A/N: I'm so sorry for this chapter taking so frickin' long to get out but I was having a dickens of a time with the dream sequence. Many, many special thanks go out to Tora-uma for her help since it would have taken a lot longer if I didn't have her help. Thanks to everyone else who reviewed and I promise the next chapter will come out faster than this one did. So enjoy and leave me a note at the end! :) P.S. I'm having difficulty figuring out how to section it off on again so please bear with me and hopefully i'll have it figured out next time.

Chapter 11: Torturous Nightmares

Hermione watched Ginny fly up the stairs before she turned to meet Harry's bewildered eyes. Ron looked simply confused but, for once, didn't say anything.

"Harry, did you-" Hermione asked?

"Yes."

"Huh. I wonder what's going on. Let me see if I can do anything," she responded, half to herself and half to the awaiting boys.

"Maybe she just doesn't want to go," Ron suggested, guessing the subject.

"I doubt it," Hermione mused. "There's something off about this."

"Just don't force her or push her, Hermione," Harry warned, recognizing the gleam in his friend's eyes.

"Of course. Well, I'll catch you guys at dinner." Without another word, she disappeared up the stairs, leaving the two boys in the entrance hall, gazing after her.

"Well, you know, Harry, if Ginny still doesn't want to join you, you could always ask Padma again," laughed Ron as Harry grimaced, flashbacks to the first Yule Ball spinning in his head.

"Oh shut it. Just because you just happen to have a date," he replied.

"Yeah, well, I just wanted to make sure I had a decent date this time around instead of waiting till the last minute," Ron concluded as they walked off, headed for some destination with the best intentions of staying out of trouble. Neither saw a pair of golden eyes gleaming in from outside as the great doors closed; golden eyes that saw and heard everything.

After Ginny ran out the hall, she fled to her room and collapsed on her bed. Covering her face with her pillow, she attempted to block out the images plaguing her mind. It didn't work. She saw Harry's face and the shocked disappointment that remained. Yes, she would love to go with him but all the robes had low necklines intended to show off skin. Last year, she wouldn't have thought twice about such things, but now, now she couldn't even consider going. Running her hand across her neck and shoulders, she felt the bumps of the multiple scars marring her skin. Sucking in a deep breath and getting nothing but cloth, she rolled over and managed to resume breathing. A single tear trickled down her cheek as she drifted off to sleep; feeling like Voldemort had won yet again.

Voices drifted to her as she stood in the familiar entryway but Ginny was in no mood to comply with the dream. Turning away from the room she was used to, she walked towards another door down the hall and opened it slowly. Nothing greeted her save darkness and the trace smell of sweat and blood.

"Hello? Is anyone in here?" she called out, immediately realizing how idiotic and dangerous that move was.

"Ginny? What on earth are you doing here? How did you-?" a familiar voice rasped out from a figure chained to the wall.

"Charlie? Bloody hell, how . . . ?"

"Ginny, never mind me, you have to leave now!"

"I can't. Besides, I'm not about to leave you here alone in a house full death eaters."

"Ginny, I've been here for awhile, I'll be fine but you have to get out of here. They won't show any mercy and they certainly won't mind chaining you up right next to me."

"Then maybe you better tell me exactly how to get you down from there because I am certainly not going to leave you here."

"Ginny, no. We don't have time for this. You need to go now!"

"Quite right, my dear. You should have listened to your brother. Actually, I'm glad you are still here as now your brother will have a friendly face to watch as he leaves us," sneered a voice from underneath a heavy, hooded cloak. Ginny whipped around and stared as Voldemort walked into the center of the room. Standing defiantly between her brother and the Dark Lord, she waited for the first move.

"Move." His tone was quiet but had a harsh edge, intending to strike fear into any listener's heart. Ginny didn't move.

"No. I won't let you kill my brother. It isn't even him you are after; it's me and Harry. How would killing Charlie help you?" she asked, trying desperately to keep the panic and worry out of her voice.

"Ginny, move. He'll kill you if you don't and I can't let that happen. I won't let you do this," Charlie wheezed behind her.

"You don't have to. He won't kill me. He has too much fun torturing me to kill me."

"Brave words, but you are correct. I'm not going to kill you. But I will show you how much suffering life can hold," Voldemort sneered. In the next instant, he waved his hand and two Death Eaters appeared, summoning Ginny to them and binding her to keep her out of the way.

"Crucio!" Voldemort sent the curse flying at Charlie who strained against his chains. His voice filled the room as the pain lanced through his body. Ginny pulled against her captors as she tried to break free but the ropes and hands upon her held her fast.

