Finding a Reason

Ginny Weasley clutched a piece of parchment in her hand. She took deep, concentrated breaths, willing herself not to puke from nerves of uncertainty. The sun glared through the smudged windows of the burrow, giving her a dull headache. She looked at her reflection in the mirror; small, slight, with the dark eyes of someone who had not slept properly. Her loneliness only exacerbated her panic.

Her brother Percy had spent the last six weeks in Azkaban. He had convinced his family that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Ministry disagreed and found him guilty of a white robe crime. But forgiveness was at hand. Ginny received and owl stating that Percy could be released, but he needed a family member to retrieve him. For the last twelve hours she had sent her family owls to summon someone to go with her. Her entire family, sans herself, had taken a trip to Egypt to visit her older brother Charlie. The owls remained unanswered and Ginny stood trembling in her kitchen, looking at the parchment in her hands. Every second longer Percy spent within the walls of Azkaban contributed to an irrevocable loss of his sanity--his former self. She knew this. There were exceptions such as the late Sirius Black. He had been perfectly sane in the last years of his life but he was of a particularly strong constitution, one of which Ginny was certain that Percy did not possess. She had to go claim her brother. Retaining her own sanity while waiting for a reply from her family had proven to be an exercise in futility.

By the time Ginny left, she had riffled though every room of the Burrow and come up with eight galleons. The Weasleys didn't have much money to begin with, and any that they did have had been either taken on vacation or was in their vault at Gringott's. She would have to act alone. She grabbed her broom and headed toward the door. She stopped, suddenly aware of how old her broom was, a hand me down from her brother Fred. Wait. There was a much better broom. Harry Potter had lent Ron his Firebolt to use over the summer, as there was no opportunity to fly brooms over Privet Drive. She ran up to Ron's room. Harry's Firebolt was propped against the closet door. "I'll bring it back in one piece," she whispered.

Ginny flew though the summer evening sky, feeling the warm air brush her face like a firm caress. There was always a certain sadness during the lazy end of a summer day, knowing that the beauty could not be preserved. For nearly two hours she flew over fields and rivers. Despite her worry over her brother, she enjoyed her solitary flight over a Muggle town with perfectly square houses and yards. There was something so quaint about the Muggle summer symphony of softly whirring air conditioners, bubbling swimming pool filters, and the occasional scraping of car tires against dry gravel.

It was nearly nine o'clock when it happened. Without any warning Harry's Firebolt stopped in midair as if striking a solid wall, yet there was nothing before her but sky. She felt herself tumble for about ten feet before she was able to right herself. Again, the broom struck an invisible force. Ginny landed and placed her hands against the space she was unable to fly through. She reached out and felt nothing. She walked forward freely. She attempted to fly again, but was no more able to levitate the broom than a Muggle child pretending to be a wicked witch. She was suddenly aware of the heaviness of her legs, the gravity that bound her feet to the earth. She swore loudly. She was approaching Azkaban. There were wards preventing flying to prevent escapes. She had expected that, but not so soon. She was nearly an hour by broom from Azkaban. She was suddenly very aware of the empty field she stood in. The sky segued from turquoise to black at an unsettling rate. "Walk," she ordered herself. There was nothing more to be done.

Ginny walked for nearly a half an hour before she saw a light in the distance. The air was suddenly permeated with the smell of tobacco and Ogden's Old Firewhiskey, along with the din of tinny music and muffled conversation. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, a tavern seemed to materialize out of the backdrop of the forest. It was not the most savory location, but perhaps someone could tell her a better way to get to Azkaban. She would also be very grateful for some advice on how one leaves Azkaban. There was no telling what condition Percy would be in, but she was betting that walking for hours through the countryside was not an option.

Ginny was very aware of the eyes on her when she entered the tavern. She tightened her lips into a straight line and prayed that no one could sense her panic. "Foolishness!" she cursed herself. She shouldn't have come alone. She could have owled Harry. He would have found a way to help her. Now, she stood in the doorway of a rather dodgy tavern. Gradually, the din of the room resumed its normal level, but she was still very much aware of eyes following her. She approached the bar with trepidation.

"Hello," she said, cursing herself when her voice began to shake. A woman behind the bar with long black ringlets and satin red lips met her gaze with a lazy smile.

"Aren't you a bit young to be out this late, Missy?" the bartender asked.

"A bit. I'm heading north. I didn't realize the Azkaban wards started. How does everyone travel? Is there a Floo? I tried to hail the Knight Bus, but it didn't come," Ginny sputtered. She was acutely aware and embarrassed of her rambling. The bartender rolled her eyes.

"Well, the Knight Bus wouldn't stop this close to Azkaban, now would it?" the bartender snapped. "There nearest Floo is at the next tavern. It's connected to most of the Floo network. Unless you are going to Azkaban," she laughed. "There isn't a Floo there, or course."

"Of course," Ginny laughed nervously. "Is there any other way to travel?"

"Take a carriage," the bartender said impatiently. Ginny realized she had better order something.

"I'll have a butterbeer," Ginny said. Carriages were expensive. She only had enough money for two fares, which she intended to use for her and Percy's trip back to the Burrow. She accepted the butterbeer and willed herself not to cry. She was going to have to walk to Azkaban. Alone. She swore at herself once again for not thinking to owl Harry Potter.

