The Unforgettable Fire

(**text** = memories. *text* = thoughts and other.)

CHAPTER 10: Year 6, Part 2, Deceived

**"You could wear either color, Virginia," Draco said as he lounged on her bed. "It just depends...no, you'll have guys all over you no matter what so do whatever the hell you want."

"Red or green, Draco," Ginny said tiredly. She only had two hours until his party and she wanted to look good for it. "It has to be nice looking-"

"-but not too formal."

"And it has to be stylish-"

"-but not too showy."

"Yes! So what color should I wear?"

"Do I look gay, how the hell should I know?"

"Red it is then," Ginny said in an exasperated voice. She had made two dresses for the occasion; one was red and the other green. The red one was similar to the dress she wore in her fourth year. It was cut Mandarin style with high collar and no sleeves. She had a green dragon winding up the dress and she wore black gloves that went just above her elbow. She also decided to carry a fan with a white, fuzzy fringe. She left her hair down and put a braid in the hair next to her ear. Her eye makeup was mostly black and she wore ruby red lipstick. She loved the dress, but not really the color too much. But she couldn't really wear the green; she had worn it on other occasions that people had seen.

"It looks fine to me," Draco said enviously. Ginny knew he hated the fact that his father was taking her. Ginny knew it was a test for him and all Ginny had to do was act natural.

"Sorry you have to go with Parkinson," Ginny said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll make you sore for that one, Virginia," he said spitefully.

Ginny licked her lips and said casually, "That is right. You have to sleep with her tonight. Two words: ha, ha. At least I have a choice of who I go to bed with." She saw the doubt in his eyes and said, "I know who is on the guest list, you forget."

"Polinen," Draco growled. "He's married."

"His wife isn't coming. She had an unavoidable business venture," Ginny smirked. "He always was so nice to me. Besides, if that falls through, anyone would be happy to come up stairs with me."

Draco looked at her dangerously. "I'm jealous."

"I know," she sighed, taking a brush and combing her hair. It had grown quite long; it was below her butt now. She decided to shorten it a bit that night and did a Receding Charm on it. She looked into her reflection and reached into her jewelry box and put on Hina's and Nefertiti's rings. She had long since gained power over the rings, all of them in fact. She wasn't all that worried about the seventh ring, it would come in good time; everything always did.

Then a knock was heard on the door and a gray house elf walked in and told Ginny to meet Lucius in the study and Draco to meet Pansy downstairs. Ginny headed to the study and watched Draco grumble as he headed downstairs. Knocking lightly on the door, she walked in and saw Lucius standing in front of the fire. He was wearing a regal black robe and looked not too happy.

"I will be excusing myself after the toast at dinner, Miss Weasley," he said darkly pouring some liquor into the fire then watching it hiss. "Business calls."

He turned around and his eyes widened just enough to be noticed. Ginny nodded though and said, "I understand, Mr. Malfoy."

He paused and said, "If you don't mind me saying, you look absolutely ravishing in that Miss Weasley, red really does suit you."

"Thank you," she said politely.

"Now we really should go down and greet the guests," he said, extending his arm. She nodded again and took it, following him to the ballroom.

They entered and people automatically took notice of her. She smiled a chilly smile and returned their stares fearlessly. It was something she was used to by now. She wasn't afraid, she didn't feel fear. They passed by many people. Lucius engaged a few of them in conversation and introduced her to many people. Most of them looked intimidated by her. *And why shouldn't they be,* she asked herself. *I'm here with Lucius Malfoy. I'm more influential than they are and I'm beautiful to boot. They have reason to fear me, especially since I'll be sitting next to him at the head of the table.*

Ginny waved her fan lightly in front of her face as Lucius showed her off. She thought she did a damn good job of looking desirable and unattainable at the same time. She could have any person in that room. She reminded herself to calm down; Nefertiti's ring always had this sort of affect on her.

People clapped as Draco and Pansy came down the stairs. Pansy looked quite pretty; she seemed to have lost some weight and was wearing a flattering dark blue dress.

"You realize that it isn't even a comparison, Virginia," a familiar voice said in her ear. The corner of Virginia's lips turned up as she turned around.

"Alexsey Polinen," she said slowly, "My, don't we look handsome."

To her delight and surprise, his pale skin turned a bit pink at the compliment. But it was true. He had retained his boyish charm and had gained some mannish glamour. He was very handsome indeed.

"Miss Weasley," Lucius said, turning from a foreign man to her and Alexsey, "I never realized you knew Alexsey. His father and I've know each other since Hogwarts. How is the old man, Alexsey?"

"His health is strong," Alexsey said smoothly, "And business goes smoothly. He sends his regrets for not being able to attend, though the meeting vill go on as planned."

"Good, good," Lucius said in a cosmopolitan manner. "Say, you don't know many people here; do you Alexsey."

Alexsey paused and said, "I know you, Draco, and Virginia."

"As I suspected. Miss Weasley," he said, turning to her, "do you think you could entertain Alexsey until dinner is served. I'm sure you have a lot of catching up to do."

"Not at all, Mr. Malfoy," Ginny said with a smile. Lucius nodded to them both and went back to talking to the foreign diplomat.

"So," Ginny said with a small smile, "Alexsey, how are you?"

