Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks so much for the reviews and because you've all been great this is your Christmas present! So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and pretty much just Happy Holidays! And once again thanks to all who read and extra thanks to those who read and reviewed!
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Storygirl2009: Thanks so much! And the ministry thing will be answered later, part of the story. But that's great; I'll look forward to the new book. And you're welcome for the Lucius thing, here's a little more of him. He's going to come for short periods of time but strangely often. And I hope you had a merry Christmas too. Thanks for reviewing!
Fizzysoda: Thanks so much! And I must admit this is rather bizarre. Oh well, its fun to write as twisted or weird that may sound. I never did like Hermione either; I mean honestly, why must she know everything? Well, I hope you keep reading and please enjoy. And thanks so much for the review!
Harriettapotter: Thanks! Well, keep reading to find out. And thanks for the review, greatly appreciated!
Mary: Thanks so much! Now, I hope I didn't make her seem too weak in this chapter, because I don't want her to really be a damsel in distress although she has got to be scared. Oh well, wish me luck and please review again with your opinion on the matter. And the whole mystery of Tom thing is fun to make you keep waiting. But I'm pretty sure I've put it off for long enough so it's in the next chapter. So thanks so much for the review and please enjoy this chapter!
Riddled-Slytherin: Thanks so much; I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for the review!
GalaBunny: Thanks so much. Yeah, she bugs me too, I wanted to replace her with Jane but I suppose too many people like her so… well you'll see what's going to happen!
Addicted…: I love writing the long chapters for your enjoyment! Well, you shall see later on as to the Hermione thing. I'm so glad you love this so much! But I hope this isn't too much of a cliffhanger for you! Well thanks for reviewing and enjoy!
Because-I-Got-High: Well here's your update! And thanks so much for the idea, I think I might use some fragments of it if you don't mind! Thanks so much! And please review again! Thanks!
Valentina: Yeah, that's probably because of my disability to write good summaries. Well, I'm glad you finally decided to read it. About the Evanescence song, I know that might have been disappointing to some people but I can't write song of my own. I always struggled to do that, poems, sure, stories, sure, but songs? No, now those are difficult. But I really wanted her to be a singer/ song writer/ piano player. So I'm sorry that wasn't to your liking but I'm happy you told me! But I'm glad you like the barmaid thing and I guess this Ginny is a combination of both extremes. So thanks for the review!
Fire-sprite16: Thanks so much! And she was trying to play the piano quietly as to not wake everyone. But nevertheless Hermione heard and so brought forth the her being left in the room with Tom and the cliffhanger. Thanks so much for the review!
The-Dancing-Emu: Thanks so much! I'm glad you think it's so good! I hope this chapter is to your liking as well.
Amazing: Updated! Yay! Okay, read and enjoy and possibly review? Please? Thanks!
Rhysenn Riddle: Yay! 'Jig around the room', how very amusing! Oh, you will see what happens to Hermione… eventually! I know I'm evil. And I know Tom likes her, just got to wait until he admits it! Thanks for the review I appreciate it!
G21lto: That's my goal. Make everyone hooked! Thanks for the review!
Serena: Muah haha, my cliffhangers and me (smiles evilly). They are so much fun. Well this chapter isn't too harsh in that department, hopefully good enough! But keep that superglue stocked up… just in case. Thanks so much for the review!
Death Immortalitis: I know! How dare she smirk, sorry had to do it just to anger Tom. And no problem about the Jane thing. She's the one who Ginny was staying with in the summer. She's rich and is the one who brought Ginny to the club. I needed her to get Ginny a place to stay because she couldn't be at the burrow at the moment in order for things to work out. Yeah, I was worried about that part of the song, oh well, can't help it because I can't write songs on my own '! And this time, the review number went up, just a bit though! So thanks so much for reviewing.
Lady Ichabod: Thanks so much! And yes, thirteen, going on fourteen in February! I know I need to revise more but it's hard because they are all like fifteen pages long! Well thanks so much; I'm glad it's to your liking. And torture yourself no more for here is the next chapter! Thanks for the review and all he compliments!
