Author's Note: It's been a loooong time. Writer's block, along with trying to juggle work, school, and family have conspired to keep me from working on this story. But, I managed to crank out another chapter. Disclaimer: I don't own anything Potter-related, just the plot and the original characters. Having said that, Read, Review, & Enjoy!
Draco, Ginny, and Krum had ridden many miles before Krum finally slowed down and stopped. He quickly dismounted and led the horse off the path they were on. Draco and Ginny followed suit and led their horses off the path.
"We shall tie the horses here and proceed on foot," Krum said, "Durmstrang is just over that ridge."
Draco grabbed a large bag that was attached to the saddle of his horses and set it on the ground. Draco knelt down and pulled out a map.
"Lumos," Ginny whispered as she knelt down, her wand emitting a soft light.
"This is a map of Durmstrang," Draco said, "I got it from the Headmaster's files. Krum, if you please."
Krum knelt down and studied the map. "This right here is the front entrance," Krum said, pointing to a part on the map, "It will no doubt be guarded. Up here is the eastern ridge. It is thick with trees and will shield us from being seen. It is a new moon tonight, which is beneficial to us, as there will not be much light for the Death Eaters to see."
"But it also puts us at a disadvantage," Ginny said, "We can't see, either."
"The light given off by Durmstrang will be sufficient," Krum said, "Move slow, watch your step, and above all, be careful."
Draco rolled the map back up and put it in the bag, then pulled out a bronze spyglass. "I brought this so we can get a closer look," he said, "Ginny, douse your wand."
"Nox," Ginny whispered, causing the light to fade out.
"Okay," Krum said, "Follow me. We shall walk the ridge until we get to the eastern side, then we move in closer." Krum began carefully walking through the brush and trees.
"Go ahead of me, Ginny," Draco said, "So I can keep an eye on you and keep you safe."
Ginny nodded and walked ahead of Draco. Draco began walking, keeping an eye on Ginny and Krum while looking around the area, making sure they were all safe. Draco had had a bad feeling about this whole thing from the moment he set foot off the boat. Something didn't feel right. Ginny looked back at Draco and saw the concern on Draco's face as he walked.
"Draco, are you alright?" Ginny asked.
"Just a bad feeling is all," Draco said, "I'm sure it's nothing."
"Quiet," Krum whispered, "There could be Death Eaters here on the ridges. Limit the talking."
"How do you expect us to communicate?" Draco asked.
"Hand gestures," Krum replied, forming several gestures to demonstrate.
Draco rolled his eyes as Krum turned back to look where he was walking. Draco quickly held up his hand, extending his middle finger. "There's a hand gesture for you," Draco quietly said under his breath, causing Ginny to flash a brief smile.
Suddenly, Krum stopped in his tracks, holding up his clenched fist. Draco and Ginny stopped as well. "Krum, what is-" Ginny began.
"Quiet," Krum whispered sharply.
Krum turned to Ginny and Draco, extending his index and middle fingers, pressing them to his eyes and the pointing off into the darkness in front of them. Ginny and Draco strained their eyes, forcing them to adjust to the darkness until finally, up ahead of them, they could see two Death Eaters, slowly moving around through the trees.
"What do we do?" Draco whispered.
Krum slowly withdrew his wand and motioned for Draco to do the same. Draco slowly drew his wand and both he and Krum silently crept towards the Death Eaters.
"On my signal," Krum whispered. Draco nodded.
Krum and Draco continue moving towards the Death Eaters until they were within wand range. "Petrificus Totalus," Krum said, freezing one of the Death Eaters.
As soon as the other Death Eater turned around, alerted by the sounds, Draco leapt into action. "Petricfus Totalus," he said, freezing the other Death Eater.
Ginny joined Draco and Krum, grabbing the Death Eaters wands and throwing them farther into the woods.
"We must move down some," Krum said, "If any Death Eaters heard that, they may converge here. We move down to avoid detection."
