Chapter 8

Draco was getting worried. It was now mid-afternoon and there was no sign of Ginny anywhere. She had not shown up in the Great Hall for breakfast or lunch and she had failed to show up in the library for their weekly study session. He had seen the Golden Trio in the library a short while ago, but no sign of Ginny. He thought he felt his ring heat up earlier but could not be sure since it did not seem to be as apparent as the last time it had happened. He decided to give it another half hour and if Ginny still had not shown up he would go off in search of her, even lower himself to asking Potter where she was if need be when he felt his ring heat up on his finger, there was no mistaking it this time. Grabbing his cloak and his rucksack, Draco quickly made his way from the library in search of Ginny. As he was passing one of the windows that overlooked the lake, he caught sight of something that looked fiery red in colour. Taking a closer look, Draco could make out what appeared to be three people just as the heat in his ring spiked. "Bloody hell," he cursed quietly as he took off for the Entrance Hall, hoping that whatever was going on, he was not too late to stop it.

Meanwhile…

"Millie it was fantastic," Pansy grinned as they walked along the grounds.

"You've said that twenty times," replied Millicent as she rolled her eyes.

"Well look what we have here," Pansy began with a wicked smile before heading towards Ginny, who she had just spotted by the lake. "If it isn't the Mongrel. Where's your little half-breed?"

Ginny glanced up from her papers before sighing mentally and returning to her papers, ignoring Pansy completely.

"Oh, is the Mongrel too good to talk to us now?" scoffed Pansy indignantly. "What's this?" she continued as she grabbed the papers from Ginny. "My Beautiful Fireling?" she read before looking up at Ginny. "Oh Merlin, don't tell me the half-breed actually calls you that?" snickered Pansy as Ginny jumped to her feet and tried to get the letter away from her. "Oh this is great," Pansy laughed as she danced away from Ginny. "From the moment I saw you, from the moment I looked into your eyes. There was something about you I knew, I knew. That you were once in a lifetime, a treasure near impossible to find and I know how lucky I am to know you. Cause I've seen rainbows that could take your breath away. The beauty of the setting sun that ends a perfect day. And when it comes to shooting stars, I've seen a few. But I've never seen anything as beautiful as you."

"Give it back Pansy," demanded Ginny as she tried unsuccessfully to snatch the pages away from the other girl.

"Oh Gods, the half-breed is pathetic, this is so the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Pansy laughed before flipping to the next page. "Oh wait, Millie it gets better," she crowed. "Hands touch, eyes meet, sudden silence, sudden heat. He could be that boy but I'm not that girl. Every so often we long to steal to the land of what might have been, but that doesn't soften the ache I feel when reality sets back in."

No matter how hard Ginny tried, she was not able to get close enough to Pansy to get the pages back since Pansy managed to dance away from her on every try.

"Oh poor Weaselette, don't tell me Potter's that bad in the sack that you have to imagine it better or something. Maybe he should take lessons from my Draco…then again, there's no way to teach perfection is there?" laughed Pansy. "Oh does Potter have a thing for some chick with black hair? Well he did have a thing for that Chang girl a few years ago, so does that mean you're going to dye your hair black then Mongrel? Might actually make you more bearable to look at…though that is probably highly unlikely."

"Pansy…" Millicent began, having seen the look in Ginny's eyes.

"Oh Millie, there's more," giggled Pansy as she flipped to the next page. "Oh I didn't imagine it could get any better…" she continued before dancing around as she read in a sing-song voice. "How did it come to this? How did I slip and fall? How did I throw half a lifetime away without any thought at all? Why do I want him still? Why when there is nothing there? How do I go on with the rest of my life pretending that I don't care? I try to blame it on Fortune, some kind of twist of Fate, but I know the truth and it haunts me. I learned it a little too late…What did you finally figure out that you're nothing but a worthless little mudblood loving freak Weaselette? It sure took you long enough. Now why don't you take your newfound knowledge and learn to leave the rest of us who deserve to be breathing and living alone? Oh and while you're at it, why not make your first order of business getting out of that stupid project you have with my Draco. You know you're only going to make him fail don't you? I don't understand why the professors even paired the two of you together, you're not smart enough to be working with him, evidenced by the fact that Longbottom is a part of it, possibly the stupidest Gryffindork there is…well next to you of course," sneered Pansy in disgust rolling her eyes.

