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Face of Death	By : dweek Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Voldemort/Ginny Views: 5282 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Ginny-
The next day Harry healed my arm as promised. After that, I’ve gone out of my way to please him. Whenever he is around, I submit to his every need even if it's degrading or painful. I need to behave so that he doesn’t kill me before I can figure out a way out of this.
Things have been alright the last few days. He hasn’t done anything particularly bad, nothing that will leave me with any lasting damage. Well, physical damage at least. I feel like such a coward whenever he is around, but he has all the power, and he makes sure that I know that I have none.
No one else has come to check on me; I imagine that no one from the side of light even knows any of the things he is doing. It makes me wonder if he has become that good of an actor, or if it's something wrong with me that brings out this cold side in him.
Each night as I’ve slept Riddle keeps offering to help me, to give me the power I will need to face Harry, but I just don’t think I can trust him either. I have to keep reminding myself that I sort of know this Riddle, this was the boy who manipulated me back when I was a child, and I can’t let him do that again.
Every time Harry comes to visit me, Riddles offer sounds just a little bit better. How much longer before I give in?
When Harry is away, I find myself looking at the journal. I realize it must only detect communication when I send a message out, or Harry would have already returned in anger. Daphne keeps asking if I’m alright, to just send her a sign.
I want to ease her fears, but it’s too risky without a plan in place before I put even a dot of ink on that page.
Harry hasn’t come yet today, but I find myself looking at the journal once again. I sit on my bed curled in blankets with the journal open on my lap. She hasn’t written anything new today, and I wonder what she is doing. Maybe she has given up on me. I think that I should close the journal and do something productive with my day when words start to appear on the page.
We have a plan. But we’ve found that it's only going to work if you write back. We can track the book my Lady, but only if you can send a message to track. The longer the message, the better. We don’t know how else we can find you if you can’t write to us. Please write back as soon as possible.
I mouth goes dry as I look at the words. I read them several times before I look up to where my quill and ink are sitting on the desk. It is possible Harry is busy right now, and if I do this, he won’t be able to come and punish me right away. It's also possible he is on the way anyway, and this will just set him off.
When he comes, he always appears in the kitchen, and I have to think that is some kind of safe Apparition zone for him. As I take a staggered breath, a plan starts for form in my head. I set the book aside and head out into the kitchen. Beginning in the hall leading to my room I put as much in his way as I can, I find anything that can trip him up, anything that can delay him from getting to my door.
Once the hall is filled I close the door to my room and lock it the muggle way before pushing all the meager furniture I have in front of it. I steady my breathing before picking up the journal and ink. I cram myself into the furthest corner from the door before I open to Daphne’s page. Swallowing back the last of my fear I start to send my first message in days.
I haven’t been writing because Harry has a ward that can tell when I do. If this spell of yours works then, you have to come as soon as possible. I have no wand to defend myself from him, and he will be so very angry for this betrayal. I'm worried he is going to kill me so if you don't make it tonight I have no idea what I'm going to do. I'm so sorry Daphne, but this is all I have left.
I hear a crash in the kitchen that makes my ink stall. “GINNY!” He growls in anger so I start writing again, wanting to give them as much time as I can.
He’s here now, but I put some obstacles in his way so I can write to you for as long as possible.
“You little bitch! What are you hiding from me!” Harry yells as he blasts things from his path.
He's furious so you should expect a fight when you get here. It’s selfish to ask you to come, but I’m so scared that he is going to kill me this time.
I look up when I hear the door shake. I turn my head just in time for everything in the room to explode out of his way. My only thought is that he can’t find the book right away, so as the debris crashes against me I shove it under a large piece of dresser and move away from it as he steps over the door.
I’m trying not to shake as I stand and look into the blazing fury in his eyes.
“Where is it Slut? What did you hide from me?” He asks in a low, deadly tone. “Were you talking to him do you think he can save you?” He asks with a cold laugh as he moves closer to me.
“No,” I say shaking my head because I wasn’t talking to Tom at all.
“Right.” He says keeping himself between me and the door he glances around the room looking for what I was using.
“I’m going to say it was a book.” He says motioning to my leg.
I flinch because I thought he was going to break it when I glance down to see I’m covered in ink. The bottle must have spilled in the explosion.
“Please Harry. I just wanted to talk to someone.” I say, and I don’t have to fake the fear in my voice.
“You were calling for help, and we both know it.” He says as he takes another step towards me. “Where is the book, Ginny?” He asks before grabbing my wrist.
I shake my head; I suspect the only way for them to find me is if the book is still whole. I know I have to stall as long as I can.
