On My Own

Kelly: Thankyou for being my first review! I am so excited!

Enjoy Chapter 1

Chapter 1 – Nothing is Known

Welcome, welcome, welcome! To another year at Hogwarts! For the first years and those…… The headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, began to speak and the whole Great Hall fell silent as the old man did his usual greeting. Draco Malfoy was grateful for the silence. He longed to be anywhere but sitting with his peers as they laughed and talked about their summers. He considered Hogwarts the worst place on earth, of course him being constantly beaten by a mudblood and the boy saviour didn’t do anything to help his opinion. His father was on the run after a great escape from Azkaban and his mother seemed less interested in him than usual and now he was stuck back at school. At least the Slytherin’s still appreciated how important he was.

If all that wasn’t bad enough it would appear as if Dumbledore was even crazier this year than the previous one, standing in front of the student body telling everyone that they must be on the look out for friends in strange places… half the first years didn’t know if that meant they should look behind doors and under chairs for their friends or start searching for strange people to become friends with. All Draco knew was that the first years seemed smaller and far more stupid than he was in first year, he just hoped there was some decent pure-bloods bound for Slytherin this year.

Dumbledore’s voice broke through Draco’s thoughts “And it is my great pleasure to announce that this year we have a very talented witch who originates from America, to teach Defence Against The Dark Arts. Professor Lisa Durham has agreered to fill our position and in these dark times we must all be prepared, I hope you all give her your best efforts and use her vast knowledge” everyone clapped for the new teacher, Draco didn’t bother… she didn’t look like someone who was important enough to him. Draco sneered at the Headmaster as he began to speak again, “Now as I said, these are Dark times and you all need to be working hard to protect yourselves, I want to see no silly misbehaving, especially when you are not within the grounds of the school. Inter-house co-operation is of vast importance, go and find friends and allies in the other houses, remember friends can be found in the most unlikely places. Now enjoy the feast!”

Draco breathed a sigh of relief, he never thought that the first night back at Hogwarts would feel like an eternity. But the first night and then the first week and then the first month went, all without any excitement or Drama. Things were the same as they always were, Draco was excluded from his fathers plans, the school at large were scared of him and he tormented every Gryffindor who crossed his path. Draco was bored, nothing ever happened at Hogwarts School of Mudbloods and Dumbledore lovers.

*~*~*~*~*~*

About six weeks into the school term Draco was sitting alone in his room, searching for hexes that would give no immediate reaction, but would create havoc after there was enough time to get away. He thought it would be great for Longbottom, everyone would presume the idiot had hexed himself. As Draco continued on his search without any results an owl tapped on the window. Draco rose and let it in, taking the letter from it and sending it on its way.

Draco cautiously opened the unmarked envelope and saw his mothers writing.

Discover where the blood traitors are going these holidays. They are not going to their house and we must discover what they are up to. Find a way to get any information available.

Looking over the note several times Draco kept coming back to the same question: why? His father had never seen fit for Draco to know anything but the bare essentials on what he did and now he was requesting his help. To Draco it didn’t make sense, this was not like the information he learnt by being quiet and listening at his fathers study door or when his father openly laughed once Black was on the loose and ‘after’ Potter. Draco was however overwhelmed with a sense of pride and worth that his father believed he was up for the task. Draco kept thinking that maybe finally his father was going to let him be part of Potters down fall. The wonder and glory Draco could see in his future were clouding his thoughts from the task he was asked to do.

This was not an easy task. He would basically have to kidnap and threaten one of their friends into talking, and even that would not be fool proof. If it was something big enough for his mother to request their whereabouts it was unlikely the Weasels children even knew where they were going. He could not fail, there would be consequences if he did, yet he might as well walk up to Dumbledore and requests the family’s heads on a plate for all the good it would do him. There was no way he could see to gain this information without giving himself away. But he wasn’t a cunning Slytherin for nothing was he?

