Regret and Betrayal

Chapter Three

Anywhere But Here

'Love is everything. Hope, happiness, joy, but it is also despair and tragedy...even death, and those are things to be avoided.'

Opening her eyes was the hardest thing Ginny had ever done the next morning. She really did not want to admit where she was.

Maybe it was all just a bad, malevolent, evil, dark nightmare. She opened her eyes, slowly allowing the summer sun to creep into them. Blinking out the blind spots, the room fell into place.

"No this is a really bad, malevolent, evil, dark nightmare," she exclaimed, throwing her hands up dramatically into the air.

"You shouldn't speak that way, someone may hear you," told a voice at her side.

Ginny swung around to see a woman by her - now opened - wardrobe, she was dressed in a grey and white dress just over her knees; dark hair was tied back, but stray strands fell forward showing a morning of work, that had obviously not finished yet. This fell on the warming smile across her face.

"Who are you?" Ginny enquired, hoisting up the covers to her neck.

"No need, I've been here a while," she said to Ginny's shy actions. "Did you know that you thrash in your sleep?"

Ginny looked away, it was true that she had a tendency to squirm around when she was sleeping. "Only when I'm uncomfortable."

"Mmm, I'll have to remember that, I'm Altair." She made her way to the bed, her hand out.

"I'm G-," she started, remembering herself, "Goyle, Claire Goyle."

Altair eyed her suspiciously and perceptively, shaking her hand. "I think you'll like it here," she said, returning to the wardrobe.

"Do you?" Ginny drawled, sitting up and crossing her legs under the quilt. The room was quite cold despite it being June.

"Oh yes, well you'll learn to love it," she added upon the look on Ginny's face. "You will have to get dressed though."

"Why?"

"Because there are people downstairs, and, naturally they know you are here, ah this," she exclaimed, causing Ginny to stare even more confused, "will suit you perfectly." Altair withdrew a black dress from the wardrobe; it was very beautiful; she brought it over to the bed for Ginny to see it properly. It felt so soft; it shone eerily, to different shades of black, if that was even possible.

"It made with a special thread, similar to silk, except its woven from a rare breed of silk worms." Altair answered, noting the curiosity.

"It's beautiful, but it's not mine." As much as I wish, it was.

"Oh yes, I know this. D- Mr. Malfoy bought them," she said. Had to take me though, Useless.

Ginny looked taken aback, Malfoy bought me a dress? Why? Then she realised that he thought she was someone else. It is beautiful though. She ran her hand down it.

"You have to hurry; this person really wants to meet you." With that, she left the room.

Ginny sat there for a while, contemplating whether or not she should move. The room felt so cold outside of her quilt, though it looked so inviting, despite all the green. Slytherin. She then began to plan out her actions, suddenly realising the tour that she had been taken on, did not include the bathroom.

"Oh Christ, what do I do? Um, oh what was her name? Altair," she reminded herself.

There was a small implosion, hardly noticeable. "Yes?" Altair said.

"How did you...?"

"The house is charmed, if you need me all you have to do is call my name, Mr. Malfoy isn't a big fan of sore throats so he charmed it for me."

"Oh, ok, well whilst you're here, where's the bathroom?"

"How ridiculous of me, follow me please, your underclothes are in that drawer and there are towels in the bedroom."

Ginny sprang out of bed and rummaged around in the drawer; she then laid the clothes out on the bed and practically ran outside after Altair who was scurrying down the corridor to the end door. The floor was freezing but obviously, she did not notice as she had shoes on. She looked at the walls as she passed them. Just like in the great hall, it looked like there were pillars fused into the walls, which made them stick out smoothly. On each of the pillars there were ornaments - little cherubs with their arms out - every few steps or so, like a pattern 'one, two, three, four, five ornament, one two three-.' She stopped, on one of the pillars the ornament was not facing you as you passed it by; instead it lay on the side adjacent to the wall. It looked strange; she wondered how no one could have noticed it.

"Here you are," she said, stopping suddenly. She looked back; Ginny was staring at an ornament on the wall. "Are you alright?" she asked; this was very strange behaviour.

Ginny realised what she was doing and covered the last few steps between her and Altair in a swift movement. "Yes I'm fine, is this it? Thank you." She stepped inside and closed the door.

As soon as the door clicked, in the corner, the water from the shower began to beat down on the ceramic tiles. A thick steam began running along the ground. It was a crème bathroom, mostly marble like the rest of what she had seen of the house. There was a bathtub just next to the shower, but judging by the size of it and ocean could fit inside of it. Yes, she was definitely going to use that by the time she left, if they forced her to live here she had to take the advantages, consider it compensation. The steam that filled the room in a thin layer engulfed her, bringing back that warm sensation that had left her the second she had left her bed. She took out a towel from one of the shelves by the sink. Then something caught her eye, peculiar, the steam was not covering the mirror. She saw herself, all black hair and no freckles. I can do this, she thought. I just need to find that study. She opened the glass door to get in to the shower; it was then she noticed there weren't any taps. Is everything in this bloody house enchanted? My god he is so lazy.

The water was so warm, just the right temperature; she realised why there were no taps. It was quite convenient actually. The sound of the water reminded her of the lake at the back of the Burrow. When she was younger, the family used to have picnics there. But this time that she was remembering was when she was ten, the year before she was to attend Hogwarts. She was sitting by the river, in the arms of her mother. The river ran calmly this year, the water; tripping over rocks and pebbles on its way to the lake. Providing a tune for her mother to sing to. She was singing because it was the common remedy between her brothers and herself for a good nights sleep. Lately Ginny was having trouble sleeping, and her mother was singing the lullaby she always sung to her when they were alone. This made Ginny feel very special, as if it was created for her. Mrs. Weasley never sang it to any of the boys. They wouldn't appreciate it anyway. They were sitting at the edge of the river, where it met with the lake and she was swaying her backwards and forwards.

Ginny closed her eyes and allowed the water to fall over her head. Unknowingly, she began to sway.

Hush now, my baby,

Be still know, don't cry,

Sleep as you're rocked by the stream.

Sleep and remember, my last lullaby,

And I'll be with you when you dream.

Sleep now, my darling,

Be still through the night,

Rest now as I hold you near.

Rest here my baby for my lullaby,

And I'll be with you dream my dear.

Dream now, my precious,

Don't open your eyes

Sleep as the breeze blows your face.

Always remember my last lullaby,

And you in your dreams I'll embrace.

Ginny's daydream shattered before her, and was filled with a room, now crammed with steam. She then began to get really worried, so she stepped out feeling chilled by the sudden breeze that circulated the room, and grabbed the towel eager to get out of the door and safely to her room. Ginny stopped, and looked at the door. Why is there breeze? The door was open. Her eyes widened, she could see the rectangular light that emanated through the mist from the door. Ginny distinctly remembered seeing and hearing the door close. She stared a little harder; there was a shadowy outline of a person that she saw clearer now. They both stood looking at shadows, until the mist cleared. It was Malfoy.

"Has anyone ever told you that you have the most beautiful voice?" For the seventh time in two days, Ginny wished that she could punch that smirky little grin off his face. However she restrained herself, despite the obvious temptation.

What would Claire do if she was here? Probably act all coy and flirty, tarty cow. Oh well, for the sake of my job.

Ginny scowled to herself then smiled coyly. "That's the second time you've seen me in nothing but a towel," she said, finally collecting her clothes. "Don't make a habit of it will you." She made her way to the door.

Unexpectedly Draco put his hand up to block her way of passage; he looked at her and their eyes met. "Well you were taking such a long time; Altair said you got into the shower about half of an hour ago -"

You knew I was in the shower. Pervert.

"- I went to check your room and knocked on your door, but no one answered. Then I saw the steam coming out from the bottom of this door." He gestured with his head to the now opened door. "It was unlocked, so I thought the shower was broken, again. When I opened the door there was someone in here, i.e. - you. I was about to close the door, but then you..." His face changed a little, as if greatly troubled by what he was saying. "You started to sing, it was intoxicating, like I had to listen." He looked and sounded astonished.

"Yes, well, on my mother's side of the family -," she said, moving his arm from her path. "- I have blood relations to sirens." She walked as rapidly and as composed as she could. "I guess it skipped all of my brothers except for... Charles, and landed on me." She opened her door. "Only really kicks in near water though."

"So how much longer will you be?" he said leaning on the doorframe.

Ginny leaned closer to him; Draco could feel her breath on his ear as she spoke. "As long as I need to be," she smiled, and then closed the door behind her.

***

As soon as the door closed, her heart showed signs of slowing down. Ginny ran to the bed where her clothes were. She felt every beat of her heart, pumping fresh bouts of blood to the rest of her body. She had never done that before. It felt - exciting.

Maybe Altair was right; I may get to like it here, one way or another.

"I didn't take that long did I?" she suddenly remembered what Malfoy had said. About half an hour ago? I didn't even realise I was singing, how embarrassing Malfoy actually heard. And he - flirted with me. Eew.

