It Only Took a Tragedy

Ginny felt someone grab her shoulders. She opened her eyes to see her brother Ron glaring at her. Before she could say a word, he yelled, "Why were you in Knockturn Alley?"

"Shhh, Ron!" She didn't want people overhearing their conversation. "I must have just wandered off. You're not going to tattle on me, are you?"

"You liar! I saw you following that scum Malfoy! What is with you lately, Ginny?" Ron's grasp got tighter, and Ginny shoved him away from her. She had never seen her brother get this angry.

"None of your business, Ron! I'm old enough to do whatever I please!" She walked away from him, trying to lose him in the crowd.

Ron caught up to her. He said urgently, "Ginny, listen to me. You can't trust Malfoy! I know him better than you do. Everything he says is lies! Stay away from him!" Ginny was going to ask Ron to help her, but now she realized it was no use. There was no way she could tell anyone about Malfoy's plan. This was something she was going to have to deal with on her own.

"Can you trust me, Ron?" she asked him.

"Of course."

"Then don't worry about me. Trust my judgment." Ron didn't answer. Instead he smiled at his father who was approaching.

"Hi, Ron! Oh, you found Ginny!"

"Yes. She was... just looking at the new Firestorm broom," Ron lied. Ginny was relieved that her brother didn't rat on her for disobeying their mother.

"It sure is a beauty," said Ginny.

"You owe me big time," Ron muttered to his sister when their parents weren't looking.

***

Draco stood in his father's secret room for a few moments after Ginny left. She bloody kissed me. This is going to be easier than I thought. Much easier.

He went a different path that he had come down. It was one that led to the inside of the store, hidden by a dark, barely noticeable closet. Draco peeked through a crack to see if there were any customers there. Once he saw that it was all clear, he stepped out and proceeded to the store owner.

"Mr. Shadney."

The old man turned around, frightened by the unsuspecting voice he heard. Stowing away dark materials seemed to make men rather paranoid. "Oh, it's you, Mr. Malfoy," said Mr. Shadney, relieved it was only the son of his former best customer. He shined his decaying teeth at Draco. The old man was a sight to the young Malfoy. He had long, uncombed gray and black hair and a glass left eye. He was hunched over from old age, and Draco thought he looked uglier than the character in the old flick "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". "Can I help you?" he asked, breaking Draco's hypnosis of the disgusting creature.

"Yes. I came to ask you a favor."

Mr. Shadney put his hand on Draco's shoulder. "Come, let's discuss it in my office, so we don't get interrupted." The man, no less than eighty, lead the teenager into a crammed office in the back of the store. When they arrived, he asked, "Now, what is this favor?"

"The book. You know the one I'm talking about. I want you to bring it to my house in any way you can get it there without being suspicious."

The man frowned. "I don't know about that. The Ministry has really been cracking down lately."

Draco knew how to get the man to comply. He took out of his robes a sack full of money. "This should help you make the right decision. I know you aren't nicknamed Mr. Shady for nothing."

Mr. Shadney hesitated, but the temptation of money was too great for him not to take a risk. He grabbed the velvet back from Draco's hand. "Deal."

"Will you have it to me by tomorrow night?" He added, "If you do, I'll give you double that amount the next time I come."

The man's tired face lightened up at the mention of more money. "Of course, sir!" he said enthusiastically.

"Good." Draco, no longer needing Mr. Shadney's services, left the store. Waiting for him outside he found his mother.

She eagerly asked, "Did you give her the potion?"

"No."

"Damn you, Draco! I told you to give it to her now!" Narcissa scowled as she stomped her feet. She gritted her teeth to keep her from raising her voice too loud. She didn't want someone overhearing their conversation and tipping off the Ministry.

They started to walk out of Knockturn Alley. "It's too earlier in the game to give it to her now. That would look way too suspicious," he told her.

"But-"

Draco interrupted. "Look, she'll be over tomorrow night, and I can give it to her then."

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Positive," said Draco, as he grinned at her. "She can't resist me."

"I hope your little plan works." She whispered, "If not, I'm going to force feed it down her scrawny little throat and give her to Voldemort myself."

Hearing that made Draco angry. "Why do you want to help me again?"

Narcissa looked hurt by his question. "You are my son, that's why! I don't want to loose you like I lost your father."

Wow, that almost sounded sincere. Draco wanted to believe her, but couldn't. Sure, she was probably scared of being alone, but there had to be some ulterior motive. He knew her all too well.