Firstly I'd like to say a VERY happy birthday to my sister Channy who I know is following this story!!! Happy Birthday darling!! Secondly thank you for reviews and feedback!! And finally my laptop died on me… so I lost everything I had ever done on this story… wanted to cry! But here's another chappie! I'm moving into uni a week Friday so it'll take me a while to settle in and get myself sorted! Bare with me as you already so patiently have already <3
Face of the Dark Phantom
"My Lord," Draco bowed low before Voldemort and took his place at the right of the Voldemort's throne-like chair where there were Death Eaters cowering on the floor.
"Ah, Phantom, I've an assignment for you, one that even my most esteemed Death Eaters cannot seem to accomplish," Voldemort hissed in displeasure at the three figures on the floor. "Malfoy, Crabbe and Lastrange were asked to do the simple task of bringing me the Weasley Girl and have failed me!"
"My Lord…" Lucius said hastily, "She had help, a powerful ally-"
"Silence!" Voldemort hissed before turning to Draco, "Phantom, how would you punish these three incompetent servants… for they are now to waste your time!"
Draco smirked and drew his wand, pointing at his father as he descended the stairs from Voldemort's throne.
"Crucio!" he thundered, taking much pleasure in hearing his father scream as pain wrecked through his body making him thrash about on the floor, he felt even more pleasure as Voldemort laughed gleefully as in turn Draco punished Crabbe and Rubastian in the same way until they were weak and shivering with pain and exhaustion, begging for mercy and forgiveness.
"I'd not ask me for mercy," Draco hissed in his father's ear. "Death would be mercy, and you'd all do well to remember it!" raising his wand Draco muttered a spell which sent all three wizards catapulting through the air, their bodies smashed against the throne room doors. "Leave us!" he snarled and smirked in satisfaction as the three wizards scrambled weakly from the room.
Draco turned and bowed to Voldemort, "My Lord."
Voldemort was regarding him with approval, "I see you took great pleasure in using the Cruciatus Curse against your own father, Drakkus," he laughed. "I need the Weasley girl, Phantom, bring her to me."
Draco bowed, "I shall deliver her within a week, Milord."
.
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Bill closed his apartment door and activated the wards that protected unauthorized witches or wizards from apparating into his home. Fleur was away in Paris undercover and working on gathering French allies. Bill had invited Harry and Charlie back to his cosy apartment for dinner as everyone else seemed to be on duty or otherwise occupied.
Sighing Bill plopped himself down on the couch, disturbed only by the familiar 'cracks' he knew to be Charlie and Harry.
"Hey Bill, mum made us some apple crumble," Charlie said lazily as he headed for the kitchen - the tray of apple crumble balanced on his palm.
Harry sighed and sat himself down heavily besides Bill on the sofa. "Alright there, Bill?"
Bill chuckled. "As good as can be, Harry… as good as can be."
Charlie strode out of the kitchen and sat down on one of the chairs, "How about we go for one of those muggle takeaways, lads - what the Salazar!" Charlie yelled, and Bill and Harry shot out of their seats as the room suddenly plunged into darkness, their wands ready in hand.
Silence ensued for a few shattering moments before Bill muttered, "Show yourself, we're armed."
"As am I… the only difference is that I can see you, and you… can't see me," a voice replied, seemingly coming from all corners of the room. "I come with good intentions and grave news…"
Harry fought hard to try and see in the darkness but it was impossible, Dark Magic veiled their sight. Sighing Harry muttered, "We'll not attack… but show yourself."
Suddenly the room was filled with a blinding light causing the three wizards to shield their eyes, once their vision was back and fully functioning they were met with Snape's sidekick.
"Snape's guy," Charlie stated the obvious. "What in Hecate's name do you think you're doing - scared the bloody living daylights out of us! I think you're taking all this Dark business way too seriously, mate."
Harry and Bill still had their wands pointed at the intruder, both alert and cautious.
"What brings you here?" Bill asked slowly punctuating each word with controlled anger at the rude violation on the privacy of his flat.
"I have news that I don't wish to address in front of the Order," The man said coolly. Harry frowned, he knew the voice - and then it suddenly dawned on him, he'd never heard Snape's companion speak.
"Members of the order hold no secrets," Harry hissed trying in vain to put a face to the familiar voice.
The figure chuckled in amusement. "Of course, hence the reason none of you know who I am," he said ironically.
"Tell us what you came to tell us and be on your way," Bill growled, his patience waning.
