Summary: A new prophecy has both Harry and Draco training for the ultimate fight. Ginny has many secrets of her own, one involving the newly tattooed Draco. He has hatred and ruthlessness branded into him; will his love for Ginny give him new, more painful scars?
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything you recognize... it all belongs to the wonderful JK Rowling and her family of publishers. Please don't sue, I am a poor student and have no money anyways.
DISCLAIMER #2: (I might quote song lyrics as I feel it, and if I do, this applies) These song lyrics do not belong to me, and they are not meant to promote this story in any way. I love these bands, and actually buy the albums. If anyone is interested in any of the bands I list, I would love to pass on their greatness!
When happiness is based on lies
It's so hard, it's too hard,
to tell the truth
What do you see
When you look at me?
Do you take me for a fool?
This fool is through.
The Starting Line
Chapter 20
They morning sky was a magnificent blue, cloudless and still, and as Hermione walked across the courtyard to the Great Hall entrance, she inhaled the sweet June fragrance. She slowed her walk and fell behind Harry and Ron, who were loudly discussing if the points from winning the Quidditch Cup would be enough for Gryffindor to win the House Cup, too. Looking up at the sky, she sighed and tried to memorize every moment of her last day at Hogwarts.
Surprisingly, she didn't feel as much sadness as she expected, and with a glance in Ron's direction, her smile reappeared. But her thoughts were interrupted as someone fell into step beside her.
"This is it, Herm, our last chance to get Ron to do it," Lukas whispered to her, his smile and obvious excitement infectious.
"It's just the last day, Lukas," Hermione said smiling nervously, "Not the end of the world."
"Yea, but then you're off to Auror Training. No more Hogwarts," he told her seriously.
"Ron's been accepted too, you know that. He's going to be there!" she playfully hit him on the arm and they continued towards the Great Hall.
"But he's going to be to busy spending all his time trying to pass his classes when he learns he's not going to be able to copy off you anymore. I'm telling you, he's ready to break, just do this one last thing!" Lukas wiggled his eyebrows at her, and Hermione laughed.
"Lukas, I don't know. What if I just wanted to enjoy my last morning here?" Hermione said, trying any excuse to get out of his plans for her.
"Then you're missing a golden opportunity to possibly enjoy it with Ron as your boyfriend. Follow my lead," Lukas laughed and grabbed her hand, leading her up the Great Hall.
Harry and Ron were already seated at the Gryffindor table, waiting on Hermione and Ginny to take their places beside them. Only Hermione came striding up the aisle with Lukas leading the way, hand in hand. Harry quickly glanced at Ron, who was not watching her anymore, but had clearly seen the affectionate gesture between the two since his whole face was an angry pink.
"So, I'll meet you at the Entrance after the Farewell Feast so we can find our compartment together?" Lukas asked her loudly as the approached the table. Ron's head jerked upwards and a scowl lit his face.
"Er, right, sounds good," Hermione smiled at Lukas, who quickly pressed a kiss on her cheek. Hermione blushed and made obvious bashful eyes at Lukas, who almost laughed, but kept his face perfectly serious.
Ron wasn't watching, but Hermione knew he had seen the kiss and now as she sat down, he wouldn't look at her. She felt guilt creep up her spine and she cursed herself for ruining their last day together.
Then suddenly, Hermione's anger grew. Ron didn't deserve to act like a wronged little boy, they could have been enjoying themselves if he actually had the nerve to tell her how he felt! Well, not that she already didn't know, Hermione smiled sarcastically to herself, the resigned to glare daggers at Ron until Ginny showed up to relieve the tension of the group.
:¦:--:¦:--:¦:--:¦:-
Harry barely noticed Hermione when she sat down at the table, and it wasn't because he didn't want to witness another spat between his two best friends. There was something in the air this morning, it was electric and Harry was trying to figure out why.
At first he chalked it up to being the last day of school. The air was filled with laughter and chaos and lightheartedness. All around him were happy students, going home to their families and friends, saying goodbye to their schoolmates, relieved that finals were over for the year. Of course, it was easy to pick out the Seventh Years, who looked slightly bittersweet than the rest, and Harry felt it more acutely than anyone in the room.
He was leaving his home for the very last time, and he wouldn't be back next year. Slowly he traced his finger along the carvings and wood patterns of the table, trying to release the lump in his throat that was making it hard to breathe. It had been the best seven years of his life, and today it ended. It was on to Auror training, then on to conquer the world, Harry smiled cynically to himself. The Seventh Years were going into the real world, but Harry had been a member since he learned of the Prophecy.
For them, they were leaving school. For Harry, he was leaving the safest place he knew to venture into the unknown. For them, they would get jobs, go on to university, or if they were lucky, get on at the Ministry. For Harry, he faced death or murder. He was salvation, and every day the weight of that knowledge grew.
A sudden wave of longing rushed over him, and he glanced over at Ron and Hermione. They were now silently glaring full blast at each other.
And Harry smiled despite himself. His two best friends never failed to cheer him up, even when they didn't mean to. He looked for Ginny, hoping to share a knowing smile with her, but she had still not arrived.
"Hermione, do you know where Ginny is?" Harry asked her. Hermione took a few moments to answer, her eyes never leaving Ron's narrowed ones.
"I have no idea, I haven't seen her since she went to study with her friend last night," Hermione told him.
"Finals were over yesterday," Ron interrupted haughtily, as if Hermione said something that was finally wrong.
"Congratulations, Ron, that sounded halfway intelligent," Hermione said in a scalding voice. Ron snorted and growled at the same time and produced a sound that sounded like an enraged hippogriff.
"Harry, did you know she isn't planning on sitting with us on the train ride back? She wants to sit with the Bastard." Ron had taken to referring to Lukas only with bad names all the time, including to his face. Lukas, however, took it all in stride and Harry wondered how much he actually cared.
A tinkling of silver on glass alerted attentions to the front of the room, where McGonagall now stood with her goblet raised in toast.
