Letting Go

The Calm Before the Storm

"Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." ~ Anonymous

One among us all holds the power to decide

She alone will choose the outcome of this war

If she is not brought to power by her tenth year

All will be lost and peace will be no more

However, if she comes into her power

Than hope will be restored

The one you must look for is

The daughter of she that was marked by the Dark Lord

~*~

Lucius Malfoy strode through the halls of Malfoy Manor. Now it was the unknown headquarters of the Death Eaters. He was half disgusted and half disgraced. There was a permanent sneer on his face as he headed towards the dungeons. His son and a Weasley had... procreated. It was enough to make one sick. The only good thing that had come of this whole disaster was that they now knew for sure Jade was the one they were looking for. Which meant that his master was happy for once. This also meant that Lucius was not as tempted to kill his son as he would be.

If it wasn't bad enough that the Malfoy heir was half Weasley, his son had gone even further. He had saved the damn Weasley chit. She was supposed to be dead. Lucius had guessed as soon as he found out that Draco was the father that she was still alive. It was all a disaster.

Entering the dungeons, he saw the two. Both were still unconscious and bound to the wall by chains. He reached into his pocket and felt both their wands there. Glaring at them once more he swiftly left his temper, not eased at all. He hid it when he entered the Ballroom not ten minutes later. His master had called upon him. Duty called and his anger would have to be abated until later.

"You called on me my Lord?" Lucius sunk to the ground in a low bow.

"Yes," Voldemort replied. "I wish to know of all Order movements as soon as possible. They will try to save the idiots as soon as possible I imagine. I want you to personally deliver the message Lucius. I want them to scramble, panicking about giving up the girl before we strike."

Lucius nodded and left once again. His job had been given to him and he must finish it or face the consequences. Lucius didn't deal with consequence. He gave it out. That wasn't going to change anytime soon. Fear was how he dealt with those below him. The only one that didn't receive this treatment was his master. Lucius was his right hand man and that wasn't going to change either if he had a say in it.

~*~

Ginny slowly came out of the blackout that the curses thrown at her had caused. She didn't open her eyes but instead used her other senses. She felt cold hard stone beneath her as she was lying across the floor. There was a metal ring around her wrist that she guessed was attached to a chain. She could feel the cold of the room despite still having her cloak on. She could hear distant footsteps walking away from them somewhere. The sound of dripping water was somewhere to her left. The closest sound was that of Draco breathing softly. She heard him to her right and she reached for him, her hand coming in contact with his. Finally she opened her eyes and found herself in a cell as she had suspected. She grasped his hand tighter and shook it.

He shifted a bit but did not wake. She slowly dragged herself up only to feel a sliver of pain shoot up her arm. She winced and looked down. Blood covered her wrists and hands. The cuts on her wrists had come from the metal manacles that lay around each of them. They were long but shallow and she quickly pushed the sight out of her mind. She hauled her self over to him once again this time more gently. She took his shoulder in her hand and shook it. When this didn't work she leaned down to whisper in his ear.

"Draco..." she paused. "Please wake up!"

He stirred and slowly opened is eyes. Looking up at her, then around the cell. He slowly got up and stretched out his cramped back. She flinched when she heard the pops that came from his vertebrae. She watched him as he frowned. His hair was messy and hung in his eyes. She had never fully realized just how long it was. Almost coming to his shoulders. It looked good on him though.

"Do you have a bobby pin or something?" Draco asked.

She shook herself out of her daze and nodded. "Yes." Ginny pulled her shirt down and pulled one from her bra. He gave her a questioning glance. "I always keep one for Jade's hair. Habit," she explained.

Draco accepted the answer and began to pick the lock of her chains with the small pin she had given him. When he had successfully opened both she returned the favor with his instruction. She winced when she saw her wrists. They were worse than she had first thought.

She reclined against the wall sighing deeply. She had heard enough about the Malfoy dungeons to know that was where they were. She also knew that they wouldn't be getting out unless someone from the outside brought them out. Draco rested against the wall beside her.