"Not too far," Draco said, "The closer we get to Durmstrang, the thinner the tree line is."
"You don't think I know that, Malfoy?" Krum said, "Durmstrang was my home for seven years."
"If I didn't know any better," Draco snapped, "I'd say you wanted us to get spotted by the Death Eaters."
"You watch your tone, Malfoy," Krum said, getting in Draco's face.
"Will you two stop it?" Ginny whispered sharply, "Your arguing is going to get us caught."
Draco and Krum quickly quieted down, glaring at each other. They slowly crept down through the trees closer to Durmstrang. Draco stopped suddenly, dropping to one knee and removing his spyglass.
"Did either of you hear that?" Draco whispered.
Ginny and Krum both shook their heads. "What did it sound like?" Ginny asked.
"It was a voice," Draco said, opening his spyglass, "It sounded like it came from the school."
"Draco, we're not close enough to hear anybody down there unless they were yelling," Krum said.
"I know that," Draco said, "But I also know I heard something."
Draco aimed the spyglass at Durmstrang and looked through the glass. He could see an opening in the brick that was unmistakably a window. Draco focused his eyes and managed to make out the forms of people, dimly lit from the dull firelight. It appeared to be Voldemort and...his father. Draco bit his lip, his blood beginning to boil. His father was here at Durmstrang. So close he could curse him and be rid of him forever. Ginny could see Draco starting to shiver. It was cold, but not enough to bother someone this much. She knelt down beside Draco and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"What is it?" Ginny asked.
"My father's in there," Draco whispered, "I can see him clear as day, talking to Voldemort."
"Draco, you're not thinking what I think you're thinking, are you?" Ginny asked.
Draco didn't reply. He was now a million miles away, focused solely on his father. Ginny could see this, though she didn't like it. Draco's eyes glazed over and his face became as stone as he weighed his options. Suddenly, he felt Ginny squeeze his hand. He turned to her, seeing the concern in her eyes.
"Don't do it, Draco," Ginny said, "It's not worth it."
"It could be," Draco mumbled as he turned back to Durmstrang.
Looking through the spyglass, Draco's heart nearly stopped. Lucious Malfoy, who had been talking with Voldemort, was now looking out of the window, locking eyes with Draco. Draco looked down at the base of Durmstrang to see about a dozen Death Eaters making their way into the woods. Draco stood up sharply and quickly closed his spyglass.
"They're coming," Draco said.
"What?" Ginny asked, "How?"
"My father saw me," Draco said.
"Impossible," Krum said, "The woods are too dark for anyone to see us from that distance."
"Then explain the Death Eaters on their way here," Draco said.
"We have to get out of here," Ginny said.
"The Death Eaters won't allow us out so easily," Krum said.
"Fine with me," Draco said, drawing his wand, "But one way or another, we're getting out of here."
Draco began making his way up through the trees when an explosion went off behind him, throwing him into a nearby tree. Being so close to the explosion, Draco's ears filled with a dull ringing sound. Draco fought to his feet and searched for Ginny only to find her and Krum firing curses at the oncoming Death Eaters. Draco shook the cobwebs from his head and stumbled into battle.
"Stupefy!" Draco shouted, stunning a Death Eater as he sprung from the shadows, "Krum! We gotta go!"
"Go on, both of you!" Krum shouted.
"We're not leaving without you!" Draco shouted.
"Go!" Krum shouted, "We meet at Hogwarts!"
Draco grabbed Ginny by the arm and ran. Draco kept Ginny close to her as they dodged all manner of curses being cast by the Death Eaters. They made it to the top of the tree line when Ginny turned around to see a green flash narrowly miss her and render a tree to splinters. Draco and Ginny had run until they reached the horses. Draco untied one of the horses and handed the reins to Ginny.
"Draco, why only one horse?" Ginny asked.
"Because only one of us is leaving," Draco said.
"Draco?" Ginny asked.
