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Summary: Alternate Universe Fiction. Harry's parents were not killed that Halloween night by Voldemort. They were killed the next day by Severus Snape. Voldemort sees Harry takes him in as his son and heir. Harry grows up into a World where his name is as scary as his Voldemort's. His best friend is Draco Malfoy and he has everything he wants, but the one thing he can not have is Ginny Weasley's love. He orders her to marry him, but then Draco gets upset.
Everything is Nothing
KTBallerina
Chapter 4
Ginny stood on a dais as a designer and her assistant examined her and fitted her for her wedding gown. She tried to smile as she imagined her wedding day, but pair of smoky gray eyes were all she could see. Ginny had missed Draco very much in the past month, but there was very little she could do without arousing suspicion. She felt trapped in a gilded cage. A pin poked into her side bringing her out of her thoughts.
The dress was beautiful and expensive. She doubted whether or not it was too ornate, but it was not as though it was her choice anyway. The fabric was silk, trimmed in soft ermine. It held a gentle curve to it, highlighting her beauty. She sighed as she thought of how time seemed to speed forward when she wished it would stop.
"Sorry, my lady," the maid said quietly hoping Ginny was in no way harmed. She glanced nervously at her.
"It is quite alright, Hermione," she told the young girl looking at her name tag. The maid looked to be about her age, maybe a bit older. For a moment she wondered what life would be like if she were a maid and not herself. No one would probably ever believed she did not wish to marry him. Then she thought about how hard it was to be a mudblooded, even if it meant their life was simple.
"The dress looks absolutely gorgeous," Hermione answered. "I think fairy dust would look beautiful if it were added along the seams," she said timidly knowing she was over stepping her place as a mudblood. Ginny smiled at her, nodding her head in agreement.
"Yes, I agree that would look very nice," Ginny said still nodding to the designer who looked scathingly at Hermione.
"That will be all today," the designer said adding a trace of impatience into her voice. The dress vanished off Ginny's body and she was once again wearing wizarding robes. "Come along, Hermione." They exited leaving Ginny alone with her thoughts.
Ginny wished her life had been different. She wished she had never fallen in love with Draco, or that her parents were alive, or her brothers were safe. There are many things a woman can change, but the past is not one of them.
Stupid Harry Riddle...
"Darling?" a voice called heavy with authority. It was Harry. He walked through the door into her chamber, without knocking or even waiting to be invited in.
"Yes, dear?" Ginny responded sounding like her tongue was dipped in honey.
"Ginny, I trust everything went well with the dress maker?" he asked feigning an attempt at casual conversation.
"Just fine," Ginny said nonchalantly. She tried hard to ignore him, he rarely allowed himself to be ignored.
"I have some good news. Draco is returning home today to help prepare for the wedding. In fact, he is downstairs as we speak-" Ginny ran from the room to the entrance hall leaving Harry alone. Ginny spotted him standing at the bottom of the staircase. Then he looked up and saw her. All thoughts of revenge and hatred left his mind. He could not fathom why he had wanted to hurt her.
She was his beloved.
"Ginny!" he cried and practically sprinted at her.
"Draco!" They flew towards each other and embraced. For a moment time seemed to have stood still. Neither one spoke not wanting to ruin the moment. The past fights were forgiven and forgotten. Draco chose not to remember her scathing words and loathsome decision.
"How are you, Ginny?" he asked subtlety conveying his meaning. She flashed him a look to show she understood.
"I am fine. How is Hogwarts, Headmaster?" she quipped. Her eyes were sparkling as she looked at him for the first time in months. He had not changed a bit, he looked the same as he had always looked. Draco noticed the small differences in Ginny's face. She looked thinner and exhausted as though the weight of the World was upon her shoulders.
"Excellent, the school stands as a symbol of hope," he said smirking at her slightly. "Proof that where there is will there is a way." She ignored this comment and hugged him once again.
Harry stood watching his best friend and fiancée hold each other, his brow furrowed. It seemed impossible that he had failed to see their passion. How could he have been so blind. He thought that Draco had cared for Ginny as a sister. That was obviously why Draco had left, to get away from reality. They were infatuated with each other. The infatuation will end now, thought Harry angrily. His father will know what had to be done. Harry stalked down the halls of the manor to find his father.
Ginny and Draco were walking out to the courtyard, leaving Harry behind to his own devices. Ginny forgot discretion, she only wanted Draco to stay with her forever. Ginny had forgotten the way he made her feel. She had tried to pretend Harry was Draco, but one could hardly replace their lover with an enemy. Draco knew they should be cautious, but it hardly seemed important with Ginny standing there. He knew he could only ask one more time, if she refused again or if she married Harry she would shatter his heart.
