Chapter Seven

A Deal with the Devil

Madam Pomphrey had been summoned. She decided it was safe to transfer the Headmaster to the Hospital Wing.

"Do you want me to come with you both?" Ginny asked.

Minerva had to return to her class.

"And I suggest you do likewise, young lady!"

"I've got a free period."

Ginny address Voldemort.

"Please may I go and see him?"

She did not associate this man with her suppressed trauma. Her flashbacks.

He looked nothing like her Tom Riddle.

She thought only of her teacher.

Of the man who she had known for five years, seen round her house sometimes.

In the emergency, in the immediacy of that very moment.

Completely forgot how terrifying this man was supposed to be.

Completely forgot about Snape and Dumbledore.

In that moment, Voldemort was simply a bloke looking out for a bloke she had looked after.

A friend of her patient's.

Voldemort smiled warmly, at being addressed in lieu of Minny McGonagall.

She recognises that I alone really wield the power, then?

"What a charming young lady you are! The model of decorum and decency!"

"I just wanna, like, make sure he's ok. That he comes round, and that, fine."

"On your own head be it, both of you! If you really refuse to allow me to escort you-"

-away from this volatile viper-

"Then you leave me with no choice but to- take great care, Miss Weasley! You don't know half the things that man is capable of!"

"Well, you know, you say that but, thinking on all that... I fought against Lucius Malfoy and a bunch of other Death Eaters two years ago. Like, fully trained wizards against us untrained teens. And we won. And this isn't a combat zone. I think it's ok."

"HA! Refreshing, don't you think, Minny? The younger generation? Such confidence!"

He conveniently ignored the embarrassing fact that she was right...

"Arrogance, more like! I assure you, she is the most ordinary of children, my Lord! A handful of Acceptables at OWL level-"

"Don't bring my exams into it, or anything else, Professor! I just want to check Professor Snape is ok. Cos, like, I don't think he should be left alone-"

"He's in safe hands, my dear!" replied the Dark Lord.

"-with you. Like, he did this before when you were with him and then you went and left him alone. So, like..."

Voldemort aimed his wand, itching to curse the impudent brat.

She didn't flinch.

Or attempt to shield herself.

"HOW DARE YOU CAST SURE OUTRAGEOUS ASPERSIONS! DO YOU ACCUSE ME OF DRIVING HIM TO THIS? OVER THE EDGE?"

"Your words. Not mine. He's not been very happy lately has he, clearly? Since you turned up to run the place. There's clearly something going on, I was thinking. More to it than meets the eye. Between you. And I'm not just talking about the flirting and that. Something's up. Not what it seems. He should be happy if he wants you to win. If he's really on your side. He's not happy. So, logically-"

"You accuse my most loyal servant of disloyalty?!"

"Again. Your words. Not mine. Why isn't he crowing and jeering about Dumbledore's death with you?"

Why indeed? I'd never thought of that.

"Something doesn't add up."

His adopted an offensive combat stance.

She raised her own wand.

As if she felt she stood a chance in a duel.

If she thinks she's so clever then let's see if she can think on her feet!

Dismissing her assertions (preposterous! That a mere slip of a girl should claim to know my servant's disposition better than I!) he cast a casual Cruciatus, silently. Wandlessly.

"Mr. Riddle!"

Minerva cancelled the curse. Quick to intervene.

"I wouldn't ever repeat that phrase. In front of me. Miss McGonagall (you don't even have a doctorate! Never mind a full professorship!) Unless you wish to be tortured slowly and painfully into insanity," he said, in a darkly dangerous, serious tone. "Piss off promptly, now!" His voice again became bright. "Or I will do something unspeakably horrific to Severus! After asking him to kill you. Or something!"

"Really now-"

"Your last warning. I could have him kill the girl as well, if you prefer?"

He tone was now mildly interested, mildly bored. Like he was remarking to a neighbouring passenger on a platform full of commuters that the 9:06 to London Bridge was late, again.

Professor McGonagall started to walk away, taking the threats very seriously indeed.

You never could tell with that man. Better not risk pushing him over the line.

He was, reportedly, insane, erratic, unpredictable and extremely quick to anger.

Never mind that he had nothing whatever to gain by the random act of killing her, or a young girl. He might do such a thing for no reason at all.

Then again. He was supposed to be a sadist...

"Ginny, dear!" she called over her shoulder "This is your last chance to follow me back to safety! If you choose not to be escorted by me… On your own head be it!"

"Madam Pomfrey will be there too, if I go with him to visit Snape. It's ok, Professor."

"I doubt even Poppy is a match for- Dear oh dear! The younger generation! Think you can save the world alone. All of you!"

She marched away without another word.

Lord Voldemort smiled, warmly.

Dangerously.

So trusting. Such innocence!

He cast another surreptitious Cruciatus.

He wasn't especially desirous of causing pain, mind. Just curious. So it would likely not hurt that much.

