The Seductress

Part XIV

The Murderer Reborn

"You!"

The agonizing thought came to Ginny's attention quickly, and she found herself lost in her thoughts as Mandy clutched her head backwards, while the knife had attended to the flesh of her neck, gliding ever so close to her skin. Ginny shivered inwardly, trying hard not to struggle, because it would make Mandy more furious and it would easily kill her.

"Me," Mandy said calmly. "Yes, it's me, sweet Ginny. Or are you as sweet as always? I haven't seen you since you turned eight. What's the matter, your family too good for us now?"

"You were the ones that turned your backs on my family!" Ginny replied hotly, objecting to the harsh statement. Mandy merely laughed in response.

"Sweet, innocent Ginny. You always get what you want, you spoiled brat. Never had to deal with any conflict in your life, now did you?" her voice lowered, and the knife drew closer as her heart raced against her chest.

"Please, please...let me go...why are you doing this?"

However, Mandy paid no attention to her pleading and continued talking, louder, if possible.

"Always. Spoiled Ginny. You didn't deserve it. No, I deserve happiness. Not you. I don't know how the hell you managed to sneak your way into Draco's heart, but you can be sure that things are going to be different now, Ginny. Very different. Perhaps if you have the time, you can sneak out of Heaven and watch me lead my life, with Draco's gold band on my finger..."

Ginny dug her fingernails into Mandy's skin, and since it was unexpected, she let go, shrieking.

Mandy's cool, collected appearance fell apart immediately as Ginny began to run. Yells and shouts were heard after her, but Ginny was soon near the exit, almost free.

~

He backed away, instinct taking him by a more powerful force. He groped for something to hold onto as Ginny and Draco fastened their pace on saying and completing the ritual. He had to do something, fast. Before they got married. Before...his eyes snapped open, his life flashing before his eyes. Not his life, entirely, but parts of it that seemed to include Ginny. The Chamber of Secrets, when he had felt the sudden pang in his heart when he wrapped his arms around her, joyful that she was alive, and helped her to get up in aid. The time when he had blushed furiously when she sent him the silly valentine. Why had he ignored her all these years, when he could've gotten to her before Draco did? Why couldn't he lay his eyes off the natural beauty that Cho Chang had, and instead focus on the innocence that created Ginny? She was sweet, caring and loving, three things he had been looking forward to search for when he grew up and wanted to wed with a wife. But now, she was going to be Draco's bride, and Ginny Weasley, the real one was gone.

When he opened his eyes, he was astonished to note that his eyes were drenched. A pain that he had only suffered when he thought about his parents.

He had to do something. Get Dumbledore, he thought to himself logically and stupidly at the same time. He turned around and began running back to the school. Something soft collided with him, and he found himself on top of someone.

Blushing he untangled himself from the person and stared at the strands of red hair in awe.

~

"Ginny!" he yelled in surprise. She placed a hand over his mouth, shaking her head.

"Hush! What're you doing here?"

"Ginny - there's something important I have to tell you - Draco -" his voice was interrupted by a shrill scream near the lake, and his heart dropped to his stomach as he remembered the girl that Ginny looked and like and Draco were there. What had caused the scream?

"Go - to the lake. You'll see Draco there. Don't pay attention to anything else. Don't let anyone stop you. Kiss him, Ginny, distract him. Don't let anyone get in the - way," Harry breathed.

Ginny nodded, confusion filling her eardrums. But all she could do now was to follow Harry's instructions and hope for the best. Her head was still filled with an ache from all the blood she had lost, but she knew she had to suffer through it.

As she got up, she started running fast toward the lake, and as she looked back, she saw Harry had vanished.

~

He didn't go to Dumbledore's office like he should've. He did something he thought was equally stupid but he had enough experience from the Chamber of Secrets to know what he had to do. His brain was commanding his body to do the best he could in every which way. He took a knife from the kitchens, and headed toward the common room, flustering the password and searching quickly. From his training as a Seeker, his eyes caught easily into the red, gleaming book which was now open, a quill upon it, writing something cursive. He waited until it finished and then tucked the book under his arm, and put the knife in his robes.

Meanwhile, Ginny was in distress and exhaustion near the lakeside.

It was one of those times where Ginny felt the sudden urge to break down and cry. Of course, that would get her nowhere but some unnecessary tears, and she had to act confident. Harry had told her not to get anything in the way. But the scene before her was too awful for her to bear. How could she? She was standing yards away from it, watching it unfold before her eyes. Virginia had been the one to scream - for Mandy Murphy was kneeling over her, the knife ready to strike her chest.

Draco was behind them, looking at them with a sadness and rage in his eyes for his true love that Ginny had never seen. Of course, she knew it wasn't really Draco.

"Draco!" she yelled, but nobody turned around to even merely glance at her. She ran to him and tugged at his arm.

'Please come back,' she mentally thought, but he still paid her no mind at all.

"Draco! Do you hear me? It's Ginny...it's Ginny..."

The scene before her was frozen, as if somebody had stopped writing it, and it was a cliffhanger of some kind. Mandy was not even breathing, for she had the knife steady and ready, and Draco was looking at them with complete horror, his expression never changing. Ginny would've laughed if it didn't involve Draco.

She was about to weep when Harry's advice rang through her ears. Kiss him. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his neck and let her lips brush across his.

~

"Ginny!"

The yell did not forsake her to move. Harry looked at the dread before him. Three frozen people. A petite, brown haired girl in a silver dress, with a knife clutched in her hand, over the girl that looked like Ginny, with Draco looking at them both, not moving. Ginny was standing there, observing them.

Then suddenly, without any warning, she pulled Draco close to her and kissed him. Harry flinched slightly and watched, hoping.

As she let go, Draco moved slightly, and made a motion to talk to her. Harry sighed in relief, and ran toward them. It was almost over.

~

"Ginny?" Draco looked at her, his now-blue eyes gleaming in the moonlight. She nodded, grinning.

"Thank God," she muttered, pulling himself close to her. Then, a sudden scream of terror formed in her eardrums, ringing in her flesh.

They both turned, and saw that the scene was not frozen anymore. Mandy had stabbed Virginia right in her heart, and blood was slowly dripping into the quarters of the grass.

Little droplets vanished quickly into the darkness. Ginny's red dress was ruined. Virginia's death had ruined it. Too shock in disbelief, she felt a arm go around her shoulder. She knew it was Harry's.

Mandy hadn't made any movement since. She was staring down at the body, as if mesmerized by the sight. And now, Ginny, Harry and Draco knew why. Virginia Riddle's hair was growing less auburn, more brown. Her body was now decreasing into less feet, and her hands and arms were getting thinner, more frail. Her face changed it's complexion as they slowly waited, their eyes shimmering on the knife that struck across her chest. No breathing, no pulse.

It wasn't Virginia Riddle anymore.

No.

It was Hermione Granger.

~