Year Five, Part Three
"And the goblins just didn't realize?" Harry asked, his voice all but shaking with excitement.
Across the table from him, looking more than exhausted but still smiling, his eyes still twinkling, Dumbledore shook his head.
"The goblins of Gringotts possess many traits," Dumbledore said, "thankfully, omniscience is not one of them. It was not easy, even for wizards as talented as Alastor and I, but I believe we were successful. Of course, there is the possibility that the goblins discovered our entry and are simply hiding their knowledge to save face, but I do not think that is the case. No, I am quite certain our foray into the Lestrange vault went unnoticed."
"So there's only two left," Ron said, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. "But we don't know where the diadem or snake are, and we still need to kill You Know Who after that."
"At least someone's not too busy congratulating himself to think of the future," Moody growled, shooting a dirty look at Dumbledore.
"We must celebrate every victory," Dumbledore replied, "every one. As it stands, until the house-elves have completed their search of the castle, I will continue to assume the diadem is hidden here."
"How much longer will that be?" Hermione asked, "And do we have anywhere else to look if that fails?"
"When last I spoke with Tipsy, I was informed that the elves will have searched the entire castle besides the Room of Requirement by the beginning of Christmas break. They feel, and I must say I think that they are right, that it would require a large team to search, and during the term they are otherwise occupied."
"And that's the last place left in the castle for them to search?"
Dumbledore nodded, his eyes settling on Harry with none of their former humour evident.
"In a manner of speaking, yes. Unfortunately, as the castle has evolved and changed over the centuries, there are countless forgotten rooms and lost areas. However, the chances of Voldemort having found one of these is exceptionally low."
"As for your question, Miss Granger," Dumbledore continued, turning his gaze to Hermione, "I have several theories, none of which are particularly promising, and all of which require further investigation."
"What about the snake?"
"As far as we have been able to tell, Voldemort does still occasionally send her out to do his bidding. However, without a spy within the Death Eaters, we cannot be certain of when that will be. Luckily, it appears that Voldemort takes Nagini along with him when he makes a personal appearance. There is evidence that she was present when he murdered Amelia Bones, and she was certainly present when he came to Knockturn Alley."
"So you'll try and get them both at the same time," Harry said, nodding in understanding, "Once we've found and destroyed the diadem."
"Precisely. How exactly we will drag Voldemort out into the open still remains to be seen. Regardless, we must first find the diadem."
Moody grumbled something under his breath, pulling out his hip-flask and taking a sip.
"I am correct in assuming that you are planning on continuing your Defence Association after the break?"
"We are," Harry said, with Ron and Hermione echoing him.
"Excellent, excellent. Professor Lennox informs me that the members are scoring well above average on the practical side of his classes."
"Maybe they'll even be able to survive an attack," Moody said.
"Disregarding all that," Dumbledore said, giving Moody a disapproving frown, "It is a wonderful thing that you are doing. Hopefully, the students will never have the need to put their skills to the test, but simply giving them the peace of mind that if a situation were to arise, they would not be utterly helpless...my only regret is that this is necessary at all."
Sighing, Dumbledore shook his head and rose, the meeting clearly at an end.
"I am quite confident I will be seeing you at Headquarters," he said, "nevertheless, I wish you all a restful break."
The deep well of bitterness resisting her attempts to squash it, Ginny bit down on her hand, stifling the sob that tried to escape.
Bellatrix made a soft snorting sound in her sleep and turned over, her shoulder brushing up against Ginny.
At the contact, a wave of terrible fury shot through Ginny like a flash fire, there and gone in an instant and leaving her feeling cold and empty with its passing.
Her throat was still tight and bruised from Bellatrix's treatment, an itch lurking at the back making her want to cough and cough until she threw up.
'I don't deserve this.'
The tears came stronger, her body shaking with silent sorrow.
For the last month or so, ever since she'd made that stupid joke about Draco, Bellatrix had been treating her worse than Higgs ever had: Ginny had been placed under the Cruciatus dozens of times, strangled unconscious, beaten, cut, and burned. She'd been insulted until she wept, told that she was worthless and useless and less than the dirt Bellatrix wiped off her shoes before entering the house.