She undid her hair it was wet, why? She hadn't meant for it to get wet. Normally things like this happened, especially if she was away from home and missing it. But to this extent where she didn't even remember, well that was a different case. As fast as she could she dried her hair with a drying spell; then started to undo the tangles with a hairbrush. He said I had a beautiful voice, she thought, while charming hair into individual curls with her wand. She looked at the clock on the bedside table, it said half past twelve.

"Humph," she said out loud, looking at her finished product in the mirror. "He wouldn't say that if he knew who I really was."

***

I just told Ginny Weasley that she had a beautiful voice? What - the - hell? It must be the siren thing, he reassured himself. Leading sailors to their deaths and all that.

He sat on the stairs for what seemed like a long time, thinking. He had been doing this a lot lately, dangerous past - time. He got up and was making his way down the stairs when his father interrupted his trail of thought.

"Isn't she ready yet?" he asked. This really had to stop.

Draco looked down at him - one step higher than his father's, it felt good to be bigger than him, but now was not the time for that - with shock and disgust. "Some may not remember, but I would suspect that you of all people, seeing as you were there at the time, would remember that they have a wife. You may have seen her, about my height, slim, white blonde hair, goes by the name of Narcissa." He tried to sound calm and composed, but this behaviour was just not - right.

"Oh come, come, surely you can see the resemblance between her and your mother?"

Draco looked at him, surely he was joking. Lucius' eyes stayed the same, he wasn't joking. That was it, Draco raised his hands dramatically in defeat looking now - shocked, sickened and confused. "I'm not even going to rectify that with an answer, this is so wrong, and this - has been such a long day already." He left his father by the stairs and went straight into the living room; proceeding directly to the bar. Mumbling something that sounded much like..."Ignorant bastard won't know what hit him..."

***

Paethozar Black stood watching his son, now realising the resemblance he had to him. When he was a boy, he had always watched his father and had always tried to see their resemblance; there was none. He blamed the neglect he received from his father on this fact. His father once said that Paethozar was not his son, based on the fact they did not look alike. He remembered vowing to himself that when he had a child that they would resemble him in some way, even if he had to change their appearance. No person deserved the neglect he got, and he knew that as much as you try not to be like your parents that there are certain genes - dominant - that will not let you stray.

Even so, he was beginning to wonder why his son had never shown much interest in any of his father's plans. His daughter, Rebecca always wanted to be a part of them, he knew that she loved him and wanted him to be proud of her. In a way he had always favoured her over Cyrus, but now she was gone and he had to make do.

"What do you mean you're not going there tonight, what about the plans, Zacharin, the stone?" He honestly could not believe what he was hearing. Upon finalizing the last details of Zacharin being re-captured Cyrus had come in murmuring something about his recent 'posse' celebrating some persons birthday, and that he had agreed to join them. Even though it was on the exact night he had been planning. Tonight.

"Father I have plans tonight; I cannot possibly go around chasing each of your fantasies whenever it pleases you."

"My fantasies? My fantasies? May I remind you that the only reason that you are still here right now to go to your little get-together is because of my fantasies. If I weren't forced to do this, I would be somewhere else living a very happy life sipping on cocktails in a beach. Not trying to make you keep your promises. I shouldn't have to, you want to go to your little party of the century that's fine, but I have been to parties of the century - literally - and believe me, they're not all that."

"No the only reason I am here is because you cannot find my sister and have therefore cursed me with her gifts. Now, don't you think that if I have them I should at least practice with them before engaging in an all out full-scale task?"

"What kind of practice?" He was quite taken back by this turn of conversation; his son had never taken this much interest before.

"Just a few places I would like to try," he said through brightening eyes.

Paethozar looked at him knowingly, guessing immediately. "They're nightclubs aren't they?"

"Not necessarily," he said defensively.

"They're nightclubs, aren't they?" he repeated.

"I did not say that."

His father sighed and walked up to him, he put his hands on Cyrus' shoulder and looked into his eyes with an almost sympathetic look. "They're nightclubs, aren't they Son?" he said again, as if saying 'you don't need to lie to me; you always go to nightclubs.

"So?" he answered like a teenager justifying something an adult just didn't understand.

"So," he mimicked, sounding just like his son, "I did not give you these gifts so that you could go out to muggle clubs turning into people, its not done son."

"You did it."

"Yes I can see where the maturity is in this conversation, what are you twelve?"

"No I'm..."

"It s not important, just go do what you have to do, just make sure that you're ready for tomorrow." He shooed him out as if getting rid of him.

"Anyway I cannot go in tonight if I wanted to." He turned from approaching the door. "They haven't left the house all day, and there are too many people in the house for me to get the job done discreetly, you know, whilst prying open infrastructure and so forth, so there."

"Son?"

"Hmm?"

"Leave right now, just go, anywhere, anywhere but here, please."

***

Two people were arguing on the stairs. Ginny made her way down them, Malfoy and another man - with long, almost white hair, - were standing near the foot of the stairs talking about his mother. Hmm, must be his father then. A shiver went down her spine; she remembered her first encounter with Lucius Malfoy. In Diagon Alley eleven years ago, He planted the diary in my cauldron. The same diary that had almost killed her had Harry and Ron not come for her. She had reached the bottom of the stairs by now. Malfoy had gone into a large room next to the dining room, she heard clinking glasses. His father was about to follow him, when she had caught his eye. Note to self, learn to walk with invisible properties. Noticing her he smiled a bone chilling smile that she thought he meant to be charming. Well, it isn't working. She part returned the smile, part winced hoping this attempt to be pleased to see him would hide the anger and resentment that she felt for him. Hoped.

He took her hand. "Good afternoon my dear, I am so sorry that my son could not be more hospitable," The smile had grown into a grin. It was quite unnerving how he stared at her. She was expecting him to pounce on her at any moment. He stroked her face with his hand. "He does tend to have problems when it comes to such beauty." Ginny concealed a sickening, violent shudder; it seemed to rebound in her stomach and relay to her throat. "Tell me, is there anything that I can do for you, anything I can get you."

Besides a bucket? No, she thought. "I could do with a drink," she said, so what if it was early afternoon, exceptions had to be made here, this wasn't - right.

"Excellent," he replied, as though these words had just made his day.

The living room was practically as large as the entrance hall, the same alabaster stone ceiling with a chandelier that covered the center. Crème walls draped in thin silver and gold twisted lines that glittered when the light reflected from the chandelier hit them. It was the perfect contrast, light neutral colours against the dark brown leather; it gave an urbane, almost polished look. She had to give him his props; the man knew how to acknowledge style. In the chairs closest to her sat two men engaged in conversation. One, quite short old man with an expensive blue suit - it didn't look very good on him, but she doubted he cared as long as it illustrated expense - and the other was a little on the large side, quite frightening actually, but as large as he was his more feminine side was showing. She wasn't quite sure but it hinted in the way that he watched the other and his actions to whatever the appallingly dressed man said.

The only person that seemed like they didn't want to be there as much as she did was Draco, who was behind the bar. In the situation she was now, despite herself she wished that she was there too.

"Ooh look at who it is! Come, come sit with us." The conversation had promptly ended - much to the large one's distaste - and the small man gestured for them to sit down on the large six-seated sofa.

Lucius gripped hold of Ginny's arm and practically pulled her over to sit between him and the other two. Draco rolled his eyes at this and sat on a stool surveying this stupidity.

"Claire Goyle, this is Joseph Earnest. He is the Head of The Housing Department for the Ministry." The feminine one held out his hand to shake hers, Ginny looked at his hand glittering in jewels, she didn't know whether to shake it or kiss it. "And this is Fredrik Van Houser, he works within foreign affairs." After having her hand shaken off she cautiously submitted her hand to have it slobbered on as he kissed it.

"Pleased to - meet - you - both," she said, trying to hide the sudden revoltion.

"Draco, bring a drink," Lucius called to the other man in the room, he was sitting down watching the ice floating in his glass. Unaffected by the call, he just sat there.

***

Lucius excused himself from the group and made the cross-country journey to the bar on the far side of the room.

"Did you not hear my request?" he said venomously

"Was it a request? Because it sounded like an order." There was ice in his tone.

"Are you trying to mess this up for me?"

Draco looked over at the group on the chair, they seemed to be grilling Weasley with questions, and he smiled to himself as he thought of her there with those - men? Facing it alone. A twinge of guilt touched him. What is that about? He shook it from his head. Coming eye to eye with his father again. He was still going on.

"Are you listening?"

"I am not your slave father." Draco pointed out.

"You are trying to ruin this for me aren't you? What - do you want her for yourself?" he said, in an unbelieving tone.

"What is it with everyone these days? No I do not, and I doubt that you will, what are you going to do? Woo her with your endless charm?" he said harshly, honestly, what, is Weasley lover written on my forehead somewhere?

"Are you suggesting that I don't have charm?" He sounded offended.

