Chapter 9
Ginny's voice had been returned to her a week after she had been rushed to the Hospital Wing. It had taken Severus several attempts to find a healing draught that would heal the damage to her vocal cords without reacting to the anti-conception potion she was forced to take each week.
As the days passed into weeks, Ginny was hardly ever alone. She was always in the presence of one of the other Gryffindors, usually Harry, if not Hermione and Ron as well, much to Draco's continued annoyance. Harry was with her almost constantly these days, escorting her to and from class, even joining her for her weekly study sessions with Draco. The only time Draco ever seemed to be alone with Ginny was during their time together in his room but even then it was never just the two of them. Draco was still in the dark about Blinky's continued presence at these meetings and the fact that Harry was waiting for Ginny on the other side of the door under his invisibility cloak.
It was now mid-March and the students were enjoying the first week of their Easter Holidays. Ginny was out taking a walk on the grounds, enjoying the early spring sunshine, and the opportunity to be on her own, something that had not happened in weeks. While she had been grateful to Harry for his concern, she knew even before that first meeting with Draco after ending up in the Hospital Wing that Blinky would find a way to get to her and he had.
"Where the hell have you been young lady?" snapped Ron as he grabbed Ginny by the arm and spun her around to face him.
"Walking?" replied Ginny in confusion as she tried to free her arm from Ron's tightening grip.
"You spend the past two and a half months practically hanging off Harry's arm like some kind of leech and then the one day I need you, you've vanished and then you have the nerve to make Harry, Hermione and I come out searching for you," snarled Ron in annoyance.
"Well I'm sorry if my presence has offended you in some way Ron," sneered Ginny in reply, not noticing Draco hovering on his broom nearby. "So if you'll excuse me, I'll just remove my offensiveness from your presence," she said as she tried to get out of Ron's hold on her arm.
"You're not going anywhere Ginny, except with me," Ron informed her.
"Ron, let go. You're hurting me," pleaded Ginny as Ron's grip tightened even more as he turned her and started pulling her along with him, until he stopped short when he found Draco standing in his way.
"You heard your sister Weasel, you're hurting her, so I suggest you let go of her arm," instructed Draco coldly.
"Stay out of this Ferret Face. This doesn't concern you," snapped Ron as he yanked on Ginny's arm and pushed past Draco.
"Where are you taking me?" demanded Ginny as she realized the direction they were heading was right towards the gates of the school grounds.
"Mum and Dad are in Hogsmeade today and they want to see you," replied Ron tersely.
"NO!" cried Ginny as she started fighting to free herself. "No Ron, I can't…You can't make me…Ron please…don't do this…oh Gods….DRACO!" cried Ginny as she felt what she could only assume to be the wards protecting the school.
At hearing Ginny's cry Draco raced over to where she was struggling with Ron. "Let her go Weasel," Draco ordered as he tried to remove Ron's hand from Ginny's arm. "Forgive me Ginny," he said when it was obvious Ron was not going to let go before punching Ron in the jaw, causing him to finally lose his hold on his sister.
"Draco, the wards…" Ginny began in a panic. "I'm too close…"
"Come on, let's get you out of here," Draco said as he started leading Ginny back towards the castle, his arm around her shoulders.
They were only a few steps away by the time Ron recovered enough to fire off a leg locker curse at Draco, tripping him up enough so as to make him fall to the ground, taking Ginny with him so that Ginny landed on top of him.
"Ginny, run," ordered Draco as Ginny tried to untangle herself.
Just as Ron grab a hold of Ginny's waist to pull her away, she managed to free herself and her wand, quickly casting the counter spell freeing Draco seconds before Ron threw her back in the direction of the gates. The minute Ron let go of her, Ginny lost her footing on the slick surface and crashed to the ground, sliding a few feet after hitting the ground and travelling just far enough so that she stopped a foot or so on the other side of the gates, setting of the wards.
"You jackass," cursed Draco as he leapt to his feet and punched Ron in the stomach and kneed him in the groin before running after Ginny.
"Oh Gods Draco, the wards, I'm across the wards…" Ginny cried in panic as Draco helped her to her feet before pulling her close.
"I know Fireling, I know," soothed Draco. "Come on, let's get you back up to the castle," he said as he stepped back and wiped the tears from Ginny's dirt streaked face. "Dumbledore'll be able to help," he reassured as he took Ginny's hands and turned around, only to come face to face with a Death Eater. "Get behind me," he instructed as he stepped in front of Ginny before turning his attention to the Death Eater in front of him. "I'm not letting you have her," he snarled as he drew his wand.
