THE PERFECT STORY
by yeminquon
Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own, I don't care.
A/N: The HOPEFULLY much anticipated chapter five. During which you will all probably hate me, although I'm not about to tell you why...lol. I hope you enjoy. Right now I estimate that this story may be about 16-18 chapters long, but it may be longer, depends. I'm pretty sure I know how it's going to end. But you'll have to read to find out, won't you? Well, here's to chapter five:
CHAPTER FIVE: SACRIFICE
"Wake up, Weasley!" a drawling voice shouted as Ginny came to. She felt heavy and awkward. Her head was pounding and her stomach was lurching inside her. It was like a hangover; an experience she had had once after a long night of drinking with Dean Thomas in fifth year and had planned never to have again.
"I'm awake! I'm awake!" she growled, massaging her forehead. It was dark; a single candle lit up the grimy, ill-furnished room. Snape's hooknose was in her face and she recoiled. "Slimy git," she whispered.
"What?" Snape demanded harshly. Beside him was Draco Malfoy, and sobbing in the corner was a petrified Martha.
"Nothing, nothing," Ginny moaned, rubbing her eyes. She glanced up at Malfoy. "What happened?"
"It is not of your concern," he said sharply, his eyes revealing a mixed emotion Ginny could not decipher. He began to turn for the door. "Severus." he called, his hand wrapping around the knob.
"Oh, yes, coming, Master," Snape answered smartly, catching on the bedstead as he went. Ginny suddenly reached forward, as if suddenly sitting up, then fell back down. Snap leered at her before following Draco out the door. Ginny raised an eyebrow as they left the room. When had Snape called Draco Malfoy Master? Something was going on and she planned to know what it was.
Martha was still kneeling in the corner. Draco had apparently forgotten about her. Ginny laid back on the bed, massaging an aching brow. "What is wrong?" she asked softly, staring at the maid, who appeared a few years younger than she.
"H-he'll k-kill m-meee," Martha whispered, a fat tear trickling down her damp cheek as she glanced up at Ginny. "H-he'll kill m-mee and n-never think t-twice about-t it..."
"Then why don't you leave?" Ginny asked. "Aren't you a witch?"
Martha shook her head. "N-no... I'm n-no w-witch... M-master M-Malfoy t-took over the whole v-village, where I c-came f-from and imprisoned us. I-it was either s-serve or die." she looked away from Ginny. "H-he killed my m-mother and s-sisters, r-right in f-front of meee..." Her shaking voice was replaced by a wail. Ginny ached for this poor, mistreated muggle.
Ignoring the pain in her head, Ginny stood, walking from the bed to the corner where Martha knelt, and wrapped her arms around the cowering girl. "I promise," Ginny whispered. "To get you out of all this. And to kill Draco Malfoy."
"B-but d-don't you see?" Martha asked shakily. "Master is invincible. No one can kill him. H-he will kill us all."
Ginny dropped her arms. "Then," she continued sorrowfully. "I will do my best."
Martha looked up at her as Ginny stood, her wide, brown eyes full of fright and despair. Ginny pulled a wand from a pocket in her ugly grey dress. Martha gasped. "Where'd y-you get that?" she shuddered, staring at the wand with hate and distrust. Ginny loathed to think of what various wands had done to the poor girl.
"Humph," Ginny snorted, looking at the wand. "This old thing? Sniped it from Snape."
Martha eyed her with admiration. "Wow." she whispered.
A series of yells erupted somewhere nearby. Ginny smiled. "And that means Mr. Snape has just recognized his loss."
Martha nodded slowly.
"Martha," Ginny said softly as she approached the door. "Remember me."
And with that last thought, the copper-haired beauty used an intricate charm to blast down the door and to leave the room, scurrying down the hall.
Martha cowered, trying to make herself small. She knew what she had to do for the brave witch that could possibly rescue them from all of this hell.
A moment later Draco Malfoy and Severus Snape rushed into the room. "Where is she!" Draco demanded harshly, his great silver eyes piercing into Martha's brown ones. The slave remained silent.
"Where'd she go!" Draco shouted. "You won't talk! I'll make you! Crucio!" Martha's very insides struggled against the pain as her back arched and she screamed. But once Draco released the spell, she knew how it all would end. That witch would never be able to rescue her of her own darkness, but possibly others. She would not talk. She would grant that brave woman a few more seconds...
Snape's lips twitched. "Master," he muttered coarsely. "She won't speak. We're wasting time."
Draco sighed. "All right," he answered numbly. Snapping his wand, he shouted: "Avada Kedavra!" And with a flash of green light, she fell to the floor, dead.
"Have Crabbe or someone take her away," Draco ordered Snape. "I must go after the girl."
"But, my wand-"
"You will get it back." And with those last words, Draco left a grumbling Snape to chase after his escaped hostage. The only hostage he would ever truly miss.
Preview to Chapter Six:
"Martha proved...useless. So I disposed of her," he laughed. His voice grew stern. "Now, how about you?"
"I hate you," she whispered. Gulping with difficulty over the lump in her windpipe, she wiped away a tear. "But I am worthy..."
YQ
