Well, I'm back! So many people wanted a back story for "Shackles" and here it is! Thank God for small study breaks. eh?

As usual, I own nothing but my fantasies. *sniffle*

Ginny exhaled slowly as she gazed across the battlefield - or what was left of Hogwart's Quidditch Patch. The stands had only just stopped blazing and now, only faint wisps of smoke curled up into the air, like a fist raised one last time against the fight. 'Fools.' Ginny thought. 'They should've known a large gathering like this was an open invitation for a Death Eater attack.'

            It was really, for only one hour previous, Ginny had been striding with the entire assembled legion of the Death Eaters up to the field full of her supposed friends and family, silvery mask fixed lightly on her high cheekbones. At first, the school had been caught up in the game (Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff) but by the time they had noticed the falls of flame heading straight towards them, it had been too late. Screams erupted as the Ravenclaw stand ignited and fell, complete with screaming know-it-alls, to the ground, followed closely by Hufflepuff's. Of course, there had been a token effort by the small group of Gryffindors (led by Ron and Hermoine) and the teachers (led by McGonagall and Dumbledore) to fight the black swarm of death as they cut down anyone foolish enough to cross them. However, the Resistance seemed to lose hope when Dumbledore's head landed at their feet. After that, it had simply been a matter of seeing how many times Ginny could fire off the Killing Curse in one breath.

Seven, to be exact.

            But then, Harry Potter had to come running across the field. Within a matter of minutes, the Gryffindors were launching a counter assault against the Death Eaters and for about 20 seconds, it looked like the little pukes just might have a chance. But then, He arrived. Harry fell to the ground, screaming and clutching his forehead and Tom had simply made a flip comment about needing to do something about the racket and stuck the sword of Gryffindor, which Ginny had procured the week before for her husband, through his chest 'Oh, if only I'd let Colin Creevey live long enough to take a picture of Harry's face as he saw what had killed him!' Ginny thought gleefully as she bounced across the bodies to join her lover's side.

            "So, is that everyone, my love?" she asked as she stood on her tiptoes and pecked Tom's triumphant face.

            "All 1,000 of them dead, and only 4 of ours lost." he said grinning. "Lucius was getting on my nerves anyway." 

            Ginny made a face. "I never liked him, or his little ferret son." she said, wrapping her arms around Tom's muscular midsection. "So, how long do we have to stay here. I'm feeling a little peckish." she murmured, slowly laving his neck with her tongue and earning herself a groan.

            Tom grabbed her hair sharply and pulled her into a rough kiss. "I don't see any reason not to take off now. Bella and Rudolphus can handle the details." he said, hands snaking inside Ginny's robes. "Ooh!" he murmured, delighted. " Do you always go to a slaughter naked?"

            Ginny winked. "You know me: clothes just get in the way."

            "The certainly do." he agreed. "Now, why don't we Apparate back home and give that new bed a nice, thorough christening?"

            Ginny started to laugh darkly, but stopped. "And then open our anniversary gifts?" she said hopefully, looking into his dark eyes.

            "But our special day isn't until tomorrow." Tom answered, brow furrowing. "You can't wait until then? Especially when I know I can make you forget about time, space, the English language, until then?"

            "Mmmm..." Ginny said, sticking her tongue out slightly in a gesture of mock consideration. "Nope."

            Tom rolled his eyes. "Well, I'm just going to have to try extra hard today." he whispered, claiming her lips once more in a passionate kiss that, on any other day, would have sent her reeling. But today, nothing was going to stand in the way of Ginny and her fabulous gifts. Instead, she quickly formulated a plan, and smiled devilishly under Tom's questing lips. "Is there something you find amusing about my making love to you, darling?"

            Ginny disengaged herself reluctantly from her husband's arms. "Oh no, my love." she said, grinning saucily. "You just go on ahead and make yourself comfortable." She gave his bloody form an obvious up-and-down and winked at him. "Don't clean your robes, though."

            "I wouldn't dream of it." he laughed, kissing her lightly on the forehead before disappearing.

            Ginny took a furtive look around to make sure her husband wouldn't be popping back anytime soon before trotting over to Bellatrix Lestrange, who was over-seeing the mutilation of any body that hadn't been burnt to a crisp. "Bella?" she called.

            "What?!" the older witch snapped, whirling around. However, her blazing eyes and raised wand flew back to normal as she realized to whom she was speaking. "Milady! You shouldn't have startled me like that!" she exclaimed, eyes darting nervously to the wand in Ginny's hand. "What can I do for the High Dark Empress?"

            Ginny smiled secretively and led the other witch to a closed off area under what used to be the main entrance to the school. "I need your advice: if I was to go about getting information out of my husband, what would be the most effective way?"

            Bellatrix swallowed hard. "A-Are you sure that y-you want to do that, milady?" she asked, blanching. "I know of one way, actually the only way, but he definitely won't like it if you try it."

            "And? What is it?" Ginny demanded impatiently.

            "Well, when we - er, before you came to his side, he used to like....umm...how do I put this...being tied up." Bella replied.

            Ginny scowled. "And why wouldn't he like it if I did it?" she demanded.

            The older witch looked about ready to faint but swallowed a few times. "It's just..." she winced and flushed. "It was sort of 'our' thing. You know, something only he and I did." She screwed her eyes shut and waited for the Killer Curse to shoot out of her lady's wand but nothing happened. Instead, Ginny seemed even more excited then ever.

            "That's perfect!" she whispered to herself before looking back up at Bellatrix. "I don't see why you were so worried, Lady Lestrange." she said silkily. "What was yours is now mine, and I know you're not stupid enough to try and 'rework' that arrangement."

            Bella smiled a little over-enthusiastically. "He'll be promising you the Empire in no time, I promise you."

Ginny nodded distractedly before patting her friend on the shoulder and walking away.

            Bella glared at the redhead's retreating form. "Bitch." she spat under her breath, which hitched in her throat as Ginny whirled around. "Is there anything else, milady?" she asked, plastering a fake smile over her scowl.

            "Oh, I was just wondering about how long do you think it will take me to break him?" Ginny asked.

            Bella sighed subtly as relief poured through her. "Well, when he was with me, it only took about an hour or two. Then, he'd been begging like a little baby." She smiled maliciously, a look Ginny shared.

            "I'll take that challenge." She thrust a hand into her robe's pocket and produced a velvet satchel of Galleons. "This says I can do it in less than 45 minutes." she said, tossing the bag to an amazed Bella. 

            "I wish you luck, milady." she said. "But I think you underestimate his stamina."

            Ginny shook her head. "No, I think you over estimate you appeal to him. Crucio."

            Bella screamed as she sank, writhing, to the ground. Ginny stepped over her.

            "Do yourself a favour, Lestrange." she snarled. "Don't ever call me a bitch again. Finite incantatum." 

            Bella raised a shaky head to wipe the spittle that had escaped her mouth as she had cried out. "Thank you, milady." she whispered hoarsely as Ginny disapperated back to Riddle House and Tom's side.

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