THE PERFECT STORY
by shiningbright

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter & Co. (

A/N: Sorry about the delay. I know it's been a week since I last updated this story. I've been really busy with the end of the school year and everything. My last day of school is June 9th, and then I'm off to Michigan for the summer, where I will (hopefully) have a computer in my room and will be able to update twice a week again. I'll do my best to post chapter thirteen next week, but I have yet to write it, so I'm not making any promises. Thanks so much to all my readers! I never anticipated so many reviews!

CHAPTER TWELVE: THE MESSAGE

Kingsley Shacklebolt massaged his forehead, facing the rest of the Order. Sighing, his shoulders slumped. "Well, we know Parkinson infiltrated the Manor, but has not left..."

"Malfoy got her!" cried one ruffled member, shaking a sheet of parchment. "I just now it! He's got resources. Someone in the Ministry... Like He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had. Someone was keeping a check on Parkinson! He knew it was fake!"

"Yes," Kingsley rasped regretfully. "The plan was riddled with flaws. Now... Well, now I don't know what to do! We don't have enough people to storm the Manor and-"

"-Kingsley!" shouted Mrs. Weasley from up front. Tears ran down her cheeks. "Have you forgotten? You are the Minister, the Minister of Magic! If anyone has any power over the wizarding community, it is you!"

"Yes!" agreed Susan Bones, sitting across the aisle from Molly. "Yes, she is right! We could just say, in response of all those muggles and wizards he killed, that we have a report from a reliable source that Draco Malfoy is, in fact, at the Manor, and we plan to eradicate him once and for all!"

"But," Kingsley pointed out. "We're not even sure Ginny or Malfoy are there. We could very well be leading ourselves into a trap or a wild goose chase. Is it worth the time and effort to assemble so many just to find out the Manor is empty?"

"If the Manor was empty," Ron Weasley spoke. "Parkinson would be here with us. For all we know, she could be kidnapped with my little sister!"

"Yes, true! We could be endangering them! Malfoy sees a hundred million aurors on his front lawn, he'll kill them for sure!" Neville Longbottom countered. "We'd hate for that to happen."

"Yes..." Hermione Weasley began slowly. "Or... or maybe... Pansy's only been there for what? An hour and a half or so? She's cunning enough. Maybe she's still working on Malfoy."

"Yes," Kingsley agreed. "Hermione may be right. You all may be right, for goodness sake's! But we are trotting on a very thin thread, and must choose our plan of action very carefully."

Bill Weasley straightened in his chair. "So we wait, then."

"Yes," Charlie answered. "So we wait."

A moment later a very harried figure rushed into the room, hair wild and face twisted. "Oh, Kingsley!" she sobbed, grabbing the minister's hands. "Oh, Kingsley- it's t-terrible! It's awf-ful! Y-you must c-come! We n-need you d-downtown!"

"Miss," Shacklebolt asked softly. "What has happened?"

The woman looked up into his eyes. "It's M-malfoy, S-sir," she whispered. "H-he's killed... Everyone... H-hogwarts...It's, oh, it's terrible!"

Kingsley's eyes widened in fear. "This can't be!"

The woman slumped in his arms. Kingsley realized she was badly injured.

"Take her to St. Mungo's immediately! I need all aurors to report to Hogsmeade. NOW!" Shacklebolt shouted, hurrying from the room.

Hermione stood, tears threatening to come. "What has happened...?" she cried softly. "What has Malfoy done?"


Ginny stared up at the towering figure in the doorway. "What do you want?" she asked dryly. Draco's lips pursed. "Both of you are leaving."

"L-leaving?" Pansy shook. "What? Leaving from where? Where are we going?"

"Outside," Draco snarled. "NOW!" he pulled out his wand from his robes and twirled it at each of them in turn. "You will obey me," he commanded threateningly. "YOU WILL LISTEN OR YOU WILL PAY!"

Ginny stood gathering her bearings. Inside she shook like a leaf, but on the outside she was still as stone. Draco led them downstairs, flanked by three beastly Death Eaters. Once outside, he sat them each on a stump and for ten minutes, it was silent.

"You will hear," he replied softly. "Of a catastrophic event. An attack at Hogwarts. Thanks to you, Pansy Parkinson," -he paused, staring at the brunette sitting next to Ginny, who glared moodily back at him- "I knew that the Order and the Ministry both would be distracted. Perfect. My plan was immediately set into action as soon as I sent you to your room.

"Anyway, as I have no use for either of you anymore, I shall dispose of both of you. Crabbe, would you like to do the honors?" Draco smirked, taking his eyes off the girls for a split-second to look at the beastliest Death Eater. "Well?"

Crabbe turned to his master. "Yes, Sir." He answered.

"Good. I sent Inky to make some tea, and he should be back any moment now. All right, girls, how would you prefer to go?" he turned back to Ginny and Pansy, who had stood when he took his eyes off of them.

"I'd rather not," Ginny cried. "Draco, what are you doing!" she shouted. "You don't like killing! You know you don't! We can help you! We help people who are blackmailed, or-or threatened! We can keep you and your mother safe! Draco, you're better than this!"

Pansy looked up from her nails. "Mm-hm...What she said..."

Draco steeled himself. "No!" he countered, taking a step closer to the fiery redhead. "No! You are wrong!"

Tears streamed down Ginny's face. "I'm not and you know that!" she argued. "You are not like this! You're better than this!"

Draco ignored her, turning instead to Crabbe. "Go inside, and get-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Ginny ran up from where she had been standing and slapped him in the face. "Draco, wake up!" she sobbed. "Wake up..."

Malfoy turned to her, anger rising in his pale, pointed face. "How dare you touch me!" he chastised her. "How dare you!" Draco whipped out his wand and pointed it at her, "Stup-"

"NO!" Ginny cried, ducking as a shot of red light cascaded over her. "No!"

Crabbe grabbed Ginny, holding her arms to her sides. "What do you wish, Master?" he asked.

Ginny struggled in Crabbe's arms. Draco looked at her madly. "Pathetic. However-" he smiled sinisterly. "Merriet, run inside," he told the second Death Eater, "And fetchtheWeasel'swand."

Ginny stared at the man dumbfounded. "W-what?"

"You," he smiled, "Are going to fight for your freedom."