Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 22: Stab in the Back.

"My Lord, can we trust this source of information?" Lucius Malfoy questioned cautiously, for questioning the Dark Lord was always a troublesome thing to do.

"I am not sure, Lucius," Tom answered thoughtfully. "Perhaps you can invite him to Malfoy Manor, Lucius, and we'll trap him there."

"And force a truth potion on him."

"Hmm, I didn't think of that, yes, I think we shall do that too," Tom added. He was going to reward Lucius greatly if this source did not turn out to be a farce. If it did, then Lucius would be punished greatly instead. And the source, he would have his head lopped off for wasting precious time. "I'm becoming impatient, Lucius," Tom said, sitting down on the armchair by the fireplace, "I want to see my son."

"Of course, my Lord."

"That reminds me, Lucius," he said pointedly, "your son, you have told him that he is to join the siege, if it should happen…."

"Yes, my Lord, he's quite happy now," Lucius said with a smirk. His son had been moping ever since he was forced to marry Pansy Parkinson, who had a horrid shrill voice, and hearing that nagging in your ear would make anyone sulky.

"Lucius, before you go, I'd prefer to stay at your manor," Tom said, not really asking for Lucius' hospitality, but telling him he had to give it. "Make it next week, I will have what we need by then."

"Yes, my Lord," Lucius stood and bowed low, then left the room with a sweep of his cloak.

Once he was alone, Tom Summoned some parchment to himself, along with a quill and an ink well. He would need to send it to the source's house. Then everything would be ready….

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Ginny poked her head around her bedroom door to see what all the noise was about in the hallway. "Ron!" she cried. "What are you doing here?" her last words were muffled by Ron's tight hug, and once he let her go, she noticed the two men standing behind him.

"Dumbledore said I could stay with you, so I went along with the Aurors," he said, and he seemed happy that he was reunited with his sister again.

"Aurors?" Ginny said worriedly, her brow wrinkling.

"Don't sound so scared, it's for more protection, you dolt," he scoffed. Ron observed his surroundings with an appraising look in his eye. "Quite nice, isn't it?"

"Considering we are in the middle of nowhere," Ginny said bluntly. "Why is there any need for more protection?" she persisted.

"That is like saying 'why is there any need for eating?'" Ron said exasperatedly. "Where is Harry?"

"In his room, down the hall," she said quickly, and she shut the door in his face.

Why would Dumbledore send for more protection if he did not think it was likely that Tom would find her? She began to feel uneasy as she looked at Leo sleeping on her bed, she was more frightened that he would become like Tom, not of him finding her. But she could not bear the thought of being locked away again, and being forced to lay underneath the Dark Lord every night.

Ginny dreamt about him almost every night, and the baby was a constant reminder, but she did not hate him for it. Just recently she discovered a perfect diagonal scar on her right palm; the mark of marriage. It seemed that there was no escaping Tom, and it seemed that she was meant to be with him. But, she was not going to go down without a fight.

She liked it the way it was now, just her and Leo, and times like that very morning were always guaranteed when it was just the two of them. He had woken her up just as the sun was rising, desperate for food, and she readily obliged. She watched the sun rise over the hills, the morning dew making the seemingly endless fields shine. It was a lovely and peaceful time. With Tom, that would never happen, since he would probably have a nurse look after the baby instead of Ginny.

Ginny just hoped that when the time came, and she was sure it would come now, that she would be ready to resist, even if it was meant to be.

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September 29th 2000.

Tom ran his finger over the glass vial, studying the contents of the small bottle; it looked like a few drops of water, but it was, in fact, a very powerful truth potion, given to him personally by Lucius Malfoy, who Severus Snape had given it to. Now he awaited his trusted servent to inform him that they had detained their target.

He would need to test the potion for accuracy, even though it had all the properties of Veritaserum; odourless, and colourless. But, then so did water.

Tom straightened and slipped the vial in his robe pocket as he heard footsteps approaching. "Come in," he called as a knock resounded throughout the bedroom.

