Disclaimer: Not mine. I have no enthusiasm to go into details.

I Have You Trapped

They had been in the village for a week when it first snowed. The Elves looked annoyed but Ginny thought it was wonderful. She stood outside and twirled in circles, her face pointed up to greet the snow, which feel to her skin like kisses. Draco stood in the doorway of their hut looking out, and watched her dance. He could honestly say he had never seen her so happy. But he couldn't stop a frown from crossing his face. She was talking to Tom again. Sighing, he turned around and went back inside.

'Ah! It's wonderful!' Ginny exclaimed, 'Oh, I've missed the snow so much.'

I'M GLAD YOU'RE HAPPY. He told her, ALTHOUGH I'VE NEVER REALLY LIKED SNOW MYSELF. I'M MORE OF AN AUTUMN PERSON.

'And why's that?' She asked, crouching to the floor to make a snowman.

I LIKE TO WATCH EVERYTHING DIE. He told her, I FIND IT VERY BEAUTIFUL.

'Nothing ever dies forever.' She replied. He didn't say anything back, so she made her snowman in silence.

They had all received their permission slips within a few days, and after Hermione had changed 'Tedesco' back to 'Noginski' they handed them back into Amelia Grigg. After admitting that Dumbledore had agreed to fund their trip, she began to make preparations. With only two weeks to go before they were to break up for their Christmas holidays, she called Harry, Hermione and Ron back after class.

"On the first Sunday of the Christmas Holidays you have to meet me at the Leaky Cauldron at six in the morning." She told them.

"Six in the morning!" Ron exclaimed.

"You might want to stay there the night before." She added, "I'll take you to the Floo Hub, and give you further instruction then. You'll tell Miss Zabini?"

"Of course." Hermione nodded, "Thank you Professor Grigg."

"It's interesting," She told them just as they were about to leave, "Not many people have a huge amount of interest in the works of Noginski. Now you, Miss Granger, I can imagine wanting to learn more about him, but what about you Mr Potter, Mr Weasley?"

"Well, he's really cool, isn't he?" Harry replied, looking shifty, "I mean, he killed that Manticore, that's pretty impressive."

"And he explored the Unplottable Forest, which is cool." Ron added, looking equally as shifty.

"You know what the Unplottable Forest is?" Amelia asked.

"I have a vague idea." He replied, looking defiant.

"For all you know it could be a small patch of trees." The professor pointed out.

"It's not! They wouldn't have made it Unplottable if it was!" He turned to Hermione quickly; "It isn't, is it?"

"No, it isn't." Hermione reassured him, "Professor, you see how badly they need to go to this lecture."

"Yes, yes." She sighed, "Well, go on, you'll be late for your next lesson if you don't hurry."

Saying goodbye they hurried away. Amelia sighed, turning back to her desk. She didn't think she was really cut out to be a teacher.

The weeks churned by slowly. Ginny and Draco made themselves as useful as possible, but usually found themselves with little to do. When this happened Ginny would sneak away to be with Mapp and Baby Ginni and Draco would watch the Warrior Elves train.

They were extremely good fighters, Draco had seen that during the fight with the centaurs, but now he saw that they were also extremely disciplined. All their moves where clear and concise. Lucius had taught Draco fencing when he was younger, and although he had never been very interested he had picked up a few things. He knew enough to see that these Elves were experts.

One day after about five days of him watching them, one of the Elves Draco had silently named 'Bob' came over to talk to him.

"You watch us practice often." He stated.

"Yes." Draco replied, "You're all really good."

"You would like to learn?" 'Bob' suggested.

"Would you teach me?" He asked.

"I would."

"Ok." He nodded. 'Bob' grinned and led him into the paddock where they trained. He taught Draco a few basic moves, and they went from there. He found that what he had picked up in fencing came in handy. After that he went and practised with them everyday.

Ginny's time with Mapp was often spent in silence. Occasionally Mapp would explain something about Elfish culture, or point out something she found particularly adorable to do with Baby Ginni. But apart from that they didn't talk much. Not that Ginny minded. When Mapp fell silent she would talk to Tom.

'Isn't she adorable?' Ginny asked. She was holding Baby Ginni while Mapp slept; 'Once you get over the fact that she's yellow you can see how pretty she is.'

I'VE NEVER REALLY HAD MUCH INTEREST IN BABIES. Tom admitted, IT'S PROBABLY A GIRL THING.

'That's stupid Tom.' She told him, 'My Dad always looked after me and my brother's when we were babies. Just because your father never had any interest in you, doesn't mean all father's are like that.'

