A/N: Okay… now this chapter has a lot more action (no… I'm not talking about romantic interactions here… I'm talking about the 'biting your finger nails,' 'sitting on the edge of your seat,' 'consumed with anxiety' type of action… I just hope that I am successful in instilling all of those emotions in you guys as you read this chapter!). So without further delays… here is chapter 13! I hope that you all like it as much as my earlier chapters!! And now of course as I always request… I ask all who read this to remember that this is my first ever fanfic so please be kind! Read, review and most importantly… ENJOY!
All things Harry Potter belong to the wonderful JK Rowling… :-)
Chapter 13: Dark Ritual
Several hours later, Lucius Malfoy and Blaise Zabini returned to find Draco and Ginny clutching onto each other. Draco's expression was one of pure loathing at the two who stood before them, while Ginny's was of utter fear.
Blaise smirked and rolled up his left sleeve revealing his forearm. Like Draco, he now bore the mark… the skull with a serpent slithering out of its mouth. "I now am a servant of The Dark Lord… the most powerful sorcerer in the world!"
Lucius stepped up behind Zabini and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Yes my dear boy. You have done well. Those who serve faithfully and without question are rewarded Draco. Now Mr. Zabini, I believe that you mentioned something about a debt owed to you… a debt owed by Miss Weasley here."
Ginny's eyes widened with fear.
"As you know, she is of utmost importance to The Dark Lord. But, I don't see why she can't pay her debt to you before she is brought to him."
Blaise nodded, "It won't take long."
Lucius Malfoy calmly answered, "Very well… carry on then. I'll be back in about a half an hour. Her debt should be paid by then." The blond man smirked and then apparated with a loud pop.
Blaise walked over to the pair and pulled out his wand, "I need you to get out of the way." He pointed his wand at Draco and with a quick 'swish and flick,' he was flung to the other side of the room. Draco hit the wall so hard that the wind was knocked out of him.
Ginny just sat there alone, trembling uncontrollably… wishing to the gods that Draco would get up soon after his hard fall.
Blaise advanced on Ginny, pinning her down, "You are mine for the taking… you were supposed to beg for me! I want to hear you beg!!"
Ginny remained silent, while trying to be as defiant as she could possibly be, considering the situation. Draco…
Blaise slapped her hard across the face causing her eye to bruise immediately, "I said… beg me!!"
~Flashback Start~
"Hurry up, Goyle… I want a go!"
Goyle's face was that of pure and unadulterated satisfaction as his fluids entered her pristine body.
~Flashback End~
Ginny still did not speak.
At this, Blaise pushed her down on the floor violently unzipping her pants and yanking them off her delicate body. Immediately, the girl began to struggle unsuccessfully against his force.
~Flashback Start~
"Stop moving!" Goyle shouted. She felt him slap her, hard, several times across her face. Immediately, she could feel the bruises begin to form.
~Flashback End~
"Beg me to take you, you bitch!" Blaise growled as he slapped her yet again, causing her nose to bleed.
Ginny whimpered from the pain. Draco… please!
~Flashback Start~
"My turn!" shouted Crabbe.
"All right, all right…" Goyle sulked.
~Flashback End~
"I said beg me!"
Finally, Ginny murmured weakly, "T-take… m-me…" the tears streamed forth like a flowing river.
"Louder! I want you to shout it so that he can hear you!" Blaise's eyes were wild with a sort of insanity.
Ginny sobbed violently, "T-take… m-me…" she stuttered loudly.
"Again!"
"T-take… m-me…"
"Crucio!"
Suddenly, Blaise Zabini fell over into a fit of convulsions.
Ginny scampered over into the nearest corner and put her pants back on. She then curled herself tightly up into a ball and sobbed.
Blaise's convulsions stopped and he looked up into the steely eyes of Draco Malfoy.
Draco wore an expression of pure hatred. He could feel an emotion inside of him growing and growing as he heard and then saw the horror of what was about to happen to the woman he loved… for a second time! He was not about to let it happen again, not when he could actually stop it.