"You see, my dear? You really should have listened to me in the first place. If you had, his suffering would not be so bad. As it is, I must teach you a lesson," Voldemort said as he chuckled. Turning back to Charlie, he cursed him again and again. Charlie's screams echoed throughout the room and mingled with Ginny's.

"Please stop! I'll cooperate. Just please leave him alone!" Ginny screamed to their captors. Voldemort turned to look at her as he paused in his cursing, allowing Charlie a moment to catch his breath.

"No. I don't think you quite grasp the concept here. I do not approve of people defying me and you are no exception." Slowly, Voldemort turned away from Ginny and surveyed Charlie's battered form. He hung against the wall limply with only the chains to hold him up. Spasms visibly wracked his frame as the pain continued to flow through his muscles like tiny needles pricking him from all angles. Voldemort sneered as he watched both redheads respond to the pain.

Eventually, Charlie's body began to calm down and the spasms lessened as the effects of the Cruciatus Curse wore off. A small glimmer of hope worked its way through Ginny that this just might be the last of the torture. As extremely optimistic and naïve as it was, she held onto that belief as long as possible.

"Now, do you have your breath back?" Voldemort sneered to his prisoner on the wall.

Instantly, Ginny knew that not only would 'playtime' continue but that things were going to get much worse. This time, she was not disappointed. She watched helplessly as he reached into his robes and pulled something out.

"Remember this little pearl?" Voldemort asked. "I figured since it was already contaminated with Weasley blood that a little more wouldn't hurt anyone. Now, where to start and what to do," he said as he raised the familiar knife up to Charlie's body. "Ah, I know. How about we make a set of twins? Matching marks for brother and sister."

"Leave her alone!" Charlie managed to gasp out.

"Aw, but you don't understand me. She already has the marks. It's you who will get the matching ones." Without another word, Voldemort quickly gave Charlie the promised cuts. "Few would call me artistic but, given the proper canvas, I will demonstrate that I am indeed talented." Taking a step back, Voldemort assessed his victim on the wall before he proceeded to carve various designs into Charlie's skin. Taking the point of the knife, he began in the middle of Charlie's chest and lightly dragged it around and down to his waist, forming a swirl of blood on the battered man. Next, the tip was inserted into Charlie's side and was drug up and over the previous cut so that there was now a giant, bloody 'x' on Charlie's chest. A few quick flicks of Voldemort's wrist and several shorter and deeper cuts appeared on Charlie's skin.

Ginny could do nothing to help her brother and it tore her up inside. She tried to look away but found she couldn't avert her eyes. Tears flowed down her cheeks as her vision took in the sight of her brother bleeding from head to toe as the 'artist' obviously enjoyed himself. Charlie's screams ceased as he clenched his jaw against the pain in an attempt to deny Voldemort some of his delight. The knife continued to slice into the Weasley boy's skin, giving him a different type of pain than what he'd experienced from the Cruciatus Curse. He looked over at his sister and locked eyes with her. Painful regret met agonized sorrow. Finally, Ginny managed to tear her eyes away from him and allowed her head to fall forward in defeat.

"Now, now. We can't have you missing the show. You must watch it in all its glory," one of her captors whispered to her. The other Death Eater simply grabbed her chin and roughly pulled it up, forcing her to watch. By now, Charlie's shirtless chest was covered in blood but still the torment continued.

"If you have any last words to say to each other, you may want to say them soon. I can guarantee there won't be a second chance," Voldemort sneered at them.

"Please, please stop this. I've learned my lesson. I won't defy you anymore just please leave him alone!" Ginny shouted, defeat clear in her voice.

"Hmm. Those really aren't very comforting words for your brother. I'm ashamed of you. You can do better, now try again."

"Charlie, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It's my fault; I never should have let it happen. I'm sorry."

"Ginny ... don't. ... It's... it's not your fault ... and I would never ... never even think it was. ...Please, just tell ...everyone I love them ...and I'll see you later ...'kay squirt?" Charlie managed to wheeze out.

"Okay. I love you, too, Charlie," she answered, a sob escaping her hold.

"You just used up your last chance. I hope it was worth it." Without another word, Voldemort plunged the knife into Charlie's chest and carved out his heart.

Ginny screamed as she watched her brother's eyes lose their focus and gain a vacant look as Voldemort removed the organ from his chest. Holding it in is hands, he let out a maniacal laugh that filled the room.

"No! CHARLIE!!!!!"