"You put that on me tab," said a gruff Cockney voice. Ginny glanced sideways and realized a large, sloppy looking wizard was gesturing at her drink.

"Oh, thank you, but that's alright," Ginny said as she fumbled through her pockets. She was too slow and the bartender acknowledged the wizard with a nod them turned her attention away. "Bit young," he observed, smiling in a way that Ginny didn't much care for. She looked straight ahead at the colorful bottles lined up behind the bar.

******

Three wizards sat at table along the far end of the bar. They had first regarded the young girl who entered the bar alone with curiosity, then the two older wizards resumed their conversation. The third and youngest wizard continued to watch the girl as she approached the bar until he was interrupted by one of his companions.

"Pay attention! This is important. There's nothing more to be done tonight. Go home and tell no one about what happened. I'm going to send some owls and see if there's any other way," said the older wizard.

"I don't suppose you could go back to Azkaban with me?" the young wizard snapped.

"It wouldn't do any good! You need a relative! And wouldn't the Ministry just love to see me waltz in. The first thing they do in this type of situation is check for the mark, you bloody fool!" snapped the older wizard.

******

"Name's Fazen. Plans tonight?" the heavy wizard asked Ginny in a painfully soft tone.

"Meeting friends," Ginny lied.

"Don't nobody meet friends here. Only the friends you make," he said evenly. Ginny pushed her empty bottle toward the ledge of the bar, hoping that it would signal the bartender to come back. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest as simultaneous visions of being followed out of the bar flashed through her mind. Suddenly he put his hand around her wrist. "Maybe it's time you made a friend," Fazen said. He laughed mirthlessly and pulled Ginny off her stool toward a dimly lit hallway.

Ginny felt herself break out into a cold sweat. She would have screamed if she thought anyone would help her. But as she looked at all the dodgy figures, she realized that no good could come out of attracting attention from anyone else.

*********

"Who is that great oaf at the bar?" the young wizard asked, his gaze locked on the burly man's hand around a small wrist.

"Oh, that's Fazen," the older wizard said, turning his head toward the bar. "That girl would do well to avoid the likes of him. I wonder what such a young girl is doing here at this hour."

"Where does that hall lead?" asked the young wizard. His silver eyes narrowed and his mouth tightened into a straight line as he watched the brief struggle, then the young girl disappear into the darkness. The smoky haze and din of the room was unaltered by her quiet exit.

"Oh, my. Guess that answers my question," said the older wizard with casual disregard.

"No." Draco Malfoy answered a question that hadn't been asked. "I know her." He took a final drink from his glass and set it on the table. "If that is all, I'm leaving. Send me an owl when you think of something useful, Nott," said Draco. Nott gave him a brief look of annoyance, then returned to his meal. He did not notice that Draco passed the front door, and turned down the dim hallway.

*********

"Please let me go," Ginny choked out. She had begun crying the minute she had been led down the hallway and the tears had yet to cease.

"Right," said Fazen.

"Please, I have to help someone!" she shrieked. "Stop!" He placed his hands on her shoulders. She pushed against his chest, weakened by breathless sobs that were beginning to take their toll on her entire body.

"Fazen," drawled Draco from the doorway.

"Who are you?" asked Fazen. He was so startled to hear the stranger's voice that he had let go of Ginny. Draco couldn't see Ginny's expression. The moment Fazen released her, Ginny's hands flew to her face to contain a quiet hysteria. He froze for an instant. He remembered that expression. He had once been the cause. At the time, it had been a misunderstanding. This time, he felt it was certainly no misunderstanding.

"I would like to make an arrangement with you," Draco drawled, his eyes glanced briefly at Ginny before looking back to Fazen and smiling coldly

"As you can see," Fazen growled, "I'm busy."

"She doesn't look like much of a companion," Draco said.

"That much is clear," Fazen agreed.

"Young, crying sobbing mess," Draco noted casually. The room was suddenly deadly silent. Ginny's sobs subsided.

She held her breath in mingled fear and curiosity. This was an absolute nightmare. She had wandered into a tavern in the middle of nowhere, been as close as she ever had been to being violated, and now Draco Malfoy shows up. He calmly stood in the doorway with his hands in his pockets. His expression was unreadable.

"I'll give you ten gallons to leave this room right now. Alone," Draco said. Fazen just looked at him suspiciously. Draco's eyes locked on Ginny's and flashed malice. "Ten gallons would buy a respectable amount of firewhiskey, and a companion a bit more.... compliant."

"Fifteen," said Fazen flatly. "Fifteen and I'll agree."

Draco swore loudly. He counted some coins from his pocket, and thrust them into Fazen's open hand. "Fifteen! Now leave!"

"Piss off," Fazen said over his shoulder as he walked towards the door. "Bloody fool," he mumbled, slamming the door behind him.

Ginny looked up at Draco with wide and fearful eyes. His usually blank expression was now one of anger. Ginny was quite sure is was directly related to the fact that he had just lost fifteen gallons, which begged the question of what he was doing there in the first place. For a long moment they looked across the room at one another, Ginny's rapid breathing the only noise. Draco took a few steps, slowly closing the space between them. "Did he..."