"Father you wouldn't know charm if it were on a bracelet." Draco laughed to himself. "You have no idea what you are getting yourself into do you know that?" he smirked.

Lucius cast him a malicious glare. "Is that a threat? Well you won't beat me boy. She wants me, she just needs some - shall I say - convincing, that's all." He stalked off, to the chairs mood changing as he approached the group.

Hmm a challenge? Draco looked over there for a second; they seemed to be having fun. His gaze fell upon his drink again. He was contemplating the past hours of conversation between himself and Altair, or rather her talking and him more or less contradicting everything she said. She had been teasing him of the idea, and had gotten quite a few of the other servants to join in. He had denied the very ideas of it and had said that he would spend no more time thinking of the little scenarios they had played before him. It was rather disturbing. But from the time he had spent since, thinking of those very scenarios nonetheless, he was beginning to get worried, even his father could see it. Please no, he thought. This cannot be happening, urgh I hate it when she's right.

***

Soon after Lucius had left, Ginny sat there. Not talking, she had no idea what to say, and even if she did. Just the mere sight of them caused her to giggle.

"So my dear, I hear you moved here from your home in Ireland."

Where the hell did you hear that? she thought. "Yes, I did. When I was a little girl, I lived there but then my parents had to move, problems with their employers."

"Yes I had to leave my home too, I vas a very good climber though, I think I have climbed about von or two mountains in my time. Do you know vhy you had to move?" He leaned in a little closer bragging his achievements.

She leaned in the same direction away from him slowly, Nuh uh, you're not planting your flag on this mountain.

"I didn't really ask questions, it wasn't my place," she added hoping they would buy it.

They looked at each other as if agreeing with this statement that she doesn't ask questions and continued. "So, vhere do you live now?"

"Well, apparently I live here." The two burst out into laughter, as if she had said something funny. Ginny herself didn't find it very amusing but she laughed nonetheless.

"Did I miss something?" Came a voice from behind her, Lucius had returned. He didn't have her drink, she felt very disappointed at this.

"Not much, she was just telling us of her current predicament of living here." They all laughed again, she really could not fathom why but continued anyhow.

"Well I'm only here until my husband calls for me." The laughter subsided almost immediately.

"Oh... your err husband?" Fredrik asked. They both cast a questionable look to Lucius who was standing behind Ginny. Lucius gave an indifferent wave of the hand as if saying 'nothing to worry about there,' and the other two gave a slight sigh of relief.

Ginny could sense it, and felt increasingly uncomfortable with Lucius standing behind her. It was quite unnerving. It didn't feel any better when he walked around and sat beside them, the conversation ensuing. This time Ginny just sat there listening. Doing what Claire would have done, shut up and speak when you're spoken to, that's what the women of the family do best right? Well right now she had no objections about it. She was lost in thought when she suddenly heard them laugh again, and joined in just in time so it didn't seem like she wasn't paying attention. She wished very hard that she could be somewhere else. And she knew exactly how to get there.

***

I hate it when she's right. Draco had been staring so hard into his drink he could have bore a hole into the hard cold glass full to the rim with ice and alcohol. He had barely touched it; he wasn't much of a drinker, he would rather sit by and watch others get drunk. It was much more enjoyable. He suddenly got a strange feeling. The kind of feeling you get when you know you're being watched. He looked up, it was Weasley. What's she staring at me for? Like that's what I need right now, I shouldn't even be here. I should be somewhere else trying to get away from her. He shivered, looking at ice for too long could do that to you. Then he stopped, she seemed to be desperately asking for help. Overcoming his confusion - among other things - he picked up his drink and rounded the bar. So set me a challenge will you father?

"So - Claire," he called as he crossed the room, the others stopped and set their eyes on him. Ginny didn't need to do this as she had been looking at him the whole time. "Do you dance?" He held out his hand, a venomous look dawned on Lucius' face, Draco smiled at this in a way that angered him even further.

"A little," she answered taking his hand immediately. "But I'm always up for trying new things." She got up and practically climbed over Fredrik and Joseph as they had bunched up so closely to her. Draco led her out to the hall.

"Nice dress," he said quietly, not looking at her.

"Thanks, I got it this morning," she smiled, she looked behind her as they turned a corner, Lucius was glaring at them murderously as they left, he then slammed down his drink and the three of them apparated with a loud crack. Louder than usual.

They walked past the dining room and a wide passage into the great hall where the party had been that regretful night she remembered. The music from then had started again. This room like so many others she could name must have been charmed too.

"Thank you," she said finally as they stopped in the hall.

"Don't mention it," he said throwing himself down in one of the chairs to the right. The music got even louder as he did so, the charm must have noticed that they would be staying a while. It was a waltz.

"Why dancing?" she asked, there must've been a reason why he had chosen that amongst the endless other excuses. She watched him swallow his drink, as if he didn't do it often but needed it anyway. She knew how he felt.

"Because," he said sitting up, "my father can't."

Ginny mouthed an understanding 'oh,' and sat down beside him. She had always thought that his father would have been able to dance; she didn't know she just assumed the Malfoy's were a danceable family. Not that they'd go around dancing in the streets or anything, she just thought all Malfoy's could dance. It was strange to think of it now, but there you go. They sat there for a while, not saying anything.

All of a sudden, there was another loud crack. The same three men had returned.

"Oh did I miss the lesson?" Lucius grinned. "Would you like to dance Claire?"

Ginny looked at Draco giving him an 'I thought you said he couldn't' look. Draco shrugged; he just didn't seem to care. He took another sip. Lucius saw Claire giving Draco looks and felt rather uncomfortable at her late acceptance of his hand. He took it nonetheless, and swept her onto the floor.

***

"That rotten, twisted, evil, little bastard!" Lucius marched up and down the passage to his office at Malfoy manor, though he wasn't at Draco's house anymore he still felt perturbed at what he had done though he was far away. "I knew I raised him wrong, how he dares just sweep in that way and take her away from me, Urgh!"

"Lucius, Vhy did you leave so? Could you not have stayed to dance vith the girl? She seemed perfect for you; she does not even ask que-ves-tions, that's alvays a good quality in a voman. And she just sits and listens, no input at all. Much better than Narcissa was, don't you think?" Fredrik began.

"Don't talk about my wife; she is of no concern to you. Damn him, he knows I can't dance how he dare use that against me I don't know." He opened the door to his office and went inside.

"Maybe you raised him better than you think. He knows you cannot dance, very strange for a Malfoy though, I thought all of you could. Some of my relatives who couldn't use to take lessons and some of them who didn't have that kind of time used to take dancing solutions, tasted good, far as I..." Joseph stopped at Lucius' stare.

"What did you say?" He stood in front of Joseph now.

"Malfoy's are good dancers?" he tried.

"No after that - what? You never said that."

"Um my relatives take solutions," he tried again.

"Yes. That's it; do they still have these solutions around?"

"Oh yes, plenty of them all over the house, they house parties very often and most of those they invite are very two-left-footish." Fredrik giggled at this. Lucius eyed them both and wondered why either of them could make such high rankings in the ministry. Oh well, in time. "I could have some delivered here if you want."

"When?" Lucius enquired.

The fire in the grate seized up and a small vial span out of it, sliding across the polished marble floor to Joseph's feet. He smiled picking it up off the floor and handing it to a smirking Lucius. "Now."

***

They waltzed for a while; Ginny in all honesty was beginning to get bored. Every so often he would spin her out then pull her in again. Then in a wave of spontaneity she would be dipped. Then it would all start over again, and the cycle would continue.

Now and again she would glance over in the corner at Malfoy. He'd be watching them, but turn away and appear to be looking at his watch as if he wasn't at all. She looked up at the clock; it was now half past two. Have we been dancing that long? Oh if there is a God, please anywhere but here.

She shot Draco another deathly glance if he didn't help her, this time he actually saw it. He turned in the chair to look at the door, and carefully mouthed something so that the other two men wouldn't see him. Ginny cast an eye to the large ivory doors, smiling every so often at Lucius who had stopped spinning her long enough for her to catch her bearings.

Just outside stood Altair and a ghost dressed as a butler. He was whispering to her, and she in turn was mouthing a conversation to Malfoy. Next to him the two men were watching Lucius and applauding every time he did an extravagant move.

When her eye fell back upon Malfoy he had turned back to face them. The two at the door were gone; it was as if nothing had happened. I couldn't have imagined it surely? I don't know if I can stand any more of this.

"Master Malfoy, Sir." The butler came in, both Lucius and Draco turned.

"Yes Cordon?" they answered simultaneously.

They both shot each other an annoyed look, then went back to the butler. "Master Lucius, the house owl that you sent this morning has returned from the ministry, it bears an urgent message for you and your colleagues." At this he chanced a quick glance at Draco, and then secured it on Lucius once more. Luckily no one noticed, except for Ginny. She looked at Malfoy he seemed to be suppressing a smile, and very well.

"Very well, excuse me please." He kissed her hand and departed, closely followed by Fredrik and Joseph. Very discreetly she put her hand behind her and wiped it on her dress, unaware of a pair of eyes watching her actions.

