Winter Dreams Lost Chapter 19, a harry potter fanfic

A/N: No beta, so please excuse any SPAG errors.

Winter Dreams Lost

Chapter 19

Ginny sat underneath a tree, her cloak wrapped tightly around herself. The sun was beginning to set, and a deep sense of panic was beginning to spread throughout her. Light was fading, the shadows were lengthening, and she was very much alone. Well, except for the nighttime creatures that had begun to emerge. Before stopping her journey, she had jumped at nearly every hoot of an owl, trembled at the rustling of leaves, and had felt her heart leap outside her chest when she had nearly trodden over a snake. Now, resting in the looming end of day, she grimaced.

What had she done?

What had she gotten herself into?

More importantly, how long until Draco found her?

Fighting back the threatening tears she sniffed, wiping her face on her cloak.

It was only a matter of time, she thought miserably. Only a matter of time until someone found her. Would Draco find her before the Death Eaters did? Which demise was preferable? Both of them would surely kill her. Or what if...

Her thoughts strayed to her meeting with the dark-haired boy- the one who claimed not to be the Dark Lord. The one who claimed that she belonged with him.

As his face flashed across her mind, a searing jolt of pain pounded in her head. She held a hand to her forehead, sucking in a breath. As quick as it had come it began to dissipate, leaving a faint ringing in her ears.

She could feel the weight of the mirror he had given her in her pocket. She had walked along a small river for what felt like miles before she sat underneath the large tree, and more than once she had nearly chucked the little mirror into the flowing water, but something always stopped her. She had wondered if it had been cursed, or if it would place some evil power over her if she used it. But then, why had the boy let her go? Why not harm her, or kill her then?

Confusion and frustration swirled within her, and her head began to pound. The boy's face flitted across her thoughts- his messy hair and startling green eyes- over and over in her mind. Another sharp shooting pain zapped through her head, causing her to wince and rub her temple.

She simply didn't know what to think about him, or about what he had said. Her instincts told her that the boy only wanted to help her...

But that's how Draco had been.

He had been kind at first, saying he wanted nothing more than to help and protect her. She refused to fall for that deceit again.

She just needed to get away, needed time to think. Her head gave another throb and she forced the images of the boy who called himself Harry Potter out of her head.

She clenched her jaw and tried to take a calming breath.

Short-lived or not, she had escaped. She had fled her prison. As stupid and impulsive as it was- and even knowing how severely punished she would be if she was found by him- she couldn't bring herself to have one ounce of regret. She could no longer willingly stay with a monster, even if one night of escape was the last thing she would ever do.

No, she held no regret.

A slight chill began to descend upon the forest. Soon she would be covered in darkness. Though she was adamant that running away had been the right thing to do, Ginny fully admitted that she was woefully unprepared. Aside from her cloak, biscuits and wand, she had nothing.

Ginny sighed, tilting her head back and looking up at the sky. She rubbed her arms up and down as she began to shiver from the cold. Freezing to death was still better than going back.

No sooner had the thought entered her head, she felt a warmth begin to spread throughout her body. It began somewhere around her legs, traveling outward like she had slipped into a warm bath. She became fully encompassed in the mysterious warmth, reveling in its comfort. Her cloak must be warmer than she had thought.

The warmth in her also spread contentment, and she let out an appreciative sigh. Her eyes closed, and she dared to spare a moment where her worries left her. Her head lolled to the side as all care disappeared. No Draco. No prison. No running...

With a violent gasp, Ginny jolted awake.

It was morning. Sunlight was peeking out above the mountains, and birds were chirping merrily. The morning air was cool around her but within her cloak she felt warm and comfortable. She breathed out slowly.

He hadn't found her yet.

Her stomach gave a loud rumble, prompting her to take out the tin of biscuits she had stashed in her pocket. She slowly munched on it, taking in her surroundings. After a few minutes she stood up, brushing crumbs off her hands. She turned and began walking, not having any idea where her feet would lead her. Every step she took was further away from Draco's manor, and that was good enough for now.

Harry was exhausted.

He had stayed up the entire night, keeping watchful vigil over the young woman as she slumbered under the tree. Even with alarms, he didn't dare spare one moment to rest. Out in the open, Ginny was incredibly vulnerable. Harry had cast protective wards around them and made sure to renew warming charms on them throughout the night.

He had managed to remain hidden, keeping a fair distance away even though it was agonizing to do so. He ran a hand across his eyes. They were dry and irritated from the lack of sleep. Blinking rapidly, he watched as Ginny rose and began to walk again.

Though his patience was running thin, he knew he had to keep it up. He simply couldn't bring himself to force Ginny to do anything against her will- not after everything she had already been through.

They walked on for several hours. Harry couldn't help but admire the girl as he followed her. He knew very well that she had no idea where she was going- she had said as much- but her swift and confident steps gave the illusion of treading a well-known path.

