Harry bent carefully to examine the ground around the carriage they'd found. It seemed to have been abandoned, but there were signs that it had been used recently. The wheel tracks weren't more than a day old, and there was no significant settling of dust or dirt. Lupin was sniffing around eagerly, and the stiffness of his tail made Harry suspect he was close to finding something.
Ron let out a sigh, frustrated, and Harry frowned in sympathy for his friend. The idea of Ginny trapped out here in this wilderness was frightening, and Harry was desperate for some sign that she was alive. Hermione laid a comforting hand on Ron's shoulder, her eyes meeting Harry's for a moment before turning quickly away. He knew she was thinking the same thing he was. If Ginny was dead, what would they do to comfort Ron? How in the world would they comfort themselves? Harry felt his heart thud painfully, feeling his fear become a terrible wave crashing over him. For the first time since their leaving Hogsmeade he began to entertain thoughts of Ginny's suffering, and he began to understand something of the fear his elders often went through over him. The act of pursuit had allowed him to stave off the helplessness for a short time, as taking action had always comforted him, but it was almost dawn and they'd yet to find a single token other than Morgan's necklace to indicate where the kidnappers had gone, or what they wanted. What if they didn't really need her? What if this was all some elaborate trap set for himself? Would Ginny's life only be useful so long as they thought someone was coming?
"Anything yet?" Snape asked curtly, his now normal eyes sweeping the shadows of the woods almost imperiously. Lupin whoffed without looking up from the ground, his nose carrying him further into the scrubby bushes. Hermione turned to the Potions Master and carefully cleared her throat.
"Sir," she began slowly, "do you think it's possible that they transferred to another vehicle and left the area completely?"
"That's what we're here to find out, Miss Granger," Snape replied coolly. He took a step towards the retreating Lupin but was stopped when Ron spoke next.
"How can we be sure what they did?" He demanded. "For all we know they could be hiding just over that ridge and unable to say anything!"
"Well by all means check it out, Mr. Weasley," the Potions Master sneered. "I trust you'll give a yell if you find anything."
Ron blushed. "When it comes to my sister, I'll leave no stone unturned," he declared forcefully. Snape paused and half turned towards him.
"I wonder, Mr. Weasley, how you believe your own eyes and ears to be superior to a werewolf's?"
Ron's mouth snapped shut and Hermione's eyes closed impatiently. Harry felt his own face twist as he conceded the point. Still, would it kill Snape to say something for once without verbally trouncing them? Lupin growled suddenly, drawing everyone's attention and making Ron step forward eagerly. But when the growl grew agitated and Lupin shot into the bushes, Snape barked at them to stay back and followed the werewolf alone. Hermione reached for Ron's hand, her eyes intent as she stared in the direction Snape had disappeared in. Harry stared at the tree branches and sky, as if by some miracle Ginny would suddenly appear there, safe and sound.
A moment later, they were startled by Lupin's urgent howl. Unable to bear the suspense, Ron tore his hand from Hermione's grip and bolted into the brush. Harry and Hermione exchanged glances before following. Harry tried to squelch the alarm that was rising in him, but the remaining darkness was oppressive under the heavy canopy above. Too much time had passed with no real clues.
He skidded to a stop right behind Ron, who was standing stock still as he stared at the ground. Snape was just beside him, his profile hidden in the gloom. Harry stepped around Ron to see what they were staring at, then wished he hadn't. A man lay on the ground, his limbs sprawled out, his hands twisted in frozen struggle. He appeared to be about middle age, with graying hair and a portly middle. His throat had been torn out.
"No witnesses," Snape murmured sardonically.
"Who is he?" Ron choked as Hermione came up behind them and gasped, her hands flying to her face.
"Most likely the driver of that coach," Snape replied, staring hard at the ground. Harry swallowed hard, wondering if the man had any family, and if they missed him. Hermione turned away as well, and Harry thought he caught the glitter of tears in her eyes, though she made no sound. Sighing, Harry wondered if he'd ever know a time where evil didn't reach out and attempt to destroy those he cared for, or rip unknown families apart.
