Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, I never will.

Deception – Flight of Darkness.

She met him in the hall not to long ago, but he still insisted they meet under the cover of night. Ginny wandered down the hall, pulling her cloak closer around her shoulder. As she turned the corner, a pair of strong arms lifted her into the air. Her face showed pure happiness and joy; but that drained quickly enough as she was twirled around.

"Blaise?" she mouthed. The figure shook its head, icy-blue eyes twinkling in the darkness. "Draco?" she tried again, trying to see past the darkness.

"Wrong again, little one!" he sneered.

"HELP!" she screamed, twisting in her captor's iron-vice grasp.

"No use, my pretty one, I've cast a silencing spell. Did you not think I would?" he sneered. Ginny widely looked about, in the corner there was a broom, but other then that the room was bare. "Time to go" he said coldly, walking towards the broom. As he mounted, his grip on Ginny loosened slightly, it wasn't much, but it was a chance. She made run for it, but was hit with a stunning spell in the small of her back. Her captor smirked, the trap was set, and he had what he had come for. He stepped closer, coming into the moonlight. His blonde hair looked so pale. He quickly bound her wrists together and lifted her into his arm. "Pity," he said. "I enjoy company."

The man mounted his broom again and cradled the petite girl in his arms. Before he took off, he brushed a lock of red hair from her pale face. "I see why he likes you so" and took off into the moonlight. Nobody would notice the girl was gone until morning, and by then he, and his pretty captive, would be far, far away…

O0O0O0O0O0O0O

"Hermione! Would you calm down? I'm sure she's gone down to breakfast or something!" Harry said tiredly. Hermione was pacing the Common Room, waiting for Ginny to come down. Ron had already left; claiming his stomach was over-powering him. "Harry! How could you suggest such a thing? We both know very well she hasn't left!" Hermione said, her voice on the edge of hysteria.

"How do we know that? How?" Harry said gently, pulling his girlfriend into his lap.

"Because of the roster!"

"Ah... How do we know she didn't forget to sign it? It could happen to anyone!" Harry said, grasping at straws. Ever since Voldemort had come back, Hogwarts had gone into security overload. Every House had a roster that the students had to sign before leaving, Fudges idea of course, so they knew nobody had gone missing. It wasn't very 'foolproof', as Fudge had called it, looking very smug when he had said so, as one of the students was now missing.

"Harry! Hermione! Ginny's missing!" Ron had burst through the portrait. His red hair was flying about his freckled face.

"Thanks for the tip, Captain Obvious" Hermione said dryly. She got off Harry's lap. "That's it, I'm going to inform the Headmaster!" she huffed. Walking swiftly past Ron. He caught her elbow, stopping her.

"We don't know for certain that she's missing," he said quietly.

"But you just said for yourself! She wasn't at breakfast, she seemed odd last night, she hasn't come down and it's nearing eight thirty. Where else could she be?" Hermione demanded.

"Outside" Harry said softly. Both turned to look at him. Harry's green eyes were staring into the distance. They narrowed slightly. "What's that? Near the tree line?" he said suddenly. Both Hermione and Ron rushed over. They squinted at the red object in the distance. "Oh No!" Hermione screamed. All three ran to Dumbledore's office, halting as none of them knew the password. "Sugar Quill?" Harry said hopefully, as it was the last sweet in Honeydukes. The stone gargoyle turned, permitting them to enter. As the Trio climbed the stairs with the utmost speed, they found the office was empty. As they turned to leave, Harry noticed a pale, thin hand draped over the armrest of a overstuffed couch. Hurrying over, Harry shook the aged professor awake.

"Harry?" Dumbledore said.

"Yes. Ginny, Professor, we think she's missing!" Hermione rushed, tears starting to fill her eyes. Ron nodded, unable to speak.

"We think we saw her outside, near the Forbidden Forest." Harry said, forcefully dragging Dumbledoor to the window. "There!" he said, pointing to the red speck.

Suddenly himself, Dumbledoor's voice became strong and authoritative. "We must hurry. Hermione, get Professor McGonagall. Ron, fetch Madam Pomfrey. Harry, come with me!" the old man said, disappearing down the staircase.

O0O0O0O0O0O0O

As the two wizards hurried to the tree line, "Professor, what if it's not Ginny?" Harry called.

Dumbledore replied grimly, "We had better hope that it is."

