(a/n: Chapter 13 of Unexpected Losses. Wow. I never expected to get this far, to be completely honest with everyone. After the last chapter, I'm almost embarrassed to keep writing at all. But I suppose the only thing I can do now is try to make this chapter so good that you all forgive me for the last time. Like I said: Try. Expect no miracles, I'm only human, and I claim to be nothing else. Just please, enjoy the story, and take pity on my poor soul. I'm so unfortunate. Oh. Hi Jeff. And hi Ashe, Gladys, and Jackie. And maybe even Nicole. w00t. It's almost like I have a fanbase! Yeah, right…I wish.)
Chapter 13 of Unexpected Losses.
"Crucio."
Ron braced himself as the first syllable left the Dark Lord's mouth. He had heard that word four times so far, and the following pain still resounded within him from the last round. He felt as if he would bite his own tongue off to stop the screaming. Echoes of his own painful yells seemed to keep repeating in his head. It was driving him as out of his mind as much as the pain itself was. Every inch of his skin felt like it was being set afire and then doused in ice repeatedly at a speed so fast he couldn't decipher which felt hotter. He'd been sweating so badly that his hair was plastered to his forehead and the back of hic neck. Blood welled up in every cut he had, trickling away form the wounds in tiny rivulets of agony.
Basically, Ron hurt. A lot.
The worse Ron felt, though, the more the Dark Lord seemed to be enjoying himself, as what might pass as a smirk on a normal person resided on the snake-like face of the most evil wizard alive. Voldemort was never one to be bored when dealing with prisoners, but he did want answers. Leisurely torture could wait. Even for the foolish pureblood that called himself best friend of the Boy-Who-Lived. The Mudblood, of course, had to be killed in any case. But not until after he got the answers he was looking for. How could Harry have already managed to form an alliance with such a powerful witch when Voldemort himself had only just been notified of her existence a few weeks before?
He had Lucius following her. The fool should've managed to kidnap a single teenaged girl by this point, but had already managed to be mortally wounded once (in a truly odd way: by being stabbed almost all the way to the heart with a stake. Lucius had barely made it back in time to be healed), and had been threatened off repeatedly since that point. Voldemort was not surprised that the witch had protection, but it was hard to believe that all of the protection would come in the form of Muggles. Hard to believe, perhaps, but that was what he had been notified of by Lucius, and Malfoy was the one who would be most aware of her protections, seeing as he was the one trying to break through them.
The Weasley family had never been of any particular interest to Voldemort. He was aware of the Malfoy family's hatred of them. A hatred that was rooted only in their lack of material wealth and the fact that they were on opposite sides in this war, if indeed a war it was. But Voldemort was smarter than that. Magic ran pure in the Weasley line, as, if this boy was any indication, did loyalty. Far more so than the Malfoy family could ever hope to possess. Lucius, unintentionally, had repeatedly revealed that he would never be happy with a permanent subservient position. It really was too bad, though, because Malfoy would be useful if he wasn't quite as power-hungry as he was. Malfoy would never be smart enough to become the force he so clearly wanted to be. Unfortunately, it promised that Lucius would go where the power was. Voldemort gave him that, and so Malfoy would remain for the time being.
The sixteen-year-old boy before him suddenly stopped screaming, drawing Voldemort from his thoughts, as jarringly as someone screaming into silence would have. Red irises seemed to grow larger around pitch-black pupils as he focused an unmerciful glare at the youngest Weasley boy. Voldemort made no movement, but merely observed what the boy would do. The silence grew, and to Voldemort's surprise, the silence was indeed total. There was no rasping of breath through seared lungs. There was no moan or groan because of an agony so complete that screaming was impossible. Those were noises he was entirely used to. There was no noise at all…only the unnatural silence that was forced into being.
Voldemort stood slowly, a kind of separated shock creeping into him. The boy was supposed to tell him of Potter's alliance. He was supposed to die in due time. But it was too soon…he wasn't supposed to give up yet. If the Mudblood knew of his demise, even she wouldn't speak. Voldemort nearly snarled in rage, stalking down to where the lifeless form of Ron Weasley remained. No magic could heal the dead, no matter the conditions or reasons. No matter if he needed the boy alive. He glanced up to see Caitriona watch him with a sort of detached interest. "Crucio." He said coldly, and didn't even bother watching as the witch collapsed in on herself in her pain.
He was slightly calmer, but by no means placated. He was only a few feet away from the unmoving, unbreathing body of Ronald Weasley. In a wave of unsuitable rage, he kicked the limp form with all the might he could muster. Something cracked within the boy, and he slid several feet before rolling to stop in an unnatural position, his arm obviously broken beneath him. Once bright blue eyes were closed in a mock sleep that was, in reality, nowhere near as innocent as it seemed. Blood and bruises covered the long, slender build of the best friend of the Boy-Who-Lived. The Boy-Who-Died.
"Damnit." Voldemort growled and gestured to Caitriona with a whispered, "Finite incantatum." There was no need to kill her, too. He walked swiftly forward, and kicked Ron again, in a last exclamation of his rage. Things would have to change.
(a/n: ack. I'm babysitting, and Mommy came home early. Usually, I'd just print this for me and retype it all later, but there's no paper today. I'm really sorry I couldn't finish, but I can't help when I get off. Usually, I'd have another hour and a half or so. Call it a teaser or something? And yes, for those curious, Willow and Ron are my favorite characters from their respective sources. I think it might be a redhead thing? Anyway, thanks to everyone for lovely, lovely reviews. Oh. And to IsiwaruOfCkaloatia: If this was really a chapter, I'd dedicate it to you, but it's a teaser…kinda…so…uhm. Yeah, it's for you anyway. Thanks for your kind review. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! Thanks for that, after posting the last chapter, I was feeling just this side of depressed, and you made me go "yeah, yay for me, maybe I don't suck." I definitely needed that. Oh, and also many thanks to Damia, who's honest with me and frankly, right, and I truly, truly appreciate it. Is this chapter (teaser?) any better?
Allen Pitt: urg. Usually I don't mind replying to people, but today I just honestly don't have the time! You just have to go and say comment-deserving things. : As for your idea about the mark of Eyghon and the Dark Mark, I actually played with the idea…to be completely frank, I almost shamelessly ripped off the idea I'm so bad! I even went into this whole idea that because they looked different it was some kind of glamour, and trust me, the story was just running away from me from then on. Hey, maybe I could just write a bloody story like that? Well, in any case, it's a great idea, but it just doesn't work for this story right now. There's only a few chapters left, and Buffy and Xander are going home. My story is very Willow-centric, and I've kinda plotted the rest. Besides, if we're remembering canon at all, they've got some studying to do on the Ascension at this point! It's up to the Wizarding World to save Wills for now. And now I've written as much reply to your review as I did chapter this time around. Heh. Well, urg, I really do have to go. I'll definitely have to come and find you about stealing your Eyghon idea, though, so keep an eye out for me!)