Regret and Betrayal

Chapter Four

The Artistry of Darkness

Impressionistic sable slate
Strewn with pewter, pearls and grace
Obscured by mist, at any rate
it paints a pretty picture.

~*~~*~~*~

The next morning Ginny awoke to a strange feeling of alleviated anxiety, almost relief. She stirred eyes closed, and then she recollected the past nights events; Lucius, her legs, Draco's room and his bed. She sighed with worry taking in a deep breath. The air smelled fresh and soapy. She felt for her legs, she must have fallen asleep before the spell wore off, a weight was lifted when she realised she could feel them again.

She stopped moving. When she did she felt an unfamiliar presence lying next to her and absolute dread covered her face.

Please not Malfoy, anybody but him. She screwed her eyes even tighter before realising she couldn't stay in his bed forever.

With that in mind she opened her eyes. The sunlight hit her first causing blind spots but when they cleared nothing could have prepared her for the last thing or person she had expected to see.

A dark haired boy was staring at her with playful and innocent eyes, hands propping up his face as he lay on his stomach. He peered at her through deep blue pools of innocence. Ginny was dumbfounded, which was a rare occurrence. She sat herself up looking at him.

"Morning," he said cheerily grinning at her. She knew that grin.

"Erm - morning," she managed to stumble out. She was too transfixed to notice Draco coming out of the door on the left, all dampness and wet hair and wearing nothing but boxers.

He made his way over to the wardrobe. He didn't even notice she was still there until he turned to see if she was awake yet. Ginny was sitting up, looking entranced.

"Are you alright you look - odd." She snapped her gaze at him. His hair was in tendrils and beads of water formed at the ends falling onto his shoulders.

"Um, fine I guess," she stumbled, her eyes going back to the boy. She had seen him before but where she could not place. Memory served its purpose and she looked at the wall. The picture still stood there. Before the light was too bright so it reflected a glow that blocked the face, but there it was clear as day. A little boy looked at her and waved. She looked again at the real thing before her.

Draco's gaze fell upon the little boy who had neglected to stop staring at her. "Astie, don't bother her she's tired. Get off of there or I'll never let you go back to Daniel's again." He turned back to the wardrobe with his attention fixed upon a broken hanger. "Where's your mother?"

Ginny looked up again. The boy tore his smiling face away from her and turned to sit up at the edge of the bed to face him. "She says that she's busy and to go see what you're doing and be your pest until she has more time."

"Oh," he laughed, "is that all?" he asked coming to the edge of the bed kneeling down in front of the boy. "Was there anything else?"

"Well, she did say something about convincing you about guests and female types or um jobs and misund -." With that Draco picked him up whilst placing a hand firmly on his mouth. After a guilty smile to Ginny he carried him to the door.

"I'll tell you what," he said scurrying back to the draw, "I'll give you a whole Galleon if you can go tell your mother to mind her own business is that okay?"

"That's just fine thanks!" He ran down the corridor.

Malfoy watched him go until he reached the stairs. He shut the door and turned his attention to Ginny.

"I was wondering on whether you were planning on waking up today. So how has your stay been at casa Del Malfoy?"

"Oh, you know, besides being pounced upon by your father it's been a magical experience, certainly nothing out of the ordinary." How else could it possibly be? Ponce.

Draco smiled, she wished she could kick it off with her new found legs, but decided against it. Her eyes drifted to the wall and a certain small boy.

"Cute child."

Draco knew this was coming, that she wanted to know. Frankly he found it intriguing that she even cared. "Yes he is." He kept his answers short but allowed a smile for pride.

She picked it up immediately. "What kind of name is Astie?"

"It's mine," he said abruptly.

"Oh, that's a strange name."

"Not really, there are a few more - tell you one thing it's a pain filling out forms." She chuckled despite herself.

"Well strange or not it must be nice to have a son to carry on your name. I can't really see a girl sporting it." She was searching; up to now he hadn't said that Astie was his. What she couldn't understand was why she was searching so hard. She couldn't tell but it bothered her somewhat.

Dammit, he thought, she used son. Now I have to tell her. "He's not my son," he declared. "But I am his father seeing legally his mother doesn't exist. He lives with me sometimes."

"He has no mother? But you just..." It was quite confusing as he just sent the boy to look for her.

"Oh yes I know what I just, he has got a mother but not legally. Technically I am not his father; I just adopted him so I like to think that I'm family." His head turned suddenly and slowly towards the door.

"So where is his mother then?" He started suddenly at the door.

"Downstairs, or probably listening to me as I speak -" He opened the door to an unsuspecting Altair. Listening intently through the door, she was taken aback and fell forward. She was caught by Malfoy eyeing her suspiciously. "Could I help you at all?"

"I came to give you this." She righted herself holding a coin in her hand. A Galleon. Ginny suddenly realised who Astie's mother was.

"By gluing your head to my door?"

"Well the walls are too thick -." She stopped and looked at Ginny. She raised her eyebrows when she looked at Draco and his current attire. "I see I've interrupted... something," she said looking at him with a smile.

Realising what she meant he quickly ran a hand through his damp hair. "You have interrupted nothing, we were just talking."

She brought her voice down to a whisper. "Excuses are only made if you've done something wrong." Draco eyed her sternly to drop the subject. She noticed that she couldn't push any further and changed the subject.

"Well," she said louder than usual making him jump, "here you go." She held up the Galleon again.

"I gave it to Astie it's his," he said pushing it back toward her.

"I have taught Sebastian not to accept money unless he is doing something useful, just like his mother."

"Oh, so telling his mother not to use him as her personal dating service is not being useful?" he whispered.

"Not if it's for your own good," she said through clenched teeth, looking at Ginny who was now approaching the door.

"Um -" Ginny inserted, "I think I'll go."

"Ok." Draco stepped aside, allowing her to leave with too much ease as Altair would like. There was sharp pain in his arm as she left, Altair had just pinched him. "Ow, what was that for?" he whispered when she had gone.

"Did you even ask her how she was?" she pushed past him into the room.

"Yes as a matter of fact I did!"

"And how subtly did you do that?" she said, taking some clothes out of the wardrobe and putting them on the bed.

"Never mind," he answered, going over to the bed and putting them on.

Cordon drifted up through the floor. "Breakfast is ready sir."

"Thank you Cordon."

"Shall I tell Mrs. Goyle sir?"

"Who?" he said distracted.

Cordon looked at him strangely. "Your guest sir."

"Oh, oh yes, yes of course go ahead." With that Cordon left.

Draco turned to ask how he looked but grew increasingly curious as to why Altair was grinning at him in that same way she was at the 'hideout apartment.'

"What?" he asked defensively.

"You don't even think of her as Mrs. Goyle do you?"

"Well she isn't is she?"

"Exactamente." With that she left before he had a chance to reply and turned right towards Ginny's room.

***

Dear Ginny,

It was all he could write so far. What else could you tell your best friend after you abandon them alone in their enemy's home? After the second conference meeting the whole team had gotten together secretly to discuss what they had done and they all felt that they at least owed her an apology. She was very strong both physically and mentally come to think about it, but to spend Merlin knows how many weeks in a house with people you cannot stand - they all felt her tolerance levels must be made of iron.

Nonetheless they all knew one thing. They couldn't take it anymore, they had to get her out of there whether it cost the job or not. Keeping the job would be more preferable.

So he had started the letter, not that he had gotten very far with it. Every so often chief Manning would pass by and he'd have to hide it. Once in his attempt at another letter, coincidently with the same title 'Dear Ginny,' he had been caught by Manning and asked to step into his office.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Sir we can't take it she's suffering, we have to get her out of there."

"How would you know she's suffering? She hasn't told me anything."

