Disclaimer: I own the plot but everything else belongs to J K Rowling, we salute you!
Summary: Ginny waits to go to the Ministry and thanks about the last tender moments she spent with Draco.
Chapter 5: Celebrations and Sacrifices.
Ginny sat in the family room as her father got ready to go with her to the Ministry. 'What had Ron meant?' she
thought twisting the hem of her cotton skirt. 'What secrets has every one been keeping from me?' Ron comment,
in particular, was bugging her, the one about him saving her from the Death Eaters. She knew Ron seriously disliked
Draco but he knew as well as she did that it was Draco who saved her that night. She tried not to think about that
night too much, although it was frequently in her dreams, but lately it had been invading her waking thoughts as well.
She smiled; the night had started so well…
They had won! The Canons had finally won the Quidditch League and the younger members of the Order were out in full force. Ginny after finishing work had made her way over to the Leaky Cauldron. There were hundreds of people making they way round Diagon Alley, desperate to celebrate some thing while they still could.
Walking into the crowed pub, she started looking round the crowd for her friends and family, so realising there was no need; they were easily the loudest and merriest group there! Making her way across towards them she openly grinned at seeing an incredibly drunk Harry and an equally drunk Draco singing loudly, arms draped round each other.
"Hey!" she shouted to Hermione, barely being heard over the din the boys were creating. Hermione didn't bother trying to reply, she just rolled her eyes as she leaned over and hugged her closest girlfriend. Breaking away from Hermione she saw Draco stagger towards her, she shot a glance at Ron, who was thankfully facing the other way. Hermione and Harry, however, were staring slightly opened mouthed as Draco pulled Ginny towards him, leaning his head on her shoulder. She clung on to him, reeling in this new development, she knew he was drunk but she didn't think he was that drunk!
"Hello there, love." He murmured into her neck, sending the most amazing vibrations through her body. Before she had time to reply he pulled his head, sealing her mouth with his.
'Oh Merlin' was the last coherent thought that she had before giving herself over to the kiss. Just as it was getting good, Draco pulled violently away. Ginny was about to ask what the hell he thought he was doing, and he'd better get back to it right now, when reality hit her, or rather was trying to hit Draco across the room.
"Ron NO!" she shouted, grabbing the arm he was about to hit Draco with. He dropped the arm but didn't let go of the front of Draco's shirt. Draco looked as if he had finally recovered form the shock and would like nothing more than to fight Ron.
"Don't you touch my sister, you disgusting Ferret!" Ginny rolled her eyes as Ron hissed this statement into Draco's plainly bored face.
"Oh back off Weasel, if you'd bothered to look before you so rudely interrupted, you would have seen she was
actually quite enjoying it!" He replied, shoving Ron roughly away from him. Ginny took this opportunity to get in
between the two, Ron had gone dangerously red by this point.
"Ron, leave it. He didn't mean any harm." Draco raised an eye brow at this statement, but sensibly kept quiet. The pub had gone completely silent, watching with bated breath for the notorious Weasley tempers to go head to head.
"He can't just fucking pounce on anyone he wants! You're not one of his whores Gin!" Harry and Hermione groaned.
"I am fully aware of who I am Ronald!" Ginny had now squared up to Ron, even though he was at least a foot taller than her, it looked like a fair fight. As many of the people in the pub had been on the receiving end of a female Weasley, they would have liked to take pity on Ron, but not enough to get in the firing line.
"If you must know, he didn't just 'pounce' on me; we've been together for weeks now!" There was a brief pauses as Ron digested this information. Ginny backed up a bit, fearing her brother's reaction; she had not meant to say that!
"YOU BASTARD!" Ron lunged at Draco, sandwiching Ginny between them. Draco was about to tell Ron exactly what he thought of him, when Ginny beat him to it.
"For your information, Ron, it was me who pounced on him!" oh well, in for a penny, in for a pound.
"Bollocks, he obviously took advantage of you!"
"For Merlin's sake, if you'd bothered to look, I'm all grown up Ron! I can make my own decision and I can sleep with any one I want to!"
At this last statement Ron juts stared at her then let out of roar of fury and made a fresh lung for Draco. Only Harry's quickly seeker reflexes, causing him to grab Ron shirt, stopped him from flooring the other man.
"Look Weasley, not that you'll believe me, but my intentions towards your sister are honorable."
"Yeah right, you wouldn't know the meaning of the word!" Ron spat, shrugging Harry's hands off.
"Oh Ron grow up!" Ginny said, turning her back on her brother.
"Open you fucking eyes Ginny, he's using you!"
Ginny turned round quickly, her gaze cold enough to make any Malfoy proud.
"Has it ever occurred to you Ronald, that I might be using him!." Noting with a deep sense of satisfaction the shocked look on everyone's faces, especially her brother's, she grabbed Draco's hand and rushed out into the street.
Ginny smiled at the memory. These had been the last few minutes before chaos had broken out. She had often felt bad about fighting with Ron that night, always trying to stop herself from playing the 'what-if' game that had become so dangerous in this wartime state. She smiled again at the thought of what happened next, the last tender moments she and Draco had spent together…
"Well, well well, she bites back" Draco quipped, stopping her outside of the pub. He snaked his arms round her waist, pulling her close to him.
