LIFE AFTER DEATH

Part Nine: Letters.

To Ginny,

Ron and I are about to do something we thought we would never do; receive the Dark Mark. It pains us to do this Ginny, but you have to understand our reasons why. First, we will have much more freedom this way, and we can help you. Secondly, we did it for you, because you saved our lives, it would have been a worthless sacrifice when you gave up your freedom in return for our lives. If we don't do as he says, we would just rot away in that cell, dying on the inside. Then we would have been no use to you at all. There is a Contract, and there are rules that, if we sign, will bind us to absolute loyalty to the Dark Lord, so we will not be able to help you properly, we can only hint things, since there are always loopholes in contracts, even magical ones.

Read this carefully, there isn't much time. The Contract can be destroyed, rather simply, all you have to do is rip it, this will literally break our bindings to him. However, I'm sure your beloved will hide it, and hide it well. This won't be easy. But, when, and I mean when, you find the Contract, don't destroy it instantly, you must make a copy of it, to put it in the original Contracts place, we don't want any suspicions being raised. I suppose you are wondering how you will replicate the Contract without magic; it is simple, all you have to do is call for a House Elf, it won't know any different. The House Elf will replicate the Contract for you.

Once this is done, ask the Dark Lord to meet up with us, wherever we may be held, and we can begin planning, you are the closest to the Dark Lord, so you can tell us of his movements, and Ron and I can build up a resistance. You believe there is no one left that will fight Voldemort, yet you've forgotten that not everyone was willing to become a Death Eater. When Ron and I are Death Eaters we will be able to contact these people, and then we can rescue you, Ginny, and you can bring your children with you, and we'll live in peace again. Ron and I will be truly free again.

Hermione.

X

Ginny wondered whether they had ever lived in peace beforehand, but she let it slip her mind as she realised she was crying. Hermione, and Ron needed her so much, they were relying on her, and pinning all their hope on her. Then the thought of having to find the Contract made her dizzy, since the Manor was so big, it would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack, which was virtually impossible….

Everything other than that seemed easy enough, but she knew trying to find it would be exhausting enough, and Tom might notice the changes in her energy patterns. He would definitely become suspicious. He wasn't stupid, not one bit, he had the sharpest, and most cunning mind she had ever encountered in a human being before, and she knew that if she were to pull this off, she would have to wait until the opportune moment.

When she had told Leo about Tom wanting to teach him, the thought of finding the Contract had been the only goal in her mind, so it was a good advantage that his lessons were already beginning, and hopefully she wouldn't have to wait that long for the opportune moment, with Leo's information (if the Contract was in his study) she could just break into there at nighttime somehow, anyhow, anyway she could think of, and carry out the plan.

Just then the sound of Tom's voice calling her name made her startle, and knock a few books off their shelves, and hstily picking them up, she answered him in her softest tone, and stepped out from behind the bookcase to face him.

Tom watched as Leo left the room with a smile, and wondered why children became so happy having achieved only a small thing; the small thing being learning a quarter of the alphabet. He leant back in his leather armchair, and thought; why didn't he just get someone to teach Leo the basic stuff, like writing, and then basic spells? He would overlook the lessons. Yes, he thought, that is a good idea. And that way, he could spend more time doing other things, such as looking over the land's he now owned, and spending more time with Ginny.

More time with Ginny, he liked the idea, even if he spent a lot of time with her anyway. It wasn't just sleeping with her, no, he liked when she talked to him, he liked watching her reading, he liked seeing her tending to the baby, and he liked walking with her around the gardens. Tom didn't know why he liked doing these things; maybe he just liked looking at her.

Tom wondered how Ginny had done this to him; it couldn't have been a spell, because she didn't have a wand, and Ginny wasn't powerful enough to do wandless magic. Maybe she used slight, and unnoticeable things, like touches, and looks. Whatever way she had done it, he was ensnared….

Then suddenly, the door burst open, making Tom stand sharply. "Daddy!" It was Leo, waving something around in the air. "I find this!"

"Knock next time, boy," he said angrily, sitting slowly back down, but Tom's anger was obviously ignored by Leo, who continued jumping up and down, with whatever he was holding in his hand. "What is it?"

"Parshment," he answered. "On my bed."

"Parchment," Tom corrected as he took it from him. With one look, Tom saw that it was the same handwriting as the letter Lucius had given him. "Well done," Tom said distractedly. "Go to your mother now, she might want to see you."