And yet, she couldn't fight back.
She'd thought about it, of course. She couldn't help but imagine shouting at Bellatrix and saying that she was wrong, blocking her curses and actually putting up a fight.
She'd imagined it, thought about it nearly every time after the first few, and yet had never done it.
She couldn't.
Terrible as Bellatrix was sometimes, Ginny couldn't help but love her and want to be with her.
When Bellatrix was cruel, she was nearly as cruel to Ginny as she was to prisoners she was toying with.
But when she wasn't being cruel, she was everything Ginny wanted in a lover.
She was beautiful, kind, understanding, surprisingly gentle, brilliant.
She was everything Ginny needed.
But only when she wasn't being cruel.
'I should fight back, or argue, or something. I shouldn't just sit there and take it. At the very least, I should talk to her and let her know how much it hurts. If I don't, she'll just think I'm fine with it.'
But how would Bellatrix take it if Ginny was to try and fight against what she referred to as her punishment?
'She'd attack. She'd lose her cool entirely and just attack.'
'But I'm not helpless anymore. She wouldn't be able to just hurt me, not if I didn't let her.'
It was true, Ginny had been proving far more capable in her duelling with Bellatrix of late.
Bellatrix still beat her more often than not, but Ginny was winning at least one out of every three duels, and the others were becoming more and more of a close call.
'She'd probably win. But not definitely. I can beat her, I have before.'
But fighting wasn't the only possible way Bellatrix could react.
Could Ginny handle it, if Bellatrix was to leave her? If, after everything she'd been through, all the people she'd left and betrayed, the woman she loved and respected abandoned her to loneliness?
Could she manage, alone?
Even if Bellatrix was cruel and hurtful and, well, downright abusive sometimes, surely the way she acted the rest of the time made up for it?
Surely the fact that Ginny had the near constant company of someone who loved and cared for her, even if they didn't always act like it, more than made up for it?
Ginny had been repeating such thoughts to herself for a month, mostly when the fear and horror of her situation seized her and dragged sleep away from her.
Unfortunately, she was beginning to suspect that comforting though the thoughts might be, they weren't true.
'It isn't worth it. I'm worth more than this. I've even done more than her! What has she done since Azkaban? Twice, I've almost brought Potter to the Dark Lord! I've spied for him, killed my family for him, made plans for him, and she's sat around doing fuck all! It's not fair!'
She sat up in the gloom, her hands balling themselves into fists as an acidic bitterness pooled in her belly and began to seep through her entire being.
'He wasn't just talking when he said I'm his most loyal and trustworthy. He meant it! I've proven myself, over and over and over! I tried to die for him! And her sister married a mudblood, and she hasn't even killed her! And she tells me I'm useless!'
She glanced over at Bellatrix, a hateful fire burning through the ice of her vanishing fear.
As she watched, Bellatrix moved in her sleep again, just a few inches, her motion dislodging her hair and revealing her face.
At the sight, Ginny's fury disappeared, love and shame arising in its place.
'I'll talk to her,' she decided, 'If I do it right, she can't get mad. I just need to do it right. She just doesn't realize how much this all hurts me. When she does, she'll lay off, I'm sure.'
Reassured, Ginny lay back down, snuggling up against Bellatrix and allowing herself to relax.
'I'm sure she'll understand. And if she doesn't...when Higgs got too much, I didn't just lie there and take it. I won't. I won't. Not anymore.'
The soft snowfall continued, the flakes settling into Bellatrix's hair looking like pearls for the few seconds before they melted.
Bellatrix still wore the same inscrutable expression, her blank facing showing none of the exertions of their duel.
Ginny shifted slightly on her heels, wishing that Bellatrix would just say something, that the silence would just stop stretching out for so long.
After making a decision to talk to Bellatrix about the way the older witch had been treating her, Ginny hadn't had to wait too long.
Bellatrix had seemed to be in a particularly good mood all day, one which only continued after she beat Ginny in their duel.
