"Well you haven't turned out that bad." Ginny said to her reflection as she stared at herself in her bedroom mirror. Her hair had tamed itself from fiery red to ruby red. It was wavy and now reached below her butt. "Then again a haircut wouldn't be a bad idea." She sighed and tugged at a strand of hair. Her freckles remained as a dust of sprinkles across her nose which pleased Ginny greatly. There was a knock on her door.
"Ginny?" came Hermione's voice. "Are you ready?"
"I'll be down in a minute!" Ginny replied. She heard Hermione's footsteps fade away before quickly putting her hairbrush and some other accessories into her purse. She then proceeded to call Ron and Harry up to haul her trunk down the stairs.
"So it's your last year." Said Harry conversationally as Ginny trailed behind them.
"It pains me to admit it but I'm going to miss Hogwarts." Ginny said.
"You were singing a different tune a few weeks ago." Ron commented. Ginny gave him a scathing look. A few weeks ago she'd gotten her Hogwarts letter....with a quidditch captain badge instead of a head girl badge. Ginny had been furious and accused Dumbledore of choosing the new Head girl on money or status and not on grades. She'd sent her badge back saying that she'd either be Head Girl or she wouldn't be anything at all. Ginny had then locked herself up in her room and cried for ages allowing only Harry into her room so he could comfort her.
"He said I could be Head Girl." Ginny had sobbed. "He expected me to be Head Girl and Harry I tried. Honestly I tried! There's no one who's topped me in studies yet! Who could Dumbledore have chosen?"
Ginny was brought back to earth by Harrys reassuring hand squeeze before he hauled the trunk into the taxi waiting outside. Harry, Hermione and Ron would be seeing her off to Kings Cross that day. Ron sat in the front while she sat between Harry and Hermione.
"So are the three of you going to visit me at all?" Ginny asked eagerly.
"Count on it." Said Hermione from behind her magazine. "We've got to keep Dumbledore updated on...stuff." She ended.
"What kind of 'stuff'?" asked Ginny interestedly.
"Nothing that would interest you." Said Harry quickly grabbing hold of her hand.
Ginny cocked an eyebrow. "Try me." She said.
"We can't." Ron snapped. "It's top secret."
"Shut up Ron." Ginny retorted and turned to Harry. Harry would tell her. He told her everything that was going on whether Ron liked it or not. "So tell me." She said.
Harry squirmed uncomfortably. "Just things." He mumbled. Ginnys eyebrows snapped together suspiciously. The trio had landed jobs in the Ministry. Harry was an auror. Ron complained about his job being a desk job but he was the one who would strategize all their attacks and Hermione landed a job in the spells research center. Lately the three had been secluded and secretive, shutting up whenever anyone else walked into the room.
Ginny had at first ignored it thinking that Harry would tell her whenever he deemed it an appropriate time but he had so far kept his lips zipped.
"So that's how it is." Said Ginny coldly before turning to stare straight ahead.
"Ginny listen-" Harry began but Ginny cut him off.
"Unless you're going to trust me and tell me what's been going on I have nothing to say to you Harry Potter." She replied coolly. Ginny was seething. How could her boyfriend keep secrets from her?
The remainder of the journey was silent. Ginny got out of the taxi with a cold "You three needn't bother seeing me off. I'll be O.K. from here."
Harry got out of the taxi and grabbed her hand before she entered the station. "I'll miss you." He said quietly.
Ginny lowered her gaze and pulled her hand out of his grasp. She pushed her trolley into the station with tears blurring her vision. Spotting the barrier she went through it. Flicking the tears from her cheeks she looked up with her eyes unnaturally bright.
"Ginny." came a far away voice. Ginny turned to see Luna Lovegood coming her way. "You shouldn't cry." She said with a dreamy but informative voice.
"Is it that obvious?" Ginny asked squeezing her eyes shut. But Luna hadn't heard her as she was already going towards the train. And then a new voice caught Ginnys ears.
"But Uncle Draco I wanna go to Hogwarts just like Thomson." Came a whiny voice.
"Well you can't." snapped an oddly familiar cold voice. "Live with it kid." Ginny turned to see a little girl with short blonde hair and blue eyes glaring up at Draco who was glaring back at her.
"You're mean." She said snottily.
"And you're just like your mother." He snapped.
"I'm telling mom that when we get home." She said sticking her tongue out.
"If you get home." Said Draco smirking. "I might just decide to leave you in the middle of the road."
"You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
The girl stared at him with a hint of fear before turning on her heel and running away from him.
"You brat." He hissed. "Get back here."
The girl ran right into Ginny who caught her so she wouldn't fall.
"Miss please I think my uncles gone crazy could you hide me from him?" the girl asked with great big innocent blue eyes that shone with laughter and mischief.
Ginnys lips twisted into an odd smile. "Your uncle always has been a bit off his rocker."
"Very funny now give me my niece back." Came Dracos voice. Ginny doubted the girl was Dracos sisters daughter because as far as she knew Draco was an only child. Leaving her curiosity for now she moved the girl to rest on her hip and looked at Draco. Apparently Draco hadn't been able to see Ginnys face as his niece had been hiding Ginny from view. His eyes widened slightly and his eyes trailed her up and down. "Weasley." He ended in a confirmed voice.
Ginny stared down at her attire. Now that her parents didn't have to support six other children Ginny didn't have to wear second hand clothes. She looked at him in confusion.
He smirked. "Only Weasleys have hair like that." Ginny shook her head and set the girl down. She turned to leave.
"So are you the last...or are there still a dozen of you left to go to Hogwarts?" Draco asked with a smirk in his voice. Ginny had her back to him. Her posture turned rigid and she debated over whether to give a reply or not. Finally relaxing, she trudged her trolley towards the Hogwarts Express. Was it her or had Draco Malfoy tried to keep her in a conversation with him? Ginny stamped that idea out at once and decided that he had just been trying to taunt her. However, Ginny couldn't ignore the fact that Draco had gotten a trillion times cuter than before. With a goofy grin plastered on her face she went to find a compartment that held her dorm mates in it.
Ginny sat in Dumbledore's office that night. The Gryffindor Quidditch captain badge rested in the middle of his desk.
"I won't." Ginny said shaking her head.
"Come now Ms. Weasley." He said reasonably. "You are one of our best players-"
"Ex-best player." Ginny spat. "I am not going to play Quidditch anymore. Why wasn't I made Head Girl?"
Dumbledore sighed. "Ms. Weasley as shocking as this may be you had been topped by someone else. When we look for a Head Girl we do not only look for grades. We look for kindness, compassion, willingness to help others- especially the younger ones-"
"But I have all of that." Ginny interjected.
"Ms. Weasley you were always too busy with your own life. You did not take time out to help the juniors and did not take time out to participate in other school activities"
"Well my life was already busy enough last year." Ginny retorted. "What with me finding out I'm the heir to some goddess." She said sarcastically.
