Parallel
By deemarie
Chapter 21
Ginny couldn't move. She couldn't open her eyes. Everything ached. Why couldn't she move? Where was she? The last thing she remembered, she had gone into the dressing room to try on a few robes. Something had hit her, hard. It wasn't a spell. No one had spoken. Someone had hit her on the head. She knew now why she couldn't open her eyes. They were covered. Her arms had been tied above her head. She was lying on a bed. Her legs were bound to the other end. Ginny groaned with pain.
"Good," a deep voice said. "I see you've regained consciousness. We can begin." That voice, it was familiar, where had she heard it before? She couldn't think straight. She felt a gloved hand remove the cloth from her eyes. It only took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dimly lit room. She gasped. The robed and hooded figure from her nightmare was standing over her. He raised his wand.
"Crucio!" Pain exploded inside Ginny. She screamed, her body bucking, straining against the ropes binding her. It was never going to stop! But it did. Gasping for air, she looked at the horror from her dreams.
"Please, don't," she whimpered. "Let me go, Tom."
"Tom? You think I'm Riddle?" A cruel laugh emanated from beneath the hood. "Voldemort is dead, Weasley. He's never coming back. Potter saw to that, didn't he?" This wasn't Tom Riddle?
"Then who are you?"
"You don't know? I'm surprised, Weasley, I thought you were smarter than that. I'm afraid I will have to punish you for your stupidity." He raised his wand again.
"No!" Ginny shouted as the pain hit her again. It seemed to go on forever. She couldn't stop screaming. Oh God, let it end! He lowered his wand. Tears were streaming from her eyes. She was barely breathing.
"I see you will never figure this out on you own. Pity, I did expect more from you, Weasley." Ginny focused on his hands as they rose to remove his hood.
"It can't be," she choked out. He was older, haggard; the normally pale face had taken on a deathly pallor. The white blond hair hung limply about his face. "Draco Malfoy. But you're dead."
"I'm afraid to disappoint you, Weasley. But as you can see, I'm very much alive."
"I don't understand, how...why?"
"Here I thought you were the smartest of your brood, Weasley. You disappoint me." He sighed and pulled a chair to the bedside. "Well, seeing as I have the time..." Time, how long had she been there? There was daylight filtering in through boarded up windows.
"How long..." she whispered hoarsely.
"How long have you been here? Does it matter?"
"They'll be searching for me. They'll find me. You won't get away with this."
"They? They?" he chuckled. "And who might they be? Those fools from the Ministry? Oh no, Weasley. There's no way they will find you. Only one person can do that."
"Harry. You're after Harry."
"Now, now, Weasley. You are getting ahead of me. And we can't have that, can we?" It seemed forever, but it was only moments later when the pain stopped. Malfoy lowered his wand. "Don't make me kill you. I don't want that." Through her pain-fogged mind, Ginny's confusion mounted, along with her fear.
"So, everyone thinks me dead. I wonder if anyone grieved for me?" Draco shrugged. "No matter, I'd lost most of my friends when Mother spirited me away. Father had no idea, of course. He didn't realize how clever my Mother was. She could see which way the winds of fortune were blowing. Pity she destroyed the manor when we left, but she wanted to make sure no one followed us.
"That's right, Weasley, my mother destroyed the house. I suppose she arranged for bodies to be found. She loved me too much to see me die. So she took me from danger."
"You were safe, why did you come back?"
"You really are as thick as that brother of yours. After she died all that was left was revenge, my dear Weasley, revenge." He spat that last word out.
"You're going to kill me, you're going to kill us all!" She struggled against her bonds. She had to get away. Malfoy brought his wand up quickly. Ginny froze.
"Weren't you listening? I'm not going to kill you. Not unless you make me. I'm not going to kill anyone. Not you, not your family, not even your precious Potter.
"I admit I thought about it. But satisfactory as that prospect was, I came up with a better plan." His eyes locked with Ginny's. He's mad, she thought. He's utterly mad!
"It's ingenious really. Father would have been proud."
"What do you mean?" She decided to keep him talking. If she found out what he was planning she could escape, somehow and warn everyone. She had to hope he made a mistake.
"The Dark Lord got it wrong, you know. He was too arrogant. He could never believe there was any wizard more powerful than he. He attacked to Potter's strength. A terrible miscalculation on his part. Potter is too powerful. I've seen it too often. He should have gone after Potter from his weakness."
"Weakness?" Ginny was getting really scared now. What could Malfoy be thinking?
"Certainly you realize by now, Weasley, it's his damned compassion. His nobility. Hurt the ones he loves. Not kill them, no, that would just anger him. Roused, Potter is too dangerous. But maim those around him. How do you think he would handle the knowledge that those he loves can no longer live a normal life because of him?" She knew the answer to that. Guilt would claim his life. He would never be happy again. It would drive him away.
