Title: Lady Darkness
Author: Emcee and rain
Rating: R
Summary: Ginny and Tom get a servant and the Order uncovers the traitor among them.

Author's Notes: Thanks to Pablo for the beta. Lyrics in the chapter title from "Head Like a Hole" by Trent Reznor.

Disclaimer: "Harry Potter" and the characters, places and things related to it do not belong to me. They are from the brilliant mind of JK Rowling. They belong to her and her publishers. I am not making any profit from this fan fiction.

ix. 'Bow down before the one you serve. You're going to get what you deserve.'

Lucius' patience was waning. He was not a man who took orders well. He would of course serve his Dark Lord when asked. He would follow no other. Lucius was a man who was to be followed.

Being told by Severus to wait for information bothered him like nothing else could. Lucius had been the one to bring him to the Death Eaters. Listening to his counsel, while probably wisest, twisted his insides.

He needed to blow off steam. His initial thought was a bout of Muggle torture. But such an endeavour would require him to gather the other Death Eaters. Even he was not brazen enough to go alone. Aurors were just waiting for an attack.

Lucius did not feel like company. He would be forced to lead the followers alongside Bellatrix. He had enough trouble dealing with her during the first war. Now that she was insane, she was downright uncontrollable.

He would just have to enjoy his other favourite activity: spending copious amounts of money.

He strode down Diagon Alley, nose turned up at the rabble. There was no shop on this street that could fulfil his needs.

Lucius turned a corner, going down the perpetually dark Knockturn Alley. He would have to spend a lot of money to get out of his foul mood.

He frowned at the Closed sign on the door to Borgin and Burkes. He had never been denied going into the shop. Borgin always made sure to be open for him. He pushed against the door and smirked when it gave away.

Striding in, he looked around. "Ah! Borgin! I am in the mood to spend lots of money." He looked around. Borgin was conspicuously absent from the counter. "Borgin?"

His fingers curled around his wand handle when a red head popped up from behind the counter. He paused when he noted Ginny's rumpled and ripped clothes. Her shirt gaped open, the freckled skin of her torso only blocked by a bra. "Ah, Ginevra. Needed some supplies and couldn't pay? Really, I'm sure I would have provided a much more pleasurable experience and I would have paid you better."

A second figure rose from behind the counter. It was certainly not Borgin. There was something oddly familiar about the teenaged boy. He was in a Hogwarts uniform, the state of which was just as unkempt as Ginny's clothing. "Can I help you?"

Lucius gripped his wand, pulling it from his robes. He pointed it to the young couple, ready to strike. "Where is Borgin?"

"Dead." The boy's chin rose in arrogant defiance, incensing Lucius. "But I fail to see how that concerns you."

Ginny leaned in, whispering into her companion's ear. His features grew icy as he stared at Lucius. One hand idly stroked Ginny's hair. "Ah. It is good to finally meet you face to face. My pet has told me some very interesting things."

Lucius felt his anger rise. This child looked at him as if he were a maggot. How dare anyone glare at him in such a way. "Just who do you think you are, you little shit?" He spat.

Before Lucius could react, the boy grabbed his wand, snapping it in half. "I will not be spoken to in such a tone. I know all about you, Lucius Malfoy. You wrote such pretty words to me. How you would revive me. But you abandoned your Lord halfway through. Always looking for the easy fix to your own problems, never worrying about your loyalties."

Lucius leapt at the boy, but was thrown back, hitting the ground. He crawled backwards, his eyes wide. The ice blue gaze was focused on him, staring deep into his soul. "Who--"

The boy wrapped his arm around Ginny's waist, pulling her close to him. He chuckled. "My, my, my... Let the genie out of the bottle but doesn't care about the consequences."

He finally understood. This boy was no mere boy. He had looked into that gaze only days before, only they were now blood red, instead of ice blue. He looked to Ginny, gasping for breath. "What did you do?"

Ginny just snuggled against her master, but he pulled away. "You ask me who I think I am. I will tell you exactly who I am." He crouched down to Lucius, his lips only a breath apart from Lucius'. His voice was a low, dangerous hiss. "Tom Marvolo Riddle."