Draco raised his wand up, "Avada…"
"NO!!!" Ginny shrieked.
Draco lowered his wand suddenly and Blaise collapsed onto the floor.
Ginny scurried over to Draco, "You can't do that! No matter what you feel… you can't do that! You're no murderer, Draco!" Ginny wrapped her arms around him and kissed him up and down his neck.
Draco pulled her close and shut his eyes. She's an angel… she stopped me from being like my father. I would have done it!!!
Suddenly, Draco's father apparated back into the room. His face showed disgust at the sight he saw before him.
"Are you responsible for this… this mess?" his father asked.
Draco hung his head as if slightly ashamed, though he felt proud for what he had done to protect Ginny.
Lucius narrowed his eyes, making him look like a snake. He grabbed Ginny away from his son and flicked his wand, "The Castle of The Dark Lord!" he shouted. The red-head disappeared while screaming Draco's name.
"What did you do to her!!!"
"She's been sent to The Dark Lord's castle where she will be prepared for The Dark Ritual… the ritual that will bring The Dark Lord back to full power. We will soon have control over both the wizarding world as well as the muggle world… we can finally rid ourselves of those disgusting muggles who try to taint our blood."
Draco felt himself shiver. He, like his father, never approved of muggles or muggle-borns. In fact, he often made fun of the Weasley's for having such an interest in all things muggle and he knew that he often called Hermione Granger a mudblood causing her eyes to tear up. But something in the way his father mentioned the Death-Eaters' plans made his blood boil.
"Now, Draco… we must discuss what you need to do to clear yourself of your acts of betrayal to the Death-Eaters and to The Dark Lord. There is only one thing that you can do and I'm sure that you know exactly what I'm talking about."
Draco heaved a sigh and felt his eyes sting due to the tears that he was holding back.
"Yes… that's right. It's your task to kill the girl as a sacrifice in The Dark Ritual. Once her blood is spilled by you, not only will you prove your devotion, but you will have directly aided The Dark Lord in regaining his full power."
The elder Malfoy looked over at Blaise Zabini who was slumped down on the floor.
"He'll need to be attended to."
***
Ginny paced back and forth in her prison cell in the dungeons. In order to keep herself warm, she violently rubbed her arms. But it was no use. The chill consuming her was due to much more than the mere cold of the dungeons. It was the fear. The fear of knowing what was to come.
Suddenly, a Death-Eater clad in a black hooded cloak approached her cell and opened the barred door. He roughly grabbed her arm and yanked her out into the corridor.
"Substringo armae!" voiced the cloaked figure.
Ginny could feel invisible binds forming around her arms. She struggled to move them, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not. Ginny shrieked in terror.
"Silencio!" he voiced again.
Ginny's shrieks were suddenly silenced… not a sound could be heard leaving her lips.
The Death-Eater grasped the girl's arm and pushed her forward along the corridor. He was obviously forcing her to walk along a certain path… he was leading her somewhere. She was sure that it had something to do with The Dark Lord, himself.
Tom Riddle.
Ginny's thoughts were invaded by flashes of Tom Marvolo Riddle… the memory of The Dark Lord's sixteen year old self preserved in his diary. The diary that she found in her cauldron that fateful day in Diagon Alley. The diary that Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, had intended for her to find.
While confiding in the diary, she was sure that she had found a true friend in Tom. It was after that incident that she noticed the changes in her person. An incident like that is bound to cause someone to change… to see things differently.
The Death-Eater pushed Ginny onward and up spiraling staircases. Finally, they came upon a large wooden door. The cloaked figure pushed open the door and forced Ginny inside.
Ginny looked up the aisle and saw an emaciated figure with red snake-like eyes and dressed in a black robe sitting on a large golden throne. Lord Voldemort… Tom Marvolo Riddle!! Standing beside The Dark Lord was Lucius Malfoy. Rows of black cloaked figures with hoods pulled over their faces stood in the space before The Dark Lord… Ginny was sure that Blaise Zabini was one of the hooded figures among them. At the center of the space, there stood a large stone table.