"Precisely." Said Dumbledore. "You've already got enough on your mind. I didn't want to burden you further. Plus...plus if your powers are released this year you won't have enough time for Head Girl duties. You'll have to choose between developing your powers and Head Girl duties." He pushed the badge towards Ginny. "Ms. Weasley I am not saying that you didn't deserve the badge but there was someone who deserved it more than you did."
. "You-you have a point." She said slowly. She then took the badge and stared at it. "I'm the new Gryffindor Quidditch captain." She said with a small smile. "Really unexpected."
She took the badge and went to her dorm.
"Congratulations." Said Shelly warmly when she saw Ginnys badge. "Thanks." Said Ginny warmly. "Same to you Ms. Head Girl."
Shelly gave a relieved smile. "Thank God you're not upset. I thought you'd lash out at me for taking your position or something."
Ginny shrugged. "Head Girl isn't my position-it never was. Shelly the position is yours and only yours."
Shelly smiled at her before closing the curtains around her bed.
Ginny got ready for bed and also fell asleep.
Ginny massaged her temples. "Why?" she muttered. "Did I accept that damn badge?" "Did you say something?" Andrew asked as he looked up at the current person who was trying out for keeper.
"We're never going to find someone as good as Harry." Ginny groaned. She looked back up at the current keeper who was hit in the face by a quaffle. "And Ron, come to think of it." She said biting her lower lip.
"Well at least that git Malfoy isn't here anymore. Neither are his crony beaters." Said Andrew helpfully.
"But-we-don't-have-Harry." Said Ginny and punctuated each word by jabbing her quill against her clipboard.
"We'll find someone." Said Andrew confidently.
A girl who reached Ginnys waist tugged at her robes. "Yes?" Ginny asked looking down at her.
"I-I want to try out for k-keeper." She said timidly. Ginny stared at her disbelievingly. "What year are you in and what's your name?"
"My n-name's Kara Isenberg and I'm in second year." She said looking up with big brown eyes. She had dirty blonde hair and a petite frame. She looked like a ten year old.
"O.K." said Ginny slowly. "Wait over there."
"Who is she kidding?" Andrew whispered into Ginnys ear. "She's not going to be able to be keeper." Ginny elbowed him as she watched the current guy miss another quaffle.
Ginny groaned again. "Tell him to come down now. Kara it's your turn." She said off handedly.
The girl excitedly jumped up, mounted her broom and flew up into the air. Jade, one of their chasers who replaced Katie, Angelina and co., looked at Ginny skeptically. Ginny just shot her a look which said 'just amuse her.'
Jade turned back and threw the quaffle which Kara blocked easily as it had been heading right towards her. The other chaser joined in and threw a few easy ones at Kara. They then proceeded to throw them a bit faster and more towards the two side hoops. Kara blocked every one of them. Pretty soon the two chasers were trying their best to make a goal and succeeded only a few times.
"O.K. all of you guys come down!" Ginny called with a big smile on her face. "Andrew I think we just found our keeper."
Jack Sloper took that very moment to run up to them with his broom in his right hand.
"Sorry." He panted. "But Snape held me back after class to clean up my cauldron." He said as he bended down with one hand on his knee. "Did I miss much?" Ginny shrugged. "We found our Keeper." She explained. "But the search for Seeker is still going."
"Who's the new Keeper?" Jack asked peering around.
Ginny discreetly pointed towards Kara. Jacks eyes widened but he kept quiet. She turned to the crowd of eager keepers and began. "Results will be posted by tomorrow morning in the Gryffindor common room. Those of you who want can stay and watch tryouts for Seeker. The rest of you may leave."
Ginny then looked at her clipboard and began calling out names. After two hours and twelve different Seekers Ginny was relieved to call it a day.
That night she sat with Andrew Kirke, Jack Sloper, Jade Evengale and Natalie McDonald to discuss who should be chosen.
"Kara may not look it but she is by far the best Keeper our team could have." Said Ginny graciously while nibbling on a biscuit.
Natalie nodded. "She blocked one of my best shots." She added.
Ginny scribbled Karas name down on her clipboard. "Now for Seeker." She said. "I thought that Dennis Creevey did rather well." She said scratching her chin.
"Oh please." Said Jack. "He only tried out because Harry use to be Seeker." He then added roguishly "Not to mention that he wanted to impress a certain redhead Gryffindor."
Ginny slapped his arm absent mindedly. "Don't joke. I am serious."
Jade rolled her eyes. "I personally think that that fourth year, Euan Abercrombie I think his name was, did well."
Natalie nodded. "He might not have been the fastest to catch the snitch but his reflexes were good and considering that Dennis only caught the snitch because it was hovering near the ground.....and Euan caught it when the snitch was on the other end of the field."
"Hmmm." Said Ginny thoughtfully. "You have a point. We could probably train him so that he'd be a better player. Oh and I could ask Harry to-"she stopped abruptly when she remembered that she was having a fight with him.
"Brilliant." Said Natalie catching on. "We could ask Harry and Ron to drop by and help us train their replacements."
"Yea." Said Ginny and squirmed uncomfortably. "Well it's settled." She said trying to change the subject. "Kara and Euan are our new players." She took the parchment off her clipboard and tacked it up on the Gryffindor Board. "Well I'm beat." Ginny said honestly. "And I'm going to go get some sleep."
Ginny emerged from the Gryffindor locker room. She had made the team stay out from 3 in the afternoon until well past evening. Everyone had left grumbling about how Ginny was a slave driver. She couldn't help but grin when she remembered how she used to say that about Harry with her other teammates. Ginny was the last to emerge from the showers so she didn't expect anyone else to be out on the grounds. That was why she was so surprised when she saw Draco Malfoy walking away from Hogwarts Castle and towards a carriage that awaited him.
Startled, Ginny stopped in her tracks and stared at him. He was clad in black from head to foot. He could've been mistaken for Lucious except for the fact that his hair was shorter and eyes a deeper gray than Lucius's.
Draco seemed to sense her eyes on him and looked up. "Well, well." He drawled. "What's a weasel doing out so late at night?"
He let his eyes trail her up and down appreciatively. Ginny shivered. "What's a Malfoy doing at Hogwarts?" Ginny retorted.
"None of your business." He said silkily.
"I could say the same to you." She replied. "Ferrets shouldn't meddle in others people business." She sneered and pulled her cloak tighter about her. Malfoy took a step closer to her.
"I'd be careful if I were you Weasley. Your time is coming. All of you will get what's coming to you soon enough."
Ginny arched an eyebrow. "I'm terrified." She said sarcastically. Malfoy smirked and reached out a hand. He twirled a wet strand of her hair around his finger. "We'll see if you have that same tone around Christmas."
Ginny pulled away violently. She couldn't stand it any longer. She would most likely break if she had to be near him any longer. His eyes were to cold, they lacked the warmth that had been there oh so long ago. There was a merciless, granite character about his eyes now. Ginny ran past him hoping that Malfoy would mistake her haste for fright.
