Real Love

Chapter 17: Everything I Do

Disclaimer: not minneeee

A/N: hey. Sorry its been awhile. This was a big chapter and I struggled with it quite a bit. But it is on the longer side so that's good. Musically I listened to the brave heart soundtrack a lot while working on this, and a little Sweeny Todd….hehe that's where I decided to name the one character you'll meet in this chapter. But I hope you all like it and its worth the wait. Next chapter shouldn't be as long coming. I really knew this one would be a struggle all along…so I think I'm over the biggest hump. Thanks soooo much for the reviews. The response to the last chapter was really phenomenal and I honestly don't know if I ever would have made it through this chapter without them. So let me know if you like this one. I love hearing from you. -bella

You can't tell me it's not worth trying for
I can't help it, there is nothing I want more
I would fight for you,

I'd lie for you

Walk the wire for you,

yeah I'd die for you

You know it's true
Everything I do
I do for you

-Everything I Do, Bryan Adams

"No. Absolutely not. She's leaving tonight," Draco glared at Snape.

"And how do you suggest she might do that?" Snape remained irritatingly calm, as he sat in Draco's room. Draco couldn't sit, all he could do was pace.

That morning the entire past year had felt like a dream as he awoke with Ginny's head upon his chest, her arms curled around him. For a moment he had thought they were back at Hogwarts, tucked safely away from everyone and everything. And then he saw Snape sitting in the corner, and everything came tumbling back down. His stomach filled with nausea and his face twitched with stress. He slipped gently out of Ginny arms and nearly told Snape to bugger off when a small whimper of protest escaped the sleeping girl.

Snape had followed him back through the passage that led to his own room, where they had made little progress on their disagreement.

"All of this was to protect her! And now she's going to sit there and let an inexperienced boy hold a wand to her face and hope he doesn't kill her? What was the point?"

"Things don't always go as planned Draco. Lupin and the others will be here before anyone even has a chance to look at her."

"You just said things don't always go as planned," Draco scowled. It was moments like these, when he and Snape were alone that he sometimes wished his position of power wasn't just for show.

"It's too risky. She's just been thrown into this." Draco finally collapsed in the chair beside Snape.

"I'll have you know I've been fighting this fight much longer than you Malfoy." Her voice floated into the room.

Draco looked up and found the large picture frame hanging open. Had he not been in such a fowl mood he may have chuckled at the way his portrait peered appreciatively at Ginny.

"Well then why don't you let someone else have their turn, Weasley?" he spat back. All that time and childish sparring was still his choice style of problem solving.

But Ginny wasn't sparring. She looked him in the eye and smiled sadly.

"Draco, this isn't about you and me. You can't keep me from helping just because you love me."

"Who says I love you?"

"You," she chuckled. "Once upon a time…" she added with a slightly sadder smile.

"Once upon a time doesn't mean there's a happily ever after."

"I know that Draco!" he could hear her getting angrier but he watched while she took a deep breath and calmed herself. "If this is how it is then why don't you just let me do what I want to do. Let me help you."

"You just don't get it Ginny…"

"You're right I don't!' she snapped at him.

"Then listen to me! Trust me!" he pleaded with her.

"You gave that right up a long time ago Draco Malfoy," she hissed and he could see the pain in her eyes.

"This is the best chance we have," Ginny continue, her voice low. "It'll be over after this. For you, for Snape, for my brothers. You know if we don't catch them now more people are going to get hurt. They're organizing themselves Draco, and they're not as dumb as you thought. Look at what nearly happened with Snape's letter to Lupin! All without even consulting you."

"We won't fail Ginny. Malfoy's don't fail." He laughed her comment off,

"Oh you're all successful like you're father right?" she hissed angrily. He felt his face grow hot and he leapt from his seat, lunging for her. Only Ginny wouldn't have feared him in that moment, but true to herself she stepped toward him. "You don't have to remind me you're a Malfoy, Draco. No one's hurt me more in my life than Malfoys, so there's no need for one to suddenly start protecting me." She yelled.

"Why bother? You Weasleys obviously don't appreciate the chance at life when you're offered it."

Ginny's face contorted into a mixture of shock and pain.

"Enough!" Snape's voice carried through the room, cutting through the small space that separated him from Ginny.

"Draco, she must fulfill her new roll, and at this point that is unavoidable." Draco scowled. "But Miss. Weasley, you must be aware that your protection is of the utmost importance, as you are a great vulnerability to the majority of the Order."

