Chapter 11

"Yes!" Ginny cried out when she looked at what was floating in the palm of her hand; an ENORMOUS fireball. Now she had the feeling that she was ready to try and escape.

Three weeks had gone by since she had met Professor Snape in the Malfoy Manor for the first time. Apparently Lucius had gone on some business in Australia, contacting this powerful family to bring over to the Dark side. Severus had been bringing her food since then. She had learned a lot about him then. She saw that Severus wasn't as bad as everyone made him out to be.

Severus was married once, but his wife left him. It was then that he turned to Voldemort and became a Death Eater. But when he saw the death and destruction, he changed his mind and became a spy. But he always will remember how heartbroken he was when his wife left and he had sworn never to let anyone close to him. That was the reason why he was so mean all the time.

In the three weeks, Severus had, as promised found a solution to their problem. A spell to be exact. Last night when he came he said he had found a spell.

Severus had come into her prison room. Ginny had just gotten back from the Maze. The injuries weren't as bad today. A broken arm, bruises everywhere and a nasty cut just above her right-eyebrow.

"Ginerva" Severus said while he saw Ginny busy attending to her cuts.

Ginny looked up and her face lit up. The visit's of Severus was (besides the prospect of escaping) the thing she enjoyed, seeing the only person who doesn't want you to get hurt...plus the food he brought of course.

"Severus" she beamed while he set down a tray of food in front of her. She dug in at once. They weren't giving her much here; just enough to keep most of her strength up.

"I have found the a solution to the problem of how to find each other while we are in the forest"

Ginny propped the lump of bread in her mouth, but her head shot up when she heard that information.

"You have? Tell me"

"Well, it's called the Ignation-spell. If I point my wand at you and do the spell, all I have to do is think about you really hard and then I will be pulled magically towards wherever you are. Same goes for you of course"

"Let's do it" came the urgent reply.

"Well, it will only last for 24 hours so it will have to be done the night before you plan to escape"

..."that's tonight then, I am...well I think...that I am now ready"

Severus lifted one eyebrow. "You think?"

Ginny looked down. "Well, I think and I hope that I am powerful enough, but I can't wait any longer. I have been here for almost two months of being tortured, hunted and ridiculed. I won't last any longer...it HAS to be tomorrow"

Severus nodded in understanding. He withdrew his wand. "I will do the Ignation spell now"

He pointed his wand at Ginny and Ginny flinched. She couldn't help it. For two months now, the only reason a wand would be pointed at her was only to inflict pain, but if Severus noticed he didn't say anything.

"Ignatius" He yelled. A yellow beam shot out of the tip of his wand and soared to Ginny. She closed her eyes, feeling the spell hit her. Though the only thing she felt was a light tingling. She opened her eyes again and saw Severus grin at her (well...a much as a grin Severus could manage)

"It worked and now I will be able to find you and you will be able to find me"

Ginny looked at her feet.

"Thank you so much" She said and Severus knew that it wasn't only meant for the spell, but for everything he had done for her.

"I have to go now" Severus said. "Don't worry" he said looking her squarely in the eye. "You'll succeed; I have never met anyone like you"

And with that he went away. Ginny slid on the ground. She was anxious and nervous...Tomorrow she will be outta here...

TOMORROW

Ginny woke up after little sleep at the feeling of hands pulling her up harshly. She drowsily opened her eyes and saw Lucius.

"So...you're back huh?"

He looked at her again with those cold eyes. She shivered.

"Ah Ginerva, still as beautiful as ever. How have you...managed these weeks? Not to worry I will find out soon enough" He said silkily.

Find out soon enough? Will that mean that?"You will be in the maze today?" She asked unbelievingly.

"Yes" came the short reply.

Just my luck

He advanced on her, but Ginny did not waver. He brought his hands to her face.

"So beautiful..." he said. "And yet so deadly" After this he crashed his lips on hers hard!

Ginny struggled. His hands were all over her, so she kneed him where it hurts. He stumbled back and Ginny spit on him.

"Bastard" she hissed.

Furious eyes glared at her and he grabbed her arm roughly.

"I will like to see you in the maze today, you bitch"

Likewise

The same routine went like every other day; to the big room and then to the balcony where Voldemort was standing.

"Ah Voldemort, a nice day isn't it?" Ginny said falsely cheerful.

He looked at her with those creepy eyes and they narrowed suspiciously.

"And why would that be?"

Ginny began walking towards the balcony to shoot a glance at the maze. She turned her gaze back to Voldemort.

"So Voldie...I have realised that you know about me being this Fire Princess and all, but you don't know much more do you?...about what comes with being this Fire Princess"

He looked at her greedily and said: "And? You do know your ability's?"

Ginny smirked. "Oh I know a thing or two" and with that she turned and dived over the railing of the balcony and in the water. When she climbed out she could already feel that dark wand magically appear in her pocket. She withdrew it and began making her way to the maze with a mixture of fear and anxiety coursing trough her body. Her goal was to get as much as she possibly could to the north side of the maze and then to go trough it with the use of a Fireball. But she had to get there first.

When she rounded a corner she saw a feline Mager. Ginny immediately began searching her brain for information about this animal. It is a catlike creature with large fangs. Its main strategy was to send a weakening spell first and then attack you.

Ginny braced herself for what she knew what was coming and indeed it did. The Mager shot a weakening spell. Ginny dodged it.

"Garius!" she yelled, trying to make its legs to turn to jelly. But Magers are fast and agile and the spell missed. The Mager saw that her prey would not go down with a weakening spell and advanced, baring its teeth.

Ginny watched as it came closer. When the Mager jumped she let herself fall on her back, on the ground and the creature missed her. Rolling on her stomach she sent a stunning spell. It hit and the Mager went down.