"I remember the first time I came down here..." Draco said in an unemotional voice. "I was six years old. I was bored after my lessons and I came down to the dungeons to have something to do. I just wandered down the corridors until I heard a noise. Naturally I moved to hide, knowing I was not allowed down there. From the corner I was in I saw my father stomp past leading my mother by her arm. He was furious. I could never remember why just that it was stupid. He hit her when she tried to apologize. I could tell it was the first time it had happened. Even my father looked surprised at his actions. Apparently not surprised enough to never do it again. It was a way to gain power for him."

"Your father is a disgusting waste of human if he can even be qualified as a human," Ginny said in response to his story. "What lessons did you take as a kid?" she asked next, trying to break the silence.

"Music, Magic, and etiquette," he replied.

"Did you get good at any of it?" she asked spontaneously.

"Yeah. I was a decent dancer and I can play guitar. The rest you should know. As I was close to beating Granger a few times in grades. Plus I am the perfect gentleman... when I want to be," he answered.

"Should I share a memory with you now?"

Ginny watched Draco looking for his answer before he gave it. His eyes were closed and his posture was again indifferent. She watched him think or come to some conclusion. His eyes opened and he looked back at her making her look down. She missed the small flash of a smile across his lips.

"Sure, make it a depressing one. I feel like having a pity fest," he said, closing his eyes once again.

"When I was a girl I was horribly mischievous," Ginny started. "One day I wasn't allowed to go out with my brothers because they were doing boy stuff. You can imagine I was slightly indignant...ok maybe more than slightly," Ginny added at his snort. "Anyways, after they had left I managed to somehow climb out of my window. I was intent on running away. I didn't like that they all treated me like a baby, you see. So I packed a backpack with two apples, water bottle some sandwiches and piece of pie. Then added my blanket and I carried my little Dragon in my arms. I ended up in Ottery St. Catchpole by nightfall. After that I followed a witch onto the Knight bus unnoticed, as I was so small. Anyways I ended up in Knockturn alley somehow after getting off at the Leaky Cauldron. You want to know what I saw there?"

Draco was wondering where she was going with this particular story but nodded nonetheless. "Yes, continue."

"I saw a little nine year old boy. He had pale blonde hair, a pointy nose and gray eyes that were narrowed with annoyance at someone. It had apparently been a shop owner who tried to cheat him of a galleon. I wasn't exactly sure what was going on. I was more paying attention to the man standing behind the boy. It was his father obviously. At first I was angered at the boy for being so mad over a galleon he could obviously spare. Then my anger faded when I witnessed the father hit the boy. I never could hate you after that. I never told anyone about that night after I had been found. I never even mentioned Knockturn Alley. I just went along with the hatred everyone bestowed upon you even after I figured out that little boy was you."

"Hard to believe considering you spent those years harboring a crush for Potter," he replied.

"I was infatuated with Harry for three or four years. Doesn't mean I couldn't have an interest even if it wasn't a crush at the time for someone else," she retorted.

"Oh really, so what do you harbor now then?"

"You know what I harbor now." Her answer came low and sad. It reminded him again of her smile that day. That vision of her would always come back to bite him in the ass it seemed.

"I want to hear you say it," he pushed.

"Why does it matter? Why would you care what I feel?" she hissed at him.

"I just want to know," he replied, trying to remain calm.

"If you must know I love you ok? Happy now? I have for a long bloody time," she said and she had to wipe tears from her eyes as she did it. All the while cursing herself for being weak.

"I don't see what is so bad about that," he replied.

Ginny didn't answer. She couldn't think of anything to say. Instead she gingerly got up and curled herself into a ball in the corner of the room. She closed her eyes firmly and she drifted off into dreamland. Draco sat against the wall, still listening to her breathing become calmer. He cursed himself for losing the courage once again.

~*~

"We have one more person inside the circle," Dumbledore informed the group.

"Who?" Harry asked.

"Me," a voice answered, coming through the door of the meeting room. The room was stunned to say the least.

A woman had just walked into the room. Long blonde hair cascaded down her back. Dark blue eyes surveyed them all as she looked around the room. Her nose, which was slightly turned up, enhanced the slightly arrogant air about her. She was wearing a long black cloak. She was one of the last people anyone had expected to be standing before them.