"Pansy," hissed Millicent when she saw the tears streaming down Ginny's cheeks, seconds before Ginny turned and simply walked away.

"What?" snapped Pansy. "Don't go getting all snooty with me Millicent Bulstrode. I did nothing more than speak the truth."

"The truth according to the Malfoys and Parkinsons maybe," argued Millicent.

"Your point being?"

"Not everyone thinks the way that you do you know," snapped Millicent.

As Millicent and Pansy argued over the truth of Pansy's words, Ginny slowly made her way back towards the castle, trying desperately to wipe away her tears that just would not seem to stop.

"Ginny are you all right?" asked Draco worriedly when he met her near the castle doors. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Leave me alone Malfoy," replied Ginny flatly, her voice devoid of emotion, not lifting her eyes to meet Draco's gaze.

"Not until you tell me what's wrong?" insisted Draco.

"Why don't you go ask your fiancée," replied Ginny quietly.

"My fiancée?" asked Draco in confusion, his gaze going to where he could see Pansy down by the lake. "Pansy? What does she have to do with anything?" he asked confused, only to turn back to Ginny and find her gone, having taken advantage of his momentary distraction to slip into the castle around him.

Draco was furious over the fact that Ginny was obviously hurting over something and refusing to let him help her and apparently Pansy had something to do with her pain. It was obvious that the woman he loved would not give him the answers he sought but he would be damned if Pansy did not. Draco stormed across the grounds to where his housemates were still arguing. "What the hell did you do Parkinson?" he demanded, grabbing Pansy by the arm and spinning her around to face him.

"Draco baby, there you are," gushed Pansy.

"Don't start Pansy. Tell me what you did to her," Draco ordered, shaking her slightly.

"Her who?" asked Pansy in confusion.

"Don't play dumb Pansy," sneered Draco in disdain. "Weasley. What did you do to her?"

"The Weasley Mongrel? Nothing but tell her the truth," replied Pansy.

"The truth according to you maybe," mumbled Millicent.

"Shut up Millie," ordered Pansy.

"What are you talking about Millicent?" asked Draco.

"Don't you dare Millie," snapped Pansy angrily.

Millicent stood there looking between Draco and Pansy, the two most powerful Slytherins, for a few minutes thinking, before finally sighing in defeat knowing that no matter what she did, one of the two Slytherins in front of her was going to make her life hell. "Pansy and I were out walking when Pansy noticed Weasley sitting over here. Pansy thought it would be fun to pick on her but when Weasley didn't rise to the bait, Pansy snatched the parchment from her lap and started reading it."

"What parchment?" asked Draco in confusion, not seeing any parchment in Pansy's hand.

"Uh…" Millicent trailed off as she looked around for the pages, finding them lying in the snow not far from where they were standing. "These are them," she said handing the pages to Draco after collecting them. "I think most of it's stuff she wrote herself while one is a letter, the writing on one page is different than the others," Millicent explained.

"Draco quickly glanced at the pages in his hands, recognizing Ginny's handwriting on all of the pages save one, although he recognized the writing on that page as well. "Millicent, do me a favour and give these back to Weasley for me," he said as he handed Millicent the pages. "Pansy and I aren't finished yet."

"Sure Draco," replied Millicent, throwing a glance at Pansy before heading into the castle, leaving her housemates alone to argue.

"Are you planning on attending breakfast this morning Mr. Malfoy?" questioned Severus when he entered his office to prepare for the first class of the New Year and found Draco pacing.

"Something's happened. Something's wrong," replied Draco wringing his hands as he continued to pace.

"Can you be a little more specific Mr. Malfoy?" asked Severus as he sat down at his desk.

"Something's happened. Something's wrong," Draco repeated.

