Chapter 5

"Wakey, wakey, sleepy head."

"Go away Meaghan," grumbled Ginny sleepily as she pulled her pillow over her head. "It's Saturday."

"I guess you don't want your letter then. I'll just send the owl on its way," sighed Meaghan Spinnet as she rose from the side of Ginny's bed.

/-/Owl? Letter/-/ "My letter," cried Ginny suddenly throwing her covers back and leaping out of bed. "Meaghan don't you dare," she threatened racing over to the window the owl was sitting in and removing the letter.

"Ginny are you still getting letters from that mystery writer?" asked Meaghan in concern as Ginny made her way back over to her bed.

"Uh huh," replied Ginny distractedly as she sat down and pulled out the letter, a smile breaking out on her face when she read the familiar opening.

"Gin are you sure it's such a good idea to encourage these letters? I mean this person could be anyone and after everything that happened first year do you really want to be taking that kind of risk?" asked Meaghan sitting down opposite Ginny.

"Meaghan, how can you say that I encourage these letters? It's not like I write back or anything," argued Ginny.

"No you don't," Meaghan agreed. "But you don't send them back either."

"And that's encouraging them?"

"Yes Ginny, because if you sent them back you would let whoever is writing them know that you're not interested."

"Well who says I'm not?"

"Ginny you can't mean that."

"Why not Meaghan?" demanded Ginny as she rose from her spot on her bed and began pacing. "I'm not like you. I don't have guys falling all over themselves at my feet."

"What about Michael and Dean?" asked Meaghan.

"That was fourth year Meaghan and neither one lasted very long if you remember. Guys tend to either be afraid of me thanks to first year or afraid of my brother. Plus for some unknown reason people around here seem to think I'm with Harry, which is just ridiculous and completely not true," replied Ginny as she sat down heavily on her bed once more.

"Isn't it? I mean come on Ginny, you can't tell me that there isn't some truth to the rumours that you two are going at it in secret," pressed Meaghan.

"Meaghan, there is nothing going on between me and Harry. Never has been, never will be. I'm the annoying little sister of his best friend, that's all," explained Ginny in exasperation as she felt the weight of her wedding ring on her finger, which was hidden from view from everybody except for her and Draco, his ring also hidden from view.

"If you say so Gin."

"I do. Now can we drop this please?" pleaded Ginny.

"Fine," sighed Meaghan in defeat. "I still don't like this whole letter business but fine, we'll drop it…for now."

"Good because I'm starving. I'll just get dressed and we can head down to breakfast," commented Ginny as she rose from her bed once more and went in search of some clothes for the day.

Twenty minutes later found Ginny and Meaghan making their way into the Great Hall. Even though breakfast was already underway, neither girl was in a rush seeing as it was Saturday and breakfast tended to run a little longer seeing as there were no classes for students to attend.

"Ron, did your family get a new owl that we don't know about?" asked Hermione as she watched an unfamiliar owl wing its way towards where Ginny had just sat down.

"No why?" asked Ron in confusion.

"Then whose owl is that?" wondered Hermione pointing out the beautiful owl to Ron and Harry.

"I have no idea," admitted Ron as he watched Ginny's reaction to the owl.

"Ginny are you okay?" asked Meaghan worriedly when she noticed Ginny pale when the owl landed in front of her.

/-/Oh Gods/-/ thought Ginny desperately when she noticed the small package and letter that were attached to the owl, her eyes flicking to Draco for barely a second before she reached towards the owl to relieve it of its burden with trembling hands.

"Ginny? Ginny are you all right?" pressed Meaghan, her concern and worry increasing when Ginny failed to answer. "Ginny where are you going?" she demanded a few minutes later when, still without uttering a word, Ginny rose from the Gryffindor Table and made her way towards Professor McGonagall's seat at the Head Table.

"Yes Miss Weasley?" asked Minerva when Ginny stopped in front of her.

"Can I still access my room in your chambers Professor?" asked Ginny quietly.

