Chapter 9: The Devil and Agent Weasley.

Phew! Finally! Sorry for the delays, people. I resisted the temptation to keep going with this story and actually got a few assignments done. As you can probably see, I've re-uploaded every chapter to reflect the Spike-Draco parallel and omit characters that aren't really going to fit into what I have planned.

And now, to answer my adoring public (cheesy grin):

ChaliceInnana: Ah the Gin and Tonic: the dark supership of the Potterverse. As for Lucius: He's going to get a bit of comeuppance in the next chapter or two. Mwahaha!  However, I've said for a couple chapters now that this story will contain slash, bit it does serve a very important purpose. The way I'm going with this is Ginny and Tom will be the romance heading the Dark Side and Draco and Harry will be the couple on the Light Side. There's not much difference; in fact, which couple would you say has the healthier relationship?

ennui deMorte: This will contain some quality angst (or as close as I can get to it), but Dru will definitely come to the comedic rescue. I can't give it away right now, but think about the reaction Dru would have to someone with bleach blonde hair. Heh heh. Poor...Gah! Can't. Say!

Aliesha: Gosh. Thanks! I tried to keep that as light as possible. Glad you liked it. Oh, and yes. You'll get your Sn-uffy.

Amy: Thanks! Here's the next chapter!

Deadly Fate: I'm blushing!

One last little thing before you proceed: This chapter has violence against canon characters in it, but I've agreed to the Snape-Buffy, so never fear.

Now you can read.

Ginny made her way further from the Great Hall. Slowly, the noise from the disbanding rabble faded until the sounds of her fellow students was a mere dull roar. It was only then that she indulged herself and sank, sobbing silently, to the ground. 'Why me?' she thought miserably to herself, tears streaming down her cheeks. 'Out of all the girls in the wizarding world, why did he have to choose me?' She shook violently as another mute cry went through her and rested her head against her folded knees.

            "Hey. Are you alright?" came a girl's voice.

Startled, Ginny whipped her head up and glared. "Go away." she growled.

The girl backed up a step. "Whoa. It's okay. I saw what they did to you back there, and you look like you could use a friend right about now." The girl hesitantly offered her hand. "I'm Dawn."

Ginny sniffed and blushed. "Sorry." she said simply, shaking the girl's hand. "I'm Ginny. And this is the worst day of my life."

"I'm feeling that." Dawn sat down beside her on the stone floor. "So, you barely escaped a lynching, huh? What did you do? Nothing serious, right?"

Ginny chuckled bitterly. "Well, nothing more serious than almost bring the Dark Lord to life by feeding the memory of his 16 year old self my soul in the pages of his diary. That apparently makes me his soul mate or something."

Dawn nodded, unfazed. "So, close encounters with the Big Bad, huh?" she said. "I know a little something about that. The first boy I liked: vampire. The first boy I kissed: different vampire. It's like this gene in my family to go for the bad guys."

Ginny looked tiredly over at Dawn. "Wait. You're Buffy's sister, right? I would've put it together earlier but, you know..."

Dawn nodded. "Yeah, I do and yeah, I am. We're the Summers girls. Have stakes, will travel." she said, grinning.

"So, your sister is a Slayer?" Ginny asked and Dawn nodded. "Did she ever have to do this sort of thing? Go undercover?" she looked up hopefully but Dawn shook her head.

  "Unless you're looking to save a teen hangout from your evil vampire Doppelganger, I don't think I have any stories to tell you." She squared her jaw, and put on her best Watcher face. "So, you're in a bad situation. Why not focus on what you can work with? I mean, this guy has to have at least one weakness."

"You may be right." Ginny mused. "He can't hurt me, so that's one thing in my favour. And he doesn't look like the guy I fell for anymore, so I won't be distracted by how incredibly good looking he was." She rolled her eyes at Dawn. "According to my friend Harry, he just looks like a giant dried up snake-worm."

Dawn made a face. "Ugh. We had those back in Sunnydale; they ran for mayor."

Ginny laughed slightly before continuing. "So, he's a giant snake thing who can hurt me and whose followers are all in prison. That isn't really well guarded. And he has my family rat at his right hand. And one of his followers killed a friend of mine. Urgh!" Ginny groaned. "I can't do this!"

Dawn frowned. "It doesn't look like you have a choice, Ginny." she said softly. "So we know all these things about him and his situation. Where's the weakness?"

