Chapter 2.
During our second year, I had taken doing a lot of studying late at night. I was trying to maintain my grades, but I was struggling as I'd also taken to keeping up with my Muggle learning. My parents insisted that I stay on-track with other children my age so I have the option to live in both the magical and non-magical worlds when I grew up.
I had to creep in the corridors at night. If I made it to the library, it was rare that a prefect or teacher would check the entire room, so I would find a quiet corner to read in, my lantern very dim.
This particular night was very cold, so I had huddled up with a blanket, on the end of a row of shelves.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching. I quickly snuffed my lantern and waited for them to pass. Instead, I heard them enter the room. The person lit the fireplace on the rear wall, illuminating the large open space past the shelves. I heard more footsteps, as they slowly walked along the shelves. They paused at each row, inspecting the library. The figure stopped at the end of my row, and I stopped breathing.
I didn't dare get caught and face consequences. I had no idea if the figure had seen me, but I had seen him.
The firelight shone against the back of the figure, creating a dark silhouette. I recognised him as the light shone off his bright yellow hair, and bounced off of his sheen black shoes.
Malfoy continued on to the next row, until he had searched the entire library. He closed and locked the door from the inside, walking quickly to the fireplace.
I crawled to the edge of the row so I could watch him. He threw something that looked like sand into the fireplace, and began quietly muttering at it, holding his wand firmly.
The flame peaked for a moment, and then simmered down.
"Draco?" Lucius Malfoy's voice spoke out of the flames, "what is it?"
"Father," he uttered, "do you know what is happening here? to people?"
"To mudbloods," Lucius replied, "I am aware, yes."
"Well," Malfoy continued, "I saw a girl. The Weasley girl. Writing the words on the wall."
"No doubt the Dark Lord is forcing her to do his bidding."
"But she's a pureblood," Malfoy interjected, "why would the Dark Lord do this to a pureblood?"
Lucius snorted, "The Weasley girl is the rat level of purebloods, boy. Don't concern yourself with her affairs. Keep to yourself."
"But what's to stop him enslaving others? Other purebloods?"
"What the Dark Lord does is none of your concern unless he makes it your concern. Was there something of importance that you called me for, or are you intent on wasting my time?"
Lucius's words were bitter, and I saw Malfoys face harden in disappointment.
"My apologies, Father," Malfoy said quietly.
The flame returned quickly and the light lit his face up. I was frozen in place, absorbing the words that he had said. Was he talking about Ginny? And the words written in blood that Harry had found?
I stumbled to get up, and stepped into the light.
"Were you talking about Ginny?" I asked, my voice firm.
"What are you doing in here?" he cried, clearly caught red handed.
"I could ask you the same thing," I replied, exasperated, "were you talking about Ginny?"
His face curled in hatred and he stood up, facing me.
"That conversation was private," he hissed, "it's none of your business."
He began storming off. I quickly ran, and stood in front of the door, blocking him. He fumed and breathed deeply.
"Granger," he warned, stepping uncomfortably close, "move aside"
"I won't tell," I mumble quickly and fearfully. Tears began to prick my eyes.
"Your conversation with your father. I won't tell anyone what I heard. You have my word."
He stood silently, brooding.
"But please," I begged, "please tell me what you know about Ginny."
His eyes softened briefly. His shoulders slackened.
"You heard what I know," he replied, calm. "I saw her. Writing the words on the wall in the corridor."
"Do you think she's doing it intentionally?" I ask
"I doubt it. I don't think she'd have the galls to do something like that. She's too.." he trailed off, his nose crinkling, "good."
I sigh, my mind racing. He put a hand on my shoulder and moved me aside. My heart raced as I stepped away, and he left the room without another word.
I rushed back to the dorms to confront Ginny with the information I had found out. When I reached the dorms, I found her bed to be empty. I was panicked. She had fallen with the wrong crowd, or she was being forced to do things against her will.
I laid down in bed, closing my eyes tightly and waiting for sleep to come. I don't know how long I was awake for, but it felt like forever.
By morning, when I woke up, the whole dorm was bustling with whispers and sad eyes. Ginny hadn't come back, and she was missing.
Part of me felt like I should come forward, and tell Professor Dumbledore about my conversation with Malfoy. But I had given him my word, and Ginny couldn't be helped with my information. She was missing. And I had to help to find her.