As soon as they were gone, Draco got up and made his way over to Ginny. "Had enough?" he said mockingly.

"I was beginning to think that I would be there forever."

He smiled, looking rather attractive as he did so, she was annoyed at how it lit up his face, and he looked very different. Fore it wasn't that famous Malfoy smirk or any of the evil smiles that he kept hidden for his enemies. It was a genuine smile, she was amazed. She smiled back.

"Well, we have to get on with it before he comes back."

Ginny looked bewildered. "Get on with what?" she asked, confused.

"It's only a matter of time before he realises that the owl waiting for him is not really there so naturally he will return. You do want to get rid of him as much as I do right? Because if you were enjoying yourself-"

"You have no idea, please, continue," she said, cutting him short.

"Fine then," He held her close. I cannot believe I'm about to do this. Well it serves you right Father, you should know better than to contest with me when I'm in this sort of mood.

The music changed.

"Keep looking into my eyes, we have to make it look genuine."

There were voices, one of which was particularly angry.

"Okay, genuine it is," she agreed smiling; she couldn't help but see the humour in the situation.

She was dancing again, and looking into his eyes. He was doing the same, the moves weren't that complicated, but he corrected her in places gently with his hands. Soon it became routine, but then suddenly out of nowhere she began to feel a little light headed and sensed familiar ground, like she had done this all before somewhere. It was a very huge case of déjà vu. The room swam, but they weren't moving that fast. When it blurred back into view, the room was filled with tapestric banners, scribed with A's and crests that would belong to a king if she didn't know any better. It reminded her of the weddings that were hosted for royalty back in the day; she had seen them in history books. The room was filled with people, a court of some sort. And in front of her was Malfoy, but it wasn't him; at least she didn't think so. It looked like him; the spitting image, but different somehow. Is that a crown on his head? It was all familiar, like... home. They danced even more, but this time it was more relaxed, they belonged there and they knew it. Their steps were filled with one emotion, love. He span her out, when she returned they were very close, close enough they could have kissed. Anyone who didn't look close enough could have sworn that they were. He dipped her. Applause filled the room. They smiled into each other's eyes; he seemed to keep her there for sometime, just looking at her.

The silence broke with Malfoy. "My Queen," he said through bright eyes.

Ginny smiled back filled with love. "My King."

The room spun out of its state and back to reality. The clear pastel colours told their place once again. The banners were gone, the court was gone, and the feelings....Their eyes were still secured to each other, neither wanting to break it. He brought her back up to stand slowly. It was as if they were in a trance. Another person's presence in the room broke it for them.

Draco suddenly broke contact, startled. "Father I - I didn't see you there," he said, occasionally glancing at Ginny. In an uncertain way.

Had he seen it too?

Lucius Malfoy looked furious; the other two were just as annoyed. Altair and Cordon were not far behind them, Cordon was unfazed, and Altair however was beaming. He smiled at her. Lucius saw this smile and turned to see whom it was directed to. He gave her a look that Draco couldn't see, but it wiped the smile clear off of her face; she looked at the floor to hide her face from him. Draco stopped smiling, she had never had that reaction before, not since she was ten, when he -. He felt the anger rising from the pit of his stomach. He clenched his fists, Ginny could see the tension in the room rising. His father turned to look at him; Ginny moved behind Draco, she didn't want to be a victim of his murderous looks too. With a bellowing crack, he apparated closely followed by his two 'friends.'

As soon as they were gone, Draco ran to Altair. "Are you ok?" he asked.

"I'll be fine, go back to her," she looked at Ginny who was standing in the middle of the room hands behind her back. She smiled when they looked at her.

His attention though, was focused on his maid. "He wouldn't touch you, he wouldn't dare, and not if I'm here. Prometo ése a tú." He cupped her face in his hands.

"Sí, lo sé," she said gently. "That's why I'll - be - fine, now go back to her." She turned and left with Cordon, a faint smile on her face.

Draco watched her go along the corridor that led to the kitchen; he wasn't convinced at her excuses. He turned to Ginny. "Hungry?" he asked.

"Very," she stated gratefully.

***

As she walked into the kitchen she could feel the heat from the cooking taking place. It was nice and warm, and the unit that took up the middle of the room was filled with pots, and a delicious smell that crammed the air.

"Mmm smells good," Malfoy said as he entered the room.

Natalie, the chef was working over the stove; she turned around upon hearing company.

"Draco, I haven't seen you in here for at least two days. That must be a record right?"

He laughed making his way around the unit. Ginny sat on a stool watching them Draco? Altair sat on one of the surfaces by the wall. Ginny could see her eyes were a little red, as if she had been crying. Malfoy had gone to her looking concerned, but she only warded him away with a 'don't - be - so - silly' look, pointed at Ginny then hit him upside the head. Then she proceeded to throwing peas. They were acting as though they were - friends, she couldn't understand it.

Among the pans in the centre, there was food and plenty of it.

"Erm, Nat," Malfoy asked, picking peas out of his hair. "Is there going to be an army for dinner that I don't know about?"

"What do you me -" She turned about to finish her question. "Don't waste my peas! Altair, Draco, stop it! Urgh you're acting like children."

Ginny laughed to herself, it reminded her of dinner cooking at her own home; the kids messing around in the kitchen. Especially her and Ron.

"Ow!" Malfoy exclaimed, he had just been caught picking at the sliced part of the whole chicken on the centre unit. "What did you do that for?" he asked Altair.

She was laughing. "Don't pick at the food, dinner is at six."

"Six, in the evening?"

"No a la mañana. Of course in the evening." She hit him again. This time even Cordon showed signs of a smile. He was handing dishes to another maid; she just stood quietly on the side drying them.

Natalie then noticed the presence of another woman in the room. "Have we met?" she asked.

"Oh, no, Natalie this is Claire Goyle. She'll be staying here for a few days."

"Nice to meet you dear." She wiped her hands on a towel before shaking Ginny's. "I guess this means I'm cooking for one extra then, as usual no one tells me anything."

"I don't think we're in danger of starving to death do you?" he said showing her grand feast with his arms. Altair suppressed a smile.

"Steer clear of these two." She had her back to them and just pointed behind her. "They're like toddlers in a circus they are, very bad mixture."

Ginny glanced behind her, the said two were both grinning devilishly in the corner while she spoke. Draco whispered something to Altair, and then he opened the bread bin and took out a roll. Altair agreed and jumped off the counter. The sudden noise made Natalie turn around. Draco hid the roll behind his back, and Altair stopped dead in her tracks. They both smiled guiltily.

"What faces eh? Guilty as sin." She took out her wand. "Accio!" The roll broke free from Malfoy's hand. She opened it, and then took up some slices of chicken and laid them on the bread, followed by some lettuce and a helping of sauce that smelled really good. "Here you go dear. I know you're hungry, Drake wouldn't have brought you here if you weren't -"

Drake?

"- He uses it as leverage to steal food before dinner." She turned once again to face Draco and Altair. Those smiles were back and their hands were firm behind their backs. "That is it! -All of you partners in crime, I give up! First no one comes down for breakfast and now you steal as if there was a famine. Out, out of my kitchen go, right now!"

They ran out, Ginny with her sandwich, the other two hands spilling with food.

"Thanks Claire, normally we'd have to wait until she left. Our hands would be hexed by now."

They made their way back through the entrance hall and out unto the balcony that overlooked the garden. She recollected the spot that she had refused to take part in the investigation anymore. She never expected this. Down the stone steps she could see the other two walking on the grass finding a place to sit, Altair beckoned her over. What is going on in this house? she thought.

Since she had started school, all she saw of Draco was a vindictive, spiteful child that was cruel to any person that he met. Now though, he was acting towards his 'servants' the way she did with any of her brothers, like they were family. She couldn't be his sister, they look nothing alike. She walked down the rest of the stairs to join them on the grass.

They all divided the food each getting a third of a sandwich some potatoes and a carrot. For afters they shared a bottle of pumpkin juice and a handful of apple pie.

"Well that could tide me over 'til dinner I think." said Altair

"Its two hours until then; that barely touched the sides."

Ginny was silent, Altair noted this and said, "What about you?"

"Well, um, I could do with a few more of those potatoes."

"I know they were delicious weren't they what does she coat them in?"

"It was all I could carry ok? Lay off for a while would you." Draco exclaimed, they laughed at his anxious state.

"Oh, I like you," Altair said, subsiding from her laughter. "D- Mr. Malfoy I like this one."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know," She raised her eyebrows at him.

"She's married." He stated, it wasn't true, but it was all he could hold on to right now.

Ginny smiled guiltily and looked away. Lucky as she didn't see the look Altair was giving him that said 'what a lame excuse, now I know for sure.' Draco rolled his eyes.

"Can you tell her," he directed at Ginny, "she doesn't listen to me."

"Sorry Altair it's out of the question."

