Draco Malfoy (pureblood_heir) wrote in tempus_fugit, @ 2008-12-08 10:41:00 |
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Entry tags: | character: draco malfoy, character: ginny weasley |
Characters: Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley
Date: Monday December 8, 2001
Time: Late afternoon
Location: Azkaban
Draco entered the Ministry of Magic early afternoon. His solicitor had done a much better job than he'd imagined. He did answer a few questions from the MLE regarding the nature of the relationship between he and Miss Weasley, questions he answered vaguely, leaving far more to the imagination than answering.
He held out a bag for the wizard who held Ginevra's release papers. Inside the bag were new robes, charmed to instantly alter to fit. They were bright emerald green and very classy. The agent looked at him quizzically. Draco arched an eyebrow.
"Do you really expect her to walk out of here in such grime? They are clean clothes. She is a free witch and unless you want me to press discrimination charges against you," he trailed off, not needing to continue.
The agent took the bag and headed to Ginny's cell. Opening it, he offered the bag, "You're being released. These are for you. Knock when you're done," and closed the door, leaving her with privacy to change.
Ginny didn't respond immediately. The sudden interaction was rather startling after days of nothing, and if Ginny was used to one thing it was being surrounded by loads of people. She took the bag and looked bewildered at the man, as he left.
She looked in side. Dark green, and, well, quite nice. Much nicer than she felt she should wear considering the state of her. She knew she needed a proper shower; she felt utterly disgusting. She didn't want to press her luck and ask the man for her wand to help that situation. So she stripped herself free of her clothing. She felt chilled instantly and reached for the robes.
The fit well enough, and more importantly, she was being released. She let an urgent knock on the door, and as soon as the man opened it, she bounded out. "Follow me, miss," she heard him say, and she did... leaving whatever she'd taken off behind. She didn't want it, not after it'd been in here. She felt a knot in her stomach as they rounded the end of the corridor, what if someone, anyone had felt the same about her.
Draco stood waiting with arms folded across his chest as she rounded the corner. He looked at her face and hair, then closed his eyes, shaking his head slowly. When he opened them, he turned to the agent.
"You couldn't give her her wand?" disbelief fully exposed in his voice.
The shorter man quickly waved over a clerk who presented her with her wand. Once that was done, Draco signed one more piece of parchment and turned to look at Ginny. She did look good in green. Yes, he'd made the right move this time.
Ginny was somewhat shocked, she had to admit. No one else had either been able to figure out a way to get her out, or they hadn't tried. And here he was getting her out, somehow. Of course, the Malfoys always had influence, even if it was somewhat weaker than before it was still there, obviously. She just never imagined that it would have extended to her benefit. However she didn't know how shock would be perceived.
Thankful for her wand so that she would have something to do, she cast cleaning charms (several) on and around her body. Her hair would be fine with its slight wave as long as it was clean. She still wanted a shower, but she felt much better. When she was done she chanced a look back at Draco.
Everything she wanted to say she didn't want to say in front of the clerk or the guard. She looked at him, nodding her head in a direction and taking a few steps towards the exit, hoping he would follow soon.
Draco nodded, following her, but quickly overtaking her with his longer stride. Smirking, he opened the door for her, knowing full well that the reporters would latch onto the detail later when someone let them know.
For now, however, he enjoyed the quiet. He hadn't told the reporters of her release. In fact, he'd kept it extremely quiet. After all, Merlin only knew what would have happened had her family known he was to be the agent of her release.
Once outside, he chuckled low. "Welcome back to the world. You made quite the impact this weekend."
Yes, Bellatrix would know and help spread the information. The publicity was directly due to the previous bad press he'd given himself. At least with this, he could have a smokescreen to keep his aunt from delving too deeply. He wasn't ready to look at it. He sure didn't want her looking.
Ginny walked through the door muttering a thank you. Once outside she exhaled and took in a long draw of cold air. She'd had a lot of time to think about things in her temporary cell.
She looked over at Draco, the corner of her mouth drifting up as he chucked. The words however made her wince slightly, before adopting a grim grin. "I was wondering. I'd have thought the Ministry would have kept this one secret. Like Zabini's." Ginny had read about Blaise's arrest, and tying his outspoken holding in his beliefs and arrest together she could only assume they were similar.
She turned to him. "Thank you, for coming for me." She looked out into the North Sea the dark waves crashing all around the place.
She felt oddly at peace, but also like she might be in a limbo that would soon break and chaos, the normal organization of life, would return.
