Four eyes watched a light bulb zooming at them when angry slapping feet came around the corner, accompanied by the clacking of shoes. The light stopped right in front of his face and became red, flashing very fast.
“You!”, with the shout, the ball vanished and left the corridor cast in darkness, until a light flared up at the tip of her wand. “Explain yourself!”
“Draco, please go. This might not end beautiful.”, Severus said quietly to him.
“What did you do?”
“Why did you change the password to the Gryffindor tower?”, she bellowed.
“You did what?”, Draco chuckled.
“Just go.”
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, no.”
“Draco – ”
“What is the point in this?”, she stomped to halt in front of him, who had placed himself between them, his fists to his sides, crumpling the napkin in one.
“Sorry.”, Ginny stopped at her right, mumbling. “I had to tell her. Didn’t expect her to – ”
“Get out of my way, Mr Malfoy. You have no idea, what you are defending there.”
“Oh, I do!”, Draco snapped, making her blink; nevertheless she composed herself.
“Take Miss Weasley here and bring her to the main staircase. You will wait there for me.”, she said, thin-lipped again.
“If you have to say something to him, Professor, you can say it to me as well.”
“Don’t be silly, Mr Malfoy. This here is none of your business.”
“It is, Ma’am.”
“Draco,”, Severus said softly, “Do as she says.”
“But – ”, he turned in protest.
“Save your courage for more dramatic situations, if you please.”, he shortly nodded to the side, making it clear to him that he wouldn’t stand a chance against the bidding of two authorities.
“Good luck, Sir.”, Ginny again mumbled to the Headmaster and grabbed a surprised Draco’s arm, pulling him away into the darkness.
The lightning storm outside allowed them occasional short glimpses on their surrounding, though made the corridors a little more dark after. Halfway in the next corridor, Draco managed to free himself from her grip. In silence, they rushed through the ground floor and finally reached the marble staircase, minutes later, but not alone. Quick as she was, Ginny stretched out her arm to keep Draco behind the corner.
In the shine from the empty Great Hall, two men had a conversation. One very round, the other very small.
“He’s been pushing many things over the limits, but this is going beyond my wits.”, the small man grunted.
“Yes, yes. The poor boy’s fallen deep. He used to be so great – so very much like his mother – and then he made so many wrong choices. So terribly wrong. Just like his dear friend Lucius.”, the round moaned.
“You tell me, Horace.”
“Horse – ”, Draco aspirated, peeking around the corner over Ginny’s head. “Dad! You – ”
“What?”, she hissed quiet.
“Forget it.”, he shushed her.
“We both have seen them grow up and you can’t deny, Malfoy’s always been a little twisted. But I thought, with Lily at his side, Severus would have found the way to the light. But no, now we have it. Rotten. All rotten.”
“Yes. I keep asking myself, if she hadn’t married – ”
“Good evening, Professors.”, Draco said aloud, making them jump.
“Draco!”, Ginny spat. “Are you bonkers?”
“It might interest you that your conversation is no longer private.”, he stepped around Ginny and further into the light.
“Draco m’boy!”, Slughorn’s awkward, panicking smile greeted him. “What’re you doing here? You should be – ”
“Right here, Sir. I’m still a Prefect, if you remember, and I felt the need to give a new one some advice.”
“Miss Weasley?”, he squinted at the corner. “But now, you two should really go to your Houses. C’mon, Draco, I’ll bring you down. Filius, please bring – ”
“No, thank you, Sir. I am to wait here for Professor McGonagall.”
“Is that so, dear?”, Slughorn chuckled.
“Yes.”, she confirmed stiffly.
“Well, then Filius, please wait here with her so I can escort young Mr Malfoy.”
“I know the way to the Dungeons, Professor.”, Draco grunted.
“But you also heard our new Headmaster – ”
“Who will take care of the matter himself.”, both Ginny and Draco rushed around to the black figure that had approached them noiselessly from behind; Slughorn blinked at the pale face, being the only part of him clearly visible in the dim light. “Draco, follow me.”
