Restarting the Heart
Disclaimer: My initials are E.C.L, not J.K.R.
This chapter was edited and re-posted 29/3/13. I added the second and third parts, as it's easier than leaving two smaller chapters.
Chapter 8:
Ginny woke up late, more for not being able to get up than actually oversleeping. She had, in fact, woken up four times already, but had rolled over and hidden in her duvet again, for reasons she couldn't explain. She was usually an early riser, from Quidditch practice to living at the Burrow she was used to it.
She dressed quickly, putting on a pair of old jeans and a hoody that were on the end of her bed. After braiding her hair back, she headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Lost in her own world, she barely noticed how quiet it was, or how empty it was. She had almost shut out the world around her, for reasons she wasn't even thinking of.
Suddenly, as she entered the Hall, she knew something was wrong. It was silent. That could be expected, but what scared her was the fact that it was empty.
She left the Hall and walked through the hallways, finding everything still, silent and empty. The castle was back to how it had been before the war, but there were a few subtle changes. It was oddly hazy, like there was fog inside her head.
As she walked, her feet felt heavy and she was suddenly exhausted. Barely able to keep her eyes open, she stumbled into the first room she could see and promptly fell, passed out.
She never hit the ground.
In an ancient Manor, miles from the safety of Hogwarts Castle and it's comfort, an unlikely attacker sat at a muggle chess board, poking as the figurines to move them across the checkered playing field. There were no knights, bishops or pawns in this game, though. The figurines were exact replicas of their human doubles, almost to the last detail.
The player on the white's side casts a shadow across the board, letting the person opposite her be seen in full. Ginny Weasley is a sight for sore eyes, gagged and tied to a chair, slumped over in exhaustion.
"I make the first move; I have the upper hand. White to move first, while black still slumber. Stealing one of their own from under their very eyes." A tiny figurine in the middle of the front row is pushed two squares forward, leaving it isolated in the middle of the board, bright orange hair standing out against the black and white tiles. "Ginny Weasley to E4."
"The King is now vulnerable, and the Queen indirectly so, along with most of the powerful figures. One tiny, insignificant girl may make all the difference.
"This would be so much more entertaining with an opponent, wouldn't it. Yes, it would. Maybe the girl can join me? No, not yet. More time is needed. Besides, it's not like she's going anywhere!" The unfortunate girl's abductor cackled dramatically before bursting into false giggles.
"No, we let you sleep for now, you look tired." A hand stretched out, ghosting slowly over the dark circles under the redhead's closed eyes. A demented smile crossed the villain's face, pale pink lips drawing back to reveal a pristine set of pearly white teeth. A lock of pale blond hair fell from it's usual exquisite style as their head moved.
"You have so much ahead of you, you'll need the rest." The shadow rose, unfolding her legs from beneath her and standing, revealing an alarmingly thin body, covered only by a tank top and leggings. Her hair was long, perfectly straight and so pale it was practically white. It was only a few shades darker than her skin, which was practically translucent in the dark room.
As she glided through the room with an air of elegance that would rival any princess she came further into view. Her sapphire blue eyes were so piercingly bright that they almost created their own source of light. Her skin was flawless, without a blemish. She was taller than average, at least six foot tall, height making up for her petite frame. The dazed smile still graced her face yet it did not soften her defined features; it made her look more like the madwoman she really was rather than the harmless beauty she was seen as.
At a time, she would have been enchantingly beautiful, memorable blue eyes and breathtaking poise. She had a silent confidence about her that might have worked in her favor, had she been aiming to be charming and not imposing. Now, a mere shell of the goddess she might have been, she seems sharper and haughtier than anyone would have expected from such a small girl.
Having reached the opposite side of the room, she paused momentarily, picking up her wand and lazily flicking it towards the fireplace before storing it in the waistband of her leggings. She strolled over to the chess board again and assumed her sitting position, drumming her fingernails threateningly over the piece in the Queen's square. A chip of brown paint flicked off it, leaving a bald white patch on the wavy brown hair.
"I would have liked to have woken her to show her exactly what's happening her poor friends, but I suppose it can't be helped. As black does not yet have a player, white move again." She plucked the dainty statuette from it's spot and moved it three spaces diagonally. "Hermione Granger to G4." She chuckled darkly at something before leaving back from the board again.
"You'll be next Mudbloods."
In the girls dorms of Gryffindor tower, the aforementioned Mudblood woke with a troubled mind. She had finally gotten her first full night's rest in weeks, but it didn't feel right. She had not dreamed, she did not feel rested and her limbs felt paralyzed. With a few light stretches, the numbness left her and she rose for the day.
A half an hour and one warm shower, she felt much more relaxed. Dressing efficiently, she cast mild glamour charms on the worst of her scars and the bags under her eyes before going to wake her dorm mates. Angelina had risen already, her bed was half made and her clothes had gone. Hermione suspected she was with the rest of the Weasleys at breakfast. Katie and Alicia awoke without much trouble, both of them got out of bed expressing similar desires to begin restoration work on the Castle.
She left Ginny until last, as she thought she might need the sleep. After contemplating for a few brief moments on whether to leave her sleep or not, she headed towards the final bed in the room, drawing back the heavy maroon curtains before peering over the bed.
Hermione was sure her heart must have lept with joy as she surveyed the bed. It was perfectly made, which wasn't like Ginny at all. It wasn't that the youngest Weasley was untidy, she just never put her full effort into neatness. Her clothes were folded perfectly on the end of the bed, her robe hanging from a hanger on the bed's frame. She was constantly reminding the redhead to leave her bed exactly as it was this morning and Hermione felt oddly proud and satisfied that someone was finally heeding her instructions.
She almost overlooked the small doll and note on the pillow, that was until the note flickered with the breeze created by the curtain. The tiny lookalike set off warning signals in Hermione's mind, and even without understanding the meaning of the note she knew something was wrong.
She fled the room, figurine and parchment in hand, the artistic script of the note and it's simple message almost gone from her mind.
E4
Imporant: Pairings!
What couples do you guys want to see in this story? (other than Hinny) I'll take suggestions for almost anything, but the characters who are dead must stay dead. Other than that, it's up to you!