Saving Dragons

Chapter Three

Aurora and Draco

I own very little, just the plot and the non-HP characters...If I did own HP Draco and Ginny would be together by now.

"Now this is going to be the hard part, you have to pretend to be, well, like the Slytherins. Sneer and speak in cold tones and inform Voldemort that you wish to torment Draco as he tormented you. You will request this to be accomplished by his being your slave... Hopefully Voldemort won't suspect you and let you have him. Then we just have to bide our time and make it out of here alive..."

As quick as the snap of a whip Aurora returned to the state of a cool character who reveled in the pretense of death. The moment she turned about to face the entry of the filmy tent a dreaded figure waltzed through it, a cold smirk touching the all too familiar lines of his mouth. "What do you want Lucius?" Aurora's glacial vocals racked the air like claws upon a chalk board.

Calmly the older deatheater bowed, his cold optics of stony gray never leaving the wretch's face. "I was sent to deliver a message from the Dark Lord. It his intent that his Princess should make a formal inspection of the camp this evening before the hour is out. He tells you that you must have her ready as soon as is humanly possible...at the slowest. If she is not ready in time he has informed me that I will take over your duties." A harsh smirk danced upon Lucius's pale face as he leered at Aurora in some slightly triumphant manner.

Strangely a harsh chuckle emitted from the plush lips of Aurora as her hard wine hued optics narrowed ever so slightly. "Only it your dreams would such a thing happen Lucius, you do not have the blood to stand with ones such as myself." Another harsh chuckle tainted the air before she began to advance on him. "Now, get out before I make you incapable of producing an heir to replace the disgrace that now serves as such!" With that the abominable creature fled, knowing all too well what the feisty Fox could do in her rages.

Once he had vacated the area enough for Aurora to feel comfortable, she slowly turned to face Ginny as a frown twisted itself betwixt her arched brows. Deliberate steps brought her about the youngest Weasley in a complete circle, her icy violet optics never leaving her face. Suddenly her voice, once again containing a simplistic warmth echoed through the filmy environment, "I'm sorry Ginny, but this must be done...Imperio."

Rows of black cloaked figures lined a pathway marked by a long stretch of green velvet etched with the calm pattern of silver snakes winding atop the surface. Each cold eye was trained upon a figure standing silently just inside the door of her tent, waiting for the signal to begin. Suddenly the haunting strains of violin music filled the air and she stepped from within the filmy confines. Her shimmering tresses shone of the purest copper flame as they fluttered down from a magnificent bun in a mass of curls that fell gently onto the dark emerald of her robes. Pixie lights caught the glimmering silver embroidery upon the elegant material, which eventually formed a high-necked dress that gently hugged her figure in an aristocratic mannerism. A breath of appreciation whispered through the air as all of the deatheaters recognized the transformation that had taken place with their new Princess.

Aurora stood stoically behind her, the ever present guardian, as Ginny waited the second cue. It came in the form of a flash of green sparks revealing Voldemort, then she dipped into a graceful curtsy and proceeded down the walk with an almost ethereal grace. From the midst of the gathering a lone voice struck up a cord that soon echoed through the air, bringing a pleased smirk to the Dark Lord's lips, "Long Live Princess Ginerva! Hail to Lord Voldemort! Hail to His Heir!"

Faintly Ginny gave the cheering crowd a nod here and there in a cold motion of acknowledgment. As she drew nigh to the dais the cheers died, anticipation tainting the now silent air. Briefly she lifted her once gentle mocha optics to meet the slitted red of his before she dipped into a low curtsy in which she remained. Moments passed until he spoke in his slimy tones, "Rise my Princess...You have pleased me." A iridescent hand was extended towards her, which she calmly took and rose.

The air shook with the sudden clamor of the deatheaters. It seemed at last that they held a victory over Dumbledore-one of his prize students had become their Lord's one and only heir! Each felt triumphant at that moment, and this feeling increased as her soft vocals cut the air. "My Lord?"

Voldemort glanced at the redhead in some semblance of amusement before giving her a nod that showed she could continue. "I have a request of you..." Ginny gave him the smallest of smiles as her next words stunned the crowd. "I would like to show the prisoners their Lord's Heir..."

Stunned every pureblood gapped at the young woman who seemed to be upon the true path to the darkest ways. A laugh cut the air as a banshee's scream as Voldemort found himself to be highly amused at this request. Being in a fairer mood he spoke, "Of course! Aurora!" The pale witch stood at attention. "Take your Princess to the prisoners and allow her some fun...But take some deatheaters with you."

It was with a smooth bow that Aurora dismissed herself and the Princess from the company of Voldemort. After such honorifics were completed the witch turned towards the crowd and signaled three deatheaters to act as honor-guard for Ginerva. Firmly, Aurora raised a pale hand to separate the still joyous legions of the Dark Lord, parting them perhaps as Moses had the Red Sea. Smirking slightly to herself at her success, she lead the small contingent through the mob until at last a small dirt lane twisted away into the darkness before them. Coldly she signaled a younger deatheater, a one Pansy Parkinson, to light the path and walk in the treacherous place of first in line.