“Damn it Draco, think” he swore at himself. This was going to be a challenge and one he wouldn’t walk away from, he just had to think of a plan.

Deciding there wasn’t much he could do about it right then and there, Draco thought first he would sleep then he would worry about it in the morning.

*~*~*~*~*

Two weeks after Draco had received the request from his mother, he was still no closer to knowing were the Weasley’s were going. He had decided against polyjuice because of the time restraints on making it, even though by now it would almost be ready. He was frustrated by the seemly impossible task. How was he possibly meant to find out this kind of information from one of his worst enemy’s and without them getting suspicious? Draco decided he would just have to find someone who he could blackmail into telling him. But it would have to be someone close to Weaselette because he couldn’t have Potter knowing, or even better he could just bribe her. If only he knew some information about her, but then again he was sure she was too innocent to have secrets.

*~*~*~*~*

“Where did you disappear to last night?” Hermione asked Ginny as she sat down to breakfast

“No where, just a walk to clear my head” Ginny replied, while cringing mentally.

“So close to curfew, you should be more careful Ginny. This is the second time this week you have left the tower that late! You are a prefect you should take your responsibilities more seriously” Hermione replied, with an air of importance.

“I will never do it again, mum” Ginny replied sarcastically

Hermione frowned but didn’t push the point. Ginny didn’t know if she should be happy that Hermione had dropped the issue so easily or be completely livid that she didn’t care that all she was offered a lame excuse. Ginny wanted to be noticed and yet now that she was she dismissed it out of hand, but then again what else could she do? ‘They don’t care’ Ginny thought ‘they just didn’t want me out losing house points!’. Nothing ever changes. Ginny sighed.

Draco heard the conversation between Granger and Weaslette and wondered what she was doing out roaming the castle late at night, maybe a secret boyfriend and some late night snogging. Draco cringed at the thought of anyone getting that close to the girl, but he decided some people really didn’t have any taste at all.

Getting some first hand evidence would be nice to use against her. So Draco decided he would see if she was out and about after curfew tonight, then he could get some of the information he needed to send back to his mother.

*~*~*~*~*

Draco waited near Gryffindor tower from about half an hour before curfew, he only had to wait fifteen minutes before she slipped out of the portrait and headed for the Great Hall and the front exit of the castle. He followed the red head out of the castle, it appeared to have taken less than six weeks for the silly girl to forget Dumbledore’s rather appropriate warnings. Draco inwardly laughed, what would the old git think about one of the precious little Weasley’s wondering around after curfew and outside the castle? He would probably award the girl points, that’s what the old fool seemed to do to Gryffindor’s caught breaking the rules.

She was heading towards the forest. ‘Now that is interesting’, Draco thought, but he hoped she hadn’t gone too far into the forest, he hated it in there. But as he reached the edge of the forest he saw the youngest Weasel sitting with her back against a tree drinking from a flask. Well this was good, not only was she out after dark but it appeared like she was drinking alcohol. Draco could gain enough information from her to keep his father happy for a very long time. He doubted she would be able to do anything drunk and it was his experience that drunk girls liked to talk… a lot.

He watched her and he waited, he wanted to get her when she was too drunk to really give it any thought and just tell him what he needed to know. He could then tell his mother and forget this horrible task and forget what he saw now, it was disgraceful that a pure blood witch would be so weak. Even if they are a Weasley, drinking like this was below even her.

He saw her stand, and he made his move.

“Weaselette, out taking a late night stroll are we?”

Ginny looked up, she was rather sure on her feat for someone who had just spent the last hour drinking non-stop.

“Shove off Malfoy.” She spat back at him, she had no reason to tolerate him.

But Malfoy picked up on the slur and laughed to himself.

“Why Weasely, don’t want anyone to know what you were doing down here, by yourself and after curfew?”

“Why? Did I interrupt you on your way to a death eater meeting Malfoy?” Ginny had no desire to play with him, she just wanted him out of her way so she could go back and sleep.

