Title: Lady Darkness
Author: Emcee and rain
Rating: R
Summary: Charlie returns from Romania to comfort his family. Tom pleas for Ginny's life.

Author's Notes: Thanks to Pablo for the beta. Lyrics in the chapter title from "My My, Hey Hey" by Neil Young.

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.

xix. 'It's better to burn out than to fade away.'

Harry could feel Tom.

No, no, no, Ginny reminded herself. Harry could feel Voldemort. They were not the same person. The charismatic charmer Ginny remembered from her first year was dead. All that was left in his place was a hollow imitation, a shell of his former glory.

Ginny had tried to deny it. She didn't want him to pull at her heart as he did.

She wanted to be good, she wanted to be pure. She wanted to be perfectly happy in this life, with her friends and family.

Harry could feel Tom.

No, she had to stop it! She couldn't think that that!

She was concerned. She cared about what happened to Harry. She wanted him to he safe.

She didn't want to know how he was connected to Voldemort, so she could tap into it herself. She didn't want to be connected to her Tom.

No, not her Tom. Tom Marvolo Riddle. Lord Voldemort. The man who had tried to kill her.

He didn't love her. He didn't care about he. He was going to watch her die. That would never change.

She needed to put him out of her mind. She needed to forget everything in that first year of school. She needed to focus on the DA, on Michael and on Harry's problems.

"I didn't want anyone to talk to me," Harry said sharply. His muscles were tense as he glared at Ginny, Hermione and Ron.

Ginny felt her own muscles being to tense, her skin twitch. He was such an ungrateful little brat. He was connected to the most powerful wizard of all time and he couldn't even muster up the good sense to be grateful--

NO! She didn't want to be intimately connected with Tom. She needed to forget. She needed to be good.

Everything she had felt for him needed to go away.

"It's a bit stupid of you," Ginny spat bitterly, letting her frustration out. "Seeing as how you don't know anyone but me who's been possessed by You-Know-Who, and I can tell you how it feels."

There was a long silence. Ginny studied Harry's expression. He looked surprised as he blinked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time.

He had forgotten. He couldn't remember the hell she had gone through in her first year. She didn't matter to him. She didn't matter to anyone.

At least if Tom had killed her, she would have meant something to him. She always would have been the girl who brought him back to life."

"I forgot," Harry whispered.

Ginny smiled bitterly, crossing her arms over her chest. She thought back on those cool blue eyes and that black velvet voice. "Lucky you."

****

This was it. The moment he had been waiting for. Tom clutched the phial of iridescent liquid in his fist. He cocked his head, looking over Ginny at a slight angle.

She looked so small, so frail. The colour had drained completely from her cheeks. Her vibrant hair was entirely black, as were her lips. Her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. She barely moved.

It was as if she were a china doll. Her life was slipping away from her.

Tom padded across the floor, gently sitting down beside her. The added weight on the bed made her stir. A moan escaped her lips.

"Shh..." Tom smoothed a hand down her hair. "It's all right."

Ginny's eyelids fluttered open. She looked up at Tom, her brown eyes shining with tears. "Tom?" Her voice was hoarse, weak.

"Yes, Princess?" He wanted to sound light, easy. He didn't want her to know the sickening feeling of the fear that gripped him.

"Are you angry with me?" Her words were less a query than they were a plea. Her tongue slipped out, sliding over her ebony lips.

"No, Princess." Tom leaned in, pressing his lips gently to her forehead. "I'm not angry with you. Why would you think that?"

Ginny coughed hard, black blood spattering across the covers. "Because I'm weak. Because I can't fight whatever this is."

Tom opened his palm, staring down at the phial. He took a deep breath and then uncorked it. "Princess, I have something that is going to make you feel better. Now, I want you to close your eyes and open your mouth."

Relaxing further into the pillows, Ginny let her eyes slide shut and she parted her lips. Tom reached up, brushing the remnants of her dark blood from her mouth. He leaned in, briefly suckling on her lower lip. "I promise. This won't hurt."

