Uh - long story but really sorry for the massive delay. I moved into uni, had net problems, too many parties, lots of assignments, the list goes on… I'll try to be better at updating!
Torn
A dark cloud hung low over the Weasley family, the glint of joie-de-vivre and passion that normally burned in their eyes and surrounded the air around them was non-existent. Bill was pale and grief stricken, Charlie was suspicious but said nothing. Molly sobbed quietly to herself all the time and Arthur remained silent and withdrawn, they all were.
Harry found Ron a few hours later sitting alone staring at nothing in Ginny's old bedroom. He was heavy with guilt and torn by his sense of duty, he had no choice in this betrayal.
"There's no use saying anything to me, Harry," Ron muttered, his voice was hoarse and cracked with pain. "I failed her again, I knew there was something wrong - the signs were everywhere and I ignored them, and now Ginny faces a fate worse than death."
Harry sighed and seated himself beside Ron, he knew Ron was right, and there was nothing he could say even though he wanted to so badly. It was an awkward but comforting silence that fell between the two men, but Harry's inner turmoil raged within him relentlessly.
"She's strong, Ron… a Gryffindor at heart in every sense," Harry said softly.
Ron laughed bitterly. "She's my fucking sister Harry - not some random witch who was in Gryffindor."
"That's not what I meant," Harry said quickly.
Ron sighed and rubbed his face tiredly. "I know, mate, sorry. Look, I'm not myself at the moment."
"We'll find her, Ron. I promise you we'll get her back," Harry said forcefully.
Ron nodded. "And I'll find him, and when I do, so help me Merlin he'll wish he had never learnt how to wield a wand let alone been born," he said coldly.
.
.
Draco returned to the room a few hours later as dawn was breaking, standing by his bedside he stared down at her through his mask, before him lay his very own sleeping beauty.
"Merlin…" he breathed. "What lengths you've driven me to… you'll never know."
She didn't move in her sleep except for her chest which rose and fell as she breathed deep in the enchanted sleep he had placed her in. Remembering her treatment in the Throne Room Draco drew his wand and healed her head, she'd not feel the throbbing pain when she woke. Conjuring up a chair Draco seated himself comfortably by the bedside, hidden by the shadows he watched and waited for her to wake as the spell was soon due to wear off.
Her eyelids fluttered as the last scenes of her memory played in her mind and she woke with a start sitting up and gasping for air as if she'd been drowning, her hand flew to her chest as her other immediately dived under the pillow obviously for her wand.
"You find yourself unarmed yet again, little girl." A voice sounded softly from her left making her snap her head to face the speaker.
"You!" she hissed. Her eyes burned with fear and anger. He wore a horrendously beautiful silver mask with hideous eyes - the pupils were the shape of silver grey skulls. He was clad in black and his hood pulled up over his head. "Dark Phantom…" she breathed.
Draco inclined his head slightly. "I must compliment you on your observation skills, Ginevra," he said coolly… mocking her.
"Kill me now!" She hissed defiantly. "My brothers will avenge me!" she seethed.
The Phantom Laughed. "Indeed, and I don't doubt you for a moment, but you are not here to be killed. As for your brothers… only fools would enter the Dark Lord's stronghold and expect to live."
Ginny blinked a few times her eyes darted around the room and horror sunk in as she took in the alien surroundings and suddenly realising how little she was wearing she grabbed the bed covers and pulled them up around her protectively, "Get away from me!" she screamed.
"You are in my chambers and are sitting on my bed," Draco replied coolly before standing up and motioning to the foot of the bed. "Rest assured, no harm will come to you while you remain my guest."
"Where am I?" Ginny spat.
"Morsmordre Castle, home of the Dark Order and Lord Voldemort," Draco said softly.
Ginny paled visibly and her eyes widened. "Tom…" she whispered as her whole body went rigid.
Draco inclined his head slightly before turning and headed towards the adjoining sitting room. Without any warning except an anguished cry Draco spun around to find a flash of red hurtling into him. Struggling against the screaming, punching, clawing and biting banshee that the Weaslette had turned into Draco found himself staring down into her furious amber eyes and her wrists pinned above her head in his hands as she strained against them as well as the weight of his body bearing down on her. Profanities streamed from her beautiful lush lips which were twisted into a hateful snarl.
Suddenly she stopped struggling, knowing that it was pointless, and tears of frustration and fear streamed down the sides of her face. "Let me go you scum!"
Hauling himself off her and jerking her roughly to her feet he sneered. "Find yourself in that position again, little girl and you'll not be let off so lightly."
Ginny glared at him through her tears and spat on the floor. "Kill me now!" she hissed through clenched teeth.