"I'm doing good, continuing the family business and trying to make my vay; support my family," he said cautiously.

"A family!" Ginny exclaimed. "But you just got out of school!"

"I know, I feel older already, Ilayna is pregnant already," he confessed.

"Well congratulations, it seems you've grown up quite fast, Alexsey," she said smoothly.

"It seems you have too," he said. Ginny wasn't using her ring and he was already hitting on her. She smirked inwardly, she really was that good. "Would you care to dance?"

Ginny nodded and went out on the floor with him. He smiled down on her like he had in her fourth year. Though this time she was returning his smile with a trained cool one; not a nervous and shy one. He seemed to notice the change and looked a bit surprised about it. "Just how did you find your vay onto the Malfoy Estate, Virginia?"

"I'm their 'resident artist' I guess. Draco invited me for the summer to paint for his family, a sort of job. I accepted and here I am. Beats the hell out of staying at home and being pestered by Ronald and Harry," she conceded.

"Oh, yes," he said with a light laugh, "I recall now. They had you in the newspaper back home, your mural on the walls of Hogwarts. Vatever became of that? It vas very good, I hope that they didn't take it down or ruin it."

"No, no," Ginny said, "They actually moved it. It is in the Wizarding portion of the Louve right now. It is going to America within the month though. It won an award in That Other, Smaller Broom Magazine and in Witch Paintbrush, actually."

"I'm impressed," Alexsey said, tuning in time with the music. "You seem to have grown up, Virginia."

"More than you know, Alexsey, more than you know," she said quietly. That was when Ginny had an epiphany. She didn't want to sleep with him. She didn't want to sleep with any of these people. Damn it, she was discontent. Tough, a voice in her head said, deal and don't whine. Just because you don't want any of these men and you are feeling agitated doesn't mean you need to get grumpy. Just enjoy yourself and go back to your room alone.

Ginny was silent for a while and dinner was served. She sat to the left of Lucius, where Mrs. Malfoy usually sat and Draco sat across from her at Lucius' right. Pansy was sitting next to Draco and the Japanese man who Lucius had been talking to earlier was at her left.

"A toast," Lucius said smoothly as he stood. Ginny stood as well and brought her wine to attention. "A toast to my son on his seventeenth birthday. I have watched him grow from a willful young boy into a strong man. May he prosper in his seventh and last year at Hogwarts and then in the real world."

The group lifted their glasses in unison and then drank politely. "Now," Mr. Malfoy continued, "I must leave you all, business with the ministry..."

He left and Ginny was forced to make dull conversation with the Japanese man to the left of her and look like she was having a good time. She didn't want to be there, it was boring and something told her she should be somewhere else. It was like a tugging feeling in her stomach. She wanted to follow Lucius, it had something to do with him or she'd eat her fan.

She ended up talking to Alexsey and then retiring herself. Ginny slept fitfully that night, images and dreams haunted her until she woke.**

For all my misapprehensions, for all my faults, for all my stupidity, I would always remember Lima. Lima is the capitol of Peru. Peru is in South America. Peru is also the home of Machu Pichu, the ancient Incan ruins and the witches and wizards of old. I always was captivated by the past, I always will be. But setting foot on those hallowed stones cut by hand, I felt alive. I felt spirits all around me. I could hear the whispers of the dead and powerful. I will always remember Machu Pichu.

A few days after Draco's birthday (and after I'd gotten over that embarrassing laps with reality and sucked my displeasure up) the whole Malfoy family and their painter and their house elves left for a Port Key supplied by the Ministry to Lima, Peru.

You think Peru and you're like, "Well, hey, it can't be that advanced, it is South Africa." Well you'd be wrong. Go to the right part of Lima and you'll see nicer, cleaner, more beautiful sights than Paris. The breath taking view of the jungles is only topped by the interesting new sights and sounds. There are literally exotic animals (parrots and the like) roaming about the city. You can buy an avocado on one street, turn the corner and walk into a shopping mall filled with the most stylish clothes in South America.

Yes, Lima is beautiful, Peru is beautiful. But Malfoy's friends in Lima...eh...not so much. I've never met a person that stank so badly of lies and deceit. His name was Antonio Vasquez and he was the leader of the Peruvian Death Eaters. I also hate his wife, Lupe, and his daughter, Rosalina...stupid bitches.

**"Narcissa! Darling! How are you?" the skinny Peruvian woman said in her high-pitched squeal of a voice. It grated on Ginny's ears and she suddenly wished for a good pair of earplugs.

"Lupe! I haven't seen you in an age, you look marvelous," the equally giddy Mrs. Malfoy said.

"Lucius," a tall, dark haired, dark eyed, dark skinned man said to Lucius, extending a hand.

"Antonio," Lucius said, offering his hand. They shook and Ginny felt Antonio's eyes on her.

"This is Miss Virginia Weasley," Lucius said, introducing Ginny to the two Peruvians. "She is a friend of Draco's and our guest this summer."

Antonio nodded at her, his greased-back, curly, black hair making him look more unsavory than Professor Snape himself. Ginny smiled coldly and both Antonio and Lupe. Lupe looked like she wanted to sneer, but held it in. Ginny could tell she wasn't welcome.

