A/N: I'd like to thank everyone who kept my father in their thoughts. I'm glad to say that he is almost fully recovered and has even returned to work. Your words of encouragement meant a lot and I appreciate it. I know this chapter is long coming, but I really have been busy. After my father was released I had finals. After that, I went on a two week vacation with a friend, and then my family moved. Things are settling down, and I actually have time to write again. I promise the next chapter won't take nearly as long as this one did. I'm thinking the end of this week. Anyway, thanks for putting up with me.
Chapter 10: The Symbol
Ginny's mother was still in hysterics as she tried to answer the auror's questions.
It had been around 8 o'clock when she heard a noise come from Ben's room. Ginny had mentioned that since getting the new bed, he would sometimes get up to play in the middle of the night. Setting down her knitting, Mrs. Weasley got up to remind him that he needed to stay in bed and sleep if he wanted to grow up strong like his Uncle Charlie. Before she had made it to the hall, she saw green sparks as she was hit with a body-binding curse. Her panic increased as she saw three hooded figures walk past her. She was getting very irate, thinking they were only common burglars, when they blew open the front door. The spells that had been placed on the front door made it impossible to open from the inside, as well as the outside, without knowing the proper spells. As the last of the three passed though the newly modified exit, she noticed a small limp arm flop against the carrier's leg. Knowing it was Ben, she tried to scream but couldn't. Seemingly an eternity later, Ginny and Draco arrived and contacted the aurors and Mr. Weasley.
Mr. Weasley was now trying to calm his wife.
An auror, Mr. Standers, who thought he was being incredibly understanding and patient about all of this, tried again. "Mrs. Weasley, can you please describe the three wizards?"
"Well," she said through her sobs, "at first, they reminded me of Death Eaters, but they were different. They didn't wear masks, that I could see, but their hoods were pulled so that you couldn't see their faces. The robes were a dark maroon and there was this silver symbol embroidered on the backs. I had never seen it before."
Ginny, who had been unnervingly calm after her initial outburst, looked up.
"Do you think you can remember it well enough to draw it?" the auror asked.
"I think so," she sniffed as she took the proffered quill and parchment.
After a few moments, Mrs. Weasley had produced a swirling symbol that had an uncanny resemblance to something Draco recognized. He closed his eyes and tried to remember what the symbol meant, but he really hadn't the faintest idea. He decided it would be best not to say anything.
"Alright, Mrs. Weasley. I think we have all the information we need for now. We'll contact you if we have any news."
The aurors talked to Mr. Weasley before they left. As he was walking back, Ginny spoke for the first time since she had collapsed. "Mum, could you draw another one of those symbols?" Ginny asked without looking at her.
"I suppose, but whatever for?" she asked as she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief.
"I'm going to the library," she said steadily.
Mrs. Weasley sighed. "Oh, Ginny dear. Let the aurors handle it. It's their job. I don't want you putting yourself in danger."
Ginny's eyes widened furiously and her breathing became ragged. "My son has been taken. He can be anywhere. Who knows what kind of danger he's in?!" she yelled as she stood. "You cannot possibly expect me to just sit here while he's out there, alone and scared. I am going to do everything in my power to bring my baby home to my arms." She closed her eyes as the tears began to fall from her lashes and her body racked with sobs. "Please… Mum…"
Draco stood and instinctively put his arms around her shaking form. Mr. Weasley eyed the two curiously. While Ginny found solace in Draco's strong arms and soothing words, Mrs. Weasley again drew the symbol. "Here, love. I know that you're going to do this with or without my help."
Ginny turned to her mother with a grateful smile. "If you find anything out, I want you to go directly to the aurors. Don't go out on your own," the Weasley matron commanded.
"I'll do what I have to do," Ginny said levelly. With that, she turned to leave with Draco following close behind.
When they were in front of the building, Ginny stopped and turned to Draco. She swallowed as she looked at him. "You don't have to come with me."
He looked into her eyes. "Let me help you."
She nodded and smiled as she took his hand and walked toward the library. It only took a few steps for Ginny to stop and hit her forehead. "Damnit," she swore softly.
Draco looked at her questioningly. She shook her head and groaned. "The library isn't going to be open at this time of night. What are we going to do?"
"We could use the library in the manor. It has nearly as many books as that library, and it certainly has more books on the dark arts, which is probably where we should start looking anyway," he said calmly.
Ginny tilted her head to the side and asked if he were sure. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Why not?" He turned his head to look down the street, for some reason, uncomfortable with the situation.
She reached up and touched the side of his face with her fingertips, and he returned his gaze. She rested her other hand on his shoulder as she raised on her toes to gently press her lips to his. She pulled away, and her fingers trailed down his face as she slid her other hand down his arm to capture his. "Thank you," she said as she held his eyes.
He gave her half a smile and said, "Come on," and they apparated to Malfoy Manor.
******
After three hours of scanning through volumes of books in the dimly lit library, Draco looked up to find Ginny asleep on top of an open book. He sighed and turned his book on aquatic curses of the thirteenth century face down on the table so he wouldn't lose his place.
