. Old Lies Die Harder
Ginny grinned as she saw Eleanor and Luna waiting for her at the entrance to the Great Hall, Colin was with her.
"Hey Ellie, Luna, sorry we're a bit late. Colin was having a bad hair day." Ginny grinned as she reached the two Ravenclaws.
Eleanor grinned and Luna smiled. "Well hurry up! I've got a date."
Colin scowled and rolled his eyes. "Blaise's is coming then is he?"
Eleanor blushed. "Yes he is! And what of it!?"
Colin grinned and shrugged. "Is he as good as he's rumoured to be?"
Eleanor smacked Colin playfully on the arm. "That, Col, is none of your business!"
Ginny frowned but said nothing as the quartet trudged on through the snow towards Hogsmeade. She hadn't gone home for Christmas Break; because Molly had said it was better that she focused on her school work. But Ginny knew that her family didn't want her in the midst of the Order's Headquarters. She'd read the Daily Prophet every day and wasn't completely ignorant to what was happening outside the security of Hogwarts ancient walls.
There was a notorious Death Eater named the Dark Phantom who was on rampage. Every few days there were attacks on Muggle cities and or towns. It was chaos. There was no secret about Magic in the Muggle world anymore, though many Muggles still believed it to be a series of terrorist attacks. The Ministry could not handle the raids led by this Dark Phantom and it was virtually due to the fact that Fudge was an idiot and also because there were not enough Aurors to do damage control. The destruction was done at such large scales that it was almost impossible for Ministry officials to hunt and modify the memories of all the Muggles in the area. It was seriously out of hand.
Hogwarts was on edge. Students were in fear for their families; no doubt this was the reason for the random attacks carried out by the Dark Phantom. It was as Dumbledore had said at the end of her third year, Voldemort worked on disharmony and fear; he fed off it. The identity of this Dark Phantom was yet unknown but speculation had it that it was either Voldemort or his long lost son. Ginny shivered as she remembered Tom… so handsome… so mysterious… and so deadly evil. The idea of there being two Toms in the world was enough to make her skin crawl.
She'd loved him for his company more than anything else and she hated herself for that. She'd been weak and insecure. Ron was always so wrapped up in his stuff with Harry and Hermione. Closing her eyes, Ginny pushed her thoughts away. It would do her no good to think about it now and wallow in self-pity, it was done and there was nothing she could do to change it now. Accepting and moving on was the only way she could triumph over it. Her brothers loved her; she'd just been foolish and was led astray, and she'd not make the same mistake again… but she was so lonely…
She forced herself to focus on Hogsmeade as they approached the small wizard village. Turning to Eleanor Ginny sighed. "So, you shooting off to Blaise then?" She knew she was being unfair. Blaise never failed to be in Hogsmeade to see Eleanor every single weekend they had a trip. Ginny was just worried.
Eleanor nodded, "Yeah, but you can all come you know, it's not like you're unwelcome," she said quietly.
Ginny sighed. "Look Ellie, I know he means a lot to you and you do to him as well, but -"
Eleanor smiled. "I know Ginny, and I'm careful."
Ginny nodded and hugged Eleanor. "Alright then, we'll see you in the Broomsticks around 3."
*
"Why are you so worried, Gin?" Colin asked as they sat down with their butterbeers in the Three Broomsticks.
Ginny sighed and sunk back into her chair tiredly, "I just - well Merlin Colin! It's Blaise Zabini we're talking about here, Malfoy's best friend! Godric knows they're all bad to the core!" she muttered.
"He's actually quite nice you know," Luna said in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone, "He really likes her; she's safest with him than anyone else."
"Still… connections and history - well excuse me for being worried ok," Ginny snapped.
Colin grinned sheepishly. "What is it with you anyway? Malfoy was never that much of a prick towards you."
Ginny glared at Colin and he cringed. "An insult to my family is an insult to me, Colin and you'd best remember it." Ginny muttered in annoyance, "And he insulted my brothers and my family left, right and centre."
Colin's ears glowed, "Yeah, well, I know that," he muttered quickly, "Anyway, fancy doing some shopping?"
Ginny shook her head. "Nah, you two go, I'm waiting for one of my bloody brothers to show."
Colin stood and grabbed Luna, pulling her after him, "Alright then, we'll see you in a few minutes," he muttered, knowing that staying with Ginny at the moment wasn't the best idea.
Luna smiled happily. "He watches you all the time, you know. I told Eleanor he likes you."
