Chapter Six

Ginny was in a sort of a daze. Maybe it was all that food all of a sudden, or her enlightening chat with Solly, but she was feeling stronger. She concluded that whatever the future held for her, there was no good in laying around crying about it. And no way was she going down without a fight. Ginny looked at the door. Solly had left it open just a crack. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, she decided to search the rest of the house with the hope that there was a way out of this mess yet. Ginny shivered and glanced longingly toward the fireplace. Again she noticed the petite burgundy robe and slippers still sitting on the chair where they had been since the first morning. She pursed her lips and surveyed them for a few seconds.

"Oh what the bloody hell!" She finally said, grabbing the clothes and putting them on.

She had to admit they made her much more comfortable. With that, she slid out the door and down the hallway the opposite way this time. She walked softly down a long corridor of rooms, carefully pressing her ear up against each door before trying to open it- but all were locked. By the time she came to the final door at the end of the hall she had grown discouraged. A dead end. All at once she felt tears burning behind her eyes. She took a breath and tried to blink them back. 'You're just fooling yourself,' The thought leapt into her head.

"No! Don't start that!" She said out loud, as if pleading with her mind not to betray her.

She leaned against the door at the end of the hallway. Now what? Ginny clenched her tiny hands into fists. She wondered how much one person could take before they just went mad. But she didn't even have that luxury. Too many people were depending on her. Ginny's eyes felt very heavy. It was hard to keep them open. She looked wearily up at the door in front of her. It was very beautiful- made of red mahogany with a small silver handle. It was almost mesmerizing actually. She meant to turn and leave, really she did, but something stopped her. There was something about this room. She was inexplicably drawn to it. Ginny suddenly felt outside of herself. It was strange but she began to feel a wonderful sense of well-being. Without taking her usual precautions, she reached her hand out and opened the door. It opened effortlessly. Ginny didn't stop to think that was strange.

She was immediately hit with a warm light that filled the room. She stepped inside onto the lush carpet and looked around. It looked like every girl's dream room with a large ornate mirror and dressing table full of makeup and hair accessories. There was also a crystal box full of jewels and assorted bangles. Ginny was so entranced that she didnt notice the door shut itself behind her. She walked over to the wardrobe and discovered it was full of gorgeous and very expensive-looking dresses. Ginny giggled as she went through them. How much fun! There was a small table holding a tea service, fresh fruit, and little cakes standing in front of a very cushy sofa. There were live potted plants scattered around- lillies and african violets. Ginny couldn't have dreamed up such a perfect place!

The best part of the room was an elegant whirlpool tub in the middle of the floor. As soon as she noticed it the jets started up, creating an inviting hot bubble bath. Forgetting about everything else, she kicked off her slippers, untied the robe and took it off. She let her nightgown fall to the floor and walked slowly toward the tub. She started down the steps- the water was the perfect temperature and felt heavenly after spending the night on a cold floor. Once all the way in, she sat down with her back against one of the jets. She closed her eyes and breathed in the warm air, the water swirling all around her. As she let her mind wander, she was vaguely aware of a nagging feeling in the back of her mind. The feeling that she had forgotten something.

"Something I was supposed to do..." She mumbled to herself.

Her brow furrowed slightly as she tried to think of what it was. Suddenly a thought snapped into her head.

"Tell Solly to cut fresh flowers for the party tonight! Yes that's it. Good thing I remembered!" She sighed happily and returned to her relaxing

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lucius had not moved from the spot where Ginny had left him just hours before, unaware of how close he had come to death. The blazing fire of the previous night was reduced to glowing embers and the air had grown cold. The gray morning sky offered a meager light. He slept in total silence save for the soft ticking of a grandfather clock in the far corner. It chimed 12 times when the clock struck noon. And Lucius was no longer alone in the room.

Lucius rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger, certain he was still dreaming. But they remained still. As his vision adjusted, the red eyes and the horrible face attached to them came into focus. Lucius stared blankly for a second before reality slapped him in the face and he scrambled to sit up. He drew his wand in one swift elegant movement and it flew instantly from his hand though not a word had been spoken. Now wide awake, Lucius slid off the bed and quickly knelt on the hard marble floor, trying to keep his composure.

"My Lord, Forgive me!" He begged. "I did not expect you!"

Voldemort quickly lifted a finger to his lips indicating he wanted silence. He had an indecipherable look on his face. He stepped forward, slowly circling his disciple. Lucius could feel the steely gaze boring into him as he stared at the floor. His mind was spinning as he tried to think of the reason for Voldemorts sudden appearance. Voldemort paced like a tiger stalking its prey. Any second he could strike and simply end it all.

'Maybe it would be better if he did,' Lucius thought to himself.

After a few agonizing seconds, Voldemort stopped and proceeded to sit in one of the throne-like chairs that furnished the room. He cleared his throat and Lucius looked up.

