Chapter 4

Ginny's back wounds had started to heal and she found that after the two months (she had been whipped twice since the first time) of working with her back constantly stinging it was a nice release not to have that pain. She had avoided making contact with anyone but Joe and had only been beaten a few times, yet her arms and shins were still bruised from the kicks she had received. Her left eye was recovering from a slap from Bellatrix after she had insulted Voldermort. Ginny currently sat in the kitchen with a brush scrubbing at the floor mercilessly; she slumped onto the floor and sat alone rubbing her tired eyes. Joe stood with a cloth wiping the windows

"Is there a mop anywhere? It would really speed up the job and I really am exhausted!" Ginny exclaimed pushing herself off the floor only to slump onto the table.

"If you're lucky there will be one in the broom cupboard on the second floor, in the corridor down to the library" without hesitation Ginny pushed herself from the floor and hurried up the back staircase. As she leaned into the large cupboard she heard footsteps, and quickly ducked into the cupboard as she was not meant to leave the kitchen today at all (there was a 'party' tonight) if Bellatrix or Rodolphus found her she would fill the sting of torture again.

"Bella, it is impossible to stop at this very moment! We don't know nearly enough about them, and we don't even know who is the leader of them!" Rodolphus said in a hushed voice, this made Ginny freeze, whatever they were discussing was important and not meant to be overheard which clearly made Ginny all the more eager to listen.

"Well we can't just sit back and let it happen! We have to search for them and if we find them torture it out of them, they can't have large numbers!" Bellatrix replied; she was obviously desperate to find something, or someone.

"I know Bella! But the rebellions can't have many people yet; we're watching all the most likely culprits, Potter's old friends, the order of the phoenix, the Dumbledore's Army kids! They aren't doing anything!"

"When has no evidence stopped us before? We find them and kill them, we use someone against them! I don't care how, but we have to finish of the rebellion before it starts!"

"Fine, we'll figure something out, right know let us prepare for tonight, I am going to check on the filth." Rodolphus finished, Ginny's heart stopped as the footsteps echoed down the corridor, by filth he was referring to her. Lucky Bellatrix quickly followed suit and Ginny soon heard a door slam. She slipped through the door, barley having to open it as she was so skinny at the moment. Running down the steps at full speed, she had one thought going through her mind rebellion, they are still fighting! We can turn it around, we still have a chance! Ginny charged in the kitchen but was too late, Rodolphus sat at the table and Joe was nursing her swelling wrist and also the bruise forming on her jaw.

"So, did you enjoy your walk?" he asked Ginny "Because I hope it was worth it." Ginny swallowed, her throat was dry and suddenly she felt a desperate need for water.

"I-I was looking for a mop" Ginny managed to spit out.

"O, so you were trying to slack on the job? Trying to make it easier for you?" He asked her raising an eyebrow, no matter what she said this was going to end badly. "Well, you can serve us tonight and for now…" he raised his wand and Ginny collapsed clutching her stomach, she felt the cramps coming and then the feeling of burning and like someone was pressing down on a sore wound whilst kicking you repeatedly in the stomach. This was a spell he had only recently started using, it hurt like hell. Then he got up and left Ginny to recover, but not before waving his wand and chaining both her and Joe to the wall of the kitchen.

"What took you so long?" asked Joe in annoyance as she rubbed her jaw "I took a smack for covering for you!" she snapped, lately she was becoming less patient with the reluctant Ginny who seemed to have a habit of breaking the rules.

"I'm sorry, they stood outside the cupboard talking for ages and I couldn't get away! I'm so sorry Joe!" Ginny closely examined her jaw (she had decided not to tell her what she had overheard until she knew more about the rebellion) she noticed a small cut from where Rodolphus's ring had scraped Joe's face. "I'll get your so ointment for your jaw" Joe shook her head and got it herself.

"Listen Ginny, you need to stop irritating them! Normally they would let something like that slip but you keep winding them up!" she had finally had enough and was telling Ginny the truth "And frankly I am tired of getting caught up in your shit!" Ginny felt shame seeping into her but she still refused to reply to Joe and for the rest of the evening they worked in silence.

As Ginny sat at the kitchen table she nervously twisted a cloth, the guest had started arriving and soon she would be punished for all her actions, they had finally led up to this. She took deep calming breaths, Joe had been dismissed and the food would be served by Ginny and Ginny alone. The bell rang deeply and Ginny took the starter up to them in shaking hands, the tray was levitating and was filled with different foods she desperately wished for some as she hadn't eaten all day. Slowly she entered the room and looked at the table; she recognised many faces and even some by name. Of course the Malfoys were sat next to Bella at one end of the table, Rodolphus sat at other and dotted around the table were a handful of Death Eaters Ginny could name, Snape, Yaxley, Greyback, Avery, Dolohov, Crabbe senior and Junior, Goyle senior and junior, Nott senior and junior and Rookwood. Those were less than a quarter of the death eaters sat round the table. As Ginny served them with shaking hands they snickered and sneered at her. Goyle (junior) caught her wrist and gently ran his hand up her thigh; it was actions like these that scared her the most. She pulled away and carried on serving the others. As she was about to leave the room a chair scraped back and the whole room fell silent.

