Chapter 49—Restoration
"I doubt you'll last the week." Tom whispered from within Ginny's mind, as she sat at her Ministry cubicle at work. It was well after hours, but Ginny was just grateful for the fact that she wasn't anywhere near her family.
"Your feeble attempts to contain me are foolish. I grow tired of your pathetic efforts. Simply give in and perhaps I will spare your son."
Shut up! Ginny thought, feeling her body painfully stiffen. "Don't you ever shut up!"
"Uh, who the hell yer talkin' to Weasley?" asked Finnegan, staring down at Ginny like she was quite mad.
He must've come back for something he forgot. Sure enough, Seamus's cloak was draped over one of his arms.
"Um," A sharp, slicing pain slid up Ginny's lower back and up to the nape of her neck. After two weeks, Ginny was used to Tom's form of punishments and reminders. Finnegan grew somewhat worry when he saw how unnaturally still she became.
"Thinking out loud. Sorry." Then, Tom forced Ginny to stand to her feet and begin to gather her things. "See you tomorrow."
With that said, Ginny hurried to the Loo—a place where Seamus wouldn't follow her. Ginny hurried to the sink, seeing a vicious scowl on Tom's handsome face.
"You don't have as much control as you think, Tom. Now, who's the weak one." Ginny said. The agony she endured simply for mouthing off at him was well worth it to Ginny, who continued, "Controlling me like this must somehow weaken you. How else was I able to say what I was thinking back there? But, you know, it wouldn't be the first time you've allowed your arrogance to ruin all your careful plans."
"I give as good as I get, cunt!" After that single remark, Ginny wasn't able to see, speak, or stand properly for five minutes.
Once the pain was over, Ginny glowered at the smiling raven-haired teen in the mirror.
"All I need is one shot." Ginny sneered, watching the teens cold blue gaze narrow threateningly at her. "I'll kill us both."
Silence. That's the first time he's shut up since he revealed himself.
Tom invaded Ginny's dreams, making her recall Diary incidents and her actions as a Death Eater. Even throughout the day, Tom was cruel in how vividly he made Ginny relive the horrors she'd seen or experienced. He made her constantly think of her own betrayal of her family and how much better off they would be without her.
Tom also enjoyed making Ginny see Theodore's death repeatedly. His message was clear: Ginny was poison, a danger to everyone close to her. She was a despicable person, completely unworthy of any regard or affection.
"You are too cowardly." He spat at her. Ginny shook her head with a small smirk.
"I'd die before I watch you hurt them. I'll gladly give my life for my son so that he won't have to suffer. I'm simply biding my time, Tom."
Riddle tried to seem unaffected by what she'd said, but there was a tenseness in his fake smile that clearly showed how bothered he was. He's frightened.
"As I was biding mine," Tom drawled, "But no more. Tonight, we shall drown Connor, and after that, we'll butcher your mother and father in their sleep. That will crack your psyche enough to allow me full control." He said with a real smile full of actual joy.
Ginny's eyes widened fearfully in horror. Tears sprang to her eyes as she stared at the monster.
"I don't doubt for a moment that you'd wait to kill them; that you're simply 'biding your time'. You're still vulnerable, I know it." Ginny said obstinately at him.
I just have to find out how and where.
Tom raised a single brow at her, looking quite cold and regal. "We shall see tonight then, won't we?"
Not even Dementors inspired as much misery and fear as that single threat—or was it a promise? Afterwards, Tom made Ginny leave the Ministry for the Burrow. Upon her arrival, Ginny was forced to take Connor from her mother's arms and up the stairs.
The mental battle waging within Ginny's mind as she tried to resist Tom physically caused pain in every part of her body. Every move she made was such a strain that her muscles ached, feeling as though they were locking up on her. Though Tom had full control of her body, he still did not have power over her mind and magic.
Ginny was sure he wanted to somehow be revived, but she couldn't see any way that Tom Riddle could be brought back to life. As she walked up the stairs with Connor clutched too tightly in her arms, her mind desperately raced to find some way to contain him or to stop him. What does he want? He can't have a body of his own; it would be almost impossible to create another. No, he's going to take over mine. He's going to use me to destroy everyone.
