Chapter 2: A Debt Called In
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, just my own creative thoughts.
In Ginny's sixth year, there were hardly any students at school anymore. Although she missed knowing that the school was filled with people, Ginny found that she bared the solitude well. In fact, it left her with more time for herself to read and explore Hogwarts grounds, which were two of her most treasured parts of life. She could no longer count on classes being anything but useful. The Ministry had infiltrated the curriculum again and Ginny had started to skip classes in return. She was not alone in the boycott. Sometimes, she thought to herself pleasantly, Hogwarts had become a castle of anarchy, although the Ministry did end up sending extra wizards and witches to contain the rebellion. This all had occurred since September. It was December now, and although the revolt was still on, its organization had weakened and as Christmas neared, students were merely nostalgic for home, dreaming the days away. The Trio, of course, was on its own somewhere, doing God knows what and Ginny was left broken hearted. Harry had left her behind with the excuse of protection. But really, how much protection was it? He had wooed her all last year, finally initiating something and she had given in. What else could she have done? There was no one else willing to date her and she certainly had no one else in mind. Well, until this year. He was only "in mind" because he appeared in her dreams. At first, she thought that he was Harry, but Harry would never dare to be so sexual, alluring, and so devastatingly powerful.
It all started at the end of August, surprisingly. To think that she'd meet someone who'd end up healing her heart after Harry broke it, technically still during her relationship with Harry was ironic. God had set up her safety even before she knew she was in some sort of danger. He came to her in the darkness of the night, appearing in the shadowy recesses of her dreams. He was intoxicating and magnetic. At first she would just sense his inquisitive curiosity, as if cautious not to scare her. She could sense the reasons she should be scared of him. There was something very, very cold and demanding about him, an aura of menace and internally embraced viciousness. Yes, he was very much comfortable with his violent side, but she only came to know this later.
It began the night Harry had told her he loved her. What terrible timing. They were sitting in her little, crowded room after dinner on her bed.
"Ginny," Harry hesitated, but her smile was encouraging, "I've wanted to tell you for a while now that I love you.
Ginny's face expressed her astonishment and flattery.
He continued, "I won't be around next year, there are things I have to do. You know that."
She frowned, "You're not coming back to Hogwarts? Why?"
He sighed, "I wish I could tell you. I can't tell anyone. But, it's so very important and dangerous that I couldn't bear having you with me there." He stroked her cheek. "I wish…"
Ginny felt completely misguided. "Another adventure again, right? Another mission to complete for Dumbledore? And just as dangerous as the annual mission is, correct?" Her voice was bitter and angry.
Harry looked at her, hurt, "Ginny, there's nothing I can do. If I could I'd stay here with you forever!"
"But, you aren't. And I understand your need to chase Death Eaters and Voldemort, but…I still can't accept it. You're putting yourself in danger and you're leaving just as you finally, after years of waiting for you, get enough courage to start something with me, you finish it. Really, Harry, I wish you hadn't at all!" Ginny shouted and went to the door. She opened it as tears rolled down her face, "Please," she gestured for him to leave.
Harry sighed once more. "Gin, I just told you I love you. Please at least let me know if you feel the same or not…" his voice died off as he lost courage to instigate more.
Ginny looked him straight in the eyes, "I've had feelings for you for years Harry, whether they were love or simple infatuation I do not know. But, right now I feel like they've all been wasted. For all your bravery in fighting, you have little for loving. Next time, be less self-centered."
As she closed the door she felt like a dirty rag that's been used so much that its paper thin fibres just disintegrated. All those years, for this? Knowing the prophecy Ginny understood that Harry was either going to live or die when he finally duelled with Voldemort. This year then, he was going to finally chase him then. So, really there was no chance for them, except if he survived, but was it really worth investing so much emotion to a potentially dead lover? Ginny felling onto her bed and sighed, no longer needing to cry. On retrospect, she thought breaking up with Harry would have caused so much more grief than she felt at the moment, at least she would cry more. But, it seemed that her new found single status was more liberating than depressing.
After another hour of thinking, a particularly refreshing smile appeared on her lips. It wasn't all that bad, in fact, she felt like going outside and running through the darkened wheat fields to her favourite tree; the ancient birch that stood on the very peak of a hill, looking handsome and historic. After dressing a little more warmly, Ginny ran down the stairs and out the door, barely stopping long enough to shout to her family that she was going on a walk. They, of course, assumed that she was too upset and embarrassed to show herself; in reality she was too excited to leave the house all together.