"Noble sentiments Master Malfoy, while she's an added bonus, she's not the one we're after," replied the Death Eater in front of Draco as others appeared from their hiding spots and formed a circle around the two students.
"Then who…" began Draco.
"Stupefy," cast the lead Death Eater and one other, knocking both Ginny and Draco unconscious before picking them up and portkeying back to Riddle House.
By the time the first professors arrived at the school gates and the siren that signalled the wards had been tripped, had been shut off, they found very little to explain exactly what happened. Their only witness, Ron, was lying on the ground in pain; the only thing beside the boy was a familiar looking broom, Draco's Nimbus. Where Draco, Ginny and whoever had taken them had gone, was anyone's guess.
"Our task is done my Lord," reported the lead Death Eater as he entered the Dark Lord's throne room and bowed before his lord and master, the others entering behind him, dropping Ginny and Draco on the floor at the base of the throne before stepping back and bowing.
"You have done well, very well, my servants," commented Tom, a hint of praise in his voice as he took in the identities of the two on the floor at his feet. "I ask for young Draco and you not only bring me him but you manage to get young Ginevra as well. A feat Lord Malfoy has been incapable of achieving."
"She came out of nowhere my Lord," replied Avery, taking off his mask. "We saw Draco arguing with the youngest Weasley male when she suddenly appeared on the ground in front of us."
"How is that possible?" wondered Tom as a loud ruckus ensued on the other side of the doors leading to the throne room before the doors swung open, admitting two people.
"NO! You can't come in here! Our Lord is busy and cannot be disturbed," whimpered Wormtail as he cowered away from the man in front of him.
"It's alright Wormtail, he may stay," Tom said as he rose from his throne. "Leave us Wormtail," he ordered. Once Peter had left and closed the doors behind him, Tom continued, "Severus, you have not been summoned."
"I know my Lord, please forgive my intrusion," replied Severus.
"Perhaps you can explain why Avery was able to accomplish what Lord Malfoy was not," suggest Tom.
"My Lord?" asked Severus in confusion.
"Miss Weasley, Severus," replied Tom indicating Ginny lying on the floor at his feet. "Avery says she appeared out of nowhere. How is that possible?"
"Miss Weasley has spent the past seven months at Hogwarts under the protection of Sanctuary. No one outside the school's protective wards could see her unless she crossed the wards, which would explain why she appeared out of nowhere," explained Severus. "From what we managed to get out of her brother, he was attempting to get his sister into Hogsmeade, where their parents were waiting for them when Mr. Malfoy got involved. I can only assume that that is only the Gryffindor point of view. My guess is that Miss Weasley, knowing she couldn't leave the grounds, started fighting with her brother, which is when Mr. Malfoy would have gotten involved and tried to help Miss Weasley get away from her brother and the school boundaries."
"What possible reason would Lord Malfoy's son have to get involved in a matter between two Weasleys?" asked Tom in confusion.
"Mr. Malfoy was aware of Miss Weasley's status under Sanctuary," replied Severus. "He knew she could not leave the grounds. Since we found Mr. Malfoy's broomstick near where we found Mr. Weasley, my guess would be that Mr. Malfoy was keeping an eye on Miss Weasley and stepped in when it was obvious that Mr. Weasley was attempting to force his sister from the grounds."
"The Malfoys and Weasleys have hated one another for centuries Severus," observed Tom as he retook his throne. "So then why would Miss Weasley confide something as important as her plea for Sanctuary to Mr. Malfoy and more importantly, why would Mr. Malfoy care enough to try and protect her?"
"She's his wife," replied Severus simply.
"I beg your pardon?" demanded Tom sitting forward in his throne. "Silence!" he ordered when the Death Eaters started muttering amongst themselves. "You're dismissed. All of you," he ordered. "Except you Severus."
"My Lord," replied Severus with a bow as the other Death Eaters bowed and exited the throne room before apparating home.
"Now then Severus," began Tom once all the other Death Eaters had left. "Did you just say what I think you said?"
"I did my Lord," replied Severus.
"Mr. Malfoy and Miss Weasley here are married?"
"They are my Lord," replied Severus.
