Chapter Six – Where Nightmares Go
'Finally, the most important day of my life,' Draco thought, as he finished getting dressed. It was Christmas and he knew that by the end of the day he would finally get the Dark Mark.
Thoughts of yesterday's kiss were completely gone from his head.
He didn't pack anything, because everything he needed was at the Manor. He took only his wand and put it in the back of his jeans. After checking his appearance one last time, and making sure that the ring that Snape gave him was in place, he went out of his room into the Slytherin Common Room, which was empty but for one person.
Blaise was sitting on one of the sofas, reading a book, but he raised his head when Draco entered, stood up and went to him.
"Going home?" he asked and Draco nodded.
"Of course, wouldn't miss the big day for anything in the world."
Blaise sighed deeply, a sad look in his eyes. "Well, good luck, Draco. I hope you'll get what you want," he said softly.
Draco nodded. "I will. Are you sure you don't want to come with me? I am certain He will be pleased to have you."
Blaise released a heavy breath and shook his head. "My family is out of this thing and I'm going to keep it that way. But remember no matter what you do, you always have my friendship," he told the other boy and turned to return to the sofa, but Draco caught him by arm and turned him around.
"Same goes for you, Zabini, and don't you dare forget it."
Blaise nodded and watched as Draco left the common room.
He shook his head again. "Draco, I wish I could see what you're getting yourself into," he said softly, knowing his friend didn't hear him, and hoping his best friend would survive the day.
Ginny woke up and stretched like a cat on her bed. For once, she was alone in the room. The other Gryffindor girls returned home for the holidays.
'Christmas,' she thought as she breathed in the cold air from the barely open window. She got up lazily and wasn't surprised to find presents by her bed. Her parents always sent her the presents early.
First she opened the present her parents sent her, a beautiful white cashmere sweater and high heeled white boots.
'Hmm, they really did it this time,' she thought and allowed a little smile. She knew her parents must have saved money for a while before they could afford something like that.
Next was Ron's present, when she opened it a little note fell down and she picked it up.
Happy Christmas, Gin-Bug,
Harry and I went to Diagon Alley a week ago and Harry saw this on the shop window and suggested we buy this for you. So here it is, I hope you like it.
Harry attached another letter which he didn't let me see. It's in the smaller box.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy the break at Hogwarts.
Love, Ron
There, in the white box was a silver pair of earrings, big hoops with a tear drop in the middle.
'That must've cost a fortune,' she thought, mentally thanking Ron and deciding he wasn't careless after all.
The box Harry sent her was pulling her to it, and she took it. There indeed was a letter and she opened it.
Ginny,
I ask you to read this to the end before you decide your opinion about me.
Since the first day I saw you, you were only Ron's little sister for me, you're probably smirking now, I'm sure you've noticed it.
Anyway, all I wanted to do is protect you (The hero job and all) so I kept you out of everything.
After the diary incident (please continue reading), I decided you were even more vulnerable, and that you needed protection. Ron shared my opinion so we started talking to you and being friendly, I know you saw it for what it really was.
I'm sorry I didn't see the real you, Gin. I'm sorry I saw a little girl instead of the girl who wanted to learn, sorry I saw the vulnerable girl that had been hurt instead of the young woman who survived and stayed strong.
You are a strong, beautiful, young woman to me, Gin, not Ron's little sister.
I do not ask you friendship, because I know it's too much, I can only hope that with time, we might become closer.
I ask for your forgiveness, and I'll understand if you won't give it to me. I just hope someday you will find the ability to forgive me.
Please accept my gift, and have a beautiful Christmas.
Love, Harry J Potter.
Ginny took a deep breath and released it slowly.
"I give you my forgiveness, Harry James Potter, but I'll never be able to give you more than that," she said, watching as the letter turned to ashes. Picking up the gift itself, she smiled. It was a bracelet.
Thin and elegant, it had one crystal teardrop hanging from it. She turned the bracelet around and saw that there was something written on the back. She looked closer and saw it was "La un de la lumière." (The one of light) written in tiny letters.