"Ginny, I came only long enough to ask you once more. will you come away with me, be my wife, and love me forever?" he asked on bended knee. Her face froze mid laughter and paled suddenly.
"Draco, I just can not do it. It is not fair to put myself before so many others. It would endanger you as well. I am so sorry, I love you, but-"
"But not enough," he finished sadly.
"I love you too much to hurt you," she replied quietly. To Draco none of this made sense, if she loved him she should have done as he asked. He walked away, yet again feeling as though he had lost a piece of his heart.
They had a common problem, they did not understand each other and both felt justified in their choices. Sometimes those who are too different fall in love, but to stay in love is a lot harder than falling. It seemed as though life had hit a new low. The love of their lives were walking away and for once neither tried to stop it. A thin blonde woman watched in sadness as they parted, she understood the effects of love all too well. She knew fate would play a large role bringing them together again. If it is not a happy ending, then it is not the ending at all.
************************************
Harry knocked upon entrance to his father's study. He looked at the frail man that sat behind the desk. He had not realized his father was growing so old, at the moment he looked graver than usual.
"Come sit down, my boy," he said beckoning him to sit across from him. Harry looked across at the man who was stunningly similar to him. The Dark Lord had undergone several magical transformations when he first rose to power and the effects were showing. "What is the matter, Harry?"
"Draco loves Ginny and she loves him," he answered in a dangerous voice, noticing his father's face held no surprise.
"Did you expect for her to love you? Of course she loves Draco she thinks he is a kindred spirit for her, another 'tortured soul.' And in her eyes you have done nothing to show her an ounce of love. Do you even really love her?" Voldemort demanded from him. Harry did not even hear how odd this sounded coming from his stern father's mother.
"Yes, I swear it-"
"CRUCIO," Voldemort's voice rang out through the room, Harry fell to the ground. His body thrashed from pain. "I have told you never to love anything or anyone," he hissed kicking his son again. Harry realized his mistake too late, and was regretting his words.
"Sorry, my Lord," he apologized his breath short from pain. Harry had never felt this sort abuse from his father. Sure, his father had been strict with him, but no stricter than Lucius had been with Draco. There was a bond between the two men, but it was not that of father and son. The best way to explain it was servant and master. "I will try to do better."
"Do not make your empty promises to me, young man. I have to admit, I am disappointed in you, my son. I had thought you would have known better," Voldemort hissed. Harry hated when his father was disappointed. Harry felt resentment course through his body. He hated Draco, somehow this was his fault.
"I am sorry, father. I know I have disappointed you again," Harry remarked. Harry felt his face burn with embarrassment. He had been stupid and rash to complain to his father. His father was not a man of mercy. The Dark Lord did not need or care for any displays of emotions.
He expected Harry to do as he did. To take what he wanted without question. Harry knew what he must become and struggled to find his place in the future. He had thought Draco would always be there to help him, but now Draco had betrayed him. Draco had fallen in love with the same woman, and although Harry had admitted Draco loved her first, he should not have tried to hide it from him. Harry resented the deception the most. He might have been able to accept their love, but for them to hide it was unforgivable, and now they would pay.
"It just proves my suspicions. I have my concerns about you, my young heir," Voldemort replied watching Harry's reaction. "Perhaps I was wrong to believe you should be my heir."
"What? How could you doubt your son, your flesh and blood?" Harry cried angrily at the man he called father his whole life.
"I do not doubt you, but the choices I have made," the Dark Lord hissed. Harry did not understand what his father was trying to tell him.
"Well, my Lord. What do you propose I do? What must I do to get what I want?" Harry asked feeling unworthy.
"What do you want?" he asked seeing the ambition in Harry's eyes. No one had ever had such a desire to prove themselves.
"I want it all, my Lord. I want Ginny to love me, I want to secede you, and I want the power to defeat those who dare defy me," he yelled trying to prove his point.
"Then you must do whatever it takes, whatever it takes," the Dark Lord answered simply. Harry left his father's offensive presence and went in search of Ginny. He found her crying in the gardens. Her tear stained face looked up at him, she was clearly upset.
"What do you want?" she demanded angrily. "Have you come to ruin my life even more?"
"I wanted to apologize," Harry said softly he was playing his cards well. "I never knew you and Draco were in love, you should have told me. I never would have kept my two best friends apart." She stared up at him in shock.
"I was afraid, I wanted to keep my brothers alive and protect Draco from an harm," Ginny said staring at the ground.