"Yes, I got that Mr. Malfoy," snapped Severus hoping to snap Draco out of whatever fog he was currently in.

"It's Ginny Sir," commented Draco as he sat down opposite Severus.

"What is it about Miss Weasley that has you so concerned?" wondered Severus.

"She's missing," replied Draco.

"I see. When was the last time you saw Miss Weasley?"

"Saturday."

"Did you ever stop to consider the fact that Miss Weasley may in fact be merely avoiding you?" questioned Severus.

"Yes Sir I did."

"But?"

"I did consider the fact that Ginny could be avoiding me, especially since she missed our scheduled study session and given the way she acted around me when I ran into her later that day, but this," Draco held up a folded piece of parchment," came back to me this morning."

"Maybe she simply returned it to you, did you think about that?" offered Severus.

"But that's just it Professor. She never sends them back. She doesn't even know who sends them. The only reason I can think of for why this one came back is that something's happened that's preventing her from accepting it, explained Draco.

"Well the wards haven't sounded which means she hasn't crossed them so she is still somewhere within the castle grounds," commented Severus. "You have your special project classes today, if she hasn't shown up by lunch, come find me and we'll go the Headmaster and have the school searched."

"Yes Sir," replied Draco as he rose from his seat. "Thank you."

"You're welcome Mr. Malfoy, now you better get to class," instructed Severus.

"Yes Sir," replied Draco as he made his way from Severus' office.

As the morning progressed Draco went from Herbology to Transfiguration, with still no sign of Ginny and questions about her whereabouts from both Sprout and McGonagall.

"Mr. Malfoy, would you stay behind for a moment please," instructed Minerva after she dismissed the group for lunch.

"You wanted to see me Professor?" asked Draco when the others had left.

"Your explanation of where your partner is, is not acceptable Mr. Malfoy," Minerva informed him.

"I'm sorry Professor but I really don't know where she is and quite frankly I'm worried about her," admitted Draco. "In fact I was about to go find Professor Snape as soon as class was over. He told me to find him if Ginny didn't show up for her classes this morning."

"I see," commented Minerva as she jotted something down on a small piece of parchment before vanishing it. "Come with me Mr. Malfoy," she instructed as she made her way towards the classroom door.

"Where are we going Professor?" asked Draco in confusion.

"To see the Headmaster of course," replied Minerva.

"But I have to see Professor Snape," countered Draco.

"Professor Snape will meet us there, Mr. Malfoy," sighed Minerva in frustration. "Now if you want to find out what's happened to Miss Weasley I suggest you come along."

Severus was already waiting in Albus' office by the time Minerva and Draco arrived. The three professors questioned Draco on the last time he had seen Ginny and what her behaviour had been like. They agreed that since the wards had not sounded at all since the last time Draco saw Ginny, that she was still on school grounds somewhere, they just had to find her. The longer the professors talked the more agitated Draco grew as his worry about what might have happened to Ginny increased. The professor decided to lock down the school and search for Ginny. An announcement was made asking all professors to meet in the Great Hall and all students were to return to the Common Rooms, including Draco, much to his annoyance.

Once all the students were safely locked inside their Common Rooms, the professor set about searching the castle. After each room was thoroughly searched the door was marked with a special symbol so that no time was wasted searching rooms someone had already searched.

"Minerva, what room is this?' called Severus from his spot in the door.

"Oh heavens, I completely forgot about this room," commented Minerva as she stepped into the room behind Severus. "This is Miss Weasley's room. It was given to her when she came here over the summer seeking Sanctuary."

"Does she still use it?" asked Severus, having noticed the Gryffindor cloak on the bed.

"I'm not sure, why?" asked Minerva.

"Because Mr. Malfoy said he last saw Miss Weasley outside and there is a Gryffindor cloak on the bed," replied Severus as he made his way into the room carefully. "Minerva, get Albus."

"Severus…"

"Now Minerva," Severus ordered as he knelt down on the floor on the other side of the bed from where Minerva was standing.