"Ah, Rosalina," Lupe said quickly. Ginny turned behind her and saw who she was looking at. "This is our daughter, Rosalina. Rosalina, this is Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy and Draco."

"Nice to meet you all," the girl said in perfect English. She was shorter than Ginny by a few good inches and she had long, black hair. Ginny decided that at first glance, the girl was comely enough, but as Rosalina walked past Ginny, she thought it was a miracle she didn't trip over her ass more. *Good Merlin,* Ginny thought privately. *My, my, some one couldn't lay off the chimichangas.*

Ginny stayed quiet while the adults were catching up and Rosalina did her best to engage Draco in conversation. Ginny shot him a smirk and he sneered at her. None of this went unnoticed by Lupe however.

"Rosalina, why don't you show Draco the view, I'm sure that he's never seen anything like it," Lupe said.

"Yes, Mother," Rosalina said with a little smile.

"So, Virginia," Lupe said, effectively pinning Ginny in her seat, "You're a friend of Draco's from school?"

Ginny smiled and said, "Yes. We are good friends from Hogwarts; we're in the same house."

"We've invited her over to showcase some of her talents," Lucius said smoothly. "Miss Weasley is an excellent painter and excellent company."

"She has such good taste," Mrs. Malfoy added. "She practically designed our whole house. And the art gallery is so much livelier now. She is a genius!"

Lupe and Antonio shared a glance and the conversation went on with out her. After about a half hour, the Malfoys and Ginny left to the flat they'd rented for the next two weeks. It was a nice place, in Ginny's opinion, with and open feeling because of the many glass walls displaying the jungle atmosphere. Ginny liked her rooms because they were in the corner of the house and she got two views of the forest and city.

Mostly, Ginny was excited about the trip to Machu Pichu the next day. It would be much easier for them because they could just Port Key, but for natives and Muggle visitors, it was basically impossible to reach with out use of a llama.

"What is so special about this place anyway?" Draco asked boredly as he sat out on the glass porch that morning.

Ginny looked up at him over her book and said, "You're kidding me, right?"

"So it is a mountain/temple thing that was made a long time ago. Who cares?"

Ginny set down her book. "Has anyone ever told you that you need to work harder at being ignorant? If so I'd be surprised. Let me educate you so I can stand you presence. Machu Pichu is only the most important Incan architectural structure ever. Not only is it said to have mystical powers, its primary function was an astronomical observatory. The Intihuatana stone has been show to be a precise indicator of the winter solstice and other celestial periods. It is said that if a sensitive person touches their forehead to the stone the Intihuatana opens their vision to the spirit world. Not only that, but Peruvian and other South American witches and wizards regard it as the single most magical place in the world. By my standards it comes in third behind Avalon and the seat at Delphi."

"Why don't you put your forehead to the Inihatya - "

" - Itnihuatana - "

" - rock and see if your vision is opened to the spirit world?"

"Because."

"Why?"

"I don't have a good feeling about it."

"Why?"

"Because I don't."

Draco was silent and Ginny went back to her reading. Soon it was time for their Port Key and Ginny made sure to bring all her rings. She didn't exactly have a bad feeling about the place like she'd told Draco. More like she wanted to be prepared, though for who or what purpose she didn't know.

As soon as she touched the Key she felt the familiar swallowing of her body on itself as she was whisked away to the heights of the Andes. Draco caught her arm before she could fall, which turned out to be very wise as she inhaled deeply with awe and felt her knees go weak.

It was even greater than she imagined. The expanse of sky was almost too much for her. It was like she was standing on Olympus itself, looking down on the mortal world with an all seeing eye. The mountains and jagged cliffs in the background were only surpassed by the brightness and clearness of everything. Green peaks and valleys, clear waters and skies, ancient sights and smells, it was almost too much for Ginny.

Ginny clutched Draco's arm tightly as she took it all in. Just looking at the ground, the perfectly carved stones under her feet, reminded her of the power of the place.

"Do you like it?" Lucius asked her after a moment.

Ginny could only nod. She had a feeling that she looked suspiciously like a guppy with her mouth open and her eyes wide, but she didn't care. The sheer volume of the place was enough to make her loose all connection with reality.

The group of three (Ginny had to laugh at the feeble excuse Mrs. Malfoy made up not to come) moved around the ruins. Lucius had made sure that no one would be there that day to disturb them.

"The Intihuatana stone," Ginny whispered in awe. Before them stood the ancient stone of the Incans. "It was said that this was the place that the Incan priestesses were trained. The Incans were especially adept at analyzing time, the motions of the stars and planets, and numbers. Those markings around the stone, they help calculate the seasons and predict the solstices."

"Can you read them?" Draco asked.

Ginny looked longingly at the stones. "No. Not many people can. They don't publish it. I would like to learn how though."

"Antonio can," Lucius said idly. "It is his specialty, the stars and ancient Incan magic." Ginny thought this over. She doubted Antonio would teach her anything. She could always ask though. "I want you to put your forehead to the stone."

Ginny frowned. "I shouldn't."

Lucius, looking very amused, said, "And why is that?"

"I don't really know," she said quietly. She wanted to; more than anything she wanted to. Just the thought of seeing into the spirit world, no matter how long, was intriguing. Slowly, as by their own direction, her feet carried her to the stone. She fell on her knees in a likely looking place, and opposed to her better judgment, she touched the Intihuatana to her forehead.