“I don’t know. When you…” I start but he puts the end of his wand on my arm, and I feel the bone shatter. I fall to my knees screaming in the pain that he just inflicted. It’s worse than anything he as done before and I think I may actually pass out from the blinding agony.
“I can help you…” Riddle says in the back of my mind while I try very hard not to puke or blackout.
“Come on Ginny, be a good girl, so I don’t have to punish you even more,” Harry says as he stands over me.
“I can make you strong…” Riddle temps as I feel Harry’s wand press against my shoulder.
“I don’t know!” I scream before everything goes white with pain.
“It’s me or death…” Riddle says, and I know he’s right as the blackness presses in on me.
“YES!” I scream because I don’t want to die.
Everything shifts after that. The pain is gone, and I find that I'm sitting out in the sun on the Hogwarts lawns dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. I’m comfortable and warm, and I feel safe for the first time in weeks.
“Everything will be okay now Ginevra, you stay here and rest, I’ll deal with this,” Riddle says before I feel a kiss on my cheek and I find myself completely alone. Well, this can’t be good.
Luna-
The Dark Lord has allowed me a space in one of the well-lit rooms of the castle. I can’t help but enjoy the feel of the sun on my skin as I set up my newly acquired supplies. It’s been a few days since he confronted me about my part in the plans to resurrect Harry, but he had not approached me about any of these lessons yet.
What I have received is the watercolors and other supplies to start making the cards. I've planned all the sketches now, so I use the light I have been given to begin painting the first card. It isn't long before I lose myself if the art of shapes and colors.
When I feel lips on the back of my neck, I jump, pulling my brush away from my work, so it doesn't get ruined. I look back at Blaise’s challenging smile and shake my head.
“Have you eaten at all today?” He asks looking around at the studio I’ve made my own.
“I think I had some toast this morning,” I tell him before turning back to my work.
“It’s four,” Blaise says taking my wrist and pulling the brush from my hand. “You can take a break.” He adds as I glare at him.
“I’m not really hungry,” I tell him as he starts to collect the rest of my brushes.
“You know you’re rather pretty when you’re not being so weird.” He says trying to be playful with me.
“You should know by now that I don’t really care about being pretty.” I remind him as he takes my hands and leads me over to a table in the room. He’s set out a meal for us, and I have to wonder how long he was here before I noticed him.
“You know writing doesn’t really distract you as much as this does.” He says motioning with his head towards my painting supplies. “Is this what you wanted to do before everything happened?” He asks as he pulls a chair out for me.
“Make evil cards so that I can suck the love and joy away from people’s lives?” I ask looking over at the two I have drying.
“Making beautiful things.” He answers making me look at him.
“Painting you mean,” I say as I pick at the food in front of me. “Always just a distraction. I was going to follow in my father’s footsteps and really find all the wondrous creatures of the world.” I tell him thinking about my camping trips with my father.
“These adventures made you happy?” He asks curiously, and I nod before looking up at him. “What did you want to do?” I ask taking a bite of my chips.
“Oh my plans were always simple. Whore myself around and enjoy life.” He tells me with a smile. “Find a rich widow to give me all her money and support my hedonist lifestyle.”
“I’m not a widow,” I tell him with a smile, which makes his smile brighten.
“But you are rich.” He points out stealing a chip from my plate.
“Only because you and Draco took it upon yourselves to make sure of that.” I point out.
“That property was your due,” Blaise tells me seriously. “I still can’t really touch it myself.”
“You know it doesn’t really mean very much to me. Being rich was never a fantasy of mine.” I tell him pushing my plate away because I can’t really think about eating right now. “I need to get back to work,” I tell him as I stand.
He sighs catching my hand and looking up at me. “Are you okay?” He asks searching my eyes.
“I know you’re worried about me, but you really don’t have to be,” I tell him squeezing his hand back.
He chuckles as he to gets to his feet and kisses my cheek. “I think that is all I do these days.” He says shaking his head. “I never thought I would actually… care, you know?” He asks, and I smile at him with a nod.
“I know caring is new to you,” I tell him cupping his cheek in my hand. “But I really am okay. It isn’t perfect obviously, but…” I lick my lips. “It's not as bad as it seems,” I say with a nod.
When I pull out of his hand, he lets me slip away and head back towards my work.
“These are the cards you were telling me about?” He asks to change the subject, but that is probably for the best.
“They will be my Dark Tarot someday maybe.” I agree as my stomach sinks at the idea of actually enchanting any of them.
“You know there hasn’t been a Dark Oracle in more than a thousand years,” Blaise says in a distracted tone. “The Dark Lord told me some of his plans for you.” He admits turning to look at me as I clean some of my brushes so I can start anew.
