much happiness, and we'll miss you when you start Hogwarts."

They had sat on the beach until long after dark, and she fell asleep on the way back, instinctively holding tight onto her father to prevent falling off.

"I wish you wouldn't go through my memories." She sighed, looking at the good-looking boy next to her.

"I think this one is just charming." He replied.

"Are we going to go through the same thing we did last time? With you trying to convince me to give up my body so you can join You-Know-Who?" She asked.

"I have no intention of joining up with my older counter part." He said angrily. Ginny noticed how perfect the expression was, how his frown was only slightly deep, the corner of his lips only slightly turned down. Not too exaggerated. Of course it was an act. Tom would never let her see his true emotions. Every look, every passing thought, was carefully measured out so he looked human. Sometimes he would even let her see a look of surprise, which he would quickly cover up, hiding the weakness. It was all an act of course. She couldn't trust anything she saw on his face.

"And why are we deep in thought?" He asked, "Why bother hiding things from me? Just say what you think. If you don't I'll just check later on, after you've left."

"You want me to speak my mind?" Ginny laughed, not feeling at all amused, "You want me to tell the great Tom Riddle my deepest thoughts and feelings? No way. I don't care if you rummage through my mind later; I'm not going to make things any easier for you."

"So contrary." Tom's eyes twinkled with mischief, "I think you should be a little more helpful. Besides, I have another idea now."

"And what's that?" Ginny asked, slightly cautious.

"I no longer want your body. I don't think I'd enjoy being a girl, and the very thought of having to deal with your hair everyday is very off- putting." He explained, "No, I have a better idea. I want his body, the boy you're with at the moment."

"You want Malfoy's body!" She couldn't hide her surprise or revulsion.

"Don't look so disgusted Ginny, I thought you'd be happy!" He walked towards her, and she backed up immediately, "I thought you wanted me out of your body. It's a very good idea. You just tell that boy, Malfoy, that I'd be willing to enter his body; it really would be very good for all of us. I'd be willing to share power with him, and I wouldn't have to be in control all the time. Besides, he's not incredibly ugly. And it's not as if you like him at all, so why would you care?"

"I won't let you loose on anyone. I can't even begin to imagine the damage you'd do if you got free." Ginny, on a random impulse, kicked sand at the boy, her anger mounting, "I won't let you have him!"

"Really Ginny, calm down." He said, looking down at her. His look only made her angrier, and she kicked sand at him again, then picked up a clump and threw it at his face.

"You bastard! Get out of my head!" He grabbed hold of her, and she struggled wildly.

"Stop it, you stupid girl!" His face was growing red as he tried to hold her still, "Stop it!"

The scene was blurring, colours were running into each other, and her body was numbing.

***

Draco had led the un-responding Ginny to the Leaky Cauldron, which they could now enter without being recognized. The bartender had taken them to a backroom, giving Ginny a very odd look.

"My cousin has some difficulties." Draco had quickly explained, and the man had nodded and walked away.

Ten minutes later Ginny had started talking. At first he thought that she had woken up, but her eyes were still staring blankly ahead.

"I'm not going to make things any easier for you." "What's that?" "I won't let you have him!" "Get out of my head!"

The last one had been a scream, and Draco had quickly covered up her mouth. She fluttered her eyes slightly, and then focused her eyes. It seemed to take her a moment to realise who he was.

"Malfoy?" She asked, confusion in her voice.

"No, Nathaniel, remember?" He grinned.

"Oh yeah, sorry." She looked down at herself, and looked slightly sick, "I'm really tall."

"I thought you'd be happy you're not a midget anymore." Draco said, and was quite surprised when she looked at him, anger on her face.

"I wish everyone would stop telling me that I ought to be happy!" She exclaimed, "First Tom, and now you!"

"Huh? What did Riddle say you should be happy about?" He asked, worry in his voice. He vaguely remembered her shouting something about no letting him have some one.

"Um, nothing." She looked embarrassed, but didn't blush. Draco supposed it was because of the new body, as Ginny normally blushed when he so much as looked at her.

"Weasley, I'm the one saving you here, I think you should tell me whatever you've heard." He pointed out.

"You're probably only doing it because if you don't then your father has no reason to keep you alive, and you'll have no evidence to go to the Ministry with if I'm dead." She snapped, and Draco knew that she was actually correct, "Anyway, why would you want to know about the ravings of a psychopath?"

"You're not a psychopath, you're just a little crazy." He tried to reassure her, but the look on her face suggested that he'd said the wrong thing again.

"I meant Tom, not me." She said angrily.

"Yeah, I knew that." He muttered, "Whatever. What did Riddle say anyway?"