"Of course child. You know that and you know that another door has been added so that you do not have to enter through my office," Minerva reminded her. "The room is yours for the remainder of your time here while under the protection of Sanctuary," she finished barely above a whisper so as not to be heard by anyone eavesdropping.

"Thank you Professor."

"Is everything all right Miss Weasley? I noticed the owl just now…" Minerva trailed off.

"I don't know Professor. I just know that it would be best if I open these in private and that won't happen in Gryffindor Tower," replied Ginny.

"That is completely understandable Miss Weasley. You know where to find me if you need me."

"Yes Professor, thank you," Ginny finished before turning and making her way out of the Great Hall, oblivious to the six pairs of eyes watching her in concern. Once outside the doors to the Great Hall, Ginny broke into a run and made her way as fast as she could towards her room in McGonagall's quarters, completely unaware that Harry was following her, only to lose sight of her in the Transfiguration corridor.

Once she was safely tucked away in her room in McGonagall's quarters, Ginny sat down on her bed, placing the letter and the small box in front of her. Not liking the look of the letter, Ginny opted to open the box first, which looked like a small replica of a trunk. As she was trying to find the latch to the box, she noticed a note on the top of the box. The note turned out to be a list of instructions. Following the instructions Ginny placed the box on the floor, pulled out her wand, tapped the box twice while saying her name. Before her eyes the box enlarged into a familiar looking trunk.

"Oh no," sighed Ginny. "Lady Malfoy you didn't," she continued as she unlatched the trunk. Opening it, Ginny found a letter addressed to her on top of the trunks contents. Ginny picked up the letter and sat back on her heels.

Darling Ginevra,

I hope that this letter finds you well. Draco was quite concerned and upset when you suddenly decided not to accompany him to the ball and was quite distraught at learning of your disappearance upon his return home that night.

While I do not know your reasons or the exact circumstances leading to your sudden change of mind in regards to the ball nor for your subsequent disappearance, I do have a fairly good idea of why you did what you did and for that I am truly sorry. Please know that my son is not like his father, as he appears to be at times. Use your time together to get to know the man behind the mask my son is forced to wear. If you do, you will not be disappointed. In my son you will find a man who will love you and protect you for the rest of your days.

/-/If only that were true Lady Malfoy/-/ thought Ginny sadly. "I'm nothing more than your son's whore," she said quietly to her empty room before turning her attention back to the letter in her hand.

I had such an enjoyable and pleasant time shopping and getting to know you the other week Ginevra. You are a wonderful and bright young lady. My son is a very lucky young man to have a young woman of such quality in his life.

I was disheartened to learn that in your rather abrupt disappearance you left behind so many things. Enclosed in this trunk you will find the school uniforms and supplies we purchased, along with a number of items to wear outside of class. You will also find a selection of dress robes in case you need them. If you search through the clothing, you will find the new wand we picked up at Ollivanders for you.

I am honoured to have you as a daughter Ginevra and please know that if you should ever need it, you have a friend in me who is willing to do all that I can to help you.

Narcissa.

P.S. Please do not worry about attempting to return the jewelry you were wearing the day of your disappearance. I do not want you to jeopardize your safety simply to return it. Consider the jewelry my wedding gift to you.

"Lady Malfoy, please tell me you didn't," begged Ginny as she put the letter down on the floor next to her and began digging in the trunk, pulling out a long thin box from somewhere in the middle. "You did," she sighed in defeat, sitting back on her heels once more as she opened the box to reveal a brand new fifteen-inch maple with unicorn tail core wand. Ginny drew her fingers over the wand gently. She could feel her magic calling out to the wand. "I'm sorry Lady Malfoy. Please forgive me but I just can't. None of this belongs to me," Ginny sighed as she put the top back on the wand box and laid it carefully back in the trunk before rising and walking over to the closet. "None of it," she repeated as she pulled out the dress and cloak she was wearing the day she arrived at the school, carefully placing them in the trunk, doing the same with the diamond tiara, necklace, earrings and bracelet, before closing and locking the trunk. Once it was locked, Ginny dragged the trunk over and placed it in the closet.