Flirtation101: I did my part, so now the cycle starts all over again! Review please! And thanks!
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It was freezing outside, I realized, as that bloody prick Malfoy forced me onto that broom hovering at the second floor balcony. All I could think of was Hermione, I tried to protest but there was a silencing charm on me. Now I desperately wished I had played the piano louder, so that maybe someone other then her would have heard. God, where was I going? What was he going to do to Hermione?
I tried to struggle with Malfoy when we reached the ground but obviously a full-grown man was stronger then a sixteen-year-old girl. The doors to the music room were left open and the drapes were flying out the window, I thought I heard Tom speak but maybe I was mistaken. Malfoy kept dragging me towards the front of the house but I didn't want to go. I wanted to make sure that asshole left Hermione alone before I went.
"Stop fighting me!" growled Malfoy from behind me. He spun me around so fast I almost tripped over my own feet. As soon as I could see his face, I noticed the rage in his eyes as he towered over me. He raised his hand in the air and hit me across the face. I screamed but no sound came out. "Don't make this difficult!"
Suddenly I heard a scream, high pitched and fearful. I turned around to see a blinding light come from the windows and doors of the music room. Hermione! Oh God! Tears were forming in my eyes and spilling over my cheeks as I tried to run back. Malfoy grabbed my wrists from behind and I struggled even harder. I tried to kick him but kicking backwards wasn't one of my talents. He wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me into the air as if I were a feather. My fists pounded on his back as hard as I could make them but to no avail. He carried me around the manor to the front.
There stood a black carriage and twelve or so black horses with skeletal wings pulling it. They were prancing and restless. One even reared as we approached. There were tons of Death Eaters standing around it wands out and ready for a fight. I was so surprised nobody had noticed them but I suppose it would be difficult to see anything at all through the tall trees that lined all fences and the road up to the manor. But nevertheless my fear grew, I fought even more and I tried punching and kicking. Some, actually most of the Death Eaters turned my way and I punched and kicked all I could but yet again to no avail. I recognized a boy about Harry's age among them then realized it must have been the younger version of the very man carrying me towards what would probably end up in my death.
"Draco!" shouted Malfoy as he carried me towards the carriage like a sack over his shoulder. Draco Malfoy approached and smirked at me as I glared through me tears back at him. "Take her and put her in the carriage. Make sure she doesn't get away."
Malfoy set me on the ground surprisingly with gentleness as the second Malfoy wrapped his hands around my wrists firmly. I was so tired from all of this that all I could do was try and pull my wrists from his grasp. It obviously didn't work and all he could do as he stared down at me was smirk.
The rain, I realized, was starting to fall again and I shuddered. All I could think of was Hermione, what had happened to her?
"Well, well, well," Malfoy said as his father marched off towards the on-looking Death Eaters. "If it isn't the littlest Weasley, it seems the Dark Lord has taken quite the interest in you."
I glared at him again for it was all I could do. With one last feeble, weak attempt I tugged at my wrists and gave it up. My tears were now falling faster then the rain around me. I was getting soaked to the bone. I tired to hide my tears behind my long blood red hair but I was shaking so violently that I was sure Malfoy noticed. He pulled on me lightly but it made me follow him anyways. He guided me towards the carriage and opened the door and hopped in then lifted me about a foot of the ground with no effort at all as if I were a mere rag doll and placed me on the seats. He smirked again and got out of the carriage. He closed the door and I could hear the inevitable clicking of the lock. I was trapped.
I was shaking but looked around at my current prison that was shockingly warm. The seats were made of a fine expensive material, which was obviously of black colouring. The carriage was big enough for someone of seven feet to stand at full height, and there were candles in little glass boxes that could control the light that escaped. Currently they were rather bright. There were curtains for the windows as well made of the same black material. The sides were made of a glistening mahogany wood, polished to perfection. It was pure luxury, yet scary to say the least, at the same time.
