Title: Lady Darkness
Author: Emcee and rain
Rating: R
Summary: While Ginny's life hangs in the balance, three men contemplate their next course of action.

Author's Notes: Thanks to Pablo for the beta. Lyrics in the chapter title from "Poison Girl" by Ville Valo.

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.

xvi. 'A prey she was for the cruelty of love. While its serpent inside crawled straight towards her heart.'

The blackness consumed her. She tried to fight her way out, but it was useless. She was trapped inside the icy cold void.

She made her way through the darkness, vainly searching for a saviour. She was afraid. It had been months since she had been this scared.

She slammed hard into something.

"Who's that?" The voice whispered.

"Who's that?" She hissed back, trying to hide the quaver of her voice.

"Ginny?"

The muscles in her body relaxed slightly. She kept herself still tense, ready to pounce on any danger. "Hermione?"

"What are you doing?"

"I was looking for Ron--" Ron was comfort. Ron had been there for her after her experience in the Chamber of Secrets. He had not just played the hero and then dashed off. He tried to ease her disturbed mind, attempted to comfort her.

"Come and sit down--"

"Not here!" The voice that Ginny had fantasized being strong and heroic was laced with panic. "I'm here!"

"Quiet!" A light appeared, illuminating a face. Ginny looked towards it, wanting to see some comfort in the man. She was left hollow by the tired face. As commanding as he appeared, it was not what she wanted.

Strangely, Ginny could not figure out exactly what she did want. Ever since the incident in the Chamber, her mind had been playing tricks on her. Deep down, she knew she wanted that hardened gaze to be icy blue instead of warm hazel.

The compartment door slid open. Ginny gasped in a breath as the cold bit into her skin. She crouched down, hugging herself, trying to get warm. She could not see the thing's face. From her position on the floor, all she could distinguish was the decaying grey flesh hanging loose from skeletal fingers. The rattling breath rang in her ears. She tried to draw breath but found the air vacant.

I promise, Little One, Tom's silky voice cooed in her ear. I would never do anything that would get you hurt.

She shook madly, covering her face. I won't. I can't. Mummy will cry if I don't come home.

She'll cry anyway, with all you've done for me. You've hurt so many people, Little one. Write the note.

She clapped her hands over her ears, trying to block out the voice. I don't want to lay in the Chamber forever. It's dark down there!

Little One, if you do this for me, I will love you forever. You will have given me the greatest gift of all. Now write the damn note.

"No," Ginny whimpered.

"None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go."

Ginny looked up as the bright light swallowed the room. Tom's voice dissipated. She looked around the compartment.

Harry lay slumped on the floor beside her. She cocked her head, viewing him curiously. She could not sort out the feelings inside of her. Worry, fear and... Disappointment?

Harry was no hero. He was a boy. He couldn't protect her. He couldn't protect himself.

She suddenly missed the voice in her head. She wasn't complete without him.

But he was gone. Even if he were still around, he would never feel that way about her.

It felt like Tom's heart had stilled in his chest. He tried to breathe, but his throat was stuck. Ginny's body was limp in his arms. He lowered her gently to the bed. Her only response to the movement was a soft moan.

He put two fingers to the pulse on her neck. The beats were weak, growing farther apart as the seconds slipped by.

He pulled away, raking his fingers through his hair. A moment ago she had been fine. She had been full of energy and now...

"Ginny!" He shouted, shaking her hard. "Ginny, wake up! I order you to wake up! Now!"

Ginny's body convulsed. He held his breath, expecting-- hoping-- her eyes would open and she would sit up, beginning her rant anew.

She coughed violently. Streams of black liquid trickled down the corners of her mouth. It looked like oil. He leaned in, catching some on his fingers.

It was the slightly red tint that gave the foreign fluid's identity away.

It was blood. It was Ginny's blood.

"No, no!" Tom shouted, shaking her again. "This is not what is suppose to happen. I don't want it this way. I always get my way!"

He buried his head in her breast, trying to take comfort in the rise and fall of her chest. It was weak, shallow, but it was still there. She was still alive.

He hated her. He hated everything about her at this moment. He hated how she smiled at him. He hated her sweet scent. He hated the way her kisses made his chest warm.

Feeling led to disappointment. Anytime he opened himself up, he was the one who ended up hurt. He had known that for years, yet he let this stupid child in!

"Damn you," Tom hissed. "Damn you, Ginny. How could you do this to me? How could you get sick?"

He got off the bed, pacing frantically. "You brought me back wrong. I didn't feel this before. I didn't care if you died in the Chamber. I never l--. You did something to me when you brought me back! I'm not supposed to be like this! If you're going to die, you have to make it stop!"

He stopped dead, shaking his head. "You infected me with your emotions. I felt bad when we were in your old house. Do you think I gave a shit about that pathetic hovel? Do you think I care about you? I don't. You made me!"

He climbed on top of her, shaking her vigorously. "Is this punishment for what I did to you in the Chamber? You brought me back only to pollute me with feelings? Then you go and die on me?"

He laughed. It was cold and maniacal. He couldn't stop, even as he slapped her hard across the face. "I'm not going to let that happen. You're not allowed to die."

He got off of her, sliding his arms under her knees and her head. He lifted her gently, holding her close to his chest. "If I have to feel this way, you have to be here with me. Bitch, you're not getting away. You die by my word. Not before that."

Luna brushed her long, dirty blonde hair out of her face. She padded across the floor of the living room in her bare feet. It was late and nearly every room was filled to maximum capacity with sleeping people.

