See the prologue for the disclaimer.
Afraid of the Dark
Written by LJP
Chapter 14
Harry and Ron reached the Headmaster’s office only to find Professor Snape already there. It had taken them a while to guess the password, and they were both gasping for breath by the time they got there.
Before either of them found the breath to speak, however, Dumbledore raised a hand to silence them. "Misters Potter and Weasley, relax. I am quite sure you are here now for the same reason Professor Snape is."
Harry and Ron were still trying to catch their breath when they both looked at their Potions Master, confusion spreading across their features. "Sir, what do you mean?" Harry finally managed to ask. "How could Snape know what happened? She just disappeared!"
Snape let out a breath, as if calming himself and trying hard not to go off on the two Gryffindors. "The Headmaster and I are well aware of the sudden disappearances of both Mr. Malfoy and Miss Weasley." He paused briefly. "We are doing everything possible at the moment to return them to us."
"Doesn’t look like you’re doing anything!" Ron sputtered, his face reddening.
Professor Dumbledore tried to smile softly. "Mr. Weasley, please. I promise you that Professors Snape, McGonagall, and myself are well in control of the situation. Now, if the two of you would be so kind as to return to Gryffindor Tower for the evening..."
"You know where they are!" Ron accused the older wizard, beginning to walk forward and pointing a critical finger at him.
Professor Snape stepped in front of Dumbledore’s desk, withdrawing his wand elegantly. "Mr. Weasley, I do not want to remove House points from you for something so foolish. Please return to the Tower with Mr. Potter." He threatened. "Rest assured that your sister will be returned to you as soon as possible."
Snape ushered the two students out the two, practically pushing them down the circular staircase. When they were finally out of hearing range and sight, Snape spun around to Dumbledore, whose blue eyes looked sad. "Headmaster?"
Dumbledore looked up. "Severus, I do not know what to do. I fear the worst."
Ginny and Draco wore matching, shocked expressions when they appeared in the middle of a large cave. It was silent around them, and dimly lit. The only light came from three sconces mounted on the rock as though they were torches. They were both too busy looking around to notice the fact that they were still molded against each other, Draco’s arms wrapped tightly around Ginny’s waist from behind.
Suddenly, Ginny realized how close she was to Draco, being wrapped in his arms and all, and let out a yelp, jumping away from him. "What are you doing?"
He was panting, partly from his run to the Quidditch pitch and partly because of his proximity to Ginny, and it took him a second to respond. "Enjoying myself?" Draco retorted, a sly expression dawning on his face.
She shook her head at him, trying to keep from laughing. Unfortunately, it didn’t work, and Ginny began to giggle. Her laughter was infectious, and soon even Draco was smiling a little, his lips curled up strangely, as if he were trying to will it away.
A loud hiss broke up their laughter.
"Ah, you have arrived." A black shrouded figure drifted into the cave, layers of black robes trailing behind it. "Mr. Malfoy. Miss Weasley." It greeted.
The two young Death Eaters bowed low, averting their eyes from their master. "My lord." They echoed, solemnly, all mirth having been pushed into the deepest corners of their thoughts at Voldemort’s arrival.
He let out a long sigh, almost a hiss, and approached them. "I see the two of you have discovered my gist to you." Lord Voldemort commented, circling Draco and Ginny. Her hand wrapped around the sapphire on her necklace. "Yes my dear, yes. It was no mistake, Mr. Malfoy, that I neglected to bestow upon you a gift. I was anticipating that you’d both figure it out sooner or later." He paused, his cold breath breathing down, filling the cave with a dank, damp coldness.
"You see, Mr. Malfoy, I have given you a gift. You simply have not discovered it yet." Neither Ginny nor Draco dared to speak, though similar questions were on the tips of their tongues.
The Dark Lord changed the subject. "You’re wondering why I called you here with no warning."
Ginny’s face clouded over in confusion. She was unaware that her new master gave any warning ever. Voldemort turned to Draco. "Mr. Malfoy, I trust your father has explained the process to you." Draco bowed his head in affirmation.
When the Dark Lord did not continue, as if waiting for a response from him, Draco hesitated. One thing his father had made perfectly clear to him was that one does not speak in the presence of Lord Voldemort without being given explicit instruction to do so. As if reading his mind, the Dark Lord finally continued. "My apologies Mr. Malfoy. Enlighten us." At Draco’s look of horror, he furthered his thought. "I assure you that I would have not asked something of you had I thought your answer would displease or anger me." He motioned for Draco to begin.
Draco cleared his throat. Ginny waited impatiently. "My father informed me that before the Dark Lord summons us, the Mark with blacken and become visible. This gives us a chance to ready ourselves — ‘our robes, out masks, and our minds’ — he said, before the Mark begins to burn and the summons takes place. It is expected that all Death Eaters arrive in full dress, masks included." He looked down at his own school robes. "Unlike now, my lord. I apologize."
Voldemort waved a hand at him. "No need young Malfoy, no need. I gave you no warning." His voice had returned to a hiss. There was silence for several moments before, "I assume you went to Severus when the Mark burned."
Draco cast his eyes downward, but nodded his affirmation. "My lord."
"He was...unable...to help you, I assume?"
Draco nodded again, still not meeting the Dark Lord’s gaze.
Voldemort began to float away from the two young Death Eaters, beginning to talk to himself. Both Draco and Ginny had to strain in order to hear his words. "Yes, yes. I have doubted Severus’ loyalty to me for some time now. I wonder — yes — I wonder if —" Suddenly, he swept directly at Ginny.
"Virginia! What is your opinion of the good Potions Master?"
She jumped, her eyes wide and her jaw wide open. She didn’t know what he wanted her to say.
***
Author’s Note: Thanks for the reviews everyone! And thanks for reading. If you want to be notified when I update this, or any of my fics, please send a quick e-mail to ljpspooky@yahoo.com and let me know. Thanks so much! Leave me one!
"Thou turn’st mine eyes into my very soul." — William Shakespeare, Hamlet
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Draco and Ginny belong to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, Warner Bros and various other corporations. They are being used here without permission and/or affiliation with the above. None of the authors listed here make any profit from these stories.