Disclaimer: Not mine

A.N.: Please don't kill me for not making Draco gorgeous. That comes later, promise!

A.N.2: When looking through my chapters on FF.net I noticed that some bits of text were missing. If anything confuses you e-mail me on Im_Amazed@Hotmail.com, and if it's because of missing text I'll e-mail you the chapter. No one's complained, but I was still upset when I found out.

***

Draco paced up and down outside the room Ginny had locked herself in, occasionally glaring at Noginski.

"She's been in there for an hour, we should go see her." The boy said, making for the door.

"I would not suggest it." The professor said quickly "Someone terrible must have happened, and we should give her some time."

"Yeah, and I want to know what happened!" He shouted, and realised that Ginny could probably hear him. Sure enough, a moment later the door opened slightly, and Ginny peered outside, her eyes swollen.

"Then I guess you better come inside." She said, opening the door even wider.

"You didn't kill him." Draco said, walking inside. The room turned out to be a classroom, and he sat on one of the desk.

"Obviously." Ginny replied, sitting near him.

"Why not?" He asked.

"Because I love him, sort of." She said, looking away.

"You what?" Draco exclaimed, looking horrified. Noginski looked surprised, but said nothing.

"I love him, it's really not that surprising." Ginny told him, "I've loved him since I first met him, when I wrote in that stupid diary. I thought maybe that I'd got over him, but I haven't. So when I pointed my wand at him, I couldn't do it."

"That's quite understandable my dear, no one could expect you to kill someone you love." Noginski said, patting her shoulder, "I just wish I could think of another way."

"You think I'm weak, don't you?" She asked Draco, who was still looking horrified. He shook his head.

"I don't know. I've never loved anyone, so I don't know what it does to you." He explained.

"Not anyone, not even your family?" Ginny asked.

"Nope." He told her, and her face filled with pity, "Oh, don't look at me like that. It's really not that big a deal. My father is psychotic, and my mother is an airhead."

"Narcissa Malfoy, an airhead!" Noginski exclaimed, "Either your mother has changed a lot, or you don't know her very well. Narcissa was always sharp witted and passionate. Airhead is an unthinkable term for her."

"I think we're straying from the issue here." Draco said, indication to Ginny, "we're going to have to work out what to do next."

"Yes, I suppose you are." Noginski nodded, "Did you have any other plan other than coming to me?"

"Yeah, I thought that maybe we could go to France, to see the Centaurs of Greenpine Valley. They know a lot of stuff that we don't." Draco said, "But apart from that I'm stuck."

"I have a friend who is in possession of a Genie." The professor told him, "I'll write to him and ask if he minds allowing you a wish. I'd visit the Centaurs first, my friend can be a bit stingy."

"Thank you." Ginny said, smiling at him.

"It's the least I can do, after all the pain I have caused you." Noginski told her, "To get to my friends house you must first travel to the England Floo Hub, and travel from there to Timber Tump. Ask anyone there for the address of Samuel Grantings, you'll find it easily."

"Thank you." Draco said, "I suppose we should be on our way."

"Don't be ridiculous!" Noginski exclaimed, "You will spend the night here, and eat breakfast with us in the morning. You can leave after that."

"I suppose that'd be better." Draco admitted, and Ginny, who was looking distant, nodded in agreement. Her eyes were cloudy, and she looked very young, "Weasley, you ready?"

"Yeah." She said, and they followed Noginski to their rooms.

"You can, if you want, have separate rooms." He offered, but after some thought, the two teenagers decided to share, "And you can keep the Transo- Phones Miss Weasley, I'm sure that I don't need them."

"Thanks." She replied. They entered their room and collapsed on the beds without getting changed.

***

"This is outrageous." Said Lucius, for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"Outrageous or not, you'll still need to answer the question Malfoy." Remus said angrily, ""What did you and Draco fight about, and why does your wife have no recollection of that evening at all."

"I am an upstanding and influential member of society, and I demand that I am treated better than this!"

"No one doubts how moral and upstanding you are. But you have been dangerously close to being put in Azkaban a great many times now, and I don't think all the morality and influence in the world is going to keep you out of it this time." Remus narrowed his eyes, "What did you and Draco fight about?"

But Lucius refused to answer, and no matter how many times he asked, Remus could not get the Ministries approval for using a truth spell. He sighed impatiently. It was going to be a long night.

***

The sunlight burnt Ginny's eyes when she opened them, and she quickly turned over and buried her face in the pillow. After a few moments she braved the light again, and forced herself to keep her eyes open. After a while of just lying in bed, she got up, and almost tripped over.

