Ginny patted Draco's head, making sure he was really asleep before she got back up. She took another look at their hopeless surroundings. They had given Ginny and Draco a metal cot with only one blanket, a metal chair, and a small sink. In the corner against a filthy brick wall was a toilet, one that she considered too disgusting to even think of touching. She sighed, her voice filled with despair. Ginny sat dejectedly at the window. She was fairly certain they were trying to kill the boy curled up on the floor without actually having to do it. Well, I won't let them, she thought, her eyebrows furrowed in anger.

Compared to what they were used to, this dingy room was certainly NOT living up to par. Ginny smiled thinking about the first time she had entered Malfoy Manor.

The twirling stopped, and Ginny tried to maintain her balance as she stepped out of the fireplace. She took a big gulp and realized maybe she should have put more thought into this idea before diving head first. Oh well, she thought, I'm here now. She wanted her wildly beating heart to calm down but all she managed to do was push it deeper into her stomach.

She took a moment to observe her surroundings. Ginny supposedthat she was in some sort of entrance room, though it wasn't terribly welcoming. Old family portraits hung on the walls, their magical inhabitants staring at Ginny as though she was something that they had stepped in. None of them looked in the least bit friendly, and they sent shudders down her spine. Old suits of armor and artillery were set up between the portraits. Heavy swords and menacing helmets made the room feel like it was a museum.

Ginny turned around, feeling like she definitely should not be in this place. Hanging above the fireplace was a dragon's head and although it was stuffed she still felt that it would blow fire at her. Beneath her feet rested an old rug, cut from some sort of animal skin – Ginny was sure she didn't want to know what it was made from. Even the walls were painted a deep blood red. Ginny clamped her eyes shut for a second, willing herself to calm down. When she opened them, she scanned the mantel for any sign of floo powder, but there was none. With no other option, she turned back around and headed through the only door, hoping that the rest of the house would be better.

It wasn't. Every room in the house felt cold and empty. She entered a drawing room – here, Narcissa's presence was felt. The room was done in deep blue with snowy white furniture that Ginny was sure hadn't been touched in ages. Even still, the marble floors were cleaned so well that she could see her reflection, the light fixtures were polished to perfection, and the upholstery was kept flawless. In this room too were family portraits, these obviously former members of Narcissa's family.

Ginny continued to wander the hallways, becoming more aware that she had no clue what she was doing here or where she was going. She was just stumbling through the maze of hallways, hoping she would find an exit before she found an enemy. There was a loud "POP" behind her, and Ginny quickly ducked behind one of the marble statues that lined this particular hallway. Feeling as though she might be sick, she peered around the naked stone man to see that her only visitor was a house elf. She sighed and rolled her eyes, at this point feeling truly quite foolish that she had come here and not even thought of a way out. With another "POP" the house elf vanished, and Ginny continued down the hall. To her right, at the very end of the hallway, there was a door ajar and so Ginny, not having learned her lesson about unannounced visits, pushed the door open very lightly.

This room was bigger than her whole house, she was sure. It was done up in the most verdant of greens, so deep that it felt like a forest. The curtains were drawn so that only a small sliver of sunlight would enter and there was a fire lit to her right. There was a deep chestnut wardrobe to her left in the corner, and the sliver of sunlight fell just across the marble floor where a deep green rug met a very large bed. In the dim light, Ginny could just make out a figure lying on the bed, on top of the sheets, one arm tucked across his body. Being careful not to make too much noise, she tiptoed across the floors, letting herself breathe a little more when treading on the rug, and then carefully making her way to the edge of the bed.

Lying on the black down comforter was none other than Draco Malfoy. His breath came slow and relaxed, though his face was slightly contorted in a way that made Ginny believe that he was having a bad dream. His blonde hair fell across his forehead, messier than she was used to seeing it. He was still wearing jeans and a navy blue jumper that was slightly rumpled around his stomach. His left arm was out by his side, inches away from Ginny, the sleeve pushed up to reveal his wrist.

