Chapter 3
The bright light woke Ginny. She opened her eyes and sat up. She was alone. The young Lord had disappeared.
She sank back into the soft pillows and stared at the ceiling. Thoughts assailed her. To her great dismay she realized that she didn't know whether her brother, Hermione and Luna had survived the attack on the train. Incredible shame overcame her. She hadn't even thought of them once. Please, let them be alive! she silently prayed and blinked against tears. How worried they all must be about her. And her parents must be beside themselves with fear.
Oh, what would she not give to be with them now and to be safe in the Burrow.
But she wasn't. There was no point in thinking about this. She had to be strong, had to make the best of the situation and do everything in her power to survive. Perhaps she would find a way to escape.
Clinging to this hope, she stood up and wrapped the blanket around her. Standing in the open terrace door, she inhaled the fresh morning air. The park was bathed in blinding sunlight and the view was so beautiful that it was hardly imaginable that dungeons existed at this place, where people suffered agonizing tortures. She heard birds chirping, felt a soft breeze against her face and for one moment she forgot where she was.
As she caught sight of two Death Eaters marching towards the fortress, Ginny was jolted back to reality. She leaned out of the window and gazed down. Disappointed she sighed. The way out of the window was definitely not suitable for an escape, unless she wanted to break all her bones.
Turning around, she spotted a robe which hung over an armchair. She picked the dark green robe up and admired the delicate, silken material. Was the gown for her? Since she couldn't see her own clothes nowhere, it was rather likely.
While going to the bathroom, her thoughts wandered to the young Lord of whom she didn't even know the name. Still she could not fathom that he had been so gentle to her. She knew that she would be forever grateful to him. Though she had doubted yesterday if it wouldn't have been better if he had left her in the dungeons, all her doubts had vanished now.
She was certain that her captor wouldn't have shown her any consideration. But could she expect the young Lord to be always friendly to her or would he bring her back to the dungeons if he would lose his interest in her?
Quickly suppressing this unbidden thought, she looked in the mirror. Her cheek was shimmering in all possible colours, but at least she didn't look as drawn as the previous evening anymore.
After having dressed, she left the bedroom. As she stepped towards the laid table, she saw that the young Lord had already eaten. She smiled at the house-elf, who greeted her with a little bow and sat down. But hardly an instant later she leaped to her feet again. She ran to the door and seized the handle. The door was locked.
She returned to the table and sank onto one of the chairs. What a fool she was. Even if the door had opened and she would have found the way back to the hall, what then? She had never learned to apparate, let alone it was more than likely that the wards only permitted Death Eaters to leave the grounds.
But then she straightened and took a deep breath. She was still alive, she had not been tortured. She should be grateful to be here and not in a cold, dark cell. The mere thought of the dungeons sent a shudder down her spine. She knew that she had had unbelievable luck so far.
As the house-elf shoved a teacup right under her nose, she realized how hungry she was. The range was plentiful and she tucked in. When she had finished, the house-elf cleared the table and vanished.
Looking around, Ginny wondered what she should do. A noise caused her to gaze at the door. As the young Lord strode inside, she stood up and waited tensely. She didn't look at him, but she felt his eyes resting on her.
"You shouldn't try to flee. You wouldn't go very far. If the guards would not stop you, then the house-elves would. But now come. In a quarter of an hour an assembly will take place and I want you to accompany me", he said.
Before Ginny knew what she was doing, she asked,
"What meeting?"
"A Death Eater meeting."
Of course, Ginny thought while fighting against the rising panic. They wouldn't kill her there, would they?
"Nothing will happen to you."
She flinched and looked up. Though she wasn't sure, if she could trust him, she nodded lightly. They left the room and this time Ginny tried to memorize the way as she followed the young Lord. After a while they reached a large hall that was illuminated by countless torches which hung on the dark walls.
Ginny froze as she saw the gathered Death Eaters and the Dark Lord who sat on a magnificent throne from where he looked down on his followers.
She couldn't go inside, not to all those murderers, she thought. But then she felt a strong hand grab her arm and drag her forwards.
Most of the Death Eaters bowed, a few only stared at them with curious glances. Involuntarily Ginny inched closer to the young Lord. When they had reached the middle of the hall, the Dark Lord stood up.
"What a surprise to see you here, my son. To which circumstances do we owe your presence?"
There was a strange undertone in his cold voice. The grip of the young Lord tightened on her arm.
"Don't you think it is time for me to help you in ruling the world, Father?"
The red snakelike eyes of the Dark Lord widened. Father and son stared at each other.
