Magical Mysticism

Chapter 10

Well, thanks to those who reviewed! It means so much to have your input and suggestions for this story.

This chapter is dedicated to kneh13 for taking the time to email me! Thank you.

~Leuca

The Dark Lord was sitting by the fire at the Riddle House, contemplating the tasks that lie before him. He had successfully managed to… persuade a Ministry employee to his side. If you define persuade as torture, that is. Never the less, it hadn't been that difficult to bring the ambitious young worker to join him. Now Voldemort was being kept informed on the doings of the Minister, Cornelius Fudge.

Being the first of December, the days were also drawing nearer to December 17th, the day that Voldemort would officially name his heirs, Draco Malfoy and Virginia Weasley to his Death Eaters. That was the date that they would leave Hogwarts to join him, and fight with him for the Ministry, which Voldemort was planning on attacking the 27th. 10 days after his heirs were named, and right after the Christmas vacation ended.

The plans were in order, the Ministry mole was doing his job to provide the required information, and soon the Wizarding World would be his.

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Draco and Ginny were working on their plans, as well. They only had a short time to perfect the Imperious curse, so it would be ready to use on Wormtail on the 18th. They had both decided to cast the spell simultaneously, so that the power would be too strong to resist, especially by the weak fool that Wormtail was.

"Imperio!" Draco shot the spell at a rabbit, caught in a cage. It then started dancing a waltz around the confinement.

By practicing on small animals Ginny had captured, the two were quite sure of their capabilities, with the spell. It would be different, however, to place on a human being, and with the fact that the punishment for doing so was a life sentence in Azkaban. Neither minded this very much, however, both having done far worse.

"Nice shot, Dragon. We'll get that rat to kill the snake, and make him suffer for it, too." Code names were used in this fashion quite a bit, due to several Slytherins tendencies to sneak and eavesdrop. Although, if one did find out, they wouldn't dare say anything.

Draco and Ginny were powerful by themselves, but together theirs was a force that none could compete with, as they had proven on numerous occasions of pranks.

And they were always together. Ever since they began dating, you could rarely find one out of class with out the other. If you were a Slytherin, that was. Ron was still turning a blind eye to the whole thing, no matter how much Hermione was trying to convince him otherwise. Potter was also keeping an annoyingly close watch on Ginny, much to her despair.

He also seemed to have developed feelings for her. Not that he'd said so outright, but Ginny could tell by the way he haunted her footsteps when she was alone, his constant inquiries about her health and happiness grating in her mind. She'd grip her wand so tightly when this happened that it nearly set of sparks.

How she'd love to Avada him. Get him right now, while no one suspected her. Nobody would ever think that little Ginny Weasley, who had loved and the "great Harry Potter" for so long would kill him. She was mature now, though, and patient enough to wait to get him. In two days she'd be 16, and in seventeen, the ruler of a Dark Empire.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend for her birthday. Ginny had been sent a letter from the Dark Lord, disguised as a letter from Bill. It had told her to Floo from the Hog's Head fireplace in the empty back room to the Riddle House, where she would be met by Voldemort, whom had several topics of discussion to speak with her about. Draco would then wait for her return.

So it was a clear yet cold Saturday morning when Virginia left Hogwarts. A soft blanket of snow hid the ground, athough it was already starting to melt on the pavement of Hogsmeade. Everyone, including the Trio was strolling around buying Christmas presents, so busy that they did not notice the dark cloaked figure sneak into the pub.

Ginny quietly made her way into the back room. It was, as the letter promised that it would be, void of anything, except a roaring fire in the grate. Ginny quickly took the Floo powder, and climbed into the bright green flames. Muttering "Riddle House" under her breath, she disappeared into the flames.

A short second later, she climbed out of the fireplace next to a leather armchair, where her lord was waiting. Bowing to him, she greeted him warmly.

"Ah, Virginia. Thank you very much for indulging me, and coming to visit." The way Voldemort spoke to her was that of a kindly old man who desired company, not a cold-blooded half-hearted wizard murderer.

"Anytime, my Lord." Ginny, with a final bow, rose and sat next to Voldemort on a conjured chair. "You wished to speak with me?"

"Yes, I have many plans for the future, and I would like you to be a big part in them. As you know, you and Draco are to be my heirs." Here Ginny nodded. "I shall hopefully never need you, though, as my quests for immortality progress. But in the event of my unlikely demise, I would take much solace in knowing that the Dark Arts will continue on, as they have existed before me, before Merlin, before Salazar Slytherin, before my ancestors."

