Drifting

Chapter 15: Love in War

"Everything changes,

Everything falls apart,

I can't stand to feel myself losing control,

In the deep of my weakness,

I know,

How stupid could I be-" Sarah McLachlan, Stupid.

~*~

My vision. This is what my vision was.

The knife fell from Harry's hand. It seemed to take an eternity to fall. Everything was in slow motion to Ginny.

She took a few steps forward and picked up the knife. The tip was stained with blood.

This can't be happening.

Ginny was aware that Harry's eyes were still on her. She set the knife down on his desk and cupped her hands around his face. He didn't react.

"Harry, listen to me."

Harry didn't say anything. For a minute Ginny thought he had somehow frozen himself, since he didn't seem to be moving at all. Then she realized it was impossible and that Harry was probably scared because she had caught him. She decided to continue, hoping he was listening.

"People say a lot of things they don't mean when they're drunk. Did you honestly think I would leave you for Draco?"

Harry closed his eyes. Ginny felt him shudder. She frowned.

"I can't believe you!" she yelled in frustration. "You actually thought-"

She broke off at Harry's sudden movement. His hand had come up to clutch hers tightly.

"Gin, I know things you don't."

"Like what?"

Harry sighed. "Draco has a list that he told me about. It's a list of all the girls he'd like to date in the next year and what he likes about them. Blaise is on the list, she's number one-"

Ginny laughed to herself. Draco had made it very obvious he liked Blaise as more than just a friend tonight.

"-and you're number two."

Ginny almost didn't hear the last part.

Harry went on. "The way you were acting around him tonight made what you said on the street believable. It's really great you two are getting along so well, especially with your - er - family history with the Malfoys. I suppose I'm just gullible."

Ginny opened her mouth to speak but Harry kept going.

"I was scared, Gin. I really like you - no - I really love you. I was afraid that you were telling the truth. Some part of me knew it was just because of the alcohol but... I just don't know... It seemed so true..."

Ginny stared at him. She was at a complete loss for words right now. Harry had never said this much to her about what he thought.

"I thought I had found the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I was sure of it. That comment about Draco threw me off."

Harry's eyes flickered open. Ginny waited silently, knowing there was more.

"I can't believe I just said all of that."

Ginny laughed out loud. She slid onto his lap, taking her hands away from his face. Harry hugged her.

"I'm so stupid sometimes."

Ginny couldn't take it anymore. She thought he looked so cute when he was miserable that she had to do something about it. A sad Harry wasn't something she liked to see. Besides, a happy Harry with his hair tousled and his lips swollen was a much better sight to her.

"Hey, Harry?" Ginny said, starting to lean him back onto the bed.

"Yeah?" He was flat on his back now.

"Shut up."

Ginny's lips came swiftly over his and Harry forgot everything that had happened in the last half an hour. It wasn't until Ginny became aware of Harry's soft whimpers that she pulled back.

"What's wrong?"

Harry inhaled sharply. "Damn arm. It hurts."

Ginny looked down at his arm and saw it was covered in small cuts, some of them still bleeding. She gasped as she wondered exactly how much time Harry had been cutting himself for before she had found him.

How could I have been so stupid? What's Mum's number one rule when it comes to injury? Check the wounds first and then you can comfort the injured person. I did it in the opposite order!

Ginny slapped her forehead, mentally berating herself for forgetting her mother's most important rule.

"Come on, Harry. We need to get you cleaned up. Then we can continue where we left off, okay?" Ginny said, getting right down to business as she sat, still cursing herself in her mind.

"Mmhhmm..." Harry said, rising after her.

Ginny fumbled for her wand in her pocket. When she got it, she pointed it at Harry's arm and said a series of healing spells. One was to stop the blood loss, another to heal the cuts and bruises, and a third to clean his arm.

"Thanks," Harry muttered, slightly embarrassed.

"It's no problem, really," Ginny said nonchalantly.

She finally stopped her inward attack on herself and focused solely on Harry, intent on making him cheerful again.