She regretted it as soon as she said it. She felt him clam up inside her, felt his anger flare.

MY FATHER WAS COMPLETE SCUM, HE WAS VERMIN. Tom snapped, HE WAS LUCKY MY MOTHER EVEN THOUGHT TO LOOK AT HIM. HE WAS SCUM.

'So you killed him?' She sighed, 'How diplomatic of you.'

SOMETIMES I THINK IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A GOOD IDEA TO FEED YOU ALL MY DARKEST SECRETS. Tom told her, IT APPEARS YOU KNOW ME TOO WELL.

'I think the worst part is that I know all of these things,' She replied, 'And I'm still in love with you.'

Hagrid stroked the kneazle that sat on his lap idly while drinking the tea his host had offered him. They had known each other for years, but Hagrid was very careful when asking him for information. A good friendship could turn sour very quickly.

"You been busy lately?" Samuel Grantings asked.

"Yeah, Dumbledore's got me on a special mission." Hagrid told him, "Dead important. Not doin' too well ter tell the truth."

"Dumbledore's trust you wi' anythin' he would." Granting nodded, "If 'e thinks you can do it, I trust him."

"Well it ain't been easy, I tell yeh that." The half giant shook his head, "Troopin' all over the ruddy country looking fer a kid I don't even like."

"Who would that be then?" The older man asked, "Jus' out of interest."

"Lucius Malfoy's son." Hagrid growled, "Him and some other kid I think."

"Would 'is name be Draco?" Granting's raised his bushy grey eyebrows.

"Tell me yeh've seen 'im Sam." Hagrid whispered, "Or ave 'eard bout him."

"'e was 'ere." Grantings admitted, "'im and some girl. Didn't get a good feeling off either of 'em."

Grantings, years ago, had wished on his Genie for the ability to read people's auras. It was something that had come in handy.

"The boy was bad enough, lot's of bad things goin' on in 'is head, but the girl..." He shook his head, "Evil. Jus' rolled off her in waves, like. You Know Who couldn't be worse."

"Did you get a name?" Hagrid asked.

"Yeah, yeah I got a name." He nodded, "Ginny Weasley, it was. Dark haired girl, tall."

"The cheek." The huge man suddenly looked sad and small, "I knew Ginny Weasley, sweetest lil' girl you could ever meet. Feisty but sweet. She died a few months back in the Diagon Alley attack. Tiny lil' red head, she was. And no Weasley would go round with a Malfoy. The cheek of that girl, disgracing lil' Ginny's name. Ah, poor lil' Ginny."

"If I'd of known..." Grantings shook his head, "They wanted to use my Genie. Didn't like the idea of 'em getting their 'ands on somethin' that powerful, so I tol' 'em I gambled it away."

"Did yeh ask 'em where they were 'eaded?" Hagrid asked.

"Nah, wish I 'ad now." He shrugged, "Let 'em stay 'ere fer the night then sent 'em off sharpish. Funny thing though, Ezra didn't seem ter mind the girl. Kneazles are normally good at tellin' the bad from the good."

"Funny thing." Hagrid agreed, "Funny thing indeed."

As the weeks went on the weather went from freezing to even colder. Draco and Ginny were forced to cast constant warming spells to stop themselves from freezing to death. The Elves, on the other hand, didn't seem to mind the cold, doing nothing more to warm themselves then wearing slightly thicker garments. The Elf which Draco trained with, who's name was not actually Bob, but Zakkai, often laughed at Draco when he came to the training sessions bundled up in about five layers.

"It's bloody freezing." He muttered, picking up an Elfish broad sword, "I can barely fell my fingers."

"Friend Draco!" Zakkai laughed, "You should know better than to admit your weaknesses!"

"I have no weaknesses." Was all Draco could say in reply, before they started their routine.

Ginny often stopped by to watch him train, but today she was visiting Mapp and baby Ginni. With human babies, the child aged quickly within the first few weeks, but Elfish children aged incredibly slowly, and there was no visible change in her appearance.

"Do you think," Ginny asked quietly, as Ginni was asleep, "That we'd be allowed to stay here forever?"

"Do you want to?" Mapp asked.

"We don't have anywhere else to go." She explained, "We'd make ourselves useful. Draco is getting to be a really good fighter, and I could help you look after Ginni. I could be her maid or something."

"It would cause great happiness if you were to stay, but it would not be good." Mapp said truthfully, "You and Draco are young, you must see the world. You must fall in love."