“I know. At least none of any real power.” I say trying to pretend it isn’t that big of a deal.
“He says you could be one of the greatest of all time.” He says, and I know he is looking at me.
“He has said the same to me as well,” I admit wondering why we are talking about this.
“I never really thought of you as a Dark Witch before.” He says, and I know he is going somewhere with this. “Is that something you want?” He asks making me sigh as I start to work on the small card once more.
“It's something I'm doing now,” I tell him not looking away from my work. “It's something I will have to live with,” I add after a moment.
“You know I’m a Dark Wizard Luna.” He says as if that should mean something.
“I know.”
“The power isn’t all bad.” He tells me gently, and I stop so I can give him my full attention. Looking at his colors I don’t see a lie, but there is some hesitance. “Using dark spells can be rather intoxicating.” He admits watching me carefully.
“He’s asking you to help convince me?” I ask, shaking my head before turning back to my art. “You know if I give myself over to it, if I become the witch he wants me to be, I may not really be yours any longer. There is a reason Bellatrix Lestrange is in love with him.” I point out because I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately.
“You are never going to be anything like her.” He tells me, and I can hear his frown. “But you are going to have to pick a side. Either you stay here, loyal to him, or we run when we can and join the rebellion.”
“You would run with me?” I ask glancing back at him with a frown of my own.
I watch him take in a deep breath before nodding. “I care about you.” He reminds me, but he’s still frowning. “But I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I would rather stay. I would rather live in this world than what we had before.”
I frown at that and shake my head. “So you want people to be living as property? You want our world to be divided into classes?” I ask trying to understand.
He sighs shaking his head like I'm being childish. “I want to not live in a world where I must be ashamed of my blood; I want to live in a world where I don’t have to hide the fact I can use real power. I don’t want to live in a world where every idiot gets a gold star for trying, and truly exceptional wizards are ignored.”
“But is all of that really worth the price of families being torn apart and people enslaved?” I ask narrowing my eyes at him.
“I don’t care about those people. I care about my people.” He says without anger.
“Well, I care about those people. I can’t just do nothing when people are living like that.” I tell him shaking my head.
“Does that mean you’ve decided to run away with me?” He asks, and I look at the floor with a frown.
“I don’t want to join the rebellion anymore,” I say in a small voice. “I helped to bring back Harry, but I can’t follow him like he is now.”
“So what then?” Blaise asks moving to rest his hands on my shoulders.
“I don’t know,” I tell him shaking my head.
“Have you ever thought about the fact that you have the most powerful wizard in the world listening to what you have to say?” He asks gently. “That maybe you could actually do good for those people you worry about right here?”
“Like Ginny was trying to do?” I ask looking up at him as he strokes my cheek softly.
“Yeah. You’re his oracle. You could do some good right here.”
Daphne-
“It didn’t work. It’s just pointing back to this book.” Draco says after he casts the tracking spell for what seems like the twentieth time.
“Try tracing back one of her entries,” I tell him pointing to the last message Ginny sent.
“It doesn’t work.” He says shaking his head back at me. “If I try on anything but the latest message the magic doesn’t work at all.” He explains with a deep frown. “The spell is tracing your words because they are the only active magic. Maybe if we could get her to write something we could trace her words.”
“But she hasn’t answered any of my messages yet.” I point out looking at the notes from the last few days. “Maybe she doesn’t even have the book anymore,” I say as dread starts to fill my chest.
“This is what we are going to do,” Draco says speaking firmly as he tries to take some of my worries off my shoulders. “We are going to get ready to move out, then you are going to write a message to her…” I start to interrupt, but he holds up his hand to stop me. “...That says we need her to write to us. Explain the situation. Hopefully, she is just cautious.” He says still speaking in a direct tone.
“Alright.” I agree before preparing myself for a long hike in the woods. We’ll obviously Apparate as close as we can, but they have to have a ward up that protects from just anyone going in.
“Any word from the castle?” I ask looking up from my boots because I know Draco got mail today and I have to wonder what it was about.
“Just my father being helpful.” He says with a sigh as he shakes his head. “He is going to see me as the teen that couldn’t kill Dumbledore for the rest of my life you know. He feels the need to take care of every little thing.”
“You’ll prove him wrong Draco; we’ll prove him wrong,” I promise as I stand and move in to distract him just a bit. “What does he want now?” I ask as I sit in his lap.
“There is a French girl he wants me to meet.” He says as his hand settles on the small of my back. “This is after I told him of my intentions when we get our Lady back.”
I smile before leaning in to rest my head against his. “When I turn our Lady into a political power he will see the right of your choice,” I tell him as he pulls me a bit closer.
