Pairings: Harry/Draco, Ginny/Voldemort, Harry/Ginny/Draco, and a little Ron/Hermione but they're not in the main focus.
A/N: Takes place in Harry's seventh year, this fic also contains OotP spoilers. Voldemort's activity is back to normal Muggle/Wizard torturing since he's out of the closet… Also Ginny is only sixteen. If you have problems with sixteen-year old sexuality then don't read.
Italics Thoughts and/or dreams

Prologue- Secrets, Tomes and Illusions

Wormtail handed his master a tarnished silver mirror with his recently polished metallic hand. Long fingers clasped the handle; they turned the mirror away from the face of its new owner. After a few seconds he turned the mirror over and stared at the youthful reflection.

Tom Riddle had been handsome, Voldemort noted to himself.

A Mirror of Secrets showed the dead reflection of Tom Marvolo Riddle in young adulthood. Tom once had dark eyes and shinny black hair. At the present, no woman would want him. Pale as bone, lank, with cold red eyes. The plan could not succeed if she was frightened of his images. Nightmares instead of pleasant dreams…

"Sir." A hooded Death Eater entered the room and kneeled. Nagini hissed at him, her white teeth bared. She sensed failure as well. So did the mirror; its glassy reflection showed empty hands.

"We could not find the tome you requested. The Muggle British Museum has no records. Neither does the Ministry of Magic." The Death Eater then tensed waiting for his punishment. Voldemort knew he had time to prepare the spell needed from the lost tome; other things were vital to the situation.

"What about planting the Seed of Illusions on the avatar?" The Death Eater was surprised punishment hadn't come. The Tome of Vishnu showed the spells for the transfer of essence and power form one being to another. It also showed ways to copy power to another avatar. It was essential for everything in this new plan.

"She is heavily guarded. Our infiltrator is keeping his eye on her, though the incident that was caused two summers past has impeded some progress." As the trembling Death Eater finished speaking, Nagini shouted to her master.

"Kill him! He is worthless!" Voldemort smiled, she was a great judge of character. The Death Eater of course knew nothing of what the great snake said, but the air was cold once more, death and perception rising.

"You did not answer my question. Is the Seed planted?"

The cloaked man trembled. "No," he squeaked.

The python hissed and spitted again, Nagini was hungry; she now had a meal. She rose as through a snake charmer we guiding her movements, she then slid slowly, then attacked. The Death Eater screamed as the snake ate away at his living body.

"The Seed must be planted, that is what's important. She must trust illusion before reality. Bring him to me. Find what the hell he's been doing!" Voldemort yelled these orders to Wormtail, who looked on the verge of vomiting. He nodded, transfigured himself into a small teenage looking boy, then walked off.

Part One- Bittersweet Bombshells

The sun shone above slightly obscured by the shop banner for Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. The two redheaded twins waved at the passing group of friends and sister. On Harry Potter's right was Ginny talking to Tonks. Tonks' hair was long and black today, she also wore a smile as Hermione and Ginny kept telling jokes. Behind was Mad-Eye, skulking and hobbling along, occasionally taking a breather then trying catching back up with the younger group. Ron was mumbling about him just ridding a broom so he could keep up. He shifted the bag on his shoulder, staggering a bit under the weight of all his books.

There were textbooks for all his N.E.W.T. classes, all his classes required to be an Auror. There was Advanced Transfiguration: N.E.W.T.S Level, Advanced Charms for N.E.W.T. Students, a new textbook for N.E.W.T.S Care of Magical Creatures: Creatures Reconsidered. There were two new books for Defense Against the Dark Arts: Spells, Jinxes, and Counterjinxes for the Advanced Defense, and The Dark Arts: Origin and the Present. The most surprising thing was the Outstanding in Potions he'd received, the book under his arm Potions for Practice: N.E.W.T.S Rank was an announcement of it .Snape tried to find out how Harry "cheated", but the Potions Master had no choice but to accept him into the class. He'd also finally dropped Divination since N.E.W.T. classes took so much time, and because N.E.W.T History of Magic wasn't a big requirement for Auror training, he hadn't taken it.

Last year had been hell, and this year was going to be just as bad, there was also his first Auror interview four weeks into the term. But as Tonks and Kingsley pointed out it would be well worth it after Hogwarts as both told him a preview of Auror training the night before, after stopping in for dinner at the Burrow.

