Chapter Nine

Hairs, Secrets and, Owls

September 17-Ron and Hermione are locked in the girls room, trying to figure out which hairs are who's…and practicing occlumency. Since they will need it more then Ginny or I.

So, this just left an awkward silence between me and Ginny. Yaaa! (note the sarcasm)

"Err…So…" I trailed. We were left with nothing to do.

"So…" she copies.

We were both sitting in chairs, facing opposite each other, surrounding a coffee table.

She sighs and gets up. She skirts around the table and sits on the chair right beside me.

"Harry…" she began, "I know what you said at Hogwarts…But…" her eyes fill up.

I close my eyes and look down. I couldn't look into her wet eyes and see myself reflected off them. She looks so vulnerable and sad…

"Harry…" she chokes and grabs my hand. "Please. Things have changed…we-" out of the corner of my eye I see her raise her free hand to her mouth. She continues "We have changed. We aren't at Hogwarts. We can keep it secret if that's what you want!" her voice rose and became shrill before it became almost desperate, "And most importantly Harry…HARRY!" Her voice started desolate then changed to a plea.

Her tears filled over and she lowers her head onto my lap. "I-I can't stand it. I see in your eyes that you care for me…" at my strangled gasp she raises her eyes, "It's there right now…Harry. I see what my brother has with Hermione and I saw what Lupin has with Tonks…" she let out a long sorrow filled sigh.

"Life is short." she continues, her head still resting in my lap, her tears making a damp pool on my robes. "I-I understand that you don't want me to die…like everyone else you loved…but…I'm. Not. Going. To. Die! Harry, do you understand me!" she finished in a whisper, "I won't leave you…"

I raise my free hand and tangle it in her hair. "Ginny…" I let all my sorrow and pain out in that one word. "I know…I know…" I close my eyes again and take a deep breath.

There is a light flutter on my lips before it is gone. Warm breath caresses them getting stronger with the beginning of each word, while fading away at the end.

"Harry. I won't leave you." Cold air whips my face as she inhales. "I had a crush on you since I was a little girl. You were always my Hero…I-I never knew why." she lays another flutter on my lips before she adds, "I was never one to fall in love with Heroes…" She kisses my right eye, then my left. "But now I do…" She cups my face in her hands and rests her forehead on mine. "I know it's hard Harry."

I open my eyes just to peer into her deep brown eyes. I gasped. The emotion pouring from them was heart stopping… A strangled "Why?" passes through my lips.

She sighs and pulls away but I pull her back. A small smile crosses her lips then falls into a defeated frown.

"You know the story of King Arthur, Harry?"

I shake my head. I don't really know it. Never heard it really…

"Lancelot loved Guinevere and she loved him. But she was forced to marry King Arthur. They could have fought…but they didn't and where forced to live a life just in reach of each other…but never close…" she kept her eyes on mine. "I don't want that. To know love, but never to express it…" she shook her head violently and placed it back on my forehead. "No Harry. I love you. And there's nothing you can do about it." a wet smile touched her lips and she whispered "I can be a good stalker if need be…" then she kissed me.

Just a light, quick kiss, but I pulled her back. Closer.

After the kiss she pulled back just in time for Hermione and Ron to return. They think they figured out which hair is Narcissa's and which hair is Malfoy's. Considering some are about half the length of others.

But that wasn't the reason they came out. Hermione was frantic. Nothing can be easy. Nope. She was worried that we didn't get a straight answer from the Malfoy's. I asked why it mattered…Well, here is Hermione's response…

"Why? WHY? Me and Ron need to study the way they act, how they talk and their accents! It won't be easy trying to imitate their drawls or their haughty nature! And you and Ron are horrible at occlumency! It could mean our lives! Even Professor Snape could tell you were lying. Do you think Voldemort won't? And you don't seem to care! Besides, you and Ginny need to find Crabbe and Goyle Sr. and get some hair…Not that imitating them will be hard…they don't do much…just stand and grunt…"

She had a point…though, sadly, she always does.

Though she worked herself into a friendlier, more thoughtful mood by then end . That is always nice. A plus...

So it was plain luck that later that day an owl came a-knocking

Ron opened the window as the owl swooped in. It was a huge tawny owl with large, sharp talons. So, naturaly, it would be attracted to me. It landed on my shoulders. I wince as it's talons sink into my flesh. I untie the parchment as it flaps it wings and gives one more painful squeeze. Then it's gone.

I cock an eyebrow at everyone's lack of concern for my shoulders. Noticing my glaze Ginny rolls her eyes at the blood on my shirt and states, "Stop being such a crybaby, Harry, and read the letter…"

I feign mock hurt then unroll the parchment. I read the letter out loud..

Dear Friends,

I scoff at the title. 'friends' bah! We're not anyone's friends…

I am sorry at my obvious lack of courtesy the other day. Things, out of my control, came up. I am sure you can guess what said things may have concerned. And if not. Please, disregard the last lines.

