When Draco Met Ginger

Draco was angry. He was upset with Ginger's attitude, and furious with Hermione's keeping Cissa so in the dark about the world around her. Now he was getting questions from his little sister he didn't want to answer and couldn't if he wanted to.

They both were looking at the spot where Ginger Wallace had stood just seconds ago when Draco heard the words he dreaded.

“Dray, what's a Death Eater? Why would anyone want to eat death?” The young witch asked, her confused eyes looking up into his troubled ones. Draco made himself breath deeply for a moment before answering.

“Cissa, I really can't explain it. It was an organization that was around when Mummy and I were younger.” He knelt down to be at her level, his hand touching her shoulder.

“What kind of organization?” Cissa asked, snuggling closer into Draco's chest to tug on his buttons.

“An evil one that Dad, Mummy and us all fought against. What Dad is still fighting.” He murmured as he wrapped his arms around her.

“That's the secret important stuff?” Her eyes widened at the revelation. Draco could see her mind in motion as she filed yet another fact away. He knew Hermione would regret it one day if she didn't sit down with Cissa and tell her everything. She had a head full of half truths, and she was starting to connect them together; none of them quite fitting together correctly.

“As best as I can tell you, yes. The rest Mummy will have to answer.” Draco picked her up and disapparated for the Manor, a sudden distaste in his mouth.

He knew he would have to owl Hermione before she got back to warn her about the questions she would be facing. He really wanted to leave her as unprepared as he had been for the question, but he cared too much about Cissa to do that.


~*~

Ginger landed in a dark alley just outside of her flat and made her way to her door. She was tired from the Quidditch game, and her confusing thoughts about what happened at lunch made her want to scream. She walked through the hallway to her door lost in memories; memories of the day and of others long gone by.

Lunch at first had not seemed so bad, but it was probably the fact that young Cissa's presence had kept Malfoy from making the passes she had been reading in his eyes for weeks now. Who am I kidding? Ginger thought, the bloke isn't as bad as the rumors portrayed him. She unlocked her door and entered the small flat, bending down to pick up the calico cat that rubbed against her legs in greeting. After a brief nudging butt against Ginger's face, the cat mewed in protest to be let down.

“Charmer are you hungry for attention or treats?” Ginger asked, heading for the kitchenette. The cat's eyes followed her and mewed happily as Ginger's hands held a box of treats. “Thought so!” She poured a few treats out and closed the container with a loud snap. Charmer followed Ginger into the bedroom and jumped up to sit next to her owner as Ginger offered her the treats.

“I met this really adorable little girl today, Charmer. You'd love to get your paws around her, her name is Cissa. Too bad her father and brother are Death Eaters.” Ginger laid back on the bed with these words, and Charmer gave her a loop-sided look. “Okay, were Death Eaters. That's the story they are passing around anyhow.” The cat gently pawed at Ginger's side.

“They killed Mum,” Ginger went on, her fingers combing through the cat's fur. “Well okay they didn't. The Death Eaters that attacked us did.” Ginger's eyes closed and she let her memories flow; the cat's gentle purrs of comfort in the back round.

Ginger stood proudly between her mother and father as the portkey gently landed them in the field. They had finished with the trip to pick up her First Year's school supplies, and she had secretly tucked her new but untried wand into her pocket.

It was the Quidditch World Cup, and this year's final match was between Bulgaria and the English. She was eleven years old, and the first year her parents let her come. The Ministry had supplied extra Aurors and other officials to make it safe, for Voldemort was still setting out his Death Eaters. Ginger giggled as she pointed out one Auror with bright purple hair to her Mum.

“That's Tonks, cherie.” Adrianne Wallace said. “Come met her.” They walked over to where Tonks stood, surrounded by a few red heads, a shabbily dressed man, a bushy haired young woman and a young man with a lightening bolt scar on his forehead.

“Harry Potter,” Ginger breathed out. She looked at the two standing next to him, “Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. Blimey.”

They had stood and talked for a few minutes, topics unheard as Ginger gazed at her childhood heros. Then they had all headed towards the stadium for the game that never happened, for in a blink of an eye pops of arrival were heard throughout the crowd.