He brought the phial to Ginny's lips. The silver liquid seems to show the entire spectrum of colours in the dim light.

Tom's stomach writhed. He knew all of the legends.

Once one had tasted unicorn blood, they would never be the same. They would live forever, but their life would be cursed.

He pulled the phial back before he could pour the blood down her throat. He brushed her hair out of her face, smiling sadly down at her.

How had this happen? He wasn't supposed to care if she lived or died. He wasn't supposed to care if the unicorn blood cursed her.

But he did care. It was this girl before her he...

No, he wouldn't say it. He would not even think it. If he did, that would make it true. He would forever be lost to her. He could not allow that.

Tom growled, hurling the phial to the wall. The delicate glass shattered, the thick blood trailing down the wall.

If he was going to save her, he was going to save the real her. The unicorn blood would leave her little more than a soulless monster. He could not allow that. He needed to save her just as she was.

"Damn you," Tom gathered her in his arms. "How did you do this?"

"Do what?" Ginny rasped. He could feel her labour to bring her arm up around him. He felt another stab in his heart as she struggled to hold him.

"I need to leave," Tom whispered. He put a hand to Ginny's cheek. "I don't know when I'll be back." He stroked her jaw with his thumb tenderly. "You must promise me you will be all right until I return."

Ginny's lower lip jutted out. "Where are you going, Tom?"

He leaned in, pressing a gentle but firm kiss to her lips. "Just promise me. The House Elf and Apophis will get you whatever you wish."

"I promise," Ginny whispered.

Tom smiled, arranging her on the bed. "That's a good girl."

"Where are you going?" Ginny asked again, pleading.

Tom slipped his cloak over his shoulders. He pulled the hood up, hiding his face. "I need the opinion of a like mind."

****

"Hello?" Charlie Weasley stepped over the threshold of Seven Cherry Road. His bag hung casually off his right shoulder. He wasn't exactly sure what he had packed. He had thrown things randomly into his bag after receiving the letter from Dumbledore. His brain was still numb. It had been a miracle he had been able to apparate all the way from Romania.

Bill stepped out of the kitchen, pushing an errant lock of hair out of his face. He smiled sadly. "Chaz. Hey. Dumbledore said he sent you an owl."

Charlie let himself be embraced briefly by his elder brother. He gave Bill a pat on the back before pulling away.

"How are you doing?" Bill's voice was slightly rough, as if he hadn't been sleeping well.

"Is shocked into absolute paralysis an answer?" Charlie rasped. "I came as soon as I heard. I didn't even change out of my work clothes. I mean... Fuck... Ginny?"

Bill nodded gravely. "That pretty much sums it up. Mum and Dad are out right now meeting with Dumbledore."

Charlie nodded, feeling his stomach writhe. He hated that this was the first thing he would discuss with his brother. "I stopped by Hogwarts first. Umm... Rest of the Order here? I've got... News."

Bill frowned deeply. He put an arm around Charlie's shoulders, leading him into the kitchen. "Look what I found on the doorstep," His voice was falsely cheery, a slight quaver to it. "Can we keep him?"

Tonks approached Charlie slowly. Her normal wild look was subdued. Black hair hung around her shoulders, her face pale. It took him a moment to recognize her for what she was.

This was her natural look.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, hugging him.

Charlie hugged Tonks back, shutting his eyes. "It's not like you did it," he whispered.

Remus had his head on the table. He looked utterly exhausted. Sirius was next to him, his chair tilted on the back two legs. Yuki was behind him, leaning against the kitchen counter, Emmeline beside her. "You guys the only ones in?" Charlie asked quietly.

Remus nodded, sitting up. He scrubbed his face with his hands. "Afraid so. Do you have news?"

Charlie sat down at the table, sighing deeply. "Let me just get right down to it then. Snape saw Riddle in the Forbidden Forest." He ran a hand through his singed hair. "He killed a unicorn."

There was a collective gasp, followed by a long silence.

Charlie pressed on, feeling his stomach churn. "Ginny's ill. Dumbledore's known for a while. And..."

