Cruel Beauty

Rating: PG-13

Summery: Alternate Universe. When Ginny was six years old her parents died and she was left in the care of her mother's beautiful yet cruel sister. She raises Ginny with misguided views on love, will Ginny be able to love or is she too late to save?

Disclaimer: Anything that you recognize is not mine

A/N Some people have been pointing out that Tom isn't quite as evil acting as the most feared wizard of all time should be and you're probably right but remember that this is only the sixteen year old memory of Voldemort so I think that while he would still be evil he would also still be a teenager and he wouldn't be completely evil…yet. Thank you to those who have commented on it though, please continue to do so!

A/N 2- DRACO'S BACK!

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Torn

That's whats going on, nothing's fine I'm torn
I'm all out of faith, this is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed into something real
I'm wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn
You're a little late, I'm already torn Natalie Imbruglia

Sometimes I truly hate being a Slytherin. If you are in any other house you are allowed to have regular feelings but as a Slytherin the only things that you are supposed to feel are hate and contempt for anything that isn't pureblooded. And the only emotions that you are allowed to express are sarcasm and cruelty.

It was moments such as leaving that room with Tom and setting forth the most dangerous plan that I could have thought of that I wished that I knew how to express fear. Anyone who pretends to not ever feel fear for anything is a fool. Fear is not for the weak, fear is for the normal. The expression I'm only human never made more sense then as I was having these thoughts of self-doubt.

I shook my head and tried to rid myself of those thoughts, I didn't need those kinds of feelings right now; this plan was going to be hard enough without them.

"So Virginia," Tom said somewhat bitterly as he had been captured by the his own would be ally, "do you have plan of action besides attempting to leave here with me in tow?"

"I'm a Slytherin Tom, of course I have a plan; and several back up plans for that matter." I glanced down at his hand that still held his wand, "give me your wand."

"No."

I rolled my eyes, "stop behaving like a stubborn child and give me the wand."

"No."

"Fine," I growled, "I suppose that I'll just have to take it from you then."

He turned to face me with an evil glint in his eyes and pointed the wand at me, "Avada Kedevra!"

I easily dodged the spell and watched it blow up a wall, "please, as if I didn't expect that one."

He glared and tried again, "Crucio!"

I dodged it once more and waited until he prepared to fire his next spell; when he did I leapt at him and wrestled the wand away. Once I felt the wood in my grasp I jumped off of the future dark lord and stood up with a triumphant smile on my face, "I told you that I would get the wand."

He mumbled something about me being childish and then instructed me to follow him if I wanted to find the way out.

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Tom led me deep into his hideout and we ended up in a large room that was decorated in too much green and silver. I looked around the room with interest and raised an eyebrow; "you kind of took the whole Slytherin thing to an extreme, didn't you?"

He smirked, "I think that you have more things to be worried about than that Virginia."

I pointed his own wand at him and I knew that he didn't fail to miss the irony of the situation, "and what exactly would I have to be worried about?"

"Me."

I smiled as Velena entered the room, "sorry to disappoint you Velena but you have failed to achieve the element of surprise here; I was actually hoping that you would show."

Her eye twitched and I knew that she was peeved that she didn't have the surprise attack that she had been longing for. Never one to be defeated though she pointed her own wand at me and returned my vicious smile, "why don't you give Tom back his wand Virginia?"

"Why don't you go hurl yourself off of a tower Velena?" I replied ever as bit as sweetly as she had.

I heard a new pair of footsteps enter the room but I didn't dare take my eyes off of Velena and Tom. "As entertaining as this little family reunion is," I heard a familiar voice drawl, "Can we please just kill the girl, I have other business to attend to."

"Lucius, so glad that you could join us," Tom greeted. His eyes flickered to Velena and me before returning to Lucius, "Well now that it is three against one I do believe that it is time for Virginia to return my wand."

He nodded at Lucius and I heard the latter shout, "Expelliamous!" I felt myself flying backwards and Tom's wand fell from my grasp. I landed with a thud on the floor and willed myself not to groan in pain.

I forced myself to get back on my feet and I found that Tom, Velena, and Lucius were all sharing the same evil smirk.