Afternoon sun lit their way in the forest, and he saw her dig into her pocket for another biscuit. She glanced around before plopping herself down on the ground. Harry sighed. She wouldn't last much longer on only biscuits. Just as he began mulling over the options of getting her some decent food without scaring her off, his bladder began to protest. He glanced again at Ginny, who was now leaning back and letting the sunlight hit her face. He walked several paces away from his current location.

He was splashing cold water on his face from a small stream when he heard a scream pierce the air. He froze in place at the sound.

Ginny.

She was screaming.

Harry bolted in the direction of the scream. Wand drawn, he frantically sprinted across the forest floor, leaping over rocks and roots as he did so. Another scream reached his ears, and his stomach tightened with dread. His brain was panicking- fleeting thoughts and scenarios buzzing through his head. Still, he ran, Ginny's screams echoing through the forest.

"Ginny!"

His shouts were only answered by another shrill scream. Even as he ran, he didn't seem to be getting any closer to the shrill sounds. She was further- much further- than she should have been. As the thought crossed his mind, the screaming abruptly stopped. Harry skidded to a halt at the silence, his eyes fixed ahead of him where the screams had stopped.

"Ginny?"

An eerie silence seemed to fill the dense woods. There was no sign of anyone, no Ginny being dragged away, no one-eyed blonde, no Death Eaters, not even a chirping bird.

Something was horribly wrong.

Ignoring the direction in which he had heard Ginny's shouts, he shoved his hand in his pocket and retrieved the two-way mirror. Harry leaned down and spoke to it.

"Map."

The mirror in his hand clouded over, before displaying a map of the forest. A small blinking light north of him indicated the location of the other mirror. It was quite far, and... It was in the exact opposite direction with which he had been running. Harry tapped on the blinking light in the mirror, and an image displayed. It showed Ginny. She was... fine. She was sitting exactly where he had left her, looking quite content. She gave no sign of any distress whatsoever. She was completely unharmed.

Harry's mind raced, and his brow furrowed in confusion. The screams. She had been screaming, he had heard her. And if not her, then who? Unless...

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and his heart skipped a beat. He suddenly understood.

As if in time with the horror of his dawning understanding, the mirror he held in his hands began to alarm violently.

Ginny had her head tilted up towards the sky, a ray of light gently warming her as she closed her eyes.

Her feet were aching. She had walked for hours, finally stopping to rest. Comfortable in her position, she felt her mind begin to wander in and out of consciousness. It was only when she heard the snap of a twig that she jumped back to full awareness, eyes frantically surveying her surroundings.

But as she looked, she was met with stillness. Not even the birds seemed to be flitting about. Feeling slightly uneasy, she rose to her feet and brushed her clothes and cloak off of the leaves and grass that clung to it. She had lingered too long. Time to go on.

She had only taken about three steps when a jarring movement in her pocket made her jump in surprise. Fishing her hand into the pocket, she retrieved the mirror. The mirror was vibrating as she held it and seemed to be emitting a pulsating red glow.

"What on earth-?"

Holding the mirror upwards she stared at it. Ginny saw her own confused face staring back at her, brown eyes studying the curious object. There was another image in the mirror as well. Over her shoulder, she saw a face.

Draco Malfoy was glaring down at her.

With a cry of surprise and horror, Ginny spun around, dropping the alarming mirror onto the ground as she did so.

It was no trick- no deception of her eyes. The mirror had not deceived her. Draco was standing right there in the forest with her. Unable to move or breathe, she simply stared at him in horror, her mouth agape.

"Draco?" She whispered, her lips trembling.

Immaculately dressed as usual, the black satin cloth covering his bad eye, he glared at her in a chilling silence that made her blood run cold. His jaw was set, his stance was stiff, and his overall demeanor seemed to convey an inhuman darkness.

For a moment, the only sound between them was the continued alarm from the mirror. She saw Draco's silver eye flick down towards it. Almost lazily, he stepped forward, his boot making contact with the glass surface, crushing it underneath him. The pulsating light died with a sickening crunch. He looked back up at Ginny, his silver eye now narrowing on her. She wondered if she was about to meet a similar fate- if he would now crush her into pieces, and if her bones and flesh would soon become broken fragments.

So, she did the only thing she could think of- she ran. Knowing she would not get far, knowing she had no chance, she still ran.

And then suddenly he was right in front of her, stepping out of the shadows, and she nearly fell backwards in her effort to stop.

Gasping and trembling, hair falling wildly in her face, she took a shaky step back. Draco's cruel face remained unchanged, taking a step towards her as she slowly backed away.

"I-I..." she stammered helplessly. "Please. I just-"

But her words were cut off in a swirl of shadow and black robes. A hand flew out and met her face with such force she was knocked to the ground, air whooshing out of her lungs. On her knees, eyes watering and cheek stinging from the blow, she held up a hand to protect herself.

The man staring down at her was so still, his expression so cold, he could have been carved from stone. The fury wafting off of him and the clenching of his jaw were the only giveaways.

