When Everything Breaks

CHAPTER SIX - BEYOND THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD

Ginny kicked out violently when she had focused in the gloom on those trademark grey eyes. She caught Draco on the shoulder with one booted foot and he toppled backwards.

"I'm here to help you!" he whispered loudly as he lifted his hands to shield himself.

"What the Hell are you talking about?" She punctuated her question with a sharp open-handed slap.

"Keep your voice down." He looked quickly back over his shoulder. "I'm trying to help you."

"Why would you help me?"

"Because I thought it might be the right thing to do." She stopped and gaped at him, he chuckled.

"Why should I trust you?"

"What other choice do you have?"

"Look, I don't know where Harry is. I've told you already. I wasn't lying."

"That's not what I want, I couldn't give hippogrff's ass about Potter and his pathetic army."

"How could I possibly trust you, after what you've done?"

"Well I certainly didn't use a key to get that door open!" It was then that she noticed the doorway behind him, hissing and smoldering.

"That doesn't prove anything."

"Ginny look, I know this doesn't look good. But if you really don't know where Harry is, and I don't care if you do, then there's nothing to worry about. I'll get you out, and safe, and that'll be the end."

"But how..." He waved away her question with a flick of his hand.

"Don't ask," he said. Because I don't know, he added thoughtfully.

"You don't know, do you?" He looked her in the eye, and she raised an eyebrow enquiringly.

"Did I say that out loud?" She laughed quietly, and then looked up at him seriously.

"Do you even have a plan?"

"I stole you a wand," he replied hopefully.

"Is it mine?"

"No, but personalised wands are overrated." A sense of humour, who would have guessed, she thought randomly as she stood from her uncomfortable bed and threw aside the thin blanket.

And so they ran, through the dust and shadow. Hallway after hallway, and turn after turn. Draco stopped and looked around nervously.

"Please tell me you know exactly where we are," Ginny said shakily.

"I could say that, but I would be lying," Draco replied as he pulled her towards him against the wall.

"Great, so much for your plan then." He could feel her shaky breath lightly on his neck as she clung to him.

"You forget, I had no plan."

"I suppose apparating is out of the question?" she asked.

"No wards, but there are tracking charms."

"So we can apparate. Somewhere that we could confuse our direction once we get there. Or the Ministry?" He looked at her, hoping she wasn't that naïve. She was.

"Ginny, the Ministry's no good," he said softly.

"But," she stammered, "I work at the Ministry."

"Well, not all but a good few. I mean, I work at the Ministry too." She looked at him thoughtfully.

"You do?"

"Yes. Now, we can apparate but I don't know where." She scratched at the back of her neck thoughtfully.

"A train station?&dquo; she asked. "A busy one. That way, we can catch the next train to who knows where." Draco looked at her skeptically.

"A train station?"

"Yes Draco." He liked the way she said his name. Stop it, and focus, he scolded himself, a train station?

"What? Like King's Cross?"

"I was thinking more the London Underground."

"Why would we apparate underground?" He spun his head as a noise echoed in the distance. Ginny moved closer to him and gripped his loose clothing.

"Never mind, let's just go. Clear your mind." She touched his bare skin with her hands.

"You're not going to do what I think, are you?"

"No?" she replied and they disappeared.

"Why did you do that, we could have been spliced!" Draco yelled as they emerged from behind a sign proclaiming that they were currently at the Liverpool Street Station along the London Underground.

"But we weren't," Ginny answered.

"We could've been."

"We weren't!" There was a rumble and Draco looked down the railway line to see the approaching train.

"Train's coming," he said stupidly.

"I can see that."

"So we just get on? No matter where it's going?"

"You have a better idea?"

"No."

"So let's go, before they follow us." She grabbed Draco's arm and stepped forward as the train drew to a stop in front of them.

They got on the train and slumped down into an empty seat, and as it sped away they heard the telltale pop of an apparating wizard.

"Did you hear that?" Ginny asked, once again clinging to Draco's shirt.

