Sorry about that, I don't know what happened, I am sure I uploaded the right chapter, thought it was being unreasonably slow… I clicked twice, and then reuploaded! Sorry, hope this works!
16. Without Doubt
"Father," Draco inclined his head slightly as he walked into Lucius' study.
Lucius nodded in acknowledgement and ushered Draco to the chair opposite his desk. Draco groaned inwardly, this could only mean a long conversation.
"I did not see you at Hogsmeade today, Draco," Lucius said coldly.
"I was there father. I only got back to London from the North late last night, and barely had time to report to the Dark Lord this morning as he sent me immediately to Hogsmeade. I went back to report to him after the raid, hence the reason I am late home."
"And how goes the mission The Dark Lord entrusted you with in the North?" Lucius asked.
Draco nodded, "Slow progression father, but it is to gain allies of old, the Ancient Ice Lords."
Lucius smiled in satisfaction and then frowned, "We have a new leader among us, Draco, the Dark Phantom - the Dark Lord claimed him as his son of Darkness, we shall have a gathering tonight."
"I've heard the news, father, even though news is scarce in the North, I glimpsed him in Hogsmeade. I believe there was an attack on Soho the night I left? And many others after," Draco smirked. "Muggles got their comeuppance. I hope you enjoyed it father."
A cruel smirk played across Lucius' face, "I did indeed. Before the Dark Phantom we had been sitting around for too long doing nothing. And there have been many more attacks since. But I did not bring you to discuss this today, Draco; I've plans for your future."
Draco remained impassive. "What of it, father?"
"You read the book I gave you over the last Christmas break?" Draco nodded in affirmation. "Good, and so you know the tedious little history we have with the Weasleys," the name rolled off Lucius tongue with disgust and hatred. "The girl needs to be disposed of, and with you in the North it would be deemed impossible. You must take a wife and have an heir ready in order to preserve the family line should you fail to fulfil the oath."
Draco smirked. "You think the Weasley girl will better me, father?"
Lucius laughed coldly. "Precautions must be taken Draco and I have someone in mind for you."
"Indeed," Draco said somewhat dryly. "May I inquire who?"
"Parkinson's daughter."
Despite his capability for self-control Draco blanched. "Father, Pansy is hardly suitable, the wench would take any dimwit to her bed."
Lucius raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Her father assured me that her virtue is intact."
Draco snorted, "I'm sure he did, but I assure you, she's no virgin."
"And you would obviously know this," Lucius laughed coldly. "Very well, though I must impress upon you the importance of having an heir before the Dark Order strikes."
Draco bowed, "Yes father."
"Will you be coming with me to the gathering?" Lucius asked.
"No, father, the Dark Lord has given me his orders. I have a few things to see to before I go and I shall be returning to the North tonight," Draco replied calmly.
Lucius nodded. "Indeed, have you seen your mother?"
"I'll see her now, father." Draco stood, bowed slightly and left.
.
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His face grim, Draco strode down the corridor to his mothers chambers. It was clear that Lucius was suspicious, his father never really missed anything and it had been one of the reasons of why the Dark Lord had once trusted his father so well. That trust had been erased when Voldemort had returned fully to his "human" form.
"Mother." Draco bowed as he entered his mother's sitting room.
Narcissa smiled faintly at her son as Draco made his way to seat himself beside her. "You've been to see your father, I take it?"
Draco smirked, "I have, miserable old git, isn't he?"
Narcissa bit back a smile. "He's your father after all and you were a miserable git too, still are most of the time."
"He wants me to marry Pansy," Draco sighed and sunk back into the couch, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. "How much do you know about the Weasleys, mother?"
Narcissa sighed, "Not a lot, only that your father hates them. Perhaps one of the only things besides Mudbloods and Muggles that he feels so passionately for."
Draco looked at his mother pensively, "You are not one of those things," he stated quietly.
"No, I am not, but I doubt I have ever been part of his passion," Narcissa confirmed coolly.
Draco nodded slowly. "I'll be gone again, mother; I'll owl when I have the chance, though I doubt you really want to know what I get up to."
Narcissa smiled sadly. "There's still good in you yet, Draco… don't ever let go of that."
Draco stood and bowed after briefly kissing his mother's hand.
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Draco Apparated to the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest and made his way quickly towards the Castle. It was almost midnight and he knew that all the students would be in their beds. Pulling off his mask and pocketing it, Draco strode towards the castle doors quickly casting the unlocking spell on the small side entrance of the great doors.
He walked along the corridors, concealing himself well within the shadows as he headed towards the dungeons. Stopping suddenly Draco listened. Someone was coming up the stairs; quickly he pressed himself against the walls and cast a disillusionment charm over himself - what he saw rendered him speechless. Ginevra was walking up the stairs with Snape and she looked pale, tired and drained. An unexplainable anger welled up inside him with such ferocity that Draco had to fight the urge to confront his professor there and then. Instead he remained in the shadows and followed the student and professor up the stairs, making sure he walked in tune with his old professors strides.
"Same time tomorrow, Miss Weasley, and I strongly advise you to be on time should you wish to leave at a reasonable hour," Snape spat venomously to which Ginny nodded, casting her eyes down to the floor.
"Yes Professor," she replied quietly.
Draco's heart pounded viciously in his chest. Her voice, full of a tired resignation, hinted with pain and dread. He'd draw blood from Snape, dear Merlin, he'd find out what this was all about. Snape nodded and Ginny turned, but before she did she glanced curiously at the spot where Draco was standing.
