Deity of death1, Caipirinha The Piranha: Thank you! Elizabeth Turner: I didn't mean to make you cry... but thank you...

Chapter Five

As Ginny crumbled to the floor, her weight brought Lucius to his knees. They sat for several moments there, each enveloped in the other's grief.

"Ginny?" Lucius whispered, "They're going to come out of the Great Hall soon. We have to move."

Ginny looked up and nodded through her tears. Lucius helped her back to her feet, and they began walking toward the marble staircase. After what seemed to Ginny to be ages, they reached the Room of Requirement.

*

Harry, Ron and Hermione burst out of the Great Hall. Ron cursed.

"Where in bloody hell is she?"

Hermione looked at him with reproach. "Ron, calm down! I'm sure she's fine!"

Ron took off running. After a glance, Hermione and Harry followed him. When they reached Dumbledore's office, they found Ron furiously kicking the stone gargoyle.

"Mr. Weasley!" There came a shriek from down the hallway. "Stop that at once!" Professor McGonagall rushed to step between Ron and the gargole. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Now, Mr. Weasley, what exactly is it that you want? I would certainly hope that it is urgent!"

Ron was shaking and fuming. Extremely timidly, Hermione stepped forward and cleared her throat.

"Er, Professor?" McGonagall snapped her head up to look at the Head Girl. "He was just looking for Ginny. We though Professor Dumbledore might know where she's gone."

Professor McGonagall's eyes were wide. "Very well." She turned to the gargoyle. "Chocolate Frog!" The staircase appeared, and she followed the trio onto it. Ignoring her warnings, Ron threw open the door to Dumbledore's office.

"Where is she?" He thundered.

The headmaster stood up behind his desk. Harry and Hermione saw Ron's scarlet face reflected in Dumbledore's stern eyes. When he spoke, his voice was grave.

"Mr. Weasley," he began, "You will find that your sister is completely capable of taking care of herself. She has her own plans. You need to respect that. Let her go. She will be much happier, she will still be your sister, and she will be safe." He held up a hand to stem Ron's protests. "Now, if you please, I require the use of my office."

All three students left quietly, but once they were back in the hall, Ron's outburst continued. "Why should I listen to him? He wouldn't even tell me where she was!" With that, he stormed off to the Gryffindor common room, leaving Harry and Hermione to follow behind.

*

By the time the Room of Requirement came into view, Ginny had calmed down enough to walk on her own. Even when she stood up straight, Lucius left his arm snaked around her waist. He reached out his left hand to open the door. Ginny looked around curiously, not quite knowing what to expect. What she found was two armchairs and a coffee table separating them. Lucius motioned to one of the chairs.

"Have a seat." He said.

Ginny didn't sit. Instead, she turned to face him. That evening's stress was reflected in her voice. "Why are we here?" She asked coldly.

"Because I need to explain something."

Ginny crossed her arms over her chest. "What?"

"Please sit." A hint of desperation entered Lucius' voice. Ginny sat. Lucius sat across from her. "I never answered your question."

Ginny looked down at her hands in her lap. "You didn't have to."

"Yes I do."

Ginny looked up. "What do you mean?"

"You caught me by surprise in Dumbledore's office, but I can't pretend I don't need help. If you're willing to deal with the risks involved, You're more than welcome to join me."

Ginny narrowed her eyes. "What changed your mind?"

Lucius swallowed. "He killed Narcissa. It's his way of telling me that he knows what I'm up to."
"I'm so sorry." Ginny met his gaze. "It's just not fair."

"Don't be sorry."

"Why not?"

"She was no loss."

"In that case, I'm sorry you were found out."

"You know as well as I do that you're not, because if he didn't know it was me, I wouldn't need you."

"Maybe you would anyway."

Lucius looked at her thoughtfully. "Ginny," he began, "I understand that you want to help, but no matter what you do, you can't bring him back."

*

Ginny lay awake that night, staring at the ceiling. Every moment she was with Lucius proved that he was nothing like Draco. That didn't explain anything that she was feeling.

*

The next morning at breakfast, Ginny ran into the Great Hall. After a few moment's search, her vivid green eyes found Hermione sitting alone at the Gryffindor table. She sat down across from her.

"Where are Harry and Ron?" She asked.

"They've already left for Hogsmeade. I though I should stay back and wait for you."

"Good. I have to talk to you."

"All right, but let's get going. You can tell me whatever it is on the way."

They walked out to the carriages in silence, but once they were in one, Ginny told Hermione everything about the events of the past few days, from Lucius' comments at Draco's funeral to the Room of Requirement. Hermione didn't speak until she finished.

"Ginny, he isn't Draco. He can never take his place."

Ginny closed her eyes. "I know that."

When the emerged from the carriage, Hermione prodded Ginny's side. She pointed in front of them.

"Speak of the devil," she whispered.

Lucius Malfoy was striding toward them. When he saw Ginny, he showed her a folded parchment in his hand, hidden by the fold of his robes. Taking the hint, Ginny waited until her own hand could reach out while remaining hidden, and took the note out of his hand. She opened it. It read simply "Tonight. Forbidden Forest."

TBC