"No, no, NO!" Ginny yelled at the top of her lungs. She flew over to Kara. "You weigh about two pounds and you're telling me you have trouble maneuvering your broom? The damn broom has nothing to carry! Is it malfunctioning?!"
"N-no." Kara said trembling. Ginny sucked in a breath and let out a sigh.
"We're starting again and this time no mistakes." She said and flew back to her position.
"Ginny you were a bit hard on her." Said Jade evenly. Ginny looked towards Kara who looked as if she might start crying any moment.
"I know." Sighed Ginny regretfully and went back to practicing.
Ginny caught the ball and passed it to Jade who passed it back to her. Andrew who was playing chaser temporarily flew in front of Jade and Ginny passed the quaffle to Natalie who went towards the goalposts. It was a three on three game with Ginny, Natalie and Jade on one team against Jack, Andrew and Kara. Euan was hovering above the goalposts trying to find the snitch.
Natalie let the ball slip from her hand and Kara who was right beneath her caught it deftly. She threw it towards Jack. Ginny flew in front of Jack just in time and caught the ball. She threw it towards Natalie who missed it and the ball went zooming into Euans back.
"Uuff!" he cried and nearly lost his hold on his broom.
"Are you O.k.?" Ginny cried.
"I'm fine." He wheezed back.
Ginny now turned on Natalie. "It was an easy catch!" she screamed. "You could've injured our seeker!" she pointed furiously towards Euan who was now looking at Ginny uncertainly.
"I'm O.K." he repeated. "Seriously-"
Ginny gave him a look that made him shut up. Many more such incidents took place and by late afternoon the whole team had nicknamed her 'the ranting bitch'. It was then that green clad figures entered the pitch with a pale blonde haired figure leading them. The Gryffindor team landed on the ground as one and Ginny walked towards them with her team behind her.
"Move out Weasley." Said Draco Malfoy. "I'm a busy man who's taken time out of his busy schedule to train this lot." He motioned towards the Slytherin team. Draco stared at her steadily and Ginny threw her gloves at his feet in anger.
"Take the bloody pitch." She snarled. "We'll see whose practice pays off in the end." Draco smirked at her. "Slytherins can't do anything if their matches are rigged against them."
Ginny was seething. She stomped off the pitch with her team behind her and the Slytherins laughing. "They have a professional!" Andrew Kirke exclaimed. "And we don't have anyone!"
"You have me." Said Ginny. "Whoppee." Said Natalie sarcastically.
Ginny lashed out at her. "If you don't like it you can quit the team! Lord knows the last things I need are whiners and uncooperative players on my team."
"Maybe I will just-"Natalie began but Jade cut her off.
"Why don't you two stop fighting and actually figure out a way to improve our practices?" she snapped. She then turned to Ginny. "And for heavens sake woman stop snapping at everything that breathes."
Ginny suddenly looked ashamed. She took a deep breath. "O.K. listen I will try to get someone who was on Gryffindor team to come help us."
"Why not Ron or Harry?" asked Jack.
"No, not them." Said Ginny. "I'll ask Oliver Wood." Everyone's mouths dropped open. "Oliver Wood, Puddlemores star keeper? THE Oliver Wood?" squeaked Kara.
"Yes." Ginny said. "He knows my brothers quite well." All of a sudden Ginny was no longer the ranting bitch from hell.
Ginny as always emerged last from the lockers with her standard black robes on. Her hair was wet and the cold wind made her shiver. A figure stood at the edge of the pitch almost as if he'd been waiting for her.
"This has become a habit hasn't it Malfoy?" Ginny sneered at the shadowy figure.
Malfoy stepped into the light. "Always a pleasure Weasley." He smirked. Ginny rolled her eyes and walked past him. Their shoulders bumped as she walked by. Malfoy promptly grabbed her arm.
"You can't leave that easily." He said smirking. Ginnys temper which had been building up throughout the day, reached its limit boiled over.
"Watch me." Ginny snarled. Malfoy raised an eyebrow which made Ginnys heart skip a beat.
"Watch me." Malfoy corrected and tightened his grip. Ginny couldn't help but notice that he was no longer the boy he'd been but now a fully grown man. He was capable of anything but it had been so long since she'd felt his touch. She felt as if she was falling all over again. Her knees weakened slightly which made Malfoy tighten his grip on both her arms.
Ginny tried to find her way through the haze. Malfoy looked down at her half lidded eyes and released her. He turned on his heel and went towards the carriage that awaited him. "Always knew I had an effect on even people like you." He nonchantley called.
Ginny could never mistake the look in his eyes. Draco Malfoy was attracted towards her. Although he did have quite a bad way of showing it. The only question running through her mind now was since when?
"Cheer up." Ginny told herself sarcastically. "A sadistic deatheater wants me." She rolled her eyes at the sheer stupid-ness of it all. Gryffindor had won the match against Slytherin and now Ginny was letting her team take it easy as the next match was Ravenclaw. Cho Chang had been their only star player. The others were pushovers in Ginnys opinion. Oliver Wood had replied to Ginnys owl saying he would be free after the Christmas holidays and would contact her then.
The match against Ravenclaw took place and they won. Ginny smiled triumphantly and that night she saw Harry, Ron and Hermione come to Hogwarts. It was late at night and she had been about to retire when her eyes landed on the view from her window. She noticed three figures walking towards the castle. Rons red hair, Hermione's bushy brown head and Harry's messy dark hair which seemed blacker than the night was what met her eyes. The moon shone conspicuously down on them. She turned her back to the window and fell into bed. Did they come frequently around this time? Her fists clenched in anger. They hadn't once tried to contact her.
Christmas holidays were to begin the next day. Ginny was checking her trunk to make sure she had everything. Someone knocked on her door and Ginny opened it. She was surprised to find Hermione standing there.
"Hi." Said Hermione cheerily.
"What?" Ginny asked monotonously.
Hermione sensed that Ginny was still angry. "We were here to see Dumbledore and thought we'd pick you up and take you home early." She said uncertainly and then quickly rushed on. "Listen Ginny please don't stay angry at us. You have to understand that there are certain reasons we can't tell you everything. It's all confidential and private. There must be things you don't tell us that go around at Hogwarts. It's the same with us. We can't tell you everything. You just have to trust us."
Ginny bit her lip and thought of her meetings with Draco. Sighing heavily Ginny stepped aside to let Hermione enter.
"Might as well help me pack." Ginny mumbled. Hermione smiled brightly and entered her room.
The journey back home was uneventful. Harry had ridden his broom ahead. Ginny suspected that he was avoiding her on purpose now. Ron had begged for forgiveness which Ginny had given readily. By the time she reached home she was already half asleep in the taxi.
"Ginny." prodded a gentle voice. Ginny peeked an eye open to see her mother staring back at her.
"Mum!" Ginny exclaimed and hugged her as best she could while in the taxi. "How've you been?" asked Molly bending lower and hugging her daughter back.
"Fine." Said Ginny truthfully as she let go of her mother and got out of the taxi. "How's dad? How're the twins?"
