Chapter 11 - The Price of Freedom

Oy veh.I had a nightmare last night that her Rowlingness (may it be praised and profitable) was suing me, so I hereby renew my disclaimer that this fic is not meant as an infringement; I don't own anything (but if she'd like to lend Tom to me for a weekend, that would be great); and I will never see a Knut in profits from this little fanwank. Got it? Okay! Now, on to more pleasant tasks!

ennui deMorte: I tried to make Snape the unintentional mood-lightener in that scene. I think his brooding sarcasm and Buffy's wry take on life are going to get along very well, don't you think?

Dannii: The plot bunny is up! Check out "Shackles Are a Girl's Best Friend" for my attempt at a semi-humourous Dark!Ginny ficlet. I hope you like this chapter as much as that twisted little thing.

Amelle: Thanks! And here's the next chapter for your reading and reviewing enjoyment.

Aliesha: Oh, I've got a chapter in the works that will address your concerns. However, it will take place at the end of the day and the day isn't quite finished with Ginny. I can't give you any details but it's gonna be a doosey.

DeadlyFate: Thanks! Here you go, next chapter reading, willing, and able!

Note: I know some of you have been patiently waiting for Ginny to open up a can of whoop-ass on someone's pale blonde ass. Why am I mentioning this, just before the chapter on the Azkaban breakout? No reason. None at all. *whistles innocently* XD

Giles walked slowly around the Headmaster's office, where Dumbledore had told him to wait until he returned from the infirmary. Cautiously, he studied the various items that lined the older man's desk, stopping occasionally to pick one up and examine it before returning it to its place and moving on to the next item. He was engrossed in a study of Dumbledore's Pensieve when the Headmaster entered the room.

            "Ah, yes, the Pensieve." he said cheerfully as he mounted the steps to his desk.  "That seems to be everybody's favourite."

            A sharp inhale was the only sign that Giles had been surprised. "These carvings around the edges," he said, running his fingers over them, "Runes, if I'm not mistaken. I assume they help channel the energy, keep it locked in place."

            Dumbledore chuckled. "It wouldn't do to have one's thoughts simply floating around the room, now would it?"

            Giles smiled deeply. "Of course not."

            The Headmaster nodded and moved around the Watcher to sit at his desk. "You have a very sharp mind, Rupert." he said. "That is, of course, why I asked you and your people to come here. I need very alert people on my side, ones that are not as bound by the confines and prejudices of the wizarding world. Your idea about actively using double agents to exploit Tom's weaknesses was especially helpful."

            Giles nodded grimly. "The benefits of Muggle American television. How is she doing?"

            Dumbledore shook his head. "She's still struggling, but I have faith in her. Of course, I have other ways of keeping an eye on her, and I'll pull her out the second I believe she is in any serious danger of harm. I would never blindly hand over one of my students to him without assuring their safety first." He opened the drawer on his right and withdrew a small copper coin with a hole in the middle. "Ingenious invention, this is." He held it to the stream of light that was coming in through the window; a small rainbow came out the other end and with it, a small, ethereal creature emerged. "This is a Messenger Elf." he explained, leaning in to smile at the creature, who bowed. "It will memorize my message and travel through the light to its other coin, which will glow and alert the Order members on the other end. They simply hold it up to the light like so, and the elf appears again and repeats the message. But my favourite part is it's ingenious security measure: it will only relay information to those to whom I have shown it, namely the members of the Order."

            Giles was amazed. "That's brilliant, Albus!" he exclaimed. "May I?" he asked, reaching for the coin. The Headmaster handed it to him and Giles turned it over in his hands, fascinated.

            Dumbledore smiled indulgently as he took the elf back. "It relies on the powers inherent in the light, an area that Voldemort chose to ignore due to its lack of tactical worth." He whispered to the elf, who bowed again before the coin was placed in the beam of sunlight. Replacing it in his desk, the Headmaster turned to face the Giles once more. "Light and love - two areas He will not understand."

            "At least, not until now, you said." replied the Watcher.

            With a sigh, Dumbledore rose from his chair and stood facing Giles. "His hold is weakening, Rupert, and there is no doubt in my mind that Ms. Weasley is responsible for it." He smiled faintly, gleam never leaving his eye. "Even if she doesn't know it yet, she will be essential in bringing Voldemort's reign of terror to an end."