Death Eaters Ginger's mind had screamed, not realizing her own vocal screams joined in. Black robes, hoods drawn and white masks filled her sight, fueling her fear as she clung to her father. She barely heard her mother shout to her father, or see the last looks of love pass between them as Adrianne drew her wand and joined into the fray.

“Come, girl.” She had felt her father's arms pull her towards the brush covering beside the field. “Hush,” Lennox Wallace whispered as they crawled into the shrubbery. “Mum will worry more if you don't follow me.” Ginger heard the tears in his words.

They watched as the spells flew. Harry, Hermione and Ron standing with another girl as they valiantly defended those around them. Ginger watched her Mum as she faced off a long blond haired Death Eater. With horror she watched as a spell hit Adrianne and she fell to the ground writhing in pain. Her father's hand across her mouth the only thing holding her back.

A younger Death Eater stumbled into the older Death Eater causing them to lose their masks as they fell to the ground, the spell holding her mother in pain ending.

With a growl of disgust the older stood up and pointed his wand at the younger, a look alike of himself.

“Having troubles controlling your son, Malfoy?” A beefier Death Eater approached the two, his wand now pointing at her mother.

“Crucio!” He shouted making Adrianne writhe in pain once more.

“As usual, the git has disappointed me.” Malfoy answered. The young Death Eater seemed to meet her eyes, a small smile forming before his father's spells hit him.

Another male Death Eater approached and walked directly in front of where Ginger and her father crouched hidden.

“Lucius our targets are not our own!” The wizard said, letting his mask drop to reveal his pale face surrounded in black hair.

“Shut it, Severus. Draco can't even handle himself in battle without blundering. The boy interrupted my fun with Muggle lover.” He twirled his wand in his hand lazily before casting another spell. All eyes around them were on the spectacle created by the Malfoys.

“Go now.” The words were whispered, “Go,” Severus Snape ordered.

“Finish her off, Macnair. I have some 'corrections' to do with the boy,” Lucius Malfoy spat out, laughing as Draco writhed more just as Ginger's mother had.

Ginger heard the insistent tap tap of a bird's beak on the glass of her window and jumped up with a start. Her heart pounded from her nightmare, and Charmer mewed in protest as she stood up to open the window.


~*~


“Time for bed, Cissa.” Draco said as he entered her bedroom. “Go brush your teeth and change.” He looked down at the small witch sitting in front of a toy potions table. She was wearing child sized dragon skin gloves and clutched in one hand tightly a play wand.

“But Draco, I was just going to add-” Cissa looked up, her other hand holding a pinch of something and a potions book open in front of her.

“No buts, kitten. I've already given you an extra hour. Tomorrow you can help me brew up a few real potions.” The promise of real potions play had her running for the bathroom to get ready. Draco bent down and glanced at the name of the potion she had been play making and wanted to laugh. Love Potion # 9. Wonder who this was for? He gathered up the play ingredient vials and tucked them back into their slots and turned off the play flames under the cauldron. Truly her parents' child. He thought. Severus Snape you really need to get home.

Cissa returned to the room and jumped into the bed, and Draco drew the covers over her and kissed the top of her head. She yawned and snuggled into the pillows.

“Story? Or are you too tired out?” Draco asked, running his hand across her forehead.

“Too sleepy, night Draco.” He watched as her eyes closed.

“Night kitten.” He waved his hand and wandlessly turned the lighting down and half closed the door as he left.

Cissa rolled over and watched the shadows that she could see in the hallway and waited. She had spent the day pouring over the books in the library and couldn't find much on what a Death Eater actually was. She had even resorted to asking Twinky the house elf what they were but he had only sadly shook his head and wouldn't answer her questions.

Finally she felt enough time had passed, and she threw back the covers, walked over on tippy toes to her desk and pulled out the note she had written after she had stamped her foot at Twinky. Now to get to the Owlery in the attic without anyone hearing.

She slipped through her door and stepped carefully into the hall. She walked the short hallway and missed the creaky board in front of the attic stairs. Cissa stepped lightly on the stairs, trying to remember the noisy ones as she made her way. The last time she had been caught out of by bed late at night she had had to clean Draco's quills. Twinky had sharp ears and Cissa didn't get away with much.

