Editor's note: I have permission to archive this chapter by hosting it under my pen name.

- Chapter Four last edited December 6, 2012 -

by Callidora-Malfoy

Disclaimer: This entire magical world belongs solely to J.K Rowling. I own nothing.

Forced into Darkness

Chapter Four: Wars of Words

Lucius Malfoy entered the room, scooped the red-haired girl in to his arms, securing her in his grip, and carried her towards the doorway. He focussed his sharp, silver eyes on the mirror, which was now reflecting its true glory, looking proudly resplendent and [decorous]; its outward appearance was enough to deceive anyone in what it was capable of revealing. It had magically repaired itself, and the only evidence of what had taken place in the room were the shards of glass on the floor, which were dotted with Ginny's blood.

In one swift movement he had turned around and left the room, muttering a silent locking spell as the door closed.

He walked through the hallway with strong, decisive footsteps and disregarded his curious relatives who were peering out of their frames to see what was going on. They knew all too well what was in that room.

Ginevra still had not spoken to him. When he had picked her up, she had at first tried to push him away, wanting to be anywhere but near him, but she soon had relented and simply sobbed harder. He wasn't quite sure what the Mirror of Sententia had shown her, but it seemed to have shaken her. He'd have to find out what she had seen.

He kept walking, his pace increasing slightly until he reached a dark wooden door; he grasped the handle, which had turned a molten-gold colour at his touch, recognizing the Malfoy blood within him. Resting his hand on the cold metal, he twisted the handle. The door opened with a metallic click to reveal his spacious study.

He moved over towards a dark black chaise lounge, softly setting her down on it. He patiently watched as she slowly opened her eyes and quelled any other tears that threatened to fall from her now red-rimmed eyes. She tilted her head back slightly, looking up and meeting his grey eyes, and again she blinked back tears.

"You're a mess," he stated, looking at her appraisingly.

On that count Ginny would have to agree. She was not a pretty crier, and from what she could see of herself, her nightgown was ripped and there were blood droplets sprinkled all over it. Moving back on to a plush cushion behind her, she whimpered, the glass from the mirror digging into [the palm of her hand]. Tears threatened to fall once again.

Lucius's eyes darted to her sliced arm, and he slipped his wand out from his robes. "Give me your hand."

Ginny eyed the wand wearily, the words he said registering in her mind. They had sounded more like a demand than a request. After a moment she conceded. If he wanted to hurt her or even kill her, he had had plenty of opportunities to do so, but he hadn't. She stretched out her hand, which he took gingerly.

He sat down next to her and ran his wand up and down her arm in one fluid moment; her arm sparkled like diamonds before it subsided to reveal smooth, flawless skin. She marvelled at the quality of the healing spell and the sheer power of it, of Lucius. Any spell she knew would have at best left some scarring.

After a long pause she muttered a quiet "thanks". In other circumstances she would have been more appreciative, but he was the reason she was at the Manor in the first place. In fact she shouldn't have even thanked him.

It was too late to withdraw her gratitude, but she settled with glaring at him.

A smirk tugged at Lucius Malfoy's face at her words and consequent expression.

Another length of silence ensued, and Ginny Weasley took in what appeared to be Lucius Malfoy's study—or at least one of many. The flooring was made of dark wood and was polished to perfection with a thick oriental rug in dark silver and black swirls spread across it. There were also four large stone columns at each corner of the room, obviously there from when the house was originally built. A grand fireplace was directly opposite her on the opposite side of the room, and adjacent to that was a large desk with a high-backed leather chair placed behind it. They matched Lucius's personality perfectly: debonair and proud.

"I suspect you already know that we have several things to discuss, but firstly…" He now looked at her pointedly. "What were you doing in that room?"

She hesitated, thinking of a plausible explanation, for she couldn't very well tell him she had been trying to escape. His face may have [belied] what he was truly capable of, but Ginny Weasley would never forget who this man was.

"I was lost," she answered lamely.