"Do you love him?" Harry asked looking serious. Ginny hesitated before answering.
"No, two people who can not agree are not meant to love," she whispered. Harry nodded in agreement.
"I can promise you everything; love, power, money, safety, anything you could possibly desire. Just let me love you." Ginny felt some wall of reserve break. She and Draco were over, accepting what Harry offered would be the wisest choice. At the look on her face Harry knew he had won her trust. "I know I have not been nice in the past, but I swear if my heart only knows one emotion it is love for you." At these words her eyes lit up.
"Thank you, Harry. I can not promise you the same, but if ever I doubted your love for lust, I change my opinion whole-heartedly," she responded smiling at him with new ardor in her eyes. She allowed him to kiss her on the cheek then retired to her room. On her bed sat the only mother she had ever known, Narcissa Malfoy.
"Good evening, mother," she said upon entering her room. Narcissa merely nodded in reply. Then she spoke about the reason she had really come to see Ginny.
"I always tried to keep you away from the bad things in this World. I saw what was happening to my son, so I tried to protect you. I always wanted a daughter, but was only able to have one child. I thought I raised you to be a stronger woman than I was.I tried to teach you the most important lesson of life, but tonight you proved you have ignored what I have been teaching you for the last twenty-one years. Loving another person is more than being with them when times are easy, it is staying with them when times are difficult. I must say, I have obviously failed you as a mother," Narcissa said softly. Ginny felt her heart break again for the second time that night, but felt Narcissa was being unfair.
"Your son walked away. Draco is the one who left the first time, he is the one who wants to run away and leave. He would even leave you, to do what he wants. I just can not make the sacrifice he is willing to make. It's because I love him that I am trying to protect him from Harry. You think I like pretending to love another man, by breaking Draco's heart I saved his life," Ginny cried feeling tears in her eyes.
"You are his life, Ginny. If he loses that all he has is a lifetime of servitude to a master who stole the love of his life. No one can make you take a risk, but we most often regret the risks we did not take," Narcissa replied bitterly at Ginny.
A/N: Sorry this story does not get updated a lot, it is my ongoing piece. I still have some ideas as to where the story is headed, but it is just being written as I type. The Draco/Ginny/Harry triangle is not over, fear not. I just like to know people are reading so please review. Love, KTBallerina.
Summary: Alternate Universe Fiction. Harry's parents were not killed that Halloween night by Voldemort. They were killed the next day by Severus Snape. Voldemort sees Harry takes him in as his son and heir. Harry grows up into a World where his name is as scary as his Voldemort's. His best friend is Draco Malfoy and he has everything he wants, but the one thing he can not have is Ginny Weasley's love. He orders her to marry him, but then Draco gets upset.
Everything is Nothing
KTBallerina
Chapter 4
Ginny stood on a dais as a designer and her assistant examined her and fitted her for her wedding gown. She tried to smile as she imagined her wedding day, but pair of smoky gray eyes were all she could see. Ginny had missed Draco very much in the past month, but there was very little she could do without arousing suspicion. She felt trapped in a gilded cage. A pin poked into her side bringing her out of her thoughts.
The dress was beautiful and expensive. She doubted whether or not it was too ornate, but it was not as though it was her choice anyway. The fabric was silk, trimmed in soft ermine. It held a gentle curve to it, highlighting her beauty. She sighed as she thought of how time seemed to speed forward when she wished it would stop.
"Sorry, my lady," the maid said quietly hoping Ginny was in no way harmed. She glanced nervously at her.
"It is quite alright, Hermione," she told the young girl looking at her name tag. The maid looked to be about her age, maybe a bit older. For a moment she wondered what life would be like if she were a maid and not herself. No one would probably ever believed she did not wish to marry him. Then she thought about how hard it was to be a mudblooded, even if it meant their life was simple.
"The dress looks absolutely gorgeous," Hermione answered. "I think fairy dust would look beautiful if it were added along the seams," she said timidly knowing she was over stepping her place as a mudblood. Ginny smiled at her, nodding her head in agreement.
"Yes, I agree that would look very nice," Ginny said still nodding to the designer who looked scathingly at Hermione.
"That will be all today," the designer said adding a trace of impatience into her voice. The dress vanished off Ginny's body and she was once again wearing wizarding robes. "Come along, Hermione." They exited leaving Ginny alone with her thoughts.
Ginny wished her life had been different. She wished she had never fallen in love with Draco, or that her parents were alive, or her brothers were safe. There are many things a woman can change, but the past is not one of them.
Stupid Harry Riddle...
