It was around three in the morning when Ginny heard the code knocking on the door. She raced from her bed to the door and knocked back. Tom opened the door and walked in, hair slightly out of place as though he had been doing something intense.
"Please," she sobbed out, and then she collapsed to her knees.
"Get up," he ordered, and not wanting to make him mad, she did as he commanded.
"You eat when food comes. Where is your tray?" he demanded.
"Please, it's on the nightstand. I ate it. Just please tell me how my brother and sister are. Don't hurt them. Please, I'm begging you," Ginny cried.
Ginny was rarely weepy. It was one of the things Harry had loved about her. But this? This was so real and scary that she couldn't stop herself from crying. She needed to know they would be okay. She needed to know they wouldn't be starved and tortured. Yet she was so scared that no matter what she did, torture would be inevitable for them.
Tom stared down at her, eyes cold. She felt a shiver of fear run through her. Was she going to be punished for wanting to know how her family was doing? Couldn't he try and understand why it was so important to her? They were her blood. Hermione would be her sister-in-law if they lived through all this, just as Ginny had known she always would be.
"Your brother and the Mudblood are fine. Though whether or not they continue to be will remain up to you. I am not unkind. I show mercy. Should you behave, they will not be harmed. Should you act a fool, they will be punished for your infractions. Are we clear?" Tom asked.
Ginny let out a choked sob of relief and nodded. They were safe. They were okay. That was all that mattered to her. The world could end, and as long as they were okay, Ginny would be okay.
"If you behave, I may even so much as let you visit their cells after we've questioned them. Though honestly, they don't seem to know anything of importance anymore. They knew exactly what Potter knew and nothing more. Still, it would be… remiss of me not to question them. But they won't be tortured. That much, I promise, depends on you," he said.
Ginny nodded, relief flooding her entire body. "Thank you, To- my Lord. Thank you," Ginny croaked.
"I told you, I am not the bad guy, Ginevra. I don't want to hurt the wizarding world. I only wish to make it a better place. Admittedly, the Mudblood is more powerful than I expected one of dirty blood to be, but still, even she does not know much. Now, if you do not behave, you are aware of what can happen, correct?" Tom asked.
Ginny nodded her head, not wanting to even think about what he'd let happen to them. Rape, torture, murder… it made her sick to her stomach. She didn't want to think of that happening to her family. She got a reprieve with knowing Bill and Fleur were alive (and hopefully well), she needed to know Ron and Hermione would be, too.
But this meant one thing: Tom Riddle had her by the balls.
She wanted to hit him. She wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. He was sickening, and it made her sick to look at him. She couldn't act on it, though. Or else Hermione and Ron would pay the price. It was twisted, and only someone as dark as he was would think of this.
"Good. Now go to bed. We have training in a few hours. I'll have Blinky bring extra strong coffee for you," he said smoothly.
And of course, he knew she drank coffee. He probably knew she requested private time. Did he think she was touching herself like Blinky did? It made her gag. How could she do that in this place? This terrible prison she was in. He had mentioned a palace the other day. How would he have gotten one in his possession?
Ginny turned and went to bed as he left the room. She felt exhausted, and soon she would have to wake up and fight him once again. It was all too much. She drifted off to sleep, dreaming about black hair and scarlet eyes, so vastly different from the green ones she had loved.
"Missus, wake up!" Blinky yelled, and Ginny sat up immediately.
Ginny felt like she had just drifted off to sleep when Blinky roused her. If she were lucky, after training, she would be allowed to go back to bed. One could hope. Breakfast was good, though not anything to brag about. Egg, spinach, and tomato omelet. It tasted good enough. She downed the coffee and drank her water, then went to the closet to put her training clothes on. As soon as Blinky disappeared, there was his knock.
She knocked back, and he entered the room. His eyes weren't scarlet, yet, but they did hold an odd gleam to them that made Ginny uneasy.
He waved his wand, and just as she had expected, the shackles appeared. Well, who was really surprised about that? She followed him out of her bedroom and to the training room.
The training was intense. Ginny was oddly aware of his body against hers each time he pinned her down. It was like he took pleasure in it. It made her feel dirty and gross. But this was training, and she needed to learn how to fight. She was able to punch him twice today, the last time busting his lip open. She expected him to be mad, to curse her; instead, he smiled.