"Please," she pleaded, desperately searching for a hint of mercy in his face, "Please, don't-"

Once again her words were cut off midsentence. Another violent slap of his hand made contact with her face, and her head snapped to the side.

"Draco," she gasped in pain, feeling a trickle of blood from the split in her lip, "stop!"

This time it was not a palm that met her face, but a closed fist. She fell back from the blow, landing on her side, her vision swimming. Darkness began clouding her peripheral vision, and the world seemed to be spinning. She moved shakily onto her hands and knees to try and crawl away blindly, her face throbbing in pain.

She did not make it far before she felt Draco's hand clamp down on her wrist. She tried to wrench it away, and she felt something snap when he clamped down harder on it. He pulled her roughly to her feet making her world spin again. She then felt herself slammed unceremoniously against the trunk of a tree. The breath flew out of her lungs, and pain seared down her spine. Before she could take in more air, a hand clamped around her throat, squeezing.

Even with her watery eyes, and even though faint stars were appearing in her vision, Ginny could see the monster in front of her quite clearly. His lips curled and his teeth were bared. A few strands of his blonde hair fell in his face- the only evidence of his exertions on her. His silver eye was manic- wide and wild and boring into her, devoid of any sanity.

"Of all the stupid things you have ever done," he spat at her, his hand squeezing her airway tighter, "There is no penalty- no possible punishment- that could match this."

He then pulled her forward by the neck, before slamming her back against the tree. Her head made painful contact with the trunk, and something warm began trickling down the back of her neck. Her vision was beginning to turn black. Just as she was sure she would lose consciousness, he relinquished the tight hold on her airway, though his hand did not release her neck. She sucked in greedy breaths of air. He leaned forward, looking feral.

"I should kill you for this," he seethed through gritted teeth.

Ginny gulped in gasps of air, her lungs burning. As the precious oxygen returned to her blood, her entire body throbbed. She was sure her wrist was broken. She could feel her cheek and jaw swelling rapidly. Blood dripped slowly from her lip and the back of her head.

"Go on," she wheezed out, each word slow and painful. She looked defiantly into his eyes. "Do it."

Draco growled and his fingers twitched, wrapped against her throat in warning, but he did not squeeze.

A distant sound caused the pair to stop and listen. It took a few moments, but Ginny realized that someone in the distance was calling her name.

Harry.

A hand tangled roughly into her hair, pulling painfully and causing her to cry out. It was then she realized she must have spoken his name out loud. Draco yanked her down on her knees, pulling back with his hand so she was looking up at him. Now it was he who was trembling, though it was from anger.

"Let me see some tears, Ginevra. I want Potter to see them. I want him to know that I'm taking you home. I want him to know I have his little whore."

His hand gripped her hair impossibly tight, her head stinging from where it had made contact with the bark of the tree. She tried desperately to pry his fingers loose, feeling blood matting in her hair.

"I'm not! I didn't do anything-"

"Shut up!"

He knelt down to eye-level with her. Ginny only vaguely registered the sounds of Harry shouting her name as Draco leaned in close.

"You don't think I know about your secret rendezvous with Harry Potter?" He sneered, "You don't think I know what you've done? About you acting like a little slut?"

Insane. This man was insane.

"Draco, I swear I haven't- I haven't done anything!"

With a snarl Draco stood up, suddenly expressionless as he looked down on her, withdrawing his wand. Still holding her by the hair, he pointed the wand into her neck.

"You will pay for your misdeeds. As will Potter."

A scuffling sound alerted them to Harry just as he flew through the dense branches. He froze at the sight before him, his green eyes widening in fear as he took in Draco and his wand on Ginny as she knelt on the ground. His gaze lingered on the state of Ginny's bloodied face.

She saw Harry's calculating gaze, and he began to open his mouth to speak. Before he could do so, Draco interrupted him.

"Thank you so much for returning Ginevra to me," he said, his voice eerily casual, "and here I was beginning to worry."

Harry gritted his teeth but said nothing. His eyes flicked down to Ginny, and she stared back at him, trying to look calm. He was only going to get killed if he tried to help.

"Let her go," Harry started, holding his hands up slightly, "Let her go, and I'll-"

"I'm not negotiating with you, Potter. You see, sweet Ginevra is exhausted. I'm taking her home right now where she belongs. With me."

He gave the hand in her hair a painful squeeze, making her gasp.

"Because we both know, she belongs to me."

Several things happened at once. Bright lights erupted from both Harry and Draco's wand. Ginny heard Harry shouting her name, but the wand at her neck prevented her from any action. She felt Draco pull her against him, before she was drowned in the pull of apparition.

Ginny felt her feet make contact with solid ground. Before her vision cleared, she was roughly thrown from Draco's arms, landing hard on a stone surface. A dank, musty smell met her nostrils. It was dark, and a chill hung in the air. Blinking, she could just make out a set of iron bars stretching from the floor to the ceiling.

A dungeon.