"Now Virginia," Tom began, "I've noticed that you have been somewhat reluctant to join us and-"

"Somewhat reluctant?" I interrupted with a bitter laugh; "I would say that my kidnapping you with your own diary and wand is full blown reluctance."

Velena glared angrily, "either you join us or we will kill you."

I shrugged my shoulders indifferently, "so kill me then, it's not like I care." I began to walk around the room, "in fact, is there a window or something in here? I could just kill myself and save you a lot of time."

"She's lying," Velena stated.

I smiled as I found a window in the room and opened it, "care to find out?"

Tom came and pulled me away from the window and back to the center of the room. "All right Virginia, if your life means nothing to you as you say it does then perhaps someone else's life is a little more important."

My eyes narrowed dangerously, "what do you mean?"

"You'll soon find out." Lucius then left the room and returned a moment later with an extra guest.

I felt all the breath leave my body and my "brilliant" plan flew out the window. "Draco?" I asked meekly.

He was unable to speak as his mouth was gagged and his feet and hands were bound but he shook his head violently. I looked at him in confusion as he tried desperately to speak but it was only coming out straggled noises.

Tom smiled pleasantly as he made his way over to Draco. "You see Virginia a little bird told me that young Malfoy here means something to you." He played with his wand as he circled the first person that ever meant something to me. He finally stopped in front of Draco and pointed his wand at him, "Crucio!"

I felt tears build up in my eyes as I watched Draco writhe around on the floor, his entire body shaking in an almost seizure like shock. "Stop," I finally croaked out.

Tom turned to me with the same sadistic smile that every villain had after they had been torturing someone. "What's the matter Virginia, develop some feelings?" He took the curse off of Draco but kept his wand pointed at him, "I know plenty more curses Virginia, I can make him beg for death or I can allow him to live, it is entirely up to you."

I took several deep breaths as I looked into Draco's pleading eyes across the room. I only wished that I knew what they were pleading for. "I…" I couldn't just leave him to die. "I…" but I couldn't join Tom and Velena either. "I want to talk to Draco," I looked at each of their faces, "alone."

"That is not possible," Tom said almost lazily, "but thanks for asking."

"I wasn't requesting I was commanding."

"You are in no position to command, or request for that matter anything Virginia. The only thing that you can do is give me an answer, will you join me and have him live," he gave Draco a slight kick as to demonstrate who him was. "Or will you refuse once more and watch your love die."

I looked away from Draco, as I could not stand to look into his pained gray eyes any longer. "I'll join you."

"Terrific," Tom said without any real enthusiasm.

I took a few steps toward Draco, "now let him go."

Tom nodded to Velena who grabbed my arm to prevent me from going any farther. "Not so fast Virginia," Tom said. "I do believe that someone in here needs to learn a little lesson on defiance and how it is unacceptable."

I glared and attempted to tug my arm away from Velena, "fine, whatever, I don't care just let him go!"

Tom just continued to smile cruelly, "well, you see Virginia, that's the thing, he is the lesson." Before I even knew what was happening a snake had flung itself from Tom's wand and was slithering towards Draco.

Draco spotted the snake and attempted to walk backwards but he tripped on the ropes that bound his feet and ended up on the floor. His eyes grew wide with panic as the creature made it's way up his body. I heard myself calling out for him along with help but none of it actually registered to me. It was almost like drowning for me, I was watching it happen but I could do nothing to prevent it. Velena's grip hardened on me and I watched with fresh tears in my eyes as the snake bit Draco on the tender spot of his neck.

I heard a faint scream that I later recognized as my own as I watched his body fall limply to the floor. My own legs gave out and once I was free of Velena I ungracefully crawled over to his body, which under first inspection, I immediately knew, was lifeless.

I felt my entire body shake with sobs as my eyes drifted towards Tom, who was in his element at the moment. As I continued to hyperventilate I felt something fall out of my pocket. I looked down at the diary that now resided on the floor and felt a surge of anger go through me. Everything that had happened was because of this book. Draco and Sally were dead, Remus was only God knows where, and everything that I had ever given a damn about in life was just gone.