"No!" she cut him off, unable to hide the hysteria and embarrassment in her voice

"I know that! I followed you back here! I was asking if he hurt you!" Draco snapped.

"No," Ginny whispered. "You... thank you," she said a bit louder, though still qualifying as a whisper.

"Do you mind telling me what you are doing here, Weasley?"

"I was just riding my broom and I got lost," she mumbled rapidly, very aware of a second round of tears threatening to spill.

"You're not a very skilled liar, Weasley. You have what, a dozen brothers? One of whom is thick as thieves with the effing Boy Who Lived. And yet here you are - alone - which makes me think that perhaps no one knows where you are," Draco said coldly, "except for me. You're not very bright, are you?"

"I'll pay you back," Ginny offered weakly.

"You're exceptionally lucky! Better girls have been killed!" he continued.

"I know," Ginny said in a low voice. Suddenly, her the tears defied her and began to flow freely. "I have to get Percy from Azkaban and my parents are on holiday and I didn't think to owl Harry and I just have to get Percy soon!" Her hands flew back to her face. She hadn't meant to tell him. Heaven knew he couldn't or wouldn't be of any assistance.

Draco's glare softened as he listened to Ginny. She didn't feel better for sharing her trouble. Her confession only made her painfully aware that she hadn't the foggiest idea of what to do next. She placed her head back in her hands and tried in vain to conceal her tears. Draco did something he had never done before. He embraced her. He placed his hand on the back of her head, careful not to move his fingers lest the gesture be misunderstood, and waited silently until she calmed herself.

It was fortunate that Lucius was in Azkaban, he thought. No telling how he would react to this little escapade. The door flung open and Fazen walked back in. Ginny looked up and stiffened.

"This would go much better if I had some privacy!" Draco snapped.

"Sod off," Fazen mumbled, retrieving his cloak from the dresser and exiting the room again. Draco turned his attention back to Ginny.

"So it seems you are in an interesting position," he said softly. "There are no Weasleys to be found, Harry Potter is likely snogging his cousin in a cupboard somewhere, and you owe me fifteen gallons that I know damn well you don't have."

Ginny exhaled deeply and fixed her eyes on the ceiling, trying very hard not to cry again. Draco continued his tirade.

"Despite all of your brilliant planning ahead, you've wasted your time. What you don't know, is that you need TWO relations to consent to a release from Azkaban," he snapped.

Ginny felt her stomach become hollow. "No! I have a letter! It doesn't say anything about that!" she cried. She began to reach into her pockets to find the letter.

"That letter is useless!" Draco snapped. "I was there tonight to get my father! I was on my way home. Imagine my surprise to see the smallest Weasley here."

"Oh, so you stopped in a brothel?" Ginny snapped back.

"A tavern," Draco corrected. "I came here to meet my father's - associates - nothing more!"

"Death Eaters are here?!" she shrieked.

"Yes," Draco smiled slowly. "May I point out that I saved your presumed innocence and you are in no position to be interrogating me on my affairs."

"I just have to get Percy," Ginny said softly. "I'm sorry for all your trouble. I just wanted to bring him home tonight."

Draco lowered his eyes to Ginny, smiling slowly. A plan. His father would no doubt kill him, but there was no other way. And Ginny was in his debt. "I think it's time," he whispered into her hair as he drew her into his arms, "to get my fifteen gallons worth."

***********

Ginny gasped in fear then felt her body become weightless, hurling though darkness. Instantly there was again light, emanating from a gas lamp. She and Draco stood on a cobblestone street. "How did you Apparate with me?! You're only of age to Apparate alone!" Ginny yelled. "And how is it that you are able to Apparate outside of the wards?!"

"This is not the time to start abiding the rules, Weasley! Welcome to the Ministry of Magic," Draco said smoothly.

"I know where we are, you prat! I wish you would have told me. I left my broom back there. I have to get it!" said Ginny with such finality, one would think she actually had a say in the matter.

"There are other things to worry about. Broomsticks are not the priority right now," Draco said irritably.

"Please! It's borrowed!" Ginny plead. Draco let out a frustrated groan.

"Don't move!" Draco ordered. Ginny didn't have time to argue. With a soft 'pop' Draco was gone. She sat down on the steps leading up to the ministry. It was now eleven o'clock at night and the street was deserted. The heat from the day had been replaced with a cool breeze. There was another soft pop. "Suddenly Weasley rides a Firebolt?" Draco asked, giving the broom an appraising look.

"I told you it's borrowed!" she snapped, taking the broom back.

"I know a fellow who rides a Firebolt," Draco said quickly. His eyes gleamed and the corner of his mouth turned up slightly. "He's a poncy little git, seemingly oblivious to the little redhead who pines after him. Sound familiar?"

"Sod off, Malfoy. What are we doing here?" Ginny demanded.

"I thought this would be an excellent place to talk about Harry's broomstick and your foolish obsession with The Boy Who Lived," Draco said lazily.

"Malfoy!"

"But enough about Harry's love life, although I do love to talk about it. It's time we discuss ours."

"Well, that should be a rather short conversation," Ginny said acidly, "as a matter of fact, I think it's about finished!"

