THE PERFECT STORY
by yeminquon

A/N: Hey. I figured I'd post this, since I wasn't getting anymore reviews. I hope you enjoy it... It isn't my best but it's crucial to the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own.. Got it? Lord! Get off my back!

CHAPTER FOUR: SLIGHTLY OUT OF IT

He had told her she had been at the manor for three days... That made it March 31st… And the longest day of her life. Barely an hour had passed since Malfoy had left her and already she was bored out of her mind. The view from the window was dull. Staring at the walls was dull. Splashing water on the floor from the wooden pitcher was dull (and the water smelled moldy, which was gross). The wardrobe was empty. The bed held no entertainment, just an old chamber pot, although a few spiders and a mouse with his plump wife were hanging out down there, causing her to scream with fright and scramble up onto her bed with haste.

She thought of her career. Knowing Rockwell, he probably thought Ginny was ditching and would somehow convince her boss to fire her. Everything she had worked for in journalism would be a waste and she would have to start over. She thought of all the different jobs she could possibly have. Jack's Beans was a nice place. Maybe she could sell hot cocoa and crumpets there.

She braided and unbraided her hair as she thought about her mom, brothers, and close friends. Three days. Had they heard of her disappearance? She hadn't talked to her mom in four months. She only saw Bill when she went to Gringotts, which was rare. The twins had been in Japan the last few months, experimenting for their joke shop. Percy was dead, had been dead. Charlie had grown tired of dragons and was now serving as the USA rep for the Ministry of Magic (he has good people skills). Ron was happily married to Hermione and they lived way over in Wales.

Had they heard of her missing? Were they looking for her?

Suddenly her stomach growled, and she realized, with a pang, that the last thing she had eaten was a sip of that cocoa three days before. She rolled over on the bed, trying to forget the hunger...

A knock at the door made her scramble to her feet. It opened, revealing a spindly servant. She was carrying a rough wooden tray and looked about Ginny's age. Ginny tried to smile, but she was so hungry the corners of her lips sagged. The tray held a wooden goblet of blood-red liquid, a loaf of tough bread, and some cheese. But Ginny was so hungry she hardly cared what was on the menu. The servant avoided her gaze; setting the tray on the floor next to the door than leaving as quickly as she had came.

Ginny leapt off the bed as the door shut closed. She grabbed the tray and brought it back to the bed, leaning against the wall as she ate. The food tasted as good as a feast, and the drink, which she discovered to be red wine, to her joy, was even better. Full, she tossed the tray at the door, not caring that it hit the surface with a thud and landed on the floor just as softly.

On the other side of the door, Crabbe banged on the wall. Ginny giggled, stuffed. She felt woozy, lightheaded… happy. As if all of her past worries had gone away. She stood up on the bed, stumbled, and stood up again, laughing. She jumped on her bed, screaming with delight. Five minutes later the door busted open, revealing a very aggravated Draco.

"What are you doing!" he shouted, grabbing her shoulder and forcing her onto the bed. "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing!"

"I feel great!" Ginny shouted, leaping at him. "GREAT! Like I did yoga for fifty hours straight. I don't even know what yoga is! Hehehe! Oh, Draco!" she cooed, melting in his arms. "I want to go to France! Will you take me there? No, wait- the ocean! I want to see the ocean, Draco! PLEASE?"

Draco pried her arms from around his neck. "What is wrong-" he spied the goblet by the door, lying haphazardly on the ground. Anger welled up in his face. "MARTHA!"

A very flustered and ruffled maid barreled into the room. Ginny grinned at her toothily. "Hewo. Are you Martha? Do you want to be friends?" she asked swaying from side to side. "HEY!" She called suddenly, smiling. "DRACO! CAN SHE COME TO THE OCEAN WITH US?"

Martha saw the goblet in the corner of her eye and turned a brilliant shade of white.

"Martha," Draco began calmly, thrusting Ginny back onto the bed. "Martha? What did you put in her drink?"

Martha's lips trembled. Ginny decided chickens were really great and started clucking. Draco ignored her as Martha burst into tears. "Nott said two teaspoons of the syrup, Master. But as I was pouring, Elizabeth knocked my elbows and…" she dropped to her feet, kissing Draco's cloak. Draco eyed her venomously. Ginny shot off the bed with an "oooh!" and landed beside Martha, kissing Draco's cloak.

"Hehehe!" she laughed. "Oh, Maria, I mean, Martha- this is so much fun!"

Martha just stared, weeping her eyeballs out of her head. "Oh, Master! It was an accident!"

Draco rolled his eyes. "How much syrup was in her wine, Martha?"

"About two tablespoons, Master!" she sobbed. Ginny stood and sat on Martha, who collapsed under the weight. "Horsy Ride! Horsy Ride!"

The last thing Ginny heard was, "Get Snape," before suddenly she dropped off in a deep, heavy sleep.


Preview For Chapter Five: Sacrifice

Martha looked up at her as Ginny stood, her wide, brown eyes full of fright and despair. Ginny pulled a wand from a pocket in her ugly grey dress. Martha gasped. "Where'd y-you get that?" she shuddered, staring at the wand with hate and distrust. Ginny loathed to think of what various wands had done to the poor girl.

YQ