It was like being shocked. A spark of light flashed in front of her eyes and she pulled back sharply. Slowly, her vision turned back to normal...kind of. She stifled a cry as dozens of robed women walked around her. Several were carrying stone tablets and many had decorative headdresses on. They were obviously shades, visions of the past, or ghosts haunting the present, but invisible to most people. Ginny stared in amazement. It wasn't what she had imagined, but it was far more realistic than what she had imagined. She looked about and saw the place wasn't a ruin; it was a thriving center of commerce. People rushed about trying to get their jobs done. Gazing down on the once used fields, she saw people working in them busily, digging the earth and planting seeds.

"Virginia..."

"Virginia..."

"Virginia..."

"Yes," she answered after realizing that some one was calling her.

Turning around, a woman with a particularly decorative headdress and skirt was walking towards her. The woman's face was covered by the mask she wore, but she looked like she was a native with her short, curvy frame and bronze skin.

"Follow me, Virginia, I have something to show you, to give to you," the woman said. As they walked, the strange woman continued. "I am the Maiden of War, Coatlicue, and the seventh sister. I assume that you have passed all the other tests, no matter how oblivious you were of them, and that is why you are here. We, my sisters and I, have great hopes for you Virginia."

"Where are you taking me?" she asked in shock.

Ginny imagined a smile on the face of the masked woman the way she answered the question. "To the most sacred place in Machu Pichu of course. Where else did you think we'd get Xanu?"

"Who's Xanu?"

"Not who, but what," Coatlicue answered. Leading Ginny down the ever-turning stairs and passages, they came to a bare wall at which Coatlicue stopped. "Now, are you sure that you want to come any farther?"

Ginny looked at the Incan woman silently. "What will I find?"

"Some people find answers. Most people find more questions. You, I think, will find Xanu," the woman answered.

"Can you come with me?"

"No," Coatlicue said. "But I can advise you. Don't lie. Don't force anything. What will come will come."

Ginny pursed her lips. "That isn't very warlike of you."

"I'm the mother of war, not war himself. I bring what would have come sooner or later, just like I bring you to Xanu. I will not be here when you return. You won't see any sisters after today, but remember we live in you. Every gift we've given you, you've had in you the whole time. Now go, you haven't much time."

Ginny suddenly knew what to do. Putting all six of her rings on her pointer finger, she ran it down the center of the wall. It was just wide enough for her to enter and it closed right after she walked though. But what she walked into she didn't know. It seemed to be a ceremony room of some type and there was a dagger on the stone table in the middle of the chamber. Ginny was immediately drawn to it and she moved to it like a moth drawn to the flame.

*Halt, Virgin From Light,* a powerful voice sounded.

"Xanu," she whispered.

*Xanu the Sharp, Xanu the Untainted, Xanu the Dangerous, Xanu the Truth Sayer, Xanu the War Bringer, Xanu the Dagger. Xanu is what I am called; I am the weapon of the Virgin From Light. If you think you are the chosen, pick me up and kiss my blade. If you think otherwise, put your rings on my blade and leave, you have no place in this sacred crypt.*

"How can you tell if you are the Virgin From Light?" she asked tentatively.

*Kiss my blade and if I ring true, you will know. If I don't ring true, you will be sacrificed.*

Ginny swallowed. Either she was or she wasn't, it was a fifty/fifty chance. Carefully, she picked up the blade and examined it. It was delicate of craft, made of some rock she couldn't place, but she knew it not to be any metal she'd ever heard of. It had the Incan writing on the base of its blade and its hilt was emerald studded. Somewhere under her icy interior, the courage she needed built up until she could bring herself to do the feat. Slowly, she brought the blade to her lips and kissed its cold, foreign metal.

Immediately the room was filled with a pure white light and Ginny felt her soul being pierced. It was Xanu, cutting a hole straight into her, burying itself to the hilt, and then covering itself completely. Ginny began breathing sporadically and felt herself separating from with world of the spirit violently. She felt the cold, hard stone at the base of the Intihuatana and then she slammed into it. Her head was swimming and she still felt weak from her traumatic experience with the dagger. She could feel it within her, feeding off her soul, yet at the same time trying to rejuvenate her, like it knew it'd done wrong.

"Virginia!" a sharp voice said. "Virginia! Are you all right? Look what you've done Father! Breathe Virginia! Breathe!"

And she did. She inhaled deeply, trying to fill her empty lungs. Coughing, she stood with Draco's help and leaned into him for warmth in the chilly atmosphere.

"Are you all right?" Draco asked her again.

"I...I don't know. Give me a minute..." she said distantly, still trying to recover from her shock. "Yes," she said after a moment, looking into Draco's genuinely worried eyes and nodding. "I'm okay. That was quite a ride."

"What happened?" Lucius said. To Ginny's ears he sounded almost eager.

Before she could answer, Draco gave his father a penetrating glare and said, "I think you've done enough already. I think we should leave."

Ginny looked down on the ground tiredly. She didn't really want to leave, but she was uneasy in this place now. Her soul was sore. She'd only experienced something like this when she'd been training for her Animagus. Projecting one's soul wasn't easy on you, nor was it particularly healthy. She doubted that having something embedded in your soul was either.