"Don't flatter yourself, Weasley. We both need relatives and since the Weasleys are exploring the bins of the world, and Lucius has managed to Avada Kedavra any other Malfoy I can think of, here we are."

"Your mother?" Ginny asked.

"St. Mungo's," Draco said shortly. She knew that he would not elaborate.

"Well, the Ministry's closed, so you've wasted your time," said Ginny.

"Your cloak is rubbish," Draco replied, ignoring her statement. "The next time you get married, you should avoid dressing from Hagrid's closet." Ginny glared. Her cloak hadn't been that shabby. It was a hand-me-down from Charlie's Quidditch days. Ginny thought the camel brown cloak looked rugged.

"Married! You and I? Is this your idea of a joke? I'm fifteen! And in case you hadn't noticed, I despise you!" Ginny snapped. She was buttoning her coat and preparing to fly off. The only good that had come of this was at least Draco had brought her to a place where she could fly home. He grabbed the broom from her.

"Weasley, it's not real. We're just going to sign a paper, give a small tip and be on our way. You think I would be doing this if it was real? We just need a license."

"Have you finally lost your mind? All those years of exposure to dark magic have really taken their toll. Look, I'm really grateful for what you did tonight. I won't tell anyone that you can Apparate in the wards--"Ginny began, as she buttoned her cloak.

"I can't always do that," Draco said in a guarded tone.

"Nevermind how it works. I don't want to know," Ginny said as she walked away. He walked along side of her.

"Of course you want to know. You just know that I won't tell you," he said. He had taken her by the elbow and redirected her up the steps and toward the entrance of the Ministry. "As for hours of operation, the Ministry is always open when you're a Malfoy," Draco said arrogantly. He whispered something to a guard, who looked at Ginny and seemed to shake his head in disgust.

"What did you tell him?" she hissed, after they were ushered into a small office. "Never mind."

*******

"It's rather late, Mr. Malfoy," said a portly old witch, walking into the room and taking her place behind the desk.

"My father will be most grateful for your assistance," said Draco. He gave the old witch a small smile that made Ginny's stomach do a small leap in spite of herself. "He would also be grateful for your discretion." The old witch smiled back at him and briefly glanced to Ginny.

"Well, these things happen," said the witch, sorting and stamping a series of parchments.

"What things happen?" Ginny demanded, glaring at Draco.

"It's alright, love," he said, patting her stomach. She was sure the heat emanating from her face would set the entire office on fire.

"What?!" she shrieked.

"Oh, it's alright Miss Weasley. I rather guessed, given the late hour. This may soften the blow for Arthur and Molly a bit. I commend you for doing the respectable thing, Mr. Malfoy," said the old witch.

"Of course," said Draco, looking straight ahead.

Suddenly, Ginny leapt to her feet. She nearly knocked over her chair as she ran toward the oak door. The door swung open as she approached it, and she ran toward a small atrium. She felt her panic escalate, realizing this was not the way they had entered. Her stomach tied in a knot and she once again willed herself not to throw up. She placed her hands on the window ledge and concentrated on taking long breaths.

"Ginny!" Draco snapped. She continued to stare out the window. "Ginny," he said, softly this time. "This is just for tonight." She ignored him. "My father will put a stop to any rumors," he added icily. She spun around to face him. Her large, brown eyes glistened with fury.

"And what makes you think that I'm going to let you make a mockery of me just to free your Death Eater father!" she spat.

"May I point out that we have equal interest here? Your brother is a bit of a dandy to begin with. I'll bet the Dementors are clamoring for a snog with him, that is if he hasn't already made the first move," said Draco, meeting her glare.

"Mr. Malfoy? Miss Weasley? Is everything alright?" The older witch asked, approaching them with the stack of parchment and a wand in hand.

"Yes, Ginny just felt a bit ill. She's fine now," said Draco. Ginny nodded in agreement.

"All right then, my, this is a lovely atrium. Shall we do the vows right here then?"

"No!" Ginny yelled. "No vows, I mean. Can't we just sign the certificate?"

"She's a bit shy," explained Draco.

"Oh, all right. Then we just need the ring and you'll be all set."

Draco swore to himself. Of course he was going to have to offer Ginny a ring! He wore only one ring. It was silver with the Slytherin House crest engraved in onyx. He had transfigured the design himself and was rather proud of it. He quickly took it off and placed it on Ginny's finger. Her hand was delicate and warm. He met her eyes as the witch spoke an incantation and the ring adjusted to Ginny's finger. Neither of them spoke a word as they signed the certificate and Draco paid the old witch.

"Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Malfoy," the witch said a little too enthusiastically, clearly affected by the tension mounting in the room. "You may kiss your bride," she said, looking at Draco expectantly. Draco watched Ginny's face whiten. He placed a hand on her cheek and drew her towards him. He felt her body tighten as she looked at the floor. He kissed her on the forehead and dropped his hand, fully aware of the old witch starring daggers at him.

"Thank you for seeing us this evening," Draco said to the old witch, as they both watched Ginny pass through the doorway.

******

"I'm not used to girls looking like their going to retch when I'm about to kiss them. Did you really want your first kiss to be with me anyway, little Weasley?" Draco asked. His eyes reflected mild amusement at Ginny's exaggerated attempts to wife her forehead clean.