Ginny arrived at her tree rather breathless because she had nearly run all the two miles to get here. The sun was setting, showing off the fresh autumn-like colours on the trees and fields of the surrounding hills. She leaned against the ancient trunk, watching the evening come to pass. She began falling deeper into her own thought until her attention was brought to what was above. Before she had the time to look up, however, something stirred from the branches and appeared in front of her – a man. She let out a scream of fright and turned to run away but his arm instantly trapped her. She ducked it, but was caught by the arm and roughly put back against the willow.
"Stop struggling already, its useless." His deep, yet lazy voice drawled. It was curiously familiar, in fact, as she took the time to stare at him; he looked vaguely known to her. His features told of a wild landscape, untouched by time or humans. His face was ethereal, but frighteningly handsome in the most uncommon way. Even with all this to remind her memory, her eyes nevertheless displayed her fear. His grip on her arms tightened in case she tried to reach for her wand.
"Do I know you?" she managed to voice.
He smirked, "Yes, you do. It's been quite a while, Ginny Weasley."
Panic began to spark, "How do you know my name?"
"Immaterial. What you do need to know is that I've come for the payment of your debt."
Ginny paled, "Debt?"
"As much as this little act of stupidity is cute, its time you deigned to remember. I know you do. You peer down that forbidden path every time you come to Hogsmade; I watched you each time."
Ginny started to tremble from both her present fear of her assaulter and the memory itself. "The alley…" her voice trailed off. She had recently been having reoccurring nightmares of the place; so strange they would appear in her dreams after a year when they never plagued her after the event. Perhaps, they had been foretelling this? It was him; the man that had dispelled the trance those voices had put her in, luring her into the shadowy prison. She looked up at him in understanding.
"Well, finally." He acknowledged and loosened his fingers, but not entirely letting her go. She thanked him in her head for it, for she had not the courage to do it out loud. "It is so strange that you saw the alley in the first place, for it is enchanted not to be detected, even by wizard kind." He mused, "Perhaps, you have a gift?" he smiled a little too warmly for his words to be kind.
Ginny shuddered. "What do you mean by gift?"
"Some people's minds have been opened and are therefore more sensitive to different types of magic, like those of vampires. Yes, I can sense you're mind completely free of barriers, how interesting," he muttered cryptically. His eyes showed little emotion but arrogance and the capability of brutality, just to warn those daring to cross his will or path.
Ginny's fear turned into insult and anger. He was insufferable! In fact, his conduct seemed to indicate either an immense amount of power of some sort or an incredible superiority complex. But, then again, as she thought about it, it's rare to have one without the other. Nevertheless, she had just handled the Boy-Who-Lived and her rage was still simmering having had little release. "Get on with it then. Stop with all your self-centered mutterings and tell me what you want." She demanded, courage coming out of nowhere. In fact, she really had little of it when she realized the reality of this man.
His face lit up in amusement, "Self-centered mutterings are they? I should be more careful to listen to them, little girl, sometimes they are more important than you think."
"I'm not a little girl! The last man who thought that is severely mistaken and right now I have no inclination of tolerating such treatment. Either you get on with it or let me go. Actually, it would certainly be appropriate if you let go of me right now."
With a curious smile, his hands let her go. "Well, then m'lady, to business. Your debt will now begin to be repaid."
Ginny's eyes narrowed, "How? And what exactly makes you think I owe you so much?"
"I saved your life. If you had wondered down there, under their spell, you would have been devoured alive. Believe me, many have gone through such a fate and it goes beyond anything the cruacious curse can inflict." His voice went cold and quiet, making her courage falter.
Ginny trembled again. He took her hands gently and steadied them. She gasped softly at such a warm gesture. Looking up she saw the same coldness in his eyes as before, but she sensed an intense and sensuous fire emanating from him. He brought her palms to his chest and drew closer to her, much closer.
"So you see you do owe me quite a life-debt. But, do not fear the payments are quite acceptable in comparison," he gazed at her like a predatory now, pressing her forcefully against the trunk. "In fact, they can be quite pleasurable if you let them."
Her temper flared, "I'm not a whore!"
He stared at her blankly for a moment, then chuckled, "Yes, I suppose you aren't. But, that is the wrong conclusion, little one."
She frowned at the continued use of 'little' when he addressed her, but let it slide for he cocked his head to the side and slowly curled he waist against him with his arm. She blushed as she felt his breath against her neck, until she instinctually felt alarmed. A terror gripped her as tightly as he held her still as his teeth – or as she realized, fangs – toyed with her soft throat skin. She was frozen in panic.
"Rest assured I won't take much and that I will be back for more." Was all he said before he dug in.
She had to admit, the experience had been a gentle one. All she felt as he softly sat her body down once finished was a heavy doziness in her eyelids and more cold than she ought. She must have murmured it because the morning after, when Charlie and Ron had found her asleep curled up at the trees roots; she was warmed by a navy blue jacket.