Molly laughed. "Everyone's fine. It's late and they're all asleep. Would you like something to eat before going to bed?"
Ginny shook her head no and trudged upstairs. She opened her door and flopped down on her bed, falling asleep before she hit the comforter. The next day she woke up feeling like hell. She had gone to sleep with her robes on and jeans on underneath. Her hair was falling out of its ponytail and she still had her shoes on. Getting up Ginny took a refreshing bath before going downstairs.
"Where's Harry?" Ginny voiced out loud as she looked at the table and noticed his absence.
"Oh he's been on a mission for ages now." Said Ron waving his hand. "He only came yesterday to brief Dumbledore and then have a good nights rest at the burrow. He's gone back now."
"Will he be O.K.?" Ginny asked unable to keep the anxiousness from her voice.
Ron smiled at her. "It's nothing dangerous but the duty's tough."
"Oy! Take a look at this!" exclaimed George. The twins were over for Christmas. An owl had landed on his plate. It dropped a white card with gold writing on his plate and then flew off. George read the letter out loud. "To Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and family. You are cordially invited to the Christmas ball held annually by Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy...." He dropped the invitation card and stared at Molly Weasley.
Ginny grabbed the invitation. What was Draco playing at? She thought to herself. Was he inviting her family just because of her?
"They've never invited us before." said Ron indignantly. Ginny hadn't missed the brief glances exchanged by everyone in the room.
"Yea." said Ginny slowly. "Why would they start now?"
Fred opened the Daily Prophet which had been delivered by a second owl. "It's even on the front page!" Fred exclaimed. Everyone gathered around him to look at the paper.
It read:
Minister Fudge to make a speech at Malfoy Manor.
Cornelius Fudge the minister of magic who so easily let He-who-must-not-be named gain power quickly is making a speech at Malfoy Manor. His spies have breached Voldemorts plans and Minister Fudge will be revealing these plans on Christmas night to ministry members and other important officials. The Malfoys have graciously offered their home for this occasion. "We always hold a ball every Christmas and always help the Minister whenever we can, and we'd so hate to break these traditions. We thought of this as a way to kill two birds with one stone." Stated Lady Malfoy (Narcissa Malfoy). The Malfoys are one of the most prestigious families in the wizarding world and have made considerable donations to the Ministry in the following sectors...
Ginny stopped reading. She ran a hand through her long red hair and glanced at the card. Something wasn't right. If Fudge had breached Voldemorts plans then why was it in the paper? Wasn't it supposed to be kept quiet? Then again Ginny snorted, Fudge has been criticized so much he must be dying for publicity. Also why in the blue hell were the words AND family written? Ginny had an inkling the 'and family' meant her. Her brothers being fully grown wizards would get invitation cards of their own...so the 'and family' would obviously mean her...right? As if on cue screech owls entered the burrow and deposited white invitation cards in front of her brothers.
Everyone was quiet. Maybe they were waiting for her reaction. "I'm coming too." Ginny blurted out. Her eyes widened. She couldn't believe she'd just said that.
"Don't be silly dear. Why would you ever want to go to Malfoy Manor?" asked Molly.
Ginny shrugged. "It has 'and family' written on it. That means me to."
"But you wouldn't like to come." Arthur cut in. "It's just politics dear." Ginnys brows furrowed. Why didn't they want her to come?
"I'm going and I'm going to go find something to wear." Ginny stated stoutly.
"Ginevra Annette Weasley you are NOT going anywhere." Molly Weasley stated fiercely. The room was silent. Ginny hated her real name and everyone knew it. That was why she let her friends think Ginny was short for Virginia. Ginny had vowed to change her name the moment she was of age. Ginnys tempered flared up. "Yes I am."
"No you're not. You're grounded!" Molly yelled.
"You can't ground me! I'll turn 18 this summer!"
"I just did!" Molly yelled back with a red face. Ginny turned and stomped up the stairs. She slammed her door shut and sat on the bed. She was going and that was that. Truth be told she was more determined to go now because her mother had forbade her. What was the Minister going to be announcing that would make her mother not want her to go? She always encouraged Ginny to be aware of what was going on with the war. Why would she forbid Ginny from going?
Ginny stood up she'd need to find something suitable to wear though.
Ginny sat beside a window in the lounge looking out at the snow. Hermione and Ron were out. Her mother and father had gone to a friend's house, so that left her home alone. Fred and George were of course at Weasleys Wizard Wheezes as business was booming around this time. It was Christmas Eve tonight and Ginny couldn't help but wonder if Harry would be joining them. She looked down at her hands.
Ginny had gone a few days back with Ashley, Marie, Dana and Shelly to get a new dress for the ball tomorrow. Her mother was only aware of the fact that Ginny had gone to visit a friend. When Ginny had talked with them about the ball she found out that Ashley's father who was basically no one important but was extremely rich was also invited, Marie whose father worked with goblins was also invited, Dana's parents were both Muggles so she hadn't been invited. The oddest part was that Shelly's mother had a show on wizarding wireless and she'd also been invited. Shelly's father was a mediwizard. So what did a mediwizard and wizarding wireless VJ have to do with politics? What did a man who worked with goblins have to do with politics? And lastly Ashleys father barely knew the Malfoys and he was also invited.
It then hit Ginny. Influence. Anyone who had influence was invited. Ashleys father was a major industrialist and had influence among the main suppliers of the wizarding world. Marie's father had influence among Goblins and Shelly's mother had a show on wizarding wireless....giving her influence to practically the whole wizarding community.
Ginny was shaken out of her reverie by Ron and Hermione coming in. Both were smiling at each other with twinkling eyes. Their faces were red from the cold outside but Hermione also had a blush on her cheeks.
Ginny cleared her throat and both jumped. Turning to Ginny, Ron smiled at her while Hermione hug her coat up.
"So how was your day?" asked Ron.
"Fine." Ginny replied civilly. "Yours?"
"Great." Said Ron looking towards Hermione who smiled back at him. Just then Molly and Arthur also entered. Molly bustled away to make hot coco. Fred and George also came in through the door smiling cheerfully. They were quickly followed by Bill and Charlie.
Ginny smiled. "Everyone's here." She stated happily as she went over to hug Charlie and then Bill.
"Hey little lady." Said Bill hugging Ginny fiercely. "What's been going on with you these days?"
"Same old, same old." Said Ginny smiling up at him.
The front door blew open letting a gust of cold wind enter the house. Ginny shivered as a hooded figure entered and closed the door behind him. When the figure drew back his hood everyone gasped. Ron was the first to recover.
"Harry!" Ron exclaimed and went over to him. "How'd they give you tonight off?"
Harry grinned. "I pulled a few strings. I'll have to go back in a few hours though but I couldn't miss Christmas Eve at the burrow." Hermione smiled and gave him a hug while everyone fussed over him. Arthur sat him down next to the fireplace while Molly brought a warm blanket for him. Ginny looked around the room. "Now everyone is here." Ginny corrected happily.
