Caught
The sky was darkening as Harry and Bill made their way towards Hyde Park, their hearts heavy and full of dread. A tall
dark cloaked and hooded figure who Harry knew to be Draco stood waiting for them in the shadows and the three men
continued walking in silence further into the thicket of the trees.
Over the past two days Harry and Bill had done a lot of talking with Dumbledore, but this was their first time talking about anything to Draco since the crash meeting in Bill's apartment. Harry knew that Draco had also spoken to Dumbledore at length about the whole scenario. Reluctantly Harry and Bill understood that Draco's position was too valuable to jeopardise - not meaning that Ginny was dispensable in any shape or form but that some sacrifices had to be made.
Bill was beyond himself with grief and fear for his youngest and only sister, the meeting tonight was mostly for an assurance from Malfoy of Ginny's complete and utter safety. Coming to think of it Harry realised that although he wanted to be sure, he already trusted Malfoy - not because he trusted Malfoy himself but more because Dumbledore trusted Malfoy. Sighing Harry shook his head, this wasn't boding well on his conscience.
Finally, without a single word the three men stopped in a clearing surrounded by trees. An awkward silence ensued before Bill spoke; his voice was strained and tired.
"If she so much as has a single scratch, Malfoy - I'll kill you."
Draco nodded but said nothing though Harry was certain that the ferret was smirking.
"Whatever it means to you, you have my word, Weasley. No harm will come to Ginevra under my watch." Draco replied coolly.
"You best keep to your word, Malfoy. I will break the secrecy bond to expose you," Bill croaked.
Draco inclined his head, understanding full well that Bill was prepared to break the vow and sacrifice his life so that the Weasleys could take their vengeance on him should he fail to keep Ginevra safe. If only they knew…
The meeting was brief and to the point as the men exchanged their threats and concerns before dissapparating their separate ways.
.
Draco groaned as he stared at the details of the house Blaise had gone and bought in Switzerland. It was non-magical, which although was a good thing would mean that a lot of magical work would have to be done on it before putting it into any sort of use.
"Too small for your standards, Drake?" Blaise smirked.
Draco sighed. "No, it's fine, I need too much time to make it suitable, time that I really can't afford to spare," he said darkly.
"I'll see to it, Drake," Blaise said softly. His eyes stared intensely at Draco's before adding, "it's a safe house isn't it?"
Draco nodded slowly. "For your Eleanor and Sorcha."
Blaise raised an eyebrow. "And your Weaslette?"
Draco smirked, though his eyes hardened. "I take her tonight."
.
Her rented apartment that she shared with Lovegood was small but cosy, he'd heard that the little Weaslette had insisted on her own place the minute she graduated from Hogwarts and would settle for nothing else. Reluctantly the Weasley clan had allowed it and Ginevra had joined the Auror Guild as well as worked in the twins' joke shop in Diagon Alley whenever she had time. That was the way of the Order - like the Death Eaters, one had to carry on as normal… to seemingly not be part of anything. It wasn't a wonder why they all suspected him as the Phantom, and they weren't wrong. There was just no proof or evidence.
Her apartment had but two bedrooms, a small kitchen which was separated from the living and dining area by a tall counter, and was fitted with many muggle appliances. She had a settee with a small black box - a muggle television.
Her bedroom was connected to a bathroom which held three doors, one of which allowed entrance from the living room as well as the second bedroom which belonged to the Lovegood girl. Conveniently (as pre-arranged) Lovegood was having dinner at the Weasley's on Ron's invitation.
The apartment was appropriate, small, manageable and extremely Ginevra-like. Draco smirked as he walked around looking at all her photos, muggle and magical alike, undoubtedly most of them were taken by her friend Creevey, all of them happy memories…
Making sure he didn't touch anything, Draco made his way to her bedroom and waited patiently for her return, well concealed in the darkness of the shadows.
The cuckoo clock from the kitchen ticked away the minutes which seemed to drag by. He stiffened when he heard the lock turn in the door, his Weaslette was home, grimacing he drew his wand and listened to her routinely move about the apartment. Hearing water from the sink run in the bathroom Draco braced himself mentally for what was to take place next.
When she stepped through the door, ignorant of his presence Draco's stomach clenched. She'd undressed and was in nothing but a thin slip - her nighty.
Sighing to herself she headed towards her bed and flicked on her bedside lamp before setting her wand down, it was then she suddenly stiffened - her hand hovered over her wand, her eyes closed in resignation, cursing herself mentally for being so foolish.
"It's useless, little girl, I'm armed, and you… you let your guard down," Draco growled from behind her as he stepped out of the shadows. "Tut-tut, what do they teach you at the Auror Guild?" he sneered.
With amazing agility Ginny grabbed her wand and spun around, her wand pointed directly at Draco's chest who stood less than 3 meters away from her, her chest heaved, her eyes wild in anguished fear as she saw who he was, "Phantom!" She breathed.
"Perceptive… throw me your wand, girl, don't make me harm you," he hissed.
Ginny's eyes flickered around the room, evidently searching rapidly for an escape, and it was in that moment that Draco shot a stunning spell at her, her body instantly collapsing on the floor rigid - knocked out cold. She shouldn't have been expecting a fair duel, she should've known that Death Eaters did not fight fairly, she should have been more defensive.
Sighing Draco shot a few blasting charms at the walls, from his wand as well as hers which he had picked up. Opening the window he cast the mark of the Dark Lord above her apartment and then pocketing her wand he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder with ease before quickly dissapparating them both. It would do no good to hang around, not when the Weasley Clock would have already informed the Weasley clan of the "Perilous Danger" or "Mortal Peril" in which their little princess was in.