Ginny looked down at Connor, seeing innocence and a sleepy quality to his eyes. He stared around him with a wide-eyed fascination, and though Ginny couldn't be sure, there seemed to be an uneasiness reflected in his pupils. For the past two weeks, Ginny had been distant with Connor and everyone. She'd hoped that her behavior would alert them, but all it did was make everyone think she was pulling away yet again.
When Ginny stood right outside her bedroom door, her and Tom fought over making her enter it. When he leaned her forward, she'd jerk backwards.
When one of her feet moved forward, Ginny panicked to the point where she was able to briefly regain control of her body for two seconds. Ginny collapsed somewhat loudly to the floor, and upon seeing Connor unharmed by her actions, made a silent prayer in thanks. Ginny hoped that her parents heard her, especially now that Connor was shrieking at the top of his little lungs.
"I will kill that boy!" Tom shouted from within her mind.
Yes, Ginny was beyond frightened but she couldn't let this go on for any longer. With each day, Tom grew stronger and Ginny weaker. If he gained control over her mind, her entire body and magic would be at his disposal and then she wouldn't be able to stop him.
I'd risk losing myself, and this time, it might be forever.
Tom constantly goaded Ginny throughout the night; he tortured her too, either literally with pain or with miserable reflections. Tom wasn't yet strong enough to fully possess Ginny, but on top of that, he really didn't want her to die quickly.
Harry had saved her in the Chamber when Tom wanted her dead. Ginny had then gone on to use every bit of knowledge Tom had given her against him in the second war. He'd watched her for years, cataloguing her every act of defiance against him. Tom never forgave and he never forgot anything. He was beyond being cruel, mad, furious, and betrayed. That empowered him to do whatever he could to see Ginny's life ruined, and he wanted everyone to believe that devastation was all Ginny's fault. Tom would never stop and he'd never offer her any mercy.
This is my one and only shot. If I don't stop him right here, right now, he'll kill my son.
When Ginny heard footsteps running up the stairs, she felt incredibly relieved. Her control over her body was quickly coming and going in spurts. The strain on her mind was exhausting and painful—and that's not to mention the physical torture that Tom was exacting for fighting him. Molly ran to Ginny, pulling Connor from her grasp and yelling for Arthur.
"Ginny, what's wrong? Why are you on the floor?" Molly asked, and when she didn't receive an answer. "Ginny, don't you hear me talking to you? Get up!"
"What's going on?" Arthur asked, coming down the narrow hall towards them. "Ginny, why are you down there?"
Ginny's body was as stiff as a board. Tom had placed her in a full body bind, but though her body was still, her eyes were very expressive of her fear. There was an engulfing darkness in her mind that was threatening to consume everything that made Ginny who she is. It was Tom's Legilimency, and Ginny could only keep him at bay for seconds.
He's trying to make me unconscious. And though Ginny couldn't be sure, it felt like she'd enter a deep sleep. I might not wake up ever again.
"Ginny, say something! Ginny?" Molly panicked, staring down at her daughter with eyes widened in fright.
It was Connor's cries that gave Ginny the strength she needed to stay conscious long enough for her to momentarily regain control of her entire body. She was desperate for them to understand.
They must!
"TOM!"
Arthur and Molly's face drastically paled, and they looked down at Ginny like they were going to be sick. That was the only thing Ginny could say before the darkness in her mind snuffed out her every sense, and from that moment onward, Ginny Weasley was unmade.
(Molly's POV)
"Stupefy!" Arthur said unsteadily, watching the red light strike Ginny who was already unconscious. "Incarcerous!"
"Arthur!" Molly exclaimed in argument, bouncing a crying Connor in her arms. "Restraints aren't necessary."
"You saw her, Molly. She said Tom. How many Toms does Ginny know? And the look in her eyes. I don't think she could move or answer us. And you know how much she's been extremely withdrawn of late, especially with Connor. That wasn't all Ginny. I'm calling Severus. Put the baby to bed and then Floo call Bill and Harry."
Molly nodded, leaving to put Connor to bed. She looked over her shoulder to see Arthur levitating Ginny downstairs to the sitting room, where she knew he'd soon Floo Severus. In no time, Molly had her grandson calm and right off to sleep. She hurried to her and Arthur's bedroom with a fireplace and first flooed Bill.