Silence filled the air, giving way only to the sullen meeting of their soles with the earth below. Minutes passed as the darkness surrounded them, giving way only to the faint light of lumos until the shadows of the prison camp danced just ahead. Once through the magically bound gates, Aurora took the lead and let her cold vocals smite the cacophonous silence of death, "Prisoners! Assemble in the yard NOW! I have brought a visitor for you scum."

Sudden life filled the darkness as lights shuddered to existence, filling the place of dreary huts and dying men with countless shadows. Time rolled on as they slowly disentangled themselves from the darkness, placing themselves in some semblance of a line before the small company. Once all that were capable of arriving had done so, the lithe witch stepped forward and leered calmly at each individual. As her cold violet eyes examined each face, the cold hopelessness almost shocked her...Shaking her head firmly she then raised a pale digit to point at the dirty covered frame of her cousin. "You! D. Malfoy, traitorous Heir of Lucius, come here!" Sullenly he started forward.

When at last he had stumbled far enough to stand before the silver haired wretch that was his "delightful" cousin, her cool violet eyes met the starkly haunted silver of his for a brief moment. Silently she stepped aside, revealing to the hopeless mass the transformed Ginny Weasley. A haunting cry of grief filled the air, Ginny's brother Fred was one numbered in the crowd. Seeing Ginny standing like a dark puppet in the finery of the Dark Lord was too much for him. Crying the whole way, he charged at Aurora with his grimy hands stretching as if to catch her by her throat.

With typical speed she brought him crashing to the earth with a well-placed kick. A sharp flick of her wrist caused him to disappear, going to heaven alone knows where. When he opened his eyes at last to see what purgatory the wench had sent him to, shock coursed through his frame...

It had taken all of Aurora's will to keep Impero on Ginny when she had caused Fred to disappear, but Aurora would always be the stronger of the pair and her will held strong. With another spell she caused that Draco be bound to her by a shimmering chain of steel, a cold smirk dancing in her dark amethyst eyes as Pansy began to sob with grief. For some reason the creature had believed that Draco might be spared, that perhaps he would at least let her give birth to his child and hold the status of his wife. But Aurora had come for him, and none were known to have survived such a thing...

Giving her a blank look the witch turned on a heel and started to march out of the compound before turning to tell the gaggle of prisoners one last thing, "And so you know, you worthless maggots, Princess Ginerva is the Dark Lord's Heir and as such is to be treated as a deity in your pathetic world!" Watching the cold hatred dance across each face she then motioned to Ginny for her to follow. "All hail the Dark Lord and his Heir!"

Starkly the crowd repeated it, for if they did not an automatic crucio would attack any who had not spoken the words. Fiercely the Fox tore down the path, carelessly dragging the hapless Draco behind her like some ragdoll. Curtly she dismissed the deatheaters and lead the starving blond and the angry redhead to the tent atop the hill.

Once within the confines of the tent, she released both from the spells that held them. Immediately Ginerva began to threaten her with almost every unpleasant thing either had heard of, being quite colorful in the differing ways to administer a slow and painful death. Giving her a stark look she seated herself upon a nearby chair and placed her booted feet atop the desk. Minutes passed as Ginny continued yelling, until at last she ran out of curses and threats, giving way for a tense silence. Allowing time to pass in such a manner, Aurora glanced betwixt the pair, a pale brow arched over the stormy depths of her violet eyes. Then at last weary tones fluttered through the air, causing the pale wizard and the fiery witch to tense up as if the Dark Lord himself had walked into the tent. "If you both can manage to sit down and listen, I will explain..."

Infuriated, Ginny began to yell with a will, "Explain? How can you begin to explain what you did to my brother? Why on ear-" The Princess suddenly found that with a lazy flick of her wrist, Aurora had caused her to loose her voice.

In comparison with the vehement witch, Draco now stood quietly in the shadows. Aurora had never let him down before, so what did he have to loose in allowing her to speak? Nodding silently to her, Draco motioned to the still silent form of his cousin that he was willing to listen. For a brief moment their eyes met, understanding branching the scant distance between them in the small room of the tent. "Ginny, I am sorry about your brother, but him killing me would've resulted in his death anyway...This way is for the best." Giving her an almost regretful glance, Aurora then turned her focus to Draco. "And how could you be so stupid? What did you think you would gain by breaking like that? I thought Malfoys were supposed to be strong in the face of pain and horror, I suppose, to my surprise, that I was wrong..."

Cold silver and violet met once more in a clash of wills before the rough baritone of his grief-laden voice filled the atmosphere, "No one is perfect Rora...There was nothing I could do." He then brought himself to his full stature, as if preparing to face both pain and death. "Do what you must to avenge yourself, I no longer care..."

Letting out a cold laugh Aurora stood and raised her wand until it was pointed directly at his chest...

Well that is the end of that chapter! I hope you guys liked it, all comments are adored and suggestions greatly needed! Thanks to all of my reviewers, you guys reminded me that I needed to continue with the story!