.
.
Moments after his heated departure with the unconscious Ginevra a series of cracks sounded in her apartment. Ron, Harry and Bill immediately rushed through her small apartment, their wands drawn, their faces grim and pale - they all stopped dead once they burst into her bedroom one after the other.
An anguished cry escaped Ron's lips as he stared helplessly around his only sister's chaotic bedroom. It was evident that there had been a fight, Ginny wouldn't have gone easily, and clearly she had put up one hell of a fight by the state of her room. And even through the instant pain and shock that wrecked through him Ron's heart swelled with pride.
Bill and Harry exchanged worried glances, "Ginny!?" Bill rasped half-heartedly, this seemed to pull Ron out of his trance as his eyes flickered around the room rapidly as if searching for Ginny huddled up and hidden away in a corner.
A few more cracks sounded from the living room and Fred and George could be heard calling for their sister one after the other. Finally Arthur arrived through the bedroom door and staggered, his hand clutching his chest, his deathly pale face contorted in excruciating pain.
"Dear Merlin!" Arthur moaned, bracing himself against the door frame.
No one moved, no one spoke - except the twins who were still shouting for their sister but they too went quiet when they arrived in the bedroom. Shock, pain and anger were written over all of their faces but the worst was fear and disbelief.
"She's gone…" Ron choked his voice a whisper as he stared around the ransacked bedroom. His face paled as realisation sunk in… stunning him with the force of a hundred hippogriffs on stampede. His eyes burned as he took in the scene of the upturned room, the walls scorched, "She's gone… oh Merlin!" he moaned before dropping down on his hands and knees, instantly vomiting on the floor.
Harry stared at his friend in his suffering, unable to comfort him as he wanted to… unable to tell him that Ginny was safe in the hands of Malfoy. Ron's back heaved and suddenly he scrambled to his feet, his face dangerously cold and glazed over, and without a word he disapparated leaving Harry staring at the spot where his best friend had just been… a friend he had just betrayed - there was no other word for it and it tore at Harry's conscience, he could only imagine what Bill was feeling.
"Harry?" Remus' voice sounded softly before him, his heavy hand rested comfortingly on his shoulder. Turning to face his surrogate father Harry glanced at Arthur who was still in severe shock. "There's nothing to be done… it would be folly to go after the Phantom now," Remus sighed and followed Harry's eyes. Arthur stood staring at the marred and scorched wall, his face void of any expression.
Slowly Harry made his way to Arthur. "Mr. Weasley…?" he muttered softly but the man hadn't heard him, or if he had he didn't care to respond but his eyes blinked a few times, perhaps it was all he could do to acknowledge Harry. "She's still alive sir…"
Arthur closed his eyes for a few agonising moments and sighed painfully, a sharp intake of breath almost as if he had previously stopped breathing altogether. "I would have never, even in my darkest dreams ever have thought myself to be saying this but Merlin knows it would be better if she were dead, Harry…" he uttered, pain and despair in his voice. "Merlin knows… Godric give her strength."
Harry couldn't help the guilt that wrenched through his body. "We'll have news of this from Snape… I know he for one wont let any harm come to her."
At that point Remus stepped up beside Arthur and nodded at Harry, taking the hint Harry made himself scarce - to his relief, knowing there was nothing he could do he apparated to The Burrow… if Ron was anywhere it would be there. It was going to be a long night as Harry heard more apparating cracks signifying the arrival of the rest of the Weasley clan before he left.
.
.
Death Eaters and novices bowed low as The Dark Phantom strode regally and boldly up the stairs of the fortress towards the throne room with Ginny levitating in front of him. Let them see, he thought to himself and grimaced. The Death Eaters had failed to capture her before (despite the fact that he had been secretly involved in her escape) but he had managed to capture her single handed. More gossip and praise of his greatness would follow Draco was certain, smirking he knew this would simply add to the fear and respect that Death Eaters had given him.
"My Dark Lord," Draco said coolly as he purposely carelessly dropped the limp body of Ginevra on the floor before Voldemort and almost winced as he heard her head thud against the stone floor, "The Weasley girl."
Voldemort laughed gleefully, "Have a care, Phantom, she is my prize… my own Queen Angel of Darkness."
Draco bowed, "Forgive me, My Lord, will you have her sent to the Catacombs?"
"And have her be at the mercy of the Dark Novices and Death Eaters, Phantom?" Voldemort cackled. "She'd be contaminated with their ways. No, Voldemort will place her in your care, faithful Phantom. Keep her secure in your chambers and be sure to keep her pure and untouched! My loyal Phantom, she's not to be tampered with! She must remain innocent until she is ready and her virtue intact!" Voldemort hissed. "Your chambers will suite the cause. Now go, have young Malfoy to join the next gathering!"
Draco bowed low before levitating Ginny once more and strode from the room, only when he was in the deserted hallways leading to his chambers did Draco let out a sigh of relief.
Draco lay the limp form of Ginevra down gently on his bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. Merlin she looked so peaceful in sleep… almost as if she were dead. Draco shuddered at the thought, he almost wished it… for her own sake he wished her dead, if anyone else had been the Phantom he would've welcomed her death. But for his own sake he knew she'd never meet that fate as long as he breathed, sighing he tore his eyes away from her and headed for the bedroom door, closing it firmly behind him he cast a great many locking and protective charms on it. This was no place to be careless, Death Eaters such as his father roamed Morsmordre Castle, and although he highly doubted any of them would be fool enough to enter his chambers, "The Dark Phantom's Quarters" as it was also known as, he would take no risks.
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