Title: Lady Darkness
Author: Emcee and rain
Rating: R
Summary: Ginny has two tests of loyalty

Author's Notes: Thanks to Pablo for the beta. Lyrics in the chapter title from "Tainted Love" by Edward Cobb.

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.

xiv. 'Don't touch me please, I cannot stand the way you tease. I love you though you hurt me so.'

Something had gone wrong. Ginny could feel it deep in her heart. She wouldn't wander this long if Tom were all right.

How long had she been out now? The days bled together. She hid during from the light, travelling by cloak of darkness. Her only companion was Apophis. He hissed at her, asking the location of their lord. She could not understand parseltongue, but she understood the frantic tone of his hisses. They were like the tendrils of worry that slithered through Ginny's core.

She dared not return, not without Tom's word. He told her to leave the house. He would tell her when to come back.

What if he never told her to come back? What if Voldemort had killed him? Certainly, he was capable of killing. He was Lord Voldemort. He had killed many powerful wizards.

No! She would not allow herself to think like that. No one was more powerful than her Tom. He could defeat that pathetic, decrepit beast.

Then why wouldn't this horrible feeling leave her? Why did she fear the worst?

She had spent the last five years trying to revive him. She couldn't lose him now. Not after she had assure herself a place by his side.

Voldemort couldn't kill him. Even if he were physically capable, surely he couldn't bring himself to kill his younger counterpart.

Ginny whimpered, hugging her legs. She was hidden in the alley next to the Leaky Cauldron. She could steal food when she needed it, and she was left alone.
Alone. She didn't want to be alone. But she supposed, right now at least, she didn't have a choice.

Apophis hissed, rubbing his head against Ginny's knee. She reached down, stroking his head. "It's all right. He'll come for us soon."

As the days passed, Ginny grew less sure he would. Maybe this was just a convenient way to get rid of her. He would never call her back. She would waste away, unloved and alone.

She buried her head in her hands, fighting the hot tears welling in her eyes.

She couldn't cry, she couldn't cry. She was strong.

Maybe this was a test. It was a test to prove her love. It was easy enough to kill for him. It was no problem to be in a spacious manor with him, wearing fancy clothes. Now she needed to wait for him, among filth and decay. It was to prove she would do anything for her beloved Tom.

"Ginny?"

She looked up at the sound of the voice, sniffling away tears. It was not the voice she was waiting for, not commanding and masculine.

She cocked her head, looking curiously at Lavender Brown. She was frowning deeply, her nose crinkled. Lavender was never good with anything that wasn't pretty. "What are you doing here?"

Ginny got up, her knees trembling. She narrowed her gaze. "What are you doing here?" She echoed back.

Lavender blinked, surprised by the harsh response. "I'm meeting Vati, Nev and Seamus. Really, what are you doing here?"

Ginny looked down at her dress. A week ago, it had been beautiful. Now it was ratty and stained. She looked like a homeless queen. Perhaps that's what she was now. "I... Uhh... I don't know. I just... Ended up here."

Lavender furrowed her brow. She took a hesitant step forward. "Did you get kidnapped? Or did you... run away?"

"The second one." Ginny focused on Lavender's pink, pouty lips. They glistened with lip-gloss. She looked so healthy, vital.

"Ginny, are you all right? You look like death. Your aura is..."

She trailed off as Ginny slunk closer. Her eyes burned with hunger, letting out a throaty chuckle. "What is my aura, Lav? I'd really like to know what a flaky wanna-see thinks of me."

Lavender blinked, biting her lip. She took a step back. "Ginny, you're scaring me."

"I should," Ginny purred. She reached out, grabbing Lavender's wrist in a vice-like grip. "I'm really quite frightening." She pulled Lavender closer.

"No!" Lavender shrieked as she was descending upon.

"Stay away from her!" A voice commanded. Ginny looked up. Neville, Seamus and Parvati were there. Neville stood in front, wand trained on Ginny's chest. "I don't want to hurt you, Ginny."

Grinning, Ginny pulled out her wand with one hand, still gripping Lavender in the other. "I have the advantage then, don't I?"

"What's wrong with you?" Lavender cried, fighting against the grip she was held in.

Neville moved towards Lavender carefully, keeping his eyes trained on Ginny. "Harry owled me. I was going to tell you today. Ginny's turned."

Ginny let go of Lavender's wrist. Before Lavender could run away, she wrapped her fingers around her throat. Ginny pressed her wand to Lavender's throat. "Well, well... Isn't Harry the bright boy? But why tell you first? It's not like you can stop me, Neville."