"Sir," he said reluctantly. "She sent me this." He sat down on a chair and held out the note Ginny had written to him a few days ago. Chief took it and watched Pete as he sat down. "I really think we should get her out of there the rest of the team is really guilty. She hasn't exactly had the best past history with him to just shove her in there without her consent."

Chief Manning read the letter that Pete held out for him.

To the most evil guy I know (besides Malfoy)...

"When did she send you this? Why haven't you shown this to me, do the others know?"

"Of course they do," he said almost confused at the lack of sincerity his superior was showing to one of his best agents. "It's what made them feel the way they do and it isn't fair to shove everything on her shoulders alone."

"You don't understand she has to do this." My family's life depends on it.

"No Chief she doesn't can't you see? She's in danger, have you any idea how much they both hate each other? With the position we put her in she won't be allowed anywhere near any of his credentials. If she does find out something and she gets caught then she could get hurt."

"She's a strong girl she can handle it Pete -." He stopped abruptly; rubbing his chest he placed the other hand in a draw to take out a bottle of water. When the pain in his chest subsided he noticed the concern in Pete's face. "It's alright I have a calcified chest, it just plays up sometimes that's all." He waved away Pete's helping hand at sat upright once again. Obviously even talking about the subject of Ginny and Malfoy caused the reminder of the pain he would feel if she failed. That is why Ginny could not; it would cost him too much. "I am not changing my mind about this Pete, and you will not do anything either. If I catch anyone of this team trying to get her out or help her in any way I will have you put on suspension of duty."

"But sir -," Pete protested.

"No buts I mean it, if I catch any of you you're on suspension of duty. That's my final word."

***

"Where is my son have you seen him?" Paethozar said, catching one of the maids on her way to the kitchen.

The maid turned at the sound of her master's voice. "Pardon sir?

He sighed in annoyance "My son, have you seen him?"

"I think he is still asleep in his room sir; I could go to wake him if you wish."

"Yes please, do that and tell him I wish him in the east wing immediately." He walked past her towards his study.

"Before or after breakfast?" she inserted before he was too far to hear.

He turned at this unusual request. "Excuse me?"

"Do pardon my saying so sir, but he does get a little off ended in the mornings, working on an empty stomach sir." Sheepishly, she retreated when he moved closer toward her as she spoke.

"Yes I suppose he does, doesn't he?" he laughed. "Very good observation erm..." He drifted off, noticing he didn't know her name, odd he knew most of the servants here. "Are you new?"

"Samara sir - and yes I am." She gave a short curtsey; it seemed to do the trick. He smiled as much as was able.

"Yes, Samara, very well done thank you, you saved me from an ear ache to last a century." She smiled at his comment. "Make sure he is there."

"I will sir." She watched his back as he walked away.

***

After Cordon left Ginny she continued to get changed. Then there was another knock on the door.

"Morning," Altair said with that same grin that had greeted her from a certain little boy.

"Morning," Ginny answered smiling somewhat back.

"Can I come in?" Altair asked.

Ginny gave in. "Sure."

Altair entered the room and sat down on the bed. Sure she was familiar to it, she had cleaned it a few times in the past but this visit was for one purpose only. "Mr. Malfoy - he um, he sent me to pick up his robe." She tilted her head enquiring, somewhat curious of her reaction to his name.

Ginny paused a while thinking 'what robe?' and looked at Altair through the mirror. She saw the green dressing robe that Malfoy had put around her last night lying behind Altair on the bed. She went around the bed and picked it up to hand to her. It felt heavier now that it was all together. At least when she wore it the weight was shared. Altair smiled as she took the robe from her, her eyes penetrating Ginny's to find something, anything that she knew was there. But she couldn't find it.

Yet.

"Are you going out?" she asked as she looked at Ginny's current attire.

"Yeah, I thought I'd go for a run just to clear my head."

"Oh well where will you go?"

"I don't know, I was actually about to ask you."

"Well the town is just a mile or so up the road, you could go there. Would you like me to owl your husband?"

My who? Oh. "No!" she said sharply. "I mean." She laughed nervously. "I think I'd rather do that myself." She smiled trying to convince even herself that she would rather do it. She couldn't have her writing a letter to Marcus and then have it being sent to the real one now could she? That would be a rather bad career move for her.

"Ok then. Well, breakfast is downstairs. Hurry because Natalie does not like to wait and er, enjoy your run." She made her way to the door and opened it.

"Oh Altair," Ginny called. Altair popped her head back around the door and looked at her waiting for Ginny to speak. "You have a beautiful son."

She smiled once more but this time it was warmer than ever. "Thank you, you are very kind." She paused a moment before asking. "Do you have any of your own?" It was an awkward angle but it was worth a shot.

Ginny blushed. "No." She had always thought about it, but her past experiences with love and such did not leave room for any kind of reproduction. Her mother always told her that she would make a good mother. Ginny always dismissed it though because her mum was always dropping hints like that every now and again. Come to think of it she hadn't seen her mum in a while she should actually owl her.

Altair noted Ginny's current daze and asked her of handedly so that she wouldn't notice. "Do you ever plan to?" She half expected her to snap out of it and say 'no' point blank but somehow that faint smile on her lips meant she was thinking about motherhood. It was obvious that she wanted a family of her own. Altair had had that same look a few years ago. But circumstances were different then and at least Ginny had a choice. She was still looking for something, anything that would indicate a good weakness for her to work with.

"Yes," Ginny said in a day dream kind of way. "One day, when I find the right man."

And there it was.

***

The room smelled sweet of honey and the stained windows cast a bright light painting the walls in their beauty. She walked over to the one window that still had its curtains drawn. It was by his bed. She left the tray of food on the table by the door and treaded softly toward them being careful not to wake him up. She was about a third of the way there when she realised that was why she was in the room. She walked the rest of the way and pulled them back. As her arms widened she felt a hand grab it.

"What are you doing here?" Cyrus said as he eyed her with suspicion.

"Your father says to get out of bed," she answered with caution. With him in this mood he was liable to do anything.

"Pardon?" She could see that this was not the reaction he had been expecting, and then she saw in his eyes that he remembered her from before. His look softened to a 'oh it's you,' look.

"Your father says-," she began again.

"Stop - just stop right there." He paused and sighed before continuing. "Let's get this rule shall we? In this room we do not start a sentence with 'father says,' okay?" he said indicating the space of his room with his finger, circulating it around in front of her.

"I'm sorry sir," she said retreating to servant mode once more.

"What did I tell you about calling me that?" He sat back down on his bed and covered himself up to his waist by his quilt. She knew why, the room was especially cold despite it being summer.

She turned and opened the other curtain rolling her eyes when she made sure he couldn't see. "I brought you your breakfast." She went back to the table by the door and placed the tray down on his lap, cushioning it in the quilt.

When she did this Cyrus just watched her. "Why?" Normally breakfast was served downstairs, not in bed.

"Because it's my job Mr. Cyrus."

"Mr. Cyrus? Well that's a new one," he said biting into his toast. He looked up and took a gulp of his juice. "Why do you have to make everything so formal?" he asked her.

"Believe it or not you are my employer or at least the son of my employer, so therefore it is rather inappropriate to call you by your first name. If your father found out I do not think he would be very happy, though he seems quite fond of me now it is not likely to last once he finds out I have been breaking the rules of the household."

"And what are they exactly?" he asked in a superior way while crossing his arms. It was if he was daring her to continue.

"That a servant knows his place... Sir. If you will kindly excuse me I have chores to do, your father expects you in the west wing when you are through." She made to leave, proud of her sudden surprising - but truthful confession. It wasn't until he answered her that her pride just deflated.

