Heart Bound Love

Chapter 2: Secrets

"Walking down to the sea bank on a summer morning, the sky bloomed over the horizon, spread endless light, and the wind gently whistled through the trees. Sonnets of the sky slipped through the air while the breath of the new breeze inhaled.

'Oh beneath the world, I have waited for your dearest touch, everlasting touch, the face that brightens mine.'

'Do not shun the yearning of sheer love in which I hold so deeply in your heart. Come.'

'I could never express what I do have in my heart for you, how I wish to caress your face, the only soul I wish to earn is yours, yet I must go.'

The sun began to sink into the earth when the two emerged from the coast. In the brink of the evening, the smell of affection rose to the sea."

"What a bunch of bloody bullshit," with contemplation, Ginny looked down at her half-written sheet of paper, grin fading, she crumpled the paper in a ball and threw it on the floor.

She had been trying to successfully complete a story for almost three months now. Upon realizing that she was quite incompetent. Her feelings for Harry at the least were dying down a bit, although through her poetry and stories, it came back to life. It came back almost as much as when she first saw Harry. When she first saw Harry, yes, her eyes would melt into puddles of jealously, her heart tremor, and her stomach leaped backwards. She hated that feeling, more than she could ever describe.

It was a bright day, almost too bright, the sun shone on her face through the window onto her face and blinded her. The fact that classes would be tomorrow and she hadn't completed her assignments, was a complete disappointment. She had been planning to go out with Parvati Patil to Hogsmede, however, Snape had given all the sixth years a ten page assign- ment on the pros and cons of boiling a Prequice potion on a cauldron opposed to a pot. Ginny had thought this was quite a ridiculous question, considering that a pot had almost the same qualities as a cauldron. Perhaps Snape did it on purpose, just to watch them moan in agony. She was quite sure this was his intention.

Unloading her school books onto her bed, she had decided to get working, but after about a half an hour, she hadn't found one thing in the potions book about the Prequice potion. Beginning to panic, she walked down to the almost empty common room. A few students sat and read quietly to themselves, and a Fred and George were spotted behind the couch, seemingly blowing something up. Spotting another Gryffindor, in which the name seemed to fade, she decided to walk over and ask him how he was coming along, since it was quite apparent Snape had wanted them to spend hours, or perhaps days, on this particular assignment.

"Sorry to bother you, but have you been able to find the Prequice potion in the book?" She asked, walking over and resting her hand on the arm rest of the couch he was sitting on.

Looking up, the boy shook his head slowly, "I haven't been able to find a bloody thing in this book!"

Ginny nodded and decided to find help elsewhere, perhaps Colin Creevy would be able to find something. Colin was in the library, sitting at a table with several books in hand, and shaking his head every so often. The library was very full, to Ginny's surprise; it was filled with many students trying to find the Prequice potion, and none seemed to be successful. This wasn't particularly strange, Snape was known to give tough assignments, but never has he gave an assignment that was impossible.

Heading back up to her room in great disappointment, she noticed a gloomy figure walking down the staircase. Upon further inspection, she found it was Ron. His face swallowed into the abyss of an apparent obvious fact' it seemed to chase after him as if it was his own shadow. Ginny had never seen his face like that before: drenched in hatred and sorrow.

He kept walking past Ginny as if she was yet just another face in the crowd, not acknowledging her, he kept his pace up and continued to walk past her. Ginny realized the sorry state of her brother and reached up to touch his shoulder. Looking up into what was meant to be a kind gesture, came out more urgent than comforting.

Ron looked up, "What Ginny?"

"Are you feeling alright?"

"I suspect you'll find out soon enough," was his only words before slipping down the staircase and disappearing from view.

This was quite unusual of Ron, and Ginny suspected something had to be wrong. Up in the common room, the everyone was just as gloomy- faced as Ron. Some were huddled in groups, the others scattered around dwelled in their own thoughts. She spotted Lee Jordan and decided to ask him what was seemed to trouble everyone, surely something that terrible could not of happen in her short walk from the common room to the library. All Lee did was point to the table in front of the fire place, in which laid a piece of parchment.

***

Draco Malfoy sat in the Slytherin dormitory. It was quite cool and gloomy in his dormitory; none of the other boys were up there, the solidarity of the room led him to ponder many questions that entered his mind. What happened to Potter? Why had he not been informed? Surely Snape would want him to know what happened to the Boy Who Lived. But, apparently, Professor Serveus Snape had lead Draco away. The other boys had been called down to the common room so Snape could make an announcement. However, he had told Draco to stay up in the dormitory. He wasn't really complaining, it was quite nice up there. The brisk wind gliding along his smooth pale skin, the dark room lit by a few candles, and the isolation gave him a sense of superiority.

Some may call him foolish, hell, many did; but somehow, he didn't mind, he never really did. His deep insecurities lead him to stick his head up high, be proud of what he was, a pureblood. Also, his money seemed to drive some of the other Slytherins to come into alliances with him, but most of all was his persistent arrogance. It was one of the many qualities that on which Slytherins were noted. Pride, arrogance, high decorum through dress, speech, and contacts were what separated them from other houses. A false sense of superiority, in which only they knew was a curtain in front of the stage.

Still, he sat alone upon his four-poster bed waiting for the news to end. It seemed he had to wait no longer, when a large, well-built owl landed on the beam of the headboard. It was his owl, Ivan. Perhaps it brought him good news of the apparent chaos of the school.