“I don’t know what she said to you, but we are not done yet.”, Ginny hissed so quietly through her teeth that only the one it was meant for, heard it. “You hear me?”, he just blew a snort through his nostrils when walking past her and laid his hand on Draco’s back then, pushing him all the way to the underground spiral staircase, out of sight.
“As lost as his father.”, Slughorn sighed flabbily. “All the time we spent on ’em, in vain.”
“What did he want from you, Miss Weasley?”, Flitwick asked, slightly concerned.
“Just talk.”, she said shortly. “After all, we are still allowed to, aren’t we?”
“That is right. So right. I too wish to know what’s going on in his brain.”
“A lot more than you might think, Sir.”, that made the two Professors a little curious. “I mean, he’s not stupid, that much is clear.”
There was the shuffling sound of slippers on stone floor. A tiny blue shine came around a corner in the corridor Ginny still stood in. The wand hand dangled lifelessly at her side. More and more stepping into the light from the Great Hall, it became obvious that she had cried. Her mouth stood slightly open when she looked around to see who was there. Her big green eyes bore nothing short of blank emptiness.
“Where is – ?”, she whispered hollow, her lips barely moving.
“He brought him to the Dungeons.”, Ginny moaned.
“He? He came along?”
“Yes, Madam. What happened?”
“Nothing.”, the way her gaze drifted around, Ginny couldn’t help but feeling hurt. “He just – said – `If you failed to open your eyes, I cannot help you anymore´ and walked away – “, Ginny bit her lips.
“Professor – shall I bring you back to your bedroom?”
“No, no, Miss Weasley – I said I will – ”
“No, really, Professor, you don’t look like you should wander the castle alone.”, she carefully reached under the teacher’s left arm and supported her upstairs, Slughorn following after having waved Flitwick goodnight.
~~#~~
Earlier than the others, Draco raised from his seat near the podium and walked along it, towards the middle corridor. Padma Patil did the same, mirroring him. Deeply in thoughts and his face to the floor, he didn’t see her coming towards him from the entrance, three more girls getting up and joining her. Just when he nearly walked into the wall in mid-hall, he startled, halted and looked at the four who blocked the corridor with crossed arms. Both Ginny and Luna were alarmed. Everyone else watched as well as he stared from one girl to the other.
“Well, look who we have here.”, Padma sneered. “If that isn’t the coward himself. How come, you curse Katie and poison Ron but can’t pluck up enough courage to actually kill Dumbledore?”
“Get out of my way.”, Draco mumbled.
“What else does he have to do for you?”, Hannah continued. “Bind your shoelaces?”, she pointed down and Draco noticed with a grunt that one of them was actually loose.
“There are rumours.”, Susan continued when Draco ignored the lace with a murderous look at the girls. “They say there’s been a breakout from Azkaban. Now, is your Daddy out, is he? How’s Mummy now? Not too fine, I hear?”
Ginny, a shining Prefect’s badge on her tie, was on her feet, her wand at him as he raised his straight at Susan’s chest. Panic in her eyes, Susan didn’t even notice Ginny.
“Put your wand down, Draco.”, Ginny hissed. “You’re a Prefect.”
“So are you.”, he countered; each of them ignored the woman who walked into their direction.
“And so are Padma and Hannah. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
“Well, he’s already done something he should regret.”, Parvati murmured.
“Is there a problem?”, Alecto Carrow had reached them and drawn her wand as well, balancing it lustily between two fingers with the broad grin she had already demonstrated on the previous evening; Draco spun around, still holding out his own wand. “Now don’t be a stupid boy, Draco. Put down your wand.”, pouting, he did as ordered. “You as well, girl.”, Ginny however, refused. “Are you deaf?”
“There is not a problem, Professor, that could be of your interest. We only have a private little chat here. You do well to walk on. It would be a shame if you came late for your first lesson.”
“Cheeky, aren’t we? Well, still you might have heard the Headmaster. Hasn’t he clearly said yesterday, that wands aren’t allowed outside class?”