Uncomfortably, Ginny shifted from one foot to the other. Carefully casting a glance to the side, she saw that she wasn't the only one who didn't know what was going on. It seemed that no one dared to move or make any sound.
As the silence had grown so heavy that you could have cut it with a knife, an eerie hiss could be heard. It took a moment for Ginny to realize that the Dark Lord and his son were speaking in Parseltongue. If she would only understand the language of the snakes as well! To know what they were saying would be surely interesting.
As their conversation ceased, the Dark Lord took his wand and conjured a second throne next to his. With a gesture of his hand he indicated his son to sit down.
The young Lord let go of her and walked towards his father. Since Ginny didn't know what to do she followed him, positioned herself next to his throne and rubbed over her arm with an inaudible sigh. Tomorrow she would have bruises, she was sure of it. As the Dark Lord began to speak, she raised her head.
"My faithful servants! For those of you, who haven't had the honour of meeting my son so far, let me introduce you to Henry Riddle, my son and heir."
Right away whispers broke out among the crowd of the Death Eaters. The Dark Lord didn't pay any attention to his servants, however. Instead he inclined his head to Henry and said in a quieter voice, so that only Henry and Ginny could hear him,
"I'm glad you finally came to your senses, Henry. It took you long enough."
"I'm sorry, Father. I know I should have come to you long ago."
"Yes, you should have."
While she listened to them, Voldemort's eyes suddenly focused on her. She forgot to breathe. Icy coldness rose in her. Quickly she looked at her feet.
"Who is that girl?"
"She's no one important, only my mistress."
To Ginny's boundless relief they soon turned their attention to the gathered Death Eaters.
"Severus, come forward."
The voice of the Dark Lord echoed through the hall and shortly afterwards Severus Snape stood before them and bowed.
Ginny drew a sharp breath. She looked straight into the familiar face of her Potions teacher. Though she had known that he was a spy – she had overheard that about two years ago in one of her parents' conversation – she was nevertheless shocked to see him here. Professor Snape recognized her at once and for a fraction of a second dismay flashed in his eyes; an emotion she hadn't thought him capable of.
"Yes, my Lord?"
"Tell me, is there any news?"
"Nothing of any importance, my Lord. They're busy with mourning their dead ones and worrying about the missing students. Some members of the Order have talked about attacking our headquarters, but I don't think that Dumbledore would ever agree to such a plan."
"Of course not. He knows very well that they would never succeed in taking my fortress.
Yes, to attack the train was a brilliant idea. What a pity you were disturbed by the Order. You managed to kill far too few. Why did you not fight against the Order and the Aurors as I had ordered you? Were you so afraid of them that you had to escape them as quickly as possible? Nott! You were the leader of that mission. Come here. Snape, you may go back."
Severus Snape bowed and returned to the other Death Eaters. Instead a short blond man came forward.
"Well, Nott, why did you and the others not fight?"
"I…my Lord, I thought…."
"You thought? You thought Nott? You do not have to think; you have to carry out my orders."
The Dark Lord raised his wand, but immediately lowered it again.
"Such negligence must be punished. Henry, perhaps you would do this?"
Wordlessly Henry raised his hand and made a casual movement. Nott fell to his knees, screaming. When the young Lord lifted the curse shortly afterwards, Nott clambered heavily to his feet and bowed.
"I hope, Nott, you will pay more attention to my orders from now on. Now, however, let us discuss another problem. You all know that Dumbledore and his Order are in my way and that they have ruined my plans far too often already. Until now, all efforts to eliminate them have failed and I know why. We've always attacked the whole Order. But in the future we will try to separate the members of the Order and to attack them one by one. I deem this strategy to be much more promising.
Severus, you will make a list with all names of the members on it, with their addresses, their weaknesses and their importance in the Order. Then we'll see, if we can't eliminate those worthless creatures."
They aren't worthless! Ginny silently screamed. Trembling with fear and anger, she found it unbearable to listen to the Dark Lord as he planned to kill her family, her teachers and the other people she knew.
Looking over to Professor Snape, their eyes met. What would he do? Wondering whether he would write that list, she realized how dangerous his work as a spy really was. A wrong step and his secret could be discovered. And the Dark Lord would certainly not show any mercy to a servant who had betrayed him.
As Snape turned his head around, Ginny looked to the end of the hall, too. Four Death Eaters dragged a man, a woman and two children along with them. They approached and one of the Death Eaters said,
"We found them near the castle. What shall we do with them, my Lord?"
The Dark Lord studied the terrified faces of the small Muggle family, who obviously hadn't the slightest idea where they were and then gazed at his son,
"Henry, don't you want to welcome them?"
