Alone. She was always alone. Even in a crowded house with six brothers and Harry and Hermione she was always left alone. As the youngest she was often forgotten about, and she was fine with that. After the incident in her first year it was near impossible to trust anyone anyway. She was content to let them form their own opinions of her and she wouldn't bother to correct them. Ginny rather thought it served her well to be ignored; after all, no one cared to check what books she was reading, who she was corresponding with or what she chose to do in her free time. She smiled as she ran her fingers across her book again. Madam Pince would most likely have a coronary heart attack when she realized someone had stolen a library book, and from the restricted section at that. But it was wonderful to immerse herself in books on the dark arts.
Since her first year she'd found herself fascinated with the dark arts. They were beautiful to her, the way the curses flowed off her tongue, the power it gave her. She sighed softly as she wedged her book into part of her trunk no one would see. They were going to one of the safe houses this afternoon and it wouldn't do her any good for her secret to be discovered so she put on her fake face and made her way downstairs for breakfast. Everyone was at the table already and she grimaced as she watched Ron shovel a heaping spoonful of eggs into his already full mouth. Harry smiled at her and called her over to sit next to him, putting a plate together for her before she even sat down. She found it amazing that as soon as she developed breasts he was all over her and everyone thought they would be the perfect couple. If only they knew how much he disgusts me, she thought, they would probably try and commit me to St. Mungo's mental ward.
"Ginny dear," her mother called from the end of the table, "Dumbledore sent a letter this morning; it seems he needs to speak with you this afternoon as soon as we arrive.
That caught her off guard; the man had spoken maybe ten words to her since she was possessed and now he wanted to see her? "What about mum?" she finally brought herself to say.
"He didn't say, but Professor Snape will be there too." Ron and Harry groaned loudly at that. Honestly, how they hated him so much was a mystery to her. He's amazing; being able to go back and forth between Dumbledore and Voldemort the way he does. He's got more talent in his pinky finger than Harry, Ron and Hermione combined.
"Alright mum. I'm all packed and ready to go as soon as you shrink my trunk." Her mother nodded, making her way upstairs to do just that.
As soon as breakfast was finished they collected their things and gathered around the portkey Dumbledore had given them. As the clock ticked 10:01 she felt the familiar pull in her navel and the world spun around her before they landed in a luxurious living room. Snape and Dumbledore were waiting for them already and she patiently waited for the greetings to finish so she could finally see what they wanted. When everyone was settled they led her to a study, locking the door behind them and casting an assortment of spells to make sure they weren't overheard.
"Hello, Ginny." Dumbledore politely greeted her, "Would you care for a lemon drop or tea before we begin?"
Typical Dumbledore, she sighed internally. "No thank you Headmaster. I'm not much of a small talk kind of girl." She flashed her most disarming smile at them, glad she had plenty of practice over the years. Snape snorted, and she felt him probing her mind as she looked at him. "Hasn't anyone ever told you it's rude to pry into someone's mind Professor Snape?" she quipped at him before she could control herself.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled and he turned to Snape. "Didn't I tell you she was perfect for this, Severus? 16 and an accomplished enough occlumens to keep you from her mind." Snape nodded in approval, then they turned back to her. "Ginny, I must be blunt. There are many things happening this year that could affect the war. Voldemort is culling the future generation of death eaters at Hogwarts; there are a good number of children of his current death eaters there and we are unsure who will be taking the mark."
She nodded in understanding, thinking of the Slytherins her brother and his friends were always accusing of being death eaters already. "Unfortunately, Severus is not in the position to find this information out on his own and he is the only spy we have amongst our ranks. This is where we would like you to come in."
Ginny's eyes went wide. "Me, headmaster?" she choked out, unsure of her own words.
