"Your heart it's just sand in the wind." -Connor Oberst, Bright Eyes

Chapter Eight: In the Dungeons

The next night, after dinner, Ginny found herself descending the spiraling steps into the dungeons. Snape had spoken to her at the end of her Potions lesson that morning and asked her to meet him in his office to discuss how she would make up her missed assignments. She navigated the dark, damp corridors until she came to Professor Snape's door. Shakily, she lifted her fist to knock. The dungeons always made Ginny nervous, she'd heard about what happened to unsuspecting little Hufflepuffs or Ravenclaws or Gryffindors who wandered down there at night.

"Come in," came Snapes cold voice from within. She turned the knob and stepped inside.

"Have a seat, Miss Weasley," Snape said in what appeared to be his most amiable tone. Ginny remained speechless and sat down a little too quick in the wooden chair before Snape's desk. The professor stared at her expectantly for a moment.

"Err...you wanted to-um-discuss how I am to make up my missed homework, Professor."

Snape gave a dissappointed sigh that Ginny didn't understand,"Yes, yes. Well I have all the assignments here, three papers to write each a foot long. I'll give you until the end of the week to hand them in."

Snape handed her a piece of parchment that had the subjects of the three papers written in his powerful script.

"Thank you, professor." Ginny remained seated grasping the paper and staring at her Potions Professor's neck.

At length Snape spoke up,"Er...Miss Weas- Ginny...I wanted to tell you...to tell you how sorry I am for your loss. Arthur was a good man and a noble member of the Order..."

Ginny sat shocked for a moment, her gaze shifted to meet the professor's eyes. She'd never heard the man offer anyone his sympathies or speak with such emotion.

"Thank you." Abruptly, she stood, giving Snape a look, and then turned to leave.

He watched as the door closed and the girl escaped his office. He released the grip he had had on his chair's arms and let out his held breath. All this death, all this darkness. He went back to that day, the day that he had lost his Arienette.

Good riddance. If she didn't support him then Severus wouldn't look back when he joined the Dark Lord. It had been three months since he'd become a Death Eater and Severus was quickly rising in Voldemort's favor. His loyalty had been tested and so far he'd proven true, there was only one more test the Dark Lord required of Severus Snape.

A murder, go to this house in the country, and kill the person living there, they're a threat to our Cause, Severus. They must be extinguished.

Ginny let out a gust of breath. She hadn't realized how suffocating that office had been until she emerged out into the open hallway. She stood for a moment outside, collecting her thoughts. Realizing where she was and the fear she had of this place, Ginny quickly looked around her but could see only darkness. She began walking back the way she came. She soon became aware of a second set of footsteps echoing through down the corridor other than her own. She stopped and turned around but was again met with darkness. She took in a shakey breath and started on but was cut short by a hand that grabbed the back her robes and pushed her against the wall.

Of course, it must be done, my Lord.

Severus made his way across the grass of the front lawn of a rather dumpy looking cottage. He reached the front door and gave a harsh rap.

Such a simple thing.

The door creaked open and a figure appeared in the doorway. Severus watched from behind his death-white mask as her face assemble itself from the shadows within. Wand raised, he spoke the words. Those words. Evil. Loathsome. Amoral. Terrible.

Avada Kedavra.

With a grunt she thudded against the stone wall under the pressure of a body pressing itself against her.

"What are you doing down here little Gryffindor? You must be a lost rabbit. Trying to scurry back to her hole. Not tonight, no."

Ginny listened to the boy ramble on with confusion as terror gripped her. She didn't know who he was. She'd never seen him before, but she knew he was in Slytherin, his green-silver tie and snarling voice told her that. Her body began to tremble as he pressed himself more firmly against her and she felt just what his intentions were.

"Please...wh-why are you doing this?"

The boy just grunted as he ripped her robes and begain unbottoning her shirt. Now Ginny was panicking, she began to struggle but to no avail.

The green light burst from Severus's wand and hit the girl before the scream could tear from his lungs. Arienette.

Ginny squeezed her eyes shut tight when she felt the boy's disgusting hand creep under her shirt and touch her skin. His other hand was held firmly over her mouth and she could barely move. His fingers were snaking slowly upward when Ginny heard the footsteps heading quickly toward them.

"James! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Draco.

The boy, whose name was James apparantly, snapped his head up when he heard Draco's voice. He quickley stepped away from Ginny and began backing up when Draco advanced on him. Of course Draco knew exactly what James had been preparing to do to Ginny and his blood boiled when he thought of it. Quickening his pace he pounced on James and began throwing his fists into the boy's face.

"Don't. Ever. Touch. Her. Again." Draco said between blows. He raised himself from the ground and James scurried away like a wounded animal. Draco stood there for a few moments watching his retreating form until it had melted into the darkness. He caught his breath and turned to face Ginny. She stood shakily, desperately clutching her ripped robe to her body.

"Ginny..." she wouldn't look up from the floor when he said her name. He moved closer and tilted her chin up so that he could look at her face. "I'm sorry...I can't believe that bastard. Thank God I was here."

This was too much for Ginny. She just didn't understand him. Why was he being so kind to her? Why was he protecting her? How could he act this way one moment and act viscious and cruel the next? None of it made sense. Her father was dead, she was almost just raped and Draco Malfoy was finding his way into her affections. All these emotions were just too much for her. And now she was looking into those stormy eyes again. She couldn't help it, tears began spilling over her cheeks.

"Ginny? Ginny, don't cry. Come on, you can come to my rooms and I'll find you another shirt and robes. Come on," he took her arm and began leading her to the Head Boy's chambers. They came at last to a portrait of a rather poofy looking boy who looked down on them expectantly.

"Run with the hunted."

The portrait swung open. They stepped inside and Ginny swayed as Draco released her arm and walked toward a door. Looking around her, Ginny saw that they were standing in a cheery little living room that she mused didn't seem to fit a Slytherin too well, but she supposed even Slytherins liked to be cozy. Draco opened the door and beckoned for her to follow him in. Muttering an incantation the room was suddenly alight with several candles. This was Draco's bedroom. Ginny noted the green and sliver comforter on his huge bed with what little humor she had at that moment.

"Ah, here we are," Draco said pulling out a large, white, button-down shirt from his drawer."You can change into this in my bathroom it's just through there."

Ginny took the shirt and thanked him as she headed into the bathroom, a few minutes later she emerged wearing the rather baggy shirt with a look of amazement on her face.

"The Head Boy's bathroom is beautiful!"

Draco smirked in mock egotism,"Eh...it's nothing to what we've got at Malfoy Manor."

Ginny laughed and took a seat on a large, comfy lounge chair."You know...I never expected any room in the dungeons to be quite "

"Ah, yes...we Slytherins...I suppose you expected us to sleep upside down suspended from the rafters?"

Ginny's cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson,"Something like that."

"I...er...wanted to thank you for saving me back there. It means a lot."

"Yeah well...a friend in need..."

"A friend?"

"So...it's getting a bit late, fancy a walk up to Gryffindor Tower?"

"Um...if it's alright with you could I maybe stay here tonight?" Ginny asked with apprehension."It's just that...well for the past few nights Hermione's been staying up to see me off to bed and make sure I'm 'emotionally sound'. I really don't think I could put on that facade tonight. I'd sleep on the couch."

Draco stared at Ginny for a moment,"I...I suppose so. No need to sleep on the couch of course. Malfoys are gentlemen, you can sleep in my bed."

"I wouldn't want to be-"

"It's no trouble."