The anger and power inside of me mixed together as I glared at the seemingly harmless book. I didn't even blink as I focused all of my grief and energy and the book suddenly burst into flames.

I backed away in surprise as I turned my attention from the burning book to Tom. He looked at me in shock for a moment before simply disappearing. For a few minutes no one did anything; Lucius was alternating looks between his dead son and the spot where the memory of the dark lord had stood, Velena had her mouth open in a very unladylike fashion, and I just sat on the floor with the tears still streaming down my face.

Velena was the first to regain control of herself as she turned to me in anger, "what did you do?" She asked sharply.

I looked away from her and to Draco. I grabbed his hand and searched for a pulse, hoping that with the death of Tom that he would come back. But there was no pulse, only silence. He looked like a porcelain doll, as he lay there lifeless with his pale skin and still pink lips. I traced the bit marks on his neck and wondered if there was enough poison left in the area for me.

"What did you do Virginia?" I heard Velena demand again.

I felt the anger build up inside of me again as I turned to face my aunt. "What does it matter what I did Velena? The point is that he's dead and now Draco is too." I was preparing to go on but the doors to the green and silver room slammed open and the first person to enter the room was…Draco?

He crossed the room quickly and when he reached me he looked down at his own dead body in confusion. I didn't even notice the other people enter the room and I didn't take my eyes off of the live Draco who was bending down in front of me attempting to pry my hands off of the dead Draco.

"Virginia," I heard him say, "Virginia are you all right? Answer me please."

"Draco?" I asked quietly as I reached out to touch him.

He grasped my hand and pulled me away from dead Draco. He then took out his wand and said the anti-illusion spell. I watched in horror as the snake bitten body slowly transformed from Draco to Blaise.

I gasped and looked at Draco for conformation, "it was Blaise?"

He nodded grimly and looked away from the body. "I should have gotten here earlier," I heard him mummer.

I pulled away from him and went back to Blaise's body. My tear stricken eyes scanned over him and I felt a sense of relief wash over me, it wasn't Draco. As soon as the thoughts went through my head I leapt away from the body in horror, how could I even think that? I suddenly felt like one of the most horrible people to ever have walked the earth; Blaise was dead and I was relieved because it wasn't Draco?

I felt Draco's arms wrap around me, "Virginia, are you all right?"

I turned away from Blaise and back to Draco, "no," I answered truthfully.

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Draco hadn't come into the situation unprepared; he had brought practically an entire army of people with him. His father's name held power at the ministry and he was able to bring all of the aurors that he wanted; too bad that it turned out that his father was in on the whole thing.

Draco told me that Hermione was the one that actually discovered where I was through the love of her life, the library. I still had no idea where I was and I didn't care to find out. I just wanted the whole thing to be over with, but it wasn't over.

I had to stay in that room until someone from the Ministry could come and speak with me. Draco was allowed to stay with me but it didn't help me much, I was just attempting to sort everything out.

Finally a man came down and sat across from us on the floor, as there were no chairs in the room. I looked over the man as he fidgeted uncomfortably on the floor, he was rather large. He looked very familiar for some reason. My eyes scanned him over until I reached his right arm which bore a scar that was shaped like a half moon.

Recognition dawned upon me as I placed him with the day that I often tried to block out. "You," I said hoarsely.

"Hello Virginia," he responded in a deep gruff voice.

Draco leaned over to me, "do you know him?"

I kept my eyes on the man as the memory of him came flooding back to me. I looked down at his boots that still held the same mud from the looks of it. "You came when my parents were murdered."

"That's right," he said while looking somewhat surprised. "I never found you though, I was the first person on the case."

"I was underneath my bed," I said absentmindedly.

He grunted in response. "I've been after your aunt now for years." He looked over to Blaise and then back to me, "I'm only sorry that I couldn't get anything on her until now."

"What do you plan to do?" I asked slowly.

"Nail her for the murder of that boy and hopefully some other things if we can get permission to search her house."

I licked my lips in anticipation as I spotted Velena on the opposite side of the room speaking with aurors. "Would you like an expert testimony?"

He looked at me in surprise for the second time in our conversation, "you would speak against her?"

"I could verify that she had a hand in Blaise's death as well as the death of my parents."