Ginny moved wearily onto her side, cradling her broken wrist. She glanced upward to see Draco staring down at her, no hint of emotion at the state of her injuries. She looked away, tears that she did not want him to see escaping down her face. Instead of leaving her in a crumbled heap like she prayed he would, he reached down and tore her cloak away from her. She winced as she heard the ripping and tearing of fabric. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him find her wand, before snapping it in half, throwing the pieces down at his feet. Out of another pocket he found her tin of biscuits. Her head gave a violent throb when he launched the tin at the wall of the dungeon, the clang reverberating into her chest as it clattered on the stone.

Her heart pounded as she heard the slow, ominous sound of his boots as he stepped towards her.

This is it. This is the end.

She curled in around herself, bracing for another blow. But it didn't come. Instead, he shouted for the House Elf. She vaguely heard the pop of apparition but did not look up. Draco began giving instructions to the house elf.

"Ginevra will be staying here for the night."

His voice was eerily calm.

"Tomorrow, you will feed and bathe her. Heal anything that's broken. Heal the back of her head."

At this Ginny glanced up. He stared down at her, his face a mixture of anger and disgust. His eye roved over her face.

"Leave the bruises," he said, turning into the darkness to leave, "and her lip."

The House Elf nodded, then disappeared with a crack. With a clang, the door to the dungeon slammed shut, and Ginny was suddenly alone in the dark.

She slowly collapsed back down in a heap, her aching head resting on the cold stone floor.

She had failed- not that she had held out much hope it would succeed- but she had failed nonetheless. Even still, she had dragged Harry into it. He had only been trying to help her.

She should have believed him. She should have gone with him. Anything, absolutely anything was better than this.

Now shivering without her cloak, Ginny allowed the sobs to wrack her huddled form.

Morning came, but Ginny did not know it.

With no light in her cell she simply awoke, aching and in pain. She did not know how long she lay there, staring into the dark. Hours passed slowly. She could not seem to stop the spiraling dark thoughts in her mind, vacillating between latching onto them and focusing on her pain. Soon her stomach began to protest from hunger.

Evie suddenly appeared by her side, handing her a tray of tea and sandwiches. Ginny looked at her, noting sadly that the little house elf seemed to have injuries on her hands that were covered in bandages.

Her fault. Completely her fault.

Because she was stupid enough to run away.

"I'm sorry," Ginny whispered tearfully. "I'm so sorry."

Evie raised her large eyes to hers, nodding in sympathy. A silent understanding seemed to pass between the two. Ginny thanked the elf, taking a sip of tea. She nearly dribbled the tea down her chin, her lip raw and swollen. She touched a tentative finger to it, feeling where it had been split.

"What time is it?" She murmured.

"Nearly seven, Mistress."

Ginny swallowed and nodded.

The elf began wringing her hands nervously.

"Master says you is to meet him in the dining hall."

"Oh."

Had she not been exhausted, aching, and starving, she might have resisted. She was too weary to fight tonight.

"Alright then."

She rose from where she sat, allowing Evie to lead her to the door. She looked down questioningly at the elf.

"Mistress is to come back to the dungeons after her punishment," the elf explained.

She nodded, following the elf in a sort of uncaring daze, eyes glazed over and cradling her wrist to her chest. They walked slowly up the stairs and through the Manor. Ginny kept her head down, simply stepping one foot in front of the other. Finally, the pair stopped at a familiar door. When Ginny entered the bedroom however, she gasped at what she saw.

Her room had been destroyed.

The hangings around the bed had been torn and shredded. The mirror above the vanity had been smashed. Books and papers lay littered and torn across the floor. Ginny wondered why the elves had not cleaned up the atrocious mess, and then wondered if Draco commanded them not to so she would see it. Images of him seething and raging as he destroyed the room crept into her mind. She shivered.

Evie opened the closet, where most of Ginny's clothes had been yanked out and thrown on the floor. Evie grabbed a simple, long silk gown and clean underthings before leading Ginny to the bathroom.

Ginny sat quietly in the bath, allowing the heat to soothe her aching body. Evie washed and cleaned her, careful and gentle on her wounds. She healed the back of her head, siphoning off the dried blood in her hair. She took the broken wrist, healing it quickly and reducing the swelling. The water in the bath became so dirty with blood and grime that Evie had to magically change the water twice. While she sat at the vanity in the bathroom, her hair being combed and smoothed by Evie, she chanced a glance at her reflection. A drawn, pale girl stared back at her. Beneath the cuts and bruises, dark eyes dull and dead blinked at the reflection.

She couldn't really find it in her to care.

Clean and dressed elegantly, jewelry and make-up applied, she followed Evie down to the dining room. She moved like a ghost, eyes unfocused. That's all she was in this place anymore, really- a ghost.

Evie opened the door to the dining hall. The table was much smaller today, allowing for more intimate conversation. Draco was not there yet, but Evie led Ginny to her chair and sat her down, handing her a cup of tea.

Minutes ticked by as she waited for Draco.

What would her punishment be?

More lashings?

Not that it mattered- she saw only pain and suffering in her future.