"I've seen enough of the world." Ginny said bitterly, "It's mostly vile and corrupt, full of dark wizards. And love? Not turning out to be much better."

"You have not found the right one." The Elf assured her, "Love will be sweet and happy. With Nemiah, it was sweet and happy."

Ginny said nothing. She wanted to believe Mapp, she really did, but it didn't help that the Elf had been in love, and her love had been torn from her in violence and blood.

Fawkes sat by the young owl, listening to it talk. Owls had the best memory of all birds, but unfortunately they were also the biggest gossips. But Fawkes was patient, he nodded, listening to all the owl's meaningless talk, waiting for something relevant to come up. When it did, he thanked the owl, before continuing with his journey.

Hermione gave a huge yawn, stretching her arms out wide and sitting up. A week ago she and her friend had left Hogwarts to go on Christmas holidays, and today she was waking up at five thirty in the morning in the Leaky cauldron. Blaise, apparently, had woken up several moments earlier, and was climbing out of her own bed.

"Mornin." She mumbled, trying to smooth down her normally long sleek her. Hermione, who's hair was never sleek, didn't bother. She smiled cheerfully at the other girl, and received a glare in return, "Not a mornin person." She grumbled.

"Obviously." Hermione replied, "I'm really excited, you know? I know this is all about helping find Malfoy, but I'm also really looking forward to hearing Noginski speak."

"Why couldn't I share a room with Harry again?" Blaise asked and she pulled on her robes.

"Because that would mean I'd have to share a room with Ron." Hermione explained, looking slightly fearful, "And I'm not-"

"Ready? Yeah, yeah." The other girl shook her head; "You wouldn't have even had to have slept with him. Doesn't mean me and Harry cant..."

"Really." She shook her head, disapproving. Blaise just grinned.

The two girls, once dressed and washed, made their way down to the pub to find the boys waiting for them, bleary eyed, looking dressed but not washed.

"Would it have killed you to have scrubbed up a little?" Blaise asked Harry, pretending to smell him and then pinching her nose closed.

"...Just a little cleaning spell, Ron." Hermione was pleading, waving her wand around.

"No Hermione, don't point that thing at me." He objected.

"What about you Harry?" She asked hopefully, "I'm really very good at them, I use them when I'm in a rush. They're no substitute for a good bath of course but..."

"I think I'll pass." He said, agreeing with Ron, "Don't really like the idea of your wand cleaning me."

"Neither do I." Blaise agreed, looking suspicious.

"Honestly." Hermione shook her head, disbelieving.

"Well, looks like you're all here." Came a voice from behind them. It was, of course, Amelia Grigg, looking perfectly composed and not at all like it was six in the morning, "We'll eat once we get to the Hotel. Shall we get going?"

With Hermione smiling brightly, Blaise looking slightly grumpy and the two boys still looking asleep, the four students followed their Professor through the streets of Diagon Alley, towards the Floo Hub.

Lucius Malfoy and Damien Zabini sat in Lucius's study, hunched over the desk. On the desk were several objects. There were a few maps, a few amulets and a very big globe.

"I'm almost a hundred percent sure that they're not in Ireland." Zabini said after a while, "There are a few magical disturbances with unknown origins, but that's normally to be expected."

"Yes, yes." Lucius nodded, "It occurred to me that they might be in France. They might have gone to visit those centaurs I told you about before. But if they had they'll probably be dead. Centaurs would never let the girl live with Tom Riddle inside her. And besides, they're following that damn French Wizard, and he'd certainly want them killed. I wonder if it's worth the effort?"

"I doubt it." The small dark man said after some thought, "Not when it's far more likely that they're in Spain. Lots of magical disturbances of unknown origin there."

"It disturbs me how well the two of them are doing." Lucius confessed, "Evading capture for so long. I'd have expected them to have screwed up by now but...Well, the girl has had plenty of experiences in evading danger. If we don't manage to bring out Tom Riddle, I'll enjoy killing her. Her and my bloody son."

Once they had arrived at the Floo Hub Amelia handed them a pink ticket each; "These are your return tickets." She explained, "Just show them to the assistant and they'll let you go through. They're only good for going to the Hotel and back, so don't try and sneak off anywhere." She grinned slightly cruelly, "And just to make sure you use this time constructively, I expect reports on Noginski when you get back."

They all groaned and turn to glare at Hermione. It had, after all, been her idea to come.

"In place of your original homework's." Amelia added kindly, and they all smiled in relief, "Ok, so you should go now, so you're not late. Once there give them this," She handed a note to Hermione, "And they'll feed you and give you instructions about getting to Poltrick. It's in Russian, so don't try and read it."

