Chapter Eight: Spoiled Rotten By Your Secret

Lupin's reply to Ginny's letter was terse.

Ginny,

I'm away on business. I will contact you when I return.

RJL

First, Ginny panicked. Away on business? That meant he was amongst the werewolves. Who knew when he would be done there? Then, she was angry with herself for putting off solving her problem for so long. By the time the next Hogsmeade weekend was announced, resignation set in. She would be returning to Azkaban.

A fresh snow had fallen, but the weather had held and Hogsmeade was like a fairy village. Ginny had been on tenterhooks for weeks, hoping against hope that she'd hear from Lupin again. Now that she knew that intervention wasn't a possibility, she felt preternaturally calm about going to visit someone she'd said a permanent goodbye to. She tried not to think too much about how she was going back on her promise to herself that she would never see Malfoy again. She focused on that small part of her that wondered how Draco spent his days in his cell, and what exactly in his mind had snapped when his mother died. Had Voldemort tortured her in front of him? She'd never asked how he'd learned of Narcissa's death. That part, the same part that couldn't fathom how difficult it must be to lose a parent, reminded her to buy a box of Peppermint Toads before she made it to the Three Broomsticks. Once said package was tucked under her arm, she decided to show up late for Butterbeers with Luna and Colin and went instead to the Ministry via Zonko's.

She had thought that maybe the trek back to Azkaban would be surreal, but it only felt familiar and chilly as she crossed the sea to the prison once again. As the briny gray waves made a feeble attempt to threaten her, she tried to clear her mind of everything but her new resolutions. She would learn what Malfoy knew. She wouldn't let any of his pathetic insults anger her. She wouldn't tell him anything of import, but she would mold herself into his confidante. She would remember not to feel too sorry for him considering it was his own fault he was in prison, but she wouldn't attack him. She wouldn't feel helpless, because help was on its way.

"Miss Weasley," Alec greeted her as she kicked the snow off her boots.

"The usual room, I assume?" Ginny asked with a small smile.

"No." He clasped his hands together, a poor attempt to conceal anxiousness. "I'm afraid Mr. Malfoy already has visitors."

"I can hardly believe that," Ginny said wryly. "…Seriously?"

He nodded.

"Could I wait for him? Is he in one of the interrogation rooms?"

"I supp- well, yes, you may wait. It could take a while, though," he warned.

As Ginny took a seat, a thrill of adrenaline ran up her spine. Malfoy had visitors? The damned liar. She was going to learn the identity of Nobody in a matter of minutes. For all she knew, Nobody could be a long-lost schoolmate. Wouldn't that be interesting! A thought suddenly struck her. If she could see Nobody, Nobody could see her! Whoever was in that room was about to discover that Ginny Weasley was visiting Azkaban. She'd expressly promised George that she was never coming back. Hermione and the others would never understand why she was here. Her stomach lurched in panic and she staggered to her feet, crossing the room swiftly to Alec's desk with the package of Toads outstretched. He looked up quizzically.

"I'm running late," she blurted.

"Would you like me to deliver those, luv?" he asked sympathetically.

At that moment, a team of Aurors swept into the reception area. The leader of the group, a formidable-looking man Ginny recognized, nodded curtly to Alec as they exited the premises. He was on the Wizengamot, she remembered. He had been there for Draco's trial. Silhouetted against the doorway in their billowing robes, he and his entourage reminded Ginny of crows.

"He's free now, Miss Weasley," Alec said quietly.

A murder of crows.

She could see through the door's window before it opened and she noted that Malfoy's condition had deteriorated further. He was positively gaunt. His hair fell down to his hunched shoulders in dirty tangles. His eyes were huge in his face, and rolled like those of a madman. Under the harsh light of the interrogation room, he looked undead. As the door opened, he flinched and ducked his head. When he finally looked up, his eyes got even wider, if it were possible. His mouth opened slackly, and a benediction fell from his lips.

"Ginny."

She tried to keep the alarm out of her expression, but she was flummoxed. Her brain worked frantically to process the information it had just received. "Draco, what happened?"

He was shaking his head, looking very much like Dobby preparing to hurl himself into a wall. "I had to, I can't stay, I can't take it anymore!" He flew out of his chair and flung himself at her. "Ginny, I'm sorry!" His grimy, manacled hands clutched at her shoulders and smeared foreboding all over her. He stumbled to his knees, taking her with him. They grappled desperately for a moment, and she rocked backwards to get enough space to kick him in the chest, sending them sprawling away from each other on the mouldy floor. "What have you done?" she panted, struggling to her feet despite the lead weight in her stomach.

"Oi! What's going on?" Alec had entered the room upon viewing the altercation. Ginny and Draco both froze. "Are you okay, Miss Weasley?"

She nodded, never taking her eyes off Draco. "Leave us." She waited until she heard the door latch again. "Draco."

"I can't stay here," he sniveled, scrambling up from the floor. "I told them where Snape was, and I told them about your brother."

The dread that had been building in Ginny since she saw the Auror squad erupted into fire. "You idiot!" She cuffed him upside his head and he screamed as if she'd Crucio'ed him, curling into a ball. "That didn't hurt," she scoffed, knowing she hadn't hit him that hard….

He was crying openly now, his hands tearing at his own hair. "Ginny, please, I had to!"

"You weren't even going to tell me before you destroyed my family? I hate you!" The squad…maybe it wasn't too late…dammit, she needed more time….

"We're friends, we're friends," he wailed.

"Colour all your days black, Malfoy," she spat. "I am no friend of yours."

Alec had been ready as she stalked towards the door, and Draco's cries were cut short as she crossed the threshold of the room. She'd never been more grateful for Silencing charms.