The Road Ahead

Chapter Five

I thought the world could be changed by

A good song and smile

But it's been this way such a long time

So maybe I'm wrong

-"Untitled 2" by Keane

Hermione's senses awoke one by one, the first one being her hearing. The first thing she noticed was the rustling of sheets right next to her. She felt them twist and graze her face, and she groaned. She was awake now; she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep.

"Oh, Lavy, why'd you have to wake me--"

She sat upright so fast her neck cricked. Her daughter was lying awake; looking at her with a confused expression. Hermione gasped and grabbed her hand.

"Lavender, are you alright? Do you feel fine? Say something to Mummy, please." Hermione begged.

"Mummy, I feel weird."

Hermione looked at her nervously. "Ron? Ron, wake up!"

"Huh, 'Mione?" Ron answered sleepily.

"Lavender's awake!"

Ron, too, sat up so fast his neck twisted unpleasantly. He got up from the chair he was sitting in and ran over to the bed. "Lavy, Daddy's here, too. Do you feel alright?"

This time she just simply shook her head 'no'.

Ron looked at Hermione, panic forming on his face. "Okay, what do we do? Dumbledore. And the Healers. Okay." Ron ran over to the wing door, only to come face to face with a pair of half-moon spectacles.

"She's awake, isn't she?" Dumbledore asked immediately.

Ron nodded and moved out of the doorway so Dumbledore could make his way to the bed. The older man sat in a chair next to the bed and opposite of Hermione.

"Lavender, dear, do you feel very tired and dizzy?" Dumbledore asked quietly.

The girl widened her eyes, looked up at him, and nodded slowly.

"As I presumed," he said, turning away to face Ron and Hermione. "Would you mind stepping outside with me for a moment?"

Ron nodded and walked briskly towards the door, followed by Dumbledore, and, after she had kissed Lavy's forehead, Hermione.

Once outside the ward, he led them to a sitting area and produced a large bubble-like shield so no one else could hear them.

"I'm afraid I've discovered what hex they attacked her with, and I must tell you quickly, as there isn't much time."

Ron and Hermione stared at him anxiously.

"The full effects take twenty-four hours to complete. The first twelve hours she was in a comatose state, so it is my guess is that she began to wake up at around five o'clock this morning, even though it is now nine. Mrs. Weasley, do you remember, perhaps, a more exact time she was cursed?"

Hermione thought hard. "I think--at least, I'm almost sure--it was at 5:10."

"Ah...well, for the twelve hours after she awoke her physical and mental health will deteriorate..."

"Until she dies," Ron whispered.

"Indeed, yes," Dumbledore agreed solemnly. "However, there is a cure, but it won't be easy to get."

Ron looked at him eagerly. "What is it and where can we find it?"

"It's a potion that will stop the effects and hopefully bring her back to her normal state, but there is only one vial of it--and it's in the Lords of Darkness headquarters."

Ron jumped up determinedly. "Well, if we've only got so much time, what are we waiting for?"

Dumbledore held his hand up. "Ron, please, it is my intention to get the potion, but will you wait while I get other Order members to come with us? It would be extremely foolish for you to run right into their trap alone."

"Alright--but I'm only waiting so long."

Hermione looked at Ron anxiously, but nodded to show that she agreed.

He waved his wand and the shield dissolved. "I won't take long." And he disapparated away.

***

The conversation at breakfast was strained; everyone was trying to make Harry more at ease. He appreciated their thought, be he couldn't bring himself to just chat carelessly with them. After uncomfortably eating away his plate of eggs and sausage, he stood to follow Ginny as soon as she rose.

"No, Harry, it's alright. I'm just going outside...I want to be alone for a bit. Why don't you play chess with Dad and Remus or something?" She looked pleadingly at her dad and Remus.

Remus picked up on her hints right away. "Yeah, Harry, why don't we play a game of chess? Someone left a pretty good set here."

"Er, sure, I guess," Harry replied. He turned to Ginny. "Don't go to far."

Ginny smiled. "You're going to make a good father--although a very cautious one. Our poor child." She winked at him and patted her stomach.

Harry couldn't help but grin, but it vanished after a second. Ginny decided she should leave now, or he wouldn't even let one of her feet out of the front door. Mr. Weasley and Remus stood and came over to Harry.

"Come on, son, I'll play the winner," Mr. Weasley said, taking his elbow and steering him towards the study in the back of the house.

Not surprisingly, Harry couldn't find it in him to play a brutal game of chess, and Remus easily beat him. Mr. Weasley switched seats with Harry and rubbed his hands together.

"You're not winning this one, Lupin."

Remus smiled. "Oh, you think, do you, Weasley?"

"I do think so," he replied with a grin.

It was obvious they were acting like this to get Harry to show some enthusiasm, but he wasn't really doing that. Their game took many twists and turns, and lasted quite a long time. Eventually, Harry stood up.

"I'll be back in a sec, I'm just gonna go see Ginny."

"Alright, Harry, but you never know how she's going to react to you interrupting her silence--it's your risk," Remus replied with a twinkle in his eye.

"I'll risk it," Harry replied with a small smile.

He walked past the kitchen, where Tonks and Molly were talking over cups of coffee, to the front door. He pried it open and squinted at the sun. After his eyes had adjusted to the brightness, he looked around the lawn. Ginny wasn't anywhere. Immediately, panic began coursing through him, and he ran around the house to the back. She wasn't there, either. He made it all the way back to the front, but there was still no sign of her. He looked wildly at all the surrounding hills and forests and didn't see her. Suddenly, a spot of green underneath a nearby tree caught his attention. He walked over and found that it was a piece of fabric. Ginny had been wearing green robes today, and they were exactly like it. It was just about two inches long and one inch wide, but Harry knew right away that it had been ripped off in a struggle. He turned around and ran back towards the door to the house, but stopped immediately when a group of wizards and witches suddenly appeared right in front of them, Dumbledore among them.