Lucius felt his heart clench. He shook his head. "Potter destroyed you."

Tom pulled himself back up to his full height. He looked down his nose at Lucius. "Haven't you learned yet I am indestructible?"

"That little harlot--" Lucius pointed a finger towards Ginny. "--Is not capable of this."

Ginny hissed softly at Lucius as Tom drew her close again. "You would be surprised what my pet is capable of, Malfoy."

Lucius felt his stomach writhe with anger as Ginny looked down at him with as much distain as Tom. "May I kill him, Tom?"

Tom chuckled, kissing her forehead. "I do so enjoy your enthusiasm, Pet. However I believe Lucius here may come in handy."

"You are not the Dark Lord." Lucius rose to his feet. He steeled up his courage. He would let no insolent child-- no matter what his pedigree-- frighten him. "He is already alive."

Tom tugged up Lucius' sleeve, gripping his forearm in a vice-grip. Lucius howled as pain shot through him, penetrating his entire being. "Who other than your Dark Lord can control the Dark Mark? I could summon the other Death Eaters if I wished and they would fall to their knees before me. I am Lord Voldemort."

When the pain receded, Lucius gasped, trying to find his bearings. He had to play along. If he tried to rebel, someone would end up dead. Besides, the Dark Lord-- the real Dark Lord-- would be most interested to know of this development. "My Lord." Lucius fell to his knees, bowing his head.

"How dare you pretend to be loyal to my Master," Ginny spat, "After the insolence you just showed!"

"Thank you, Pet," Tom sighed, petting Ginny's head. "I can handle this myself." He crouched next to Lucius, shaking his head. "Tell me, why has my aged counterpart not killed you?"

"I am useful." Lucius locked eyes with Tom. He would never lock eyes with Voldemort, but this boy was not his Master. "As I can be useful to you. Far more useful than a mere weak, poor, Muggle-loving girl."

"She is strong. Loyal. Devoted. Fearless." Tom grabbed Lucius by the throat. "Are you familiar with the Muggle method of castration? I find it fascinating. So very painful." He tightened his grip on Lucius' throat. His breath constricted. He needed to remain calm. "One more disparaging remark towards my Princess and you will experience it first hand."

Tom slackened his grip and Lucius was able to take breath again. He grumbled, rubbing his throat as Tom stood up straight. "Now, Lucius, does your Lord Voldemort punish you for thirteen years of disloyalty?"

This gave Lucius pause. The Dark Lord was not pleased with any of the Death Eaters who escaped Azkaban the first time around. The boy's words were intriguing. He needed to play it cool. "I deserve punishment."

Tom's cold smirk grew. "Well, then you have an advantage with me. You set my resurrection in motion. You introduced me to my Pet. I am inclined to reward faithful followers generously." Tom turned to Ginny, closing her shirt. "Now, Pet, please leave Lucius and me. We have matters to discuss."

Ginny nodded, leaning in and furiously attacking Tom's mouth in a kiss. Lucius felt his stomach knot again. How dare that Weasley show such affection with the Dark Lord-- any incarnation of him. She pulled away, glowering at Lucius. "I have things to retrieve from the Order."

"Of course, Pet." Tom kissed her hand. "Be careful. Do not linger long. If they are getting wind of you, I'd prefer you stay with me. Oh, and please remember to do what I asked."

Ginny giggled and gave Lucius a kick in the shins. She sauntered out. Tom smiled as she left. "Breathtaking, isn't she? Come, Lucius. Stand up."

Lucius rose to his feet, still unsure. He eyed the young Dark Lord carefully. "What matters do we have to discuss?"

"I need more people on my side." Tom rubbed his hands together. "As wonderful as my pet is, she cannot do all of my bidding."

"I could inform the Dark Lord of your revival. If the two of you were to join together, you would be most powerful."

Tom shook his head. "No. I would like to speak to my counterpart, but not yet. I shall choose when and where that will happen. It is best he not know about me yet."

Lucius nodded. "Of course, my Lord."