"I can't leave Krum out there," Draco said, "He could die."
"Then let me come with you," Ginny said.
"I'm not gonna risk your life and my own as well," Draco said.
"I'm not leaving without you," Ginny said.
"Ginny we don't have time to argue about this," Draco said, his gaze suddenly shifting, "What is that?"
Ginny turned around, casting her eyes on nothing, realizing too late she was about to be tricked. Draco drew his wand, aimed it at Ginny and swallowed hard.
"Imperio," Draco said, causing Ginny to go rigid.
Draco shut his eyes tightly, forcing back tears. He knew there may be no going back from this. He only hoped Ginny would see that this was the only way and might forgive him. Draco opened his eyes and let out a deep sigh.
"Get on the horse and ride back to the ship," Draco said, "Alert Audun as to what happened and stay hidden until you're back in England."
Ginny said nothing as she climbed onto the horse and rode off at top speed. Draco felt his stomach tighten into a knot. Using a forbidden curse, especially on his fiancée, made him sick to his stomach, but he had to do it to get Ginny to safety. Draco turned and bolted back down through the woods. He stopped after a few steps and felt the hair stand up on the back of his neck. Surprisingly, there were no more Death Eaters in the woods and no sign of Krum.
"Krum!" Draco shouted, "Where are you?"
Draco cupped a hand to his ear and listened intently. Draco could barely make out the sound of struggle deep in the trees. Draco gripped his wand and charged back towards where he left Krum. Draco burst from the tree line and stumbled to the ground at the entrance to Durmstrang. He sprang to his feet only to face several Death Eaters. Draco held his wand at the ready, waiting for one of them to make a move. The Death Eaters parted as Lucious Malfoy strolled out of Durmstrang's gates.
"Well, Draco," Lucious said, "You put up an admirable fight. But did you really think we wouldn't have detected you?"
"Whether I do or not is irrelevant," Draco said.
"You see? I knew you were smart," Lucious said.
"Where's Krum?" Draco asked.
"Oh, he's around," Lucious said, "But I'd worry about yourself at the moment."
"What if I said I wasn't here to fight?" Draco asked.
"I know that already," Lucious said, "You were here to spy on us."
Draco's eye widened in shock. "You knew?" he asked.
"The dark lord has eyes and ears everywhere," Lucious said, "We knew you were coming by the time you arrived in Stockholm."
"This was a trap," Draco said.
"Yes," Lucious replied, "To capture you, Krum, and the Weasley girl."
"Looks like you weren't completely successful," Draco said.
"Just as well," Lucious said, "In any case, one of Dumbledore's precious eight is our prisoner. Shame he's not alive to see Potter fail. I must depart for America. Bind him and imprison him."
Two Death Eaters approached Draco, their wands drawn. "I'm here to make a deal," Draco blurted out.
Lucious turned to Draco, an eyebrow cocked, his interest peaked. "Are you?" he asked, motioning for the Death Eaters to back away, "And what do you possibly possess that would be of any worth to Voldemort?"
Draco slowly reached into his pocket and drew out a piece of parchment. Lucious motioned for Draco to hand it over. Draco approached Lucious and held the parchment out. Lucious snatched it from Draco's and opened it up. Lucious turned to Draco, looking very upset.
"This parchment is blank," Lucious said, "If you mean to test my humor, you will succeed only in testing my patience."
"Looks can be deceiving, father," Draco said as he held his wand to the parchment, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." All at once, images appeared on the parchment.
Lucious looked it over, studying every line with a devilish smile. "Is this what I think it is?" he asked.
"It's the Marauder's Map," Draco said, "A map of Hogwarts itself. Consider it an offering from a son to his father...and as a show of my allegiance to Voldemort."
A/N: So yeah, that's chapter 24...what's Draco's agenda? How will Ginny react to Draco using an unforgivable on her? Find out next time! Chapter 25 coming as soon as I can. Certainly won't be such a long break between chapters from now on