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Chapter 14

Ginny was sitting, staring into the common room fire, when Lucius appeared and climbed out of it. He took her hands and pulled her out of her chair, gathering her to him before he kissed her tenderly. When he sat opposite her, his eyes were grave.

"You know what I'm going to ask you to do," he said, "If you're ready, meet me in the Forbidden Forest tomorrow night. If you're not there, I'll understand."

Ginny nodded, a steely resolve reflected in her green eyes. "I'll be there."

Lucius sighed and nodded. "Meet me at ten. We'll go back to the house. He doesn't know you're coming. I'll bring your cloak and mask with me. Unless something goes wrong, he'll never see your face. Are you sure you're prepared for this?"

"No," Ginny said, "But I can't do nothing."

Lucius took her hands. "I can't lose you, Ginny. I promise you again, when this is all over, we're going to have a long talk about us."

"What do you mean?"

"We need to figure out where we go from here."

"If something goes wrong, we may not go anywhere from here."

Lucius pulled her to him as he stood up, resting his chin on her head. "I won't let that happen. I love you." He kissed her with a fierce tenderness, and then he was gone.

--

Remus Lupin awoke to pounding on his office door. He shuffled to it and opened it to find a frantic looking Ginny Weasley in his classroom.

"I think I'm in over my head," she said breathlessly.

Lupin motioned for her to come in and began making tea. "What happened?" He asked.

Shaking furiously, Ginny told him everything. From Draco's funeral to that night in the common room, she didn't leave anything out. "He's going to take me to Voldemort tomorrow night, but I just don't think I'm ready," she finished.

Lupin didn't say anything. He went to the fire and took a handful of powder from a jar on the mantle, and threw it into the flames.

"Professor Dumbledore, I'd like to speak with you," he said, quite calmly. He and Ginny sat in silence until Dumbledore stepped out of the fire.

"You wanted a word, Remus?" he said, acknowledging Ginny with an unsurprised nod. Lupin launched into the story he had just heard from Ginny. Although it may have been Ginny's story to tell, she sat silently, still mildly shaking and drinking a mug of very strong tea. When Lupin had finished, Dumbledore turned to Ginny.

"Time for a strategy session, I think," he said warmly. He moved to the fire and summoned Professor Snape. When he appeared in a black bathrobe over black pajamas, the four of them sat around the table, each with a steaming mug of tea.

It was with a very matter-of-fact tone that Dumbledore said, "Severus, Miss Weasley will be meeting with Lord Voldemort for the first time tomorrow night. She would be extremely grateful for your advice."

Professor Snape's staring eyes bore into Ginny's. "Where?" he asked.

"The Malfoy Manor," Ginny replied, looking into her cup.

"Then you don't have much to worry about. Lucius Malfoy will run down the finer etiquette points with you. You don't have to worry about blood sport-spies are never included. It keeps them out of Azkaban as long as possible."

Ginny nodded, and Dumbledore cleared his throat. "From what I have heard tonight, Miss Weasley," he said, "I think Lucius Malfoy will do everything possible to keep you out of harm's way. You have little to fear. Does that settle your nerves?"

Ginny nodded again. "Thank you," she choked.

Dumbledore smiled kindly at her. "No one will be disappointed in you if you can't do this. I think a few people might even be relieved. No one wants you to put yourself in danger, Mr. Malfoy least of all."

Ginny's eyes were deadly serious when she met the Headmaster's gaze. "I have to do this, Professor," she said firmly.

--

The next morning, Ginny was subdued at breakfast. She sat quietly through Potions, Transfiguration, and Charms. Finally, she was sitting in the courtyard, staring into space, when Hermione and Luna sat down on either side of her.

Hermione wasted no time getting directly to the point. "So what's wrong?" she asked. "Is he taking you to Voldemort?"

Ginny nodded.

Hermione continued. "Ginny, he loves you. He wouldn't possibly let anything happen to you."

"Funny," Ginny snapped, "Everyone keeps telling me that, but it really doesn't make me feel any better."

Hermione looked hurt, so Luna stepped in. "What would make you feel better, then?" She asked.

Ginny put her forehead in her hand. "For this to all be over. To be able to sit down and tell him that I love him without Voldemort hanging over our heads." She jumped and looked guiltily at Hermione. "Please, don't tell Ron I said that," she laughed.

Hermione smiled. "That would just confuse Ron. He's a bit behind on recent events."

Ginny's cheeks flushed to approximately the color of her hair. "That may just be the best news I've had all day."

--

That evening, Ginny followed the map back into the Forbidden Forest apprehensively. She was relieved, at least, that her hands had stopped shaking. When she reached the clearing, Lucius was facing away from her. She approached his back and cleared her throat.

He whipped around and wasted no time drawing her to him for a long, deep, passionate kiss. He pulled her as close against him as possible, and then buried his hands in her flaming hair. She clasped her hands behind his back, pressing herself to him. When he drew back, he looked at her with a tenderness and a passion unlike anything she had ever seen.

"Can you stay tonight?" He asked.

She rested her head against his chest. "For a little while."

"Are you ready to do this?"

Ginny sighed and tipped her head back to look at him. "As ready as I'm ever going to be." She said softly.

"Do you want the protocol lesson?"

She nodded.

TBC