"You are wondering why I'm here, I'm sure," He began. "There is no reason for alarm. My visit is purely in the interest of your welfare." He made a gesture indicating that Lucius should rise and he did so.

"You are my most loyal servant. I trust you above all others. That is why I have come here to offer you this warning," Voldemort stated in a quiet, yet unnerving tone. He motioned to Lucius.

"Come closer, faithful one."

Lucius warily took a few steps forward and knelt down in front of him. Lucius opened his mouth to speak but again Voldemort silenced him. He continued:

"Emotion is dangerous, Lucius Malfoy. It clouds judgement. It makes clever men do stupid things. You must guard against it, lest it be your downfall. Animals kill indiscriminately and so must we. When a serpent has its prey by the throat- as its victim lays with a broken neck, dying slowly from suffocation- that serpent feels not joy or sadness, anger or regret. It does what it has to and it lives to hunt another day."

Lucius stared at Voldemort. He continued.

"You must be like that serpent, my son. For as you watch your prey, others are watching you. Watching and waiting. Waiting for a moment of weakness, an opportunity to rip you to shreds. Dont give it to them! Emotion works against you like poison. It makes you vulnerable. It will weigh you down and hold you back. The way your wife and son held you back. You must fight against it. Destroy it. Once this obstacle is overcome your power will know no limit. You will be great. You and I. We will do great things together. Won't we?"

Lucius cringed at the comment about his family but nodded in agreement. Voldemorts eyes glowed bright. Powerful. Determined. Soul less.

"We will, then. I have forseen it." Voldemort looked deep into Lucius eyes.

"We will, that is, if you manage to live long enough to see it come about!" He shouted and struck Lucius across the face with the back of his hand.

Lucius spun around and fell to the floor. He looked back at Voldemort in shock.

"You fool! How can you be so careless!"

Voldemort marched to the bar and grabbed the bottle of brandy. He hurled it at Lucius who had just enough time to turn his back before it smashed beside him.

"I give you one task- a task that YOU requested to be given- and I find you drunk and unconscious and your little prisoner ready to slice your throat!"

Lucius instinctively put his hand up and felt his throat. His eyes were wide with disbelief.

"Yes that's right. Our Miss Weasley is more resourceful than even I imagined. Why she didn't go through with it I'll never understand." Voldemort strode past Lucius who winced as he went by. "You have a job to do. Do it. And never let me see a disgraceful display like this again."

Voldemort turned and, with a snap of his fingers, quickly disapparated. And Lucius was alone again.

Lucius swallowed hard and drew several deep breaths. He realized that he had hardly taken a breath since Voldemort first arrived. His heart was still pounding in his chest and he felt feverish. Lucius walked briskly to his bathroom, heels clicking on the marble floor as he went. He bent over the sink feeling like he might throw up. He turned on the cold water and splashed his face half a dozen times. After a minute, he reluctantly raised his head and met his reflection in the mirror.

He was ghostly pale which made the pink mark on his right cheekbone stand out even more. It would soon turn into a nasty bruise. There was also a cut made by one of the rings Voldemort wore. Lucius pulled down a bottle of rubbing alcohol to clean it. He winced as it stung the open wound. As he set the bottle down, he remembered what Voldemort had said. He quickly lifted his chin into the air and examined his throat in the mirror. There wasn't so much as a scratch on it. He didn't know whether or not to believe Voldemort but the whole situation disturbed him immensely. With everything that had happened recently, he wondered if he wasn't going out of his mind. He looked down at his brandy-stained shirt and then over at the state of his room.

"Solly," He said quietly and waited. No answer. He pounded his fist on the counter.

"SOLLY!"

At the other end of the house, Solly dropped the sandwich he was making and looked back toward Lucius room.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Meanwhile at the other end of Malfoy Manor, Ginny was enjoying herself immensely. She had soaked in the tub for an hour and washed her hair with vanilla scented shampoo and conditioner. She was now sitting on a cushioned seat in front of the large mirror combing out her hair with the silver comb she had found on the table. Her towel had fallen to her waist but she didnt seem to notice. When she finished with her hair, she squeezed a dab of Vanilla lotion into her hand and smoothed it all over her body. Next she skimmed over the shiny new bottles of nail polish and chose the one marked AWicked Red, which she proceeded to paint onto all ten fingers and ten toes.

When she was certain they were dry, she walked over to the wardrobe and again went through the beautiful dresses. She decided on a satin ivory gown with a plunging back. She slid into it and went back over to the dressing table where she selected a pretty red lipstick and carefully applied it. Now she began fixing her auburn hair into a loose upsweep and fastened it using pins decorated with pearls. Last but not least she opened the jewelry box and began trying on different necklaces.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Solly appeared in the doorway of Lucius bedroom and timidly stepped inside. Lucius was still in the bathroom, swearing to himself. He unbuttoned his shirt and threw it to the floor.