“He has named some exceptions. I am a Prefect, if you should have missed that little detail. We are allowed to command students, whatever it may take to do so.”
“Well, well, well. Maybe you should come with me, Missy. Right on top of my timetable today, are the sixth-years. I believe, that’s your class, isn’t it?”
“I don’t have to put up with something so low as to study Muggles. There is nothing there which would be worth studying.”, she finally lowered her wand.
“Nevertheless, you are well advised to – ”
“Maybe you remember her words, Professor.”, Luna arrived at the row of girls from behind, making them all turn in shock and the wall divide in the middle. “The Headmaster might really not be pleased, if you miss your first class. I can show you the way, if you should have difficulties to find it, Madam.”
“No, thank you.”, Alecto snapped and stormed past them all.
“Luna – that was – ”, Padma aspirated.
“Oh well, it’s got some advantages if everyone thinks you’re loopy. They fear I might gravely hex them if they don’t avoid me.”, she smiled. “And anyway, that’s for you.”, she gave Hannah one of the two letters she held in hands, as well as a little very colourful box and walked other over to Draco with the other letter.
“What’s that?”, he frowned at it.
“They are a little late than normally, but the decisions have been made yesterday. So, it seems, I’m your owl, tu-whit tu-whoo! You two should try to become something like friends, you see?”, she winked. “And Happy Birthday, Hannah.”
“What – ”, said could only stare at her and the pentagonal parcel in turns.
“If you need anything, Ginny, I’ll be feeding crows.”
“You’re not willing to take Muggle Studies either?”
“Oh no, I think I know enough about them to refuse.”
Luna smiled and left the hall, hopping like usual. In that moment, Ginny noticed something entirely black gliding through between the Slytherin and Hufflepuff table. Before he could place another foot on the stone floor, she hurried after Luna. At a fast pace she overtook him, not looking at him until she was in the doorway where she turned, dropped her bag to her right and stood as still as a stone statue, her arms by her sides and her eyes; not far from fury; piercing into his as he approached her.
“What is this supposed to be when you are done with it?”, he stopped less than a yard away, looking down on her, his expression blank.
“The students want answers, Sir.”, she spoke, not loud though, so not too many people would hear her, although those in vicinity tried hard to listen.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. They keep wondering why you held the sorting like usual.”
“Should I not have?”
“I don’t know – some think, you exaggerated a bit. Letting Professor McGonagall light the fires without torturing her – a bit off the mood, isn’t it, Sir?”
“I have no idea what you are trying to play at.”
“Oh well, but she’s been crying, if that rings a bell.”, no reply. “What’s it like? To sit in that chair?”
“Not as comfortable as you might think.”
“That pleases me to hear.”, she murmured arrogant.
“The cushion is worn off.”
“The – ”, her eyes narrowed and her mouth gaped.
“As noble as your intentions as well may be, Miss Weasley, there are some things that are better accepted the way they are. Surely one of your friends has told you.”
“Yeah.”, she lowered her voice so much that really nobody but him could hear her, her lips barely moving. “Like that it doesn’t matter how often and to what you will change the password, she won’t return to say it.”
“That does not matter to me.”, he whispered too.
“I see – when have you stopped loving her?”
“Do not speak about things you don’t understand.”
“I might not. But it’s incredible how far she got me to accept things, if we already talk about that. Even murder.”, Ginny hissed. “Though you should begin to accept that she might not come back to ride away your sorrows.”
The following moment sought the breath out of everyone’s lungs in the hall. Students and teachers gasped alike. There was a clattering sound when her wand slid from her grip and people were rising to confirm whether it had actually happened. Ginny leant against the huge doorframe she had toppled over to, panting heavily and holding her left cheek.
That plan had backfired, literally. His hand was still up when her staring eyes could somewhat focus him again. He slightly contorted his fingers to a half fist, dropped it slackly. Her momentarily blurred view made it impossible for her to perceive his expression though. McGonagall was on her feet, hurrying towards them, her wand in hand. She already rushed past the perplexed students in the middle of the hall when he took a deep breath and hurried to the marble stairs and upward.