"You, dear Virginia, are like a daughter to me. I cannot love, but I have deep respect for you, and you loyalties to me have never faltered nor come into question." Ginny was unfazed by this. The Dark Lord would have no inkling of her infidelities if she could help it. "You shall be told of all my plans, on the 18th, the same day you are to be formally announced as my heir. I already have the spell created. It is stronger than a Wizard's Agreement, and quite powerful. It declares you and Draco to be my heirs, to rule together. If you should be killed, then the power passes down to your children. If you have no children, then to the Zabini's. Unless, that is, you are harmed by them. It is quite thorough, let me assure you."

"The reason I called you here was not to tell you all this, my dear. The real reason was to give you this."

At these words, Voldemort drew out a small leather pouch from mid-air. A simple concealing and hovering spell had kept it their, during Voldemort's speech.

"It is a birthday present, to you. It was created by Salazar Slytherin himself, and passed down in my family for generations. Indeed- when I was orphaned, it was the only possession I owned. Now, that you are to be my heir, I would like for you to have it."

Ginny opened the small pouch slowly, wary of what might be inside. If it was indeed a relic of Slytherin's, it was quite possibly dangerous. But the curiosity of it, and the presence of Voldemort made her reach her hand inside, and she drew out a small pendant, on a white-gold chain.

"The Serpent of Shadow." Voldemort's voice was a whisper. Indeed, the pendant was shaped as that of a great snake, twisted around itself in an ever-changing coil. It had been enchanted to move. But this was not what was so peculiar about the small charm. It's great back was not the typical Slytherin silver and green, but rather black and white, with eyes a mesmerizing shade of gray.

"As you have learned in your Death Eater studies, the Light cannot survive without the Dark. Legend has it that this serpent was made by Slytherin to commemorate a time when these sides were not ostracized from each other, but when they co-existed in a symbiotic relationship. "

"That peace is what we are still fighting for, to this day. If we need to use bloodshed to purge the Wizarding World of the foul blood that has so infected it, then so be it. But we are ever striving towards complete separation between the Muggle and Wizard's worlds."

Ginny nodded. This was not new to her. She had read about the Dark Ideals, the code that every Death Eater was to follow. This simple history of the Dark Side was known to many. However, she had never heard of the Serpent of Shadow before.

"Thank you, my Lord." Ginny felt the pressure of the snake on her chest as it continued changing.

"Happy Birthday, Virginia. You may leave."

Ginny bowed once more to the Dark Lord, and turned to Floo. Arriving at the Hog's Head, she sat down at the bar and ordered a Butterbeer, and was so lost in thought, she did not see Draco's silver head approach her.

"Ginny." He murmured, taking the seat beside her. "Would you like to come with me?"

She nodded, and got up with him, leaving the unopened Butterbeer on the bar. As they left, she planted a soft, chaste kiss upon his cheek. He turned, and looked deep into her eyes, as if searching for the meaning of life inside them. For a second, they were the only two that existed, and they were life. He took her hand, and led her outside.

The barkeeper had been watching the exchange between them with a small sad smile on his face. He watched them leave, and then put the Butterbeer back beneath the counter.

They walked, wordlessly down a small cobble-stone path. On either side were blood red roses, covered in ice that was left by last night's melted snow fall. Draco leaned down, and, careful to avoid any thorns, picked a single rose. He gave it to Ginny, the color matching her hair.

They came to a small clearing, where heat charms had been placed. A small table and chairs, wrought of unbreakable crystal sat there, a bottle of wine upon the top. Draco pulled out the chair for Virginia before sitting down himself. He poured her a glass of wine, and then one for himself. There they sat talking of the future, Ginny's meeting with Voldemort, and themselves. Draco extended his hand over the table.

Ginny took it, and for just a second, they sat there, together. Then Draco began speaking.

"Although we are both young, and haven't known each other for very long, you are already the most important thing in my life. Nothing could stop me from being with you, not even death, and what comes after. I want to be with you forever, and though we are too young to formally be engaged, I want you to wear this upon your finger."

He placed a ring on her finger. A dragon, breathing fire, was the small crest, laid with precious stones. The symbol that they had decided would be theirs, once that they had taken over.

"It's to promise that we will be together forever."

Ginny looked at the ring upon her finger, and Draco sitting across from her and began to smile, the smile of one who has seen too much horror, caused too much to feel. It was very depressing, and yet beautiful. She leaned over, and passionately kissed Draco, feeling the comfort of his skin upon his, and his lips upon hers.

Together, hand in hand, they walked to the castle together.

Well… Another chapter… Sorry about how horrible it was. I've said it before, I'm not a romance writer. Anyone have any suggestions? I'll gladly take all the help I can get!

Thanks to the wonderful reviewers who put up with me taking forever to get another chapter out!

If you have any comments you don't want to leave in a review, feel free to email me at Leuca_2007@hotmail.com

~Leuca