Charmed

Chapter 12

By Terra Rose

Dearest Mother,

I have had a considerable amount of time to think about our last discussion. I have decided that the option you presented to me is the only path suitable for a young man in my position. I would appreciate if you would assist me in making this happen, seeing that I am still in school and quite unable to make arrangements for myself. I would also appreciate a response as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Draco Malfoy

It's strange how quickly things change. For example, the wind that had been playful and carefree only a few days before transformed over night into a storm. The wind was malicious and fierce, stinging your skin with spite. There were buckets of rain falling from the sky, thunder to shake the ground like a stampede of Elephants, and lightning to paint an instantaneous masterpiece upon a darkened canvas only to disappear just a quickly. From the window of the Gryffindor common room, a few brave first years looked out while inside the common room and gathered around the hearth to warm their hands, the famous trio sat in their favorite chairs, deep in discussion.

"I have been worried about Ginny. She looks ruddy awful-"

"Ron! That's rude." Hermione stated tartly, looking up from her study planner to give Ron one of her disapproving looks.

"Well, she does. Have you seen the size of those black bags under her eyes? Honestly, I saw her this morning and she looked like she is about to keel over. Mum's left me in charge of Ginny. If she gets ill and I don't do anything, Mum will have my neck!" Ron explained before stuffing a chocolate frog in his mouth. Harry nodded, his eyes clouded over with thought. He had also observed Ginny's state and had noticed her disposition had become less like that of a young witch and more like an abandoned orphan.

"She has seemed a bit…off. But I thought it was probably stress. Those first year N.E.W.T.S. classes can be like jumping into cold water headfirst." Harry said quietly, trying to avoid being overheard by the other occupants in the common room. Hermione nodded, setting her spectacles down atop her Potions textbook.

"I quite agree that Ginny has lost her normal luster, but perhaps we shouldn't make a fuss about it. I hate it when people fret about my health. It irritates me to no end, actually." Hermione commented in a loud whisper, pulling a quill from out of nowhere to begin her Potions Essay.

"I thought that you liked me to pamper you when you are out of sorts, Hermykins." Ron inquired with a smirk, brushing her leg playfully. She smiled at him brightly, a deep crimson blush on her cheeks.

"Well…urm…I didn't mean you, Ronnipuss." Hermione said softly before kissing him.

"Gross, you guys! Will you stop snogging and get back to the topic at hand!" Harry insisted, trying to pull his two lovebird friends out of the clouds. They separated almost immediately, both quite flushed with embarrassment. Ron cleared his throat and turned to face Harry.

"Oh, right. As I was saying, Ginny is in an awful state and I just can't stand by and watch her drive herself into the ground. She looks like she hasn't slept a wink all week. Something must be done at once!" Ron announced, trying his best to sound as concerned as he had been a few moments before.

"Wait a minute! I have an idea…Just leave it to me, alright." Hermione said after a moment of thought and dashed up to her dorm without saying another word.

"Sometimes I think she really is mental."

Ginny glanced down at her watch and with a sigh began to gather her things. She had been in the library for hours, trying to decipher a single Arithmancy problem in vain. If she stayed there any longer, Madame Pince would lock up the library and she would have to stay the night among the books.

Just as she hadreturned a few library books back to the shelve, she heard a quiet shuffle of feet approach her. She slowly turned around, to reveal Pansy Parkinson standing in front of her. She had her hair done up in a stylish bun with a coral hairpin along with bright red lipstick to magnify already blowfish-like lips. Ginny scoffed at her, returning to the table to gather the rest of her things. Pansy followed, a smirk on her crimson lips.

"What do you want, Pansy?" Ginny asked, the animosity she felt towards the girl evident in every syllable.

"Where's your little boyfriend Harry, was it?" Pansy inquired in a trite giggle, " Last time I checked, you were snogging Draco in the library. Now everyone is saying that you and Potter are an item."

"What's your point? What I do is none of your business." Ginny barked back, pulling her rucksack on her shoulders. She began to leave when Pansy stepped in front of her and hit her books to the floor.

"Bloody Hell!You've becomea basket case!" Ginny shrieked loudly, as she bent down to pick up her books. She wanted nothing more than lace into Pansy, but she knew that she had a reputation to protect now that the press was so interested in her.

"Is there a problem, Ginny?" Madame Pince's voice sounded out of nowhere. The Librarian herself stuck her head out from behind the nearby bookshelf to investigate. She looked like a poodle with her wispy gray ringlets falling in her face.

"Absolutely not, Madame Pince. Ginny just dropped her books on accident. I was just going to help her pick them up." Pansy explained in a sugary sweet voice as she bent down next to Ginny.

"Oh, right then. Hurry up to your dorms now. The library is closing." Madame Pince said stridently before leaving to lock up her office.

"Watch your back, Weasley." Pansy whispered sharply, previous to reaching up to Ginny's hair, yanking out several strands violently, and sprinting away faster than apparating.

As Ginny made her way to the common room, she slipped her hand under her purple cap and felt the area on her scalp that Pansy had accosted. Did she really pull my hair? Isn't that something you do in grammar school? Obviously, she still hasn't matured enough to be considered civilized. Oh, well. She really is all fur coat and no knickers.