“We can do this.” He says with a single firm nod.
“We will do this,” I tell him slipping off his lap so we can get back to the work that needs to be done.
“I’ll write the message; you be ready as soon as she starts writing back,” I tell him trying to play hopeful.
“Agreed.” He says standing over me as I start my message.
We have a plan. But we’ve found that it's only going to work if you write back. We can track the book my Lady, but only if you can send a message to track. The longer the message, the better. We don’t know how else we can find you if you can’t write to us. Please write back as soon as possible.
When I finish the message, I look up to Draco to see if he agrees with what I wrote. He nods his head in confirmation keeping his eyes on the book and his wand ready to start the spell. I feel like I’m holding my breath for the next five minutes before I whimper and shake my head.
“She can’t write a message back,” I say because I can’t think of anything else that would keep her now. I know she wants to come home, and she knows she is in danger there, what else could be delaying her?
“Maybe he’s there right now?” Draco offers an alternative answer, so I nod wordlessly. “We should still keep as vigilant as we can.” He adds pulling over a chair so he can relax while still keeping his eyes on the book.
We sit like that for what feels like hours but was probably just under an hour when lines start to form on the page. I hold my breath as I read her message and Draco begins to cast the tracking spell.
I haven’t been writing because Harry has a ward that can tell when I do. If this spell of yours works then, you have to come as soon as possible. I have no wand to defend myself from him, and he will be so very angry for this betrayal. I'm worried he is going to kill me so if you don't make it tonight I have no idea what I'm going to do. I'm so sorry Daphne, but this is all I have left.
“Oh, Draco tell me you have it,” I say looking to him as he wraps his arm around my waist and I snatch the book from the desk.
He Apparates us to what seems like the middle of the woods, so I open the book again as Draco continues to follow the spell.
He’s here now, but I put some obstacles in his way so I can write to you for as long as possible. He's furious so you should expect a fight when you get here. It’s selfish to ask you to come, but I’m so scared that he is going to kill me this time.
I take out my wand as I follow Draco. When we pass the same rock for the third time, I shake my head and stop him from going on.
“A Confungus ward,” I tell him looking around to see if there is any rune in sight that it could anchored to. If we can’t find an anchor then we will never make it to the cabin.
“Pretty smart, probably Granger’s idea.” He says as he starts to look around too. It has to be on a rock or a tree.
The weakness for this kind of ward is that the rune for it is pretty apparent. If you can figure out what you’re stuck in you should be able to find and destroy the anchor.
“Unless she put an illusion over the rune,” Draco says as if he is reading my mind.
“Multipart protection does seem like her style.” I agree before I start my spell to reveal hidden objects.
I smile brightly as a glow forms on a rock, and I go over to dispel the illusion.
“You are brilliant,” Draco says kissing my neck before I go to look in the book once more. I frown, she hasn’t written anything since we got to the woods, and that can't be good.
I hear rocks crushing and glance up to see Draco blasting at the rock a few times. “Hopefully there aren't any more surprises. She didn’t have limitless time to set this all up.” Draco reminds me walking back over so he can recast the tracking spell.
We start heading deeper into the forest once again as Draco follows his spell more easily now. I scream as the book bursts into flames in my arms, and I toss it to the ground so that it doesn’t burn me too.
“He’s found it.” Looking up to see Draco has lost the thread of the spell.
“Yeah, but it’s definitely in this direction,” Draco says firmly taking my hand as we keep going with nothing to guide us, but where the spell was last pointing.
My heart is racing because I know Ginny is in danger if not already dead or maybe even worse. I try to focus on just putting one foot in front of the other as we keep moving forward while the sun seems to be getting lower and lower on the horizon.
I perk up as I hear yelling off in the distance and I don’t miss a beat before I start running full force in that direction. Yelling means Ginny is still alive and I will be damned if I miss saving her by moments. I can hear Draco on my heels as we are both running full tilt towards the fight.
When I spring into a small clearing around a modest cabin, I see them at once. Raw power runs over Ginny’s skin as she defends herself against Harry’s spells and seems even to be throwing a few of her own without a wand.
“GINNY!” I scream, running towards her so I can add my shield to her own.
She turns to look at me, and I swear her eyes are blazing red for a flash before she loses her footing and slumps to the ground in a heap.
Both Draco and I put up shields to get ourselves between Harry and our Mistress.
“Back off Potter!” Draco snarles, as he throws some more offensive spells back in Harry’s direction.
“SHE BELONGS TO ME!” I hear a cry that sounds nothing like the Harry I knew in school. I don’t have time to look up through as I make sure Ginny is still alive.