"Lord Malfoy was instructed to turn the girl to our side, not marry her to his son," snarled Tom in irritation.
"I do not know Lord Malfoy's thinking on the matter my Lord," commented Severus. "I can only presume that he believed it would be easier to persuade her to join us if she was married to young Draco."
"I'm sure a fairly large sum of money changed hands in order for Molly and Arthur Weasley to agree to the arrangement," mused Tom.
"Miss Weasley spoke of her parents selling her to the Malfoy's my Lord," commented Severus.
"She confided in you?" asked Tom curiously.
"She did," admitted Severus. "If Lord Malfoy's assignment was to turn the girl to our side, he went about it in the wrong way my Lord."
"Meaning what Severus?" pressed Tom.
"Lord Malfoy may have arranged a marriage between Miss Weasley and his son, instead of taking every opportunity to seduce her to our side, he took every opportunity to remind Miss Weasley that the arrangement was only temporary and that once her services were no longer necessary, the marriage would be over," explained Severus.
"Her services?"
"In Lord Malfoy's eyes my Lord, Miss Weasley is nothing more than his son's high priced whore with a weekly appointment in his bed to renew the marriage contract," explained Severus.
"I see," commented. "And this offended the young lady so much she sought Sanctuary at Hogwarts?"
"No my Lord."
"Then what Severus?" pressed Tom.
"On top of the torture inflicted upon Miss Weasley on a regular basis by one of Lord Malfoy's house-elves, he severely beat her and promised to rape her when he found out that she had agreed to accompany his son to the End of Summer Ball," replied Severus.
"He what?" snarled Tom in outrage as he leapt to his feet and started pacing.
"It was after the beating that Miss Weasley showed up seeking the protection of Sanctuary, at which point Lord Malfoy had to seek out indirect means to keep Miss Weasley in line," offered Severus.
"Indirect, how?" demanded Tom.
"He found a way for his house-elf to reach her and torture her," replied Severus.
"How badly was she tortured?"
"It's hard to know the true extend of it my Lord. Miss Weasley became rather adept at hiding the effects of it and she refused to talk about it so the frequency of the attacks is unknown. There are only two attacks that I know of for sure. She collapsed in the library at the beginning of the school year, which is when I first learned of the house-elf being in the school and she was told to inform one of her professors when it happened again," Severus explained.
"I take it she did not," observed Tom.
"No my Lord," replied Severus. "She spoke of it to no one. We did not learn any more until the end of the Christmas Holidays when she was found unconscious on the floor of her room."
"WORMTAIL! Get in here!" yelled Tom, the room trembling with his fury.
"Yes…yes my Lord?" Peter simpered nervously from the doorway.
"Simcox. Here. NOW!" ordered Tom.
"Yes…yes my Lord," replied Peter before leaving the room to summon the Death Eater in question.
"A Medi-Wizard my Lord?" Severus questioned curiously.
"Lord Malfoy was under strict instructions that the girl was not to be harmed in any way. I need to make sure that she is not damaged in any way for what I have planned for her," explained Tom.
"Of course my Lord," agreed Severus as Tom handed him a piece of parchment.
"I need you to make what's on that parchment immediately and bring them to me when they are done," instructed Tom.
"Of course my Lord," agreed Severus before bowing and making his way from the room towards the lab Tom had created for him in Riddle House.
Once Severus had left, Tom summoned two house-elves to transport Ginny and Draco to their rooms, or in Draco's case, his cell, and revive them, sending Ginny into a panic until the doctor showed up and sent the poor house-elf away and began his thorough examination.
"The potions my Lord," Severus said a few hours later as he bowed before Tom.
"Excellent," replied Tom, rising from his throne and taking the bottles from Severus.
"There is one small thing my Lord," commented Severus as he watched Tom approach a table on the side of the room.
"And what might that be Severus?" Tom asked as he poured the clear potion into a bowl before placing a necklace into it.
"The pale pink potion my Lord, it is not the potion you requested," replied Severus, holding his ground and refusing to back away when Tom turned slowly towards him, the anger radiating off him.
"What do you mean it is not the potion I requested?" asked Tom evenly. "I didn't give you a list of options Severus. I gave you a list of potions I expected."
"I know that my Lord, please forgive me," pleaded Severus. "But the potion you hold in your hand is a much more powerful one than the one that you requested my Lord. This one is practically guaranteed to give you the results that you desire."