"Professor, Ginny--they've tak-taken her. Quick, we have to go after them!"

Dumbledore frowned. "They've found out where our headquarters are." He disappeared suddenly and came back ten seconds later with Ron and Hermione.

The action outside of the house had brought Remus, Tonks, Arthur, and Molly to the door. The group Dumbledore had brought with him consisted of Alastor Moody, Jack Corus, Hestia Jones, and Dean Thomas.

Dumbledore looked around at everyone gravely. "We don't have much time. Ginny has been taken by the Lords of Darkness, and it is essential we get the potion for Lavender to live. Three lives are at stake, at the very least." He stuck his hand into his pocket and extracted a candy wrapper. Without being told what to do, all twelve of them took deep breaths and placed a finger on the portkey.

***

Ginny moaned groggily as her head rolled to the side, her chin resting lazily on her chest. She slowly came out of her sleep like state, and eventually opened her eyes.

Everything came back to her in a rush, and she snapped her head up. She tried desperately to slow her breathing down and think rationally.

She had been sitting underneath a shady tree outside of headquarters...and then they had appeared out of nowhere, three or so Lords of Darkness. She had tried to scream, but they cast a Silencing Spell on her; she had tried to run, but they pulled her back. Her memory stopped abruptly there, so she knew they must have Stunned her. Which brought her to the room she was in now. She had no idea where she was. The room had wooden walls and floors, and there was nothing in it except two green velvet chairs facing a fireplace and a polished round table on the opposite side of the room. Black velvet curtains hung over the two windows in the room, and the only light was a tiny sliver from underneath the door. She supposed she was in some sort of headquarters for the Lords of Darkness. It reminded her of a much cleaner Grimmauld Place--the perfect place for Dark wizards.

So entranced with the room she had been that she didn't notice what she was sitting on, or how she was secured to it. It was a wood and emerald velvet chair with heavily carved legs and armrests. Her hands were chained behind her to the back of the chair, and her feet were chained to both of the chair legs. It was in the middle of the room, squarely facing the door--which was now creaking open.

The door swung all the way open to reveal Draco Malfoy. His blonde hair was illuminated from the candles in the hallway. He closed the door behind him, shot a stream of fire to the fireplace to light it, and walked over to where Ginny was seated. She scowled at him, but he gave her a rather cunning smile.

"Ah, Ginny, welcome to my new home, and the Lords of Darkness lair. You don't look too happy to be here, though, do you? I wouldn't see why, we even made accommodations for you to have your own room. Although I can see that the disadvantage of not being able to use your arms and legs might be a problem." His eyes glinted evilly.

Ginny couldn't hide the large lump in her throat as she swallowed.

Malfoy laughed softly at her. He placed the back of his hand on her cheek and brushed it down, stopping at her chin. She involuntarily shuddered; his hand felt like a burning iron on her face. He leaned forward and breathed into her ear, his tone a cold taunt. "There's no Harry Potter here to save you now, is there?"

As much as she hated it, he was very right. Being in a dark room with Draco Malfoy was never something she had thought about before, but now it was her worst nightmare. She hadn't ever really been religious before, but now she couldn't help but pray to whatever higher being was out there. Please, please let someone come. Let Harry come.

Ginny looked up at Malfoy's piercing, vicious stare and met it with as much of a defiant look as she could muster. But it didn't seem to work. All Malfoy did was laugh under his breath.

"You dare to challenge me, commander of the Lords?" he whispered. "Think again."

"You're a poor excuse for a commander. I know that deep inside you you're still nothing but a insecure, power-hungry school boy unwilling to face reality. That's all Tom ever was, too," Ginny replied through gritted teeth, sounding a whole lot more confident than she felt.

"And you, Ginny Potter, are a weakling. You hold so desperately to the strong, the brave Harry Potter."

"He has a whole lot more power than you--"

She was broken off when the door flung open. Malfoy pulled his hand off her face.

"Nott! I told you to leave me alone," Malfoy hissed.

"I know, my Lord, but--"

"You insolent--"

Nott raised his voice. "Excuse me, Lord Malfoy, but I have some extremely urgent news."

Malfoy sighed; irritated. "What is it, Nott?"

"They're here, as you expected. You wanted to confront them yourselves?"

He smirked. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. You may go, I will come in a moment."

Ginny felt a flutter of hope. 'Them' must certainly be Harry, Dumbledore, Ron and other members of the Order. She only hoped they were alright so far.

Malfoy turned around and leaned down so he was an inch from her face. "Your rescuers may be here, but they won't last long once I've dealt with them. I'll deal with you later." He laughed quietly at the expression on her face before turning and striding out of the room quickly, closing the door behind him.

His comment had made her heart skip a beat, but she knew she had nothing to be afraid of now. After all, Harry had defeated Voldemort, so Malfoy would be nothing compared to him. Or at least she hoped. Even as she tried to convince herself, a nagging doubt tugged at her mind.

She settled the matter in her head by proclaiming to the empty room. "By Merlin, Malfoy won't even have a chance to come back here once they've dealt with him."

No one could encourage or disagree with her though, since the room was empty, but she felt a soft kick at her stomach. Well, Ginny wished, That's got to count for something.