"As a loyal follower of the rules of the household are you not required to wait until I am through to take the crockery?"

She sighed and turned to face him; as much as she wanted to leave she knew he had won. The proud smirk that spread on his face showed the cruel joy he felt in torturing her this way. Sure he knew she had things to do, but he also knew that no servant was to speak to their master that way. "I suppose I am." She stood waiting, not daring to make herself look beaten. Annoying as he was, if she left he could make it permanently. Lyra was right; no matter what he was still a Black.

***

Paethozar watched at the three pieces. They shone with an eminence that reflected their power, but it wasn't worth anything because they were not yet complete and that was something he was going to change. Maybe Cyrus was at least right about one thing. His fantasies of revenge on a world that had forsaken him since its making had taken its toll, even though he had played a part in its existence. Every thing good in this world had to exist because there was evil; it's just the way things were. In its creation good and evil united to make a better world than that of the world the old war had demolished. Strange how both sides have still not learned there lesson. They both still craved power over the other, both still believed that they were fighting for the better of the two and have become obsessed with victory. Even though they know that there is no point in having one without the other. Although he knew this he still craved for that same power, the wisdom of his age was now a mere memory and he had come obsessed with just one thing. Vengeance. But now, the path of power from the stone seemed even more inviting.

"Was there something you wanted?" a voice said behind him.

He turned to face his son dressed as elegantly as always. "Yes, you wouldn't happen to have plans tonight would you?" he said, making sure he didn't get a repeat of yesterday.

"No, why, do you want me to go in tonight?" he asked.

"No, I do not want you to go in tonight, I wish for you to go in today," he said testing him.

"What? When, now?" Here it comes, the excuse to beat all others so far.

"If it's not too much trouble, yes."

Cyrus shrugged. "Okay."

Paethozar blinked, he was surprised it would be so easy. Of course he didn't want him to go in, especially in broad daylight no less but it was comforting to hear his son say he would be willing to do it for him. "No on second thought I do not want to risk you going ahead with it now. I would rather you did this at night when they cannot see you. As much practice as you have had I think darkness would aid you considerably."

"Very well, I've been waiting to see this little Goddess of yours for a while now." His eyes sparkled playfully.

"No!" he said sharply. "You are to leave her alone. Do not go near her do you understand me?" He pointed a finger of warning at his son.

"I just want to see what it is about her that has you so - unlike your usual self."

"Just leave her be son, believe me it's better that way." Cyrus walked out to prepare himself, but those words just kept repeating themselves in his head. What on earth did his father mean? There was obviously something about this woman that his father did not want him to know about. And he would find it out, even if it killed him.

***

She had been running for a while, at least an hour before she saw signs of society. The town was now in sight; she had managed to find it at last. Trekking through the woods to get to the main road was not exactly as short a cut as she would have liked. Where am I? She thought. Note to self, do not assume you can map out directions in a place you do not know, especially if it is enchanted to hide magic. Being able to apparate had its advantages, but not to the point that you knew where you were. To apparate you have to know the place you are going or you have to see it. In school it was always easy because by the time you reach seventh year you know the school inside out. To Malfoy's home she was driven. It was highly surprising as cars or rather expensive cars were of muggle origin, but as she suspected like so many other rich wizards - namely two foreign members of the ministry - it does not matter as long as it makes you look good.

During her run and probably most of her time there she had thought about Malfoy, a lot. He had changed somehow. She wasn't sure how, she knew that the arrogance and vanity was definitely still there, well partially. Though everything else, especially his social behaviour and unquestionably his attitude towards his father were different. But she wouldn't think about his father now. During her experiences in life, school and otherwise she had come to learn many things. People are molded like concrete; once they set that's it. They aren't malleable; you change their surroundings and chip a bit off here and there but you cannot change them, or what they were molded to be. She had seen it, in criminals almost everyday at work, seen it in Malfoy's father last night and she had seen it in Tom.

No people's lives change. People do not.

The town was a few yards ahead now. It was one of those little quaint towns, not at all what she had expected. It was all cobbles and moss-covered buildings. The café was quite small, one of those perfect places to visit with your best friend. It was cozy, quiet, warm and protective. She wondered if Lesley would like it because the sentimental things always pleased her.

She sat down and stared into her complimentary glass of water. The waitress had given her a sympathetic look when she brought it over as if she knew what she was going through. Doubt it, she thought.

Let's see then, so far, in less than a week I have been forced to stay in a house that is colder than Moscow. I've been led into an undercover job which I had to change my appearances for under false pretenses. Then I was stranded by Pete, my partner, my only hope and have been forced therefore to carry on alone. Since then, I've been walked in on after taking a shower - twice, I've been given strange looks by ministry officials, groped, become extremely confused about the social behaviour in his home and jumped by his father in my sleep. Yeah, great times.

"Here you go dear." The waitress had been watching her for while staring at a glass of water as if she was solving a complex mathematical equation.

"Oh thank you, but I don't have any money."

"That's okay, it's on the house."

"The house?" Why would it be there?

"Yes, it's free."

"Oh." A comprehending look spread on Ginny's face. "But why? I don't even know you."

"No, but I know you."

Ginny looked at her trying to remember her face but continued to come up blank. Until one name came up.

"Altair, she comes here a lot when that boss of hers is away, I suppose it's the only time she can get to herself. After all there's nothing else to do in that house is there - except clean maybe." She smiled.

"Altair has told you about me?"

"Not in person, she's been owling me recently."

"Oh, I thought you were a -," she started.

"Muggle? No I'm a squib, Daplyn Mc Tavish." She held out her hand, Ginny shook it.

"Nice to meet you, Claire Goyle."

"Hmm." She looked at Ginny knowingly. She told me about that too. "So, having a nice time in the estate? I've heard it's quite nice from what Altair has told me. Don't get to see much out here being full of muggles and all."

"No-one else here is a wizard or witch?"

"Well no, except for my son Daniel, he's attending Hogwarts in the fall and my daughter lives in central London now. I have to get to Diagon alley before the end of July, after that I won't have time."

"Oh well that's nice." Ginny stared back down at her plate.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, it's just I'm not really all that hungry. I'm sorry I don't mean to be rude it's just that I'm not that much of a breakfast person."

"Ooh, don't be silly girl." She took the plate and carried it to the kitchen. When she returned she took the seat opposite Ginny's and looked at her. "You know when I said, 'is something wrong' I didn't mean with the food. And don't tell me 'it's nothing' because it certainly doesn't look that way."

Ginny knew these questions would not stop and began to realise why Altair had sent her there in the first place. But she was grateful for the shoulder to cry on. These people she didn't even know were more interested in her than her own family. Of course what had happened last night had her traumatized a little but she would get over it, just like everything else that had happened to her over the years.

"Promise me you won't tell anyone and that includes Altair."

"I promise."

So she started. "Well everything has started to fall out of control and I don't know what's going on. Everything's different."

"Different how," Daplyn said, coaxing her along. She had, after all, promised Altair to get the whole story.

"He's changed; the job would be so much easier if he hadn't changed."

"What job? Who's changed?"

"Malfoy."

"Draco? What's he got to do with this?" As if she didn't know.

"Everything, he's my enemy!"

"But your brother in law's his friend."

Ginny looked hopeless. "No, no he's not."

"Not his friend?"

"Not my brother in law." She lowered her head to rest in her crossed arms on the table.

"But, aren't you married to Marcus?"

"Not technically, technically I'm married to Pete." She buried her head in her arms even more and spoke muffled through them.

Daplyn looked confused, after that who wouldn't be. "So you are actually married."

Ginny eventually lifted her head and looked at her knowing she would regret this, but she couldn't help it something about Daplyn just cried 'agony aunt,' so she let out. "No, no I'm not."