"OK," and Leo left the room, feeling happy again, and went off to find Ginny. Tom stared at the letter first, seeing it was short. He didn't really want to read it, in case some other bother was going to befall him, but he began reading it anyway.

Lord Voldemort, it read once more,

It has come to my attention that dear little Ginny has been allowed out on her own. Now, that is some trust you are displaying there, since it is her brother, and friend that she has gone to see, don't you think she might be plotting against you? Do you think she really wants to be your little Lady for the rest of her life? Perhaps her refusing your request for another child should have shed some light on where her loyalties really lie.

And little Leo, who, at only 3 years old, strives for your praise. Poor boy. So, I've placed this letter in his room, for him to find. This way, he will get some praise. Perhaps he would be better off with some other father figure who will give him the praise he seeks, do you agree? Or, maybe he just needs to have all the attention again. Either way, you'd better solve this problem with the wards fast, because you're going to find yourself childless, or wifeless, perhaps both.

Tom was seething now. This pretentious git, how dare he think that his wards were flawed, his wards were perfect! And this stuff about Leo; he was Tom's son, and he would treat him as he pleased. He would smack him if he wanted! And Ginny couldn't plot against him with her brother, that was something this bastard knew nothing about, he didn't know anything about the Contract; no one had been present when the Contract had been signed, not even any House Elves. Ginny could not plot against him. But, something irked him; how could anyone possibly know that he wanted Ginny to have another baby? They had been alone, completely alone. And it had only happened the day before.

He needed to see Ginny.

Ginny was key to everything, she would be able to help him think properly, and she would reassure him that this letter was spouting rubbish. He stood up, calmly so, and stored the letter in the top drawer with the first letter he had received; locking it before he left, along with the door. He asked a passing House Elf, laden with washing, if Ginny had returned, and where she was.

"Pipper is seeing Miss in the Library," it answered, bowing so low, it almost dropped the washing.

Tom continued on his way to the Library, wondering what Ginny was doing in there, and why she hadn't come and informed him of her arrival. Perhaps she was plotting against him… no, it was impossible, and she had been too willing to sleep with him last night, why would she plot against him? He smirked as he remembered the night before. When he got to the Library, Ginny was nowhere in sight. "Ginny," he called in a loud voice, and it seemed the books became unsettled at the noise as he heard frantic fumbling somewhere behind one of the bookcases.

"Yes, Tom," he heard her call back, and she stepped out from behind the bookcase she had been hiding behind. "How was Leo?"

"Fine," he replied. "Why didn't you tell me you had come back?"

"I didn't want to disturb you, if I had interrupted he would forget everything," she said knowingly, as she stepped toward him. She moved her hands up to lie on his face, and chest, and rested against him. "You seem troubled. Did you think I had gone missing?" she joked.

"I… I don't want anyone to take you away from me," he said quietly into her hair.

"What ever gave you that idea?"

"Would you ever leave me, Ginny?" he asked, ignoring her question. "Would you leave me willingly?"

"Tom, what's wrong -?"

"Just answer me," he demanded.

"No," she replied. "Tell me what's wrong, please?" she pleaded, and she turned her face up at him with a concerned look.

"Not yet," he muttered. He bent his head to kiss her upturned face, that lovely, worried face. Tom could feel Ginny's hands running up over his shoulders, and her arms wrapping around his neck, the feeling of her body relaxing against his almost made him forget about that stupid letter…. He could just tear off her navy dress, and take her against one of the bookcases, but, no, he remembered the letter, and he needed to start inventing some better than perfect wards. He pulled away from her.

"Tom?" Ginny said quietly.

"I have work to do," he explained. "It's very important."

"OK, will you be late coming to bed tonight?" she said, her hands on him again.

"Maybe, maybe not," he answered, and he kissed her once before he left, feeling reassured of Ginny's loyalties. Tom returned to his study, and suddenly realised as he pulled out a plan of the old wards, and the blueprint of the manor, that now really wasn't the time for another baby. Sweet Ginny just seemed to have this accurate intuition, or foresight. This stupid letter-writer was ruining his perfect plans for his ultimate rule, but he told himself, that they could have more children after the whole thing blew over, when everything was set, and final.

Now, for the wards….

