The Curse-breaker's Sister

The Curse-breaker's Sister

Chapter Five

Ginny pushed open the crooked, wooden door to The Snitch and Broomstick and walked inside. She was barely inside when the bartender called out a friendly welcome.

"Why, Ginevra Weasley, I've not seen you in years! How are you doing? Can I get you the usual?"

Ginny smiled brightly at Eloise and waved. "No thanks, Eloise. Just a glass of pumpkin juice."

Eloise was a middle-aged witch with artfully draped robes that left little to the imagination. Ginny had met her five years ago on a cold, rainy night; the same night she met Hugh, her former fiancé for the first time. A memory of Hugh's snarling face and bitter blue eyes rose unbidden into her head. She managed to push it away and refocus on what Eloise was saying to her.

"...this way, missy. I've been wondering when I'd see you again. Come sit over here. Your regular table is available!"

"If you don't mind, Elly, I'd rather not sit there."

Eloise turned slightly to face Ginny and looked straight into her eyes. "Oh, yes. My bad, dear. I should have...well... I should never have suggested you to sit there. How about," Eloise scanned the restaurant for an empty table, "that booth in the corner?"

The booth in question was perfect. It was in an area with very few tables and was sunk into the wall. Ginny would be able to sit back in the booth and watch everybody who entered or exited the pub though they would not be able to see her.

"It's perfect."

Eloise smiled. "I'll bring you a menu, dear. You get settled."

Ginny sat back in the farthest corner of the booth. From her position, she could see everyone in the bar, though there weren't that many patrons this early in the afternoon. She was meeting somebody who could apparently translate the amber tablet she'd found at Bill's house a few days earlier. She didn't know who they were or even if they were male or female. They had corresponded back and forth, making arrangements and every scroll the owl brought her was signed only 'M'.

Eloise brought Ginny a pitcher of pumpkin juice and a menu and instructed her to wave when she'd decided on her order. Ginny sat back sipping her juice and watched as two witches came giggling into the pub. They met up with two rather attractive wizards at the bar and Ginny smiled as she watched the flirty conversation taking place between them.

Ginny checked her watch. It was 2:30. She was still thirty minutes early for her appointment. She flicked through the menu, though she wasn't hungry enough to order, and kept an eye on the door. At 2:45 Ginny watched as Draco Malfoy walked into the pub and furtively looked around. When Eloise started to approach him he waved her away and walked straight to where Ginny was sitting.

He hung his cloak up on a hook outside the booth and sat down across from Ginny.

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence Ginny spoke up, "I'm sorry, Malfoy, but that seat is taken."

"Yes, it is taken. By me." He smiled at her, a hint of his trademark childhood sneer on his face.

"I'm meeting somebody here, Malfoy, so if you'd do us both a favor and leave?"

"Afraid I can't do that, Weasley."

Ginny gritted her teeth together to keep from exploding in anger in front of him. "And why is that?"

Draco sighed before speaking. "Will you ever accept the fact that I am not the spoiled, snotty brat that I was at Hogwarts and that I might actually be a nice person worth giving a second chance? I would have thought that after everything that happened during The Second War that people would realize I've changed."

"I'm sorry, Draco," Ginny said. "You're right, and I'm sorry. But now really isn't a good time for me to play 'catch up' with you and to be honest, we never were good friends to begin with even though we both fought on the same side. So if you'll excuse me...?" Ginny stood up to leave, having decided to find another booth to sit in.

Draco's hand shot out from the folds of his robes and grabbed Ginny's wrist before she was completely out of the booth. "Ginny, I'm M."

Ginny stared blankly at him for a moment. "I beg your pardon?" she finally asked.

"I'm M. I sent you those owls."

Ginny blinked a few times before sliding back into the booth and sitting back in her spot. Draco's hand was still clutching her wrist and she pulled her arm away from him.

"I don't understand."

"Really, Ginny. Had I signed those owls "Love, Draco Malfoy" you would never have responded. Right?"

It didn't take much thought. Ginny knew the answer. True, Draco had redeemed himself during The Second War, turning double agent like Snape, and then after his cover was blown had fought valiantly on the battlefield taking down as many Death Eaters as he could. He'd even worked with Bill once, to save Ginny from a tree that had been charmed to crush anyone that walked past with its hulking branches. Despite all that, she would not have trusted him, would not have replied to his owls.

"Okay, you're right," she told him.

There was an uncomfortable silence when neither of them knew what to say next. Eloise rescued them from the awkward moment by bustling over with a drink for Draco and asked Ginny what she'd like to order.

For a moment Ginny slipped back to her old self and looked at Draco as if she expected him to tell her what to get. Draco was confused for a moment at the obedient and querying look on her face, but it was gone a few seconds after it had appeared.

Draco ordered first, his usual three-course meal.

"I'll start with the Triple Decker Marshmallow Delight," Ginny informed Eloise, a bright smile lighting up her face.

"Sounds wonderful, dear," Eloise grinned back. "An excellent starter!"

"Ice cream? For dinner?" Draco asked after Eloise had bustled off to get their food.

"Well," said Ginny happily, "why not? It's about time I order what I want at this place."

Draco, having no clue what she was talking about, smiled politely. Ginny poured herself another glass of pumpkin juice.

"Why do you need an Akkadian translator?" asked Draco. "For a new art project?"

"You know about my art work?" Surprise was apparent in Ginny's voice.