She put the bracelet on and laughed. Harry was officially forgiven.
Next was Hermione's present, a book of course, but this one was a book of Celtic spells, something Ginny was very interested in.
Ginny arranged everything and picked up a wrapped box. She bought a box of French chocolate to Blaise, because he was sweet and she wanted to give him something. Even after what she'd done, however accidentally, to his friend, he still took care of her and took her to the Infirmary, and helped her.
Getting to places without being noticed was easy, a talent learned by living in a house with so many boys. She entered the Slytherin Common Room without problems because Blaise told her the password.
Not many Slytherins were there but the few who were looked at her nastily. She threw them a cold smirk, daring them to say or do something to her and that shut them up.
"Hullo, love!" Blaise said huskily as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
Ginny hugged him back and kissed him on the cheek.
He groaned. "Weasley, I know I am hard to resist, but do try. I can't have you hanging on me all day as well. So many fans can be tiring, you know," that said, he picked her up and carried her out of the Common Room.
She didn't stop laughing even as he dropped her onto his double bed.
He stood in front of her patiently, waiting for her to calm down. Finally she took a deep breath and released it slowly.
"I'm okay," she told him between giggles and he smiled.
"Okay then, darling, it's not that I don't like your company, but what are you doing down here?" he asked and set down next to her.
"I have something for you."
"Oh, you shouldn't have! But what are you waiting for, come on and give it to me, already!"
She snickered and searching inside her robe, found the wrapped box, quickly returned it to its original size with a murmured spell and handed it to Blaise. He wasn't a patient person and he ripped the wrapping apart.
"Wow, Ginny, where did you get this?" he asked softly.
She smiled. "Oh it's nothing. I have my connections and I knew you love chocolate so I said 'Why not' and bought it for you."
Smiling broadly, he put the box aside and hugged her.
"Thanks, Doll! I love it! I got something for you too," he told her and went to his wardrobe. After a minute of searching he came back with a big package in his hands.
"Here you go!" he said and gave it to her.
Ginny didn't expect to get anything from him so it was a pleasant surprise. She opened the (green) wrapping and gasped in awe. It was a beautiful, thick, winter robe. Black in color, at the bottom and at the edges of the sleeve, as well as over the hood, were small red roses, weaved into the fabric with the thinnest of threads. She picked it with fingers which were shaking just a little, and looked at Blaise with teary eyes.
"Blaise, it's amazing," she whispered.
Touched, the boy wiped the single tear that dropped on Ginny's cheek with the tip of his finger.
"Hey, now why would you be crying? Is it that ugly, do you hate it?" He asked, grinning.
"I love it!" she said, feeling surprisingly happy.
"Good, now try it on," he ordered.
"I aim to please," Ginny told him with a laugh. Flashing him a brilliant smile, she went to the bathroom.
Blaise lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling as he waited for Ginny to come out, when the door to his room opened and Draco entered, looking around the room.
"Oi, Blaise, I forgot- " he began saying, but at that moment Ginny stepped out from the bathroom with a huge smile on her face.
"Blaise, it is gorgeous!" she examined, not noticing him, and did a turn around, the robe twirling around her legs.
Draco smirked and looked at Blaise.
"Did what I told you, huh? Wave some money in front of her and she's in your bed," he said with a sneer, leaning against the door and crossing his arms over his chest.
Blaise sat up straight.
"Draco-"
"No Blaise, it's alright," Ginny purred, her eyes turning golden. She flashed Draco a smile and then took off the robe, and folding it carefully over a chair standing close by, crawled on the bed and leaned her head on Blaise's shoulder.
"He's just jealous because we're having fun," she said sweetly.
Draco and Blaise looked at her, stunned. Blaise had assumed she's stand up to Draco, but not like that.
And Draco had thought she'd run off in tears.
'Damn this girl is something,' both thought at the same time.
She began unbuttoning her shirt oh so slowly, looking Draco in the eye the whole time, and sitting like that, so close to her, Blaise felt his hormones rising to dangerous levels.
"I hope you enjoy looking, Malfoy, because no matter how much money you have, you will never have me," she said with a smirk.