I glanced over at Draco and expected him to look at me in horror as I was turning my family over to the Ministry but instead I saw him look at his own father before turning to the man. "How would you like a case against Lucius Malfoy as well?" Draco said with a smile.

The man looked as though Christmas had come early. "You two will testify against Lucius and Velena?" We both nodded and he looked as though he was ready to cry. He excused himself and I was left alone with Draco once again.

"So you're going to turn over Lucius?"

"I'd say that he deserves it. I figured that you want to kill Velena yourself though, you're going to just trust the legal system?"

I smiled but immediately stopped, it felt wrong to smile. "I had a whole elaborate plan to get rid of Velena as well as Tom but it got kind of destroyed when they captured me. And right now I can't think of anything more fitting for Velena than a lifetime served with dementors." I sighed and looked towards Lucius and Velena who were both being read their rights. "It was a really good plan too," I said as an afterthought.

Draco gave a half-hearted smile, "I'm sure that it was."

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A/N I am so sorry that it took me so long to get this out but last week was crazy for me. We had this yard sale thing going on and I was forced to do slave labor most of the time and I wasn't allowed on the phone or the computer so it made it difficult to write. Plus it was 4th of July so when I wasn't being forced to help I found some fireworks and festivals to go to, so I basically was just never home. Okay enough with excuses, there is only one more chapter to go in this story! I'm excited! I should probably clear some things up right now but I can't think of anything to clear up so…just ask question in your review if you're confuse about anything. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon! Oh and if you don't know who the man was that talked to Virginia and Draco go reread the first chapter.

Darcel- Your wish is granted, Tom is gone. Lol, I'm a dork. Thanks for reviewing and I hope that you liked this chapter.

Eclipse- Okay, you're right Tom could have just put the fire out with his wand. *blushes with embarrassment* don't you know that it's not nice to point out holes in the plot? Lol, I'm just kidding thanks for pointing it out to me, I must have overlooked that. I agree with you on Draco, I was hoping that he would be different too. It seems to me that the book is heading towards Ginny/Harry and I'm okay with that pairing too so that's okay, but I am hoping that maybe she can get with Draco first or something. Thanks for reviewing!

fantasy angel- Virginia was trying to just get Tom to lead her out of the castle thing that she was in, but she was planning on him taking her to Velena and she was going to try and kill them both. But as you saw it didn't quite work out that way. Blaise stole the diary, that's pretty much all that you need to know, it's not really important how exactly he got it. Thanks for reviewing!

Fallen Angel of Darkness- I hope that your family vacation went without any attempted homicide. I know how you feel though, on Sunday I had to go to my family reunion and let's just say that by the end of it I wanted to kill myself. I hope that your sister's boyfriend is okay, it would suck to die of zits, although the obituary would be rather humorous. Thanks for reviewing!

Hplova4eva- I'm glad that you're enjoying the story! Thanks for reviewing and I'm sorry that this chapter took so long to get out.

Icefaery- I'm glad that you liked the prophecy, it took me forever just to think of that little bit. Lol, I'm not really good at rhyming. Thanks for reviewing and I hope that you liked this chapter!

Marchione- Well, Voldemort is dead now so hopefully you aren't too disappointed in Virginia. Thanks for reviewing and I'm glad that you understood her whole deal thing!

Caffeine- I hope that you aren't suffering from any third degree burns or anything like that now. Lol, I think that if the fire alarm goes off you're supposed to leave the building. I loved Blaise too and I'm sooooooooooo sorry that I killed him off. *cries loudly* but we'll just pretend that after he dies that he was sent to you so you can have him forever! Thanks for reviewing!

Ace of Spades- Wow, you liked my prophecy? Lol, I thought that it was the most horrible thing like ever written. I can't rhyme at all, it's truly pathetic because I sit there and run word list through my head to try and rhyme things and then it always comes out being bad. As for Velena, Tom, and Lucius I think that they are all kind of cocky about evil and they just assumed that since she was a Slytherin and raised by Velena that she would automatically be all evil and stuff. Thanks for reviewing!