After the duel, Bellatrix had wanted to remain outside in the snow a bit. It was, she said, a pleasure Azkaban had denied her for far too long.
And Ginny had chosen then to talk to her about how the way she had been acting made her feel.
'If she attacks,' Ginny thought, Bellatrix's continued silence beginning to frighten her, 'It won't be like a duel. It will be for real. Merlin, I wish I knew what she was thinking!'
Suddenly, Bellatrix's face melted into an intoxicatingly warm smile.
"You're so adorable," she said, putting an arm around Ginny and pulling her close.
Ginny relaxed, resting her head on Bellatrix's shoulder.
"I'm sorry for treating you like you're stronger than you are," Bellatrix said, "I shouldn't have. I'll be more careful, love, I promise. You know that I don't want to hurt you. But sometimes, you just make me so angry that I can't think."
"I don't do it on purpose."
"I know. And that makes it easier to forgive you afterwards. But it doesn't make it any less hurtful."
"I'll-I'll try to be better, Bella. I will. And maybe...maybe we can get you some muggles? So that when-if I do mess up, you don't need to take it out on me."
Bellatrix chuckled, shaking Ginny with her mirth.
"You are so adorable," she repeated, "Come, love. Let's get inside."
"Bella?" Ginny asked, slightly timidly. "I'm going to meet with Nott and Parkinson, give them their instructions and all that. Want to come?"
Bellatrix shook her head, not looking up from her book.
"Okay. I'll see you later. Love you."
Bellatrix didn't reply.
'Of course she's not going to, idiot,' Ginny thoughtas she strode out of their room and began to walk toward the study, 'She doesn't want to see me taking more responsibility.'
Things had changed between them for the better since Ginny had spoken to Bellatrix about her treatment, but she couldn't expect Bellatrix to change entirely overnight.
Of course, carrying out her plan to bring Muggles in to act as her whipping boys had helped greatly: they were the ones to bear the brunt of Bellatrix's fury, not Ginny.
Not only had Bellatrix barely physically attacked her over the previous week, but there'd been very few insults as well.
All in all, their relationship was about as good as Ginny had always imagined one could be.
Stopping just outside the study door, Ginny cocked her head to one side, replaying the interaction she'd just had with Bellatrix in her mind.
'Of course, if I keep doing things like inviting her to watch me carry out the Dark Lord's orders when she hasn't been given any, it won't stay this good for long.'
'I'll think about all this later,' she scolded herself. 'I need to deal with these kids first. They'll probably be exactly like Draco was at first.'
Sneering, she pushed open the door and entered the study.
Theo Nott and Pansy Parkinson were both inside already, waiting for her.
It didn't look like they were talking or anything: Theo was slouching up against the wall with a sullen scowl on his skinny face, while Pansy was sitting in one of the armchairs looking extremely disgruntled.
"Well," Pansy huffed, "You're finally here, Weasley. We've been waiting for hours, and you-"
Rolling her eyes, Ginny took a step forward and drew her wand.
With a casual flick, she cast a non-verbal Blasting Hex and knocked Pansy out of her chair.
Theo let out a soft, shocked noise, but Ginny ignored him, instead striding hurriedly over to Pansy and grabbing her by the hair.
"I could kill you right now," she whispered, pulling Pansy's hair until her pug face was an inch away from hers. "And no-one would dare say anything to me. If your parents gave me hassles, I could kill them too. Know your fucking place, bitch. When you speak to me, it's with respect. Understand?"
Tears streamed down Pansy's suddenly red face, her throat working soundlessly.
"Understand?" Ginny repeated, pushing her wand against Pansy's chin.
"I do," Pansy said, the sound of tears being choked back music to Ginny's ears.
"Good girl. Get up."
With a roll of her eyes, Ginny let go of her and rose, turning to face Theo.
He didn't look so sullen anymore. His eyes were wide, his face pale.
"Anything you want to say?"
"No. You're the boss."
'Quick learner.'
"Your parents should have told you what to expect," she said, looking back at Pansy. Pansy was standing up, bright blotches standing out on her pale face, embarrassed fear alight in her teary eyes.
