An Auror's Mission: The Never Ending Battle by TruthbeTold Rating: PG13 Genres: Romance, Action & Adventure Relationships: Draco & Ginny Book: Draco & Ginny, Books 1 - 5 Published: 19/11/2004 Last Updated: 10/12/2004 Status: In Progress Star Wars Episode Two influenced this story heavily; however there will be no crossover. There will be a lot of scenes that closely resemble some of the ones in the movie Draco Malfoy (Good and Auror) is assigned to protect the Mistress of Magic’s (Amelia Bones) confidant and Senator, the fiery and independent Ginerva Weasley. He’s in for quite a lot more than a few spats and some harsh words. It seems someone wants Ginny dead, badly. Full of Draco and Ginny goodness, just not right at the beginning. Chapter two is up. Please forgive the mix up with spells I typed Obliviate when it should be reducto as Madscientist pointed out to me thankfully. 1. The World After ------------------ An Auror’s Mission: The Never Ending Battle TruthbeTold PG-13 844 words not including the author’s notes Summary: Star Wars Episode Two influenced this story heavily; however there will be no crossover. There will be a lot of scenes that closely resemble some of the ones in the movie Draco Malfoy (Good and Auror) is assigned to protect the Mistress of Magic’s (Amelia Bones) confidant and Ambassador, the fiery and independent Ginerva Weasley. He’s in for quite a lot more than a few spats and some harsh words. It seems someone wants Ginny dead, badly. Full of Draco and Ginny goodness, just not right at the beginning. AN: This is for Kristen. I decided to dedicate this story to you cuz you’re my very best friend. (Awww mushiness) Plus I know how much you love Anakin Skywalker. This first chapter is really just a preview of the action to come and its rather short. I sadly do not own Star Wars (or Anakin Skywalker would not end up as Darth Vader) nor just as sadly do I not own Harry Potter, (If I did would I be writing this for free? Highly doubt it.) An Auror’s Mission: The Never Ending Battle **Chapter One: The World After** TruthbeTold The magical world had changed quite a lot after the fall of Voldemort. The countries had warred slightly with each other afterwards as many of them had sided with the Dark Lord in what was called the Last Battle. What an awful title for a war that sparked so many skirmishes afterwards. The world divided into several different renamed nations unbeknownst to the muggles. Those that sided with the dark lord extricated the muggle borns from their borders but under treaty if a muggle was killed by magic there would be a war against that nation. Amelia Bones had taken over Fudge’s position and now led the remainder of the United Kingdom or the Phoenix Nation as Mistress of Magic with a steady hand. Many were opposed to her leadership. Though there had been many women in the position before; Amelia Bones was not just any woman. She was a woman who angered many organizations such as the Second Power Federation who wanted to control the government in a different way. They didn’t trust countries that weren’t willing to pay top galleon for protection. Amelia and her head confidant and Ambassador to the nations, Ginerva Weasley had crushed their futile attempts to establish magical trade with a few of the less trust worthy of the magical countries, Meeall and Glisrick. The death eaters that survived and escaped imprisonment during the Last Battle joined under Lucius Malfoy and were behind many attempts to assassinate the Mistress of Magic and her collaborators. They are helped along by two that have power and are trusted with in the Ministry. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A serene looking young woman with rich scarlet hair stalked before her group of assistants and bodyguards. She was dressed in regal robes of black fit for the Ambassador of the Phoenix Nation and a senator for the nation of Breeone. She was back from a recent voyage to the Nation of Herick where she had discussed possible merging with the Phoenix Nation. She swept across the large marble platform that led from the port-site to the Counsel Stadium. The ministry building had been destroyed by Voldemort a year before the Last Battle ended. All matters of the Phoenix Nation were decided by a Senate made up of the leaders and representatives of the hundreds of small countries that were under the