Chapter 19: Dreams to Life

"Hello, my dear. Shall we talk?"

"Let the lady alone." Oliver stood up, wand outstretched and pointed directly at the little man.

"Oliver, no! What are you doing here? Get out of here while you can." Tears stained my cheeks. I didn't want him to see this; I knew my death was coming.

"I'm not leaving you, Gin. I've lost you once already and I won't do it again." Oliver was glaring at the little man. He was shaking and sputtering his apologies to a lump on the ground. "Come on, Gin, let's go."

There was a venomous chuckle, issuing from the lump on the ground. My eyes widened in horror. "The young lady is staying here. We have some…issues…we need to discuss."

Oliver's face whitened. "I won't let you take her from me. Do you understand?"

"Ah, bravery. A foolish waste of emotions." The lump moved a little closer to me. "However, it is admirable. If you leave know, I will spare you. And possibly Miss Bensington. That is, however, her decision."

I scoffed. "You already know my answer."

"Well, we'll discuss it at length. Wormtail!"

Suddenly, the fat man called Wormtail issued a jet of light from his wand and unarmed Oliver. He was staring in shock at what had just happened.

"Now, what do to with the spare…"

I began sobbing. "Please, please, have mercy on him. He's being stupid. Let him go. Just let him go." My head collapsed onto my knees and I sobbed freely.

There was a moment of silence before Voldemort spoke to Wormtail again. "Kill him."

I sat up straight. "NO!" I stared down at the lump. "Please. He won't tell. He'll be too depressed. Just let him live, Voldemort, please."

"I do not like being kind. However, if it might hold some leverage with you…Let him go, Wormtail."

"My Lord?" Wormtail looked bewildered.

"Do not disobey me!" The Dark Lord said angrily.

He turned to look at Oliver. "You're free to go."

Oliver, who'd been in a stunned silence this entire time, looked from me to Wormtail and back again. Realization dawned in his eyes. "I won't leave you, Ginger. I can't lose you."

I turned from him. "You have no choice."

"No, I won't!" He ran to my side and collapsed beside me. He held me close to him; I could feel his tears on my neck. "I love you."

I pulled him back at arm's length and wiped his tears off his cheeks. Then I smiled at him sweetly. "I know. That's why I want you to live. You deserve to survive this Oliver." I kissed him softly. "Live for me. I love you." I whispered those words into his ear. Then I pushed him away. "Now go."

Oliver stumbled backward and stood up. His gaze was blaring into me. "How can I survive without you, Ginger?"

I turned away from him. "You'll manage." I heard his footsteps sound off in the distance. My smile broadened as I looked up. He was heading back to the castle. He was going to survive. I practically collapsed in relief.

"How touching."

I returned my attention on the hideous thing next to me on the ground. "What do you want from me, Voldemort?"

"You know very well what I want. I want you to join me. I'll let you live and you can stay here with your lover, lead your normal life. All you have to do is spy on Harry Potter for me. Tell me when I can exact my revenge. Come to me, Ginger…Join me."

I stood up and looked down at the lump that was Lord Voldemort. "You know my answer."

"What have they done for you, dear?" the hideous voice asked. "Oliver broke your heart, Flint betrayed you, even Potter and his friends won't speak to you because of what you've done to Oliver. You have no where else to go!" The evil man cackled.

I let out an exasperated sigh. "I broke Oliver's heart, not the other way around. I only did it to protect him from the certain death that awaited him because of me. Marcus was playing double agent and kept warning me. I think that's why you killed him. As for Harry and the rest of my Gryffindor friends, once Oliver tells them what happened, they'll forgive me and help Oliver move on. I could go back to the castle right now and life would be as it always has been." I put my hands on my hips. "You know I would never betray them. I'd rather die!"

"THAT CAN BE ARRANGED!" The monster was growing impatient. "When I think of what we could have had, what we could have become together…I could have been unstoppable with you as my queen. But, now, I'll have to do it alone."

I put on a fake pout. "Oh, don't feel lonely. Wormtail is still here." He wasn't as terrifying as he was in my dreams. I turned to Wormtail and opened my arms widely. "I'm ready. Do it."

The fat man looked from me to his master, confusion covering his features. "What should I do, Master?"

"You heard her, you idiot! Kill her!"

Wormtail poised his wand and began to say the words. "Avada…"

I turned to Voldemort. "Harry's going to kick your arse." I put on a self-satisfied smirk.

"Kedavra!"

Then my world went black forever.