Ginny furrowed her brow. "Since I have to guess, I'll say it's in his followers. As far as I know, it's only him, Wormtail, and Bellatrix Lestrange. Three people do not an army make." She looked up suddenly. "I can work with that."

"How?" Dawn asked.

Ginny smirked. "I lived with two trouble-making twins for 15 years; I learned a thing or two about misdirecting attention while the real fireworks are happening. If I can convince each of them that the others are plotting against them, I could cause a real mess." She grinned mischievously. "Divide and conquer."

Dawn grinned back. "I think you've got a plan there, Ginny." she said happily.

Ginny stood up. "Yeah. I can. I'm just going to get to Riddle House, screw with some heads, and come home." She helped Dawn to her feet and brushed a cobweb off her shoulder. "This time next week, I just know I'll be wondering what I was so worried about."

Dawn beamed at her new friend. "That's the spirit. Now, you get on out of here and show that scaly loser what a Slayer can do."

Ginny hugged Dawn quickly. "Thanks for the encouragement. I really needed to hear it."

Dawn squeezed back. "Anytime." She broke the hug and nodded toughly. "Go kick his ass."

                                                                                                *

"Come in, Ms. Weasley." Snape bellowed when Ginny reached his office.

            Ginny shrugged as she entered the Potion Master's office. Jars of dead animals and flasks of putrid sludge lined the walls, but she barely noticed. "I'm ready, Sir." she said. "Let's go."

            Snape raised an eyebrow from behind the stack of papers he was grading. "Are you sure you're ready for this, Ms. Weasley?" he asked, one eyebrow raised.

            Ginny scowled. "Well, it doesn't look like I have a choice." she snapped.

            Snape affixed an F to the last essay he was marking and stood. "Be that as it may, you should still be prepared for what will happen at Riddle House." he drawled. "Do you know what you're going to do once you get there? Or what you'll be expected to do in order to maintain you're cover?"

            Ginny swallowed but was otherwise silent.

            Snape sniffed in disdain. "It's as I thought. You probably imagine this as some silly game, that you'll somehow just waltz into the Dark Lord's lair and what? You'll have tea and crumpets?" He rose and walked stiffly to the front of his desk to tower over Ginny. "I've been a double agent since before you were born, girl, so listen well to what I'm going to tell you. Voldemort is no fool. He knows that you won't want to be there and he knows that you'll feel like a prisoner. He enjoys that kind of power. He enjoys inflicting suffering on anyone and everyone, even those closest to him. I've seen Death Eaters tortured for merely thinking about wanting to sit down at meetings. This is not a 'happy place' you'll be going to.'

"I don't know what specific plans he has for you once you get there, but you had better just nodded demurely and do what he says or you will be killed. It won't matter that you're a Slayer and seemingly immune to his magic if you anger him; his physical strength has been growing by the day since he used the diary to restore himself."

            "You mean, he looks like Tom Riddle again?" Ginny interjected.

            Snape nodded, scowling at her interruption. "Officially, it was to regain any power that might still be in the book, but we all knew it was because he couldn't stand looking the way he did any longer."

            "So, he's powerful and he looks just the way he did in the Chamber." She laughed bitterly. "Is there anything else I should know?"

            Snape regarded her coolly. "Only that he recently struck up a partnership with a lady vampire from America. She claims to have powers, Second Sight or some nonsense. Nuttier than Trelawney, that one, but strong." Snape smirked. "The other day, she tossed Wormtail around the room for touching one of her dolls, and then started wailing about angels." He shook his head, not willing to waste time on deciphering the rantings of a mad woman.

            "Right. He's strong, he's gorgeous, and he's got an insane and powerful vampire at his right hand." Ginny groaned. "This could not get any worse."

            Snape scowled. "Ms. Weasley, there are plenty of people in the world who have experienced worse than this for years, if not their entire lives. If you want to whine, then go ahead; just be silent about it. On the other hand, you can look at it this way: you have a tremendous opportunity at your fingertips." He looked at her briefly and shook his head in wonder. "I've never seen Voldemort pursue anyone like he's been pursuing you. If you're right about his possibly having feelings for you, then I suggest that you use this to make him weak. If he's blinded by emotions, he's more likely to make mistakes, ones which we can push him towards." Snape folded his arms. "You have the opportunity to destroy him from within. Are you going to take it?"

