Warning: There is some Ginny abuse in this chapter, thanks to psychotic Lucius and teh snake cane.
Of Memories, Of Quicksilver
Chapter Four
"Oh, dear. Lucius, I don't think it worked..." A light, melodious voice filtered into Ginny's ears. She heard the shifting rustle of clothing and the deep rumble of a man's voice.
"Draco, I will kill you myself if she doesn't wake. Your orders were to bring her back alive. Alive! Not stunned into permanent sleep." The man's tightly controlled voice strained with contempt. "Enervate!" He hissed. The spell hit Ginny hard, searing through her body like fire. She gasped; her eyes flew open. The room wasn't the damp, dirty dungeon she'd expected. It was warm and cozy. A lovely white wallpaper with pink stripes and enchanted roses decorated the walls. It was still early in the morning because the dainty blooms weren't open yet.
"Wonderful. She's awake!" A beautiful blonde-haired woman beamed brightly, placing a well-manicured hand over her heart. Her cornflower blue eyes had the glassy gloss of the Imperio curse. Her elegant pink satin dress glinted as she sat on the side of the bed. "Draco hit you with quite a stupefy. It took--"
"Cissa..." Lucius Malfoy said as if scolding a small child. His lips tightened into a mockery of a smile. Ginny saw his left eye twitch. It was the only hint of the explosive anger that lay just beneath his overly composed facade. The older Malfoy had the charm of a pureblood gentleman and the sadistic temper of a blinded Basilisk. He was the rat who snuck Tom Riddle's diary into her cauldron during the shuffle with her dad... He was the bastard who once kicked Doby around like a football. Ginny remembered the time she saw Lucius strike his own son across the face... She'd just boarded the Hogwarts Express, excited to start her first year of magic school. Waiting nervously for the other students to board, Ginny had waved happily out the window to her teary-eyed mother. Mrs. Weasley had fluttered her moist handkerchief in the air while several other parents on the platform gave their children enveloping goodbye hugs. A glint of silver from somewhere behind her mother had caught Ginny's attention. Squinting her eyes while she waved, Ginny's gaze had sifted through the crowd. She saw Lucius Malfoy talking sternly to Draco. The cadaver-pale face of the older Malfoy had contorted into a snarl as his gloved finger poked viciously into Draco's bony chest. Fascinated, she had watched as Draco shook his blonde head and took a defiant step toward his father. Lucius Malfoy's black-gloved hand struck Draco across the face with enough strength to make him stagger slightly backward. Draco's nostrils had flared; his jaw setting silently against the pain. It was only when Mrs. Weasley turned to greet Mrs. Creevey that Lucius had smiled warmly and tried to hug his son. Draco shrugged free from his father and had stalked ominously toward the train. Ginny'd blushed furiously when his tear-glinting silver eyes caught her watching him. She'd moved away from the window and flattened herself against her seat, breathing fast and disappearing from his sight... ... ...
The memory fanned the flames of Ginny's passionate nature. She glared openly at Lucius. Anger and magic sparked dangerously in her hazel eyes. She did not fear him. Lucius Malfoy was coward who'd get his snarky ass kicked if he ever challenged anyone of equal or greater power. He only looked tough because he kicked house elves around and hissed at little children. Ginny gave him a withering glance, flaring her dainty nostrils in disgust.
"Since your wand is broken and you are under a full body bind, I will allow that one display of defiance. However, any more glares, huffs, or scowls will earn you a little taste of the crucio. Bellatrix and her husband will be joining us for dinner this evening... She will be more than delighted to oblige..." He looked down his haughty nose at Ginny . A twisted kind of smugness stretched across his face. Ginny fought the urge to roll her eyes in rebellion, even though part of her trembled at the mention of Bellatrix Lestrange. She was the stringy-haired, torture-loving nutcase who crucio'ed Neville's parents into the insanity ward of St. Mungo's. Poor Neville, Ginny bit her lip. She made a silent vow to avenge him if she had the chance. "... ... ... Is that clear Miss Weasley?"
"Hmmm? Oh. Yes." Ginny would have shrugged, but her shoulders were frozen in place. She did her best to nod complacently. Lucius sneered.