Ginny leant over Tom as he slept, and she knew it sounded so stupid, but he looked so peaceful like that, as though he wasn't a raging monster at all, but a normal husband, a normal father. She sighed as she reached out to touch his smooth cheek, only to gasp sharply as he eyes snapped open, and his hand clutching her wrist.

"What are you doing?" he mumbled.

"I don't know," she whispered, and she felt guilty for some reason as she lay back down, and she suddenly burst into tears.

"Hey, hey…" she heard Tom as he sat up, "why are you crying, princess?"

"I'm confused," she sobbed.

"About what?"

"I don't know…" she uttered once more. "Did I wake you up?" she said, trying to make herself stop crying, and drawing on unwanted suspicions from a very suspicious man. Especially from a jealous husband, who liked to know what she did most of the time, and the like.

"No," he replied. "Why are you confused?" he continued to pry.

"I don't know, Tom," she said, sniffling. "I just feel befuddled about everything."

He grinned lazily at her, wiping her fresh tears away, and leaning in to kiss her once. "I know why," he drawled as he squeezed her breast very gently. "Come now, you should sleep now, Ginny, you never know what may happen tomorrow…" he warned as he lay back down, holding Ginny in his arms as she slowly drifted off to sleep again….

Ginny opened her eyes, and saw nothingness, but realised that it was still dark out, and when she turned to her side, she saw that Tom was still not in bed. She wondered what had been troubling him earlier on, and whether it had anything to do with her, since he had asked her those out-of-the-blue questions. And he had almost found her reading that letter, and if he had read it, then everything would have been for nothing.

She stilled as she heard footsteps; Tom's footsteps, and laid back down, pretending to be asleep. Ginny was still too tired from the night before, and she presumed that Tom was probably tired now from having stayed up so late, working. The bedroom door opened slowly, and Tom stepped in, instantly taking his shoes off, but not bothering with his clothes as he climbed into his king-size bed.

He looked at Ginny through the sliver of moonlight. Was he really scared? Tom couldn't remember ever being truly scared, or deeply worried, he had seen people in that state, but he had never really experienced it himself, and he wasn't ready to start experiencing it right now. The wards he had placed did have a flaw, but it was trivial, not something to worry over since the flaw was that only certain people could Apparate straight into the vicinity. He would change that now; only he would be able to Apparate in, and out.

Ginny could hear Tom's steady breathing, and sensed that he was looking at her, realising that there was no point in pretending to be asleep, since he would soon discover her like the last time. "Tom?" she said in a sleepy voice, opening her eyes once more, and lifting her hand to rest on his cheek. "When did you come to bed?"

"Just now," he replied in a worn tone. "You awake for me, it seems you know when I am near. That pleases me, Ginny," he muttered as he lay down, and she realised he was still wearing his day-clothes; her Mum had taught her that she should always change her clothes at bedtime, because they 'weren't that poor', she would say. "Tom, you should change, sleeping in your normal clothes ruins them."

He gave a chuckle. "Then I'll buy new clothes," he replied in a quiet tone.

"At least take your shirt off…" she suggested, and she sat up, surprising herself that she should care so much about what Mrs. Weasley had taught her, and her brothers, who were mostly slobs, apart from Percy, but would still pertain to this one thing their mother had taught them. Ginny unbuttoned his dark shirt, only stopping when she felt Tom's hands holding her wrists firmly.

"I see…" he muttered in a sly voice. "But, I'm worn out, now, Ginny, not tonight, my siren."

Ginny felt herself blush under the cloak of darkness. "But, I-," she started.

"No, shh," he murmured, and he pulled her down to him, her head resting on his chest. And he held her tight, in case anyone were to lurk in the shadows with thoughts of stealing Ginny right from under his nose. He couldn't bear the thought of Ginny suddenly being gone, like last time…. The smell of her hair, the feel of her hands, that just stopping so suddenly would surely make him go mad. He knew it.

"Tom," she whispered, her lips brushing over his chest as she spoke, "will you tell me what has been troubling you? Please? I want to make it better."

"I will tell you when the time is right," he muttered. "Don't ask me again." And she obeyed, and finally fell asleep against him. Yes, he was tired, but something was keeping him awake, he needed to protect Ginny. She was such a wonderful wife, wanting to know why he was troubled, pleasing him without even knowing it….

Despite fighting slumber for as long as possible, Tom found himself walking in dreams of Ginny, but with the same subconscious feeling that had urged him to stay awake.