“No!”, Ginny aspirated, reaching out to stop her Head of House. “No!”, she repeated, a little louder. “No, Professor.”
“Miss Weasley!”, she had grabbed the teacher’s wrist.
“It was my fault, Madam.”
“Pardon?”, Ginny nodded slackly to emphasise it.
“I said something I shouldn’t have. I deserve every bit of pain.”
“Do you, by any means, hear how silly that sounds?”
“Not at all.”
“And what the hell did you say?”, Draco had reached them.
“That’s none of your business.”, Ginny huffed, straightened, picked up her wand and bag and, too, marched towards the main staircase.
“Where are you going, Miss Weasley?”, McGonagall peeked after her.
“Feeding crows!”, she grumbled without looking back and sprinted upstairs.
“Incredible.”, McGonagall sighed and shook her head. “Mr Malfoy? I take it, your are done with your breakfast and have all things you need with you?”, she nodded at the bag.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Then you might already come with me to class. I’m afraid, I am done with breakfast as well.”
“Er – sorry, Professor.”
“Excuse me?”
“Exactly. I can’t take your class today. Or at least not all of it. I need to have a word with the Headmaster.”
“Oh I am sure, you are not the right person in this case, as wondrously caring you seem to have become about Miss Weasley.”
“You don’t understand, Professor. This is personal.”
“Perhaps, whatever. But – ”
“You don’t understand. This is about me.”, he shook the torn open letter in front of her, a little careful though, so that the little object in it wouldn’t jump out.
“What is this, Mr Malfoy?”
“As I say, Ma’am, it’s personal. If you excuse me,”, at a smart pace, he left the hall for the stairs as well, Hannah; who had opened her letter likewise; stomped after him.
~~#~~
“What did she say?”, Draco urged at his back, the door behind himself, still open.
“That is between me and her.”
“We’re friends!”
“I said, it is private.”
“You know, you can tell me everything.”
“No.”
“You can!”
“No.”
“Goddamned, look at me, when I talk to you!”
“Why. I know what you look like, when you are upset. There is no need for me to – ”
“Look at me!”
“A bit louder, if you may,”, he murmured when Hannah stomped in, not closing the door either, but jumping as it shut on its own. “Not everyone has heard it yet.”
“And honestly? Head Boy? What’s this rubbish?”
“I only took your request into account.”, above him, behind the desk, a painted Albus Dumbledore leaned lazily against his own hand, elbow on the armrest of his chair and gazed into space, utmost bored.
“My request?”
“You said, you don’t want to be a Prefect anymore.”
“What?”, Draco hissed. “Don’t – don’t you dare to laugh, now!”, he had heard the huffing smirk that had escaped him.
“I don’t laugh.”, it was gone, back to sadness.
“Then look at me and show it!”, the boy raged, his envelope with the notice crushed in his fist.
“Remarkable.”, the portrait of Dumbledore sang, his eyes still not on the scene below. “How very different human beings can develop, and yet, bring out characteristics alike. Or is it the position? This office, perhaps? The age? Be prepared to find yourself in a brash, Severus.”
“What the heck’s he talking about?”
“Rather like him, I did apologise.”
“Very late, but yes. And I may repeat myself, restoring the office was the least effort. Both times.”
“WHAT?”, Draco barked again. “You look at me right now and tell me what this crap’s about!”
“I am not your father.”
“WHAT?”
“I said, I am not your father. There is no need to yell at me.”
“How very much alike indeed, I see. And it surprises me that I hadn’t seen it earlier. That I needed you to tell me – to make me even consider the possibility – to notice the facts that had laid so openly in front of my eyes.”, he paused, “It is only strange, that he has become a bit like him as well. What is it, I wonder again? Is it the care of – a father? Methods so different, and nevertheless resulting in the same?”
“Drop it.”, Severus grumbled and half turned, his left hand on the desktop – he rather preferred to face the students than the remains of his mentor now.