"Pansy Parkinson?" Bill asked sounding somewhat less shocked than everyone else looked. "Is that why you helped Ginny?"

"Yes," Pansy answered. "Partially."

"How do we know that we can trust her? Isn't she shagging a Death Eater?" Ron snapped.

"Yes Weasley, do bring up my love life. That makes the situation cheerier," Pansy retorted. "I believe that the information I have gathered in that little circle despite where I sleep at night has saved your scrawny neck a few times."

"I don't believe you have ever taken a curse in my stead," Ron answered.

"Every time," Pansy began, looking Ron straight in the eyes, "I give Voldemort false information on your whereabouts I get hit with the Cruciatus. So every time I give him your false whereabouts I get hit with that curse instead of him finding you and performing it on you."

The room was silent again. Pansy had never talked so much in her life to any of them. Yet here she had admitted to saving them all at one point or another. Ron squirmed in his seat before getting an elbow in his ribs from his wife. This caused him to grunt out an apology that Pansy didn't respond to. She didn't need to hear it.

"So how do we get into Malfoy Manor?" Charlie asked, breaking the silence.

"You aren't going to like my idea," Pansy warned.

"Good, then we don't need to hear it," Ron grumbled.

"Shut up Ron," Harry chided him.

"The only way to get into that Manor is to be a Malfoy. I can get in the gate easy enough but the doors to the dungeon and things like that. There are three remaining Malfoys in the world. Two are impossible to get to. One of which is the only one who can take the wards down," Pansy explained. "So what I propose to do is take Jade and enter the Manor. From there I can enter the dungeons and get Ginny and Draco. If Draco can get the wards down than you and the Ministry can get in."

"That is a tad dangerous," Molly pointed out.

"We can't risk Jade going in. She is what they want," Bill pointed out.

"I am confident that Pansy wasn't going to take her in and say 'Hi, this is Jade, the girl your master is after. Can we come in and take your prisoners?'" Carmen snorted. "She probably had an idea to hide her somehow."

"Yes I did," Pansy responded.

"Really, what is it?" Hermione asked suddenly interested in the learning aspect of the conversation.

"I was going to use Polyjuice," explained Pansy. "My younger sister wants to be a Death Eater for some godforsaken reason and Voldemort keeps telling me to bring her around."

"The question is: will she still be able to use the 'Malfoy blood' factor if she is in polyjuice form," pointed out Fred.

"Yes, that does seem to be a problem," George said. "That potion requires the DNA of the person you are changing into. Your body takes on the traits of that DNA. The question is does it change only your appearance? Or does it include genetic makeup?"

"It is not just a matter of having Malfoy blood," Snape snapped. "You have to be a Malfoy at heart as well. Even with a genetic makeup the devices Lucius has got going around his home can tell beyond that. Otherwise they would have people using Polyjuice to get into the Manor."

"I can do it," Jade said quietly. "I want to do it."

"Well, a solution has come to our attention. Are we in agreement?" Dumbledore asked. Nobody objected, though some looked as though they wanted to.

"Good. We will need at least two days to prepare," Dumbledore announced. "Everyone, this may be the last battle."

The seriousness of that statement was not lost on anyone. Everyone nodded and left the room. Jade went with Snape so he could teach her about the potion. She was particularly eager to learn about it. Dumbledore sighed, once left alone he could feel how old he was. He felt a cold in his bones that chilled him. These were the times he had been trying to avoid for years. He had tried to protect them all. Now he could do nothing but save his energy for the final battle. It was going to be one hell of a fight.

~*~

Jade was not happy that once again she was away from her parents. She had been listening to the radio, picking up any station she could. Not really caring what station it was she left it on the first one she heard music on. She listened to the song and began to hum along.

Floorboard's filled with baby toys
An' empty coke bottles an' coffee cups.
Drivin' through the rain with no radio
Tryin' not to wake her up.
Cell 'phone says "low battery"
God what if I break down?
I'm just lookin' for an exit with a lotta lights
A safe little interstate town.