"I suppose we could talk about it later," Lucius said stiffly.

Draco took Ginny's arm protectively but it slipped out when Ginny didn't move with him. "What?" he asked worriedly.

"I can read it," she said. Ginny gasped in realization. She could read it! It was clear as day. Projections, prophecies, information, everything. It was amazing, like seeing a foreign dance come to life. "It says...we have to watch the sun set. It is the Summer Solstice."

"What is so special about the Summer Solstice?" Lucius asked interestedly.

"That," Ginny said, pointing to the sun as it hit off the Intihuatana stone. "The hours of light are greater than the hours of dark," she continued, "so the Incans thought that their sun god, Con Ticci Viracocha, had the most power on this day." The ray of sun directly in the path of the Intihuatana stone and light splattered on the surrounding rock, lighting the Incan texts set in stone. They shimmered and danced on the stone for some minutes, then died down. It was certainly a show. "From now until the end of the world, the solstices will hit the Intihuatana stone and rejuvenate the power of the Incan gods and their magic. The Spanish wizards that traveled with the Conquistadors saw this as a threat to them, so the systematically destroyed all Intihuatana stones. But this stone is the most important, the most sacred, and the most powerful."

Ginny could see the wheels in Lucius' head turning. "Could one harness this power?" he asked finally.

Ginny frowned. "Theoretically? Yes, you could."

"Theoretically, how would you go around doing this?" Draco asked, his fingers on his chin and a slight, intelligent frown on his face.

She thought for a moment. "You would need a large conductor, a powerful stone or gem. You would need very good channelers, probably ten to twelve; seventeen to be safe, though it could be done with nine. You would need to be able to translate those texts around the Intihuatana. But it would be almost impossible. It was meant to power their gods and magic, not a person. It goes beyond my expertise in Arithmacy. I doubt that Professor Vector would be able to do it."

The three were silent for a moment. Ginny knew what Lucius wanted to do; he wanted to give this information to Tom. If she were going to be invaluable to this, she would have to convince them of it. She looked around her in vain, trying to come up with a reason, a justification. The magic around the stones was almost completely dormant and the Intihuatana wasn't reflecting the sun anymore as it had gone mostly over the horizon, letting the stars shine into the night.

"Could you?" Lucius asked.

*Perfect*, Ginny thought, *now for the show.* She sighed and looked over at the Incan texts cut into stone, running her fingers over them lightly. "Not now," she answered. "If I was given time, perhaps. I'm not stupid Mr. Malfoy, I know why you want to harness the power of the Intihuatana; I know who you'd give it to. But know this; it is a one in a thousand chance that it would work. It was meant to power gods, power the magic of the people. If you fed it to an individual, it might be too much. They would have to be god-like; they would have to eat ambrosia or something to counter the effects of the destructive magic. And even then, if all you wished came true, the chances that they would be able to control the power given to them is astronomical."

"But could you do it?" Draco asked.

Ginny looked away again. "Yes, given time, opportunity, study...and a reason."

After an uncomfortable silence, Lucius spoke. "Enough. We'll discuss this later. We have to meet with Antonio and Lupe for dinner. Apparently Rosalina wants to take you both clubbing in Lima, some Muggle past time involving dancing and alcohol."**

The rest of the vacation was spent being entertained by the Vasquezs. Their dislike fore me grew into a full-blown hatred and I still ignored them. We got the chance to visit a few other ruins and do some more exploring, but other than that, we stayed in Lima for the most part.

I left with the Malfoys, my sketchbook and mind full, a few weeks before the start of term. I was looking forward to school and my sixth year. My Prefect badge came in the mail the same day as Draco's Head Boy badge. As a reward, Draco got a new broom, a Firebolt II Plus, a very fine broom.

The most exciting part of my summer was about to come too. The World Cup was being played in Ireland again, the Irish team hosting. It would be Ireland vs. the United States in the finals. All Draco talked about was the damn Cup. After my time in Peru, nothing was quite as exciting. But I had other things to worry about than who won the cup. Lucius Malfoy gave me another assignment.

**"Ah, Miss Weasley, do come in. I hope I didn't disturb your painting," Lucius said, setting down a document on his desk. He looked up at her with his frigid gray eyes and raised an eyebrow.

"No," Ginny said slowly. "I just finished a painting when your elf asked me to come."

"Good. Please, sit. You and I have a few things to discuss." Lucius motioned for her to sit. She did and politely crossed her legs, waiting for him to speak. He rose and paced about the room for a moment. "We have two things to discuss. One of them is your new assignment at the World Cup. As your eighth and final training session, I would like you to seduce the American Teams Seeker Maximus Brankovitch III, the team's captain. I will of course supply the opportunity, but the rest is up to you."

"Consider it done," she said casually. She was getting good at her job; she would be a pro by the time she got to school. No one stood a chance.

"Good. The second being the Intihuatana stone. I have a team of four highly skilled Arithromancers working on the logistics of the operation. However, I want some one to translate the texts for me, I don't trust Antonio any longer."

"You don't trust anyone. Why ask me?"

"You can read it. And for some reason, which is beyond my ability to comprehend, I feel I can entrust you with this. Maybe it is because my son and I have such similar personalities, or maybe because of the way you are, I like you. It isn't something I usually say, or even do. The number of people I actually like can be calculated on one hand. So you see, I entrust you with this because I am more or less being foolish."