"And yet I suspect there is a drawback of some sort to this…advantage?"
"Two, my Lord," answered Severus. "One major, one minor."
"Your answers are not making this seem a better option Severus. Every answer seems to have two parts," Tom growled. "Get to the point before I have someone else make the potions I wanted and permanently remove you from my services."
"Forgive me my Lord," begged Severus, bowing in supplication. "This particular potion has a ninety-five percent success rate if the girl in question is not coerced or forced in anyway, if she is a willing participant. It has a ninety-nine percent success rate if the girl is not only a willing participant but also in love with one she is with."
Tom turned away from Severus for a number of minutes before finally turning back to look at him. "A much better potion to be sure, though I would have preferred to have this suggested to me before you made the potion. Although I must ask, just who do you think is the man to fulfil the requirements for this potion of yours to work?" he continued, already having a suspicion but wanting to see if Severus knew more of the matter being young Malfoy's teacher and Head of House.
"I believe Lord Malfoy's son to be that man my Lord," replied Severus. "Neither one had come out and admitted it, either to me or to each other, or in Miss Weasley's case even to herself, but I've watched the two of them over the months since school started and it is quite obvious that despite the circumstances surrounding their relationship, they share deep feelings for one another.
Tom remained silent a moment as he considered this. "If this route is the one taken, I would assume that young Mr. Malfoy would need to be kept with her? We would want Miss Weasley as comfortable as possible during her confinement and if she does care for the boy, then taking him away from her would not be conducive to a comfortable environment and could cause injury to her and the child…Given the choice, do you believe young Mr. Malfoy would remain here at her side of his own free will?"
"If the choice is to remain here and be with Miss Weasley or leave her here and return to the life chosen for him by his father, I strongly believe that Mr. Malfoy will choose to remain here with Miss Weasley and their child," replied Severus.
Tom nodded once more. "Fair enough. But don't try something like this again Severus. I won't be so…accepting twice. I'll have the boy taken from his cell and given a room and proper treatment until he and Miss Weasley are reunited.
As promised, Draco had been moved from his cell in the dungeons into one of the bedrooms at Riddle House, where he was allowed to freshen up. What he was not prepared for though was for his clothes to go missing while he was taking a shower. In their place he found a loose fitting white silk shirt and a pair of black dress pants. Having no other option, since his original clothes were gone, he put on what was laid out for him.
As he was buttoning the shirt a knock at the door sounded seconds before the door opened. Before he could react Draco found his hands bound together behind his back.
"My master requires your presence boy," Peter said as he took a hold of Draco by the arm and started dragging him from the room all the way down to the throne room where he forced Draco to his knees in front of Tom, who was sitting on his throne with Severus standing just to his left and a little behind.
"While I applaud your enthusiasm Wormtail, that is not how one treats one's guests," chided Tom before Peter turned and made his way back out of the throne room. "My apologies Mr. Malfoy," continued Tom once Peter was gone, removing the restraints from Draco's wrists.
"Lord Voldemort," greeted Draco, his eyes downcast as he rubbed the feeling back into his wrists.
"Now then Mr. Malfoy, I understand that there is a contract between you and Miss Weasley that needs to be renewed. You will do so when Miss Weasley arrives here momentarily," instructed Tom.
That got Draco's attention and not in the most pleasant of ways. "Lord…"
"I am well aware of what's involved Mr. Malfoy," interrupted Tom. "You will renew the contract here in this room, on the altar behind you before Professor Snape and I."
"No," replied Draco.
"You are aware of the consequences of refusing me, are you not?" snarled Tom.
"I am Lord Voldemort," admitted Draco, his eyes still downcast.
"And yet you still refuse me?" demanded Tom.
"No Lord Voldemort, I do not," replied Draco.
"Professor Snape has already pushed the limits of my patience today Mr. Malfoy, do not think you can do the same," ordered Tom.
"I will do as you instruct Lord Voldemort. I will make love to Ginny, here, before you, on one condition," countered Draco.
"Which is?" demanded Tom, Draco's choice of words not lost on him.
"That you afford her at least a modicum of dignity by allowing it to happen on a bed not an altar," replied Draco.
"I give you a bed for the task and you will do what is expected of you?" Tom confirmed.
"Yes Lord Voldemort," agreed Draco.
"Done," said Tom, transfiguring the altar into a king size bed, stripped of everything but its fitted sheet and a few pillows.