Looking around the room hopelessly, she stared at herself in the floor-length mirror of the dining room. The same pale and drawn face stared back at her that she had seen in the vanity. Her eye was no longer swollen, but the black ring underneath it remained. A large purple bruise stood out against her cheek. What stood out to her this time was her arms. The sleeveless gown left them bare, and they were littered with bruises from his rough hands. They stood out starkly against her pale skin, such an odd addition to her elegant hair and dress. Indeed, peeking beneath her diamond necklace were the violet marks from where his hands had wrapped around her throat.

Is that what tonight would be? Would he rip the diamond necklace from her throat? Perhaps strangle her with it?

Or would he give her more lashings? Add to her collection of bruises and welts?

Or would he rip her elegant gown into pieces, and use her body relentlessly for his own pleasure? Ginny let out a sob at the thought.

Hopeless.

She had never felt so completely and utterly hopeless. She let the tears consume her for several minutes, before she felt Evie's hand in hers, squeezing gently.

"It will be alright, Mistress. You will see."

"No, it won't," Ginny sobbed, shoulders slumping, "it will never be alright. It will never be okay. I'm stuck here forever until he's sick of me or until he k-kills me. Maybe... maybe if I make him angry enough, he'll do it tonight and get it over with."

"Mistress!"

"Evie," Ginny interrupted, "You've always been so good to me. You've got to help me. I-I can't be brave anymore, and I'm just- just so tired and after tonight, I don't think I'll be able to..." She trailed off, her teary eyes looking intently at Evie. "Help me, please," she whispered, "Isn't there something you can do? Can you help me? Maybe find a potion for me? A potion that will put me- put me to sleep?"

"Evie has lots of sleeping potions. Evie can give you one tonight."

"No, not like that. I mean- I mean a different sleeping potion." She held the elf's hand tightly, willing her to understand what she was asking.

"Don't you see? I don't... I don't want to wake up."

The elf looked up at her confused.

"Help me end it, Evie. Please."

Evie's eyes widened in horror.

"No! No, Evie cannot! Evie will not!"

"Yes, you must! I can't do this-"

The elf reached out, grabbing both of Ginny's hands into hers, squeezing tightly. Pleading.

"Mistress must not give up," the Elf said, looking determined. "Must never give up. It will be alright, Mistress will see. It will be alright."

Ginny swallowed, a part of her wanting desperately to believe the kind elf's words.

"How do you know?" She whispered. "How do you know it will be alright?"

Evie smiled then- actually smiled.

"Evie knows," she said, large eyes looking bright. "Mistress must trust the elves. They has a magic, you see. A special magic, even Master does not know."

"What do you-?"

The sound of a door opening jarred Ginny away from her question. Evie disappeared with a crack, and Ginny immediately choked back the fear at having been suddenly left alone. Alone of course, except for Draco who strode silently into the room. His black robes billowed, and were it not for his blonde hair, he would have looked to have been a creature made up of shadows.

He walked slowly to the table. He looked calm on the outside, but there was a pulsating tremor of turmoil just under his exterior. Ginny's heart began pounding loudly within her chest, thumping louder as he came closer. He came to a stop at the table, eyeing the small tray of tea that was set. In a movement so quick it seemed to blur, he grabbed the tray of tea, launching it off of the table. Ginny flinched violently in her seat, gripping the armrests in terror. The tray clattered and the porcelain dishes shattered as they hit the ground.

Draco turned towards her, eye closing for a moment as he inhaled a slow, deep breath. When his eye opened again, it roved over her up and down. A sickening smirk crawled across his face.

"Your boyfriend thinks he's going to kill me."

Ginny glowered at him, her terror giving way to anger.

"He is not my boyfriend, and I didn't do anything wrong!"

Draco's entire body tensed, his eye flashing with danger. That had clearly been the wrong thing to say. His hands were in fists, and the very walls of the manor seemed to tremble.

"Wrong?" He choked out in a furious whisper. "You didn't do anything wrong?"

Then suddenly and inexplicably, he was laughing. It was cold and humorless. Ginny slunk back in her chair. The laughter was somehow more terrifying than his shouting, but it stopped as he leaned towards her.

"Well, Ginevra, let me see if I have analyzed this correctly." He began counting off with his fingers. "I saved your life, rescuing you from a terrible fate. I give you protection. I give you shelter. I give you the finest food, an entire library full of books, the prettiest dresses money can buy. I even give you your own fucking House Elf. And still, STILL-" He seemed to visibly choke on the words. "You disobey me. You threw it all away, all of it."

He peered close to her face, his hands gripping the armrests of her chair.

"You left me."

She was completely unable to look away as she watched his face crumble, the Malfoy mask breaking... And for one otherworldly moment he actually looked... hurt. Looked almost human.

Had she really hurt him by leaving?

But it was gone almost as quick as it came. The inhuman monster returned, cold and cruel as always, and whatever she had seen flicker in his eye was slave to it.