Minerva raced into her sitting room and summoned a house-elf to go for Albus and send him to the Hospital Wing before returning to Ginny's room. As Minerva approached where Severus was kneeling, she noticed Ginny's unconscious form on the floor. Severus was just turning Ginny over and checking for a pulse when Minerva stopped beside him. "Well?"

"She's still alive," replied Severus as he conjured a stretcher and carefully placed Ginny on it before levitating it and heading off towards the Hospital Wing.

By the time Severus and Minerva entered the Hospital Wing, Albus was already there, waiting with Poppy, who directed Severus on where to put Ginny before starting her examination.

Albus, Severus and Minerva stood back and let Poppy do what she had to do, talking quietly amongst themselves. "Poppy is everything alright?" asked Albus when Poppy joined them a short while later. "You're terribly pale."

"Who would do such a thing to such a sweet girl?" asked Poppy sadly.

"Poppy what is it?" asked Minerva in concern.

"The child's been tortured again," replied Poppy, despair evident in her voice. "This time to the point of unconsciousness. I've had to silence her voice for the time being. She must have screamed too much for too long, her vocal cords are severely damaged. She's a lucky girl in the fact that there is no other damage."

"Can't you give her something to heal her vocal cords?" asked Minerva.

"I would but she's got traces of a strange potion in her system. It's the same one as before but I still don't know what it is, what it's supposed to do or why she's even taking it in the first place. I don't want to run the risk of having the potions react to one another," explained Poppy.

The minute Poppy finished Severs started cursing, letting out a string of expletives that no one in the room would dare repeat.

"Something the matter Severus?" asked Albus, a slight note of teasing in his voice.

"It's an anti-conception potion," ground out Severus. "The strongest there is."

"How can you be so sure?" asked Poppy.

"Because I made it," Severus snarled, causing Minerva and Poppy to gasp in shock.

"Miss Weasley should have come to me not you Severus," commented Poppy.

"She didn't come to me you infernal woman, the Dark Lord did," Severus sneered.

"I don't understand," admitted Minerva.

"The Dark Lord asked me to make it over the summer and again over the Christmas holidays. I was led to believe it was for use during Dark Revels. I had no idea it was intended for Miss Weasley," Severus admitted.

"Well then how has she been getting it if you haven't been giving it to her?" asked Minerva in confusion.

"Young Mr. Malfoy perhaps?" suggested Albus.

"No, his father," replied Severus.

"Lord Lucius Malfoy?" asked Poppy. "How? Why?"

"He found a way around the rules of Sanctuary," Severus began. "Miss Weasley received a package from the Lady Malfoy early in the school year. Lord Malfoy slipped a letter in with it that contained a locating spell."

"Sanctuary would have prevented such a letter from reaching Miss Weasley," Minerva pointed out.

"It would," agreed Severus. "If it were a human locating spell."

"Human?" questioned Poppy. "If it wasn't a human locating spell, the what…"

"Albus do you remember me coming to you at the beginning of the school year to see about the possibility of blocking entrance to the castle for a house-elf?" asked Severus.

"I do," replied Albus.

"Severus, are you saying a house-elf did this?" asked Minevera in confusion.

"Yes I am," replied Severus. "Miss Weasley admitted to me that the reason she collapsed at the start of the year was because Lord Malfoy had found a way to get at her around the rules of Sanctuary. That way being a house-elf, the same house-elf he had assigned to her care over the summer. You've all witnessed how Miss Weasley reacts when confronted with a house-elf, the reason being that a house-elf is the one responsible for keeping her in line, and in order to do that, it tortures her."

"Keep her in line? I don't understand," commented Albus.

"Everything I'm about to tell you Miss Weasley told me in confidence. I am now breaking that confidence in order to help keep the child safe," explained Severus before going on and telling the others everything Ginny had told him about her time with the Malfoys and his own suspicions about what had been going on since her arrival at the school.

Shortly after Severus finished his explanation, Ginny started to stir.

