Intruder

~Intruder

Rating: PG-13

Chapter 1: History has a tendency of repeating itself... dammit.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. (Disclaimer as distributed in FictionAlley) Victoria, Darius, Octavia, Hugo and Fabian are mine.

A/N’s: This is my first fic. Please, be gentle:P

***

The shop was dim and quiet. The cloaks, black, white, grey or colourful, patterned or plain, in all sizes and designs were hanged by the walls in a circular manner leaving a clear view to the outside. Ginny Weasley was sitting behind the bench, chin in one hand, the other resting down, fingers tapping on the wood. She let out a bored sigh and wondered for the thousandth time that day if this was the way, normal wizards spend their twenty-first birthday. Yes, it was her birthday and no letter or present had yet arrived sent by her family or any of her old friends. She was currently feeling lonely and eternally condemned to oblivion.

She raised her hand and quickly wiped the tear that began forming in her eye. No one remembers my birthday. Gone for three years and everyone forgot I exist anymore. Am I dead to them? After graduating from Hogwarts, Ginny had decided to move in Malta where she could expand her studies on Medieval Magical Artefacts. She had thought she would live quite happily in Valletta and at first she did. She had found herself a nice small flat, near the ancient castle where the Maltese Ministry of Magic was housed and the wizarding market also; in fact, the only wizarding market in Malta. She found a job as a sales person at Madame Malkin’s, No, not Madame Malkin’s anymore. It’s called Malkin’s WizardWear now. Victoria changed it as a part of her new improvement policy. Even her subject was interesting, no professor Binns hovering above her head and all.

But on this day she felt angry and more homesick than ever. Before, she had been so busy she had no time on herself, dividing her time between work and school. Summer was almost here though and that meant she would finish soon and then she could go home and prove to everyone she was not dead at all.

And yes summer was really taking over, as the weather grew hotter and hotter. Ginny was boiling there in Malta where the sun was so much hotter and brighter like in all Mediterranean regions. And that didn’t help at all in her general moodiness.

Scratch that, she thought instantly after noticing a familiar figure passing by the window of the shop. Familiar because Ginny never missed the chance to see him go by and Merlin! Did he worth every second Ginny wasted on him. Ginny straightened up, taking a better look at him. Feast on him, my eyes!

Tall, definitely beating 6 foot 2, with an exceptional fit body, he was the focal point of the whole court. A path was created before him as everyone stepped aside and let him through, affected by his regal stature. Ginny sighed once again, but it certainly wasn’t boredom she felt. The ‘Greek god,’ as she called him, was blond, lightly tanned and had the most adorable dimples when he smiled. And that happened, quite often, to the pretty girls he came across. Ginny wasn’t sure what colour his eyes were but she solidly believed they had the most amazing shade of cerulean blue.

However she’d studied him close enough not to notice he left the first three buttons of his elegant robe undone and look every boy is copying the same fashion. If I got my hands on him I could certainly come up with some ideas on to what would happen to the rest of them. More thoughts of the same kind passed through her mind and felt herself blush. My perfect birthday present: him in his birthday suit.

Suddenly she saw him look at something and his face brightened, the cute dimples appearing. She stretched over the bench to find out what he was looking at and her own smile disappeared from her lips.

The cause of her sudden change of mood was another of the awe-inspiring, crowd-splitting kind; only of the female gender this time. She was the kind that every girl openly hated and secretly admired. Towering over most people (including Ginny herself), a woman of exceptional beauty with long dark hair that shined, eyes as blue as any sky dared to be called blue and a figure some girls would kill for. She was as always dressed in robes that complimented her silhouette, always in the latest of fashion. In fact she created fashion being the one and only Victoria Malkin, heir of the Malkin Industries and (surprise!) Ginny’s boss.