"I see," he answered derisively.

"I should warn you now though that if you try to leave, you will be wasting your time. You were brought to the manor by me, and as lord of the manor, whatever I decree in here goes. The manor is ancient and has its own ways of preventing you from leaving…." He smiled grimly. "Methods, which I am sure you would not want to find out about."

Ginny blanched slightly. He couldn't possibly be serious. Damn Lucius Malfoy to the deepest darkest depths of hell.

A cold feeling suddenly gripped her, a feeling as if something—or someone—was prying into her mind and delving into her deepest and most secret thoughts. With a jolt she realised Lucius Malfoy was using Legilimency on her. Despite her initial shock she managed to quickly bring up her mental shields and push him out of her mind. After that debacle at the ministry her previous year, when Sirius had lost his life, the Order of the Phoenix had made sure that anyone who was linked in any way with the Order was a sufficient Occlumens. At the time it had been an inconvenience to learn, as it had meant spending extra time with Snape. But now she was glad for the training, because if she had never received it her, mind would not have been sensitive enough to even notice an intrusion.

Lucius's eyes narrowed slightly, but his features remained impassive. The girl was stronger than he had initially thought. A predatory smirk emerged on his face; this would certainly make things more interesting. But first he needed her to answer a few things.

He fixed his gaze onto her, his grey eyes boring in to her. "So, Ginevra…" he purred. His slim fingers had found the exposed flesh on her knees, and with slow, languid movements he hiked his fingers higher and higher until they reached her thigh. He only stopped his ministrations when Ginny hitched in a sharp breath.

"What exactly did you see?" His voice was gentle and low, caressing her, lulling her in to a false sense of security. This was all done in a hope that she would divulge to him what he wanted to know.

Ginny shivered, his voice coiling around her like a snake. She froze at his words, unsure whether he was asking what she had seen in the manor or what she had seen in the mirror. She could feel his penetrating gaze trained on her, and she was positive he meant the latter.

She moved her head up, staring directly at his face. "… Nothing. I-I … I saw nothing." Her eyes fluttered closed, and she barely suppressed a shudder as flashes of what she had seen returned to her. She wished she had never seen those images. Now she would be haunted by what they meant. Was that her future? Was that really the person she would become? She didn't understand it, though. Lucius … her family … Death Eaters … murder. Urgh! It was all too much. She didn't even want to understand it.

Lucius Malfoy quirked an eyebrow at her and smirked, but it was a far cry from friendly or even playful. Lucius Malfoy smirking could only mean bad things. The girl was obviously lying, but no matter, he would find out what he wanted to know. Malfoys always got what they wanted.

"That was the North Wing. You are not allowed there or—" he gestured to his study, in which they were currently seated "—here. Unless, of course, I am with you."

In one smooth movement he stood up and moved to the liquor cabinet. He poured himself a generous amount of whiskey and moved so that his back was to her, and so he was directly facing the lit fireplace.

"As mistress of Malfoy Manor, you will be allowed everywhere except these two places. Is that understood?"

She nodded her head tightly before realising he couldn't actually see her. She cleared her throat before saying clearly: "Yes."

He brought his drink up to his lips and took a sip before bringing it back down. Turning it methodically, he watched as the pungent liquid turned in a whirlpool motion with no end, in the crystal glass.

"You would do well to remember that."

Ginny gulped.

She rubbed her eyes, wiping away any tears that were left in her eyes, and idly noted how she had probably cried more in the last few hours than she had the last few years. This wasn't her; she was never the type of girl to cry over anything. She remembered how her mum used to say, 'There's no point crying over spilt milk, Ginny.' She hadn't understood it at the time. But she now knew that if something happened that she was powerless to change, then there was no use in crying about it, as that would achieve nothing. Instead, she should find ways to improve the situation she was in and improvise. She wasn't just going to stay silent and take everything as it came along. If Ginny was ever sure of anything, she knew now that she wouldn't just allow people to use her while she sat back. No, no matter what she had seen, her future wasn't set. Her future would be what she made it to be.