"You threw it all away- everything I have ever done for you. And you- you don't think you did anything wrong?" He asked with mock incredulity.

At her silence, the emotions in his face were rapidly replaced with seething fury.

"ANSWER ME!" He shouted in her face.

She jumped at the shout. With a snarl he whirled away from her, pacing in front of her like some caged, wild beast. He ran a shaky hand through his hair, disheveling it slightly, looking thoroughly unhinged.

"No excuse," he murmured to himself, "There can be no excuse. I spent years waiting, given her everything I have, but what punishment could possibly atone for this?"

He seemed to be escalating, like a rolling storm on the sea gathering strength and power.

"I'm sorry," she breathed, her voice shaking, "I'm so sorry, Draco."

He stopped his pacing abruptly.

"Don't you fucking lie to me!"

His hand darted out, roughly grabbing her chin. Her lips trembled as he leaned close to her face.

"Don't. You. Lie. You'd been planning that little adventure for days. Potter helped you, didn't he? I know he did. He took what was mine. He took you away from me. And you went all along with it, didn't you? And now, I'm forced to punish you. Forced to punish you for acting like a whore! I told you I didn't like punishing you, didn't I? Didn't I tell you? But now you've forced me."

His face was full of madness as rambled, seething at her, growling like some feral beast. She didn't dare move- didn't dare breathe. His eye moved wildly across her face, contemplating his next move.

"I think," he said, his voice softening and his hand loosening her chin without letting go, "more lashes should do the trick. Twenty lashes. And you'll be spending your time in the dungeon until I feel you've learned your lesson, until you can appreciate all that I have done for you."

Ginny could not suppress the smallest of whimpers, remembering how painful the lashings were.

"Hush now," he whispered, "It is for your own good. I've told you before I don't desire to punish you." He traced her swollen bottom lip with his thumb, and something else flashed in his silver eye. She had seen it before, and it was the one she feared the most- Much more than any lashings or dungeons.

"Before we begin," he said in a dark caress, tracing the cut on her lip, "I think there is one other lesson we should start with. I need to remind you of who you belong to." His hand left her lips, tracing down her jaw, her neck, her collarbone, tracing her diamond necklace. Her breath hitched as he continued, caressing the space between her breasts with the back of his hand as it dipped into the V-neck of her gown. "I'll make you mine again."

No.

Not that.

Never again.

Ginny clenched her jaw, shrugging away from Draco's touch.

"No."

Draco's hand froze, and he let out a chuckle. It was not a pleasant sound.

"Ah, yes, you seem to be under the impression that you have a choice in the matter." A wicked smile spread across his face, and his white teeth gleamed predatorily.

"If I want to rip off your clothes and fuck you on the table, then that's exactly what I'm going to do. If I want to take you up to the bedroom and bind you to the bed, then I will do so. You belong to me, and you will obey."

"And you-" Ginny snarled viciously at him, "seem to be under the impression that I will allow this." She eyed him, a roaring of adrenaline filling her ears. She suddenly felt brave, powerful even. "Because I assure you," she said, head held high, "I will NOT allow any such thing."

Draco leaned back away from her, looking mildly amused. It was short lived though, and he slowly removed his black outer robes, his eye not leaving hers.

"Very well," he murmured, clicking his tongue in disappointment and tossing his robes aside. "Have it your way."

By the time she saw the movement of his arm, it was too late. A blow that felt more like stone than a fist impacted her temple. Her already sore head whipped violently to the side. The roaring that had filled her ears just seconds ago was now a high-pitched ringing- drowning out all other sounds. She blinked slowly, feeling fog enveloping her as she stood precariously on the brink of consciousness.

She slowly came to, cursing herself for not seeing the blow coming. Her vision cleared, and she saw Draco rolling up the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows. He smirked at her, then twiddled his wand around in his fingers in amusement.

"I don't think this will be necessary just yet." He slid the wand into his pocket. He backed up a few steps from her chair. Watching.

"I rather like it when you fight back."

Ginny's mouth went dry. He had the face of a predator. A very hungry predator.

"Go on," He said, silver eye gleaming with excitement. "Run."

It was a trap, she knew it, but even if there was the slightest chance... and merlin knew she would not sit here and allow him to overcome her. Slowly, she toed off her high-heeled shoes, placing her bare feet on the floor. Evie had told her not to give up, had told her it would be alright... Rising shakily from the chair, she hesitated a moment, glancing at the exits in her peripheral vision.

"Ginevra," Draco warned, flashing a smile. "Run."

Grabbing the skirt of her gown, she obeyed. She darted across the dining hall to the large wooden doors. She twisted the handle, unsurprised but still disappointed to find it locked. She began knocking loudly on the door.

Open the door.

Come on, Evie!

Resigned, she turned around, her skirts swishing around her feet. Draco was walking casually towards her, hands in his pockets.

"Hm, I don't think you'll be getting out that way."