"He said that. that. he'd much rather have your body then mine, and that you'd probably be happy with the arrangement." The look in her eyes what almost heartbreaking. She was begging him to say that it wasn't true; that he wasn't evil enough to share his body was Riddle. On this he could reassure her, but not for the right reason. His objection with sharing a body with Riddle wouldn't be the harm the boy would do, it was the idea of having to share his power.

"Don't worry little Weasel, I'm not happy about the idea of having a psychotic wizard living in my head." She smiled, and Draco felt slightly bad, because now she thought that deep down he was a good person. In actual fact, the reason he hated his father and You-Know-Who so much was the thought of having to be ruled by them, and not because he was particularly opposed to their ideas.

"Well, I'll tell him that next time he drags me into the deepest darkest pits of my mind." She said, and tried to stand up. Apparently she had forgotten that her muscles were half wasted, and her sudden movement was too much. She collapsed to the floor, and Draco bolted to her side to help her up.

"You ok?" He asked, and she nodded. Carefully he pulled her up onto the chair she had been resting in, and brushed her hair out of her face. It was so different from the fiery curls he was used to, and the eyes he revealed were different too. Ginny's eyes were dark, and soft kindly, although he had never really noticed that until after he'd rescued her. The eyes that looked at him now were a light hazel colour, and where far colder than before. The coldness, he knew, suited him, but looked strange on her.

"We need to get changed into our new clothes." She said after a while, "These ones are really uncomfortable."

"Okay. How about I turn my back and you change, then you turn yours, and I'll get changed?" He asked.

"I don't trust you." She said bluntly, and he nodded, as it was a fair point.

"Alright, there's a bathroom through that door." He grinned as she glared at him.

"And why didn't you suggest that first?" She asked.

"Because I'm a young man, and there was a chance I could get you to get unchanged in the same room as me, so I went for it." He answered casually.

"There was never a chance." And with that she slipped through the door, grabbing her travelling trunk on the way.

He sighed as he pulled off the now too small robes and pulled on the new ones. With all honesty he had no idea what they were going to do next. He scraped his mind, looking for some memory to do with possessions. His father had once mentioned a man who lived in Russia who was an expert on them, so they could visit him. If that didn't work, there was the Centaurs of Greenpine Valley in France who were well disposed towards wizards and were known to use ancient magics in order to help them if given the right initiative. So, Russia first, then France, and if they couldn't find the help needed there, they could at least ask if they knew who could help.

"You decent?" Ginny asked, opening the door a crack.

"Never." he called back with a cocky grin, and she entered. She looked lovely in dark blue robes, but Draco couldn't help but feel that she would look lovelier in her true form. Unlike him, she had natural beauty, and their disguises didn't do her justice.

"What now?" She asked, running her hands over the fabrics that made up her robe. He reminded himself that she would be quite unused to such expensive material.

"Russia, my father once mentioned a man who lived there. He might be able to help." Draco explained, "We should go now, and find somewhere to stay tonight."

"Ok." She nodded, and the two of them left the room.

***

"The owl's returned Albus." McGonagall sighed unhappily as she sat down in front of the Headmaster.

"I suspected it would." Dumbledore nodded, "I suspect that Draco has some sort of item that prevents him from being located using magical methods, perhaps an Untraceable Shroud. I seem to recall someone telling me that Lucius had bought him one for his birthday."

"No, it was Vincent Crabbe who received the Untraceable Shroud. But you're right, Draco probably does have something of the sort." The woman peered at her companion over her spectacles, "What are we going to do?"

"Keep on trying. Severus has got in contact with several of his sources; one of them may have some news. But we cannot place all our efforts into finding the boy. The students return tonight, and this is still a school, and we must teach." A sad thought seemed to have occurred to the old man, and his eyes became dark and troubled, "I'm afraid we must take this to the Ministry, even though they do seem to be becoming more and more useless. We'll ask them to force a definite location from Lucius Malfoy, and as there isn't one, we will then ask them to declare him officially missing."

"Do you wish me to see to it Albus?" McGonagall asked.

"Please Minerva." Dumbledore nodded. After his colleague had left he stood up and walked to his window. The countryside seemed to span forever, and yet he knew that it was only the tiniest bit of land, "Where are you, my boy?"

***

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dean and Seamus shared a compartment on the way back to Hogwarts, and were surprised to see Crabbe and Goyle wandering up and down the corridors, apparently looking for Malfoy. Eventually they burst in and fixed their glares on Harry.

"Where is he?" Crabbe asked. He was the smarter of the two boys, but that wasn't saying much.

"Who?" Seamus asked, looking puzzled.