"Ah, I see you've finally worked it all out. Now we can get on with things. Now that I have his most precious possession in my power-"
"But I'm not!"
"Crucio!" It was unbearable, the pain rocketing through her. Let me die, she thought, I can't take it anymore! He stopped again.
"Don't lie to me, Weasley. I know he loves you. I was there! I saw him kiss you. The night the Weasel married the Mudblood, I was there. I've acquired a few things on my journey. I have my own Invisibility Cloak.
"I must thank you, you and Potter. Here was the dénouement to my plans." Malfoy loosened her bonds then. Ginny was weak. Her body ached, as it never had before. She tried to gather some strength. It was difficult. She was barely able to sit up. Keep him talking so you can gather you strength, Ginny.
"What plans?"
"Getting you here, of course. That was the easy part. I knew you would be heading to Diagon Alley for your school things. It was only a matter of getting you alone. There were a number of ways to do that. When you went into Malkin's I knew the time had come. You really should have been more careful, you know.
"The hard part was leaving the clue."
"Clue?"
"Yes, something only Potter would recognize. But not too quickly. I needed time, you see." He sat on the bed with her. Ginny backed off.
"What's wrong, Weasley? Do I revolt you? Can't you even look at me? Look at me, Weasley. Look at me the way you look at Potter." He reached a hand up to stroke her face. Ginny had backed up to the wall. She could go no further. Malfoy's gloved hand stroked her cheek. Her disgust must have shown on her face.
"I can see why Potter loves you. You are very beautiful. I've always thought so. Does that surprise you? It shouldn't. There's a beauty about you, something so alluring, it comes from your very soul. I've always wanted you to look at me the way you look at Potter." He sighed.
"I suppose you never will...willingly." He raised his wand once more. Ginny braced herself for more pain.
"Imperio!"
The pain was gone. She was floating blissfully. All was forgotten. She would do anything to keep this feeling. Anything.
"Kiss me." She started to move toward Malfoy. He really wasn't that horrible. "Kiss me," the voice sounded again, beckoning her. But this wasn't Harry. Why would she want to kiss Malfoy? I think not, she thought. Her body began to tremble with the effort it took to resist. She had to resist. She would not, SHE WOULD NOT! But Malfoy's lips were on her mouth. He was trying to force his tongue between her lips. NO, NEVER! She bit down hard, tasting the blood from his lip.
The force of the blow knocked her hard against the wall. Dazed she slumped down on the bed. Malfoy grabbed her by the shirt, forcing her toward him. With every last ounce of strength she possessed, she pushed hard against him. Her shirt tore away, hanging off one shoulder.
Malfoy dropped his wand. Ginny had used the last of her reserves. She couldn't move anymore. There was no way to stop him now. I'm sorry, Harry, she thought. I can't stop what's coming. I tried, but...forgive me. Malfoy shrugged off his robe. He pulled his shirt off over his head, and then straddled Ginny where she lay helpless.
"I vowed I'd send you back damaged goods!" He lowered his body on top of her.
Harry! Her mind cried out as Malfoy kissed her savagely. She couldn't move. Malfoy held her hands above her head with one hand. The other was touching her in places she couldn't bear to think of. He ground his hips hard against her. She felt as if she would retch. Struggle was hopeless. The Cruciatus Curse had taken too much out of her. She went limp under him.
He sat up, still straddling her limp body. He removed the glove from his right hand. Malfoy's nails were razor sharp claws. He raked them across her chest, drawing blood.
"I'm going to mark you. Every time Potter looks at you, he will know I was there first," his face contorted into a wicked grin. Her chest burned where he had scratched her, blood seeping from the wounds. Malfoy bent to the marks and licked the blood, spreading it across his lips. She couldn't look, but she couldn't look away either. He bent over her again and pressed his blood stained lips on hers.
The sound of a door being blown open elsewhere in the house startled them both. Malfoy was off her instantly. He scooped up his wand and crouched, wand pointing at the door.
"Damn, it's too soon," he growled. Then a sneer of pure evil crossed his face. "No matter, now he can watch what I do to you."
Ginny heard Harry's footsteps on the stairs. Her voice was paralyzed in her throat, she couldn't warn him. She had to do something. Drawing on the very last of her reserves, she gathered herself into a crouch on the bed. Harry was almost there; she had to do something now. She launched herself at Malfoy. The door to the room was blasted off its hinges. She didn't feel it, but she heard the sickening sound of her ribs cracking as she knocked Malfoy off his feet.
