Captured

Chapter 1: Hope Gone Astray

Not a cloud could be seen on the last of summer vacation for the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. At the Burrow a redheaded boy was flying on his broom practicing for the upcoming Quiditch season. The other redhead, and only other child living at the Burrow, was up in her room packing her things for school.

It seems like only yesterday she was sitting by Hermione's hospital bed after her run in with a group of Death Eaters trying to steal the prophecy foretelling the path Voldemort and Harry would have to take. She had broken her ankle in that fight to save the prophecy and only suffered a little pain. Harry's loss was much greater than hers was and she only respected him more for it.

Ginny Weasley was now 15 years old and still a child in many ways. She was hoping, as well, to never grow up. It scared her to think that growing up would bring with it more encounters with the Dark Lord or any more of his followers. If that was what it meant to grow up in this time period than she wished she could stay a child forever. One encounter with the Dark Lord was enough she didn't need anymore.

But wasn't it her duty to help the people she loved. Wasn't she supposed to help the cause. How could she be expected to help the cause if everyone treated her like the child she wished to be. Doesn't make sense does it? Ginny didn't understand it herself.

She tried not to think of it anymore as she put away the last of her things and closed her trunks. In a way Ginny began to feel lonely. Fred and George came to visit, but they weren't around anymore to joke with. Ron was more interested in helping Harry and practicing Keeping for Quiditch he never gave Ginny the time of day.

Nope, life at the Burrow was as hectic and boring at the same time. Her mother and father were constantly carting her and Ron back and forth to Grimmauld Place.

It didn't matter anymore. Tomorrow she would be back at school and everything would be normal. Now, however, she needed sleep.

She was up all night trying as hard as she could to study from her new Defense Against the Dark Arts book she needed for her DADA class this year. Ginny couldn't help but wonder whom they would be hiring for the job this year. Last year no one wanted the job and so that evil Umbridge from the Ministry taught the class. It's very possible that the Ministry threatened anyone who might have taken the job, but with the rumor of the position being jinxed it was doubtful. Ginny prayed Professor Lupin would come back and teach, but it was too much to hope for that as well.

Everything seemed too much to hope for now.

With everything she could retain of Defense Against the Dark Arts still running through her mind she laid herself down for a final night rest at the Burrow for another year.

~~~

At Malfoy Manor everything was as tense as possible.

Draco sat in his normal seat at the abnormally large dinner table, watching his mother's nostrils flare as she ate. Lucius Malfoy had been in Azkaban for three months and there had been two failed attempts so far at another breakout. A third was put into motion tonight and the air in the room was filled with anticipation and hope.

Draco's fork was absentmindedly moving the food around on his plate while he thought of his father. His father was a strong man and he knew Azkaban wouldn't be hard on him. Not like it was for other wizards, no.

Then his mind drifted again, landing on Harry Potter, the source of all Draco's problems. It was Harry's fault that his father was in Azkaban in the first place. Harry and Dumbledore's fault for all Draco's suffering. He filled with hatred at the thought of them both. The only thing Draco craved more than service to the Dark Lord was Harry Potter's death. He knew, however, that Draco could never kill Harry Potter. The Dark Lord would never allow that to happen.

Draco struggled to finish his food and then excused himself, earning another flare of his mother's nostrils.

In bed Draco stared at the ceiling and dreamed of all the wondrous things that he could accomplish if he served the Dark Lord. I was only a matter of time before he was brought to service for the cause.

Everything Draco wanted took himself to the top of the list. Eventually he planned to take his father's place by Voldemort's side and then take Voldemort's place as well.

He could hope for that until the day he died, true power and wealth, and not just what he inherits from his father.

Tomorrow is the first day back to Hogwarts and a new day for Draco. He would do everything to study as many dark spells as possible and seek revenge on Potter. He might not be able to kill Potter, but that doesn't mean he couldn't break him in a little.

Yes, tomorrow would be a new day in the life of Draco Malfoy. He was certain of that.