             "From what you've told me, I believe he should be seeking a new host soon." Giles said before taking off his glasses and quickly cleaning them. "But what concerns me is what might happen to her if he finds one before we're ready; it would leave them both defenseless against the successor."

            Dumbledore shook his head. "He will only abandon the host if there it is in mortal peril. As long as there is a chance that he could survive, then he will stay. Such is the nature of his particular evil."

            Giles replaced his glasses and nodded. "And what of the second double?" he asked.

            "Ah yes. The double will be sent in as soon as he starts building his army." answered the Headmaster. "He will find a way to break his followers out of Azkaban, even if Ms. Weasley is unsuccessful, but he will no doubt look to further increase his numbers." The Headmaster suddenly looked very tired. "This will be his final assault, and it is absolutely critical that we have as many advantages as possible. If Hogwart's falls, so will the rest of the wizarding world."

            Giles nodded understandingly and turned to go. "I'll get the others to research the qualities he might look for in his next host." he said, before exiting the office. 'I hope you know what you're doing, old friend.' he though as he descended the stairs.

*

            Ginny paced around the small clearing Tom had selected as their vantage point. He had apparated her there and then looked menacingly down at her. 'If you're thinking of running or alerting the Order members once inside, think again.' he had said, staring her down. 'If you don't emerge from the building within a half hour, I will Apparate to any place that I now know contains members of the precious Order of the Phoenix, and kill them all.' His glare hardened as his voice strained. 'I'll kill you friends, your family, your owl even, until you come back to me.' Ginny had stared stoically at him and nodded stiffly. Tom had disapperated with the softest of hisses and left Ginny in her current state, pacing around the small area.

            Despite her brave face in Tom's presence, Ginny was terrified. The thought of having to see the dozen men that had haunted her dreams since she left the Department of Mysteries shook her in ways she couldn't begin to express and the fact that she was going to have make nice and not use her new powers to give them each a sound beating made her blood boil. 'They don't deserve to live and yet I'm going to have to pretend to be one of them.' she fumed silently. 'I wonder if they even feel sorry for all that they've done." Ginny paused, shook her head reprovingly, and sat down on a nearby stump where she began thoughtfully chewing her nails.

            "That's really not a very attractive habit."

            Ginny jumped up from her repose and glared at Tom. "You know, it's polite to make at least a pop when you Apparate." she snapped.

            He ignored her. "It's time. I want us to agree on a plan." He looked sternly into her set features, as if making one last attempt at reading her, and continued. "When you reach the prison, they will no doubt question you as to why you're away from the school during class time. What are you going to tell them?" he asked, training his eyes on Ginny's pacing form.

            "It depends on who's out front." she replied, folding her hands together behind her back. "Tonks will understand - she was always finding ways out of school. Mad-Eye will be a bit more of a challenge - I might have to resort to water works for that one. Either way, it comes down to this." She turned to Tom, eyes brimming with fake tears. "I just had to see the face of the people who nearly killed my Harry." she wailed, earning her a small smile on Tom's part. Ginny snorted. "I guess there are some advantages to everyone believing you're still a helpless little school girl." she said, smirking.

            Tom nodded. "And what if they don't let you in?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

            Ginny's face darkened. "Then I get annoyed." she growled, cracking her knuckles.

            Tom swept over to her, and took her hand. "I'm counting on you, Virginia." he said, his brown eyes locking with her green. "Make me proud. Failure has consequences."

            Ginny swallowed quickly and nodded. "I won't fail." she said, squaring her jaw.

            He released her hand and watched her march intently towards the prison.

*

            'Oh Merlin. Oh Merlin. Oh Merlin. Oh Merlin.' Ginny's thoughts raced as she approached the prison. Suddenly, she shook her head. 'Get a hold of yourself, Weasley.' she reprimanded herself harshly. 'You can't save anyone beyond this if you're dead.' She squared her shoulders as she approached the tall gates of the prison, noting with some confusion the lack of a frontal guard. "Alahomohora." she commanded, and wasn't surprised when nothing happened. "Metalurgus!" She sucked in a quick breath as the gate's locks hissed and dissolved as if someone had poured acid on them. With a strong gust, the doors fell back on their squeaky hinges. 'And Ron complains when Hermoine wants to talk about extra credit.' Ginny though wryly as she entered the courtyard.

