July 30, 1998, cont.
"Nott, get in here now or I will hex you!" Ginny threatened, standing by the fireplace in what she now had claimed as her study.
They were running late for tea at Nott Court, as Ginny needed a nap and a shower after her early afternoon romp with Harry. She smirked at the recollection of just how good it had been and hoped that the fellow guests at Narcissa's tea party would attribute her glow to pregnancy rather than a first-class shag.
"Can you walk any more slowly?" she snapped as Theo limped into the room, Polyjuiced as Rabastan.
"No, I can't," he muttered back. "I also can't walk any faster. Not after some batshite crazy bint Crucio'd me."
"Be happy I left Trixie upstairs or I'd ask her to help me do it again," Ginny said.
Theo raised an eyebrow. "I thought Trixie went everywhere with you."
"Not that it's any of your business, Nott, but even Trixie's smaller mirror won't fit in my handbag." She had purposefully selected a tiny bag and dress robes without pockets in order to have an excuse to leave Trixie behind. The mirror's demands that Ginny find a suitable body for her soul to inhabit were becoming incessant. It would be a relief to leave her behind for an hour or so.
"Are you ready to go?" Ever the gentleman, Theo held out the Floo powder and made a courteous gesture for her to precede him through the fireplace.
"Not so fast, Nott." Distracted by her thoughts, she nearly had forgotten. "Imperio."
Theo looked at her with slightly unfocused eyes but a smirk on his face. "What is your command, Mistress?"
Ginny frowned at the sarcasm. Without Trixie's help, he might be able to throw off the Unforgivable. She decided a lighter set of commands than usual was in order. "Just act normal. Don't tell anyone that you are Theodore Nott Polyjuiced as Rabastan Lestrange."
"Alright," Theo agreed, still with that faint, disconcerting smirk. "After you."
A house elf led them through the manor to a drawing room, where Narcissa greeted her with a warm embrace, inquiries about her health, and a kiss to the cheek. In contrast, she extended only the most minimal courtesy to the wizard she thought was Rabastan before banishing him to a distant and uncomfortable looking chair. Rather than blustering and making a scene as either Lestrange brother would have done, Theo took his assigned seat and embarked on a courteous conversation with Charlus Nott and Percy.
Percy gave her a smile. Ginny scowled back, knowing she was overdue for a brotherly interrogation about her well-being. She resolved to avoid him if at all possible, as Narcissa drew her over to the other female guests, seated at a table with its polished surface almost entirely covered by magazines, catalogs, and brochures.
"I decided to invite your brother and my goddaughter Audrey in honor of their engagement," Narcissa said, with color in her cheeks and a sparkle in her eyes. "Audrey's
aunt luckily was able to acquire an international Portkey, so we ladies are doing a little wedding planning over tea!"
Magda Zabini smiled slyly. "It is so useful to have a contact in your Magical Transportation department."
"Only for another week or so, I'm afraid," Audrey replied, unhappily.
"When is the wedding?" Ginny asked. Percy hadn't even told her he was engaged, and, based on what he had told her at his last visit, neither he nor Audrey were eager to wed.
"As soon as the banns can be posted." Audrey's voice was flat and she was careful not to look towards Percy.
"Is my brother forcing you?" Because if so, Percy was going to have bats crawling out of his nose for the next fortnight. His safe conduct was limited to the Lestrange estate.
Audrey shook her head. "No, it's at my father's insistence. Percy is the best of the limited choices available to me."
"At least you were allowed to make a choice," Narcissa pointed out gently. "So many witches in these troubled times are not so fortunate."
"Too right," Ginny muttered in agreement, taking a sip of the mint tea Narcissa had the elves make just for her.
Magda Zabini clicked one scarlet fingernail against her teacup. "Your brother . . . is he a good man?" she asked, staring into Ginny's eyes.
Ginny had no idea how to answer. Percy was a Death Eater, he had killed their parents for reasons she would not even try to comprehend, he was a prat to end all prats - but he also was the conscientious older brother who had always tried his best to look after her, even promising to kill Rabastan for her when the time was right.