She had forgotten how long her robes were, and stumbled several times before standing properly. Once she had hoisted up her robes, she walked over to Draco's bed, where he was still asleep.

Draco sleeping was a breath taking sight. All the cruelty, anger and pain that usually dominated his face was gone, and he looked like a normal teenager. And Noginski had been right, Draco wasn't ugly. Now that the sneer was off his face, he actually looked quite handsome, in his own way.

He woke while Ginny was looking at him, and although he made no show of it, she knew. The coldness came back to his face.

"You don't have to pretend to be asleep." She told him, and his eyes snapped open.

"I thought that you might be enjoying the view." He replied, looking annoyed, "How did you know?"

"You look peaceful when you sleep, happier." She explained.

"You know it's quite creepy to have someone watch you while you sleep." He said, sitting up.

"You watch me when I visit Tom, isn't that the same?" Ginny asked, walking over to the mirror and brushing her hair. She noticed that someone had brought their trunks to their room while they slept, and opened them to find some clean clothes.

"Is it? I hadn't thought of it like that." He answered, still sitting on his bed. Ginny took some clothes from her trunk and went into the bathroom to the left of her. Once inside she changed into some robes, and let out a startled cry when she was done. Immediately Draco burst into the room, wand raised. He had obviously been in the middle of dressing himself, as he was only wearing his boxers.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"The clothes! They fit!" She said, looking down in amazement. Draco looked at her like she was insane, "Malfoy, we bought the clothes several sizes too big. Unless I had a growth spurt in the night, something very strange has happened."

"You're right." He said, picking up one of her muggle t-shirts and inspecting it carefully. After a moment he smiled and passed it back to her, "It's alright, they've just been charmed to fit the wearer. Noginski must have done it while we slept."

"That's nice." Ginny said, looking at Draco with a raised eyebrow, "Now maybe you'd like to put some clothes on."

Draco looked down at himself, yelped, and hurried back into their room, slamming the door behind him.

***

At eight o'clock a student summoned them to the dining hall and led them to the staff table. They sat on either side of Noginski, Ginny sitting at the end and Draco sitting next to a young man with dark blond hair.

"Professor, can I ask you something?" Ginny asked.

"Anything." Noginski told her.

"Poltrick, the school...you said that she protected her inhabitants." She said, "When I was inside my mind, Tom pointed a wand at me, and something happened, I was taken out of my mind. And I felt something, like a presence."

"Ah, you have run into the question that has plagued scholars for generations." He told her, "Whether or not Poltrick is alive and sentient. I myself have no doubt that she is, and I have often felt that I could almost converse with her."

"So the school is alive? How?" Ginny asked.

"There are many theories," Noginski said, "The most popular being that the original Head Mistress of Poltrick sacrificed herself during an attack on the school, and channelled her spirit into the building so that she could protect her students better. It is true that during the first attack on Poltrick the Head Mistress did die, and it is true that the school created a moat of molten stone to keep the invaders out, but there is no proof that the two incidents ate connected. I believe that when Poltrick wants us to know how she came into being, she will tell us."

"That's amazing." The young girl sighed.

"It is. Is there anything else you would like to ask me?" He asked.

"Well, no, but I'd like to thank you for the charm." Ginny said, indicating to her clothes.

"Oh, it was no trouble. I noticed that you were having a few problems when you resumed your...ah...regular appearance." He said, smiling, "You will be in disguise when you leave?"

"Probably." She replied, glancing at Draco who was conversing with the young professor, "I'm supposed to be dead, after all."

"Yes, I suppose you are." He lowered his voice, and leaned towards her, "Why exactly have you chosen not to go to the Ministry? Or at least let them know of your continued existence?"

"Malfoy thinks that if they couldn't find a way to get rid of Tom they'd probably give me to the Dementors, so that he could never break free." She explained, "Also, I think he's a bit scared that they might give him back to his father if we go to them."

"Yes, your Minister, Fudge, does seem to be the type." He sighed, and began to talk normally, "Well, if you ever need to return here, for any reason, you're welcome too. Even after you get rid of your...guest."

"Thank you." She said, and tucked into the food that had appeared in front of her. It came with no elaborate ceremony like the lunch the previous day had, but tasted just as good. Afterwards, Noginski led Ginny and Draco to a large fireplace, and handed them two rucksacks.

"Just a few supplies." He told them, "To help you on your way. I am terribly sorry that you could not find your cure here Miss Bowcott."

Ginny felt startled, but then smiled. He was hinting that they should change.