"Darling?" a voice called heavy with authority. It was Harry. He walked through the door into her chamber, without knocking or even waiting to be invited in.
"Yes, dear?" Ginny responded sounding like her tongue was dipped in honey.
"Ginny, I trust everything went well with the dress maker?" he asked feigning an attempt at casual conversation.
"Just fine," Ginny said nonchalantly. She tried hard to ignore him, he rarely allowed himself to be ignored.
"I have some good news. Draco is returning home today to help prepare for the wedding. In fact, he is downstairs as we speak-" Ginny ran from the room to the entrance hall leaving Harry alone. Ginny spotted him standing at the bottom of the staircase. Then he looked up and saw her. All thoughts of revenge and hatred left his mind. He could not fathom why he had wanted to hurt her.
She was his beloved.
"Ginny!" he cried and practically sprinted at her.
"Draco!" They flew towards each other and embraced. For a moment time seemed to have stood still. Neither one spoke not wanting to ruin the moment. The past fights were forgiven and forgotten. Draco chose not to remember her scathing words and loathsome decision.
"How are you, Ginny?" he asked subtlety conveying his meaning. She flashed him a look to show she understood.
"I am fine. How is Hogwarts, Headmaster?" she quipped. Her eyes were sparkling as she looked at him for the first time in months. He had not changed a bit, he looked the same as he had always looked. Draco noticed the small differences in Ginny's face. She looked thinner and exhausted as though the weight of the World was upon her shoulders.
"Excellent, the school stands as a symbol of hope," he said smirking at her slightly. "Proof that where there is will there is a way." She ignored this comment and hugged him once again.
Harry stood watching his best friend and fiancée hold each other, his brow furrowed. It seemed impossible that he had failed to see their passion. How could he have been so blind. He thought that Draco had cared for Ginny as a sister. That was obviously why Draco had left, to get away from reality. They were infatuated with each other. The infatuation will end now, thought Harry angrily. His father will know what had to be done. Harry stalked down the halls of the manor to find his father.
Ginny and Draco were walking out to the courtyard, leaving Harry behind to his own devices. Ginny forgot discretion, she only wanted Draco to stay with her forever. Ginny had forgotten the way he made her feel. She had tried to pretend Harry was Draco, but one could hardly replace their lover with an enemy. Draco knew they should be cautious, but it hardly seemed important with Ginny standing there. He knew he could only ask one more time, if she refused again or if she married Harry she would shatter his heart.
"Ginny, I came only long enough to ask you once more. will you come away with me, be my wife, and love me forever?" he asked on bended knee. Her face froze mid laughter and paled suddenly.
"Draco, I just can not do it. It is not fair to put myself before so many others. It would endanger you as well. I am so sorry, I love you, but-"
"But not enough," he finished sadly.
"I love you too much to hurt you," she replied quietly. To Draco none of this made sense, if she loved him she should have done as he asked. He walked away, yet again feeling as though he had lost a piece of his heart.
They had a common problem, they did not understand each other and both felt justified in their choices. Sometimes those who are too different fall in love, but to stay in love is a lot harder than falling. It seemed as though life had hit a new low. The love of their lives were walking away and for once neither tried to stop it. A thin blonde woman watched in sadness as they parted, she understood the effects of love all too well. She knew fate would play a large role bringing them together again. If it is not a happy ending, then it is not the ending at all.
************************************
Harry knocked upon entrance to his father's study. He looked at the frail man that sat behind the desk. He had not realized his father was growing so old, at the moment he looked graver than usual.
"Come sit down, my boy," he said beckoning him to sit across from him. Harry looked across at the man who was stunningly similar to him. The Dark Lord had undergone several magical transformations when he first rose to power and the effects were showing. "What is the matter, Harry?"
"Draco loves Ginny and she loves him," he answered in a dangerous voice, noticing his father's face held no surprise.
"Did you expect for her to love you? Of course she loves Draco she thinks he is a kindred spirit for her, another 'tortured soul.' And in her eyes you have done nothing to show her an ounce of love. Do you even really love her?" Voldemort demanded from him. Harry did not even hear how odd this sounded coming from his stern father's mother.
"Yes, I swear it-"
"CRUCIO," Voldemort's voice rang out through the room, Harry fell to the ground. His body thrashed from pain. "I have told you never to love anything or anyone," he hissed kicking his son again. Harry realized his mistake too late, and was regretting his words.
"Sorry, my Lord," he apologized his breath short from pain. Harry had never felt this sort abuse from his father. Sure, his father had been strict with him, but no stricter than Lucius had been with Draco. There was a bond between the two men, but it was not that of father and son. The best way to explain it was servant and master. "I will try to do better."