"Mind your cheek, you filthy piece of pureblood rubbish. If I had my way, you would be chained in the darkest, dankest dungeon and fed nothing but moldy breadcrumbs and poisoned water."
"How posh. Moldy breadcrumbs are a luxury to us dirt-poor Weasley folk..." Ginny said in a voice that was the epitome of pitiful innocence. The tick in Lucius' eye returned. His lip curled back, baring his clenched white teeth. Ginny saw his fine composure snap and crumble beneath the intensity of his rage.
"Manners!" Lucius cried, brandishing his silver snake cane like a club. He swung it savagely at the side of Ginny's face, breaking her cheekbone in one clean, brutal blow. Because the full body bind made any movement impossible, Ginny didn't even have the chance to defend herself. All she could do was turn her head and press her aching face against the soft firmness of the pillow, waiting for the next strike to come. Growing up with five scrappy brothers and having been smashed around by Quidditch bludgers had hardened Ginny's tolerance to pain. But she could not stop from crying. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for Lucius to break the other side of her face. She was surprised when the only sensation that came was the wet trickle of her tears rolling long, salty trails into the pillowcase. Stunned, she opened her eyes and bravely turned her head.
"I will kill you myself if you touch her again." Draco echoed his father's phrase, his face murderous like a dark avenging angel. His hand remained clamped--white-knuckled--around the older man's wrist. The strong manacle of Draco's grasp kept Lucius' arm poised in the air, preventing him from inflicting another cheap blow at Ginny's expense. "The Dark Lord wants her alive and uninjured. If he were to find out you'd gone against his wishes... ..." A devious smile shone against Draco's hollow face. He appeared... hopeful ... as he continued,"He'd show you the true force of an unforgivable, old man. Leave us. NOW!" He forcefully threw his father's arm down, nearly knocking the snake can from his fingers. He straightened his posture to his full broad-shouldered height and looked down his sharp nose at the older man. Lucius narrowed his beady eyes and chuckled lightly. "Mother, please go with Lucius. Have Peach bring a tea of rudkras root, fennel curry, clove, and pixie frost. If Weasley's cheek isn't fixed by this evening, I'll have to answer to Lord Voldermort. And I won't be shy about telling him who's responsible..." His eyes glinted hard; his aristocratic chin raised with a regal dignity. Instead of whining or pouting like a snivelling little boy, he acted with the grace of a dignified young man. Ginny had never seen him look more mature or intimidating. For a brief moment, she felt proud of him. Considering his hellish home life and rampaging cave troll of a father, Draco had a surprisingly strong, fighting spirit. If only he was fighting for the side of good... ... Ginny breathed a tired sigh. She noticed Lucius and Narcissa leave the room in a billowing ripple of black robes and pink satin. Why wouldn't Draco go with them? She didn't want to be alone with the younger Malfoy.
"Let me see your cheek." The words were the nicest Draco could manage. He stood at the side of the bed and impatiently crossed his arms over his chest. Ginny didn't put up a fuss. She obediently turned her head to the side and didn't flinch when he brushed her long hair to the side. He was all business as he inspected her swollen face.
"Minisca Glacius." He commanded, touching his wand to her cheek. An icy tingle moved across her skin and soothed the hot ache of her pain.
"Thank you." She said simply, turning so he could see her sincere expression. Her eyes were luminous with tears. As much as she hated Draco, he had saved her. He was the most normal thing at the Malfoy house of madness.
"Don't thank me. I only did it so my ass doesn't get Avada'd." He stepped back and leaned his tall frame into a nearby armchair. He ran his hands over his slicked-back hair and tried to blink the sleepiness from his eyes. He loosened his green and black school tie then threw the offending material over the back of his chair. He threaded his fingers together behind his head, watching Ginny with an intense kind of curiosity. Stubbornly, she stared back. She raised her eyebrows and gave him a dramatically cheesy smile.
"Oi, where do you think I'm going? I'm under a full body bind."
"And an anti-apparation hex." Draco added with a smug smirk.
"Swell." Ginny sighed, turning her gaze away.