"You should ask them why they didn't."
"They-they did," Pansy admitted.
"Ah. And you're just too used to being the queen bitch to realize that you're really nothing."
Pansy opened her mouth as if to say something and closed it again.
'Just give me a reason. I'll fucking ruin you.'
"Everything I'm going to tell you," Ginny said, "Everything we'll be planning, it's to be kept secret, okay? That means no telling anyone!"
Looking directly at Pansy, she continued.
"No telling Daphne, or Lilith, or any of your other little friends. No hints."
She turned to Theo.
"No telling Blaise, or Draco, or anyone else you talk to. No-one finds out who doesn't already know. Understand?"
They both nodded, muttering their agreement.
"If you tell anyone," she promised, "I swear, I'll make you spend the rest of your life wishing I'd killed you. Not to mention what the Dark Lord will do. Can either of you cast the Imperius?"
Pansy shook her head, looking like she wanted to throw up.
Theo, on the other hand, had strangely horrified interest written in every line of his face.
"I never have," he said, "but I think I could."
"Well, you'll have plenty of opportunities to practice. I got a bunch of Muggles, so if there's any that Bella hasn't killed yet I'll teach you both how. Come on, let's go to the dungeons."
Reaching the door, she flung it open and stepped out, only to find that Theo and Pansy were still standing in the same spots.
"Well?"
"What's this all about?" Theo asked hesitantly, "No-one's actually said anything, other than we need to help the Dark Lord with something and that-that we must listen to you."
"Oh, I can't believe I forgot to tell you!" Ginny said, slapping her forehead. "You're going to help us kill Dumbledore."
"Mum's drunk again," Ron said, breaking the silence that had settled upon them since they'd finished their meeting with Moody.
His stomach roiling at Ron's words, Harry folded up Lavender's letter and popped it in his pocket.
"Fuck, Ron," he said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "That sucks, mate."
Ron nodded absently, not moving his attention away from the crackling fire. Hermione scooted a little bit closer and threw her arm around him with a small sniffling noise.
"It's like... Ginny's broken our f-family," continued Ron, his voice cracking slightly at the admission. "Dad's always in the shed when he's not at work, playing with his Muggle stuff and hiding from everything, and mum's just drunk and angry. When she isn't crying, that is."
"I thought you said it was better, now that Bill and Fleur have moved back in?"
"It was. Until Bill told her about Bellatrix. And like-mum either loves Fleur or hates her. Just depends on her mood. And don't get me started on the twins. Since they moved out, it's been much worse. Having Fleur there helps, and you too," Ron rubbed his hand on Hermione's shoulder before continuing, "But she wants her and Charlie and Percy. Sometimes I think she's going crazy."
He shook his head, the reflected flames dancing in his eyes.
"The other day," he said, "she was saying how we should all be less involved in the Order. How she's done with all this death and fighting, that it's far too dangerous. And then an hour later she was drunk and saying how she's gonna kill Bellatrix and Lucius Malfoy for taking her away."
"Fucking hell. Ron, you know that...if you need to get away from the stress a bit...you can always come here. You too, Hermione."
"Mum would lose it completely if I did that. No, we'll be fine. It's just a lot to deal with, you know?"
Harry nodded.
"Enough about that depressing shite. What did Lavender have to say in her letter?"
"Not much. Just telling me about her holiday and all. She's got a new pet rabbit and it managed to-hey! Why are you laughing?"
Ron had started chuckling while Hermione wore an odd smile as if she was torn between amusement and concern.
"Nothing, nothing," Ron said hurriedly. "You're just so cute together."
"We're just friends." He said quickly, a touch defensively.
"Oh, Harry," Hermione said, "she obviously fancies you, and you seem to like her. What's holding you back?"
"You said you almost snogged her before the break," chimed in Ron. "So there's obviously something there. What's stopping you?"
Harry shook his head, unwilling and unable to put it into words.
How could he explain that whenever he got close enough to Lavender to make a move, images of Ginny flashed before his eyes, making him recoil with his heart pounding?