"Oh, right." Draco muttered, pulling out the blue bottle. He set all his things down on the floor, and Ginny did the same. They drank their potion at the same time, and felt the gut retching pain once more. This time Draco was able to remain standing, although Ginny, one again, fell to her knees. But once the pain had passed, Ginny stood up, and smiled weakly. The clothes had changed to fit her, and she picked up her two bags.

"I hope to see you both again, except maybe under better circumstances." Noginski said, and held out his hand to shake Draco's. The boy took it, and smiled slightly. He turned to Ginny offered his hand once more. She shook it lightly, and then turned to the fireplace. Draco took the Floo powder Noginski offered him, and chucked it into the fireplace.

"England Floo Hub!" He stated firmly, and disappeared in a blaze of green light. After a moments pause, Ginny followed him.

***

'Vessel- a human being used to hold the soul or essence of another human being using either possession or soul transference. The idea is theoretical, and has only ever been researched by one Ivan Noginski.'

Well, that's not right." Ron said, looking over Hermione's shoulder, "The vessel we're looking for isn't theoretical."

"No, it isn't." Agreed Hermione, shutting the book. They had got up early to do some more research on vessels, but had had no luck, "Where's Harry?"

"In bed, he got in late last night." Ron told her, "He was with Blaise Zabini."

"For two people who are really concerned with finding Malfoy, they are helping very little." Hermione snapped, glaring at the book. It was a dictionary of magical references and they'd gone through three pages devoted to the different meanings of the word 'vessel'. She put it in her bag, just in case they got any more clues, "We might as well face it, unless we get more information, we havn't a hope of finding him."

"We could get Harry to pump Blaise for information." Ron suggested, and then pulled a face, "Uck, I just got a visual of that."

"Ron, that's disgusting!" Hermione exclaimed, standing up to leave. He followed suit, still pulling a face.

"I know, and I'm the one imagining it!" He assured her as they left the library. They made their way to the Great hall and found Harry waiting for them.

"Where have you been?" Hermione snapped.

"Bed." He mumbled, running his hand through his dishevelled hair.

"Well, we've been researching, and we could have really used your help." She told him, helping herself to some toast. The hall was suddenly filled with the sound of owls, and Hermione looked up, waiting for her mail to arrive. The oil that delivered the daily prophet landed next to her, and she gave it some toast before it flew away again. She picked up the paper, and gasped, "Oh, look at this!"

Lucius Malfoy, Arrested

Yesterday Lucius Malfoy was arrested on suspicion of murdering his sixteen- year-old son, Draco Malfoy. The boy, who attends Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry, has been missing for some time, but his father refused to report it, claiming that Draco had transferred schools. Yesterday he admitted, after questioning, that he had fought with his son, and that he had run away. He refused to comment on what the argument was about, and has denied allegations that he has murdered his son. Lucius is already in hot water with the Ministry because of his alleged involvement with the incident in Diagon Alley in August. Although he was found innocent in that case he is still under heavy suspicion from most the public.

Lucius' wife, Narcissa Malfoy, has no memory of the evening, and is believed to be under a memory spell. The Minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge, had taken special interest in this case...

"They havn't mentioned that he's a Death Eater." Ron pointed out. He looked upset, which Hermione presumed was because of the mention of the Diagon Alley incident that killed Ginny.

"Yes they have, look here, at the bottom. 'Lucius has already been accused of being a Death Eater, and was caught by Harry potter with several escaped Azkaban Prisoners. He was not found guilty because...' and then it goes off into some legal reasons." Hermione told them, "He could finally get put away!"

"I doubt it." Harry said, "He'll probably get off on some technicality. But if Malfoy's really running from his dad, this might be enough to get him to come back. I don't think he'll like people thinking he's dead."

***

"Hey, look at this!" Draco said, pointing at the newspaper. From the front page a picture of his father glowered at him. He bought it quickly and brought it over to Ginny, who was peering into Ollivanders. They read the newspaper together, and looked up at each other in astonishment, "Looks like we're both dead."

"Well, they've only legally declared you missing." Ginny assured him, "Look at this! He tried to cover it up, said you'd moved school."

"Mother doesn't remember anything? He must have put a memory charm on her." Draco said, looking astounded, "What a bastard. And it's a good thing we've got our disguises, they've asked people to keep an eye out for me."

"And they've even got pictures." Ginny pointed, "How old were you in that one, seven?"

"That was probably my mother's helpful input." Draco growled, "I bet she feels bad about not helping me more. She shouldn't though, last I saw of her was being put under the Imperus Curse."

"But that's illegal!" The young girl gasped.

"Weasley, remember who we're dealing with here. Putting a few illegal curses on my mother really doesn't compare with the slaughtering of Muggles and Wizarding folk alike." Draco reminded her, "So, why are we hanging around old Ollivanders?"

