Chapter seven – Wedding Arrangements

Ginny woke up shivering. Her body was stiff from lying on the hard floor and from the lack of warmth. No matter what position she had laid in her body had been uncomfortable and cold. Now that she had some sleep in her system she decided to find her bed. Slowly stretching her arms out in front of her she felt something soft…a mattress perhaps?

"What the…" Ginny yelled.

What she had believed to be her bed was an overgrown rat. The rodent bit her finger...hard. The sudden pain in the finger allowed her body to release it. She had always feared rats and mice, and now she was in a room with one. Could there be more?

Deciding not to wait till they came to her Ginny jumped to her feet and desperately looked for a wall. Once in a corner Ginny slid her body down to the floor. Her body convulsed as tears leaked out of her eyes. This was not how life should be. Being stuck in a dungeon with an evil wizard that was soon going to make you his wife was something no one deserved.

The tears dropped off of Ginny's face. Little rivers washed away some of the dirt on her slime covered face. Hastily wiping them away Ginny noticed that she was starved. Just the thought of food made her stomach grumble.

Deciding to take matters into her own hands Ginny walked to the middle of the room and yelled.

"Get me out of here!"

She repeated her yells of protest for a long time, but it seemed hopeless. No one had come yet and her voice refused to pass by her parched throat.

All of her energy left her. It seemed that all of her body was shutting down. Ginny tried to remain conscious but couldn't command her body to wake. Stumbling towards a wall, Ginny fainted, landing with a head splitting crash.

Blood instantly leaked out of her cracked scull. A big puddle of blood surrounded her head, matting into her hair and making her even more unclean.

This was the scene that Tom found her in. He body was deathly still, as if she had died when she fell. He rushed over to her limp body and gently picked her up. Running from the room Tom wound his way to his personally hospital. There he called for his nurse Cissa who appeared immediately.

Cissa looked at the injured girl and recognized her as the one that had been taken from Hogwarts. She looked exactly like the one on all of the posters, except for the blood and pale features. Of course losing blood always made you look paler then normal.

"What are you doing woman? Don't you know how t fix a cracked scull?" Tom bellowed.

"I do, Sir."

And with that she set of to work on her new patient. After giving Ginny two potions – one to take away the pain and one to remove the blood and grim from her whole body – and cast a spell to mend her broken bone she stepped away to let Tom wake her up.

"I wouldn't usually permit people in her state to be woken up so soon, but I'm sure that she will be able to maintain consciousness for a few minutes. She will fall asleep after ten."

And with that finally word she parted.

Tom walked over to Ginny as soon as he was sure Cissa was gone. He tried tapping her on the shoulder, talking into her ear, shaking her and her bed, making as much noise as possible, and poring cold water on her but nothing worked. Tom started to panic. No matter what he did she slept on as if she was alone in her room unbothered.

'What if she is dead? What if she tried to kill herself down in the dungeon?'

Tom quickly grabbed her wrist and waited for a pulse. She had a steady one that proved that she was still alive. He next went to check her breathing. Her chest was rising and falling in a normal rhythm that usually is found during sleep.

'She was alive, yet not waking up? Why wont she wake?' Tom frustratedly thought.

"Cissa!"

With a pop Cissa arrived back into the room. She looked at the soaked girl and cast a drying spell. After that she bowed to Tom and asked, "What is it you wanted my lord?"

Tom said, "Stop bowing", and she stood up again to look him in the eye.

"She wont wake."

"But my lord she should. I haven't administrated a sleeping potion to her yet. If anything she should be having problems sleeping."

"Are you saying that I am lying about her current condition?" Tom asked with a hint of underlying anger.

"No, Sir. I would never contradict what you say. I am just curious as to why she is still asleep."

"Obviously I am too, otherwise I wouldn't have called you for your assistance. Now give her a full body check over and find out what is wrong with her. I shall be back soon. I need to go get the wedding arrangements ready."

With that he left Cissa to tend to the sleeping girl.

Tom went to the grounds and apperated to Lucius Malfoy's mansion. It was an understatement to say that Lucius was surprised by his master's sudden appearance.

Getting on his hands and knees Lucius crawled over to Tom's feet and kissed both shoes. He then said, "Master, what a pleasant surprise. How can I be of service to you today?"

"Lucius, you know that you don't have to kiss my shoes, only the lowly deatheaters are to perform such trifle things. Stand so we can discuses the wedding arrangements."

Lucius was standing on his feet so fast that Tom wasn't sure how he had done it. He wanted to ask but how he could move that fast wasn't what they needed to talk about. They needed to get his castle decorated, buy rings and a dress, a new tux for him, get all the invitations out – deatheaters and followers only – and find a way to do all of this without the wizarding community finding out about it.

"You know of my wedding that is coming up in three days." When Lucius nodded his head Tom went on. "I need things done, and fast. I want you to tell all the deatheaters and my loyal followers to come. You must get to everyone today."

"So I am to be your messenger?" Lucius sneered.

"I didn't think that you would mind, but since you obviously do I will allow my more loyal deatheaters do it. I guess I should be going now since you are no longer going to comply with my wishes."

With that Tom stood and started to the door.

"Master, I am sorry for offending you. If it is what you want it will send out the invitations. Please don't leave, I will do your command!"

Tom stopped and slowly turned. He knew that Lucius would do his bidding and loved watching him squirm when he was upset.

"What was that? You now wish to be my messenger?"

"Yes Sir, I do. Please forgive me for my horrible behavior. Let me do this. Let me redeem myself to you."

"Ok. I will allow you to redeem yourself this time but the next time it happens don't expect me to be this easy on you. Now get going."

Lucius was about to leave when Tom stopped him.

"Wait!"

"Yes my lord, do you need something else?"

"Yes. I want you to get Cissa to buy the dress for Ginny and the bridesmaids."

"Is that all Sir?"

"Almost." And with that Tom put Lucius under the crucio curse for a minute. After releasing the spell Tom said, "Now get out of my sight before I do that again."

It was apparent Lucius didn't need telling twice. With a loud crack he was gone.

Tom followed Lucius's example and apperated back home. He walked back to his room and grabbed a handful of floo powder. Throwing it into his fireplace he yelled, "Pastor John."

Soon a man's face appeared in the green flames. His face was unshaved and sunken in as if he has been working around the clock and hadn't had time to rest.

Not caring about the man's conditions Tom made sure that the arrangements for the wedding were ready.

"Have you gotten everything needed for the wedding?"

"I have the service planed out and have gotten the after party arranged. You will have ten cakes all the size of a small round table." When he say the angry look on Tom's face he hastily added, "But for you and your wife we have a cake triple the size. Two figures are on the top, one for each of you. They both look exactly like you and will be moving around on the top, kissing and acting like the happy couple you will both be.

"I also have gotten the finest waiters and chefs to cater your party. I sent them a list of the food you desired and have made sure that they will have it all ready on time.

"I am also working on getting a band for your service, but don't fret, I have talked to them and they are rearranging their schedule so it will all work out. I believe that is all you asked of me."

"Excellent. You haven't disappointed me. Now all you must do is rest up for the service. I wont allow you to wed us looking half dead."

Not waiting for a reply Tom left the room to go back to the hospital. When he walked into the room he noticed that it was extremely quiet. A feeling of dread covered his body as he saw Cissa look at him with sad eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"I am sorry to say this Sir but it seems that she is in a coma."