But the man had helped kidnap Ginny, and that made him an enemy. Harry shook himself slightly and forced himself to look away. The man was dead, with no information to offer them. Best to get Lupin back on the scent trail, if it still existed. He opened his mouth to say so, but was cut off by Snape.
"Lupin?" he snapped, peering around intently. Harry looked around as well and realized his friend was gone.
"Professor?" He called. Hermione took a few steps towards some bushes, squinting as she attempted to see past the shadows. Ron blinked owlishly, obviously still shocked. Snape strode away, walking in a half circle through the bushes and trees before heading back.
"The sun will rise soon," he said smoothly. "We'll have to continue without the werewolf."
Harry turned to the Potions Master in shock. "We can't just abandon him here!"
Hermione agreed, but Snape's lip curled as he fixed his cold gaze on Ron.
"Every moment we delay sets your sister further out of our reach. It will take Lupin some time to transform, and even more time for him to recover enough to move. If we wait, she could very well disappear forever."
Harry felt his guts squirm and freeze and privately hated Snape for being right, and hated Fate for putting this horrible choice before them.
Ron's pale face was slack for several moments, but then his expression turned grim.
"I'm sorry Harry, but I have to find my sister. You can stay with Lupin, though. He'll need someone to take care of him and get him back to Hogwarts."
Harry's fists clenched as he agonized privately. Then, with an expression as grim as Ron's, he turned to Hermione.
"You're the best with directions and I know you took a course in field medicine. You stay and wait for him to turn up, then get him back to Hogwarts immediately."
Hermione's face flushed, her eyes sparkling with anger as she opened her mouth to protest. Harry cut her off by grabbing her hand.
"Please," he whispered, his eyes pleading. "Please help him. I can't sit still, and I can't be with both of them!"
"No one's asking you to be," Hermione snapped. But her words lacked any real sting. Ron needed Harry's strength like never before, and she realized that her personal feelings for Ron wouldn't replace Harry's steady presence.
"Leave me your broom, Ron," she said finally, wiping her eyes. Ron's eyes glowed with thanks as he handed it to her. He reached for the hand Harry released and looked into her eyes.
"I'll be back, I promise," he said softly. Hermione smiled tremulously.
"You'd better, or you'll miss your N.E.W.T.S."
"If you're quite finished Mr. Weasley?" Snape interrupted, looking disgusted.
Harry picked up his broom and prepared to ride alongside with Ron, silently hoping that everyone would meet again at Hogwarts. As he and Ron kicked off in unison the wind seemed to chill him to the bone, and he wondered if anyone would survive to see the fullness of the new day.
**************
Draco felt the world spin as he lay on the frozen ground. He could hear Black shouting, then, incredibly, heard Weasley's voice join the fugitive's. He forced his hands to push him up from the ground, struggling to regain his breath as he raised his head.
Ginny was there. As Draco's vision cleared he felt relief loosen his chest, enabling him to breathe easier. She was helping someone stand and talking fast to Black, who was suddenly standing over Draco and roughly hauling him to his feet.
"They're right behind me," Ginny said frantically. As she darted a fearful glance behind her Draco realized whom it was she'd helped up. It was Anderson, and he was rubbing his head.
"His bloody skull's made of stone!" Anderson exclaimed with a glare in Draco's direction. He seemed about to say more, but before he could Ginny started yanking him forward, right as Draco himself was pushed roughly by Black.
"Let's go," the older man growled as they began to run again. "We can try to lose them in the woods."
Draco was about to reply when an ear splitting shriek rang out behind them. Turning as he ran, Draco felt his blood freeze at the sight of the Celt tearing through the bushes behind them. He could see the vampire's eyes glowing with fury, his long fangs exposed in a vicious snarl. Relah was right behind him.
