Chapter One
The situation was grave, and Ginny knew it. Trapped in a room with Voldemort and his death eaters could be nothing else. Voldemort was angry with her. Very angry. He wanted information that she could provide, but wouldn't. She had decided long ago that she would never betray her friends and family- no matter what. And she knew they would do the same for her. Her decision was final. The one thing Voldemort couldn't touch was love in its purest form. He had tried once, and it had nearly destroyed him. And Ginny knew this.
Voldemort had filled her ears with every lie he could think of to put doubt into her mind. To doubt the complete and total devotion of the people she loved. He was poised to attack when he saw that small flicker of doubt flash in her eyes. But it never came. And now he was furious. Screaming at the top of his lungs, calling her every filthy name in the book. Going on and on about how she was weak and pathetic and would NOT stand in his way etc. Ginny had stopped listening some time ago. His words had become one menacing blur that sounded distant now.
Ginny was being held by both of her arms. They were pulled behind her, a strong hand around each. They held her easily, but firmly, and she didn't struggle. It wouldn't do any good anyway. She was mentally strong but physically small. Her 5'2, 97 pound stature would be easily overwhelmed by anyone in this room. So she stood, perfectly still and silent. Allowing Voldemort to vent his frustration at the fact that he wanted desperately to kill her, but couldn't. About how his plans had been interrupted by this stupid ridiculous girl. At first, Ginny had been reluctant to be the secret keeper for Dumbledore's Army. But this night had confirmed what she had suspected all along. Dumbledore knew what he was doing. It was strangely satisfying to see Voldemort so powerless against her.
After several minutes, another voice spoke. It was much closer to her and it brought her suddenly out of the trance she had been in.
"My Lord, do not waste any more of your precious energy tonight. The girl will tell us all that we need to know. I will make sure of it."
She recognized the cold, aristocratic voice of Lucius Malfoy. At first, Voldemort appeared shocked that he had been interrupted, but remained silent. Lucius continued.
"There is no need to concern yourself with something so...trivial." Ginny went rigid at that last remark. She was anything but trivial! However, she knew better than to argue at that moment. After all, Mr. Malfoy was attempting to divert Voldemort's attention away from her so for the moment, she was glad he was there.
"There are many more important matters that require your expert attention." He said calmly.
Voldemort regarded his loyal servant suspicously for a few seconds, and slowly turned to face the other death eaters, remembering that they were still in the room. He then began a second tirade ordering them off to do various other tasks. He always reminded them what the consequences would be if they failed. They disapparated one by one as Voldemort addressed them. Ginny watched the scene with interest, her fear having left her some time ago, for she had been prepared to die that night. But here she was, on borrowed time, she mused.
She felt Lucius Malfoy's hands on the back of her arms again. Not that they had ever left, but she was again aware of them. It was as if her senses had suddenly come rushing back at a heightened level. She could feel her back pressed against his chest and feel the soft rise and fall with each breath he took. She closed her eyes and began matching her breathing pattern to his. His subtle, spicy scent was intoxicating and made her want to lean into him. She let her head fall backward, ever so slightly. She could make out the faint beating of his heart. It was slow and calm, as if this day was the same as any other, and for him it just may have been.
With her arms held straight behind her back, she realized that the palms of her hands were resting on the front of his thighs. She pressed gently back. His upper thighs were tight and muscular. She moved her right thumb slowly up and down once, wondering if he would notice. If he did, he didn't show it. Ginny's thoughts drifted to the area between his thighs which was against her lower back. She leaned back further and shifted back and forth. Then rose up on her toes and went back down, pressing further into him. She'd no idea why on earth she was being so bold and with a Malfoy, no less.
She couldn't see Lucius Malfoy drop his eyes and furrow his brow slightly in confusion. The closed eyes and serene look on Ginny's face surprised him. What was this all about? Surely she knew what her eventual fate would be? He questioned. Surely she did. But, perhaps she was simply resigned to it then. Pity...It would be so much more fun if she were to put up a fight, he thought.
Voldemort was silent once again. Ginny's eyes flew open. The room was now devoid of death eaters. Voldemort turned his attention to her. He took several steps forward. His red, reptilian eyes bore into her as if he could see her very soul. This was hatred in its purest form, Ginny thought. And it was terrifying. After a few agonizing seconds, he spoke in a harsh, raspy voice.
"I hardly need remind you what happens to those who fail me, Lucius."
"No, my Lord." Replied Lucius.
"I will return in seven days, at which time you will provide me with the information I requested."
"Yes, my Lord."
Lucius let go of Ginny's arms, knelt to one knee and proceeded to bow before Voldemort. Voldemort said nothing and turned on his heel to walk away. He took several steps and paused. Ginny wished he would hurry up and disapparate instead of attempting to make some sort of grand exit, the coward. But he just stood there as if frozen. A wave of panic rushed through her. What if he could read her thoughts somehow? Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lucius hadn't moved from his position. He had, however, lifted his eyes as though wondering why Voldemort was still here. All at once, Voldemort spun back around. Ginny heard him yell "Crucio!" and a blinding green light hit her full force, knocking her to the ground and out of one of her shoes. This was followed by the most excruciating pain she had ever felt in her life. She screamed and rolled back and forth in agony, trying to alleviate the searing sensation that coarsed through her tiny body. Her head felt like it would explode and she could no longer think. After what seemed an eternity, the green light disappeared. Ginny curled up into a ball, moaning in pain and disoriented. Through half-open eyes she glimpsed Lucius Malfoy's high black boots coming toward her before blacking out completely.