A small creak went through the house and Jade jumped a little at the sound. It was twelve at night and she didn't want to get caught out of bed. She also didn't want to sleep at all. It just didn't seem important and her body wouldn't let her sleep. She was restless and would just wake everyone up by moving every five seconds.

Just a cheap hotel
With a single bed
And cable TV:
Is good enough for me an' Emily.

Someone appeared in the hall and watched her for a few seconds before entering the room. She jumped a bit when she heard him. She relaxed when she realized it was Charlie. He wouldn't care that she wasn't in her room sleeping. He walked over and gave her a hug. She crawled into his arms still clutching her dragon.

Some day when she's old enough
She's gonna start askin' questions about him.
Some kid at school brings his Dad for show an' tell
An' gets her little mind a-wonderin':
"Where's my Daddy? Do I have one?
"Does he not love me like you do?"
Oh maybe I'll find someone to love the both of us
An' I'll tell her when she's old enough to know the truth.

"Uncle Charlie... what happens now?" she asked.

"Nothing happens. We are going to save your mom and dad," he answered.

"How come everyone is so worried then?"

"We may be trying to save them but for the moment they are still in harms way," he said soothingly. "They are just worried it doesn't mean anything."

Will it break her heart?
Will she understand
That I had to leave?
That's what was best for me an' Emily.

Jade seemed to accept the answer for the moment. It didn't comfort her all that much though. Just made her miss them more. Thinking about them and the song playing. It wasn't their exact situation but it reminded her of it. It was all just an emotional roller coaster. Sometimes she was happy and sometimes she was mad. Mostly she was just sad. It was all very draining.

That house was never clean enough; his dinner never warm enough.
Nothing I did was ever good enough to make him happy.
So I guess he gave me what he thought I deserved
But it would kill me if he ever raised his hand to her.

Charlie got her some hot chocolate and they took out the chess set. Jade sat on one side of the couch opposite Charlie and in between them sat the board. She curled up in a blanket as she moved her pieces around the board. It was soothing somehow to have something to do with her hands. To be thinking about something else than her parents. She watched the board with avid attention.

Big rigs are throwin' rain on my windshield
An' I feel like they're laughin' at me.
Fin'lly the storm is lettin' up
An' the mornin' is breakin' free.

She finished up the game, winning. When she finally said checkmate it was with a scowl. She glared at her uncle's small smile.

"You let me win!" she accused.

"You wound me. I am your favorite uncle Charlie I would never do that," Charlie scoffed.

"Whatever you say," she answered, trying to keep her scowl despite the smile that was creeping up on it.

It's a brand new day
It's a second chance.
Yesterday is just a memory
For me an' Emily.
Ah.

Jade finished the hot chocolate and she finally felt a bit sleepy. She fell asleep when she was once again curled up in Charlie's lap. He smiled as he grabbed her hot chocolate before it joined her on his lap. Placing both cups on the table he shifted to make sure they were both comfortable. Then promptly fell asleep.

Floorboard is filled with baby toys
An' empty coke bottles an' coffee cups.
Least there's one good thing that he gave me
An' she's startin' to wake up.

~*~

Carmen stalked down the stairs with a frown on her face. She was determined to find out what had made her boyfriend leave in the middle of the night and not come back to bed. She had taken to staying in his room with him while the twins were away. But he had slipped out of bed last night and never came back.

She stopped and smiled when she walked into the living room. She looked at Charlie and Jade both still sleeping on the couch. She hadn't admitted it to him but she wanted kids. Seeing him with kids made her maternal urges even stronger. She hadn't wanted to mention anything as they had only been together little over a year. She knew he was the one for her but she didn't know how he felt.

She smiled back to the time he had told her he loved her. Neither had taken the initiative to push for a discussion of the future. It was too busy during the war to bother with trivial things like weddings. Sighing she went to start breakfast for the household. Molly had been feeling a bit ill last night and Carmen had insisted she stay in bed the morning after.

Time flies they say...