"What makes you think that would have been my first kiss?" Ginny asked defensively.

"Oh, good Lord, woman, you've been pining over Potter for years. Surely that has put a damper on your love life, has it not?" Draco asked.

Ginny felt herself redden, but chose not to reply. Curse him for guessing.

"What? Did you want me to kiss you?" Draco looked at her for a long moment, as if he had forgotten something important and expected a clue to be somewhere in Ginny's expression. Then his eyes returned to their normal cold detachment. "It's time to go." He picked up Harry's Firebolt in one hand, and held Ginny's hand, Apparating them back to the dusty room in the tavern.

The room was empty, just as they had left it. "Now what, husband?" asked Ginny, placing no effort into masking her contempt.

"Well, wife, we are going to hire a carriage to take us to Azkaban," said Draco, as he pulled a few coins out of his pocket.

"Carriages are expensive," Ginny said flatly.

"Then be glad you married well," Draco said with a smirk.

The length of time in the room with Fazen and apparating to the ministry did not occur to Ginny until they re-entered the tavern. They were met with many curious stares and several younger men gave Draco crude gestures of approval. He seemed to nod back. "I do not appreciate that!" she hissed.

"Just playing a part," Draco said evenly.

They exited the tavern, standing on a small flagstone patio. Small enchanted torches illuminated a half dozen tables made from large barrels. Ginny thought it looked too charming to be wasted on the dregs of society who congregated along the outskirts of Azkaban. A short, grizzled wizard with scraggly brown and gray hair dozed at one of the corner tables. Draco walked toward him. Ginny had not followed him to the table . Her eyes widened as she watched Draco shake the man. The man jerked his head up with a start. "Is that your carriage?" Draco asked. The man nodded sleepily. "I want to hire you to take us to Azkaban. Now," Draco said.

"Alright, alright." The man grumbled as he rose to his feet. He looked passed Draco, noticing Ginny for the first time. "Maybe the young miss would like to sit up front with me?"

Ginny couldn't quite seem to catch her breath. How had she ended up here? "No. She would not," Draco said shortly. Draco opened the door and offered Ginny his hand as she climbed into the compartment. She had a brief and fearful flash of him pushing her into the carriage and slamming the door behind her, allowing her and a driverless carriage to hurtle into the unknown. She was very relieved when he climbed in and took the seat across from her. A thin ray of moonlight illuminated his hair through the small window. He tipped his head against the side cushion and closed his eyes. "Go to sleep Weasley. It's a long ride."

Ginny felt herself drift off as well. It had been a long day, and the most difficult part lie ahead, she thought ruefully. Ginny had thought about her wedding night many times. Usually it involved Harry Potter, flowy white material, torches on a cliff over the ocean, and an impossibly large bed. None of her fantasies included sleeping in a beat up carriage, traveling through a wasteland with Draco Malfoy.

The carriage stopped so abruptly, Ginny flew out of her seat. Malfoy's legs managed to break her fall, before she rolled to the floor. He jolted awake, drawing his wand. "What?! Get off! You could have broken my legs! You kicked mud on my trousers!" he said angrily.

"We've stopped," she noted, climbing toward the window. She leaned on a small ledge underneath. Draco unceremoniously pushed her away from the window. "Hey--"

"Shh!" Draco hissed. They listened to muffled sounds outside.

"Are we being robbed?" she asked.

"Maybe," Draco answered. Ginny's eyes widened and she willed herself not to panic. Then she snorted a laugh. "What?" Draco asked, irritated.

"Seeing as you gave most of your money to Fazen, and, well, I don't have to tell you my financial status, this really isn't going to be worth their while," Ginny whispered. Outside, the sound of multiple voices and crunching leaves grew louder. Someone was approaching. Draco pulled a small phial from his robe and thrust it into Ginny's hand.

"Drink this."

"What is it?"

"Just do it!" Something flashed behind his eyes. It wasn't any emotion she had seen from him before.

"Are you trying to kill me?"

"I've had a dozen chances to poison you. Obviously that's not the way I'm going to go about it. I'm holding out for an exceptionally high ledge. You're wasting time!"

Ginny took the phial out of his hands and looked at him. His eyes moved slowly between hers and the shadow outside the window. Reluctantly, she drank the liquid. Almost immediately she watched her skin begin to expand at unnatural angles, her body enlarged inside her small robes. She looked at Malfoy in horror and he watched impatiently, his eyes darting between her and the carriage door.

"Pettigrew was one wretched looking man. No wonder he chose to live at the Burrow, perhaps gave him an opportunity to soothe his ego," Draco said, smirking.

Ginny shook half with fear, half with anger at herself for trusting him. "What is this?" she asked, her voice shaking. Before he could respond, the door of the carriage was roughly opened and a hooded figure peered inside. Behind him were several other foreboding figures. Ginny recognized one as Fazen. Fazen seemed to recognize Draco and ambled over to the door alongside his companion. Ginny clenched the seat tightly and felt her own breathing become ragged. Draco simply arched his eyebrow and looked at the men.

"Imbibing?" Draco asked.