Ginny was searching; she was searching very frantically indeed, for baby Elizabeth, for when she had woken that morning, and gone to check on her, all she had found was an empty cot. She couldn't think how anyone could have stolen her, Tom had the best wards she had ever known of, matching those of Dumbledore's at Hogwarts.

So, where was she?

Maybe, Ginny hoped desperately, she was with the Nanny. So she set off to the East Wing, where most of the guest rooms where, and the quarters of the Nanny, however, when she reached there, she only found that her bedroom was empty, not a soul to be found. Now Ginny was getting very scared indeed. Tom would help her… yes, Tom would be just as worried as she was, and he would have the power to send out a search party, he would find their baby indefinitely.

Breaking into a run, she breezed through the twists and turns of the hallways once more into the West Wing, and to Tom's study, only to find the damned thing locked. "Tom?" she called out desperately through the door, in case he was in there, but there was no reply. It was breakfast time, he would be in the dining room…. Running once again, Ginny hurried down the marble staircase, and past through the parlour, and into the dining room. "Oh, Tom! I can't find Lizzy!"

Tom looked up at a grief-stricken Ginny, then laughed. "She's right here, Ginny," he said in a bemused tone, and sure enough, Elizabeth was there, sitting on his lap, her dark curls tied up with a white ribbon. Ginny sighed with relief, almost laughing at how she had over-reacted, and smiled at Elizabeth as she sat up on Tom's lap. Ginny became aware of how the months had passed, with each day Lizzy was learning new things.

"I thought someone had taken her…" Ginny said quietly, trying not to startle the baby, as she bent to pick her up. "Oh, baby…." Ginny kissed Elizabeth's head, and rocked her slightly. "Why did you bring her down here?"

"She was awake," he replied as Ginny sat down. "I didn't want to leave her alone, just lying awake." Tom finished his breakfast, but remained in his seat when Ginny's appeared before her, since she put Elizabeth back on his lap.

Ginny could have almost burst out laughing at the sight of a bouncing baby on Tom's lap, even more so that he didn't even look disgruntled about it. She wondered why she had reacted so badly, she should have known that Elizabeth might have been with someone else in the house, maybe it was because Tom had made her feel uneasy the night before; he wouldn't tell her anything, and it wasn't like him to do that, he would have at least given her brief details. Even a small hint would suffice at this moment in time.

"Are you working again today?" she questioned conversationally.

"Yes," he replied.

"On what?"

"Important matters," he answered in a vague manner. "Stop questioning me now, I will tell you my plans if I wish to, Ginny, and that's that."

"I just wanted to know," she said innocently. "It's my job to know the small things, and to know what my husband does, so I can help."

"Is it now?" he said, an eyebrow raised. "Your job is to be my wife, and a mother."

"That entails so many things, Tom," she muttered. "Such as what I just said."

"You can't help me," he said quietly. "I don't need help with this matter, I just need you to stop asking me questions, and prying into my business. Everything is all right, Ginny, there is no need for you to worry about the safety of the children." His dark-blue eyes were staring intensely into her brown ones. "That is why you were frantic just now, I've made you upset."

Ginny pushed her plate away, and watched as her plate disappeared before looking into Tom's eyes again. "I'm not upset, Tom, I'm just concerned."

"I'll tell you what's been happening by the end of the month, Ginny," he told her as he handed the baby back to Ginny, since he was going to start drawing up his plans for the new wards. He opened his mouth, about to say that he would tell her when she, and the children were safe, but closed his mouth quickly before he made her panic again.

Yes, by the end of the month, everything would be sorted; the wards will be finished, and he would have caught this bastard who thought he could frighten Tom, frighten him! And when he did catch him, Tom would murder him himself….

SailorHecate: LOL. I wouldn't make them have that many kids!

Sapphire Crystal: I know what you mean about people starting something they aren't going to finish, I sometimes do that, but then I always go back to it. And to answer your question, you'll just have to wait and see what that little word means….

Motherlyclucker: How did you come upon this story if you generally don't like G/T? I'm just really curious. Also, thanks for calling my story awesome. There is still time to convert you to the ways of G/T, Motherlyclucker, let me tell you.

A/N: Thanks for all your reviews, people. Also, this time I'm not going to reveal anything from the next chapter, I want you to be surprised as it were. Though I could give you a very, very hard clue, with just one word, and the word is: Distraction.

Review me, and tell me what you think I mean by this word. Hope you've enjoyed this chapter.