rule of the Phoenix and then were authorized by the Mistress. The Ambassador was here to vote against the establishment of a magical army. She never saw the three cloaked strangers until it was too late, but she heard their words. AVADA KEDAVRA! CRUCEMORTIS! AVADA KEDAVRA! Then they were gone as though they had never been there. Ambassador Ginerva Weasley watched in horror as her decoy and friend Larina Barton crumpled to the ground as the red light of the Crucemortis curse hit her square in the chest. Larina had been disguised as Ginny so that if she was taken captive they could not divulge information from her, but Ginny had not expected this. She broke into a run being sure to have her wand ready. She kneeled next Larina taking her friends hand. Larina’s disguise slowly melted away the red hair and blue eyes were replaced with her own straight brown and amber eyes. “Larina, I’m so sorry. It should be me there.” Ginny whispered, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. “It should have been me.” She held her comrade up off the ground supporting her back and holding her trembling hand tightly. “No no no, don’t say that,” Larina choked out her breath coming out in short heaves. Unlike Avada Kedavra, the Crucemortis curse did not kill you instantly though was just as fatal. “I did my job. I kn…knew the risks. You…” She paused trying to catch her breath. “You do your job now. Go make the world brighter for me. You were my best friend, Gin.” Larina gasped her forehead furrowed in pain. “You are my best friend, Lare, and you made the world brighter for me.” Ginny sobbed wiping away a trickle of blood that ran down from the corner of Larina’s mouth. “Go to that better place now, you’ll make it even brighter there.” Ginny sobbed. Larina looked up and focused on Ginny’s eyes. She smiled softly. “I’ll see you there.” She whispered with her last breath. Her body relaxed and the pain left her body along with the brightness in her eyes as she let go of the world. Ginny felt a pair of thick arms go around her waist and her fingers slipped from Larina’s grip. “We must get you out of here. It’s not safe. Larina would not want to give her life just so yours could be taken seconds later.” Her security commander, Clearus Ragert, said sad but firm as he lifted her up and away easily. He carried her back to the port site surrounded closely by her guard. He summoned several emergency port keys and they disappeared completely. 2. An Auror's Mission --------------------- An Auror’s Mission: The Never Ending Battle Chapter Two: An Auror’s Mission **TruthbeTold** **AN:** Hey there. Here’s chapter two. One large order of Draco coming up. By the way Draco is twenty-three in this story. Ginny is twenty-two. The “Last Battle” lasted three and a half years and it started halfway into Draco’s seventh year (Ginny’s sixth) at Hogwarts. It’s been three years since the war. Just so every one knows Harry lived, Dumbledore is still Head master of Hogwarts, and Fudge was killed two months after he left (was ran from) office by the Dark Lord he had so steadfastly proclaimed dead. Ironic. Some of my favorite characters will be coming into the story eventually (Harry Potter *of course,* Hermione, Ron, Luna, Blaise, Neville, Lupin, Tonks, Moody and no one can forget Albus Dumbledore). Enjoy. A row of (~) means I’ve changed POV and the words written in italics between (**) is what the characters are thinking to themselves. **Love,** CB An Auror’s Mission: The Never Ending Battle Chapter Two: An Auror’s Mission Kingsley Shacklebolt and his much younger partner, Draco Malfoy rode the lift in a tense silence. The older man noticed a change in his normally cool and collected young friend. “Nervous Draco? That’s not like you.” Shacklebolt said calmly rubbing his palms together and looking sideways at the tall blonde. “Not nervous.” Draco said defensively. “Excited, I guess. She knew me in my school days and before then actually. I haven’t seen her in three years, since the last battle. Do you think she’ll remember me?” He asked sincerely running a hand over his slicked back platinum hair, a nervous habit, if he ever had one. “Well, I get the impression from most of your old school mates that you weren’t one to forget easily and not in a good way, Drake.” Kingsley commented using his partner’s nickname. He’d grown quite affectionate of the kid. “Thanks, Bolt.” Draco replied dryly using his own nickname for the tall stately black man. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Council Abdonefas, I really don’t think this necessary. Auror’s have more important matters at hand than protecting Senators. They could be better used else where.” Ginny told the High Council and head of the Wizzamagummet, Gleerus Abdonefas. The slim man turn to her his watery blue eyes filled with concern. “Dear Ginerva. How could I sleep at night knowing you are not properly protected? It would break my heart to lose another Weasley, especially you. Please accept them for me and if not for me do it for Arthur and Molly. They wouldn’t have wanted you harmed in anyway. Ginerva, please.” The elderly man said pleadingly holding a thin hand out to Ginny. Ginny’s eyes stung at the mention of her long dead parents, taken in the war to get at her. She nodded somberly and took his bony hand. “Good, I’d hoped you would listen to reason.” Gleerus said patting her hand. “Who are they?” Ginny asked as Gleerus tapped a bell on his desk with his wand. **Please not Moody. I’ll end up chained to his arm. ** “We, Ms. Weasley are Kingsley Shacklebolt and this unsightly, but familiar fellow is Draco Malfoy.” a tall black man whom Ginny had seen before said entering the room, followed by his partner. He laughed in a low bass, clapping an extremely stiff looking Draco heartily on his back. Ginny smiled forcedly. **Do it for mother and father. ** She extended a hand to each of them. Ginny looked Draco over quickly. He’d grown much taller and he’d become more built in the past three years ** Auror conditioning, I suppose**. His gray eyes seemed a little steelier than they had at Hogwarts, but he wore no sneer. It had been replaced by what looked like a very very small almost non-existent smile. “Hello, Draco. I haven’t seen you in a while.” She greeted as his hand enveloped her small delicate one. “A long while.” Was his only reply as he shook her hand wondering how someone could have such little hands. “I believe you were friends with my parents.” She said softly to Kingsley her eyes crinkling with tears against her will. “Yes, I did. They were good people, both of them.” Kingsley told her and she smiled genuinely. “You my dear, have Molly’s smile and your father’s eyes.” **And hair and nose and freckles.* * Ginny listed to herself. She liked Shacklebolt and Draco seemed to have changed quite a lot since she’d last seen him, not that he’d been all bad then. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LATER AT A GOVERNMENT FLAT Draco muttered darkly on one side of a wall as Ginny slept soundly locked on the other side. Kingsley rounded a corner and entered the living room to find Draco pacing and mumbling to himself. “Silly girl.” Draco imitated Ginny’s voice rather badly. “I’d rather not have you watch me sleep.” He ended his high-pitched monologue. “She’ll get herself killed. We need Moody.” He grumbled. “Sure could use that scary eye thing of his.” Draco squinted one eye while rolling the other wildly and limping a bit. “Constant Vigilance!” He growled, chuckling quietly then shook his head. “Stupid girl.” Shacklebolt leaned against the wall completely unnoticed suddenly spoke. “Not even four hours with Ms. Ginerva and you’re already having fights with her?” Kingsley asked causing Draco to jump. “And mocking the head Auror, Alastor Moody, himself. Are you entirely sure Ms. Weasley has no effect over you?” Kingsley laughed. Draco sighed leaning back on the door. **No.** He admitted to himself while nodding to Kingsley. Shacklebolt smiled knowingly. Draco had thought it would be easier than this. He had thought of Ginny a lot more than would be considered normal by other people during the war and over the past few years. One night two years into the battle Draco was growing helpless. He needed a reason to do this. Saving people he didn’t know just because they were good wasn’t enough then for some reason. So he thought long and hard for good people in his past that he’d hurt. There were many to say the least, but Ginny Weasley stuck out the most. She had never once deserved what he said to her in anger and jealousy. She had never provoked him, never teased him, but she fought back when pushed to. Maybe if he just finished this to the end he’d make the world better for her and pay