But one didn't sleep. Ron leaned against the bookshelf, his head tilted back so he stared up at the ceiling.

She knelt down in beside him, extending her hand to his shoulder. "Ronald?"

Ron rolled his head lazily. He sighed. "Hey love. What's up?"

She sat down, crossing her legs. She blinked at him. Her tongue slipped out, licking her lip. "I wanted to make sure you were all right."

Ron sighed again, nodding briefly. "I miss Grimmauld Place."

Luna wrinkled her nose, thinking back on the rotting semi-detached. "Ronald, I'm supposed to be the one who's loony."

Ron shrugged. "I know it's stupid, but we spent so much time there. Even cleaning it up was fun. We did that together."

Luna nodded. "You mean with Ginny?"

"I don't want to talk about it." His response was harsh, cold.

Reaching for his hand, Luna laced their fingers together. She squeezed tightly. She wished Harry and Hermione were here to help her. Even thought she and Ron had been dating several months, she would never be as close to him as they were. "I know you do. She was your sister."

"And she murdered your father!" Ron hissed. "Do you remember that, Luna? Why would you, of all people, want to talk about it?" He tore his hand away from hers. "Why the hell can't people stop talking about Ginny? It's not like she's the first person to betray the Order. And I know she won't be the last!"

He squeezed his eyes shut, putting his head in his hands. "I don't want to believe it, Luna. Every time someone starts talking about Ginny, I know what they're thinking. When someone asks 'What are we going to do about Ginny?' what they mean is 'How are we going to kill Ginny'? I can't listen to that anymore. She's my baby sister. Even if she is irredeemable, I just can't."

His shoulders began to shake with his sobs. He brought his knees up to his chest, keeping his face covered with his arms. He drew himself into a protective ball, trying to hid his tears.

Luna wrapped her arms around Ron's trembling shoulders. She hugged him as best as she could while he guarded himself. "If anything can be done, we'll do it."
Ron jerked his head up, freckled cheeks stained with tears. "Why, Luna? She killed your dad."

Luna swallowed hard. Her initial reaction to Ginny's betrayal had been to attack her. Now, it seemed hollow. "Killing Ginny... Wouldn't bring Daddy back. All it would do is make you miserable. I have nothing to gain from her death. I want you to be happy, Ronald. If helping Ginny would make you happy, I'll do it."

"What can we do?" Ron whispered, his voice hoarse from his crying. "It's impossible."

Luna smiled softly. "Nothing is impossible. There must be someway to bring her back. We just have to find it."

Ron drew Luna close. He firmly pressed his mouth to hers, smoothing his hand over her hair. After a moment, he pulled away. He cracked a tiny smile. "You're the greatest."

Luna pressed a kiss to the tip of Ron's long nose. "If there is a way to bring Ginny back, I promise we'll find it."

Albus' long, slender fingers clutched the battered, leather-bound book. It still felt cool to the touch, even thought he had been holding it for over an hour. His slow footsteps across his office were muffled by the plush red carpet.

Fawkes warbled mournfully from his perch. He ruffled his feathers, cocking his head to Albus in question.

Raising his head slightly, Albus met the phoenix's eyes. He sighed, running a hand through his long white beard. "I know, Fawkes. I don't know what to do either."
He had been puzzling on the situation since seeing Neville. If what he said were true, time was growing short.

Albus was not even sure what he was supposed to do in that short of a time. Was he supposed to be happy with the outcome? It would make the situation so much simpler if he were to just ignore it.

Then, things were never that simple. He could not so callously cut out all emotion. He had tried in the past and it had brought nothing but trouble.

The door to Albus' office opened. Minerva entered, clutching a very large book in her hands. She crossed the room in a few strides, placing it down on Albus' desk. "I've been asking all over. This is the best book I could find on Basilisks."

"I appreciate that, Minerva." Albus finally set the book in his hand down. He moved around his desk, sitting down in his chair with a great sigh. He pulled the new book into his lap, opening it.

Minerva picked up the book Albus had been holding. She turned it on its side, reading the spine: Uncommon Potions and Poisons. "If you don't mind me asking, Albus, what are you looking for?"

Albus didn't look up from the book he was scanning. "I'm not exactly sure. I think I need to remind myself exactly what is happening. Force myself to come to a decision."

Minerva set the book down, crossing her arms over her chest. "I assume this has to do with Ginny Weasley and Tom Riddle?"

Albus nodded. He paused, shutting his eyes tightly. After a long moment, he looked up, studying Minerva's expression. "Can you ever look at a person and not see what they were in the past?"

Minerva nodded briefly, sitting in the chair in front of Albus' desk. She touched a finger to her lips. She cocked her head in thought. She took a deep breath. "I was a fourth year when Tom Riddle came to Hogwarts. I remember his sorting. He was shaking, ghostly white. When I've seen Voldemort, there is none of that boy inside him. And Peter Pettigrew, I knew him well. He spent so much time trying to convince me to let James and Sirius out of detention. If any trace of James' friend remained, Wormtail would be incapable of committing those horrors on Harry."

Albus brought a hand to his temple. He rubbed gently in a circle. "I know. I know what decision has to be made."

"What's going on?" Minerva asked. "This has to do with Ginny."

Albus nodded. "Yes, it does."

"Should I owl Molly and Arthur?"

Albus shook his head. "No. I don't want to tell Molly and Arthur yet. Not until I find it."

Minerva's furrowed her brow. "Find what, Albus?"

"Ginny's body."

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