~*~

The Death Eaters were being prepared for war. They waited, eager to fight in the less extravagant rooms of Malfoy Manor. They did not care though. Malfoy provided them with food and entertainment. In fact at this moment they were watching a Veela dance on the table to music. They were all enthralled. Their drinks sat forgotten on the tables as well as the feast. Not your everyday training program.

Pansy Parkinson stepped into the din. She smiled unaffected by the dancing blonde on the table. She made her way through the tables smiling at some people and waving. She winked at a few men and then made her way over to a few people she thought she could trust. They would be especially willing to aid her if she could make them a bit nervous. She greeted the group warmly.

"Hello gentleman." She pretended to curtsy, which caught the attention of the two men.

Her brother snapped out of his daydream. He was glad she had interrupted. Payton had been about to go and tell the Veela that he was the Minister for Magic in America. That would have been highly embarrassing. Especially considering it would have gotten back to his girlfriend through Pansy.

Beside Payton sat his best friend Brice Coleman. The man was a kid in a very impressive body. Pansy had been the recipient of many pick up lines and puppy dog eyes from the man. She knew he was a good man though. If she had any doubts they were washed out of her mind when her brother didn't punch him in the face for kissing the young girl on the lips when she was sixteen. Payton had restrained himself and only given him a long stern lecture.

"What are you doing here Pansy?" Payton brought her a chair and set it down in front of them.

"Just thought I would stop by and say hello to my favorite brother," she smiled innocently.

"She wants something," Brice said. "Yes, there are the puppy eyes! Aren't you glad I taught her how to do that."

"Come on, we can find a quieter place to talk," Payton sighed.

The boys downed their drinks and left with Pansy. They took her to the room they shared with a few other guys. They made sure the place was empty before placing a silencing charm over the room and locking the door. She smiled at how perfect this was turning out to be.

"So how are you guys doing here?" Pansy skirted around her subject.

"Not well. They aren't making any moves and I am beginning to think this is all pointless. His stupid plan is going to fall apart," Payton declared.

"I have to agree with him Buttercup." Pansy rolled her eyes at the nickname Brice had bestowed upon her.

"Of course it is going to fall apart. Everyone knows he doesn't stand a chance against Dumbledore," she snorted.

The two men stared at her completely speechless.

"Stop gaping like idiots," she smiled.

"Why are you supporting Albus Dumbledore?" Payton asked suspiciously.

"I have to ask you a favor. If you don't want to help me than don't. Just don't tell anybody because it will mean my death." She spoke calmly but the effect was great.

"What are you up to Pansy?" Brice asked, his voice wary.

She paused. "I am a double agent. I need to get two of the people in your dungeons out. I can manage getting into the Manor unnoticed but after that I am at a loss."

"How are you going to get into Malfoy Manor unnoticed when the only two Malfoys are Draco and Lucius and they both support Voldemort?" Payton asked.

"Well you see Payton, Draco doesn't support Voldemort and he is one of the people in the dungeons I have to rescue," Pansy revealed.

"I'll help if you can get me a meeting with Dumbledore." Payton stood and walked to his bed.

"Why do you want a meeting with him?" Pansy asked. She was glad she was speaking to a room of Slytherins. It was so much easier when the surprise and anger was taken out and would be dealt with later.

"I want a meeting too," Brice declared. "If I am going to switch sides I need a few things taken care of."

"You really need not go that far." Pansy felt a bit overwhelmed.

"It's taking a large risk to help anyone with loyalties towards the Order. I don't risk the people I care for as there aren't many," Payton said.

Pansy nodded silent for a few moments. "We will have to make an alibi and get you out for a few hours at least. Most likely go to Parkinson Castle..."

Pansy began to think and come up with ideas in her head. She was very near completion and went off to find Blaise. If she could persuade anyone to let her take her brother home for a few hours it would be Blaise.

~*~

"What do you think will happen?"

Ginny's voice echoed through the dungeons startling Draco. He had thought she was still sleeping. The only movement that had come from her corner was the steady rising and falling of her chest.

"I don't know. They don't want us they want Jade. As long as she is out of reach they will do nothing. Unless they give up hope and decided to kill us," Draco replied in a monotone voice.