The Phantom laughed. "You'll be dead soon enough, it's inevitable, death comes to us all." His lips twisted into a cruel smile. "But you still have your uses yet," he muttered and pushed her forcefully into one of the elaborate couches. "For the time being you are my guest." and with that he turned on his heel and left the chambers through a set of grand double doors which shut with a loud bang.
Ginny rushed to the doors and tried to yank them open but to no avail, they were locked and without her wand she could do nothing to improve her situation. Realising this Ginny sunk to the floor and sobbed into her hands.
.
.
"Mother." Draco bowed before Narcissa and kissed her raised hand.
"Draco, how long are you home for this time?" Narcissa asked softly.
"Indefinitely mother," Draco muttered. "Have you seen father?"
Narcissa shook her head. "Not a lot since he left for Glasgow. But he's been asking about you a lot recently, especially as to your current whereabouts," she said looking at him meaningfully.
Draco nodded, a smirk played on his face as he stared into the dimming fire.
"Severus has been asking after you," Narcissa said softly.
Draco raised an inquisitive eyebrow at his mother. "Has he? He seems to be a very frequent guest of yours, mother."
Narcissa sighed. "Your father wanted someone to keep an eye on me, someone he could trust."
"Can he be trusted?" Draco asked softly.
"To take care of me? Of course," Narcissa said, her lips curling into a secretive smile.
Draco nodded knowingly. "Then I shall not interfere."
"Did your father get what he went for in Glasgow?" Narcissa stared intensely at Draco.
"No, mother, he did not," Draco replied coolly, staring straight back into his mother's eyes.
Narcissa smiled, her eyes shone proudly and nodded. "And did you get what you went for?"
Draco smirked. "Do I ever not get what I want, mother?"
Narcissa frowned. "True… but do you know what you went for?"
Draco laughed dryly. "To protect my own, mother, but don't dwell on it, this is not the time to worry about my affairs."
"You're my son; it's my duty to know what you want. What kind of a mother would I be otherwise?"
"What has that godfather of mine been feeding you, mother?" Draco smirked.
"Severus would never betray you, Draco. He is first and foremost your godfather. He has told me nothing of your dealings," Narcissa said softly. "What I know of you is purely my own observation and because you are my son."
Draco nodded and sighed before standing up and bending down to plant a soft kiss on his mother's cheek. "I have things to see to, mother."
.
Ginny paced and stomped around the room in frustration. Destruction ensued in her wake as she yanked open drawers, toppled chairs and threw anything that lay in her path.
There was no way out - the windows were charmed to be unbreakable, and even if they weren't, breaking them was pointless for escape, her prison seemed to be at the top of a tower at a height that would rival even the Astronomy tower of Hogwarts. Perched on a monstrous cliff where the swirling waves battered mercilessly on the jagged rocks far below.
Finally with nothing more to wreck Ginny slumped to a heap on the floor and cried. Anger welled inside her ferociously, coated by an intense fear and mingled with dread, Ginny screamed. She had no wand, there was no escape and she had no means of defending herself. It was like waiting for death that she wasn't ready to face.
"I haven't even said goodbye!" She wailed, tears streamed down her face, the thought alone made her heart constrict and her stomach twist painfully.
It felt like a lifetime as she sat there contemplating the worst case scenarios yet also the gut wrenching fear that she hadn't had enough time at all. Drawing her knees to her chest Ginny wrapped her arms protectively around herself and unconsciously started rocking back and forth - as if trying to comfort herself.
The minutes crawled into hours, she had no more tears to cry and she was so tired, mentally and emotionally drained.
.
.
.
Blaise looked up from his studying as he heard Draco apparating into his study, only three people had direct access to his study and that was himself, Eleanor and Draco, and Eleanor had long since fallen asleep. She had cried the whole day over the news of Ginevra being kidnapped.
"Drake," Blaise grinned on seeing his friend and immediately headed for the drinks cabinet and poured them each a glass of wine.
Draco nodded and accepted the glass. He stared out of the open French windows into the inky night sky for a few brief moments before taking a generous swig of the wine and turned back to Blaise.
"How's the child?" Draco asked softly.
"Sorcha? She's a quiet wee lass and no trouble, but she's not the reason you're here, Drake." Blaise replied just as softly.
Draco sighed and looked Blaise straight in the eye "This is a formal visit."
"Aye, I knew it would come sooner or later, surprised it's taken ye so long to ask me, Drake." Blaise chuckled.
"I had my reasons, one being I ensured the safety of your Eleanor." Draco said darkly. "You're to send Eleanor and Sorcha to the house as soon as possible, Blaise."
Blaise looked away. "Once she's there you'll obliviate me, wont ye, Drake?"
