Present day

Blaise clutches his rolled copy of Witches Weekly and the Daily Prophet. He nods to a pale blond man that walks into the Three Broomsticks. The man sits at the table a few seats over from Blaise, but watches him out the corner of his eye. Let the games begin then. Blaise pulls his newspaper open with a snap, pretending to be interested in an article on how Harry Potter had just imprisoned two more of Voldemort's supporters. Blaise chuckles loudly. They'll be ringing people up and locking them away until the day they died. Then their children will be the ones getting all the bad people together and putting them in cells to rot. He thinks about Arthur for a moment. No, he doesn't want his son to be some low paid wizard hunter.

"Excuse me, sir." Blaise looked up leisurely. The waiter holds a small glass that looked like a shot of fire whiskey. "The man at the bar sends his regards." The waiter holds the glass out to Blaise.

Of course Blaise smiles and accepts the gift. He nods towards the man at the bar before gulping down the drink. It always did burn going down quickly. Blaise ignores the man for the remainder of his visit, smiling at him before he leaves. It's all part of the game, he tells himself mentally. The winter air burns the skin on his face, which he reluctantly covers with a thick brown scarf. Ginny had made it for him three years earlier during Christmas holidays. It was bloody wonderful of her to return to his thoughts just when the potion in that drink was kicking in. He glimpses the blond man some yards away pretending to study a pair of boots in a shop's window.

Blaise could simply go to his flat, but he decides it is easier to just let the man take him to Malfoy's place. After all, it'd be saving him a lot of time and energy. He stands in front of a decorated wood shop scanning products. Dizzines. His feet carry him into the ally where he has a sudden sense of déjà vu. Ahh yes, this is where Draco had threatened him those years before. Blaise chuckles softly to himself as he slides along the wall. That had been one of the worst days of his life, to see his friend in such as horrible shape. His friend? He laughs suddenly, the sound echoing through the alley. He hears footsteps approaching, but he knows it's only Draco coming to threaten him again about his sniveling dark lord. What a load of horseshit. A cold hand touches his neck, and darkness follows.

The first thing he notices on his way inside the mansion is that it is deserted. The stupid buffoon with him draped over his shoulder high fives a bald man sitting at a desk down in the dungeons. Blaise had always hated those dungeons. When he was a boy and his parents would bring him over to visit, Draco would insist that they play in the dungeons. He should have guessed then that his best friend would grow up to be a loony prat. The man drops him on the floor carelessly, his head hitting the concrete ground hard. Blaise fights the urge to jump up and punch the taste from the man's mouth, but that would kill his entire purpose of being there. He pretends to be out cold as the man nudges him with his foot, moving him closer towards the wall. He shuts the door and sits next to the baldy man before pointing to some things in a book on the table.

With his dark eyes on the wall, Blaise wonders how long he will be locked in the dungeon before his beloved friend arrived to kill him. He debates how long he should pretend to be knocked. A few more hours should do. He glances down at his pocket watch and almost groans in annoyance. Merlin, why did it smell like misery? You're in a dungeon, you git. He mentally curses himself before deciding to take a nap.

"Aye fund 'em so 't be meh gettin' the gold. Oi, Master Malfoy?" said burly voice.

"Michelle, don't speak. You have the worst voice life could have given a person. Yes, yes. I suppose you will be getting a Christmas bonus this year. Watch him. I'll be back tomorrow. I have things to attend to."

"But I thought you - -" begins a softer voice.

"Tomorrow! Why do you all have to be so stupid and impudent? Told mother to let me choose the guards, but no…" Malfoy's voice trails off with the sound of his shoes.

Blaise wonders what it was exactly Malfoy has to do. Knowing him, it was probably torture some poor widow out of her last inch of sanity before cursing her or killing, the useless sack of shit. Blaise groans loudly. It's well beyond time he should be waking up. One of the guards approaches his cell. The man is thinner with thick curly black hair and blue eyes a few shades darker than Ginny's. Blaise pretends to stumble as he stands to his feet. The guard laughs. Blaise rests against the wall, breathing heavily.

"Where am I?" he asks in a strained voice.