They sat talking after that, just lounging on the grass. The conversations changed every so often, from favourite colours to holidays and music. It was the best time she had had in a while, Ginny had to admit that. Then the subject came up about Altair and Malfoy's past. Altair started the story.

"Well, it was a perfect match really, I was abandoned so I've been alone since I was three-"

"Yeah and I've been alone pretty much all my life so - Ow." Altair hit him upside the head again.

"I wasn't registered at birth or any time after that so legally I don't exist, and on top of that I didn't get into any schools."

"When I was younger, my mother didn't have much to do, and her passion was helping the more unfortunate child. I thought it was complete rubbish, and when I was a boy I wasn't exactly 'kind' to people. -"

Yeah and don't I know it.

"So until I met Altair when I was six I didn't care much for her jobs, naturally being 'my father's son' it thought it ridiculous. My mother used to tutor us in the craft, out of books of course. I couldn't use magic until I was in school."

"And me not going to school, I couldn't use it at all."

"During school I admit... I missed her. Just a little though," She ruffled his hair a little, he smiled. "She had become my best friend, then these two idiots Crabbe and G- sorry, no offense." As if it's true.

"None taken." As if it's needed.

"My father didn't like the friendship, and he'd sometimes keep up with my school work, so I was my father's son, as much as I tried to deny it."

"When holidays came, he would bring back projects that I could help him with, Narcissa persuaded one or two of the teachers to tutor me at night."

"When I was in training sessions, she'd help me out as well. Father didn't really care about her much so he never took any notice."

"I think I was about ten when he did notice, he blew the roof and - well that's another story." She looked down, like she had already done once that morning. For once Ginny understood what he meant by 'He would touch you, he wouldn't dare.'

"From that day I swore I'd get us out of there, I did, and here we are."

"So, how come you work for him now?" Ginny asked, trying very hard not to pry, but honestly this was very interesting. Draco Malfoy had a friend? Someone he missed during school? Maybe that was why -

Draco raised his hands in defeat. "That has absolutely nothing to do with me; I just go along with it." He sounded distressed, and just decided to remain quiet.

"When I was fifteen," Altair continued nevertheless, "Lucius decided that since I liked to help him out so much that I might as well make it official."

"I protested," he input, then continued in his state of silence.

"Maybe you did but I didn't, which is something that you refuse to understand." Draco looked at her, still refusing to accept it, asking why. "I liked it, but he wouldn't let me." She pointed to Draco.

"Why not?"

"My father wanted me to suffer, that's why he didn't make her the house servant. He made her my servant." He said 'servant' like it were a disease. "It was an unbreakable arrangement."

"Why, if you didn't agree surely he would understand?"

"Because, my Father made me promise to take whatever he gave to me, being three at the time, you cannot blame me for accepting this. He doesn't understand anything besides his pride. That was something I couldn't stand to live with anymore. It clashed with my own, so it was only a matter of time."

"But, it wasn't a gift, he forced it upon you."

"It was a gift, believe me it was a gift, considering the alternative." Altair stated.

Ginny looked confused.

"If she doesn't exist, then if he threw her out, there would be nowhere for her to go. If he refused to say that he even knew her, not even my mother could help; his word is the last word. Being fifteen, in a world of magic, how was she supposed to survive and me a measly thirteen years old, what was I supposed to do?"

"Where was your mother?"

"She was somewhere in the house." He gave an indifferent wave.

"When he was nineteen, his father told him to start a company or else he would have to stay at Malfoy manor."

"What would you do?" Draco said knowingly.

Ginny looked comprehending, and nodded.

"But there was a catch; it had to be a muggle company. The closest thing to magic to them is a computer. So, I went through all that trouble taking a 'course' and then I created a software company. They lapped it up like waves on sand."

Ginny smiled, he smiled back. "Three years later I was still there. It was easy money and I began to like it. But it was in America."

"And I was in England."

"I spent more time in that manor than when I actually lived there," he said. "When the four years was up my father told me that I could have a request now that I was successful in what he had set me." He turned to face her on the grass. "Being my father, that isn't exactly a phrase you hear often, so I cautiously asked for three of the servants here. Nat, Cordon and Altair, to my surprise he actually said yes."

"To Natalie and Cordon."

"We fought for weeks on end, a little curse here little hex there. Until one night I broke into the house -"

"And stole me," she said matter - of - factly.

Malfoy looked at her in an annoyed way that said 'way to smash the tone.'

"Anyway, Lucius was furious. But I told him no friend of mine would live under his roof. He knew she was the only thing that made me happy so he tried to break us apart, and break us individually."

"So, what happened?" She was almost on edge the story was kind of good.

"They dueled," Altair said, looking at Draco like he was her knight in shining armour.

"Really?" Ginny said, discovering the cliffhanger. He must really value her, dueling with his father for her.

"I tell you one thing; he thoroughly regretted teaching me all those jinxes. The dark ones."

Altair gave him a big hug. "I still thank him everyday."

"Yeah, by driving me crazy."

***

"Are you there?"

"Yes I'm in his home he's hidden me from your father so I think I'll be alright for now."

"He poisoned you didn't he? I knew he would if he found you; he has a carnal heart, not one sorry shred of shame in him. But you wouldn't listen. If you did I could have told you he brews his own, home made so that if there was a chance of you getting away it would be alright. It only takes effect when you're on his home ground."

"Thank you any way."

"You look better, do you feel any better?"

"If you mean do my insides not burn any more? Then yes I feel a lot better."

"Good because before you looked terrible."

"You saw that?"

"Yes, someone has to look out for you if you can't even look out for yourself. I saw you in the manor; I saw Cyrus, and what he did to you. How you could stand it I don't know." She looked thoughtful. "He was always one for hot pokers, even when we were children he had this fascination with hot pokers." He laughed. "I'm serious," she smiled. "It was very weird, even for him."

"Well I'm very happy that I could partake in his wondrous fascination." This time they both laughed.

She went serious. "I saw the poison, and I saw you escape. I'm just sorry that I couldn't help you."

"Well in your current position... Did anyone see you, where you are?" he said, worried.

"No, I was careful they couldn't have seen me," she answered. "How they could concentrate on anything besides that terrible food I cannot understand, I'm just an apparition anyway and I only appear to you."

"You can still taste it? Anyway the food is good for you, and it isn't supposed to taste good."

"Well I hate it here, I want to leave"

"That would be quite hard now won't it, considering? Hold on you came here?" he said sharply, suddenly realising what she said earlier.

"Yes, I saw you lying on a large chair type of thing with the box of The Diviner's protection."

It took a while for him to accept this, and then a thought crossed his mind. "What if they were an apparition themselves?

"What do you mean?"

"This Malfoy guy has a servant; I think I heard his name Gordon, Colton -"

"Cordon, wait - what Cordon is still alive? "

"Not - not exactly, he's a ghost now, you know him?"

"Yes, he - he used to serve Azrael." She looked reminiscent of his name. "He knew, before anyone he knew. He saw who I was even though I looked like someone else. I never understood but he was nice to me, he saw that I loved Azrael even if no one else did. And he accepted me. Though I was the enemy, he treated me as a person."

"He knew who you were and he didn't say anything to his King?"

"He gave me an altermatem, he's what made me realise what I was doing was wrong. He tried to tell Azrael but he wouldn't listen, Azrael saw his wife, no one else but his wife. He didn't care. After that I never saw Cordon again. I guessed he left, The King had always trusted his word, after that incident I don't think he thought that Azrael trusted him again. So I guessed that he left. I can't believe he's still here."

There was a crash. They both turned to see someone staring at them in shock. He was looking at both of them. It was strange to see a ghost look shocked, quite humorous actually.

"Rebecca?"

***

"What's going on?" Natalie was cleaning up the kitchen all the food was gone, where she had put it all was beyond Ginny, though the refrigerator was quite large.

"We've come to join you," Altair said.

"You've come to mess up my kitchen you mean."

"Hey whose house is this?"

"Oh I give up!" She slammed down her kitchen towel. "I'm going to bed"

Malfoy looked down at his watch. "It's only quarter to seven."

"Non mi preoccupo! andare all'inferno." She stormed off, swearing under her breath.

"Where is she from? It didn't sound like Spanish."

"No Italian."

"I've picked up quite a bit from her," Altair said.

"Yes but you've only learnt bad words. Did you not hear what she said?"

"Yes, but its Natalie, she gets annoyed quickly when people disturb her."

***

Ginny looked at the clock, it was half past ten now. "Oh I need sleep," she yawned.

"Do you remember your way to the bedroom?" Altair asked.

"I think so," she said unsure.

"I'll take you incase." She got up and while Ginny wasn't looking she pinched Draco on the arm.

He looked at her insolently, she pointed with her eyes to Ginny. He gave her a 'What did you do that for?' look, but then picked up what she meant when she looked at Ginny. "Goodnight, Claire." He tried very hard not to make it sound forced. He really did.

"Goodnight," she answered. She turned to follow Altair out of the room.