"A bit," Fazen laughed. "Where is your friend?"

"Looking for women?" Draco asked politely. Fazen snorted a laugh in response, his eyes wandering toward back of carriage. "Well, my gate doesn't swing that way," Draco continued, "so I'm afraid I can't help you. Unless you want to give it a go with Pettigrew here. May clear some things up to your friends out there." Fazen let out a low growl and grabbed Draco by his collar. Ginny saw the startled expression in Draco's eyes, but it quickly passed, replaced by an unreadable expression.

"Clever, you think you are. One day that mouth is going to be the end of you," Fazen growled. His eyes caught something on the ledge. He grabbed a half empty bottle of wine that Ginny knew that neither she nor Draco had been the previous owner of. "Mind yourself," he hissed, leaving the carriage.

Draco reached out and closed the carriage door. He leaned forward and across Ginny to pound on the partition. "Are you alive out there?!" he called.

"Yes, sir."

"Are you hurt?"

"Not a bit."

"Then move! What are you waiting for? The second shift of bandits? Thought you'd save them some time?!" Draco snapped. The carriage began moving, and Ginny heard the driver mumble some rude words. She looked at Draco, her eyes wide in fear. "Your expressions on Pettigrew's face are just freaky."

"How long will this last?" Ginny asked. Draco waved his wand and she instantly felt herself begin to shrink back to herself. "What are you doing carrying around a batch of Wormtail's Polyjuice?"

"I summoned it from the Manor."

"How could you? Summoning spells don't work within the Azkaban wards!"

"I didn't do it here. I did it when we were at the Ministry," Draco said shortly. He had watched Ginny transform back to herself, then looked out the window. He had not looked at her since.

"Does this change our plans now? What did you really need the Polyjuice Potion for?" Ginny asked.

"It served its purpose," Draco said, leaning his head against the seat. They sat in silence for a long time while Ginny considered that statement. She watched his face. The moonlight illuminated his silver hair and pale skin, making him look almost marble.

"I thought I told you to go to sleep, Weasley," he said without opening his eyes.

"Malfoy."

"What?"

"Me. You won't be able to call me Weasley until tomorrow."

"You talk too much, Ginny."

Draco never opened his eyes, but Ginny saw the corner of his mouth tug upwards slightly. She curled her body against her seat and drifted off to sleep. It was a rather extraordinary thing that she let her guard down enough to sleep with Malfoy around, given their history.....

***

Four Years Earlier...

Ginny was twelve years old. The first weeks of school had not been easy for her. The nightmares that began after leaving the Chamber of Secrets had intensified within the castle walls, as if feeding off an ancient energy that came from living and breathing and being in a place where Tom Riddle once had. Ginny had been thoroughly convinced that Draco had known about the diary. She hadn't met Draco face to face until that day in Flourish & Blotts, but perhaps he had noticed her running behind the train as a child. Perhaps Draco did not suggest her as a pawn, but he at the very least must have provided some damning proof that Harry Potter was a great champion of the Weasleys and was likely to risk his life to rescue one of them. Even the youngest with her silly crush and reckless gullibility. Ginny grew to fear Draco. He was a direct line to both his father and Voldemort. She was late for classes to avoid passing him in the corridor. She convinced Percy, George, Fred, Ron, Harry, and even Lee Jordan to bring her meals from the Great Hall. They never denied her. She was fragile. They knew about the nightmares. Percy and Lee Jordan had managed to explain away her tardiness to avoid detentions. This lasted for nearly a month, until Ginny found herself face to face with Malfoy in the library. The sun had just set leaving the last reflections of amber across the horizon. Ginny spotted the spell book she had been looking for. She stood on her tiptoes and grazed the edge. The large book was just within reach, forcing her to slowly scoot the book to the edge of the shelf. Suddenly another hand reached over hers and retrieved the book. How unfortunate that it was Draco Malfoy. She spun around to face him, her mind screamed at her legs to move. But she couldn't. 'Come to finish me off?' she thought.

"That's a clever way to impale yourself, Weasley," Draco smirked. She stared at him, glad that her robes hung loosely so she could hide her shaking hands. He handed the book to her.

"You can have it," Ginny said in what could barely be considered a whisper. Draco looked at the cover, reading the tile to the first time. Madame Fleurben's Glamour Charms. He lazily flipped through a few pages, settling on one and smirked.

"That's right, Weasley. Thought I'd use the Twilight Twinkle charm on my eyes, so Potter would gaze into them," Draco said. "Maybe if I cast some Surrey Sunset Streaks in my hair, he'll forget that Sirius Black is trying to kill him."

"I think you've made your point," Ginny said. Draco's sarcasm had helped her feel a bit more secure. Perhaps he wasn't going to kill her today.

"I don't see what the fascination is. Rather difficult to snog Potter when he's fainting every ten minutes. On second thought, maybe you actually have a chance," he drawled. The room had become quite dark with the tall shelves obstructing what little light the torches were providing. He placed his hand against the shelf and leaned toward her, arching his eyebrow. "Six brothers and famous Harry Potter leading you through Diagon Alley and the train. Nicking meals for you. Reasoning you out of detention. Treating you like a little doll. Why is that?" he asked curiously. Ginny stared at him in disbelief. How on earth did he know all of that? She decided to say nothing. Perhaps the silence would invite further elaboration from him. "Special, aren't you? Some unusual powers like your beloved Potter. Do you have a clever scar of your own?" he asked softly, pushing her hair back from her forehead.