"So that's what is confusing." She leaned back in the booth. "Let me get this straight. You're worried about him changing, him being Draco obviously, because if he hadn't then you would be able to do some job which you can't do anymore because he has changed and you like him and those feelings are getting in the way. Right?" she ended.

"No, that's wrong I do not like Draco Malfoy."

"Right," she said slowly. "So why do you care if he's changed then? And why can't you do your job?"

"Because, because - because he's my enemy that's why. They've selected me for the most unfortunate assignment I can ever have. I've danced with him for Merlin's sake. I danced with my enemy and his father! Can you believe that? I've been groped and grilled with questions personal and otherwise that I can't even answer by his colleagues. I've been strangled, seen half naked twice, almost been raped and have become sexually attracted to someone I can't even sta-." She stopped, shocked by what she had just said. "Did I just say that?" she said in a whisper.

"Yes," Daplyn replied simply. "All of it." She smiled.

"Oh Merlin, I am so going to hate myself tomorrow."

"Tomorrow, why wait?"

"What?"

"Well if you don't like it as much as you say you don't, then why don't you just leave?" she suggested.

"I just can't, look you wouldn't understand it's really complicated." She took a gulp from her water as Daplyn went over to the fireplace and removed an old newspaper from the stacks that were piled high at its side.

"And why is that, because you work for the ministry's secret service?" Ginny's head snapped up. "You know, all you MBI are just the same," she said as she coyly scanned the old newspaper. "Save many lives, become top of your sector and get interviewed by the ministry's paper." She dropped the newspaper on the table so that Ginny could see the picture clearly. Ginny opened her eyes wide in surprise. "All this hoping no-one sees your picture on the front page. Honestly your people aren't all that clever are they? Not just you most of them, all in that stack over there, I could name them for you if you want they give names and everything."

Ginny turned the paper around to look at herself two years ago when she had solved her first big case. The death eater's had been sending threatening messages to the minister of magic saying they were going to resurrect their lord. Naturally they were a bit put off, and they had to bring in the highest rank of wizards and witches in, namely the MBI. Of course when everything came out to the public the Aurors got the attention. That was when she had become the team leader in all the important missions they went on, except this one of course. No the chief had to take this one under his wing. If it were left to Ginny she would have thrown the case away, burned it and spread the ashes on some more fire. She never did understand what was so important about stolen money anyway. But then again it had to do with the Malfoys which pretty much explained it all.

"Although I'm quite sure that Claire Goyle is not your real name is it? As bizarre as it sounds the paper never mentioned your real name and your hair don't look as dark here as it does now did you colour it?" If she got her to admit it maybe she would feel a little less 'weighed down.'

"How did you get this?" Was all that came out, if it was true then had he seen it too? Did he know who she was already? No, it couldn't be all of the ministry's papers were edited before they were sent out to the public.

"My husband used to work in the ministry's Secret Service, he was very good back in the day, and of course I never knew until a few months before he died. That was when I had Daniel, such a clever boy, so much like his father. Anyway we used to get the paper; I never used to see these things though until after his death, I guess they were charmed for anyone who wasn't aware of that particular sector of the ministry. Anyway the subscription still stands."

Ginny was silent.

"So what is your real name Claire?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why not? You've practically told me everything else," she stated.

"Well, I'd say 'Because if I told you I'd have to kill you,' but that's so cliché." She smiled.

"Humph, just like him. Well, why is he your enemy? I mean, I've only known him for about two years but he's always been such a nice boy."

She sounded bizarrely like Ginny's mother 'Always such a nice boy,' she had heard it so many times especially when Mrs. Weasley was putting her brothers through a guilt trip, when she had reminisced about Ginny's friends, workmates, boyfriends. Urgh. She suppressed a shudder.

She thought quickly before she spoke. "Um - it's more of a family thing, yeah, family."

"Well the Goyle's as far as I know-."

"I'm not a damn Goyle Dammit, haven't you been listening?" she cried frustrated.

Daplyn feigned surprise and looked taken back. Good, it was working. "Well then, what are you?"

"I'm a Weasley!" she cried in frustration. She paused again and Daplyn had a triumphant look on her face. She hadn't even known what she said until after she'd said it.

"Which one?" Daplyn asked candidly.

"Oh, sorry." She had forgotten she was one of seven. "I'm Virginia."

"Oh! You're Arthur's girl." She looked at her, how could she have known that? Her father subsequently was one of ten.

"You know my father?" There was a soft chime; another customer had just walked through the door.

"Oh yes, we dated in school."

***

"I'm sorry, you sent her where?" Draco had to hear this again as he couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"To Daplyn's, don't worry she won't hurt her." Altair had just finished dressing Sebastian, as she yawned rather wide.

"No if she doesn't question her to the ground."

"She's not that inquisitive," she said defending her friend. "Sebastian, sit down!" The raven-haired boy sat still on the chair as his mother brushed his hair.

"Inquisitive? Not that inquisitive? Give her a bloody detective badge, she asks more questions than an Auror! I mean every time I go there for coffee she grills me until I'm burnt out. She knows more about me than you do, and that's a hell of a lot more than me!"

"Look," she said yawning again, "she just seemed down, and quite confused come to think of it. I sent her there because no one can straighten you out like Mc Tavish can. It's like her sixth sense, knowing how to give you piece of mind."

Draco sighed, "I guess so. What was she down about?"

"Oh, Nunca se sabe. Perhaps it was being jumped, almost raped, chased and hexed by your father."

"Ah, say no more. So how long has she been gone?"

She looked at him this time but decided not to push it again. "About forty five minutes." But whom was she kidding? "Do you realise for the past few days all you've talked about is her? You spend a lot of time thinking about her don't you?"

"I do not."

"Then why aren't you at work?" She smiled.

"What! What time is it?"

"Too late for excuses."

"Urgh." He picked up his papers and grabbed Sebastian. "I hate you."

"That's too bad porque I just love you!" She called after him as he apparated with Sebastian.

***

Getting there by car was not as long as running apparently as it only took him about ten minutes to get there. Sure enough sitting at the table by the window was Weasley and Daplyn talking away. She did, in fact seem quite confused and stressed out. Behind the windowpane her skin looked pale and her hair was almost invisible in the dark café.

The door chimed above his head as he entered. Straight away, Sebastian just ran past him and up the stairs wher he knew Daniel would be.

"Oh yes we dated in school." Daplyn looked up to see who had let a little boy loose in her home.

"You what!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Hey Lyn," came a voice behind her.

"Well, well, well look at who finally decides to visit me," she said, walking towards the counter by the kitchen. Ginny turned towards the window she was not ready to meet the locals, she had a hard enough time remembering the names of people already. She had all those things to report including the fact that there were two ministry officials in his home. She was planning on owling them there later or even better she could apparate there herself. Her gaze suddenly fell upon the jaguar parked on the roadside. It stood out like black on white among the humble cobblestones on the ground. Oh no, she thought. He's here.

"I'm sorry, I had a few free days but then so much happened," he replied as he followed her to the counter.

"Yes I've been hearing all about what's been happening in that estate of yours." Draco pretended to look confused and stared at her blankly. Daplyn nodded toward the window and he followed her gaze.

"Oh Claire," he said in amazement. "I didn't see you there."

"Yeah right," Daplyn said quietly going into the kitchen. She knew for a fact as many others did too that Draco never failed to notice anything.

He walked over to the window and sat in Daplyn's vacated seat. "I missed you at breakfast this morning, why didn't you come down. I know Natalie was a bit pissed off yesterday but she does cool down overnight you know."

"No it wasn't that, I just needed to clear my head." And my conscience.