They made their way up the stairs, the candles lighting their way along the corridor.

"Don't worry about the lights, the charms stop at about one in the morning and they start again at six."

"I didn't know that charms had schedules."

"Well I put them on you see, to help myself. You know the showers? All that steam cleans the bathroom without me needing to. The lights in your bedroom go out as well when you fall asleep. Draco came up with that one. Perezoso, always has been, but he's a great friend."

Ginny looked a little off, it was obvious that she didn't understand when Altair spoke in Spanish. "Lazy, perezoso, he's lazy, always has been," she said, noticing. Ginny smiled in thanks.

They were at her door now. "Well goodnight, and call if you need anything." She turned and walked back along the corridor to the stairs.

***

The room surprisingly to Ginny was not green - as she had left it - but red. It had changed colour since she had gone. For a moment, she had considered that she had gone into the wrong room, but then Altair had brought her here so it couldn't be the wrong room. She recalled telling Altair her favourite colour was red. Maybe she had done it, as a gift to make her feel welcome. The items in the room and the look had not changed, it still had the threaded twists of lines - now bronze instead of silver - and the black ebony wardrobe that once gleamed with silver dragons was now mahogany and the dragons were gold. The room still smelled of lilies. She saw herself mirrored in the strips of gold, suddenly thinking of Pete. How could he leave me here like this? With him here she could've gotten the job done already, he could've distracted Malfoy while he snooped. This is not how I expected it to be, why are they all so close? Him, his servants - or friends - what am I going to do? Every time I get away from one another comes along. I need to get into that office. Why isn't he like how he was in school, this would be so much -

"Damn it."

In her dramatic pacing - without - looking, she knocked her foot on one of the four posts that held the curtain rail around the large bed. The amount of space it took up it was a wonder how it fit in the room. It was probably an enlargement spell, she thought, before scaling it and lying down.

Why has he changed so much? What the hell is going on?

She remembered this afternoon, when they were dancing. The way his father looked at them was unnerving. Was it possible they were - fighting? No it couldn't be. What had she seen, Malfoy with a crown? A court of people that was applauding them. Like a wedding? What did it mean? She shook the thought out of her mind and went back to the job at hand. Would he even keep any personal files in his office? Is he even the type of person to keep them around his own home? Then she realised she didn't know him well enough to make this assumption. Wouldn't mind getting to know him better though.

Ginny shook her head violently. "Where did that come from?" she said.

She slowly drifted out closing her eyes. As she did so, the light in the room died out.

Some time passed, and Ginny slipped deeper and deeper into sleep, that she didn't even notice the door to her right opening.

***

Altair returned to the kitchens, to find Draco attempting the dishes.

"You, dishes, oh if only I had a camera!" Altair walked into the kitchen prepared to tell him what she had just seen, but the sight she was seeing at the moment shocked her so much the very thought of it left her.

Draco ignored her. "Is she alright?" he asked.

"What do you care?" She was going to get this out of him, if she had to force the idea into his head.

"I don't but she is a guest," he replied with the tone he knew she couldn't read.

"That you say is unwanted." She was irritated at the change in his voice.

"I still need to know what she's up to, why she's here."

"Well I told you it has to be about your father, why else would they send in the MBI?" After all only he would be so stupid to think you couldn't figure it out. She decided not to mention this though.

"Yes, I guess so."

She stared at him blankly for a while in silence, the water and crackling crockery knocking against each other in the sink. Despite it all, she was quite proud of herself for domesticating him. Of course, he'd never admit it. But she was growing tired of him not admitting things these days. "Oh just admit it you want her."

"Altair," he closed his eyes in irritation, "please don't start this again."

"Just admit it and I'll stop."

"No."

"That's all I need to hear," she ended about to turn and go.

Draco wiped his hands in a dishcloth and set it down beside the sink. He looked at her with dark eyes. "Why are you pushing this?"

"I like her," she said unaffected by his stare. "Compared to the others she fits you perfectly."

"What - is - wrong - with - you?" he voiced slowly so she could catch the obvious annoyance laced with his tone.

"Tell me what's wrong with her."

He was almost taken aback by her lack of flinching or even noticing his tone. I've grown up with her, she must be immune. "Fine," he sighed, "I don't like her."

"Lie."

"I don't."

"Again, mentira."

"Speaking of she's lying." He sounded proud for pointing it out.

Altair rolled her eyes at these mediocre excuses. He must be able to do better than that? "It's her job."

"Are you going to contradict everything that I say?"

"Just carry on."

"She's a threat to me."

"Otra vez, her job."

"Look, she's just not my type."

"Since when has female not been your type?"

"She hates me anyway," he almost sounded resentful at this.

"As much as you hate her?"

"Probably," he snorted.

"Hmm, promising."

"Ah ha! She's a Weasley."

"Oh Draco, victims of circumstance. You and her are both subjects to one age long misunderstanding."

"Our families might as well be at war - not that they'd win - she's my enemy."

"She wasn't today. You told her things about yourself, that you wouldn't tell anyone - except for me. I know you hate it when I'm right but trust me on this." She touched his hand, pleading with him to understand her. "Oh, I almost forgot to remind you, the spare room is full," she said, remembering the reason she had returned to the kitchens.

Draco looked at her preparing for another lecture, but was slightly surprised when she said that. He looked at the her little bewildered. "What do you mean?" he said at her new direction of conversation.

"Your fathers back."

"How do you know?"

"His light was on." She turned and left.

Shortly after Draco retired to bed.

***

She was back in the countryside now, and the breeze blew with a faint scent of summer. She didn't understand it, but as far as dreams go she was hardly having a good time deciphering these recurring dreams at all. It was two months now since she had been having these dreams, she remembered because it was around the same time that her best friend had gotten married and the morning after her first dream she had woken to be extremely relaxed despite the stress she was under for the wedding. At first she was accepting of them, the meadow as it was was not exactly a place that she didn't enjoy. It was peaceful and calm, something that she had not had enough of lately. It was not until it kept reappearing -even after the wedding - that she had started to wonder. She had put it all down to stress that subconsciously she had created this place to escape; it would make sense after all. However, when she started wondering about this the dreams took a new turn, as it was now. The meadow would begin to move, not shake as in an earthquake but a soft tremble. Then she would walk, before she had no idea how she knew the way but now it was etched in her mind like the back of her hand.

The wind grew stronger as it always did when she reached the top of a hill that overlooked a distant land. Far ahead was a deep sink in the earth where a castle stood, dark and terrifying yet strongly compelling in its stature, as if regal? She wouldn't go towards this castle though, no, she'd turn and walk away from it - despite her odd attraction towards the malevolence that cloaked it in its darkness - and turn towards the other fortress that shone in a resplendent light on the other side of the hill. Yes that seemed more like home. As soon as she thought of home she was inside of this place, a great room decorated with tapestric banners, scribed with A's and crests that would belong to a king if she didn't know any better. It reminded her of the weddings that were hosted for royalty back in the day; suitable as a wedding was being hosted. Just as she had expected she was the one and only in a beautiful white gown, meaning only one thing. She was the bride. It was always the same; she'd reach half-way down the aisle when...

CRASH!

A great cloud would encircle the room and she would be face to face with her brother, Ron. He had a soft look on his face as he ran a hand down the profile of her face.

"You can't stop me from marrying him, I love him and you know it." She turned to look at her fiancé's face but was unable to due to all the thick mist that had surrounded them. Then she smelled something that reminded her strangely of...FireWhiskey?

'Watch me,' he said, his mouth not moving, as if he was speaking telepathically. Her eyes went back to her brother. 'I have told you countless times before even I would rather see you with the Dark Wizard than that, - that muggle filth.' A foreboding look spread on his face and she knew that it meant only one thing; he meant business, and she was probably never going to see her fiancé's face again.

She woke up, her eyes still shut and the look on her brother's face still etched behind her eyelids. Each time the dream would be the same, except since she had gotten into this mess at work it had grown longer to this part of the dream. She would hope each night that it would go further but each time she was disappointed. Over a long period of about two weeks she just gave up trying. That was always the most infuriating part of the dream for her, as it never seemed possible for her to see her groom. Mostly due to the FireWhiskey fog, what was that about anyway? My brother walks in surrounded by alcohol, the meaning of this dream must be really stupid. She remembered something else also, he had called her husband 'muggle filth,' he had never referred to any 'magically impaired,' person as muggle filth. Not anyone in fact, besides Malfoy.

A hand was trailing down the profile of her face. I must still be dreaming, she thought remembering her brother. It was always the gesture he did when they were together, as long as she could remember he had done it to her. - She stopped, that scent of FireWhiskey was back again, except this time it was stronger. She shifted slightly and the hand was gone, but the more she turned the stronger the smell got. The hand was back, firmly placed on her side as it traveled up and began to run under her top.