"Just being wistful." Ginny admitted, "I've only ever had my brother's old wand, and now I don't have a wand at all, your father took it. I'm feeling a bit powerless."

"And how is that wistful thinking?" He asked, shaking his head, "When are you going to get through your thick skull that while you're with me you're not poor? Ok, I'm not exactly going to buy you everything in sight, but the necessities are all yours. And what's a Witch without a wand?"

With Ginny beaming, and Draco looking slightly pleased, the two of them entered Ollivanders. Mr Ollivander himself looked a bit confused when he saw them, his eyes kept on focusing and un-focusing, as if he were not sure what he was seeing.

"Miss Weasley?" He asked uncertainly.

"Do we look like Weasley's to you?" Draco snapped, feeling slightly nervous. He had not expected to be recognized, "And isn't Miss Weasley the girl who died here a couple of months ago?"

"Of course, my apologies." Ollivander said, his eyes still looking unfocused.

"My cousin, Emily Bowcott, needs a wand." The boy said. He glanced over at Ginny, who looked visibly shaken.

"Yes, good, what's your wand arm?" He asked, and Ginny raised her right arm. He began measuring, and she glanced nervously at Draco.

"Hm, these measurements are odd." Ollivander told her, "You look to me to be 5 ft 7, but my measurer insists that you are only 5 ft 2. How odd. But my measurements are never wrong, and I will not argue with them. Let's try this, Willow and unicorn hair, 12 inches, a bit springy but still sturdy."

Ginny waved the wand, but with no effect.

"No? All right then, how about this, Oak and dragon heartstring, thirteen inches, very strong." He handed it over to her, but yet again nothing happened. "Ok, chestnut and Phoenix feather, ten and a half inches, lithe, very good for the Patronus Charm if you ever wished to learn it."

"I already know the Patronus Charm." Ginny said before she could stop herself. Ollivander and Draco looked at her in surprise and she tried not to look guilty. There was nothing wrong with knowing that charm! Never the less... "Well, I don't think it'd be any good against a Dementor, but it's corporeal, and kinda cute."

"What is it?" Draco asked.

"A fox." She told him. Thinking about her Patronus brought back memories of her DA classes, and a small frown creased her face. She waved the wand with little effect, and hardly noticed when a new wand was placed in her hand. She waved it once, and a burst of red and gold sparks showered them all.

"Well done Miss Bowcott!" Ollivander exclaimed, clapping slightly, "But I must say, this is odd. I never intended to sell that wand, but it did seem so fitting."

"Why not?" Ginny asked, inspecting the wand in her hand.

"Yew and Unicorn hair, fourteen inches and three quarters. I was very surprised when I felt the urge to put it together." He told her, "Yew and unicorn hair so seldom work well together. And the tree I got the wood from was said to be under a curse. I only made two wands from that tree, and the first one, which I sold over fifty years ago, went into the world and almost destroyed it. I said to myself that I would not sell the second one, but I cannot deny a witch of wizard their wand. I sold the first wand to He Who Must Not Be Named, and now I sell it's twin to you."

Ginny's first urge was to throw the wand back in his face and to storm out, but her hand would not let go of the wand, and she knew deep down that she could not refuse it. It was hers, and she couldn't get rid of it.

"How much?" Draco asked, and paid the given amount. They left the shop together, and walked in silence for a long time.

"It's not really that surprising." He said after a while, "He is in your mind, so it must have had to take into consideration you and Tom."

"So when we finally get rid of him, my wand won't work so well anymore?" Ginny asked.

"I dunno, don't you think there'll always be a part of Tom inside you?" Draco pointed out.

"Malfoy, that was almost deep and meaningful." She said, laughing slightly.

"Oh dear, I'll have to watch out for that." He said smirking, and then cursed himself. He hated it, he really did, but he was becoming friends with the Weasel. She was just so much friendlier then anyone in Slytherin, and with her he didn't have to worry about ulterior motives. If she said that she liked what he was wearing, it meant that she did, and not that she wanted him to look like a fashion less moron.

"Why were you so surprised that I could conjure a Patronus?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know, I just didn't think that anyone in our school had that much power." He replied.

"Um, not meaning to burst you bubble or anything, but pretty much all your year, most of mine and quite a few in the year above you know how to do it." She told him, "Harry taught us, he's known how ever since he was a third year."

"You're kidding me!" He exclaimed, looking surprised, "Third Year? Most adults can't do it, and he learnt when he was in third year. And he taught bloody well everyone else. Bloody Marvellous. Us Slytherins must look like bloody idiots."

"Well yeah, but it's not because you can't conjure a patronus!" She assured him.