Draco saw Ginny inhale sharply. She obviously hadn't thought of things from that perspective, and Draco knew she'd never be able to live with herself if she brought harm to any of the people who loved her.

"Its settled. Miss Weasley, we should get you back to the other room. You're safer there." Snape rose.

Ginny swallowed and nodded, turning to follow the professor. As she did, she felt Draco's sweaty hand wrap around her wrist and stop her.

A meaningful look was exchanged between the two men in the room, and Snape left without her.

" Ginny I'm sorry I hurt you. You have to know…"

"Draco its fine. I'm fine. Let's just get through tomorrow and then…" she trailed off. And then what?

"I just need you to know…"

Ginny shook her head. She couldn't do this now. She simply couldn't. She forced a smile on her face. "Everything will be fine, Malfoy. Stop worrying so much."

His face faltered a bit as he tried to smile back.

"I'll see you later," she added before slipping through his portrait and back down the narrow corridor that linked his room to Snape's. She was surprised as she approached the bookcase, that it was shut. Snape knew she was coming. Ginny frowned as she reached for the handle, worried that perhaps Snape was changing.

She pulled her hand away from the cold metal latch and balled it into a fist. She raised her hand to knock when she heard it.

"I heard them together. They were arguing like they knew each other. There's something going on with him. We should have never trusted that Malfoy boy. "

Ginny gasped. It wasn't Snape.

"I'm sure there's a misunderstanding. I'll look into it."

"We'll look into it," the other voice spoke in a very accusatory tone. "Shall we go now?"

Ginny couldn't see the man, but she could tell from his tone that it wasn't a suggestion.

"Indeed. The quicker the better," Snape spoke imitating the urgency in the other man's voice.

Ginny's heart raced as she heard the door to Snape's room open and slam shut.

Quickly, she spun on her heels and sprinted back towards Draco's room. She thrust open the portrait, and closed it behind her as quickly as she could.

"Ginny?" Draco lept from the chair he had been lounging on.

"You believe me right? You know everything's going to be okay. You trust me?"

"Of course I do. Ginny what?' he stopped talking when she began reciting the charms, twirling her wand around her body. She could feel the charms taking effect with each swish.

"Ginny…" he began again when she was done.

"You can do this. You have to. Draco I love you." she got the words out just as a loud pounding shook the bedroom door.

Alarm written across his face, Draco pushed Ginny towards the portrait and it took all her strength to grip him tightly enough to stop him from opening it.

Her hands tightly wrapped around his forearms, looking up at him, was how Snape and the other man found them as they entered the room.

"I was right!" Ginny giggled, towards the men, still holding Draco. "He is much more muscular than is his portrait." Ginny let go of his arms and gazed at the portrait.

'I was wondering where you'd gone my love," Snape spoke slowly.

Ginny smiled and flitted towards him.

"I was just telling Draco what a lovely home he has. I explored a great deal of it this morning."

"I apologize sir." Snape ignored her and spoke to Draco. "She has a habit of getting places she doesn't belong."

"Indeed," he replied sharply. She could feel him seething with anger, most of it directed at her.

"Malfoy. I want to move up the ceremony." the man beside Snape spoke and Ginny was sure she visibly paled.

"Ceremony?" she asked trying to sound as innocent as possible.

"Shut up you!" the man grabbed her by her hair and planted her in front of him.

"What's going on?" Draco pulled out his wand, taking a defensive stance.

"Expeliarmus!" she heard Snape call, and Draco's wand went flying into the professor's hand.

She watched as the emotional mask he always wore flickered for a moment, before he crossed his arm's and raised an eyebrow.

"So we're moving up the ceremony? Mind if I ask what the hurry is?"

"We don't trust you Malfoy."

"You shouldn't" Draco quipped.

"I guess we'll find out tonight."

"And when will the ceremony be held now sir?" He lounged back in one of his chairs. "I wouldn't want to over sleep." Draco was perhaps the most magnificent smart ass she'd ever seen. "And I suppose you'll finish all the plans and inform everyone of the new time?"

"Severus and I will help you take care of everything."

"And whose going to watch over her? " Draco gave her an appraising look. "I suppose I could handle the burden."

"No need Malfoy. I don't recall when we started to treat our prisoners like princesses. That's what the dungeons are for."

