Crystal Moon Magic: You think so?

Elizabeth Turner, Priz: Thank you!

Crimson Gold: How dare you call Lucius old?! (But thank you anyway!)

Chapter Nine

The next morning at breakfast, an unfamiliar owl swooped over the Gryffindor table and dropped a scrap of parchment into Ginny's scrambled eggs. She opened it hurriedly and read its three words: "We should talk." She took her revealer out of her bag and rubbed it vigorously over the parchment to reveal the rest of the message. "I'll be in the Gryffindor Tower fire tonight at 1:30. Be there alone. LM."

Ginny handed the note to Hermione, who read it quickly. She handed it back.

"Today is Wednesday, so you shouldn't have much trouble getting the common room to yourself," she said.

Ginny nodded. She didn't know why, but her stomach was doing somersaults. She brought the parchment up to her nose and closed her eyes, breathing in deeply. It even smelled like Lucius, like her dream. The bell rang, snapping her back to her senses. She hurried off to Charms.

---

That afternoon, after Transfiguration, Ginny was sitting on a bench in the courtyard reading when Harry sat down beside her. He nudged her playfully with his shoulder.

"How are you doing?" he asked, his eyes full of concern.

Ginny shrugged.

"Ron's really worried about you, you know."

"Yeah," Ginny said, "I know."

"Listen, er-I need to tell you something." Harry plunged into his purpose without waiting for a response. "Ron wants you and I to get together. He thinks it would be good for you."

"What would be good for me would be for Ron to keep his nose to himself."

"I know, and believe me, Hermione and I have tried to tell him that, but he's relentless."

Ginny looked up, seeming to realize her attitude. "I'm sorry, Harry, I really didn't mean to sound like-"

He held up a hand. "I know. It's too soon. I don't take it personally."

She smiled guiltily. "I'm just now sure how much I can handle at this point."

Harry looked concerned. "Is there anything you want to tell me about?"

For a few moments, Ginny seemed to struggle with herself. "Harry, I would love to tell you everything, but I don't think I've figured it out for myself yet. If and when I do, you'll be the first to know."

Harry smiled and gave her a quick hug. "I'm here if you need me, and so are Hermione and Ron."

---

Several hours later, Ginny sat nervously in an armchair before the common room fire. She wasn't quite sure what to expect. While she was watching for Lucius' head in the fire, she was hoping her the whole Lucius to suddenly emerge. When she realized that her hopes were coupled with her memories of her dream from several nights before, she felt her cheeks flush. She knew that Lucius could never replace what she had lost, but the rebellious voice in the back of her head that wanted to test the theory was growing louder.

Suddenly, Ginny jumped. While she had been lost in thought, the armchair she had been staring through had filled. Lucius Malfoy was sitting before her, his face more pale and more tired than ever.

"Thank you for being here," he said quietly. Ginny nodded.

He continued. "I think it's only fair for me to tell you this. Please, don't say anything until I've finished."

Ginny nodded again, her brow furrowed.

Lucius continued. "I am going back to Voldemort."

Ginny's eyes were panicked.

TBC