In the meantime, Victoria had approached the ‘god’ and gracefully allowed him to kiss her cheek. He proceeded to put his arm around her waist but she stopped him, giving another of her dashing smiles. Ginny’s blood was throbbing in her veins and gave a faint sound, her only reaction to the scene. Ginny saw him saying something to her and her replying, then kissing him back and finally coming towards the shop’s direction. He remained there looking at her for a brief moment, then turned and left.

Ginny only had a moment to come to her senses and thankfully she did before Victoria opened the door. She and Victoria were friends and she wouldn’t do anything to hurt her feelings even though she was feeling miserable and frankly she believed Victoria to be an airhead. She had known Victoria from Hogwarts although she was a second year Ravenclaw when she had been a first year. She had only stayed in Hogwarts for four years then went to Beauxbatons following the advice of Fleur Delacourt. Fleur’s influence was apparent all over her as she walked in the shop, with a radiant smile.

“Hello Ginny, darling,” Victoria greeted her, “how is business doing?”

“Hey, how are you? Well you know, this time of the year is usually dead.”

“Really? Maybe we should have a sale. It’s near summer anyway and I’ll be bringing the bathing suit line in a while.”

“That sounds good,” Ginny somewhat resented the fact she might have been an airhead but she certainly knew business.

Ginny was struggling not to ask her about the ‘god’. “So, err, what’s new?”

Victoria smiled at that. “Go ahead, ask me. I can see you’re dying to.”

Ginny blushed but asked anyway. “New boyfriend?”

“Hardly, we’ve been dating for six months.”

“And, umm, is he from around here?”

Victoria gave a chuckle and waved her hand carelessly. “Oh no, he’s British. Although he must have some French ancestors as well. Isn’t Malfoy a French name?”

Ginny goggled at her. “Malfoy? As in Draco Malfoy? As in Lucius Malfoy?”

“Not that prick Draco silly. This is Darius Malfoy, Draco’s older brother.”

***

Ginny was almost certain her eyes were on the verge of popping out. Everyone now knew the Malfoys. After the last downfall of Voldemort (the people had finally stopped fearing his name) the story of Lucius and his involvement with the Death Eaters as well as his preposterous actions concerning his family was being told from mouth to mouth and had cause a great shock. Apparently Lucius Malfoy had taken over the family fortune, twenty years back, by kicking out his own father. When he was sent to Azkaban, Hugo Malfoy took back his rightful place proving to everyone he was not at all worthless but most of all proved he did not share his son’s beliefs. He had given a great deal of money and effort to help the wizarding world recover and restore the long lost balance. Thus no one questioned his allegiance to Dumbledore. The Malfoy name was now spoken with respect and not fear. Ginny could tell there was more to this story and so let Victoria fill her in.

“It’s funny, one would say, everyone had thought the Malfoys were Voldemort’s most loyal supporters and yet, once Lucius is out of the way they turn all goody goody. But I believe Darius when he says it’s absolutely true. Apparently Lucius had bribed Fudge’s predecessor and thus had his own father declared unstable. Of course back then, Voldemort must have had put a hand in this. Anyhow the whole mess was cleared up and Hugo did his thing and even helped my mum back then when Malkin Industries were in trouble. It’s too bad his old age finally caught up with him. He must be even older than that Mad Eye Moody fellow. And what do you expect when the old guy had to spend seventeen years in a damp grey old chamber at St Mungo’s. So now Hugo holds his title as the Malfoy Head in formal occasions. So you see, Octavia (that’s Lucius eldest child), runs the business in the mainland where Darius my darling attends business abroad. And thank Merlin for that or I might have not met him at all. I couldn’t imagine my life without him.

Oh sorry, now where was I? Ah yes, Octavia. She has a son named Fabian (isn’t that just cute? My dearest Darius has a nephew!!). He’s a bastard son as Darius confided to me. That’s why she had to leave Hogwarts and she never actually finished her magical studies. They had to send her to a muggle school the poor girl. I can only imagine the fit Lucius must’ve thrown. Banned her from the family and all. Same thing he did to Darius, the bastard. He sent him to Durmstrang in an attempt to make him more like himself but didn’t succeed. He rebelled and ran away and Lucius banned him as well and later wouldn’t take him back.”

