Chapter Eleven:

He found her in his office; back against the wall, knees brought up to her chest, arms enveloping those knees tightly. She wasn't crying, but she was staring straight ahead, her long hair matted and tangled while it shielded her eyes from his view. Something had happened back there that he couldn't get to in time. Carefully he crept to her side, removed his long black cloak and placed it around her shoulders as best he could.

"What happened?"

"I-I ran a-away...didn't know where else to go."

"Yes, I see that. Where's Draco?" At this question, Ginny had begun to shake terribly and she was holding her head.

"He hurts...and it's dark. He's in such pain...and I can't do a damned thing. He needs help, he's lost and bleeding. God there's so much blood. His glasses are broken...and he's cold."

It seemed as though she were in some type of trance. Now that it vanished she was curled in Severus' lap and sobbing. All the trembling had subsided. Gently, he smoothed the hair out of her eyes and ran his fingers along the strains. She was beautiful and he hated himself for what Riddle made him do. Ginny was a good person, she didn't deserve this. And this; he touched her stomach. She wasn't far along, only two months but it was still there...his child...and that bastards.

"He's gone, isn't he?"

"So much blood."

"How'd it happen?"

"Crushed his head...I damn near retched all the way here. I'm sorry." She was breathing softly on his knee, because that's where she lay.

"For what?" His voice was soft and held the deepest sympathy for this girl and her lost love. When she finally lifted her head, he saw that this once beauty was broken. Slowly he reached up and brushed away the tears.

"I don't want this child...or a life. I can't have something that threatens to kill, or something lived without him."

"Is it really that bad?" The question nearly sent her into a fit of screams. He didn't understand this pain...he was never in love so much that it hurt, he just didn't know.

"I can die then Tom won't get what he wants. He does not want the child any longer...he just wants me."

"For a long time," Snape whispered, mindlessly stroking her cheek. "That's all he wanted. He told me that while he made me hurt you...And he won't stop until he has you. Even in death, he'll have you. He's bent on his needs and desires for you. And as an ex Death Eater, we all know—when he calls...there is no choice but to go." Quickly she tore away from him and paced the room. Nothing made sense and it was making her crazy.

"Things aren't going at all as I planned. I killed the boy and you still won't come. Severus...did you like ripping her apart, taking her soul, putting your seed inside her perfect body?"

They stopped moving. His voice was in the open now. His words cynical and dark. Snape stood, his teeth bared like a wolf ready for battle.

"You really don't know when to stop, do you Tom? She doesn't deserve this and you know it!"

The air suddenly became rather unsettling and Ginny screamed. Snape turned to see Riddle standing beside Ginny, his hand curled around her neck. Slowly, he bent his head and licked the shell of her ear, and like a lover he tugged with his teeth until he left a mark.

"You really are a fool...this thing has been in love with me forever. She wanted me inside her, to break her walls, shatter her emotions...she begged for me. It was unfair of you to steal her for your own greedy purposes."

"You should have died long ago...now let her go!" He took a step toward his former master and everything shifted suddenly. Snape dropped gracefully to his knees. His nose twitched as he picked up a scent; foul, gagging, retch worthy. His eyes caught the scene quickly and he wanted to shout.

Ginny was in the middle of a slew of Death Eaters, all of which were touching her and she was thrashing as one held her. A single Death Eater broke away from the rest and glided toward Severus.

"So kind of you to join us...we've missed you."

Snape knew that voice, all too well. But he didn't understand. How was that man here in front of him? He was sent to Azkaban at the end of Ginny's fourth year.

"You leave her alone...STOP!" He shouted and every Death Eater turned to him. Eyes narrowed through masks, but they did not cease touching the frightened girl before them.

Lashing out, he grabbed the man and curled his fingers into the robes and brought him forward.

"You ought to know a few things about your leader. Just an hour ago...the man you serve your allegiance to, murdered your son." Snape's voice was rough but sympathy bit through his words.

"You lie...My Lord would never hurt my own child!" Lucius shoved the other man, but he did not fall.

"Riddle proclaimed he had done it for her. Your son loved her." That was a mistake to even mention that. Lucius' eyes burned a rather darkish gray and he turned to the ravishing Death Eaters.

"Kill the girl...she is not worthy."

"You can't do that!"

"I can do whatever I want...that foul bitch is the reason my son is dead." He snarled out of the corner of his mouth. The graveyard was becoming thick-clouded.

"It's much more complicated then that, Malfoy!"

"It does not matter...she will die tonight as it stands," Slowly, Malfoy withdrew his wand. Snape could see the start of the green on the end. "Stand aside, I will kill her. Avada Kedavra!"

There was a crack like thunder and the flash dissolved.

Everything was as silent as death...

Then Ginny screamed...