Ginny stood leaning up against the closet for a few minutes before her eyes caught sight of the letter still sitting innocently on her bed. Warily Ginny made her way over and sat down on the bed, picking up the letter in the process. She sat there for a few minutes contemplating whether or not to open the letter that was most assuredly from Lord Malfoy as it had arrived by the same owl as the trunk from Lady Malfoy. Giving into temptation Ginny opened the envelope and pulled out the enclosed letter, half expecting something terrible to happen.

/-/The letter never would have gotten to you if there was anything malicious attached to it Ginny, you know that. The Rules of Sanctuary ensure that/-/ Ginny chided herself before unfolding the letter.

Ginevra,

It appears that you do actually possess a modicum of intelligence in that Weasley head of yours, more than I gave you credit for at any rate. You were smart to seek Sanctuary at Hogwarts, but not smart enough to know better than to open this letter. I may not be able to get at you directly, thanks to the Rules of Sanctuary, but that does not mean that I cannot get at you indirectly.

"Indirectly?" wondered Ginny in confusion.

Yes Ginevra, I can still get at you indirectly and make sure that you do not step out of line and that you remember your place where my son is concerned. You see the Rules of Sanctuary prevent another witch or wizard from any attacks or attempts to remove the one under Sanctuary from where they are hiding until the one under Sanctuary leaves its protective boundaries. So while I cannot harm you in any way while you remain on Hogwarts grounds, that does not mean that my servants cannot.

Ginny gasped when she felt an all too familiar pain start to radiate through her body. "Oh Gods," she whimpered when her eyes met those of her keeper from the manor. Ginny turned her attention back to the letter after a few moments, Blinky maintaining his spell.

While the Rules of Sanctuary prevent me from attaching any kind of locator spell, spell of ill intention or even turning it into a portkey, it does not stop the use of an elfin porting spell. The minute you broke the seal on the letter you called your keeper directly to you. Blinky will make sure that you are punished appropriately for your most recent transgressions and he will ensure that you remember your place under my son.

Lord Lucius Malfoy

"Girl broke the rules by leaving the manor without Master's permission. Made Master very angry," Blinky informed Ginny as he approached her, maintaining his pain curse with one hand while activating a silencing spell on the room with the other. "Thanks to silencing spell, Girl can be punished according to Master's wishes," commented Blinky giddily, increasing the intensity of the pain curse as Ginny's whimpers of pain turned into screams of agony.

Ginny woke a number of hours later, her mind still foggy from the earlier torture. Looking around blearily, she was relieved to note that Blinky was nowhere to be found. Her mouth still tasted of the anti-pregnancy potion Blinky had forced down her earlier. Ginny groaned when she checked the time and realized that not only had she missed lunch but she was late meeting Draco and her school books were in her dorm room in Gryffindor Tower.

With a painful whimper, and protesting muscles, Ginny managed to make it from her spot on the floor over to the door leading out to the corridor on her hands and knees, using the door as leverage to get to her feet. Slowly and carefully Ginny made her way from her room and up to Gryffindor Tower without running into any of her friends. She even made it through the Common Room and up to her dorm without coming across Ron, Harry or Hermione. Unfortunately Meaghan was sitting on her bed waiting for her when she entered her dorm room.

"Where the hell have you been Ginny? I've been worried sick," Meaghan snapped when Ginny entered the room. "First I find out you're still getting those stalker letters and you're not doing anything about them, then you get another strange owl at breakfast, an owl that was bad news if your reaction to it is anything to go by. Then you disappear for hours on end after talking to McGonagall. Ginny, please, I'm your best friend. Please tell me what the hell is going on here," pleaded Meaghan desperately.

"There is nothing going on Meaghan, and I do not have a stalker," replied Ginny raspily.

"What happened to your voice Ginny, and don't tell me nothing," demanded Meaghan angrily.

"Fine," agreed Ginny as she made her way as steadily as possible over to her trunk. She picked up her knapsack before turning and starting back across the room.