"Couldn't have said it better myself." Ron's voice came from behind her. Ginny turned to look at him.
"Why don't you take these cookies to Harry?" He said and shoved a plate of ginger newts towards her. Ginny hesitantly went to sit in a seat across from Harrys. She offered him the plate and he took it.
Harry looked at her hesitantly. "How've you been?" he asked slowly.
"Fine." Ginny said. The firelight illuminated her hair making red strands look golden.
"Ginny-" he began but Ginny cut him short.
"You don't have to apologize Harry." She said softly.
"I do." Harry insisted. "I should've made you understand or at least tried to apologize to you while you were at Hogwarts. I've been feeling so guilty ever since you left-"
Ginny stopped him short by holding up a hand. "Please, just don't apologize. I was also acting like a baby and I should've been more understanding." She nervously stood up to leave.
"Don't leave." Harry whispered softly. He tentatively grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. She sat down beside him in the arm chair and looked up into his eyes. He gave her a chaste kiss on the lips before grabbing hold of her hand. "Sit with me. Can't we talk for awhile?" His eyes were pleading.
Ginny felt the pit of her stomach drop and an odd aching. She wanted this. She wanted this so much but not with him. She found herself yearning for this with Draco. It was like a nagging at the back of her mind. Like a void inside of her starting up whenever she was with Harry. But Harry was caring, kind, sweet, gentle and so many things that Draco wasn't. Ginny swallowed.
"What do you want to talk about?" she asked. Harry shrugged.
"What's been going on at Hogwarts?" he asked. There the two sat as time flew by. Ginny told him about how she was working the team harder than he had and how they were winning matches right and left. She told him about Kara the flimsy keeper who was a natural. She told him of the new Slytherins and new Gryffindors. Sometime during their talk she found her head leaning on his chest while he played with her hair. Then everyone crowded around the fireplace.
Her brothers first taunted her about how she might as well sit on Harrys lap instead of making Harry sit scrunched up in a chair.
"Harry and Ginny sitting in a tree-"Fred began to chant but Molly came in with mugs of coco and plates of cookies at that moment so Fred stopped. Ginny made to get up but George made her sit back down by pushing her lightly.
"Leaving your poor old boyfriend so soon?" he taunted. Ginny glared at him murderously and got up to give him a good boxing. George laughed as Ginny marched up to him. She kicked him in the shins making his laugh become a hacking cough.
Ginny turned around but found that her legs were moving on their own. They began to do a tap dance. "FRED!" she yelled.
"Twin unity." Fred said winking at her. Ginny used her wand to shoot a hex at Fred which made him end up with vampire fangs. Knowing George would retaliate, Ginny ducked as her legs moved around in a tap dance. The hex hit Ron who became thoroughly angry and with hair growing out of his nostrils shot a hex at George. It hit Hermione instead and pretty soon Harry had also joined the hex war. Molly was given bunny ears by no other than Arthur and pretty soon the whole house was full of flying hexes.
Ginny was hopping around on her legs while yelling in a small squeaky voice. A curse was shot at her from behind and she suddenly began singing in her high squeaky voice "Hogwarts Hogwarts Hoggy warty Hogwarts-"
Another hex made her mouth shut tightly so she couldn't even speak. Angrily she looked at the source to see Harry smiling devilishly at her. She shot him a hex and his ears started wiggling. After awhile things calmed down and hexes were being removed. Charlie had ended up with a dragons tail which everyone suspected he had done to himself. Bills predicament was oddly the funniest. He had a disgruntled look on his face. Someone had cursed a suit and tie onto him. His hair was cut short and slicked back with gel. His trademark fang earring was no where in site. Once all the hexes had been removed it was time for Harry to leave. Wards were set up so that no one could apparate out of or into the Burrow. Ginny followed him out into the lawn.
"Bye." She whispered. Harry gave her a quick kiss before apparating away. She retreated into the house and retired for bed.
Ginny was at Ashleys house. She had told her mother she'd be at Ashley's house as no one would be at home anyway. Molly had agreed, relieved that Ginny was planning on not going to Malfoy Manor. 'That's what she thinks.' Ginny had thought to herself.
After a quick shower Ginny reached for her robe. It was a mauve color and the light reflected its different shades. The material was chiffon and its long sweeping sleeves had a cut going from her wrist all the way to her shoulder. It was clingy from waist up but from waist down it flared out slightly.
Ginny wore a bracelet of white gold which had small white gold flowers hanging from it. The middle parts of the flowers were different gems such as rubies, emeralds and sapphires. Harry had given it to her for her birthday last summer. Ginny sighed. What was she to do with Harry? She couldn't help but think of Draco whenever she was with Harry. She sprayed a dab of the perfume he'd given her this Christmas on her neck. Ginny then proceeded to curl her hair.
"Ginny." Ashley exclaimed as she entered. "You look great!"
"Thanks." Said Ginny shyly ducking her head. In her ears were two pear shaped diamonds while her neck remained empty.
Ashley was wearing sea blue robes that accented her blond hair. "Lets go." She said and Ginny, after shrugging on a silky mauve shawl, followed.
They reached Malfoy manor with Ashley and Ginny in one carriage and Ashleys parents in another carriage. Ginny stepped out of the carriage feeling very elegant and looked at Malfoy Manor. Her eyes widened.
Malfoy Manor was HUGE. It was more like a castle. It must have had ATLEAST five stories. There were two pillars in front of the house and between them was the door. The house was made up of gray granite and was wide enough to fit several burrows if they were laid down side by side. To top it all off the grounds were huge. The front lawn basically had a pathway leading to the door in the middle of it. This split the one garden into two. Both sides were filled with flowers of different colors. There was a statue of cupid in the middle of both left and right gardens.
Ashley grabbed Ginnys arm and led her towards the door. A house elf stood there asking names of people along with two security guards.
"Name." the house elf squeaked.
"Ginny Weasley er you might want to look for Virginia Weasley." said Ginny. Draco knew her as Virginia.
"You may enter." said the house elf after ticking her name off. Ginny politely waited for Ashley to enter. The foyer had a huge fountain in the middle with two staircases on opposite ends leading to the upstairs floor. There were doors in the foyer leading to different places. Behind the beginning of each staircase was a long dark corridor. House elves stood at the entrance taking shawls and cloaks.
"So glad you could come." Mrs. Malfoys petite voice rang. Ginny looked up after giving her shawl to an elf to see her greeting Ashleys parents. She had a solemn aristocratic look on her face. She pointed them towards the direction of the ball.
"You are-?" Mrs. Malfoy questioned staring at Ginny. "Ginny Weasley." said Ginny confidently.
"So nice of you to join us." said Mrs. Malfoy with evident forced kindness. She critically looked Ginny up and down. She then said "Your parents have already arrived, I thought you wouldn't come." She looked relieved to see Ginny. Ginny was taken aback by the womans kindness and by the fact that Narcissa Malfoy knew Ginny lived on the face of this Earth.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world." Said Ginny trying to be kind and motioned towards her surroundings.