"Let's get in one last exceptional meal before our departure!" she said, in an uncharacteristically bright voice. Harry's eyes narrowed, and while everyone was Oohing over the food that now filled their plates, he watched McGonagall's expression as she sat. There was worry and panic written all over it.
Harry's suspicions grew as he lifted his fork, but he found he wasn't very hungry. But he forced himself to eat under Hermione's watchful eye, and talked a bit with Ron, who strained himself to keep from looking towards Hermione.
The Great Hall was loud and boisterous, but the feeling of anticipation and unease was so palpable to him, Harry felt as though he could touch it.
Something wasn't right, he was sure of it. And by the end of the meal, his uneasiness was mounting.
Ginny was still absent from their table, and quickly Harry searched the Slytherin table for her. She would never betray her house so boldly, but Harry knew how much she adored Malfoy. They had been inseparable for the past few days, and Harry wondered how the rest of the school hadn't figure out what was going on. They were careful about being discreet, but even so, their obvious preference for each other's company was hard to miss. He was happy that Ginny was happy, but that didn't mean that he trusted Malfoy any farther. After all, he was still a Slytherin, and still acting suspicious.
Harry glanced over the table again even though he knew she wasn't there.
Curiously, Malfoy wasn't there either and that filled Harry with incredible nervousness for some unknown reason. Everyone attended the Last Feast, and Ginny would never let their absence together be so noticeable. Harry's suspicions grew and he turned to talk to Hermione and Ron again.
"It's TRADITION, Hermione! We have all sat together on the train since we've been here!" Ron was shouting over the Great Hall noise. Harry sighed audibly, wondering why everyone else hadn't stopped to watch the now raging fight.
"That's not true, Ron! This year, we were on duty and I didn't even get to see you in the cabin for more than five minutes because you slacked off like you always do!"
"I am not a slacker, and if it always appears that way, it's because you're always hanging around being your perfect overachieving self!" Ron bellowed, his one eye slightly bigger than the other. Harry whistled lowly, noting that Hermione did not take the last comment too well. Ron was in big trouble.
"You wouldn't even have graduated today if it weren't for this perfect overachieving self!" Hermione pointed viciously to herself. "And if you think for one second that I am going to help you when we are in University next year, think again! Because as soon as I learn the perfect spell to bloody fuck you up good, I'm going to use it and never look back!" Hermione was breathing hard, her eyes narrowed on Ron.
He was silent and expressionless, and sat motionless looking at Hermione. Harry briefly thought that Ron had finally realized what he had just got himself into when suddenly Ron started to laugh. "Herms! You just swore!" Ron leaned so far backwards laughing, he almost fell off the bench. Hermione looked somewhat taken aback, then her eyes narrowed again and she kicked Ron under the table.
"Ow! What was that for!" Ron demanded, still smiling, but leaning down the rub his leg.
"You are such a… such a… troll!" Hermione finished dramatically, which made Ron laugh even harder. Which, in turn, infuriated Hermione even more.
Hermione was about to get up and walk out of the Great Hall when Professor McGonagall tapped on her goblet again. She smiled out over the tables and waited for silence.
"Now, I realize that Professor Dumbledore usually gives the Farewell Speech, however he is tied up at the moment with some special business," she smiled mildly. "However, I would like to congratulate the graduates on behalf of him…" she continued, but Harry did not hear her.
His heart started beating fast as pieces clicked into place. Dumbledore was gone, and he had not missed saying the Farewell speech…ever. He searched the faculty table and realized that Professor Morticai was missing as well.
Ginny was gone. Draco was gone. Somehow, it made sense completely, but if asked to explain himself, Harry would have been lost for words.
Something big was going on, Harry could feel it. He went to rise from the table to leave, but somehow felt that this time it was different, and that he was going to need backup.
His gaze automatically searched for Emlyn at the Slytherin table and found that she was already watching him curiously. He nodded at her, and she understood, excusing herself from her friends and rising from the table. He turned around to find Lukas already walking towards the Hall doors.
As they strode down the aisles, Harry could feel the eyes of the other students on them. He didn't care that they were watching him leave, somehow he felt more powerful as he strode towards the doors with Emlyn and Lukas in his wake.
Curiously, McGonagall stopped speaking when she saw them rise, but did not say anything as they exited the doors.
"What's up, Potter?" Lukas asked excitedly when they heard the latch of the door catch.
Harry looked at them both, silently wishing that what he thought was just his imagination.
"Something. We need to find Dumbledore, fast." He told them, and with one last look at each other they took off sprinting down the halls.
:¦:--:¦:--:¦:--:¦:-
Draco looked excitedly at his fellow Death Eaters from underneath the black demi-mask that hid his face and gave it a uniquely terrifying quality. Voldemort was still not ready to reveal the name of his prodigy to the world, but today was not the day for full anonymity. His Death Eater robes bore the crest of the Serpent; a white outline of the snake tattoo that ran down his arm now decorated the sleeve of his robe as well. He was the only Death Eater with a distinguishing mark, and Draco smiled proudly. Now he was going to be as famous and as feared as Voldemort, whose last words ran through his head like a mantra.
Emotionless cruelty and hate will bring you glory. Trust no one, befriend no one, love no one. Emotionless cruelty and hate…
They stood in front of the dungeon doors that led to the Potions classroom, and Draco smiled beneath his hood. It was so easy to just waltz into the castle; he and the group of eight Death Eaters under his command had opened the front doors and proceeded to the dungeon. It was perfectly simple, the castle protected the students, and if the guest bore no student harm, the castle opened easily. But they were not here to harm students; they were here to get a teacher. The Teacher, in fact. Dumbledore probably always figured that the faculty would be safe because of their knowledge and that harm would not come to them. But his assumptions would be his downfall, and now they stood preparing to capture the Teacher.
"She is there, sir. Shall we go in?" the man beside him whispered.
