*Blaise*

"Potter has to be stopped,"

The face was in shadow, but the voice, that voice sent chills down my spine. One cold finger idly tapped the petrified wood of the chair, the black hem of a long robe brushed the ground. His wand, the deathstick, was out of sight.

"I know he has returned to Hogwarts this year, and he has been a most..." The faceless shadow seemed to grimace, "Busy boy,"

Malfoy shot me a look, we both knew about the existence of the Horcruxes.

Bellatrix was seated without shame at the feet of her beloved master, her face a mask of devotion as she hung on his every word.

"Anything Lord," She breathed, reaching a hand as if she was going to touch his robe. The figure shifted with the smallest movement, and Bellatrix withdrew her hand with obvious disappointment.

"Malfoy, Zabini," The force of those invisible, slits of eyes seemed to pin me physically to the spot. I couldn't move if I wanted to, and I had the distinct feeling of a snake entrancing his prey.

"You know Potter,"

I didn't trust Malfoy, that feckless ferret to answer him, "Yes Lord,"

I was suddenly overtly aware of the ring of hooded Death Eaters surrounding us, they moved as one like a ripple of grass in the wind.

"He is, secure? He feels safe at Hogwarts?"

"Hogwarts is his home," Bellatrix had spoken again, her eyes wide and fawning. "He knows no other,"

"Excellent," There was emitted what could have almost been a laugh. "We will go to him in that case, where he is least expecting it,"

"The school?" Malfoy was whiter than even before, his eyes popping and his forehead shining with sweat. He was imagining the treatment mudbloods like Hermione would receive, and the images flashing before him were not pretty.

"Yes the school, Draco," The voice was practically purring. "It has been in dire straits for some time now; I think it needs a little... spring cleaning."

There was a laugh from the hooded bodies about us, Bellatrix threw back her head and howled with glee.

Malfoy and I were the only ones not laughing. These savages were going to take Hogwarts, where Ginny was probably at this very moment sobbing herself to sleep over what I had done.

I felt sick to the core at what I had become, what I had done to her, the only person who ever made me feel like everything could maybe, one day come alright again.

I had stripped the wings from my angel, and now the dogs were coming for her.

*Ginny*

The cold stone bit her legs as she slipped from the sloping sill in a desperate bid to scan the grounds one more. She knew that they were long gone, and yet she was still hoping that by some miracle he would suddenly appear at the steps.

Then she would run to him, tell him that it didn't matter to her, that she knew he was a good person. She was trembling with anticipation; she imagined his joy shining from his radiant face. The thought of making him happy was enough to keep her warm despite the frosty wind that puffed through the corridors.

Ginny thought ahead, through the years and pictured a future with Blaise in which his hideous family disowned him and hers accepted him, seeing beyond the Slytherin front.

There was a tapestry opposite, the occupant of which was asleep, sighing great wheezy breaths of air as she mumbled to herself about the importance of a healthy vegetable patch.

Ginny smiled at the woman, sat there in her faded dress and heavy headdress, and tucked her legs under her, resolving to wait all night if need be.