The man nodded slowly, "I must request… my business is intended for you men alone… nothing said here is to leave this room. I bind you to secrecy."
Bill's eyebrows rose questioningly, the audacity of this guy was really trying his patience. "That would depend entirely on the nature of your business."
The man inclined his head slightly. "Of course… the nature of my business involves the safety of your sister, and she is in grave danger."
All three wizards evidently bristled, "What kind of danger?" Bill hissed.
"Your worst nightmare and undoubtedly hers, the girl is a danger to herself," the man replied his voice as cool and calm as ever, it was beginning to irk Harry, he knew the blasted voice.
"Tell us something we don't know," Charlie sneered, "And what business is it of yours to know Ginny?"
Bill stepped forward, "How do we know we can trust you?" he challenged.
"Yeah, we don't even know who you are…" Charlie hissed. Harry remained silent and stared at the hooded figure.
The man laughed amusedly, "You don't want to know who I am, believe me. The Dark Lord has designs for your precious sister."
"And what exactly are these designs?" Harry said through clenched teeth.
"One's that would make your skin crawl and your toes curl, Potter, designs I am not inclined to share with you until you pledge your silence to me," the man spat icily.
The three wizards stared at each other, their eyes rapidly communicating, coming to a silent agreement between them Bill turned to the hooded figure and nodded, "Very well, you have our word."
"Then swear on it…" The figure hissed as he slowly thrust his wand in front of him, there was no doubt about the seriousness in his voice. Reluctantly one by one Harry, Charlie and Bill put their wands against the man's wand and together they bound themselves to secrecy.
Nodding in satisfaction the figure withdrew his wand, "The Dark Lord plans to use your sister to birth the Child of Legacy."
Harry and Charlie looked at each other in confusion, but when they turned their eyes to Bill a sickening dread coiled in the pits of their stomachs. Bill had gone as pale as a sheet and looked weak on his feet as he swayed slightly.
"Bill?" Charlie said worryingly, "Bill… what's he saying?"
Bill didn't answer, his eyes fixated on the hooded figure standing so regally and composed before him, "Who are you?" he croaked.
The figure sighed. "No torture or spell can break your word of secrecy to me… I suppose it's high time you know who I am," he said softly, his voice impassive and dominating. Slowly he raised his hands to his hood and pulled it back off his head.
"MALFOY?" Both Charlie and Harry roared in anger, shock and surprise, their wands instantly pointed threateningly at Draco's throat, their eyes, brown and green flashed with intense loathing. Bill however remained calm as he stared at Draco, his eyes questioning.
Draco sighed, indifferent to the pair of wands which were ready to take his life and stepped towards them. "Are you really so surprised?" he smirked.
"Give me one good reason, Malfoy; give me a reason not to," Harry snarled.
Draco smirked, his eyes turned to stare mockingly at Harry. "I'm the only thing that stands between you and Voldemort, Potter," he said casually before turning to Bill and Charlie, "and the only thing standing between your sister and the Dark Lord," he added coolly.
Bill nodded slowly when Harry and Charlie turned to him, their eyes asking for confirmation almost pleading him to state otherwise.
"Dumbledore…" Bill rasped, "Does he know?"
Draco shook his head slowly in reply, "Some of it but not all-" and was cut short. Almost crying out in agony as he felt the searing pain on his forearm, clenching his teeth Malfoy nodded slightly at Bill. "My work here is done," he muttered before disapparating.
.
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Silence followed after Draco's exit for a few moments. "What the Salazar!?" Charlie suddenly said in anger, turning on Bill.
Bill sat down heavily on the sofa. "Ginny is to suffer another great burden… and unless we do something there will be nothing at all we can do to stop it."
Charlie frowned. "Bill, I hope you realise that that was Malfoy - as in the Blood Oath Malfoy out to snuff Ginny?"
Bill nodded slowly, "I know, Charlie but we've more chance of saving Ginny by cooperating… Malfoy is in the ranks-"
"Why didn't Snape - hang on a minute, if Snape doesn't know that means Malfoy is a lot higher…" Harry cut Bill off. "Fuck me!" Harry muttered in disbelief. "Malfoy's the Phantom…"
Charlie stared at Harry as if he'd grown two extra heads but turning to Bill all his fears were confirmed. "Harry's probably right, but we've no proof…" Standing up suddenly Bill swayed on his feet, "I've got to see Dumbledore."