Draco.
Draco stood there next to his father. Like the other Death-Eaters, he too was wearing a black hooded cloak. Ginny's heart began to race at the sight of him standing there with his father and Voldemort. He turned his gaze towards her as she approached. Something was wrong… she noticed it immediately.
The look in his eyes was far from normal. Ginny could see that he was fighting something… but what?
Lucius leaned towards his son and whispered into his ear, "It's easier to just give in, Draco. If you do, the pain and suffering will just go away."
It was obvious to the blond man that his son was still fighting.
"Imperio…" Lucius whispered. "You will give in."
Ginny continued walking forward. Suddenly, the snake-like creature sitting on the throne stood up and all the black clad Death-Eaters, Lucius and Draco included, turned toward him and bowed. The Dark Lord waved his arms and the Death-Eaters standing in the space below him turned to face the aisle in which Ginny was walking. Both Malfoys turned to face her as she approached.
"Virginia… ssso glad you could join usss…" he hissed.
Ginny cringed in fear and she had the urge to run away screaming. Unfortunately, both the binding and silencing spells had not yet worn off.
"I know that you remember me, Virginia. I remember you," he paused for a moment. "I believe that you do not recognize me asss I am… but you would recognize Tom Riddle."
Ginny shook her head… her eyes were wide with fear.
The Dark Lord smiled, "I know that you do, Virginia… for that part of me which isss Tom ssstill residesss in you… deep within your sssoul. I know that you feel him there."
Tears streamed down Ginny's face.
"Tom wantsss to be released now… he wantsss to come back to me. We are one… Tom and I." Voldemort turned towards both Lucius and Draco.
Draco suddenly stepped forward, knife in hand. Ginny's eyes widened. Why is Draco carrying a knife? Oh gods!!!
"Yesss, my dear boy… you will ssspill blood before the night isss over."
At that moment, the Death-Eater who escorted Ginny from her cell in the dungeons tied her to the stone table. An expression of panic spread across her face as Draco approached her with a knife. She could see tears in his eyes as he held up the knife ready to strike.
Ginny shut her eyes. She was unable to watch the knife, as her true love was about to plunge it into her chest thus ending her life. I trust you, Draco…
"Libertas!!!" Draco shouted as he fell to his knees breathing hard.
Ginny felt her binds loosen and fall away. Quickly, she sat up and jumped down off the stone table to be next to Draco. The silvery blond stood up, wand in hand. He held Ginny close to his side and kept her wrapped underneath his black robes.
Voldemort let out a menacing laugh. Lucius Malfoy sneered in both disgust and disappointment with his son.
"You are no match for my loyal Death-Eaters, young Slytherin!"
The black clad Death-Eaters surrounded Draco and Ginny, closing in on them.
"Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy!" Draco shouted while aiming his wand at various Death-Eaters causing them to collapse onto the floor stunned, his father and Blaise Zabini among the fallen. Those still standing, ran away in fear.
Again, Voldemort laughed, "You may be strong enough to stop my loyal followers, but you are no match for me!!!"
"But I am!!" shouted a voice coming from the entrance to the throne room.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Hmmm… another cliffhanger ending… sorry about that!! I promise you that it was not totally intentional… just a really good place to end this chapter. Don't worry… if I get lots of wonderful and LONG reviews, I'll post the next chapter ASAP!! I promise you!! Also… I wanted to inform everyone that I posted a one-shot D/G fanfic entitled "Blood of My Love"… it's about our favorite couple and revolves around vampires. Please be sure to check that out and leave me reviews, etc. I hope that you all enjoy it (well, those of you who take the time to read it anyway…). :-)
dukerbrown ~ I'm glad that you liked the last chapter… hopefully you liked this one too! As for deaths… hmmm… keep reading… maybe someone(s) will or maybe someone(s) will not!! Please continue to read and review!! :-)
sweetstar3 ~ Mon amie romantique!! Well, was Blaise evil enough for you?? I hope that I portrayed him as such since that was indeed my intention… what will happen next? Please keep on reading and reviewing!!
