House : Slytherin
Prompt : "You have no power over me." "You sure about that?"
Category : Short
Word Count : 521
.oOo.
Ginny stared at the piece of paper in her hand.
HARRY POTTER & LAVENDER BROWN
Request the honor of your presence at their marriage on Saturday, the 5th of April at 6 o'clock in the afternoon.
{St Peter's Cathedral - 127 Chalese Road}
RSVP before March 17th
Furrowing her brows, Ginny resisted the urge to scrunch up the card and throw it in the fireplace. She'd been dreading this for months now, ever since Harry made the announcement he wanted to propose to Brown. Yet, there was the same nagging sense of jealousy that always reared its ugly head. I'm happy for him, truly, she told herself. But, she always wondered what things could've been... She glanced up at the clock. 00:24. I should probably get to bed, she thought. But as she stood up and turned to go up the stairs, she heard a voice behind her.
"Good evening, Ginevra."
She recognised the voice, and spun around immediately. "No. No. No no no no no. You're dead. I bloody saw you die."
"As I recall, you were passed out at the time of my alleged death."
"No, I was there, at Hogwarts. I watched you fall, hit by your own sp-"
"Alas, I believe that was Lord Voldemort you saw fall."
"You are Lord Voldemort."
"No, I am Tom Riddle. Honestly, I thought you of all people might understand."
"What is that supposed to mean? No, forget it - I don't care. You're dead. You're not real. I must be seeing things."
"Are all children who grow up with magic this daft? Surely you know that with magic the line between what is real and what is not blurs?"
"I - Not this time. Harry killed you. I know that."
"You seem to be trying awfully hard to convince yourself of something you supposedly know. Anyway, it hardly matters. I didn't come here for small talk, I came for a favor."
"I'm not doing anything for you."
"Oh, Ginevra, you say it like you have a choice."
She felt a shiver of fear along her spine. "You have no power over me," she hissed.
"You sure about that?" Tom smirked. After a few moments of silence, he sighed. "Listen, Ginevra. It's a simple incantation. The main thing you need is a human sacrifice, and then-"
"Human sacrifice... Who do you think I am?"
"Oh, don't pretend I haven't seen your deepest, darkest, most innermost thoughts. You're not that innocent."
"Perhaps I'm not a saint, but -"
"Besides," Tom continued, glancing at the fireplace. "I can think of a perfect victim."
"I'm over that!" Ginny screamed, and Tom smiled.
"Indeed. Now, you'll also need a cauldron, and dragon's blood, and -"
"I didn't say yes."
"You don't need to," Tom said. "Wandless Imperio when semi-corporeal isn't too hard when you're the greatest wizard who ever lived."
Ginny gulped, being far too familiar with having the Dark Lord in her head to think his threat was empty. Maybe I can think of a way to get out of this, she told herself. I just need to buy myself a little time. "What do I need to do?"