"SCATTER!" Black shouted suddenly. Draco felt the scraggly fugitive's hands shove him forward and to the right, and his feet blindly obeyed. There was no way the vampires would be forgiving at this point. The group had tried to escape and now had an adult ally helping them. If they were caught they would all certainly be killed. He had no illusions as to his seeming importance; it wasn't worth the vampires' insulted pride.
He had no idea where he was going, he only knew that the danger was chasing madly after him, and he had to run. He crashed through low branches and thorny bushes, his head throbbing from where it had collided with Anderson's.
This is wrong; you're not in control! A voice in his head screamed. Draco looked about wildly, seeing only darkness and trees surrounding him. His ears seemed to open suddenly, the moaning wind sounding chill to his ears, but he knew that was because he was now aware of himself and not simply panicking. He slowed his pace, trying to hear who or what was near him. There were shouts behind him, and a sudden loud bang. Someone had fired off a spell, and judging from the high pitched shrieks, Draco guessed it had been a fire spell. A second later there was more shouting and the sound of bodies tearing through the underbrush. Draco chanced a look behind him, and his heart almost stopped when he saw a glowing pair of eyes rushing towards him.
"Come back here," a female voice raged. Draco forced his legs to move faster, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he felt the vampire woman gaining on him. But he knew it was no use. A bare second later he felt her hands grip his upper arms and his body start to rise. She had flown to catch up with him, rising to the tree branches in a matter of seconds.
"Stop struggling, whelp, or I'll drop you from here."
Draco struggled, twisting to break the woman's grip on his arms. She was hurting him, a testament to her supernatural strength, but Draco suddenly realized he'd been wrong. If she was set on killing him, she would have done so immediately. His mind moving furiously, he tried to seek an advantage as he continued to writhe in her grasp, making things as difficult for her as possible.
Relah, however, had tired of the game. In a shockingly fast motion she released his arms, leaving him hanging in mid-air for a split second, then Draco cried out as pain ripped over his scalp.
She was holding him by his hair.
Draco immediately ceased struggling, both of his hands tearing at hers in an effort to escape. In just a few seconds he gave up, tears of pain leaking from his eyes as he gripped her hand helplessly, trying to lift himself somehow to alleviate the pain. He could feel strands of his hair ripping out from the root.
"That's better," Relah purred. "You've been more trouble than you're worth. Don't tempt me any more to kill you."
"Your braided friend wouldn't like that, I'd bet," Draco growled against the pain. On top of the bump he'd received from his collision with Anderson, Draco was certain his head would be throbbing permanently. Relah snorted and grabbed his arm as they floated to the ground.
"I'm sure he'd understand if I told him what a nasty little-"
That was as far as she got. As soon as Draco's feet touched the ground he whirled around and smashed the elbow of his free arm into the vampire woman's face. Blood exploded from her nose and she rocked back in shock, loosening her grip. Draco tore free and ran for all he was worth, ignoring the agony that ripped over his elbow.
She has a damn hard head, he thought hysterically, his skin crawling at her screams of rage.
Please, he thought. Please let her eyes swell shut or something! He turned sharply to the right, hoping to lose her via misdirection if nothing else. But the sound of her footsteps followed. Draco tried slowing his pace slightly and banking into a particularly thick clump of trees and bushes, but again her pursuit didn't falter. Then he heard a swoosh!
Draco felt his heart pound so hard he thought it would burst. He wasn't going to get away, and this time she just might kill-
Someone materialized in front of him so fast he barely had time to slow. A shadowy figure with their arm outstretched was running straight at him. Acting purely on instinct, Draco threw himself to the ground.
"Mucasa Vespertilio!" Ginny screamed. A brilliant flash of purple light burst from the tip of her wand and struck the flying vampire woman head on, instantly halting her forward progress and flipping her backwards. For the second time she shrieked in rage.
