Title: Lady Darkness
Author: Emcee and rain
Rating: R
Summary: The Order moves on, while Ginny's confrontation with Tom takes a surprise turn

Author's Notes: Thanks to Pablo for the beta. Lyrics in the chapter title from "Within You" by David Bowie.

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.

xv. 'Everything I've done, I've done for you. I move the stars for no one.'

"You know, I actually think I'm going to miss this place." Sirius said as he shut the last box from the den. He looked around the ruins of his childhood home. "I mean, I know it was hell on Earth for me during my tender formative years, but you guys made it like ho--" He shook his head furiously. "No, I'm sorry." He barked out a bitter laugh. "I can't get it out. The words stick in my throat. D'you think Dumbledore would mind if I put a match to it once everyone is out?"

Remus nodded from the sofa he sat on. He was still pale, circles under his eyes. He laid in a boneless sprawl, taking in deep breaths. "Yes, Padfoot. I think he would mind. We need Ginny to think we're still here."

Harry set down the box he was lugging towards the door. He sat down on it, sighing. "I don't understand why we have to leave anyway. I mean, the place is under a Fidelius Charm. Riddle can't come in."

"But Ginny could," Remus explained. He sat up with a laboured groan. "She's proven herself dangerous. If she decides to come back then its safest to not be here."

Ron slunk in, his head down. He didn't even look up to acknowledge his friends. "We've cleared everything out from upstairs. We're going to be ready to go. Dumbledore wants us all in the kitchen."

Remus groaned, swinging his legs off the couch and setting his feet on the floor. He stood on unsteady legs. Sirius took a step towards him, grabbing his arm. "Are you all right there, Moony?"

Remus nodded. "I'm fine." He pushed Sirius away. "I can walk for myself, mutt."

Harry was looked up at Ron, concern in his eyes. "Ron, are you-- Argh!" Harry sank into the box he was sitting on. His legs and arms flailed as he tried to get himself out.

Sirius extended a hand to him. "Geez, what did you guys do when I was dead?"

Harry gripped Sirius' arm, pulling himself up with a grunt. "We laid on our backs for six months, unable to stand. That's why we brought you back, so you could help us up." He turned to Ron, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, Ron. Talk to me."

"There's nothing to talk about." Ron shook his head. "My baby sister is evil and that's all there is to say. I mean, what do you want from me, Harry?"

Remus cleared his throat, labouring hard to move along. "Come on, Padfoot. Dumbledore's waiting."

Sirius grabbed Remus' arm, pulling him along. "Just let me help you."

"I don't need help, I can walk on my own," Remus protested.

"Stop being all macho. You nearly died."

The squabbling of Sirius and Remus quickly faded. Harry was left standing before Ron. Ron was right. He didn't know what to say. This was a foreign situation to him. "Maybe there's a chance she..."

"What, Harry?" Ron snapped, raising his head finally to glare at his friend. "A chance she can be redeemed? I know you don't believe that! You think she's evil. That we should chuck her to the Dementors. Even if she were able to come back..." Ron ran a hand through his red hair. "Luna's dad, Ollivander... They've killed good people. Why would anyone want her back here?"

"Even if she can't come back," Harry sighed, "That doesn't change the fact that Ginny is your sister."

Ron turned away from Harry, slowly marching towards the kitchen. "I was supposed to protect her. But I didn't. For months she went through that hell alone. Then when we thought she was all right, she wasn't. I failed."

"It's not your fault." Harry put a hand on Ron's shoulder as they walked along. "It's Riddle. He's the one that did this to her." He didn't believe that. He knew it was his fault Ginny was taken. But he wouldn't tell Ron that. It would make no difference to him. "I don't know what's going to happen, but... Right now, be there for Luna and your mum. They need you."

"I'll probably fail them too," Ron said mournfully.

Harry didn't respond. They had entered the kitchen now. Harry smiled weakly as Hermione took his hand. He squeezed gently.

