Draco-
Once again I found myself lying alone in my room, the evening drawing in. I watched the sun moving slowly in the sky without really seeing it, my mind on other things. Again, I watched in the back of my mind as Snape cast the deadly curse, watched as Dumbledore fell, and again I felt the gut wrenching disappointment and shame that I had been unable to cast the spell, I had been unable to simply utter those two simple words; I had failed.
"My Lord! My Lord!"
I was jolted out of my daydream so violently it was as though I'd just been Cruciated. I tumbled onto the floor, hair falling into my face and making me blink slightly in shock.
"MY LORD!" The voice of my Aunt Bellatrix was ringing through the house as the called to the Dark Lord, and I ran a hand through my hair agitatedly as I pushed myself up off the floor. I glanced toward the door, fear now bubbling in the pit of my stomach as I tried to think what had gotten Bella in such a good mood. Edging towards the door cautiously, I put my hand out to open it- the door flew open.
"Holy sh-!" I exclaimed, jumped back and landing on my bed again. My father stood illuminated in the door, his features more eager than I had ever seen them- something had happened. Something the Dark Lord considered good.
"Draco! Come quickly! They have located the boy! They have broken down the security around the house- their house, the Weasley hovel! You can get to the girl! Quickly, Draco, we have little time, we must apparate immediately!" I watched, bemused, as Father threw one last look at me, one of mingled despair and excitement, before turning on his heels and sprinting from the door way- leaving my Aunt Bellatrix standing in his place.
"Come along, Draco" she said, grinning menacingly, a glint in her eye. "We must go immediately, no time to waste." I flinched as she moved closer to me, moving her head so that her mouth was right next to my ear as she whispered, her voice hard and cold- "Do not fail in your mission again, Draco. Do not. The Dark Lord does not forgive. You were lucky last time. How will Mummy and Daddy react if little Draco does not perform his task perfectly and is murdered?" I shoved myself away from her, hatred burning in my eyes as I glared at her. She grinned again, and left the room.
I swallowed, my heart in my throat, restricting my breathing as I gasped, pulling myself onto my feet.
"Draco! Now!" I heard my father call urgently from the grand hall, and I threw myself out of the room, grabbing my wand out of my back pocket as I ran, desperate not to be punished for being slow.
"I'm here!" I gasped, sliding into the hall and nearly slipping into Bella, who glared at me threateningly. I took the hint, and edged myself further away from her. I heard a small hiss from behind me, and spun around to find myself facing the Dark Lord, whose face was eager with excitement and malice. I flinched but didn't move- it was unwise to show any hint of fear in front of the Dark Lord.
"He has been located! We have found- Bella, I told you NO!" His eyes blazed menacingly as he spotted Bella in our ranks, and I heard her let out an audible sigh of resentment for being denied a part in the mission. She moved herself to my mother's side. My mother was looking at me with fear etched into every line of her face. I rolled my eyes, both at Bella's impatient attitude and my mother's ridiculous worrying.
Then I heard the first crack, followed swiftly by five more, and I turned to find that in my momentary lapse of concentration the Dark Lord had finished instructing us and the Death Eaters had started apparating to the Weasley's home.
"Damn!" I cursed under my breath, and was about to turn on the spot when I felt a hand catch my shoulder. I caught the shiver that threatened to betray my fear as I saw the long, pale, spidery hand of the Dark Lord perched on my shoulder. I looked into his cold, red eyes and he smirked- he could sense my fear, I knew it.
"Do not fail me, Draco. You have been given this glorious chance to prove yourself to the girl- do not let it pass you by. Go now." He released my shoulder, and I turned on the spot, focusing solely on my destination.
As I felt the pressure of being squeezed through a rubber tube slow, felt the constricting on my lungs gradually fading, I braced myself; seconds later my feet hit solid ground. I maintained my balance and opened my eyes- I had arrived at the Weasley's house. And panic was surrounding me. I took a deep breath. I had this perfect opportunity- I would not waste it.
Ginny-
The glorious day had faded into a warm summer evening. Bill and Fleur had yet to let go of each other- they'd been clinging to each other ever since they had said "I do". It was sweet, although a bit nauseating- I'd had trouble stomaching my apple pie.
"Ginny!" I turned, spotting Luna wandering absently over to me, wearing a casual smile on her face. She was turning occasionally to the music as she walked, and every so often she gave her arms a wiggle in the air. I smiled, genuinely pleased to see her.
"Hi, Luna," I smiled, giving her a quick hug.
"Are you going to dance?" she inquired, looking at me quizzically.
"Sure," I said, moving with her to the dance floor.
"No, not here," she said suddenly, pulling me over in a different direction.
"Oh, why not?" I asked, puzzled.