I shivered; my baby blue silk pajamas were so thin that I could feel the freezing water on my skin even though the robe was serving as a very large towel that had already been soaked. I took of the robe to give my pajamas a better chance at drying in the near future. Then I stood up in apprehension of the unknown fate that was ahead of me. The carriage wasn't moving which was a good sign I suppose. I wandered over to the window and pushed the curtain aside just far enough to see what was happening.
There, outside, stood four Death Eaters, two holding Harry and one holding Ron, as Malfoy was restraining a terrified Jane. Shock filled me as I pounded on the window, trying to yell trying my best to get out of my jail cell. I tried to scream for Harry and Ron and my best friend. But where was Hermione? Oh God! Tom was standing before them all, obviously making some stupid speech! I couldn't hear what was being said, all I could hear was the contact of my fists on the glass window. Tom glanced my way and I could see him smirk. I mouthed the words 'you promised!' and 'you asshole!'. He obviously understood what I was trying to say and motioned to the man holding my brother and Malfoy holding Jane. I don't think that any of them saw me here. None of them glanced my way.
Suddenly Malfoy took Jane back inside the house to my relief; maybe she would be all right. But the Death Eater restraining Ron just pushed him to the ground. He fell to his knees before him. He raised his wand and I screamed at what I wish was the top of my lungs. He was going to kill him! I slammed my fists on the door and threw my body at it but it wouldn't budge. It was hopeless as despair and fear and shock flooded my heart. I thought my chest would collapse from all I was witnessing. But the green light I was expecting didn't come. But I rejoiced too soon as Ron started withering on the floor in pain as I watched. He was torturing him!
I was trying to scream so hard but nothing worked. He brought his wand back to his side and Ron stopped thrashing. He just lay in the mud, clearly defeated. I closed my eyes tightly, lowering my head. What was he trying to do to me? Prove something that couldn't be proven? My fist collided with the window one last time before I looked up to see Tom a mere foot from Harry. Was this it? Was this the end?
From the corner of my eye I could see Ron struggling to sit upright. Tom turned away from Harry and said something to one of his evil followers. They picked up my brother and dragged him back into the house. Tom turned back to Harry and they stood there, seemingly debating or fighting in words. Every now and then Tom would hit Harry with a short torture but Harry refused to fall to the ground and kept fighting those holding him back. I still cried so hard I thought I would faint, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if I fainted from the torturous weight on my chest, I wanted to yell, and actually make a sound when doing so as I watched my friends and family get tortured right before me by the same man I once was deceived into loving.
What seemed like hours later, something happened; red flashes of light began to shower the men outside my carriage. Tom and his followers look up into the skies in alarm. Tom started shouting orders as brooms took of from the ground and I could see many Aurors come flying down on the crowd of Death Eaters! The men holding Harry dragged him out of my sight. I tried again to pound on the windows to get their attention but to no avail. I couldn't get them to notice me on this side of the carriage so I ran to the other side and looked out that window. Once again as I tried to get their attention, I watched the action.
Men were shooting deathly spells here and there and many fell. Suddenly someone fell from the sky, dead, right in front of the window I was standing at. I shrieked in surprise and alarm as I jumped away from the sight. In my fear I hit something hard and spun around quickly. There, before me, stood Tom, gazing down at my tears and fearful expression. He must have come in silently while I was preoccupied. I suddenly realized he was holding my shoulders and tried desperately to push away from him. But his strong grip wouldn't give and I seemed to struggle forever until my tears and coldness made me stop. I looked up to meet his blue gray eyes, and for a moment I thought I saw pity.
I lowered my gaze in defeat. My knees buckled and I almost fell but Tom held me up against his rock solid chest. My hands found their way to my eyes as I covered my face in shame. Silenced tears trickled down my face as Tom held me in his embrace. He sat down on the comfortable seats and I ended up in his lap. I tried to push myself off of him but he wouldn't let me go. He gave me a strange look and then realization seemed to dawn on his face.