"Yes, I've even been to a few of your shows. The emerald piece you did for the Burberry show last year was amazing. It was so simple, just a pendant really, yet so elegant all the same."

Ginny smiled. The Burberry Amulet had been one of her favorite pieces. "It may have looked simple but the chain took me almost a year to braid, even using magic. But no, that's not why I need a translator."

Draco nodded slowly. He had to play his cards right. Ginny must not discover that he already knew why she needed a translator. Eloise arrived and arranged their dinner on the table. She stuck two forks in Ginny's ice cream entrée, winked saucily at her, and sauntered off to serve the next customer.

"What do you need translated, then?" Draco asked after a few bites of salad.

Ginny swallowed her ice cream before answering. She looked around the restaurant, her brown eyes dancing over the faces of everyone in the room. She turned back to Draco and shook her head. He looked at her quizzically.

Draco's heart started pounding a loud, staccato beat. It felt as if any minute now his heart would explode out of his chest and land inside Ginny's bowl of melting ice cream. Ginny looked afraid, almost nervous. His worst fears were confirmed. Ginny knew something was wrong with Bill. Ginny knew the amber tablet had something to do with it. This was not a random coincidence; it was very, very real.

They finished their meal quickly but not before Draco had to use the second fork to help Ginny finish the Marshmallow Delight. Much to Ginny's dismay, Draco insisted on paying the bill. Eloise laughed at her feeble protests and sent them on their way with a doggie bag full of treats for later.

"Where to now?" asked Draco. They were standing outside The Snitch and Broomstick.

"I've been staying at Bill's," said Ginny. "It's safe there."

"Shall we Apparate, then?"

"Yes, but you haven't been there. Have you?"

Draco shook his head no.

"Give me your hand, then," Ginny said. "I'll lead." Leading meant that they would both Apparate together, but Ginny would provide the magical thrust needed to make sure they both ended up at the right location.

Ginny put her hand out as if they were going to shake hands.

Draco took her tiny hand in his. "It works better if we stand closer together," he said, pulling her towards him. He wrapped his other arm around her waist. "I don't want to get splinched!" He was looking down at her now and was shocked to discover how beautiful she looked. Pale white skin, dusted with freckles and framed with a red fringe.

She stared at him for a moment and then looked away. Draco saw a hint of pink tinge her cheeks. He was going to tease her about being shy but then they arrived at what Draco assumed to be Bill's place and the moment was lost.

"Make yourself at home," Ginny said, gesturing to the cloak stand and Bill's giant, leather couch. "I'm just going to reset the wards." She walked into another room leaving Draco alone.

Draco hung his cloak up on the stand and made himself comfortable on the couch. He noticed a charcoal sketch on the coffee table and picked it up to get a closer look. Pushing a blonde lock of hair out of his eyes, he studied the paper. It was a to-scale drawing of the Plaque of Poseidon; the same Plaque Bill had shown him over a few drinks in Mesopotamia.

Ginny walked back in with a teapot and two mugs floating along beside her. "Ahhh, I see you've found it."

Draco looked up. "This is what you need translated?" he asked, though the answer was obvious.

Ginny nodded. "There are some icons as well. I haven't sketched them yet. I found a few of them in Bill's books but I'm not sure if I have the meanings right."

"What do you need this translated for?" Draco asked. It was hard to keep his voice steady and his heart was beating double-time once again.

There was a moment of oppressing silence in which Ginny looked at Draco directly in the eyes, as if she was measuring up his soul. She sat down on the couch beside him, the teapot and cups clattering to the coffee table as she did so.

"IthinksomethingshappenedtoBill." The words fled her mouth all jumbled together.

"Beg pardon?"

"Bill, my brother. I think something has happened to him. And nobody believes me! His hand on the family clock has pointed to Mortal Peril for months now. Gringotts tells me nothing and Ron and Hermione are too busy discovering each other to help me out."

"Hand on clock?" Draco asked, puzzled. "Ron and Hermione?"

Ginny snorted. "As if we all didn't see that one happening," she said. "Everything's pointed to them since day one." She paused for a moment, and then remembered their real purpose. "But that doesn't matter! Bill is what matters. I've got to find him and these inscriptions are the only clues I have."

"Ginny, calm down. Here, drink some tea." He handed her one of the steaming cups off the coffee table. "Start from the beginning, and tell me everything."

Ginny launched into her story, a little reluctantly at first. Draco made sure to keep her well supplied with tea, which with a tap of his wand had been added with a healthy shot of brandy. After two cups, Ginny became more relaxed. The words flowed out of her mouth and she was very open with Draco about everything. He felt a bit guilty, liquoring her up like this, but he had to find out how much she knew.

She didn't know a lot.

Draco nodded, smiled, made sympathetic noises, and occasionally patted her on the hand when she was really worked up. Drained by the telling of her tale, Ginny sat back on the couch, clutching her teacup between both hands.

"Well, it's definitely not light translation work," Draco began, speaking for the first time in half an hour, "but I'll help you."

Ginny looked flabbergasted. "You will?"

"Of course I will, Gin. Who else do you know that can translate cuneiform? Besides, didn't you tell me that your friends were too engrossed in their own lives to help you?"

Ginny laughed. "When you say it that way, it sounds mean!"

"Whether it's mean, or true doesn't matter. Now, let's get started, shall we?"