By deemarie
Chapter 21
Ginny couldn't move. She couldn't open her eyes. Everything ached. Why couldn't she move? Where was she? The last thing she remembered, she had gone into the dressing room to try on a few robes. Something had hit her, hard. It wasn't a spell. No one had spoken. Someone had hit her on the head. She knew now why she couldn't open her eyes. They were covered. Her arms had been tied above her head. She was lying on a bed. Her legs were bound to the other end. Ginny groaned with pain.
"Good," a deep voice said. "I see you've regained consciousness. We can begin." That voice, it was familiar, where had she heard it before? She couldn't think straight. She felt a gloved hand remove the cloth from her eyes. It only took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dimly lit room. She gasped. The robed and hooded figure from her nightmare was standing over her. He raised his wand.
"Crucio!" Pain exploded inside Ginny. She screamed, her body bucking, straining against the ropes binding her. It was never going to stop! But it did. Gasping for air, she looked at the horror from her dreams.
"Please, don't," she whimpered. "Let me go, Tom."
"Tom? You think I'm Riddle?" A cruel laugh emanated from beneath the hood. "Voldemort is dead, Weasley. He's never coming back. Potter saw to that, didn't he?" This wasn't Tom Riddle?
"Then who are you?"
"You don't know? I'm surprised, Weasley, I thought you were smarter than that. I'm afraid I will have to punish you for your stupidity." He raised his wand again.
"No!" Ginny shouted as the pain hit her again. It seemed to go on forever. She couldn't stop screaming. Oh God, let it end! He lowered his wand. Tears were streaming from her eyes. She was barely breathing.
"I see you will never figure this out on you own. Pity, I did expect more from you, Weasley." Ginny focused on his hands as they rose to remove his hood.
"It can't be," she choked out. He was older, haggard; the normally pale face had taken on a deathly pallor. The white blond hair hung limply about his face. "Draco Malfoy. But you're dead."
"I'm afraid to disappoint you, Weasley. But as you can see, I'm very much alive."
"I don't understand, how...why?"
"Here I thought you were the smartest of your brood, Weasley. You disappoint me." He sighed and pulled a chair to the bedside. "Well, seeing as I have the time..." Time, how long had she been there? There was daylight filtering in through boarded up windows.
"How long..." she whispered hoarsely.
"How long have you been here? Does it matter?"
"They'll be searching for me. They'll find me. You won't get away with this."
"They? They?" he chuckled. "And who might they be? Those fools from the Ministry? Oh no, Weasley. There's no way they will find you. Only one person can do that."
"Harry. You're after Harry."
"Now, now, Weasley. You are getting ahead of me. And we can't have that, can we?" It seemed forever, but it was only moments later when the pain stopped. Malfoy lowered his wand. "Don't make me kill you. I don't want that." Through her pain-fogged mind, Ginny's confusion mounted, along with her fear.
"So, everyone thinks me dead. I wonder if anyone grieved for me?" Draco shrugged. "No matter, I'd lost most of my friends when Mother spirited me away. Father had no idea, of course. He didn't realize how clever my Mother was. She could see which way the winds of fortune were blowing. Pity she destroyed the manor when we left, but she wanted to make sure no one followed us.
"That's right, Weasley, my mother destroyed the house. I suppose she arranged for bodies to be found. She loved me too much to see me die. So she took me from danger."
"You were safe, why did you come back?"
"You really are as thick as that brother of yours. After she died all that was left was revenge, my dear Weasley, revenge." He spat that last word out.
"You're going to kill me, you're going to kill us all!" She struggled against her bonds. She had to get away. Malfoy brought his wand up quickly. Ginny froze.
"Weren't you listening? I'm not going to kill you. Not unless you make me. I'm not going to kill anyone. Not you, not your family, not even your precious Potter.
"I admit I thought about it. But satisfactory as that prospect was, I came up with a better plan." His eyes locked with Ginny's. He's mad, she thought. He's utterly mad!
"It's ingenious really. Father would have been proud."
"What do you mean?" She decided to keep him talking. If she found out what he was planning she could escape, somehow and warn everyone. She had to hope he made a mistake.
"The Dark Lord got it wrong, you know. He was too arrogant. He could never believe there was any wizard more powerful than he. He attacked to Potter's strength. A terrible miscalculation on his part. Potter is too powerful. I've seen it too often. He should have gone after Potter from his weakness."
"Weakness?" Ginny was getting really scared now. What could Malfoy be thinking?
"Certainly you realize by now, Weasley, it's his damned compassion. His nobility. Hurt the ones he loves. Not kill them, no, that would just anger him. Roused, Potter is too dangerous. But maim those around him. How do you think he would handle the knowledge that those he loves can no longer live a normal life because of him?" She knew the answer to that. Guilt would claim his life. He would never be happy again. It would drive him away.