"Oh yes, Altair told me about that. Listen I would like to apologize on behalf of my family although I must say that not all of us are like that."

"It's alright I guess I do have that affect on some men," she mocked, laughing partially.

Draco smiled, "So, averting that subject, let's see, um, oh where did you go on your honeymoon?" He knew the answer would be lie, but it would entertain him for while. Who knew maybe she was actually married but then again there were no pictures where she actually lived.

"We didn't," she replied, as if letting go of some sadness. It made him wonder if she was telling the truth, and, although he would deny it later as he was doing so many things as of late, he felt a twinge of jealousy.

"Oh," he said intrigued. "So have you traveled anywhere?"

"No I've always wanted to travel. But I wasn't allowed money that often unless it was given to me directly, so I was always lacking in the fundage department. Plus I couldn't get a job because he doesn't believe in work for women so it's never been very apparent to me. I wouldn't know where to go anyway there are so many places how do I choose?"

"So you've never left England since you moved here from Ireland?"

"I've been to Scotland," she said, remembering the case she had about a year ago. "Apart from that, no," she ended.

Wow, well she covers up well and her timing's good, I have a feeling the money stuff is true, but that job excuse was rubbish.

"So what about you, I mean apart from America."

"I've been a few places."

"Like where?" she asked.

Draco exhaled a breath. "Like everywhere I suppose. After four years of owning a company that's based in seven, no eight different countries one does tend to get around."

"I see."

"I was just on my way into Central London. There's this big meeting thing that I have to go to. It starts in about oh - what - twenty minutes ago," he said offhandedly.

"And you aren't moving?" she asked him

"Well, they can't exactly fire me can they?" he laughed.

"No, but they can quit."

"No, they can't," he said with a laugh. "Muggles, you've got to love them in a twisted - labouring sort of a way." He smiled.

"Ooh that sounds exciting, 'Central London.' I have a daughter that lives there, you know." Daplyn returned from the kitchen holding a steaming cup in her hand.

"Yes but not once you've been going there everyday, normally I'd work from home but apparently there are some fundage issues I have to go through with them - some glitches that have come up that I have to fix... or something I wasn't really listening when they told me on the phone. Now I actually have to mingle among them." He winced as he took the cup from her hands, some of the liquid spilled unto his palm.

Glitches in funding, that's why he had to steal, Dammit he's leaving I can't possibly spy on him now.

"There's nothing wrong with them you know, actually I kind of respect them for going through life without magic it's quite stressful sometimes."

"Mmm, well must be off, I have to face them alone now."

"Stop complaining, if you don't want to go at it alone then take a business partner with you."

"I own everything Daplyn, I don't have business partners."

"Well, take a friend then."

"They're all overseas. Here right now you, Altair, Cordon and Natalie are my social boundaries. The only ones normal out of the lot are Sebastian and Daniel and there would be nowhere for them to go once I got there." He went over to the fireplace and reached for the floo powder on the ground.

Daplyn's eyes drifted around the café, she had to think. Then her eyes happened upon a woman sitting by the window. "What about her?"

Weasley? "Claire?"

Ginny snapped her head around. She hadn't really wanted to be in this conversation, she only wanted to listen to the bits she could add to her report. "Me? No I don't think so."

"Why not dear, you said yourself that you don't get around much."

"I can't, look at me."

"Oh well that's true, well bye," Draco shrugged and threw the powder in the fireplace.

"Wait, wait a minute!"

"I haven't got a minute Lyn," he protested.

"A few seconds then." She ran into the back, in the background the sound of stairs being ascended was heard. A pause, and then they were descended again. She came out holding up a red dress. "It was my daughter's."

"It's lovely." Ginny ran her hand along the soft material."

"Yes it's beautiful, beautiful, can you hurry up." Draco's tone only matched his annoyance.

"Here you can use the kitchen it's lovely and warm."

"Lyn its June, everywhere is lovely and warm."

"Everywhere except your house."

"Who told you that?"

"Everyone."

"Look I haven't got time for this."

"I thought you said you didn't care?"

"What is it with everyone these days, you say one thing and they use it against you forever as if you're in denial."

She pressed him, she couldn't help it. "What did you say to be in denial of?" She knew full well that he wouldn't answer though.

Draco closed is eyes and gripped his temples rubbing them intensely, he almost spilled his coffee. When he opened them Ginny was standing there, hair out with blue eyes watching him in concern.

"Are you okay?"

"Perfect, can we go?" he said with not much strain in his voice, hoping that it hid what he really felt.

"Sure." She grabbed some floo powder from the urn on the ground. She imagined that to normal muggle folk it was her late husband. The thought of that made her smile at the weirdness.

Draco ignored the strange look that Weasley had on her face. "Silver Dragon Incorporations," he told her.

She repeated it as she threw the powder on the ground of the fireplace. That familiar feeling of being sifted through a large elevator shaft came upon her and she saw all of the different fireplaces whooshing past in front of her. Then she stopped. She looked around, it was just as large as his bedroom and the view of London was awe-inspiring. She sat on the visitor's side of his desk and stared at it while she waited for him. Working in an office was obviously different to owning a whole building full of them. The working conditions were totally different and rooms compared to cubicle had its advantages.

I see the colour scheme is no different. The walls were crème with those familiar twisted lines and silver dragon were imprinted on the ebony oak double doors. I'm surprised there aren't any D's or Crests stamped on the floor. Slytherins. She looked down at her shoes, surprised to see she still had on trainers. She took out her wand and transfigured them into red shoes. The fire was turning green again.

Malfoy stepped out of the fireplace files in one hand, brushing his hair back with the other. Ginny watched the loose strands fall into his gray eyes as he looked up at her. He seemed to be moving in slow motion in a very attractive manner. Shut up, shut up! She kept telling herself.

He made his way over to his desk and pressed a button located on a box and spoke into it. "Rachelann, could you come in here please?" At first there was no answer, Ginny wondered why on earth a box would answer him anyway.

"Oh, good morning sir, I didn't see you come in." Ginny was startled but Malfoy didn't seem to care. He looked at his watch and then turned toward the window. As he stared the door opened and a woman walked in boldly until she saw Ginny sitting in the chair looking seductive-like in a strappy red dress.

"Is she here?" Rachelann looked up at her employer tearing her eyes away from Ginny in a jealous manner and nodded when he turned around. She looked as if she were hiding something.

He picked up on it. "What's wrong?" Before she was able to answer his question another woman walked into the room hustled by a man. They both looked extremely nervous, twiddling with the papers in their hands. From their name tags she could work out, 'Ciara Taylor and Alex...' she couldn't make out the rest. They were both however directors of photography, whatever that meant.

"Erm, morning sir... um I - I have... erm." She sighed regaining her composure, or what was left of it. "I have some bad news." She swallowed hard.

Malfoy's eyes grew narrow as he eyed them both with suspicion. "What has happened, and please..." He paused and then laughed nervously. "Please do not tell me it has anything to do with Ms. Bruce." He waited for their answer even though he knew it would confirm his suspicion.

"Erm," they both said shakily.

"You didn't," he sighed. "Please tell - tell me you didn't." He watched them sternly.

They winced at his gaze. In other words yes, yes they did.

"Oh Merlin, you, you, oh both of you... wait, hold on." He walked to his desk again and sat down. "No, no this is perfect. She'll have to leave now; she won't have a choice not after I've lost - what was his name?"

"Terry," Alex pointed out.

"Terry, yes thank you. Okay that's it then I'll take the blame for her dog and she'll have to go then won't she?"

Her dog? He's a baby-sitter for dogs too? What kind of company is this?

"No, no you can't do that," said the woman.

"And why not?" he asked.