At this point Victoria turned her voice into a whisper.

“It seems that only Draco (you remember him right? He was in my year?) was to follow his father’s footsteps. Darius says he loves him but Draco is closed up like a shellfish and lets no one in. He’s the only one who doesn’t seem happy about Lucius’ imprisonment and Voldemort’s downfall. But he still lives at the Malfoy Manor with the rest of the family. Darius is very sad about the fact that he keeps fighting with his mother and grandfather. I feel so sorry for Narcissa and what she also must have been through...”

Victoria stopped talking and looked thoughtful. Ginny was digesting still the information she had just received and was also perplexed by the amount of trust Victoria had shown her. A strange, uncomfortable silence fell between them which matched the sunset that had approached without neither of them noticing.

“Oh my, what time is it? I have a date with Darius!” Victoria cut off the silence and Ginny gratefully followed her example.

“It’s gotten pretty late. I should close the shop as well.”

“You know it’s our half year anniversary.”

“Excellent!” Ginny gave her a small but sincere smile. “I hope you have many more ahead of you. I think you two look absolutely fabulous together.”

Immediately Victoria’s face glowed. “Yes, me too.” Then she turned and walked to the door. She then suddenly stopped. “Oh, dear I totally forgot! Ginny darling, happy birthday to you. Then Ginny gave her a big smile.

“Thanks! Don’t worry about it. Have a good time.”

“Yeah, you too,” and vanished with a loud pop.

Ginny was left having an even worse mood that before; she hoped Victoria hadn’t noticed that. And she was feeling sorry for Darius and his family, even that git Draco. No one deserved a father like that. But she was mostly feeling sorry for herself, for letting her heart fall for a stranger, with someone she hardly knew and have history repeat itself once again. It was the same thing with Harry happening all over again, who had never noticed her and before she could even get a chance to properly talk to him, Cho came in the way. Beautiful, clever, skilled quidditch player Cho. She remembered feeling a rather petty satisfaction when Harry got over his infatuation with her in the end, although she had long gotten over Harry, and was happily seeing Dean Thomas at the time. But that didn’t matter now because she fell for that ancient trick of fortune’s and the old bitterness rose up again to the surface and she tasted it and she hated it. She then gave a resigned chuckle and got up to close the shop.

The sun was now set and the castle around Ginny was dim and washed out as if someone had painted it in watercolours then poured a bucket of water over it. This was Ginny’s favourite hour. She cast the locking spells on the shop door and waited for the Ministry wizard to light the torches which were spread all around the court. And so the wizard came and with a switch of his put-outer, all the torches lit up one by one, replacing the washed out effect with a golden magnificence.

***

“Oh, Gin, he proposed!” an excited Victoria rushed in the shop the next day and extended her left arm, right in Ginny’s face. Ginny dreaded this moment and hoped it wouldn’t be too soon. Guess I was wrong. And yet she couldn’t but wear a happy face for her friend which to be honest was rather difficult having that diamond beaming the sunlight in her eyes.

“I’m really happy for you darling,” she said, and with a swift move, pushed Victoria’s hand away from her face. However that didn’t discouraged Victoria who continued.

“I think I’ll spare you the details of the dinner but I can assure you, it was très romantique. My darling, he has better taste than any man I’ve ever met.”

Ginny’s mouth twisted. “And don’t you find that a little peculiar?”

“Don’t you dare imply anything!” Victoria exclaimed.

“Hey, I’m just saying --“

“No, you’re implying and I don’t want to hear it!”

“I bet this thought has occurred to you before.”

“Shut up.”

“Yes sir boss sir.”

“And for your information, he has quite the qualities one might look for in a man.”

“Hey, whatever.”

“And I hold no doubt he is a real man.”

“...”