"Where are you going Ginny?"

"I'm going to the library Meaghan. I'm supposed to meet Malfoy so we can work on our assignments for our joint classes. I'm sorry Meaghan but I'm already late and you know what Malfoy's like," replied Ginny as she leant against the door.

"Fine Gin, go," sighed Meaghan. "But this conversation isn't over."

"Fine," replied Ginny before leaving the room. She stood leaning against the wall for a few minutes to try and fight off the wave of dizziness she was feeling. After a few minutes of standing up against the wall with her eyes closed, Ginny pushed off from the wall and slowly made her way towards the library, stopping several times along the way due to increasingly frequent dizzy spells.

"It's about bloody time you showed up Weaselette," sneered Draco as Ginny made her way towards where he was standing near the back of the library. "I haven't got all day you know or did your parents never bother to teach you how to tell time," he continued as he turned and led Ginny towards a table hidden in one of the back corners of the library.

"Piss off Malfoy," snapped Ginny in irritation as she collapsed into one of the chairs at Draco's table. "What are we doing back here anyway? Won't this give people the wrong impression?"

"I thought that if we sat here we might be able to have a civil conversation about our assignments and as for it giving the wrong impression, who cares and besides it might actually improve your reputation if people think there is something going on between us," replied Draco sitting down next to Ginny.

"It's not my reputation that I'm worried about," Ginny grumbled quietly as she got her quill and parchment out.

"Ginny are you all right?" asked Draco in concern when he noticed Ginny's hand was trembling and he got a good look at just how pale she was.

"I'm fine," snapped Ginny as she rose to her feet. "I told…told you not to…to call me that," she said stumbling over her words as she was hit by another, stronger dizzy spell causing her to lean on the table for support.

"You are not fine Fireling," argued Draco quietly leaning towards Ginny as he put his hand over hers. "Now what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong Malfoy," replied Ginny coldly as she started collecting up her things.

"What are you doing?" questioned Draco.

"I'm leaving Malfoy, what does it look like?" snarled Ginny in reply before spinning and starting to walk away from Draco. She did not make it far before being hit by another dizzy spell, causing her to crash into one of the library shelves.

The minute Ginny hit the shelf; Draco was at her side, helping her back to her feet. "What happened?" he asked worriedly.

"…Father…" whispered Ginny as her world went black and she passed out.

"Shite," cursed Draco as Ginny suddenly collapsed to the floor, taking him down with her along with a number of books from the shelf she had crashed into moments before. The crash that resulted from Ginny pulling Draco and a number of books to the floor was loud enough to draw the attention of others in the library. It was not long before a group of curious students were piling into the area where Ginny and Draco were.

"Malfoy, what are you doing?" demanded Michaela Flint when she saw Draco pulling books off of Ginny.

"What does it look like Flint," replied Draco tersely as he pulled his wand out after removing the last book and conjuring a stretcher. "Longbottom," he snapped after noticing the lone Gryffindor in the group of spectators. "Find Weasley and let him know his sister is being taken to the Hospital Wing and you better let McGonagall know as well," Draco instructed as he levitated Ginny onto the stretcher before levitating the stretcher itself.

"Have you lost your ever loving mind Malfoy?" demanded Michaela as she stepped in front of Draco, blocking his path. "Never mind the fact that she's a Gryffindor, but she's a Weasel as well."

"Don't you dare question me Michaela," snapped Draco in outrage at the girl's audacity. "Yes she is a Gryffindor and a Weasley, two things that I am well aware of," he snarled as he stalked up to Michaela, using the advantage of his height to tower over the slight girl. "But she is also my project partner and I can't have anything happen that might jeopardize my grades now can I and let's not forget that I am Head Boy, a role that has been denied to Slytherin for years, and it is my job to make sure that nothing happens to any student, even if that student is a Weasley Gryffindor, no matter how distasteful it may be to me. Now move before I take points from my own house and give you detention."

"You wouldn't dare," taunted Michaela.

"Try me," sneered Draco in reply, a nasty glint sparking in his silver eyes.

