To Dance With A Demon

Prologue

The Dark Mark

Ginevra Ailise Weasley was quite annoyed. She could not believe the audacity of the golden trio. She curled her lip in distaste. How dare "Lord" Harry Potter think that he can just waltz up to her and expect her to fall to his feet in hallooed worship? Who did he think he was: Zeus? Then "Miss Know it All" Hermione had to inform her how lucky she was that Harry Potter would even consider taking Ginny to the spring formal.

"Stupid Mudblood," she sneered out loud. She was so busy wallowing in her anger that Blaise Zabini appeared behind her almost unnoticeably. She had already sat down on her favorite rock when Ginny swirled around to notice her.

"Tsk, tsk, Gin. I thought you did not say such things." Blaise laughed melodically. Ginny glared at her and tossed her hair out her eyes.

"Only when she shows her ignorance. I swear the only reason she's a bitch to me now is because Harry is no longer mooning over her disgusting, frizzy arse," Ginny muttered hatefully. Blaise shook her head. When Ginny went into a tantrum, there was no pulling her out of it.

"Do you think that Snape is going to agree with Dumbledore and move you to seventh year potions? You have put in the work and effort," Blaise asked after a moment.

Ginny shrugged. "Probably, he has been paying much more attention to me as of late. Can you believe he asked me the other day why the sorting hat took so long to place me? I had to explain how the thing wanted me in Ravenclaw and I wanted to be in Slytherin. The hat actually told me that Dumbledore had forbidden several students from being placed there!"

Blaise smiled encouragingly, "It would have made our friendship easier. I am thinking about speaking to Professor Snape about making us partners if he moves you to our class. That way we could actually speak in front of other people."

Ginny finally gave a small smile.

"I know. I wish this stupid war was over and people could start rebuilding things. You know...Gryffindor and Slytherin were not always in this silly feud. They used to be allies, back when the inner school tournaments would take place." Ginny shook her head sadly.

Blaise nodded in agreement. "I know. It was probably back before Voldemort, when the dissension began."

Ginny sighed and twirled around, before sitting down gently on her own rock. She sat back in contemplation. Blaise had been meeting her at the lake since Ginny's second year. They had become friends when Ginny was practicing in the potion's lab one night. Even then they had been smart enough to keep their closeness a secret, though. After Ginny's fourth year they discovered that there was a new object to keep them close. Draco Malfoy.

Ginny was not quite sure when Draco Malfoy had begun catching her attention, but when she fell for him she knew it was absolute. She knew nothing would ever come of it. He was after all promised to that chit, Pansy Parkinson. Blaise cared for him only out of very concerned friendship. She knew that Draco did not want to receive the dark mark, but telling his father was never an option. Blaise fully planned to help Draco out, though, once he realized he was going to have to run.

Ginny and Blaise had long since discovered that running was the only was to keep Draco and Blaise from being forced to take the dark mark. Ginny knew that they would need someone else to be their secret keeper. When the day came, Ginny would cast the spell and those two would disappear until the end of the war. The idea of Ginny's best friend leaving and the love of her life out of her eyesight were almost too much for her at the moment. She closed her eyes and leaned up.

Blaise tossed her a compassionate look. She suddenly stood and announced she needed to get back to the common room before anyone missed her. Pansy had taken to following her lately. She seemed to think that Blaise was up to something. Blaise grimaced at Pansy's sudden show of intelligence. Why couldn't the stupid chit just stay stupid with all her tacky accessories?

Ginny watched Blaise walk away with out speaking. She then stood and began to strip down to her underclothes. Swimming seemed like a good idea and plus she could meet with the mermaids. Popping the gillyweed in her mouth, she dove in and began swimming rapidly. She was halfway down when a glimmer of silver at the surface caught her attention.

She rapidly began paddling upward. She knew that sign. She burst out the water at lightning speed and pulled her wand from her clothes. She cast a dressing spell and made a beeline back for the castle. She stopped abruptly as she saw three figures traipsing off into the forbidden forest. She hesitantly gripped her wand tighter and made up her mind to follow.