Not that he cared or much minded, mind, if she suffered pain.

He was entirely indifferent on that score.

Her reflexes were extraordinarily fast.

She had dived and rolled to the floor.

"How old are you, again? 15, was it? I wonder whether-"

He deflected her oncoming curse with ease.

"Was that… a silent Expelliarmus? I thought silent wandsmandship wasn't on the curriculum, anymore?"

"It's not! Harry encouraged me to learn-"

"Harry Potter?"

That wasn't public knowledge! She'd already broken Snape's rule, without meaning to!

Voldemort was staring at her. His head tilted to one side.

"I gather you used to play Seeker at home, against your brothers. Hence your motions and manoeuvres. Excellent. Admirable. Are you sure you don't want to work with me?"

He circled the girl, assessing her build.

There is potential there, perhaps. And a refreshing candour.

"You'd ace all your school exams. Under my… tutorlege."

I could perhaps find time for a new project… I am at this moment very bored indeed, after all.

Forget the slowly slowly.

I want her NOW.

"I have a little proposition."

Oh no.

That could not bode well at all.

"You see, dearest Ginny? HA! That rhymes!

"What?! No it doesn't!"

"Yes it does! 'See', 'Ginny'. See? Ahhh I am funny, you know. Another benefit of going into business with me!"

"You're not funny at all!"

"DON'T contradict me! Especially not when I'm SOLILOQUISING! Where was I? Answer the question, you halfwit of a Weasley!"

"Halfwit of a Weasley?! You have to be a halfwit of a something, like a known thing, that's not even an insult-"

"It is in certain special Slytherin circles!"

"Pffft! You just made that up!"

"Oh you can spot such things as when I am obfuscating the truth, can you? Interesting. Already you are cleverer than Wormtail and he's behind only Lucius in Order of Precedence! Right, I have decided! I dub thee Number Three! Now that does rhyme!"

"What?"

"Oh dear, I fear you shall be demoted faster than Wormtail ever was, if you can't even recognise that. A rhyme so simple!"

"Don't take the piss! What are you bloody on about?!"

"There's candour and there's recklessness verging on the masochistic. Don't swear at me again. Now, to put it plainly: you're mine, my dear. On a trial basis. If you fail to impress, I expect you shall be dismissed from my services."

"What the bloody hell are you playing at, mate?! I'm not in your services and I never will be! Go to hell in a handcart!"

"HAAA HAAA HAAA HAAA HAAAAAAAAAaahhhhh!"

"Your laugh is ridiculous, did you know?"

"You really are the veritable little charmer, aren't you my dear? Such candour- So refreshing! And such charming little turns of phrase, what a quaint little old-fashioned, mild slur! Delightful! You've got until Saturday to impress."

"Fuck off you bastard."

"Oh dear, that's a point against you. I don't like the f-word. So tedious. Overused. If you swear at me again I will cast the Cruciatus. Final warning. I shall outline the terms only once. If you work for me-"

"I'll never work for you!"

He shushed her. Quietly. Gently.

And smiled. Toothily.

"Since the deal concerns your nearest and dearest, I really do think you ought to listen. I shall give you the ultimate choice, I have decided. You may voluntarily opt to enter my service. You lucky thing! The vast majority of my servants never have the right- No. The privilege. To choose. The terms are as follows: work for me… and I will spare the lives of your mother, your father. And your five siblings."

"I have six siblings-"

"Ronald Weasley's life is non-negotiable. He has aided and abetted Harry Potter, the most wanted man in the country. If you volunteer to work for me. You will guarantee the lives of seven people. If you refuse me… I will slaughter every single one of your remaining living relatives. In addition to the seven you might have spared… every aunty and uncle, your cousins- Barring the Malfoys, of course. Whereas, if you agree to work for me… I will spare their lives-"

"They've not done anything to harm you or your cause! Bill and Charlie stay out of politics, Percy as good as works for you already- Fred and George just work in a shop, for God's sake-"

"As far as you're aware. Oh well, there we are. I'll put out the order that all Weasleys are to be captured, then killed, as soon as possible. Which floors do your Dad and brother work on at the Ministry at present, remind me? I forget- Ah well, I expect they're easy enough to find. I'll start with your Dad, tout de suite! Immédiatement! That means straight away if you're too thick to know French!"

He knew that she had never had the opportunity to learn. Languages being taught from 11 in the muggle state sector, the free system of education. His showing off was merely an extra effort to unsettle. To intimidate.

"Percival has some business papers of mine to finish with, first. But I am sure I can slot in a quick kill at the end of the working day!"

"Please! He's never done anything but his job! He just gets on with his head down- He helps you!"

"Weeeell I do have thousands of other civil servants in that building capable of doing a bit of clerical work. His life is in your hands. As are those of all of your relatives'! The alternative course of action is, I propose: I put out an order, one that says that extra care should be taken to spare their lives if they should ever engage with us on the battlefield, and that on no account is anyone to harass, harm, kidnap, kill or engage with, in the military sense, any Weasley in any way…. Unless one were to be shot at first, that is to say, on my side, in which case, one ought to disarm first, and only shoot back if it is not at all avoidable. Those are my terms. Well? DECIDE!"