In his voice keen anticipation could be heard. Once more the young Lord raised his hand. When the screams of the father ebbed away and he was lying motionless on the ground, the mother started to writhe in pain. The cries of the little children, who struggled against the grips of the Death Eaters, cut Ginny to the core. Gripping the back of the throne so hard that her knuckles turned white, her gaze flickered shortly over to the Dark Lord. In his eyes a strange satisfaction was glistening; a sentiment she didn't understand.
As one of the children began to scream with pain, Ginny wasn't capable of watching the torture any longer.
"No, stop it, stop it!"
She wanted to run to the brown haired boy, but a firm grip around her arm prevented that and caused her to fall hard on her knees next to Henry's throne. The child's agonizing screams, however, ceased.
Ginny became aware of what she had done and froze. Expecting that she would be punished for her behaviour, she involuntarily gazed up to Harry. Imperceptibly he shook his head, before turning his attention again to his father.
"Very good, Henry. I'm proud of you."
Quieter the Dark Lord added,
"Discipline that lover of yours. Apparently she has much to learn yet."
"Don't worry. I'll teach her."
Hearing Henry's cold indifferent voice, Ginny shuddered.
"Throw them into the dungeons and then return to your posts," the Dark Lord said, addressing the four Death Eaters.
They bowed, picked the family from the ground and dragged them out of the hall. Ginny watched helplessly, praying fervently that at least the children would somehow survive.
"Since you finally decided to take your rightful place, I believe the time has come for you to get the Dark Mark, my son."
Henry let go of her arm and said,
"If you would allow it, I would rather have my own mark, Father."
"Your own mark?" the Dark Lord repeated, ignoring the hushed whispers of his followers.
While they were staring at each other, Ginny slowly stood up.
"It is your decision, Henry. Have you something in mind?" the Dark Lord said at last.
"I have."
In the air an image was appearing. When it could be recognized clearly, Ginny regarded it astonished. Three white lilies formed a circle. In the middle glowed a lightning. Lilies? Ginny wondered. The meaning of the bolt of lightning she could guess, but why flowers of all things?
For a moment the image lingered in the air. Then it disappeared.
Ginny's gaze flew over to the Dark Lord. Thinking that she had seen a hint of fear in his eyes, she shook her head. She must have had a hallucination. Why should the Dark Lord fear his son, after all?
"Well, this was all for today. The meeting is over. Severus, you'll make me this list as soon as possible. You are dismissed."
The Dark Lord stood up and bent down to his son.
"Come to my study after lunch. I still want to speak with you."
Not waiting for an answer, he walked to an insignificant door. The Death Eaters also left the hall one after the other. Some of them cast curious glances back to them, but shortly afterwards Ginny and Henry were alone.
"Come, let us go to the park," Henry said and rose.
Relieved that he didn't mention her earlier behaviour, Ginny followed him silently. A while later they were walking along one of the pathways. She turned her head towards the sun that was glowing brightly in the sky and savoured its warmth.
"You know Severus Snape, don't you?"
Slightly surprised, she nodded.
"Yes, he's my Potions teacher in Hogwarts."
The young Lord paused and looked at her.
"Is he a spy?"
Startled, Ginny flinched. That she hadn't expected. What should she say? Under no circumstances could she betray Snape. While she frantically searched for an answer, Henry lifted her chin up and forced her to meet his eyes. He seemed to be able to look straight to her soul.
"I see," he said and resumed his walk.
Not knowing how to interpret his remark, she stared after him, before hurrying to his side. Did he know that the Professor was a spy? Had she unconsciously revealed the truth to the young Lord? Was Professor Snape now in danger? If he was, she had to warn him somehow! The only question was how. She had not the slightest idea how to do it. Realizing that it was impossible, at least for the time being, she gazed at two golden butterflies which were dancing through the air.
As she had seen already in the morning, the park was beautiful, yet she could not forget where she was. She let her eyes wander around and even if she knew better, looked for a way to escape.
Following a path that was skirted by chestnut trees, Ginny suddenly stopped in her tracks. In front of her a tremendous, glistening lake extended itself. The high wall that surrounded the fortress was missing here, however. Strange, she thought, while looking across the lake to the meadows and the forest. She had only to swim through the lake and she would be free.
Turning her head, she hesitated. But her curiosity was stronger than her fear.
"Henry?"
The young Lord gazed at her. His eyes narrowed. Then he shook his head.
"Call me 'Harry'."
Blankly nodding, she asked,
"Why's the wall missing here?"