“I hate you!”

“I love you too Vic.”

“Argh!”

Ginny gave a curious look to Victoria and saw she was crossed. Victoria looked back at her, Ginny blinked and they both burst out laughing. “I’m joking luv, I’m sure. he is quite the catch.”

Oh, I know you do. But it wouldn’t matter either way because I love him. I do you know.”

Ginny felt a sting in her heart. “I believe you,” and she smiled at her.

“Anyways, that’s not the reason for me being here today.”

“Now I’m hurt.”

“Shush and let me talk. I wanted to ask you something,” Victoria said with hidden significance.

“What,” Ginny was getting suspicious.

Victoria took a deep breath. “Well, you see, Darius has suggested that we should do the wedding back in England with his family. And I agreed. So I’ll be going to live at the Malfoy Manor for a while to get to know his family and plan the wedding.”

“Are you getting to the point yet?”

“Yes! I want you to be my maid of honour.”

“Huh?”

“You heard me.”

Ginny was speechless. She didn’t know what to think, what to say, what to feel. “Victoria, listen--“

“Gin you can’t say no. We’ve known each other for years, you stood for me when I was in trouble here in Malta and you’re the only one who can make me come to my senses with that loathed humour of yours. You belong to my side as my maid of honour. Pleeaaaaaaaase!”

Damn you Darius Malfoy, how dare you come between me and my friend. But it’s not your fault, of course it isn’t. It’s ALL mine and I had it coming. “Victoria darling, I’ll be honoured to be your maid of honour. Isn’t that what it means anyway? Or..? Oh hell who cares.”

Victoria hugged Ginny till she was out of breath. “So you’ll stay with me at the Manor, help me plan the wedding, although you won’t have an opinion on the decorations, I know you suck in those things.”

“I resent that!”

“It doesn’t matter if you resent it or love it; I’m not letting you anyway. Oh, stop sulking. And, oh I should probably introduce to Darius too. Sorry for not doing it sooner. And I’ll probably need you to help me adjust living with Darius’ family since I’ll be having you around so--“

“Hey, hold on a second there.”

Victoria exhaled. “What.”

“I can’t meet the Malfoys. They hate me and my family. Me Weasley, they Malfoy, remember?”

“Don’t be silly that was racist crap of Lucius. They don’t share his opinion. That was between your dad and him.”

“And what about my family? I haven’t seen them in years. I was planning to go back to them after my studies. And my studies! I can’t go back to England just yet!”

“Well, I’m not going straight away, I have business to arrange here also. I’m a businesswoman, I can’t just drop everything and rush to get married.”

Ginny raised an eyebrow. “Well I won’t. I’ll have to move my main offices back to London and other stuff to take care of, since I’ll be living there. Besides it’s boring here. I’ve already seen all those boring prehistoric sights and been to all the clubs.”

“Sometimes I’m just amazed by your ignorance. They’re not prehistoric, they’re medieval and those ‘boring’ sights are one of the main attractions of the islands.”

“Hey! Don’t be disrespectful. I’m older.”

“Watch out now. You don’t want Darius to find that out, do you?” Ginny’s voice turned mocking.

“Shut up.”

******

A/N’s: This chapter doesn’t really say much but I promise the second will even have a hint of plot!! About Ginny living in Malta, I just wanted her away from home and I picked that place, no particular reason, save the fact that I really want to visit it one day. Umm, also, you will meet the whole Malfoy family in later chapters I just wanted this to be a sort of introduction to them. Next chapter Ginny finds it hard to refuse Victoria’s requests, Victoria schemes and Draco is really really bored... for now.

A twist of fate for a whole pint of mess, or Ms. Malkin’s internal angst.

“Father! Father, where are you?” the faint voice called from behind the closed doors. She must have been looking for him for a while but the tall shelves and the long rows of books absorbed the sound of her voice. Seated behind the large oaken desk, Hugo Malfoy cursed and took a last drag out of his finely carved pipe. “In the library dear child,” he replied. He emptied the pipe it a drawer, threw the pipe in (the drawer gave a violent cough), and waved his hand trying to dissolve the finely scented smoke.