Inside it wrote:

Draco,

My dearest son, as the circumstances preside, my actions may be discovered. All I am able to tell you, is that you are to come home during the break, and I will find a place for you to stay safe. Harry Potter, is in the hands of Voldemort.

Father

Indeed, it was good news. Potter was gone, and in the hands of Voldemort, maybe forever. But, he did not understand why his father would assume he was unsafe. Also, Christmas break was a long time away, why would he be safe until then?

***

In the Great Hall that evening, Draco soon found out he would not be leaving upon Christmas time, but rather in the middle of October. Dumbledore had announced because of Harry's disappearance, all students would be dismissed for a three week vacation, so the Ministry could search the school and try to figure out what happened to Harry Potter.

The question still remained about why he was kept from hearing what Snape had to say in the common room that afternoon. This was truly puzzling Draco, and for most of the dinner, he sat hacking his food with his fork.

***

The time had come to board the Hogwarts Express and leave for home. Ron sat quiet most of the ride, while Hermione sat and flipped through books, her eyes not looking at the words, but at her hands as she sat in silence. Ginny figured they had been in utter shock. Harry had always been protected, but now, he had disappeared. It was more worry than shock, he had never been on his own before.

The break was sure to be a sad, mourning time for everyone, or almost everyone.

***

Draco Malfoy entered upon the gates of the Malfoy Park. This was entirely his land. Malfoy Park was a large mansion surrounded by smaller houses; it was almost like a village. The Malfoy Mansion was large and grand. Too bad he didn't live there. Draco was built his own house, away from the Malfoy Mansion. Although his house was larger than the servants' homes around his, he felt isolated from his own family quite a bit. Whether he liked this or not was quite unknown. The surrounding houses were that of peasants, merchants, and ground keepers for the Malfoys. Yes, they even had a local store in which the servants would be given money to buy necessities for the week.

Draco didn't bother going into the mansion yet. He unloaded his bags in his sector. It was quite nice. Marble floors, oak furniture, and it was quite larger than most homes in England. He took pride in he was undoubtably part of the richest family in England.

Inside his sector was a large den where he spent most of his time. Upon tossing his bags on to the couch, he noticed a letter on the table. It was labeled 'Draco from father'. Inside his father directed him to go inside the Malfoy Mansion and meet his mother; Narcissa.

Sighing, Draco opened the door and walked along the passageway up the Park to the Mansion at the top of the hill. Several servants opened their doors to wish Draco a happy return, and he just nodded them off. They were quite annoying, really, pestering him. Everyone knew they just did it to please Master Malfoy.

Finally reaching the door, Draco opened it quickly and walked to the living area where Narcissa waited patiently. She sat on the leather couch, her hands on her lap, looking quite herself indeed. Draco, however, could tell something was wrong with his mother. She looked tired, and much more worried than he had ever seen her before.

"Yes Narcissa?" Draco spoke softly. He was quite accustomed to addressing his mother by her first name, however, his father was another story entirely.

"Draco, come, sit, I'm afraid I have some bad news to break." She swallowed her tongue has he sat down, the last energy she had swept from under her feet.

Draco sat, glancing around for his father. He was anxious, and surprised; not many bad things happened to the Malfoys. None this urgent at the least, "Where is father?"

"That is what I came to discuss with you, Draco," she said softly.

"Well go on."

"Your father has been taken to Azkaban for questioning by the Ministry for the kidnapping of Harry Potter"

Draco's face drained of the little color that was there. He suddenly understood many things, and wasn't sure if he liked them or not.

"He left this for you," she handed him a small letter.

"Thank you Narcissa," he nodded and left back to his quarters. He sat a few minutes in the den, staring at the note, wondering when he should open it. Finally his curiosity lead him to tear the letter.

Draco,

Son, by now you have heard where I am and why. Voldemort is loosing power and he wanted me to kill Harry Potter. I did not, it would be to obvious if he was murdered on the spot. He finally has him in his custody, I kidnapped him from Hogwarts. I'm sure Dumbledore knows, you are in great danger. Since I'm sure the Ministry knows where Harry Potter is located, I ask you to travel on a quest. Draco, our family depends on you. You must move Harry Potter to a new location, so the Ministry doesn't connect the kidnapping to me. Soon after, we will be free from Voldemort, as soon as Harry Potter is dead. For the well being of your mother and I, please Draco, go to Madrid and take Harry Potter to Paris where he will be safe. I will send you messages along the way to guide you. Remember, our future belongs to you.

Father

He sat for a few moments staring at the words that seemed to shoot up at him. His father was the one who kidnapped Potter. Hewas to move him to keep the Ministry from finding out. Everything came into place. Draco didn't want anything to do with Voldemort, yet, if he did not, his family and fortune would be at stake, his father would probably be imprisoned in Azkaban for the rest of his life, and he would live in shame and dishonor. On the other hand, if he went and got caught, he would be imprisoned in Azkaban for life, and his fortune and honor would mean nothing. But, if he didn't go, it was bound to happen, when if he went, he just might have a chance.

The next question that entered his mind was how would he get Potter to go with him? He would need a distraction. Or perhaps his weakness. But what his Harry Potter's weakness? Maybe the question was not what, but who.

***