Harry nodded before turning to Charlie, "Find Ron, tell him to meet me at Hogsmeade, I'll go with Bill… we're bound so not a word… not even to Ron - especially not to Ron."
Charlie nodded, his face pale before disapparating, Harry stared at Bill, "Right then… ready Bill?"
Bill nodded in reply, not trusting himself to speak and both wizards disappeared with a resounding crack.
.
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Ginny stepped gingerly off the tube that had just pulled into Kings Cross. Pig hadn't come back and so she hadn't told anyone she was due back in London earlier than expected but as she rode up the escalators and stepped through the barriers Ginny's eyes widened in surprise. Ron stood waiting patiently for her and almost immediately pulled her into a crushing embrace.
Unable to stop herself Ginny allowed the suppressed frustration to roll down her cheeks.
Ron drew back but said nothing, instead he picked up her bags and led Ginny towards the exit. Only when they had arrived to the safe confines of her apartment in Diagon Alley did Ron speak.
"What happened?" He said softly, his eyes stared intensely at her with concern.
"I saw him - Draco Malfoy, he was there, Ron. His wrists were clear, he - he saved me," Ginny whispered.
"What do you mean, you saw Malfoy?" Ron said his face darkening.
Ginny shook her head. "Eleanor, I don't know, I think she might be under the imperious - oh I don't know, I really don't know what to make of it?"
Ron stared at Ginny, his face etched with worry. "I knew you shouldn't have gone."
"No, it's not that," Ginny said quickly. "I'm glad I went, I'm glad I saw for myself."
Ron nodded slowly, "Ginny, what did you mean by Malfoy saving you?"
Ginny sighed and cast her eyes down to the floor. Taking a deep breath she recounted her story to Ron - only excluding Sorcha and her encounter with Draco Malfoy in Eleanor's and Blaise's apartment from her tale.
Ron frowned. "What were you doing out on the streets alone so late at night?"
"I stayed for dinner, Elle and I talked - Zabini was due back late, we just lost track of time." The white lie slipped from her lips easily.
Ron looked at Ginny doubtfully but nodded despite it and sighed. "I can't wait for this to be over and done with. This isn't the way I imagined our lives to turn out. Ginny I -" His eyes softened as he stared lovingly at his only sister. "I don't want to fail you."
A crack sounded in the room before Ginny could open her mouth to reply.
"Oh hello," Luna grinned. "How did it go in Glasgow?"
Ginny smiled weakly. "Ah it was ok, Elle's settled in great - sends her love."
"You're back a bit early though aren't you?" Luna said as she made her way to the kitchen and put the kettle on the stove.
Ginny nodded and glanced at Ron, "Yeah… yeah I am, had a run in with- er, Malfoy."
Luna stared at Ginny in surprise. "Oh really? And how's he doing then?" she asked in interest before seeing Ron. "Oh hello there Ron, cup of tea?"
"Er - yeah, please thanks," Ron stammered. His ears glowed and he seemed to be very uncomfortable.
"By the way, Charlie was at HQ and was looking for you," Luna said as she grabbed three mugs from the cupboard. "Tea, Ginny?"
"No thanks, Luna, I'm going to go and have a bath and unpack," Ginny sighed before turning to Ron and giving him a quick hug. "We'll talk later," she whispered and headed for her room.
.
.
.
"This is news to me," Dumbledore said softly as Bill and Harry told him of Malfoy's visit.
Harry frowned. "We were bound to secrecy…"
"Ah - yes, Draco would do that as a precaution. His position is vital to the Order - to both Orders and secrecy is his only means of survival." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"But we've broken that seal to you… haven't we?" Harry asked slightly doubtful.
Dumbledore shook his head. "No Harry, he revealed as much to me, though not directly. You cannot break a secrecy pact by revealing to one what is already known."
"Malfoy is the Phantom," Harry said softly.
Dumbledore stood and paced the floor behind his desk and sighed. "The boy has shown courage and made great sacrifices on our behalf, Harry. The animosity between you two is strong but for now I think differences should be set aside."
"He murdered those children!" Bill rasped.
The old headmaster shook his head slowly as he idly stroked his long beard. "Not even Vengeance can rectify the damage caused by that tragedy. Bill, Harry, I have no reason to question Draco's loyalty, his actions - whatever they may be, are justified by what drives him. Sacrifices must be made during times like these… sometimes doing the right thing isn't always the best, sometimes there are no other choices to make. His reasons are not mine to tell but rest assured that he is most definitely and undoubtedly on our side."