He pulled out his wand and my eyes grew wide and I tried in a panic to get away. What was he going to do to me? I pushed him and he just chuckled. He shifted himself so that my back was pushed against the side of the carriage and he was kneeling above me. With one arm on the back of the seat and my back on the wall for support I tried to push him off of me. I screamed but no sound came out. He chuckled again at my evident panic and pointed his wand at my throat. The cool wood swept across my neck slowly, giving me goosebumps from my neck to my arms. He smirked and whispered something under his breath.
"That's better now isn't it Ginevra?" he said with a small smile playing at his lips.
I could suddenly hear my shaky breath again and the small whimpers coming unwillingly from my throat. I stopped pushing on his chest to get off of me and put it to my neck. It hadn't hurt in fact it felt better. He didn't intend on hurting me at all.
In shaky words I said, "Y-you said you would l-leave them!" I cried as fresh tears formed form the sight I had just seen.
Suddenly the carriage jerked forwards and I remembered what was happening outside. The carriage left the ground and was hurtled into the air. I was shifting and sliding under Tom for he left enough room between us so we wouldn't touch. I small shriek of surprise came from my lips. Tom placed a hand on my hip to keep me from sliding all over as the carriage's flight steadied. He never seemed to be unsettled from the rough ride.
"Now," he said as the carriage moved forwards in the air. "Where were we? Oh yes, you were about to get rather angry with me, am I right?"
He was damn right! I slapped him forcefully across the cheek. But the moment I made the movement I regretted it. I watched his expression, just waiting for the sign of him about to kill me. His eyes were closed and he was facing the other side of the carriage. He stayed there for a moment as my fear grew to unknown heights. He shifted his jaw as if to see if it still worked as he kneeled above me. He slowly turned to face me like a vampire would it's pray. I realized then how uncomfortable that position was for obvious reasons. He finally looked at me but I didn't find anger in his eyes, but pure amusement. I must admit I was slightly taken aback.
He chuckled as he looked down upon me. "You're rather strong for such a small girl," he said quietly.
Rage surged through me again. I was not little! Okay, maybe short and petite, but hey, I was sixteen for goodness sake! "I am not little!" I said quietly. "You said you would leave them alone! You lied to me again you bloody prat!" I could feel a small amount of courage form inside of me again. I struggled with him again, trying to push him off.
Tom just smirked again and took hold of my wrists again and held them up against the wall. "Now, now," he replied as if I were a little child. "I didn't promise anything. And I did let your brother live. And your friend was never even touched. Be grateful Ginevra, I didn't have to make that deal with you. I could've killed all of them and still have you do what I want."
I looked down, losing what dignity I had left; he was pushing me around like his toy. And yet it was true, he could get anyone to do anything at all. I tried to hide my never-ending tears from his gaze with my hair. My breathing was still uneven and I could feel his eyes wander and I shifted uncomfortably as I, in turn, looked at the other side of carriage.
He gently let go of my right wrist and lifted his hand to my face. He gingerly pushed my hair away from my embarrassed face and tucked it behind my ear. "Ginevra," he whispered.
I flinched at the tone of voice that seemed too kind and my real name. I looked back up at him and noticed that a red handprint was forming on his cheek. Note to self: hitting Tom and leaving a mark is rather amusing.
Tom's unwavering gaze rested on my eyes and I became yet again tense and uncomfortable. "Yes?" I whispered back after another moment's gaze.
He chuckled again and asked, "Uncomfortable are we?" I could feel my cheeks get warm and inevitably turn red with embarrassment. Even the cooling trails of tears didn't help so I turned once again to the side. "Look at me," he demanded. When I was hesitant to do so he grabbed me by the chin and forced me to look up. "I want to look at you."
This scared me as I turned an even brighter shade of red and tried to fight his grip. With one free hand I grabbed his arm and tried my best to get him to let go. His arm was warm under my shivering hand. I was still soaking wet and still couldn't help but want to know what was going on outside of this.