            The tall, black walls of the prison jutted up sharply from the earth and the jagged turrets seemed to cut the skyline. Nothing grew from the rocky ground Ginny trod across, and there were no signs of life from the barred windows. Not a sound stirred, even as she reached the main doors and opened them without so much as a rush of air. The atmosphere was dank, heavy, and dead; if she strained hard enough, Ginny swore she could almost smell the decay in the air. Quickly leaving the door behind her, she worked hard to keep her focus on the mission, walking brusquely until -

            "Ginny?"

            Slowly, she turned around. "Mom?" she replied weakly, feeling as if the world had dropped out from beneath her. 

            Molly Weasley stood in front of her daughter, arms fallen to her sides, normally cheerful face now pale and gaping. "Is it true then?" she whispered. "You're working for Him?"

            Ginny dragged her heel around the dirty floor. "It wasn't my choice, mama." she said quietly. "I hope the Professor is alright. Did he explain what happened? How he forgot his Pensieve?" she asked hopefully, looking into her mother's wide eyes.

            Molly nodded mutely. "Dumbledore sent us a message this morning at the Burrow, telling us that there would be an attack here tonight, and that you would be part of it." A single tear dripped down her cheek. "Tonks and Mad-Eye were supposed to handle it, make it look like you'd been killed so He wouldn't come after you anymore. We're only here because no other Order members could manage the day shift."

            Ginny blanched. "We? Dad's not here, is he?"

            Molly nodded. "He's up a floor, patrolling. Merlin, sweetheart. What have you gotten yourself into?" she whispered.

            "I didn't get myself into anything!" Ginny seethed. "He was the one who came to me! He was the one who threatened the school! What was I supposed to do? Just let my friends go up in flames?"

            Molly winced. "Alright, he made you go over to his side. But why is he leaving you in charge of an operation like this?" Suddenly, her eyes widened. "You really convinced him that you're actually on his side, didn't you?"

            Despite herself, Ginny smiled. "Bloody brilliant under pressure, I am." she said proudly.

            "Bloody stupid is more like it!" Molly shrieked. "You know he's going to ask you to do worse than this!" She planted her hands on her hips. "Did you even discuss this with Dumbledore?"

            "Sorry! Between the threats on the school and that Parkinson prat rallying the whole school to practically lynch me, no! I didn't!" Ginny fired back sarcastically. "What could he have done? Move the whole school to Grimmauld Place?"

            Molly glared. "Don't you use that tone, young lady, especially when you speak of Albus Dumbledore!" she scolded. "Now, I don't know what you've agreed to with him, but this whole ridiculous charade stops now!" She started over to her daughter. "Now, give me your wand. We're taking you back to Head Quarters where we can keep an eye on you."

            "No! You can't stop me, mama!" Ginny pleaded, jerking her wand behind her back. "If I come back without them, he said he'll kill me!"

            Molly stopped dead. "No." she protested feebly.

            Ginny nodded, tearing up. "The original plan failed, mama." she said shakily. "He thought I was a spy from the beginning and he made me kill Snape so I stabbed him through the stomach but he escaped and now I have to help him regain his followers or he'll know that I'm still on our side." she babbled.

            Molly shook her head. "There has to be a way to fool him." She looked pleadingly up at her daughter. "I don't want my youngest becoming a Death Eater."

Ginny winced and sighed. "Everything I do for him, I do because it's the only way to keep me alive." she said shakily. "Please. You have to open the cell doors. You have to help me."

            "Absolutely not, young lady!" Arthur cried from the stairwell. He stepped down and marched over to Ginny. "Now, Dumbledore's told us all about what you did to Professor Snape and quite frankly, I'm shocked. To think my own daughter would do - "

            "Do what, dad?" Ginny shouted. "Save that sniveling ingrate's life from the He-Who-Had-Far-Worse-Planned-For-Him?" She glared at her father. "If I hadn't thought as quickly as I did, he and I would both be dead right now!" 

            "Ginny!" Molly gaped. "I've never heard you speak like this!"

            Arthur eyed his daughter suspiciously. "He's got her under the Imperius Curse, no doubt." he muttered to his wife.

            Molly shook her head. "Remember the message: she's a Slayer - she's invulnerable to Unforgivables."