"Riddle is going to feed unicorn blood to Ginny," Remus finished for him.

The legs of Sirius' chair slammed against the floor. "Bloody hell," he murmured.

"What are we going to do?" Bill asked, wrapping an arm around Tonks' waist.

Charlie shook his head sadly. He looked up at Bill, swallowing hard. "There's not a whole lot we can do. Odds are he's given her the blood already."

"So why the hell are you telling up, Charlie?" Sirius demanded, rising to his feet.

"Calm down, Sirius," Yuki hissed.

Remus stood, putting a hand on Sirius' shoulder and forcing him to sit back down. He looked to Charlie, imploring him to go on."

Charlie took a deep breath, trying to keep himself calm. He didn't know why Sirius felt he had the right to get upset. This was his sister. "I'm telling you because Dumbledore told me. He wants us to know because..." He trailed off, sighing. The pit in his stomach grew larger. "Well, frankly I'd rather not know. It doesn't make me feel a hell of a lot better."

Bill uncorked a bottle of brown liquid. He poured a glass almost to the brim. He pressed it into Charlie's hand. "Drink."

Charlie downed the alcohol, letting it burn his throat. "There's more. This we can do something about-- Not you, Sirius. Dumbledore gave me explicit orders on that."

Remus sighed, slapping his palm against his forehead. Yuki put her arms on Sirius' shoulders, putting her rather insubstantial weight on Sirius. Charlie could tell she was trying to prevent him from jumping up again.

"Harry's run away from the Muggles. Hermione contact Dumbledore this morning. He had a row with them and left. He's also begun to feel what Tom Riddle feels, in conjecture with his connection to You-Know-Who."

Sirius did jump to his feet, knocking Yuki over to the floor. He pointed an accusatory finger at Charlie. "Where is he? I'm going to get him."

"Sirius, sit down," Remus implored. "You can't go. You know that."

Emmeline held a hand out to Yuki, helping her off the floor. Yuki rubbed her backside, letting out a slew of cusses directed towards Sirius.

"I want to get my godson back," Sirius seethed. "If he isn't living with the Muggles you damn well know he should be here with me."

"We'll get him." Remus gave Sirius a pat on the shoulders, vainly attempting to reassure him. "Charlie, you know where he is?"

Charlie nodded. "Dumbledore told me. He said three or four of us should go. Anymore would attract too much attention. Wizard area. We don't want to cause a panic."

Tonks pushed her long, black hair out of her face, tugging on Bill's hand. "All right. Me, Bill, Em and Wolfboy will go. Charlie, you look positively knackered. Take a rest and see if you can't get Ron out of his room. Yuki, you try to keep Dogsbody from tearing the place apart until we get back."

"Why me?" Yuki whined. "Remus is his best friend!" Sirius shot her a dirty look. She glared back. "Oh, you know you're a bloody bastard when it comes to Harry."

"Of all of us." Bill grabbed his cloak. "Harry may actually listen to Remus."

"He'd listen to me," Sirius growled, throwing himself back into his chair.

Bill, Tonks, Emmeline and Remus disapparated. Sirius folded his arms over his chest, hiding behind a curtain of hair.

"Oh, don't," Yuki said, sitting beside him. "It's terribly unattractive when a grown man pouts."

Charlie frowned, only half listening. "Ron hasn't come out of his room?"

Yuki nodded. "He's been in there for days. We think he and Luna are planning something."

"Either that or having a highly inappropriate marathon sex session," Sirius deadpanned.

Charlie rolled his eyes. He stood up, straightening out his clothing. "What room is Ron's?"

"Library." Yuki pointed down the hallway. "Second door on the right."

Giving a brief nod, Charlie strode down the hallway. He knocked, then leaned in, listening.

"Check those boxes. They're Remus' books. He has some good stuff on the Dark Arts."

Charlie knocked again, louder. "Ron, may I come in?"

"Bugger off, Bill! I'm busy!" The reply was savage. Charlie took a step back, surprised by the venom in his younger brother's voice. Of course, it seemed all bets were off with his younger siblings.

