Disclosure: J. K Rowlings possesses the rights and privileges to Harry
Potter et al. and in no way do I presume that I do. Nor do I possess any
rights or privileges concerning the story of the phoenix, and I have cited
all websites from which I gathered my research in the prologue.
The Power of the Phoenix
Chapter Three: Caught in the Middle
"Kill her!"
Those two simple words slowly filled the chambers of Ginny's heart with cold fear. She tried to move but her body, trembling with pain and fatigue, was too weak. Voldemort had made sure of that, with his continuous torture. Even if the warriors of the Order succeeded in overtaking the fortress she would be dead, lifeless.
"It shall be done, my Lord."
Ginny heard her executioner's reply and allowed her head to sink to the cold ground. A sob escaped her tight-pressed lips, expressing her hopelessness and despair. It was too much! She couldn't handle it any more. She no longer possessed the strength and no heart to fight. More sobs racked her small body as she began to fully comprehend her fate. 'What a fool I am,' she thought.
Voldemort smiled evilly at the hysterical woman, his eyes bright with hate. He was seriously angry about her uncooperative will. His fury over her uncooperative will was palpable. He had hoped that torture would break her but, with the most unfortunate timing of the Order's attack, he just did not have the time. He desired the immortality of the Phoenix; with it he could rule the world and destroy the filthy Muggle population. This woman possessed awesome power---enough to destroy him, in fact---but she seemed to be naïve in its usage. She was a waste to him. With a growl, he swiftly turned and walked out the door.
Draco, staring at the space that Voldemort had occupied, vaguely heard her heavy sobs. His response was automatic and emotionless. One never disobeyed the Dark Lord when he gave a direct commanded. Besides, this was what Draco wanted, right? He wanted her gone. She was disrupting his sense of balance, evoking feelings that could undermine his position. With her death, he could finally earn his father's respect and gain the right to be call his son. He wanted this since childhood, wanted to prove that he was of worth. A sound suddenly interrupted his thoughts: Weasley's cries.
He turned his head to look at the woman lying on the floor. Even in a state of desperation, Weasley managed to look ethereal. Her rag-like robe hung close to her lithe body gracefully and her red hair spread across her back like a bird's powerful wing. He had not noticed before, but her hair had streaks of gold.
"Draco."
He turned to the owner of the voice: Lucius. Draco inwardly cringed, if he needed a reminder of his order, his father was a physical manifestation. "Don't screw up! We will rendezvous at the Manor as planned.....if you manage to not get caught," he drawled. Lucius quickly spun on his heel and exited the room.
Draco, with his hand tightening around his wand, struggled to keep a sarcastic reply down. 'If I get caught?' He snorted 'No, it's more like if you get caught, father.' With determination Draco turned towards Ginny, who had managed to control her sobs and was now sniffling. "If you've managed to collect yourself, shall we begin?"
Ginny whipped her head around, her face red and puffy from crying. "How nice of you to ask, Malfoy. If you could wait a second, I need to powder my nose before we begin!" she shouted angrily, still sniffing.
"Well." He pretended to think for a moment, tapping his chin lightly. "I'm afraid I'd have to say no, Weasley. I'm in a bit of a rush--- surely you understand," he said sarcastically.
"Oh, please, don't let me keep you!" Ginny snapped back.
"Weasley, you bit of filth, will you just ...." Draco began irritably, but large explosion and a high-pitch alarm interrupted him. He cursed. The Order had entered the fortress---it would take no time for them to find him and Weasley.
He needed to get out of the fortress, fast, before the Order captured him. Azkaban was the one place he didn't plan on visiting anytime soon, but there was a slight problem with this idea--- he hadn't counted on having a live Weasley in his hands. He eyed the woman and stalked towards her, decidedly.
Ginny gasped in pain as he quickly lifted her up onto his shoulders.
"My rib!" she hissed, pain coursing through her chest.
Draco grunted and went for the door. "I really don't care about your problems, Weasel," he snapped. He drew his wand out of his robe and cautiously looked out the door. Seeing no one he slipped out. He didn't have time to dispose of her and get out. Every passing second made itself painfully aware, for each one brought the Order closer. So, despite the angry voice inside his head, he decided to take her with him. He heard her scream out again and knew she would bring the Order to them.
"Numbio."