"I will go in first, enter only when I call you," Draco told them, and they nodded in understanding, then stood watching him walk towards the classroom. "Don't just stand there, guard something," he said incredulously, and the Death Eaters scattered in different directions down the hall.
Satisfied for now, Draco pushed the door to the dungeon open and walked confidently into the room. Professor Morticai was idly reading the potion bottles and whirled around when she heard the doors open.
"I've been waiting forever, Severus, you could have been more prompt…" her speech cut off when she saw Draco's dark robes and mask, but a smile crossed her face.
"Madame, allow me to introduce myself. I am your new student," Draco told her, somewhat unnerved by her smile. His voice was deep and menacing, a feature of his mask to help hide his personality.
"Show your face, Student," Damaris commanded, and Draco did not even think of disobeying. He pulled his mask off and lowered his hood, and Professor Morticai smiled again, though it was a sad smile.
"Draco Malfoy, I had such hopes for you," Damaris said slowly, "I can feel your awareness; you would have been a powerful student."
"I will be a powerful student, Teacher," Draco countered, "I just wanted to give you the respect of knowing the face of the Dark Lord's Apprentice before I conquer the world for him. With your help first, of course," Draco smiled devastatingly at her. Damaris' smile faded.
"Always the charmer, Mr. Malfoy. Even when faced with the most difficult decision of your life," Damaris sighed. "I hoped that you would make the right one, but obviously she wasn't strong enough to keep you."
Draco's jaw snapped together and a muscled twitched in his jaw as he fought for control of his emotions.
Emotionless cruelty and hate…
"It's no use pretending I have no idea what you are talking about and I have learned honesty between Teacher and Student is the most important aspect of learning. So, I will tell you now, if you bring her up again, I will kill you slowly and painfully, no matter what the Dark Lord commands," Draco threatened softly, all the while smiling pleasantly at her.
"I agree with you, Draco, honesty between Teacher and Student is very important. But honesty with yourself is even more important, and I think you want to be upstairs in your rooms where I'm almost positive a pretty redhead is waiting for you to return to her. Are you sure you want to break her heart again, Mr. Malfoy?" Damaris asked him, staring into his eyes.
"What did I just say!" Draco growled, and suddenly the whole rack of potion bottles behind Damaris exploded loudly. The noise of splintering wood and broken glass echoed around him as he inhaled deeply. Draco fought against it, but images of Ginny flooded his brain and he found that it was suddenly hard to breathe.
His thoughts of Ginny stopped the moment he floo-ed to Cassiopeia that morning. Yes, he had wanted to be with her, but right now was inevitable. This was his life, everything he worked for depended on bringing back the Teacher. Ginny was nothing to him in comparison to what he could be without her.
Then why did I lock her in my rooms? he asked himself. Conflicting emotions ran through him, and he looked down at the mask he held in his hand. Somehow, it became the answer, and Draco smiled as his thoughts aligned and his mind cleared.
Ginny broke her own heart. He couldn't be expected to give up his supremacy and position for a mere girl who believed she loved him. Ginny was not real, and her love would never bring him the things he wanted. These things he held, the black mask and the white serpent on his robes, were his life. His new life of power and glory was everything he had ever wanted. Ginny was not a part of that life.
Slowly, he returned the mask to his face. "You obviously have some skewed version of my romantic life, Teacher. But, your little words of wisdom will stop now," his deep voice echoing around the room.
"And why is that?" Professor Morticai asked sweetly, though she knew the answer. But she had watched Draco struggle through his emotions and hoped with all her heart that his love for Ginny would triumph. However, Voldemort had a greater hold on him than she ever imagined, and her heart ached for the pain Ginny would feel in the years to come. Years that she knew she would never see.
"Because I am going to perform the Imperius on you until you arrive back at my training center," Draco told her politely, raising his wand.
"I expected as much, I am just sorry I won't get to see the look on your face when you meet my last student…" Damaris uttered her last words with a smile, then took the curse with her chin held high.
"COME," Draco hollered, when he saw Damaris sway into the tables. The Death Eaters hurried into the room, and he motioned for them to pick the woman up.
"Sir, I think we have been heard, we need to leave now and it can't be through the way we came," the man said panicked.
Draco sighed, he knew they would be picked out eventually, and he had several escape plans. Scoffing at the man's terror at being found, Draco rolled his eyes then conjured all his wandless abilities.
"Gaptus J'junrtus," he pointed his hand at the wall and the brick, mortar, and magic exploded. The dust settled and the Death Eaters preceded him through the large hole that now dominated the Potions classroom. Draco thought it was an ironic end to the school year, and as he climbed through the hole he almost looked up where he knew his window was. Ginny was there, waiting for him.
Did he make the right decision? And as an answer to the question, a piece of paper fluttered to his feet. He bent down to pick it up and realized it was the picture that Ginny had given him last night; it must have fallen out of his robes pocked when he climbed through the hole. His throat caught, and it took all of his strength to stand up.
Emotionless cruelty and hate…
Emotions that were anything but cruel hit him hard as he looked at Ginny in the photograph: he was in love with her.
"SIR!" a Death Eater yelled from ahead. "PROBLEM!"
Draco felt like he was snapped back to reality, and he realized that was what his problem was. Love was fantasy, he needed something tangible. Fear, power, authority… he could feel those things. And as he ran towards the rest of his Death Eaters, he shoved Ginny and the picture out of his mind and returned to his reality.
:¦:--:¦:--:¦:--:¦:-
Ginny shoved her shoulder up against the invisible barrier once again, knowing that it wouldn't move but unwilling to accept it. She lost her grip on the sheet that engulfed her and she scrambled to wrap it around her naked body even though the room was empty and she knew it.
Draco was gone, and she was trapped in his room alone by some invisible barrier.