Not liking the look directed at her by Draco, Michaela swallowed nervously before dropping her gaze and stepping out of the way, allowing Draco and the stretcher to pass.

"Madam Pomfrey!" called Draco a short while later as he guided Ginny's stretcher into the Hospital Wing.

"Yes Mr. Malfoy. What can I help you with?" inquired Poppy as she stepped from her office. "What happened?" she asked when she noticed the stretcher floating next to Draco.

"She passed out about twenty minutes ago," replied Draco as he gently put Ginny and the stretcher down on the bed Poppy indicated before vanishing the stretcher altogether.

"Were you with her before she collapsed Mr. Malfoy?" asked Poppy as she pulled out her wand and began running diagnostic scans on Ginny.

"Yes I was," admitted Draco.

"What was her behaviour like?"

"Her hands were trembling and she was extremely pale. When I asked if anything was wrong she said she was fine. I knew she was lying but when I pressed her on it, she got up to leave only she seemed to get hit by a dizzy spell or something as she fell into one of the bookcases," offered Draco.

"Well that would explain some of this bruising but not all of it. What else happened Mr. Malfoy? Was she conscious after hitting the bookcase?" questioned Poppy.

"Yes Madam Pomfrey, she was but not for much longer. The rest of the bruises are probably from me trying to steady her on her feet and the books that crashed down on top of us when she fell unconscious and collapsed to the floor, pulling me and a number of books along with her," explained Draco.

"Are you hurt Mr. Malfoy?"

"I'm fine Madam Pomfrey," replied Draco initially. "Okay fine, I'm a little sore from where the books hit me as they weren't exactly small books but I'll live," amended Draco after getting one of Pomfrey's patented 'tell me the truth or I'll keep you here until I find something wrong with you' looks.

"What the hell did you do to my sister Malfoy?" demanded Ron as he charged into the room, rushing at Draco and wrapping his hands around Draco's neck.

"Mr. Weasley, control yourself," ordered Poppy as she began to step towards to two boys.

Draco reacted before Poppy could do anything; kneeing Ron in the groin and punching him square in the jaw, quickly dropping him to the ground. "I didn't do anything to your precious baby sister Weasel, except bring her here."

"Detention the both of you," snapped Minerva who had entered the room just as Draco kneed Ron. "And ten points from Slytherin and Gryffindor. You boys should know better by now, especially you Mr. Malfoy, being Head Boy and all."

"My actions were done in self-defence Professor," Draco argued as he rubbed his neck. "Weasley here attacked me first."

"He's right Professor."

"Mione," whined Ron in protest from his spot on the floor at Draco's feet.

"I'm sorry Ron," Hermione apologized before turning back to McGonagall. "Malfoy wasn't doing anything except talking to Madam Pomfrey when Ron attacked him."

"Thank you for your honesty Miss Granger," said Minerva with a nod at Hermione before turning her attention back to Draco and Ron. "The point deduction stands Mr. Malfoy but you are released from detention and as for you Mr. Weasley, you are to report to Mr. Filch's office immediately following dinner this evening.

"Yes Professor," replied Ron.

"Now I suggest the four of you return to your Common Rooms and allow Madam Pomfrey to work in peace," Minerva suggested not so subtly as she ushered the four students out of the Hospital Wing.

"You lying bastard, I know you had something to do with this," snarled Ron once they were in the corridor.

"Ron," hissed Hermione warningly as Harry grabbed onto Ron's arm.

"What did you do to her?" continued Ron as he yanked his arm out of Harry's grasp.

"I already told you Weasel. I didn't do anything to the Weaselette. I can't help it if your sister is so in love with me that she felt the need to fall at my feet," sneered Draco.

"Why you slimy little…" Ron began as he drew his wand.

"Ron don't," ordered Harry grabbing Ron's wand arm just as the Headmaster stepped into the hallway.

"Is everything all right here?" asked Albus in concern when he saw Harry holding Ron's arm away from Draco.