Why was he pretending that Aurors weren't following us and that his own followers weren't falling, dead? Didn't he even care about those who gave so much to serve him? Apparently not. I tried again to fight him and took in a shaking breath of air. Thankfully my tears were starting to dry but I still couldn't wait to get out from underneath him.
All of the sudden there was a great jolt in the carriage and I thought we were going to fall. We descended a few feet and I shrieked before it was stabilized again. Tom rose to his feet and I finally got the chance to sit up again.
"Damn fools, can't take care of anything," he mumbled before heading towards the window. He boldly pushed the door open and shot a light outside towards all the commotion that I could finally see. The noises were terrifying as people screamed in pain, panic and force.
Someone dressed in black came to the carriage door, which was letting in a lot of cold air I realized. When the man got off his broom inside the carriage he pulled back his black hood to reveal long platinum blonde hair. Oh great, just what I need, a Malfoy and a Riddle.
"What the bloody hell is going on out there?" Tom demanded.
"They're tailing this carriage like they would die if they didn't! No matter what we do, they keep following!" Malfoy insisted. "There's seven of us down, twelve of them down. They have about twenty two more though!"
Tom rolled his eyes, "Is this really that difficult? Ten of us should be more then enough to take on twenty of them!" he stated. "Why are there so many of them?"
"They keep sending more," Malfoy replied. "My Lord, they know we have Potter."
I could see Tom tense, but Malfoy gave no sign of notice. Maybe I was the only one who could tell? "Lucius!" he said. "Do they know that we have her?" he motioned towards me and Malfoy turned to look at my shaking form.
He smirked and replied, "No, I don't believe so My Lord."
I have to admit that Malfoy looked like a fool calling a seventeen year old 'My Lord' and answering to him as if he were his commander at war. I couldn't help but let a small smile escape me. But I wiped it off my face the second he turned to look at me with a deathly glare. But nevertheless, I wasn't as afraid of Malfoy as I was Tom so I shot daggers right back at him.
"Good," Tom said. "Now, sadly, I shall have to go and make sure they don't find out because apparently the eighteen Death Eaters left cannot handle such a simple task! Plus, I have to get them away from this God damned carriage so they don't discover her, they're after me aren't they?" he muttered.
"Yes My Lord," Malfoy said.
Tom walked around the carriage and opened a small compartment in the ceiling and pulled out the shrunken form of a Firebolt, the fastest broom in existence, and brought it back to size with a flick of his wand. He shrugged off his cloak and was about to set it down on the seat but then glanced at me. I knew I had goosebumps all over me from the cold and was visibly shaking from the air that had entered. He approached where I was sitting and stood before me. I looked up into his cold blue gray eyes. He leaned down and wrapped the expensive cloak around me and starred at me for a moment as I shifted uncomfortably yet again and looked away. He took his hand and gently guided my face back to his as he placed a soft kiss on my lips. His lips were as soft as rose petals as liquid fire spread from my lips throughout my body.
I was in such shock that I couldn't protest, I didn't voice anything but simply starred, awestruck and astonished that he would do such a thing. He seemed to be just as surprised and he too looked away and mounted his broom.
"Malfoy, stay here with her," he said as he shot off into the stormy night.
Malfoy closed the door behind him as I sat there, shocked and wrapped in his heavy cloak. I suddenly realized who's cloak exactly I was depending on for warmth and began to take it off but Malfoy sat down across from me and stopped me.
"You'll freeze," he said.
"Why would you care?" I asked bitterly. I was thankful that I no longer had to be polite to him, I wasn't at work and nor was he my customer.
"I don't," he stated. "But the Dark Lord would." He stared me in the eye and was merely mocking me, willing me to challenge his authority in this prison.
I wiped the remaining tears from my eyes and looked straight at him as I said, "It's funny, Malfoy," I spat. "How you praise him like a God, when he's merely a seventeen-year-old boy."
Malfoy smirked at me; he didn't seem at all offended. "If he's merely a seventeen-year-old boy then why is it you fear him so much? Hum?" he challenged.