“I see we are going to have a pleasant chat. But the question is not what I am doing here, but what you, an unarmed little girl is doing out here all by yourself? Did you get stood up for a date? Or do you just enjoy drinking yourself under without any company?”

“What, you mean to tell me this whole conversation is because you are pissed off I can get the good stuff and you are still drinking pumpkin juice? Why don’t you just shove off and find some other poor bastard to harass!” Ginny was not only not in the best state of mind, she just didn’t want to have to spend so much energy on remaining standing when she could use it walking and falling into bed. She hoped her voice sounded as angry as she was.

“Now, now, there is no need for that” Malfoy said smirking to himself “I just have a question, just one little question, and if you answer it then you can stumble of to wherever it is they let you sleep and I wont tell a soul about this little encounter”

“Why would I tell you anything Malfoy? What would you want to know from me anyway?” She was now staring into his eyes challenging him as best she could. She should just draw her wand and see what he did then, but she knew that at this moment he would be able to beat her with the simplest of spells.

“Ah courage, you are a Gryffindor after all” He spat the words, Draco Malfoy was scared of everything, he always had been, courage is not something he understood. He did as he was told by his father and did what was right for his family and his house, he had no need for such stupidity as to rely on courage. “But I am afraid Miss Weasel that your courage will do you no good if I go and wake Professor Snape and tell him what I saw, and then he would be forced to tell dear old Dumbledore and then your father would know…. And what do you think his reaction would be to his darling daughter drinking by herself in the middle of the night” Draco looked smug. He could see her brain trying to work through everything he had just said. She had no choice and they both knew it.

“Ask your question… that’s not to say I will answer it…”

“Where are you and your beloved family planning on going these holidays?”

She looked at him. Confusion, surprise and anger all very clearly marked on her face. She might have been rather tipsy (to say the least) but she was not stupid.

“Why Malfoy, do you think you have a chance with one of my brothers”

“I wouldn’t go saying things like that, you wouldn’t like me to take advantage of you just to prove you wrong, now would you?” Draco sneered at her, as if he a Malfoy would touch a Weasley and especially a male one. The thought was repulsive.

“Go to hell Malfoy! As for your threat, who would believe you anyway, go on, go and tell someone, by the time you have done it I will be sound asleep in bed and no one will believe you when they see me in the morning. Who would ever believe Ginny Weasley the daughter of respected members of society was drinking at school in the middle of the night.” But Ginny was worried, even if they didn’t believe him there would be suspicion and that wouldn’t do her any favours, so her clouded mind decided to push the point “And even if they do believe you, I will tell them you lured me out here and got me drunk with indecent intentions.”

Now it was Ginny’s turn to look smug, she could clearly see Malfoys face drop, even if he recovered rather quickly. Ginny knew no one would really ever consider Draco Malfoy wanting to do anything indecent with her, but his reputation would be enough to have her word believed over his and Draco knew it. Ginny was rather impressed she was still thinking at all, little lone out witting the older ‘cunning’ Slytherin.

Draco couldn’t even manage to believe that his plan hadn’t worked. She was drunk, and yet she handled herself well and he was sober and had the threat he thought would un-do her, and yet all he was getting from her was threats. Draco began to get curious about how long she had been drinking, this certainly wasn’t her first night of drinking herself under the table. He was almost impressed at how she handled herself and also rather impressed no one had ever noticed her late night habit, but he presumed a sobering potion could be the reason for that. If he had a heart to care he might even have wanted to know why she was drinking, but in reality he couldn’t care less.

“Now come on Weasley, just tell me what I want to know so I can be on my way and we can both forget this horrible little incident happened, ok?”

“Why on earth do you care?”

“So I know wether to say at school or not, why else would I care?”

“Well then you should simply run along home for the holidays because I am not going anywhere” And with that she started to slowly make her way back out of the forest and up to the castle.