"You're in heaven. You died from alcohol poisoning. Hate to tell you, but there's no dinner here in heaven. No breakfast. Well, unless the good Master wants you to eat!" Both of the men burst into laughter.

"Charming." Blaise rolls his eyes and sits down on the floor with his legs folded underneath him; he's been through worse.

On the positive side to all things, he decides, he has time to figure out what his next moves would be. No doubt Malfoy will come in the morning, almost noontime with that disgusting smirk on his face. Blaise pulls off his coat and lies on the floor staring at the ceiling. Brilliant plan. He thinks about all the times he and Ginny had been attacked by deatheaters before she'd finally been killed. It was well over ten times in all. They had been two of the luckiest people alive until that day. No matter, everything would be set back in motion in a few hours. Blaise glances at his watch again before closing his eyes to go to sleep. Yes, it was just a matter of time before he got what he was looking for.

A screech rang through the air, waking and shocking him. It wasn't a screech; it was a muggle woman dressed in a torn black dress. Bruises cover her face and every other limb visible underneath her excuse for attire. Blaise turns towards the wall before looking at his watch again. It is nearly ten o'clock in the morning. He curses himself softly, glancing down the halls for the guards. One appears in front of him suddenly and punches him in the gut. Blaise groaned for the theatrics; Ginny could hit harder than the bloke. The man chuckles heartily as he sits down at the desk again.

"Where's your friend?" he asks timidly.

"None of your business. If you miss him so much, I'll tell him when he gets back at one. Get away from the bars, you filthy mudblood!"

Blaise frowned. "I'm not a mudblood."

"You're not the only person in here either, Prince Charming," the man says with another chuckle.

"Hilarious," Blaise replies. He walks around the cell for a few minutes before becoming bored with that. "Who's the mudblood in the other cell?"

"Some fool named Finnigan. Wife and kid killed during the struggle. Will you shut up?"

Blaise hears Malfoy's voice, but it's muffled. "No, I think I'd rather have that wand in your pocket."

"Not in this life, pretty man."

"Fine. I'll just take it. Accio wand!" He shouts angrily.

The wand flew from the table into his hand. Blaise opens the gate and pointed the wand at the man. "Sorry to do this. Obliverate!" He slides behind a corner in the wall that leads to another cell, an empty one. He points the wand at the wall behind Seamus; the man turns to the wall and reads: You want to live keep your mouth shut. Seamus smirks at him and steps into the darkness of the cell. What a nutcase. Then, he thinks about why he is in the dungeons in the first place. He glances at Seamus as Malfoy's voice grows louder. He knows exactly how the man standing in the dark across from him feels.

"Barns, why are you sitting there looking stupid? Open the gate to Mr. Zabini's cell," Draco spits out. He said something to a person beside him, but Blaise couldn't recognize the voice. The man sitting at the desk does not move. He looks at Draco confused for a moment. "What the hell is wrong with you? Mother and he stupid gut feelings. No wonder father was killed!" Malfoy snatched the keys from the man sitting at the desk.

Blaise stepped into the light with a small smile on his face. Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks, his mouth open slightly. Blaise made a few motions with the wand, telling Malfoy to move out the way. Pansy Parkinson stared at him wide eyed, her stomach protruding enough for Blaise to know she was pregnant. Bloody wonderful. He sneered at Malfoy. "Why, Drake, I do believe you have been busy. You see, no one will ever tell you this, but I'd very much enjoyed it if your entire family died today."

Draco grabbed Pansy by the collar of the green turtleneck she wore. He shoved her forward angrily, causing her to stumble. "Kill her."

"Don't do it."

"Of course he won't. Sorry blundering prat that he is," Malfoy said with a look of disgust.

Blaise stared at Pansy. She had a fear in her eyes he'd seen only when that spell had hit Ginny in the chest. He raised the wand towards her with a sadistic smile on his face. He wouldn't kill her, but it wouldn't hurt to have a little fun. "Crucio!" Malfoy smiled at the sound of the woman screaming and writhing on the floor beside him. Blaise frowned; he was enjoying it too much. Something was wrong.

Pansy trembled for a few moments before struggling to sit up on her elbows. She glared at him. "What the hell are you thinking?! Can't you see I'm--"

Draco's backhand collided with her cheek, leaving a bright red mark. "Blaise, how are things at home?"