"Finally! There we go. Give me that fire, Ginevra!" he commanded.
She was able to just barely keep him off her for about five minutes, which she knew was a vast improvement.
"Very good! Remember, you have your rage to fuel you. Use it!" he commanded once again.
They ended the training session with her kicking him right in between his legs, relishing it as he grimaced, although she would have preferred bringing him to his knees. Still, it was nice to know he had human weaknesses. One day she would use that against him.
"Why so angry, Ginevra? Your brother and sister-in-law—congratulations, by the way—are safe. Your oldest brother and his wife are alive and hiding from my Death Eaters successfully so far. Shouldn't that make you happy?" he teased.
Ginny said nothing as she drank the water he had Kreacher bring. Her mum always said if she didn't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all, and Ginny really didn't have anything nice to say to this monster.
"So we're opting for silence? Not a bad idea, considering I would love just to see how filthy Granger's blood is, that usurper of magic. Ah, well, if it means you serve me, then she lives. In a cell, but she is with your brother, so they should be fine. And if they have a baby, you can raise the half-blood. Sound good?" he asked.
Ginny closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. She was almost calm when he came up behind her, his right hand going for her neck and rubbing briefly.
"I will miss choking you, though. And don't pretend you won't either."
And then his presence was gone, and Ginny almost wondered if she had imagined it.
"Well? Come on, Ginevra. I have things to do today," he said encouragingly, which was strange for him, but Ginny went with it. Still, in her mind, she remembered the way he had just caressed her neck. Her lips thinned. He was getting to her, and she couldn't have that.
When he was gone, Ginny clambered into the shower, scrubbing her neck to get the memory of his touch off her. Had it actually happened? Or was she going crazy? She had opened her eyes, and he was gone. Maybe this was a mind game of sorts. Well, she wouldn't give in. And what did he mean she would miss him choking her? That was sick! Who wanted to be almost killed every other day? No, Ginny was glad to be shot of that particular punishment.
She laid a nightgown out on a chair and climbed naked into bed, sinking into a deep, comfortable sleep. One where porcelain hands grabbed her by the neck and scarlet eyes bore into hers.
When Ginny woke up, the sheets were all tangled around her, and she felt weak for having any type of arousing dream about him—disgusted, too. Like she was contaminated. But he was so beautiful, which was the only reason it had happened. He was stunning. Even with scarlet eyes, though, they rarely glowed that way with her. They gleamed, but the scarlet, unless he was punishing her, was not in sight.
By the time Blinky came to wake Ginny up with food, Ginny was already in her training clothes, momentarily stunning the elf who obviously didn't expect this turn of events.
"Missus is ready?" Blinky asked slowly.
"After I eat, yes," Ginny replied.
Blinky nodded and set the tray down. Ginny found she was hungrier than she had thought, and she scarfed down the breakfast, Tom knocking as soon as Blinky disappeared with the plate. Ginny got up and beat back as was their custom, and the door opened.
There he was in all his glory, wearing dress robes. Wait… dress robes? Ginny frowned. Weren't they training?
"It's nice to see you were ready, even if plans have changed. I have an important meeting to attend to, and I thought you should join me. Go, get dressed," he ordered (because Tom Riddle never asked for anything).
"How fancy?" she questioned.
He gestured to himself. "Just a nice dress robe. Nothing too formal. Go. Now."
Ginny huffed and turned around, rolling her eyes where he couldn't see. Because he didn't have a magical eye like Mad-Eye did.
Mad-Eye. The thought pained Ginny. She had gotten so used to him when they were at Grimmauld Place. He had been an indispensable source of comfort to her. Even though she always got the feeling Mad-Eye could see them all tossing and turning in their beds instead of sleeping. He had sent Ginny many of his books on defensive magic. They used them in Dumbledore's Army before all hell broke loose, and they had to disband.
Ginny banished the thought as she shrugged on a green and black dress robe. That should appease Him, she thought. Green was his favorite color.
"Can't you do something with your hair?" he complained as she exited the closet.