Hermione left the boys standing in the hall as she made her way up through Hogwarts to the Gryffindor tower. Upon reaching the portrait, she promptly provided the password and walked inside to the common room. Quickly scanning the room, she noted that it was rather empty and there was a decided lack of red hair. That could only mean that Ginny had either gone up to her room or she had miss calculated entirely and the redhead had found some other safe haven. Hoping it was the first option, she made her way up the stairs to the girls' dormitories just as the portrait swung open again. Throwing a quick glance behind her, she noticed the boys coming in and heading over to the chairs by the fireplace. Continuing her journey, she quickly came to the sixth years' door and knocked gently.

"Ginny? Are you in there?" she called softly. Upon not hearing any response, she quietly grabbed the door handle and opened the door far enough to check the beds. Just as she figured, one of the beds was occupied by the redhead in question. Deciding not to bother her, Hermione began to slowly back out of the room.

"No, please, please stop this," Ginny whimpered.

Hermione stopped in the doorway and turned back to the sleepy girl. Looking closer this time, she noticed Ginny's face was scrunched up in agony. Walking back to the bed, she leaned over and carefully tried to shake Ginny awake. When this failed, she shook her a little harder and called Ginny's name louder. Still, there was no response save for Ginny's cries increasing in volume. Hermione quickly scanned Ginny's body hoping the cries weren't from more cuts but from simple nightmares that could be soothed and quieted upon waking. Having come up empty, she resumed trying to wake her friend.

In the common room, Harry and Ron set up a game of chess and began playing, joining the pieces in hurling insults at each other. Slowly, Harry began withdrawing from their banter until Ron noticed Harry's distraction.

"Alright, Harry. I know you're nervous about the ball and everything but this is ridiculous. At least try to pay attention to what we're doing," he said, exasperated.

"Huh? No, I'm not thinking about the ball. I just have a feeling that Voldemort's up to his old tricks. Sorry, I'll try and focus better," Harry responded.

"You mean your scar is hurting, right?"

"A little but it's nothing too big." Harry began hoping it was the truth though somehow doubting it as the pain began increasing. Suddenly, his forehead exploded in pain and Harry was forced to double over on the board, sending the chess pieces flying.

"Harry!" Ron jumped up and was at his friend's side in a hurry.

"No. Don't worry about me. Check... check on Ginny. Hurry," he managed to ground out.

Ron turned and tried to run up the stairs to the girls' dorms but the alarm stopped him momentarily and that was as far as he got before a solid force sent him careening back into the common room.

"NO! CHARLIE!!!!" Ginny screamed as she came awake, bolting up into a sitting position and just narrowly avoiding Hermione's head in the process. Tears coursed down her cheeks as she only partially registered the other girl's presence before jumping out of bed and running out the door.

"Ginny! Wait, slow down! Ginny it was a dream!" Hermione called after her.

Ginny paid no heed as she ran down the stairs and into her brother. Both Weasley's went tumbling down the rest of the stairs to land in a heap at the foot. Shrugging her brother off her, she got up and attempted to bolt out the portrait hole. Harry, having leapt up the minute she came down the stairs, firmly caught her in his arms before she could get out the door.

"Let me go! I have to tell Dumbledore, there's still time, there has to be. He can save him! I won't abandon him. Let me go! I have to help Charlie!" she cried out, struggling to get out of Harry's grip. Ron simply stood frozen as he watched his sister struggle. What did his brother have to do with anything? And what on earth was she talking about? Surely it couldn't be connected to Harry's scar hurting, to Voldemort, could it?

"No, Ginny. It was just a dream. I'm sure, Charlie's fine wherever he is," Hermione tried to soothe her.

"No! You don't understand! He was there! Chained to a wall in the bloody mansion! Voldemort was cutting him and drawing on him with the knife. We have to save him! Let me go!" she cried, beating on Harry's chest.

"Ginny, it's too late. It's over now. Whatever you saw has already happened, there is nothing we or Dumbledore or anyone can do about it," Harry said softly.

"No. It's not true. There has to be something," she said, the fight beginning to leave her as she knew the truth in Harry's words however much she tried to deny it.

"What on earth is going on in here?" Professor McGonagall's voice rang out through the room as she walked through the portrait hole, silencing the still screaming alarm. "Why did the alarm go off and what is wrong with you, Miss. Weasley?"

"I set the alarm off, Professor, because I was trying to check on my sister and Harry's scar hurt and we were worried about her and..." Ron rambled, stopping as the head of house glared at him.

"Is this true, Mr. Potter?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"I think perhaps you had better follow me." With that, she turned and marched out of the common room. Harry gently pulled Ginny with him and Ron and Hermione brought up the rear as they followed their professor through the halls destined for the headmaster's office.