"I don't think it would be so bad to die," she answered. Draco stared. "Everything would stop. There wouldn't be any pain anymore and no more feeling. It would be... peaceful," she said.

"What about all the people you leave behind?" he finally spoke.

"That is probably the only reason I haven't fought Blaise as hard as I wanted to. That and I don't risk Jade's life."

"I used to think that same thing. Once you get over it you notice it isn't a very good logic," he answered.

"I know it is stupid wanting to die just to solve all those troubles. You just pass them on to your children. I just can't stand all the confusion anymore. I hate being with Jade and then having her disappear. Sometimes I wish I could take her and just disappear from everything. Move to Japan or something," she voiced.

"What about your family?" he asked out loud. What about me?

"I would visit. I survived all those years without them and other people. I think I could live," she replied.

There was silence in the cell for a while. The occupants were lost in their own thoughts. Draco was especially concentrating on his. There were many questions and things roaming around in his mind. There were many what ifs running through everything else. He had just opened his mouth to say something when she beat him to it.

"I'm sorry," she said all of a sudden.

"For what?" he asked sighing.

"I bit your head off before. I accused you of not even liking me platonically. I know we are friends of sorts. I mean you saved my life and you housed both Jade and I. God, you're the father of my child at that. It was wrong to say that. Besides, it isn't your fault about any other feelings you don't have or I do," she explained. She seemed to be in a very open mood.

"What if I told you that you were wrong," he asked.

"What do you mean?"

Draco could hear the frown in her voice instead of seeing it. She was sitting in the corner and he was still leaning against the wall with his eyes still closed. He didn't answer right away gathering his courage once again. He wasn't sure how to say anything. She could answer in so many different ways. The possibility of an angry reaction made him more than hesitant.

"What if I told you..." he paused. "Never mind."

"No Draco Malfoy, you will explain what you were going to say. Now!" she demanded.

"I said never mind," he answered.

"That isn't good enough," she retorted.

"Nothing is good enough for you," he snorted.

"You were good enough," she snapped. "You are the most obnoxious annoying and frustrating prat I have ever met but I still loved you. Figures I would fall in love with an emotionless git."

"How do I know you aren't lying?"

"Why would you care?" she returned. "Besides, all you have to do is look me in the eye and you can tell that I am not lying. I don't know how but you do."

"You want to know how?" he returned with anger. "I can tell if you're lying because I know you. I paid more attention than you'll ever know. I cared no matter what you think or what I lead you to believe. I cared about you and I cared about Jade."

Ginny stared at him. "I knew that. You wouldn't have saved me or helped with Jade if you hadn't."

"Fuck, that's not what I meant. I don't know how to explain what I feel. I didn't exactly grow up with parents who encouraged sharing and family talk. All I know is that I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Jade. I want to be her father and.... And I want to be with you," his voice had dropped to a whisper and Ginny thought she had heard wrong.

"What?"

"I love you," he whispered. She stared again. His eyes were still closed. He was still sitting there against the wall.

"What..." Ginny was lost. I am starting to hallucinate. She didn't know what to say. Didn't know what to do. Never in a million years...

Before she could fully register everything a loud bang could be heard as Lucius threw the cell door open. He was talking to Blaise and apparently hadn't heard the situation. Ginny didn't even hear him tell her to get up. She was still digesting the conversation.

She didn't even respond when someone gripped her arm painfully and yanked her off the floor. She glanced around dazed and voices she knew were near her began to speak. Yet they sounded so far away. There was one angry voice and one calm one. She didn't hear what they were saying.

A few minutes later the hard grip was gone as she was pushed into a wall. Her head hit it hard and she slid to the ground. Someone lifted her slightly and placed a cloak under her head. She knew it was Draco but she still couldn't bring herself out of the haze her mind was in. All of a sudden she felt extremely sick and all her energy left her as she slipped out of consciousness.

~*~

Jade sat in the meeting room of the Order staring at the glass that Snape had just handed her. She was very hesitant to drink the goopy potion. It had been bad enough while he was brewing it. Now that the hair had gone in it had taken on the color of moldy broccoli and the smell as well. She gave herself one last reminder that she was doing this for her parents and gulped the vile liquid down.