Beside him, Tonks laughed at one of Hermione's Muggle jokes; Tonks got it since her father was Muggle born. Ginny looked puzzled for a moment then just shook it off; she paused slightly before adding in another joke, shifting her heavy bag to the other hand. Her bag was just as loaded as Hermione's. She had finally decided she wanted to be a Healer, and N.E.W.T.S classes were just the beginning of the training she would need.

In the Leaky Cauldron, Harry spotted a lonely Draco Malfoy reading by the fire, but a distance away from the group. Both looked at each other for a moment, but neither the dared not stare for long. But just as he turned to see Ginny disappear in the fireplace, Draco shut his book and walked towards Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson, shouting for him.

Harry shook the relief of seeing Draco and concentrated for the state of mind needed to Apparate. He thought about the Burrow, the smell of Mrs. Weasley's cooking, the mismatched furniture and everything else that made the Burrow home. He lifted his wand and CRACK! Within seconds he opened his eyes again and was standing near the fireplace and watched as knitting needles looped together of their own accord nearby. Mr. Weasley was home from work and was sitting at the table reading the Daily Prophet.

Moody, Ron and Hermione had Apparated either before or after he'd arrived. They all sat their bags down; Hermione walked immediately sat down in a comfortable chair to read. Ginny arrived a second later from the fire, followed by a Disapparating Tonks. Moody hobbled and sat down in the chair. Tonks walked towards the table too and knocked over chair in the process.

"Molly, Fudge's memoir is in the Prophet today." Mr. Weasley handed the paper to his wife. She walked over to him and took it and scanned the article.

"It says nothing of how he betrayed his friends and tried to condemn them all." She threw the paper on the table and went back to the bubbling pot on the stove.

Harry quickly stole the paper before Moody had a chance to grab it. A sharp pang hit as he looked at the face on the front page of the Daily Prophet. It was a photo of Fudge in his youth, probably only late twenties. He read some of it out loud; mostly he just skimmed the obituary.

"Cornelius O. Fudge: born April 30, 1916, died August 20. ?Husband to Diane…Cornelius Fudge was murdered two weeks ago… Murdered by seven Death Eaters…the leader of the group Lucius Malfoy…Became Minister of Magic in 1983…"

Harry sighed; an article next to the obituary caught his eye. It was on the capture and escape of Lucius Malfoy. He read silently, only to his heart.

"Caught nineteen days after his third escape from Azkaban…Narcissa Malfoy and their son, Draco, deny any interactions with Mr. Malfoy…"

Draco, I'm so sorry. Draco's eyes shifted nervously in the picture in front of the great Malfoy Manor. The black and white picture refused to look directly ahead. Mrs. Malfoy's eyes were facing the camera, filled with fury only a woman could accomplish.

"'I have not spoken to, nor have seen my husband since his imprisonment…No I have not helped my husband in any way!'"

Harry sighed again. He touched Draco's cheek in the picture. Be brave, love…

It was well around midnight when the owl tapped on the window. It woke Harry fast; he quickly retrieved the letter from the owl's foot. It was Iris, Draco's new owl. She was a beautiful dark and light brown-feathered owl. She was very loyal to Draco already.

In a spark of wand light the letter was splotched with tears. Harry knew what it was about before he read it all.

Harry,

I can't believe it happened. Mother just got the owl…my father is dead. He tried to escape from the ministry and was hit by a Muggle car. It'll be in the Prophet tomorrow morning. I hated being in the Prophet again; it's like I'm a co-conspirator with the man I hate most. I wish we could just tell them all…(the tears started) It hurts so much, I need you here. (Tears smudged a crossed out part) I guess I will see you in a week.

Don't Apparate to me when you get this letter. It would be dangerous since Mother is beginning Death Eater activities again. Just send something back with Iris or Hedwig.

I miss you so much. Write back please. I need something.

But there is a bit of good news, I met Daniel Thorburt, he's the Head of the Department of Mysteries. He noticed me in Flourish and Blotts earlier today and the book I was buying was one he'd come to the shop for himself. We talked about books and such, and he mentioned that a brain like mine belongs in his department. Hmm, I guess I have a good mind. Never gave it much thought.

Love,

Draco

P.S. Do say hi to Gin for me.

Harry's heart hung heavy for a moment. Lucius was…had been stupid. Draco had idolized him for years, and then one day, in November last year, he broke down, Harry took pity. Just like that the spark had been started. For a while they were secret friends…

It had been in December of their sixth year, Draco admitted to how he really felt about Harry. It took The Boy Who Lived nearly a month to take it all in, and even now he could hardly believe that the passion the two shared, had started with disgust.