She opened her eyes, expecting to see nothing but darkness. As she did so, the light in the room returned indicating it was still before one in the morning just as they had gone out when she had fallen asleep. There in front of her, obviously startled by the increasing light in the room was Lucius Malfoy. Removing his hand to search the room for the source and then back at Ginny who was in the process of screaming, extremely loudly.

***

He was standing by an Alter, again. Waiting for his bride, but she still would not come. He was in his home; he could tell that much. In the Great Hall, except now it looked grander, fit for a king if he could go that far, filled with all those he had invited for this grand occasion. The room was draped in lavish curtains and banners, all with his crest embroidered on the front. The colours so vibrant its appearance seemed almost to overpower the situation, had it not been for his position and the timing of his realization he would have asked for it to be taken down. He had waited there for a while now and despite the inappropriate timing, his mind started to wonder to days when this would have just been a dream to him. When he had first met her...

In the meadow. Just east to his castle beyond the hill where the sun was given birth each morning. He had met her there once, when he could not sleep and had so taken an early strode on his steed to clear his mind. He had not known that he would be venturing out there every morning because of it, until he saw her.

She was standing in the middle of nowhere, as if she had been placed there for a purpose, of which she still hadn't told him. Of course she had recounted her reason for being there with a sudden case of amnesia, but had refused to tell him why she did not want to be taken to his castle. And why every morning she met him there when the sun rose, because 'it was the only time she could get away.'

He remembered her beauty, the way the sun touched her face in even tones perfectly to show her radiance and how well she fitted with nature. As if she was made for the world around her.

She looked the same way when she entered the hall, he turned and she was the first he saw he glanced briefly at his best man, Cordon before returning to her, and then she was all he could see. She walked toward him, but as soon as she reached the middle the Great Doors opened with a mighty crash and she would be encircled with a thick mist, by the time he ran to reach her he could not see her through the mist as it had grown so thick and that was when he heard her scream, it pierced through the room and into his heart. Something had happened to her and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"Maleyna!" he called. She screamed again.

***

"Shh my dear, no need to scream." He leaned closer; probably to kiss her she didn't care. Still screaming she jumped out of her bed and ran towards the door.

It wouldn't open; she then remembered locking it and distinctly heard it shut before going to bed. If that was the case, how did he get in?

"I came in through my door on your right," he said, as if reading her mind.

As if I needed to know that, she thought. Noticing the door he spoke of on the right she instinctively looked to the left, the doors that she had thought were just extra closets that she wouldn't need were obviously other rooms. She ran for it. I guess I did need to know that.

"Where are you going my sweet? Why are you running away? Surely you have noticed our je ne sais quoi?" He was half sitting, half lying on the bed waving his arms around for emphasis.

"You're a deluded freak is what you have," she said, glancing at him in disbelief before dashing out of the room. He was clearly drunk, his actions didn't need to tell her that, the smell was clear enough as he reeked of alcohol.

The smirk on his face disappeared as he clambered after her.

The next room looked just like hers, identical to how it was before it changed colour. That same bed in the centre of the room all wooden and ebony.

Aware of Lucius behind her she ran quickly and blindly towards the other side of the room to get through the door, upon reaching that side, however, she realised that there wasn't one, she felt for her wand she couldn't find it in her pocket it was on the bedside table, she cursed loudly. He had her cornered, and he knew it expressed by his casual walk into the room. There was only one way out through the front door to the room which she was sure wouldn't be locked as it seemed unoccupied. Though she was sure she would make it to the door, she was also sure there was a good chance - or bad in the given situation - that he would catch her if she tried.

"Get the hell away from me!" she ordered, running around the bed to get away from him.

He looked at her and smiled a bone chilling smile "You cannot run forever you know."

"Well, then, you'll forgive me if I keep trying." Her legs were beginning to hurt as he stopped, eyes bulging madly.

"We were meant to be Claire."

It took her a few seconds to understand why he called her that, and then found it funny for an instant if she was to tell him who she was and see what he would do since he was trying to pin a Weasley, but she shook that from her head.

"I'm married you arse! To your son's best friend's brother, she took some time to register this, so did he as it was a lot to reel off? She brushed her hair back from her face her hair band was gone; it must have fallen out when she was running.

"Yes marriage is a splendid thing, but what the hell do I know? Mine failed." He must have been obsessed; he started to climb over the bed to get to her. His cloak caught on something. It was obstructing him so he removed it.

Ginny looked around, to her right there was a bedside table with a small alarm clock on it, just like in her own room. Without thinking she grabbed it and threw it.

Straight in the face, he collapsed forward and grabbed her to steady himself, instead resulting in him dragging her down. Now Ginny was trapped, under Lucius Malfoy. Apparent that he couldn't restrain her by himself he pulled out his wand.

Ginny struggling to get her arms free did the one thing her brothers and a slight bit of training that the boys at work had taught her; she freed one of her arms and grabbed onto one of the bed posts for leverage and then brought up one of her knees as hard as she could.

"Imperi - Aargh shit!" he screamed, it was quite high pitched.

Ginny ran for it. She swung open the door her skin tensing under the increasing cold that engulfed her. Her with just a tank top and pyjama trousers bare foot on the ice cold floor, her legs giving way she felt rather tired from running. As she stepped outside the spell for the lights ended and the hall was draped in darkness. Ginny was trembling, and she felt terrified of what else could possibly happen to her.

Looking left and right she tried to remember which way it was to the stairs, knowing she didn't have much time before Lucius recovered, then to the distant left she saw a light and she ran towards it.

***

Draco awoke with a start still hearing the screams. That was before he realised the screams were not in his dream world anymore but in the real world, in his house.

"What the - Altair!"

Altair appeared into the room yawning. "You know we should have a scheduled end for my work too, I just want you to understand that my shift ended about an hour a - ." There was a scream. "What was that?" she asked.

"I was just about to ask you the same question." Now there was yelling. "Is there no peace in this house I was trying to sleep?" He stopped to Altair's look. "Why're you looking at me?"

"It's your house go and find out!"

"Oh," he huffed, "fine!" He gave up, and she was not going to let it go. "But be on stand by just in case."

"Oh sure, I'll have a glass up against the wall shall I?"

Draco scrambled around for his wand, while Altair's face turned from one of curiosity to one of grave realization. She was disturbed in her thoughts by Draco's questions.

"Where's my wand?" he said, putting on his robe in the dark, besides the moon from outside there was no light to be seen.

"I don't know," she snapped.

"You're not much of a maid are you?"

"Oh yeah?" she said sounding hurt. "Well you're not much of anything you stupid prat."

"What was that for?"

"Are you completely deaf? Or do you pretend to annoy me?" Draco looked at her. "Can you not hear where those screams are coming from?"

Draco listened, as there was more yelling. "The guest room?" he whispered to himself. "Weasley?" he said louder. "Oh forget that." He made his way back to the bed preparing to get back to sleep, feeling his wand under his pillow.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Oh, what does it look like?"

"Are you," she began as she pulled the covers away from him, "forgetting whose room is next to hers?"

Draco looked at her in annoyance, and just like the latter of the afternoon she was unfazed by his looks. The more he thought of her words the more he began to comprehend. Suddenly a flashback of that afternoon projected before him in his mind and what his father had told him echoed in his brain, 'she wants me, she just needs some convincing that's all.'

"Oh shit," he said as the charms for the house died. He rummaged under his pillow for his wand and ran outside turning right towards Ginny's room. "Lumos!"

A few doors down a figure was outside already, from the moonlight coming in through the far window he could see that she was shivering and apparently panting. She turned obviously noticing his wand tip and began to run towards him. But halfway across the corridor unaware he was running also she collided into him, her legs gave way and she fell sobbing and panting uncontrollably, still shivering. Responsibly as any gentleman would, he took off his dressing robe and cloaked it over her. For some strange but familiar reason he had an urge to protect her. Why, he was still trying to figure out.

"What happened?" he asked. As if I really need to be told, he thought. "Are you okay?"

The moonlight from the windows above them was shining a cool blue ray over the two of them, practically creating a spotlight. She was holding him very tightly.

"No," she sobbed, "your father's after me."

"What?" He knew his father was capable but actually acting upon it - he felt the anger burning behind his eyes. His father would pay for this.

"He was - in - my bed, when I woke up I screamed but nobody came and - " She let out a loud sob before curling up again in his arms.

He pushed her hair out of her face; her eyes were blue and shaken glistening with tears. He ran his hand through her hair to calm her, and then he noticed a hair band caught in tangles of stray bits of hair that lay on her back, he pulled it out and absently slid it unto his wrist.

"Claire!" came a voice from behind them. Draco could feel her tense under the name, knowing instantly whom it had come from. She stood up quickly panicking.

"Oh god, Oh god, oh god...." she repeated. Backing into Draco behind her he felt for the warmth of his body and held him tight shaking violently, wishing it would all go away. Draco was quite nervous to how she was acting. He had only ever comforted one person like this and even then it was not this bad. Ginny must have had this done to her before and she was clearly petrified.