She got op and went on. She made her way trough the maze, defeating every creature that came by and some unknown Death Eaters. Finally she came to the hedge of where she believed was the end of the maze at the northern side. She took on step back, preparing to break trough it, when someone spoke up.

"What are you doing?"

She looked around and saw the man she had hoped to avoid seeing. Lucius Malfoy, the one and only.

"Not any of your business Malfoy!" she sneered.

"Well, I think it's time to have a little payback for this morning, eh?" He looked happy, as if knowing for sure that this would be an easy win. Ginny wouldn't allow it though.

She shot the first spell.

"Crona!" she sent the spell in his direction but he dodged easily.

"Crucio" came back. Ginny was shocked. She hadn't reckoned he'd start to get this dirty so early in the duel. Because of her thoughts she was too slow to miss it.

Again she felt the pain of where she could almost say she had gotten used to. But no matter how many times you got hit with the spell, it always hurt fiercely.

When the pain stopped, she was half on the ground, panting heavily. Lucius strolled up casually.

"Look at you, you pathetic Gryffindor. And you are supposed to be powerful? Down by the first struck. I never believed you were this Fire Princess from the very beginning. So easily defeated, so easily fooled" he sneered.

Ginny glared at him and Lucius knew he had struck a nerve. "Oh didn't like it when Draco and his friends betrayed you huh? Guess you had to see it coming. Who would want to be friends with you? Such a low-life, poor muggle-lover"

ENOUGH! Ginny thought. She stood up. All thoughts of pain went away. Anger taking over. Once again her body began glowing and her hair was dancing wildly around her as if a strong gust of wind was playing with it.

Ginny stuck out her hand and threw Lucius 20 feet away using wandless magic. He struggled to get up and when he did, he noticed his wand broken. Furious he threw the two pieces away and came back. He punched her, hard! And Ginny fell back. Quickly she recovered despite the stinging pain she stuck out her leg and kicked Lucius' legs away from underneath him. Both stood up and Ginny made a flying kick, but Lucius ducked in time. He brought his hands to her neck and tried choking her.

Ginny couldn't breath! Lucius was much stronger then her physically. With her hands she tried to get his of her neck, but they didn't budge. She was starting to panic now. (lack of breath could do that to you). Ginny stopped struggling. Lay still for a few seconds. Lucius began to wonder if he'd killed her. ...

Suddenly her eyes shot open and Lucius was (again) thrown backwards, but this time he didn't get up. Ginny coughed hard!

She had no time to rest; she had to get out of this maze. She turned to the hedge and stuck out her arms above her head. Concentrating really hard she found her center. She could feel the magic working up to her palms, stronger and stronger.

In her hands now lay a giant fireball. She could here Voldemort shouting now. She could hear that he was still far away. He now knew that she is going to try and escape. The fireball became bigger and Ginny was ready.

She braced herself and shot the fireball towards the hedge. It burnt a hole right through. The magical defences weren't that easy. It was trying to crush it, but the defences were strong. Ginny closed her eyes and concentrated. She wanted to get out of here! All the hatred of betrayal, torture and everything she had gone trough the last two months made her emotions go high.

Ginny knew emotions are connected to your magic. The 'Patronus' charm could only work when you think of something happy, The Crutacious Curse would only work when you REALLY want to inflict pain etcetera. Her reasoning was correct. The fireball was gaining intensity and Ginny knew that the defences were breaking.

The voices of Death Eaters became louder now. They too had to go trough some obstacles before they could reach her.

Come on! Break!

There was a deafening crack heard and her fireball disappeared. Ginny shakily put out her hand to see if there was anything stopping her from getting out.

There was nothing...

She ran!

She could see the beginning of the forest close by, about twenty feet. Damn thing was, the Death Eaters were close by too.

Don't look back Ginny, just run like hell!

When she reached the forest she was tired. Adrenaline was speeding trough her. She turned and saw about twenty Death Eaters running towards her.

One of them has to be Severus She thought.

But no time to think! She went on, passing tree after tree. Suddenly an idea came to her. She made a small fireball in her hand and shot it to her left. The Death Eaters would surely see it and go after it, but Severus will know that it is a trap to lure them away from her trail.

After a while she couldn't go on.

How long is this freaking forest...is it safe to do the spell to go to Severus?

Ginny decided that she had no other choice as she had no idea what to do now. She thought about Severus really hard. About the way he looked. (Still greasy haired and pale, but that didn't matter anymore). At first she felt nothing, but after a while she felt a pull. Like a rope being strapped around her waist pulling her to the correct direction, which was North-east. So she hadn't dwelt that far off.

She began going into the direction she was pulled. After about 10 minutes she felt nothing anymore, no pull. She looked around, but saw no one.

She would wait. Looking around again, but this time for a good climbing tree. She found one and climbed up. She sat there real still. No sound was made or heard. After a minute or two she saw a dark figure strolling up. The Death Eater looked around and whispered: "Ginny!"

She recognized that voice as Severus' and jumped down. Severus pointed his wand at the person that scared him by sneaking up and saw that it was Ginny.

"Ginerva! Are you alright?"

"To be honest Severus..." she panted."I don't think I can hold out much longer"

"Well be glad, we're past the apparition-border. We made it!"

Ginny was to tired to show her happiness.

"Let's go"

Severus touched her arm and prepared to apparate when a voice spoke up.

"I see I have underestimated you, Virginia"

Ginny looked at the direction of the sound and saw Voldemort standing there.

"Or maybe you've overestimated yourself, thinking you'd be powerful enough to hold me here"

Ginny smirked. "It's bye bye now Tom, but I'll see you again" And with that Severus apparated away...

To Hogsmeade, to Hogwarts, to home!

But they all knew that even though the battle was won, the war was still going.