Ginny awoke suddenly and blinked around. She was almost unsure of what had awoken her. The fire was smoldering, Blinky was setting a fresh cup of water on Ginny's nightstand, and everything was quiet. Until it wasn't.
"HOW DARE RAISE YOUR WAND TO ME! I AM THE DARK LORD AND YOU THINK I CAN BE BESTED?!"
It was right outside her door, and Ginny cowered. His voice sounded like rage and ice. Whomever had upset him had done so on a catastrophic scale. He'd been playful with Ginny so far compared to how he was treating this person.
"Missus," Blinky said, "Go back to sleep. This is having nothing to do with you."
And Blinky tried to force a potion into Ginny's hand, but Ginny wasn't having it. She got up and stood in front of the door listening. She could hear sobbing, and then a horrible, inhuman scream. It was unlike anything Ginny had ever heard before. She shuddered from it, wanting to escape and forget it. But she knew it would replay itself long in her head.
"My lord!" came the sobbing voice. "Have mercy! I didn't know!" he pleaded. Or at least it sounded like a male voice, at any rate.
Blinky was trying to pull Ginny back to bed when Tom spoke.
"You didn't know? I told iall/i my followers not to touch her! I GAVE YOU A DIRECT COMMAND TO LEAVE THE WEASLEY GIRL ALONE, AND YOU PLANNED ON RAPING HER?!"
Ginny took a few steps back. Tom's rage was scary to hear, but if she believed what he was saying, he'd protected her from an excruciatingly traumatizing event. Ginny shivered, and allowed Blinky to push her back a few steps.
"My Lord, she is nothing but a bloodtraitor! You choose her over us?!" the voice said with contempt.
There was more screaming, and Ginny covered her ears trying to block it out. She wanted to cry, to scream, to not hear anything ever again. Even when the scream was done it lingered in the air, a phantom sound that jarred Ginny beyond words.
"Just because you aren't told everything, Yaxley, does not give you the right to disobey my orders. EVER! There is so much at stake here, and you would FUCK IT UP TO FEEL LIKE A MAN?!" Tom screamed, and then Yaxley was screaming all over again.
"Missus," Blinky yelled, trying to be heard, "Missus needs to go to sleep or poor Blinky will be punished!"
There was the sound of many people running, probably attracted by the screaming. Some of them gasped—loudly—some of them laughed sadistically.
"Let it be known, if you try to touch Ginevra Weasley, you will be tortured and killed!"
Blinky pushed Ginny on the bed and forced the potion down her throat. Ginny was asleep before the killing curse even hit Yaxley. That night she dreamt of blood and screams that made her sick.
When Ginny woke, sunlight was streaming in through the windows, a tray of food was on the table, and Tom was lounging at the desk. Ginny remembered the screaming, and how his voice could have broken glass. The cold in it, the hatred, the pure rage. She shivered, finding herself suddenly afraid of the man before her. She had been right to think last night that he'd only been playful with Ginny so far. She had yet to see how truly angry he could become, although she had heard it.
"Blinky tells me she had to force you to take the potion, Ginevra, why is that? Did you iwant/i to hear what was happening?" Tom demanded without glancing up.
"Well," Ginny began, "Yes and no. I wanted to know what was happening, but I didn't expect it to be so… loud."
Tom turned to look at her, no scarlet currently in his eyes, and he said, "When I torture people it's always loud. He was going to hurt you and possibly kill you, you do understand that, right?"
Ginny nodded. "I just don't understand why you wouldn't let him," she said softly, almost unable to look at him. But she did and saw he was smirking.
"Don't think you mean anything to me, Ginevra. You don't. You are a means to an end. As long as you have a use, or you give me your loyalty, you will remain alive. The moment you even think of betraying me, I will end you. What your use is I cannot say, as I don't even know. I just know what the prophecy said," Tom scowled at the last bit as though he very much would have liked to know what the prophecy meant exactly.
"What did the prophecy say about me?" Ginny immediately questioned, sliding off the bed and walking over to the desk.
His lip curled as he responded with, "It is truly none of your concern."
"Like hell it isn't! If it's about me it's my bloody concern!"
The scarlet was back in his eyes, and Ginny took a step back as he slowly rose from his chair.
"Do you want to yell at me again?" he asked in a very low, dangerous tone.
Ginny shook her head.
"If and when the time is pertinent you will hear the prophecy. For now, you need to grow accustomed to serving me. You are one of my followers now, and you will wear the mark like them. And if you try to stop me from branding you, I'll kill Blinky slowly in front of your eyes," he threatened as he had drawn himself up to his full height.
Ginny shook her head no frantically. "I won't fight, I swear I won't. Just please don't harm Blinky, she hasn't done anything wrong. She has followed all your orders," Ginny rambled, sinking to her knees as she did so.
"Very good. Who do you serve, Ginevra?" he asked as he towered over her, his wand in his hand.
"You, my Lord," Ginny said bitterly.
Tom placed the tip of his wand to Ginny's forearm, and she screamed from the sudden stabbing pain. As quickly as it had come, it stopped, and on her left forearm was the Dark Mark, a symbol that she belonged to Him and no one else.
Tears threatened to come, but she held them back. She wouldn't be weak in front of him. She would defy all odds. She wouldn't go down without a fight against him if that's what it took. And then she cut her thoughts off suddenly, knowing but not actually thinking of what she needed to do.
Death Eater or not, Ginny Weasley was still in the game.
"Blinky," Ginny began, glancing at her watch to be sure Tom wouldn't be popping in.
"Yes, Missus?" Blinky asked with doe eyes.
"I need some… alone time to… do some things. Can you give me thirty minutes alone? You can lock up the bathroom and closet I just need to uh… relieve stress," Ginny finished lamely, sure that Blinky would see through it.