back the debt he owed her. He thought about her for a moment, recalling her from earlier today. She didn’t want them there. He was certain of that from the moment he saw her. He had a knack for reading people through their actions. It came with the Auror job. But she held no ill will towards them. For a second he had wished to make her smiles a real smile just for him, not the faltering forced one he’d been given earlier. He had deliberately kept his eyes stony as he admired her while shaking her hand. Her auburn hair had fallen in a silky sheet down her back. Her cheeks were flushed blending with the cream of her skin. Her amber eyes were not as bright as he remembered them to be, but she had lost so much during the war. She’d been such a youthful vibrant thing when he’d last seen her. Not that she wasn’t beautiful now, no, she was radiant now. He groaned. **Get your mind back to business. Beautiful or not, she’s work. You can’t protect her if you’re mind’s not focused. Do your job and forget “her” in particular for the time being. ** He groaned. **Yeah.. like that’s going to happen any time soon. ** Draco sunk down in a plush green chair. “I don’t like her being in there without someone with her.” Draco said worriedly. “Don’t worry Drake. She’ll be fine. We’ve put up the proper security wards in her room. The only way to get in there is this door and we’re guarding it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ginny tossed and turned in bed. “Tom…..don’t I’ll do anything. Please don’t….” She mumbled thrashing. A shadow scurried across the dim floor. A beam of moonlight revealed the shadow to be a flat dark thing resembling a moving cloak. It slithered over the silk coverlet. It slipped up over the sleeping body. Ginny suddenly felt very cold. Her nightmare suddenly became very real. She tried to suck in a breath, but couldn’t. **I CAN’T BREATHE!** She struggled to no avail, clawing at the dark thing. **I’M BEING SMOTHERED*!* The more she moved the closer the thing clung to her. She tried to grab her wand, but only managed to roll it out of reach. **I’M GOING TO DIE LIKE THIS!** She felt herself go light and limp and the she rolled sideways as a last effort. A crystal vase was knocked from her nightstand and it fell, shattering on the floor. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kingsley assured the head of security that all was well and that Ginny was sleeping peacefully in the next room. The man left with a nod, though he seemed doubtful. Seconds after Kingsley had set down across from Draco there came the sound of breaking glass in the next room. “That doesn’t sound too peaceful to me.” Draco called, vaulting over the couch and running for the locked door, followed instantly by Shacklebolt. OBLIVIATE!!! He didn’t bother with the unlocking spell preferring, as always, to blast the door off its hinges. Ginny seemed to be being smothered by a black cloak thing. “Lethifold!” Kingsley shouted. EXPECTO PATRONUM! Draco’s eagle Patronus erupted from the end of his wand. In silver fury it ripped the thing away with its talons and Draco rushed to Ginny while Kingsley battled the lethifold. “She’s unconscious, but breathing.” Draco shouted to Kingsley as the other man disintegrated the lethifold effectively. “Good.” Kingsley breathed a sigh of relief and wiped his wide forehead.” I’d hate to be out of a job in one day and to think we though this would be easy.” AN: Lethifold is a mythical creature that resembles a black cloak or blanket. It smothers its victims and eats them. The only thing that gets rid of it is the Patronus charm. Hope this was interesting By the way if you haven’t read the tiny Comic Relief Book by JKR Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them you might want to cuz I’m gonna use it a lot. 3. Run and Hide --------------- An Auror’s Mission: The Never Ending Battle TruthbeTold Chapter Three: Run and Hide Ginny was packing and angrily packing at that. Her clothes whizzed overhead at violent speeds and into her suitcase. Draco ducked and offendingly speedy boot and crossed the room to where Ginny stood with her back turned to him. “ Do you think you could tone it down a bit? I personally wouldn’t fancy a pair of your knickers round my head, Weaslette.” He asked sincerely as he untwisted himself from a scarf that seemed dead set on strangling him. He couldn’t resist