She was a Weasley and had grown up with six older brothers, to boot. If she didn't have a backbone, then she was surely a sorry excuse for a Gryffindor. She was Ginny Weasley, and it was high time she started acting like it.

A new sense of courage filling her, she stood up. "Why am I here?" she demanded, her furious red hair trailing behind her.

Slowly Lucius Malfoy turned around and acknowledged her. "I believe you already know the answer to that."

"Why me? You could have any pure-blood girl you wanted.

"Why me? Why a Weasley?" Her voice had been raising steadily, her anger getting the better of her.

He just looked at her, slightly amused by her outburst. He seemed unperturbed by her sudden change in character, going from a scared crying girl to a feisty, angry young woman. Ginevra was certainly refreshing; it had been a very long time since anyone had spoken back to him so bluntly.

She stood there hands on hips, waiting for an answer. When the man in front of her didn't respond, she stamped her foot like she used to do when she was a child. "Tell me, damn it!"

Lucius Malfoy sneered down at her, his nose curling as he regarded her current behaviour in disdain. "I will answer you when you cease to act like a child and [begin to] act like a woman." She would have to be schooled in such manners. "As a Malfoy, you will be expected to and will act with decorum. As is expected of a Malfoy."

"But that's exactly the problem. I am a child. I'm still at school." Her brandy-coloured eyes stared straight into his grey depths. "Your son is older than me, and you are old enough to be my father…." Her voice cracked. "That can't be right, [can it]? I-I just can't get married."

Lucius took a step closer to her, their bodies almost touching. His answer was immediate. "You are of age to wed, and we will marry."

"How can you be so cold? You just stand there. I mean your wife only just died last week, and here you are, wanting to marry again." She recoiled, moving back away from him until her legs hit the chaise lounge she had previously occupied. "Your wife would be turning in her grave right now."

She knew as soon as she'd said it that it was cold and probably a little rash, but she didn't want to be there. Besides, Malfoy was no saint.

"That is enough!" His voice was as cold as ice, and his eyes, murderous. Ginny whimpered when he turned around and threw his glass of whiskey in the fire. It clattered into the burning fire with a resounding smash.

"We will never discuss Narcissa." His tone left no room for any argument.

If Ginny had ever been truly afraid in her life, now was that time. It seemed she had struck a chord, mentioning the late Mrs Malfoy. She swallowed hard. What was in store for her at Malfoy Manor?

X

"Ron, come back!" the girl implored as she trailed after the tall, red-haired boy down the seventh floor corridor.

He stopped in his tracks. "No, Hermione." He whirled around so that he was facing her. "I need to be by myself."

She sighed exasperatedly. "You've been moping about all day now. I know you're upset about Ginny, but do you really think this is helping her?" She placed her hand on Ron's shoulder in a soothing gesture.

"She's my sister; I can't just let it go." He shrugged her hand from his shoulder. "You don't understand, Hermione. You have no siblings."

Hermione recoiled like she had been slapped. He knew she had always wanted siblings, but her parents were unable to have any more kids. She gathered up her courage and looked at him, her eyes fierce and ablaze.

"She's like a sister to me too, you know. I know what has happened is awful, but there are other ways to deal with it. Do you really think I like the idea of Ginny being with that monster?"

Ron sighed and rubbed his forehead wearily.

He slowly shook his head. "I'm sorry, 'Mione. it's just I hate the thought of her being there."

Hermione hesitated for a moment before sighing exasperatedly and proceeded to envelope her arms around her closest friend, "It's alright, Ron. I understand."

"I know I've been acting really shitty..." he trailed off.

"I get it Ron. I understand," she said, cutting him off. "Me and Harry have been in the library trying to find any information on that ludicrous law."

Ron's face lit up, his bright blue eyes hopeful. "Did you find anything?"

"Not yet."

His face fell.