How could he explain that even though Lavender was nice to be around, she was so childish and innocent in many ways that Harry just wanted to slap her and shout that she didn't understand anything about life?
How could he explain that he knew, all too well, that his even being friends with her was endangering her?
He couldn't.
"Apparently," he said, desperate to change the subject, "McGonagall's been asking people about Colin. She wants everyone to come to her if we see him acting weirdly."
"Colin Creevey?" Ron asked while Hermione frowned.
"Which other Colin? You've got to admit, he has been a bit...strange lately. He missed the last few DA sessions, and Lavender says that his roommates say he's been crying at night. I don't know-"
"She did something to him," Hermione said, her glance at Ron making it perfectly clear who she was talking about. "Remember? She Obliviated him, maybe...I've read that if Memory Charms are done wrong they can have long-lasting effects."
"Wait," Ron said. "McGonagall was asking Lavender about Colin? Why?"
"No, Evelyn told Lavender that McGonagall was asking them all. She also told her what the boys in her year were saying."
"Harry, I'm pretty sure your girlfriend knows more of what's happening in Hogwarts than-"
"She's not my girlfriend, Ron!"
"Whatever she is, she should start a bloody newspaper. I'm telling you-"
Right then, a soft crack split the air, a blindingly bright reddish-golden light appearing as Fawkes arrived.
The Phoenix flew over to Harry, landing on his knee and dropping a piece of parchment from its talons into his lap.
"He-they must have found the last one," Hermione whispered, sounding awed, "What does it say?"
"Dear Harry," Harry read, excitement bubbling up inside him. "I will be calling upon headquarters shortly, with a lovely headpiece in tow. Please inform Sirius, and contact Miss Granger and Mister Weasley if they are not already with you. We have much to plan."
"Just the snake left," Ron said, determination hardening his voice. "And then the head bastard himself."
The cold wind blew, making her pull her scarf tighter as the tree's branches waved like skeletal arms with the last piles of snow falling from them.
It was Christmas Eve and Ginny was sitting outside alone, dirt caking the seat of her robes.
As she'd chosen.
She wasn't surprised that the gloom had fallen on her again. It came and went, usually pulled by something that made her remember the happiness she'd felt with her family, once upon a time.
It hadn't come on for a while, not like this, but she'd been busy.
It wasn't surprising that on Christmas Eve she'd find herself unable to stop thinking about her family and wishing that she could still love them.
It was stronger than usual though, strong enough to make her wish she'd thought to bring the knife out with her.
She stared out into the darkness, wishing she didn't have to feel. It wasn't fair, that after everything she'd been through, everything she'd done, she should still have to wish that things had been different.
It wasn't fair.
"It's all Potter's fault," she muttered, hardly even aware that she was speaking. "He ruined everything. It would have been perfect. Tom would have come to life, and I wouldn't have to feel anything. It would have been perfect."
Her tears started to flow faster, her heart feeling like someone had reached into her chest and hacked at it.
"I did the right thing! Traitors and Mudbloods, they're ruining our world! The Dark Lord's worth more than any of them! I did the right thing!"
A sob ripped its way out of her, her shoulders shaking.
"Why does it hurt? Why does it hurt? They're not my family anymore, I shouldn't care about them, but why does it hurt?!"
Somewhere in the darkness, an owl hooted.
Ginny began to cry truly, rocking back and forth on the muddy ground and keening, words lost in her agonized sorrow.
It shouldn't have hurt so much. She knew, with every fibre of her being, that choosing the Dark Lord over her family was the right choice.
She'd made her choice years ago and it should have stopped hurting.
But it hadn't.
For how long she sat there, weeping in the darkness, Ginny didn't know.
All she was certain of was that eventually, the well of tears dried up, her sorrow drained out.
Slowly, she pulled herself back together, wiping at her face with icy hands and pushing herself to her feet.
It wasn't fair that she had to feel all of this. Not at all.
"Life isn't fair," she muttered, startling herself when she began to cackle.