"Well then, why do you think we're idiots?" Draco asked.

"Because you refuse to work with the rest of the school, and most of you allied yourselves with Umbridge and against Dumbledore, even though it's obvious who was right." Ginny explained, "And because your think that Muggles and Muggle Born's are below you, and because a lot of you are going to grow up to be Death Eaters, and because you all try to make Harry's life miserable even though he's really important and-"

"Bloody Harry Potter!" Draco exclaimed, "It's all about him to you, isn't it? Wonderful Harry bloody Potter, isn't he great? He has a disfiguring scar, so let's all swoon when he looks at us. You're so bloody obvious, and you're such a fan girl. You don't like Harry because he's nice, you like him because he's famous. You're a-a...groupie!"

"Malfoy, I've been over Harry for over a year now." Ginny told him coldly.

"What? You have?"

"Yes." She said, her eyes narrowed, "In my fourth year I started to really get to know him, and I realised that as sweet as he was, I wasn't interested in him like that. So I started dating other people, and I've been much happier since."

"So no more 'His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad'?" Draco asked, a grin creeping onto his face.

"Oh my god, I can't believe you remembered that!" She squealed. The body she inhabited didn't blush easily, but pink tinges had appeared on her pale cheeks.

"His hair is as dark as a blackboard!" He shouted happily and she tried to cover his mouth.

"Shut up Malfoy!" She said, but she was laughing as well as they struggled. They must have been making quite a scene, but neither seemed to care

"I wish he was mine," He sang.

"You memorised it, you complete bastard!"

"He's really divine," More laughter, "Come on Weasley, it was hardly difficult."

"I hate you! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!"

"The Hero who conquered the Dark Lord!" And with that she made one last lunge at him, and they both toppled to the floor in the middle of the street, laughing as they fell. But when they landed Ginny heard a sickening crack, and she looked at Draco in horror, sure that he had broken a bone. But he just looked confused, and was looking round to see where the sound had come from. A panicked look formed on his face as he reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a broken amulet.

He scrambled to his feet and dragged Ginny up with him, muttering swear words under his breath.

"No, no, no, no." He said, staring at the broken object, "Fuck shit no. We are so screwed."

"What's happened?" Ginny asked, feeling fear rise inside her. Draco was really scared. But before he could answer a familiar crack filled the air, the sound of people apparating near them.

It was Remus Lupin, Kingsley Shacklebolt...and Lucius Malfoy.

"Just start walking." Draco hissed, tugging her arm, "Glance curiously at them or something, but don't stop walking, and don't make eye contact."

Ginny did as she was ordered, but some part of her wanted to run over to Remus and Kingsley and tell them that it was her, that she was alive. All she had to do was go to them, and she could go home and see her family.

"They'll find out." Draco said, as if reading her mind, "They'll find out and send you to the Dementors. And if they find out that I'm safe and well, they'll send me back to my father, and then he probably will kill me."

"How did they find us?" Ginny asked, and then another thought occurred to her, "How comes they couldn't find us before?"

"See this amulet?" He opened his hand to show her, "It stops me, and whoever I'm travelling with being able to be tracked using tracking spells. And now it's broken, hence the arrival of my father and the ministry goons."

"Those aren't ministry goons." Snapped Ginny, "That's Remus and Kingsley. Remus was our teacher, remember?"

"Oh yeah, him." Draco nodded, "Didn't he have to leave because, well, he was a...werewolf."

Oh dear, Ginny thought to herself. Even in human form, werewolves had much keener senses then normal people. Could he smell them?

Remus was walking towards them, trying to push people out of the way. Kingsley was right behind him, dragging Lucius along.

"Run!" Draco yelled, and Ginny tore away, not looking where she was going. She could see Draco running in the opposite direction, and hoped the fact that they had split up would aid them.

She ran until she reached the floo network, and flung a few sickles at the man before running into the nearest fireplace. It was actually a really stupid thing to do, but Ginny was too terrified to make any decisions, and just wanted to put as much distance between her and the men as possible.

I can't believe I'm running away from Remus and Kingsley! She thought to herself when she walked through the grate she had arrived in. These are the people who are supposed to protect me. A high-pitched feminine voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Welcome to California!"

***

SiLvA-423: thanks

Ohepelss Oramtnci: *Riddle ignores reviewer* He's so rude, isn't he?

Hplova4eva: Thankie thankie

Icanreadandcount: No Aidan in this chap, although we will see him again!

A.N.: I'm thinking of taking a little break from this story for a while to catch up on some stuff I'm doing on fictionpress.net, unless any one has any serious objections to that and desperately wants me to continue.