"Mum! It's rather late to be calling." Bill said with a tired smile. Then, upon seeing her haggard appearance, his smile faded and worry filled his blue eyes. "What's happened?"
"Ginny. We think somehow Tom Riddle's possessing her." Molly said hurriedly, watching Bill's eyes widen in disbelief.
"That's not possible. Dumbledore said Harry destroyed that diary." Bill reasoned.
"I know. I don't understand it either. Please, I don't know what much you can do but…"
"I understand." Bill sighed. "Give me a few minutes and I'll Floo over."
"Thank you, darling."
And then Molly ended the Floo connection and paused just before she called upon Harry. She couldn't believe this was happening.
It was only ever a diary. Molly thought, beginning to sob. How can something so small cause so much trouble? Molly understood what a Horcrux was. Dumbledore had explained their nature very clearly to the Order; she simply wished he'd been as detailed about completely destroying them. I can't help her. What kind of parent am I?
Molly threw the Floo powder in to the fireplace, calling upon Harry's home. It was no surprise to find both of her boys—Harry and Ron—playing Wizard's Chess in the sitting room of their shared residence. Molly was grateful to see them still in their evening attire.
"Hello, boys." Molly said, forcing a smile. "I'm sorry to bother you so late."
"Mum, what's going on?" Ron asked, easily seeing how troubled she really was.
"We think Tom Riddle's possessing Ginny." Molly answered, looking pointedly at Harry. "Arthur's calling Severus, but Harry, we don't know what to do. No one quite knows Horcruxes the way you, Ron, and Hermione do. Please."
And though Molly's desperation urged her to continue, she regained her composure and looked pleadingly at Harry. Both he and Ron shared a look of complete disbelief and complete dread. A silent message passed between the two of them, and in a matter of seconds, they'd stepped through the fireplace and into Molly's room. All three walked downstairs to find Severus, Arthur, and Bill in the sitting room with their wands trained on a still unconscious Ginny.
The sight of it almost enraged Molly. We're supposed to help her. But then after remembering the damage Riddle caused in her first year, even Molly was forced to admit that they'd have to protect their world from Riddle.
"Have you used Legilimency?" Harry asked Severus, watching the man give a dazed nod. Though always composed, there was a somewhat overwhelmed quality to Severus's bearing and eyes that heightened Molly's despair.
If he can't help us, then Ginny will be lost to us.
"What did you find?" Ron asked the man when he didn't immediately reply. "Is it him?"
"It is a void shrouded in ever growing darkness. There appears to be no trace of Ginevra." Snape answered, clutching onto the arm of one of Molly's four-legged chairs before collapsing down into it. "She could be there—or she could not."
"But can you …I don't know…see beyond the darkness? Maybe she's there, beneath it." Arthur said desperately.
"The Dark Lord—Riddle—has anticipated me. He knows my methods at the Mind Arts, and even if he did not, he is a considerable foe at Legilimency. I will access Ginevra's mind regardless, but if I feel it unsafe to the girl and myself to explore further, I must retreat."
"And if you retreated," Molly spoke up. "What would that mean for Ginny?"
Silence.
Molly shook her head. "We are not killing my daughter." She said fiercely.
"She could already be dead." Harry said quietly with remorse, watching Ginny's prone form with an expression that Molly couldn't quite name.
Harry looked determined to help Ginny but he was also simultaneously cognizant of the possibility that she could be dead. Murdered by Voldemort, at last. "We need to know for sure that she's still there. Can you find out, Snape?"
It took what felt like minutes for Severus to answer. "Not definitely, no."
Silence again. Molly walked over to Arthur, feeling his left arm encircle her and provide the comfort and support that she so needed right now.
"Wake him." Harry said; his voice surprisingly cold and commanding.
"What're you going to do?" Bill asked, watching Harry calmly. Molly knew her son, however. Bill was poised to do what he could to stop Harry from prematurely killing Ginny.
"Trust me." Harry said to them all before vanishing the ropes around Ginny and reviving her.
The moment Molly saw her eyes open, she was positive. That's not my daughter.