And then she was being dragged out of the room. She felt her wand be plucked from her pocket. And the hand lingered a bit longer than necessary. "Can't say I blame you lot," the death eater chuckled perversely towards Snape. "Never seen one quite so nice and pretty."

"Well she's pretty I agree. But not quite as nice as she seems."

Ginny knew Snape was hinting at her temper, but the other man did not.

"Oh a dirty girl are we?" he growled into her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "Well lets see how the dirty little girl like the nice filthy dungeons eh?"

They entered the dark cold basement, and Ginny could have vomited at the stench. Piss and blood. The stone floor was rough and scraped her knees and hands as she was thrown down upon it. She cried out as a stray piece of rock cut into her palm, and the blood rushed out.

"Oh don't cry dear. We'll be back for you."

"Just how do you expect me to do this without my wand?" Draco raised an eyebrow at Turpin.

For hours they'd sat in his office, in a angry silence. Draco didn't know who he was more angry with: Turpin, Snape, or Ginny. Why couldn't she have just warned him? All that time she wasted playing games he could have knocked Turpin out and been done with it. It would have been difficult explaining to the senior Deakins why his best friend wasn't present at the ceremony, but now what chance did they have?

And then there was Snape who had been giving him warning looks all night, as if he had no right to be worrying about what would happen to Ginny. Is this how he would have treated Potter's mother?

"Severus, give him his wand." Draco heard Turpin snap. Snape reached into his pocket and withdrew two wands. Draco sighed. They hadn't even left her with that. "No funny business boy."

Draco gave his wand a lazy flick and spun in his chair to face the man. "Turpin, what exactly to you expect me to do with you when this is all over, and you discover you're just the fool I always thought you were."

Turpin didn't respond and Draco chuckled. "No. I'm sure you haven't though that far ahead."

"Just do it!"

"I'm not sure I recall how…"

"Draco," Snape prompted him, and he listened. Snape wouldn't have used his first name if he didn't want him to follow the instruction. Holding his wand in the air, he whispered out the incantation. A murky green wisp leaked out of his wand. Draco felt the familiar tingling in his arm and knew it had worked. Within several hours all of the remaining death eaters would be in the room with him, and so would Ginny.

His wand twitched in his hand as he thought of her locked in the basement, and he clenched it tighter when he thought about how clear it was becoming that Turpin did not intend to let him or Snape out of his sight.

He felt his wand being plucked from his hand and gave Snape a dirty look.

"You both going to pay for this." He looked from Snape to Turpin.

"Draco don't pout, its unrefined" A soft feminine voice entered the room. Draco's eyes rose to meet the soft blue ones that belongs to his mother.

"Mother," he greeted her, displeased. She'd kept very much to herself since he had interrupted her impromptu meeting at the manor the year before, tending to her womanly duties and little else. The past few months her interactions with him had become much more frequent, but still short.

"Severus I've been waiting for you for nearly two hours. I said dinner would be at six."

Draco raised an eyebrow at his mother.

"My apologies Narcissa. I've been held up."

"Well its cold now, but I'll have the elves warm it. You don't mind if I steal Severus do you Draco?"

"I don't mind mother," Draco said eyeing Turpin, daring him to deny his mother the pleasure of her guest.

"I'm afraid your son is to indulgent of you Mrs. Malfoy. It is imperative Severus stay here for the moment."

"Mr. Turpin," Narcissa pursed her lips before smiling. "I was not aware of your advanced position with my son."

"It is a recent honor m'am."

"An honor indeed. You're most fortunate that Draco has chosen to forget the incident with Lucius."

"It was a very unfortunate misunderstanding, as Draco understands. My only priorities are the best interests of the cause."

Narcissa's eyes flashed a moment before she answered, "I'm sure." She turned to Snape. "A word at least Severus?" she requested.

Draco watched Turpin frown. Such a simple request could not be denied, and both men watched as Snape rose and crossed to the other side of the room with Narcissa.

"I can see my mother adores you," Draco roused Turpin's attention back to him.

"I once told your father I didn't think she was true to the cause."

Draco chuckled. "Is anyone true to the cause in your eyes Turpin?"

"Not nearly true enough." he replied. The darkness in his voice shook Draco.

"Then why are you here? If you were so passionate about our Lord's mission then why didn't you die fighting for him?"

"Because one word from your father and it was like I didn't exist. I wasn't given the honor to die for my Lord."

"So this is revenge then Turpin?"

"No. Simply duty."

"And when this is over you'll step aside?"

"Yes."