Only now do I notice the deep purple bruising all down the right side of her body. Oh, Merlin what has he done to her.
"We’ve got to get her out now!” I yell moving up next to Draco so that I can throw my own spells. “I can’t lift her,” I say more softly as I start to take on the defensive role.
“YOU’RE NOT TAKING HER ANYWHERE, YOU SLIME!” Potter screams, and I’m actually pushed back as his spells hits my shield.
“Meet you in the place.” Draco agrees as he moves back to scoop up Ginny. When I see him Disapparate, I make a run for it, casting defense spells behind me as I go. I need a moment to Apparate, so I move around the cabin to get out of his eyeline before I think hard on the room at the Inn.
I land screaming as I was hit by one of his spells just before I got away. My shoulder feels like it’s on fire, but I can’t help but feel relieved to see Ginny laying in my bed and Draco casting as many wards as he can remember.
“We did it.” I tell him collapsing to my knees as I put pressure on my wound.
Ginny-
I watch the blue sky as the dread in me builds the longer I'm in the fantasy creation alone. If Riddle isn’t here, it has to mean that he is the one with control over my body. The lingering memory of the pain makes it so I can’t really regret giving into Riddle, but at the same time, I have no idea what kind of evil he could do in control of my form.
“I think we should stay here for a bit,” Riddle says suddenly laying next to me. “It’s pretty rough out there, and I think your loyal servants can do their job without us.”
“What happened?” I ask sitting up so I can look down at him.
“Your ex and I had a bit of a battle. He is throwing some very nasty spells these days. I'm pretty sure he stole them from me.” He says looking completely relaxed.
“Draco and Daphne came for me?” I ask hoping they don’t get hurt while saving me.
“That Daphne is a raging fury.” He says in a pleased tone. “But we should still stay here until things settle down a bit.”
I nod my head looking at the sky as if I could see out into the real world.
“I told you I could help,” Riddle says as he runs his hand up and down my back. “Don’t worry, I’ll think of all sorts of ways for you to repay me.” He adds and I can hear his smirk.
I know when he finally lets me wake because my body feels as if it has been crushed under something very heavy and maybe a bit sharp. It hurts so much I can’t really tell where the hurt is. There is a new jab of pain every time I take a shallow breath. It takes me a few moments before I can think of anything outside my own body, but soon I am hearing familiar voices.
“We can’t stay here much longer. It will be easy for them to track us to this Inn.” I hear Draco’s voice carry from a short distance away.
“I wish we could get a healer here before we have to move. Where can we even go Draco?” Daphne asks, and she is much closer.
“How is your shoulder doing?” He asks, and I frown as I wonder what happened to Daphne’s shoulder.
“It'll be fine; I’m worried about our Lady.” She says, and I think she may be squeezing my hand.
“W-where?” I ask finding it painful to speak, but I need to know what is going on.
“My Lady?” Daphne shifts on the bed I'm laying on and I whimper as a new shock of pain travels down my form. “I’m sorry.” She gasps moving away quickly.
“Where…” I start licking my lips before I push out another word. “...are…” I have to take a new breath before speaking, but Draco cuts me off.
“Don’t speak my Lady. We are in an Inn on the outskirts of the Black Forest.” He says, and I can hear him coming closer to me. “The rebellion is going to track us here soon. I think it's best if we put you to sleep for travel.” He explains.
“Y-yes,” I tell him because I can only imagine how it's going to feel to Apparate or flew in my condition.
I hear a loud thumping sound before blackness devours me and there is nothing.
The next time I wake much of the pain is gone, but much of the feeling is gone too. It's like someone just removed the right side of my body and left a low ache in its place. I open my eyes slowly to look at myself.
My right arm is nearly purple and more than a bit puffy. But it's still there, so I assume they have done something to lessen the pain. I look around slowly from what I can see in my lying down position. It seems to be some kind of room in a castle with stone walls. They aren’t exactly right for right for Hogwarts, and I can’t really think of any other castles I’ve been to.
“Ginny?” I hear Daphne call, and I try to look in the direction of her voice. She sits on the bed next to me, and I smile because she is smiling at me.
“Where are we?” I ask still only being able to take shallow breaths speaking is a bit labored, but not nearly as bad as before.
“A Malfoy estate in France. You’ve been out for three days.” She tells me carefully.
I swallow nodding slightly as I try to put my mind around these simple concepts.
“Draco has a healer here that he trusts and has been looking after you.” She explains a bit more.
“You’re shoulder?” I ask because I remember Draco mentioning it.