"It's not Bill. It's Charlie."

The door opened a crack. The tip of Ron's long nose was barely visible. "Hey Charlie. How was Romania?"

Charlie cocked a brow. "Apparently not as interesting as here. Can we talk?"

Ron sighed. He turned his head, looking into the room. "No, the other box, Luna. I checked that one."

Sighing, Charlie pushed the door open. He was still stronger than Ron. He managed to force it open enough to see inside.

"Fuck, Charlie!" Ron swore. He stumbled out of the way of the swinging door. "What did you do that for?"

"I did ask," Charlie said casually. He looked around the room at the scattered books on the floor. "So what are you researching?"

"Things." Ron bent down and began to scoop up the books that were spread around. "I've been hanging around Hermione too long. I've been infected by a thirst for knowledge." His voice was terse.

Charlie smiled down at the wide-eyed blonde sitting cross-legged on the floor. He held out a hand. "It's nice to finally meet you, Luna. Ron has told me so much about you. You are more lovely than Ron describe."

Luna blushed, shaking his hand. "Hello, Charles."

Charlie smiled at Luna, kneeling down. "Luna, now you know if you're researching something important I can help. So why don't you tell me."

Luna cast a glance to Ron. Her large eyes were slightly misty. Her tongue darted out, licking her lips. "We were trying to find a way to cure Ginny."

Charlie sat down, letting his head fall. He stared at his feet. He was worried that was what it was. He didn't want to say it out loud, he didn't want to make it true. But he knew Ron had to hear it. "This isn't something that can be cured." He rubbed his forehead. "Now, I know I just got here and I don't nearly know the whole story, but... If there was a way to cure her, Dumbledore would have suggested it."

"What does he know?" Ron asked savagely.

"A lot," Charlie rasped. "This isn't an enchantment. This isn't a disease. Everything about this points to it being Ginny's choice. I..." His voice began to tremble. "I hate saying this. Believe me. I don't want to believe it anymore than you do. The sooner you accept it, the better it will be." He thought about the unicorn blood sliding past his baby sister's lips. "We can't reach her. She's gone."

Ron shook his head, on the verge of tears. "Go to hell."

Before Charlie could say another word, Ron had stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

****

"Hey! What are you doing?"

Tom glared at the young, aristocratic looking boy with pale blond hair. He had his wand drawn, pointed at Tom's heart.

Swinging his arm, Tom let his knuckles connect with his chin, knocking the thin boy down. "I don't have time for this."

Tom crashed open the door of Lucius' study. He extended his wand, training it on Lucius. "Hello. Your maid let me in. Don't worry. She's alive. Just unconscious. Maybe she'll be up in time to tend to your whelp."

Lucius leapt to his feet, snatching up his wand. "What do you want, Riddle?"

"Expelliarmus!" Tom shouted. He deftly caught Lucius' wand. He stormed to him, grabbing Lucius by the throat. His tightened his fingers around his windpipe. "I'm not here for you."

With both of their wands still clutched in his free hand, Tom shoved Lucius' sleeve up. He pressed his palm against the Dark Mark.

Lucius began to howl. Tom smirked, feeling the heat intensify against his flesh. "Voldemort!" He bellowed. "I want to speak with you! Now!"

There was no response to his calls. He released Lucius' arm, abandoning the spare wand, tossing it across the room. He tightened his grip around his own wand, pressing it to Lucius' throat. "Will you let him die? I will kill him! If you speak with me, you will spare a loyal servant's life!"

Tom felt a sickening sense of vertigo as his world shifted. It was as if he were apparating and using a Portkey at the same time.

The world righted itself after a moment. Tom blinked, looking around at his surroundings. He was no longer in Lucius' study. He was instead in a cold, dark chamber. "No need to shout, Young One." Voldemort chuckled coldly.

Tom found he no longer held Lucius. His head throbbed with his shift in location. "How did I get here?"