"Ahem." Solly cleared his throat. Lucius looked up.

"Master called for Solly?"

"Of course I did! Look at me! Look at this place!" Lucius shouted. "I'm going to get cleaned up and by the time I'm done I want this room spotless, lunch prepared, and clean clothes ironed. And for god's sake get me an ice pack!" He said, then proceeded to slam the door.

Half an hour later Lucius was storming down the hallway toward Ginny's bedroom, his damp hair pulled back in a low ponytail. When he arrived, he pulled out his wand to lift the locking charm but found the door was already open. Angrily, he pushed his way inside. There was no sign of Ginny.

"Ginny!" He shouted. "Get out here this instant!"

There was no answer. Lucius strode over to the bathroom and looked inside, behind the door, in the bath- nothing. He walked past the windows, batting each curtain as he passed it. Finally he threw open the bed curtains, looked under the sheets and knelt down to look under the bed. She wasn't there. Lucius pounded his fist on the floor out of both frustration and panic. Just then, something under the bed caught his eye. It was up against the wall in the back corner. Lucius climbed onto the bed and over to the edge where the bed met the wall. He reached his hand down and felt around until he had the object firmly in his grasp. He brought it up and saw, to his horror, he was holding a kitchen knife. He sat upright and stared at it for a second. Voldemort was right. She had planned to kill him- but backed out- why? He shook his head realizing that now was not the time to ask questions.

Lucius bolted out the door and ran frantically down the hall. She could be anywhere- if she was still here at all. If she was gone, then he was done for- absolutely done for! He rushed down the winding staircase to the main floor. There was no sign that anyone had gone out. Just to make sure he ran out back to the stables, checking to see if all his horses were accounted for. A few of them whinnied and neighed upon seeing him. They were all there. None of them were agitated as if a stranger had approached them.

'Could she have left on foot?' He wondered.

He ran around to the front of the house. The large iron gate was closed and the chain was in place. He saw no footprints in the snow besides his own. With temperatures as cold as they were, she wouldn't last long outside. She probably knew that.

Back inside the house he went through every room on the main floor- the living room, the kitchen, the dining room, the music room, the study- turning them upside down. Frustrated, he ran up to the second floor, past Ginny's room down the hallway trying each door as he passed. All were locked just as they had been. Worn out by this point, he walked the rest of the second floor, passing Ginny's room once more and heading down the opposite hall. He trudged left to right checking each door. Toward the end of the hall, he stopped and pounded his fist several times against the wall before sinking down to a sitting position.

His heart was pounding. He felt as if Voldemort was watching him- watching his every move and growing angrier all the time. Lucius felt hot although it was quite cold in the house and there was a tingling sensation in his fingers as if they would go numb. He closed his eyes, completely at a loss for what to do. He tried to calm down by concentrating on his breathing. And then he heard a sound. Something he wasn't sure he had really heard. He glanced toward the end of the hallway. The last door. It was coming from there.

There was someone singing inside. Softly. A certain familiar tune…

"I may not always love you But long as there are stars above you You never need to doubt it I'll make you so sure about it God only knows what I'd be without you," Sang the quiet but melodic voice.

Lucius pressed his ear to the door to hear it better.

"If you should ever leave me Though life would still go on believe me The world could show nothing to me So what good would living do me God only knows what I'd be without you God only knows what I'd be without you."

Lucius slowly opened the door and was taken aback by what he saw in front of him- a small figure dressed in white now hummed the song absentmindedly as she fastened a diamond pendant around her neck. Lucius narrowed his eyes as they struggled to adjust to the light. The figure secured the pendant necklace and let it fall gracefully into place, just above her chest. As she looked up to admire her choice, she caught sight of him in the mirror. Lucius simply stared at her. Their eyes locked. After a few seconds, she smiled.

"Hello, Darling." She said.

Lucius looked as if he had seen a ghost. He couldn't speak.

"What's the matter?" She asked. "Are we late for the party?"

Again he did not answer.

She stood up to face him and began walking toward him. He backed away from her and fell onto the sofa against the wall. She giggled softly.

"But were always late for the party." She whispered.

In an instant, her ruby lips crashed down on his and she kissed him passionately. She climbed on top of him and wrapped her arms around his neck, moaning softly. Lucius put his hands around her waist and shoved her backward.

"What the bloody hell are you doing?" He demanded, still not quite sure that had really just happened.

"What's wrong, Darling?" She asked with a long face. "You dont like my outfit?"

"Your outfit?" Lucius said incredulously. "That's my wife's outfit!"

She stared blankly at him for a few seconds before shaking her head.

"Silly Goose..." She giggled. "...I am your wife!"