The sliding doors opened revealing his daughter-in-law. “Father?” Narcissa Malfoy said, “I have been looking for you through the entire house. It’s time we lea--” she stopped mid sentence and sniffed the air. “Have you been smoking again? You know perfectly well healer Hippocrates said no smoking for you.” She walked to the shut windows and threw them wide open, letting the country air in.

“I am no child to be scolded, Narcissa,” he protested, “My pipe is my only pleasure, besides my great grandchild, now in my old days and I have every intention on keeping to it.”

“Nonsense,” said Narcissa while helping the old man from his chair, “And if I catch you smoking again I’ll have the cook serving you soups till the end of the year.”

Her threat worked.

“You wouldn’t!”

“I would,” she replied firmly and took his arm. “Now I’ll go fetch your cane and see to the children. Don’t you dare take out that pipe while I’m gone.”

Hugo Malfoy mumbled something inaudible and looked longingly towards the drawer...

****

There was a pattern among the Weasley children; Ginny was no fool, she had seen it a long time ago but hadn’t necessarily tried to avoid it.

Molly Weasley had raised her children with the need to always give their best, to have ambitions in life, to respect themselves and the others around them but most of all, to be proud for who they were. And most of them were proud for who they were, even if the need to prove themselves was stronger.

There was too much ambition among the Weasley children. Enough to urge all of them in the search of their dreams like Charlie did, like the twins did.

There was enough ambition to drive Percy away from home in the summer before fourth year; enough to make Ron put aside Harry’s feelings and accept the captainship of the Gryffindor team. Perhaps an ambition strong enough to make Ginny take up friendship with the heir of Malkin Industries, even though she had found her extremely annoying at first.

Not that she still wasn’t annoying; (even now, her high heels clapping to and fro the stone floor, were giving Ginny a headache) but one gets used to it after three years.

Even so, Ginny’s conscience would not let her be. She had wanted more, always more. The fact that she was an only daughter didn’t help either, being the centre of continuous attention, but she boiled to the thought that her family was poor and she couldn’t have more. It scared her, knowing how far she’d go to satisfy her own desires and so made sure, to always have it under control. Always.

Clap clap clap. “What’s the time?” Victoria’s heels.

Ginny raised her head from her lap and looked around her. The sunny room was large enough to fit half a professional quidditch field in and had enough fireplaces for ten times the wizarding population of Valletta. House of Floo. Malta had quite the tourism. Twelve loud hoos from the general direction of the arched entrance overcame the crowd’s voices and Ginny realised it was the golden clock hovering over the information office in the corner. Noon.

“It’s noon already Victoria. Are you sure he said eleven thirty?”

“Yes, yes I’m quite sure,” Victoria replied back. She was worried and Ginny didn’t like it at all.

They had been waiting for nearly an hour due to Victoria’s haste to be there on time.

Victoria had made her pack and vacate her apartment in a bit more than an hour. Ginny managed to get herself bitten by a doxy, causing a giggling fit from Victoria’s part and a confession, from which Ginny learned two important things. Victoria then realised it was ‘already’ a quarter to ten and rushed Ginny even more. Ginny, worried she might have a panic attack, didn’t dare complain, until they had arrived at the Maltese House of Floo. That had included the not so easy task of apparating and dissapparating to her flat and back, a whole dozen times until she’d had all her luggage safely transported on the stone floor. Then she had to help Victoria move her own luggage to the House of Floo which took a while longer.

At the end she had sat down, laid her head on her lap, hoping it would ease her headache (didn’t work), and waited.

***

“MESSAGE FOR MS. MALKIN! MESSAGE FOR MS. MALKIN!”