“Oh finally! I have no idea what he’s babbling about and I actually don’t care – ”
“Suddenly?”
“Shut it, yeah? And you know that this isn’t mandatory!”, he shook the envelope. “I can still refuse! I don’t have to accept your decision!”
“I am Headmaster now, Draco. Some things have changed.”
“You don’t really believe what you say, do you?”, Draco murmured.
“And what is it that you have to complain about?”, he boredly raised his left eyebrow and directed his look on Hannah in mid-sentence.
“Well, Sir, practically I’m still in my sixth year. I can’t be Head Girl.”
“Have you taken a look at your timetable this morning? No? Because if you had, you would have noticed that all of your teachers agreed that your results in the O.W.L.s; even though you had seemed to be far from succeeding in first place; were sufficient to skip and graduate this year already. If you though believe, that you cannot pass your N.E.W.T.s and be Head Girl at the same time after a year of absence, you may of course continue your sixth year and therefore act as an exception. You see, neither of you will get around accepting my word.”
“Why me? There are enough girls in the seventh year left.”
“Only half of them merely possess your enthusiasm.”
“So that’s it, Sir? Well, the Patil twins are very enthusiastic as well.”
“No, that’s not it. And yes, they are, but their many qualities are not those I seek for.”
“I don’t have any qualities at all, Sir.”
“I ever admired how humble you are. You have indeed many qualities, Hannah.”, she frowned at the unexpected address. “And if it takes you another year to find out that you simply need to believe in yourself.”, now her brows narrowed and she blinked twice. “You will be a far better Head Girl than any of the others in your year. With this, I mean the seventh. Because, if you decided to do the sixth year, I could put any other sixth-year girl in this position as well, opening the way for two very able persons.”
“And what if I don’t want to do it? What if I don’t want to work together with someone like him?”, she pointed ferociously at Draco. “Or if I don’t want to follow orders of someone like you? I know exactly what you are!”, her voice became louder and more hysterical with every word. “It’s all there! All the proof! You don’t even need to bare your arm! I know you belong to THEM! I refuse to take orders from you!”, she cried. “People like you have murdered my mother! You – ”
“And Aurors have raped my father!”, Draco cut off her next sentence.
Silence. Finally, Dumbledore turned his head to him – and saw what only Severus had seen until then. The door had been pushed open and a ginger stood in the frame, as perplexed as the other portraits of former Headmasters and Headmistresses. Her left cheek was bright red and swollen.
“Leave us alone.”, hollow words, his face straight at Ginny. “All of you. Yes, you as well Albus. This is a little bit too private. Even for you.”, sighing, he joined his protesting predecessors that were muttering out to different canvases of the castle, pushing Phineas; who wanted some last glimpses; out of his frame into nowhere before he left the office like the others.
“What?”, Ginny moaned faintly and her colleagues rushed around, both mirroring sheer horror. “Is that – is that true?”, she stepped inside and closed the door. “Draco – I – ”, but he only lowered his head, squinting and pressing his lips shut.
Toddling a little, Severus let go of the desk and slowly walked down to him. Two gentle arms were wrapped around the quiet weeping young man; hands stroking him. Even Hannah’s fury was gone at the sight. Severus leaned his head against Draco’s and pulled him closer, the growing sadness on his face resembled the looks of the two girls, only deeper and more desperate.
“Hannah, my decision is final. I count on you. I – believe in you. Ginevra – ”, the way he pronounced her name made her falter for some seconds.
“I – I’m sorry – ”
“No. I am.”
“I shouldn’t have – ”
“Nor should I. We both made mistakes. We’re square. Listen, I want you to rebuild the Army. Minerva’s on your side. She will help. Stay underground. Stand together, ready any time. But be inconspicuous. Go to your lessons, all of you. Stick to the rules. School rules, as well as – ”
“The rule.”, she nodded.
“You may let Hannah into the plan, but hold on to the principles. That is essential.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“In times, you will take some from the Army, preferable some easy believing victims, and Luna. You will attempt to steal the sword of Godric Gryffindor; which Harry, Ron and Hermione need; and try to give it to the barman of the Hog’s Head, just in case he might find out where they are.”