"What was it Bellatrix said?" She asked herself as she began to walk back to the house. "I need to take my pain and turn it outwards."
Right then, that sounded like a delightful idea.
"And we do have more prisoners than we really need," she mused. "Ha, I'm sure Bellatrix will enjoy it too. It's been too long since we did something like that together."
"Come on, Pansy," Theo said encouragingly. "You can do it."
The Muggle moaned, his chains clanking as he tried to pull away from the wall.
Pansy grimaced at Theo, looking for a moment like she was going to make a comment.
Wisely, she didn't.
After their first meeting, it had taken Pansy a week to return to her usual petulant self.
Ginny had set her straight very quickly once that had happened.
Since that lesson, Pansy barely spoke when she knew Ginny was around, other than to occasionally ask a question.
Ginny preferred her this way.
They'd been meeting almost every day, and frankly, Ginny was starting to really enjoy it. Pansy still hadn't got the hang of the Imperius, but it was fun to taunt her.
Theo was a whole different story.
Honestly, Ginny was finding that she actually liked talking to him. He'd opened up more from their second meeting and onwards, revealing a brilliantly sharp wit and more than a slight interest in the Dark Arts.
It was nice, really, having someone of her own age that she could talk to as a friend, someone who, unlike Draco or Pansy, understood their place.
Ginny got the sense that Theo's father hadn't spoiled him like Draco and Pansy's parents had. He was far more... grounded, not afraid to get his hands dirty, not flinching when Ginny placed a crying Muggle in front of him.
He'd taken to the Imperius very quickly, successfully casting it during their second meeting. Later, he'd told Ginny that his father had been teaching him curses since he'd got his wand, which diminished her impressment somewhat but hadn't entirely removed it.
Part of what she liked about him, Ginny thought, was that unlike Draco or Higgs or Potter or most of the other boys she'd interacted with for that matter, he wasn't interested in fucking her.
He'd only told her after seeing her and Bellatrix kissing, but surprisingly enough, he and Blaise were a couple.
Whatever the reason, Theo was fun to hang out with.
If only the same could be said for Pansy.
"One more try, Pansy," Ginny said, "Then I'm going to start putting you under the Cruciatus every time you don't manage."
"Why do I have to do this?" Pansy cried suddenly, her arm dropping to her side as if it had become too heavy for her to continue raising. "Theo can manage it fine! I don't even want to do this, I don't want to-to attack our classmates and make them fight! Theo can manage without me!"
A horrified expression flashed across her face, her eyes widening and filling with tears as she realized what she had said.
Taking a step back, she raised a hand to her open mouth, her wand falling to the floor with a clatter.
"I'm-I'm sorry," she babbled, "Ginny, I'm sorry, I'll do what you say, I promise!"
Much as it pleased her to her Pansy begging, much as she wanted to punish the stupid bitch, Ginny considered it.
Pansy really wasn't cut out for this. It had been a foolish idea, assuming that the pampered princess would be able to lift a finger to actually help.
'She's like Narcissa. She'll talk a lot, but she'll never actually do anything. I miscalculated this entirely.'
If anything, Pansy would probably endanger the whole plan. She wouldn't be able to keep it a secret, and though she'd only tell her friends, she'd still definitely act suspicious enough raise eyebrows.
'This was dumb. I should never have included her. We'd probably be fine even without Theo, and with him, we should be great.'
Ginny nodded curtly, making up her mind.
"You're a spineless little cunt, aren't you?" She asked, keeping her tone conversational. "But it's fine. It's my fault. So here's what we'll do: I'll Obliviate you of all of this, and you can just go on your merry way. You won't have to do anything. Is that what you want?"
Bright hope dawned in Pansy's eyes, terror draining out if her face.
"You-you mean it? You'd do that?"
At Ginny's nod, Pansy burst into relieved tears.
"Yes! Please, I don't-thank you! Thank you! I thought-I thought you'd curse me, I-"
Ginny's mouth twisted into a sneer, utter disgust consuming her.
'She doesn't know what it's like to actually sacrifice anything,' she thought. 'She doesn't know what it's like to do something you don't want to do because other things are more important. She doesn't know what real pain feels like.'
