A/N: New fic. Seems H/G, but will be D/G.
A Light in the Dark
Chapter 1
"No," she harshly whispered to herself as the contents of a small wooden chest poured to the floor.
It wasn't there. Nothing of any use was there. Dead spiders and dust wouldn't be able to help her.
She ran to the bottom of a winding staircase, stumbling and panting in the dark.
It was too late.
Tears spilled from her eyes. What to do? She would never be able to escape. She had failed herself. She would be his forever now.
A cool slender hand stroked her long red hair. She shuddered. No.
"My darling love, what have you been up to?" a malevolent voice pondered.
She gulped. No.
The hand violently grabbed a chunk of her hair, pulling firmly.
"Trying to escape? I see. You must remember that I am always a step ahead of you Ginevra. Why, I can hear your thoughts."
Her tears stopped dead in their tracks as she saw the gleam of her freedom in the moonlight. The clang of the key falling into the captivity of a nearby well struck a chord in her heart.
No.
The hand once pulling her hair disappeared to its owner's side and then to hers. Suddenly, another hand gripped her other side as cool lips brushed against her neck.
"You'll never escape me, love."
Her knees buckled from grief. The dry lump in her throat quadrupled in size. Freedom was only wishful thinking. The world around her blackened. She could only feel the evil touch of the man who had enslaved her mind and soul.
No…
"Ginny? Ginny, wake up!" shouted a woman.
Ginny thrashed while screaming over and over again. Her face was soaked in sweat. Her eyes flashed open as she regained control of her breath. Her hand trembled as she wiped the wet hair away from her eyes and absorbed her surroundings.
The library?
She embarrassingly grabbed her books, parchment, bag, and quills while blushing from the piercing gazes of the students surrounding her.
Madam Pince placed a comforting hand on Ginny's back. Before exiting the library, Ginny gave a wary smile to the woman who had been witnessing Ginny's physical symptoms of her night terrors. That day was the eighth time.
"Ginny dear, wait a moment."
"Yes, Madam Pince?" The last thing Ginny wanted was to have a heart-to-heart with the librarian.
"You've been falling asleep in the library very often lately, and it has come to my attention."
"I'm sorry, Madam Pince, I'll study somewhere else from now on."
"Oh, dear, I know that these episodes most certainly seem to be a nuisance to the students here with you, but I am very much concerned with your problem. I suggest you see Madam Pomfrey about this."
"I will. You don't need to worry about me."
Madam Pince frowned. "Contrary to popular belief, I truly do care about the students here. That's why I have decided to give you this key."
Ginny cringed at the sight of the shining metal. A key… What was it about the key? Didn't she need one? But when? Why?
She shook-off her confusion. "Why do I need this?"
The elderly woman smiled. The first smile she had in a very long time. "It's the key to a private study room. Be careful though – it has been out of use for quite some time. I believe you will be able to study at your leisure there, without bothering the other students. However, I do recommend that you study with a friend so that you can avoid falling asleep for a night in there"
Ginny blushed. She hadn't meant to thrash about in her seat like she had. She was asleep. She had a nightmare. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't remember what happened.
She accepted the key. "Thank you."
She turned on her heel to leave, still flushed from embarrassment. In the distance, she heard Madam Pince screeching at some First Years about the proper treatment of reference books. The students' voices quivered as they apologized.
Why had the guardian of school books taken such a liking to her? Little Ginny Weasley who couldn't keep her eyes open enough to finish a Charms essay certainly couldn't mean that much to the old woman.
On her way to the seventh floor, Ginny kept her eyes on the ground. She was usually vibrant with confidence, no matter what had happened to her, but facing the world head-on just wasn't so appealing anymore. She would usually stand up for herself, but she just didn't feel like being perfect Ginny right then. She was exhausted. The dark circles under her eyes told she hadn't had a good-night's sleep in weeks. What got under her skin the most was that she was afraid, deathly afraid, and she didn't know why.
Watching the ground while she walked did not prove to be a very good method of moving about because in the midst of her thoughts, she found herself come in direct contact with…something. Or maybe someone?
She looked up to see who she had run into, the blush creeping back to her face. She was thankful when her cinnamon brown eyes met emerald green. Harry. She smiled at him.
Sadly, he grimaced back while pressing his right hand to his scar.
"Harry, are you alright?" she questioned.
"No. Sorry Gin, I don't feel up to talking right now. I think I'm going to lie down." Here he motioned to his forehead, and Ginny nodded. She knew about the connection his scar had with Voldemort. She understood.
He walked into the common room after whispering "Quaffle" to the Fat Lady, who moved to the side. Ginny followed.
Hermione and Ron were sitting on a big maroon couch in front of the fireplace in the common room. The immediately jumped up when they saw Harry walk into the room.
"I can't take this anymore," he told them. Ginny was able to hear their conversation.
"Mate, what are you going to do?" asked Ron.
"I wish Dumbledore was still here," said Hermione.
"Hermione, we know that's not possible. I have to go. I have to."
"But Harry!" shouted Ron. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to kill him, Ron. I'm going to get him once and for all."
The Trio embraced each other at once. Hermione began to weep.