At the point when her black lacy bra started to show, Blaise panicked and threw a blanket at her. "Ginevra, stop it! I think he learned the lesson!" he told her and as she turned her head toward him, he saw the golden fade into hazel. She nodded at him; her act was over for now.
"You are right. Remember, Blaise, you are much better person than he will ever be."
She buttoned up her shirt quickly, and went to the bathroom again. She didn't want to hear another word from Malfoy.
As the bathroom door closed, Blaise looked at Draco with disapproval.
"Was it necessary?" he asked tiredly.
Draco smirked. "Yeah, I love making the Weasel upset. And if I really want to, I can have her begging for me," he stated and then added, "Anyway, I wanted to tell you happy Christmas, so happy Christmas and I'm off."
"Yeah, you too," Blaise said half heartily, while looking at the bathroom door. Draco shook his head in amusement and left the room.
Two minutes later Ginny entered the room once again. Blaise looked at her with a sigh. "I'm sorry, sweetie," he said and shook his head.
"What for, Blaise?"
"For what Draco had said, he is going in the wrong direction," Blaise told her sadly. He didn't add to it but she knew exactly about what direction he was talking about.
"Don't apologize for his actions. And I, as I already told you once, am a big girl who can handle him perfectly well."
"He's my best friend, Ginny, and it hurts to see him like that."
Ginny sat on the bed next to him, and took a deep breath. "The choice is his to make, Blaise. But if you want me as a friend too you should know that if he tries to hurt me I'll bring him down. And I can't promise he'll come back up." She said the last part coldly, meaning he had no saying about the matter.
"I do want you as a friend, Ginny, but I'm not going to choose between the two of you or interfere in your fights," he said softly.
She nodded and got up. "Understandable."
He got up as well and hugged her again. "Thanks for the gift, honey," he said.
"Thank you, too," she returned, and left to her dorms.
Draco went out of the carriage, into the cold winter air with a pleased smirk on his face. 'Malfoy Manor here I come,' he thought and started walking towards the entrance to the Manor.
He lazily knocked on the door and after a moment a house elf opened them and looked at Draco with awe.
"Master Draco! Luca is happy you is here!" the elf squeaked.
"Yeah yeah, where are Father and Mother?"
The elf took a shattered breath, "Master Malfoy is in his working room," he answered shortly. Draco liked his questions to be answered thoroughly so he asked again, "And Mother?"
The elf's eyes grew wide, as if he was afraid of something. He looked at Draco and saw that there was no option to avoid the question, "Mistress…Luca knows not where Mistress is," Luca mumbled and ran out of the room as fast as he could.
Draco shook his head and went upstairs, when he got to the second floor he heard something being thrown against the wall downstairs.
'Strange,' he thought and continued walking to his father's study. He knocked twice and the cold voice of Lucius allowed him to enter. When he did he saw his father sitting on the chair behind his desk, reading something
"Hello, Father," Draco said and stood by the chair in front of Lucius, waiting for the invitation to sit down. Lucius ignored his presence for a minute and then said, "Well, what are you waiting for! Sit," without looking up from his papers.
Draco did as he was told and after a moment asked, "Where is mother?"
Lucius snorted and then answered "The old bitch probably went shopping" he said nastily and Draco bit his tongue so to not argue or defend his mother – he knew it will do him no good.
"The traditional cloak is on your bed, dress quickly and we shall go to the meeting," Lucius said coldly and Draco nodded thought his father couldn't see it.
On the way to his room he went by his mother's room and noticed the bed was made and the room looked like it hadn't been touched for a while.
He shook his head to make the feeling something was wrong disappear and went to his room.
Indeed, on his bed was lying a black cloak with the Malfoy emblem on it.
He took his Hogwarts cloak off and put the one on the bed on. He knew his father had worn it when he went to his first meeting and that made him proud. He combed his hair and sat on the bed, waiting for Lucius.
Lucius arrived ten minutes later and nodded. "Come boy, it's time."
Draco stood up and they went to the underground floor of the manor, where the meeting was taking place.