"Come on," Ginny cried as she yanked Draco to his feet. The young Slytherin paused to glance at his pursuer, his mouth dropping open as he saw hideous black objects erupt from the woman's nose and begin flapping about her face.
"Draco, let's go!" Ginny grabbed his arm and began running hard, the echoes of Relah's fury ringing in their ears. After a moment Draco turned away and focused on the path, a bemused but satisfied smirk on his face.
He remembered that Hex very well.
They ran for all they were worth, but Draco knew that blind running wasn't going to save them. He could still hear the cries of the vampire woman and, some distance further, the enraged roars of the Celt. They'd lost Anderson and Black, it seemed, but they were going to get hopelessly lost themselves if they continued running haphazardly through this place. He reached out and grabbed Ginny's arm, slowing to a halt.
"Where are we going?" he asked, looking at her seriously. Ginny was bouncing from one foot to the other, her eyes wild.
"I thought I saw Sirius heading east. I thought maybe the barn or another shelter might be there."
Both glanced behind them as a sudden shriek from Relah sounded, closer than before. Draco gripped Ginny's arm tighter and they began running east, their progress slowing as they swerved around thick trees.
"D'you think she has the counter-curse for your spell?" Draco gasped as they ran. Ginny nodded.
"I don't hear her anymore. She might already have lifted it."
Draco shook his head, pulling Ginny along faster. Once again he had no idea where they were heading or if they'd even find a way to get out of these cursed woods. Draco silently promised himself then that if he got out of this alive, he'd never set foot in another forest again in his life.
"Draco," Ginny squeaked excitedly, "I see light ahead!"
"Where?" Draco whipped his gaze around and then saw it to their right. A small, dim glow, perhaps from a hand held lantern. That's also when he noticed he could see the sky, and it wasn't night anymore. When did it become morning?
"We don't know if it's friendly," he whispered. "It might be reinforcements for them."
"We've got to try," Ginny insisted. "We're not going to last by ourselves."
We made it this far by ourselves, he disagreed silently. The light was still a distance away, and Draco was unnerved by the silence around them. Where was everyone? Were the blood suckers waiting there to pounce on them?
As they moved closer, Draco strained his ears for the slightest sounds of pursuit. This was a little difficult because his and Ginny's footsteps were likely to drown out anything quieter than a stomp. Still, he had no desire to stop moving. A moving target was harder to capture, or so he hoped.
He changed his mind a second later when they heard a yelp erupt from somewhere in front of them. It was a wordless cry of pain, quickly followed by another. Then a long howl of agony split the silence, and it suddenly seemed to be coming from all around them.
Ginny stopped completely, a look of horror on her face. Draco felt himself grow nauseous, his legs growing numb as a sick fear swept over him. Had they caught Black and Anderson? What were they doing to them? Whatever it was, Draco had no intention of allowing it to happen to himself and Ginny. Grabbing her hand he tore off towards the light.
Ginny stumbled along behind for a moment, then caught herself and gripped his hand hard as they pounded through the gray woodland. All sound seemed to blend together as she ran; their stomping feet, the loud cries of the vampires, the mad yelping, and the swish of greenery as they tore past bushes and tree branches. The dim light they ran for might be help or more trouble, she knew. But what else did they have at this point?
As soon as the thought passed through her mind, the light winked out.
"AAUGH! I hate my life!" Ginny shrieked, tearing her hand from Draco's and running even faster to the spot, as if she would strangle whoever or whatever was there for daring to tease her. Draco's eyes were wide as he wondered what they would do now.
"Ginny, wait-"he began. But the young redhead was past hearing him as she pulled ahead and crashed into the clearing. Draco skidded to a stop just behind a tall oak, reluctant to leave the shadows. Peeking carefully out, he saw Ginny run up to a carriage and kick it, following it up with a punch and a scream of rage.
"Stop it!" Draco hissed. "Have you lost your senses? Get back here!"