When she had first awoken and found herself trapped, she thought it was some romantic ploy that Draco was playing, then immediately dismissed the idea, realizing that she was dealing with Draco. She knew he was not known for romantic ideas, even after the present that he gave her last night. She slowly twirled his ring around the chain as she contemplated his motives. She knew the barrier was set by Draco. After all, who else knew she was in his bed and would want to keep her there? Her next thought was that he was making sure that she wouldn't leave before he got back, thus inviting a repeat of yesterday's performance, er, performances. Ginny shivered deliciously, and returned to the bedroom to lay back into the pillows, replaying her favorite parts.
"Merlin, Ginny," he had whispered against her neck as he kissed her, "You've ruined me for life. Nothing will ever be the same without you."
Ginny had sighed against him, threading her fingers through his hair and pulling him closer. She knew from the bottom of her heart that that moment could not be more perfect… and then he whispered to her again.
"Let me ruin you, too," he said confidently before he captured her lips in another searing kiss, but Ginny heard the questioning tone in his voice. He was asking her. She knew he already had ruined her, and she smiled, but the thought made her uneasy. Draco was still a mystery to her in so many ways, and fate always had a way of sneaking in.
But that was almost six hours ago, and now her entrapment began to panic and smother her. Why wasn't Draco coming back, and where did he go? She knew she already missed the Farewell feast, so Harry, Hermione and Ron must be looking for her. But only Harry would figure out that she was with Draco, and he would never in a million years come to get her in Draco's room, if that's where he thought she was. She smiled briefly, but panic returned quickly.
Why did Draco leave her in here if he didn't mean to come back? The Hogwarts Express left the station in half an hour, and what would her excuse be if she missed it? That her boyfriend locked her in his room? Her mom would be overjoyed with that explanation, providing she ever got out of here.
It didn't help that Draco did not use a regular locking charm; it was something more complicated and advanced. He certainly didn't want her to get out, but that was what confused her. He hadn't been back to get her, and she knew he wouldn't leave her in here, would he?
She sighed and pointed her wand at the statue entrance once more, "Locckius Unchaitheras," she chanted. Her spell hit the invisible barrier with a shimmer, then disappeared, but not without a huge explosion and the eruption of angry voices from behind the door.
Ginny gasped and stepped back, waiting to hear if anyone was hurt by her spell, but the voices she heard did not come from the direction she thought. They floated through the open bedroom door and Ginny went to investigate.
As she entered the bedroom another loud bang rocked the windows, and she clutched the bedposts until the reverberations settled. Her heart dropped as she heard the shouts become louder and more alarmed. They were coming from outside, she realized.
She ran to the window and looked down onto the Hogwarts grounds. Draco's rooms faced out towards the greenhouses and Quidditch Pitch, but the steep drop down to the grass below the window was where she saw the tiny figures of black hoods hurry past dragging what looked like an unconscious Professor Morticai. There was no mistaking the midnight black robes.
Ginny's stomach dropped, and breath caught in her throat. There were Death Eaters on Hogwarts grounds. And though she did not see him, Ginny knew Draco was among them. She frantically ran back to the statue door and threw herself against it in a hopeless attempt to break through. Breathing heavily, her mind working at a furious pace, she was desperate to get out to warn someone, anyone. Ginny screamed as loud and as long as she could, she picked up anything she could find and threw it at the barrier where it was deflected uselessly. She screamed until she had no voice left. No one heard her, no one came.
The realization came so swiftly that Ginny dropped to the floor in anguish, and she immediately knew why Draco locked her in his room. With Ginny unable to escape, she couldn't get out to warn everyone. And if she had been the Feast during the attack, she would have been able to identify Draco as one of them. He couldn't risk having Ginny free. He must have thought I suspected him with his new tattoo, Ginny thought to herself. But Ginny knew that she did suspect Draco heavily, but what he didn't realize was that Ginny had been willing to keep his secret.
How long had he planned this, she wondered, tears springing to her eyes. How long had he worried for his own safety with her in possession of the knowledge of his Dark Mark. He must have known that he could get her here today, he played everything right. He had fooled her again, and Ginny fell for him with all hear heart. He pulled off a very convincing and elaborate plan, Ginny sniffed, angrily wiping the drops that fell down her cheek. All the tears and forgiveness and fake heartbreak were just a sham to protect himself today. He must have been very pleased, Ginny thought, her eyes dropped to the ring around her neck; he even got a few shags out of it.
Ginny sobbed, her mind unwillingly replaying the same scenes that had brought her such joy and were now filled with shame and humiliation that embarrassed her to the core of her being.
He made her fall in love with him, and she believed he was in love too. But he just needed her somewhere where he could lock her in and keep her out of his way until his Death Eater business was sufficiently completed. Ginny wondered if Draco would even come back to take off the spell, or if she would eventually be found by a teacher or a house elf.
Anger and unbelievable hurt coursed through her as she slowly stood. Draco might have locked her in, but he forgot he was dealing with the cleverest witch of her year. She would get out, and she would fuck up his plans. He would never forget her, she would make sure if it. He deserved much, much more, but Ginny was sure Voldemort would take care of that for her.
With new determination, she ran back towards the window and searched fervently for any sight of the Death Eaters. They were not in sight, so she tried unlocking the window. It opened easily, and Ginny smiled to herself. Draco thought he was so smart, she mused. She tentatively stuck her head out the window and looked down, gulping at the height. It was a long way down, and Ginny racked her brain for any spells that could help her, all the while listening for any sounds of the Death Eaters.
And then she heard it, the sounds of spells being cast, with angry and panicked voices. Suddenly the sounds got louder and more urgent, and Ginny turned frantically, searching for anything that could help her escape. She looked at the bed sheets and briefly considered tying them together and hanging them out the window like in the Muggle movies her dad made her watch on their old projector. But she scoffed, she was too high up and those things never worked. And she would never hang herself out of a window by pieces of cloth anyways. She could cast a lightening charm on herself and make a parachute out of the sheets though, Ginny thought.
Deciding on that plan, she headed for the bed. But something caught her eye, and she smiled brilliantly as she turned around to face it. Her new broom, the red Momentum4000, mocked her colorfully from the corner of the room, as if it knew she would never think to use it. Ginny snatched it from where it sat next to Draco's black identical broom and headed over to the window.