Ginny then walked towards the ballroom. It was huge no doubt and Ginny easily spotted her brothers dancing with some ladies. There was an edge of tension to the way they were holding themselves up though and Ginny couldn't understand why. She saw Oliver Wood dancing with Angelina Spinnet. Surprised to find her old housemate and teammate, she was about to wave hi to them when someone suddenly grabbed her hand from behind and pulled her towards themselves.
"What are you doing here?" Ginny turned around to come face to face with no other than her mother. Molly was wearing a velour burgundy dress robe with pointed white trimmings. Her hair was up in a bun and her face was red with anger.
"I told you not to come here." Molly began. "Why couldn't you listen to me?"
"Mum you can't just order me around. If I'm not supposed to play with fire I need a reason! You never even gave me a reason! I wanted to come and have fun to. You let Ron come and he's only a year older than me." Ginny defended.
"That's different." Molly protested.
Ginny opened her mouth to argue. "Ginny!" a voice came. Ginny turned to see Shelly in dark green robes a few feet away. Ginny smiled at Shelly and went over to talk to her. Looking around Ginny spotted Ashley and Marie. Both were giggling and obviously showing off to some boys on the other end of the hall. They spotted Luna Lovegood in bright red robes with green trimmings. She wore her hair in a bun and had a small fake pine tree resting on it. Both began whispering to each other and promptly began laughing as they shot looks at Luna. Ginny suddenly remembered why she considered those girls as stuck up. They were nice to her of course and nice to Shelly but they were rude and arrogant towards those not of their house or those who were different.
Ginny dragged Shelly out of the ballroom in a huff and pulled her down the corridor behind the left staircase.
"Thank God you rescued me." said Ginny. "Mum was about to kill me."
"I could see that from where I was standing." Said Shelly and winked at her. Shelly had her mouse brown hair in her regular neat braid. Surprisingly it was not looking all that bad.
Ginny suddenly heard whispers coming from a nearby door. She turned to look for the source and saw a door at the end of the corridor. A red light seemed to emanate from it. "Look." Said Ginny and pointed at the door. She began to walk towards it and the whispers grew louder.
"Look at what?" Shelly asked.
"The door." Ginny pointed.
"Ginny." Shelly began warily. "There's nothing-"
The door suddenly burst open and Kreacher came bursting out of it. He looked at Ginny and his lip curled upwards.
"Mudblood lovers will all get what's coming to them tonight." He muttered as he walked or rather limped away. "Judgment day is here. They'll all get what's coming to them." And he began to cackle maniacally.
Ginny stared after Kreacher shocked. How'd he get out of 12 Grimmauld place?
"Stupid house elf." muttered an oddly familiar voice. Ginny turned to see Draco closing the door Kreacher had come out of. Behind the door Ginny could see a staircase leading downwards.
"What's down there?" Ginny asked abruptly.
Draco looked up sharply and his eyes landed on Ginny. "The Ministers speech will be held down there." He said.
Ginny looked again at the door. It was steadily beginning to glow a darker red. "What do you have down there?" Ginny asked again.
"Nothing of your concern Weasley." Draco sneered. "Reporters and the lot are setting up down there."
Ginny turned on her heel to leave. She was surprised to note that Shelly had left. Ginny felt a swish of air behind, telling her that Draco had tried to grab her elbow. She walked faster out of the long dark corridor. She could see Shelly being dragged into the ballroom by her mother.
"I'm not going to rape you Weasley." Draco's voice came from his original spot. Ginny didn't look back and kept on walking.
Ginny entered the ballroom again only to be confronted by Harry. "What are you doing here?" he asked with a red face.
Ginny looked up at him flabbergasted. "Odd how everyone I know seems to be asking me that." Said Ginny dryly.
"I'm serious how'd Mrs. Weasley allow you to come?" asked Harry.
"Why?" asked Ginny with a raised eyebrow. Draco chose that moment to enter the ballroom. Harry grabbed Ginnys elbow and pulled her onto the dance floor. They waltzed away from the entrance and Ginny could practically feel Draco's eyes boring into the back of her head.
"It's not safe." Harry hissed. "This is Malfoy Manor for heavens sake." Harry stared at Ginny momentarily before pulling her closer. Leaning down he whispered. "The mission I've been on...it has something to do with this." He tightened his grip around her waist. "Ginny whatever you do don't go to hear the Ministers speech."
"What? Why? It's the climax of tonight." She protested.
"You mustn't." he whispered. "They've got something planned."
"Who are they?" Ginny asked. At that moment Harry suddenly raised his head. He muttered something into his wand hand sleeve.
"I have to go." Harry said suddenly. "They're calling me. It's about to start. Remember you mustn't go to hear Minister Fudge's speech."
"Why not?" Ginny demanded. "Harry I want an answer before you leave."
"There's not enough time to explain. Just promise me-" Harry began but was cut off by a new voice.
"Agent Potter you're being summoned NOW." Said a woman in a black dress. She then waltzed away with her partner.
Harry looked at Ginny momentarily before sighing. "I'm asking you to trust me on this Ginny. Please. The rest is up to you. Just remember that-"he took a deep breath. "-I love you." He placed a small kiss on her lips before turning away with a swish of his forest green robes.
Ginny stood rooted to the spot. Harry had just told her he loved her. She needed air. Frantically Ginny ran out towards the ballroom balcony. She rested her back against the wall behind her. 'What should I do?' Ginny asked herself. Harry had just warned her and had kissed her, had said he loved her. Not Draco, Harry. Draco hadn't warned her about any thing, Harry had. Then why did she keep trying to find Draco in Harry? The oddest thing though was that tonight she hadn't thought about Draco. She'd thought about Harry, his arms, his touch and his eyes. He cared so much for her and she-?
The night air blew around her making her shiver in her practically sleeveless dress. "Cold?" came a voice.
Ginnys eyes snapped open. Draco was standing in front of her. "The speech is going to start in five minutes." He said. "Everyone's already emptied the ballroom. Good thing I decided to come out and see if anyone was left." He looked at her oddly and then added. "Oh and Weasley do try to get your parents to buy you a decent cloak or at least a shawl." He turned to leave.
"Draco." Ginny called out. Her heart was beating. This was the first time she'd called him by his first name-at least the first time for him. The muscles in his back tensed suddenly. He slowly turned his head towards her with a raised eyebrow. "Nothing." Ginny said. "I'll be down in a minute."
After two whole minutes Ginny found herself walking down the hall towards the door leading down to Minister Fudge's speech. The door Ginny noticed was glowing dark red. Black shadowy arms with claws as hands seemed to be protruding from the door. Then she heard the whispers. The same whispers she'd heard before while standing here. Except this time she could clearly make them out.
"Yessssss, flesh. Human flesh." One voice whispered. "We'll soon be free from the bonds of hell. Look! One human approaches." Another hissed.
Ginny looked around to find only herself. 'They're talking about me.' Ginny gulped.
