Boy - (A 'Blaire Zabini' sequel) || Draco Malfoy

2 - Ghosts

"The increased level of Dementor activity is becoming a real cause for concern. It suggests that they are aware we are down here."

A troubled murmur went around the table as Kingsley's words sank in. I anxiously fiddled with my bracelet; trying to press down the fear that threatened to overwhelm me.

"But this makes no sense," Arthur spoke up amongst the rising chatter, "why now? After all these years?"

"My theory is simply that they sense our increasingly low spirits." Kingsley went onto explain, the deep tone of his voice instantly quieting everyone down drawing attention back to him. "Dementors, as you know, are drawn to misery. When we first found ourselves down here, shock masked our low feelings. And then we had hope; creating a workable community together, and plans to overthrow You-Know-Who. But as the years have passed, our hope has dwindled. Spirits are at an all time low and the Dementors feel it and want it. It's only a matter of time before the Death Eaters's attention are drawn to this."

"SO WE RAISE MORALE!" Ginny roared, rising from her seat as she slammed her hand down hard on the table, causing Molly to yelp and clutch her chest. "Get everyone to cheer the fuck up or get out!"

I cocked an eyebrow, wanting to point out that she was the most miserable bitch of the lot of us; but deciding instead to stay quiet for the sake of a peaceful life.

"Thank you, Miss Weasley," Kingsley said with an exasperated sigh as he motioned for her to sit back down, "but simply telling everyone to 'cheer the fuck up', as you so eloquently put, is not going to achieve anything. We need to give the people hope; something to strive towards."

"But how?" Ron asked, as all eyes swivelled to him. "Lie? Tell them we're close to bringing down No-Nose and freedom is just around the corner?"

"Lying is a dangerous game," Kingsley said, shaking his head. "If they find out, we'll lose their trust and eventually all hope. It would be extremely counterproductive to say the least. No, what we need is a new strategy. We need someone Upstairs smack bang in the middle of the enemy; gaining their trust and passing us information. Without this, we literally have nothing. We cannot even begin to bring him down if we don't get up there and kill that snake."

I inwardly sighed; this was not the first time we were having this conversation. And I knew exactly what was coming next.

Because getting someone Upstairs amongst the enemy was easier said than done; anyone qualified and skilled enough to do the job was too well known and would be either captured or killed on the spot, thus giving away our hideout.

Any journey made Upstairs was done solely with the aid of the Invisibility Cloak, which Ron had managed to rescue just before the explosion. And because of protective enchantments on Hogwarts grounds, Apparition couldn't be done without a walk under a Dementor filled sky first. So it was vital that visitors Upstairs must be able to produce a fully corporeal Patronus; something that only Kingsley could seem to achieve these days.

But Kingsley was a well known Order member and so therefore would not be able to fool the enemy. I, however, with my blood and Slytherin status, would have been perfect for the job, but if it weren't for two major reasons.

The first, of course, being Jack. I couldn't and wouldn't leave him to go on such a dangerous mission. I was his mother and he needed me alive down here more than he needed me dead Upstairs.

The second reason... well... that was something that baffled even Kingsley, himself. I'd had no wand when I came down here which wasn't unusual in itself; a good few of us had lost our wands during battle. But what was unusual was the fact that literally no one else's wand worked for me. It was as though I'd lost my magic entirely.