"And I'll be sure you're treated as the dedicated Death Eater you've always been."

Turpin's face remained stone, but in his eyes Draco could see excitement, and perhaps even appreciation. Was this all the man had been after? Acceptance?

"You're mother is quite a woman Draco," Snape spoke as he rejoined them, Narcissa gone.

"Is she?" Turpin offered casually.

"Everything you might suspect," Snape nodded, and eyed Draco meaningfully.

Ginny shivered against the back of the suffocating dungeon cell. Every breath she took of the musty rotten air was a struggle. Her arms and legs were covered in goose bumps from the chilled air, and she cursed herself for only putting on her white linen sundress that morning. She'd been surprised when she'd woken up that morning and found herself in bed, in a silky white nightgown, as she'd fallen asleep fully dressed, still sitting in the chair, Draco asleep in her lap.

Allowing herself to be a teenager in love for just a moment, she had decided that if he had picked out that nightgown for her, perhaps he would like her dress. So despite the slight chill in the manor she had slipped on the dress and dashed off to find him. However, when she'd reached his room and heard him arguing with Snape to send her home, all inklings of romance had drained right back out of her and she'd remembered where she was, and why.

Her dress didn't look so pretty anymore. It was dirty from the dungeon floor, and blood from her hand was smeared across the front of it. Her hand had stopped bleeding, but the gash still stung.

The dungeon lit up slightly as the door down to it opened. It shut and the room dimmed again, but small hurried foots steps grew louder as they approached.

Ginny's heart clenched. Was it time already? She pressed back against the wall as hard as she could, as if it might swallow her if she tried hard enough.

She thought she'd hit her head when the blonde appeared in front of her cell. Narcissa Malfoy peered in at her, her face cool and unreadable.

"Quickly. Come here girl."

Ginny rose to her feet and walked towards the caged front of the cell. She waited for the woman to speak, but instead she pulled two wands from her pocket.

"My wand!" Ginny gasped. "And Draco's" she fingered the wands as Narcissa handed them to her.

"You know Draco's wand?" the woman raised an eyebrow and Ginny noted that Draco didn't get all of his features from his father.

"I…" Ginny wasn't sure how to respond.

"Interesting," Narcissa smiled a bit. "Well he certainly chose a pretty girl."

"Oh," Ginny blushed. "This isn't… I don't look like this."

"Of course not." she spoke shortly. "but charms can only do so much. Do you love him?" she was blunt.

Ginny, more than slightly taken aback, frowned at the woman in front of her a moment. Was this really Narcissa Malfoy? Wife of Lucius Malfoy? Sister of Bellatrix Lestrange?

She paused. The woman was also Andromena Tonks' sister, and Draco's mother. She thought for a moment what she might want Draco to do in such a situation with her own mother, and before she knew it, she looked the woman in the eye and said, "More than he could ever know"

Narcissa looked pleased, if not surprised and then gathered herself. She glanced at the wands in Ginny's hand.

"Tuck them away. They won't work down here."

Ginny's heart fell a little.

"Use them wisely. Severus has been unable to send for any help."

Ginny felt a knife twist in her gut. So everything was now resting on her? Silently she wondered if growing up with Harry had taught her how to be brave enough to be a hero. And then she thought of Ron, and how brave he'd been. How brave all of her brother's were. Her parents, Hermione, Remus, Sirius. Ginny laughed. She'd been raised in a nest of all the greatest heroes of which she could think. They'd given her so much, and this was her chance to prove she'd been paying attention, and do something for them. She chest puffed with the new found adrenaline running through her veins. She tucked the wands under her dress under the snug garter she had worn with the intention of hiding her wand there before any of the days events had occurred.

"Mrs. Malfoy," she grasped the bars separating her from the other woman. "If something goes wrong, will you be sure to tell Draco what I said?"

"Of course dear."

"Thank you. Thank you for everything."

"If you see my son safely through this, it is I who will be indebted to you."

And then she left, leaving Ginny to come up with a plan that could give them a shroud of hope.

Draco noticed he wasn't the only one who tensed when they brought Ginny into the room and she was passed on by the two men who had been sent to release her. Freshly marked Richard Deakins stood beside him, fear plastered across his stricken face.

The ceremony had been tense to say the least. There was not a single death eater in the room who had been completely comfortable with the change of plans, and Deakins had put up quite a fight to keep the ceremony the next evening, but relented with a quick assurance from Turpin that to do it as soon as possible was for the best.