dragonsprincess ~ Hey there sweets! Ah yes, one most likely would be searching for a way out… but in my mind, I imagined that they felt completely hopeless and that their time together during Blaise's ceremony was to be the last time that they saw each other… so therefore, I felt that they would want to be together and make love to each other one last time before they were separated forever. Well, that's what went on in my romantic brain anyway. So… now did you think that Blaise was totally evil in this chapter? I hope so! I tried oh so very very hard to make him that way!! Ohh and as for your new story… I read it and I loved it! I promise you that I'll read up on the other chapters of your other story very very soon! Sorry about the delays with that!! You are a very good writer… lots of talent there missy!! :-) Anyway, please continue to read and review this story as well as my other stories!!
Jade Summers ~ Firstly… a great big thank you to you for adding me to your "favorite authors" list… I'm totally flattered! :-) Anyhow, I hope that this chapter continues to satisfy! Please keep on reading and of course reviewing!!
Ashley ~ I totally love Draco/Ginny as well… how can you not? I get lots of heat from people due to my opinions and thoughts about that as well as for other things regarding the HP novels… but I'll get into that some other time perhaps. :-) Anyway, I hope that you liked my evil Blaise… was he evil enough? Regardless, I hope that you liked this chapter! Please continue to read and review!
devoted2draco ~ Well… here's chapter 13… I hope that you liked it as much as the others! Keep reading and reviewing!
Greeny ~ My darling Rachel!! I still don't think of my smut scenes as smutty… in my mind it is totally about making love to that one special person that you are destined to be with forever. Yes, the romantic in me is spilling forth today!! :-) Anyway, I hope that you liked this chapter… lots of action and an evil Blaise!! I hope that he was evil enough… I really really hope so. Ohh… be sure to check out my new vampire story (that one is totally for you, sweetie!!). In the meantime, please continue to read and review my stories… I always love to hear what you have to say… your words of encouragement definitely keep me going! Thanks, girl!!
Cameron ~ Hey there… well, the plot is only thickening some more… some stuff will be resolved next chapter. This story is sadly getting close to its end! *sniff* This is my first ever fanfic and I've been blown away by the recognition its been receiving! Well, please keep on reading and reviewing!
Mei Lee ~ Ah don't sweat it… your reviews were GREAT!! :-) I love getting lots of reviews… they make me very happy since it lets me know that there are people out there who are enjoying what I write, etc. Anyway, I hope that evil Blaise was truly evil… I tried very hard to make him that way in this chapter. As for the cliffhanger ending of this chap… sorry 'bout that!! Anyway, continue to read and review!
dracomio ~ Hmmm… you are not the only person who thinks that someone(s) is/are going to die… you will definitely have to keep on reading to find out the answer to that one!! And did you like my cliffhanger ending? I assure you that it was not intentional, just a good place to end the chapter. So, who was that person who spoke so boldly to You-Know-Who?!?! In the meantime, continue to read and review! :-)
evieteen ~ Your compliments are so very sweet… thanks a bunch! *gives you a hug* I always always ALWAYS thank my reviewers… without the support of you guys, it's very difficult to continue writing or bettering what you've already written, etc. Everything that you guys say really means a lot and I try my best to take in all your advice and suggestions when possible… and if they can't be used with the current story, then they will for the future ones! You reviewers are great… I mean that very sincerely!! Anyhow, I hope that you liked this action-packed chapter as much as the others… and what did you think of my evil Blaise?!? Well… please keep on reading and reviewing!! :-)
Rae ~ I'm sooo very sorry that you feel that my sex scenes are degrading… they really are not meant to be that way. I'm a pure romantic in every sense of the word… and I'm a believer that sex is an intimate act between two people who are destined to be together (not that there's necessarily anything wrong with not believing in that… I just have my own beliefs and I'm choosing to state them now). As far as where and when these scenes are placed in my story… well, I feel as though I've chosen them rather carefully. I apologize if I've offended you in any way. Regardless, I hope that you can get past it and enjoy my story for what it is… a romance story… I hope that I haven't deterred you from reading the rest of my story and such and that you'll continue to read and review. Thanks…
Silver Dragon Myst ~ I'm so glad that you liked my last chapter… how was this one??? Please keep on reading and reviewing!! :-)
HPFreekGirl ~ Hey Nat!! You are too much! *hugs back* :-) Well, how was this chapter for building up emotions?? What did you think of my even more evil Blaise? Continue to read and review!!