Draco was happy he got something, even though he knew it wouldn’t appease his father, but what was he to do. It was an impossible assignment to say the least. How was he ever going to get more detailed information than that? Draco trudged up to the castle and back down to the dungeons, he grabbed a quill and parchment and sent a note back to his mother.

They are going to be at the school. Nothing else is known.

*~*~*~*~*

The next day started like any other day for Ginny, she remembered the night before and promised herself that it was the last time. Making her way to breakfast she thought back to her worry, Draco Malfoy. Of all people who could have found her. She was also concerned about his question, should she tell her mother that he was asking about the family’s plans? But then she would ask questions and that wouldn’t go well for her. Ginny reasoned with herself that she hadn’t told him anything anyway, so she needn’t get herself into a difficult situation for nothing.

Arriving at the Great Hall Ginny tried to put her thoughts aside as she put a smile on her face. She went to the Gryffindor table and sat with her friends. Neville smiled and said good morning and she gave Ron, Harry and Hermione who were sitting a little further down the table a wave.

Draco had watched her walk in. He also watched how her faced change as soon as she was in a situation where people could see her easily. It was almost like the door to the hall was her signal to show the world her happy exterior. It was such a subtle change he doubted anyone would have noticed unless they were really looking for it. And Draco did have the advantage of living in a family where you put a mask on your face as soon as you woke every morning, emotion is easily seen by those who chose to show little.

He wanted to know if she went back into herself every time she thought no one was watching. Draco couldn’t stop wondering what she was hiding, it must be something big if she wouldn’t even share it with Granger. This type of information could be very valuable, Draco could gain his chance to impress his father with this type of information, bringing shame to the traitors. Watching the Weasley girl could lead to a lot of information and Draco was simply trying to gain as much information as possible. He would keep the detail of her drinking to himself for a little while. That kind of knowledge could be worth more in the future than it was now, and Draco was in this for the end.

Draco continued to think right throughout breakfast. No one bothered him, his face was unreadable, but people knew if he didn’t speak then he didn’t want to be spoken too. The Malfoy name was a very handy thing for scaring off unwanted interruptions, even if his name only held that much power in Slytherin, this morning it was a very good thing.

Ginny on the other hand was sitting at the Gryffindor table feeling relived that she was in the presence of people who would make sure Malfoy didn’t come anywhere near her. She was rather worried that he would approach her about what he saw last night. Then when he just gave her a look of contempt she knew he didn’t care and would say nothing. Ginny expected to feel relief at this, but she didn’t.

She didn’t want him to say anything to her, she certainly didn’t want his pity or any attempt at help he might make. But she still felt desperate that someone should notice that someone would sense that there was something wrong. But no one did. No one ever noticed her. For some reason the fact that someone had seen her, that someone knew brought a whole new reality to Ginny. And it wasn’t a better reality, it scared her to death. If Malfoy had seen her then it wouldn’t be long until someone else saw her and they told Ron and then her life would be over. No one would understand, no one understood her and the misery that was under the surface of her seemingly happy bubbly existence.

Neville had started talking to her and she hadn’t even noticed. Ginny only registered the voice right next to her as a hand waved in front of her face. She was brought sharply out her thought, turning her head to see Neville smiling at her and laughing slightly at the fact she was so far into her own world that she hadn’t heard him.

“What were you so deep in thought about Gin?” Neville asked him

“Potions”

When Neville stayed silent she thought she better ad to her lie. So she continued

“We have to make a sleeping draught and I can never remember what order to ad the ingredients, and Snape said it could be in the test at the end of term”

“Oh… I hate potions, I probably couldn’t even remember the ingredients for that potion any more. Sorry I can’t help.”

Ginny smiled. Neville was such a sweet guy, she enjoyed his company, but at this moment she couldn’t think of anything. Being discovered had made things so much harder, even though she knew her secret was safe. For the moment.

“That’s Ok. I think I will go and get my potions book and check.”

“Alright, I will see you latter then”

“Bye Neville” Ginny stood up and walked out of the great hall, back to the tower to grab the book, she did need it for class after all.




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