Chapter Twenty-Eight – The Death Of People In Love

Snape walked down the halls and stopped when footsteps began to fall. He wrapped his cloak tighter around himself and listened for a voice or some indication of who it was he was about to come in contact with. When he finally heard a voice he smiled. He was hoping that Tom would have been out tonight.

Walking out into the light hallway he stood in the way of his enemy. Hand on hips he waited for Tom to notice him and when he did, he was unsettled by his demeanor. Ginny, who was busy talking to Tom didn't notice they had stopped until she looked up and saw Snape standing there feet away form her.

Looking back at Tom she paused to see his reactions. His hand slowly moved towards his wand and he whipped it out at the same time as Snape. Both men stood on guard and looked one another straight in the eyes. With quick moves both men had yelled a curse and ducked as their opponents spell rushed by their faces. Ginny screamed as she ran for cover.

Watching terrified Ginny saw Snape grab a potion from his back pocket and dip his wand into the substance before pointing his wand at Tom. Feeling a strange fear encompass her body she watched as Tom tried to duck the spell, but was followed by it. Snape just laughed as her husband ran for his life down the hallway.

A loud thud was heard as Tom fell lifelessly to the ground. His body glowed red for a split second before all life was lost. Ginny stood stunned as the tears poured from her widened eyes. She was horrified that her true love, her soul mate was killed so easily before her eyes. Stifling her gasps she forced herself to run, to hide from the man who she had trusted.

Her footsteps weren't light enough though. Snape's delicate ears easily followed her progression towards the grounds and with speed advanced towards her. Sensing his presence she dashed towards the doors and frantically pulled on them, but they remained closed. Kicking the door she screamed in frustration and turned around, hoping another escape route would appear. Snape slowly advanced towards her and laughed.

"I told you my dear that you were safe. Why are you trying to escape Mrs. Weasley?"

"Because you are a murderer. How can I trust you? You just killed the man I love!"

"Love is a strong word. You don't truly love him; you just wished to to help you live in this place. I know what you have been subjected to, know lets leave."

Shaking her head she cried, "No. I won't leave with you, not now, not never!"

Pointing his wand at her Ginny flinched as she grabbed her own wand and yelled "Avada kadavra". Her body fell limp on the stone floor and Snape stood still as he digested what he had witnessed. Ginny Riddle had just taken her own life, taken her own life over coming back to Hogwarts with him. How would he explain this to the Headmaster?

Picking up her body he disappeared to Hogwarts where a group of teachers, Order members, and family waited for their arrival. When they saw Ginny in his arms they panicked and rushed forward to see what was the matter.

The news of her death was crushing to everyone present. Not even the fact that the Dark Lord was dead eased anyone's pain.

Ginny and Tom Riddle both died that cold night in castle where their true love emerged. The taking of Ginny's own life was proof enough that what they had had was real, not something a potion or spell could have created. That night, two great people died.