“Er – ”
“The sword is in here.”, he pointed on a glass case Ginny could only see after she took a few steps forward. “But of course I will know and I won’t let you get away with it. You might get harmed, but not considerably. Take whoever you wish as source of the information, just not me, please.”
“Oookay?”, Ginny frowned even more. “Will you enlighten me, Sir?”
“No.”
“Great.”, she sighed. “Rebuild the Army with Professor McGonagall, then fail to steal the sword.”, she recited it. “Anything else?”, there was a short pause.
“No. For the moment.”
“Fine.”
“Now Draco, Hannah,”, he slightly pushed him off and wiped his tears away, “I remember, you have a Transfiguration lesson running at the moment. I ask you to join your classmates, when you consider yourselves ready.”
~~#~~
Closed wooden doors. Keeping the devil at bay. They had no idea what time it was. But it didn’t matter anyway. Together, they just stood there and stared at the oaken wings.
“I feel stupid.”, he turned to her.
“Why?”
“Because I’ve clapped.”
“Er – ”
“I’ve been one of the first people to clap when the Sorting Hat finished. I did it out of sympathy. That’s just stupid. I pitied him. But instead of considering his words, I did exactly the opposite.”, she paused. “I judged.”
“It’s okay.”, Draco sighed.
“No. If it’s anything, then it’s not okay.”
“We all judge. It’s just – what humans do.”
“Is it true? What they say? The Patils?”, she finally looked at him as well. “That you’d been ordered to kill Dumbledore?”
“Yes.”, there was no need to lie, he felt.
“But you couldn’t?”
“No.”
“And he did it instead?”
“Yes.”
“So you really are – ?”
“What am I?”
“A – a Death Eater?”, he pushed up his sleeves and showed her the Mark. “Whow.”, Hannah blinked and he covered it again. “To be honest, you don’t look like one.”, Draco snorted.
“What a nice compliment.”
“No – really – that up there – you’re not one of them.”, she lightly shook her head.
“Who knows – maybe I am, maybe I’m not,”
“I say, you aren’t.”, he startled at the hands by his tie. “Yes – I said, you are – but anyone can make mistakes, right? I’ve been stupid and got punished for it seconds later.”, she took off his Prefect’s badge and placed it in his free left hand. “Until you don’t kill any of us in front of me, you’re none of them.”, Draco just gazed at her when she snatched the crumpled envelope from his hand and took out the new badge, pinning it to where the old one had sat. “We’ve been in the same class for five years. I’ve heard; and seen; you throw many nasty things at others.”, she stuffed the envelope into his shoulder bag and reached into her own, taking out her letter. “But that doesn’t automatically make you a Death Eater.”, she sighed and changed her badges too, put back the torn envelope and offered him her hand. “I think, we should start anew. I’m Hannah.”
“Draco.”, he mumbled and hesitantly shook her hand; her grip, to his surprise, was rather firm.
“Shall we?”, the girl nodded to the doors.
“Yeah.”, swallowing, he pushed one of them open.
“Oh Mr Malfoy, Miss Abbot! There you are!”, the entire class turned their heads. “If you would please sit down somewhere in the back, yes, together. That would make it easier for me to tell you what you have missed. Ah yes, yes.”, she nodded as Draco had pointed on a free desk, closest to the door. “That bench is perfectly alright, Mr Malfoy. I’ll be there in a second.”
~~#~~
For many minutes, she had just sat in the chair in front of the desk and watched him staring out of the window to her right, doing something with his fingers she couldn’t see. She didn’t even know whether it had been half an hour or two full ones. There was nothing she could say. Nothing she could do. He had locked her in, but didn’t want her to speak. She had no idea what kind of game it was, but slowly it was getting annoying.
“I’m not doing this any longer.”
“Be quiet.”
“No. You listen to me now.”
“I said, silence!”, he turned to her.
“No!”
