July 2007
"Je... je... je suis pas."
"Answer me! Are you or not?" Ginny could not see a bright light at the end of the tunnel so she bowed her head and nodded. "Who else is your family and in the staff?"
"Bret, that is his practice wand, Cookie, and Lavender. There are a few in the village who are good with potions and charms. Some healers too. Longbottom, the gardener, can make any thing grow but little else. Other than that, I don't know."
"What about Kayla?"
"No, Kayla is a muggle. My brother got her pregnant and decided to do the right thing by marrying her. The baby died a month after Bill did."
"Does your muggle staff know about magic?"
"No, we keep our wands hidden and use very little magic."
"So, I still have to hid this, do I?" Draco pulled another wand from the bag. This one was longer than Bret's and made out of a darker, almost black, wood.
"You are a wizard! You ass. You-I thought I was done for. I though you were going to burn me at the stake."
"I could never do that. I enjoy you too much. We had better be heading back to the castle before they send out a search party."
Ginny nodded. She was kind of glad that Draco knew she was witch. It was a load lifted from her shoulders. But she was going to have words with Kayla. Her sister-in-law should have told her the wand was missing.
Draco helped her onto the back of Warlock and away they rode - into the sunset.
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It was not until two days later that Ginny corner Kayla in the yard. "How could you not tell me? We could all be dead because of you. And not just our family. The staff, those who do and do not have the gift, everyone. You put us all into great danger. Now, I want to know why?"
"Why what?' Kayla asked coyly.
"Why would you put us all into danger? Do you want us to be killed?" Kayla continued to stare at her as if she had done nothing wrong. "Answer me, damn it."
"Better dead, than to live with the shame you have brought to this family. You whore." With that Kayla walked away.
Ginny felt herself losing control of her emotions. She was angry, ashamed, and most of all, hurt. She ran from the yard, through the kitchen, up the stairs, and into the rooms she and Draco shared.
Master Malfoy found her after dinner crying atop their bed. Draco tried to comfort her but nothing would work.
"What would you have me do?" Draco asked.
"Send her away, Draco. She does not belong here. Send her away." See it as his option to stop Ginny's tears he agreed. Kayla was to leave in one week.
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Ronald Weasley had made his way to London. He had told his sister's story to everyone who would listen but nobody really believe him until he show them the ring and then, everyone was listening, including the King of England, Severus Snape.
"A slave, you say?"
"Yes, your Highness."
"Tell again. How did you come by this ring?"
"My father saved a young boy's life, who he did not know. That boy turned out to be the Duke of Normandy - you, your Highness. When my father died, the ring was given to my eldest brother, William, who gave it to his wife for their child. The child died shortly after my brother and then the ring went to my sister.
"My sister gave the ring to me when I was there to get her back from your man, Draco de Malfoy."
"How did you sister become a slave?"
"She challenged your man on the field of honor...and lost, your highness."
"My debt is with your father but I will look into the matter. You have my word as a King and as a gentleman."
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Ginny did not have to worry about what her sister would say or felt when she learned that she was leaving, raiders had burned down the mill and several of the serfs houses. At the moment the widow young Anderson was losing everything for a second time. Her house was on the far reaches of Draco's land and had been the last house burned.
Ginny pitied the widow. She had lost her husband only six months ago and had given birth to her son just three months ago. Hermione tried to make the best of everything but this was too much. Ginny watched as her sat down on a rock in a daze. Ginerva watched her world begin to fall apart but before she could do anything to help Draco called her to him.
"Nerva, take the widow and she son to the castle." Draco was covered in soot. He had been on the water line, trying to save the widow's home. "See that she is made comfortable." Ginny nodded. She didn't want to think about what he was going to say next. "I'm leading a band of men to make sure the raiders are out of the area. I should be back in a few weeks, Blaise is in charge and if I should not return, I have left instruction for you and your family with Blaise." Ginny nodded again. "Nerva, you know I have to keep these people safe and do not look at me like that. I will be back. Now, are you going to give me a good bye kiss or am I going to have to take it."
But before Ginny could answer, Draco scooped her into his arms. When he let her down again Ginny was hardly breathing. "I will send a massager ahead of me on my way back so you can prepare yourself for me."
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Weeks went by without hearing from Draco. Pansy was even saying that if he did come back soon she was returning to Normandy. No one was barred her way; in fact, several had offered to drive the carriage.
Ginny sat in her room, her head over a chamber pot. Ginny knew what was happening to her but she did not want to admit it. It hurt too much. She knew that she loved Draco and seeing Draco with Bret convinced her that he would make a wonderful father but...she was a slave and the relationship between a slave and her master could never be anything more than a whore and a free buyer.
Kayla made mattered worst. Draco had taking all the men that would have taken her to Scotland, the castle could not spare to lost of any more. At every meal, Ginny was faced with the scorn of Pansy but add the betray of Kayla, Ginny didn't know if she could handle everything until Draco came back...if he came back...especially with a baby on the way.
Ginny returned to her bed knowing that she would soon have to raise. There were orders to make and things to be delivered and several of the local farmers were still rebuilding their home. Ginny placed her foot onto the floor and began to got up but she would stopped as another wave of sickness lay claim to her stomach.
KNOCK, KNOCK
"Lady," Blaise said, "I have a matter that I would like to discuss with you. May I enter?"
Ginny prayed that he would not enter but...the door opened a few seconds later. Blaise stood in the doorway, a roll of parchment in hand. Ginny's stomach gave her up. She dropped to her knee and emptied her tummy of what was left of her late dinner.
Blaise rushed across the room to her side. "Ginny. Ginny, are you all right? Ginny, what should I do?"
"Just leave her be." A chilling voice from the door said. Kayla stood with her arms covered and a glare plastered on her face.
"Are you crazy? Your sister is faint and barely able to hold her head up. Go get one of the healer from the kitchen. Daisy or Rose or something. Just go get her."
"She does not need a healer. Being a simple-minded soldier, I would not expect you to know the signs of a woman in the family way. In just a few weeks the sickness will stop and then she will begin to grow and then comes the eating and the sleeping. She will become nothing more than a breed bitch...useless."
These words only severed to upset Ginny more and as Kayla said them, Ginny became sicker. Blaise got up from his seat on the floor next to Ginny. He marched over to Kayla and grabbed her arm. As he pulled her from the doorway, he whispered in her ear. Ginny could not hear what he was saying but as soon as Blaise let go of her, she ran down the hall and out of sight.
"My lady, do you wish for a healer to be sent to you?" Ginny would have shaken her head "no" but the motion to make the motion made her sicker. Instead she simply laid her head down against the cool floor. "Ginny, this just arrived. It a massive from Lord Malfoy." Ginny lifted her head. "He reserved a note from the king three weeks ago and had gone to London. My lady, he was called to London because Pansy's parents have come at last. My lord wishes that a wedding feast is readied for himself and our honored guests, which includes the king.
"Mistress, his lordship plans to wed Lady Pansy by the end of the week. In the letter, I'm to remove you from these chambers and place you in the tower for the time being." Blaise watched as Ginny made little movement both physically or emotionally. She seemed to be processing everything.
A tear slipped passed her dark lashes and down her cheek. "Leave me so that I can pack, please."
Blaise was about to ask if she would like help getting off the floor but he knew her pride would never allow him to help her. He made his way out of the room and closed the door behind him.