"She's no human!" came a thunderous whisper. "It's as if she can hear us. Look at her!"
Ginny looked at herself to find herself glowing. A familiar feeling in her gut made her realize what was happening. "No, not again." Ginny whispered.
The voice seemed to become vicious. "It's her! Traitor! Murderer! Child of sin and killer of your kin!"
Ginny put her hands over her ears. "No, NO!" she screamed. "Stop it! Stop it!" She then rose a few feet from the ground. She didn't feel nauseous or sick but she knew what was happening. "Traitor! Betrayer!" the voices jeered. Memories not of her own flooded into her mind. She was being burned alive. The fire was hot and made boils erupt on her skin; suddenly it began to rain giving her followers time to free her. FLASH A man with black raven hair was yelling at her. He got up and left leaving Ginny to cry her eyes out. Flash Two children were being killed in front of her. Both reached their hands out to her and one word fell from their lips. Why? Flash She was throttling roosters. Flash Tom Riddle was grinning maliciously at her before she blacked out. Flash Draco was being obliviated. Flash A woman unknown to her suddenly slapped her.
Then suddenly a new force seemed to take over Ginnys soul. Something lying dormant for ages emerged. "I won't have this!" she screamed and her eyes flew open. Her gaze fell on the door and the light around her seemed to emanate from her and make its ways to the farthest corners of the hall. It reached the door making the voices hiss and yell curses at her. The dark red light seemed to stretch itself out towards her.
Ginny suddenly found herself being hurled down the corridor and landing beside the staircase. While still laying on the floor Ginny opened her eyes to see Draco standing on the last step of the staircase staring at her.
There was a stunned silence while Draco absorbed what he had juts seen. He recovered quickly.
"What just happened?" Draco demanded. Coming to kneel beside her he seemed to look angry. "What did you just do? You made them angry! There'll be hell to pay once...." He put one hand over his eyes and then said. "...never mind. Just...just get in there."
"I can't." Ginny rasped. "I can't go in there. Please don't make me go in there." Ginny didn't know why but the whispers had struck fear in her heart. She was scared senseless at the moment and all reason had just flown out of the window. Nothing was worth remembering every vivid detail of the Chamber of Secrets. They even made her remember when Draco was obliviated. Unconsciously her hard gaze on him turned to tenderness.
Draco was taken aback but the wheels in his mind turned quickly. Draco was more than shocked to see Aradias heir gain her powers right in Malfoy Manor. 'This could be advantageous.' He thought to himself.
"Fine." He snapped. "Iffy!" he called. A house elf appeared suddenly. She wore a cut up bed sheet as a dress and had two gold hoops in each ear. Draco then turned to Ginny. "Go to my quarters and wait for me over there."
He then stood up and left. Ginny raised her head slightly to see him disappear into the shadowy hallway. A creak told her that he'd opened and shut the door after going inside.
Shakily standing up Ginny looked down at Iffy.
"Iffy show Ms. to masters quarters." She said brightly and led Ginny upstairs. Walking up a second flight of stairs to the third story Ginny found herself shaking from cold. Iffy summoned Ginnys shawl which Ginny clasped around herself. "Thank you." said Ginny. "No need for miss to thank Iffy." The house elf protested. Ginny smiled gently at Iffy. "How long have you been at Malfoy Manor?" "Iffys family has served the Malfoys through the ages. Dobby is my cousin!" "Oh?" Ginny asked interestedly. "You must miss Dobby." Iffy nodded. "Iffy misses Dobby sometimes. He was Iffys only friend but there are many other house elves like Iffy in Malfoy Manor. They keep Iffy company now." Ginny looked down at Iffy and patted her head. "Iffy if I ever get out of here you can come visit me at my home." Iffy blushed. "Miss is to kind to Iffy." Iffy reached a dark cherry wood door with leaf carvings on its edges. She opened the door with a gold handle and let Ginny enter the room.
Ginny gasped. This room could fit two of her rooms! It was huge with a King sized bed on the left side. There was a study table on the left of the entrance and on the far wall was a fire place and a sofa in front of it. There was also a bookshelf across from the bed and on the right side of the entrance. A chair and lamp were situated beside the bookshelf.
Unsure of where to sit Ginny tentatively sat down on the chair beside the bookshelf. "Iffy c-could you tell me what's going on?" Ginny asked. "Will I even get home?"
"What do you mean Miss?" Iffy asked with a tremor in her voice.
"Please Iffy." Said Ginny. "I have a really bad feeling about this. I might never see my family again! God only knows what's going on down there. Can you tell me?"
"Iffy cannot tell anything Miss, Iffy has been sworn into secrecy not to tell." Her eyes seemed wide as if giving her a hint.
Ginnys eyebrows furrowed. 'Not to tell....' she thought to herself confusedly. "Iffy thinks Miss will be bored so Iffy give Miss a nice book to read." Iffy said innocently. She reached up on the bookshelf and took a book down. Handing it to Ginny Iffy whispered a goodnight before leaving.
Ginny looked at the maroon title-less book and her eyes lit with understanding at what Iffy meant. She opened it had been bookmarked it with a black bookmark. Ginny read:
When Aradia came to earth she learned that not all humans were good. Many were evil and merciless. Many called her the child of the devil for teaching people witchcraft. One night these people decided to try and kill her. They kidnapped Aradia and locked her up in a cell where she was starved and beaten for weeks on end. Diana decided to curse the mortals but Aradia pleaded for Diana not to. Aradia pleaded mercy for her torturers and said that they would see the light soon. Diana called Aradia weak for adoring mortals so. The mortals however became even more violent and they decided to burn Aradia herself but failed when Diana opened the Heavens and let it rain. They then decided to burn two of Aradias best pupils. They had invoked Aradias wrath by burning her students and Aradia allowed Diana to release her fury on them. Diana turned them into bodiless souls that feared the light known as Furies. These furies were sent to hell and given the task to beat and whiplash humans until humans wept tears of blood. The furies had to hear the humans beg for mercy which they could not give and endure their torturous screams. The Furies were angered with this task. They craved a life on Earth but they were souls searching for a body. Furies could not be expected to survive on earth without a body to inhabit thus they struck a deal with the mortals. Whoever promised them release into the world would surely have their help in getting their hearts desire along with unimaginable power. Aradia was able to prevent this by an unbreakable spell she caste. For this the Furies resented Aradia and vowed to finish her off (See page 143: Battle of the immortals.).
Ginny stopped suddenly and looked at a piece of paper that Draco had stuck in the book. It was folded and Ginny tenderly unfolded it. Her eyes widened as she read it. It held small notes in Draco's handwriting. There was Voldemort written with an arrow pointing towards the word mortal. The arrow also had a small X drawn over it. There was a sentence that seemed to be the crux of all of his notes.
No mortal shall free the Furies from their fateful task.
The word mortal was underlined. It was then that Ginny had a vision.