            "Hey! I'm standing right in front of you!" Ginny cut in, looking pleadingly between each of her parents. "We'll all be dead if you don't take down the locks on the cells."

            Arthur gaped and Molly ran over and hugged her daughter tightly. "This is too much! This is crazy!" she cried against her daughter's shoulder.

            Ginny held her mother tightly. "I know, mama." she whispered hoarsely. "But it's the only way."

She released her mother and walked her over to her father. "Can you do it, dad?" she asked, unable  to look him in the eye.

            Arthur nodded quickly, went over to the stairs leading to the second floor, and murmured a spell before returning to his wife and daughter. "They aren't that coherent." he said hoarsely. "You'll need someone skilled in healing spells."

            Ginny nodded. "Thank you." she murmured gravely. "But there's one more thing." she added hesitantly. "I'm going to have to make it look like I lost my temper with you." Ginny rooted her eyes on the dirty floor, not daring to meet her parents' faces. "If you're unconscious, he can't read this conversation from you."

            Arthur shifted uncomfortably. "If you think this is the only way, Ginny." he said, voice catching.

            Ginny squeezed back the tears that stung her eyes. "I promise this will only hurt a bit."

*

            Red sparks shot out from Ginny's wand and a few seconds later, Tom appeared by her side in front of the main gate. "What is it?" he asked urgently.

            Ginny made a show of rubbing her elbow. "I got the doors open but I ran into a problem." she replied. "It seems that despite all his rhetoric, Dumbledore still condones torture."

            Tom swore violently. "All this work to get them out myself." he grumbled as he stalked across the courtyard.

            "Hey!" Ginny protested, easily matching his long strides. "I took out two of the most powerful members of the Order for you, opened all the doors, and I don't even get a thank you?"

            Tom ignored her until they entered the main floor. "Those two?" he asked incredulously, pointing to the two figures lying together in a heap. He studied them closer. "Aren't these your parents?" he asked, turning to Ginny.

            She nodded. "Two toughest members in the Order of the Phoenix, aside from Mad-Eye and Dumbledore." she said with barely concealed pride. "Can't take a punch, though." she added thoughtfully.

            Tom regarded Ginny with a strange half-smile. "You were close to your parents, if I recall correctly. You used to write about how caring they were." Ginny nodded, shifting uncomfortably as Tom continued to watch her. "And you beat them into unconsciousness simply because I asked you to." He filed this carefully. "That is true devotion, Virginia."

            Ginny exhaled impatiently. "Which is what I've been trying to prove to you all day. Look, can we just get the Death Eaters out of here?" she asked tersely.

            Tom nodded. "Of course. Did you manage to find out which floor they're being held on?" he asked.

            "Of course I did!" Ginny snapped. "Second floor."

            Tom glared at her but nodded and together, the pair made their way up a flight of narrow steps that seemed to go on forever until at long last, they reach level two. A dusty plaque on the wall bore the name of some famous wizard who had contributed money during the last century to build the prison, but Ginny had neither the time nor the presence of mind to read it. Instead, she watched in awe as Tom became very still and very quiet as he focused his energies.

            Suddenly his eyes snapped open and he pointed his wand towards the cells. "ENERVATE!" he cried, causing a ripple of bright blue energy to shoot from his wand and down the long hallway. As it dissipated, groans could be heard from the open cells

            "Wow." Ginny breathed.

            Tom smiled smugly and then scowled. "Why aren't they emerging?" he muttered.

            Brow furrowed, Ginny walked past him to the first cell. The sign next to where the door used to read, "Dolohov" but as Ginny peered inside, she had to stifle a gasp. There was a skinny lump of bones taking in raspy breaths as it lay on the thread-bare cot bore no resemblance to the proud man she had encountered at the Department of Mysteries. Harsh tears cut into the thin fabric along the man's back, through which ugly red lines and welt marks jutted and burned their way into Ginny's memory. "Oh, Merlin." she whispered.

            Tom came up so silently behind her that she jumped at the sound of his rage-filled voice. "Even I didn't expect Dumbledore to allow such barbaric treatment of prisoners-of-war." He stalked over to the cot where Dolohov lay, groaning and took a wand from Ginny's hand. "Activate." Tom murmured to it before passing it to Dolohov.

            "Thank you, my lord." he cried weakly, kneeling to kiss the hem of Tom's robes.

