Blood Oath
Ron scanned the crowd of upset students that gathered in the Great Hall, and strode towards his sister whose deep red hair gave her away almost instantly.
"Ginny," he cried out in relief and he immediately enveloped her into a tight hug. "Merlin," he breathed in her hair, "You're alright."
Ginny embraced her brother tightly. "Oh, Ron! I was so scared - I saw you there and -" she gasped.
"It's alright… sshh," Ron said softly, cutting her off and kissing her forehead. A stab of pain pricked at his heart; his sister had been there - she'd not received his message. If anything had happened to her, he would've killed himself out of guilt and heartbreak.
"Where's Dad, Charlie and Bill, Fred, George?"
"They're on Ministry business. Merlin Ginny, didn't you get my message?" Ron asked, still crushing her to his chest protectively.
"I did, but I was already in the Three Broomsticks… and it all kicked off right after I read it." Ginny pushed back slightly.
"What happened? They smashed up the Broomsticks. How did you get away?" Ron asked worriedly.
"I-" Ginny froze, for some reason she was reluctant to tell Ron about the Dark Phantom. "I came through the secret passage… had to warn McGonagall."
Ron grinned and ruffled her hair. "Ah, Fred's and George's hunger for mischief always comes into good use at some point, eh?"
Ginny nodded and grinned in reply. She didn't feel at all guilty for telling half the truth. After all she did come back through the secret passage way. She hadn't lied, but why she hadn't told the complete truth?
"Gin, I've got to head back for a meeting. Will you be alright?" Ron asked quietly, his eyes full of worry and concern.
Ginny nodded. "I'll be fine… give my love to Mum."
Ron grinned. "She'll probably be up to see you anyway. Look, I know I haven't been the best-"
"Just go!" Ginny grinned. "And you are the best brother - if you learnt how to write!"
Ron laughed sheepishly and pinched Ginny's nose lovingly before striding out of the Great Hall, but not until he'd smiled at Luna.
Ginny watched after him wistfully and sighed. He did try, he really did but he just didn't understand. Shrugging, Ginny turned to Colin and Luna who were trying to console some of the younger years. Ginny groaned inwardly. Head Girl duties - shit she had a mess to help sort out. Scanning the room for the Head Boy, Ginny got to work trying to organise the younger students back to their dorms.
*
He stood, his hooded cloak covering his face.
"It's time, Draco, read this quickly." A figure appeared behind him in the bustling crowd in the Three Broomsticks, no one would notice them here, and if they did no one would care as they were too immersed in the events that had taken place that morning. The wind and sleet raged outside as Scottish winter boasted its worst.
Draco glanced over the piece of parchment and nodded. The man took it back and crumpled it in his pocket before leaving hastily out of the front door. Draco followed close behind him.
Once they were outside the man took the piece of paper out of his pocket and muttered a spell, pointing his wand at it, the parchment burst into blue flames and disappeared. Satisfied, the two men carried on walking towards the Forbidden Forest.
*
Harry sat in the kitchen of his Godfather's old house pouring over pieces of parchment. It had been barely seven months since he had graduated from Hogwarts and become a full member of the Order of the Phoenix. Since then he had moved out of the Dursley's home and taken residence in Sirius's house and the Order had cleansed most of the house of dark magic. Hermione had miraculously found a counter charm to remove Mrs. Black's portrait and shoved the screaming woman in the attic.
The Wizarding community was quivering in fear as they were on the brink of war. Death Eaters were no longer subtle with their killings; their raids became more and more frequent and the Dark Lord was gaining control fast. Almost half of the Ministry was taken; most of the officials acting under the Imperious curse and others turning fully and freely to Voldemort's side - either out of fear or willingness.
Harry sighed. It would be a hard battle.
Today a meeting would be held with all members of the Order regarding the attack on Hogsmeade that morning. Harry had not yet met many of the members, but Dumbledore was still head of the Order and Harry had complete faith in his headmaster.