"Because," continued the man, he laughed nervously not sure where to begin. "This company - as great and as rewarding as it is, doesn't carry a witness protection program. And I know sir, that I - we," he corrected after being nudged by Ciara, "we will need it if you pronounce that fault to her with us in the room."

Mine does, Ginny thought, smiling somewhat.

Just then there was a knock at the door. The two employees jumped out of their skin. They looked at each other then back at Malfoy with wide eyes. Alex took a deep breath. "Relax, it might not even be her," he said.

"Mr. Malfoy I am one of the representatives of Ms. Bruce." They winced at her name.

"It might be another Ms. Bruce," he suggested.

"From Bruce Incorporations." They all looked at him.

"Well, look on the bright side their only here for the meeting."

"I'm here to remind you of your commitment." He pointed toward the door signaling his proof. "And to collect her dog." He winced and began to walk toward the door pulling Ciara with him

"Well, our work here is done. Bye sir, have a nice day. What size do you want your coffin? Oh don't worry we'll just guess." He hurriedly left the room followed closely by the woman behind him and shut the door quickly. Draco heard them greeting the people outside that he had yet to see. He shrugged this off, he'd get to see them eventually.

They knocked again. "Mr. Malfoy we know you're in there."

He looked at Rachelann she was just sitting on the couch where Ginny had retreated to, to get out of the way. She was filing her nails. From behind his desk he watched her candidly. "Are you going to get that?"

She looked up from her nail file. "Sir, I'm busy."

He got up and sauntered to the door. "Oh yes I forgot, because in the office world of Rachelann, that's called filing." He placed his hand on the doorknob. "I can handle this." He held his breath as he opened the door.

"Good morn- Dalia?" he said surprised.

She withheld a smile so the two behind couldn't see and spoke with certain arrogance. "Good morning Mr. Malfoy, I trust everything is in order?"

"Yes," he said returning her tone. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"Oh I don't know, perhaps it was your neglect to open the door upon request." She suppressed another smile.

"Hmm, well do come in." He held open the door to her.

She turned to the two men behind her, "Stay here." Then she went inside.

"What are they your bodyguards?" he said, closing the door.

"Manners, they are my assistants." She watched Rachelann as she left the room, "Good morning," she said.

"Morning," Rachelann returned as the door shut.

What, am I not visible? Ginny thought.

As soon as the door clicked the smiles they had been suppressing came out in a spurt of laughter.

"Oh Merlin, how on earth did you end up working for that woman?"

"Well it's nice to see you too," Dalia answered.

"Sorry, how've you been?"

Working for that woman, take a wild guess." They both laughed.

"So you're working for muggles now?" It didn't sound as cruel as Ginny thought it would.

"Yeah, and you're working with them, I thought you hated it here?"

"I did, but it drove my father crazy so what's a guy to do? Why deny him of the thing that drives him insane?"

"Good form." They laughed again.

"Now really how are you working for her?" he said as he showed her a seat. She refused and sat on his desk instead.

"Well, I needed a job."

"You could've come to me."

"Well, I thought you didn't work here anymore."

"I own the place," he pointed out.

"Yeah... well, your four years were over I just thought - look wizarding or otherwise she offered me one ok? Based on my impeccable resume - all true might I add. But as you can imagine, working with her has its limits. I was about to give my two weeks notice when I came across her schedule for the week. Today there was a meeting with this company, with none other than the owner himself. I could not pass up the opportunity."

"Well I of all people am glad you came, I need some sanity around here." He picked out a pencil from his draw and began to play with it idly.

"Speaking of, you do know the reason I came here don't you? Besides her dog, of which I still have not seen but we'll get into that later. The meeting? I trust you remember that it starts in oh, half an hour ago?"

Hmm, same humour, interesting

"I know I'm meant to be late."

"Come again?"

"I hate her." The pencil he had been holding snapped in his hands.

"And?"

"I don't want to work for her anymore."

"Ooh this sounds interesting, why don't you just quit?"

Malfoy looked at her for a while as if she had never said that to him before but he shrugged it off. "I can't, as much as I would love to. She is still my highest paying client. If I was to terminate our contract I wouldn't get full pay only the twenty percent charge of wasted orders."

"Oh." She hopped off the desk quickly; she was acting very unlike herself. "Well um, let's erm, okay I'll go." Draco followed her to the door full of suspicion. "Be in the conference room in ten minutes there is only so far I can cover for you." She undid the latch from the door; it opened ajar before Malfoy shut it immediately.

"What do you know?"

She turned. "Pardon?" she said in a high pitch.

"What do you know? I should have caught on before, you've never told me to quit at anything and you have that look on your face, you could never hide it even at school. You know something, what is it?"

At school? Ginny thought.

She winced a little. "I can't tell you," she said with a concealing look on her face, she was about to crack and she knew it.

"I knew it - Dalia listen to me, now we have been friends for while now-."

"Save the emotional blackmail Malfoy for someone who can be swayed by it. We both know it won't work. Nothing will." He had to admit, she was stronger than she let on. But then again, she was in Slytherin so he had to give her the benefit of the doubt.

"I'll offer you a job," he said smiling mischievously.

***

"Okay the company is trouble, she hasn't let them know but let's just say she's been taking one too many company holidays. Now she needs you to quit because if she terminates the contract first then-."

"Then she doesn't get forty percent of the profit."

"Exactly, now the board itself hates her too because she spends like an ATM machine with diarrhea. But they won't get the sixty percent of the profit unless she pulls out first. Do you see the tension mounting?"

"Definitely, now question is how I get the board on my side?" he said thoughtfully.

"They already are. 'The enemy of mine enemy is my friend.' It's like a conspiracy over there it's fantastic. She's been giving you these unimaginable assignments and orders so that you can give up and quit. Naturally she's a bit peeved when you keep matching the orders to unbelievable deadlines." She smiled.

"As a specimen yes I'm intimidating I know."

"So what, you're missing meetings and losing her pets to piss her off is that it?"

"But neither of us is budging. Ooh a tangled web we weave. So what do I do, I have to figure something out so that either way it goes I have something to fall back on."

"No can do, either way something is going to be lost all you need to do is just try harder to make her quit, losing her dog is a step in the right direction but, you need something bigger."

"Why don't you buy out the boards share? They hate her so much they'd be willing. That way, when you do terminate the contract you would match your twenty percent with forty to spare and she'd get her share of the profit and you both walk away happy. Except, of course for the fact that you'd then own over half of her company." Both of them turned to look at Ginny who had gone back to examining her nails.

Dalia looked at her wondering where on earth she had come from. "Who is she?" she whispered.

"This is Claire Goyle; she'll be staying with me for while."

"Really?" she answered suggestively.

"Until her husband comes back after sorting out his problems."

"Ah," she replied. "Goyle, oh, you're not Gregory's wife are you? Because I heard she looked a lot less, erm... appealing? I don't know, how would you describe it?" She looked at Malfoy.

"She's ugly."

"Ok," she said slowly. "Well that's one way of putting it. But really you're not are you?"

"No," Ginny answered.

"You know, I knew there was a reason I let you stay here but it never occurred to me what it was until just now." Ginny smiled. "Dalia."

"Hmm." She turned from Ginny to look at him in an absentminded way.

"Do you know the numbers for her board members? I'll need you to telephone them for me to put forward my proposal."

Telephone? He had said that earlier today, she still didn't know what it meant.

"Will do boss. Oh today is a good day."

"Yes indeed." He picked up his papers. "Right, I think I am about ready for this meeting now." He followed Dalia to the door and held it open. "Claire are you coming?"

Ginny stood up and followed them outside.

***

The house was a lot larger than he had remembered it. All he had to do now was reach Zacharin without anyone from the rest of the house seeing him. We made his way up the stairs silently, passing the maid on her way down. She was humming lightly, quite pretty actually even when she yawned widely.