“Shut up!”, he curtly barked at her and spun at the window again; the door clicked. “Get out.”
“What? Suddenly I’m – ”
“Or hide! Anything!”, now he was pleading.
“What?”
“He saw me! I have to let him in! Quick! Do as I say!”
There was a distant humming sound and he opened the window. Ginny had no idea what made her, but one moment later, she had jumped to her feet, hurtled around the old desk and crawled into the alcove between the drawers, leaning against the wooden board that closed the front. Trying not to breathe too significantly, she heard the door click once more and something rushing in through the window. Angry footsteps, marching around. Whoever had just flown in, was apparently struggling for words.
“What a surprise, Corban.”, he said calm and Ginny’s stomach crumpled, her eyes gaping, which also brought the pain back to her consciousness. “Are you really so desperately in need to see me? You can recall, that I told you not to come to me unless it is topmost urgent?”
“They broke inta tha Ministry!”, Yaxley grunted, giving his accent to the best.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Potter an’ two of ’is friends!”
A deafening silence followed his raging. Ginny listened to his panting. The window was being closed. It surprised her that he, though talking to a fellow-countryman, didn’t fall into his dialect. She wondered whether Yaxley knew of his descent or not.
“Calm down and tell me all the details.”
“They freed Cattermole’s filthy wife!”
“I said, calm down.”, the slow growl was more than threatening and she was sure, the look Yaxley gave him was close to what she had received from Alecto Carrow at their first personal encounter.
“Alrigh’, alrigh’.”, falling heavily, Yaxley sank into the chair in front of the desk.
“How did they get in?”
“Polyjuice Potion. They hexed Runcorn an’ Hopkirk. An’ Cattermole ’s well. Took on their shape an’ sneaked inta tha hearing. Stole Moody’s eye, stunned me an’ Umbridge an’ freed tha bitch. They ran out an’ Disapparated. I could follow them ta Grimmauld Place. Saw tha’ house. But then they were gone. Dun’ think, they’ll return ta it. Hope, at least one of ’em splinched.”, Yaxley snarled, another pause.
“You are absolutely sure, it was Potter? Did you see him?”, Ginny began to realise why he might have been staring out of the window in silence.
“No. Tha effect was still on. But tha’ fake Runcorn called tha’ Hopkirk double `Hermione´ an’ she called ’im `Harry´. Proof enough? Tha’ Granger girl’s with ’im, ugly Mudblood. An’ I bet tha’ Cattermole was tha Weasley brat. Knew there was somethin’ wrong with ’er. `Dun’ need any branding ta tell me where I belong´. As if! She’s a Blood Traitor through an’ through! Like tha whole bunch!”
“Ginny Weasley is currently at Hogwarts.”
“Ye shouldn’ be so sure.”
“In fact, I am deadly sure. She is sitting under my desk.”
Ginny’s heart sank and her eyes nearly popped out. She could hear Yaxley raise. Suddenly she felt her tie, blouse and vest opening. In panic, she tried to hold the things close.
“Why don’t you come out and say hello to our guest?”, he sneered.
She had no choice. The tall man already hung over the desk, peering down on the other side. Her heart was now throbbing against her larynx, but she knew she had to leave her hiding place. Desperately wrapping her cloths to cover her bra, she crawled back out, only to find Yaxley straighten with a hammering laugh.
“Well, well, well.”, he turned back to Severus, presenting him with a grin that was so displeasing to look at, Ginny felt the need to vomit, but also the urge to just punch it right through his head and out at the back. “Gettin’ yar rocks off with tha chick? Ha! Righ’ ya are!”
“And as I said before I took in my position, I do not like to be disturbed. If there is no more important news,”, Severus held his arm towards the window with an utterly self-loving and evil looking smirk, “You know your way out.”
Both faces were back to cold at an instant. Giving him a snort, Yaxley became a mass of black fog and rushed back out through the window, which Severus slammed shut even before he mentally let the man pass through the barrier once more. Ginny still pulled her clothes over her chest, standing now.
“What was that for!”