"If you're toying with the idea to swim to the other side, I've to disappoint you. First: you wouldn't go through the wards – they're invisible, but don't think they aren't there – and second: the lake is cursed. From here it doesn't look very far to the other shore, does it? If you should try to cross the lake, however, it would take the dimensions of the Pacific."
Well, she hadn't believed anyway that the lake would help her to freedom. As Harry began to go on, she nevertheless cast a longing gaze at the meadows and the forest which stretched across the horizon.
After the Dark Lord had dismissed his followers, Severus slowly walked out of the hall. His thoughts lingered on everything that just had happened. To see Ginny Weasley standing next to the young Lord had been a shock for him and promptly he had made the unforgivable mistake of losing control of his features. Though he had quickly managed to hide his surprise and fear that the girl would do something rash the instant she recognized him, he could only pray that no-one had noticed the expression on his face.
As he recalled her colourful cheek, pity overcame him. It was obvious that she had been hit, and he would swallow his wand in one piece should his suspicion that the young Lord had taken the girl into his bed be untrue.
Ginny Weasley was pretty enough, after all; a fact that could be only a disadvantage in the headquarters of the Dark Lord. At least she was still alive and judging by her appearance she hadn't been tortured too badly, something that astounded him greatly, considering who had claimed her.
His thoughts turned to the young Lord, whom he had never met up till now. According to everything those Death Eaters who hadn't been spared an encounter with the heir of the Dark Lord had said and according to everything he had seen Severus could only be grateful for this. Especially Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy seemed to have attracted the young Lord's anger. Despite the fact that both women never had lost a word about their situation, everyone in the castle knew; expect the Dark Lord as he assumed.
With a sigh, he remembered the night he had seen Narcissa Malfoy stumble out of the young Lord's chambers. As she had sunk to her knees, he had wanted to help her. He would never forget the expression in her eyes as she had flinched from him. In contrary to Bellatrix, he liked Narcissa and so he had patiently waited in that night until she had been ready to allow him to help her.
While taking care of her injuries, he had carefully thought aloud if it wouldn't be sensible to report this to the Dark Lord and to ask him to set bounds to his son. Though their master punished them as well and his curses were everything but painless, he only did it if he found an occasion to be unsatisfied with their services; yet never to his own pleasure. That he reserved for the prisoners. Furthermore, the Dark Lord didn't intend to injure his followers in such a way that they weren't capable of fighting anymore.
He had hardly finished speaking, however, as Narcissa had grabbed his collar with frightened eyes and had beseeched him with hoarse, imploring voice to refrain from doing so.
'If you'll do this, Severus, he will kill us both and our master will not help us, even if he would know. By no means would he want to risk that…Severus, promise me that you won't do it. You would provoke a catastrophe!'
In the end he had promised her, even if he hadn't understood the sense of her words. Yet all his attempts to find out what exactly Narcissa had meant, had failed. She hadn't given him any further information and he had realized that she feared the young Lord more than anyone else. Since then he had often wondered what the Dark Lord wouldn't want to risk according to Narcissa's opinion. He had never found it out.
Reaching Hogwarts, Severus' thoughts concentrated on the Order assembly which would take place this afternoon and where he would meet the parents of Ginny Weasley and some of the other missing students.
A meeting he dreaded. He hated their hopeful glances, hated to crush their hope. And whether the Weasleys would be glad about the news of their daughter and sister he wasn't sure either.
And then there was yet the disturbing fact that the young Lord had finally appeared; a wizard, who didn't even need a wand. Having no doubt that he would join the future battles Severus couldn't suppress the dark premonition that it would be the young Lord who would bring about victory for the Dark Side.
Heavily sighing, he set off to his quarter, cursing the fact that it had to always be him who delivered bad news.
How surreal everything was, Ginny thought as she was sitting on Harry's little balcony in the early afternoon and held a plate with a piece of strawberry pie in her hands. Regarding the red strawberries, she would have nearly burst out laughing. Certainly this would no one believe her!
The urge to laugh disappeared, however, as quickly as it had come. Sadly she thought of her family and friends. Though she knew that Professor Snape would tell them that she was alive, it would not lessen the worry of her family. If she could only write them a letter! Only a few short lines, they would be enough.
All of a sudden she straightened. What, if she would ask Harry for permission? She had nothing to lose. Her behaviour during the assembly had not entailed any consequences, nor her question after the lake, after all. If he had wanted to punish her for that he would have done so by now, wouldn't he?
On the other hand he had tortured the child and his parents. Still she could see his expressionless face in front of her, the cold emerald green eyes that did not reveal anything.