He shook his head smiling, dear cousin don't you even give them a break? He thought. Good on you work them until they can't stand, I taught you well.

He walked along the rooms, opening each one. Apparently Draco really liked green, he had spent so much time away that Cyrus barely got to see him anymore. A 'catching up' drink was next on his agenda to organize with his cousin, it was long overdue.

He stopped at one room which seemed to be unlike all the others. Instead of the usual green of the rooms he had seen previously this one stood out with bold reds and gold. It was very beautiful, he then realized that this must be the 'Goddesses room, it was the only excuse for the women's toiletries that stood on the dressing table. Unless there's something Draco isn't telling me. He smiled. Now in search of my father's dear treacherous friend...

***

The drive home was spent mostly in silence. She watched him as he drove with ease like he did it everyday, which he probably did. The little boy in the back seat kept staring at her, he was sweet but that staring thing had to stop.

"How can you drive like that?" she asked him, ignoring the younger boy's eyes.

"Practice I guess, though I am a bit rusty when it comes to these I'm not that used to driving them." He kept his eyes on the road.

"What car are you used to driving?"

"None."

She thought about this for a while, and looked at how he changed the gears effortlessly. She could even say he was better than Harry. He must just be a fast learner, she thought. She looked out at the road watching the ground as they sped past it. They past a sign, 'Broken Bridge road.' She got confused, when she was in his office the night of the party she had seen the map of the village he lived in. There was his estate, a whole lot of forest and then the small town where Daplyn lived. However, on the map the woods surrounded the words 'Ebininus Bridge Woods,' in an old scripture of black ink. Where the embroidered birds flew around in the sky nesting in the trees.

"I thought these woods were called Ebininus Bridge woods?" she commented as the sign past them.

"They were. A few centuries ago these woods were the only way of passage through to the towns that claimed foundation on either side. In the centre on this side I think," he said pointing to his right "is where the bridge was. It was mainly just dirt and rock that formed a bridge over a canyon that lay below really."

"Where the bridge was?" she picked up.

"Yes, some wizard that lived here had it caved in when something or other happened to him, or some woman he liked or whatever - I can't remember the rest of it, it was a long time ago when my father told me it and I wasn't listening anyway." Ginny shifted in her seat at the mention of Lucius Malfoy. He noticed it immediately and apologized.

"It's alright." They sat in silence again and she turned once more to watch the road speed past the car. When she looked ahead again she saw a woman run out of the forest on the left and stop in the centre, she turned toward the car and put out her hands. Ginny looked at Malfoy, he was watching straight ahead but he didn't show any signs of slowing down. Surely he can see her?

"Stop!" she yelled.

He slammed on the brake stopping millimeters from the woman that had placed her hands on his car. "What?" He looked in the back seat to make sure Sebastian was okay, and then in all directions expecting some emergency.

"Are you blind, you didn't see her?" He looked toward the front of the car horrified to have run someone over, but there was nobody there.

"See who?" He looked at her as if she was crazy.

"Her, over there." She pointed toward the woman that had just run across the road; she had taken her hands off the hood of the car and was staring into the glass of the wind shield. Ginny had to squint her eyes a little to see her face, the woman's hair had fallen in front of it in her attempt to avoid the car that refused to stop and let her pass. She had blood on her hands. She raised her head, in the light from the front of the car Ginny could see the tears that stained her cheeks, her deep blue eyes were puffy and red and her jet black hair fell to her sides framing her pale face. She looked straight at Ginny.

Ginny froze watching the features, the blue eyes, pale face surrounded by ebony hair. The woman looked just like her, black hair and all. "What the..." She leaned forward to see her better but nothing confirmed her doubts.

The woman looked at Ginny and then turned to look in the direction she had come from. She pointed and said something that Ginny couldn't hear but from what she could read it looked like, "They're after you." Then she looked at Draco. For a split second she looked shocked, but then she smiled.

All of a sudden she looked back towards the woods, but this time in the direction she was going and sprinted off.

"Claire, Claire! Weasley! Can you hear me?" Draco was near shaking her to get her to hear him. What the hell is she looking at? He looked in the back seat; Sebastian was doing a good job of ignoring the both of them.

"Who's after me?" She opened the door to the car and ran around the front looking to see if she could spot where the woman had run off to. The woods were so dark and she had run into them as if she belonged there and she hadn't faltered or hesitated at all before running into them. A large wave of déjà vu overcame her as the woman disappeared into the trees, she had dreamt this.

She could hear them behind her; suddenly there was road in front of her. Quickly, she ran across and entered the other side without fault. She had created these woods years ago she knew them as the back of her hand; they would never be able to track her there.

Running across a road form one forest to another with someone chasing her. Every night it had ended before she had a chance to see what happened to her, and maybe now she would.

"What? Where are you going? Weasley come back!" What the hell is wrong with her? He stuck his head back inside the car. "Sebastian wait here, do not go outside and lock all of these doors do you hear me?" he told the boy.

He shrugged indifferently, "okay." Draco ran after her.

The sun was setting and she was running into Broken Bridge Woods, the darkest woods in the country even in the day. He took out his wand and sauntered after her. The woods grew denser as the sun set slowly behind causing long shadows about the ground. At each side of them the trees seemed to stretch for miles, the darkness loomed from every trunk. They twisted into strange shapes that seemed to glisten in the darkness. It was strange as there was no light to glisten off of, but this was a forest full of magic and being centuries old meant it was in league with the forbidden forest. Many things that they had not heard of could be in here, watching them through the darkness of the trees. Though they could not see anything in this absence of light, being born in darkness meant you had an inclination to adapt to it. The only light that seemed to linger was from Draco's wand, not that it did very much as the darkness appeared to surround it and kill it before the light had a chance to shine.

"Why did I even bother to light it?" Draco asked himself.

"What?" Ginny said distracted.

"Never mind," he said quickly. "You know if you didn't seem to be loved my most of my household I would just leave you here."

"Oh, and risk being pummeled by your maid?" she replied with a mirthful laugh.

He looked at her as he walked closely behind; even though he couldn't see her very well he could tell that her face was set. She was looking for something. "If that's what it takes..." he said quietly, then louder, "What are we looking for?"

"Not what, who." The leaves squelched under her feet.

"Okay," he said slowly, "who are we looking for?"

Me, she thought. "The woman that jumped in front of your car, she ran in here."

"Yes that was another thing I wanted to ask you, why did I have to leave my car in the middle of the road with a little boy to run after you? And don't tell me it's because of the woman I almost ran over because I didn't run over anything, not even a deer." He spoke as if he really didn't see anything, but that was impossible Ginny was certain that someone had run in front of that car, even if there was no visible sign of them now.

She stopped to look at him and then realized that she couldn't see him very well even if she did. This was good, as he couldn't see the desperate searching look she had on her face, she was so freaked out at how much this seemed like her dream. She stared in every direction, trying to adjust her eyes to the darkness. If she wasn't mistaken this was near where it had ended. The sun had now completely set and the light from Malfoy's wand wasn't helping at all, illuminating just a few centimeters around his hand wasn't enough.

"I swear I saw her run this way," she wasn't really listening to him.

"The woman?" she heard, he sounded a tad mordant.

"Yes," she said.

"That ran in front of my car?" Yes, it was definitely sarcasm.

"Yes."

"And... who I didn't see?" It was amazing how when he said it that way he made it sound so ridiculous.

She allowed herself to fall backwards against the tree behind her breathing in deeply and exhaling on her answer, "I suppose."