And with that she left, waving goodbye.

They walked over to a Floo grate and handed the assistant their tickets. He checked them all thoroughly before giving them instructions as to where they flooed to.

Once they arrived they showed the woman at the desk the note they had been given, and in very bad English she directed them to a table where they were able to order food.

She was, in actual fact, the exact same woman who Ginny and Draco had dealt with on their visit, and she was the same woman who had betrayed them to the Death Eaters. If they had known this, then perhaps Ron and Harry would not have gazed so appreciatively after her. Perhaps they ought to have not anyway, especially as both their girlfriends sat at the table, neither of them looking very happy with them.

After breakfast the four of them gathered in the entrance hall along with the many other guests who were arriving. Some looked nervous, others looked confident, and other looked down right shifty. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Blaise stayed close together until the announcement was made that they should all touch the huge castle statue.

"Must be a Portkey." Hermione whispered.

"No kid-" But Ron never got to finish his sentence, as just then the Portkey activated. They all felt the uncomfortable feeling in their navel, and when they became aware of their surroundings again, they found themselves in the Entrance Hall of a castle.

Poltrick Castle to be specific.

Ginny stood knee deep in the snow, watching Draco swing his broad sword around impressively.

"You're getting very good." She told him.

"Getting good?" he scoffed, "I went pass good a long time ago!"

"Shame you missed then." She teased, "You should have taken a right at 'not bad' and then a left at 'getting there'. I'm afraid you're stuck at 'getting good' indefinitely."

"Ok, that's it Weasley!" He said, brandishing his sword, "You have hurled your last insult at me. Prepare to die!"

A snowball hit him in the side of his face. Dropping his sword he charged her and managed to tackle her to the floor.

"I believe I have you trapped." He told her, their faces closed.

"That's where you're wrong Malfoy." She whispered, "I have you trapped."

The Elves, smiling, turned away from the embracing couple.

The four teenagers sat, listening to the lecture. Harry and Hermione sat leaning forward, slightly open mouthed, while Ron and Blaise fidgeted and yawned. They all worse a set of Transo-Phones

"Look at how the time has flown!" Noginski said eventually, smiling, "Well, at least it has for me. I'm sorry to confess that I never tire of listening to myself talk. But you must all be hungry, so you'll be delighted to hear that lunch should be ready."

The group followed the charismatic Professor into the Dining Hall, and as everyone was taking their seats Hermione, followed by the others, made their way over to where Noginski sat.

"I'm really sorry about this Sir." She said, "But we really need to talk to you about something."

"I'll be happy to answer any questions you have." He said, "After my students presentation."

"We need to talk to you now." She said more insistently.

"I'm very sorry Young Lady." His voice now sounded annoyed, "But I will not discuss anything until after my students presentation. Now if you please? They're about to start."

The brown haired girl gave a sigh of frustration and then stood in silence while the students gave their presentation. She waited for him to take a sip of his drink before asking again; feeling that this may make him slightly better disposed towards her.

"Please Professor Noginski, it's urgent that we talk to you right now." She said quietly.

"Well go on, what do you have to say?" he asked slightly testily.

"In private." She added. He turned around to look at her fully, then caught sight of the others behind her. He looked at them all for a very long time.

"Who are you?" He asked after a moment.

"I'm Hermione Granger." She told him, "These are my friends, Ron, Harry and Blaise. Blaise Zabini."

"Does your father know you're here?" he asked sharply.

"Of course not." She snapped, "I know you two know each other. That's partly what we're here about."

"Professor Noginski." Hermione took a deep breath, "We're here to talk to you about Draco Malfoy."

A.N. Ok, I'm changing the name of this fic coz I hate the name it has at the moment. Anyone got any suggestions? I'm really bad at coming up with names so I really need your help. Just put any suggestions in your reviews. By the way, this fic is almost over. I estimate only four more chapters to go. I may write a sequel.

Thanks to:

Ohepelss Oramtnci: Ah, love is a fickle thing...Ginny's deep scars and psychological problems make her a very...Ah, screw it. She's falling in love because I'm making her!

Damia-Queen Of The Gypsi's: I think Mapp must be my favourite original character. And yet I abuse her so badly.

Magic Crystal Rose: yes, let us all cry for Nemiah.

Doyle'sangel: yes, I have written a lot, haven't I!

Readingfreak742: Well, I have the end of my story all planned and it's coming up. It gets way more dramatic before hand though. Hope you continue to enjoy.