Ginny's pale face was twisted with rage and frustration, tears standing out in her eyes though she refused to let them fall. Her fists were clenched so tightly her knuckles had gone white, and she stared at Draco as if he were a stranger. Or a target. Draco's eyes widened.
"Ginny!" He pleaded as the nearby brush began to sound with crashes and loud movement. Her head whipped around towards these new sounds, her expression changing to one of fright. But a second later her eyes were widening with joy.
"Ginny! Is that you?" Ron shouted as he ran back into the clearing. Ginny let out a wordless cry and flew into her brother's arms.
Draco blinked, shocked beyond words at the sight. A bare moment later Potter came running up, followed by Draco's Head of House. He felt no comfort at the sight, just a complete numbness that blanked his mind and froze his being.
They were saved, it seemed.
Draco felt himself retreat further behind the tree, part of his mind aware that the sounds of pursuit had died and the infernal howling had stopped. But these didn't really seem to matter. Ginny was talking rapidly to a scowling Snape, who questioned her sharply every few seconds. As Draco stared he suddenly realized that the coach that Ginny had kicked was the very one that had brought them to this horrible woodland. He recognized the loud purple drapes that fluttered in the morning breeze.
I wonder who it belongs to, he thought without caring. His numbness was like a spike of heavy lead in his chest, a dim pain that had no explanation. He thought of Ginny's face as he'd kissed her, her cheeks blushing rosy in a pale and dirty face. Ronnikins would hit the ceiling if he ever found out…
But he wouldn't, because Ginny would never tell him. Just as he would never dare mention it to anyone. He raised his eyes and saw Ginny hugging Potter, still talking as if she'd never shut up. At that moment Draco wished she would. It was over, they were saved. Without ever having the opportunity to examine what he felt, he was going to have to dismiss it. Rather like throwing away a new potion recipe without seeing the ingredients.
As he slowly straightened he became aware of the fact that Snape was asking about him and Anderson. Draco's feet turned leaden.
"He was right behind me," Ginny was saying, her voice rising and falling, indicating she was looking around. "We lost Anderson, but he was with Sirius."
"Sirius?" Harry exclaimed. "What's he doing here?"
"And what's he doing with my student?" Snape added icily.
"Saving his whiney arse." A deep voice snapped from the other side of the carriage before Ginny could reply. A moment later Black stepped into view, followed by a grinning Anderson.
"Great to see you Professor," he exclaimed.
"Are you sound?" Snape asked, looking him over.
"Yes sir, just some bumps and bruises. Where's Mr. Malfoy?"
"Right here," Draco heard himself say. No use pretending or hiding. He stepped out into the clearing, drawing close every shred of Malfoy dignity he could muster.
"There you are," Ginny said in relief. As he walked forward Ginny took in his appearance. His hair was as wild as Harry's had ever been, his robes were torn and he was bleeding from several small cuts and gashes that she was only now noticing. She started to smile, but his expression sent a chill over her. He seemed to be looking through her.
"Good to see you, mate," Anderson murmured, his solemn expression almost masking the amusement in his blue eyes. Snape immediately asked after Draco's health.
"I'm fine, Professor. Just very tired." Draco replied quietly. Both Weasels and Potter were looking at him strangely.
"Glad you're alright, Malfoy," Harry murmured, meaning it. Draco almost smirked.
"Don't be patronizing, Potter. You aren't any good at it."
"I wasn't-"
"I don't know what you're doing here, Black," Snape interrupted Harry's protest. "But if I find you had anything-"
"We have more pressing matters to deal with," Sirius returned the favor with a glare. "There are two vampires on the loose in these woods, and they're after your boy here." He pointed to Draco.
"Vampires?" Snape was startled. For all their speculations, no one had guessed that powerful ghouls of the night would be involved. "Where? Are they close?"