Neville's hand shook. "I-I could st-stop you."

Ginny smirked, the satisfaction welling inside her. Things were definitely looking up. "You like her, don't you, Nev? I've seen you staring at her during DA meetings. I suppose when you realised Hermione would never have you, you moved on. So why go to a girl with even more exacting standards? She really is very pretty. I wonder how you would feel if I killed her right now..."

Neville gripped his wand tighter, his knuckles turning white. "You wouldn't."

Ginny laughed, nuzzling Lavender's cheek. "How about I just Crucio her into insanity? Put her in a bed next to your parents."

Howling, Neville threw himself at Ginny. She threw her arms up to protect herself from his attack, letting go of Lavender in the process. Both girls were sent flying to the ground. Neville pinned Ginny to the ground, digging the tip of his wand into her throat.

"Neville, you stud!" Ginny giggled. She looked over at Lavender. She was scrambling to get up, pulling out her wand. Ginny looked to her other side, seeing her wand lying abandoned. She couldn't reach to get it, with Neville's knee on her arm. She turned back to Neville, grinning. "You don't want to hurt me, Neville. We're friends."

"Since when does a friend threaten to hurt my-- Lavender?" Neville was shaking with anger and nerves. "How could you, Ginny?"

"I'm new all over, baby," Ginny hissed. "You just have to get used to me. I'll tell you what. I'll do you a favour. I'll nip on over to St. Mungo's and off Frank and Alice. Won't it be nice to be relieved of the burden of having to visit your sad, insane par--"

Neville's fist connected with Ginny's mouth. She felt her lip split, rich blood filling her mouth. She dragged her tongue over her lips, tasting it. "Didn't think you had it in you."

Neville wasn't paying attention. He was staring at his hand, his eyes wide in shock. He had released the pressure from Ginny's arms. Ginny was about to reach for her wand when she noticed what kept Neville at such rapt attention.

Her blood was black.

"What's happened to you?" Neville asked, his voice hoarse.

"I don't know," Ginny replied, her voice lacking the bravado it had a moment ago. Why was her blood anything but red?

Any thoughts on the matter were cut off when a commanding voice filled Ginny's head, Princess.

She gasped, her heart pounding. "Tom!"

I have missed you my pet. Come home.

Ginny grinned, snatching up her wand in one hand. She grabbed Neville by the hair with the other. "Terribly sorry. Must dash. Why don't you give Harry a message for me?"

She could feel the three wands of Parvati, Seamus and Lavender trained on her. She smiled. "Try it and he's dead."

Of course, he would be dead anyway. Not that they needed to know that. She felt a thrill shooting through her. It had been too long since she had used her powers. It was an addition. She leaned in, getting closer to Neville's lips.

Princess, I did mean now.

Ginny sighed. He hadn't contacted her in a week and now that she was having some fun, she had to go. "You get off light today, babe." She licked Neville's nose. "Next time I meet any of you, I won't be so charitable."

Tom could hear the door of the manor open and close. He smiled, feeling the presence of his princess back in his domain. He had been busy the past few days, but he had felt the absence of his lady.

"Bitsy is glad to be seeing Mistress!" the House-Elf cried. "You is to clean yourself in the bath. Bitsy has left fresh robes for Mistress. You is to wear them and go to the study. Master is waiting."

Tom smirked, turning back to the blueprints that laid before him. He needed to concentrate on his plans. He couldn't think about Ginny, stripping out of her sodden clothing. Her skin becoming slick with water as she bathed herself.

No, Voldemort had thrown down the gauntlet. Tom needed to prove his superiority. He could no waste his time with dalliances with Ginny.

He had spent the past week locked in this study, surrounded by blueprints and crumbling parchments. The fact he had sent Ginny from the house had completely slipped his mind. Oh well. She was unharmed. She was back now and all was well.

"Tom?"

Ginny stood in the doorway, her black-red hair still wet from her bath. The robes she wore-- a gown left by the deceased wife of Fletcher Reece-- hung loose around her. Her skin was pale, but glowing from being scrubbed.

Tom smiled, setting the quill in his hand down on the desk. He stood, holding his arms open. "Princess. It is good to see you."

Ginny ran to his embrace, crushing herself to his chest. Her slender arms wrapped around him, hugging him tightly. "Oh Tom! I missed you!"

