Part 8: Indescretion

        Ron slammed his fist into the wall, leaving a small indentation. Hermione frowned disapprovingly at him, and whipped out her wand to repair the damage.

        "Acting like a child won't help the situation, Ron!" she said severely, but her hard look crumbled when Ron fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face in her stomach. She gently slid down until his face was level to hers. He held her even tighter and lifted his face to her neck.

        "I'm sorry I sounded harsh, Ron. It's just that I'm so worried about Ginny...." Hermione trailed off, knowing that no matter how bad she felt, Ron must be feeling ten times worse. After all, he had promised Mr. Weasley that he would take care of Ginny right before he died, and Ron was a man of his word.

        "It's not your fault, Hermione. Everyone's worried, and I'm so fucking angry with Sterling, I know I'll wring his neck if I ever get close enough." Ron's voice was muffled, but Hermione could hear the rage lying under the surface, she understood the helpless rage he felt, knowing what was happening to his baby sister, but being unable to do anything about it. She suddenly realized she was stroking his hair and that they were both rocking back in forth, locked in each other's embrace.

       "If Harry's dream is right, then Sterling won't kill her." Hermione said, a tone of defeat in her voice. She knew as well as Ron that by the time Sterling was done with her, she would want to kill herself, especially if she had his child.

        "Ginny is so devoted to Harry, and that one time with Malfoy, well that was a mistake on her part." Ron said flately.

         "Ron, Harry doesn't know about it, and now isn't the time to tell him." Hermione hissed.

         "Tell me what?" Harry asked from the doorway. Both Ron and Hermione scrambled to their feet, slightly embaressed, but Harry didn't even acknowledge the humor in the situation. He kept his eyes fixed on Ron. HIs clothes were rumpled and his hair stuck up at odder angles then usual, as if he had been running his fingers through it continually.

          "What don't I need to know about? If it concerns Ginny, you have to tell me. No matter what it is, it can't be worse then Sterling...." Harry didn't have to finish, they all knew what the last words would be. Ron stepped apart from them, and looked down at his spread hands. He mumbled something and Harry leaned forward to hear it.

       "Say it again, I didn't hear you." he said. Ron repeated it, but only marginally louder. Harry leaned close again to hear what his friend was saying; ".....Ginny slept with Malfoy, last summer. When you two were.....separated." Harry's eyes darkened and without a word he turned and left the parlor, slamming the door behind him. Instantly, Hermione was at Ron.

       "RONALD WEASLEY YOU DOLT! That's the last thing he needed right now!" Hermione ran out of the room to follow Harry, but he had vanished.

        Draco stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his slim hips. He heard someone knocking at the door and quickly pulled on Muggle jeans and a t-shirt. He hardly ever bothered with wizarding clothes, they were cumbersome, although they were warmer in the winter.

        The knocking intensfied as he reached the heavy, oaken front door. He pulled open the door, and Harry Potter stepped into the house, with a fire in his eyes like Draco has never seen. It frightened him, but he kept a cool exterior.

         "What do you want, Potter?" Draco said, forcing contempt onto his face.

         "Did you sleep with Ginny?" Harry asked, his dark browns knit together in anger. Draco laughed cruelly.

         "Yes, and I'd do it again. That girl's great in the sack." Harry seized Draco by the front of his t-shirt and slammed him against the wall, pushing his face close.

        "Ginny's been kidnapped by Sterling." he said. Draco smirked.

         "You mean that half-assed excuse for a man Sirius' son?" he asked. Harry shook his head.

          "He's not Sirius' son. He's Voldemort's son. Voldemort raped Celeste, Sirius' wife."

            "Well, what do you want me to do about it?" Draco asked.

         " I need your help. You were a Death Eater, you were the son of a Death Eater, I need you to tell me where Voldemort's secret castle is. If you don't know, at least help me find it. Ginny means everything to me and while I don't know how it came that you two made love, if you ever felt anything for her, please, help me." Harry let go of Draco and stepped back, expecting Malfoy to rip out a wand and curse him, but Draco stepped forward and touched Harru's arm.

        "I hate you Potter, but I hate Voldemort even more for killing my parents. I did once love Ginny and I'll help you if you agree to letting me help kill Voldemort."

       Harry nodded.

 

       to be continued....