"But there is always a loop hole in old laws like that. You see, old pure-blood families always made sure that there was a 'get out of jail' card, so to speak."

Ron looked at her. "So a way to weasel out of the law."

Hermione nodded, a small smile on her face. "Well yes, essentially, but the problem is finding the loophole."

Ron mirrored her smile. "Why didn't you say so sooner? Ginny is a Weasley after all. That's what we do best. We should contact the twins."

X

"Lucius Malfoy is a Death Eater! Have you all forgotten who we are dealing with? We cannot leave Ginny there!" stated the angry young Auror, her hair a vivid shade of red, clearly representing her feelings.

Moody looked at the angry woman and sighed. "We have to be careful, Nymphadora—"

If at all possible, the hair of the Auror became an even darker, more explosive shade of red. "Don't call me Nymphadora," bit out the usually friendly Auror whose eyes were now narrowed at her mentor.

Moody sighed heavily before his gruff voice filtered through the door once more, "We all have to be careful." He looked pointedly at Tonks. "Malfoy taking Ginny means that Voldemort has a plan on the horizon, which involves both of them." He glanced around the room now, addressing each of the Order members who were seated in the dreary drawing room of Grimmauld Place, "Is there any way to stop the marriage?"

Kingsley answered, "No. I'm afraid not. The law uses old magic, which cannot be undone. It is a binding law, and Lucius Malfoy and Ginny Weasley were bound together when he laid claim to her. It cannot be undone."

A silence descended on the room. Molly Weasley who had been choking back tears leaned in to her husband's comforting arms.

Arthur looked around the room a grim look on his face. "He's right. Dumbledore told us the same thing when we spoke to him. We cannot do anything about it." The sound of the Weasley patriarch's heart breaking could be heard throughout the room.

The eldest Weasley son was seated across from his parents and looked like he wanted to hurt someone—hurt someone very badly—and that someone was Lucius Malfoy. "So Ginny has no choice in this whatsoever?"

Kingsley shook his head sadly.

"That's not good enough!" Bill shouted. "We have to do something; we can break into the Manor and bring her back…."

Moody spoke this time. "No. What good would that do? It would be extremely difficult to get into Malfoy Manor in the first place, and then even if we did get her back, Lucius Malfoy took her once unchallenged. Who's to say he wouldn't do so again?"

Tonks sighed in frustration. "We have to do something. The Order of the Phoenix has known—or rather guessed—for some time that many high-ranking Death Eaters are hiding out at the Manor. We cannot leave Ginny at their mercy. They could very well be torturing her right now. We all know how they feel about blood traitors."

"Tonks." The man seated beside her gently grabbed her arm. She pulled away from him.

"No, Remus. What I am saying is the truth. I know what these people are capable, more than most. After all," she added derisively, "they are my family."

She continued, "To them, blood traitors are the scum of the earth. They would not hesitate to hurt her. We have to get her out of there."

The room grew still again, each contemplating Tonks' words and the situation they were faced with.

Hestia Jones who had thus far remained silent now spoke. "We can go to the Wizengamot. If we take Malfoy to trial, we can argue how Ginny does not want this, how she is much too young and is still in school…."

Moody shook his head. "No, Malfoy has the Ministry in his pocket; the entire Ministry is riddled with deceit. There is no semblance of justice there any more."

Each person pondered the words that had been spoken and tried to think of what could be done.

The sudden shrieking of the portrait of Mrs Black stunned everyone out of their momentary stupor—save for Moody who was always alert. Some in their shock had slipped out their wands.

Moody glanced at the far wall of the room, his magical eye penetrating right through it as if it were only a pane of glass. "Severus," he stated gruffly, " and Fred and George."

The entire room waited in anticipation as the purposeful, firm and decisive footsteps of Severus Snape drew closer. Snape was a gatherer of information. There might have been many in the Order who didn't trust him, but they couldn't deny he always had useful information. What news had he brought?

Editor's note: Thank you for reading this archived, edited chapter of Callidora-Malfoy's story.

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