(Harry's POV)
Harry had no idea how to handle Riddle. He knew one thing for sure: Tom Riddle couldn't be allowed to live. It was more than neither can live while the other survives. Up until tonight, Harry had never doubted the meaning of that line in the prophecy; now, however, he was so unsure about how to truly defeat Riddle and save Ginny.
That's if she can be saved. The thought of her dead nearly sickened him. How many times did I think it would've been better if she'd died? Harry felt so much guilt, as he reflected on the bitter thoughts he'd had about Ginny in his anger. I didn't give up on her then and I won't now. But if she's dead…
It was a possibility that Harry couldn't think about at the moment. As he watched Ginny's body stare around at her surroundings, it was clear to everyone in the room that this wasn't Ginny.
Why didn't we see it sooner? Harry thought back on how quiet and reserved she'd been at work. I just thought the attack had really gotten to her. It was such a close call for her and Ron. Yet, Harry knew on some level that he was fooling himself. Though he and Ginny often spoke at work and sometimes at family dinners, they weren't very close. She isn't close to anyone.
"Tom." Harry said without a doubt, watching a vile smirk spread across Ginny's face.
That smirk made Harry clearly recall Riddle's appearance in the Chamber. He was ever so arrogant and vicious about the lives he destroyed. If she's dead, you'll pay, Riddle.
"Harry Potter," He replied mockingly with Ginny's voice. He's twisted her, made her into something she's not. For years, he's tried to destroy her. And the chance that he'd succeeded really pissed Harry off. "Here to play the hero, I see. You can't save her. She's gone." He said coldly.
"Fucking liar," Ron raged. He was about to physically attack Ginny, but it was Harry that stopped him.
Harry raised his wand and leveled it directly at Riddle's head. "If she's gone, then there's certainly no need for you to be alive, now is there? Avada—-."
"HARRY, NO!" screamed Molly.
"Kedav—."
"WAIT!" Riddle shouted, giving Harry an incredulous look mixed with fury. "There is a way for her to carry on completely free of me, Potter. Only I can restore what I took from her mind and heal what I ruptured. Consider that."
"And why would you do that?" Harry asked; his voice seething and barely controlled.
"Oh, I would do it—but only under the condition that I am restored in a body of my own."
"I would not believe him, Potter." Snape said, staring down at Riddle with such fury and disgust that it was beyond describable. "He is more than a bit of soul now. His presence here today is testament to that. Even if you were to 'restore' him to a body of his own, what guarantees do we have that he will not further exploit the bond he's made with the girl and thus use her again? None, for he will never give us such assurances."
Harry had never seen Ginny look at Snape with such a loathing, murderous expression.
"Clever, Snape. Got it all figured out, don't you. I will provide any…assurances that Potter needs. I have given my price to both depart and heal this pathetic shell of a girl. Question is, whether you are all willing to pay the cost for releasing me?"
Harry wasn't sure if he'd ever hated Voldemort more than he did now in this very moment. Of all the awful, many unspeakable, acts of cruelty he'd done to his enemies; this, however, was different. If Harry and the others agreed to Riddle's terms, then the bastard was making them complicit in this evil. Harry knew that by accepting Riddle's bargain, he and the Weasleys (even Snape) would be going against everything they believe in. Every life sacrificed in the wars against Him would be for nothing if they agreed to revive this monster.
Harry wondered what Ginny would tell him to do. If she was in this situation, what would she do? Had that question been asked to Harry merely four months ago, he wouldn't have hesitated to answer that Ginny would do the selfish thing by making the deal and to hell with the consequences and how they effect everyone else. Now, however, he wasn't so sure. Ginny had a way about her that made him question everything that he'd thought to be true or fact, and since she'd changed his outlook on several things, he couldn't be sure that she'd really chose to make this deal.
And in that moment, Harry didn't know how he'd made up his mind on what decision to make, but he'd decided all the same.
"All right, Riddle. I'll agree to that, but you have to vow on your…whatever the hell you are…magic…that should Ginny really be dead, you die also. You'll vow to completely release Ginny of whatever bond or pact she made, linking you to her. And last, but not least, you'll vow to heal every bit of damage you've done to her mind and restore the memories and emotions you corrupted. In return, I'd swear to restore you to a body of your own within this month. So do we have a deal or do I kill you now?" Harry said coldly.