Dumbledore stood in the middle of the kitchen. Members of the Order of the Phoenix were gathered close in the group. Dumbledore sighed deeply. "I realise how hard this has been on everyone. I don't know what to say to comfort you. We have lost members to the other side before. Never one as young, as tragic, as Miss Weasley."

Molly sobbed, clutching Arthur tightly.

Dumbledore adjusted his glasses, pressing onwards. "We must support each other in this time. We must press on, continue our campaign against the dark forces. I don't know if we will have to fight Ginevra someday. I wish I could give you answers now, but there's nothing I can tell you."

He nodded. "All right. To business. Now that we must leave Twelve Grimmauld Place, we need to new headquarters. Ginevra will suspect Hogwarts, so that is not an option. The location is under several charms, including the Fidelius Charm. It is Seven Cherry Road in Westbury."

"Why there?" Bill asked, putting an arm around Tonks' shoulders.

"It is Miss Higashiyama's former home." Dumbledore said, nodding to Yuki. "She is one of the few people Ginevra does not know within the Order. It is also equipped with amenities that I'm sure will come in use."

"Like what?" Tonks sounded nervous.

"A dojo my father built for duelling," Yuki responded.

Harry stared at Dumbledore, trying vainly to read his expression. The old man kept his face stony, neutral. "You're preparing us for war?"

"You're not going," Dumbledore replied, meeting Harry's gaze. "You're going to your aunt and uncle's house."

"Fuck that," Harry spat, letting go of Hermione's hand. He took a step forward, shaking his head. The moment the words had left Dumbledore's mouth, he was flooded with rage. "I'm not going anywhere near the Dursleys."

"You'll be safe there." Dumbledore drew himself to full height, towering over Harry. "I let you come here directly from school to spend time with Sirius, but you knew you would have to go to the Dursleys eventually. With both Lord Voldemort and Tom Riddle alive and looking for you, you need the protection of a blood relative more than ever."

"I'm seventeen in a month," Harry spat. "You can bet I'll be out of there that day."

"Once you're an adult I can do nothing to stop you. Until then, you will remain with your aunt and uncle." He turned to Sirius. "Before you ask, no. You can't go stay with him in your canine form."

Sirius sighed, giving Harry a shrug.

Harry shook his head furiously. "Dammit."

Hermione put a hand on his shoulder. "I'll come to see you. I promise. I can apparate now."

There was a flash of brilliant red light. Dumbledore snatched a parchment from the air. He unrolled it. "Oh dear..."

"What is it?" Remus asked, leaning against the kitchen counter.

"It's from Mundungus. Nymphadora, Bill, come with me. We have to go to the Leaky Cauldron."

Bill and Tonks snapped to attention, following Dumbledore. Dumbledore shoved the parchment into Sirius' hand. The threesome disappeared out the door.
Sirius unfurled the parchment, gulping as he read it.

"What is it?" Luna asked.

"Ginny," Sirius rasped, "She ran into some of your friends."


Tonks felt her heart race as she weaved through the patrons of the Leaky Cauldron. She bumped into Tom, who spilled a tray full of drinks. "Oops! Sorry there, Tom! Didn't mean-- Hey, Bill! Wait up!"

Bill turned, rolling his eyes. He held out his hand to her. "Come on. They're waiting."

Tonks grabbed Bill's hand, holding tightly. Just feeling his hand against her soothed her. She took a deep breath. "Mundungus didn't say if they were okay."

"Rattled, more then anything," Mundungus drawled from the stairs. The pipe firmly wedged between his lips garbled his words. A cloud of smoke surrounded them. "Found 'em in the alley. Put them in m'room upstairs until you got here."

Dumbledore gestured for Tonks and Bill to follow him up the stairs. Tonks squeezed Bill's hand tightly as they started up the stairs towards the rooms for rent.
Mundungus led them to the last room, opening the door.

The quartet of teenagers sat on the rumpled bed. Lavender was clutching Neville's hand tightly. Seamus and Parvati stood nearby, unsure what to do.
Dumbledore surveyed the room, nodding. "You saw her?"