I flinched. "For reasons, that I am sure, are beyond your comprehension," I said quietly, remembering that it was hewho caused these reasons simply by placing a little black diary in with some other schoolbooks.
"What brings you to such assumptions, girl?" he asked. "You have no idea."
"Of course," I replied once again bitterly. "A person of my age couldn't possibly understand, after all how much wisdom could someone of sixteen acquire in such a short period of time?"
"It isn't wisdom you lack… evidently," he said and I could have sworn that he was going to laugh.
"What are you getting at Malfoy?" I demanded.
"Don't you wander why He's dragging you with Him? Don't you wish you knew all the answers to the questions you obviously have had for so long?" he said as he leaned in closer, in a menacing manner.
I tried to move back but there was nowhere to go and I couldn't back down now. "Why wouldn't I?" I asked quietly.
"Well I just thought," he said leaning back again. "That you should already know those answers, girl. After all, He told you Himself, didn't He?"
"Stop playing games, Malfoy," I said, but almost in a begging manner. I was honestly so tired of this game and my sleepless night.
"He told you He'd be back for you, didn't He?" Malfoy implied. "And now He's back, I just thought that would be obvious for someone with such wisdom." He smiled evilly at me and I got so irritated that all I could do was shoot daggers at him with my eyes. And if glaring could kill, then Malfoy would have been dead centuries ago.
"This isn't about wisdom," I said as I peered out the window by where the curtain lost contact with it. "And you know that."
Malfoy chuckled and I pulled Tom's cloak tighter around me for some strange sort of comfort. As I starred out the window I suppose I fell into an uneasy sleep for when I awoke, I was most certainly not with the same company anymore.
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When I came back after ridding my incompetent followers of our pursuers I found Lucius sitting surprisingly directly across from a sleeping Ginevra. Lucius turned to me and bowed his head slightly; I put my finger to my lips to make sure he remained silent as to not wake her. It was about half past five in the morning and Ginevra had had a long night. Lucius stood and took hold of his broom and left the carriage.
I was soaked from the rain I realized as I looked down at my clothes. I used a switching spell to change into a dry pair of black pants and a black sweater. I shrunk my broom and placed it in its holding compartment. I was about to sit down but I heard her stir in her sleep. I turned to look at her. She was so small, grown up and obviously mature but still small. She was shivering under my cloak and bore a pained expression on her face as she slept. Her blood red hair was spread out across my cloak in rivers. I approached her, once again like years ago she looked so innocent. So young. I lifted my cloak off of her for a moment, gently so I wouldn't wake her. I touched the cuff of her sleeve and yet it was still damp, apparently silk didn't dry that fast.
I pulled my cloak off of her and found another pair of my black pants and a white dress shirt in one of my compartments. After all, this was my favourite form of transportation. I used a switching spell on her as well, despite the fact for some odd reason I wished to do something else. But I had to get her trust back and if I were to do that, there would be no chance of regaining it. After I switched her clothes I noticed that my clothes were much too big on her and had to use a shrinking spell. It worked well enough so that the garments wouldn't fall off, although they were still rather large. She hadn't moved through all of this so I placed my cloak back over her to keep her warm.
Sitting beside her, I watched her sleep, every now and then I could see her shift and resettle. At one point she began to move more frequently and small whimpers erupted from her throat. I questioned waking her but decided against it and after a while she calmed again. She was obviously not having the most reassuring or restful nights sleep.
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Nightmares about my first year had been flooding my head for hours. When I regained consciousness of where I was, I didn't open my eyes, not wanting another confrontation with Malfoy. I suddenly realized that I was lying down and the something bellow me was rock solid with the exception of a very soft material covering it. I didn't remember the seats being that hard…
My eyes flickered open as I let out a sigh. I was looking across the carriage but I was most certainly lying down. My gaze fell upon the material I was lying on, which was black. In fact it resembled a ribbed sweater. Actually it was a sweater! I looked up in a panic. There, I saw Tom's well-sculpted face but his eyes were closed. I was shocked! How on earth did I get here? As long as he was asleep I could try and get off of him but as soon as I shifted I felt pressure, or more like a weight, around my waist. I looked down to see his arm wrapped possessively around my middle. But then something else hit me. What on earth was I wearing?! A black pant that was much too big and only stayed on thanks to my hips and the shirt I was wearing was way too large and too expensive to be mine.