"Oh, I am going to hurt you. Because you're a fucking pathetic disgrace. People like you are almost as bad as blood-traitors."
"Y-you-"
Ginny waved her wand, interrupting Pansy with a shouted "CRUCIO!"
Pansy fell to the floor, her arms and legs thrashing out as she wailed, her head flopping back and forth and smashing against the floor.
Ginny couldn't help it. She began to laugh, a wild cackle that just shook her and filled her with mirth.
Theo was saying something, but she ignored it, revelling in the total power she had over the shrieking girl on the floor.
Eventually, she released the curse, reaching over and placing her wand against Pansy's twitching forehead.
"Last time I did this, I fucked up. Snape had to go and fix Creevey's mind up. You better hope I don't do that this time."
"That's what happened to Creevey? Everyone's been talking about it."
Ginny half-turned, keeping her wand stuck to Pansy's forehead while looking at Theo.
"Talking about what?"
Shrugging, Theo leaned against the wall, not looking too concerned about the possibility of Ginny ruining Pansy's mind.
"He's been acting very strange lately, they all say. I didn't pay much attention."
"Why not?"
Theo shrugged again. "He's just a stupid Mudblood. Who cares?"
Chuckling, Ginny turned back to Pansy and concentrated.
"Obliviate!"
"What did Draco have to say now?"
Ginny folded up the parchment, smiling widely.
For once, Draco had given some actual good news. Just in time, too.
Theo and the rest of the Hogwarts students would be returning the following day for the new term. Of course, Draco wouldn't stop working on it, but he would have far less time.
"He's finally managed to disable the warning system. Now he just has a few more enchantments, and we're in. Shouldn't take more than a week or two."
Bellatrix clapped her hands before reaching out and seizing Ginny in a tight hug, pulling her across the bed to her.
"Amazing," Bellatrix whispered, her hand snaking its way onto the scar on Ginny's thigh and beginning to rub the letters carved there. "Amazing. And he won't manage to kill Dumbledore, he's too weak. You'll get to do it. You're going to be the best of us. And all because of me. All because I taught you."
"It's all thanks to you. I wouldn't-I wouldn't be anything without you."
'Or without Tom, or Barty.'
"You've done good work, love. The way you trained the Nott boy and Draco, the way you dealt with the Parkinson girl. I'm proud of you, love. No girl could make a mother prouder than you have."
Bellatrix's hand moved, rubbing at the wetness between Ginny's legs.
Moaning, Ginny bent forward, seizing Bellatrix's nipple in her mouth.
"I love you, baby girl."
"I love you too, mummy."
"Draco is certain, my lord. With the warning enchantments out of the way, he promised that it'll be done in another two weeks at most."
At the Dark Lord's nod, Ginny continued.
"I gave Theo an enchanted parchment, and he will be keeping us informed. He knows about Draco's role, but Draco doesn't know about him. He'll be double-checking all of Draco's information about the Aurors and Order members in Hogwarts."
"What of the Parkinson girl? Did the Memory Charm adversely affect her?"
Ginny swallowed, looking down for a moment.
"Not as far as I could tell, my lord. Bellatrix also checked and thinks that I did it correctly. Nevertheless, Theo will be keeping an eye on her."
The Dark Lord's eyes seemed to glow brighter, burning into her very soul.
"That was an impulsive action. If all is well, then all was well. But if not...I will not protect you from the consequences of your mistakes."
"I'm not afraid of the Parkinsons, my lord."
The Dark Lord smiled, a hand reaching out to stroke her cheek.
"No. But I do not wish our fellowship to be made smaller through internal squabbling."
"I-I'm sorry, my lord. I'll do better in the future."
His grip tightened on her face, long fingers biting into the skin.
"See that you do. You have great potential. I believe that Draco will fail and that you will be the one to kill Dumbledore. You will be the highest of my followers. If you do not ruin it for yourself."
Chastised, her emotions a mixture of shame and excitement, Ginny whispered: "I won't, my lord. I promise."