As she mounted it, she wondered if Draco had given her the broom on purpose. It was so odd, she thought. The windows were not locked down like the rest of his rooms, and he gave her a broom last night. Did he want her to escape? Ginny laughed bitterly, dismissing the thought, Draco planned to lock her in tight, and he definitely never wanted her to get out.
Making sure she had her wand securely in her jeans pocket, she sailed quickly out of the window towards the voices.
:¦:--:¦:--:¦:--:¦:-
Harry, Lukas, and Emlyn sprinted towards Dumbledore's office, their breathing quick and light. Excitement and anticipation ran between them, each feeding off the other's feelings.
But as the turned the corner and ran across the front entrance, the met the Headmaster, who was sitting patiently in a large cushy chair in the middle of the hall. It was such an odd sight, the Harry let out a sharp bark of laughter.
"Waiting for us, Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked, his smile fading. Lukas and Emlyn stopped behind him, watching the Headmaster carefully.
"Yes, and you are precisely on time for the event," Dumbledore said, almost cheerfully. "Please prepare yourselves for the fight of your young lives, because outside this door will be approximately eight Death Eaters who have just abducted Professor Morticai from the dungeons not two minuets ago."
"What?" Emlyn breathed. Lukas grabbed her hand in comfort.
"Go, now, please," Dumbledore commanded politely, ignoring their alarm. "And good luck to you all. You have worked hard, now work together," Dumbledore said, then the front doors opened to sunlight and warm breezes, an awful contrast to what awaited them.
Harry walked out confidently first, flanked by Lukas and Emlyn. He immediately gathered more power to his being and sent it flying towards his two friends, who accepted it quickly.
At first, Harry wondered if Dumbledore was tricking them. The sky was a clear blue, and the entranceway in front of them was bathed in sunlight. The horseless carriages were lined up along the pavement, waiting to carry the students to the Hogwarts Express. Everything seemed peaceful and undisturbed.
And then, Harry looked closely at the Thestrals. They were agitated and restless and kept shaking their carriages. That was Harry's first hint that something was very wrong.
"D'aja jumera!" Emlyn whispered on his right, and he felt her protective spell enclose over him. He looked over and instead of seeing her trace her next spell on the ground, he saw the Death Eaters that had rounded the corner. There were seven, and two of them held on tightly to a glassy eyed Professor Morticai.
Harry just watched them, not wanting to make the first move in case of hurting Professor Morticai. But the Death Eaters also stood silently, wands ready, as if they were waiting for their orders also. Harry felt Lukas move forward until he was fully beside him, and Emlyn moved backwards. They were taking their battle positions, and Harry followed their lead and slowly stepped sideways to take his.
And then the mood changed as what appeared to be their leader turned the corner and took his place in front of them. His black mask and white pattern on his robe was new to Harry, this was the new Death Eater, he realized. He heard Emlyn gasp audibly, and he felt the same shock. There was something different about this new Follower.
"This will be fun, Potter, I promise," the Death Eater said confidently, his deep voice unnatural. And with those words, the carriage doors flew open and Death Eater upon Death Eater emerged from them.
"Holy shit," Lukas breathed, and Emlyn scoffed from behind them.
"You should be excited, Luka, this is what you used to talk about non stop," Emlyn urged him, smirking.
"This is not the time…" Harry warned, already counting how many Death Eaters were present. His final count came to a little over thirty. He gulped, and Lukas laughed.
"Just keep the Power coming, Potter," he whispered.
The Death Eaters were all lined up facing the trio that gave Harry the impression of a tense stand-off.
"We knew you were having all the fun again, Harry," said someone from behind him.
"You should have taken us with you," someone else scolded. Harry smiled. Ron and Hermione were behind him, and it somehow felt right that they were here now. But when he turned around, he almost fell over from the shock. Not only were Ron and Hermione standing behind Emlyn, but practically the whole sixth and seventh year Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs.
"The gang's all here Potter. Too bad you're still going to lose, so are you ready now?" the Death Eater's unnatural voice called to him again.
"You're the one who's going to need the Healer," Harry smirked, "But give us back our teacher, and you can leave. I can't promise you'll be alive though."
"Cocky, Potter. That attitude can get you killed," Draco said, his voice loud and deep. Excitement poured through him, and feeling the sudden burn on his arm he knew it was time to fight.
"H'seritaht Lumera!" Draco shouted and his spell few towards Harry.
Harry jumped into action, but so did Lukas and Emlyn. Harry reflected the spell easily, but it didn't even get a chance to hit his barrier because Emlyn already had one erected. Lukas immediately started to attack the group of Death Eaters that emerged from the carriages and Emlyn worked on replacing the barriers.
Harry stood baffled for a moment. It was a new feeling for him, to feel so protected in the face of danger. All of a sudden, it felt like a weight had been lifted, he wasn't alone in this, and the thought amazed him. He looked around where chaos had erupted.
Ron and Hermione and the other Gryffindors had overturned a carriage and were firing spells and taking down Death Eaters. Luna was running from Thestral to Thestral releasing them from their harnesses, all while blocking and firing spells. Some of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were going after Professor Morticai, and other had taken the lead from the Gryffindors and had overturned more carriages.
"HARRY! POWER! NOW!" Emlyn yelled at him, bringing him out of his reverie. He immediately inhaled and the Power sailed in him, and flowed out to Emlyn and Lukas. In all the chaos he lost sight of the black masked Death Eater, but he was confident in finding him again.
Lukas was concentrating on lighting fires around Death Eaters to contain them so the other students could hit them with spells, and Emlyn was protecting them all.
Harry spun around and saw a Death Eater charging at him. "Jup'nera!" Harry shouted, and the man flew backwards down the steps and landed against a carriage. "Stupify!" Harry flung at another Death Eater.
"Very creative, Harry!" he heard Emlyn call to him, and he smirked.