Ginny, meanwhile, continued to stare at Draco surreptitiously. He seemed to be ignoring her, his attention fixed on the adults as they spat out information at each other and attempted to formulate a plan. He seemed to have suddenly…closed up. His eyes, which had begun to show Ginny his thoughts and allow her a glimpse into the complexities of his heart, had hardened to blank grey stone. She felt anger bubble inside of her. Why? Why was he shutting her out all of a sudden?
"You didn't mention that!" Ron's furious voice cut through Ginny's brooding.
"I'm sorry?" She blinked in confusion.
"Vampires," Harry supplied before Ron could start yelling. "It's ok, Ron. She's only been with us for a few minutes."
"They were chasing us," Ginny murmured, looking around fretfully. There was no sound coming from the surrounding area. Had they given up?
Not likely, she thought. They had probably backed off when they realized she and Draco weren't alone any longer. That didn't mean they were gone.
"I'm sure they're still here, Professor," Ginny heard Draco say. She glanced at him again, feeling embarrassed and not knowing why.
"Talk about a nightmare," Ron smiled crookedly. "Kidnapped on a `date'."
Ginny smiled weakly at Ron's joke. He hadn't forgotten how she'd displeased him by being out with Caleb and Draco in the first place, and he was likely going to launch into a lecture about her bad choices being to blame.
"It's alright, Ginny," Harry smiled reassuringly. "You're safe now."
She felt tears threaten at Harry's words. She'd been so terrified the whole night through that she'd felt certain she'd never feel safe again, a feeling she hadn't experienced since Tom Riddle had nearly overwhelmed her. Ginny took a deep breath, straightening her shoulders as she did. She'd survived being possessed by Voldemort, she would survive this.
Ginny's thoughts were interrupted as Sirius's voice suddenly rose to a shout;
"No, there's a magic carpet nearby, and we'll all fit on it. Harry and I will NOT wait here for you to fetch Dumbledore!"
Snape was wearing a sour expression. "Are you sure about this? Do you even remember where it is?"
"We'll stay till we find it," Ron said staunchly, angry at the Potion Master's first suggestion.
"I'll find it," Sirius growled. "But we all need to stick together. Those bloodsuckers could be anywhere."
"They were chasing me and Miss Weasley quite madly until a few minutes ago. Then they suddenly got quiet."
"We're a bigger group now," Sirius said. "That'll make them hesitate. But we still need to hurry."
He led the way back to the clearing Draco had first seen him at. As they walked Draco found it impossible to know what to feel. He was aware of Ginny's frowning scrutiny, but didn't know how to answer it. It was over, they were safe. She knew what that meant as well as he did, surely. He refused to believe she was filled with wide eyed daydreams of…
You assume the most interesting thoughts, a cold voice in his head mocked. Perhaps the daydreams are yours?
No, no daydreams for Draco Malfoy, he thought, clenching his fists tightly. Malfoys don't live in misty dreams.
Draco became so lost in his own musings that, for a moment, he forgot to be frightened or angry at everything that had happened, or might still happen. He walked in his normal stride, his footfalls audible as he forgot to gentle his steps over crunching leaves or dead branches. He didn't notice the sickly sweet stench of rotting flesh until he was almost upon the source.
"Ugh! What's that smell?" Ron asked, his hand immediately covering his nose. Draco stifled a comment as he remembered the body of the boy he'd found. Weasley'd probably faint if he saw it, and Draco found the thought darkly satisfying.
"Never mind," Sirius answered. "This is the place. It's against that tree."
"No, it's further in." Caleb said suddenly. "Miss Weasley and I attempted to use it, but got caught. That's how we ran into you again, Mr. Black."
"You ran into me, you stone-headed idiot." Draco murmured, a smirk hovering just around his lips. Caleb ignored him.
"How far up? And how did you manage to get it going?" Sirius was asking. Harry followed Anderson as he began to pull ahead of the others in his search for the carpet. He began to explain how Ginny had suggested a simple charm as he walked, but soon faltered as they continued to walk ahead without finding the flying carpet.