~*~

Dudley turned over on his bed. He had left his parents earlier than usual tonight. They hadn't stopped fussing over him since the attack and Dudley had had enough of it. They also refused to accept the fact that it was Harry who saved him. It was Vernon's strong belief that Dudley had fought his way out. Petunia, on the other hand, could tell her son was not lying when he said it had been Harry who had gotten him out of harm, but she had to play the role of a Harry-hater Muggle so she went along with her husband.

It had been three days since Dudley had returned home. In those past three days, Dudley had been trying to work up the courage to talk to Harry. As soon as he had woken up in Grimmauld Place on Monday morning the overwhelming urge to know latched itself onto him. Since then its grip hadn't loosened one bit.

Dudley wanted to find out everything he could about the wizarding world, the world his cousin belonged to, and the same cousin who had used that magic to save him.

Dudley turned back over, the bed creaking under him.

"I can't believe you! You actually thought-"

"Gin, I know things you don't."

"Like what?"

"Draco has a list..."

The voices died out after that and Dudley could hear no more. He'd already recognized the boy's voice. It was Harry's. He supposed the girl's was Ginny. Everyone in this household knew that Ginny would pop by occasionally and they wouldn't see either her or Harry for the rest of the day. It was common knowledge to them that the Harry and Ginny were in a relationship.

Dudley also knew that she'd somehow find her way here after Draco's party. He'd heard Harry asking Hermione if she wanted to come while they were taking Piers home from drivers' ed.

Why is it that they all can talk to him but not me? He thought miserably. More than anything now he wanted the answers to all his questions about his cousin's world.

Three days. Three bloody days of barely seeing the git and I still can't get up the nerve to ask him. I've been stuck here for three days. No driving classes. I should have been able to ask him by now.

Dudley stretched out. He hated being trapped like this. Petunia had been worried that he hadn't recovered properly and insisted he spent a week away from drivers' ed. Dudley had argued with her and they finally reached an agreement of three days.

Tomorrow when I go back I'll pull Harry aside. I can't put it off any longer.

With his decision made, Dudley sighed and shut his eyes. He desperately hoped sleep would come without a nightmare. Now he knew what Harry had been through all these summers when it came to sleeping. Dudley had always been curious as to why Harry seemed to get as little sleep as humanly possible until now. Just like Harry, Dudley dreaded going to sleep. He couldn't push the thoughts of what he had been through out of his mind. As soon as he went to sleep he could hear himself screaming again. He could almost feel the pain as he watched Voldemort cast the same curse on him again and again. Just imagining it made Dudley shudder with disgust.

Please let there be no nightmares tonight, he prayed silently.

Somehow he knew that the nightmares would continue until he talked with Harry. He knew it was his mind's way of telling him that there were things that had to be discussed.

Tomorrow...tomorrow...

~*~

Bellatrix shot the Dark Mark into the sky and watched as Nott and Avery broke through the front door. Muggle killing was Bellatrix's favorite thing to do for her master. She was quite good at it, too.

Tonight they were at a little house on the outskirts of Surrey. Voldemort had wanted to strike close to Harry, but not that close.

Bellatrix smiled as she heard a woman scream. She walked to the front door and looked in. A man was trying to fight Avery with his fists. Avery laughed and stunned the man. A child watched in horror as her father fell to the floor, seemingly dead.

There was a bright burst of green light as the woman's screams stopped. Another flash of the light followed as the man continued to lay still. It hit him right over his heart.

The child screamed. A bowl of fruit began levitating in front of her as she continued.

Nott turned to Bellatrix. "A magical one. Shall we bring her to Master?"

Bellatrix nodded, stepping over to the girl. The girl's screams stopped. She shrank against the wall in fear.

"My name is Bella. What's yours?"

The girl looked terrified. "Orli," she stuttered.

"How old are you?"

"Nine."

Bellatrix turned to Nott. "Starts Hogwarts in two years."

Nott nodded.

"Would you like to meet someone new?" Bellatrix asked sweetly.

Orli gulped and shook her head.

"If you don't come with me, I'll have to kill you."

"NO!" Orli wailed. "I'll come, I'll come."

"Good," Bellatrix said. "Now pack your bags and say your goodbyes. You'll never be coming back here."

Tears started to flow from Orli's eyes.

"Never?" she whispered.

"Never."

Orli crumpled to the ground, sobbing hysterically.

