Darkness Falling
Chapter 8
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or places portrayed herein.
Ginny sat in her prison in Hogwarts, and wondered what was going to happen to her. When the First had recruited her, life had seemed so simple. She was going to kill Voldemort; then everyone who had ever mocked her. So far, she had only killed Lucius. That had been fun but he had not been expecting it. She did not have enough power to get herself out of here, so she was going to wait. So she waited. And she waited. And waited. No one came. Not even the Dementors, who were supposed to be guarding her, were in evidence. Ginny was not to know that, as she was a servant of the First, the Dementors had been warned by the First to stay away from her. It did not want insane servants.
Suddenly there was movement beyond her door. She looked up to see her parents and the Muggle lawyer, followed by Ron and Percy. He had already been to see her once this morning, to check that she was happy with him acting on her behalf and so on. She was. So why was he returning so soon?
"Ms Weasley, your family are unhappy with me being your lawyer. It seems to have something to do with Lucius Malfoy requesting the services of my firm. I told them that it was your choice and they seemed certain that you would prefer a different lawyer. Is that so?"
"No" The Weasley family gasped. Arthur stepped forward.
"But Ginny we can afford a lawyer ourselves. Are you sure that you want to do this? Remember what happened in your first year."
"No! Mr. McDonald will be my lawyer. It is my decision." Ginny turned away, faced the opposite wall. Lindsey McDonald shrugged and left, followed by Professor Snape – Ginny hadn't even noticed he was there – and most of her family. Ron lingered for a moment, and then he too departed for Gryffindor Tower. Ginny was left to her solitude.
Later, Ron was to be found in the common room, recounting it to Harry, Hermione, Buffy and Willow. "And Mum and Dad are still unhappy about it. Neither of them can understand why Ginny doesn't want a lawyer chosen by them. Neither of them has heard of Wolfram and Hart either."
Buffy started. "Wolfram and Hart? Are you sure? What was the lawyer's name?" She glanced around the room as if unseen eyes were watching their every move.
Ron shrugged. "Something like McDonald. Lindsey, maybe? Bloody stupid name if you ask me." Hermione elbowed him in the ribs. "What?"
Buffy and Willow had their heads together and were whispering furiously. Eventually, Willow turned to them and reluctantly said "Buffy has a friend in Los Angeles. He has run across Wolfram and Hart before. He said that they are a demon law firm." Willow glanced back at Buffy and continued, "He also said that he had come across Lindsey McDonald before. Ron, he is seriously bad news, you shouldn't let him near Ginny."
Needless to say, Harry and Hermione had to grab Ron to stop him from marching off immediately to throttle the lawyer. When they had persuaded him to sit still – aided by the Leglocker curse – Buffy told them what she knew about W&H. She told them what Angel had told her when she had visited him in L.A. as well as what she had gathered from her friends. None of it was good. Especially when she got to talking about some of their 'Special Projects' and the mysterious Senior Partners. Ron froze with fear at the mention of Darla, who had been mentioned in some of the DADA books. "In short", Buffy concluded, "it sounds perfect for the Malfoys, but why an American firm? Why not an English firm? And why is he paying for your sister to have a lawyer? W&H aren't cheap from all accounts."
None of them had any answers.
Far away, beneath Malfoy Manor, Caleb and the First watched as the Harbingers took the omens. The First laughed triumphantly as it read the meaning. "The conjunction comes nearer! And so does the dawn of a new age!"
The next morning, Ginny had more visitors. This time though, she was in a more receptive mood, due to the presence of the two Dementors outside her cell. This was thanks to Professor Snape, who had suggested that experience of what Azkaban would be like might "force Miss Weasley reconsider her current position." This morning's crop of visitors included the Golden Trio and their two American friends.