"You touch that wand and I will kill you without blinking," Blaise said coldly. Blaise pointed the wand in his hand at Malfoy, but he pulled a pregnant Pansy in front of him. His wand was pointed at her neck.

"You know, Blaise, considering that you loved Ginny so much it's very disappointing that you fell for such a childish trick."

"I'm not the one using my pregnant wife as a shield, am I Malfoy? Besides, there's nothing your deteriorating brain could trick me into doing."

"I got you to come here. No more hiding. Don't you see, Blaise?" Malfoy smirked at him. "You were always my mark. After that day in the alley, the dark lord wanted me to kill you. I never got that chance because of…"

"Because of me," Pansy choked out.

"Yes, always there dutifully by his side with those shiny blue eyes. I've always wanted to tear them out and burn them on my table."

He's really lost it, Blaise thought gingerly. He'd never seen his friend in such a fit. He held his wand up higher and said casually. "I don't want to hear your excuses and lame life story Drake. You're dead to me. So sweet you're holding Pansy in front of you. I can kill both of you with one spell."

"Blaise, don't!" Pansy shouted.

"Pansy, shut the hell up. I've never wanted you. I never will. You chose your allegiance that night in the hallway." Blaise glanced at the cells behind him. Soft clicks echoed in the air.

"Seamus?!" Pansy's eyes grew wide. She saw the muggle woman standing against the wall in her cell. Penelope Clearwater offered her a weak smile. "Penny? We thought you were - -"

Draco clamped a hand down on the woman's mouth. Penelope frowned deeply, staring Pansy in the eyes. Blaise was growing more annoyed with each passing second. Seamus stood holding the muggle woman up against him. He also frowned at Pansy, who was doing a damn good job pretending to be their friend. Then they heard them. It was the footsteps of half a dozen men. Blaise pointed his wand at Malfoy again.

"Don't do it," Penelope voice cracked at the beginning of the sentence.

"Why?" He asked angrily.

"I don't know."

"Crucio!" He screamed. The spell hit Draco in the center of the forehead. Blaise grabs Penelope's hand and motions for Seamus to follow. They run from the dungeon and into an abandoned room. His brain takes too many seconds to register the room. Ahh, Madame Malfoy's private study, he thinks while picking up a large cherry wood chair. With a small grunt, he throws the chair out the window, smashing it. Seamus and the muggle woman climb out first. Penelope turns to him with ebony eyes that shine like a clear winter sky. Her voice is steady when she says, "Go back for Pansy." Penelope takes the wand and jumps out the window.

Cold wind blew into the room through the window, chilling him to his bones. Fine, he didn't feel like being the cause of any woman's unborn child's death. He searched around the room for a woman and came up with one thing: a letter opener. Bloody brilliant. He sighs heavily before inching the door open. Draco stumbles from the dungeon with Pansy behind him. He has a tight grip on her arm as he yanks her forward. He grumbles about her being a distracting and talking when she shouldn't. Hadn't he taught her anything over the past few days? Pansy had a glare in her eyes that sickeningly reminds him of Ginny. He follows them slowly, aware that all the guards were probably outside searching for Seamus, the muggle, and Penelope.

Draco literally drags her into his green cashmere carpeted bedroom. Blaise frowns at the hideous picture of Draco, his mother and his father; their entire family was destined to for disaster. Draco threw his wand on the table and sat on the bed massaging his temples. He shouted something to Pansy that Blaise ignored as he eased the door open wider. Draco was staring out the window when he eased into the room. He turned to the door just in time to see his best friend cross his doorway.

"Zabini, will you give it up? As a matter of fact, just go."

"I came back for Pansy," he glanced at the woman that had her back to him. Draco strolled forward. "No, Drake, no wand. As a matter of fact," the wand flew from the table to his hand and he tossed it leisurely out the room. "I'm just here because Penelope told me to come back."

"Well, if that's the only reason you came back, you can go," she grumbled. She turned to him, her eyes a crystal blue.