Ginny at once felt her toes go numb, then the blessed feeling coursed up her body. She sighed as the intense pain eased. She laid her weary head on the back of Malfoy, not particularly caring at the moment that he was the enemy. She couldn't feel the pulsating ache from her black and blue bruises, or the sharp pain from her broken ribs and ankle. She sighed in relief.
Her head bumped against something hard---Malfoy's back. Suddenly, she realized her position. Ginny's face quickly blushed to a red tint; she was improperly thrown over Malfoy's shoulder! Her hands clutching at his waist, she could feel his muscles tense as he quickly marched down the hall. She pushed herself from his back.
"Malfoy, put me down this instant!"
She had planned on continuing her protest, but her hand slipped from his waist as he came to an abrupt halt. Her head slammed into his back as her hair flayed around her, blocking her vision. Draco cursed as she hit his back. 'Can't she hold still for just one second!' he thought, frustrated. He had thought he heard a noise.if that was possible with Weasley's mouth running. He reached up and slapped her on her bottom---hard.
"Ouch."
He smirked at the muffled reply. Satisfied with the result, Draco continued down the hall when he heard nothing else.
He had intended to convey to Weasley that many women would have liked to be in her position when a sudden flash of light exploded just inches away from his face.
"Malfoy!" someone shouted. Surprised, Draco turned towards the source and stopped when he saw...
"Harry?" Ginny pushed herself up from Malfoy again and whipped her head around. Wide-eyed, Ginny stared at the one and only Harry Potter and.. "Matthew!" she cried out, surprised. Matthew, who stood beside Harry, mirrored the relief Ginny felt. They had found her after all!
"Let her go, Malfoy!" Harry demanded, pointing his wand at him.
Malfoy, with his wand pointed at Harry, kept his face neutral. "Well, Potter, have you come to save the day? You're a little late!" he said, flippantly.
Harry's eyes narrowed. "You can't escape, Malfoy! The Order has surrounded the building and activated a non-apparation charm. You might as well give up," he warned.
"You know what Potter? I always did hate your 'Holier than Thou' attitude!" Draco growled, anger surging through him.
Jostled, when Malfoy shifted his position to face the approaching threat, Ginny tightened her grip on his waist, feeling the waves of heat radiating from his person. As she comprehended his move, something between fear and anger pierced her heart. He was going to duel... with her over his shoulder!
"Malfoy!" she tried to scream, but it caught in her throat and came out as gargled moan. Every possible dueling spell along with its horrifying result passed through her frenzied mind. What if she came out of this with an extra appendage or with her insides dissolved by acid? She grimaced at the thought. From what she remembered of Draco, he was the best dueler out of Slytherin at Hogwarts just like Harry was of Gyrffindor. This was going to get messy!
A commotion brought Ginny out of her frantic thoughts and she turned her head. What she saw sent a freezing chill through her veins.
It was Lucius Malfoy with his squadron of Death Eaters.
Draco felt Weasley freeze. He had also heard the commotion that set her motionless; he understood that she knew what was about to happen and did not like it. He tightened his hold of her and mentally rebuked himself. Draco did not particularity like the situation either and standing with the very much alive Weasley over his shoulder did not help. 'Well,' he thought fleetingly 'I guess I'm screwed.' He glanced at his father and read the confirmation in his eyes.
"Death Eaters, attack!"
And then, Draco did something that he never imagined himself doing---he ran.
A/N: Once again I would like to express my thanks to Uma, my beta reader. Also, thanks to sweetness, Dracos gal, Autumn Twilight ;), eruesse, Ducky, Mackie, davesmom, and the person who left no name!
To clear up some issues: By declaring the 'Call of the Phoenix' Ginny now possesses the responsibility, but not the knowledge of the Phoenix. In other words, she has the power but does not exactly know how to use it. At this point in the story, her knowledge of the Phoenix's power is elementary which is why she has Matthew to help her. According to Native American legends the thunderbird (The Phoenix) can emit lightning from its beak and the beating of its wings can create thunder. In 'Doomed Fate' I had Ginny used this power to protect herself. I will make sure to explain better Ginny's power throughout the story.
Immortality is another power of Ginny's but I have made it so that Ginny must know how to use it and control it. Again, her knowledge is still elementary. She can't tell Voldemort what she doesn't exactly know. Well, if she did, she wouldn't have told him anyways! So, her ignorance could kill her, which is why Voldemort ordered her execution. But, he made a grave error as you will come to find out in later chapters. Hoped this helped.
