Disclaimer: The Harry Potter world and all Harry Potter characters are not mine. I do not make any money from this.
A/N: This was written for the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition, Round 9, for the Appleby Arrows, Chaser 3.
Prompt: Ginny Weasley
Additional Prompt(s): (word) harm, (setting) treehouse, (word) evoke
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Contingency Plan
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Ginny Weasley stared up at the ceiling of the treehouse she was trapped in. The wood was chipped and signs of mold were evident. She wondered what it would take for the wood to break. If she hit it hard enough, would it give? Could she somehow manage to climb her way out? But Ginny knew it would be a useless attempt. She could barely lift her arms and her legs had gone numb. If she moved then he moved. It was ridiculous, really. She knew she didn't have the strength to fight him off. But she couldn't help but think about it.
How many times had her mother warned her not to go off on her own? She should have known better. She really should have.
. . .
Her hair was cast around her like a crimson halo and Lucius Malfoy wondered if she had ever considered modeling. Merlin knew she had the looks for it. He noted her sharp cheekbones and milky white skin. She truly was a sight to behold but Lucius knew that her face was gaunt and she was pale because she hadn't eaten in three days. It had been hours since he'd seen her actually move but he knew she was still alive by the way her eyes traced the ceiling and the subtle lift of her chest. He didn't want to be there.
Somehow he had gotten roped into the whole mess and he found himself wondering if there was any way he could just leave. It's not like he wanted to sit in a decaying treehouse waiting for Merlin knows what. But he feared the Dark Lord, more than anything.
He thought of Draco and Narcissa. He couldn't disobey, not matter how much he wanted to. His family was always at stake.
He knew something was going on. Three Death Eaters had kidnapped the Weasley girl for some purpose. The Dark Lord had told him to make sure she didn't get away. Lucius had watched as he poured over molding tomes, obviously searching for something. And so he kept watch in a treehouse that smelt faintly like mold, keeping vigil like an old lighthouse keeper.
It was becoming unsettling.
He had almost unintentionally killed the Weasley girl once. He wondered if she knew that. She never spoke. She drifted in and out of consciousness, not even acknowledging that he was there. He wondered if the Dark Lord meant to kill her but that seemed like such a waste. Though she was a Blood Traitor, she was still from a pureblood family. Lucius had killed children before, had witnessed it, but something about possibly killing this young girl rubbed him the wrong way. It felt wrong, and that caught him off guard. When had anything ever felt wrong to him?
Lucius sighed audibly but the girl still didn't move, not even a twitch.
It would be easy to harm her and who knew maybe the Dark Lord even expected it but Lucius didn't want to. She looked far too ethereal on the treehouse floor to even touch. He scoffed to himself. He really must be growing old or maybe his time in Azkaban really did change something in him. He didn't enjoy the things he used to, like torturing.
He took a look at the girl and saw a pureblood child who had no reason to be harmed or killed. And something worried at him that she was there just for that.
"Why do you think you're here?" he blurted it out before he could even think about it. He clamped his lips shut and hoped that she wouldn't answer him. He really shouldn't be speaking to her. But the fiery girl turned to look at him, capturing him in her gaze.
. . .
Did he not know why she was there? She looked at him, scrutinizing everything about him. He looked different from the last time she saw him. He looked older, more haggard and drained. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top and his cuffs weren't either. His outer jacket looked slightly torn in places like he didn't really care to fix it. She wondered if he knew how awful he looked.
She turned back to stare at the ceiling.
"It can't be anything good." Her voice came out sounding rough and she suspected it was because her throat was dry and her lips were cracked. She had been given water but not enough of it. A moment after she replied to him he burst out laughing. A low chuckling that warmed her though she didn't know why. At least someone was smiling. When was the last time she saw a genuine smile? Her family tried to but it always looked forced. With Ron, Harry, and Hermione doing Merlin knows what, there was little to smile about lately.
He abruptly stopped laughing and she turned to look at him. He seemed to be listening for something and so did Ginny. And she realized there were footsteps and then the sound of someone coming up to the treehouse. She steeled herself. Whatever was coming, she knew it wasn't good.
. . .
She was grabbed roughly by her arm, yanked up and pushed against the wall. She sat roughly and tried not to make a sound. She didn't want to give them the satisfaction. She glared at the Death Eater she didn't recognize and tried not to cower at the gaze of Voldemort. He looked at her with glee and it made her shiver. Lucius Malfoy stood behind them. His head was lowered and he refused to look at her. She was going to die. The thought immediately sprung into her mind and she pushed back her fear. She didn't want to cry, not in front of them.
She heard whimpering and watched as the unknown Death Eater pulled a shaking man through the treehouse latch. The man was bound and shaking violently. Ginny wondered if he had been tortured or if he was just afraid. She knew the Cruciatus curse could cause shaking and she winced at the thought. At least Malfoy hadn't tortured her.
The man was thrown to his knees in front of Voldemort. She watched as he took out his wand and muttered an odd incantation that she couldn't make out then abruptly he yelled, "Avada Kedavra!"
Ginny closed her eyes and tensed waiting for it to happen but nothing did. She opened her eyes and saw the shaking man lying unconsciously on the floor. His eyes were open and unseeing.
Suddenly she felt something. It rushed through her unexpectedly and almost painfully. It was an instant and Ginny fell to her knees. Did Voldemort evoke some sort of spirit? Was it some kind of old magic? What happened? Ginny noticed that the wood under her hands had cracked. The treehouse really was in no condition to be used.
She was roughly pulled to her feet and Ginny was looking into the eyes of Voldemort. He stared at her intently like he was searching for something. He must have found it because he suddenly smiled. It was a cruel smile and Ginny shivered.
"I wonder how much the ones you care about love you. Would they be able to do it? Would the famous Harry Potter be able to do it?" She stared back at him and hardened her gaze. What was he talking about?
"Finally, it's finished." His fingers traced her cheek delicately almost lovingly. "You are my contingency plan. My new Horcrux."
. . .
A/N: Unfortunately, I did not finish this fic in time for the deadline so this was not submitted into the competition but I did eventually finish it and I still posted it. So…enjoy? Also, this story took a different turn. I was going to have something happen where Ginny escaped and Malfoy helped her which is why there's a brief part of his point of view but I changed it at the last minute so yeah…