"Good afternoon Miss Weasley," greeted Albus as he sat down on one side of Ginny, Severus and Minerva taking up positions around the bed as Poppy quickly ran a few more scans now that Ginny was conscious. "Don't try to talk child, Madam Pomfrey had to silence your voice so your vocal cords could heal," explained Albus as he helped Ginny sit more upright as he noticed Ginny start to panic when she could not talk.

"Did Lord Malfoy do this to you Miss Weasley?" asked Minerva.

Ginny's eyes widened in fear as she started shaking her head.

"It's alright Miss Weasley, we know about Lord Malfoy's house-elf. We also found this on the floor next to you," explained Minerva as she held out a letter towards Ginny.

Ginny sighed in defeat, letting her head fall back for a moment before sitting back up. Holding her left hand flat, she mimed writing with her right, hoping to get her point across.

"What is it Miss Weasley?" asked Poppy.

Ginny sighed in frustration before taking Lucius' letter from Minerva. She held it for them to see before pointing to herself and miming writing once more.

"I think Miss Weasley's trying to tell us that she would like something to write with, if I'm not mistaken," commented Albus.

Ginny nodded in agreement as Severus conjured a quill and some parchment, handing them to Ginny.

Ginny wrote something and showed it to Severus.

"You're welcome Miss Weasley," replied Severus.

Ginny turned her attention back to the parchment in front of her, writing her thoughts down before giving the parchment to Albus.

"She says," began Albus, "That as far as she knows, Blinky, the house-elf, is under orders to keep her in line."

"To keep you in line how child?" asked Poppy as Ginny took the parchment back from Albus.

"She does not know why or how he's supposed to do it," replied Albus reading Ginny's answer.

"Why are you protecting him Miss Weasley?' asked Minerva, her voice laced with confusion and concern. "Professor Snape told us what you told him about your time at Malfoy Manor."

Ginny threw the nastiest and coldest glare she could muster at Severus, one that actually rivaled the Potion's Master himself. She was furious that he had told them things she had told him in confidence, taking the parchment back from Albus to write something on it before handing it back to him.

"She says she is not protecting him. She's protecting herself," commented Albus. "She says that she found herself in a situation not of her making and is doing everything she has to in order to live through it."

"And does living through it include ending up in the Hospital Wing tortured into unconsciousness?" snapped Poppy in irritation.

"I made a mistake," read Albus.

"A mistake?" snapped Poppy. "What kind of mistake would leave you tortured into unconsciousness?"

Ginny rolled her eyes and sighed in frustration as she took the parchment back from Albus. After writing for a few minutes Ginny handed the parchment back to Albus and crossed her arms in irritation.

"Oh child," sighed Albus after reading what Ginny had written.

"What does she say Albus?" pressed Minerva.

"She says that over the summer the Lady Malfoy had bought her everything she needed for school, both uniforms and supplies along with the outfit she was wearing the day she arrived here seeking Sanctuary, making a gift of the jewelry she had been wearing. Lord Malfoy had made it quite clear to her that everything the Lady Malfoy had purchased for her would be returned as she had no rights to them as she was not a true Malfoy, despite the marriage to Lord Malfoy's son. The Lady Malfoy sent the school uniforms and supplies to her at the beginning of the year and she was merely trying to return them as they did not belong to her, gift of not. She says the mistake she made was taking young Harry up on his offer of using his owl Hedwig to deliver the package, as Lord Malfoy recognized her and took it as a sign that she was not upholding her end of the agreement he made with her family and that Blinky was sent to deliver that letter and inform her of his displeasure," explained Albus.

"His displeasure? Albus surely…"

"Thank you Miss Weasley," Albus said interrupting Minerva. "I think we've bothered you enough for the time being. Would you like for me to send for anyone? Young Mr. Malfoy perhaps?"

Ginny shook her head and took the parchment from Albus, handing it back a few seconds later.

"Of course, Miss Weasley," replied Albus, rising from his seat and ushering Severus and Minerva from the room as Poppy returned to her office.

A short while later Harry entered the Hospital Wing and made his way over to Ginny's bed, climbing up next to her and holding her as her body was wracked by silent sobs.