gosh i hope this chapter isnt too boring for you, i'm sure things will spice up soon he he he your reviews make my day :0)

Time to blend in with the natives

"Free? How? What happened?" She asked sitting back.

Draco's smile turned into a satisfied smirk. "Nothing much, some sort of meeting, I was asked questions, told them the answers, their really not bad people, in fact I like them very much." He finished with a grin.

Ginny blinked up at him. "Are you mad, they kidnapped us."

Draco stood and held out his hand. "Technically we're on their island, their very suspicious people which is understandable given the reasons why they are here in the first place."

Ginny let Draco pull her up, her face still full of suspicion. "Why are you so happy?"

Draco chuckled "Its amazing, I reckon they are the only people on this earth that has never heard of Potter."

Ginny rolled her eyes "That's why you like them."

"Come on, we have been allocated our own little homes."

Ginny followed Draco through the village, ignoring the stares and moving as close to Draco as she could without touching, Draco came to a stop in front of one of the huts on the edge of the village, the trees rose dramatically behind it, casting the area in a cool shade.

"This is yours."

Ginny stared at him.

"I'll be right next door." He gestured to the hut that stood next to hers.

Ginny didn't know what to say, she should be happy that things had turned out so well, but she didn't want to be alone, she had become used to having Draco with her, was that wrong?

"I know its not ideal, but its all we have got." He mistook her hesitation for distaste.

"No… no its great…its just……" She sighed. "Never mind." There was no way she could say what she was thinking, she looked to the hut on the left, an old lady sat on a chair carved out of a tree trunk, she appeared to have been sewing but was now watching Draco and Ginny's conversation with interest.

"Great we have nosey neighbours." Ginny muttered and pushed open the door.

The inside was about as big as Ginny's bedroom back at the burrow, sparsely furnished, she guessed the pile of animal skins and blankets in the far corner was the bed, and the pile of skins under the window hole resembled a sofa. A small rickety table and two equally dangerous looking chairs occupied the centre space, Draco looked to Ginny for her reaction.

"No shower?" She said in mock disappointment.

Draco huffed in amusement.

Ginny smiled. "Its very…… rustic."

"This place was empty, everyone pitched what they could in." He said.

"Beats sleeping on the ground." Ginny agreed.

"Excuse me?" said a girls voice.

Ginny and Draco turned to see a pretty girl with long dark brown hair, she had a bundle of clothing in her hands. "I was told to bring these to you."

Ginny accepted the clothes. "Thanks."

The girls eyes lingered on Draco before she turned and left, smirking Ginny looked to Draco but his attention was on the clothes, he pulled out a khaki coloured dress.

"This is quiet nice."

Ginny chuckled "Yea would look good on you, take it, if you want it."

He gave her a sarcastic smile. "I meant for tonight."

Her eyes narrowed "why? What's happening tonight?"

"Well apparently they have a communal meal, tell story's, sing, dance, that sort of thing, I suppose they have to pass the time somehow."

"Yea." Ginny agreed, a nervous flutter started in her stomach.

"Come on I'll give you the tour I got earlier."

"You got a tour?"

"Yes, very interesting how this place runs with no magic."

"You got a tour?…. While I was locked up and worried sick?" She accused.

"I came for you but you had fallen asleep, I didn't want to wake you." Draco said defensively. "I left the door unlocked……."

Ginny looked at him through narrowed eyes, not remembering falling asleep "You should of woke me."

"I thought I would be back before you woke up, ok."

She shook her head and sighed. "Come on then lets have a look around."

Draco had indeed been right at how fascinating this place was, most of the huts were peoples homes, but there were three much larger shack like buildings, that were supported with wood, these were the communal huts. They were stood in the centre of the village around the well, one had delicious smells wafting through the open over large doorway confirming this is where they cooked, a dozen women bustled in and out. Inside was a huge cast iron stove with various sized pots steaming away on top, a plump lady with mousy hair was adding wood to the stove from the huge pile next to it, while two more stirred. A huge long table that had two long benches pushed underneath it, was been used to prepare more food, Ginny's stomach grumbled loudly.

"This is where they cook the food and where they eat when it rains." Draco said.

The plump lady who had been adding wood to the stove spotted them, with a huge smile on her face she bustled over "Well hello there, didn't have much chance to say hello earlier." She shook Draco's hand then Ginny's "I'm Anne, nice to see two fresh faces around here, you must be Ginevra." She said to Ginny.

Ginny threw an accusing look at Draco "Ginny." She said pointedly at Draco.

The lady chuckled "I knew your mother."

This got Ginny's attention "My mum?"

Anne's face took on a look of deep thought "yes, we went to school together……" The lady snapped out of her thoughts. "Anyway, when I heard it, Molly and Arthur's daughter was here, and good friends with this boy, I knew he couldn't be all bad, I had to speak up in his defence….. Even after…. What happened."

Ginny looked at Draco through narrowed eyes, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him. "Ginevra's just the best."