I looked up at him again and I thought I could see a small smirk but that must have been my imagination. I struggled to get up, pushing on the seat below him to give me some sort of aid. But no matter how hard I tried to wiggle my way out of his grasp, it didn't work. I looked back up at him and this time I was certain he was smirking! How irritating, not to mention embarrassing, this situation was!
But I refused to simply lay my head back down on his chest so I kept struggling and his smirk kept growing! He was not asleep at all, he couldn't be! When I stopped struggling and began glaring at him he let out a small chuckle.
"Ginevra," he said when he decided he had had enough fun. "I see you're awake."
I frowned. "I see you were never asleep in the first place," I replied quietly.
"No," he whispered. "Just resting." He finally opened his eyes and looked down at me. "Having nightmares all night were you?" I was suddenly taken aback. How on earth did he know? But he seemed to read my mind and smiled. A genuine smile, one of which I don't remember him ever bearing. Sure he had smiled before, heck, he grinned, but he seemed… happy, I suppose? "You were very restless, want to tell me what they were about?"
My eyes grew wide in shock. Of course I didn't want to tell him about it! Was he mad? I pushed up on the seat again, trying to pry myself away from him and hide my blushing face at the same time. But sadly, he was extremely strong. This was probably the weirdest night I have ever had, the man I was most afraid of was forcing me to lay on top of him, surprisingly, my weight wasn't even restricting his air flow!
I was running out of strength from my lack of sleep and my fear wasn't helping me either. I was breathing heavily and I was so tired I wanted to just give up. I was too afraid to look up at Tom but laying my head back on his chest would go against everything I ever promised myself. I propped myself up with my elbows on either side of him on the seat. I sighed and hung my head. My hair covered my face as I tried to catch my breath.
He was shifting below me then I suddenly felt his hand brush my hair out of my face and put it behind my ears. I finally looked up at him and noticed him frowning. I had never seen him like this; he was looking me directly in the eye as I gathered enough courage to examine him. He had high cheekbones and pale skin. His eyes were so shocking, a rare colour of blue gray. I don't think I've ever admitted that he was indeed handsome out loud, and I most certainly never will, but it was true.
No! No, no and no! I did not just say that! Oh God! I shifted my gaze from him and looked down at his arm still holding me in that position. "Can I please get up now?" I asked without looking at him.
"I don't know," he replied with a hint of play in his voice. "Can you?"
I couldn't help but smile to myself. But just a little, there was no way I was going to find that prat funny! "May I get up now?" I asked and looked up at him beseechingly.
He seemed to think about it for a moment before answering, "No. I think I like you right there."
I shook my head and looked away uncomfortably. Why, oh why was he doing this?
"Why not?" he asked.
I looked up quickly. How did he know I was just thinking that? Or maybe it was just a coincidence? No, that was completely irrelevant to my asking to get up. So what on earth did he mean? I watched him skeptically.
"What do you think I meant?" he said with a smirk once again plastered on his lips.
What? How did he-? Wait, of course! 'Alright Tom, if you're reading my mind what number am I thinking of?' I thought.
"Six hundred and sixty-six," he replied and watched my jaw drop with rage. "How ironic, the devil's number."
"Riddle!" I said very loudly, all my fear draining away in mere seconds to be replaced by pure anger. "Don't you dare read my mind you bloody prick! Don't bloody do that again! Let go of me!" I shouted as I struggled with him again. "Let me go!"
When he refused to release me I started hitting him on the chest, my hands made into fists. I tried to pry his arm off but to no avail and soon he just grabbed my wrists to make me stop.