There was a sneer on Ginny's face. "You don't fool me, Potter. You could not easily kill this girl and to think that her family would allow it..."
"Oh we'll allow it." Ron seethed, shocking Harry while staring defiantly at his parents and brother. "He's as good as killed Ginny, and no, we won't let you use our sister to do whatever sick shit you can think of. Ginny wouldn't want that for Connor, not for anyone. If you want to live, Riddle, you'd best make the deal or I'll kill you myself."
Silence. A minute later, Bill nodded in agreement. Then, Arthur, and at last, Molly.
Harry was grateful for what Ron had said, because not only were he and Ron on the same page, but also because Ron's challenge would prove how genuine Riddle was about this deal.
Tom knew they had much to lose by killing him and therefore Ginevra. He also knew that the only way to stay alive just a bit longer would be by making this bargain. For so long, Ginevra Weasley had been both his hostage and salvation.
Potter is aware of this now and he will end me, one way or another. Tom could see Potter's determination to have his way. After sizing Potter up, Tom smirked to himself, thinking, you should've killed me when you had the chance.
"We have a deal."
(One Week Later)
"You three are the best Aurors I have out in the field, and you choose now of all times to go on holiday." Kingsley said with a shrewd gaze, looking between Harry and Ron with speculation. "Where's Ginny? I will speak with her and settle this nonsense."
"Ginny's resting upstairs, Kingsley." said Arthur tiredly. "Didn't you get her owl, explaining how sore she's still feeling? I wanted her out of your department, Shacklebolt."
That remark easily raised Kingsley's hackles. "She hasn't been doing all that much work lately, has she, Arthur? Her contract with us cannot be changed. Ginny understands that. Why can't you? I need you three to trust me. Tell me what's going on here. It clearly has to do with her since she's not here."
Harry stood from the sofa, looking Kingsley searchingly in the eye for deceit.
"Did you notice how she was after coming back from that attack on Barnton?" Harry asked Kingsley, watching the man frown before nodding.
"Yes," He said, trying to see Harry's point. "I admit, she didn't look well. She wasn't speaking a lot either."
Now that Kingsley actually considered it, Ginny seemed to ghost through the office. Kingsley had only assumed that she'd need time to further recover.
"She's gotten worse since then." Harry said. When he was about to continue, Ron interrupted.
"She dying." Ron said abruptly, cutting Harry off with a sharp look.
Kingsley's eyes widened in disbelief, while Harry and Arthur tried not to stare at Ron with their mouths wide open like fools.
"Healer Brocklehurst came and told us that not all of her internal organs had completely healed. The damage in her liver and right kidney worsened after she came back to work. We didn't know anything was wrong until she passed out Sunday night on the stairs after dinner. They're saying she only has a week left." Ron lied with ease, meeting the Minister's gaze directly. "She's been out of it mostly. She's upstairs and heavily sedated for the pain. Now is a time for family, sir."
With that said, Ron turned and took off upstairs without so much as a look at anyone in the sitting room. As Kingsley watched a pale Arthur Weasley collapse down into a chair, a wave of guilt nearly made him breathless.
Kingsley didn't know what he could say to comfort Arthur, his friend. Since his decision to employ Ginny as an Auror, Kingsley's friendship with the man had been incredibly strained. Regardless, Arthur had remained loyal and supportive of Kingsley at the Ministry; that had meant a lot to Kingsley. Now, that decision not only cost Arthur his child but their friendship and trust in one another.
I promised that she'd be fine. She has a baby boy.
"I see," Kingsley said quietly. Suddenly, he couldn't stand to be in this house. Surely, they must think he as good as killed her by employing her in his old department. "I'm sorry, Arthur."
Then, Kingsley left the Burrow.
(Ron's POV)
The moment Shacklebolt left the house, Harry ran upstairs to Ron's room. The red-head was waiting for him, as he sat on the edge of his old bed with both elbows positioned above his knee; his head bowed in deep thought, almost like he was praying.
"Ron, why the hell did you lie to him?"
The red-head lifted his head and knew he must have a tired look to his blue eyes that was unlike anything Harry had ever seen from him before.