"Yes, but it was on the platform. It's okay." He even convinced himself. Draco expected the train to be halted and hooded figures to embark upon them, but no such thing occurred. Ten minutes later Draco opened his eyes and saw only the other passengers, trying to ignore the weeping red-head and her cloaked companion.

He put his arms around her to stop her crying and she leaned against him. He could smell her hair, dirty and knotted, but still with a hint of strawberry. Energy seeped from her and she fell into a fitful sleep encircled in Draco's arms.

She was in a hole; darkness encroached upon her and mocked her. She looked up and saw a patch of light she could never reach. She stood stock-still, afraid to step into the darkness, and peered around critically.

"Ginny, take my hand." She looked up again and saw Harry leaning over the light.

"No Ginny, come this way." She spun around, used to that familiar voice by now.

"Draco?" she asked.

"Yes, trust me and follow." She looked up and saw her childhood sweetheart in the light, and felt Draco move beside her in the dark. He reached out and took her hand; she entwined her fingers with his and continued to watch Harry wait for her.

"Ginny, take my hand," he repeated. She stayed still.

"You didn't come for me."

"I've come for you now."

"But it's too late Harry, it's too late." She turned as Draco led her into the shadow and slowly followed him.

Ginny moaned in her sleep and Draco stoked her face. So strong and yet so weak, he thought, knowing they had been lucky and seeing that she was exhausted and afraid.

Ginny woke soon after; she squinted against the halogen lights within the train. She inhaled and noticed Draco's scent, lightly masking the smell of his sweaty skin. She leaned away from him and looked up into his sparkling grey eyes.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"For what?" he replied. Suddenly Draco pulled his arm sharply from her and she jumped away from him with a start.

"What is it? Is it him?"

"It's nothing," he said through gritted teeth.

"Nothing? I think I need to know if he is summoning his people Draco," she said, tears welling in the corners of her eyes that she refused to let fall. He still liked the way she said his name.

"What's the point in you knowing he's calling, if I cannot answer?" Draco asked angrily.

"As far as he's concerned you're still in the Manor though right? You didn't apparate, I did," she replied carefully. Draco ignored the urge to again tell her they could have been spliced.

"You're right, but I'm not leaving you. And besides, if they decided to use Veritaserum for any reason I would simply tell them everything."

"But I could keep moving, then you wouldn't know where I was."

"And, if by some miracle, I survived after I told them it was me who set you free, how would I then find you?"

"Do you want to find me?" He stiffened.

"The war is about to start, you will be at the top of his list. If he can't get to Harry, he will do his best to get to you. Probably your brother and the Mud-I mean Granger as well. I feel it's best to get you where you can be taken care off." She scoffed. Who does he think I am, she thought, offended.

The train pulled to a stop, after 20 minutes of silence between them. Silence where Draco studied every line on her face, and Ginny studied the colour of his shoes. He stood and held his hand out, she took it and did not let it go as they left the train and began walking briskly through the station.

"So what now?" Ginny asked.

"This was your plan, you tell me."

"My plan? Since when..." She flinched. "Oh yeah. How long does the tracking charm track us?"

"I'm not sure, but I think safe is better than sorry." Ginny laughed.

"I think the correct saying is 'better safe than sorry'." Draco was not amused, but was glad she found it so funny. Wait that was a lie, he was lying to himself now, he was angry. She stopped. "Never mind," she said softly.

"I wont," he replied stonily.

They stood in silence; Draco glared out into the early afternoon traffic. Their hands were still clasped together and Ginny was glad of the continued comfort even if it was not so intended by the giver.

"So, the Ministry is out. Where now?" she finally asked.

"Doesn't the famous Potter have a headquarters?" Draco asked with distinct scorn.

"Well yes, but they won't let you in." Draco's brow furrowed in confusion.

"They won't need to let me in, I can take care of myself."

"As can I Draco, and I'm not going anywhere without you." Draco glanced at her, his brow still furrowed.