Finally she was up the stairs and in front of her was a variety of different magic items that during the day would not have been a problem to pass, but at night the old Malfoy portraits slept and hated to be disturbed. She covered her mouth with the collar of her nightgown and crept through the silent attic towards the door to the owls. She smiled as her fingers closed around the knob and it turned quietly, and the hinges made no sound as she pushed the door open and slid in.

She just hoped her mum left Heddy here and didn't take the snow white owl with her. The owls softly hooted at her as she closed the door behind her. This was were the family's personal owls so only a few lived in the house. Draco also had an Owlery full of hunting birds, and she knew better then to enter there.

“Heddy?” She said softly to owl, her head still tucked tight under her wing.

“Miss Cissa,” She hooted back as her eyes slowly opened and took in the sight of her small mistress. “You should be sleeping child.”

“I know Heddy, but I need you to take this letter to someone special for me.” Cissa pulled out the folded note with the name. “It's for Ginger Wallace.”

“I don't know if I can.” The owl hooted at Draco's eagle owl and then nodded. “She's a business associate of Master Malfoy's and Nightfall says he's been there before. He's offered to take it.” Cissa walked over to the dangerous looking owl and handed him the note.

“Thank you, Nightfall.” The owl hooted softly and flew out the window, a dark streak in the moonlight.

“You should return to bed, Miss Cissa. It would not be proper for you to be found here.” The snowy owl said, watching as Cissa sat on the floor.

“I will in a bit,” Cissa yawned for real. “Heddy what do you know about Death Eaters?” Without waiting for answer, Cissa rolled into a small ball and fell asleep.


~*~


Draco set his mug down on the desk next to him after draining the last bit of coffee from it. He reached over his head in spin cracking stretch and leaned back for a moment in his chair. The house was silent, except for the faint sounds of the crackling fire. Time to check on the kitten, he thought as he stood up and left the sitting room.

He stepped on the first stair and laughed when it creaked in protest. It had always gotten him in trouble as a child. It had taken him years to learn the spots to avoid when he was younger, but this one had always got him. He saw Twinky's ears peeking around from the kitchen area and smiled. Things never change, he thought and waved his hand reassuringly at the old elf.

Cissa had inherited his old rooms when he moved into the master suite. Hermione reminded him that Cissa had a bedroom in the gate house and it wasn't really necessary for her to have one here also but he liked the sound of her laughter in the halls, and with Hermione working at Hogwarts there was some nights Cissa needed to come and stay.

Hermione had made him get rid of the Slytherin colors that had decorated the room. He had sneered before agreeing and had thought about how the colors didn't matter, Cissa was still of his House. Least Hermione hadn't insisted on the red of Gryffindor, that would have rocked the poor manor to it's foundations; instead the room was more of a melding in pastels of all the Houses.

Draco reached the half opened door and looked in, the lights from the hallway casting a pale light over the bed. The empty bed.

“Merlin's beard!” Draco uttered, running in and pulling the covers fully off. His eyes strayed over to the open bathroom door and he could tell it was empty.

“Twinky!” He shouted as he sat on the bed. “Hermione is going to kill me.” He uttered as the elf entered the room.

~*~


Ginger wiped the tears that streamed down her cheeks from the nightmare. It had never gone that far before, always stopping at the apparition pops of the Death Eaters. It still didn't bring her mum back, but the sight of the young blond haired Death Eater had been a revelation to her. Was it true or just a manufacturing of her brain?

The insistent tapping at the window made Charmer hiss and spit at the eagle owl that could be seen in the moonlight. Ginger opened it and the owl hooted and offered up his leg for her to take the letter. Charmer let one last hiss escape before running out the room as the owl flexed his talons at her before settling on the bedpost.

Ginger held the note in her hand, the handwriting on it not matching the eagle owl's owner.

~*~*~*~

Thanks for reading so far... please review. =) And Check out its parent fic-- Ensnaring The Senses. Hugzz all ~~juls. (Thanks Marti for loving this story!)