Magda's tapped her fingernail again. "Perhaps I asked the wrong question. Will your brother make Audrey a good husband?"
"Yes," Ginny answered without hesitation, recalling the dopey expression on Percy's face whenever Audrey was the topic of conversation.
"Good. You put my concerns to rest," Magda said.
Ginny's throat tightened when she thought of how different Audrey's marriage would be from her own. Her mind shied away from even the thought of Percy as a lover, but he was not a rapist. He would be Audrey's partner, companion and comfort. It was hard not to be jealous when she had had only a Horcrux mirror to fill those roles for her during her hateful marriages. But at least now Harry was back, even if he was in the wrong body, and everything would be fine. At least that was what Ginny told herself fiercely, trying not to cry.
Magda lifted a cool hand to Ginny's cheek. "You poor child. You have been through so much."
"I'll be fine," Ginny said, lifting her chin and looking at Audrey. "I told Percy that he was luckier than he deserves to have found you in this horrible world of ours. I hope you'll make each other happy, even if neither of you wants to get married right now. And Godric knows I'd rather have you as a sister-in-law than Umbridge!"
"Quite!" Audrey laughed. "I'm looking forward to having you as a sister, though, very much." She lowered her voice, so that the men in the corner could not overhear. "Perhaps you can come and stay with us for an extended visit. We'll have a flat off Diagon Alley - no gloomy manor filled with Dark artifacts and darker wizards!"
Ginny smiled back. "I would love to." That was a lie. Now that Rodolphus and Rabastan were dead, she rather enjoyed being lady of the manor - especially with Harry returned to her.
"Audrey, I think I've found it," Narcissa said excitedly. "The perfect dress!" She passed over the wedding edition of Witch Weekly.
"It's quite nice," Audrey agreed, politely. "I like that it's simple."
"Charlus gave me an exquisite diamond and sapphire set on the occasion of our marriage. I would be honored if you wore it as your something borrowed and something blue," Narcissa said, clearly more enthused about the wedding planning than the bride. "Let me have an elf fetch it so you can see."
Within moments, the elf reverently placed a jewelry case on the table. Narcissa flicked it open to reveal a necklace, earrings, bracelet and a tiara with the largest sapphire Ginny had ever seen.
"It's perfect for a Ravenclaw such as yourself," Narcissa smiled.
Audrey looked doubtful. "It's beautiful, but perhaps too elaborate?"
"My great-aunt Muriel has a diamond tiara you might prefer," Percy offered. "She lent it to my sister-in-law Fleur for her wedding, even though she detests the French on principle, so I'm sure she would agree to let you wear it."
"Ugh, Audrey doesn't want that hideous old thing!" Ginny objected. "This tiara is just gorgeous." She reached out a finger to touch the delicate filigree.
"Ginny, don't!" Theo warned, a panicked note in his voice. "I mean - make sure there no Nott family curses on the jewelry before you touch it, you stupid bint. I don't want any harm to come to my heir," he said, in a much more convincing imitation of Rabastan.
Ginny gave him a curt nod, making a mental note to Crucio him once they were home for both the slip and the insult. As a matter of logic, she knew Theo was not Rabastan and she should not hold him responsible for the abuse the Lestrange brothers had inflicted on her. But she still found it viscerally satisfying and emotionally healing to torture Theo in Rabastan's body whenever he gave her the slightest cause to do so.
"Oh, no, there are no curses on these jewels," Narcissa blithely reassured them all. "I'll warn you the tiara is uncomfortable - I swear to Salazar it gave me a migraine every time I wore it to sit for my portrait! - but that was for hours at a time. It should be fine for a short wedding ceremony."
Out of the corner of her eye, Ginny saw Theo slink from the room, presumably to take another dose of Polyjuice potion.
"Now, what shall we do for flowers?" Narcissa asked, before launching into a description of every possible bloom she could obtain from Malfoy Manor.
Charlus cleared his throat. "Narcissa, dear, please contain your overwhelming generosity to whatever is available in the gardens here at Nott Court."
Narcissa appeared discomfited for a mere moment. "Of course, the gardens here are quite nice. Though I'm sure Draco would have no objection."