Snape had administered the ceremony, the only one among the group that new how, a fact for which Draco was quite grateful. With the ignorance of the others, Snape had been able to modify the branding to be only temporary, allowing Richard the chance to leave the day behind him when it was all over.

One he had been marked two men had been sent to dungeons to fetch Ginny and Draco had waited anxiously. Part of him hoped she never came through the doors, but another part of him wanted nothing more than to have her in his sight.

The latter side had been rewarded.

Her white dress was filthy. The blood smeared across the front was almost enough to make him lose it. She'd been gagged with a Slytherin green silk scarf and her arms were now being held tightly by Snape on one side and Turpin on the other. He couldn't tell if the fear in her eyes was real or an act, but only hoped she couldn't see it in his.

Draco felt a snarl on his lips when Snape released her, undid her gag, and Turpin threw her violently down onto the chair they had waiting for her, but it was stopped when Ginny used her newly free hand to reach into Turpin's pocket and steal his wand.

She pointed it straight into the air and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"

Ginny's face looked as surprised as his own when from tip of her wand came an enormous silver dragon that flew across the room, causing only a few men to duck before disappearing through the wall.

Several death eaters chuckled.

"Stupid bitch. Wasted you're only chance!' Turpin laughed at her before plucking his wand out of her hand and cracking his hand across her face. He re-gagged her and bound her hands behind the chair

Snickers of appreciation filled the room and Draco scowled, watching a trickle of blood appear on Ginny's face where one of Turpin's rings had caught her. He saw Blaise grimace beside him. Blaise had gone home for the week to take care of a problem with his estate, and had been clearly concerned when he arrived in response to Draco's early call. He had thought about finding a way to tell Blaise the blond prisoner was Ginny, but was unsure Blaise had the self-control to remain calm with such knowledge; a fact that made Draco feel strangely jealous and unworthy.

"Enough!" Draco called out. "She's not yours to do as you please Turpin. She's a gift, and she belongs to our new member." He gestured to the boy beside him. There wasn't even a year between them yet he looked so young to Draco, standing there, trembling.

"I'm proud of you son," Deakins said to his boy. "You don't have to kill her right away. She's the prettiest I've ever seen."

Richard's mouth opened, but nothing came out.

"Your boy a puff Deakins?" one of the Death Eaters snickered. "My boy would never pass up a chance at that."

"The boy is frightened," Snape scolded the man. "This violation of human life is a bold step for the young ones as we all know." Draco could feel the eyes watching him and Blaise. "Perhaps Malfoy, would be willing to show our newest member what to do."

Draco's eyes widened and he watched Turpin throw an approving look to Snape. Surely he saw it as the perfect test, while Snape meant only to buy them some time. But could he?

"Draco?" Snape prompted him.

"You'll find no objection here," he flashed a smiled before shrugging off his cloak and handing it to Blaise. Blaise eyed him carefully and Draco quickly looked away.

He looked back towards Ginny and froze for a moment. Just for a second her big eyes had smiled at him encouragingly, before returning to the frightened glassiness they'd worn from the moment she'd entered the room.

It took four long, slow, strides before he was in front of her. Everything seemed to disappear as he inhaled her wonderful scent, aching to drape himself over her, shielding her. The only sound he could hear was the pounding of his heart and he reached to the back of her head and pulled free the green scarf. He grabbed her chin into his hand and forced her head upward, desperately trying not to hurt her while appearing vicious.

He urgently pressed his lips against hers and cursed as he felt all his will draining for his body. He couldn't do it. It was the first time he'd had his lips to hers in nearly a year and the emotions of the moment became unbearable. His grip on her face loosened and moved to caress her cheek. He softened the kiss and moaned low enough for only her to hear as she kissed him back.

But just as he fell further into the kiss a pain shot through his body, and settled into an unbearable nausea in his stomach. He angrily shoved Ginny's knee from his groin and gave her a fierce glare. She sneered back before taking a deep breath and spitting at him.

The saliva landed directly between his eyes and he swore. She was begging him to fight back. He looked down at the girl, whose face was pleading with him to trust her, and ripped her from the chair by her hair. He threw her to the ground and allowed her to swing her legs across his ankles, bringing him down with her.

He rolled over quickly and pressed his body on top of hers. She wiggled as if struggling but attempted to go nowhere.

"Reach up my skirt," she whispered into his ear.