In twos and threes members arrived, Tonks with Remus and Madeye, Ron with Fred and George, Charlie with Bill and Fleur. Kingsley arrived with Neville and Hermione, Fletcher with Seamus and Lee Jordan, Molly and Arthur came hand in hand with Angelina and Oliver Wood close behind. Many others filed in which Harry had never met before. Molly immediately brewed a large cauldron of tea and prepared biscuits with the help of Hermione and Tonks, while the others settled down around the table. Their faces were dark and glum.
Suddenly a feather appeared followed by a muffled pop, a puff of hazy red and orange smoke which cleared to reveal Dumbledore with Fawkes perched on his shoulder.
"Ah, only two more, I left Minerva in charge of the school," Dumbledore said gravely as he sat down at the head of the table.
As if on cue the kitchen doors flung open and Snape entered, his cloak forever billowing out behind him. Everyone noticed the hooded figure following in his wake. The two stood at the back of the room like spectators after bowing slightly to Dumbledore who smiled merrily.
"Now that we are all here, please, let the meeting commence." Dumbledore officially started the meeting as Hermione and Molly served everyone tea and biscuits, which both Snape and his hooded companion refused politely.
Immediately voices broke out from all sides of the room regarding the attack on Hogsmeade.
"… Dark Phantom… ruthless…"
"… wasn't as bad as the others…"
"… only there for a few minutes…
"They fled like dogs when the Aurors arrived…"
"…none dead… casualties… though no muggle control…"
"….children… brutal… to have to witness…"
Dumbledore raised his hand for silence and order making everyone fall silent. "I assure you that the children are in good hands and families are being contacted. For now let us focus on the information we have gathered."
"Percy Weasley and Cornelius Fudge are definitely under the imperious," Kingsley reported which received a whimper from Molly and a stony stare from Arthur. The other Weasleys shuffled uneasily in their seats.
"The Ministry can no longer be depended on, but we've known this since forever now," Charlie sighed, breaking the awkward silence.
Bill nodded. "The goblins are still not stating their side, but without the Ministry behind us it's hard to win them over."
"Can't trust those Goblins anyway," Moody muttered, "Gold digging opportunistic little mutts!"
"Some of the tree spirits will join us," Neville piped up nervously.
Dumbledore smiled at Neville. "They will indeed be a great asset, and we mustn't underestimate the power of nature."
"They'll be good spies." Charlie grinned at Neville who seemed to beam proudly. "We'll also be able to get a few dragons."
Everyone turned to Charlie in surprise. "I managed to devise a means of communication with them. No one knows this, but the dragons can feel the evil brewing and are mostly against it. They want free land and reign though, which I don't know if we can offer."
"Merlin, Charlie, you talk to dragons?" Molly asked, astonished.
Charlie grinned, "Yeah, Hagrid and I worked on it together though mind, he found a wounded Chinese Fireball Dragon in the Forbidden Forest. Turned out that Terror-Flame is a chief dragon from China. He's got quite a few contacts with other dragon chiefs. Apparently the dragons have a civilisation we were never aware of, a whole world federation of dragons networked throughout the globe. With some persuasion, we could ride them."
"This is indeed good news." Dumbledore smiled. "We lost the giants to Voldemort, but we have gained the dragons. I forgot about the ancient Dragon Guild. It's been more than a millennia since the dragons came to the aid of wizards."
"Talking about recruiting," Bill said quietly and somewhat troubled, "Ginny has expressed her wish to join the Order after she graduates, and she has recruited a few more members as well, Gryffindors and Ravenclaws she knows and trusts."
The room went awkwardly silent as everyone turned to look at Molly who had gone deathly pale. "No! Not my Ginny," she cried, and then turned to Arthur. "She's not allowed! I'll not stand for it! Tell her no, Arthur, you must!"
Draco's heart plummeted as he stood hidden under his hood beside Snape. Ginevra joining the Order would mean catastrophe to his mind. The very idea of her joining and being sent off on dangerous assignments made his blood run cold.
The room again fell silent as all eyes turned to Arthur. After a few moments lost in thought, Arthur spoke, "I cannot stop her joining the Order, even if I don't like it, love. Ginny will be of age."
Molly cried out in anguish and sobbed into her hands.