Ginny gave the Fat Lady the password and entered the common room. She barely made it halfway the distance to the stairs when Hermione called out to her from her spot by the hearth. Ginny turned reluctantly and saw Hermione holding out a steaming teacup.

"I made you a cup of tea. Actually it is practice for the Charms portion of the N.E.W.T.S., to make simple objects appear out of nowhere." Hermione explained sweetly, handing Ginny the mug once she had crossed the distance of the room.

"That's awfully kind of you. Wow, there's even a slice of lemon. You'll definitely wipe the floor with those N.E.W.T.S." Ginny said faintly, taking a kind sip from the cup, "It's delicious. I appreciate this but I have lots more homework to finish up."

"Of course. I wouldn't want to keep you from your studies. Goodnight, Gin." Hermione flicked her wand and the teacup disappeared. Ron and Harry both murmured Goodnights as well, but were preoccupied with a heated match of Wizards Chess. Ginny smiled weakly at the lot of them and made her way up to her dorm.

"So what was that wonderful plan of yours, Hermione?" Harry asked once Ginny had left the room.

"It has already been carried out. I gave Ginny a cup of Nocturnes Perpetual Tea. It will make her fall asleep and stay asleep the entire night."

To my Dearest Son,

I am quite pleased that you have realized your true path. I have made all the arrangements and everything is set in motion. However, I do not wish to have you join the family business until you have graduated from school. For your safety, I want you to finish your education before undergoing the rite of passage that the family business calls for. It is important that we all prove that we are truly loyal to the business before joining. Keep that in mind. Be patient and await more owls from me with instruction. I would like you meet with the boss soon.

Affectionately Your Mother,

Narcissa Malfoy

The alleyway was cold, yet the breeze beckoned her towards the misty walkway. She gazed up at the star dusted sky and took a deep breath. Her vision was blurred by the rising fog, yet she felt the cobbles of the street on her heels. She tugged at her black scarf, securing it around her neck to protect against the biting chill as she continued forward. It seemed like there was a graceful figure dancing just beyond the fog, yet she could not get to it. The further that she walked, the farther away the figure seemed to be. She reached out a gloved hand towards it, her fingers nearly there when something grabbed her hand and yanked her into the mist. She could see his red eyes through the haze yet nothing more than that. She felt his arms encircle her, his cold flesh causing her to become petrified with fear. She knew who it was immediately, the wizard so fear by the world that his name was not spoken aloud: Lord Voldemort.

"You thought you could hide from me, Ginevra?" He inquired of her in his delicate voice as he twisted her hair around his spidery fingers. His breath was hot on her neck, and she felt much like a vampire's prey.

"W-what do you want with me?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper that floated from her mouth and disappeared into nothingness. She heard him cackle at her and tighten his grip about her as though she was a small rodent and he was a snake slowly killing it's dinner.

"Draco has requested to join my Death Eaters. I thought you should know. It seems that he had his heart broken and now has no will to live." He stated nonchalantly, " But I suppose that Harry Potter's new girl wouldn't have any interest in such matters."

Ginny began to cry silently, hoping that she would just die and never have to feel this way again.

"Now, I could let young Draco join my forces. He would be a very useful addition to my Death Eaters. But I would much rather just kill him for the fun of it. What do you think, Ginevra?" He asked, only tightening his vice around her. She coughed, gasping for air as he cackled once more at the situation.

"P-p-please…Don't hurt him." She managed to get out.

"But why should I not? Your pain would please me to no extent." He asked with a raised eyebrow, " He is coming to meet me soon and it would be wonderful to simply murder him in front of his mother. Then I will know that she is truly loyal to me."

"Please! I will do anything…just don't hurt him." Ginny begged, the tears streaming down her face without end.

"Anything? My, Ginevra. That is an awfully open-ended word." He whispered, letting her loose from his hold. She stumbled to the ground, feeling the hardness of the cobbles on her forehead. She looked up and saw only the red eyes looking down at her through the mist. She tried with everything in her heart not to be afraid, but her entire body trembled with fright. She thought back to her diary entries. She had wanted love for everyone, even You-know-who. She had believed there was good in every heart, even his. She had hope in her heart for every dark wizard to see the light shining brighter than any star, to feel the warmth of the sun on their skin and to experience love without taint or deceit. As she laid in the alleyway, her life slipping away from her with each shallow breath she took in, she knew that she could be as strong as she wanted to be.

"Take me instead of him."

A/N: Thank you to all you wonderful reviewers! I haven't been getting very many reviews and that fills me with melancholy. I would appreciate it if you would leave me your thoughts on my writing. It inspired me to write more. I have also been learning a bit more British slang to make the dialogue somewhat authentic.

Lacy1: Hope you liked the update!

GoldenFawkes: I love your reviews. I don't find constructive criticism offensive at all. It motivates me to make my writing better. Thank you so much for your support!

Luna-Lovegood-Weasley: I felt the same way you did about separating them. It was really awful but it had to be done. Thanks for your review!

HyperSquishy: Don't worry, this story is not GW/HP! I hate that pairing as well.

Madrid: You are so wonderful!

Lavender Kenobi: I know you must hate me by now but it's ok. Lol!