Harry lowered his eyes to the floor and sighed. If Dumbledore had this much faith in Draco's loyalty then he would not question it. Thought it did not mean that Harry disliked Draco any less, he would make the effort to put the hatred aside and at the very most try to feel complete indifference towards his childhood nemesis.
Harry glanced at Bill who was sitting slumped in one of the comfortable chairs in Dumbledore's office. His face was ashen and the frown on his brow indicated that he was deep in thought. "Sir, what - or who is the Child of Legacy?" Harry asked softly. Bill's eyes snapped up from the floor and stared intensely at Dumbledore.
Sitting down heavily in his chair Dumbledore sighed. "Take a seat, Harry. The Child of Legacy… it's an age old means of creating a superior being of perfection. Very much like muggles would breed animals - a pedigree. The Child of Legacy is a child born with balance to control balance and who can only be wielded to the will of its creator - the mother or the father." Dumbledore paused and shook his head, his eyes seemed to stare off into an unseen place.
Harry frowned. "But a child of balance is surely a good thing?"
"Ginevra is pure - as almost all Weasley's have been through the ages. Balance, Harry is not always a good thing, laws are made for justice - a means for balance within a society, but as you and I both know, it is not so. It can almost be said that one man's balance is another man's disharmony; good cannot exist without evil for without one, the other ceases to be. There is only one true balance in the world… and that is life and death, what takes place between the two is up to an individuals' discretion. Nothing truly governs life except for death itself. So you see Harry, the politics of this world lies entirely on the shoulders of power - the majorities perception of what is right or wrong, and there we have the foundation of our society, what we perceive as and agree as balance."
"But Sir, that undermines the whole point of life itself…" Harry murmured.
"Ah, yes, and no," Dumbledore smiled sadly at Harry. "We live to find our own balance within the world. Over the centuries experience has told and taught us what balance is, even though there is no real meaning to the word it is a great force which unites us. Evil will always prevail and goodness will always be there to counter it. The Child of Legacy, if born will bring a new meaning to Balance as we know it, this child will redefine the word entirely depending on whom controls him or her. We must remember what drove Tom Riddle to become Lord Voldemort, Harry. The key to his success or his downfall lies within you, you were born a Child of Prophecy."
Harry's face darkened. When he had come to know of the burden placed upon him at the end of his fifth year it had weighed down on him like a ton of bricks. How he had become who he was because of a prophecy prophesized before he was even born. He had never spoken of it to anyone since he had found out, hearing it made it seem heavier. "And the Child of Legacy…?" Harry whispered.
"Is to be created to counter you, The Child of Legacy will be wielded and trained to ensure that you will not fulfil the prophecy you were born in to," Dumbledore replied softly. "Your birth was prophesised to eliminate evil, hence being a force of balance. The Child of Legacy will eliminate you and ensure Voldemort's success."
"Why Ginny?" Bill croaked.
Dumbledore smiled sadly. "Because her heart is pure… that, and to create the Child of Legacy he will need the Seed of the darkest evil born from the womb of the purest innocent, everything that he is and that Ginevra is not. He knows this from his possession of her body and most importantly, her soul. She is as Draco has put it, the purest innocence touched by the darkest evil, and yet she prevailed, her goodness survived intact."
Bill's hands clutched tightly at the arms of his chair as he let out a strangled guttural protest. "How - Voldemort can't…"
Dumbledore sighed and shook his head. "No, he sacrificed too much of his humanity to be able to perform the conception of the child himself… his human form is incomplete, a shell of what he once was and is therefore limited. My only guess is that he will use a vessel. A form of dark magic that allows one to extract part of their soul that will be consumed by the said vessel before the conception, I think that with this Child he will create another Horcruxes."
Harry's heart froze in his chest. Ginny was like his own sister and as Dumbledore's words dawned on him everything seemed to fall together. "Malfoy!" He hissed.
Seeing Dumbledore look sorrowfully at him Harry knew that his assumption was confirmed and it hurt. Presuming that Malfoy was the Dark Phantom and had murdered the children at the Orphanage… children were always innocent, and therefore the murderer had become evil by causing the death of innocence… Malfoy or whoever had killed those orphans was the next best Evil to Voldemort in creating the Child of Legacy and would be the vessel. For the first time he understood Bill's pain and fear, he only wished he could help bear it because by God he felt it.