Ginny sighed, then realized she shouldn't have made a sound. Her eyes flew up to his face, but it remained the same. She realized this was the only way to know if Draco could help her. Her heart was beating out of her chest as she reached down, ever so slowly, and gently, very gently, reached out to touch Draco's wrist. He didn't move. Feeling bolder, she gingerly picked up his forearm, being careful only to move him as much as she needed to. Taking one final look at his face, she slowly and cautiously pushed the sleeve back even further to reveal the grey outline of the Dark Mark.

Before Ginny could do anything else, Draco's eyes flew wide open, and at the same time that he grabbed her wrist tightly, he whipped out his wand from his jeans pocket and held the tip to her throat.

"What do you want?" he shouted.

Ginny was rendered speechless, having again acted before thinking. Draco looked at her, his eyes widening in recognition. For a moment, his grip loosened and his wand relaxed.

"Weasley?" he said, his voice betraying his disbelief.

"Erm… hi," she said nervously. Idiot, she thought. He retightened his grip and again pointed his wand at her throat.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right now," he growled at her. Ginny faltered. How was she supposed to answer that?

"Because of this," she replied, pulling her arm up so that he could see his own Dark Mark.

"And why is that a reason NOT to kill you again?" Draco thought she must be some kind of idiot to think that his Dark Mark would save her.

"Because I want one," Ginny said simply.

For a moment the silence spun horribly out of control. Neither of them could really believe that she had just said that. But it was said, and Ginny took the moment to make her face a confident one. Draco, too shocked to say or do anything, let go of her wrist completely and let his wand arm drop back to his side.

"You've gone mad," he said, looking at her as though she had sprouted three heads.

"I haven't," she said firmly. "I mean it. I want a Dark Mark. I want to help your side."

"Why?" Draco felt this had to be some kind of trick.

"Because," Ginny began, then thought about it. Why had she come here? "Because mum and dad and Harry and everyone else, they underestimate me. And I have ability beyond what anyone thinks I have. I should be using them, and just because I'm sixteen and a girl they expect me to just sit around like a good little girl and wait for this to be over. I'm tired of being looked over and since I've been betrayed, I think they need to know what it feels like," she finished angrily.

"Oh, I get it now," Draco said. "Got into a lover's spat with Potter and you think that by coming here and exposing me as a Death Eater you'll get back on his good side. Well you can forget that!" He raised his wand again.

"No, Malfoy, I mean it!" she cried, her voice filled with desperation. She clasped her hands together and said, "Please, you have to believe me." Draco frowned at her.

"You really can't be serious. You're a Weasley, shouldn't you be off shagging Potter and singing songs around Dumbledore's grave while scrounging around for money so your family can eat?"

"Listen, if that's what family is, well then I don't want to be a part of that anymore. And Harry is out of my life for good," she said, her face scrunching up in anger.

"Weasley this isn't a game. I don't know why you came here, but you're a right fool if you think you can just waltz in here with your family and your past and expect me – or anyone else, for that matter – to take you seriously. You, a Death Eater?"

"And what is wrong with that?" Ginny asked, slinging her hands on her hips.

"Well, for one, you're a WEASLEY. Two, you're a GIRL. And three, you've dated POTTER," he stated, as though these were the most obvious things in the world.

"But," she began, "I am of pure wizard birth. I've got great powers. And I want to help!" She stomped her foot. This was getting frustrating! Didn't anyone realize how useful she was?

"I can't believe this is happening," Draco said, standing up from the bed and shaking his head. "A Weasley, in my room, asking to become a Death Eater. I think you've lost your mind. And obviously now I can't just let you run off. You're going to have to wait until father gets here."

"Fine," she said, jutting her chin into the air. "I'm not afraid of your father."

"If that's true, then good," Draco said, "because I believe I just heard him come home."

"Draco!" called a voice from down the hall. "Get in here!"

Draco smirked at Ginny, whose bluff had clearly just been called. Now she really felt like she was going to be sick. Draco again grabbed her wrist, which was still red and slightly sore, and began to lead her out of the room.

"Let's go," he said softly to her.

"NOW, DRACO!"

"Coming father!"