Ginny turned her head in time to see Victoria vanish in the heavily crowded room, towards an envelope with bee-like wings flying around the clerk with the sonorous aided voice. Call it a witch’s intuition but Ginny knew this message wouldn’t mean any good to anyone relating to it.

When Victoria returned, cool demeanour all swept away, the hand holding the letter hanging limply on the side. Ginny got up and had Victoria take her seat on the trunk. And then Victoria broke off.

“BLOODY PRAT! HE CAN’T LEAVE ME LIKE THIS!” she exploded, eyes flashing, waving the letter at Ginny while spitting the words. “There is no power on this earth that’s going to make me leave this country without him! As if I am willing to meet his family without him! Can you imagine the welcoming I’ll be getting?”

“What are you talking about? What does the letter say?” keeping her voice down and calm was the only way Ginny knew to control Victoria’s scarce fits. It wouldn’t help adding her own wails to the general fuss, since she’d already tried it and utterly failed.

“He says he’s not coming. He’s too caught up at business. His family will be waiting at the International Fireplaces in Diagon Alley and that there’s nothing to worry about. He says I’m to plan the wedding with his mother while he’s away. HE SENDS ALL HIS LOVE!!!”

“Victoria *calm down*! There are people around and listening.” Ginny could feel her own anger tinting her cheeks.

Victoria instantly calmed once the people’s opinion of her were mentioned. She got up and restarted pacing back and forth, her hand level with the mouth, manicured fingernails under serious threat.

“I’m not going.”

“Not going where?”

“Back to England.”

Ginny was already feeling giddy by staring Victoria’s moving silhouette. She got up and stood in front of her, forcing her to stop. “What? Why?”

“Because I don’t want to face those people alone,” Victoria cried.

“But you’ve talked about them so lovingly; I thought you couldn’t wait to become a part of their family. And I’ll be with you, remember? Maid of honour?”

She laughed bitterly. “Of course I want to be a part of their family. They’re the most regarded wizarding family, pureblood or not. Their cycle of people is so close and extremely well guarded; they won’t let just anyone in. And if Darius isn’t there to support me and make them approve, they’ll devour me like werewolves. Circe! I can’t believe he did this to me.” There were tears in her eyes.

Ginny rolled her eyes. “Nonsense Vic, if he didn’t think they’d love you, he wouldn’t leave you to handle it *alone*, he trusts you and his family. I know what you’re doing: this is your usual what-will-they-think-of-me self. Get over it,” she added firmly.

Victoria shook her head. “You don’t understand. You can’t understand.”

Ginny decided to take charge. “Now, our passes are set; you still have them in your purse. It’s about time we Floo, we can’t have such an important family as the Malfoys wait on us, can we?” she said sarcastically. Not seeing Victoria convinced she sighed.

“Listen, Vicky, it’s going to be OK. If I were you I would never worry about being accepted. You are so easily adjusted, and I’m sure the Malfoys will happily introduce you to their *cycle of friends*. Besides you are the heir of the Malkin industries, that’s no small a thing.”

Victoria then looked at Ginny as if seeing her for the first time. “Yes, yes, of course you’re right. What was I thinking?” She laughed heartily and Ginny finally relaxed.

She put her fingers through her fine hair and said “Oh, Lady I must be looking awful after that fit. I’ll go to the powder room; wait for me?”

Ginny rolled her eyes but condescended. “What else can I do? Don’t take too long.”

Shortly, Victoria was out of sight, and Ginny sat back and touched her temples with her fingers, massaging them. It was one of those times when she felt a deep dislike for Victoria, when Ginny was forced to shake her out of any insecurity modes she fell into. Then a wave of quilt that washed it all out. For not being a good friend, for using Victoria to satisfy her ambitions, for going back but not letting her own ones know.

And there was something else too. Something completely wrong with the world but she just couldn’t put her finger on it.

“Hey I’m back,” said Victoria’s familiar voice and Ginny raised her head and saw her, flushed and nervous with a bright smile.