The lady smiled warmly at the pair, unaware of his jesting "well welcome to the meal hall….. oh wait, I nearly forgot." she bustled off.

Ginny shrugged Draco's arm from her shoulder "we will talk about this later." she muttered.

Draco chuckled "ok.. Ginevra."

Ginny glowered at him but was saved from replying when the Anne came back, dished plates, goblets and cutlery in hand.

"you each get a plate, knife, fork, spoon and goblet its yours to keep, we have a communal meal every evening that your welcome to stay for, although you can take your meal home everyone usually eats together, your responsible to wash your own stuff up and clean up after yourselves. Leave these on the table and take them home with you later, have you been to the river yet?"

Ginny shook her head.

"well that's where we wash clothes and pots and there's plenty of private places further up to bathe, though I don't recommend the small lagoons that riddle this island, infested with leeches."

Ginny glanced at Draco who was smirking, she blushed and nodded at Anne.

The next building was another long one, empty apart from a few crude chairs at the far end.

"This is where they had the meeting earlier." Draco said "Got quiet full."

Ginny grimaced, imaging an angry bunch of villagers with pitchforks and torches.

"They also come here when its raining, for story time and singing." He said with a roll of the eyes.

The next building was more square in design, the smell gave it away before they had even entered "Wine?" she asked with a raise of her eyebrows.

He grinned at her "Didn't I tell you I loved this place."

Half the hut was full of wine bottles of different shapes and sizes, the other half was taken up by vats and brewing equipment. "Wow" said Ginny "where did they get all this stuff?"

"Left behind when the death eaters fled, apparently they got the people here to brew the wine for them, come on I'll show you the river."

They headed back past their new homes, the old lady on the trunk chair gave them a friendly wave as they passed and a glimpse of the dark mark, Ginny's smile became forced and dropped as soon as they were passed.

"Draco, that old lady had the mark…." Ginny said in a hushed tone.

"Oh shit, we better get out of here." He said mockingly.

"You know what I mean, she looks about 90, why would Volde……"

"Ssshhhhh…..Merlin, Ginny we're on an island full of ex Deatheater's, I don't think saying his name is a wise idea."

"Ok… lord thingy…… why would he brand an old lady?"

"I don't know, ask her."

Ginny shook her head "Does everyone have the mark?"

Draco sighed loudly "Not me or you."

"You know what I mean."

"I don't know… I don't think so, there are kids and people who were kids when they were brought here." Draco said exasperated.

The river was a shallow one, more like a large stream, waist deep at the most, the sandy banking was well trodden. they followed a dirt path that followed the windy river, the curves and overhanging trees created privacy as Anne had said for anyone in the river, cutting back into the forest they came out of the trees behind their huts. Five minutes later and they were both changed and headed for some food, Ginny was relieved, she was famished afraid that her stomach was eating itself with the noises it was making.

The village centre was buzzing with people, a wave of homesickness hit her, it reminded her of a Weasley summer meal but on a much bigger scale, people sat eating, some on the grass, some on the dirt, a few had brought blankets or animal hides to sit on.

Ginny cast Draco a worried glance, he smirked back at her "Time to blend in with the natives."

Draco and Ginny joined the now short queue and were soon met again by Anne who was serving the food, she beamed at them and filled their plates with a delicious smelling stew and what looked like vegetables "Come back for more dears, need some meat on your bones you do." She scalded Ginny lightly.

Ginny silently thought she would be going back for thirds, she followed Draco back out, suddenly feeling a little uncomfortable at all the stares they were getting, they sat a little away from the rest, Ginny tucked in as soon as they sat.

Neither of the pair talked, instead Ginny took to people watching, amazed at the how friendly everyone was, laughing and joking with each other, children who had finished their meal were playing a game of tag. Everyone seemed at ease, the stares had ceased to curious glances all except one, Ginny's skin prickled, it was the bald headed man, Matthew, his face filled with hate as he stared at Draco. Even from the distance between them Ginny could see the right side of his face was swollen and bruised, his nose obviously broken looked bent to the side, his lip was thick making his mouth look lopsided, Ginny glanced at Draco but his attention was wholly on his food.

"Why does that man hate you?"

Draco looked up "Huh?"

Ginny tried to signal discreetly with her head "Him."

Draco looked over seeing Matthews glare he dropped his attention back to his stew "I think he hates us both."

"Me? What did I do?"

Draco smirked at her "kicked him in the face and broke his nose."

"I didn't break his nose, you did."

"No you broke it first, I just finished the job."

Ginny glanced at the man fearfully.

Draco's face softened "Don't worry he wont hurt you."

"Why did he attack you in the first place?"

Draco's face closed off "Probably something to do with my father."

"What did he do to him?" She asked.

"I don't know."

"That man said it wouldn't bring them back, does that mean……."

"Just drop it….. Ok?" He snapped, dropping his spoon into his now empty bowl he stood and stormed away towards the meal hall.

