A/N: Hey all, I'm terribly sorry for the delay. My job is keeping pretty busy as GCSEs are coming up and my pupils are... let's put it bluntly... pretty lame. Actually, that chapter was finished nearly a week ago but wouldn't let me upload, for some unknown reason. Anyway, I hope you enjoy. My other stories (for those who are following them) will also be updated shortly.
Chapter 33:
As everything exciting, disturbing or simply juicy, the rumour that Ginny Weasley had been yet again taken by You-Know-Who was soon roaring through the school corridors.
As everything exciting, disturbing or simply juicy, it was transformed into something more exciting, more disturbing and way juicier.
At least one person was not speculating though. He perfectly knew what had happened. Even worse, he perfectly knew he should/could have prevented it.
Draco was mad. Mad at himself for having fallen out with Ginny; mad at himself for causing Lucius' wrath in the first place. He tried to be angry at Dumbledore for not having listened to him but deep down, he knew. He knew all this was, as everything else, his fault. And Arthur Weasley had been more than eloquent at pointing out Draco's fault.
The words had seared through the blonde boy's brain like a Cruciatus. Lucius' words seemed empty of meaning next to the ones of someone who was always so calm and thoughtful.
"This is all your fault; it's all been your fault from the beginning. You're the source of all our problems."
"You tore our family apart, you screwed it up. You can't leave anything unspoiled, just like your father."
"You couldn't help it, eh? You couldn't just disappear when you should have, you had to seek attention even though you were perfectly aware your mere existence was a curse to everybody already, even to your own family."
And it had gone on and on. Mr Weasley had shouted louder and louder and Draco's fists had tightened till his arms hurt with the tension. Ron, the only witness of Arthur's explosion had stayed silent, even when his father had shoved Draco hard into the wall.
Now it was dark, the commotion had died down nearly everywhere except for the Gryffindor tower and the teachers' lounge. The halls were deserted, apart from Peeves who was blissfully uncaring and preparing a prank on Filch.
Draco watched the Poltergeist's dancing reflection in the window before returning to his knife. Screw Dumbledore and his opinions; he wasn't in Draco's head; he didn't have Arthur Weasley's words to guide the blade. It was a long time before he noticed Ron watching him from across the hall.
"He didn't mean it you know. He's just freaking out about Ginny and you happened to be a good target," Ron said, avoiding to look at the Slytherin's arm.
Draco didn't answer. He wanted to pretend Weasley wasn't there. Wanted to pretend that nothing was there: nobody, no joy, no pain, and most of all, no memories. He curled up so Ron couldn't see it and drove the blade deeper into his skin.
"Stop being a selfish prat! It hurts Ginny when you do that to yourself! It hurts everybody who cares about you!"
The blonde boy slammed the knife down on the stone window sill and hurled himself at the Gryffindor. Ron found himself pushed against an old wooden door that squeaked under the weight of the wrestling teenagers.
"Don't patronize me about people who care. They're all dead already. Stop with the Gryffindor fixation to make me someone I'm not! I'm not compassionate, I'm not caring and most of all, I'm not a fucking Gryffindor." He stressed his point by throwing his fist against the wooden frame. Ron winced at the sound of cracking knuckles.
"And my sister, moron? You know, the red-head you befriended and then threw away like garbage? The one who happens to be in deep trouble possibly because of you now? You know she still cares and you know you're only fooling yourself if you think you don't care about her as well," Ron screamed back, pushing Draco back off him in rage.
"I don't want to talk about her", whispered Draco while walking back to his seat. He picked up the knife and wiped it on his trousers.
"so perhaps you prefer we talk about Snape, who's gone to try and free her? He's risking his life for her because he knows what she means to you. And she's risking her life because of you. They're both in danger for you so stop the nobody-loves-me rant, you sound like bloody Moaning Myrtle."
The red-head straightened his robes and looked on last time at his possibly former arch-nemesis. "You should have Pomfrey check your arm and get a sleeping potion from her. You look absolutely terrible."
"Thank you for the flattery, Your Weaselness," Draco bit back. But his mind was already filled with everything Ron had said. It seemed Potter's sidekick was wiser and more observant than people originally thought.
Severus bowed. The air was cold and disagreeably wet in the dungeon. The dark shape a few feet away from him shifted.
"I heard some rumours about you, Snape. It seems you befriend the worst people when I'm not around to remind you where your loyalties lie," slurred the Dark Lord with malice.
"See, Snape, I make a point of contacting you as little as possible so your cover at Hogwarts is not questioned, but I can't help but wonder: can I trust you? Why do you associate with Molly Weasley and why are you acting against Lucius? I cannot tolerate dissension in my ranks. But most of all, what I wonder is why are you here tonight?"