Iris had flown to Hedwig and Pig's perch. Since both were out, Hedwig couldn't pitch a fit. Iris drank some of Hedwig's water then flew back down to Harry. On his shoulder she nipped at his ear and hooted.

"From Draco? Or just you?" Harry stroked the underside of her chin.

Quickly he pulled out a piece of parchment and scribbled a note back.

Draco,

Love, what can I really say to ease your tears and pain? I love you and soon I will hold you and everything will be fine.

I will send Ginny your love too.

Love,

Harry

Harry rolled up the clandestine letter and tied it to Iris' leg. Harry quickly grabbed an owl treat, while she gulped it down he stroked the underside of her chin.

"Hurry Iris, before Mrs. Malfoy finds you gone." She took it and flew off.

Ron's stirring scared Harry, he didn't jump, but his heart stopped for a few seconds. "Whaddya doin'?" Ron mumbled into his pillow.

"Couldn't sleep."

Ron mumbled sleepily then went back to snoring. Harry stared out into the night; Iris was no longer visible. Satisfied Harry climbed into bed. After making a mental note to pass on Draco's message to "Gin." Thinking of seeing and holding Draco soon, sleep claimed his now tired mind.

It was after the Quidditch match, everyone was wet from head to toe while both teams stood in the hospital wing. One person from each team was injured. Ginny had fallen when a Bludger had hit her. In an attempt to stop her fall she'd grabbed Draco's robes and he slid off his broom. Everyone had started fighting after the Slytherin Seeker and Gryffindor Chaser fell to the ground and Harry caught the Snitch seconds later. A duel had broken out between two of the rival houses, one had gold butterflies for ears and the other had sprouted purple and green feathers from his head.

Ginny was resting against the propped up pillow. Ron and Hermione had their prefect duties, so that left Harry and Ginny talking together. Madam Pomfrey was feeding the two duelists reversal potions.

"I feel really embarrassed." Ginny looked down at her fingernails and gave a small grimace. She pressed a hand to her side and winced. "Damned ribs, damn Bludger."

"Don't, you practically gave us the victory. On a Nimbus 3000, he was catching up to my Firebolt near the end there." Harry patted her hand. Madam Pomfrey said that both had concussions, Ginny had a broken rib from the Bludger, but she also discovered that Malfoy was really sick.

He hadn't stopped vomiting and apparently was running a fever that wouldn't sedate. In the bed across from Ginny's, he'd been drugged into sleep. But he twisted and turned in his sleep. Harry felt a twinge of satisfaction that Malfoy was sick and nobody could help him.

"You better leave Harry, thanks for coming to see me," she whispered.

"No prob…" an abrupt sound stopped Harry in mid-sentence. He threw the Invisibility Cloak over himself and curled up on the chair. Ginny laid back on the bed and shut her eyes.

Snape and Dumbledore walked in and the Healer came rushing out of her office.

"Any results, Professors?"

"I broke down Draco's blood and I found a most peculiar substance in is body." Snape pulled a small vial from his pocket. From what Harry could see in the dim light the liquid was fairly clear, but there was a purple tint to the liquid. "It's a potion called See-Me-Not. The concoction is forbidden to be brewed since it's as strong as the Imperius Curse, but it works in different ways."

"I'm not familiar with the potion." Madam Pomfrey took the phial and inspected it herself.

"Be careful with the vial, the large concentration of nepenthe in the liquid can set you off balance for several days. See-Me-Not is brewed with the part of the person you wish to influence, and the person that is to be seen as something not seen. For example, a father whose son hates him, to see the parent as a figure of power and basically heroic."

"You think that Lucius Malfoy…poisoned his own son?" Madam Pomfrey looked horrified.

"Poppy, the actions of a Death Eater or any follower of Voldemort (Madam Pomfrey winced at the sound of the name, Snape stood without any movement), you would expect irrational action. If Lucius had a son that was disloyal to him, it would be a problem wouldn't it? Yes, I do believe that Draco has been under the influence of this poison, and that we may see a very different Draco Malfoy develop over the next few weeks. After the withdrawal has worn off, of course. Snape would you be kind as to inform Draco's other teachers that he may be absent for quite a while."

"Yes, Headmaster. Also what if this has been over heard by…" Snape looked over at Ginny. She gave up the act and opened her eyes.

"I will swear Miss Weasley to secrecy," Dumbledore assured. Though Harry saw that Dumbledore was looking at himself while he spoke.