"Freud says that most of the human mind is incomprehensible and unpredictable," Ginny said calmly. "Most decisions are made correctly by the subconscious and then second guessed by the conscious."

"One of the few Muggles I admire." Lucius looked out his window and then back at her. "You will have to work at it at school I imagine. Try to pull it off as an assignment."

"That wont be hard. The Advanced Arithmacy class I'm taking is basically a huge out of class assignment and your results are the finals. It will be cake to fool Vector, she is clueless and I'll get a grade for it."

"It is settled then," Lucius said distractedly. "You'll send for Cronos to deliver your results then. Are we clear?"

"Crystal," she said stonily. He motioned for her to leave with a flip of his hand and Ginny left.**

Exactly. This was perfect. The Quaffle was in my hands now. Too perfect. Ah, so many ways I could go. I could, A) sabotage their operation with faulty translations thus killing Tom with an overload of power, B) tell Dumbledore I was going to sabotage their operation with faulty translations thus killing Tom with an overload of power so he can send Aurors and round up the remaining Death Eaters, or C) act as a double agent and leak information to Harry or Ron or Hermione about the operation thus giving Dumbledore enough time to sabotage the damn operation himself. So many options for killing Tom. I could taste my revenge. You ever hear that saying 'revenge is best served cold'? I think mine with burn to death from the inside and combust. I was thinking a combination between B and C. I ended up deciding on telling Dumbledore initially what I was doing, then leaking information through one of the Gryffindors to him. Tom would fall. Hopefully I would be there to watch.

But I didn't have any time to use planning for that. The Quidditch Cup was coming. Soon I was taking a last minute private Port Key to the top box. Little did I know some one else was sitting at the top box. All I wanted to know was how they found the money!

**Ginny sat in the same seat she'd sat in three years earlier. She had decided on a backless sundress, broad-rimmed hat, and black, Jackie-O sunglasses. It was a cute ensemble, the newest fashion among prevalent witches. The dress had a sunflower patter on it and criss-crossed with thin straps on the back and her shoes were stylish clear pumps. Her dress was designed to catch the eye of the American Team's Seeker and showed off her legs and breasts.

"Don't come in until you can control yourself!" she had said to him earlier that day.

"What?!?" Draco'd replied.

"Haven't you ever seen how American witches dress?"

He paused. "Yes."

"You can't ravage me right before we go like you've been doing all summer!" she'd said through the door.

He walked though. Draco's jaw seemingly dropped to the floor before he could clean himself up. "I didn't know they wore that."

"It is quite revealing."

"I want to move to America."

Ginny had to roll her eyes at the very thought of the rest of *that* conversation. She'd come to the conclusion Draco was just like every other seventeen year old boy she'd met, obsessed with the Three B's, breasts, butt, and baby-making, though the last was more commonly known as sex. She looked over at him as they waited for Ludo Bagman to begin announcing. Draco was talking to an American wizard, a brother of some one on the American Team. To her right were Lucius and the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.

"Harry!" some one said in a loud whisper. "Look who is here!" To Ginny's infinite surprise, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hermione Granger and a troop of redheaded boys behind her along with Harry Potter. *Damn it all to Hell!* Ginny shouted mentally. "She's sitting with Malfoy."

Ginny turned to Draco and put her hand on his thigh. Immediately he turned to her and she said into his ear. "Don't look but we have company. My family is here, with Harry and Hermione." A quick smirk crossed his face and Ginny saw the American wizard lean a bit closer.

Before anything could happen, however, Ludo Bagman began. "Ladies and gentlemen...welcome! Welcome to the final of the four hundred and twenty-*third* Quidditch World Cup! And now, with out further ado, allow me to announce the favored Irish Team! Presenting - Connolly! Ryan! Troy! Mullet! Moran! Quigley! Aaaaaand - Lynch!"

Seven green blurs swept over the stadium, the crowd in green roaring and cheering enthusiastically for the Irish National Quidditch Team. Ginny noticed with amusement that they had forgone mascot presentations because of the events of the veela and leprechauns at the last final.

"And now," Bagman continued in a yell, "Please greet - the United States National Quidditch Team! And in red, white, and blue are our underdogs! Higgins! Terrence! Dobson! Norris! Johnson! Johnson! Aaaaaaaand Brankovitch!

"To regulate the game, all the way from Egypt, our referee, acclaimed Chairwizard of the International Association of Quidditch, Hussan Mostafa!" Ludo said this as a small and skinny wizard, completely bald save a large mustache, strode onto the field. A silver whistle like Madam Hooch's was sticking out of his mustache and he was carrying a large wooden crate under one arm, his broom under the other. Ginny took a second look and saw this was the same Hussan Mostafa that had regulated the game three years ago. Mostafa mounted his broom and kicked the crate open - four balls burst into the air: the scarlet Quaffle, the two black Bludgers, and the miniscule, winged Golden Snitch. With a sharp blow of his whistle, Mostafa shot into the air after the balls. "Theeeeeeeeeey're OFF!" screeched Bagman. "And it is Mullet! Troy! Moran! Higgins! Back to Mullet! Troy! Dobson! Moran!"