I cock an eyebrow. Am I thinking clearly…did that really say-

"Did that just say what I think it did?" Ginny whispers

"He just said, that if we don't know what the problems where concerning…then not to bother contacting him…"

I look up. Hermione is wide eyed…

Like I said above. We didn't have much time to discuss my proposition. I would be wiling to meet with you again, at a later date. Please contact me if you are interested. You all seem bright, and if Severus' judgment can be trusted, you seem like the right people for the job.

I laugh out loud.

"I told you Professor Snape was telling the truth last night!" Yelled Hermione. At our unimpressed looks she continues, with narrow eyes, "Was I the only one that realized he was leaving his mind open? And actually took the opportunity to probe it? Like he was letting us…?" at our surprised faces Hermione laughed. "I guess so!"

"What do you mean…?" I ask reluctantly.

"You know very well what I mean Harry!" she dropped her arms to her lap in exasperation. "He made sure that we trusted him. That we knew he was telling the truth and left his mind open almost the whole time…and I think I was the only one that caught it!

I bow my head in shame…then read the rest of the letter.

You know where to contact me. And you can contact me at any time. I look forward to meeting you again. The pleasure will be all mine, I am sure.

Lucius Malfoy

Hermione was practically drooling with excitement. I wonder if it would be to pathetic to respond right away…

Whoa…that decision isn't mine I guess. Hermione just stated…Nay, demanded, that we wait until tomorrow. We can't wait too long. Our time is running out. Though I'm sure the polyjuice potion has long shelf life…I just think we all want to get this over with…Well, I'm really assuming, but since no one said anything about it…

September 18- Hermione already sent off a note asking to meet Lucius again… I bet Ron a Gallion that she would write a suck-up note. Ron, because he knows Hermione so well, took it, saying that she will be coldly polite. Ginny, who just add to join in, bet that the note would be dripping with happiness…

Unfortunately, no one won. Hermione spotted us discussing it…A pity…I was so sure I would have won too…As it is, Hermione, I think just because of our bets, wouldn't let us see the note she wrote. I think she was still afraid we were betting on her note…Not that I blame her…

Oh well...

Surprise surprise…that wasn't the only exciting thing to happen today. We got another owl. Just a plain post-owl that you can use at Diagon Alley.

M. has decided, after speaking with me, to keep in touch. Send a reply. I have arranged for several choice people to be there. Though no one dangerous. So you can take your pick. Be warned. H and G are skilled, though R and H are not so. I would advise that you pick ones that won't overstep your skills and put you in danger.

Several Never Allow Pressure Ever.

Hmm…it's from Snape. The slimy git. I guess he didn't feel the need to address the note to anyone…or sign it right…

Hermione disagrees with me. She says it is signed spectacularly…Supposedly the last line was not a weird piece of last minute advise.

Hurrah Hurrah! Instead it was his signature. SNAPE. He is so very talented…

Gawd…Did I ever mention how much I just love sarcasm?

Hermione sighs deeply. Shaking the letter in her hand.

"This brings up some problems…" she signs again

We are all sitting in the chairs in the living room surrounding the coffee table.

For some reason Ginny had sat beside me and was holding my hand. When Ron and Hermione noticed, they just gave identical smiles…

I look down . I already know what they are…

"Oi, Hermione, what problems?" Ron asks, dense as ever.

Even Ginny has caught on. "Ron, you prat. Did you even listen as Hermione read the letter?"

Ron looked outraged and glared at his sister. "Of course I did!" then he turned his head and muttered something unintelligible into Hermione's ear that made her turn beat red.

I could only imagine what it was and laughed, "Get a room!"

Hermione got over her embarrassment fast and replied, "Ron, you aren't as good as me or Ginny at occlumency. Snape said as much. Either you practice more, or Ginny will have to go with me…" She looked down and whispered "Sorry Ron…you understand the reasons right?"

Ron was gulping like a fish out of water but he nodded.

So we practiced…

September 19-The next day we were stuck between practicing occlumency and waiting for a reply form Malfoy.

Unfortunately, occlumency didn't get much better.

Fortunately, we got a reply from Malfoy.

It seems like he had the same problem as we did when we received his note. He wants to meet us again, but he doesn't want to seem too eager, to he waits until the next day. HAH!

Dear Friends,

I am excited that you are willing to meet with me and my associates. I have a party planned for tomorrow at 8pm. It would be wonderful if you could attend. Inside this envelope are 2 tickets. One for Messrs Rick McGrier and Steve Smith and their dates. Which, I'm assuming, would be Misses Harmony Smith and Sue Flither.
I look forward to seeing you there.

Lucius Malfoy

"Huhm!" Ginny says, indignant, wrinkling her nose. "He gives the tickets to the guys and assumes that we girls will be taken as a date!"

"So…are we going?"

I raise my eyebrows. She has to ask?

Hermione catches my disbelief and adds, "Just to make sure we're all agreed…"

From around the room came three 'Yay's'.

Next Chapter:Taking Our Pick...--Finds Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Harry off at the Manor for a party...The only question is...What do Death Eater's do for fun?

Also, Taking Our Pick is my longest chapter yet!