Lucius Malfoy came into the room, a smug smirk plastered on his face. "We have got him, my Lord, and his wand is in my possession."

"Give it to me," Tom ordered as if he were speaking to a naughty child, holding his hand out patiently. Lucius handed it over with a disgruntled look. "Did you search him completely?"

"No, my Lord, we decided to wait for you," he replied as Tom pulled a cloak around his shoulders and set off to go to the lounge. Although Lucius was older than Tom, and a bit taller than him, he still feared his master, because Tom had explored every piece of magic, and mastered it. Nobody could match the Dark Lord, except Dumbledore perhaps.

When Tom strode into the lounge, the five burly Death Eaters detaining the masked man bowed low, and moved aside as Tom stood in front of the detainee. "Once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater," he muttered, "and twice a traitor. Trust is an important issue here, I hope you understand." Tom pulled out the potion from his robe pocket and examined it once more. "Nott," he said suddenly, "come here."

A tall, black-haired man, stepped forward and bowed. "Yes, my Lord?"

"It is time to prove your worth," Tom held out the potion to him, "a drop and nothing more."

"Yes, my Lord," Nott reached out for it and delicately uncorked it, and sniffed it once, then gently tipped it up to allow a single drop to fall on his tongue.

Tom waited for about 10 seconds to ask a question that every man would lie about. "Did you sleep with your wife last night, Nott?" he said with a smirk, and watched as Nott struggled with himself.

"No," he finally choked out.

"Did you want to?" Tom said slyly, enjoying Nott's squirming.

"Yes," he answered in a easier tone than before.

"Why didn't you?" Tom persisted as he heard Crabbe snigger from behind him.

"She said 'Once is enough," he strangled out, and Tom gave a low laugh as he turned back to the bound man, and he searched through the mans robes and came upon another vial with the similar qualities of Veritaserum. Tom pulled it out.

"You suspected this would happen, but I suspected you would bring this. Here you go, Nott, the antidote," Tom threw the vial to Nott, who caught it handily.

"I suspected I would get it in a drink," the man said quietly.

"An age old trick, you should know I don't usually go for the original method." Tom sighed. "Now, let us get on with it, I'm growing more impatient then ever." He held out the vial and ordered him to open his mouth, letting the whole lot go. "Swallow."

Tom stood straight as he heard a loud gulping sound.

"The information you gave Lucius, is it true?" Tom started.

"Yes, it is," the man replied.

"And, why do you give this information?" Tom said as he walked back and forth in front of hooded man.

"It was more beneficial for me to give the information, then to keep it," he replied in a low voice. "I know that you want Miss Weasley more than anything, and that kind of want makes any man determined enough to win. I'd like to be on the winning side."

"What 'kind of want'?" Tom sneered.

"Love," he answered simply.

Tom scowled. "How very heart-warming," he said sarcastically. "And you will lead us to this destination, will you?"

"Yes."

"To trap us," Tom hissed. "To corner us into a small location we know nothing of.

"No, not to trap you, as I said, I want to be on the winning side."

"You have the power to choose the winning side, you fool," Tom said menacingly, "don't try to overcome the deficiencies of the Veritaserum you know so well, because I know, too." Tom began pacing again. "The better question is, is this a trap?"

"No."

"I will reward you, but punishment will also be dealt out, as you might have expected since you switch loyalties so often," Tom said vehemently. "But, no punishment as of now. Lucius, I hope you have room in your dungeon until we leave for this location."

"Plenty of room, my Lord."

Tom watched as the Death Eaters escorted the man from the room. He never thought about love, and he wondered if the true reason for wanting Ginny so much was because of that weak feeling. It was what Dumbledore and Potter fed off, and it was what made them trust Severus Snape, who had just cost them their lives….

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Added Scene

October 5th 2000.

