For Us . . . All of Us

Chapter Eight: Unexpected Help

"I don't know," said Ginny thoughtfully. "It was like I was inside his head. I could hear what he was thinking and what was going on around him."

They were in Dumbledore's office at the Ministry discussing Ginny's strange experience that morning. Harry was inclined to believe it had been just a dream, but Dumbledore said he believed it was something more. He said that Ginny was able to hear Draco's thoughts because he was in grave danger.

"But why hasn't this happened before now?" Harry asked Dumbledore.

"Because before now he hasn't been in grave danger. Thanks to Ginny, we now know that the point of the plan involving Mr. Malfoy is to resurrect Voldemort. Sincey they are down to a week until the full moon, when the ritual must be done, they may be resorting to force to get their way," Dumbledore explained.

"Like that's never happened before," Ginny muttered. "Imagine Death Eaters using force."

"The other possibility is that he has not been in grave danger when you were asleep," Dumbledore continued. "It has been my experience that this type of phenomena only occurs when the one not in danger is sleeping."

Harry and Ginny sat in silence for a minute, absorbing everything.

"Thank you, sir," said Ginny, finally rising from her seat. "If you'll excuse us, we had some planning to do before we head back out today."

Harry sent her a look out of the corner of his eye as he rose while Dumbledore was saying, "Of course. I just need to speak with Mr. Potter for a minute."

Ginny swept out of the room, silently fuming. Why was everyone treating her like glass! They're probably talking about me again, thought Ginny bitterly. I'm perfectly fine, considering all that's happened. She waited impatiently for Harry to finish talking with Dumbledore, then they both Flooed back to Harry's flat.

After getting together some food, they both sat on Harry's couch to discuss the new information.

"What I still don't get is why they need Draco," said Harry thoughtfully.

"Because he killed Voldemort," said Ginny softly.

"What!" Harry exclaimed.

Draco hadn't wanted anyone to know that it was him who finally brought down the Dark Lord, knowing the numerous complications it would bring to their lives. Draco hadn't wanted anymore of the limelight than he already had.

"He didn't want it to complicate his life," said Ginny. "If the Death Eaters found out, well, you see the results. The worst has happened. They found out and have come up with a way to resurrect Voldemort through Draco."

Silence enveloped the room while Harry absorbed the new information. Ginny was silent as well, wishing to God that no one had ever found out it was Draco that had killed Voldemort.

Harry, feeling a need to break the gloom said, "Wow, that would have gone a long way towards making Ron like Draco."

He turned to Ginny with a slight smile on his face.

She gave him a small smile and a light hit on the shoulder. They both lapsed into silence again, but this time it was a comfortable silence.

"Ok," said Ginny, standing up and heading to the kitchen. "Let's get going."

"Now?" asked Harry.

"The sooner the better," Ginny said, returning to the living room with two mugs. Her eyes were blazing with determination.

"We can stay and rest a little longer if you need to," Harry supplied. Ginny's eyes flashed with annoyance and Harry wisely said no more, remembering her condition.

"I don't need anymore rest. We've been sitting here doing nothing long enough. We have less than a week to find out where Draco is and get him out!" Ginny said, clearing struggling to keep her annoyance from morphing into full-blown anger over Harry's innocuous comment. She hadn't entirely succeeded; her voice was slightly tinged with anger.

"Ok," said Harry, rising from the couch. "You change while I get the Polyjuice Potion ready and we'll be out of here in no time."

~********~

The edifice of the Death Eaters headquarters looked even more menacing than before when Harry and Ginny finally returned later that day. They had figured out a plan to rescue Draco. The would come bearing urgent news that Harry Potter and Ginny Malfoy were very close to figuring out where their headquarters were located. Since they were trusted followers, they'd be believed and the Death Eaters would move their headquarters and, hopefully, Draco.

They entered and were immediately directed to Lucius Malfoy's lair on the second floor. They discreetly cast the charm that would protect them from the Memory Charm Lucius would undoubtedly cast on them before they left. After they feigned surprise Lucius said, "So, have you discovered what's become of pitiful Potter and the little Mudblood-loving Weasley."

Ginny's temper sparked and she mentally corrected him saying, Malfoy, while Harry said, "They were staying at the little Weasels brother's house. But they weren't there long, they went looking for headquarters."

"Oh, no worries," said Lucius flippantly. "How close are they to discovering us?"

"Too close. They captured Peter and if they have access to Veritserum they could be here within the hour," Harry replied. They had had the Ministry capture the guy who always told them where headquarters was located so he would be out of the way.

"What?!" exclaimed Lucius. His lips turned out in a pout as he said, "Well that wasn't supposed to happen." He sighed dramatically and said, "Start tearing down shop. We move to our alternate site in fifteen minutes. Meet me back here in ten. You're going to help me escort our guest."

"Yes, sir!" said Ginny, her voice tinged with eagerness.

"Yes, it is all rather exciting isn't it Emily," drawled Lucius. Then he pulled out his wand and said, "Obliviate!"

After Harry had been done as well, they went downstairs and gave the orders to pack up shop. They supervised the packing until their ten minutes were up, then went back upstairs. Ginny was practically trembling with anticipation at seeing Draco again. They reached the room and went through the annoying charade of surprise at the fact the Lucius was among the living. Finally Lucius said, "Follow me."

He led them towards the fireplace and Ginny thought they were going to have to Floo somewhere, but Lucius simply tapped his wand in a series across the bricks that made up the fireplace. An archway opened up like the entrance to Diagon Alley. They stepped through into a small brick room lit only by a blue light. The archway they entered through closed immediately. Lucius turned around and stepped between them to get at the brick wall they had just come through.

Harry sent Ginny an alarmed look while Ginny thought, Did he somehow find out?

But this time he tapped a different sequence on the bricks and the archway opened up this time led not into the firelit study that was Lucius Malfoy's lair, but into a long, shadowy hallway, again lit by the strange, indefinite blue light. At the end of the long hallway, Ginny could just see the shadowy outlines of two guards on either side of a locked wooden door.

They reached the door and one of the guards opened the door for them. Inside, lying in the middle of a pool of blue light lay a beaten Draco. There was blood caked everywhere it seemed and he lay perfectly still. In fact, if it wasn't for the rapid rise and fall of his chest, Ginny would have been convinced he was dead. The sight made Ginny's heart break. Before Harry could stop her she flung herself next to Draco sobbing, "Draco! Can you hear me, Drac? Wake up!"

"What's this?" asked Lucius Malfoy with a sneer.