"Well, can you see her at all? If you can see anything in here that is." She couldn't see his face, but the wand that was moving around displaying the actions his hands would have taken was all she needed to know that he was demonstrating the darkness she had led them into.

"No," she breathed again, thoroughly fed-up.

"Okay then, can we go now?" The wand pointed in the direction they had come from.

"Yeah, let's go." She rolled her cheek on the tree trunk to raise herself up. The trunk was wet; she wiped her face with her hands. When she rubbed her hands together it was sticky. "Urgh, tree sap, figures I would lean against tree sap." She pried her hands apart and walked with them to either side of her, careful not to get it on her dress.

As they approached the exit to the woods, it seemed that they were mistaken; the sun had not directly set. The softly lit horizon welcomed them back onto the road. Ginny suddenly thought of something. The woman had blood on her hands, and when Draco stopped she had taken her hands off of the hood of his car. She ran to it on the road, but there wasn't anything there.

What is wrong with her? Now she's running to the car, very strange girl she is.

After making sure Sebastian was still in the car he watched her as she rounded the car to look at the bonnet, he noticed something on her face. He squinted, since when was tree sap red?

"Claire, what is that on your face?" She looked up at him, her face changing from interest to an obvious look, as if this was the thousandth time she had told him.

"I already made it clear didn't I? Why do you always feel the need to embarrass me even more than you need to?" There was a hint of past experience in her tone. But that was for another time. "It's tree sap."

"Since when has tree sap been red?" She touched her face, and then she looked down at her hands. The substance she had thought was sap, that she had rub off of her face, that she had smeared into her hands. Blood. She screamed and Draco ran over to her.

"Where did it come from?" he asked as he rushed over to her.

She looked up at him, tears beginning to fill her eyes. "I don't -" Then she looked into the trees once more, almost as if she had remembered something. She closed her eyes; her voice broke down to a whisper.

She ran through the woods, looking for something anything to hide in or behind. They were all after her, she had killed the guard, and there were witnesses. There was only one person that could help with this, and it was the same man that had cause her to kill him in the first place. She could hear them behind her, suddenly there was road quickly she ran across and entered the other side without fault. She had created these woods years ago she knew them as the back of her hand; they would never be able to track her there. But being mortal had its drawbacks as she had discovered already, but apart from that, she always seemed to be out of breath. She leaned against a tree to catch her breath, both hands on the trunk...

"The trunk," she whispered, unaware that she was thinking aloud. The same trunk that she had leaned against. That proved it was real, that she wasn't crazy. And the proof was all over her hands, and her face.

"What trunk? The trunk of the tree? Why was it covered in blood, and why on earth did you lean against it if you knew there was blood on it?"

"I didn't know that there was blood on it you twerp, if I did why would I call it tree sap?" She let out a small distressing laugh. "Idiot," she hissed quietly.

"I would be very careful who you call an idiot Goyle before I leave you out here. Now clean yourself up before you get back into my car because there will be no blood in my car again it's a night mare to get washed by the house elves as they're very squeamish. Plus I don't think it's a very reassuring look to sport in front of a six year old."

Again? She thought while summoning her wand, she muttered a spell to get rid of the blood. Not that it made her feel any cleaner. She got back into the car and he drove them back to the manor, the question still lingering in her head, until a voice broke her thoughts.

'He's after you' it said, before disappearing as quickly as it had come. She looked around on the road, but there was nothing there.

***

He held onto the wall. The darkened color allowing him not to work too hard with his more useful gift, something he was not aware could just click into place when he needed it most. His father's 'Little Goddess,' walked past him to her room, she had just come from the bathroom. He had no idea why he had not moved since she entered it, he was just curious toward her and how she could turn his father into someone he just couldn't know anymore.

There was something else; he sensed to some extent that he knew her. But not from his father, of course 'The Little Goddess' looked a great deal like all the sketches he had seen... but there was something that he knew personally about her that he could not pinpoint. He stared for some while as she approached her door, the elegant figure walking extremely careful so as not to make noise was so familiar to him. He followed her making silent footsteps along the polished stone floor. Not noticing that she had stopped at her door, hand pausing over the golden knob darkened from the night. She turned and looked behind her sensing an alien body about her. Cyrus froze as a hand searched for an apparent invisible stalker but she saw nothing, and felt nothing. Then her eyes darted around her, she began to feel very insecure.

"Who's there?" she asked, backing up slowly to her door.

Cyrus witnessed the fact that she obviously could not see him. He approached her carefully so as not to give away his location, placing his hand on the doorframe. The fear that she was feeling emanated off of her. He soaked it in, bathing in it feeling... at home? He knew her. Wanted her for himself, no one else but himself. He knew that terror in her eyes, the way they roamed wildly when she was nervous to her surroundings. Dousing him with her need to feel safe, he could feel it radiating off of her being. Now inches away from her face, he knew she could feel his breathing hot on her neck. He couldn't help it she brought back to him so many things, thoughts and feelings he had kept hidden from view since... no it couldn't be, could it? He looked deep into her eyes and saw those same blue eyes he had come to know so well, realizing why his father had refused to reveal his 'maiden's' real name.

"Virginia," he whispered to himself.

He tried to hold onto her before she ran away screaming but it was too late and she was too fast for him, the shock of it all slowed him down and before he knew it she was already out of sight.

***

Draco walked into his office to find Altair asleep at his office desk. She had obviously been cleaning the room because the desk was spotless; all the books were back in their place. It was almost immaculate subject the heap of tiredness in its centerpiece. He knew that she had been tired that morning but he'd had no idea that she was sleeping on the job.

"Ahem," he coughed rather dramatically. Altair's head snapped up at the sound of someone's voice and half smiled, unaware of the strands of hair that clung to the side of her face that she was sleeping on.

"Oh hey." She began feeling a twitch of embarrassment. "I was just erm..." she drifted off, looking around for a feasible explanation.

"Sleeping," Draco pointed out sympathetically.

"Sorry," she replied sheepishly

"Dont be it's your own fault for not taking a break, I dont want to think about what would happen to you if you had Astie here too."

Altair looked down at her watch but it had stopped at ten forty-two. "What time is it?" she said worried. Draco knew why. She was supposed to pick up Sebastian at midday to go shopping, when he had gotten back to Daplyn's café he had seen him playing. Lyn said that Altair didn't come by and that she had sent an owl to her but it had come back with the letter still in tact. He had driven a little faster because of that because he was worried but Weasley's little episode put him back a few minutes to say the least.

"Sometime in the evening," he replied off the top of his head but he was still watching her at the corner of his eye to see the reaction of his words.

"How long have I been asleep?" she said shocked

Draco looked at her and smiled pointing behind him "There's a calendar on the wall."

"Draco." She placed her hands firmly on the table and glared at him, a familiar sign that she was not to be played with.

"It's about half eight."

"Oh Merlin."

"What?"

"I was meant to go and get Sebastian at noon."

"Oh well," he shrugged.

Altair looked at him as if mortified but then soon after realised what he was up to. "Don't scare me like that you know how I feel when I forget things that important."

"You didn't forget Altair you fell asleep. Besides he more or less forgot about you first he was too busy playing I almost didn't see him in the back kitchen."

"Where is he now, is he here?"

"He's in his room."

There was silence, and then Altair got up to leave brushing dust off of her dress as she rose and made her way to the mirror above the fireplace.

Draco watched her shadow as she passed him, sensing his eyes she said. "What is it now?"

"Can I give you some advice?"

"You mean besides get some rest?" She was now watching him through the mirror while fixing her hair.

"Fine," Draco answered to her. "But don't come to me the next time you pass out in the sink."

"Dont worry Draco," she started, facing him. "I wouldn't come to you even if I passed out in the fireplace." She turned to leave and opened the door.