Harry noticed the hooded figure whisper something to Snape who nodded gravely before speaking, "Perhaps it is prudent that Miss Weasley first completes her Auror training."
Everyone turned to stare at Snape, and Bill sighed. "Ginny has already started her Auror training, first from Harry in her fourth year as part of Dumbledore's Army and now from Minerva, Remus and Tonks, and yourself, Severus. By the time she graduates, she will be qualified to be an assistant Auror without even joining the Guild and with the three years of experience to back her. She excels in all areas of Transfiguration, tracking and concealment, as well as the Dark Arts and Charms. She's a valuable asset, top of her year and Head Girl. She is flawless."
"Except for her raging temper and irrational judgement," Ron muttered to Harry who grinned despite the grave situation.
"Even if that is so, as Miss Weasley is also my student, I find it imperative that she must first learn to control her state of mind and emotions. She has learnt nothing but theory and her experience in practical use is limited. We must bear in mind that Miss Weasley was once exposed to the Dark Lord himself and we must prepare her for the worst. Should she be captured, she would break easily under the Dark Lord's power."
"Perhaps it would be best to allow Ginevra to work on research and recruitment for starters." Dumbledore smiled, though his eyes bored into Snape's hooded companion. Harry noticed the intense look on Dumbledore's face, he was communicating with Snape's companion through the mind. It took all of Harry's will power to stop him from trying to force his way in for answers.
Molly looked at Snape with gratification in her eyes and worded, "Thank you," to which Snape inclined his head slightly in acceptance.
"There is also a great deal more deaths now. It seems that there is one specific Death Eater who leads these attacks," Arthur said gravely.
"The Dark Phantom," Neville whispered, his face instantly paling. "He leads the random attacks on Muggle communities."
"He slaughters without mercy and seemingly strikes at random, Muggles and wizards alike," Remus said darkly, "The Dark Phantom tortures his victims for sport before he murders them in cold blood; women and children are not spared."
"Sounds like Bellatrix to me," Harry muttered, "That woman is ruthless, else Malfoy's handiwork."
"Stinks of Malfoy if you ask me," Ron sighed, "What ever did happen to the bouncing ferret anyway?"
The room went silent once more and Tonks spoke, "He was last seen entering his home after graduation, somewhere in Wiltshire. Though we've had few reports claiming he was seen in Stirling and North Wales."
"He hasn't been seen since." Remus added, "We don't know what's become of him, and we're not sure if he's taken after his father."
"It's in the blood," Arthur muttered, "Malfoys are bad to the core."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled strangely, "Arthur, perhaps it would be significant if you related the Weasley-Malfoy history."
Everyone stared surprisingly from Arthur to Dumbledore. Bill's face turned grave, and Molly whimpered; the rest of the Weasley children looked confused. "What's this all about, Dad?" Ron asked.
Draco's heart pounded. He knew of the Malfoy-Weasley History; it was archived in his Library in Malfoy manor, hidden and coated with centuries of dust. Undoubtedly, Arthur would have a similar copy.
Arthur sighed, "This is something I never wished to reveal, especially since we had Ginny." Arthur looked lovingly and apologetically at Molly, "But I agree with Albus and feel it is time that this fraud is revealed." Molly nodded and slumped in her chair.
"The Malfoys came to England from France around 1200, though their roots are Norse." Arthur continued before taking a deep breath, "They invaded Weasley lands. Malfoy Manor as it stands today is on the land of our birthright." He paused to glance at Ron who stared dumbstruck at his father.
"It all started with Genevieve Weasley, the last woman to be born into the Weasley family until your sister. She had but one brother who was younger than her, Manuel Weasley. We are of his descendants. Genevieve fell in love with a Malfoy Lord, Pierre Malfoy, who had settled not far from our land boundaries."
Arthur continued, "Pierre and Genevieve wed with the consent of her parents as a sign of good faith, but it turned bad. Genevieve's and Manuel's parents died mysteriously in the night within weeks of the wedding and Manuel was driven from the manor. He swore to return for his sister, but Genevieve gave birth to her first child a year later, a son, Vincent Malfoy, though few months later she fell ill and died."