He frowned. Draco spoke up first. "Brilliant, wasn't it? So many curses flying in the dark, you never know who got hit exactly until it was too late." His voice was grim. Blaise rolled his eyes, basically telling Draco he could shove his mock sympathy up his ass. Draco laughed sadly before saying, "I killed Pansy."

Blaise sighed. "I've decided I'll leave you alive just so you can get some help. Then, I'll come back and kill you when you're in your right mind. You coming, Pansy?"

"I am not Pansy!" She screams at him angrily. He sees her glaring blue eyes, and his heart stops.

"Pansy's spell knocked old Ginny here out. I created this plan so fast it still amazes me. I forced Pansy to drink the potion before she died. I had originally planned to kill you and Ginny so Pansy and I could take over your lives. A few strands of hair and you can be someone new for the remainder of your life. Anyway, I ripped a new strand of hair from Ginny's head, as she lay there unconscious. Pansy drank it. Thus, you have the beautiful Ginny dead. I drug Pansy's body to where Ginny's had been and I left with her in my arms. Obviously, you came too, I truly thought you'd been killed, and made the assumption I thought everyone else would." Draco sighed. He looked bored. "She was given polyjuice potion."

"Ginny? Why didn't you - -"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Because she was mine to hoard over your pretty little head. I reveled in the fact that I had your precious Ginny."

Blaise glared at Draco. He charged the pale man suddenly, losing all control. He grabbed the front of Draco's coat and shoved him back, his grip tightening. "Her family! They think she is dead. Her friends. Ours son…" Blaise slammed Malfoy against the wall. One of the pictures fell to the ground shattering. "Me! Why did you do this?"

"Hatred. Jealousy. Choose a word. I'm sure it will fit my feelings towards you."

"Love?" Ginny said softly. She was standing beside the bed with a finger pressed against her lip. She still had Pansy's face, but her bright blue eyes and vibrant red hair were there.

Blaise's grip on Malfoy loosened. He pushed him into the wall and went to Ginny, who hugged him tightly against her. His thoughts and worries melted away and all he could feel was peace. Ginny buried her face in his shirt, enjoying the smell of him that she'd missed over the days she'd been locked up.

"The word is hate, Ginny. Always." Malfoy spat out. His wand was pointed at them. "Tell him goodbye, Ginny. I finish my tasks, Zabini. Tell the dark lord that when you see him in hell." Blaise clutched Ginny against him and turned towards the wall just as Malfoy shouted. "Avada Kedavra"

"Stupefy!"

Blaise looked up to see his former best friend fall to the ground. Where had the spell gone? Ginny leaned against him weightless. It wasn't possible the spell could hit her with him shielding her. He pulled her against him, delaying the inevitable.

Hermione pushed her wand into the inside pocket of her coat. She saw Blaise holding a red haired Pansy who slowly turned into Ginny. "Ginny? Oh, Merlin. What is her body doing here?"

Blaise lifted her and carried her to the bed. Her skin looked so pale. "She was alive. Draco…" Blaise pressed his face into Ginny's breasts and cried.

Hermione put invisible bindings on Draco's wrists and ankles. She picked up his wand. "Harry and Fred are downstairs. I can take you out the back way with her if you'd like. No one has to know." Her voice broke during the last sentence. She bit on her lower lip. "I'm so, sorry, Blaise."

"Mione?" Ginny groaned. Blaise stared at her with an incredulous expression. "Blaise, what's wrong? Where's Malfoy? You fell heavy. My head is killing."

"Ginny, you're all right! Thank, Merlin. I thought you were dead again." He says happily. Ginny laughs. Blaise hugged her tightly after kissing her. "Don't ever do that again."

"Blaise, I'm a pregnant woman. We tend to faint," she said with a giggle. Hermione hugged her tightly.

After days and days of explaining what had happened to her, Ginny felt completely exhausted as she lay on the couch next to Blaise. Their son was asleep in his bed down the hall. She rather liked the quietness. Blaise's hand rested on her round stomach, and he kissed her on the neck. She got up to go to the bedroom, but Blaise pulled her back down to the couch against him. "Could we just lie here? I know we can't stay here forever, but I'm trying to start believing you're actually alive."

"I love you too."

Blaise kissed the tip of her nose. "Until the end."