After her extremely thorough examination by Dr. Simcox, way more thorough than any exam had a right to be in her mind, Ginny escaped to the bathroom, where she spent quite a long time soaking in the bathtub.
When she emerged from the bathroom, she too found her original clothes missing; in their place was a white silk dressing gown. Having nothing else to put on, she dressed in the gown and walked over to the vanity to find a comb to use on her hair when she noticed the goblet of potion sitting there. Knowing what the potion signified, Ginny sighed in defeat before picking up the goblet and drinking the potion. Expecting Blinky to show up at any moment, she was caught off guard when the door to her room opened and a strange man stepped into her room.
"Who are you?" demanded Ginny.
"Let's go," ordered Peter. "My master is waiting for you."
"I asked you a question," countered Ginny.
"That is not your concern," Peter replied as he stalked over and backhanded Ginny across the face with his good hand, knocking her back into the vanity. "Now let's go," he ordered as he grabbed her arm with his silver hand and dragged her from the room. A few feet short of the throne room doors he stopped and spun to face Ginny. "What I wouldn't give to be the one to taste you," he said, undressing Ginny with his eyes as his good hand started to wander. "I always dreamed of doing Lily Potter and you look just like her…"
"You're disgusting," snarled Ginny as she slapped Peter as hard as she could.
"You bitch," snapped Peter as he retaliated and back handed Ginny once more, knocking her to the ground and climbing on top of her as she struggled to get away. "Fight all you want bitch, no one here will help you," he said as he wrapped his silver hand around Ginny's neck and started to squeeze.
Draco was still on his knees in front of Tom's throne, Tom having just transfigured the altar into a bed, when he felt a sudden spike of heat in his ring. "Ginny!" he hissed in fear as he leapt to his feet and hurried to the throne room doors.
"Get back here Mr. Malfoy!" ordered Tom, rising from his throne and drawing his wand.
"My Lord, wait," instructed Severus, putting his hand on Tom's arm.
"Severus…" began Tom threateningly only to have Severus follow after Draco. After a moment's debate of how he was going to punish Severus, Tom shook his head slightly and followed after them, still debating ways he intended to punish the man.
Draco was shocked to step out into the hall and find Ginny lying on the floor fighting with Peter who was on top of her. "Get off her, you bastard," snarled Draco as he grabbed Peter by the shoulder and hauled him off Ginny, throwing him across the hall just as Severus stepped out of the throne room.
The minute Draco pulled Peter off of her; Ginny started coughing as she tried to take in air too quickly. Draco was about to attack Peter when he heard Ginny start coughing.
"Draco, she needs you more," Severus spoke quickly just as Tom joined them.
With a nod at Severus, Draco turned and made his way over to Ginny, helping her to her feet and pulling her into his arms. "Are you alright?" he asked in concern, taking her head in his hands and caressing her cheeks with his thumbs, wiping away a few escaping tears. "Did he hurt you?"
Ginny could not seem to get her voice to work so she shook her head instead to let Draco know Peter had not really done anything to her. She had never been happier to see anyone like she was when Draco had shown up moments before. "I'm sorry," she sniffed.
"What are you talking about?" asked Draco quietly in confusion. "You have nothing to be sorry for."
"This is all my fault. If I hadn't crossed the wards…"
"Ginny, shh," Draco said interrupting her and pulling her close. "None of this is your fault. Ron's responsible for you crossing the wards and Wormtail's nothing but a disgusting rat," reassured Draco as he comforted Ginny.
"What exactly is going on Severus?" asked Tom when he stopped next to the man, watching as the young Malfoy walked over to Miss Weasley.
"It would appear that Wormtail here decided he knew better than you did in regards to a partner for Miss Weasley," replied Severus.
Tom's eyebrows rose before he turned to look at the other man. "Really now, I had thought you knew well enough to obey me Wormtail."
"I…I do my Lord. Snape lies. The girl tripped my Lord, pulling me down with her," countered Peter desperately.
Tom glanced back over at Ginny and Draco before returning his attention to Peter. "It is quite interesting that the boy knew something was wrong with the girl. And that he would react so strongly to something as simple as her tripping. I believe it's time you were reminded why you obey me and not let your own ideas become reality Wormtail," Tom continued as he raised a hand and gestured the two Death Eaters who had come at the sound of a commotion, over. "Take Wormtail downstairs, he has an appointment to keep with my pet."