"Ah, I see you've finally worked it all out. Now we can get on with things. Now that I have his most precious possession in my power-"
"But I'm not!"
"Crucio!" It was unbearable, the pain rocketing through her. Let me die, she thought, I can't take it anymore! He stopped again.
"Don't lie to me, Weasley. I know he loves you. I was there! I saw him kiss you. The night the Weasel married the Mudblood, I was there. I've acquired a few things on my journey. I have my own Invisibility Cloak.
"I must thank you, you and Potter. Here was the dénouement to my plans." Malfoy loosened her bonds then. Ginny was weak. Her body ached, as it never had before. She tried to gather some strength. It was difficult. She was barely able to sit up. Keep him talking so you can gather you strength, Ginny.
"What plans?"
"Getting you here, of course. That was the easy part. I knew you would be heading to Diagon Alley for your school things. It was only a matter of getting you alone. There were a number of ways to do that. When you went into Malkin's I knew the time had come. You really should have been more careful, you know.
"The hard part was leaving the clue."
"Clue?"
"Yes, something only Potter would recognize. But not too quickly. I needed time, you see." He sat on the bed with her. Ginny backed off.
"What's wrong, Weasley? Do I revolt you? Can't you even look at me? Look at me, Weasley. Look at me the way you look at Potter." He reached a hand up to stroke her face. Ginny had backed up to the wall. She could go no further. Malfoy's gloved hand stroked her cheek. Her disgust must have shown on her face.
"I can see why Potter loves you. You are very beautiful. I've always thought so. Does that surprise you? It shouldn't. There's a beauty about you, something so alluring, it comes from your very soul. I've always wanted you to look at me the way you look at Potter." He sighed.
"I suppose you never will...willingly." He raised his wand once more. Ginny braced herself for more pain.
"Imperio!"
The pain was gone. She was floating blissfully. All was forgotten. She would do anything to keep this feeling. Anything.
"Kiss me." She started to move toward Malfoy. He really wasn't that horrible. "Kiss me," the voice sounded again, beckoning her. But this wasn't Harry. Why would she want to kiss Malfoy? I think not, she thought. Her body began to tremble with the effort it took to resist. She had to resist. She would not, SHE WOULD NOT! But Malfoy's lips were on her mouth. He was trying to force his tongue between her lips. NO, NEVER! She bit down hard, tasting the blood from his lip.
The force of the blow knocked her hard against the wall. Dazed she slumped down on the bed. Malfoy grabbed her by the shirt, forcing her toward him. With every last ounce of strength she possessed, she pushed hard against him. Her shirt tore away, hanging off one shoulder.
Malfoy dropped his wand. Ginny had used the last of her reserves. She couldn't move anymore. There was no way to stop him now. I'm sorry, Harry, she thought. I can't stop what's coming. I tried, but...forgive me. Malfoy shrugged off his robe. He pulled his shirt off over his head, and then straddled Ginny where she lay helpless.
"I vowed I'd send you back damaged goods!" He lowered his body on top of her.
Harry! Her mind cried out as Malfoy kissed her savagely. She couldn't move. Malfoy held her hands above her head with one hand. The other was touching her in places she couldn't bear to think of. He ground his hips hard against her. She felt as if she would retch. Struggle was hopeless. The Cruciatus Curse had taken too much out of her. She went limp under him.
He sat up, still straddling her limp body. He removed the glove from his right hand. Malfoy's nails were razor sharp claws. He raked them across her chest, drawing blood.
"I'm going to mark you. Every time Potter looks at you, he will know I was there first," his face contorted into a wicked grin. Her chest burned where he had scratched her, blood seeping from the wounds. Malfoy bent to the marks and licked the blood, spreading it across his lips. She couldn't look, but she couldn't look away either. He bent over her again and pressed his blood stained lips on hers.
The sound of a door being blown open elsewhere in the house startled them both. Malfoy was off her instantly. He scooped up his wand and crouched, wand pointing at the door.
"Damn, it's too soon," he growled. Then a sneer of pure evil crossed his face. "No matter, now he can watch what I do to you."
Ginny heard Harry's footsteps on the stairs. Her voice was paralyzed in her throat, she couldn't warn him. She had to do something. Drawing on the very last of her reserves, she gathered herself into a crouch on the bed. Harry was almost there; she had to do something now. She launched herself at Malfoy. The door to the room was blasted off its hinges. She didn't feel it, but she heard the sickening sound of her ribs cracking as she knocked Malfoy off his feet.