"Couldn't you stay here with me? You could keep me on lockdown all the time," she choked.

Bellatrix's resolve was weakening. She had never encountered something like this before. Usually it was the children who were killed first. It was only Avery who saved children for last. He believed it was better to make the kids suffer. Most of the Death Eaters thought it was a stupid idea but Avery didn't seem to care.

Bellatrix stared at the small girl before her. She knew she had to take Orli with her. There was just no way she could leave the girl here, going against all her orders. She knew that no one would have the time to watch Orli though. Bellatrix wondered if Nott or Avery had an idea.

"Why won't you leave?"

Orli glanced up quickly. "This is the first real home I've ever had. I lived in an orphanage the first eight years of my life. I went unnoticed for all those years. No one at the orphanage would bother to learn my name. My adoptive parents," she gestured to the two dead people on the ground, "re-named me when they took me from the orphanage."

"Orli... I've heard the name before. What does it mean?"

"Light. Orli means light. I was named that since I was the light of their lives."

Bellatrix nodded. "Let me go talk to my colleagues about the situation. I'll be back, so don't try to run."

Orli bit her lip and nodded. Bellatrix stood up and went over to Avery and Nott.

"Well?" Avery asked.

"We can't take her. She's only nine and she hasn't had a good life up until now. We need someone to watch her here, keep her on lockdown. It needs to be someone who can show her the ways of the Dark Lord and teach her his tricks," Bellatrix said.

Avery shook his head. "You've gone soft, Bella. When have you ever cared if someone had a good life?"

"I have not gone soft!" Bellatrix protested. "It's better to introduce her to the Dark ways slowly, not just spring her in the fray in one quick motion like you planned."

"I still say you've gone soft."

Nott spoke after a minute. "Wormtail. Our Lord is always looking for something that the rat can do. Why not let him watch the girl? The rest of us have more important things to do. We'd have to take her with us for now, though, until we get approval."

"It's settled then," Bellatrix stated. "Come on Orli. You'll be returning shortly."

Orli scampered to her feet and rushed over to Bellatrix.

"I can stay?" she asked.

Bellatrix nodded. "It might be possible, yes."

~*~

"Absolutely not you fools!" Voldemort roared. "I haven't a single one of you to spare! Why didn't you just kill the girl while you had the chance? It was Avery, wasn't it? Always saving the children for last. Why would you let her live? Who is the incompetent fool who let her escape her fate?"

Bellatrix stood up. "It was I, my Lord. She showed signs of magical abilities. We can train her with your ways."

Voldemort rounded on Bellatrix.

"Train a nine year old! Train her to do what, bake fluffy cookies? You can't train a nine year old to be like me!"

Orli stepped forward suddenly. "My teachers said I'm a fast learner. I could learn anything you want me too, sir."

Bellatrix laid a hand on Orli's chest. She pushed her back into the shadow she had stepped out of.

"Stay out of this," Bellatrix snapped.

Orli fell silent, though her eyes never left the Dark Lord's piercing red ones. Voldemort began to pace in front of his throne. An idea was forming inside his mind.

"What do you think the Potter boy would do if he saw an innocent nine year old being attacked?" he mused out loud.

"Probably try to save the child, my Lord," Nott said.

"And what would happen if that child was able to give him a fight, using my techniques, of course? The child would win... Bella, you have a deal. Find Wormtail and tell him it is now his job to watch the girl at her home. Make sure she never leaves, you know, the regular standards. Tell him that we need to teach her the ways of the Dark. Soon she'll be a natural fighter."

Bellatrix bowed. "Thank you, my Lord."

~*~

Narcissa found Draco and Blaise snogging passionately on the couch as she made her rounds in cleaning the room. She knew they were drunk and she thought it was a spur of the moment thing. She figured she'd wait to put the sobering charm on them until after they had fallen asleep.

Little did she know it wasn't just spur of the moment passion.

Blaise blinked as her eyes focused. It was still nighttime. She raised her hand to her head, expecting it to be in excruciating pain from the hangover she should have. She knew she had drunk too much Firewhisky to not have a killer hangover. She frowned in confusion when she realized there was no throbbing in her head.

Thank the heavens for having Narcissa here to perform sobering charms, Blaise thought as she realized Narcissa must have charmed them when they were asleep.