Severus took in a deep breath and kept his mind in check. "First of all, My Lord, I would like to point out that it is Molly Weasley who associates with me, not the other way round. Second, I will not deny that I am very unhappy with the way Lucius has been handling things with his son. His carelessness will eventually land him into Azkaban, which is not to our advantage. Also, the way he was treated made Draco start questioning his future as a Death Eater and I'm afraid Lucius nearly lost him to the other side. Third, I am here because I know you got Ginny Weasley and my curiosity as to why you would risk taking a student off the grounds took over prudence."
Voldemort chuckled, which Snape found very disturbing. "You are indeed too curious."
"I'm worried about Draco, to be honest."
"Ha. Taking Lucius' place I see. Not that he ever valued it; but I didn't know you were such a father figure at heart. The boy should be fine now that Lucius is not there anymore," drawled Voldemort.
Snape's eyes turned into slits. "What do you mean?"
The Dark Lord shrugged and Severus could hear some snickers among the Death Eaters standing along the walls. "Well, like you, I was not very happy with the way he handled things. Now that the ministry is aware of his abusive tendencies, they are weary of him, even though they do enjoy his money and don't plan to imprison him right now. The information he can gather from the ministry is a pathetic amount since the whole ordeal. He's out of the game, rotting in a cell next to Miss Weasley. Can't kill him, you never know when you need something to throw to the dogs."
The potions master gulped and felt a tinge of guilt at the amusement he had felt at hearing Lucius' situation.
"As for our dear young Miss Weasley, she's here because her potential put together with her little boyfriend's will help me greatly on the way to success. Magical bonds are extremely rare. And they only happen if they are meant to happen."
"I understand My Lord. I again ask to excuse me for my imprudence and misplaced curiosity." Snape bowed lower.
"You are forgiven Snape. Now go back before they wonder about your absence. And keep an eye on the boy. He'll join us soon. Very soon."
Severus could hear Voldemort's laughter long after he had left the dungeons. He wasn't sure if it was just in his imagination or if the Dark Lord was still laughing; all he knew was that it was chilling.
He turned on the right and swiftly climbed the stairs that he knew led to the kitchen. He could always pretend that Hogwart's feasts left him starving. Or at least, try. The kitchen looked deserted but he knew better. The Malfoys' houselves always seemed invisible. They had learnt ages ago not to cross anyone's path in fear of suddenly missing their head or another of their limbs.
Severus, on the other hand, knew them very well. There had been Dobby of course, then Milka, Pod, Totty, Bean, Coco. All of them were still lingering around and Severus knew exactly how they could help him.
"Miss Weasley."
The red-haired girl tensed at the chilling voice. She shifted a bit on the dungeon floor but she couldn't bring herself to look in the direction of the voice. It was bringing back memories. Bad memories.
The voice had changed over the years. Little was left of the handsome young Slytherin that had possessed her. Still, she could recognize his voice. It was the same one that was always haunting her, putting her down and trying to drive her crazy. It was the same voice that Draco had driven away; except he wasn't there anymore. He had not let her back in since the dreadful day in the cloister.
She shut her eyes tightly as the voice in her head seemed to gain strength in front of its true and live master. She didn't see Voldemort smirk at that. She couldn't guess he was controlling it.
The Dark Lord, on the other hand, was having a field day in Ginny's mind. The bundle of emotion that she was appeared to be extremely entertaining to him. He was only starting to play with her, so he was going slowly. But he knew this would be extremely amusing.
He decided that he wouldn't try to change her too much. He didn't wish to enslave her. He didn't care for yet another slave. He could find that fairly easily. No, Voldemort's plan was different. He knew he had to keep her spirit safe. He knew he couldn't torture her. He was only going to distort her sight on things.
Accentuate the faults of her family. Bring out the weaknesses of White Magic. Reinforce the idea of power she felt when she had the diary of Tom Riddle. Diminish her Gryffindor side to the advantage of her Slytherin side.
The work was going to be exhausting and very slow. It was like sculpting the most delicate details of a statue. Everything had to be done perfectly. Too much or too little change could very well unbalance what he viewed as his new creation. He was going to work with the care of a muggle brain surgeon. Though he would never admit to thinking in such muggle ways.
He toyed a bit with her memories and thoughts of her friends. He made them insignificant, except Draco of course. He rendered them annoying, edgy, underlining the faults that he could feel Ginny had trouble dealing with. He made them untrustworthy, stupid and unable to understand the teenage girl.
After half an hour work, he gave her a smirk and got out of her head. The plan had been set into motion. Ginevra Weasley was on her way to becoming a queen of darkness.
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