"Yeah and don't you forget it!" she grinned up at him, but as she locked eyes with him she suddenly became serious.
"Did you mean what you said, about your intentions being honorable?"
"Ginny, one thing you must understand, A Malfoy's word may not mean much now, but take it as Draco's word, I will stand by what I said until I die." She blushed, the grin appearing once again. She leaned forward, kissing him slowly. He broke away and began pulling her along the street.
"Now, more importantly, do you Miss Weasley mean what you said?" She looked slightly embarrassed and a little worried.
"About wanting to use you?" she blushed, suddenly realising what this must have sounded like to Draco, but before she could explain he cut in.
"Cause naturally most woman in their right mind, and many not come to think about it, would want to use me for my body, so you mustn't feel alone." She laughed, hitting him playfully on the arm while thinking how much she had fallen for him in such a small space in time. She slid her arm through his and they continued on their way up the street.
Ginny continued to smile, not noticing the stray tear sliding down her cheek. Gods, she had been so happy at the moment. Why couldn't it have gone on forever, then none of this would have happened. Unfortunately fate doesn't work like this, and fate had been waiting round the corner for them.
A scream caused Ginny to swing round. That wasn't a drunken shout, that was a scream of terror and it was coming from the pub. She made to sprint back but Draco grabbed her hand, as people began to spill out of the doors. Before they knew what was happening they were surrounded by not only the crowd from the Leaky Cauldron but masked wizards.
'This can't be happening.' Ginny thought in disbelief as Ron appeared at her side.
"Gin, get out of here!" he yelled.
"What?! Ron No WAY! I want to fight!" she said, wheeling round on him.
"Ginny don't argue-,"
"I'm staying." She stated stubbornly.
"Fine!" Ron snapped, knowing there was no time to argue. "Stay Close!"
Draco kissed her hastily on the cheek before he ran into the chaos.
After that it became a blur. Spells and sparks were flying, people were fighting, running and screaming, trying to escape. Ginny soon got separated from Ron. She was stunning any thing in black, fighting any Death Eater that came near her. Suddenly she saw something that made her heart stop; two children were huddled together in the doorway of a nearby shop.
Dodging several misplaced curses Ginny made her way quickly to the children. There was a little girl, about 7 and a little boy who couldn't be more than 5. They were obviously brother and sister, as the both possessed the same dark curly hair and blue eyes, which at this point were swimming with tears.
Ginny tried to grab the little boy, but the girl shoved her back, with what felt like all her strength. 'Brave little thing.' Ginny thought absent-mindedly.
"It's okay." Ginny said quickly and in what she hoped was soothing voice, grabbing the little boy and taking the girl's hand. Running down the street she came to Gringotts. When she was younger, she had run away from her mother on a shopping trip to Diagon Alley for Bill and Charlie's school things. She had hidden in a small alcove under the stone steps leading up to the bank. That's were she was heading for.
Once she reached the white building she shoved the girl under the stairs, giving her the little boy who was crying noisily now. She turned to go but felt a tiny hand grab hers. Turing back she saw the little girl clinging to her.
"Please don't leave us." She whispered, silent tears running down her face. Ginny's heart gave an uncomfortable thump.
"I have to. Where are you parents?" The girl looked back towards the battling alley, even though they were hidden here.
"I'll come back, I promise. What's you name?" Ginny asked the girl.
"Meg and this is Jack." The girl said her brothers name with slight pride in her voice.
"Right well Meg, I'm Ginny and I promise you I will come back for you ok? Look after you brother - don't leave this hiding place!" She hugged the girl and started to run back towards the alley. She only made it a couple of feet before a cold voice made her stop in her tracks.
"Well, well well, look what I've got here, a Weasley." Spinning round she came face to mask with a Death Eater. The silver eyes and long white blond hair was hidden but that voice had haunted her since her first year at Hogwarts. She froze on the spot and when she finally made a move for her wand, it was too late.
She felt the cold tightness covering her body as the full body bind took over. Falling to the group she felt panic and
anger flowing through her paralyzed body. Lucius Malfoy bent down beside her.
"I should just kill you now but considering the last time I tried, I was rudely foiled by Boy wonder I think I'll have some fun. Crucio." She tried to scream, tried to struggle but the fact she couldn't seemed to make the pain more intense, if that was even possible! As the cruse lifted she felt swear trickling down her face, she knew they were hidden from the rest of the alley, no one would know she was here.
He was removing his belt now, causing Ginny's eyes to widen in shock. He chuckled, a sound she knew would haunted her forever.
"I'm not going to rape you little girl, but not out of mercury. I wouldn't like to infect myself with your mudblood traitor delusions that can surely only be blamed on mental health. Oh no, you need to be punished before I kill you, show you why the Order and the family will never win this war. I think I want to hear your screams for this." He removed the body bind, instead conjuring ropes to secure her wrists and ankles.
She was now in a sitting position, her wrist and ankles bowed together, completely immobilising her. She immediately began screaming.