“The healer repaired the damage. It’s fine now.” She says, but I don’t know if I should believe her. “Your injuries are much more extensive, and he is worried that he doesn’t have the skill not to make it worse if he tries in real healing.
“Tom?” I ask because I want to know if he is coming for me now that I’m free of Harry.
“We’ve sent him an owl. But we aren’t sure if he got it. We were a little worried about giving away our location if anyone gets the mail but him.” She says, and I can’t help but whimper. I have a driving need to be safe in Tom’s arms. It's like his embrace is the only place I will ever feel safe again.
“Dark Mark.” I say and she shakes her head.
“Draco’s mark isn’t powerful enough to signal all the way back to England.” She says, and I shake my head.
“Mine is deeper.” I remind her. I want Tom here now, and it's the only thing I can think to do.
“That could work, but it’s too dangerous in your condition, my Lady.” She says taking my left hand in both of hers. “We’ll be safe here for a while, and we're figuring out transportation back to England.”
“Give me a wand. I’ll do it myself.” I tell her swallowing as I try to ignore the ache.
“The patient is awake.” A man that I don't know says as he walks into the room.
“Give me a wand,” I command him making him frown down at me.
“Why do you want a wand?” He asks sounding a bit worried.
“She wants to use her Dark Mark,” Daphne explains, and I can hear the worry in her voice too.
“That is out of the question m’Lady. You are in no condition to be subjecting yourself to that high amount of dark magic.”
I whimper. Why don’t these people understand that I need Tom to make me safe again?
“When?” I ask trying to relax my body because the stress only makes the pain start to return.
“A few weeks at the very least.” He says, and I shake my head even though it hurts and is making a buzzing sound in my ears.
“No. No, I can’t wait that long.” I tell him as my breath comes in shorter and I think I might actually suffocate.
“Shhh shhh.” Daphne moves in and runs her fingers up and down my arm as she works to calm me. “We will be back at the castle in no time.” She promises, and I work to calm myself as I think of being back with Tom.
“Is there really no way to bring this healer here for her?”
“We’ve told you that’s out of the question. There is just as much a question of safety as there is health.” Daphne argues. “Once we finish the litter we need to get back to England.”
“Litter?” I ask confused now by this conversation. I continue to force myself to breathe as the world seems to be closing in.
“We are building a bed to transport you in safely my Lady.” She says, and the Healer huffs as if he thinks the idea is ridiculous. “Well more safely anyway. It isn’t perfect, but it’s the best we can do in the time ranger we have.”
Luna-
When I enter my studio a few days later, I find the Dark Lord looking over the few cards I’ve finished that day. I could have gotten more done if Blaise hadn’t distracted me, but I hope I’ve made enough progress to please him.
“My Lord?” I ask bowing my head to announce my presence.
“Your style is very delicate.” He says as he takes my first card down from the drying line. “This will do very nicely for our lesson tonight.”
“Lesson my Lord?” I ask because he hadn’t mentioned it at all before.
“You will be enchanting your first card.” He says looking over at me with a cold smile. “I’ve found the first few of your volunteers earlier today.” He explains making me shiver a little. “But there is a risk to you to enchant more than one card night.”
“Volunteers my Lord?” I ask as he hands me the card and moves past me into the hall without answering. I look down at the card in my hand the lion looks up from it with knowing eyes.
I force a deep breath from my lungs before rushing to catch up with the Dark Lord. “My Lord?” I ask again as I follow him down the stairs. Students I once attended class with, move out of our way.
“Where are we going, my Lord?” I ask trying to ignore any of the looks people are directing our way. They think we are lovers and wonder what kind of woman I have to be to agree to such a thing.
“The Chamber will do for this; there are those who wish to watch.” He says as if we will be putting on some kind of show.
“My Lord, for this card I have to…” I start unable to bring myself to say it.
“And there are those who need to see.” He tells me as if he is savoring what I must do to whoever his volunteer is.
“I’m not ready, my Lord,” I say, and this time he stops to pivot in my direction. His hand lunges out to grasp my neck before I can react he pulls me much too close to him.
“Have you not been studying as I have directed?” He asks squeezing my neck just a little.
“I have, my Lord,” I tell him trying to keep my breathing calm, so I don’t run out of air too quickly.
“Than what is the problem?” He asks his hold tightening enough to bruise and make my airway struggle.
“I don’t think I can do that to some innocent person.” I gasp out.
He actually laughs at that. He squeezes my neck just a little harder before letting go of me completely. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that.” He says before turning to continue on his way.
I follow him in silence after that. When we get to the Chamber, I find that the entire inner circle is gathered around as well as other high ranking Death Eaters. I swallow hard ignoring the pain in my throat as I do.