After ten minutes of silence, Peach the house elf finally arrived carrying a silver tea tray. She helped Ginny drink a sweet herbal brew from a white porcelain cup. The little elf, wearing a dress cleverly made from strips of lace and ruffled tea towels, hopped onto the bed and touched Ginny's face.
"Master Draco tells Peach to helps the lady. Peach will helps the lady. Cheek cheek." Peach pointed to her own cheek and smiled warmly. Ginny smiled back as the elf worked her healing magic. "Now lady can be all pretties for tonight's party." Draco inhaled sharply at her words. Peach cowered fearfully. "Sorry, Master Draco! Peach is stupid stupid stupid!" Peach snatched the empty porcelain cup from the nightstand and smashed it over her head. Draco stopped her when she reached for the matching teapot.
"Peach! Don't! Thanks for helping--you can go now. Don't break anything else tonight." Draco said, waving her away as if swatting at a fly. Annoyance and tiredness settled into his face as he magically mended the broken cup. Ginny was glad the younger Malfoy didn't share his father's love of kicking around house elves.
"Yes, Master Draco." Peach curtsied quickly. She gathered her tray and scampered quietly from the room.
"Sooooo... What's happening tonight?" Ginny deadpanned. Draco yawned. He closed his eyes and stretched out his legs. He took his time getting comfortable before he replied.
"Tonight, we're going dancing."
"Dancing?"
"Yes. Dancing." He echoed, putting a throw pillow behind his head.
"You're sleeping in here? Why?"
"It's all part of my evil plan--kidnap you, sleep with you, and return you as a ruined woman." He replied with suave sarcasm. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get to the 'sleeping' part. Nox!" All the enchanted candles in the room extinguished in the same instant. Ginny frowned against the darkness. She wasn't tired and she didn't feel like listening to Draco snore while she tried to plan her escape. Listening carefully, she heard his breaths deepen, slow, and become even. His peaceful sleep only made Ginny more furious.
Damn it, if only she had her wand! She mentally kicked herself. Lucius Malfoy would be the first to get his arse blasted with a crucio and Draco would get a slug-vomiting spell for trying to kiss her earlier. As much as she wanted to rain fiery revenge down upon them, Ginny realized she needed to focus on thinking up a way to escape the mansion alive. It seemed like they needed to keep her in one piece until the evening. Were they going to present her as a gift to Voldermort? Who else would the Malfoys fear so much? It had to be Voldermort, damn it. Her mind raced. He'd probably Avada her and mail her pieces back to Harry. Or, he'd try to torture information out of her about the Order. He was the one of the most powerful mind readers alive. His skill made the situation all the more desperate. Ginny would rather die than betray information about the Order. There was too much at stake... There were too many lives involved... Adrenaline rushed through her veins, carrying cold dread and a sense of urgency.
Thankfully, she and her friends had practiced legilimency and occlumency over the summer 'just in case' something like this happened. It had been Ginny's idea to act out various 'scenes' to create layers of false memories within the true ones. It created an utter mess for someone trying to rummage through their heads for important secrets. Even though the Order's true headquarters was hidden with a felix felicis spell, the four young Gryffindors had devoted an entire day to wandering around and acting out different ways of finding it. They went to Honeydukes and pretended you had to poke a special blue lollipop to activate a secret trap door; they had gone to Flourish & Blotts Bookstore in Diagon Alley and pretended that the entrance to the Order's secret hideout was hidden in the section devoted to Gilderoy Lockhart. Ginny smiled, remembering what her brother had said.
"Remember, girls. Top shelf, third book from the left. Turn to page forty five to the picture of ol' Gildey and say, "Lockhart holds the secrets of my heart" and boom! You have your very own portkey to our hideout." Ron had smiled and pointed to the cover of a random Lockhart book on the shelf. When Hermione and Ginny had laughed to one another, he put on a stern face and said, "No giggling! This is a serious matter!"
Yes, it was a very serious matter. Voldermort was in for one hell of a time trying to pry information from her mind. His Death Eaters would poke every blue lollipop in the wizarding world before they found a single truthful scrap of knowledge about Ginny or the Order. She didn't know what horrors the evening held, but she was ready to face them bravely. If tonight was her time to go down in flames, she was going to take someone with her.