“Good, then we’re ready to go,” she said and got up.

***

Being high noon, the grand room of the House of Floo was swarming with people, mostly people that had just flooed in, and Ginny felt fortunate knowing Victoria had already seen to their passes; her own safely put away in her side pocket.

A clerk, who rushed to assist them in the sight of Victoria’s money satchel, shrank their luggage into the size of a shoebox and carried it while leading them. He gave it to Ginny once they reached a fireplace with a sign that read England Diagon Alley, London- Departures. It was big enough to have at least three wizards sit comfortably in.

Another clerk, covered in soot from pointed hat to toe with a handful of floo powder, joined a group 5 people inside the lit fireplace, and yelled the destination with a clear voice. He disappeared along with the group in a flare of blue only to have him reappear a few moments later.

“NEXT GROUP OF FIVE!” he yelled and the people in front of Ginny started moving. They were one person short and so Ginny stepped in the fireplace behind them. “I’ll be waiting for you,” she told Victoria reassuringly but the soot covered clerk stepped in front of her and blocked her view.

He raised his hand, ready to drop the floo powder and cried “England!” while at the same moment Victoria called to her, “I’ll owl you Ginny!” The wizard dropped the floo powder in the flames and as Ginny opened her mouth the soot filled her throat and nostrils, choking back her cry. Then a flare of blue enveloped her and the world started swirling around her at amazing speed. She tried to take a step to what it seemed forward, but a sharp pain dulled her senses and the last thing she saw was a blurry hint of a stone wall.

***

“Ms. Malkin? Ms. Malkin can you hear me?”

Ow my head.

“Ms. Malkin? Are you alright? Do you need a healer?”

Ms. Malkin? Ms. Malkin who?

“She’s moving. I believe she’s all right sir.”

“Who appointed you healer, boy?”

Victoria! Oh no.

“No one sir, sorry sir. I’ll be going now sir, I need to get back to my shift.”

“Look! She’s opening her eyes.”

The black wouldn’t clear out. She blinked a few times. There were still blots of black in her peripheral vision. She could even count them. One. Two. Three. Four big blots and a smaller in the middle. No, wait. The blur of the other colours became clearer and she focused her vision. There were white walls, and straight ahead there was grey sky, and even raindrops that weren’t raindrops but an illusion. And faces; attached to black clad bodies.

“Mother, why is she looking at us like this?” It was a child’s voice. The smaller figure’s voice. The only one with a head less fair than the others.

Ginny tried to get up and a pair of arms helped her sit. “Don’t try to get up dear child. You’ve bumped your head pretty bad,” another voice said and Ginny turned to see an almost familiar face. She must have been at her early fifties, warm grey eyes, and hair that Ginny couldn’t tell whether was white or blond.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I’m Narcissa Malfoy, Darius’ mother,” she replied.

Ginny was relieved. “Oh good, then you can hel—”

“Don’t try to speak Victoria,” Ginny startled, lifted her head and saw it was an old man standing on Narcissa’s side holding a cane; a very old man with a smart white beard and hair to match. It must have been Darius grandfather. He was rather intimidating but not menacing for the moment, “I hope you don’t mind my calling you Victoria.”

“Oh but I—”

“A clerk found your pass with your name on it, and that’s how we know who you are. Thank goodness for that or who knows where you’d end up.” This came from the woman on Ginny’s other side, an exact replica of Narcissa’s but with eyes calculating and scornful. “We’ve been waiting for quite a while for you to show up.”

Ginny was too shocked to try and speak again. Only then did it dawn to her what Victoria had tried to do. They think I’m her. She expects me to be her. She shook her head. She needed to straighten things out.

“Mrs. Malfoy there’s been a mistake. You see I’m not—”

“—feeling well? It’s only natural dear. Don’t worry we’ll take you to the mansion and you can rest there,” Narcissa interrupted her again. “Once you’re well, we’ll give you a tour of the grounds. You’ll love the Wiltshire. I hope you don’t get lost in the mansion, but you can always call the service.”