"Like what, Tom?" she said, exasperated.
He glared at her before saying, "If you iever/i make the mistake of calling me Tom in front of someone else, you will see my wrath exerted on your brother. Now, I don't know. Just… something? It's everywhere."
"Because it's curly. It would take me at least half an hour to do anything with it, so if we have the time…"
Tom rolled his eyes and sighed heavily.
"Fine, hands out," he ordered as he magically placed the shackles on her.
"Where are we going?" she asked suspiciously as he led her out the room and to the left where they usually went right.
"The board room. Now hush. Don't speak to anyone else I permit you, no matter what happens."
"What if they try to lynch me?" she murmured.
"Then I'll stop them, but they wouldn't dare. Can't you walk any faster?"
"Can't you take the shackles off?" she asked back.
"You're testing my patience," he said in an exasperated tone.
"I'm not trying to," she said honestly.
After many more turns, and Ginny was sure some secret passages, they were outside what looked like it would be a grand meeting place. Maybe a throne room. She looked to Tom, who pushed open the door and beckoned her on. Ginny was in for the surprise of her life.
Every seat at a long table was taken. This table was several feet in front of a throne. So that is where Tom would sit, she thought. Death Eaters were in all the seats. Or so she assumed. Regardless, they were all gawking at her. Bellatrix hissed in aggravation, but Ginny held her head up high and followed Tom. She had his protection. No one would dare to harm her. Not even blood lusty Bellatrix.
"Stand slightly behind my throne but to the side so you can be viewed," he ordered softly, and Ginny did as told.
He seated himself, turning to glance back at her, giving a roguish wink that was completely uncharacteristic. Then he faced forward again and cleared his throat.
"As many of you may know, Ginevra Weasley is here to fulfill a use to me. You will see her attend meetings with me, go everywhere with me, and fulfill whatever duties I have of her. My most trusted," with that Bellatrix perked up, "know the reason for this. Maybe your credit isn't good enough with me to have that gift bestowed upon you. Know only this; if you attack her, you attack me (1). I will not warn you again. Now, what is the business on the table today?" he asked.
"My Lord," simpered a blond man that wasn't a Malfoy. "Canada has joined us in our mission. They will need chosen members to help facilitate the changes needing to be made in their laws and policies."
Ginny was not happy to hear this. Why had he brought her here? To destroy her hope? He would not win.
"We can spare Bellatrix and Rodulphous, as well as lesser members to provide brute force. I imagine that you would like this chance to prove your usefulness, Bellatrix," Tom said softly, his voice still carrying.
"My Lord knows I will not fail him!" she simpered.
If there were such a thing as heart eyes, they would be what Bellatrix was giving Tom at that moment. It was sickening and made Ginny want to retch, but the thought of Ron and Hermione stayed her reflexes.
"You better not, Bellatrix. You have failed me too many times now to allow you to make another mistake. Potter is dead… by my hand. As I told you all, he would be. I rule all of the United Kingdom. We have sympathizers from further east lending their support. I am slowly taking over the world. France is now under my control. What can't we do?" he asked, standing with his arms spread.
"I ask you what can't we do? We have won the war, won the nations, won France, won Canada. And yet some of you are slacking," he said as he paced, his tone turning cold. "You seem to think the threat is over. THE THREAT IS NEVER OVER! We fight for our way of life every. Single. Day. We use force to take what should be ours and keep what already is. So why do I not see more of the Resistance being killed? Is finding them too hard a task for you all? Do I need to entrust the task to someone else?" he mocked.
He turned, and Ginny saw the scarlet in his eyes, and it sent a thrill of fear through her.
"Draco Malfoy caught their leaders last night. Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. And it took a blasted year!" he screamed, fist punching the air.
Everyone, Draco included, sank lower into their seats. A few people, Ginny noticed, actually trembled. Well, they should, she thought, because her hands weren't the steadiest at the moment.
"I give you one week to find the rest of the Order, and if it's not done, everyone here will be punished. I am done with this charade. Ginevra, we will take our leave."
And just like that, he walked out of his own meeting with little Ginny Weasley practically running to keep pace with his long legs.
(1) Quote taken from the show The 100, by a character named Commander Lexa.