Missing in Action

Missing in Action

Chapter Eight: Bad Faith and Misplaced Loyalty

Ron, Hermione and Draco's current location: Edinburgh, Scotland, the United Kingdom.

Harry and Ginny's current location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, the European Union.

Harry Potter:

I looked at Ginny after the owl had gone. She smiled briefly, then returned to staring at her silver-clad feet and smoking a magical cigarette. Magical cigarettes didn't do any damage, except the habit was hard to kick. I wondered how she'd got hold of them, as Voldemort wasn't exactly itching to let us go souvenir shopping.

We hadn't talked about our kiss at all, and she just wouldn't talk to me, except to say 'Good morning'.

"Ginny," I began, wondering if this really was the best way to approach the subject, "About... you know... we haven't talked about it, which I think is what we really need to do. So..."

Finally, she looked up and met my gaze. She dropped the cigarette butt, extinguished it with the sole of one of her silver flip-flops and said, "No Harry, we don't need to talk at all," then turned and went back inside.

"What did I do to deserve this?" I asked the sky. That was it. I was going to catch her unawares and demand that she talk to me.

Ginny Weasley:

I lit another cigarette, the last one out of my packet, crumpled the carton in my hand and tossed it into a nearby bush as I walked away from Harry.

My life had been turned upside-down by that kiss. Don't get me wrong, I was practically aching to talk to Harry about the whole hoorah, but something in me held back. I was intending to go back to my suite, but a scrawny figure stood in my way. I gulped. It was Voldemort himself.

"No need to be worried, Miss Weasley," he chuckled, watching my expression. "I must chat with you about the next stage of Operation: Basilisks. He motioned for me to follow him into the lounge and sat in a huge overstuffed bottle-green armchair.

"I notice that our escapade made the Scotland magical papers," he said. I nodded. "You weren't... seen, were you?" he asked, with a bit of worry in his voice. I shook my head 'no'.

"But we were heard," I admitted, "Especially since we had to speak Parseltongue loudly so that the Basilisk could hear us clearly."

Voldemort cleared his throat. "Not a problem, Virginia. Tell me, have you written in any diaries lately?"

"Oh, no, my Lord, not at all. I haven't much time for diaries anyhow, what with the O.W.L's and such."

"All righty. What if I gave you a notebook- a plain, non-magical notebook- in order to help you trust a diary again? I recognise a lot of emotions that you need to let out, Virginia, and a diary may help you to do that.

"When you have written five entries, bring the book to me and I will plant it somewhere so that we may find others to help us on our quest."

"Um... so you will be enchanting the diary after I write in it?" I asked.

"Why, yes, dear."

"But that leaves the blood on my hands!" I exclaimed.

"There are enchantments... that will prevent anyone from tracing the true diary writer."

I had to think about the implications.

"I don't know, my Lord. I mean... what if..."

"What if it doesn't work? You know, Miss Weasley, that I am the greatest sorcerer in the world, do you not? Am I truly liable to ruin a vital enchantment?"

"I suppose not."

"If it will make you feel better, we can perform the charm together. It will render it practically unbreakable."

"Tom..." I began.

"What did you say?" Voldemort snapped.

"Oh! Oops! Sorry, Voldemort," I corrected myself.

"Good. That's settled, then."

Voldemort reached into a satchel at the side of his armchair and extracted a plain, forest-green notebook, which he handed to me. I took it gingerly and opened it. As with Tom Riddle's diary, the pages were completely blank. I flipped through it, concluding that it was utterly harmless. As I began to rise and go back to my suite, Voldemort patted my shoulder, and I sat again.

"Virginia," he said gently, "do not begin any sort of a romantic relationship with Mr. Potter. You are too good for that ungrateful bastard. You are too valuable to our mission."

My eyes widened. "How did you know about me and Harry?"

Voldemort grinned. "It is plainly obvious. He keeps complaining that you won't talk to him about your, er, kiss."

I felt my face flame bright red. "We... um... anyway... there's nothing happening."

"There better not be. A relationship with the... er... charming Mr. Potter will do nothing for your current situation. Which is why I've lined up a date, for your beautiful self, for the annual Dutch Death Eaters' Ball. He has traveled directly from Sofia especially for this grand event."

He snapped his fingers, and a figure materialised out of the shadows. I put my hand to my mouth in shock.

It was Viktor Krum.

Viktor Krum:

The Dark Lord was right. My 'date' for the Ball is absolutely perfect. And she is a pure-blood Parselmouth. Unlike that Mudblood I took to the Yule Ball, this girl is tall, slim, and her hair is the brightest shade of red I have ever seen.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Krum," she said politely, extending her hand. I shook it, my heart doing flip-flops in my chest. "I hope you are well?"

"Oh yes, Miss- er?"

"I've not introduced myself yet? Excuse my manners! I'm Virginia Weasley."

"Hello, Virginia," I said, "Judging by your expression, I need no introduction. Not to be ill-mannered, of course."

"Oh, Ginny's fine. Just Ginny."

The Dark Lord smiled indulgently. "But doesn't Virginia sound much grander? Yes, I think we will stick to Virginia."

Ginny- Virginia bowed her head in respect, "Yes, my Lord."

I was astonished. Never in my life had I met such a polite, respectful girl. I knew of Voldemort's plans for her. My family would be delighted with this young woman.

"Why don't I leave you two to get better acquainted? I'll be in the Serpents' Parlour with a cup of tea," Voldemort said, and swept away in the direction of the parlour.

We sat in two armchairs, directly opposite each other. "So, how's life with the Vratsa Vultures going?" Virginia asked.

"It is fine. We've got a new coach, and he's a Death Eater too, so he understands the sacrifices I have to make for my Lord."

"Aren't you lucky!" she said.

"I had doubts about that."

"Even when you were signed with the Vultures?"

"Even then. But now I have met you."

"I think I will enjoy attending this ball with you, Mr. Krum."

"If I can call you Virginia, then you should be able to call me Viktor."

"Well- if you insist- OK."

Draco Malfoy:

I wonder if Weasel and Mudblood Granger know that I'm not merely spinning them a line, I'm weaving a whole Goddamn web around the two dim-wits! That tale about my dad chucking me out of the house was a stroke of fucking genius. Or Ginny-us, as the case may be.

Won't father be proud?

Probably not. That prick can always find fault with me.

But I've got a bit of an issue.

I just noticed that Granger's really sexy when she's angry.

And there you have it, the exact reason why my father will find fault with my achievements.