"Come on, Ginny girl," he said as he slipped his arms behind her knees and shoulders and carried her to the soft green sofa at the side of the room. She unconsciously turned in her sleep to pillow her head on her hands. Draco grabbed his cloak off of the back of his chair and draped it over her before he returned to his research.
******
Ginny awoke to a faint clinking sound and a brightness behind her eyelids. She slowly opened her eyes, using her hand to shade her eyes and take the edge off the intense sun glaring in from the tall windows. She pushed down Draco's cloak as she sat up and slid her feet off the sofa onto the dark hardwood floors. Draco was flipping though a book and absentmindedly stirring a fresh cup of coffee. His hair was slightly damp and one strand fallen over his brow. He was also wearing different clothes. That's when Ginny noticed that she was still in her dress from the night before and desperately needed a shower.
"Sleep well?" Draco asked without looking up, as Ginny made her way over to him.
"I'm surprised I could sleep at all. What time is it?" she asked, plopping down into the chair next to him.
"About eight-thirty. Want a shower?" he asked finally looking at her.
She rubbed her temples. "That would be wonderful."
As they walked down the hall, he said, "If you'd like to change, you're about the same size as my mother. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you borrowed something. She's visiting family in France," he answered her unspoken question as to her whereabouts.
"I don't suppose she has any jeans," she said, looking at him hopefully.
He laughed, "Not that I've ever seen."
They finally found a comfortable pair of dress slacks that fit in the back of Narcissa's enormous closet. After that, they found a matching shirt and pair of dress flats for her to wear.
"I don't know where my mother keeps everything in her bathroom, so you can use mine."
Ginny raised her eyebrows, but didn't say anything as she followed him out of the room.
He led her into a large dark room. The king-size four-poster bed was a deep mahogany color, as was the rest of the furniture. The sheets were a rich and luxurious forest green that matched the drawn curtains. She imagined herself waking from those sheets next to a handsome blond. It really wasn't a half-bad image.
"The bathroom's over here," he said, walking into a room that branched off of the bedroom. "The towels are in that closet. The soap and shampoo are on the shelf in the shower. I take showers, but if you want to take a bath, the tub is over there. You can just take the soap over there."
"Oh, a shower's fine. Thank you," was the only response she could manage.
He just nodded and said, "I'll be in the library when you get out. Will you be able to find your way back alright?"
"I think so."
He nodded again and left, shutting the door behind himself..
Ginny sighed as she took off her clothes and stepped into the steaming water. Sweet Merlin! The man had more bath products than she had ever seen. Surely he didn't use all of these! She chose one of the only ones written in English, so she knew for sure that it was shampoo, and lathered it into her hair.
Then a thought struck her. She was standing wet and naked in Draco Malfoy's shower. The same shower Draco himself
had stood in just an hour or so before… wet and naked. She couldn't help but shudder.
"Ginny, stop that," she reprimanded herself.
He really was attractive, but he was beginning to confuse the hell out of her. He had always been absolutely horrid to her in school. But the night before, he showed a side of himself she didn't think could exist. He was funny and even nice. Ever since they had arrived at the manor, he had been very sweet, but reserved. It was like he was trying to close himself off to her. If she didn't know better, she would say he was afraid of feeling something for her, so he was trying to block her out. But she did know better, so she didn't entertain that thought any longer.
******
"Hey, I think I found something," Ginny said as she lifted her head from an old book. "Let me see that symbol again."
He handed her the parchment and positioned himself to look over her shoulder. "This is it! It's the same symbol!" she exclaimed pointing excitedly to the symbol drawn in the book.
"What does it say?" Draco asked impatiently.
"It's the mark of Mastema. I don't remember ever learning about him in school," she said as she looked at him.
"Neither do I. What does it say about him?"
"It calls him a rebel angel, an accuser, and an executioner. Some say Mastema is an apocalyptic name for Satan, while others believe he is a subservient of God. It says that after the fall, God allowed him to keep one tenth of the fallen angels, or demons, on earth to tempt mankind. It is his job to entice humans into doing wrong things. He is also the "Heavenly Prosecutor." After death, humans are put on trial for all of the wrong things they've done and Mastema prosecutes against them. It says he's never lost a case," she said and looked up at Draco. "He's like a supernatural lawyer."
"Lawyer? Oh, now I remember where I recognized the symbol," he said as he fished through the pockets of his cloak that he retrieved from the sofa.
"What? You didn't say you recognized it," Ginny said questioningly.
"I didn't say anything because I couldn't remember where I recognized it from. It wouldn't have done any good to say anything. Oh, here it is," he said as he handed a card to Ginny.
"Draco, it's an ordinary business card," she said looking back at him.
"Look at the background." In the background of the card was the same symbol they had been searching for.
"Draco, what is this?" she asked, wide-eyed.
"It's a business card from my father's attorney's office. I don't have the same attorney. I never thought to check into the firm's history."
"You don't think…" she trailed off as Draco nodded his head.