            Ginny clenched her jaw and looked the Potions Master in the eye.

"Yes."

                                                                        *                                                                     

            And so it come to be that with a nod, a portkey, and a lot of awkward silence later, Ginny found herself in Voldemort's study at Riddle House. She paced the room, stopping occasionally to admire some trivial thing before resuming her march. It was beginning to get on Snape's nerves.

            "Ms. Weasley, if you don't stop and sit somewhere, I swear I'll put a full Body Bind on you." he said, folding his arms with an unnatural degree of force.

            Ginny ignored his comments. "So, when do you think he'll come?" she asked, pacing in front of a wall that was lined with books about dark magic. She stopped to examine the shelf closest to her and ran a finger down the spine of a thick volume on painful jinxes.

            Snape grabbed her hand and gently directed it away from the books. "Those are worth more than you'll see in a lifetime, child. Anyways, he won't know we're here unless I announce us, or he decides to catch up on his reading." Snape smiled humourlessly.

            Ginny nodded absently and breezed him to the fireplace. "So, I take it he doesn't spend a lot of time in here." she supposed, running her hand along the edge of the sculpted dark green marble.

            "Actually, this is where Death Eater meetings have been held since he took possession of the house. That sword behind the desk was the portkey to Hogwart's" Snape supplied. "At least, that was the case until recently."

            "The attack on the Ministry." Ginny murmured, closing her eyes. Suddenly, she turned to face him. "I'm scared, Professor." she admitted quietly.

            "I know." he replied softly. "You're going to have a rough time."

            Ginny nodded gravely. "The way I act, the things I'm going to have to do..." she faltered briefly. "I apologize now for anything and everything."

Snape raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps came to her heightened senses. "Here we go." she whispered. Biting her lip, she motioned for Snape to stand to her right, beside the desk. He eyed her questioningly, but obeyed. Ginny sat herself down in the plush desk chair and schooled her features into a look of studied boredom. 'Game face, Weasley.' she thought. 'You're on.'   

The study door opened without a sound and the room was suddenly flooded with light. Tom stood in the doorway, arms crossed, and a very smug look on his face.

The bottom dropped straight out of Ginny's stomach. Standing before her was the exact embodiment every waking thought and every subconscious nightmare she had had for the past five years. Each minute detail was the same: he stood the same six feet, his hair was still styled the exact way it had been in the Chamber, and his thin lips were stretched in the same cruel smile as the last time she had seen him. But then, he had only been a memory and somewhat translucent. Now, he was flesh and blood, the very real incarnation of the chaotic mix of emotions that filled her each time someone mentioned him, and his hungry smile  was sending chills down her spine that had nothing to do with fear.

            "Virginia, how lovely of you to drop by." he said pleasantly. 

Ginny blinked and willed herself to speak. "Hello, Tom." she said smugly. "Surprised to see me?"

He cocked an eyebrow at her. "I see you've made yourself at home."

            Ginny ran her fingers slowly up and down the armrest. "Well, I see myself staying here for some time, so I figured I might as well get comfortable." she said before rising gracefully from the chair and standing beside it. "But now that you're here, I'll return this to its rightful owner.

            "A theme today, I'm sure." he murmured as he advanced to stand mere inches from her. "I must admit, I wasn't expecting you for some time." he said, concentration etched in his features as his eyes met hers.

            Ginny shrugged. "I didn't see the point in delaying the inevitable." she replied.

            Tom narrowed his eyes but gave up with a small, disappointed sigh. "Well, what matters is that you're here. At long last." He took Ginny's hand. "Such soft skin. I regret not being able to appreciate it fully the last time we met." he murmured as he gently pressed his warm lips to her fingers.

            Ginny blushed. "Tom!" she said, not entirely feigning embarrassment. "In front of him?" She nodded towards Professor Snape, who seemed utterly fascinated by the floor.

            Tom's smile tightened slightly but he released Ginny's hand. "You're quite right. We should be doing such things in front of a traitor. Severus." he called in a chilling singsong. "You forgot your Pensieve today." He turned from Ginny and glared at his Death Eater.         

The professor's head snapped up, but if he was afraid, he was doing an excellent job of disguising it. "I'm sorry, my Lord?" he said, brow furrowing.