Ginny frowned after Luna and Colin as they left the Three Broomsticks. What the hell did she mean by that? And who the hell was she talking about? Shrugging, Ginny focused on her butterbeer, forcing herself not to take notice of the edgy people around her, controlling her mind not to stray to thinking about Tom OR Malfoy.
Suddenly Pig dropped down in front of her, a torn piece of parchment in his beak. Grinning at Ron's owl, she hastily took the parchment and unfolded it.
DO NOT LEAVE HOGWARTS!
Ginny stared at the parchment in shock and anger and the screams started.
*
No one noticed the dark figures loitering about in the streets of Hogsmeade as people rushed from place to place. No one seemed to sense the disturbance in the air as evil surrounded them and without warning screams and shouts were heard from all corners. Flashes of light shot through the air as hexes and curses were thrown haphazardly from the tips of wands.
Ginny bolted in her seat as witches and wizards rushed outside knocking their chairs over, either drawing their wands and readying themselves to fight or to run for cover. Spinning around, Ginny stared outside the window and stood paralysed at the sight before her eyes. Hogsmeade was under attack. Black-cloaked, hooded and masked wizards were gathering in the main street of Hogsmeade, forming a large group as they continued down the road firing blasts of deadly curses from their wands randomly.
Ginny glanced around her urgently looking for an escape; the pub seemed deserted and there was no immediate place to hide. She couldn't stand around like an idiot or they'd see her through the window and jumping under a table would be just stupid as the tables (and anything under them) were all in plain view from the entrance door.
Frantically, Ginny pressed herself against the wall and was momentarily out of sight from the window. Suddenly, she heard a series of cracks sound everywhere and risking a peek Ginny gasped - Aurors!
More shouts sounded and the air was static with magic as curses were projected wildly back and forth between Death Eaters and Aurors. Ginny froze - among the Aurors was the unmistakable blotch of red hair, in fact 4 unmistakable blotches as far as she could see, Ron, Charlie, Bill and Arthur.
"No," she shouted aloud without thinking and started for the door.
Ron turned wildly. "Ginny," he cried but wasn't given any time to try and listen. It was mayhem and the noises; he must've been mistaken.
Ginny reached the door and flung it open only to stop dead in her tracks in shock, stumbling backwards she fell hard on her backside. Looking up fearfully, Ginny met a horrendous masked face. But despite the dominating and fearful appearance of the mask, it was the most beautiful and enchanting thing she'd ever seen. Not that she was paying much attention to it - she had come face to face with the Dark Phantom. Ginny opened her mouth to scream but was immediately silenced by a silencing charm.
He closed the door behind him, and glanced around the room - as if checking for any other people. Furious, Ginny flung a whole line of silent insults at him.
The Phantom turned his eyes back on her then and Ginny screamed soundlessly - the eyes… blackness surrounded his eyes but the wispy cloudy grey orbs were shaped into skulls.
He chuckled, "Ah, what have we here… a Weasley."
Ginny glared at him.
He studied her for a few moments and then his eyes swept towards the streets - Ginny could only assume that he could see through solid objects as he was looking through the wooden walls of the pub and subconsciously she wrapped her arms protectively around herself, his mere presence was not only frightening but it also made her feel incredibly vulnerable.
"Don't bother, little Weasley, nothing you have is enough to tempt me," he sneered and suddenly grabbed her arm, half-dragging / half-carrying her across the floor towards the store room. Ginny clawed, kicked, hit and screamed silently to no effect.
He dropped her unceremoniously on the floor and cast a locking charm on the door. Bending down, he opened a trap door in the floor and shoved her into it. "Go, follow the passage and don't come back. I'll not guarantee your safety if you do." His voice was urgent though his masked face was unreadable.
Without saying anything further or even bothering to take off the silencing charm, he shut the trap door. Ginny pounded against the door; it didn't budge. She realised that she was not going to get out of the trap door and ran down the passageway towards Hogwarts. Eleanor, Colin and Luna were still in Hogsmeade not to mention three of her brothers and her father. She would double back; she knew this secret passageway. Sprinting along in the darkness and stumbling at times she finally made it to the statue of the one eyed witch. There was a lever inside that allowed her to open the secret entrance. She shuddered to think what could've happened to her if she had needed an incantation. She'd be left to rot. Pushing the thought out of her mind, Ginny thundered up the stairs to find McGonagall.