"No my Lord please," Peter begged as he struggled against the other Death Eaters as they dragged him off down the hall.
"Please does not work with me Wormtail, you should know that," Tom called after the man before turning to Severus. "Well then, shall we get back to the matter at hand?"
"Of course my Lord," agreed Severus before turning towards Draco and Ginny. "Mr. Malfoy," he called getting Draco's attention.
Draco turned at hearing his name, meeting Severus' eye briefly before he turned back to Ginny. Kissing her lightly on the forehead, he stepped back and took her hand, leading her into the throne room behind Severus and Tom.
Once they were back in the throne room, Tom sealed the doors behind them, to prevent any unwanted guests from intruding before making his way over to a table on the far side of the room, while Severus returned to his earlier position next to the throne.
"First a gift," Tom said as he turned around and started over to where Ginny and Draco were standing, coming to a stop behind Ginny as he lowered something down between them. "A woman as beautiful as yourself doesn't need fancy pendants. A simple chain is more than enough," he said as he fastened the gold necklace around Ginny's neck so it lay across her collarbones at the base of her neck. "At your leisure Mr. Malfoy," Tom instructed as he made his way back to his throne, the underlying threat not lost on Draco.
"Draco what…"
"Come with me," Draco instructed taking Ginny by the hand and leading her over to the bed. Stopping, he turned to face her, taking her face in his hands once more. "Do you trust me?"
"Draco, what's going on?" Ginny asked worriedly, placing her hands over Draco's.
"Do you trust me?" Draco asked again.
"Yes of course I do Draco. I trust you with my life," replied Ginny, a note of panic entering her voice. "Draco…"
"Close your eyes," instructed Draco.
"What?" asked Ginny in confusion.
"You said you trusted me," countered Draco.
"I do," reassured Ginny.
"Then close your eyes," Draco pressed lightly.
"What is he doing Severus?" wondered Tom quietly.
"My guess is trying to take her mind off of her surroundings my Lord," replied Severus quietly.
"Don't worry Fireling, you're safe. I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you," Draco said reassuringly when Ginny hesitated to close her eyes.
"You promise?" Ginny asked tentatively as she finally closed her eyes.
"I promise," Draco whispered in her ear before kissing her temple. "Now think of a place, it can be any place at all. A place for just the two of us, nobody else, just you and me. Can you see it?"
Ginny nodded as she bit her lower lip.
"Good, now picture us there. Can you do that?" Draco asked quietly in Ginny's other ear before kissing her temple.
Ginny nodded once more.
"Good, now keep that image in your mind and focus on my hands and the way they're touching you," Draco said as he traced Ginny's face lightly with a finger. "On my lips and how they kiss you," he said as he kissed her in the hollow of her collarbone. "And on my body and how it moves with yours," he said as he undid Ginny's dressing gown before lying her down on the bed and climbing on top of her.
Severus and Tom watched as Draco undressed and proceeded to make love to Ginny, never once stopping his monologue.
"They make quite the striking couple do they not my Lord," Severus observed a short while after Draco had climbed on top of Ginny.
"Yes, they do," agreed Tom, somewhat distractedly.
"Is everything alright my Lord?" questioned Severus.
"I find it curious Severus that you claim they love one another and yet neither has truly kissed the other," Tom observed.
"I believe that would be Miss Weasley's doing my Lord," replied Severus.
"How so?" wondered Tom.
"Ever since she was married to Mr. Malfoy, Lord Malfoy made sure that Miss Weasley knew that the arrangement was only temporary," began Severus.
"Yes you said that," interrupted Tom. "Get on with it."
"Yes my Lord," replied Severus. "I believe Miss Weasley refuses to allow Mr. Malfoy to truly kiss her because it means that she will not be hurt as much when he eventually leaves her for Miss Parkinson. It is her way of trying to distance herself and her feelings from the situation and protect her heart in the process. If she doesn't allow herself to kiss him, she can stop herself falling in love with him."
"I see," commented Tom. "And Mr. Malfoy's continuous monologue?"
"His way of trying to keep Miss Weasley calm and relaxed by keeping her attention focused on his words and his body, not on where she is or who is watching," explained Severus as he watched Draco collapse on top of Ginny.
Ginny instantly snapped back to reality when she felt Draco pull out and roll off her, immediately sitting up, her back to Tom and Severs as she picked up her dressing gown from the floor with trembling fingers.