            "Don't deny it!" Tom roared. "You were so eager to get her to me that you forgot to empty your mind of those filthy, traitorous thoughts that you have apparently been hiding from me." He pounded the desk. "For years, you have been spying for that worthless old shell! For years, you have looked me in the face and lied to me! For years, you have helped that miserable brat Potter to ruin my plans! No more!" His livid gaze held Snape's for a moment longer until suddenly, he whipped around to face Ginny. "Is it true?" he snarled. "Are you two really working for Dumbledore?"

            Ginny called up all her anger at Tom to replace her fear and fired back. "Of course not! His thoughts lie!" she shouted, "I only came here with him because I didn't know how to get here on my own." She leaned in closer as she become more vehement. "I left Hogwart's of my own free will; you just provided me with a timely excuse! I'm sick of everyone either ignoring me or treating me like some bloody porcelain doll. I'm sick of everyone thinking that I'm some incompetent waif who can't handle the real world. And I'm sick of everyone yelling!" she screamed. That out, she took a calming breath and continued at a much lower decibel. "I thought I could help you take revenge on those blundering idiots at Hogwart's but if you don't trust me, then so be it." She turned on her heel and was about to the fireplace and the floo powder when Tom pulled her back.

            "Prove it!" he growled. "Kill him, and I will know you are truly loyal to me." He released her roughly and turned to the wall behind his desk. "Wingardium Leviosa." he commanded sharply, and a long ornamented sword floated to a stop in front of Ginny. "Do it, or I swear I'll kill you as well."   

Ginny gripped the weapon and glared at Tom. "If this is what it will take," she snarled before walking over to where Professor Snape was standing, still doing an admirable job of concealing his fear. She searched his eyes, and hoped hers conveyed how sorry she was. She gripped his shoulder with her free hand. "You never should have betrayed us." she growled, before shoving the blade into his stomach.

            Snape's eyes bulged and he emitted a feeble groan before collapsing to the carpet, hands gripping the hilt of the sword. Ginny stood over him with her back to Tom. "I'm sorry." she mouthed painfully, before smoothing her features and turning back to Tom. "Will that do?" she asked tersely.

            Tom frowned. "You missed the heart." he answered coldly, looking past her to where Snape lay bleeding on the carpet. "And the head."

            Ginny held her ground. "I meant to. Don't you think that would be far too quick a death for scum like him?" She gestured behind her to where Snape lay, panting heavily on the carpet. "He turned his back on you. This way, he'll have time to think about what he's done as he bleeds to death."

            Tom's frown changed slowly into a look of dark desire. "That's my girl." he whispered huskily before pulling Ginny into his embrace and passionately kissing her.

            "Look at this, Miss Edith."

            Tom pulled back slowly and rested his forehead against Ginny's. "Drusilla." he growled, turning to look at her. "You had better have a good reason for interrupting me." Arm still wrapped around a stunned Ginny's waist, he turned them both to the door of the study, where a tall and darkly beautiful woman stood cuddling a porcelain doll.

            "I was hungry." she began, flicking a finger over her lips. "So I went down to the cellar to eat. But as I was going down the stairs, I could hear the most beautiful voices." She gasped and stared off into space. "And they told me you were happy again. So happy that the last piece of the puzzle had come home to the box." She turned to Ginny, the same dazed look on her face. "Such pretty fire, such a power. She's just what you need, my Lord. She's come to set everything right again." Dru snapped back into reality (or as close as she could get to it) and came to stand in front of Ginny. "Do you like stories, little one? Songs? My mummy used to tell me a story every night but then Daddy came and she wouldn't say a word to me." Dru whimpered and stroked her doll harshly. "All dead all dead, no one to look after." she whispered. "But you," she said, turning back to Ginny. "You're so alive, so beautiful, so effulgent. Do you want to stay this way?"

            Ginny stared at the woman, horrified and leaned slightly more into Tom's arms.

            Tom exhaled crossly and removed his arm from Ginny's side. "Dru, do try and remember our arrangement" he said patronizingly. "You can eat all the villagers you want, but touch any of my followers and I'll throw you out at high noon." He lifted her chin up with his index finger so they locked eyes. "Is that clear?"

            Dru nodded distractedly, her gaze wandering. Suddenly, her eyes went wide. "The voices didn't tell me the little puzzle piece brought a treat!" she said excitedly, vamp face sweeping over her features as she lunged for Snape.