“Saving your family from Azkaban a little longer.”, he mumbled, gave he clothes a restoring flick of his wand and walked over to the canvas Phineas had been pushed out by Albus. “No worries. He will keep this meeting to himself. If he doesn’t, and they really escaped him so close, he will be in huge trouble anyway.”, three firm knocks on the frame and a head peeked in.
“Yes?”
“Any idea where they are?”
“Not the slightest. But the girl sounded in panic. Then Potter summoned some Essence of Dittany from the bag. The flask barely missed my nose.”
“Thank you. Please go back and try to hear as much as possible.”
The head was gone. Ginny unexpectedly winced when he kicked a pile of old books on the floor.
“What – what does that mean? Dittany? What happened? And how does he know it?”
“I don’t want to worry you unnecessarily,”, he looked at her, his anger transforming into tiredness as he leaned back against one of the shelves that were too full to store the books he had just spread on the floor, “But it seems, your brother in fact splinched.”
“What?”, Ginny moaned.
“Let us hope, it is nothing too serious.”
“But – how does he know?”
“It’s the Weasley boy! He splinched!”, the head was back.
“I know, Phineas.”, Severus rolled his eyes, but the other man couldn’t see it of course. “I’m not stupid. Now go back and only return when I call you. Try to remember as much as possible.”
“I – ”
“The other side is the interesting, not this one.”
“Fine!”, the old man snapped and disappeared again.
“Wait – I – know him – ”
“Phineas Nigellus Black. There is a portrait of him at Grimmauld Place.”
“Oh – ”, now Ginny remembered where she had seen it.
“Or rather, was. Hermione hung it off and put it into her bag, so he can inform me on what is going on – well, as long as the bag is open. She told the guys though that she only did it so I couldn’t spy on the place.”
“Brilliant.”, Ginny nodded, a little absentminded. “And Ron – ”
“As I said, I can only wait for him to get more precise information, which is hard since all he can do is listen. It might be that Ronald keeps some scars. She wouldn’t be in panic if it was just tiny damage and I suppose, she was shaking too much to feel secure of a healing spell.”
“That – doesn’t sound good at all – ”, moaned Ginny, watching him wrap his arms around his body and staring into space, in thoughts.
“They will be fine.”, he said, obviously more to calm himself than the girl. “How is your cheek?”, he asked for the sake of a slightly different topic.
“It hurts a bit, but it’s okay.”, she touched it ponderingly, but twitched a little at the slight pain, noticing at last that it was swollen.
“No. It isn’t.”
“Guess, it’s not then.”
“Not at all.”, he pushed himself off the shelf and walked over. “I’m sorry. I have a rather firm hand when it comes to it, you must know. My father’s fault.”
“Well, came in handy now, didn’t it?” Ginny lightly shivered at the warm, soft touch and another sting as he examined her cheek. “Making a credible victim of your `private fun´, not?”
“I still feel horrible.”, Severus moaned.
“You shouldn’t, Sir. There’s a second benefit. I told my friends that you’d never hurt us physically.”
“Prepare for a sermon of your friends then.”, a gentle tip with his wand at her cheek and the hurt was gone.
“Yeah. Thanks.”, aspirated Ginny.
He only gave her a stiff nod and paced on, down the few stairs. Gazing at his back, a thought started to penetrate her mind.
“You’ve blown up their covers either way.”
“What do you mean?”, he turned around to her.
“It doesn’t matter if he will talk about it or not, but he’ll for sure act. He’s been watching The Burrow for weeks now and knowing that it wasn’t me who’s with Harry, he might just take a closer look at `Ron´.”, she stressed the name with her fingers. “He’ll notice it’s our Ghoul and – ”
“He won’t.”
“What makes you – er – ”, he went over to the fireplace and took some Floo powder from a pot on the mantelpiece.
“Come here. You will explain yourself to your parents, just in case he might really confront them with the topic. Invent any story you feel like, but do it quick. If he really pays them a visit, you will have to be faster.”
“Er – ”
“Very much faster.”
~~#~~