A/N: This chapter was a bit hurried. Not much Voldemort/Death eater action—that comes in the next chapter.

Disclaimer: Nope. I don't own anything. All JKR's, let's say.

Chapter Nine

I stood before him, awed and horrified at the same time. He commanded such fear, and because of that I wanted to crawl away from him, from all of them—but he had so much power, and that drew me to him like a moth to the light.

A loud shout and a sharp pang of pain awoke me. I cried out loud and fell to the floor. My hands felt the back of my head where the blow had been inflicted upon, and they met something wet—blood. Lucius towered over me, an icy glare shot down at me.

" You will bow before the lord, child." He hissed, eyes narrowing until they were mere slits. Scrambling to my feet, I bowed before him, blinking back tears as I faced the floor. There was a slight chuckle.

" Look at me, Virginia." His raspy voice spoke to me, and as if I were in a trance, I obeyed him without second thought. His power scared me, deep inside, because I wasn't even thinking anymore, it was as if he controlled me. I looked at him, the face that I could not see, hidden beneath the black robe. I looked at his blood-red eyes even as my eyes watered and threatened to shut close. And thankfully, finally, after the agonizing moments, he allowed me to look away, and I gasped for breath.

" Obedience is always rewarded." He whispered, sending chills through my body. He did not speak any more, but his words echoed inside of me—Tom spoke to me, in the same alluring voice I heard him years ago, when I was but 11.

We meet again, Ginny. I looked away--towards the floor, not knowing what to do when he spoke to me like that. When he spoke through me.

Yes, I can still sense power in you—the same power I invested in you long ago.

Wringing my hands together, I began rocking back and forth in the spot I stood, lips trembling, eyes closed.

I felt as if I was falling into an abyss of black nothing—there was no beginning, there was no end.

I was just falling. One second seemed like an eternity…

"Take her away." His command was sharp, and immediately, I felt hands on either side of me, dragging me away from His lair.

And for that I was grateful, for when I opened my eyes again, I was met by the darkness of the empty halls—darkness that I would gladly embrace, rather than spending another torturous moment in the same room with him.

Draco looked at me blankly. Then, he frowned, and took my arm.

" Come. I'll take you to your room." He said calmly.

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My room. It was not well lit either. And as soon as I settled in, I searched around for candles, anywhere they might be found. But I found none. Draco stood by the doorway, looking at me with a raised brow.

" Looking for something?" He drawled. I looked at him, desperation in my eyes.

" Candles." I said hurriedly. " I need light." For a moment, he said nothing. Then, he chuckled sardonically, before stepping into the room, clucking his tongue.

" Scared of the dark, are we?" He teased. I glared at him as fiercely as I could, feeling myself blush.

" You'll understand that I don't feel comfortable, feeling my way around in the pitch black dark." I muttered coldly. I heard a rustle, and he was sitting next to me. No matter how dark it was, however, I could see his pale skin, his silvery hair and his luminous eyes.

" We Malfoy's are creatures who bask in darkness. We like it—we thrive in it." He paused. " We don't need candles, especially in a bedroom. The few we have are kept elsewhere." I sat silently, numb at his answer. Feeling angry at how un-sympathetic he was, I rummaged around my robes, looking for my wand.

" I see. Well then, I suppose I'll have to rely on myself—" I stopped abruptly, my hand finding nothing in my robes. Where had my wand gone? I was sure I had it—right before we had left, I had made sure. I grew frantic, throwing my robe off and shaking it violently.

But there was nothing. And in the black, I saw him smirking smugly. Before I knew what I was doing, I threw myself onto him, pinning him down on the bed in my rage.

" What have you done with my wand, bastard?!" I demanded, fist clenching at his collar. His eyes narrowed and he pushed me off of him forcefully.

" It was taken away. You don't need it." I hated him. He had told me I would find comfort here, but I did not. I felt imprisoned. I couldn't do anything. He may have thrived in the darkness, in this kind of secluded environment, but couldn't he see I wasn't accustomed to it? I wasn't like him. Was a little sympathy going to kill him? My chest heaved up and down in anger as I thought about the current situations, and I was unaware of his eyes watching my every move.

" You're angry." He said knowingly.

" I hate you." I spat, crossing my arms and turning away from him. His hands pushed me onto the bed suddenly, and he smirked again.

" No, you don't." His index finger trailed down my jawbone and caressed the edge of my lips. I looked up at him, anger suddenly gone as I noticed how close his lips were to mine.

But he did not kiss me. Instead, he got up and began to walk away--and out the door. I scrambled up and watched him go, fear clawing at my heart as I realized I was alone in the dark.

Stupid, yes, but I hated the dark.

" Draco!" I called out to him desperately, hoping he hadn't gone too far. There was no answer. I waited.

" Draco…" I whimpered again, wishing he would come back.

" For heaven's sake…" I looked up and saw him standing once again in the doorway, eyes flashing in annoyance. Relief flooded through me, and I felt a rush of gratitude toward him. I bit my lip and stayed silent, pleading with him to stay.

" What do you want?" He snapped, knowing too well what I wanted.

" Stay here with me, at least until I fall asleep." I asked quietly, almost shyly. For a moment, he stood silent, blinking. Maybe he was taken by surprise. But after the moment passed, he walked over to me and sat beside me, his sharp features looking softer—especially his eyes.

" You want me to stay with you." He whispered. I nodded. Wanting to feel warmer, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down onto the bed, next to me.

And even if it was Draco Malfoy that I held onto, I felt warm, secure. And I felt full of…comfort, and full of…love.

I looked at him—his beautiful face, though confident and arrogant.

He leaned over and kissed me softly, softer than he had before—it was a goodnight kiss, a kiss that left me feeling tingly and excited and even more in love with him, perhaps. The moment was more intimate than before, because we were alone in the darkness, and he was there, protecting me, as I liked to imagine it.

But I felt the same exhilarating rush that I felt every single time he kissed me. My hands clutched the nape of his neck, brushing his soft hair now and then as I pressed his warm body against mine, getting lost in his unique taste.

And I knew I was addicted to him.

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