Ginny darted past him, running to the other side of the dining hall. Two large French doors led to the balcony, moonlight streaming through their glass panes. She fumbled with the doorknobs, which were also locked.

She let out a noise of frustration, turning around to see her options. But Draco was already upon her, looking delighted.

"Not that way either, I'm afraid."

His hand reached out to grab her, but she side-stepped him and ran again to the other side of the hall. It was stupid, she knew, but she still ran to the large wood doors.

You mustn't give up, Mistress.

She knocked frantically on the doors, hearing Draco's slow footsteps behind her. She reached for the doorknob again, knowing it was locked but when she turned it- a latch clicked and the door sprung open.

For half a second she gaped at the unlocked door, then heard Draco swearing furiously behind her. She didn't waste another moment. She ran through the dining room doors, her bare feet echoing lightly on the marble floor.

"Evie!" she screamed, "Help me!"

Ginny ran through the hallway, sprinting to the Parlor. She stopped abruptly in her tracks, eyeing the seemingly empty manor, panting.

"Evie?"

But there wasn't a soul to be seen. Knowing Draco was only steps behind her, she ran to the foyer, straight to the front doors.

These doors were locked as well. Ginny banged her fists on the hard wood.

"No! No, let me out!"

A sob escaped her, and she whirled around. Her frustration had cost her precious time, because he was already there.

"Go on, little mouse," he goaded her, "try to escape."

Ginny snarled at him and ran again. As she passed him, he darted a hand out to grab her and she slapped it away. She headed towards the staircase. She only made it up the first few stairs when two hands grabbed her at the waist.

"Gotcha."

Ginny rounded on him, fists flying and feet kicking.

"No!"

But his strong arms quickly overpowered her, and she found herself being dragged away from the stairs and towards the parlor. Even through her thrashing, she could see the fireplace roaring, and a large, white fur rug lay in front of it. Her struggling only stopped a moment, when she saw a leather belt folded neatly next to the rug.

"Let me go!" She shrieked, resuming her pounding fists.

Her world spun in a swish of robes and silk, and she was thrown to the ground, landing on the fur rug. Before she could so much as breathe, he was on her, pinning her down. She bucked wildly, kicking and screaming. He held both her arms in his hands and she tried to pry them away, but he was just so much stronger than her.

"Don't do this!" She shouted, her voice growing hoarse, "Don't touch me!"

Instead of answering her, he silenced her screams with a harsh kiss. She managed to pry her mouth away from his, keeping her face turned to the side. Tears leaked out of her closed lids as she felt his mouth move down her jaw, and then felt his tongue run up her neck. She started thrashing violently again, and his hands tightened painfully.

"Now, now," he said, transferring both her wrists to one hand, and withdrawing his wand. "Can't have you acting like a wild animal, darling. You might hurt yourself."

He waved the wand, and she felt each wrist encased by magical ropes, holding each firmly down on the rug next to her head.

"There," he soothed her, brushing her disheveled hair across her sweaty forehead, "Thats better now."

She refused to look at him, refused to see the triumph that was surely in his face. She was exhausted- her limbs throbbing from exertion. She felt his hands move around her neck, feeling for the clasp of her diamond necklace. He quickly unclasped it, deliberately running his knuckles over the tops of her breasts as he lifted it away from her, setting it to the side. One hand went to each ear, where he gently removed the diamond earrings. He removed the ornate pins that had held her hair away from her face.

"You are more precious than diamonds to me, you know that don't you?"

She stubbornly refused to look at him.

"More precious," he breathed, "And more beautiful..." He bent his face down to her neck, his breath brushing her skin, "And all mine."

Even though Ginny lay completely at his mercy, she felt a surge of defiance flow through her.

"I will kill you," she whispered harshly, "just wait and see."

He chuckled against her neck.

"Such harsh words, Princess."

Then he bit down on her neck- hard- and Ginny cried out in pain. He ran his tongue over the bite, savoring the taste of her skin. His hands began to run up and down her bare arms, and she felt the bile rising in her throat. His lips explored and tasted her collar bone and chest, his hands running up to squeeze her breasts. He grasped the front of her gown, and with a vicious tear of fabric he ripped it apart, exposing her lace-covered breasts. The sickening smirk on his face sent a burst of energy through her. She wasn't done fighting yet. She shrieked in anger, kicking her legs at him. He grasped her thighs and grabbed his wand, murmuring an incantation as he ran a palm down each leg. She frantically tried to kick him again, but found her legs felt like they had been filled with lead- with her only able to make the smallest movements. She was now thoroughly trapped.

Don't panic. Don't panic.

But she was panicking- feeling like she was suffocating. She looked up in terror- a horrific mistake - and saw exactly what she hadn't wanted to see. Draco's pale face- a mixture of lust and triumph as his eye roamed her body. With her now almost completely immobile, he lay on his side next to her, splaying his hand across her abdomen.

"No one can look at you like this, Ginevra. No one- except for me." His lips found her hair, and he trailed his fingers lower, tracing across the top of her knickers. "And no one, absolutely no one, can touch you like this. You are for me, only for me."

