Author's Note: I do not own and never will own Harry Potter.
Dark AU. Warning for torture and brainwashing.
She looks nothing like she's meant to, but he can't help pretending.
"Lily," he whispers, and the girl jerks like she's been struck. He lifts her chin, and terrified brown eyes meet his, splintering through his delirium.
"N-no," she tries to stammer, but his wand spirals, guided by unseen puppet strings, and her mouth seals itself, her eyes turn a vivid bottle green.
"Better?" a voice murmurs lazily behind him, and he nods. "Traitors get their just rewards," the voice continues, sending prickles down his spine. Fingers curl around the back of his neck, punishing and bruising.
"Lily," he says again, vision caught upon her. Dressed in her school robes, they are tattered and bloody at the edges, but they are beautiful to him. She shakes her head again, but his eyes are a blank mirror.
"Potter is gone," he tells her, reassuring her as his fingers clasp a lock of her hair. Has it always been so bright? He can't remember. He shakes his head to clear it, but the fog only worsens. "You're safe, Lily. You're safe. He can't- nobody can hurt you-"
He expects relief, but the fear only intensifies in her face as she struggles against the ropes that bind her. He's confused. Why is she bound? He pulls at the bonds, but his fingers are lax and fall away.
"It doesn't matter," the voice whispers behind him, and he feels cold breath stir his hair. "Take her. Take your Mudblood bride."
"Yes," he breathes. The fog doesn't matter anymore. The splinters of his broken wand don't matter either. All that matters is Lily.
Laughter echoes behind him and he bolts, dragging the girl with him. The ropes have vanished, but he doesn't know where they went. He doesn't know where they are, but he's sure he can figure it out.
"Lily, are you all right," he persists, once they are a presumably safe distance away. The girl looks up at him, her mouth moving soundlessly. She's praying. Something about evil. But why? He's rescued her. He's saved her. Where Potter couldn't.
"You can't be pining over Potter, can you?" he sneers, but she just shakes, freckles standing out in sharp relief.
"Please, Professor," she finally manages to whisper, and he frowns. Is she Confunded? He's no professor. He's thought of it, but he can't stand being around children, especially for prolonged periods of time.
"Lily, what's the matter?" he pleads. "Did they hurt you?" She shakes her head, blood trickling from her nose.
"Professor," she says again, her hands clutching at his sleeve.
The fog breaks.
Ginny Weasley stands before him.