            Tom looked down on the trembling shell of a man. "Rise." he commanded regally. "It's time to see to the others."

            Dolohov nodded and he and Tom exited the cell. Ginny, however, was still dealing with the shock. 'How could they.' she thought numbly.

"Virginia!" Tom called sharply from down the hall. "We need the wands!"

            Ginny's awareness snapped back into reality. "Coming." she answered as she entered the second cell. "Avery" the sign read, and he looked much the same as Dolohov: emaciated and looking close to death until Tom handed him a wand. The procedure was the same right until the end of the hallway.

            "Lucius." Tom murmured grimly. "Let's see what they've done to you, my pet." Ginny raised an eyebrow at the other Death Eaters but they all seemed to be ignoring her. "Stay here." Tom commanded over his shoulder as he entered the senior Malfoy's cell.

            Ginny nodded absently as she looked around. Each of the Death Eaters was at least a head taller than her, and even with their gaunt physiques, she had to wonder if she could disarm them all and escape. 'Buffy's defense class - yet another thing I'm not a part of because of him.' she thought bitterly. Out of the corner of her eye, she could have sworn she saw Rudolphus Lestrange looking at her. However, when she turned her head, he was staring straight ahead and his expression was the same as the others: stoic, and full of barely controlled pain and hunger.

            Finally, Tom and a very weak looking Lucius Malfoy emerged from the cell. His injuries seemed the worst: a split lip, two black eyes, and several ugly lacerations up and down his forearms were all visible to Ginny through the loose clothing provided to prisoners during their stay. Inwardly, Ginny felt a small sense of satisfaction. 'And I hope he inflicted worse than what I see, you son of a bitch.' she thought bitterly. Suddenly, a strange, subtle smile flitted across Malfoy's bloody and haggard features, causing Ginny to feel very nervous. She looked to Tom, but he was already at the head of the group, leading them to the front gates. Shaking her head, she fell in line with the rest, bringing up the rear.

            "He's told us for many years now that he would find a way to claim you for our side, Ms. Weasley." said Lucius, bending to whisper to her as they descended the stairs. "He says you have a great deal of untapped potential."

            Ginny stiffened but kept walking. "What the hell are you talking about?' she hissed.

            Malfoy Senior smiled enigmatically. "You'll do us all proud, I'm sure." he murmured. "That can't be your handiwork, can it?" he smarmed as they passed Molly and Arthur, who were still out cold.  Ginny ground her teeth but said nothing, earning her a harsh, raspy chuckle from the older man. "Welcome to the Death Eaters, child." he drawled as they crossed the courtyard.

            That was enough for Ginny. She kicked sharply at the back of the man's already weak knees, causing him fall forward most ungracefully. The Death Eater's stopped and stared, but Ginny bent down to help Lucius back up, she grabbed his left arm and twisted it painfully behind the older man's back. "Don't cry out." she ordered under her breath. Tom looked back at them questioningly but Ginny simply patted Lucius's shoulder with her free hand and smiled. "He's still weak." she called out pleasantly. Tom raised an eyebrow at Lucius, but he smiled as well (albeit painfully), so Tom turned around.

Satisfied that no one was watching, Ginny pulled Lucius up roughly, never releasing her hold on his arm, and forced him to keep walking. "Now, you listen to me." she hissed, careful to keep her voice low so that only the two of them could hear it over the crunch of feet over gravel and dirt. "I'm stronger than you could ever hope to be and I'm invulnerable to illegal curses." She smiled as Malfoy's face tightened, and tightened her grip on him. "So, you will show me nothing but the utmost respect and courtesy, is that clear?"

            Lucius nodded quickly. "I wasn't aware." he rasped quietly, eyes downcast. "Forgive me."

            Ginny nodded and roughly released him. "Really, Lucius." she said sweetly as she walked up ahead to join Tom's side just beyond the main gates. "You don't need to be so shy about asking for help when you stumble."

            "I see you two are getting along." Tom said, an amused smile playing across his lips as Ginny came up to his side.

            "Famously." Ginny answered, grinning as she put her hand on the damaged book and disappeared.

I hope that was as satisfying to everybody! :D And this is only the beginning of the power struggle between Ginny and Lucius, so there will be plenty more opportunities for those two to duke it out.

As usual, 4 -5 reviews to pay for the next chapter. Please?