As they neared the red-haired person, Harry gasped. It was clearly a female, red-hair. She was small, like Ginny, and freckles splattered her nose. "Ginny?" Harry said tentatively. Dumbledore looked back and saw two adults and two children running towards them. Ron reached them first. He collapsed next to his sister, sobbing. Hermione neared them, hands covering her mouth. She had tears in her eyes and she was shaking her head, trying not to look at her friend. Harry patted Ron on the back before gathering Hermione in his arms and holding her tight. Hermione buried her head into Harry's shoulder, seeking comfort. Madam Pomfrey checked the girls' pulse, shaking her head. Tears filled her eyes as she closed Ginny's eyes and mouth. Hermione lost it. Harry's knees almost buckled as Hermione's gave way, leaning on Harry entirely. Harry held her sobbing form tightly as he stared at Ginny. Something didn't seem right. Something he couldn't place his finger on.

The Gryfindors were gathered silently as McGonagall told them about Ginny. A few girls were crying, one even crying so hard she had to be lead off. All of the boys were looking sad and forlorn. Dean Thomas had tears in his eyes, but kept wiping them discreetly, hoping no one would notice. Hermione and Ron had left, and only Harry stood, eyes dry. He had gathered many strange looks, as though HE had been the one who killed her. He tried his best to look remorseful, but it was proving rather difficult because his emotions were in turmoil.

Hermione, Ron and Harry were standing around Ginny's bed. The Nurse had changed her out of her school-uniform, which was splattered with blood. Ron's younger sister was now wearing a thin, white gown. Her red hair was lying about her shoulders, neatly combed. Her small hands were resting on her stomach and she looked as if she were sleeping. If it were not for the absence of her chest rising and falling, the Trio wouldn't have thought her dead. Hermione was watery eyed and was biting her lip, trying to refrain from bursting into tears. Ron looked terrible, having cried all night. His hair was ruffled and his eyes were red-rimmed. His face looked deathly pale and gaunt. Only Harry looked presentable. His eyes were downcast, yes, but he showed no other signs of distress.

"You have to leave, visiting hours are long over" Madam Pomfrey said gently, giving Ron a gentle shove out the door. Harry put his arm around Hermione, guiding her out the door. "Her funeral will be tomorrow morning, at sunrise."

With one last look at Ginny, Harry blinked his eyes and stared at her hard. "It's not her," he said quietly to Hermione. She stared confusedly at her boyfriend.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean it's not her. She had a small scar on the inside of her left wrist from when Voldemort-"

Hermione flinched at the name. "Harry…"

"From when Voldemort possessed her in our second year? Remember? It wasn't there when I was folding her hands on her hands onto her stomach" Harry continued, ignoring her and furrowing his brow as he thought.

"You might've missed it Harry" Hermione said, looking at Ginny also.

"We could call in Molly, she'd be able to tell if it's her or not."

"No Harry, Mrs. Weasly would be sad enough without having to identify her own daughter." Hermione said, taking his hand.

"But…" Harry trailed off. He shook his head, trying not to believe Ginny was dead.

"Harry, the more wild ideas you come up with trying to prove it's not her, will only make it harder for you to accept she's dead. It's her, Harry, it's Ginny. And she's dead, she's not coming back, so matter how hard you convince yourself she will!" Hermione said, trying not to sound too harsh.

"I don't believe it's her – I doubt I ever will unless I get some solid proof."

"What other 'proof' can you possibly be talking about? It's Ginny! We've known her for what, six years? Ron's been with her since she was born! I'd bank my money on Ron being right, and NOT YOU!" Hermione cried, tears breaking out again. She stepped away from Harry, defiantly wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "She's gone, and she's not coming back!" Hermione whispered, tears choking her words. With that, Hermione turned on her heel and fled, seeking refuge in the Gryffindor Girls' Dormitory, where she sat on her bed curtains drawn, rocking slightly and sobbing softly.

O0O0O0O0O0O

Meanwhile, in a dark dungeon, the REAL Ginny's eyes were fluttering as the stunning spell slowly wore off. A pair of violet eyes were watching her closely. He gave an evil chuckle and stood up, brushing a lock of dark red hair from Ginny's fair face. "Wake up, my pretty, we wait for you with immense trepidation…" he spoke softly, so only Ginny could hear him. "Soon your training begins…" and from a dark, secluded, damp corner, the distinct sound of a snake's hiss filled the air…

As this is my second fan-fiction, do be nice. I'm not one for long authors notes, so I'll make it snappy. Please, feel free to review, in fact, I insist you do.
Much appreciated,
Flowerpot Munchkin.