Ginny was genuinely impressed. The Americans, after a slow start, began to catch up. The player that stole the show was no doubt the American Chaser, Brandon Norris. He was quick on the broom, had a rocket for an arm, and was not to mention quite handsome. Ginny tried comparing him to the American wizard sitting next to Draco. They facial features were similar and their hair and eyes were too. She frowned and looked back onto the pitch. Draco pressed the Omnoculars to her face, saying something excitedly about a play the American wizards (a team of seven men, Ginny scoffed) as they scored. Draco looked though his Omnoculars again and ignored her; even Lucius looked interested in the game. Personally, Ginny would rather be playing than watching. She spotted the American Seeker, Maximus Brankovitch III. He was supposedly the greatest young Seeker since Krum, as Krum had left the Quidditch business to study philosophy and mathematics in a school in St. Petersburg. He was good-looking enough in Ginny's opinion, with bright blonde hair and bronze skin, suggesting he was perhaps from the West Coast/California area.

The game went on for a few hours more and at 270 to 310, Ireland's lead, Maximus Brankovitch III showed his stuff and caught the Snitch. Ginny had seen more exciting games; she'd played in more exciting games. But she clapped with the American witches and wizards in congratulating them on a fair and honest win. The American Team took their victory lap and then the Irish and American teams both met in the top box to shake hands and socialize before heading off to their victory party in the wizarding night club/studio in the nearest town.

Huge and sweaty men (and one woman, an Irish Chaser named Jeanette Mullet) entered the top box and shook hands with their opposition. The conquering Brandon Norris and Maximus Brankovitch III, holding the Cup between them, headed over towards the American wizard Draco'd been talking too.

"Awesome game Brandon," the American wizard said. "And nice catch Max."

"It was nothing! These Irish wizards don't scare us, do they Max?" the apparently stupid Brandon Norris said loudly.

"Keep it down, would you," Brankovitch said quietly, his eyes flicking around him and then at Norris.

"Yeah," the American wizard said. "Oh, and this is Draco Malfoy, an English wizard attending Hogwarts."

"Nice to meet you," Brankovitch said, holding out his hand.

"Likewise," Draco replied, shaking his hand and the hand of Norris. "And this is Virginia Weasley."

"Pleased to meet you, both," she said, taking the hand of Norris, who turned a deep red, and then Brankovitch, who also turned a light pink. She didn't even need her ring! "Your flying was marvelous," she praised, curling at bit of hair behind her ear. "It must have been *terribly* exciting playing the previous World Champions. I can only imagine."

Brankovitch coughed uneasily. "Well, that is what I do."

"That is fascinating," Ginny said; the corner of her mouth turned up in a flirtatious way. "Tell me, what is America like? I've never been there."

"Draco," Lucius called from behind her. "Oh, I see you've met the Americans. Good show, both of you. Draco, I've some one you must meet, come."

Draco left. "Finally!" Ginny sighed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "He acts like he is my knight in shining armor, following me around like that. Really, just because we are in the same house!"

Ginny smiled inwardly as the Americans took the bait. "Is he bothering you?" Brankovitch asked, his eyes darting dangerously at Draco, then fondly at Ginny. *Stupid,* Ginny thought. *Why do men ALWAYS fall for this? Oh, I'm a damsel in distress! Save me! Ha!* "Do you want me to give him a hint?"

"No!" Ginny gasped, looking helpless and putting her hand lightly on his forearm. "Please don't!"

Brankovitch frowned and looked over at Draco again. "I think," he said, his serious blue eyes returning to her face, "that you should come outside with me. Brandon, stay here and make sure Malfoy over there doesn't leave for a while."

Norris nodded, as did his brother, and Ginny took the large hand of the American in hers, smiling up at him as he led her out. But before she could leave, she heard the voice of her brother. "Ginny! Ginny!"

She stiffened and Brankovitch looked at her questioningly. Ginny, standing on her tiptoes, whispered in the American's ear. "That is my brother. The one with the dark hair next to him is one of his friends. They are the ones that refused to protect me against Malfoy and let him take me to his manner for the summer." Ginny almost broke into laughter at this statement, but she held it in and watched Brankovitch's face darken. "Let me deal with it, please?"

He nodded and Ginny turned to her brother and Harry. "Leave me alone," she said in a serious tone. "You've done enough." She made sure to hold tighter to Brankovitch's hand as she did this, then pull on him slightly to tell him she wanted to leave. It was just too easy.

"You English folk are way weird, you know that?" he asked her once they were in the sunshine and walking down the bleachers.

Ginny smiled shyly up at him, taking the full force of his stare and blowing it off like it were a mere glance. "I guess life is different in the States, we still haven't gone beyond the age of chivalry in wizarding Britain."

"I guess," Brankovitch grumbled. A sharp wind picked up and Ginny's hat flew from her head and off into the distance. Her skirt whipped around her and she hugged a bit tighter to the American. He looked down on her and said, "You want to get a bite to eat?"

"Sure." Ginny entwined her fingers in his. She could almost hear his heart beat faster at his as he Dissapparated with her to the bed and breakfast he was staying at. "Were you going to do some sight seeing?" Ginny asked him.

"Well," he confessed, "I was, but now I think I'll just take you out to dinner. We start practicing next Monday, we don't really get any time off. I wanted to see a bit of Ireland and London, England before I left."