"Escort Miss Weasley back to her room Severus. Mr. Malfoy and I have a few things to discuss," instructed Tom.
"Yes my Lord," replied Severus.
"Oh and Severus," Tom began, stopping Severus in his tracks. "You are to remain here tonight. I need you to make sure your potion worked flawlessly."
"Of course my Lord," replied Severus with a bow before turning and making his way over to where Ginny was sitting on the bed, fastening her dressing gown around her waist. "Follow me Miss Weasley," he instructed.
"Yes Professor," replied Ginny quietly, her eyes trained on the floor as she rose and followed Severus from the room.
"I suggest you try and get some sleep Miss Weasley," Severus suggested a few minutes later when he opened the door to Ginny's room.
"Yes Professor," replied Ginny as she stepped past Severus and into the bedroom.
"Good night Miss Weasley," Severus bid as he closed the door.
Ginny stood there motionless as Severus closed the door before turning and bolting into the bathroom, where she spent the next little while throwing up what little food there was in her system since she had not eaten anything since lunch hours before. When it became apparent that there was nothing left in her stomach, Ginny rinsed her mouth and brushed her teeth before returning to the main room and changing into the green silk nightgown that was laid out on the bed for her.
Once she was changed, Ginny turned away from the bed and made her way over to the couch in front of the fireplace. She finally let the tears come as she lay down on the couch. /-/Oh Harry, this is all my fault. If only I hadn't left your side, I wouldn't be here right now. I'd by lying in your arms on the couch in front of the fire in the Gryffindor Common Room/-/ thought Ginny sadly as she let her tears flow freely. It was not long before Ginny was sleeping soundly, having cried herself to sleep after the day's events.
Meanwhile…
Tom watched Draco slowly sit up and pull his pants back on before dropping his head into his hands as Severus led Ginny from the room. He sat there merely watching the young man for a few moments before rising from his throne and making his way over to where Draco still sat on the bed. "Mr. Malfoy," he said as he stopped about a foot in front of Draco.
"Lord Voldemort," Draco greeted as he slowly lifted his gaze to meet Tom's. "Was the show to your liking?"
Tom smirked hearing the fire in the boy. "I much prefer the results actually. I have a proposition for you Mr. Malfoy."
"A proposition? What kind of proposition?" Draco demanded tiredly.
"A proposition regarding your future Mr. Malfoy," replied Tom.
"How so?"
"I am aware of your situation in regards to Miss Weasley Mr. Malfoy. I can see to it that that arrangement becomes a little more…permanent," explained Tom rather cryptically. "The choice is yours. You may stay here with Miss Weasley, or you may walk out that door right now and return to your school and your life."
"I'll stay," Draco said standing up.
"Think about it carefully Mr. Malfoy," Tom cautioned. "If you choose to remain here, you will have to live by the same rules as Miss Weasley, have the same restrictions placed upon you as are now placed upon her. You will, in a sense, be giving up much of your freedom, freedom which I give you if you walk out that door; walk away from Miss Weasley."
"I don't need to think about it Lord Voldemort, I'm staying," Draco informed him, a note of finality in his voice.
Tom smiled slightly before nodding. "As you wish Mr. Malfoy. Follow me," he instructed as he turned and made his way over to the table he had taken Ginny's necklace from earlier, Draco falling into step behind him and stopping about a foot back when Tom reached the table. "This will show my followers that you are to be left alone, as Miss Weasley's companion," Tom explained as he picked up a necklace similar to the one he had given Ginny earlier.
Draco took the chain from Tom and fastened it around his neck.
When Draco was done fastening the necklace, Tom summoned a house-elf and instructed it to take Draco to Ginny's room.
Draco dismissed the elf the minute they arrived at Ginny's room, much to the elf's annoyance, as he knew what seeing the elf would do to Ginny and he was not about to put her through that on top of everything else she had been forced to deal with that day. He started to worry when he stepped through the door and could see no sign of Ginny anywhere. She was not in the bed like he expected and she was not in the bathroom either when he checked. /-/I wonder/-/ he thought curiously when he caught sight of the couch by the fire. Quietly Draco made his way across the room and around the side of the couch, catching sight of Ginny as she slept. "Come on Fireling," he whispered as he carefully picked Ginny up and carried her over to the bed, laying her down gently so as not to wake her before climbing in next to her, pulling the covers up over them and pulling her close.