"No objection to what, Mother?" Malfoy swaggered into the drawing room and gave his mother a kiss on the cheek, nodding to Charlus. Charlus nodded back, unsmiling and unenthused by his stepson's uninvited presence.
"No objection to allowing me to raid the gardens at the Manor for Audrey's wedding bouquet and arrangements," Narcissa explained.
"Of course not," Malfoy waved a dismissive hand. "Take whatever flowers you'd like, Audrey. Would you like a borrow an albino peacock or two?"
Audrey's lips quirked in a smile. "Absolutely not, Draco. You'd probably enchant it to peck at Percy or some equally horrid prank."
He grinned back at her. "He's a Weasley, so I just might."
As annoying as Malfoy was, Ginny needed to speak with him. She smiled at him through gritted teeth and patted the seat of the vacant chair next to her. With Narcissa watching, Ginny knew he was too well-mannered to refuse.
"You're looking quite well, Madam Lestrange. Positively glowing." He smirked, even though he could not possibly know that Harry was now residing at the Lestrange manor.
She cast a stealthy Muffliato.
"Why are you gate-crashing your mum's tea party, Ferret?" she asked, suspicious that Theo's departure from the room for several minutes and Malfoy's unexpected arrival were connected.
"That's none of your concern, Madame Lestrange," he answered blandly.
Ginny knew he was using that detested title just to annoy her and decided to ignore it. "How is Hermione?" she asked, her primary reason for engaging him in conversation.
Malfoy gave her a wary look. "Why do you care? Asking for a friend?"
"I am her friend!" Ginny fired up. "Rabastan told me she was tortured."
"Granger's fine," Malfoy sounded bored. "Just a little Crucio or three. The stupid Healer told me I can't take her magic or fuck her again until tonight, so that's been inconvenient."
"You take Hermione's magic?" Ginny was outraged. That was even worse than his casual dismissal of her friend's torture and evening plans for rape.
Malfoy seemed surprised by the question. "Of course. Why wouldn't I use her in every way I can? Granger's practically a Squib now, but at least her cunt's still tight."
"You are a vile excuse for a wizard," Ginny told him, vibrating in rage. "Some day, and I hope it comes soon, Hermione will figure out how to work around that bloody tattoo and free herself from you. When she does, I will help hold you down while she castrates you."
Malfoy smirked. "Granger would never damage my cock. It's her favorite thing about me."
Ginny smirked back. "That's what Rodolphus thought, until I bit it off." Malfoy's eyes widened in alarm as she continued. "Once Hermione has removed your worthless little prick, by whatever painful means she prefers, I will suggest that she Transfigure your bleeding body into a ferret and leave you with a colony of feral Kneazles."
"Merlin, Weaselette - that's dark. It sounds like something my demented aunt would come up with."
Oh, I would never do that to my favorite and only nephew.
Ginny startled at Trixie's voice in her head.
But I might do it to Harry Potter.
"What?" Ginny gasped out loud, causing Malfoy to give her a worried look.
Your precious Harry tried to destroy me with a basilisk fang. But the stupid, impetuous boy lost his temper and used a spell that freed me instead, despite that little "protection spell" you placed.
A sharp pain stabbed through her skull. "No!" Ginny exclaimed, shocked that Harry would attempt that without telling her.
Oh, you didn't know? The pain receded. Then I suppose I don't have any basis to take your body in punishment. But it's time to make good on your promise to find me someone else to possess, Ginevra, or I will collect against you.
Ginny could feel Trixie scanning the room through her eyes.
Not my sister, of course, and even Bella wouldn't be mental enough to take on Magda Zabini. Trixie dismissed the older women and focused on Audrey. Who is she?
Ginny compressed her lips, not wanting to answer, but it was futile when Trixie could read her every thought.
Audrey Selwyn. Sacred Twenty-Eight. A former Head Girl, so she must be a more than competent witch. Oh, yes, she'll do quite nicely.
Ginny focused, not wanting to speak aloud and give Malfoy any more of a basis to think she had gone mental. Please, not her, she begged. She liked Audrey, and Percy - in his staid, priggish way - was madly in love with her. I'll find you someone else, I promise.