A girl who looked not unlike herself stood at the entrance of a cave like place. She chanted
No mortal shall free the Furies from their fateful task. Those who try shall be cursed Cursed by me, my kindred and those who come after To join the Furies in their never-ending task And hear the cries of mortal men And taste their tears of blood as they weep Cries and blood that turn the sane insane But no mercy shall ye offer Nor shall to ye mercy be offered.
It was with these spellbinding words that Aradia closed the accessible portal to hell and left. Ginny opened her eyes and understood. No mortal.....no mortal. Aradia had said mortal. So that means someone immortal....Ginnys eyes widened as she understood. There was the name Voldemort and it pointed towards the word mortal...and a cross had been drawn over the arrow.
Voldemort wasn't mortal. Mortals died! Any mortal died through the Avada Kedavra curse. That meant...Ginny felt her eyes start to brim with tears. The speech had just been a hoax! These-these...furies were going to take over the bodies of those downstairs. It all suddenly made sense. The newspaper publishing it, anyone having influence anywhere being invited. That was why non MOM members had been invited. That was why Ashleys father who barely knew the Malfoys had been invited. Then she suddenly remembered something. Flashback
Malfoy smirked and reached out a hand. He twirled a wet strand of her hair around his finger. "We'll see if you have that same tone around Christmas."
End of Flashback
He HAD warned her! He'd literally handed her a warning on a gold platter. Why hadn't alarm bells gone of in her head? Why had she been so slow on the pick up? STUPID! Ginny scolded herself. Ginny felt tears begin to gather in her eyes. Everyone she knew was going to...even her parents. Ginny got up and found her legs to weak support her. She fell in a heap to the floor and began to cry. She'd fought with her mother.
The last thing she'd done was fight with her mother! Her mother -who'd been right in telling her not to come, and Harry-he'd tried to warn her -the last memory he'd ever have of her was her getting angry at him for trying to save her. He'd-he'd said I love you before he'd left. A surge of fondness towards Harry engulfed Ginny at that moment. Tears fell freely down her eyes and she began to cry in loud wails
Ginny lay for what seemed like hours on the floor in a small bundle. She cried and cried until her eyes became red. Somewhere along the way she fell asleep and then woke up again. Gazing outside Ginny saw that it was pitch black. The door handle turned and the door opened. Ginny raised her red eyes slightly to see Draco come in. He loosened the tie he was wearing and opened the front clasps of his robes.
"Where's my drink Iffy!?" he called agitatedly. "Iffy!" Iffy appeared in front of Draco with a bottle of brandy and a glass. She poured it for him and set the bottle down on his bedside table.
"Has everyone left?" asked Draco.
Iffy nodded. "Well actually master one person hasn't left."
"Who?" Draco asked angrily. "The Furies agreed to vacate as soon as they got their host bodies! I am not going to play host to a bunch of-"
"Sir no the Furies all left." piped Iffy. She then pointed towards the bundle that was Ginny on the floor.
"Iffy leave." said Draco steadily not letting his eyes waver from Ginny. Iffy left with a small pop. "Get up." said Draco looking at her.
Ginny unsteadily but fiercely got up. "What did you do with my family?" she demanded.
"Nothing." Draco said off handedly. "Oh except for the fact that they've all been inhabited by demon souls." His gaze wandered to the book beside Ginnys left foot. "I take it you already know what's happened though." He said and took a sip of his drink. "You." He said staring at her steadily. "Have just released your powers. You won't be able to handle coming into contact with anyone inhabited by a Fury until your powers are trained."
"So." She said stoutly.
Draco smiled maliciously. "So where will you go? Malfoy Manor is the only place that is Fury free. Hogwarts, your home and even the Ministry now all contain Furies. I'm ready to offer you training for your powers along with schooling that you were given at Hogwarts. There are other people who are staying here and will be taking classes here instead of at Hogwarts. However they are assets to us. You however..." he looked her over carelessly before taking another sip.
Ginnys mouth seemed to dry up. She walked over to the bed and looked down at Malfoy. "What do you want in exchange for letting me stay here?" Ginny demanded. "Do you want me to join your army? Because I'll never-"
Draco held up a hand to silence Ginny. He let his hand wander over to the edge of her shawl and pull it away from her.
"I think it's obvious what I want." He said staring at her steadily. Her eyes shone unnaturally bright. Looking deep within his eyes her powers allowed her to sense that he'd never felt love or forgiveness. She could sense the sad life he'd lived. The life of expectations he had to live up to. At that moment pity engulfed her along with a new feeling, protectiveness maybe? Ginny tried to block her powers and half succeeded. She didn't want to sense the life he'd been through. He was falling in a sea of blackness with no one to pull him out. There had been hope for him a year back. She now realized that she had been the one pulling him out last year. She had been his silver rope. Determination engulfed her every being. There was always hope. Ginny closed her eyes and pushed her powers down into a little box. She didn't want to probe any further into Dracos soul.
. He held out a hand. Ginny shook it with only a moment's hesitation. A surge of binding magic went through her telling her that she couldn't back out of the agreement now. It wasn't until Draco had pulled her beneath him and was working on unclasping her robes did she begin to let tears fall down her eyes. Looking down at her Draco sneered "Crying for yourself or for your family?"
Silver light seemed to engulf her. Later on Ginny decided it hadn't been her but someone else speaking. She spoke with an unearthly tone. It was as if two people were speaking instead of one. "No. I cry solely for you. For you and what you've become. For the hope I saw in you but now see only darkness. I cry for what you were, are and will be."
She moved a stray blonde hair away from his eyes. "Give me your pain, I take it freely." She whispered and he seemed to ease under her fingers dancing across his shoulders. The hardness in his eyes seemed to lessen. "Take my solace, I give it freely." Ginny melded her lips with his. The white light around her disappeared and she seemed to come to her senses. Ginnys eyes widened as she realized what she'd gotten herself into.
A/N: Yes my exams are over and here is the next chappie! Oh and here's one thing I found out....Ginnys name is GINEVRA! Now I could not go back through all the chapters and EDIT that one minor detail b/c im very lazy. I have this turned this into a small little plot device....well not really but think of Dracos reaction when he realizes her real name is Ginerva :p. Now Ginnys going to be living at Malfoy Manor and things are going to get pretty interesting. If any of you want anything to happen go ahead and tell me and ill fit it into the story cuz Ginny is going to be here a loonngggg time...wink wink. Erm one more thing...anyone wanna be my beta? I need someone who can also sort of britpick my stories.....erm anyway it doesn't matter if you cant britpick....just be a beta and plzzz leave ur addy in ur review or email me at rubydevilsangelhotmail.com.
Oh and oNE MORE THING. Its summer soo ill be updating more often...and ill have a lot of free time on my hands....anyone know any good Lily/James fics??? And Ginny/Draco fics? Ive read all the Ginny/Draco classics on the fire and ice page. I read our Winter and LOVED IT! Now I am a D/G fan! But I still think Harry/Ginny will get together in the upcoming books....but if it turns out to be Draco/Ginny I'll be really pleased.