"Not so fast Weaslette" slowly Ginny turned round to face Rodolphus "come here" she steadily walked to him keeping her eyes on the floor not meeting anyone's eyes. As she reached him she stopped and said as strongly as she could,

"Yes?" he glared at her, catching both her wrists he twisted them painfully and Ginny couldn't help but let out a yelp of pain.

"You'll address me as Sir or Master, you little bitch!" he spat at her, and then gave her a sharp slap across the face.

"Sorry" she said shortly refusing to give in to him. He snarled,

"Fine, you won't be so troublesome later! Know, you are here to entertain us, and we like nothing better than seeing a blood traitor bitch scream! So, each one of us is going to torture and beat you, after you have served us dinner and it will go on until everyone is satisfied. Then you shall return to your room and carry on as normal!"

So that is what happened, Ginny served each person (having spat in many meals) and when she had placed the dessert Bellatrix said,

"Stand there and don't move or speak, just stand still!" Ginny did as she was told for fear of getting more punishment. She watched them eat and felt they finished far too soon.

"Now, feel free to mingle and have a drink or two" Rodolphus indicated to the floating trays positioned around the room that carried glasses of champagne "But one at a time, if you wish to punish the girl, come up!" he flicked his wand and Ginny felt her hands bind together and knew that there was no point in running. Goyle, Crabbe and Malfoy (all junior) came up, Crabbe and Goyle seized her arms and (after releasing them) held her up with them, Malfoy then came and started undoing her dress, Ginny reddened in embarrassment as he pulled it completely away from her. Forcing her stomach down on the floor Crabbe and Goyle drooled over her whilst Malfoy raised the whip (it seemed to be his favourite torture method) and cut her back. For about half an hour he whipped Ginny who by the tenth stroke had begun crying out in pain. Finally, he stopped and gently lifted Ginny off the ground he turned her tear stained face round to face him and whispered,

"When I get the chance to be alone with you, it'll be even better" his voice sent chills up Ginny's spine and he rested his hand on her hip and slithered it up to her breast. Just before he reached her breast Ginny pulled away from him and pulled her dress back on. No one else tortured her in such a humiliating way but the cruciatus curse was used repeatedly along with various other spells. Not only that but she was physically beaten many a time, so when the evening was over her whole body burned and had turned black and blue. Both eyes were swollen shut and her nose and lip were both bleeding. She staggered down to her room, feeling her way with her hands. When she entered the small hole that was called her room she simply collapsed on the floor, there she laid until someone entered her room. Ginny didn't move or even take notice, she just didn't care she was in too much pain.

"God Ginny, they've really gone for it!" Joe whispered gently taking her hand. She dragged her to her bed and then got the first aid kit (secretly hidden in her room) and tended to Ginny's wounds; she cleaned the cuts and made sure that they were not infected. Then slowly Ginny rolled over and she saw the blood seeping through her dress from the wounds. "They really must have been annoyed at you, this is ridiculous!" When Joe had tended to all her wounds Ginny told her the story of the evening, from serving them starters to her being stripped and whipped and finishing with her stumbling to her room.

"I'm such an idiot" Ginny said shortly after looking back on the situation.

"Yeah, Ginny, you are. So next time just do what they want!" Joe said gently brushing a strand of hair away from Ginny's face.

The next morning Ginny scraped her hair back and limped into the kitchen, when she entered the chain automatically fastened itself to her ankle. Ginny sighed and started cleaning up after last night (for some reason the house elves, all four of them, spent their time cleaning everything else as there weren't many of them because Bellatrix hated them so much) she felt sore and her wounds stung but at least she was alive. Joe came in shortly after and helped Ginny clean, she moved more freely as the chain did not hasten to attach her to a wall.

"How you feeling?" she asked quietly as she stood by Ginny drying the dishes.

"Sore, like I died twice last night"

"Good" a new voice said, turning round they saw Bellatrix "you deserve everything you got!" Ginny hung her head and turned back to the washing up.

"You finally know your place then?" snarled Rodolphus as he slipped in behind Bellatrix.

"Yes Sir" she whispered, Ginny would say sir but never, never, would she call him master!