He removed his pocketwatch, well, not his but Abraxas Malfoy's. Or Lucius's. It had belonged to both, strictly speaking-

"I… You've not exactly left me with much choice-"

MAKE YOUR CHOICE! QUICKLY!

He stared at the watch face.

"I- Can't I take some advice? I should speak to a lawyer-"

"DECIDE! HURRY!"

"Maybe Professor Snape could tell me-"

"If you say no, rather than proceed with the original plan, to have Ronald killed painlessly and instantly- I'll make sure that his is the most drawn out, and gruesome, and horrifically brutal act of murder I have ever had the pleasure to commit! Which is it to be? TELL ME!"

"YOU CAN'T EXPECT ME TO AGREE TO THE WAY IN WHICH MY BROTHER'S GONNA BE MURDERED!"

"Ttttsss. Pathetic. Over 25 seconds. I had hoped for under ten." He replaced the watch in a pocket. "My record is 3. It's no fun now, to time it. Go and have your words with Snivillus, then. Why him and not your Head of House, by the by?"

"He knows what it's like to work for you!"

"True, good point."

And whether you'd actually go through with your threats-

"You might even ask him for permission to go home to your family for the afternoon. I am an honourable and reasonable man, after all, and consider that only right and proper and fair, in such circumstances as these."

She scoffed, loudly, in disgust and derision.

He pretended not to have heard. To avoid wounding his delicate pride.

He considered, after all, his offer of a family visit, for final goodbyes, to be the height of gentlemanly conduct.

"You will no doubt wish to discuss the disposal of their property, or whatever it is my prisoners tend to do when their loved ones are about to die."

"Prisoners? I'm not your prisoner!"

"Prisoner, possession. Same thing, I suppose. Your life is now mine, regardless."

A statement of fact. His tone was light. Airy. As if he had announced he was just popping off to Hogsmead to the pub.

"The choice is a simple one. You refuse me. I have your relatives killed with immediate effect. After you have been told, briefly, of the terms of the will or wills any individuals may have made. You accept. You may take the afternoon off school. For a little family reunion. Or. Parting of the ways, or whatever! If, as I suppose, you will not decide to have the weight of upwards of seven deaths on your conscience (which I am told is a terrible thing)... If you decide to say your goodbyes, never to see your family again. If Severus suggests it would be unwise for you to go home- You may overrule him. You have my permission. You may consult him. But my word is final. And I will allow- an hour or so. More than enough time to speak to seven individuals, no? That's nearly ten minutes each!"

"Very generous of you, I'm sure!"

"What gentleman could do less?! I suspect actually that's far too much- A full five minutes per head would even be excessive! How long does it take to say a few words to the effect 'farewell' a few times? Or maybe you're one of those weirdos who for some inconceivable reason likes their relations? I have a few of those in my organisation, for all that it's all rather ghastly- At any rate! You must sign the contract by seven o'clock! Our- my- The Headmaster's rooms. Don't be a second late! My offer is null and void after the clock strikes the hour. Otherwise- I fancy Percival should be the first. He'll still be at the office at that time. Quickest to get out of the way, as it were... If you'd rather I didn't carry out the killings, and all that... Come to me then, and we'll work out the logistics of it all. The Mark. The Vow."

"The Dark Mark? And the Unbreakable Vow?"

"To serve and protect me and to give up your life for mine should you have the opportunity, yes. To which other Mark or Vow could I possibly be referring? Are you dense, or something? Dear oh dear- Oh, that's a point. If you fail your probation period. I'll have you killed."

"What? Why?!"

"Well it makes sense. Otherwise you'll know all my secrets, for one thing. If you're no good to me I can't just dismiss you and let you go!"

"What about a memory wipe?"

"Oh it's just the way I do things. Force of habit. One of my little rules and traditions. I'll be in the Hospital Wing. Do come and join us, if you fancy a chat with Snivy or myself! A tout a l'heure!"

With this parting (see you soon, in French), the Dark Lord gave a jaunty wave, and marched off, for a sedate walk through the corridors of the only place he had ever called home. Admiring his favourite paintings, and whistling 'I'm getting married in the morning!' all the while.

Ginny found herself left alone in the bedroom.

And sank to the floor.

Curled into a ball.

Pulled her knees to her chest.

And cried.

Bawled her eyes out.

Bitter, noisy, angry, unashamed tears

At the injustice of her situation.

A/N:

I'm going away for a few days so won't be able to update again straight away. We've had sort of daily updates for a week now, as planned, I'm going to switch to every other day then twice a week long term. Update you soon, aiming for Wednesday or Thursday depending on travels. Will be after 6:00pm BST/ UCT+1

See you soon, take care!