Her annoyed gaze followed him, he was so rude.

"Hey there." Said a male voice, Ginny looked up to see the dark haired from the beach, he sat down in Draco's spot and held out his hand "Daniel."

Ginny shook his hand with a tight smile "Ginny."

"Yes I know…. Talk of the village at the moment." He laughed.

Ginny smiled in reply, feeling a little uncomfortable she turned her attention back to her stew.

"So, you staying out for the festivities?" He asked.

"Sure, beats sitting in the hut."

Daniel laughed loudly making Ginny eyeball him with eyebrows raised.

"Should be fun……" He said instantly serious. "What do you think of our island then?"

"Yea its great." she lied thinking of home.

He chuckled "We all used to hope one day the magic would fade and someone would come for us, but as the years passed realisation set in, that we were staying here."

Ginny didn't answer suddenly not hungry she stared down at her food.

"Must be hard for you." He said watching her.

"I have some very smart friends, I still have hope."

"Its not such a bad place once you get used to it, it wasn't always like this though, when those Deatheater's left everything was in chaos, everyone was for themselves, a few people were killed….. It was …. Hell."

"How old were you, when you were brought here?" Ginny asked.

"Six."

Ginny gasped "That's awful."

He shrugged "I wasn't the only child brought along, there were seven in total, including my brother and sister, the brown haired girl there is Marie." He gestured to the pretty girl who had brought the clothes "She's my twin and the runt next to her is my baby brother, he was just two so he cant remember anything off of this island."

"How many people are here altogether?"

"Originally there were thirty two, now there's forty three."

Ginny looked around at the children, "They all seem so happy."

"They are, they don't know a world beyond this island."

"Can you remember?" she asked.

"Bits….. Some random memory's of my grandma, some of shopping with my father in a really creepy place, just flashes really… well apart from the day they came for us, I think that memory will stay with me forever."

"It must have been scary." Ginny said sympathetically.

"Yea….. Do you want some wine?" Daniel said abruptly changing the subject.

"Sure." she smiled.

Ginny watched him walk away, as he passed the meal hall she caught sight of Draco stood in the doorway watching her with a dark look, she scowled back and looked away, against her will her eyes travelled back to where he had stood but the doorway was now empty. Trying not to think about him she waited for Daniel, he soon returned with their goblets full of wine.

"Is that Draco kid your boyfriend?" He asked taking his seat.

"No we're just friends….. Apparently, why?"

"Bit protective isn't he?"

"Why?"

He chuckled "Thinks I'm trying to get you drunk."

Ginny snorted "Its nothing to do with him."

Daniel beamed at her, then proceeded to ask her everything about her life, the evening passed in that general fashion, when darkness fell they all moved to where someone had built up a huge bonfire, a dozen tree trunks were placed in a rough circle around the fire, showing this was a regular place they came and sat. Ginny settled with her back to one facing the fire, a flute and guitar was brought out and people began to sing. Ginny had finally began to relax, probably helped on by the wine and tiredness, but she refused to succumb to the exhaustion she felt.

"Would you like to dance." Daniel asked.

"Oh… no, I'm sorry I'm far too tired, I don't think I can even stand up."

"Would you like me to walk you back?"

"No thanks, I like watching." She smiled.

A steady stream of people came and introduced themselves, some claiming they knew her parents, all the while Ginny couldn't help wondering where Draco had gone. Daniel was been nice, but his constant topping up of her drink made her drowsy, some people were now playing the drums, half asleep she struggled to keep her eyes open and watched as men and woman danced barefoot around the fire.

"I'll take her." Ginny heard Draco's voice and struggled to open her eyes, when had she closed them? She felt her self been jostled about and realised she was being carried.

Daniel made to move past Draco. "Its ok I got her now." Came his reply.

The blonde boy blocked Daniels way "No, you will give her to me now." Demanded Draco.

Ginny felt bad for Daniel, Draco shouldn't talk to people like that. "Dra…." Ginny tried to say, but her mind refused to work in synch with her mouth, she wanted to tell him to stop been a prat, but the feeling of been dragged out of Daniels arms made her moan objectionably. She knew she was in Draco's arms, she could smell his scent, feeling slightly guilty that it felt so right her objection died and she snuggled into his chest.

Draco smirked down at her in his arms then looked back at Daniel, disgust on his face "She's sixteen."

Daniel and Draco stood at roughly the same height, although Daniel was more filled out and older he couldn't help feeling intimidated by the younger boy, he tried not to show it as they stood staring each other down.

"I wasn't going to do anything." Daniel growled.

Draco sneered at him before heading off to their huts, he kicked open the door to Ginny's and laid her down on the bed, he pulled away to leave but Ginny had woken again, her hand shot out and grabbed his arm.

"Stay."

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Don't leave me." She murmured sleepily.

Draco smiled and settled in behind her "You need to lay off the wine." He muttered into her hair.