"Because of your prior connection with the Dark Lord, and your skill at occlumency among other aspects of your personality, we believe you would be able to play the role we need." Snape answered. "We are not fools like your classmates Miss Weasley. You play your part well at school but we know you don't fit in with them, and we know what you like to research in your spare time. Your experience with the Dark Lord has left you wise enough to not fall into his trap, but smart enough that you know how his mind works."
Dumbledore's eyes glazed over with sadness as he placed a hand on Snape's arm to quiet him. "We know this is a lot to ask of you Ginny, but we'd like you to accompany Severus to a meeting and convince Voldemort you would like to join his ranks. You would be able to gain information as Severus does, and you would be included in the circles of students like Mr. Malfoy where you would gain information Severus does not have."
Ginny didn't even think twice as a genuine smile crossed her face. "Alright then, I'll do it."
Snape looked uncomfortable at her eagerness. "This will not be a walk in the park, Miss Weasley. Much will be asked of you. He will require you to prove your devotion to him."
"I don't expect it to be easy professor. If it was you could ask anyone. But I'm ready to do it. I imagine he'll be eager to have someone so close to Harry Potter in his ranks, won't he? When can we get started?"
"There's a meeting tomorrow night." Snape responded. "If you feel ready, we will go then. But we will be refreshing occlumency and crafting your answers for the Dark Lord this evening."
Ginny looked from Dumbledore to Snape and nodded firmly. "Let's get to it then." She responded with a fierceness she hadn't felt in years.
The next day at 5:30 Ginny dressed in her best robes and put herself together. She was excited, eager to prove herself. Dumbledore and Snape had made it clear this was a secret from everyone. Her parents were told she would be apprenticing Snape due to her skill at potions (which Snape told them at dinner her skill far exceeded Hermione's. The look on the girl's face was priceless.). She made her way downstairs and bid goodbye to her family before walking with Snape to the apparition point.
"You may call me Severus at the meeting," he told her as she took his arm. "And I will call you by your full name; it is more respectable, and the dark lord will see it better." He didn't give her a chance to answer as they apparated and landed outside Malfoy manner. "I hope you are ready for this, Ginerva," was all he said before he led her through the wards.
The looks of shock that followed them through the manner were priceless. Her bright red hair stood out, as well as the fact she was the only one not wearing death eater robes. She could hear Bellatrix hissing as Severus led her to Voldemort himself.
"Severus," Voldemort hissed out. "What is the meaning of this? Why have you brought a blood traitor to me?"
"My lord," Severus said as he bowed and kissed Voldemort's robes. "Ginerva Weasley wishes to pledge herself to your service."
Scoffs were heard around the room. "Is this true Ginerva?" Voldemort said, but he didn't wait for an answer before probing her mind. She let him see herself first year, with his diary. She let him see herself dejected and alone, always the outcast of her brother and his friends, curled up in the restricted section poring over dark arts tomes. She showed him what she knew would please him. When he departed her mind she knelt before him and kissed his robes as Severus had.
"My lord there would be no greater honor than to serve you. You have been in my heart for many years; as you know I was given a journal you had enchanted when I was 11, and before it was destroyed I spent months speaking with the teenage part of yourself you'd left in it. You showed me many things, taught me more than I could have ever learned at Hogwarts. And you became a greater part of me than anything else."
"And what of your family, Ginerva?" he replied condescendingly.
"My blood is purer than most; no mudbloods or muggles in our lineage for as far back as we can trace it. But we are considered filth because my family has an unnatural fascination with muggles. I do not share those feelings, my lord. I intend to leave them as soon as I am of age, marry a pureblood and teach my children the proper wizarding values."
"Crucio." She wasn't expecting the curse he sent at her, and her body flooded with pain. It was the most horrible thing she'd ever experienced. She let herself scream, knowing it was what he wanted, and as soon as he released the curse she felt him in her mind again. Her occlumency skills were good enough he didn't break her walls, but she showed him false memories he hadn't seen before. She showed him herself imagining smothering Hermione to death with a pillow as they shared a room and a true memory of herself wanting to vomit as Harry tried to kiss her. It seemed to please him.