"He would've had to kill her if we'd told him, Harry." Ron said, sounding miserable and shamed. "As the Minister, he's taken magical oaths to protect the people. If he knew Tom Riddle had complete control of Ginny, he'd have no other choice but to sentence her to death. Even if he wanted to, Kingsley wouldn't be able to allow her to live at the expense to others."
"If he finds out what you did, Ron—."
"Oh, what does it bloody matter?" Ron snapped; his temper easily flaring. "She's my sister! What did you expect me to do? Tell him! Ask him for help, huh? They won't help Ginny; they never have. We can't let the Ministry know what's going on here, and we can never let on about the deal we've made with that…bastard."
Harry nodded, taking a seat right beside Ron on the bed. For minutes, they simply sat in silence.
Ron was thinking about their efforts at containing Riddle for every minute and second of the day. They'd set up alternating patrols to observe him. It was mostly Harry, Ron, Fleur, Audrey, and Remus. The others had to work, but they helped as often as they could with Connor and Teddy, who were getting to know their uncles very well.
Ron hated the time he spent around Ginny. Riddle was sadistic and cruel in describing every way they'd ever failed his sister, starting back in her first year. Ginny didn't like talking about the past. Percy, Fred, and George said it was because she hated to remember. For all that Ginny had left out, Riddle had readily explained in excruciating detail.
He told me how Ginny cried and screamed as Voldemort tortured her, about Ginny making Inferi, about Dolohov nearly raping and stabbing Ginny to death.
It got so bad that Ron not only kept Riddle bound with rope, but also had gagged him throughout his entire watch.
Dad received the worst of it, however, because he refused to silence Ginny-Riddle. It was torture for him. They didn't allow Mum around Riddle at all.
We can't keep this up. Ron sighed. Pretty soon, we'll know whether or not Ginny's still there to save—or whether or not all that we've done so far has been for nothing.
(Harry's POV)
For Harry, listening to Riddle was almost unbearable. Like Ron, he mostly silenced Tom. Harry was more concerned about learning from Riddle how exactly he was able to survive beyond the diary, but Riddle was very close-lipped about that topic. Harry was sure he wouldn't speak about that, until the bargain had been satisfied.
This hadn't been easy on any of them. They always had to hear Ginny-Riddle's vitriol. They constantly restrained Riddle. They gagged him and force-fed him, too. When the bastard was unsatisfied with Harry's 'lack of progress on their deal,' Riddle resorted to self harm.
Once, he'd nearly bit through Ginny's tongue. Another time, he'd rammed Ginny's head through her bedroom window. He constantly had to be monitored for those reasons and because they had to neutralize him.
Riddle often used Ginny's wandless abilities for himself. He'd already magicked fire and caused several objects in the room to fly at whoever was watching him at the time. He was also constantly undoing his restraints; it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep him bound or immobilized.
The only time Riddle behaved decently was when he and Harry talked about details for restoring him. Riddle was somewhat tolerable now. He was pleased that he'd have his own body by this weekend.
"Harry, what if what we're doing is wrong?" Ron asked with a voice that slightly trembled. "I want to save Ginny, but what if he's lying about her being alive? Those vows he made. Whatever he is now, do magical oaths really apply to him? What if she's alive, and we give him his own body, only for him to come back more powerful than he was before? How could we live knowing what we've done?"
Harry sighed, shaking his head. He didn't know how to answer Ron. For any course of action (or inaction) they took, nothing felt certain or right. When it came to this decision, Harry wasn't much worrying about right or wrong.
He'd put it at the back of his mind and focused on finding a way to save Ginny and kill Riddle.
(Tom's POV)
"This is an old, darker branch of alchemy." Ginevra-Riddle said with a smirk.
Currently, they were standing in the cemetery just below Riddle Manor. There was a full moon above that lit the graves and the bubbling cauldron in front of Ginevra-Riddle, Harry, Ron, Bill, Arthur, and Snape.
"Hmm, moonstone, crushed bone of the father, blood of the enemy willingly given," Tom said with a sadistic smile directed at Potter. "Dragon's blood, a phoenix's tear, and flesh from my deceased…uncle. However did you come by these ingredients, Potter?" He asked mockingly.