“Ready yourself as I explain what is about to happen.” The Dark Lord says as he holds the card out to me.
I take it before curtsying and walking over to kneel next to his throne.
“Welcome my most loyal subjects.” He greets them with his arms spread wide. “Tonight will be a showing of great and ancient magic. But you all know that is not why I have invited you. That is not exactly what you are here to witness. Bring out our first… Volunteer.” The way he says the word makes me shiver and all I can think is that he’s caught Harry, that he wants to force me to do this horrible ritual to Harry.
When I see an untouched Michael Connor, I almost feel relieved, then sick with myself for that relief. No one deserves what I have to do to enchant this card.
“This boy was one of the rebels to dare touch what is mine. For that reason, my Mistress will be using him to add to her power.”
I keep my eyes down, but I can feel all eyes upon me now. I glance up to see a man struggling to get free of his captors. He is strong I can tell, he fits what I need to make the spell work, but at the same time I know I can’t do that to someone.
I’m so distracted looking at Connor that I don’t notice the Dark Lord until he crouches down right next to me.
“Can we both agree he isn’t exactly innocent.” He uses my words against me. “You will do this.” He orders and I shake my head because really can’t bring myself to cross this line, not even with someone as foul as Michael Connor.
“I don’t think I can,” I tell him in a soft voice so that the room doesn’t hear. “Not even to him.”
“You say that now. But let's see what you think after I show you what he did.” He says before forcing me to look into his eyes.
Before I can blink, I find myself standing in the snow in a nearly abandon part of the castle grounds. I watch as three wizards are heading away at a fast pace and I look around trying to figure out how I got here.
“You’re going to be our whore now bitch.” I hear Michael say with a laugh that makes me sick. Looking over I find him holding Ginny down in the snow, her broken wand already a short ways away. He’s pushing her dress up nearly ripping his as she struggles under him.
I take a step forward to stop him when I realize I must be inside of Ginny’s memory. The Dark Lord had told me he had taken it from her, but I wasn’t expecting him to make me watch.
She lets out a cry as he is undeniably forcing himself on her. I want to look away; I don’t want to watch this. But a part of me knows this is all my fault, I have no right to turn away from her pain.
When she goes silent under him it gets much worse, and I know he has only cast a spell so that she doesn’t raise any alarm.
“You know bitch, one of the cocks is going to be a muggleborn. Think your Lord will even want you after this?” He asks taunting her cruelly.
I don’t know when the tears started but I’m shaking in place by the time the other three get back, and everything gets so much worse. He forces me to watch everything they did to her and only when she’s left bleeding in the snow am I pulled back into myself.
I’m shaking in the real world too, and his eyes are looking at me questioningly. I know his silent question, and I answer it by getting to my feet. I wipe the tears from my face and stand tall and cold as I look at Connor’s still struggling form.
Ginny had strength too, and he and his friends nearly broke it, like I am about to break him. I walk forward and place the card at his feet before standing and looking into his eyes.
“You deserve this,” I tell him as he had said that same thing to Ginny over and over again while he and his friends raped and tortured her.
His eyes blaze with anger and fear, and he starts to struggle against the guards all the more. I cast the collection spell on the card before taking a few steps back from him.
“To gain strength, one must take it from the strong,” I announce as the book instructed. “To take strength, it first must be broken,” I say before casting the first of my spells. I know it will take a while to break every bone in Connor's body this way, but the book said it was the best way to collect what was needed, and I can’t help but enjoy his pain.
I use the same spell on him again and again, breaking each and every bone one at a time. I keep him alive because I have no plans to let him have such a simple death, and not because I don’t want to kill him after what I had to watch, but I know living will be so much worse for him.
Daphne-
“How long?” She asks, and I can still see the panic in her eyes. I wish the stupid Healer hadn’t been so blunt with his words. In fact, since he has been somewhat useless in actually helping Ginny I sort of wish he would just go away.
“A few more days my Lady,” I tell her trying to soothe and calm.
“What if they find us?” She asks, and I’ve never actually seen her look so afraid as she does now. One would think to face the Dark Lord was the scariest thing in the world, but it seems somehow Harry Potter has him beat in my Lady’s eyes.
“The wards here are almost as old as those at Hogwarts,” I tell her glancing to the Healer to see if he has anything else helpful to say.
“I need to talk to your Lady alone about certain medical issues.” He says as if that is ever happening.
“What? No. I don’t know you. I don’t have a wand.” Ginny says before I can make my own arguments. I smirk at him as honestly, she should have the final say.
“They are delicate matters.” He presses making me wonder what he has been hiding from Draco and me.