"Do not make your empty promises to me, young man. I have to admit, I am disappointed in you, my son. I had thought you would have known better," Voldemort hissed. Harry hated when his father was disappointed. Harry felt resentment course through his body. He hated Draco, somehow this was his fault.
"I am sorry, father. I know I have disappointed you again," Harry remarked. Harry felt his face burn with embarrassment. He had been stupid and rash to complain to his father. His father was not a man of mercy. The Dark Lord did not need or care for any displays of emotions.
He expected Harry to do as he did. To take what he wanted without question. Harry knew what he must become and struggled to find his place in the future. He had thought Draco would always be there to help him, but now Draco had betrayed him. Draco had fallen in love with the same woman, and although Harry had admitted Draco loved her first, he should not have tried to hide it from him. Harry resented the deception the most. He might have been able to accept their love, but for them to hide it was unforgivable, and now they would pay.
"It just proves my suspicions. I have my concerns about you, my young heir," Voldemort replied watching Harry's reaction. "Perhaps I was wrong to believe you should be my heir."
"What? How could you doubt your son, your flesh and blood?" Harry cried angrily at the man he called father his whole life.
"I do not doubt you, but the choices I have made," the Dark Lord hissed. Harry did not understand what his father was trying to tell him.
"Well, my Lord. What do you propose I do? What must I do to get what I want?" Harry asked feeling unworthy.
"What do you want?" he asked seeing the ambition in Harry's eyes. No one had ever had such a desire to prove themselves.
"I want it all, my Lord. I want Ginny to love me, I want to secede you, and I want the power to defeat those who dare defy me," he yelled trying to prove his point.
"Then you must do whatever it takes, whatever it takes," the Dark Lord answered simply. Harry left his father's offensive presence and went in search of Ginny. He found her crying in the gardens. Her tear stained face looked up at him, she was clearly upset.
"What do you want?" she demanded angrily. "Have you come to ruin my life even more?"
"I wanted to apologize," Harry said softly he was playing his cards well. "I never knew you and Draco were in love, you should have told me. I never would have kept my two best friends apart." She stared up at him in shock.
"I was afraid, I wanted to keep my brothers alive and protect Draco from an harm," Ginny said staring at the ground.
"Do you love him?" Harry asked looking serious. Ginny hesitated before answering.
"No, two people who can not agree are not meant to love," she whispered. Harry nodded in agreement.
"I can promise you everything; love, power, money, safety, anything you could possibly desire. Just let me love you." Ginny felt some wall of reserve break. She and Draco were over, accepting what Harry offered would be the wisest choice. At the look on her face Harry knew he had won her trust. "I know I have not been nice in the past, but I swear if my heart only knows one emotion it is love for you." At these words her eyes lit up.
"Thank you, Harry. I can not promise you the same, but if ever I doubted your love for lust, I change my opinion whole-heartedly," she responded smiling at him with new ardor in her eyes. She allowed him to kiss her on the cheek then retired to her room. On her bed sat the only mother she had ever known, Narcissa Malfoy.
"Good evening, mother," she said upon entering her room. Narcissa merely nodded in reply. Then she spoke about the reason she had really come to see Ginny.
"I always tried to keep you away from the bad things in this World. I saw what was happening to my son, so I tried to protect you. I always wanted a daughter, but was only able to have one child. I thought I raised you to be a stronger woman than I was.I tried to teach you the most important lesson of life, but tonight you proved you have ignored what I have been teaching you for the last twenty-one years. Loving another person is more than being with them when times are easy, it is staying with them when times are difficult. I must say, I have obviously failed you as a mother," Narcissa said softly. Ginny felt her heart break again for the second time that night, but felt Narcissa was being unfair.
"Your son walked away. Draco is the one who left the first time, he is the one who wants to run away and leave. He would even leave you, to do what he wants. I just can not make the sacrifice he is willing to make. It's because I love him that I am trying to protect him from Harry. You think I like pretending to love another man, by breaking Draco's heart I saved his life," Ginny cried feeling tears in her eyes.
"You are his life, Ginny. If he loses that all he has is a lifetime of servitude to a master who stole the love of his life. No one can make you take a risk, but we most often regret the risks we did not take," Narcissa replied bitterly at Ginny.
A/N: Sorry this story does not get updated a lot, it is my ongoing piece. I still have some ideas as to where the story is headed, but it is just being written as I type. The Draco/Ginny/Harry triangle is not over, fear not. I just like to know people are reading so please review. Love, KTBallerina.