"It's okay it's me darling!" Lucius stepped out into the corridor. "Get away from her boy she's mine!" he yelled. There was a slight alteration in his pitch.

Darling he used the word darling, no, he must be drunk. "Father, have you been drinking?" he called, he then became aware of the fact he was now standing in front of Ginny wand out she couldn't stop shaking he was getting worried.

"Maybe I have son," he said. "But I can still see you're trying to steal my woman!" Lucius was adjusting his cloak that he had stopped to put back on.

Again with the sound of an inanimate object, how did he do it? Even under the influence of alcohol?

"She is nobody's woman father," he said, but then he remembered something. "Nobody's except for her husband."

Lucius ignored this. "Hand her over, son." He broke into a part run part limp with his wand out as if he was going through great lengths on tying to keep himself together. As he did so he held out his wand. "Paralusis!" he cried, and a red beam of light cracked out of his wand barely missing Draco and hit Ginny.

Ginny gasped behind him and grabbed onto his t-shirt as she fell to the floor.

Despite all that was happening, Draco seemed incredibly calm, as if he came across this everyday. "Folium," he said. A green orb of light started to hover over his wand. He poked it in the direction of his father, who had now stopped running and stared at the light, he had obviously never seen Draco use it before.

As soon as it reached him Draco made a slashing movement with his wand as if it were a fencing sword, the orb mimicked his movements. He turned and crouched down to face Ginny on the floor.

"Stay here, he tends to get a bit angry after this." He got up and moved forward toward his father.

This isn't angry? She thought, but just nodded wiping her face.

The orb that had slashed across Lucius' clothes like a blade now hovered over him, wearing only boxers his newly positioned cloak and nightclothes were in scraps of material surrounding his feet.

"Go back to bed father," Draco sighed, his words laced with pity as he approached him.

"You cannot beat me boy," Lucius replied dangerously below his voice.

Draco stood next to the orb. "Finite incantatum." The orb returned to the wand. He bent down to pick up the silver clasp of his father's cloak and looked at it with a small triumphant smile; he had always wanted to use that on him. He had no idea that it would work this well though, he was always afraid that he would slice his father in two. He held up the clasp in front of him.

"Do you here me Draco? You cannot beat me." He looked at the clasp and the winning look plastered across his son's face.

"Maybe not father." He smiled; dropping the clasp back to the ground he brought his voice down to a whisper. Then something caught his eye on his father's shoulder. He removed the lock of hair with his wand. "But if I must," he said, holding it in front of him, "I will take you one piece at a time." He smirked as his father looked across to his shoulder to see the newly sliced hair that stood out uneven behind him.

Lucius looked furious. "I will get you for this," he said through his teeth, and with a loud crack he disapparated.

Draco looked down at the circle of clothes. "Scourgify." All the sliced clothes vanished. "Much better."

***

Ginny was still on the floor, He didn't recognize the spell that Lucius had put on her but he guessed it forbid her in some way to move around. She was panicking before but now it seemed she was having a fit. She was shaking violently, and her hands were very cold despite the robe he had draped over her to help stop the shaking.

Don't they teach their agents to deal with these sorts of situations? I admit waking up to find someone in your bed at night is frightening especially if it's my father but - oh wait, that would've killed me.

He made his way back to her and tried to calm her down, he stroked her hair to get it out of her eyes. His mother always used to do this for him when he was a boy, after some run - in he had had with his father. There was always some hex or charm he had put him under that would cause him to get frightened, and if it didn't frighten him then the hex would come more severe the next time he used it. He wanted to see his son fear him, it gave him power over his son and he knew it. It was made clear by the triumphant smirk on his face whenever the moment arose.

"Altair," he called trying to get Ginny back to her feet, an uneasy job as the robe was quite heavy in itself. Instantaneously Altair appeared in front of them.

"On standby boss," she mocked, but the smile was gone the second she realized what must have happened to Ginny. The current state she was in told it all. A distant memory of herself in that place years ago replayed in her memory, but she shook it out as fast as it had come.

I can't move my legs, Ginny thought to herself, straining to keep herself up.

Altair smiled eventually, then noted the opportunity and a devilish grin spread through the corners of her mouth. "I don't think I can help you there mate. Just pick her up."

'Oh lord," he said; eventually he severed her from his waist, he realized why she was holding onto him so tightly as the second she let go, she fell to the floor.

"He hexed her legs?" Altair enquired.

"Yeah, I think it was aimed for me though, it barely missed me. At least I would've known how to handle it though, he used to do this to me during training sessions remember?"

"Oh, yeah when you had to run from those animals in the woods."

"Well," he said, bending down he scooped Ginny up in his arms. "Where is she going now?"

Now Ginny spoke out. "I'm not going back there." She gestured with her head in the direction of her room down the hall.

"She could go in your room," Altair suggested.

Draco glanced at her maliciously. "No," he said sternly.

"Well you can't hold her there all night and the spare rooms are definitely out of the question." She grinned behind her hand, so that Ginny could see.

"Urgh," he grumbled and made it back into his room.

***

It was very big, the ceiling was almost dark and the walls were tinted with a jade green, making it shine in the darkness.

"Oh I've had enough of this," he pointed out and spoke out into the darkness. "Lumos dormita."

The room filled with a light that illuminated every corner, as if someone had just switched on the light but the source came from nothing. It looked strange.

She let go of his neck when he placed her on the bed. The room was very clean, pristinely actually.

"How long will I be like this?"

"It'll take a few hours to wear off."

"Normally he would've clawed his way up a tree by now," Altair smiled.

"A tree?" Ginny enquired.

"When I said animals I didn't mean fluffy white rabbits and kittens," she pointed out.

"Altair can I speak to you outside for a moment," Draco said trying to feel as composed as his words.

"Sure."

"What if he comes back," Ginny called to them as they exited the room.

Draco turned. "My father, in my bedroom under sexual pretenses?" he laughed. "As unnerving and bone chilling as that sounds, I find it highly unlikely." He shut the door.

Ginny looked around the room, it was truly luxuriant. The way everything seemed to fit to each other perfectly. She had seen earlier this day that if anything he could decorate, but this was ridiculous, almost too 'perfect design taste.' The colour code as the rest of the house was obvious, greens, crèmes and grays. An ebony wood bed stood in the centre with majestic curtains surrounding the four-poster.

But that wasn't all, even the windows were decorated. Stained glass that captured light in the day which would have shone jade green, and black roses had there been any sun. Twisted shimmering lines ran on the walls like the vines in a vineyard, and small wizard photographs hung on the wall of him and his classmates and... one she couldn't quite see but it looked like a small boy-.

Just then the door opened and in walked Draco half being pushed by his maid. She smiled.

***

"What are you trying to do?"

"What?" Altair said innocently, but she was smiling, she knew exactly what he meant.

"Why don't you put her in your room Draco? Why can't she hang around us Draco?" he mimicked. "Why don't you just bind us together and get it over with?"

"Believe me I would if I could, and don't ever try to sound like me again, it doesn't suit you."

"Well it's not going to work, you can't make us like each other overnight, nothing will change I still hate her and all she stands for and for who she is."

"For who she is? Exactly who is she?" She was looking at him appalled.

"She's a Weasley, the worst enemy of my line. I know you think you know who I am Altair, but as much as I don't like most of my family I will always be one of them, you cannot change that," she had turned her head away from him, she couldn't believe what she was hearing, "and you cannot change me."

There was silence between them.

"I may not know who you were when I wasn't around, but the person I grew up knowing... he couldn't possibly be fake, could he?"

"The person you grew up with was the person I had always longed to be," he reassured her. "That's why I love you so much you were the only person I could be myself with, but it took me a while to understand the person you made me into did not change what or who I was brought up to be."

"And what or who is that?"

"A Malfoy." He stated it so simply and clearly that it almost shocked her.

"That's what you want to be? Just like your father?"

"That's pushing it a little, but I do still have my family pride and nothing can alter that, it's in my blood."

"Your pride stops you from being civil, or at least liking someone?" Draco rolled his eyes and sighed exhaustedly.

"I don't think that it does because I did tell you that if he tried anything on with her you'd be all over him like peanut butter and chocolate, didn't I tell you that but fine if you insist on proving me wrong go in there with your heart of stone and tell her to go back to her room. If I know you better than you know yourself you will not be able to do it."

Draco stared at her. "Fine." He turned to enter the room.

Altair became a little worried at his approach to the door; it seemed a lot like he was going to do it. Perhaps she didn't know him as well as she thought she did.

"But I licked the spoon clean," he spoke out.

"Dios mío," she sighed.

He opened the door, everything planned out in his head. She seemed rather comfortable on his bed.

Figures, he thought.

Just as his words were about to come out, she smiled. Everything inside him melted down to his core, the core that Altair had made him into. Unfortunately.

"Oh shit," he said under his breath, taking out his wand he muttered something and that same comfortable looking lounger from his study was positioned elegantly, as if it could position any other way, Ginny thought- at the side of the room. He turned to Altair. "Get me some blankets."