By general consensus, Hermione spoke first. She told Ginny that Professor Snape had made a deal with the Ministry of Magic: that if she returned to Gryffindor, with certain restrictions placed on her movements and activities, such as being accompanied on Hogsmeade visits, the case against her would be dropped through lack of evidence. She would be given her old room back, as Buffy and Willow would stay in the attic of the Burrow. At this point, Ron looked as if he was about to say something, but Harry quickly put his hand over Ron's mouth. Ginny looked tempted. A second night atop the windy tower with only the terrifying Dementors for company had worn down her resistance, and she yearned for the days before the arrival of the two Muggles when they were like a family. The First, lurking in the corners of the tower, where no-one could see it, watched in suspense. It did not dare intervene – she had to come of her own will... Ginny opened her mouth, about to accept... And then Ron put his foot in it. Again.
"You know Gin-Gin, if you had been more like Buffy or Harry, this never would have... aargh!" Harry had elbowed Ron in the ribs and Hermione had stepped on his foot, but the damage had been done.
Afterwards, Ginny could never remember which had annoyed her more, the childish nickname, or Ron's thoughtless words. The fact that Buffy had visibly puffed up had not helped. Ginny laughed. It was not the laugh of a schoolgirl, happy and cheerful. This was a cold, hard, humourless laugh that swept through the soul like an icy wind. Her eyes hardened and she drew herself up to her full height, which was not as much as she would have liked but never mind. It had the requisite effect, the do-gooders backed off.
"I do not want or need your help. Go back to your pathetic tower and find someone who actually wants your help."
In its shadow, the First smiled with relief and vanished. The reluctant emissaries departed down the tower, arguing amongst themselves. "You heard her Ron, she doesn't want our help. We should let her rot up there. She reminds me of that slut Faith more and more each time."
"She does want our help; she just doesn't know how to ask for it. Anyway, who's Faith?"
"Long story. Actually, Will, she reminds me less of Faith than of..." Buffy lent in to whisper into Willow's ear. Willow stopped and stared at her.
"No way. No human could be that bad."
"Who are you talking about?!" Ron yelled.
Buffy whispered a name, so quietly that the Trio had to lean right in to hear it, and then nearly fell off the narrow steps trying to get away.
"Angelus"
Author's note: Thanks to those who have reviewed, it certainly does wonders for my morale to get good reviews. Here's an extra long chapter as a reward. Many thanks to both Isawien Malfoy and Jamie Potter for checking this and previous chapters through.
Chapter 8
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or places portrayed herein.
Ginny sat in her prison in Hogwarts, and wondered what was going to happen to her. When the First had recruited her, life had seemed so simple. She was going to kill Voldemort; then everyone who had ever mocked her. So far, she had only killed Lucius. That had been fun but he had not been expecting it. She did not have enough power to get herself out of here, so she was going to wait. So she waited. And she waited. And waited. No one came. Not even the Dementors, who were supposed to be guarding her, were in evidence. Ginny was not to know that, as she was a servant of the First, the Dementors had been warned by the First to stay away from her. It did not want insane servants.
Suddenly there was movement beyond her door. She looked up to see her parents and the Muggle lawyer, followed by Ron and Percy. He had already been to see her once this morning, to check that she was happy with him acting on her behalf and so on. She was. So why was he returning so soon?
"Ms Weasley, your family are unhappy with me being your lawyer. It seems to have something to do with Lucius Malfoy requesting the services of my firm. I told them that it was your choice and they seemed certain that you would prefer a different lawyer. Is that so?"
"No" The Weasley family gasped. Arthur stepped forward.
"But Ginny we can afford a lawyer ourselves. Are you sure that you want to do this? Remember what happened in your first year."
"No! Mr. McDonald will be my lawyer. It is my decision." Ginny turned away, faced the opposite wall. Lindsey McDonald shrugged and left, followed by Professor Snape – Ginny hadn't even noticed he was there – and most of her family. Ron lingered for a moment, and then he too departed for Gryffindor Tower. Ginny was left to her solitude.
Later, Ron was to be found in the common room, recounting it to Harry, Hermione, Buffy and Willow. "And Mum and Dad are still unhappy about it. Neither of them can understand why Ginny doesn't want a lawyer chosen by them. Neither of them has heard of Wolfram and Hart either."
Buffy started. "Wolfram and Hart? Are you sure? What was the lawyer's name?" She glanced around the room as if unseen eyes were watching their every move.
Ron shrugged. "Something like McDonald. Lindsey, maybe? Bloody stupid name if you ask me." Hermione elbowed him in the ribs. "What?"