"Remember, do not speak unless you're asked a question; always finish with 'My Lord' and for Merlin's sake, do not scream," Lucius instructed coldly.
"Yes, father," Draco answered automatically.
When they got there, Lucius did a little cut on his palm and pressed the bleeding palm on the wall, a door appeared and they came in.
The room was dark, and only two dimmed candles allowed the person to see something, across the room was a throne with someone sitting on it.
'Voldemort,' Draco thought with a shudder.
They weren't the only people there. There was a circle of hooded men standing in the middle of the room.
Lucius went straight to Voldemort, crouched on his knees and kissed the hem of Voldemort's cloak; then he stood up and made room for Draco so he could do the same. That felt kind of sick to Draco but he did it anyway.
"Is that your son, Lucius?" Voldemort hissed and Lucius bowed.
"Yes, my Lord."
"Come closer, boy," Voldemort ordered and Draco took a deep breath and came to stand in front of his Lord.
"Are you willing to give your life for the cause?" Voldemort hissed coldly.
Draco bowed. "Yes, My Lord," he answered calmly.
Voldemort chuckled, "Good. Crucio"
Suddenly Draco felt pain ripping through his body, he bit his lip so he wouldn't scream and sank to the floor, not caring if anyone saw he reached into his shirt and touched the ring.
The pain began to disappear slowly, but he didn't relax, he continued faking being in pain until Voldemort hissed 'Finite Incantium'
Then he waited for an order to stand up and stood.
"Good, very good. Lucius, your son is very strong. You were right bringing him here," Voldemort said with approval, he then stood up and stood in front of Draco.
"Roll your left sleeve up," He ordered and Draco obeyed.
Draco almost jumped as cold fingers closed on his arm and then Voldemort hissed something and he felt as though knives were cutting through his skin. As soon as it began it was over. He had the Mark.
Draco opened his eyes and bowed low. "Thank you, my Lord."
"Words mean nothing. You shall prove yourself to me by capturing The One of Light," Voldemort hissed and returned to his throne.
Draco blinked, The One?
"The One, my lord?" he asked uncertainly and Voldemort laughed coldly.
"Yes, the One, such a pretty little thing. Must be a beautiful rose by now," he said in an almost dreamy voice and then continued. "Such a waste on the Light side really, I started working on her but that damned Potter had to ruin everything!"
Draco's mind started working and then everything came into place.
"Weasley?" he asked, not convinced.
"Oh yesss, it is Ginevra. But she's not the usual filthy Weasley like the rest of them. No, this is the golden apple among the rotten ones. You shall bring her to me and she shall become mine."
"Yes, my lord. It will be my pleasure." Draco said and laughed inside, the little kitten was doomed.
Voldemort started saying something else but suddenly the door shot open and Narcissa Malfoy ran in. Only she didn't look quite like the normal 'Cissa. Her blond hair was a mess and dirty and her once elegant clothes were blood soaked and torn all over.
She looked from side to side and spotted Draco. "Draco! Don't do this, please! Don't be like Lucius!" she screamed desperately and Draco's eyes grew wide. What happened to his mother?
"Kill her, Draco!" Lucius ordered coldly and Draco turned to look at his father and then everything clicked into place.
Flash
"Luca knows not where Mistress is"
Draco heard something being thrown against the wall (the elf punishing itself)
His mother's room looked like no one used it for a while…
Flash
His father did this to her! And now he wanted Draco to kill her.
"Come on, boy!" Lucius screamed while Narcissa ran to her son.
Draco stood frozen as everything happened in slow motion.
His mother hugged him hard, her whole body shaking from her sobs. Somewhere in the room Lucius swore, "Idiot!" and then pointed his wand at Narcissa calmly and said, "Avada Kedavra".
And then Narcissa's body stopped shaking all at once and she dropped dead on the cold floor.
Someone called his name and Draco turned around and a sword came straight into his stomach. He choked, tasting blood, and somehow reached into his shirt and thought numbly 'Hogwarts'. The next thing he knew he was in the Infirmary.
His legs gave up under him and he fell to the floor, numb.