Tom stroked her damp hair, taking in her scent. How had he ignored the need to have her with him? "It's all right, Princess. You're safe with me."

Ginny felt her energy restored as Tom held her in his arms. She had craved this touch when she was out on the streets and now that she had it, she could not get enough.

Her heart dropped as Tom pushed her away. "Now, my pet. I need some assistance. My elder counterpart has made a few things abundantly clear to me."

Ginny frowned, reaching for Tom's hand. He pulled it away, sitting back down. She felt a flutter of disappointment at the move. "What did he say?"

Tom picked his quill back up, scribbling notes down on his parchment. "We are to serve him or perish."

Ginny gasped, bringing a hand to her mouth. "You're not going to... Are you?"

Tom laughed coldly, his blue eyes emotionless. "Of course not. That is why I called for you."

Ginny felt her stomach sink deeper inside of her. She did not like how this conversation was going. "How long was he here? Voldemort, I mean."

Tom raised a brow, eyeing Ginny carefully. "An hour or so. Why do you ask, my sweet?"

Ginny frowned. She took a step towards Tom, her bare feet sinking into the plush green carpet. "Why did I spend a week in hiding? On the street? Where my family could find me? Did something happen?"

Tom shook his head slowly. "No. I forgot."

Ginny's heart stilled. The cold remark stabbed her like a knife. All of her waiting and this was why? "You forgot? You told me not to come back until you said so. And you forgot me."

Tom sighed, setting his quill down again. He wrapped an arm around Ginny's waist, pulling her into his lap. He nuzzled her cheek with his nose. "Princess, please accept my apology. I didn't mean to leave you alone for so long. He is a strong opponent. He will give us even more problems than Dumbledore. He will kill us, both of us. If I get distracted, it is because I am trying to keep us alive."

Ginny opened her mouth to respond, but could not find the words. She wanted to tell Tom she loved him. She wanted to say she was hurt he would forget about her. How could everything she had done for him be so quickly forgotten? "So you said you are planning something. Tell me?"

Tom chuckled, pressing his teeth against the most sensitive part of Ginny's neck. She hissed at as the love bite sent jolts of pain through her. His fingers were twisting in her wet hair. "I have been thinking about what would get me counterpart's attention. He is fond of large gestures, as am I. I need something he hasn't the courage to do. Something that will get under his skin." Tom's eyes were alight with passion. "I will need your help."

"Doing what?" Ginny asked. She was breathless. Tom's enthusiasm was infectious.

"The Ministry," Tom growled. He snapped at Ginny's throat. "I need you to retrieve information from some officials. Voldemort may have broken in, but he didn't finish the job. We will burn it to the ground, kill everyone we can."

Ginny took a sharp breath. Panic took over her being. "But Daddy, Percy."

She slapped a hand over her mouth. She regretted the words as soon as they were out.

The smile faded from Tom's face. His eyes hardened. He shoved Ginny hard. She howled as she hit the floor. She was sprawled out, Tom looming over her as he rose to his feet. "What did you say?"

Ginny crawled backwards, shaking her head. "I- I-" Ginny bit her lip. How could she say that? She didn't mean it. "Are you sure that's wise?"

"Of course I do," Tom hissed, "It's my plan."

"Then it's wonderful." Ginny gulped in air. Her entire body was gripped in uncontrollable fear. "Please... Tom..."

Tom's look didn't soften. He set his jaw, narrowing his icy glare on her. "May I remind you that your father and Percy and everyone else in your pathetic family is a blood traitor?"

"But Tom--"

The slap of his hand echoed in Ginny's ears. The stinging pain in her cheek was no match for anguish of her heart breaking. Tom had hit her. She brought her trembling hand up to her burning cheek. "Tom..."

He swooped down, grabbing her by the shoulders. He lifted her up, shaking her vigorously. "I made you. You were a pathetic, snivelling little swot and I made you a princess. I gave you everything you wanted and this is how you repay me?"

Tears stung Ginny's eyes. "I didn't mean it, Tom! Please! You have to believe me."

Tom let her go. She fell back to the ground. The pain didn't bother her now. She was numb to it.

Tom shook his head, savagely. "Get out of my sight. But don't leave the house. You know they won't take you back now."

Ginny got to her feet, her knees trembling. "Tom, darling."

He looked away from her. "If you don't get out now, I can't be held responsible for my actions. Go!"

Ginny slunk out of the room. She considered staying, letting Tom kill her. A moment of pain for death was better than the horrible feelings of guilt welling inside her.

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