The situation was grave, and Ginny knew it. Trapped in a room with Voldemort and his death eaters could be nothing else. Voldemort was angry with her. Very angry. He wanted information that she could provide, but wouldn't. She had decided long ago that she would never betray her friends and family- no matter what. And she knew they would do the same for her. Her decision was final. The one thing Voldemort couldn't touch was love in its purest form. He had tried once, and it had nearly destroyed him. And Ginny knew this.
Voldemort had filled her ears with every lie he could think of to put doubt into her mind. To doubt the complete and total devotion of the people she loved. He was poised to attack when he saw that small flicker of doubt flash in her eyes. But it never came. And now he was furious. Screaming at the top of his lungs, calling her every filthy name in the book. Going on and on about how she was weak and pathetic and would NOT stand in his way etc. Ginny had stopped listening some time ago. His words had become one menacing blur that sounded distant now.
Ginny was being held by both of her arms. They were pulled behind her, a strong hand around each. They held her easily, but firmly, and she didn't struggle. It wouldn't do any good anyway. She was mentally strong but physically small. Her 5'2, 97 pound stature would be easily overwhelmed by anyone in this room. So she stood, perfectly still and silent. Allowing Voldemort to vent his frustration at the fact that he wanted desperately to kill her, but couldn't. About how his plans had been interrupted by this stupid ridiculous girl. At first, Ginny had been reluctant to be the secret keeper for Dumbledore's Army. But this night had confirmed what she had suspected all along. Dumbledore knew what he was doing. It was strangely satisfying to see Voldemort so powerless against her.
After several minutes, another voice spoke. It was much closer to her and it brought her suddenly out of the trance she had been in.
"My Lord, do not waste any more of your precious energy tonight. The girl will tell us all that we need to know. I will make sure of it."
She recognized the cold, aristocratic voice of Lucius Malfoy. At first, Voldemort appeared shocked that he had been interrupted, but remained silent. Lucius continued.
"There is no need to concern yourself with something so...trivial." Ginny went rigid at that last remark. She was anything but trivial! However, she knew better than to argue at that moment. After all, Mr. Malfoy was attempting to divert Voldemort's attention away from her so for the moment, she was glad he was there.
"There are many more important matters that require your expert attention." He said calmly.
Voldemort regarded his loyal servant suspicously for a few seconds, and slowly turned to face the other death eaters, remembering that they were still in the room. He then began a second tirade ordering them off to do various other tasks. He always reminded them what the consequences would be if they failed. They disapparated one by one as Voldemort addressed them. Ginny watched the scene with interest, her fear having left her some time ago, for she had been prepared to die that night. But here she was, on borrowed time, she mused.
She felt Lucius Malfoy's hands on the back of her arms again. Not that they had ever left, but she was again aware of them. It was as if her senses had suddenly come rushing back at a heightened level. She could feel her back pressed against his chest and feel the soft rise and fall with each breath he took. She closed her eyes and began matching her breathing pattern to his. His subtle, spicy scent was intoxicating and made her want to lean into him. She let her head fall backward, ever so slightly. She could make out the faint beating of his heart. It was slow and calm, as if this day was the same as any other, and for him it just may have been.
With her arms held straight behind her back, she realized that the palms of her hands were resting on the front of his thighs. She pressed gently back. His upper thighs were tight and muscular. She moved her right thumb slowly up and down once, wondering if he would notice. If he did, he didn't show it. Ginny's thoughts drifted to the area between his thighs which was against her lower back. She leaned back further and shifted back and forth. Then rose up on her toes and went back down, pressing further into him. She'd no idea why on earth she was being so bold and with a Malfoy, no less.
She couldn't see Lucius Malfoy drop his eyes and furrow his brow slightly in confusion. The closed eyes and serene look on Ginny's face surprised him. What was this all about? Surely she knew what her eventual fate would be? He questioned. Surely she did. But, perhaps she was simply resigned to it then. Pity...It would be so much more fun if she were to put up a fight, he thought.
Voldemort was silent once again. Ginny's eyes flew open. The room was now devoid of death eaters. Voldemort turned his attention to her. He took several steps forward. His red, reptilian eyes bore into her as if he could see her very soul. This was hatred in its purest form, Ginny thought. And it was terrifying. After a few agonizing seconds, he spoke in a harsh, raspy voice.
"I hardly need remind you what happens to those who fail me, Lucius."
"No, my Lord." Replied Lucius.
"I will return in seven days, at which time you will provide me with the information I requested."
"Yes, my Lord."
Lucius let go of Ginny's arms, knelt to one knee and proceeded to bow before Voldemort. Voldemort said nothing and turned on his heel to walk away. He took several steps and paused. Ginny wished he would hurry up and disapparate instead of attempting to make some sort of grand exit, the coward. But he just stood there as if frozen. A wave of panic rushed through her. What if he could read her thoughts somehow? Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lucius hadn't moved from his position. He had, however, lifted his eyes as though wondering why Voldemort was still here. All at once, Voldemort spun back around. Ginny heard him yell "Crucio!" and a blinding green light hit her full force, knocking her to the ground and out of one of her shoes. This was followed by the most excruciating pain she had ever felt in her life. She screamed and rolled back and forth in agony, trying to alleviate the searing sensation that coarsed through her tiny body. Her head felt like it would explode and she could no longer think. After what seemed an eternity, the green light disappeared. Ginny curled up into a ball, moaning in pain and disoriented. Through half-open eyes she glimpsed Lucius Malfoy's high black boots coming toward her before blacking out completely.