He inhaled the Power again, and felt it surge through him. It was time for a little revenge, he smirked.
:¦:--:¦:--:¦:--:¦:-
Ginny quietly landed close to where she saw the Death Eaters disappear around the corner. Leaning her broom against the wall, she snuck closer to corner and peaked around. The sight amazed her. There were spells being flung everywhere and it looked like all of the sixth and seventh years were out fighting. Harry, Lukas, and Emlyn were at the platform at the top of the steps, immersed in magic. She could tell from here that Harry's eyes were glowing black, along with Lukas and Emlyn.
She watched as Harry's mouth moved silently, his eyes trailing his victim, and then he released his magic. She could see the whirlwind erupt upwards from him and descend mercilessly on his mark. Lukas had fire trailing from his hands and balls of flames erupting from the sky. Emlyn was furiously writing with her finger on the ground behind them, her spells shining upwards as she completed them.
And her friends were firing spells like she had never seen them before. But just as she thought that, she saw a spell hit Neville from where he was ducking behind a carriage and the Death Eater who fired it start to approach where he had fallen.
With a little cry for her friend, Ginny turned the corner fully and sprinted towards Neville. Seeing a light from her right, she ducked and rolled along the ground, feeling the spell fly over her with a hard wind behind it. It smashed into the wall and disintegrated, but it showed the caliber of spells the Death Eaters were using. They were serious about injury, and that made Ginny ever more furious. She quickly thought of every major spell she could think of and fired them rapidly towards the direction of the spell. If she hit someone, she didn't stop to look because the Death Eater was gaining on Neville.
Ducking three more spells thrown her way, she reached Neville in time to release him from the spell and curse his attacker. The Death Eater fell face down, stunned, and Ginny kicked him for good measure.
When she turned around Neville was gone and she spotted him helping Luna to her feet. Ginny quickly ran forwards again, trying to get to where Ron and Hermione were in the thick of the firing. But as she passed by a carriage, it exploded knocking her violently sideways into a waiting Death Eater's arms.
She struggled against him, looking back and seeing that the carriage landed on top of Seamus, who must have seen the spell coming and tried to save her. She sobbed angrily, and kicked the Death Eater who held her as hard as she could on the shins. The man dropped her and as she tried to escape, but the Death Eater grabbed her leg, tripping her. Ginny fell hard on the ground, hitting her head and scraping skin off her hands. She turned over to face him as he stood over her and she felt warm blood streak down her forehead. Pain throbbed through her head, but she knew she wasn't imagining what she saw next.
Fear flooded through her, "Avada Ked…" the man started, but a spell hit him and knocked him sideways. The man screamed so agonizingly, it sent shivers through her. Ginny realized he had been hit with an incredibly powerful Cruciatus Curse, and she looked around to see which one of her friends had been powerful enough to save her. She turned to see another Death Eater standing over her.
:¦:--:¦:--:¦:--:¦:-
Draco watched with increasing anger as Potter dominated the fight completely. There were over thirty Death Eaters present, and not one had touched Scarhead yet. The thought infuriated him and excited him at the same time. Draco wanted to be the first one to get a hit on Potter, and as he stood back and watched, he realized that Potter was being protected by the two people on either side of him.
He identified them as Emlyn and Lukas, and immediately told the closest Death Eater to go after them both, and to get whoever else was unoccupied to help bring them down. He smiled as he watched the Death Eater slink off towards the stairs, but a flash of red caught his attention and his stomach clenched. The Death Eater he had just sent towards Emlyn was now firing spells at Ginny. Unexpected rage and anger flooded through him and he started towards the man, relived every time Ginny ducked a curse. He wanted to curse himself for not putting a harder spell on his rooms; he couldn't concentrate if he knew she was here in danger. He watched where she was headed and saw her rescue her brainless friend, then head across the front of driveway.
The Death Eater followed her, seemingly biding his time.
He saw her pass by a carriage, and the man exploded it. She flew sideways and his heart stopped. Draco sprinted towards her, not caring what he was running through. He heard the Death Eater begin the Killing Curse, and rage poured through him. She would never be taken away from him. Never.
And then her eyes were on him, her beautiful wide blue eyes staring up at him. She had blood dripping down her face and arms, but her eyes did not leave his.
Ginny had no doubts about who just saved her. Even if he didn't have on the robes with the tattoo marking on the sleeve, she would have known it was him. The way he looked at her from underneath his mask was unforgettable, and Ginny tried to memorize it. But blood was dripping into her eyes and her arm was shooting pains up her side.
"Ginny," Ron grabbed her underneath her arms and lifted her into his arms, pressing her close to him. She never looked away from Draco, even as Ron turned and hurried away from him. Draco had just saved her life, Ginny realized as tears ran down her face.
I love you, too, she mouthed to him as Ron carried her away. Draco was silent, but she knew he saw and understood.
That was when Draco realized what he just did. He slowly looked around, and realized that many of the Death Eaters surrounding him were looking at him with open hatred. Draco had just tortured one of his own and saved an enemy. Draco slowly closed his eyes, and the relief of saving Ginny was replaced by utter devastation.
He had just ruined everything he had worked for his whole life.
:¦:--:¦:--:¦:--:¦:-
From the steps Harry saw more and more Death Eaters fall at his hands, but he did not see, nor feel, Voldemort's presence carefully concealed at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
The Dark Lord was watching everything he did with increasing hatred and fury. There was no way Draco would be able to face Harry Potter and live to continue his training. But with the Teacher safely at his side, he was satisfied that their mission was over. With one touch to his Dark Mark, he watched at his Death Eaters started to retreat into the Forbidden Forest. Draco was one of the last to come to him, and Voldemort was sure it was because the boy could feel his displeasure. It was going to be a long night for him, Voldemort's face cracked wickedly.
He waited patiently for Draco to reach him, and when he did Voldemort was silent for a long while.