Asleep...

It then dawned on Blaise exactly where she was. A black leather couch, curled up in Draco Malfoy's pale arms.

Blaise shivered slightly, trying to recall how she had ended up in Draco's arms, not that she minded of course, she'd dreamt about the situation many times. She looked up at Draco, only to find he was staring down at her, a half smile on his face.

"Were you watching me sleep?" Blaise asked incredulously.

Draco's smile widened. "Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't."

Blaise laughed. "The incredible mysteriousness of the Malfoys. Never giving a straight answer."

Draco laughed along with her, purely enjoying the moment. Times like these didn't happen much for Draco. People in Slytherin house rarely laughed. People with Lucius Malfoy as their father almost never laughed. People who no longer had Lucius Malfoy as their father and were currently on summer break had to get back into the system of laughing a lot. Draco fell into that category of people.

"Do you remember anything from last night?" Draco said once he stopped laughing.

Blaise looked thoughtful. Memories were coming back to her now that she was fully awake. She remembered Draco asking her to be his girlfriend when Ginny and Harry had left the dance floor to go get a cup of soda. Then she remembered drinking the Firewhisky while leaning into his shoulder. Finally their interlude on the couch crossed her mind. She giggled.

"Yes I do. How could I forget?"

Draco felt himself turning slightly pink in the face. Very few people could do that, namely the only three people he was good friends with.

"So... er... are you, ah, my girlfriend?"

Draco groaned inwardly. He was asking way to many questions by his standards. Not more than ten a day. He'd certainly gone past that limit while he was talking to Harry during lunch break at drivers' ed.

This time Blaise's face turned pink too.

"I'd like to take you up on that offer, Draco Malfoy. Consider me, Blaise Zabini, your new girlfriend."

Draco didn't know whether to faint from happiness or kiss Blaise right then and there. Fortunately Blaise solved that problem for him when she leaned up and planted another one of her huge kisses on his lips. Soon Draco was lost once more in a sea of Blaise.

~*~

Orli was seated at the kitchen table of her own home. Bellatrix was standing guard over her until the person who would be watching her full time came. Orli was eating the remains of her dessert, waiting patiently, or at least that's what it seemed like.

Inside her head, the wheels were turning. Orli was forming a plan of escape. She knew her older brother would be coming home soon from work. He was magical, a boy going into his seventh year at Hogwarts. He had gotten a summer job and had to work the late shift since that was the only position open. Orli didn't think that the people holding her captive knew that she had a brother let alone the fact he was almost a fully trained wizard. She had full faith in her brother that he could get them both out of this situation safely.

Two loud cracks interrupted Orli's train of thought. The nine-year-old looked up in time to see Bellatrix vanish and a man hidden in bulky black robes appear. A shower of green and silver sparks fell from the air above the man. In a squeaky voice he spoke.

"I am Wormtail, fear my wrath!"

The man tore off his robes, revealing what in comic books should have been a very weird looking creature but in reality a fat balding man. Orli burst out laughing.

"I should fear you? You've got to be kidding! You're just a fat useless rat. I heard that the only reason you were sent to watch me is because they couldn't think of anything else for you to do to make yourself useful."

Wormtail took a step back. This was certainly not the girl he had heard about when told who he would be watching. The girl he had heard about was shy and kind of like a baby. The girl in front of him didn't fit that description at all. He had just arrived and she was already launching verbal attacks at him.

"I work for the Master of the Dark. I have his weapons at my disposal and I have permission to use them on you at any time," Wormtail said, trying to sound strong. What came out sounded more like a pathetic squeak.

Orli smiled at the man's obvious discomfort. He didn't like being defenseless against a nine-year-old.

"Here's some ground rules for you to follow," Orli said. "Number one, I will be upstairs packing so you will not disturb me at all. Number two, I will not be staying here and you won't make me stay. Number three, you cannot touch a single thing in this house. Got it?"

Wormtail took another step back. Orli sensed his discomfort rising at being bossed around by someone who was many many years his junior. He gulped and Orli took that as a yes.

"Okay then. Goodbye."

Orli sauntered out of the room leaving a very stunned Wormtail standing in the center of it.

~~**~~