Are you offering yourself? I should hate to do that to you, but I need a body, Ginny, and I need it soon.
"She-Weasel, are you alright?" Malfoy asked.
What about him? Ginny asked, inspired. She would happily throw Malfoy under the Knight Bus to be possessed by Trixie. He's not just Sacred Twenty-Eight, he's a Malfoy - wizarding royalty. He's fabulously wealthy, so you'd have more Galleons than you knew what to do with. Plus, he's an utter twat. The world would be a better place if you replaced him.
Trixie was silent, considering it.
No, she said finally. Draco is family. He also has the Dark Mark, and I will never subject myself to that sort of servitude again. Also, he may be a twat, but he doesn't have one, and I want to be a witch again.
We'll make it quick and painless for Audrey, she promised. There's a tiny vial of poison in your handbag. Just slip it into her tea and I'll take care of the rest.
Ginny closed her eyes, fighting back tears. She had so much to live for - Harry and the baby - but she was a Gryffindor. She would not sacrifice Audrey to save herself.
No, you can use me instead, she offered. She pulled the tiny vial from her bag, knowing Trixie could take over her body and make her drink it.
"Ginny, are you alright?" Malfoy was now concerned enough to use her preferred name.
Go on, do it, she urged.
I'd rather not, you're the closest thing to a friend I've ever had. She could almost feel Horcrux sigh in exasperation. Maybe this will assuage your Gryffindor conscience. If I take your body, I will murder Harry Potter in his sleep - tonight. But if you help me with Audrey, I promise not to harm him, or your brother, either. I'll break off the engagement and marry a Death Eater who deserves to die to on his wedding night.
"Draco, what's going on? Is something wrong with Ginny?" she heard Narcissa ask, her voice sharp with concern.
Do you swear on your magic that you won't harm Harry or Percy?
I swear it. It's our magic now. Trixie was triumphant.
Ginny palmed the vial of poison. She gave a loud moan and collapsed dramatically onto the tea table, her outstretched hand at Audrey's cup.
"Ginny, dear, what's wrong? Do you need me to get a Healer?" Narcissa fussed over her.
"It's just a terrible headache. I feel so dizzy. I should just Floo home and rest," Ginny said, anxious to get away before Audrey drank her poisoned tea.
"You will do no such thing! I wouldn't trust Rabastan to care for a Flobberworm! Draco, help Ginny to the chaise," Narcissa ordered, brooking no argument. "No, don't Levitate her! Carry her!"
To Ginny's humiliation, Malfoy picked her up like a sleepy child. Though he looked none too pleased, he was careful enough when depositing her on the chaise lounge to avoid any maternal reprimand.
"Rabastan - make yourself useful and Floo-call Madam Fawley," Narcissa ordered, hovering over Ginny. Theo obeyed her immediately.
Charlus shook his head. "Damn fool didn't even ask bother where we had a fireplace connected to the Floo network."
"I'm sure he'll manage to find one," Draco said, drily.
Ginny curled into herself on the chaise, shaking, wishing she could sink into the upholstery and disappear. Instead, she watched as Audrey picked up her teacup and sipped, biting her lip until it bled to stop herself from screaming out a warning. Quietly, Trixie slipped out of her mind.
The Horcrux had told half the truth. The poison was quick, but it looked to be anything but painless. Almost as soon as she swallowed, Audrey began convulsing and foaming at the mouth.
"What did you do to her?" Magda hissed. "Your guilt is written all over your face!" Not waiting for Ginny's answer, she whirled and cast a spell on Audrey, encasing her niece in silvery strands of light.
"Audrey, stay with me!" Percy began frantically casting charms in an effort to save her.
Charlus shouldered him aside, depositing something in Audrey's mouth. "A bezoar should do the trick."
Audrey stilled. Then her eyes opened and fixed on Percy.
"Oh, Godric! I love you so much!" Percy cried, cradling her in his arms.
"I love you, too, Percy." Audrey stroked his hair. "I'm fine, please don't worry."
Ginny looked away from their private moment, relieved that Audrey seemed to be herself.