"Don't touch me!" she hissed, pushing his hand away. He ignored her and continued talking.

"And yet here you are. Alone. With me. Why I should just toss you right back in the chamber. You think you'd be able to cast these glamour charms on a Basilisk?" Draco smirked.

He knew! About the chamber and the basilisk. It confirmed everything! She felt her eyes well up. She covered her face with her hands to hide her tears, but that just invited more. She began to sob madly. As if the last year hadn't been bad enough, here she was alone in the library letting Malfoy see her cry. Draco rolled his eyes. "Dear God, Weasley. You're rather sensitive. I've said far worse to your brothers, and none of them have ever cried. Even the gay one."

Ginny stopped for a heartbeat. "Percy is not gay," she said harshly. Wiping her face on her robes.

"Right. That's why you immediately guessed which brother I was referring to. Well, if he decides to save you from the Chamber, maybe he can create a diversion by snogging Riddle senseless while you hitch a ride on that bloody bird of Dumbledore's." The sound of Tom Riddle's name, and the fact that Draco knew about him as well made Ginny cry even harder.

"Are you going to try to kill me again?" she shrieked. "Just be done with it already!"

"Again? Relax, Weasley. I wouldn't try to kill you in the library. It would be much more efficient to go to the Burrow and wipe out a few of your brothers while I'm at it," Draco drawled. Anyone else witnessing the scene would see this as his usually cruelty, but in no way a valid threat. But no one else was there to bear witness. Only a girl who had nearly died, who had now backed herself into a corner. A girl who had clumsily lowered herself to the floor and buried her face in her hands. "Calm down Ginny. Don't you think you're being a bit melodramatic?"

"Get away! You've ruined everything! Do you know that?!" Ginny said between choked sobs and ragged breaths.

Draco's apprehension was growing. He was only trying to have go at her and her stupid obsession with Potter. He didn't quite know what to do next. She was clearly delusional. If he left her there, there was no telling what she would tell those hot-tempered, moron brothers of hers. He would have to take his chances, however. Draco Malfoy was hovering over a small, hysterical second year girl in a secluded part of the library. He didn't need anyone to tell him how dodgy this looked. He knelt down in front of her. "Ginny," he said softly, "you don't seem to be well. Let me take you to Madam Pomfrey."

"And take a trip to see Moaning Myrtle on the way, I suppose?!" she shrieked. He had no idea how to respond to that. What was wrong with this girl?

"Ginny, the library is going to close. You'll be locked in," he said. She didn't move. Fine. He warned her. He would just leave her there. It would serve her right. He rose to his feet and brushed off his robes. She was still sitting on the floor when he left. He had nearly reached the doors when Professor McGonnegal's voice amplified through the school. Three dementors had entered the castle. All students were to return to their dormitories. Draco swore to himself. He couldn't leave her there. He wanted to, but she was defenseless. A Weasley was useless even on a good day, but hysterical in the library after hours was all but an engraved invitation for a Dementor's Kiss. He stormed back to her. She hadn't moved and, to his surprise and annoyance, hadn't stopped crying.

"Didn't you hear? There are dementors loose." He grabbed her arm and roughly pulled her to her feet. She eyes widened in shock.

"No!"

"Shut up! I'm taking you back to --," he had meant to finish the sentence with 'Gryffindor Tower' but was cut off but Ginny pulling out her wand.

"Get off of me, Malfoy! I'll kill you if you don't!" she shrieked.

"Weasley, put your wand down before you hex yourself," he sighed lazily. As he reached out for her wand, she jerked her hand back.

"No. NO! AVADA KED --,"

"EXPELLIARMUS!" Ginny's wand flew out of her hand. Draco spun around and met the shocked and angry faces of Harry and Ron. Ginny's eyes widened in shock at the realization of what she had nearly done, and the fact that it was a disarmament spell from Harry Potter that just spared her from a life term in Azkaban.

"Ginny!" Ron gasped, striding over to her and closing his arms around his sister. "What were you thinking?" She gave no answer. Draco watched her. Aware, but unable to control his wide eyes and unhinged jaw. She meant to kill him. His stomach felt hollow and his face flushed. Harry glared at Draco, his eyes flashing malice. He grabbed Draco by his shoulders and threw him against the bookshelf.

"What did you do to her?" he demanded.

"Potter," Draco felt at loss for words for quite possibly the first time in his life. He struggled to regain some of his usual composed detachment. "I did nothing. I offered to take her back to her common room and she decided to snuff me out in the library."

"You!" Ginny shrieked. "You did not! You said you were going to put me back in the chamber of secrets!"

Draco felt Harry and Ron glare at him. Harry's grasp tightened on Draco's shoulders.

"And just how do you know about that?" Ron demanded.

"It was his idea!" Ginny shrieked. "I told you that from the beginning! How else would Lucius know to kill me!"

"Is that what you think, Weasley? That's why you decided to practice the killing curse on me? You're mistaken. I've only heard about it this term."