using her old nick name it’d been years since he’d last said it. Ginny turned to face him sharply. Draco, focusing on her, instead of Ginny’s flying belongings, was hit rather unscrupulously by a passing purse. “Dear Lord, Did you catch his plates?” He asked jokingly as Ginny surveyed him with an elegant brow raised. “Obliviously not.” “You called me Weaslette.” She said flatly. “I’m aware of that. Do you mind or would you rather me refer to as Ambassador Ginerva, Senator Weasley maybe, or you High Ambassadorness?” Draco asked sarcastically as he narrowly avoided a rogue pair of socks and bent low in a mocking half bow. “No, Weaslette is just fine. I just haven’t heard it in a long time that’s all.” She stated a small smile graced her lips. She turned again closing one of her suitcases as a cloak zoomed in quickly folding itself on top. **Ferret. ** She thought vindictively. “I don’t like this run and hide plan and frankly I find it cowardly and a waste of my time. Amelia and I have worked for two years to make sure there would not be and army made. Now, when it come to the final vote, when I am most needed, I’m forced to hide out like a bloody convict!” Ginny ranted looking for the cloak she’d just closed in the suitcase. Giving up, she snapped the other suitcase shut and sat down with a sigh on the bed and looked down at her hands disappointedly. “The High Counsel and the Mistress of Magic think it best you are hidden for your own protection.” Draco argued calmly, leaning on the far wall and folding his arms across his chest. “I’m not a little girl anymore. I’m twenty two and they still refuse to treat me like a grown woman.” Ginny said her fists clenching and unclenching. “Shacklebolt and the older aurors still treat me like a kid. Bolt and Moody mostly.” Draco said as if agreeing with her. “Nobody sees I’ve grown up.” They said at the same time. They looked up at each other. “ You’ve have grown up quite a lot since I last saw you.” Draco announced looking at the ceiling as if it were the most intriguing thing he’d ever come across. “So have you.” Ginny replied. She suddenly found herself fixed in Draco’s piercing gaze. It felt unsettling, wondering exactly what he was staring at. “Draco, don’t look at me like that.” She told him firmly, standing. “And why shouldn’t I?” He asked in a slow drawl, his pewter eyes never wavering though amusement at her discomfort flickered briefly within them. He pushed himself off the wall and walked to Ginny, stopping only inches away. “It makes me uncomfortable.” She said just as firmly as before and stood her ground. “Oh.” He replied, one eyebrow arched as if silently laughing to himself, but he obediently averted his eyes. “What is Shacklebolt doing?” Ginny asked trying desperately to change the subject. “He is speaking with the Order and Dumbledore at this very moment. Trying to get permission to dig around in the Ministry and see just whose so willing to try and rub out some Senators. When he’s found them you can come back and vote against the army.” Order Headquarters “There is someone within the Ministry that wants the Senator dead, someone on the inside.” Dumbledore was saying. “Only a ministry worker could get information as to where she was sent after her decoy was killed at the Ministry’s Second Entrance. Only the Mistress of Magic and the Order itself will know where we are sending her next.” “Where’s she offt’er,” Alastor Moody growled. He sat at a table surrounded by hand chosen members of the Order. “I assume you’re sending her to stay with Hermione and her family in Breeone.” Remus said half answering and half questioning. “After all that is Ms. Weasley’s home nation and if she’s staying with Hermione she couldn’t be safer.” “You are correct Remus, in assuming we are sending her there. She’ll be comfortable and safe. Master Malfoy will accompany her as an escort and guard while she is away from the senate capital. Kingsley and Tonks I expect you two to find out what’s going on within the ministry. I want this person or organization found and stopped. We’ve lost enough Weasleys in our time.” Dumbledore said putting the tips of his fingers together and staring out at the group of highly trained men and women. Each one of them had gone rigid remembering their fallen friends. Tonks nodded gravely as did Kingsley. “This meeting is adjourned.” Dumbledore said