Had the pain of the boy really left him cold? But if he didn't care about the feelings of others, why then had he made such an effort not to hurt her? Why didn't he treat her like a prisoner whose life was nothing worth?
Nothing will happen to you. He had kept his word, she thought, even if she didn't understand why he had taken her along to the assembly. And yet he had told his father that she meant nothing to him. Had it been the truth or had he wanted to protect her? As she remembered how Voldemort had regarded her, the thought seemed not to be so absurd anymore. What exactly she had seen in his red eyes, she could not say, but it had frightened her.
And perhaps Harry had only tortured the Muggle family because his father had demanded that from him. Though this didn't justify the deed, could she blame him for being the son of Voldemort? He had grown up in the Dark Lord's headquarters and had been brought up to be a dark wizard. He didn't know anything else.
She flung her arms around herself. Despite the warming sun she was cold. She would have gladly believed this, yet a little voice in her warned her. Angrily she shook her head. If she would only know what feelings she had for Harry. Might her mind tell her that she should hate him her heart said something else. Too great was her gratitude.
And why shouldn't she believe it? Ginny thought defiantly. Everything was better than to despair and Harry had given her the hope that she would survive.
Yes, she would ask him to allow her to write a letter. As soon as he would return from his meeting with his father, she would do it. Judging by his previous behaviour towards her, the worst what could happen to her was a simple no.
Watching a little butterfly, she managed even a smile. While she ate up her strawberry tart, her thoughts involuntarily wandered back to the assembly. Though the Dark Lord had tried to cover his surprise, Ginny was sure that he hadn't expected the appearance of his son, something she could not understand.
Harry surely had attended the meetings of his father before or was she mistaken in that point? Recalling that the Dark Lord had introduced Harry to his followers and Harry had asked his forgiveness that he hadn't come earlier, she frowned. That clearly contradicted her assumption.
And then their interaction! She could have sworn that something wasn't alright in the relationship of the two. It had seemed to her that they had always fought a battle when they had stared at each other. That she was right with her assessment could be very well possible. It was difficult to picture the Dark Lord as a loving father.
She looked into the cloudless sky and unwillingly shook her head. It was pointless to ponder over them. She knew far too little about Harry and his father and yet she couldn't help but wonder who Harry's mother was. The appearance of the house-elf startled her. She handed the little creature her plate and smiled at her. She could not blame her that she had told Harry this morning of her attempt to open the door. She had had no other choice.
With a soft sigh, Ginny stood up and looked into the park. If she raised herself on tiptoe she could even see the lake through the leaves of the tall trees. Though her fear had not left her completely, hope had returned to her.
"Have you seen her?"
Fleetingly Severus closed his eyes as he, hardly even having stepped through the door, was nearly overrun by Molly Weasley. Still searching for words, the voice of Albus Dumbledore saved him from having to answer her immediately.
"Molly, please sit down. Severus will explain soon."
Nodding gratefully to the leader of the Order, Severus went to his seat. In the meantime Albus let his gaze wander around over the many wizards and witches, who had gathered. He nodded.
"Well, I think we are all present. Then we can begin. Severus, would you now tell us, please, if you have found out anything?"
Severus, who had decided to tell the truth, started to relate the events. But he avoided looking in the direction of the Weasleys. When he had finished shocked silence hung over them. Molly was crying and sobbing onto the shoulder of her husband. Arthur sat motionless on his chair, his face ashen. Suddenly Molly lifted her head, tears still running down her cheeks and looked wildly around,
"We have to rescue Ginny. Albus, we can't let her stay there! I won't sit here and do nothing while my daughter is tortured by that bastard!" she exclaimed.
"Molly, I'm sorry, but we can't do…."
Further Albus didn't get. James Potter stood up and banged his fist on the table. With glaring eyes, he leaned forwards.
"Of course you can! But the destiny of other people never did interest you much, did it? It absolutely doesn't matter for you if persons suffer or disappear! And your meaningless apologies you can keep to yourself!"
"James, calm down. It isn't true what you are saying. I…"
"It isn't true? You didn't do anything, did you? You didn't believe me that Lily would never do such thing! You did not even lift the tiniest finger then! And now you don't intend to do anything as well, do you? You are a wretched coward, nothing than a coward, Dumbledore!" James roared.
Then he spun around, stormed out of the room and slammed the door with great force. Sirius Black, the best friend of James Potter stood up and followed him. Also, his other friends, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, rose and went to the door. Remus still had the time to cast an apologetic look at Albus Dumbledore. Then he left the room, too.