"I can't" he replied sorrowfully. He'd die before he shared on bit of his intimacy with Ginny with the scum in the room.

"Just do it!" she hissed. "My left leg."

Draco frowned and obeyed, running his hand up her smooth leg, under her thin white dress until his found what she wanted him to. He widened his eyes at her.

"No! Stop!" she cried reached down to push his hand away, and gripping her own wand out of it. She tucked it away in the pocket of her dress with Draco blocking the view and screamed again. "Severus please!"

"It'll be over any minute now love," Snape's voice was mocking and cold and Draco couldn't do it anymore.

"It's over now," he growled and turned on the crowd of men, drawing his wand.

"Draco no!" he heard Ginny cry out. He was about to send a curse straight at Turpin when popping noises filled the room. Suddenly he found himself surrounded by Weasley's. Lupin was there too, flanked by his cousin Nymphadora. Many more wizards he didn't recognize were with the group as well.

Many death eaters were already bound in place as the Order worked quickly.

Draco was frozen in shock. How had they known? No one had been able to get an owl off all day. There was no way.

Across the room he saw a body as stiff as his own. Richard Deakins was standing in the middle of the room, terrified by the infiltration going around him, his father unconscious at his feet. Draco, before he was fully aware of what he was doing, rushed forward and grabbed the boy by the shoulders. Richard didn't resist Draco's pull as he guided him across the room to a secluded corner, away from the fighting.

He glanced back to be sure no one was following them. He was relieved to find Ginny being carefully guarded by Snape. Draco turned back to Richard and gripped the frame of the large heavy mirror that hung on the wall, and pried it open. He gestured for the boy to enter the small opening into the passage way and he quickly slipped through. Draco shut the mirror and grunted as two hands came down heavily against his chest shoving him backwards and onto the ground. He hit the ground just as the mirror shattered to pieces several feet away.

Breathing heavily he rose to his feet. He looked to his left and found a Weasley apprehending Turpin.

"Traitor!' the man spat. "Too bad your pretty little whore had to pay the price."

Draco was sure his heart stopped. Everything around him seemed to turn to slow motion and he moved to face the mirror, An empty golden frame now sat upon the wall, below it the floor sparkled with silver shards and in the middle was a small blond, lying limply in a growing puddle of blood.

Before he knew he'd taken his eyes off of Ginny his wand was pointed at Turpin. "Ava…"

"Draco no," a low voice growled behind him and grabbed his wand arm tightly. Snape looked over to the Weasley and Turpin, "Charlie knock him out."

Turpin was out cold before Snape had finished the sentence. With Turpin down and out of danger, Draco struggled for his professor to let him go, but the man did not.

"Check her," Snape instructed Charlie next. The tall man, rushed over to the fallen girl and bent down beside her. Draco felt bile in is throat when Charlie Weasley flipped her over and revealed the her blood soaked dress, shards of glass pressed deeply in her.

"Oh god," Weasley spoke low. He turned to Snape, his brow creased with worry. "Who is it?"

"Charlie?" a small hollow voice sounded, and all eyes were suddenly back on her.

Charlie's eyes were wide with fear as he choked back, "Ginny?"

She reached out and squeezed her brothers hand and opened her eyes. They were dim and droopy as she spoke. "Is everyone okay?"

"We're all fine Gin-bug."

Draco could see Charlie struggling with his tears, attempting to keep it together for his sister.

"Is Draco okay?" Draco tugged at Snape's grip on him, but his professor did not loosen his grasp.

"Malfoy?" Charlie took his eyes of his sister for just a moment to throw a look at Draco. " Yeah Gin. He's fine too."

"Oh good," she whispered just as her eyes fell shut again and her hand slipped out of Charlie's.

"No!" Both Draco and Charlie screamed at the same time. Charlie collapsed on to the floor. The screams caught the attention of the twins who came rushing over. Draco ripped himself from Snape's grasp and was over Ginny faster than he knew he could move.

"Is she…?" George Weasley hesitated to say it.

"No." Draco felt his heart pounding. "No. She's still breathing."

"She is?" Charlie sat up, alert.

"Get her out of here," Draco commanded the twins.

"There's no time, just take her to another room," Fred replied flippantly.

"Fred do it!" Charlie growled.

"But…"

The twin was stunned silent as Ginny's charms suddenly disappeared, and his sister was suddenly lying before him.

"Malfoy…" Fred growled, but George already had the girl in his arms.

"Fred!" he scolded. And with that they were gone.