Draco waited, feeling the wrath that Voldemort contained. But the Dark Lord did not speak, so Draco kept silent as well, his uneasiness growing. He did not know that Voldemort would be present today, and even though Professor Morticai swayed glassy-eyed at the Dark Lord's side, Draco knew that the mission was a failure. And it was all because of his actions.
They were silent for awhile more when Draco heard rustling in the branches near him. He made a grab for his wand but Voldemort stopped him.
"Silence… patience," Voldemort hissed almost silently. After a few moments of watching the trees rustle, Draco watched as Dumbledore appeared not twenty feet from him and walked out into the sunlight.
"This is your first lesson of many today, Anguisator," Voldemort hissed louder this time. "Snape," he called, and the man appeared at his side. "Your robe and mask, if you would, Apprentice," Voldemort commanded, but Draco did not move. He stood rooted to the spot, anger coursing through him. He was not giving up his power to a mincey grease-head.
"You should be eager to learn, Draco," Voldemort laughed, then waved his hand and Draco's robe and mask flew off him and onto Snape.
"Watch and learn," Voldemort hissed. And Draco watched and Snape, dressed as him, walked calmly out into the sunlight after a badly limping Dumbledore. He was too far away to hear what was said between the two, but the green jet of light that emerged from Snape's wand was unmistakable. Neither was Dumbledore's lifeless body falling to the ground, or the heartbreaking scream that tore from Ginny's throat as she witnessed it.
Draco's heart squeezed, not because Dumbledore was dead, but because Ginny had just witnessed him murder her beloved headmaster. It was real now, she would realize it, and she would know him for the murderer that he was.
"Lesson one, Draco: You can easily be replaced," Voldemort hissed savagely. "I'll expect you dressed in your robes at Cassiopeia within the next five minuets. If you're not there, then you had better be dead."
Then Voldemort grabbed Professor Morticai's hand and Apparated silently with her.
:¦:--:¦:--:¦:--:¦:-
"Ron, they're retreating!" Hermione called over her shoulder as Ron helped hold a piece of cloth to Ginny's bleeding head.
"Whoopie, Hermione," Ron said bleakly, his face ashen. Hermione turned and glared at him, then saw his worried face and turned to press her back against the carriage.
"You were wonderful, Ron. Ginny is lucky to have you as a brother," Hermione said softly to him.
She glanced over the carriage again and watched as teachers and other students clamored up the steps to get behind the protection of the Aspects. She looked over to see Dumbledore emerging from the Forbidden forest holding his arm gingerly to his side. He had only walked a bit from the forest when she saw the black-masked Death Eater emerge from the forest behind him.
Ginny saw him too, and tried to sit up to see better, and was just in time to see the green light emerge from Draco's wand and Dumbledore to fall lifelessly to the ground. Ginny screamed, trying to convince herself she did not just witness Dumbledore's murder. Ginny sobbed and Ron held her close as he picked her up again and hurried into the castle to take her to the Hospital wing.
:¦:--:¦:--:¦:--:¦:-
Ginny awoke with her friends around her, but only looked for the one person she knew would not be there.
It wasn't a dream, she thought as she lay back down against her pillows and closed her eyes again. They were all silent, waiting to see if she had gone back to sleep.
"Were many hurt?" Ginny asked, opening her eyes. Harry was the one to finally answer.
"A couple of the Hufflepuffs are in almost full body casts, they had some Thestrals stampede over them. They didn't know what happened because they couldn't see them. Seamus is probably the next worse off, a carriage landed on his legs when he tried to rescue you from that Death Eater. He'll be okay, he's regrowing his bones already a bed over," Harry attempted a weak smile.
"We sail at midnight, Gooseberry! Man your suspenders and keep the kegs afloat!" Seamus yelled unnaturally loud in a pirate voice. Ron and Lukas had to work hard not to laugh.
"Madame Pomfrey had to give him some relaxers as well because he has so many bones to regrow," Harry explained. "He's a bit… woozy." Ginny nodded solemnly. "Everyone else seemed to fair well, just scratches and stuff. Except for you, of course, but Madame Pomfrey said you can go whenever you feel like it. Yours was just a bad cut and a sprained wrist."
"What about Dumbledore?" Ginny asked quickly. Harry averted his eyes and Ginny saw his composure waver.
"He died, Ginny," Harry said, "He was the only casualty. It seems he knew where they were going to be Apparating from and went to see if he could block them. He was ambushed like you saw."
"Who killed him?" Ginny asked, a little to eagerly, her voice shaking.
"The Death Eater with the black mask," Lukas replied.
"I'm sorry you saw it, Ginny. I know you two were close," Ron said, taking her hand.
They were all silent, in their own worlds remembering the events of that day. Ginny could think of nothing else except seeing Draco kill Dumbledore. She knew he was possibly responsible for deaths, but it was completely different when she actually witnessed it.
"And Professor Morticai?" Ginny asked again.
"The Death Eaters have her, there was no way we could get to her by the time they took her into the forest. It seems that she was their target, not Harry," Lukas answered, his voice cracking momentarily. Hermione rested her hand against his arm comfortingly. Ron looked away angrily.
"Ginny, where were you this morning, by the way?" Ron asked suspiciously and a little to angrily. Hermione shot a stern glance at him then they all looked at her. She could tell none of them suspected she was with Draco, except for Harry, who looked away, slightly smiling.
"I was trying out my new racing broom," she told him.
"New broom? What kind?" Ron asked excitedly.
"Who gave you a new broom?" Hermione asked her, too.
"It's a Momentum, Draco gave it to me yesterday," she answered.
"A MOMENTUM!" Ron shouted excitedly.
"DRACO!" both Hermione and Harry shouted. Emlyn's eyebrows rose regally.
"Can I try it out next?" Ron asked eagerly, seeming to completely ignore that it came from a Malfoy.
"Do you know where Malfoy was this morning, Gin?" Lukas asked her. They all looked at her expectantly, except Ron looked thoroughly confused.