Dumbledore was ready; he knew his time was coming to an end, though he would have liked to have died with some hot chocolate and sherbet lemons. He did love sherbet lemons. Of course, he had made sure that no Aurors would be caught in the crossfire, which was why he had delegated a couple to protect Ginny Weasley. Yes, the old Professor was prepared to die.

Tom Riddle had changed, and no longer did he fear his old Transfigurations teacher. Dumbledore knew this. Perhaps kidnapping Ginny Weasley was the best thing he had done, but allowing it to happen was the worst that they had done.

The sound of footsteps creaking gently on the old rickety staircase made him stand up from the moth-eaten armchair, and the door swung open with a loud squeak. Dumbledore smiled calmly as five towering figures spilled into the small room, though Dumbledore was sure he was taller. "We meet again, Tom," Dumbledore said with a hint of nostalgia as he came through the door, flanked by some more Death Eaters, a very angry looking scowl upon his face. "I presume you came for Miss Weasley, but you came at the wrong time, she's not here."

"I noticed that, you old fool," he spat out venomously. "Where is she?" he demanded. "And don't play games with me."

"Really, is there any need for all these people, the room is rather small-?"

"Tell me!" Tom growled.

"You know that I won't do any such thing," Dumbledore said, sitting back down, "I've erased my own memory of the location, so no potion will work on me." Dumbledore smiled once more, rather sheepishly. "She doesn't love you; you know that, don't you, Mr. Riddle?"

"Love!" Tom sneered. "That is all your people talk of isn't it, Dumbledore? You think it will save you, but I beg to differ."

"You didn't answer my question, Tom," Dumbledore stated grimly. "Miss Weasley, fortunately enough, was not traumatised, and she told me everything, quite willingly."

"I really don't care what she told you," Tom said impatiently, "I want to know her whereabouts, and if you don't know, then you are of no use to me, old man." Tom was about to lift his wand, but smirked and gestured to the cloaked man behind him. "I am surprised that you do not wish to know who sold you out, Dumbledore."

"Ah, I forgot," he said, "old age doesn't become me very well."

"Well, you shall know before I kill you," Tom smiled as the cloaked man stepped forward, and when he pulled his hood back, Tom was a bit disappointed that Dumbledore did not react the way he wanted.

"I suspected something of the sort," Dumbledore said simply, "and that is why all my Aurors, including Miss Weasley and the child, are hidden."

"And that is why you shall die, taking my son from me like he is yours," Tom stated with anger.

"But, you should remember that you took Ginny from her home like she was yours," Dumbledore said quietly, "but, she is not yours, Tom, she may have your heart, but you do not have hers."

"I've had enough of this talk about love," Tom spat the word out like it was diseased. "Goodbye, old man." Tom lifted his wand quickly, not wanting to waste anymore time than necessary. "Avada Kedavra!" And the last thing Dumbledore saw was the flashing green of the notorious Killing Curse.

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Once back at Malfoy Manor, Tom punished Snape severely for giving him the wrong information of Ginny's whereabouts. But, he did not use his full power as he did lead Tom to Dumbledore, and now he lay stone dead in that murky grey armchair. But, no Ginny, and no baby. He was getting pissed off now.

Dumbledore had pushed all the right buttons to make Tom more angry than he had been. Telling him that Ginny did not love him at all, and saying there could have been a possibility that she would have gone mad because of what he had done to her. And he dare mention his son. But, as he reminded himself, he was dead.

Tom thought about the one-way connection he had shared with Ginny, and he wondered if there was a way that he could find out where she was through that. He had not known much about the marriage ceremony that he had chosen, only that there souls would intertwine further, and that it was irreversible. He remembered the minister that had performed the ceremony and decided to contact him. He would know about it.

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A/N: OK, not as great as my other chapters, but it is necessary. Sorry about the added chapters, I just write these scenes and decide that they would be better off separate, then decide that they would be better off with the chapter. Crazy.

Bumblez 24: Sorry that Harry is annoying, but I don't understand why you'd say that. He isn't meant to be annoying.