Please review, StarNight
The Power of the Phoenix
Chapter Three: Caught in the Middle
"Kill her!"
Those two simple words slowly filled the chambers of Ginny's heart with cold fear. She tried to move but her body, trembling with pain and fatigue, was too weak. Voldemort had made sure of that, with his continuous torture. Even if the warriors of the Order succeeded in overtaking the fortress she would be dead, lifeless.
"It shall be done, my Lord."
Ginny heard her executioner's reply and allowed her head to sink to the cold ground. A sob escaped her tight-pressed lips, expressing her hopelessness and despair. It was too much! She couldn't handle it any more. She no longer possessed the strength and no heart to fight. More sobs racked her small body as she began to fully comprehend her fate. 'What a fool I am,' she thought.
Voldemort smiled evilly at the hysterical woman, his eyes bright with hate. He was seriously angry about her uncooperative will. His fury over her uncooperative will was palpable. He had hoped that torture would break her but, with the most unfortunate timing of the Order's attack, he just did not have the time. He desired the immortality of the Phoenix; with it he could rule the world and destroy the filthy Muggle population. This woman possessed awesome power---enough to destroy him, in fact---but she seemed to be naïve in its usage. She was a waste to him. With a growl, he swiftly turned and walked out the door.
Draco, staring at the space that Voldemort had occupied, vaguely heard her heavy sobs. His response was automatic and emotionless. One never disobeyed the Dark Lord when he gave a direct commanded. Besides, this was what Draco wanted, right? He wanted her gone. She was disrupting his sense of balance, evoking feelings that could undermine his position. With her death, he could finally earn his father's respect and gain the right to be call his son. He wanted this since childhood, wanted to prove that he was of worth. A sound suddenly interrupted his thoughts: Weasley's cries.
He turned his head to look at the woman lying on the floor. Even in a state of desperation, Weasley managed to look ethereal. Her rag-like robe hung close to her lithe body gracefully and her red hair spread across her back like a bird's powerful wing. He had not noticed before, but her hair had streaks of gold.
"Draco."
He turned to the owner of the voice: Lucius. Draco inwardly cringed, if he needed a reminder of his order, his father was a physical manifestation. "Don't screw up! We will rendezvous at the Manor as planned.....if you manage to not get caught," he drawled. Lucius quickly spun on his heel and exited the room.
Draco, with his hand tightening around his wand, struggled to keep a sarcastic reply down. 'If I get caught?' He snorted 'No, it's more like if you get caught, father.' With determination Draco turned towards Ginny, who had managed to control her sobs and was now sniffling. "If you've managed to collect yourself, shall we begin?"
Ginny whipped her head around, her face red and puffy from crying. "How nice of you to ask, Malfoy. If you could wait a second, I need to powder my nose before we begin!" she shouted angrily, still sniffing.
"Well." He pretended to think for a moment, tapping his chin lightly. "I'm afraid I'd have to say no, Weasley. I'm in a bit of a rush--- surely you understand," he said sarcastically.
"Oh, please, don't let me keep you!" Ginny snapped back.
"Weasley, you bit of filth, will you just ...." Draco began irritably, but large explosion and a high-pitch alarm interrupted him. He cursed. The Order had entered the fortress---it would take no time for them to find him and Weasley.
He needed to get out of the fortress, fast, before the Order captured him. Azkaban was the one place he didn't plan on visiting anytime soon, but there was a slight problem with this idea--- he hadn't counted on having a live Weasley in his hands. He eyed the woman and stalked towards her, decidedly.
Ginny gasped in pain as he quickly lifted her up onto his shoulders.
"My rib!" she hissed, pain coursing through her chest.
Draco grunted and went for the door. "I really don't care about your problems, Weasel," he snapped. He drew his wand out of his robe and cautiously looked out the door. Seeing no one he slipped out. He didn't have time to dispose of her and get out. Every passing second made itself painfully aware, for each one brought the Order closer. So, despite the angry voice inside his head, he decided to take her with him. He heard her scream out again and knew she would bring the Order to them.
"Numbio."
Ginny at once felt her toes go numb, then the blessed feeling coursed up her body. She sighed as the intense pain eased. She laid her weary head on the back of Malfoy, not particularly caring at the moment that he was the enemy. She couldn't feel the pulsating ache from her black and blue bruises, or the sharp pain from her broken ribs and ankle. She sighed in relief.