Buffy and Willow had their heads together and were whispering furiously. Eventually, Willow turned to them and reluctantly said "Buffy has a friend in Los Angeles. He has run across Wolfram and Hart before. He said that they are a demon law firm." Willow glanced back at Buffy and continued, "He also said that he had come across Lindsey McDonald before. Ron, he is seriously bad news, you shouldn't let him near Ginny."
Needless to say, Harry and Hermione had to grab Ron to stop him from marching off immediately to throttle the lawyer. When they had persuaded him to sit still – aided by the Leglocker curse – Buffy told them what she knew about W&H. She told them what Angel had told her when she had visited him in L.A. as well as what she had gathered from her friends. None of it was good. Especially when she got to talking about some of their 'Special Projects' and the mysterious Senior Partners. Ron froze with fear at the mention of Darla, who had been mentioned in some of the DADA books. "In short", Buffy concluded, "it sounds perfect for the Malfoys, but why an American firm? Why not an English firm? And why is he paying for your sister to have a lawyer? W&H aren't cheap from all accounts."
None of them had any answers.
Far away, beneath Malfoy Manor, Caleb and the First watched as the Harbingers took the omens. The First laughed triumphantly as it read the meaning. "The conjunction comes nearer! And so does the dawn of a new age!"
The next morning, Ginny had more visitors. This time though, she was in a more receptive mood, due to the presence of the two Dementors outside her cell. This was thanks to Professor Snape, who had suggested that experience of what Azkaban would be like might "force Miss Weasley reconsider her current position." This morning's crop of visitors included the Golden Trio and their two American friends.
By general consensus, Hermione spoke first. She told Ginny that Professor Snape had made a deal with the Ministry of Magic: that if she returned to Gryffindor, with certain restrictions placed on her movements and activities, such as being accompanied on Hogsmeade visits, the case against her would be dropped through lack of evidence. She would be given her old room back, as Buffy and Willow would stay in the attic of the Burrow. At this point, Ron looked as if he was about to say something, but Harry quickly put his hand over Ron's mouth. Ginny looked tempted. A second night atop the windy tower with only the terrifying Dementors for company had worn down her resistance, and she yearned for the days before the arrival of the two Muggles when they were like a family. The First, lurking in the corners of the tower, where no-one could see it, watched in suspense. It did not dare intervene – she had to come of her own will... Ginny opened her mouth, about to accept... And then Ron put his foot in it. Again.
"You know Gin-Gin, if you had been more like Buffy or Harry, this never would have... aargh!" Harry had elbowed Ron in the ribs and Hermione had stepped on his foot, but the damage had been done.
Afterwards, Ginny could never remember which had annoyed her more, the childish nickname, or Ron's thoughtless words. The fact that Buffy had visibly puffed up had not helped. Ginny laughed. It was not the laugh of a schoolgirl, happy and cheerful. This was a cold, hard, humourless laugh that swept through the soul like an icy wind. Her eyes hardened and she drew herself up to her full height, which was not as much as she would have liked but never mind. It had the requisite effect, the do-gooders backed off.
"I do not want or need your help. Go back to your pathetic tower and find someone who actually wants your help."
In its shadow, the First smiled with relief and vanished. The reluctant emissaries departed down the tower, arguing amongst themselves. "You heard her Ron, she doesn't want our help. We should let her rot up there. She reminds me of that slut Faith more and more each time."
"She does want our help; she just doesn't know how to ask for it. Anyway, who's Faith?"
"Long story. Actually, Will, she reminds me less of Faith than of..." Buffy lent in to whisper into Willow's ear. Willow stopped and stared at her.
"No way. No human could be that bad."
"Who are you talking about?!" Ron yelled.
Buffy whispered a name, so quietly that the Trio had to lean right in to hear it, and then nearly fell off the narrow steps trying to get away.
"Angelus"
Author's note: Thanks to those who have reviewed, it certainly does wonders for my morale to get good reviews. Here's an extra long chapter as a reward. Many thanks to both Isawien Malfoy and Jamie Potter for checking this and previous chapters through.