            Ginny swore silently and, reacting faster than she thought possible, threw herself at Dru and rolled her to the side. "Oh no you don't!" she grunted as she pinned Dru underneath her. The two rolled along the carpet until Drusilla careened into the desk with a thud, allowing Ginny to claim the upper hand once more. Ginny stared down at the woman beneath her. "What's wrong with your face?" she asked, sickened.

            Dru giggled madly and her face returned to normal. "Puzzle piece is a mean little thing, isn't she?" Dru laughed, and then frowned when she couldn't throw Ginny's weight off. "Bad puzzle piece! Mummy wants to stand up again."

            Ginny glared. "Would you stop calling me that?" she asked tersely. "My name is Virginia."

            "Yes it is, puzzle piece." Dru answered mockingly.

            Ginny growled. "Say my name!" she yelled, digging her knees into Dru's shoulders.

            "Ow ow ow." the vampire winced. "Bad Ginny! I think I shall be very cross with you when I get up again."

            "Close enough." Ginny sighed as she stood. Dru followed her after she retrieved Miss Edith from under the desk.

            Tom was standing over them, looking very amused. "I was hoping she would call you 'puzzle piece' again." he murmured. Then he shook his head. "But business before pleasure. Tell me Dru: what puzzle has Virginia come to solve?"

            Dru rubbed the sides of her head. "All locked up in that terrible place." she whimpered. "And the bad man won't take the evil eye off them. Don't sleep. Don't eat. Don't think." She looked hatefully at Ginny. "All because of your friends."

            "Not anymore." Ginny said, darkly.

            Dru raised an eyebrow but continued. "Too many of them, like bees. Bzz! They'll swallow us all up if we attack the nest. Bzz! Need to think they're still safe." She buzzed over to Ginny and took her hand. "But she can stick her hands right into the honey -" Dru jerked their hands out for effect, "- and they would never know. Not until it was too late." She dragged Ginny around the room, buzzing like a demented bumblebee.

            Ginny shot a confused look at Tom, but he only shrugged. "Just let her go." he mouthed. Ginny nodded and tried to go along with Dru's erratic swirls.

            "There we go." she said lightly as she replaced Ginny by Tom's side. She stepped back and admired them as one would admire a picture; a picture of two very exasperated people. "Everything's right again." She clapped her hands and turned to Tom. "So, when's the picnic?"

            "We attack tonight." he replied. "Unless, of course, Virginia can provide us with a reason not to." Dru and Tom looked expectantly at Ginny, who swallowed imperceptibly.

Ginny smiled maliciously. "Of course not, my lord. Nothing would make me happier than to see you at your full strength again, surrounded by your devoted followers." She glanced up seductively. "Just tell me what do to."

Tom's gaze traveled Ginny up and down slowly before he replied. "As you've probably assumed, I've been planning this for some time. However, each scenario I come up with ultimately leads to unacceptable casualties." His consternation faded as he brought himself back to the present. "But I didn't have you before. You see, Virginia, I know the value of subtlety. I know when it is appropriate to use a certain amount of discretion in order to achieve my ends. What I need you to do is use your connections within the Order of the Phoenix to infiltrate the prison and deliver these to my devoted." He turned to the desk and withdrew a dozen wands from the top drawer. "You will ask to see the prisoners - the details of your excuse are up to you - and when the time is right, leave a wand near the Death Eater. I won't risk you being hurt or killed in the crossfire, so I've made sure the wands won't work for half an hour after you leave them in the cell." Ginny smiled appreciatively.

"So after I've seen all the prisoners, I just walk right back out again?" she asked.

Tom nodded. "You will join me in the forest surrounding the prison and we will guard a portkey until my followers have escaped. Make sure you find a way to communicate that to them, especially Lucius." He sighed nostalgically. "He was the most vicious of my men. I miss his presence here."

Ginny swallowed the bile that had been steadily building in her throat since the beginning of the plan. "I'll take special care to make sure he gets out, my lord." she said dutifully.

Tom's eyes gleamed and Dru clapped in delight. He gestured sharply for Dru to leave as he swept Ginny up in another passionate embrace. "Such a gift." he whispered before claiming her lips once more.

            Dru cooed as she turned and walked out the door. "Watch them closely, Miss Edith. They're going to rule the world."

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