"Wrackspurts. Hundreds of them, all congregating over there, above Ronald," she explained, a deadly serious look on her face.
"Oh," I replied, unsure of what to say. Then Luna smiled, the smile lighting up her face.
"Well, let's dance then!" she stated, and began once more to twirl on the spot, waving her arms in the air. I giggled slightly, before rolling my eyes and joining in with her.
It was then that the Patronus of Kingsley Shacklebolt appeared in the middle of the marquee. I watched it, dread building inside of me, as it announced that the Minister was dead- and the Death Eaters were on their way. The Patronus vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving the marquee darker than before. Then the first crack came as someone apparated into the garden- then another, and another, until they were all around us, everywhere. I heard a scream, quickly followed by several others as the guests realised what was going on. I turned to see Harry, Ron and Hermione holding hands and vanishing on the spot before I could get to them- they had gone, I didn't know when I'd see them again.
"Ginny! Ginny!"
I heard my mother shouting from somewhere in the chaos, but I couldn't find her, couldn't see her anywhere- it was just a mass on confused bodies, tumbling from side to side as some engaged in full-on fist fights. I instantly regretted leaving my wand in my room- where would I have put it in this dress?- as I stumbled away from the werewolf, Greyback, who was edging his way over to where I was stood, swiping people down with a single backhand.
Terror gripped me as I tripped over the stupid dress, falling backwards. I threw my hands out to catch myself- but didn't hit the floor. Someone had caught me.
"Leave her, Greyback!" I heard the person shout, and felt another dose of cold terror wash over me. I recognised that cold, posh voice, even knew that the owner of the voice was probably sneering right about now. I wrenched myself away, turning to see Draco Malfoy standing behind me, his eyes cold and empty as he surveyed me.
"Nice dress, Weasley," he said. I didn't move, kept my eyes on his wand. "Calm down, Weasley, it's alright. I'm not going to hurt you."
"Don't give me that shit, Malfoy," I hissed. Around me I could still hear the screams, some of them sounding as though the screamer was in pain. I turned my head, anxious to find my mum, my dad, my brothers. I jolted slightly when I felt a cold hand on my arm, pulling me to one side- a flash of red flew past me, exactly where I'd just been standing.
"Saved you again, Weasley," sneered Malfoy.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, glaring at him. He eyed me up and down, one eyebrow raised.
"Come on! Potter isn't here!" I heard a coarse voice shout behind me, and I turned again, saw a couple of Death Eaters apparate into the now slightly smoky air.
"He isn't going to like this," mumbled one of them, shaking his head as he turned on the spot. I glanced around quickly- more Death Eaters where disappearing. I caught sight of my mum, standing in a huddled group made up of my immediate family members. Near her stood my Great Aunt Muriel, her handbag clutched in her hand- one of the handles had snapped, and Muriel's hair was coming out of the bun it had been so carefully styled into. From this, I could only guess that she'd set upon a Death Eater with only her handbag. Mad old bat.
"I have to go," said Malfoy. I paid him less than no attention as I turned on my heel and began to run over to my family. "I meant it, Weasley!" I stopped, turned back, confused. "You look good in that dress." With that, Malfoy turned on the spot, disappearing into thin air, his disappearance accompanied by the usual crack. I blinked once, confused, then turned back and ran over to my mum.
"Ginny! Oh thank god, I couldn't see you anywhere, I was so worried! None of your brothers could see you, none of them, your father couldn't see you, we were so worried!" she exclaimed, brushing my hair back from my face as she looked at me intently before placing a kiss on both of my cheeks.
"Mum!" I protested. "Mum, really, I'm fine! Not a scratch on me, look!" I pulled her hands away from my face, allowing my dad to swoop in and give me a bone breaking hug.
"Oh Ginny, thank heavens," he murmured as he released me.
"Where're they?" gasped Mum suddenly, and I knew instantly what was coming. "Ron, Harry, Hermione? Where've they gone? Oh God no! Where's my son? Where are they?" Tears were washing down my Mum's pale face as she realised that Harry, Ron and Hermione where not in the garden.
"They've gone, Mum," I said, holding her hand. She gripped it hard, looking at me questioningly.
"Gone? Gone where?"
"They've left. They apparated out of here seconds after the Death Eaters arrived," I explained. "I saw them go." Mum let out a scream of anguish as she fell to her knees, tears streaming relentlessly down her face as she sobbed. I released her hand as Dad bent down beside her, trying to coax her up and back into the house.
"Oh now Molly, really," exclaimed Muriel as she saw Mum on the floor. "Ronald is perfectly capable of looking after himself. Now, will someone get me a chair and a glass of champagne? I'm a hundred and seven, you know! Can't be on my feet too long!"