"Pick her up off the floor Severus." Voldemort commanded, and she felt herself being lifted up and supported. "I believe you, Ginerva." Voldemort purred out. "But you will have to prove yourself. Wormtail, bring our guest out."
Pettigrew entered the room, levitating a woman in front of him. Ginny recognized her from the head table at Hogwarts, but she'd never met the witch.
"Charity Burbage. Muggle Studies professor from Hogwarts. Do you know her Ginerva?"
"No my lord. You couldn't catch me near that class if my life depended on it." She replied smoothly.
"Torture her." He commanded.
Ginny pulled forward memories that brought her anger, and put up a mental block for herself so she wouldn't feel anything but anger. "Crucio!" she cried out, feeling power surge through her as the witch screamed in pain. Voldemort smiled, and she knew she was playing into his hand perfectly. "Filthy mudblood lover, evisero!" Evisero, in her opinion, was worse than the cruciatus curse, which is why she used it. Every bone in Professor Burbage's body would feel like it was breaking over and over again.
"Very good…. Now kill her." Voldemort ordered.
She knew if she hesitated he would doubt her, so without a second thought or a glance to Severus she raised her wand again. "Avada Kedavra!" she cried and felt horror rip through herself as the green light flashed out and Professor Burbage fell to the floor.
Voldemort smiled widely, enough to make the room uncomfortable for everyone. His happiness was nearly worse than his anger. "It seems there is one worthwhile Weasley after all. Will you bare my mark, Ginerva?"
She was prepared for this question. "I would be honored to show my unwavering loyalty to you, my lord. However, I believe any trust Harry Potter has in me will be broken if he sees a dark mark on my arm while he tries to get in my pants."
A burst of laughter crossed the room, even Voldemort looked amused. "A valid point… You are so close to him, I will have to make due with contacting you through Severus then. After school however, you will take my mark."
She bowed low and kissed his robes again. "Of course, my lord."
"Now then… down to business!" Voldemort called out and the meeting began.
Severus apparated them just outside the Hogwarts grounds. Immediately, Ginny fell to her knees and vomited. She felt him kneeling beside her and he rubbed her back in a very uncharacteristic manner. "The first time you cast it is the worst…" he said softly. "I threw up for hours when I got away. It splits your soul."
"I had to do it… we both would have died if he thought I couldn't." It was clear she was trying to convince herself more than him, and he continued to rub her back.
"You're right. I know this was an awful thing to ask of you. You're so young.. You may not be an innocent but we had no right to take this from you. I admire your bravery, Ginerva."
The words coming out of Severus's mouth sounded so wrong. It wasn't like him to be comforting and it unnerved her. "I don't need your pity, Severus. I will do what I must in this war, as we all will do."
He nodded and gave her space. "When you are ready, we will report to the headmaster and then I will take you back to the safe house."
I'll never be ready. This is horrible. I enjoyed hurting the woman, but killing her…. She threw up again at that thought, then pulled herself up. "Let's get this over with." She said with a steely resolve and began to walk to the castle.
The trip to Dumbledore's office was quiet, thankfully, and quick. Severus said the password (Sugar quills this week apparently), and led them up the stairs. They filled him in on the details quickly. Ginny noticed how easily Severus sidestepped her using the killing curse and moved on to other matters. If Dumbledore noticed he didn't say anything, and for that she was grateful.
"I'm very proud of you, Ginny." He said with a sad twinkle in his eye. "I must ask one more thing of you, however. I need you to befriend Draco Malfoy this year. And no one must know why. Your family will be upset, you will most likely receive howlers and have your brother very angry during school but this is something we must accomplish."
Ginny nodded. "I will do whatever I am asked to do," she promised.
Dumbledore smiled. "Well then, I think this meeting should be over. Please escort her home Severus, I'm sure she could use the rest."