"Ginevra," he said. "I was just playing."
I wrenched my wrists out of his grasp and jumped to my feet. "Playing? You were just playing?" I shouted. "Don't you play with me! How am I to know that you haven't been reading my mind this whole time?! You bloody bastard! What the hell do you want with me? God damn it! Why are you doing this?"
By the end of my rant I could feel the tears begin to form again. And not only that, but the fear flowing back, what had I just done? Did I just yell at the most feared wizard in the whole world? What was I thinking?! Wait, no, don't think, that asshole may be reading my mind again I thought bitterly. The carriage was uncannily silent and all I could hear was my own heavy breathing.
Tom's face turned from apologetic to dark as he stood up. He was much taller then me and somehow, towering over someone who was probably a head shorter couldn't exactly be comfortable for them when you're the Dark Lord. I began to back up but I knew there wasn't much space to move into so I stood my ground. I was shaking with fear but I stood my ground anyways.
"Why should I waste my breath on knowledge that you already have?" he asked menacingly and he took another step closer to the point I could feel his breath on my face as I looked up. "You do have an idea as to why I'm doing this Ginevra, don't play dumb! Speaking of playing, how dare you accuse me of reading your mind this whole time, for God's sake, if I had done that then I wouldn't ask you what you were dreaming about now would I? I wouldn't do that anyways, do you really think I'm that much of a horrible person to try and hurt you like that? Bloody hell Ginevra!" he shouted. "I never tried to hurt you in the chamber! It just turned out that way! Why must you jump to such conclusions?! These assumptions of yours are digging your own grave!"
I was lost for words, he thought I had the whole picture when I merely had a single clue. All I knew was that a long time ago he told me he would come back for me. A long time ago, before the chamber incident ever happened, but it was just that. He told me this before the chamber, and when that happened I thought it was all a lie, to that day I believed it was a lie. What was he talking about? Of course he aimed to hurt me otherwise it would never have happened.
"T-Tom," I whispered, afraid of his reaction. "Please, explain all of this, I don't know what you want. I don't know what you mean." Silent tears fell from my eyes again as he looked down at me and I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to stay calm.
Tom continued to stare before he replied, "You're completely lost, aren't you love?"
I shifted my weight from leg to leg; nervous of what was going to happen, what he was going to say. I didn't like to seem so lost and vulnerable, in fact, I hated it. Why was I so small around him, why was I so naive?
He sighed and his anger was no longer exhibited in his eyes. "I'll explain when we get there, love," he promised.
"W- where are we going?" I asked.
"I can't tell you," he explained. "I can't have you slip any information to anyone."
"Who could I slip to?" I replied.
Tom shook his head. "I think you'll discover that soon enough." I nodded absentmindedly. "Are you still cold?" he asked quietly and I suddenly became nervous with the lack of adequate space between us.
"No," I replied.
He nodded and went back to his seat on the other side of the carriage. I looked down; suddenly realizing I was no longer wearing my slippers but was bare-footed. I had so many questions to get answered and I didn't want to go anywhere at all. I wished that I would just wake up in my bed at Jane's house and maybe, just maybe, nothing had ever happened at all. But that was impossible, this was just so real, so much like something life would find amusing to throw my way. I shook my head and walked to the exact opposite seat from Tom. I sat down and looked out the window at the dark, rainy skies unbearably aware that his eyes had never left me…
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Author's Note: Okay, I know, I'm evil because I didn't tell you what happened to Hermione. But we shall save that for another chapter but thanks for your opinions on the matter. I have devised a way to make everyone happy but it has brought a whole new event to the story. So you have to wait and if you review the faster the answers will come. So thanks and please review. This time, since everyone was so good about reviewing and I got the amount I wanted, I'm going to ask for 20. So I need 20 reviews people! Get your friends to read it for all I care I need 20 or you don't get the next chapter! I love you all!
…Oooo pretty button, I wonder what happens when you push it… (Just a thought)