"Why would Ginny know where the Ferret is?" he asked, but everyone ignored him except for Hermione who patted his arm.
"No, I… I don't know," she told him, but guilt poured through her.
"I think we should let Ginny get dressed," Emlyn suggested, and Ginny shot her a grateful smile. They all took turns giving Ginny kisses on the cheek as they left, Ron the most reluctant to leave. But Emlyn stayed until they were all gone.
Ginny had just pulled her jeans and tank on when Emlyn walked back in.
"We need to talk," she said seriously. Ginny knew what she meant and sat down opposite her on the hospital bed.
"I didn't know," Ginny said in a hushed whisper, "That he was so involved. He looked like a leader almost."
"So you figured it out too?"
"It was kind of hard not too. The white snake on his robes was a bit obvious," Ginny whispered
"I wonder why he would risk revealing himself like that unless he is really something special," Emlyn speculated.
"He would never settle for anything less," Ginny said quietly. "There is no way he would just be a regular Death Eater."
"So, do you know where he was this morning before the attack?" Emlyn asked.
"No, I'm pretty sure he left in the early morning. He… he locked me in his room this morning. I couldn't get out, that's why I missed breakfast," Ginny confessed. "I escaped through the window with my new broom." If Emlyn wanted to know why she was in his room, she didn't ask or show curiosity.
"So now he knows that you know his secret. What are you going to do about it?" Emlyn asked harshly. Ginny flinched under her tone, and immediately Emlyn felt sorry. "I didn't mean it like that; I just wonder if we should tell Harry and Lukas what we know."
"There is nothing they can do about it now. Draco wants his identity hidden for some reason; the only thing we can gain by telling more people is safeguarding ourselves," Ginny told her. "And he thinks I am the only one who knows, and I don't think he'd ever hurt me…" she trailed off.
"I saw everything that happened, Ginny, I thought for sure you were a goner. I tried to save you, but Draco got there first. He saved your life, but that doesn't mean you have to save his," Emlyn said softly.
"I know…" Ginny trailed off, looking down at her hands trying hard not to burst into tears.
"Just think about what I said," she said slowly and they looked at each other. Emlyn left a bit later, after telling Ginny there was a school meeting in the Great Hall that evening and that everyone wanted her to be there.
But as Ginny left the Hospital wing a few minuets later, she didn't go to find Harry, Ron, or Hermione. She went straight to Draco's rooms, somehow knowing that he would be back that night for her.
A/N SPOILER WARNING, I guess: So Snape kills Dumbledore in an attempt to be complacent with HBP, so if it seems random, I'm sorry. Dumbledore was going to die anyways; I changed it to Snape who did the actual deed instead of someone random. But I also wanted to show Draco's first lesson, that he could be easily replaced, something that is hard for Draco to realize after he spent so much time convincing himself of his own power under Voldemort. But I just wanted to make that clear :)
So what did you think, eh! Back into the angsty stuff… no one can be happy for long it seems :( Or can they… I'm sure you can figure out what's next.
These people are the BEST: HyperSquishy (Thanks for the review! Draco's definitely got some problems to deal with, Voldemort being one… you'll see…) Alexandria J. Malfoy (Well I always get excited when I see that you've left me a note! Lol yea Harry and Emlyn need to get their grove on too, they've got some serious sexual tension. Thanks for the compliments, I hope you liked this chapter too!) Wizzabee (Thanks sooo much for your compliments! You made my day!) Blue Werewolf Boy (I'm pumped you liked the chapter! I think I'm finally over HBP and ready for the next one, the wait is going to suck though) Neveralone89 (Awww! Thank you for the beautiful birthday cake! My birthday wish came true too! I'm glad you liked the last chapter… its getting down to then end so some good stuff will be happening with the romance I promise! Everyone is due for some good kisses I think lol. I totally agree with your theory on Dumbledore and Snape, I just cant believe he's bad. Do you think Snape killing Dumbledore in this chapter was random? I couldn't decide… hmm… well I hoped you liked this chapter too!) Aellyr (lol yes I think Draco and Ginny had a wonderful time making up ;) So brainwashing got him this chapter… but what about the next one? Oh, I'm grinning right now from the excitement!) montequilladecacahuate (I'm still not sure how to pronounce your name… its so fun to write though! I hope the kidnapping was cool too, I had fun writing it! And yea Ginny is really naive when it comes to Draco… but love is blind and deaf and all that.. :) ) slytheringirl-200 (I'm so sorry I confused you, and I'm glad everything straightened out! What confused you? And yea, Draco had no clue that Ginny and Harry weren't dating because he just assumed it was true, he never bothered to ask outright. Thanks for the compliments, and I hope you enjoyed all 9000 words of this one lol!) Frangipani Chic (Thanks for the compliments! I hope you liked this chapter too! Did you think Dumbledore dying in this chapter random? I'm so nervous about putting that in, but I had other motives for doing it too. And I'm so pumped you want some H/E happenings:) They have some stuff to work out as well coming up!) Blackness Angel (you are loved! Thanks for the review anyways! So, what's your sugar of choice? One time my friend and I ate like twenty million pixie sticks… that was a fun day. I don't think I've ever gotten a more painful headache. PS. No one dies… I think…hehe) celestial-gal (How did you like the showdown, eh? Poor Seamus :( And I'm glad you like Boros the Bragged, he's a mean dude, but I like him too! Wouldn't that be horrible if Draco did change the password… it could have been a whole different story, a whole different fate or something. And PS I'm super sorry for the long update!) SerenityMelody (Thanks for the compliment! Ginny and Draco have some mad confrontations coming, but I promise nothing! ;) ) Pip08 (Thanks for the review! And sorry for the long update! I promise to be a little better in the future! I hope this chapter made up for it?)
And to all my silent readers… you guys are the best too!
So… it's time for me to start some homework finally, as I have pretty much ignored it to get this chapter finished. It was worth it though! Until next time, have an awesome week, and read and review! -xxx