"Yes, Professor," Seamus supplied, "Parvati and I didn't talk to her, but we saw her."

Dumbledore knelt in front of Neville and Lavender. "But you two, you spoke with her."

"More than that," Lavender let out a raspy laugh, bringing a hand to her throat. "She would have killed me if it wasn't for Neville."

Neville flushed pink as Lavender took his hand again. "I didn't do that much."

"You saved my life." Lavender smiled at him. "I owe you, Nev."

Dumbledore nodded. "Ginevra attacked you, Lavender? And Neville intervened?"

Lavender nodded. "Yeah. That's what happened. Neville was so brave. He pinned Ginny down and punched her in the mouth."

Tonks put a hand on Bill's shoulder, turning to him, surveying his look. His eyes were shut, his lip drawn between his teeth. He was torn between his duty as a brother and a member of the Order. "It's all right," Tonks whispered.

Bill shook his head. "No, it's not."

"Was there anything peculiar about the incident?" Dumbledore asked, paying no heed to the uncomfortable air in the room.

"Other than the fact it was Ginny attacking us?" Neville asked, a quaver to his voice. "Well, she was talking to herself. To someone in her head."

"Someone named Tom?" Tonks supplied.

Neville nodded. "Yeah. And then she tried to kiss me."

"And she looked terrible! Really pale." Lavender supplied.

Parvati nodded in agreement. "Yeah. She's got these dark black roots." She touched the top of her head. "Like she'd dyed her hair red and it had grown out a bit."

"She bled black," Neville whispered. He let go of Lavender's hand, holding it up. "When I punched her in the mouth. There was black blood on my knuckles and now..."

Dumbledore took Neville's hand. Tonks leaned in to peek at it. The skin was irritated, red.

Sighing, Dumbledore stood back up. "Things are worse than I believed." He strode towards the door. "Bill, Nymphadora, please escort Neville, Lavender, Seamus and Parvati to their homes. If you four see Ginevra again, contact me. Whatever you do, don't approach her."

"Oh believe me," Lavender said, "If I don't remember that, the bruise on neck will twinge my memory."

"Headmaster," Bill called out. "Why are things worse?"

Dumbledore turned back briefly. "She's toxic."


Tom stood in the doorway of the bedroom. He had been standing there for five minutes, unable to bring himself to step in.

Ginny sat on the bed, the skirt of her dress fanned out around her. Her back was to him as she stared out the window.

He took a deep breath, trying to push down the feelings welling inside of him. He could show no weakness. He took a step in. "Pet..."

Ginny turned to face him slowly. Her brown eyes were filled with tears. A cruel smile played on her lips. "I thought you didn't want to see me, Tom."

He took another step inside. He extended a hand to her. "I didn't mean it. You should know not to make me angry." He gave her a small, apologetic smile. "When I get like that, I just can't control myself. You have to mind me."

Ginny stood on trembling legs. She let out a bitter laugh. "So I asked for it. You hurt me! After all the things I've done for you..."

"I have to find a way to humiliate Voldemort," Tom hissed. He took a deep breath, trying to keep in control. "I am under a lot of stress. It doesn't help when you antagonize me."

"I brought you back from the dead!" Ginny snapped. "I've killed people for you! All I've asked for is for you to love me!"

The guilt inside Tom melted away. He felt no emotions now. He was calm, steady. "I thought you were smarter than that, Pet. I can't love anyone."

"Then what do I get?" Ginny shouted, clutching a hand to her breast. "I left everyone who cared for me to be with you. I-I--" Ginny took a deep breath. Her body was shaking. "I gave you so much, but... I..."

Tom took another step towards Ginny. His heart began to pound in his chest. Something wasn't right. "What's going on?"

Ginny shook her head. "I ask for so... Little... I... Brought you..." Her eyes rolled back and she pitched forward, her body limp.

Tom raced to her, catching her in his arms. He clutched her to him. He ran his hand over her cheek. "Pet?" She was cold to the touch. "Princess, please. Wake up." He shook her. "Ginny!"

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