Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters.
A/N Things start to become clearer in this one. Thanks for the reviews.
I wish I never knew
Ginny opened the door to the common room to find Malfoy pacing back and forth next to his sofa. The blankets were folded neatly on it, so it looked as if nobody had ever slept on it.
"Is something bothering you?" Ginny began. He looked harassed and his silvery blond hair was not in its usual messy, but cool shape, but just messy.
"No, not especially. Oh, apart from the fact that the Death Eaters are planning some kind of serious attack at this very moment. And I haven't had breakfast. I'm always bothered before breakfast." He finished, and stopped pacing. "Sorry, I'm just hungry. Anyway, did you sleep OK?"
"Not really. I kept thinking Death Eaters were going to burst in at any moment. I got to sleep when I realized that you'd be got first."
A smile cracked on the corner of Draco's mouth. "I didn't either. Same reason as you I guess. I got to sleep when I realized that if Death Eaters did come in, I could tell them that Harry Potter was asleep in you're room, so you'd be got first."
Ginny actually laughed, for the first time in what felt like ages.
"I'll go and see if I can get the cloak. It's usually hidden under Harry's bed I think."
Draco raised an eyebrow at this, but refrained from saying anything.
"Too many midnight raids of the kitchens." Ginny clarified for him, and disappeared up into the boys staircase. Draco watched her go, with a feeling of impending doom. He felt like he'd just found what he'd been looking for all his life, but knew that as soon as time began again everything would be just like it was before.
Ginny came back down holding something silvery in her hands. She handed it to Draco, who looked at it wonderingly for a moment.
"I'm going the try and find out what the Death Eaters have planned." Draco stated.
"Well, if you think you're going alone, think again. I'm coming, and I don't care if you don't want me to, because this is as much my problem as yours." Ginny said firmly.
"Good, I want company." Draco said, and flashed her a sweet smile. Ginny reddened slightly.
"Sorry, too many times of being told I can't come on some adventure because I'm too young." Ginny clamped her mouth shut, now mortally embarrassed. Draco felt touched, like she'd told him something that she'd never said to anyone before.
"That's harsh. I don't have any brothers or sisters, so I don't really know what it's like to be left out of things. I suppose they think they're just protecting you, but you're not a child anymore. It would be insulting."
Ginny smiled. There was someone who actually understood her.
"Shall we go then?" Draco said. "You can show me the way to the kitchens. Useful knowledge for the future." He threw the cloak over them both. Ginny was painfully aware of how close they were standing, she could feel the warmth from Draco's body next to hers. She slid open the portrait and looked outside, it was empty for the moment. Draco followed her out, making sure that the cloak stayed over them both.
They walked the way to the kitchens in silence. Only the soft thudding of their shoes sounded in the silence. Once they got there, Draco pulled off the cloak and looked around awed.
The kitchens were huge, with half prepared food sitting over the table tops. He wondered if it would have gone off by the time time restarted, making a mental note to watch what he ate for breakfast when that happened.
"I hope the food doesn't age." Ginny voiced his thoughts. "Poor house elves, it would be quite a shock." Putting aside her guilty feelings, she opened a larder door and rooted around for some bread.
Draco found some pumpkin juice in the magically cooled fridge.
They swapped food, and put aside some cheese, bottles of Butterbeer, rolls and carrots for lunch in their robes.
"Butterbeer?" Ginny asked exasperated. Draco smiled,
"Well, it is the only thing that comes in bottles. And its refreshing. Sort of."
They stood in silence for a bit, eating their bread, each lost in thought.
"Do you think time will restart again tonight?" Ginny asked.
"I don't know. It will depend on what the Death Eaters are doing I suppose." Draco had nothing else to say and finished his bread.
"Lets go and find them then."
With the cloak back over them, and pockets full of food, they ventured out into the corridors.
"Dungeons first do you think?" Ginny whispered in Draco's ear. He merely nodded.
It didn't take long to find where the Death Eaters were working. In one of the Potions laboratories, voices were escaping through the open door. Draco and Ginny crept up to it, and flattened themselves against the wall next to the door and listened.
"This is a miracle. Who'd have thought Arthur Weasley and his stupid muggle technology displays would become useful. Perhaps not his intended use, but he'll become famous for evermore, just as he's always wanted."
Ginny tensed up next to Draco, alarm bells ringing in her head, and the sickening feeling of dread built up over her. She barely felt Draco's arm wrap around her waist to try and comfort her.
Deep laughter echoed around the room,
"He could get more money than in his wildest dreams to simply sell his story," the voice continued.
Draco stuck his head around the doorframe, hoping that the cloak really was invisible.
What he saw made him jump. His father was there, and Snape, with about three other Death Eaters. They were crowded around a central table with five objects taking shape. They were small, muggle made devices, of which Draco had never seen before. A grey haired man was fiddling about with a couple of wires attached to one of them.
"Boom, and the kids are gone." One of them said morbidly, and the others laughed.
"So, what do all these wires do Tenneson?" Snape said, suspiciously.
The gray haired man wiped some sweat from his forehead, "Lots of things," he said gruffly, still connecting up parts, concentrating furiously.
"How explanatory" Snape sneered.
"Severus, let him concentrate. Wouldn't like to think what'll happen if his hand slipped. All we need to know is that tomorrow, once you say the words, when Dumbledore's back and the children are all in bed, they'll never wake up. Isn't that right Tenneson?" Lucius questioned.
"Humph" He growled. "But I'm only building the bombs. Its up to you to charm them to ignite when the Lord wishes. No use without a spark, eh."
"Yes, yes. That will all be sorted. Bellatrix, you've always had a certain speciality with charms, I'd like you to make sure they can only be touched and sparked by the right people. And make sure they stay hidden."
"Of course Lucius."
"Good. Now, how much longer will this take? We're running out of time."
"'Bout 10 minutes sir." Tenesson muttered.
"Severus, Knott, make sure you're ready to plant these. One in every house, and of course, the most important, one in the old git's office. I want everything in order before sundown. They must be ready for tomorrow's return of Dumbledore."
They nodded, and Lucius sneered. "The wizarding world will be in shock, leaving the path clear for our master. We will be praised beyond all others." They all seemed to rub there hands in glee, figuratively speaking, dreaming of the power they'll have earnt in the future.
"And, when they find out Arthur Weasley was responsible for this, be it indirectly, he will be in Azkaban for the rest of his life. It never pays off to associate with muggles." They all grinned, watching the work of the Tennesson.
"Lucius, isn't my nephew, your son, going to be here when it happens. Don't you think you ought to take him out of school?" Bellatrix asked.
Ginny clasped Draco's hand that was around her waist, realizing disgustedly what the answer would be.
"No, he can die along with the rest. He is a traitor, no son of mine." Lucius replied ruthlessly.
Draco's heart went cold, horror taking over, finally realizing that his father really had never loved him.
A/N Again, please review. Just to say that I will not be able to update for a few days, but the next chapter, I think, should be a good one.