Draco nodded slowly. "It'll only be until my father's suspicions are quelled. I can't afford him to ruin this, he has too much control over me as his son. Allowing him to know that I am who I am would put a great deal at risk."
"What about your Weaslette?" Blaise asked softly.
"She's under my supervision, and safe enough," Draco muttered.
"I've always said that I'm your man, Drake, and I remain true to my pledge." Blaise grinned weakly. "But I'm no master Occlumens like you, though I've been taught it, I've never been trained to use it fully."
Draco drew a small object out of his pocket and placed it down on the table, tapping it thrice the item resized into a Pensieve Bowl and he shoved it towards Blaise.
"He will read you like an open book and you won't even know it, I'll prepare you for the rest - for now just cleanse yourself of any incriminating or precious memories, save a few to avoid suspicion - none that involve Eleanor or discussions between us and especially none that involve Ginevra."
The study door opened and both men turned to see Eleanor in her dressing gown.
"Oh!" she said in surprise. "Sorry, I didn't know you were here, Draco."
Draco bowed. "I'll not be staying long," he said softly.
Eleanor looked somewhat torn but managed to blurt it out anyway. "Where's Ginny, what have you done with her?" she rushed into Blaise's arms and sobbed.
Draco looked at Blaise for a few moments and nodded at him before dissapperating.
"He's got her hasn't he?" Eleanor whispered in Blaise's ear.
"She's safer than anyone at the moment, love, trust me," Blaise muttered soothingly and stroked her hair.
Eleanor stared up at him and looked deep into his eyes as of searching for any hidden truth. "He didn't come to talk about Ginny, did he? He's come for you hasn't he?"
Blaise captured her lips with his own in a soft and almost apologetic kiss. Eleanor wrenched herself away from him and glared at him accusingly.
"So, Ginny was right all along, here I am consorting with Death Eaters!" she hissed angrily.
Blaise sighed. "What would you have me do, Elle, defy the Dark Lord? 'Tis not as easy as just saying 'no' love, you either sign your life over to him or he'll take it from you."
"Go to the Order…" Eleanor pleaded.
Blaise shook his head. "It's complicated."
"Tell me!" Eleanor cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Blaise started towards her but she backed away. "Elle, a lot is at stake here - 'tis no longer about taking sides, we are all playing a part for a greater cause."
"Oh! Oh! A Greater Cause!?" Eleanor said in disbelief. "Is that what you call it? Joining the Dark Order and becoming a murderer is a greater cause now?"
Blaise's face darkened. "There are and will be murderers on the Light side as well, Elle. A murderer is a murderer regardless of the justification."
Eleanor shook her head. "I don't know you, you were a mistake, I wish I'd never met you!" she cried.
Blaise remained silent for a long time while he contemplated his options. Eleanor meant more to him than his own life, and seeing her upset hurt him. Telling her the truth was his only option, even if it was putting everything at risk, he knew she wouldn't betray him, and he had complete faith in Draco that Eleanor would remain safe.
Taking a deep breath Blaise stared intensely at Eleanor who glared at him defiantly. "Draco is the Phantom, Draco is also a member of the Order, working as a double agent in favour of the Light side. He came tonight to ask me to play his part as the Phantom because his father is becoming too suspicious. And if Lucius finds out that Draco is the Phantom then all will be lost - his communication with the Order will come to a standstill. Draco's position is vital to the outcome of this war, Eleanor and believe me it is at our doorstep now. The kidnapping of Ginevra has marked the start of the real battles. Drake's done all he could to prevent me being in the Dark Order sooner, Elle… I canna refuse him now."
"What will he do to Ginny?" Eleanor whispered.
Blaise shook his head, "I don't know the answer to that, but no harm - in any shape or form will come to Ginevra while Draco breathes." Blaise moved closer to Eleanor and wrapped his arms protectively around her. "He's bound to her too deeply to let anything happen to her, 'tis why he is what he is now…"
"What do you mean by that?" Eleanor whispered as she sunk back against his comforting embrace.
"That there will be no limit he won't reach and no extreme he won't go to for her. He knew he had to join the Dark Order, it was inevitable and he knew that she would be part of the Order of the Phoenix, the only way he could protect her was by being the best and succumbing to the darkest and most evil ways, for the Dark Lord's trust, aye, Drake is ruthless and without mercy but he is not heartless. Every death on his conscience and every murder he committed was in her name."
"She'll never return his sick twisted love," Eleanor said sadly. "She'll hate him more for what he sacrificed and condemn him to hell for it."
Blaise kissed her forehead softly. "I'd do the same for you… and for the sake of her safety, unrequited love and an eternity in hell would be a fair price to pay in his mind, though he'll never admit to it."