"Now now now, 'silencio' that won't do at all, can't have the cavalry coming before I've had my fun." She felt the screams cease. He ridded the back of her robes, exposing her back. She suddenly realised he was going to use his belt across her back.
"Muggle techniques for a muggle loving traitor I think." He hissed close to her ear. She shut her eyes tightly, taking a deep breath as she sensed what was coming next. Nothing, however, could have prepared her for the sharp pain that sliced across her back. The air was sucked from her lungs, a scream desperately trying to releave some of the pain. Before she could recover and prepare herself, another hit slapped her pale back. She felt blood trickling down, soaking her ripped robes. She didn't know how much more she could take of this as she felt her version started to blur in pain. Just as she thought she would faint from the pain a voice stopped Lucius in his tracks.
"Let her go, now!" Relief flooded through here - Draco!
Lucius ran a finger leisurely down her bloody spine, causing her to flinch, her month opening in a silent cry.
"Let her go now, and I'll make it quick." She had never seen the dangerous glint that had now settled in Draco's eyes. It scared and reassured her at the same time.
"Stay here little girl, this won't take long." Lucius drawled, clicking his fingers, causing several masked death eaters to materialise. "Now, I'm going to kill you Draco, but not before I taught you a lesson about allegiance. It really wasn't on, was it son? Turning your back on me…on your mother." He smirked.
"YOU BASTARD! You killed her, not me! I won't let you kill the only other person I have ever gotten close to. Why don't you be a man, let go of the girl and fight me properly." He was fingering his wand dangerously.
Ron had appeared behind Draco. On seeing Ginny, he lunged forward but Draco held his arm out, stopping him.
"Let GO! I knew you were a fucking traitor!" He howled, pushing Draco off and making his way over to Ginny again. Surprisingly it was Lucius' words that stopped him.
"Oh contra, Weasley, it seems my son wishes to duel with me for your sister's life." His voice was full of mirth at the way these events were turning out.
The duel was fast and furious. Ginny lost count the amount of times Draco suffered the Cruciatus curse. Tears were pouring down her face, she longed to help but the Death Eaters were now restraining her. Ron was hexing them with everything he knew but he was too out numbered. Suddenly Draco had Lucius on the ground, his wand pointing directly at his father's heart.
"Let her go, or I kill him." Draco said simply, not taking his eyes of the wizard beneath him. The Death Eaters let her go. Ron rushed over, vanishing the ropes round her wrists and ankles.
"Take the silencing charm off her and go!" Draco chucked Ron Lucius' wand. Sweat was glancing on Draco's forehead, it was obviously taking a great effect to kept Lucius were he was.
"NO, Draco we're not leaving you!" Ginny cried as soon as the silencing charm had been lifted.
"Weasley take her, NOW!" Draco didn't even look at her.
Ron hauled her away, literally kicking and screaming. It wasn't until they had reached the Leaky Cauldron that Ginny remember the children. Breaking away from Ron she started to sprint back in the direction of Gringotts.
"Ginny, what the Hell are you doing?! Come on, we can floo you to St Mungo's from the Pub, it's
safe." He grabbed her round the waist, trying not to put too much pressure on her injured back.
"Ron you don't understand-," she pleaded with him, but he cut her off.
"Malfoy can look after himself, you need help Gin, you need a healer!"
"Ron this isn't about Draco. I hide two children under the steps up to Gringotts. I promised I would come back for them, please I can't leave them!" She was getting hysterical by this point. Ron stopped abruptly, putting her down. He looked around, exhaling deeply, obviously fighting a difficult internal battle.
"OK, fine, wait here!" he said, charging back into the fighting again. He returned only minutes later, clutching the two children to his tall frame. The little girl looked terrified until she saw Ginny, when she burst into tears, reaching for her. Taking the girl in her arms she winced as the little arms brushed the cuts on Ginny's back, but continued to move behind Ron.
They got safely to the Leaky Cauldron, and Ginny placed the children into the fire grate. As she was about to throw the powder into the grate, Ron shoved her in too.
"No!" she said, turning round to face her brother. "I'm staying, I want to fight!"
"Oh yeah, and look where that got you last time!" he yelled, holding her in the fire place. His face softened at the hurt look on her face. "Look I'll go and help him, but you need to go and get some help yourself, you're bleeding badly. You need to find their parents as well, you can't send them to St Mungo's on their own." She nodded, knowing he was right. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Be careful." He turned to leave, but she called him back. "I'm sorry about fighting with you tonight. I love you, you know that right?" he smiled.
"I know." And with that he rushed out of the pub.
"You ready to go then dear?" her father's voice broke into her thoughts.
"Yep." She replied, pushing her thoughts away. Perhaps today she would finally find out what had happened to Draco that night, perhaps today she would finally be able to repay the debut she had owed him for nearly three years. More importantly she would just get to see him.
***
A/N: once again thanks to those who have reviewed, it really does make me very happy! Chapter 6 up very soon. Thanks
for reading, and if you liked it, hey leave a review and tell me why…and if you didn't, hey leave a review and tell
me why!
Azure xxx