"Malfoy." Crabbe turned to look at the Irish boy.

"You don't even call him by his first name!" Ron said, astounded, "What sort of friends are you?"

"Shut up Weasel." The smaller boy growled. Goyle hadn't said a word since they burst in.

"We havn't seen your stupid friend." Hermione snapped, "This is very irresponsible of him, he's supposed to be a prefect."

"Shut up Mudblood!" Crabbe, to everyone's surprise pulled out a wand and pointed it and Hermione, whose mouth formed a tiny 'o' of surprise, "Who are you to judge him? You have no right!"

But before he could cast a spell, Harry, Ron, Dean and Seamus had pulled out their wands, and the intruders found themselves having two wands pointing at them each.

"I think you should leave." Harry said darkly. He cast a worried look at Ron, whose hand was shaking with anger as he glared at Crabbe. Harry knew that Ron and Hermione were now seeing each other, even though they had tried to keep it a secret. He couldn't trust Ron not to loose it and blast a hole in Crabbe as punishment for threatening Hermione.

"Now." Dean added, when the boys didn't move, "It's not our fault your friend abandoned you, so just go."

After a moment's hesitation, Goyle nodded and turned around, pulling Crabbe with him. The four boys relaxed, and Ron placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder to comfort her.

"So Malfoy's missing, eh?" Seamus said after a moment, "Wonder what that's about?"

"Maybe he's left." Harry said hopefully, "And he just couldn't be bothered to tell his goons."

"I think that that's quite possibly the best news I've heard this year." Ron said, squeezing Hermione's hand. She smiled at him, and Seamus started making kissing sounds to annoy them.

Malfoy had tormented Harry and his friends for over five years, and he couldn't think of anyone he disliked more, except Voldemort. He didn't want to get his hopes up, but it really was looking like the boy had left.

***

"And how may I help you?" Asked the man at the Floo Network. Although it cost nothing to enter Diagon Alley through the Floo Network, you did have to pay to use it to go somewhere else, and it could be very expensive.

"Two to Floo to Russia." Draco said, reaching for his moneybag.

"Russia! Well, that's a big place my boy, at least tell me what city you want to go to." The man had thin eyebrows and a reedy voice, but Ginny couldn't help but find him quite likable.

"Um, I'm not really sure." Said Draco, looking uncomfortable.

"You don't know the city?" Ginny's voice sounded unbelieving, "Ma- Nathaniel! Didn't you think about this before?"

"I'm sorry." He snapped haughtily, "I didn't even think about going to Russia till about half an hour ago! Um, let me think. We need to go and see a man called Ivan Noginski. He's our uncle, quite famous."

"Professor Noginski? Isn't he the Defence Against Dark Arts teacher at Poltrick?" The man asked.

"Yes, that's right." Every word coming from Draco's mouth at this point seemed to be a lie or a half-truth, "He used to travel a lot. We really need to go and see him, my father is ill."

"And you didn't know what city his school is in?" The man looked suspicious.

"Father told me, but I forgot."

"My dear cousin is very forgetful, I really wish Uncle had left the information with me." Ginny stepped forward, brushing an indignant Draco out of her way, "Of course I understand that you can't Floo us directly into Poltrick, we'd need to get all sorts of permission and such, but we really don't have enough time, as my uncle, Nathaniel's father, is very ill. So could you just get us as near as possible?"

"Didn't he just say that he's only just thought of going to Russia?" At this Ginny sighed and glared at Draco, who shrugged. Carefully she leant over and whispered something into the man's ear. He nodded, glanced strangely at Draco, and led them to a blazing fireplace, "The grate is 'Hematic Manor, Olcove, Russia'. It's a Hotel, if you wish to stay the night." He smiled at Ginny, glanced nervously at Draco, and walked away.

"What did you tell him about me?" Draco asked.

"Oh, nothing." Ginny waved the question away.

"No, you're lying. Tell me!" He pleaded.

"Fine, I just told him that you were slightly delusional." She threw the Floo Powder into the fire, stepped in and shouted 'Hematic Manor, Olcove, Russia!' before he could even respond.

"Wha-? Hey!" He shouted indignantly, quickly following her.

***

Harry and his friends were grateful when they arrived in the Great hall. It had been a cold night, and the warmth of the castle was welcomed. They took their seats at the Gryffindor table, and looked up at the Staff table to try and catch Hagrid's eye. He waved happily at them, but Harry's eye was caught by Dumbledore and McGonagall. They were sat next to each other; their heads bent low in conversation and worried looks on their faces. Finally Dumbledore gave a sharp nod, and they turned towards their students.