"Manuel got word of this, grief stricken, he returned to avenge his sister's death, who he believed was murdered like their parents. Pierre and Manuel duelled and both were badly wounded. Manuel left after pledging a blood curse on both families, that no woman would be born into either family until the time was right for a Weasley to reclaim what was once theirs and take vengeance on the deaths of their ancestors."
Ron paled. "Ginny…"
Arthur nodded slowly. "According to the blood oath, your sister is here to fulfil that pledge. The curse remained true; neither Malfoy nor Weasley has birthed a daughter since Genevieve. We have liaised through the Black family line mainly, as they have bore many daughters. Draco Malfoy is an offspring of a Black, Narcissa; I am a descendant of a female Black, but the hatred between the Weasley and Malfoy blood has never died."
Ron looked sick. "But what does this mean, Ginny's going to kill Malfoy and reclaim the old Weasley lands?"
Arthur sighed. "A blood oath calls to the blood of those it was bound to. I don't know what it means, Ron. But one thing is certain, blood oaths never wear down. The curse is as strong today as it was when Manuel cast it more than 800 years ago."
"Lucius tried to get rid of Ginny," Harry muttered.
Arthur nodded. "He failed. This is a burden that Ginny cannot know, and it is meant for the young Malfoy and not Lucius."
"Does the bouncing ferret know of this legacy?" Fred asked. Perhaps the first time in his life, his face was serious.
"Lucius would arm his son with whatever information he needed, especially since there is a female Weasley. I am certain that he knows of the family history," Arthur replied, "And if he does, Ginny won't be safe until the blood oath is fulfilled. Only the ironic twist is that she is the only one who can bring it to an end, so she'll never be safe."
"Fuck!" Ron muttered, "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"
"Ronald Weasley!" Molly gasped, "I will not tolerate such vulgar language!"
"Oh, give it a break Mum. Ginny's in danger; she's either got to kill Malfoy or be killed by him!" Ron hissed angrily, "She's not joining the order, I want Ginny out of the way, hidden. She isn't allowed to leave the Burrow, not ever; I'll have her shackled up in chains if I have to and wont let her go until I see the ferret's head on a spike!"
"That's a bit extreme, Ron, even if we all want Malfoy, junior and senior out of the picture," Hermione scolded. "You're clearly overreacting, we don't even know if Malfoy is enlightened to this fiasco, or if he's even joined Voldemort's ranks for that matter."
"I don't care; I want him dead rather than Ginny," Ron fumed.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, everyone grinned. Ron was by far the most protective brother out of the Weasley clan when it concerned Ginny. Draco chuckled quietly to himself. If only the Weasley King knew that he, Draco Malfoy the famous bouncing ferret who was endangering his beloved sister was standing within 5 metres of him. Just to see his face would be beyond priceless, and Draco had to put all his will power to the test not to throw off his hood and smirk at the Weasley clan. Though he was a master of self control, old habits die hard; restraining himself now was truly trying.
The legacy was true, though Draco was sure that Arthur was keeping back the rest of the legacy for a reason. Blood oaths were indeed permanent until fulfilled but they did not always necessarily go according to the curse. If Ginevra fell in love with him and agreed to take his side in hand of marriage, the blood oath would be annulled as well as fulfilled because Ginny would technically be reclaiming the Weasley-Malfoy lands.
Arthur had also chosen to leave out the bloodshed that followed in the wake of the curse. Malfoy and Weasley sons had killed each other over the centuries in attempt to prevent the blood oath being fulfilled, just as Lucius had attempted to dispose of Ginevra; who was, theoretically a much greater threat to Draco than any of the Weasley sons.
Draco felt Dumbledore probing his mind but chose to blank himself. Looking up slightly, Draco saw the Headmaster wink at him. Draco inclined his head slightly as a sign of respect and Dumbledore nodded in reply.
"Well it's evident that we must keep Ginny safe," Harry said darkly, "I for one don't want Malfoy's dirty paws all over her."
Draco frowned and was seriously contemplating revealing himself but stopped himself again. It was evident that Potter had read between the lines. He saw the glances that were passing between the Scar head and his beloved Mudblood Granger.