Magda peered at her niece and ran some diagnostic charms with her wand. "Thank Merlin! It worked!"
"What was that spell you cast?" Charlus asked with academic interest. "I'm not at all familiar with that incantation."
"It's Romany. A spell to ward off evil that my mother taught me," Magda told him.
"Interesting. Now, I'm afraid we need to call in the Aurors," he suggested in his dry, cold voice.
"Absolutely not!" Narcissa snapped at her husband. "Ginny's in a very delicate state."
"That doesn't excuse her attempt to murder Audrey," said Percy in a hard voice, ever a stickler for the rules.
To her shock, Malfoy came to her defense. "I don't think it was Ginny. When she and I were talking, it was like another person was there in her mind. Someone cunning, maybe even evil."
Magda spoke up, reluctantly. "I also sensed that, which is why I cast a protective ward over Audrey, to prevent her from being possessed."
She ran the same charms over her that she had done with Audrey, then shook her head. "Whatever or whoever it was that possessed Ginny, I cannot sense anything now."
"Should we contact St. Mungo's, then?" Narcissa asked.
Ginny lay on the chaise, indifferent to what they decided. She could not feel Trixie's presence any more in her mind. While she should have been relieved, instead she felt bereft, but also terrified as to where the soul fragment may have gone. Was she hiding in the depths of her mind? Would she wake up tonight with Harry's mutilated corpse in her bed and Trixie cackling in delight? Ginny shuddered and curled herself into a tighter ball, knowing that every time she looked in a mirror, she would be scared to see Trixie looking back at her.
"I don't know that St. Mungo's can help her," Magda replied. "The Janus Thickey ward focuses more on long-term care than recovery from possession. She needs access to a sympathetic Legilemens, someone to help draw out her thoughts. Preferably a woman, after the trauma she has suffered." Ginny saw her give Theo, just returned to the drawing room, a look that could kill.
"Are you offering?" Charlus asked.
"Yes. Ginny will return with me to my villa, and I will care for her as though it were my own grandson she is carrying," Magda decided. "She needs rest and time for her mind and body to recover. It will be easier for her well away from England."
She rounded on who she thought Rabastan. "Do you consent? If you don't, Ginny will come with me to Italy as a widow twice over."
"I - I - no . . . ." Theo paled and his frantic eyes darted to Ginny.
She realized, to her surprise, that he still was operating under her Imperio. Given the broken oath made to Trixie, Ginny wouldn't have been surprised if her magic weakened or even disappeared altogether. Yet it was still strong enough to force Nott to stay in character as Rabastan and give an answer that would get him killed. She had no doubt that Magda and Narcissa would consider that a good use of poison that otherwise would go to waste.
She dropped the Imperius curse and Theo sighed in relief.
"No objection - none at all! Whatever is best for her." He met Ginny's brown eyes. She thought Nott would hate her, or at least be angry, but she read nothing but concern and forgiveness. "Ginny hasn't been acting like herself for weeks now. I truly hope she gets better."
Tears filled her eyes at Theo's unexpected graciousness. Under the palm of her hand, she felt the first, faintest of flutters as the baby moved. Ginny closed her eyes and willed herself to stop sniveling and be strong for the little flicker of life inside her. She had survived and recovered from being possessed by Voldemort at age eleven; she would survive and recover from this. If Bellatrix attempted to possess her again, Ginny would be ready.
A/N: Iseult - thanks for the comment and questions! To answer one of them, it wasn't the fang that turned grey - it was the surface of the mirror shard once the venom penetrated it enough. I'll try to make that more clear when revising. To you and other guests - if you are logged in, I'll answer/respond to anything. If not - I can't give you any spoilers but I thank you and appreciate the reviews!
Trixie never intended to go to Malfoy Manor and possess Hermione. She's not as demented or sadistic as alter ego Bella, but she is just as much of a blood purist. She just wanted Harry out of the way rather than defending Ginny. She also can't hop from mirror to mirror as she claimed. Instead, like the loose piece of Voldemort's soul that possessed Quirrell, Trixie is capable of possessing the vulnerable.