Slowly she began wandering in as quiet as she could. Whispering to herself, Ginny cast a silencing charm on her shoes. Where were they? She continued hoping they hadn't gotten to far. When she emerged from a particularly dark area, Ginny noticed the three hooded people talking lowly in a clearing. A fourth apparition was joining them. 'A ghost,' Ginny realized with a shock.

The top of a cloak fell off one of their heads. Lucius Malfoy! Ginny was shocked. Why in the world would Tom be stupid enough to send his best deatheater into the lion's cage? 'Draco,' Ginny realized with a jolt. Ginny looked back to the castle and then back at Lucius Malfoy. Then she made one of the biggest decisions of her life. She let Lucius Malfoy get away and she turned and ran straight for Hogwarts.

Ginny did not stop to muse among the throng of students that were being hustled back into the castle. The morons were standing there staring up at the Dark Mark in the sky. She did not stop to explain to Harry, Hermione, or Ron why she was running when she burst in-between them. She fled straight to the infirmary. She came to a screeching halt as hands reached out from behind a statue and pulled her into the dark. Blaise put a hand over her mouth.

"They came for Theodore Nott because he leaked information to Dumbledore. Draco was instructed to give him a Sleeping Draught and Draco disobeyed. He told his father that the vial broke, but Lucius hexed him anyway. He used Crucio, Ginny. Draco is still in severe shock. Pansy and Lydia Blackstone are in there with him," Blaise whispered urgently.

Ginny nodded to show her understanding.

"Theodore?" she asked hesitantly after a moment. Blaise sniffled and Ginny swiftly turned around. Blaise opened her mouth to speak, but ended up slipping to the ground.

Ginny leaned down to embrace her friend, "I'm so sorry Blaise, I am so sorry."

"They used Avada Kedarva after using Crucio. They made it so slow. That's what Pansy told me. She was there..." Blaise sniffed again. Theodore Nott had been the object of her affection for some time, although she had never made good on the idea.

"Come on, sweetie. We need to get out of here," Ginny whispered as she heard Dumbledore's voice from around the corner. Blaise gave a shaky nod and then a more convincing look.

"Let's go," she murmured back.

They made their way for the North Tower. They often went there after dark. It was easier to reach than the lake. When they were safely locked away they began discussing options rapidly.

"We should have brought Theo into this a long time ago," Blaise muttered. Ginny nodded in agreement, but did not say anything. She was deep in thought. Thinking off all the people that were about to have to grow up quickly. After the incident two years before at the ministry, Dumbledore's Army had actually become an after school activity. Ginny had stopped going the year before. She couldn't stand how people would worship the golden trio. It was going straight to their heads, as well.

"We need to start gathering more help, Blaise. Slytherins that are worried about being forced to join Voldemort and others that seem to be falling to his side. I don't think we are going to be able to sit on the sidelines anymore; my readings are getting worse and worse. You said your parents are beginning to push you harder to receive the dark mark. Soon you won't be able to convince them that you just want to wait till you're out of school." Ginny spoke slowly.

"So, what? You just plan to abandon sending Draco and I off to safety? I thought we had agreed that was the best choice," Blaise said a bit loudly. Ginny stared at her through slit eyes. She seemed to think about what Blaise said.

"Nothing would make me happier than to send the two people I love most in the world to safety, but I don't think that is an option. If Lucius Malfoy killed Theodore Nott...Wait, if Voldemort discovered Theodore was leaking information, then how long do you think it would take him to figure out where you two were?" Ginny asked, her voice shaking.

Blaise smiled sadly again and nodded in agreement.

"I suppose that we're the real army, huh?" she said after a moment. Then she started to laugh hysterically. She beat her hands against the side of the tower in anger. Then she slipped to the ground crying. Ginny went to her side, but did not embrace her. She placed a hand on her shoulder to get Blaise's attention. Blaise looked up at her questioningly.

"I promise that you will get revenge. I swear it," Ginny told the older girl quickly and sincerely.

Blaise nodded. "Sometimes revenge is what hold's us together."