Her head bumped against something hard---Malfoy's back. Suddenly, she realized her position. Ginny's face quickly blushed to a red tint; she was improperly thrown over Malfoy's shoulder! Her hands clutching at his waist, she could feel his muscles tense as he quickly marched down the hall. She pushed herself from his back.
"Malfoy, put me down this instant!"
She had planned on continuing her protest, but her hand slipped from his waist as he came to an abrupt halt. Her head slammed into his back as her hair flayed around her, blocking her vision. Draco cursed as she hit his back. 'Can't she hold still for just one second!' he thought, frustrated. He had thought he heard a noise.if that was possible with Weasley's mouth running. He reached up and slapped her on her bottom---hard.
"Ouch."
He smirked at the muffled reply. Satisfied with the result, Draco continued down the hall when he heard nothing else.
He had intended to convey to Weasley that many women would have liked to be in her position when a sudden flash of light exploded just inches away from his face.
"Malfoy!" someone shouted. Surprised, Draco turned towards the source and stopped when he saw...
"Harry?" Ginny pushed herself up from Malfoy again and whipped her head around. Wide-eyed, Ginny stared at the one and only Harry Potter and.. "Matthew!" she cried out, surprised. Matthew, who stood beside Harry, mirrored the relief Ginny felt. They had found her after all!
"Let her go, Malfoy!" Harry demanded, pointing his wand at him.
Malfoy, with his wand pointed at Harry, kept his face neutral. "Well, Potter, have you come to save the day? You're a little late!" he said, flippantly.
Harry's eyes narrowed. "You can't escape, Malfoy! The Order has surrounded the building and activated a non-apparation charm. You might as well give up," he warned.
"You know what Potter? I always did hate your 'Holier than Thou' attitude!" Draco growled, anger surging through him.
Jostled, when Malfoy shifted his position to face the approaching threat, Ginny tightened her grip on his waist, feeling the waves of heat radiating from his person. As she comprehended his move, something between fear and anger pierced her heart. He was going to duel... with her over his shoulder!
"Malfoy!" she tried to scream, but it caught in her throat and came out as gargled moan. Every possible dueling spell along with its horrifying result passed through her frenzied mind. What if she came out of this with an extra appendage or with her insides dissolved by acid? She grimaced at the thought. From what she remembered of Draco, he was the best dueler out of Slytherin at Hogwarts just like Harry was of Gyrffindor. This was going to get messy!
A commotion brought Ginny out of her frantic thoughts and she turned her head. What she saw sent a freezing chill through her veins.
It was Lucius Malfoy with his squadron of Death Eaters.
Draco felt Weasley freeze. He had also heard the commotion that set her motionless; he understood that she knew what was about to happen and did not like it. He tightened his hold of her and mentally rebuked himself. Draco did not particularity like the situation either and standing with the very much alive Weasley over his shoulder did not help. 'Well,' he thought fleetingly 'I guess I'm screwed.' He glanced at his father and read the confirmation in his eyes.
"Death Eaters, attack!"
And then, Draco did something that he never imagined himself doing---he ran.
A/N: Once again I would like to express my thanks to Uma, my beta reader. Also, thanks to sweetness, Dracos gal, Autumn Twilight ;), eruesse, Ducky, Mackie, davesmom, and the person who left no name!
To clear up some issues: By declaring the 'Call of the Phoenix' Ginny now possesses the responsibility, but not the knowledge of the Phoenix. In other words, she has the power but does not exactly know how to use it. At this point in the story, her knowledge of the Phoenix's power is elementary which is why she has Matthew to help her. According to Native American legends the thunderbird (The Phoenix) can emit lightning from its beak and the beating of its wings can create thunder. In 'Doomed Fate' I had Ginny used this power to protect herself. I will make sure to explain better Ginny's power throughout the story.
Immortality is another power of Ginny's but I have made it so that Ginny must know how to use it and control it. Again, her knowledge is still elementary. She can't tell Voldemort what she doesn't exactly know. Well, if she did, she wouldn't have told him anyways! So, her ignorance could kill her, which is why Voldemort ordered her execution. But, he made a grave error as you will come to find out in later chapters. Hoped this helped.
Please review, StarNight