"Everything's fine Headmaster," replied Draco. "Weasley here just refuses to believe that you partnered his sister and I together for your special project."

"I see," replied Albus. "Well Mr. Weasley, I'm afraid the pairings have already been established and have begun their joint studies so it is too late to change the pairings. And neither your sister nor Mr. Malfoy here came to me with concerns yesterday and as they are the ones working with one another, they are the only ones who could have had the pairing changed. Since neither of them sought that, then I can only assume the pairing is working."

"How can the pairing be working Professor? He put my sister in the Hospital Wing," argued Ron.

"I told you Weasley, you're sister collapsed during our study session and I did my job as Head Boy and took her to the Hospital Wing," snapped Draco in irritation at having to repeat himself so many times.

"I see no malice in Mr. Malfoy's actions Mr. Weasley," Albus told Ron. "Mr. Malfoy you did the correct thing in taking Miss Weasley to the Hospital Wing and sending for her brother and Head of House. Ten points to Slytherin for your actions. You may return to your studies," Albus said dismissing Draco.

"Of course Professor, thank you," replied Draco with a smirk at the Gryffindors for having just regained the points he'd lost moments earlier.

"Now then I suggest the three of you head up to Gryffindor Tower until it is time for dinner," Albus said once Draco was gone.

"But what about my sister?" demanded Ron.

"Your sister will be fine Mr. Weasley. She is in the capable hands of Madam Pomfrey and we have no reason to believe that Mr. Malfoy has had anything to do with her condition. Now I strongly suggest you head up to your Common Room," instructed Albus, the usual twinkle in his eye almost non-existent.

"Come on Ron, let's go," commented Harry as he and Hermione dragged him from the entrance of the Hospital Wing.

Albus watched the Golden Trio go for a few moments before entering the Hospital Wing and making his way over to Poppy and Minerva, who were standing, talking quietly opposite Ginny's bed. "How is she Poppy?" he asked as he stepped up to the two women.

"She's still unconscious at the moment Albus," replied Poppy. "And she has no physical wounds to speak of."

"But…" pressed Albus, knowing there was something the nurse was not sharing.

"I found traces of an unidentified potion in her system…"

"And what Poppy?" demanded Albus.

"And if my scans are correct, the poor child has been tortured; with what I can't tell you. As I said, there are no physical injuries but my reading suggest Cruciatus or something similar," replied Poppy sadly.

"Do you know for how long this has been going on?" asked Minerva in shock.

"I'm afraid not Minerva," sighed Poppy.

"Albus you don't think that Molly and Arthur would…"

"No Minerva, I do not," Albus said to reassure her. "Can you tell how long ago this torture took place Poppy?"

"I can't pinpoint an exact time Albus but I can tell you that it happened within the last twelve to twenty-four hours given her current condition," replied Poppy.

"Albus, Poppy, look…" Minerva said pointing towards Ginny who had started to move around in her bed. "I think she's waking up," she continued as they made their way to Ginny's bedside just as Ginny opened her eyes.

"What happened?" asked Ginny groggily looking between the nurse and professors.

"You passed out while studying in the library Miss Weasley," Poppy informed her. "Mr. Malfoy brought you here."

"Oh," replied Ginny quietly.

"Miss Weasley, did Mr. Malfoy do anything to you?" questioned Minerva.

"No. Why?" asked Ginny in confusion.

"Madam Pomfrey's scans indicate that you've been put through some form of torture. Are you sure Mr. Malfoy didn't do anything?" pressed Minerva.

"No Professor, he didn't. Please believe me," pleaded Ginny desperately.

"Then who child? Who did this to you?" demanded Minerva.

"I can't," cried Ginny as tears started falling. "Please Professor…I can't…"

"That's enough Minerva," ordered Albus quietly. "Let us let the child rest. Our questions can wait for another time," he told her as he gently but firmly led Minerva from the room.

"It's alright child," soothed Poppy. "Why don't you try and get some sleep so you can start to regain your strength," she suggested as she carefully wiped away a few of Ginny's remaining tears.

Ginny nodded in agreement before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.