"For those of you who went home this holiday, welcome back." Dumbledore said, standing up. But although his words were cheerful, he looked troubled, and his voice was low and sombre.

Oh God, please don't let there have been another attack, prayed Harry, and from the looks on Ron and Hermione's faces, they were thinking the same thing.

"I have some troubling news, something that may distress some of you." The Headmaster continued, "And although it has not been confirmed by the Ministry, it is obvious to my colleagues and I. Many of you know, and are friends with Draco Malfoy, and I'm sorry to say that he has gone missing. If any of you have any ideas as to where he might be, please inform us immediately. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can owl us using the school owls. I think that is all? You may now eat."

The food filled up the table, and many people began eating immediately, but not Harry, Ron and Hermione. They glanced at each other, and then turned to look at the Slytherin table.

Several Slytherins looked stunned, and Pansy Parkinson looked near tears. Ron nudged Harry and Hermione, and indicated to the pretty dark haired girl who sat next to Crabbe.

"That's Blaise Zabini." Hermione whispered. Harry could see immediately why Ron had pointed her out. She was biting her bottom lip, also looking like she was about to cry. But there was something else. She didn't look sad, she looked terrified. And it really didn't look like she was scared for Malfoy. Later on that night Ron described her expression perfectly. It was after dinner, and the three friends were sitting in the Gryffindor common room.

"It looked like she had been caught doing something really bad, and was about to be punished." He said, a worried expression on his face, "I reckon she knows what's happened to Malfoy."

"What do you thinks happened to him?" Hermione asked them.

"I don't know." Harry admitted, and then clenched his teeth angrily, "I was so pleased at the thought that he'd left, and now I'm bloody well worried about him!"

"I'm not." Ron said, leaning back, "That git deserves what he gets."

"But what if his father is going to sacrifice him, or something horrible like that?" Hermione asked, tears filling her eyes, "I know he's a horrible person, but does he really deserve that?"

"You want to find out, don't you?" Ron said, amazed, "After all the horrible thing's he's done to us, you still want to find out what's happened, and maybe help him. You're such a softie, such a.girl."

"Humph, what do you think Harry?" Hermione turned to her other friend.

"I reckon. we should at least try." He decided.

"You're all bloody mad!" Ron exclaimed, but they both knew that he would help.

***

When they arrived at Hematic Manor, they were greeted by a small attractive young woman in her early twenties. A rictus smile appeared on her face as soon as she saw the size of Malfoy's moneybag, and then spoke in very fast Russian. Ginny looked at Draco, panic on her face, but he just smiled, and spoke back, in what sounded to Ginny like fluent Russian.

She asked him.

He said,

She turned to Ginny

Ginny's eyes opened wide and she looked terrified, "What did she say Malfoy?"

"She asked to take your cloak." He explained

She took the cloak that Ginny had now passed her, and called for some assistance. Two young men came and took their cases, looking at the woman for instructions, She indicated to Draco and Ginny to follow her, which they did.

She led them to a desk, where she pulled out a large book, and flicked it open to the right page,

Draco said, pulling out his moneybag.

The young woman asked.

He asked.

She said smiling. Draco struggled to hide his surprise, and the woman laughed,

He said,

After the money was exchanged, he and Ginny were handed a key and were led up to their room.

"What were you talking about?" Ginny asked.

"I was asking about Noginski, and how we could see him." Draco explained, "He's holding a lecture tomorrow, and we're going. Hopefully we can catch him after he's done."

"That woman was flirting with you." She said after a while, frowning slightly.

"Were you jealous?" He asked, a leering grin on his lips.

"It's not that, it's just that she's twenty something, and even in your disguise you still only look seventeen at most." She shrugged, "It was just disgusting, that's all."

"I think you were jealous." Draco maintained. As she was about to reply, the man who was leading them to their room coughed, and indicated to the door. Draco unlocked it, and heard Ginny gasp behind him when he opened the door.

The room was huge, and ornately decorated. It had two King-size double beds, a seating area with several large comfortable looking chairs, and a quite large table with candles lit on it. A door on the right led to what Draco supposed would be the bathroom. He'd need to investigate that further.

"Malfoy, look at this room! How can we afford it?" She looked at him sharply, "Did you ask for this room?"

"What? No, of course not, it was the only one they had left." He lied quickly, and she seemed to accept that.

"It's so beautiful." She whispered, sitting down on one of the beds. Draco nodded at the man, telling him to leave, and quickly put silencing spells all over the room, "That's a bit paranoid." Ginny said when she realised what he was doing.

"I'd rather be paranoid then dead." He replied, "But now that that's done, we get to go on to the fun part of staying in hotels."

"What's that?" She asked.

"Room service." He said happily.

***