"For now, I would like you to keep an eye on your Dark Lord for me. I wish to be informed of any attacks he plans against the Order of the Phoenix. They are our common enemy, obviously."

"Obviously." Lucius forced a tight smile.

Tom clapped Lucius on the shoulder. "I shall be in contact with you if I need any more help. You know, maybe you're not as useless as my pet has led me to believe."

Lucius bowed low. "I promise you. I am faithful to my Lord."

He rose, turning on his heels and striding out. He was faithful to his Lord. He would immediately tell him of this surprising development. He was sure the Dark Lord would find it most interesting.

Scaling back up the side of twelve Grimmauld Place was even more difficult than going down. It took Ginny an hour before she was able to get herself through the window of her bedroom.

She felt her breath catch as she saw Molly and Arthur sitting on her bed. Her hand went to her robes, feeling her wand on the inside. This wasn't good. She knew it. "Hello. Is everything all right?"

"We were thinking--" Snape appeared in the doorway.

"--You could tell us." Sirius stood beside Snape, fully blocking the door.

Ginny's heart dropped to her stomach. She shouldn't have come back. She shouldn't have left her lover's side. Now she would pay the price for it.

"I went out to see my boyfriend." Ginny lowered her head, biting her lip. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have."

"Where's the diary, Ginny?" Molly asked, her voice hard and even.

Ginny whimpered, trying to keep her will steeled. She could not fold now. Tom loved her, she knew it. She couldn't give up now. "I told you. I destroyed it."

Ginny surveyed the room, noting the ransacked appearance. "You went through my things?"

"Where's the diary?" Arthur barked, rising to his feet. His face was red. Ginny had never seen him so angry before, even when Percy had left home.

"I'm telling the truth. It's gone." It was true. With Tom alive, the diary was no longer needed. Before she had come home, she went through a ritual destruction of it. Tom was no longer tied to its pages.

"I found Borgin." Snape's voice was low, dangerous. He stalked to her. "Now why don't you try telling the truth?"

Ginny didn't know what to do. The lies had stopped working. She could no longer feign innocence. She hadn't covered her tracks well enough. She should have killed Lucius! She should have burned Borgin's body!

There was only one thing Ginny could think of doing. She shoved Snape with all of her might, running past him. She would get out of this house now, back into the arms of her beloved.

Before she could get to the door, Sirius had grabbed her. He squeezed her arms in his talon-like hands. He shook her vigorously. "Did you poison Remus?" He demanded, shaking her.

"Sirius!" Molly leapt to her feet, running to Ginny.

Ginny fought against Sirius. "Get off me, you psychopath!"

"I'm going to hurt you a lot more if I don't like your answer!" Sirius growled, digging his fingers in deeper. "Now tell me!"

"I'll die before I tell you anything!" Ginny snarled.

Sirius shoved Ginny to the ground. She looked up at the four adults. She panted. She was sick of the charade.

"Where's the diary?" Arthur asked again, his voice now filled with sadness. "Please, Ginny. We only want to help you."

"You want to help me?" Ginny licked her lips. "Let me go."

"What's happened to you?" Molly asked. "Is he controlling you?"

"You wish," Ginny spat. "That would make it all so much easier for you, wouldn't it?" She laughed. "Now if you don't want what happened to Borgin to happen to you, let me go."

Snape waved his wand at the window. "Window's secure."

Sirius picked Ginny up. She struggled, screaming. "Let me go!"

"No," Sirius snarled, throwing her on the bed. "Get nice and comfy, Ginny. You're staying here until Dumbledore gets here." He reached into her robes, taking her wand.

"Give me that!" Ginny shrieked, leaping at Sirius. He knocked her back with his elbow.

"Sirius!" Molly grabbed his arm. "Don't hurt her!"

"She's lucky she's not in pieces right now!" Sirius bellowed. Arthur and Molly wrestled him towards the door.

"You need to stay here, Ginny, "Molly said gently. "Until we can get you some help."

"This won't hold me," Ginny replied fiercely. "And when I get out, I swear you will all pay."

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