Draco held his breath, Merlin she had grown. Apart from their encounter in Hogsmeade, it had only been (a very long) seven or eight months since he had last seen her properly and she was beautiful… pale and drained with dark rings under her eyes as she may be but she took his breath away. Her lively red hair hung down to the middle of her back resembling a waterfall of blood; her face was pale and freckled and emphasised the soft and deep doe-brown of her eyes (which although were dulled by fatigue, shone with a flame of wisdom and passion and which for the first time weren't full of hatred as they usually were when they were directed his way). She had lost some of her baby fat on her cheeks, and the high cheekbones were coming through showing off the magnificent structure of her face, accented by her cute slightly upturned but straight nose. Her full lush lips churned a flame in the pit of his stomach that almost made him groan out loud.
Before he knew it she had turned and continued walking up the stairs, and Draco found himself staring after her backside, but he was torn out of his trance when he heard his professor continue back down the stairs. His rage flared up once more as he followed Snape, not attempting to conceal his footsteps that were out of sync with Snape's.
Snape held open his office door expectantly and Draco walked in, the minute Snape closed the door Draco took off his disillusionment charm and advanced on his professor. "What is the meaning of this, Severus?" Draco hissed.
"The meaning of what, Draco?" Snape asked in amusement.
"What was Ginevra doing down here at this hour?" Draco asked coldly.
"I would ask you the same thing to what you are doing on the school grounds, Draco, and why you are displaying such an elaborate case of emotions. Did I not teach you better?"
"You did, I am here for a word with the Headmaster, now you answer my question, sir." Draco spat.
"Miss Weasley is taking Occlumency classes with me, Draco, the Headmaster's orders. Its nothing of which your foul mind is thinking - I would think it wise you put your abilities of restraint into practice." Snape snapped.
Draco bowed instantly, calming himself. "Yes sir."
"Your evident highly sensitive feelings for Miss Weasley must be kept in check, Draco. Come now, I'll take you to the Headmaster," Snape muttered, "and be wary of the time, you know there will be a summoning tonight."
.
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Ginny sighed as she collapsed into the comforts of her bed. Snape had been impressed with her progression; she smiled. Her mentor had been very selective of his praise, You might be able to withstand mind penetration from any normal witch or wizard, Miss Weasley, but be sure you couldn't fool the Dark Lord.
Ginny had been tempted to ask Snape if he was a 'normal' wizard but thought better of it. Tomorrow was Saturday, and although it was the weekend it did not excuse Ginny from her training. She'd see Fred and George tomorrow and hopefully Ron. The Magical World was in chaos by the reports in the Daily Prophet but none of the Weasleys told her anything, which increased her worry - especially now, since Hogsmeade had been raided.
Ginny frowned. There had been a disturbance tonight as she was walking up the stairs from the Dungeons. She was vaguely familiar with the sensation… cold chills seemed to wash over her body before she parted ways with Snape, but her blood seemed to burn with some sense of recognition. She groaned. She really was too tired to think at the moment, tomorrow she would think over it. Today's events had been too much, for now all she wanted was to sleep.
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"Draco," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled from behind his half-moon spectacles as he motioned for Draco to take a seat at his desk.
Snape bowed as Draco advanced towards the chair Dumbledore had offered him, but he did not sit. "Sir, my time is limited."
Dumbledore nodded and remained silent as Snape bowed curtly and took his leave. "It's been a long time since your graduation."
Draco frowned, it was hard to be certain of which graduation Dumbledore was referring to, he knew his old Headmaster well enough to know that nothing really passed by the old man unnoticed, "I've been otherwise occupied, Sir," he replied coolly.
There was something about the presence of Dumbledore that unnerved Draco. He felt exposed even though he knew he kept his emotions and his thoughts under control.
"Ah… yes," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "The Dark Phantom has joined the high ranks of the Dark Order." His eyes pierced Draco's who had raised his eyes to meet Dumbledore, "and so… what has become of Draco Malfoy?"
"He is stationed in the North of Finland… researching in the ways to resurrect the Ancient Ice Lords," Draco replied softly.
Dumbledore let out a sigh and leant back in his chair. "I value your position and your loyalty, Draco, but I cannot ask you to sacrifice your humanity."
Draco turned his eyes to the floor. "My reasons for my loyalty are my own, Sir. Despite my position and the sacrifices I make, I remain loyal to my reasons. My conscience is clear."
Dumbledore nodded slowly. "I understand the strain you may be under in your current position, Draco."
Draco looked back into his professor's eyes sternly. "The attacks - tell the Aurors not to bother trying to rectify the damage."
"That is not what you came here to discuss, Draco, your mentor can give me such messages and raise no suspicion."
"Ginevra Weasley must not join the order," Draco muttered, lowering his eyes slightly.
Dumbledore's lip twitched slightly, "Ah, yes, the Blood Oath."
Draco sighed and faced his professor once more. "Her safety from my father and the Dark Lord is the price for my unquestionable loyalty," he said coolly.
"They pose no real threat to her, Draco," Dumbledore said softly, "In fact; it's you who is the greater danger to her."
Draco clenched his jaw painfully as his arm seared with pain, bowing hastily, "Sir," he muttered and headed towards the Phoenix statue.
"The closer she is to danger, Draco, the further away she is from harm," Dumbledore's words echoed after him as the statue descended with him riding down the stairs.
Dumbledore smiled sadly as he sat down heavily in his chair. It was evident that Ginevra had yet to be touched once more by evil, at the very least it would be Ginevra's future choices that decided the outcome of this war and she was to remain ignorant of her role. The girl was to be thrown once more into the unknown hands of fate and the path she would have to walk entwined with Draco Malfoy would write the destiny of Wizarding kind.