"It's around here," Ginny said confidently. It must have just settled somewhere else since it had no one to guide it."
Draco looked around more earnestly then. The sky was bright pink and the misty greys under the heavy canopy of branches were receding with the onslaught of morning. A cold, fresh breeze blew across Draco's face, smelling faintly of snow and wood, reminding him of early winter mornings at home when he would take quiet walks with his mother. It was a special time for them, when they would speak of small things, or of nothing. Simply enjoying each other's company. He allowed his eyes to drift over to Ginny, taking in her tousled appearance. Her hair still hung in wild tangles, and her face was pinched with exhaustion. She was walking with her head down, finally relaxing now that there were others around to worry about the dangers. She wrapped her arms about herself and shivered, looking tired enough to drop where she stood. The desire to cradle her in his arms made Draco blush.
At precisely that moment Draco felt movement to his left. As he turned to look, a horribly familiar sound echoed through the trees.
Whoosh!
The blurred image racing at him was unmistakable, and Draco instinctively threw himself to the ground even before he finished turning his head. But he wasn't quick enough to avoid being struck by the Relah's arm as he reached out to grab Draco. The young Slytherin hit the ground hard, rolling away from the hovering carpet as fast as he could.
He heard Ginny scream as the vampires smashed into the middle of the group. He instinctively reached for his wand as he stood up, then remembered he didn't have it. As Draco turned to face the scene before him he saw Ginny throw herself backwards, almost falling in her haste to avoid being recaptured. Draco caught her and, with no hesitation, turned and ran.
The Celt snarled furiously, his eyes turning to Draco at once. Relah belatedly reached over to grab Ginny but missed. Ron and Harry pulled out their wands along with Snape and Sirius, and the vampires shot straight up, crashing through branches and limbs to escape. And to continue pursuit of their real target.
"Ginny! Ginny hang on!" Ron cried as she and Draco fled as fast as they could.
"They're following us, we can't get separated-"Draco gasped.
"Why are they on the carpet?" Ginny demanded, daring to look back and, not seeing them, began to pull Draco to a stop.
"It's morning, their powers have diminished. They probably can't fly very long during the day." Draco replied, looking around wildly for signs of pursuit.
"Where are the others?" Ginny cried frantically. She had no idea how far they'd run in just those few minutes. What if the blood sucking fiends had captured Ron? Instead of answering, Draco grabbed her around her elbow and pulled her behind a large tree, using his free hand to press against her mouth. Ginny immediately fell silent.
They could hear shouts from a short distance, and Ginny wanted to shake Draco off and head towards them. She recognized Ron's and Harry's voices and wanted to rejoin them before the vampires caught up. But Draco was looking back the way they'd run with fear in his eyes, and that's when Ginny heard that terrible whooshing sound again. Draco pulled her hard to him, wrapping a sleeve around her head as he shoved her down.
Something rushed by them, making the leaves swirl from the ground as it passed. It was gone a second later, but Ginny knew they'd be back. With no other thought but escape she leaped to her feet, dragging Malfoy with her as she tried to relocate the voices of her brother and friends.
"Hurry," she cried. "I thought I heard them over here!"
Draco was so fed up with running that for one mad moment he was tempted to chase the vampires themselves, just so they'd feel as vulnerable as he had since the attacks began. But of course they wouldn't feel anything of the kind, and he'd get captured. Their companions appeared suddenly ahead of them and he tore his mind away from his own thoughts, wanting to help get them all out of there.
"Miss Weasley-" Snape yelled.
"Hurry! We don't-" Ron was looking frantically around.
"There's Malfoy!" Black cried, his wand extended towards the unseen threat of the air.
As Draco watched, however, Black was suddenly blindsided by Relah, who kicked him hard enough to send him crashing into Snape and Ron. Harry managed to avoid the falling bodies by jumping hard to the left, raising his wand as he did so.
"Incendio!"