"That can all be arranged. Did you want to go to a nightclub for dinner? If so, we could go to Soho. Or if you wanted to go somewhere more private, we could go elsewhere."

Brankovitch's eyes roved over her. "Somewhere more private I think."

"Hogsmeade it is then," she said. "It is the only all-wizarding village in Scotland."

Soon the two were sitting in a corner of Coliseums, the new restaurant in Hogsmeade, finishing off their blueberry pie and talking Quidditch. Truthfully, Ginny did like Brankovitch. He was funny, intelligent, talented, handsome, and just plain fascinating. Ginny's been able to gather his whole life story easily from him with out divulging almost anything about herself. It was better that way, the less attached to her he was, the easier it would be for her to do what she needed to do.

"So," he said as he sat next to her, taking a small sip of his beer, "What do you want to do with your life?"

"I've always wanted to write, or paint. I've always liked Arithmacy too, so I really don't know. What do you want to do? You can't just play Quidditch all your life." He pulled his arm off her shoulder and looked down at the table. "Come on, it can't be that bad," she coaxed, laying a hand on his leg.

"I haven't gotten that far let. I'm only three years out of school and I never really thought about it because of Quidditch." He looked over at her, a little pink. "Do you mind if I tell you something? I mean, I know we just met..."

Ginny pretended to look confused. Brankovitch ran his hand through his think blonde hair quickly, looking away nervously. "What I mean is I...I've never felt this way about a person before...you - you make me feel different, Virginia."

Ginny smiled sweetly. "Would you like to kiss me, Max?"

His right hand twitched before he brought it to her chin and lifted her lips to his slowly and placed a soft, chaste kiss on her mouth. After a moment, he pulled away and looked at her. Ginny batted her eyelashes slowly at him. Then she pulled his ear to her mouth and whispered, "Take me to your room."

And he did. They appeared in a small, quaint little room she expected was his room in the bed and breakfast. It was dark and moonlight spilled in through the half closed drapes. Brankovitch ran his fingers lovingly down her hair and brushed his cheek against hers.

"So beautiful, so sweet," he murmured into her ear. "So innocent."**

"Innocent...innocent...innocent..." The words reverberated in my head. I'll admit I froze. Innocent? I wasn't innocent. I was the opposite of innocent. I was hardened, battle-wizened, and heart-weary. A person that didn't even know me, a person who'd not seen nor talked to me previous to this day, and they call me innocent. I suppose that the character I was playing was innocent pulling the 'would you like to kiss me' stunt. But me...innocent? No. Not really.

It was like a rock dropped down in my stomach, echoing like it would if it were thrown into a pit. "Innocent." I'll remember those words for a long time. For many reasons I'd remember those words. One being he died. The very next year, he was playing in his hometown stadium and there was a Death Eater attack. Completely random, completely unplanned, incredibly deadly for the two hundred affected. Another reason being he told me he loved me. It wasn't odd; I'd had people confess their love to me before. Harry did. If Draco hadn't grown into his father he would have. Had I kept toying with Alexsey he would have.

To my shame and digest, I went on with the plan. He didn't even notice my hesitation. Americans. I guess that is all you can say. He told me he loved me and the next day I threw it in his face. Well, I didn't throw 'it in his face,' but I did leave him late that morning and scrub myself clean after I got to Malfoy Estate.

That was the first time I'd felt dirty doing something like that. It was like I was defiling 'the holy temple of love' or something horrid like that. It was the first time one of my 'victims' had said they loved me. It really is just three simple words. Some people wait their whole life to hear them and die happy. I'll wait my whole life and then die, haunted by the people who loved me and either turned their back on me or I on them.

Funny how things happen like that. It is sort of like learned behavior. It happened to me, I learned it. So that was henceforth the only thing I knew how to do. And I did it. And up until then I wasn't ashamed. I was ashamed now. I was dirty now. How do you purify yourself from something like that? Can you even purify yourself? It is possible to forget what you've done to another? I tainted him like I'd been tainted and I couldn't apologize or make it right.

I think now, deep down, I still had the need to have things be right and fair in the world. It is a childish thing, really, to want justice and fairness all the time. Only children think it is their right. Only children believe that it is part of life. In reality, injustice and inequality are what life is about. Maybe children have it correct. Maybe you are born innately knowing what your rights are, what you deserve. But you learn. Eventually you figure out it isn't all right and good in the world; injustices happen and then people shrug and move on.

It is a sad thing really, sad and true. I've found that some of the saddest, scariest, sickest, and most terrifying things are true. It hurts more when it is true than when if it is a lie. The truth will infinitely be more powerful and painful than a lie.

At any rate, summer had drawn to a close, my mind filled with new turmoil and my bags with new clothes and materials and books. I guess you'd have to be there to understand. I had a lot of things on my mind. I had to talk to Dumbledore. I had to catch up on Animagus training. I had to get on with the Quidditch season. I had to get on with school. I had to start my 'betrayal' and 'deluding' of Snape, Black, Lupin, Harry, and anyone else I thought I could. To have this many things to think about and you wonder why I am the way I am. I was a mess, a beautifully, terrible mess.

Happy Start of Term to you Virginia Weasley!