Anonymous- I'm glad that you made an exception to your Ginny/Draco rule to read this story! It always makes me really happy when people who don't support that ship say that they enjoy the story. Thanks for reviewing!

Jenna- Thank you so much for all of the wonderful things that you said about this story as well as my writing, I really appreciate it. Also I'm glad that you mentioned how Velena was developed because that was one of things that was really important to me in this story was for Velena to fit in well with all of the regular characters and seem real. Thank you for reviewing!

BlackMage- One more chapter left!!! I'm not sure if you asked that question all ready or not, but now you know. I agree with you on book five and after I read it I was all pumped for book six and then I was like crap I'm going to have to wait like two more years! Thanks for reviewing!

Auri- Wow, Velena reminds you of Umbridge? She must come across as a total bitch in this story then, lol! I'm glad that you said that though because I wanted people to think that she's evil. I loved book five too and I know what you mean about hoping for a G/D ending, I'm wishing for it too! Also thank you so much for saying that this is one of your favorite fics on ff.net, I really appreciate it! Thanks for reviewing!

S.e.a- Oh, I'm so happy that you're starting an AU story, that's so great! What's your plot line? Or is it a secret? I understand if it is, I hope that you put it out soon! Sorry that you have writer's block, a new story should fix that though! Thanks for reviewing!

Writing*-*Wonder- I promise that there will be some Ginny/Draco action in the next chapter, I wouldn't end the story without a little bit of it! Thanks for reviewing!

Frananddragon- I'm glad that your head is better and I hope that the voices are keeping quiet now, lol! Thanks for reviewing!

Cactuskitty- I'm glad that you liked the last chapter! Sorry that Blaise is dead, I know that you liked him. Why do I have this horrible habit of killing off people? I should really stop that, lol! Thanks for reviewing and I'm sorry that it took so long to get this chapter out!

Guidance Lune- I'm glad that you liked the beginning of the story, what did you think of the rest of it? Thanks for reviewing!

Kryptonite- Lol, thank you so much for all of the motivation, it's much appreciated! I think that I'm good now though. After I wrote this chapter I got kind of excited about the story again and I'm ready to finish it up. I'm kind of nervous about the last chapter of the story though, I hope that it's good. Thanks for reviewing!

Kinky Kiwi- I really liked your way of killing off Tom, it was great! Was mine all right though? It was kind of sudden and I didn't go into very much detail on it but I was kind of going for more of concentrating on Draco/Blaise than Tom. Thanks for reviewing!

Cyndi- Thanks for the advice on the story, I really appreciate it. I sort of did what you said, I just wrote when I had time and since I never had very much time then I never got very much wrote at once. It actually helped I think, I liked this chapter. Thanks for reviewing and let me know what you thought of this chapter!

Zainab- You made me laugh when I saw that you did a little dance when she got the diary, that's great! Thanks for reviewing and sorry that this update took so long!

JerseyPike- Hmm, well her brothers didn't show up in this chapter but what do you think, should I put them in the next one? Thanks for reviewing!

Casitty- Here's the next chapter for you, sorry that it took so long for me to get it out though. I promise that the next update will be quicker. Thanks for reviewing!

Alina- I'm glad that you like the story so far! Thanks for reviewing and I hope that you like this chapter!

Wizzabee- Okay, the diary is destroyed, happy now? Lol, thanks for reviewing!

Nirvana- Hmm, you want Draco to come back? I think that I can arrange that, lol! Thanks for reviewing and don't worry about the short review, no big deal!

AnGeL*Of*MiNe- Well we can only cross our fingers that our beloved Sirius will come back to life. I don't want him to be dead, it made me sad. Thanks for reviewing!

Candygi523- I'm glad that you are enjoying the story and I hope that you liked this chapter! Thanks for reviewing!

Me- Sorry that it took so long for this update but I'm happy that you like the story! Thanks for reviewing and I'll try to get the next chapter out really soon! *begins work on the final chapter* Lol, thanks for reviewing!

Nalia- I'm glad that you like Blaise, sorry that I killed him though. I hope that it'll clear up if Blaise is a girl or guy in the books because I'm kind of tired of seeing it both ways, lol! Thanks for reviewing!

The final chapter will be out as soon as I can write it!