He shrugged slightly. "Zabini, however, was no war hero for the side of good." The last said wryly. "You dated Potter, of course your arrest made front page news. Of course, had I known how your arrest would be received, I would have arranged it myself." He carefully sidestepped slightly.
"I didn't, however." He didn't want her hexing him for this, despite his inference that he was the one who had done so to his aunt. "Truly, you would be surprised at the alliances that were forged during this brief weekend."
He looked out at the North Sea, "You're welcome. I'm impressed you made it here. Blaise was kept in a holding cell at the base of the Ministry. Incidentally, your nom de plume is compromised." He delivered the news blandly, not looking at her.
Ginny shot him a look that stated clearly that the humor was lost in the comment. Of course, she would have thought it pretty funny if she hadn't just spent the weekend locked up in a filthy cell for things she didn't consider of a criminal offense.
"What kind of alliances?" Ginny looked at him. "I just thought I should know if they were done in light of my downfall." She wondered if perceptions of her had changed. She'd always been a good witch with a favorable name to those that had opinions she actually valued. She knew her loved ones wouldn't cast her away, but... others, she wasn't sure. People were odd and fickle.
"I wonder what made me so different from him as far as punishment went," Ginny said, continuing to look out in the North Sea as she expected something to happen. "Damn. I really liked that alias. I suppose it's useless now. I've been thinking about that all weekend."
Her head turned to face him. "I feel as if, I should be completely open about my opinions. It would be better for me. It'd be better for the wizarding world to not think that things were one way or another, that there actually is middle ground."
He flicked a pale eyebrow up briefly. "Miss Granger even came to me wondering if I knew why you'd been taken. Apparently, she was unable to determine the answer for herself."
"As for punishment, I'd say it's proof Zabini hadn't actually planned anything. They know you're Morrigan, know you were one half of the pamphlets. I'm actually surprised they didn't ask you to sell me out."
He didn't think too hard about whether she would have or not. If she had, he wouldn't have been able to get her out of Azkaban. As it was, she wouldn't know the favors he pulled or the effort he put into the spin.
Draco turned to face her. "I think it would be very beneficial. Though I think the Prophet may end up outing you if you don't act quickly."
He reached into a pocket of his robes. "Oh, here." He held out a new journal for her. Her old one was still evidence, more reason why they needed to end Integration as a policy. He had no desire to follow her steps.
"Hermione contacted you?" Ginny asked very curiously. "What did she say? What did you say?"
If Hermione had been the only one of her nearest and dearest that had contacted Draco, she definitely wanted details. She thought that it would be Hermione that would have contacted Draco, sure Luna was equally observant, but perhaps less direct and assertive.
"I wouldn't have told them if the asked. Maybe you got me out before they could. The Prophet doesn't know everything. Plus they only go for the best story." Ginny could scheme a little if necessary. She was suddenly reminded of the time she was an accomplice to helping Harry speak to Sirius. That had ended up badly, hopefully this wouldn't.
Ginny looked down at the journal. It was nice a reddish leather, which she figured was appropriate. She didn't want to fawn over it too much at the moment, but she was appreciative.
"For the third time today, thank you." Ginny arched her eyebrow. "You don't have anything else up your sleeve do you, to make number four?"
Draco had expected her to be curious, though he thought the whole exchange far less interesting than she obviously did. He was simply amused. "She asked if I knew why you'd been taken. Apparently, she knew it wasn't my doing, but thought I might know."
He shrugged briefly. "I told her that it appeared you were a Separatist and that you were in Azkaban. I wasn't about to tell her I had plans to spring you. Merlin, that information is far better issued after the fact."
He nodded at her defense that she wouldn't have given his name. It was comforting, far more than it should have been. He brushed off the gratitude. "No, only the magic three." He smirked at the commentary.
"Now, I suggest you retire to your flat and message your family." That she would end up leaving him and her unnerving presence would no longer haunt him was only a bonus. She looked far too good in the green robes up against the North Sea.
Ginny nodded. "Well at least she knows, maybe she told the rest of the family." Yes, Ginny automatically plugged in Hermione and Harry as family, even in front of Draco Malfoy.
She gave him an appreciative look. "Yes, you're probably right. I should get going. I'm not going to say thank you again, but you know..." She looked at him for a moment and felt awkward. She didn't think a handshake really sufficed. But a hug seemed highly inappropriate. Instead she smiled, gave him a nod of the head before apparating.