“It’s a good thing you’ve arrived now that you did,” continued the old man, “the season’s about to start and you’ll be entertained I hope. Too bad Darius won’t be there. Those people will be good for business.”

“And will I be an ornament to those balls grandfather? Am I or am I not the executive of the Malfoy Inc.” said the other woman, but Ginny’s head was throbbing.

Mansion, estates, the high society. Victoria was right. It was her chance to meet all the right people. The influence she would have as the future Malfoy bride. How could Victoria run away from all this? And that’s what she did. She ran away, in a petty attempt to get back at her fiancé. Would it be so wrong if Ginny used this situation the way Victoria had used her? And the Malfoys looked so willing to take her in. When Victoria would come to her senses they would trade places, without anyone finding out, no major fret. Victoria would probably come in the arms of her Darius, cheerful as ever explaining that it was all a silly little prank. And in the meantime Ginny would meet people, learn things. It would hurt no one.

“Octavia, this is not the time, nor the place for such discussions. You’re making Victoria dizzy,” Narcissa said firmly and turned to Ginny. “How is your head dear?”

Ginny forced her feet flat on the ground and slowly got off the bench with no help. She flashed a bright smile at Narcissa. “I’m quite alright thank you."

“Draco, give your arm to the girl. She needs your assistance,” the old man said and Ginny looked up to see Darius’ phantasm hovering over her.

***

It was a direct command from his grandfather and he knew he couldn’t refuse. He handed Fabian back to his mother and walked nonchalantly over to the young woman covered in soot.

When he first saw his brother’s fiancée, she was lying on a bench, completely unconscious, resembling more to an overgrown scorched mandrake root with clothes. His mother let out a small cry and hurried to her side and taking her handkerchief out, she started cleaning up the creature’s face. It finally turned out she was a woman: a young woman, with childlike freckles on her nose and cheeks, a rosy mouth, and a nasty red bump on the forehead. And from what he could see from her clothes not a very stylish woman either. My brother is full of surprises.

He also noticed that the girl’s hair was a bright coppery red that even the soot couldn’t cover but that was a completely unnecessary thing to notice.

Fabian was curious and reached out to touch her, but Octavia pulled him away at once scolding him and handed him to Draco. He didn’t really mind. His nephew knew when to sit still, since an early age. He preferred to stand back and watch the girl wake up.

She was dazed at first, looking around her with her mouth slightly open. She only appeared to be waking when she heard his mother speaking. He was familiar with the effect that his mother’s voice had to people and he smiled a little.

He knew he should remember her from Hogwarts but somehow he couldn’t connect the name with the face. Victoria Malkin. How strange. His mother had already started to like her, and so had his grandfather. Hugo was clearly grinning under his thick moustache with the naivety the girl was showing, but liked her determination to get up on her feet even more.

When Hugo spoke to him, the girl, Victoria turned to face him as if noticing him for the first time. Her feet wavered for a moment there; perhaps she was weaker than she would admit. He walked over to her and he bowed his head slightly, conscious to the mocking in his smile. The girl, Victoria widened her eyes in fright. Could she not know manners at all? He offered his hand but she didn’t take it.

“Since no one had the courtesy to introduce us, I’m Draco Malfoy, Darius’ brother.” It wouldn’t be right scaring her off from the first moment.

Victoria gave him an odd look which had him raise an eyebrow. Was this not a behaviour she would expect from him?

“Oh dear, I’ve completely forgot,” his mother cut in, “Meet,” she said pointing his sister, “Octavia and her son Fabian. This is Darius’ grandfather, Hugo,” she said pointing to the old man, “and you must know Draco from Hogwarts,” concluded turning towards Draco.

There was that odd look again. She smiled to everyone but cowered in Draco’s mention. Had something happened between the two which he couldn’t remember? He made a quick note to himself to look it up.