Dark Elf Mage ~ Thanks for the compliments… I'm totally flattered!! I hope that this chapter stood up to the same levels as my earlier chapters… Please continue to read and review!!
GinnyDracoFan ~ I hope that you liked this chapter just as much as the earlier ones!! :-)
Lady Greenleaf2 ~ Your compliments are too sweet… yeah, the romantic in me (and I'm a romantic through and through) needed to make it that way with Draco and Ginny… being each others TRUE firsts and all… and really, it is that way if you think about it… :-) Anyway, I hope that you liked this chapter as much as the others… Please keep on reading and reviewing!
Anime10473 ~ Yeah Blaise is pretty evil… and hopefully he was more so in this chapter!! I tried very hard to make sure that he came across as a horrendous prick! What did you think of Draco's and Ginny's actions/reactions to everything? To find out more… please keep on reading!! And don't forget to review! :-)
ash44 ~ I'm glad that you liked my story so much… sadly, it's getting close to the end… but please stay with me until it's completed… and be sure to check out my other stories as well (I hope that you like them as much as you like this one!). Please continue to read and review!! :-)
ice_mage1014 ~ Firstly, I want to thank you ever so much for adding me to your "favorite authors" list!! That makes me so very happy!! Also, I'm thrilled that you like my story so much… I hope that this chapter proved to be just as good as my other chapters!! Please keep on reading and of course reviewing!!
Lady Bug ~ I was wondering where you were!! :-) I'm glad that your back now!! I hope that you like this new chapter!! What did you think of an even more evil Blaise??? Continue to read and review!!
Lady Matsu ~ Well… Blaise is fairly ambitious… in an insane sort of way… if you've noticed, he's really not totally all there. He just wants what he wants and he wants it when he wants it (did you follow that… I'm not sure if I even did… lol). Anyway, as for the D/G interactions… I'm a romantic and I've placed those scenes fairly meticulously throughout the story… I hope that they've come out all right and such. Also, I hope that you continue to like and read my story!! Don't forget to review as well!! :-)
Seshet ~ You are such a sweetheart!!! Your compliments are very touching indeed… thanks ever so much! I'm glad that you are liking my story and I'm so very happy that you've added me to your "favorite authors" list!! Thank you… thank you!! :-) Anyway, yes… I too am a HUGE Draco/Ginny-shipper… which doesn't always seem to go down too well with most people… ah well, their loss!! We D/G-shippers must totally stick together and support each other!! Please be sure to check out and review my other stories if you get a chance!! Please continue to read and review this story as well!!
Ang3l666 ~ Hey there… how was my evil Blaise? I hope that he was really really REALLY evil!! I know that when I wrote him (especially in this chapter) I got really mad at him… funny, huh?!? Anyway, this chapter was a bit longer and quite action-packed (well, in my own opinion anyway). I hope that you liked this chapter as much as my earlier ones… Please continue to read and review!! :-)
A special thanks is extended to Jade Summers, Koboshi, Ariana Althena Evergreen, ice_mage1014 and Seshet for adding me to their "favorite authors" list (*many hugs to you all*)!
Again I'd like to re-iterate… I hope that everyone will continue to enjoy what I write… Also remember that more and longer reviews means that I'll be more likely to post another chapter quickly!!! :-)