His head dipped down lower, and he placed kisses across the top of her breast. He stopped every so often and bit down, sucking hard and bruising her delicate skin. "I'm going to find out where Potter touched you," he breathed against her skin, "and I'll cut off each finger that was on your body."

He moved over her, then his hands ran up her legs, pushing the skirt of her gown up to her waist. She tried to twist away fruitlessly as he moved between her legs. He murmured maddening nonsense into her neck as he moved. Ginny fought the waves of despair as they lapped up around her, pulling her down into the dark.

This was going to happen.

This was going to happen, and there was nothing she could do.

She closed her eyes, turning away. She felt him tear her knickers. Maybe he would kill her when he was done.

It will be alright.

Mustn't give up.

Evie. Evie had told her it would be alright. But how could it? Where was the light at the end of the dark tunnel? The sweet House Elf had taken care of her for weeks. But what could the little creature do? What could she do when she could not defy her master?

She heard him undoing his belt.

Special Magic, Magic even the master knows not...

Ginny bit her lip. Maybe... Maybe Evie needed more time. She had told her not to give up, and here she was, acting resigned to her fate. But what could she do? How could she stop what was about to happen?

But then she knew.

She also knew he might kill her for it, but it was much better than this.

"Every bone." She breathed shakily.

He halted his ministrations, looking up at her.

"What was that, Princess?"

She sucked in a breath, schooling her features into cool defiance.

"I said- Every. Bone."

His brow furrowed in confusion.

Brave. Be brave.

She looked straight into his eye.

"You said, that when you found Harry Potter, you would find out where he touched me, take every finger that dared touch me, and break it. So, I'm telling you now, that it was so much more than that. It was not just his fingers. I mean, you are going to have break every bone in Harry Potter's body."

Draco's face paled, his body tensing.

"What exactly are you saying, Ginevra?"

She licked her lips, her voice sounding much more confident than she felt.

"You'll have to take all of it, and I mean ALL of it, Draco. Because it wasn't just his hands that were all over me."

His finger dug into her, his lips trembling in fury.

"You- you're lying-"

"Am I? I was gone for hours... so many things could have happened-"

Draco growled and lunged forward, and despite her bound wrists he grasped them, digging his fingernails into her skin.

"Shut... up."

His mask of sanity was slipping, barely contained beneath his exterior, threatening to boil over.

Ginny willed all fear to leave her face.

"He touched me," she said, licking her split lip, "and I let him. We were all alone, all alone where no one could see. I let him put his hands on me- all over me-"

"I said shut up!" He roared, grabbing her jaw in his hand. His very bones shook, squeezing her. The witch lights around them flickered, the very walls of the manor trembling.

"So, you see," Ginny continued, ignoring the pain in her chin and jaw, "You'll have to break every bone. You'll have to tear the very skin from his body. Because I let him have me, Draco. I let him have everything..." She managed to quirk the corner of her mouth up. "... And I loved it."

The damn burst. The cracks split wide open. A wave of uncontrolled magic burst through Draco as he raged, shattering glasses and knocking portraits from their walls. His control fled as he bared his teeth, looking every bit a mad beast rather than man. He released Ginny's face and moved to her throat, squeezing tightly with both hands as he straddled her.

"You are lying," he sputtered, "You are fucking lying to me!"

Ginny choked, barely able to draw a breath. A wave of dizziness rose up in her, and the peripheral of her vision began to darken. The monster above her sneered and seethed.

"Mine. Mine." He chanted through clenched teeth, his hair becoming disheveled. "Only mine."

Unable to move, unable to fight, the darkness seemed to be closing in. But the hands abruptly released her, and she drew in a desperate breath, choking on the fresh air. After a few breaths, her vision began to clear. Draco remained close to her face, almost nose to nose with her, looking livid.

"A few rounds of Cruciatus ought to put you in your place," he said, then stroked her hair softly. "Along with the lashings."

Still dizzy, Ginny fought to focus on his gaze.

"And as for Potter," he murmured, stroking her jaw with one finger, "I will tear him apart in front of you. Slowly- So slow he will beg for me to end it. Then I will tear apart his mind. There will not be a piece of him intact when I am through. And only after I have torn him to shreds, will I finally kill him. And you will be there, for all of it, Ginevra. You will witness every moment of his suffering. I don't care how many tears of yours fall, or how desperately you plead- I will not stop. I will not give you comfort as you grieve. And then- perhaps then- you will have learned your lesson. Because if you have not, after all of this, then I'm afraid you will have to die as well-"

"Expelliarmus."

Draco's wand sprang up into the air at the voice, flying across the room. The large door was open, and in its doorway stood a man in a hooded cloak. His wand pointed to Draco, who had sat back on his heels over Ginny, frozen in shock. The man took a step into the room, and slowly reached up with his free hand, lowering his hood.

Ginny's heart leapt as a pair of startling green eyes flickered to her.

Harry Potter stood before her.

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