Blinky didn't. "Of course, Missus. I give you forty minutes, not a seconds longer."
And with a pop all the doors were locked, and Ginny was alone, a lone candle guttering light on the desk.
Ginny took a deep breath, and then called out the name of the elf she wanted to see most.
"Kreacher."
There was a pop, and when Ginny opened her eyes, the house elf who'd shown so much loyalty to Harry was standing before her, his mouth agape.
"Miss Wezzley!" Kreacher whispered loudly, "This is dangerous!"
"I know, Kreacher. But are you still loyal to Harry?" Ginny whispered back.
Kreacher drew himself up to full height and said, "Always to Master Harry."
Ginny nodded. "Good. I have a plan to get rid of the Dark Lord, but I need Occlumency lessons. Can you help me? Hermione told me house elves know magic even witches and wizards can't control."
Kreacher looked proud. "Of course, Miss Wezzley."
And for twenty-five minutes, they sat there, Ginny working on clearing her mind and shielding it.
"Okay, Miss. Wezzley, Blinky will be back soon. When you is alone call for me. I'll teach you," Kreacher said before disappearing with a pop. He truly had been loyal to Harry, and the thought made her heart twinge, but she pushed it away.
One lesson wasn't enough to save her, but multiple lessons? She'd gain an advantage against him. And then she could get one up on Tom Riddle. She had a plan. A plan she wouldn't even let fully form in her mind. She was sure it was going to work. It had to, or else everyone would die.
She climbed into bed, practicing shielding her mind. She just had to keep a very select few things from Tom. And then? Well, fate and luck would have to handle the rest. Or so she hoped.
Ginny woke up to the door slamming shut behind Tom. She sat up in bed, having enjoyed splaying herself across the whole king sized bed. It was nice and comfortable. She had many comforts here, but she knew one thing: Ginny Weasley would never fly on a broom again.
She sighed and wiped her eyes, checking her watch. It was only five in the morning, so he was here early as he sat down at the desk, Prophet in hand.
"Blinky," Ginny called out and heard a pop.
"Yes, Missus?"
Ginny thought a second and said, "Can you get me coffee and ice cold water to wake myself up?"
Blinky nodded and disappeared with a faint pop.
Ginny studied Tom, who was reading and ignoring her as though she were no one of importance, but she knew better now. He needed her for something, and she would live long enough to see what it was. Though the thought of being important to a murderer due to a prophecy was a bit intimidating. Harry had been the Chosen One. He had been their hope. What could Ginny Weasley, bloodtraitor and Muggle lover, do? She knew she would never willingly help him, but perhaps he didn't need her to be willing to do whatever he needed her for. It was a scary predicament. Could she really watch him kill someone if she didn't obey? Ginny didn't think she was capable of that. She had too much empathy for others.
Blinky popped back, and set a tray of coffee—with sugars and creamers—on the nightstand with an ice cold water. Ginny didn't hesitate, she gulped the water down, realizing now just how parched she was. She fixed her cup of coffee, slid out of bed, and walked over to Tom.
"Would it be possible for me to read that when you're done?" she asked cautiously. She still wasn't sure how far she could push her luck.
"It won't make you feel any better, but sure. The sooner you realize you are mine. the sooner we can get to work," he said flippantly and handed her the Prophet, watching her behind steepled fingers.
Ginny stood there, leafing through the Prophet. It seemed blood, death, and carnage were the only things going on in the Magical world. Her heart dropped as she noticed other countries were lending their support to Tom. This was truly a hopeless situation. Ginny flipped the page, and staring at her were Ron and Hermione.
For a moment she couldn't breathe. She didn't dare to read it. What if they were dead? What if they had gone down trying to stop Voldemort the same as Harry had done? But when Ginny did read, she saw that it was wanted posters she was looking at. They were safe, for now at least. Ginny let out a sigh, and then slammed the paper down onto the desk, walking into the closet for a moment. She needed to compose herself. She needed to stay under control. She needed to keep the fragile wall up in her mind.
She breathed deeply, settling her nerves. She'd had been so scared when she saw her brother and Hermione's picture. But they were still out there. Still alive. Still an obvious problem to Tom. And then Ginny cut her thoughts off and walked out into the main room, where Tom was—once again—reading the Daily Prophet. She'd never wanted to rake her nails across someone's face so much before. The loathing she felt for him was all consuming, and she knew he knew that by the way he was smirking as though he had won everything.
"Why are you here so early?" Ginny demanded.
Tom glared at her, but Ginny was so angry. She was filled with hate. She'd be happy if he left and never came back to see her again.
"But, Ginevra, I'm the only company you have. Would you throw me away so easily?" he asked darkly.
"In a second, but you didn't answer my question," Ginny retorted.
"That's because I don't answer to you. YOU answer to me," he bit out, scarlet flaring up in his eyes.
"No, I don't. I never will. I may be an unwilling accomplice, but no one owns me like you seem to think you do. I am my own woman. I've been my own hero since after YOU possessed me. Remember that? You USED me, and now you think I'm just going to help you? Get out of my room," Ginny demanded, knowing she was crossing dangerous lines, but feeling so reckless.
Tom stood and strode over to her, grabbing her by the throat. But Ginny didn't blink. She would show no fear. She would show no weakness. She would be her own goddamn savior.
"You want me gone? I will give you one week. One week to not talk to anyone, elf or human. Let's see how you do alone with just your own thoughts while I kill your family. But Ginevra?" and at that he smiled, "I do own you."
And then he left the room, and Ginny's hate didn't follow him. It seemed to curl up in her chest, and she knew what she needed to do. It was game time.