Her insides burned as the potion almost instantly made its way through her system. She doubled over as the pain increased a little. When it ended Snape passed her a flask.

"You need to take this every hour," he told her.

She nodded, not knowing what to say. She was too young to be helping in the war. But she was the only way into that Manor. She was their only hope if they wanted Draco and Ginny back. That was all she needed to know. Jade looked in a mirror and saw a miniature Pansy looking back at her only her hair was dirty blonde. She was a bit surprised. It was awkward being in a body that was twice your age.

She didn't talk as Dumbledore placed protection spells on her. She didn't speak when they left. She didn't utter a word on the way to the Manor either. When they finally made it the first word that escaped her lips was 'wow'. Malfoy Manor loomed before them every bit the scary haunted house. The darkened sky didn't help and she felt a shiver spread through her body that had nothing to do with the cold.

Pansy pressed a button on a little box and the gates opened. Jade followed through the gates behind Pansy. She fixed her hood making sure it was on right. Pansy had insisted on them both wearing long black cloaks.

Jade grew increasingly nervous as they approached the doors. A butler opened them for the girls and led them to the 'throne room' before leaving. Jade hesitated before following Pansy into the room. She almost gasped when she saw who was in the room. Voldemort sat in a chair at the end of the hall and Blaise and Lucius were with him.

"Pansy, who have you brought with you?" Blaise asked, interrupting the current conversation.

"My sister Ivy," she answered.

"Your mother always did have a thing for plants," Lucius remarked.

"We are having a private discussion," Blaise said eyeing the girl beside Pansy. "I think it would be best if the girl didn't hear it."

"I was going to suggest she tour the castle with Payton while I came to talk with you." Pansy sounded as innocent as a dove.

Permission was given and Payton was summoned. Jade followed the older Parkinson out the door of the meeting. She breathed a little easier. She did not like the stares she was getting from the other Death Eaters though. Payton led her away from everything else into the dungeons where her parents were. She could hardly wait to see them again. She was walking as fast as she could.

~*~

Ginny stirred slightly before opening her eyes and sitting up quickly. She regretted it instantly when her head began to throb with pain. She reached up to touch the wet substance that was on her face. When she pulled her hand away she frowned at what she saw. It was blood from a gash on the side of her head. Confused, she tried to remember how it had gotten there but she only remembered being pushed against the wall by someone. She hadn't registered whom because she had been dazed by something. Draco...

"Lucius pushed you against the wall," his voice cut through her thoughts.

"You..." She stared at him.

"What?"

"What you said...before..." Ginny didn't get to finish though because the cell door opened just then.

A tall man with light brown hair and blue eyes stood in the doorway with a younger girl that looked related to him. She looked like Pansy more so only with dirty blonde hair. Ginny was silent and wondered why the girl gave her a feeling of déjà vu when she had obviously never met her.

"Payton? What in the hell are you doing here?" Draco asked.

"Pansy sent me," Payton answered. Ginny guessed there was some hidden meaning to this as Draco grinned slightly and stood up.

"Why is Ivy here? Isn't she Miss Junior Death Eater in training?" Draco hesitated.

"Not everything is as it seems," Payton answered.

Draco looked at the girl as she gulped down something. He raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Of all the sly bloody things...Gin your daughter is going to be in Slytherin for sure."

Ginny was wondering why he was so happy all of a sudden when she caught the smell of the girls drink. Polyjuice...

Ginny rushed over and hugged the girl that was almost her height. She couldn't believe it. She wasn't even miffed at the idea of her daughter being a Slytherin. "Say whatever you want Malfoy just wait until she starts dating a Gryffindor and you have a fit."

"Mom you are suffocating me!" Jade huffed with a smile.

Payton interrupted then. "We are suppose to take down the wards now so the Order can get in."

"How are we going to do that?" Draco was back to his unemotional serious self.

"Brice is taking care of the guards as we speak," Payton answered as they started off down the dungeon corridors.