dismissing them all. As the room cleared Kingsley stayed behind for a word with Dumbledore. “Do you think it wise to trust Draco with something such as this?” The man asked quietly his dark eyes doubtful. “Why Kingsley I would trust Draco with my life.” The elderly man answered smirking at having mirrored a similar conversation he had with a colleague many years ago. “That’s what I was afraid of Albus.” Kingsley sighed rubbing his forehead almost anxiously, almost because Aurors never were anxious or didn’t show it if they were. And Kingsley Mansfeld Shacklebolt was an excellent auror. “Why so negative all of the time my old friend? Young Master Malfoy will take care of the Ms. Weasley of that I’m sure. They have a lot in common though I doubt they notice it at the time. It should make things quite easy for them when they do realize their likenesses. Lemon drop?” Dumbledore replied holding out a jar of the sugary sweets that had appeared from the folds of his thick robes. “Uh…No thanks Albus. The Senator seem to have an undesired affect on my partner.” “Oh, do tell.” “His thought is often compromised. It seems he has a small “thing” for the Senator.” “Really? And I though that only happened to Mr. Finnigan and Mr. Thomas. It appears Ms. Weasley is found quite stunning, no pun intended, to all of our young male aurors. I believe that it is unlikely his “compromised” thoughts could be dangerous to either of them at the moment, but I’ll keep an eye on them.” **Later on Refugee Travel** AN: Train Ginny hugged Marceleez tightly, another friend another decoy. “You take good care of her Clearus.” She said over her friends shoulder. Her head of guard nodded. “I will Ginerva.” He replied gruffly. Ginny wiped tears away from Marceleez’s cheeks. “Oh, don’t cry Eleez. You’ll be fine.” “It’s not me I’m worried about Gin. It’s you. What if they find out that you’ve left the Senate Capitol?” Marceleez whispered worriedly. “Don’t you fret about me Miss El. I’ve got an Auror all to myself. Draco will take good care of me and if necessary I’ll protect him,” Ginny said with a grin. Marceleez smiled tearfully. Kingsley stepped forward. “Senator the train is leaving soon you should get on board. Albus sent two houselves to accompany you. I believe you know them already. Dobby and Winky.” Kingsley said pushing the two houselves out in front of him. “Yes, I remember them quite well actually.” Ginny said smiling warmly. She knelt down to look at the two. Dobby was dressed in a shabby brown robe that was two sizes two big for him and dragged in the dirt. Winky was dressed in robes similar to Ginny’s patched earthy green ones, but in mud brown and had her large ears folded under a spotty kerchief she had tied about her head. Dobby gave her a toothy smile and somehow managed to free his tiny hand from his surplus amount of sleeve and offered it to her. She took it and he shook her hand excitedly. “Dobby and Winky is glad to sees you again Lil Weazy. Master said we is to help you and my old master escape.” Dobby whispered. “But Master says, he says, we is supposed to do it quiet like.” He looked around as if searching for eavesdropper with his giant tennis ball eyes. Winky nodded quietly with a hiccup. “Hey Weaslette, we should be going.” Draco said softly, picking up both of their luggage. He watched her stand and embrace her friend in a sisterly hug once more. Kingsley muttered to him. “Keep your eyes open Draco, and preferably on business. Keep her safe and remember no contact with the Order. We’ll contact you.” “Yes, Bolt, I know. Take care of yourself old man.” “You too kid.” Kingsley replied, then to Ginny. “Take good care of my partner Miss.” “I will. “ Ginny laughed. The warning whistle blew. Ginny took Winky’s hand in hers and Dobby’s hand in the other so they wouldn’t get separated in the bustling station. “This is my first time out alone in years. I haven’t been without entourage since I was made Senator. I’m scared.” Ginny mumbled to Draco. Her large brown eyes wide. “Aren’t you? This is your first mission off on your own after all.” “A little.” Draco said in admittedly. “But don’t worry.” He said with a wink and looked down at the two tiny being clutched to Ginny’s hands. “We have the houselves with us.” AN: Alright, that’s it for chapter three. Tell me if it’s any good. Sorry it took so long to post I’ve been dreadfully busy.