"Heard what?" Harry asked.

"He's lying! He knows about everything! The basilisk, Fawkes, and Tom Riddle," Ginny sobbed. Draco looked at her. He wanted to hate her. She had just tried to kill him after all, it would have been reasonable. Had Potter or Weasley tried to curse him, he would have beaten them senseless. But he just stared at her. The shelves behind her reached the ceiling, and in the center of a semi - circle composed of Harry, Ron and himself, she looked slight and fragile. He felt something he couldn't quite explain.

"Did he say that?" Harry asked evenly. "Think your clever, Malfoy? Corner Ginny in the library and wind her up about Voldemort?"

"No Potter. You know I save that for you," Draco drawled.

"And just what, Mr. Malfoy, would that be?" Everyone turned to see Snape emerging from the other side of the shelves. "Explain yourselves." Snape said.

"Professor, I just came here to study, when-" Draco began, but was interrupted by Snape.

"Wands drawn, girl crying, Harry Potter showing up? Is this your idea of a study group Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked angrily.

"No, it rather looks like the apocalypse. We were just waiting for the fourth horseman when you arrived," Draco snapped. Snape glared and muttered an incantation. Ginny's wand began to glow. Snape's shock prevented him from speaking for a moment. Harry and Ron exchanged looks of alarm.

"You set off the wards for dark magic, Miss Weasley," Snape said in a low voice. It was a fact, not a question. Ginny continued to sob. "I don't suppose anyone would like to tell me why a second year cast the killing curse?"

"I'm sure she didn't know what it meant. She thought Malfoy meant to hurt her," Harry said. He had released Draco from his grasp.

"I don't believe you! And neither will the Ministry of Magic if I decide to report this!"

"No!" Ron said, rising to his feet and pulling Ginny up with him. "I told her to do it. I didn't think she would."

"Why?! Why would you give your sister an instruction that would send her straight to Azkaban?!"

"I took her book, just to wind her up sir," Draco said, speaking for the first time.

"Liar!" Snape yelled. "Mr. Malfoy, you want me to believe that you and Miss Weasley were fighting over," he paused and glanced at the book Draco had pointed to, "fighting over a book on glamour charms!" Snape's face turned crimson, he turned to Ginny. "And you! Instead of finding another book, you decided to use one of the unforgivable curses?! Someone will explain what just transpired, or you will all be answering to the Ministry tonight!"

What choice was there? So they explained. Ron and Harry did most of the talking. Ginny's belief of Draco's involvement in the events of her first year, the nightmares, the missed classes, missed meals. Draco was surprised she hadn't tried an unforgivable curse a bit sooner. The girl was clearly terrified of him. This would have pleased him had it been Ron or Harry, but Ginny's fear did not make him feel pleased or powerful.

"I swear," Draco said to everyone, but looking at Ginny, "I had no knowledge of my father's plans."

"There is one way to end this," Snape said. "Malfoy. Would you be willing to take veritasium?" Draco expected himself to protest, but instead he looked at Ginny.

"Fine," he said, turning to Ginny. It was the first time he had spoken to her since Potter and Weasley showed up. "Give me your word that you will not exploit this. You will soon find out your accusations as misguided," Draco said. Ginny nodded her head. Draco accepted the phial from Snape and drank. For the next quarter of an hour Ginny interrogated Draco. Draco had been truthful the day of the Polyjuice confession. He knew about his father's involvement, that was true. But he did not know the identity of the student who had opened the chamber of secrets, and he had certainly not recommended Ginny Weasley. Snape raised his wand.

"Have you heard enough, Miss Weasley?"

"Have you tried to kill Harry or Ron?" Ginny asked Draco.

"Not yet, but there may come a time. Don't ask me about that. You know what my father is."

"Will you try to kill me?" Ginny pressed.

"No."

"You'll just let someone else, I suppose," she said flatly. It was not a question, but her answered it anyway.

"Never. I would never do that," Draco said. Ginny looked startled. She had so many more questions now. "Take this off of me, I've told her all she needs to hear," Draco yelled at Snape. Before Ginny could ask anything more, Snape muttered a spell.

Draco glared. "Are you quite satisfied, Ginny Weasley? Will you be able to sleep tonight?" She never responded. Harry took her arm and led her away. Her brother collected her books and followed. Draco watched the small girl disappear behind the bookshelves with his worst enemy. Beside his father's veiled and not-so-veiled threats, Draco had never come so close to death as he had that afternoon.

***

Present...

Draco's eyes blinked open. Ginny's sleeping form across from him came into focus. It had been a long time since he had given thought to that night. In his dream, that night in the library in his third year replayed itself. The old shock of a killing curse, and the weight of Potter's glare subsided as his body became acutely aware of new sensation of the carriage coming to a halt. He looked at Ginny. She slept with both arms covering her chest and her face, as if to protect herself. He had just married the girl he had once reduced to tears, quite by accident, in his third year. The girl who tried to cast the killing curse. Harry Potter had saved his life. He had always hated that. At times, when he wound Potter up, he would remind Draco that he now had a wizard's debt. Tonight, that debt had been paid. He had protected Ginny twice. They were all even as far as Draco was concerned.