But Relah lurched forward so fast the spell missed, striking a blurred afterimage instead. Draco had stopped moving forward, his body half bent from his forward momentum as he watched the woman charge at him, arms outstretched, her snarl vicious.
But then the world turned upside down as he suddenly went crashing into the brush beside him. Ginny had knocked him out of the way.
As Draco rolled over he saw Relah, who was moving too fast to stop, grab Ginny and jump forwards onto the carpet, which appeared from nowhere.
"Ginny!" Ron cried, struggling to disentangle himself. His nose was bleeding from where Black's boot had struck his face.
Draco saw Ginny fall backwards onto the carpet with a cry, Relah's expression turning even more vicious as she realized her mistake. Turning swiftly she spotted him cowering under the brush and turned to leap, but at that moment another fireball whizzed past her face.
Harry was striding forward, his expression furious as he began to incant the spell again. He wouldn't miss a second time.
The Celt, staring hard at Draco, suddenly grabbed Ginny and tossed her over the edge of the carpet, but didn't release her. Harry faltered, and Draco's heart pounded as he saw her feet dangling several feet from the ground.
She'll survive, he thought. It's not that far.
But at that moment the carpet shot to the tree tops and began to fly away.
No!
Draco wasn't consciously aware of coming to his feet, he only knew that Ginny was dangling dangerously over the carpet's edge and would die if she fell now. He ran forward, his eyes trained on her kicking legs as they appeared and disappeared above the canopy, vaguely aware that someone, maybe Potter or the elder Weasley, was running with him. They were getting far ahead though, and Draco felt panic rising in him as he thought of Ginny captured alone with the monsters.
They don't need her, they'll kill her!
A sudden, morbidly vivid image of Ginny lying pale and dead, blood seeping from twin holes in her neck, made Draco lightheaded and nauseous.
"No!" He shouted. The adrenaline pounded through his veins and he began running faster than before.
A moment later the carpet inexplicably lowered itself under the trees' canopy. It was still speeding ahead of them, but Draco knew that if he could catch it, he could grab Ginny and possibly pull her to safety. Pushing himself mentally, he began to run even faster than before. A few moments later he'd almost caught up.
The morning was turning bright, though it was still cloudy. Draco was now close enough to hear Ginny's cries of pain and pleas to be released. Relah was sitting at the front of the carpet, her back to him, obviously steering somehow. The Celt was sitting on his haunches, stony faced as he watched Ginny pleading and struggling in his grasp.
He was almost beneath her when the carpet began to rise again.
With a burst of speed, his last reserve, Draco pushed forward and jumped as hard as he could. He willed his eyes to remain open as he launched into Ginny's body, almost crowing in triumph as he hit her back. He slid several inches down before he was able to grip her waist but he succeeded in grabbing her, his face pressed into the small of her back.
His triumph turned to fear, however, as Ginny let loose an earsplitting scream. Only then did he remember that he'd probably put tremendous pressure on her back. Before he could respond or try to jar her loose, the world again turned upside down.
Draco felt himself fly up and backwards as he and Ginny sailed through the air and landed roughly on the carpet. The world spun and Draco squeezed his eyes shut against the pain and dizziness that pressed in on him.
"We have him," the Celt shouted.
"Finally," Relah snarled. "What about her?"
"Goodbye, Miss Weasley," the dark haired Celt smirked as he began to pull Draco's arms apart. "You've been very useful-"
Two fireballs and a blinding red light shot past the carpet. Instinctively Draco tightened his grip on Ginny, determined not to lose her or himself in this chase.
Hurry! He thought, dread filing his heart. Hurry up and rescue us!
He couldn't imagine why he'd been so upset about it earlier.
But any hope he had was suddenly cut of as the Celt turned to Relah.
"We have him, just go!"
The young Slytherin closed his eyes and tried not to cry out as the carpet rose into the steely sky, the wind roaring coldly in his ears.
******************