*
Draco's heart raced and he didn't bother to try and gain control of himself. No one would watch him closely now that they were distracted by the mayhem, and behind his mask he was unreadable anyway. He'd seen her through the window when the Weasley King had shouted his sister's name - just a flash of red hair but he'd recognise that hair anywhere. He'd ignored the arrival of the Aurors as he strode swiftly down the street.
His stomach clenched tightly when he had seen her - foolish girl was about to run headlong into the midst of deadly curses for the sake of her brothers. The girl was an immediate danger to herself.
Raising his wand, he muttered the incantation of the Dark Mark, signalling to the Death Eaters that their job here was done - even if the village was more or less still intact with very few casualties.
*
Ginny burst into McGonagall's office without knocking, startling her Head of House.
"Miss Weasley! What is the meaning of this?" McGonagall snapped, her eyes worried at the dishevelled appearance of Hogwart's current Head Girl.
Ginny opened her mouth gasping air and trying to speak but pointed to her throat meaningfully. Immediately understanding, McGonagall stood abruptly and pointed her wand at Ginny, "Finite Incantatum."
"Hogsmeade - attack - Phantom - Aurors - Ron - Help," Ginny gasped incoherently before collapsing into a chair McGonagall had conjured up for her.
McGonagall paled. "I'll send for the Headmaster immediately."
Ginny stood and began to follow her professor's heated departure. "I'll come to!"
"You've done quite enough, Miss Weasley!" Professor McGonagall snapped but didn't stop walking briskly down the corridor; Ginny panted closely behind her. "Ronald Weasley is a more than capable and well trained Auror!"
Annoyed, Ginny rushed down the stairs to the Entrance Hall. McGonagall wouldn't allow her back to Hogsmeade if she stayed and asked permission. If she wanted to go, she would have to go now while her head of house couldn't stop her.
As she reached the great doors, she met a train of pale faced and petrified students, most accompanied by Aurors, others huddled in groups. Younger third years whimpered and many were crying in fear and shock. Frantically, Ginny scanned the crowd for her friends and finally her eyes landed upon Blaise Zabini.
Rushing towards him Ginny grabbed his robes making him spin around to face her, "Eleanor! Where is she?" Ginny hissed, almost blinded by rage and fear.
Blaise inclined his head his eyes travelling to a bundle clutching to his chest. "She's safe and sound, Ginevra, as are your other two friends." His eyes motioned to Colin and Luna who stood together not far from them.
Ginny glared at Blaise. Looking at Eleanor in concern, she nodded and headed towards Luna and Colin. Both looked pale and worried but upon seeing Ginny, they looked somewhat relieved.
"It all happened so fast; there was nothing we could do," Colin muttered.
Ginny nodded. "Something we can never prepare for in DA. They had the element of surprise."
Luna smiled. "Got a weakness they have though, and they don't even know it. They think it's their greatest strength. Change the course of this war, it will."
Ginny frowned. Now was really not the time for her to decipher her friend's strange comments that were made at the most bizarre and almost inappropriate times.
*
The Dark Phantom stormed through Morsmordre Castle in a fit of rage. Death Eater Novices bowed and scattered hastily out of his way as he headed towards his chambers. He had never been more petrified in his life. The instant that he had seen the flash of red hair, his heart had plummeted. If she had been seen - a shudder shot down his spine as he pushed the thoughts out of his mind.
Reaching his chambers, Draco unlocked his doors and closed them behind him and immediately sagged against them. Merlin, that girl would one day be the ruin of him! He'd told himself over and over again that he could push her to one side and would eventually feel indifferent, but today had proven him wrong again. Everything he did, he did with her on his conscience. His ultimate goal was to stop thinking about her but he wanted to make sure she was safe.
Chuckling in disbelief, he headed for his bathroom. He always showered or bathed after a raid, as if he were washing away his sins. Sins he committed in her name…
"Damn you, Blaise, damn you for being right… damn you for knowing! Merlin let you burn in hell for this," he breathed as he shed his clothes and removed his mask before stepping into the steaming jets of water.
He would have to attend the meeting tonight as Draco Malfoy without a mask. Salazar knew how Voldemort was going to keep up his double life as himself as well as the Phantom. The older Death Eaters, including his father, were bound to be suspicious if the Dark Phantom was absent every time he was present. Groaning, Draco rushed through his shower and donned his normal Death Eater robes and black mask before Apparating back to Malfoy Manor.