“I’m sorry, do you not know who I am?” Ginny asks, and her panic seems to be pushed aside by annoyance. “Does he know who I am?” She asks turning to look at me.
“You are Lady Mer-Weasley.” The Healer corrects himself because many people have gotten used to calling her Lady Mercy.
“I am Queen Voldemort.” She tells him coldly as he flinches at the name, but I'm pretty sure that was her goal. “Are you second guessing me?”
He clears his throat looking to me for help, but I only give him a pleasant smile.
“Of course not m’Lady.” He says holding his hands behind his back. “If you trust Miss Greengrass than it is not my place to question you.”
“No. It’s not. Now, what do you have to tell me?” She asks taking in a slow breath. Even with her side numbed, it seems to be taking a toll on her focus and energy.
“You may not know, but the spells are conclusive that you are in fact with child.” He says, and as I wait for the delicate information, I realize that was it.
“I suspected,” Ginny says as if she too is unimpressed.
He frowns as we wait for him to continue. “At this early stage, it is hard to tell exactly when the child was conceived…”
Her frown deepens as she watches him. “If you’ve examined me you must realize that my marriage rite wasn’t exactly modern. Are you suggesting I have gone outside of my marriage to the Dark Lord?” She asks keeping a straight face.
“I would never m’Lady.” He says quickly as he looks more and more uncomfortable.
“Than we will have to assume my pregnancy is a result of the consummation of my wedding.” She tells him coldly.
The Healer swallows hard nodding in agreement. “Of course m’Lady. But that doesn’t exactly make things better for you. It would, in fact, be a much easier recovery if we didn’t have to worry about the pregnancy.” He says as if what he is suggesting wasn’t rigorously discourages under the new blood purity laws. We were a dying race and needed as many magical children as we could get. My child would have been a complication to his rule; her child would be his legacy.
“Are you under some impression that my condition isn’t a happy one?” Ginny asks the man as if she is confused. “Do you think that my Lord doesn’t want an heir?”
“I-I I’ve just heard stories, m’Lady. I told you these were delicate issues and I wanted you to know you had options. Especially since considering the child will make your healing much more complicated. For instance, I can’t give you any truly effective pain potions…”
“I don’t want any. I’ve heard what that stuff can do to a child.” She says shaking her head again. “Daphne says you do not have the skill to help me at all?” She says bluntly without care to his feelings.
“All the bones in your right arm, your leg, and the right side of your hip are shattered. It was some very nasty dark spells that did this m’Lady. To heal it properly it will take several healers working over time make sure that nothing goes wrong. But I can numb some of the pain, and now that you are awake I would like to put some magical casts on the affected areas so that you have less of a chance of harming yourself further.”
“Fine. Do that.” She says shaking her head as her patients for the man has long since run out.
The Healer is at least smart enough to get directly to work without another word. When he leaves to get his supplies, I turn back to Ginny to give her my complete attention.
She is laying back as if that conversation took all she had.
“Would you like me to renew the numbing spell, my Lady?” I ask worried that she is pushing herself.
“No. I’m fine.” She says closing her eyes. “I just need to see him, Daphne. I know I was only away for a few weeks, but I can’t help but feel… exposed.”
“I won’t lie and say I understand, but I will tell you that Draco and I are here for you. The Dark Lord may even send backup when he gets our letter.”
“What about a Floo call?” She asks not moving as I watch her mind run through every possibility.
“We’re still too far away to be on the same network,” I tell her softly. “We are also not in Empire controlled France. Getting back into the Dark Nation will be complicated.”
“So we are still exposed. I was in Germany?” She asks obviously remembering our conversation from before.
“Yes.”
“I was sure they had the safe house in England before. Do you think he was actually Apparating all that way?” She asks frowning as she is thinking of Harry again.
“Draco thinks he had a portkey that only let him in and out. We’ve thought of making one ourselves, but it could be hazardous for you.”
“What isn’t going to be dangerous for me?” She asks sounding a bit annoyed.
“The litter will allow us to Apparate short distances,” I tell her carefully. “We were also considering getting a flying coach.”
“How much longer before Hermione figures out we would come here? You know Harry has told the whole DA by now.” She asks putting her hand on her left hip where I know her Dark Mark is.
“My Lady you can’t,” I say my voice sounding more pleading than I would like. As she pointed out before, she is the Queen and does, in fact, have rank on all of us here.
“I’ll give you a day.” She says firmly before looking up at me. “One day to get us moving. I won’t last longer than that.” She says as I see the fear in her eyes.
The Healer comes back just then, keeping me from really arguing my point. He continues about his business without a word and starts to wrap Ginny's broken body carefully.
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Face of Death