"Let's get this over with," Potter gritted out, looking at Riddle with disgust.
Tom looked at Potter in shrewd calculation before giving an abrupt nod. He added the ingredients to the bubbling cauldron of water, stirred the mixture clockwise and counter-clockwise several times, and then poured the contents into a goblet for consuming.
"Bottoms up." Riddle said playfully, sounding more like Ginevra than he did himself.
Once the entire contents of the potion had been downed by Ginevra-Riddle, Ginevra's body began to emit blinding electric blue and dark amber light that then began to swirl around her. Tom felt the exact moment of his liberation from the girl's shell.
At last, I am free.
Everyone watched in fear with their wands raised, as Ginny fell to the ground and the lights began to move upwards to take human shape.
They weren't exactly sure what the ethereal, human-form would do; according to Riddle, it would solidify and form a body. It seemed to be doing just that. Ron quickly ran to Ginny, checking her for life. Meanwhile, Harry aimed his wand up at the form above him, preparing to cast the Killing Curse. Before Harry could fire it, though, the thing slammed into him.
The impact brought Harry to his knees, panting for air to breathe. When he regained his bearings, Arthur and Bill rushed to help him stand to his feet. It was Snape who had his wand trained on him with a deadly look to his eyes.
"I'm all right. How is she, Ron?" Harry asked, sounding winded.
"All I know is she's breathing." Ron yelled about ten yards away from them.
Then a cunning smirk so unlike Harry spread across his face. "Good."
"What's—?" Bill began.
"Move back!" Snape shouted, but by the time he'd finished saying that, Bill and Arthur had been blasted far away from Harry-Riddle.
"You have been a nuisance from the start." A high, cold voice said from Potter's mouth to Snape. "Die, traitor."
Riddle-Harry went on the offense, hurling curse after curse at Snape with such power that the Potions Master was barely able to keep standing. Even with the help of Ron Weasley, Snape was still hurled over thirty yards across the graveyard. When Snape's back hit a gravestone and he slid to the ground unconscious, Riddle-Harry's attention turned to Ronald Weasley.
"Harry, I know you can hear me. Fight him, damn it."
High, cold laughter echoed throughout the cemetery. "Potter willingly consented to this. The idiot linked our life forces. Yes, he can hear you but I have a much stronger will. Avada Kedavra."
Riddle-Harry finished the curse, only for it to strike nothing because Ginevra had tackled her brother to the ground. She was saying something to Weasley. Riddle could see her mouth moving in her brother's ear. When she stood, she did so defiantly in front of her weakling kin.
"You would die for him, I see." Riddle-Harry said with a cruel smile, beginning to circle her. "You can barely stand, girl. Move aside, while I still allow it."
When Ginevra neither responded nor moved to obey him, Riddle-Harry began to walk towards her, sending Fiendfyre and conjured bolts of lightening at her. One medium-sized bolt struck Ginevra off of her feet, slamming her into the nearest headstone.
Riddle watched Ginevra cautiously, seeing now that she was no real threat to him in her condition. When he faced forward to finally dispatch her brother, he began to fume upon finding the boy gone.
(Ginny's POV)
Dazedly, Ginny heard Riddle shout in rage. Ron's portkey must've activated. Ginny had given Ron a stone pebble that she'd hastily turned into a portkey, slipping it into his robe pocket after tackling him. But Dad and Bill are still here somewhere, knocked out cold.
Ginny couldn't think on them any further, because Riddle-Harry had seized her by the throat and lifted her off the ground. He transfigured his wand into a long dagger, running it across her cheek and drawing blood. Then, Riddle drew the knife back and stabbed her just above her heart. The mirth in Harry's emerald eyes upon hearing her cry out in pain was enough to make Ginny sick herself, especially as she heard that cold laughter of Riddle's as he turned the blade inside of her wound.
Tears flowed down Ginny's face, as her knees gave out on her. She hadn't realized that she'd dropped her wand, or that Tom now held her in a close embrace like one would a dear friend. He hadn't removed the blade from Ginny.
Suddenly, Ginny's world began to spin, and when it finally stopped, Ginny had blacked out from the pain.
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