"Oh, Harry, can we go with you?" she questioned, but by the look in his eyes it seemed as though he would complete this mission solo. "Listen, Harry, you need to go to McGonagall. She needs to know you're leaving."
"No, 'Mione, I'm just going to leave. I don't want to make a big production of this. Everyone's already riled up about Malfoy and Snape not being here this year and Dumbledore's death last year. I don't want them to know I'm gone yet."
"Harry, they'll notice eventually," said Ron.
"I know, but I have to do this. McGonagall will know."
"At least get some rest. You'll need all the strength you can get," suggested Hermione.
"Alright, I'll go to my room in a bit. I just need some time alone right now."
The two friends looked at each other with knowing eyes and walked out of the common room. They knew that Harry needed his space.
Ginny pressed herself into the shadows as Ron and Hermione walked past. She didn't want them to know that she heard every word of their conversation.
After they left, she slowly made her way over to the couch on which Harry was sitting. She set her school things down and sat next to him. She bit her lip as she stared, hoping he would wake from his reverie to tell her goodbye.
"Ginny, we need to talk."
"We do?"
"Yes. I know you heard my conversation with Ron and Hermione."
"I'm sorry, I was just standing there. I didn't really mean to listen in…" she paused. "Are you serious?"
After a moment of gazing into her eyes, he responded, "Yes, I am serious. And I need to tell you something very serious."
"Yes, Harry?"
"You're in danger, Gin."
Her face paled to the point where she could have been mistaken for a dying patient on a hospital bed. He couldn't be serious. She didn't believe him. Nevertheless, she tried to humor herself out of this shocking news.
"Oh, silly me, I shouldn't have started writing in that diary I found…" she nervously laughed as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. "Are you being honest, Harry? How could I be in danger?"
"I'm sorry, but I just have this feeling that tells me you are. I know you are. In fact, I want you to come with me."
"What? Harry, what are you talking about?"
"You heard me, Gin. I want you to come with me. You really should. I know where you'll be safe."
"Are you trying to say that Hogwarts isn't safe?"
"No," he snapped slightly. "Hogwarts is safe…for the average student."
"So I'm not an average student?" asked Ginny, unsure of what he really was trying to say.
"No, Ginny, you aren't. You're special, Gin."
"H-Harry, I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything. Just come with me. I'm not going to my dormitory. I'm leaving now."
Ginny moved closer to him, searching his eyes for some sort of falsehood he was hiding from her. Nothing.
"I would recommend that you get some rest, but from the looks of those circles under your eyes, it seems as though that's been a difficulty of late."
"Yeah," she replied in a daze, "it has."
"I know why."
She simply looked at him with wondering eyes. That was enough for him to give an explanation to her.
"I didn't really know what was going on at first, but then everything became clear. I kept getting these…premonitions of sorts…mostly at night a few weeks ago. They involved a girl, who I reasoned to be you, and…well…someone else."
"What happened in them, Harry?"
"You don't know?" questioned Harry, slightly upset.
"No…I don't. Why would I?"
"Because my visions are your nightmares. It finally came together when I saw you in the library thrashing around before I saw your dream. Every time you're near my scar aches. Ginny, something isn't right."
"Merlin, Harry. I had no idea."
"Well, there's still a problem. I need to know what's happening in your nightmares."
"Why don't you know if you saw it?"
"That's the thing," responded Harry. "I really don't know. I can't remember what I've seen a millisecond after it's happened. I was hoping you would know."
"I'm sorry Harry," she whispered. "I can't help."
A pained expression graced his strong facial features. Ginny didn't know what to do. Tears fell freely down her pale freckled cheeks. Harry wrapped a protective arm around her.
"Don't worry Ginny," whispered Harry. "I won't let him hurt you again."
She looked up at him with doleful eyes. He brushed the tears away from her cheeks. "Don't cry, Ginny."
She smiled at the affection. They hadn't been this close since last year before Dumbledore had gone.
Harry couldn't contain himself. He needed someone he could hold. Ginny was so perfect. He had to have her one last time…
Their faces inched closer and closer together. For a moment, there was bliss in the torment as their lips joined together timidly.
Then, pain. Agonizing pain. Harry cringed and pulled away from Ginny, moaning and holding his forehead. Ginny tried to help him, but was enslaved to a pain of her own. She reached out to Harry, but fell away into darkness.
A chilling hand stroked her cheek.
"Unfaithful, Ginevra?"
She moaned in response. She hurt everywhere. Unrelenting pain coursed through her frail body.
"That's unacceptable. You are to be mine forever, not Potter's – not anyone else's."
She struggled against his grasp, but he was holding her too tightly.
No.
"Harry!" she screamed with no avail. She wished death would soothe her as hands roamed her body. She wished death would work faster.
But it was just a wish.
"Harry?" the voice spat. "No, Ginevra. Not Potter."
She cried as hands ripped at her skin. Bruising.
"It's Riddle. Say Tom, dearest."
No response. Battering hands harmed her.
"Say it you good-for-nothing wench!" he hissed.
Nothing.
"CRUCIO!"
Darkness.