"You needn't have gone through Lucius, Young One." Voldemort rose from his throne. "We are one. Linked. You may come to me as you wish as I may come to you. I can also bring you to me." His red eyes trained on Tom. "You haven't looked into our connection? Surely you have felt it."

Tom growled, the anger bubbling inside him. "I've been busy."

"Of course." Voldemort's lipless mouth curved in a smile. "Miss Weasley."

Tom clutched his wand tighter. He couldn't strike Voldemort until he knew what was going on. Once he found out, of course, he would beat him senseless. "Are you doing this to her?"

Voldemort shook his head. "That would make it nice and simple, wouldn't it? Give you a face to her pain. No, I never touched your sprog."

Staring into those crimson eyes, Tom knew this was the truth. He also knew Voldemort did not reveal all.

He was toying with him. Trying to rile him into an attack. Tom would not rise to the bait. He took a deep breath, keeping a tightly grip on his wand. "Do you know what affects her?"

Voldemort nodded. "That I do know. If you weren't so blinded by your foolish emotions you would know as well."

Tom raised his chin defiantly, extending his wand further. "Tell me. Now."

"I don't take orders," Voldemort hissed, "not even from you. Since I have nothing to gain and you have everything to lose, I believe I shall be asking the questions." He let out an icy laugh. "Do you, Tom?"

Tom shrank down slightly, feeling the intense stare of his counterpart upon him. He didn't like the tone of Voldemort's question. It made his stomach writhe. "Do I what?"

"You know what I mean."

Tom averted his gaze, staring at his boots. "That is none of your business."

"Answer my question, and I will tell you what you wish to know." Voldemort crossed the floor, only a foot from Tom now. He brought his spindly fingers to Tom's chin, lifting it so their eyes met. "Do you love her?"

Tom shut his eyes, feeling shame fill him. "Yes."

Voldemort shoved Tom away, sneering. "I was never this much of a fool at sixteen. Are you truly telling me you have no idea what ails her? You're a pathetic shadow of ourself."

"What is killing her?" Tom demanded, pressing his wand to Voldemort's throat.

Voldemort made no move to defend himself. He just kept staring at Tom. "You are killing her."

The words hit Tom as if it were a physical blow. He stumbled backwards. "I'm doing nothing to her."

"The diary, Tom." Voldemort's voice was a dark rasp. "We designed it so it would kill the person who brought us out. You draw from her energy whether you know it or not. And there is the added discomfort of the basilisk poison."

Tom shuddered. He had assured Ginny he would not harm her. But he did. He knew it. He knew it, because Voldemort knew it. He lowered his head. "Is there any way to spare her?"

"Of course there is," Voldemort reached out, running a cold hand over Tom's cheek. "Didn't have the courage to give her the unicorn blood, did you? That would have saved her life. She would have forever been changed, of course. She wouldn't be the lovely little trollop you've handed your heart too. But she would have lived."

"There must be another way," Tom pleaded. He did not want to be desperate. He did not want to care if she lived or died. But he could not deny it. He could lose her, not yet. He wasn't tired of her presence yet.

"There is." Voldemort reached his skeletal fingers into his robes. He withdrew a sheet of parchment, holding it between index and middle finger. He held it out to Tom. "Take some of Miss Weasley's blood. Spread it over your flesh. Read these words. Then, she will live."

Tom accepted the parchment, looking over the spell words. "That is it? She'll live? This is real?"

Voldemort nodded. "As real as it get, Tom."

"That's too easy," Tom said. He shoved the parchment into his pocket, holding out his wand again. "If it is that simple, why are you giving it to me without a fight?"

"Because I haven't told you the best part." Voldemort began to laugh heartily. "If you do that spell, Ginevra Weasley will live, but you shall die in her place."
Tom felt his heart still. There had to be another way, that couldn't be it.

"It is the last option. Don't try to deny it. You know in your heart it is true." Voldemort brought his hand back to Tom's cheek. "Even with all of the tricks she attempted to spare both your lives, one of you has to die. The Basilisk poison is pumping through her veins. It liquefies her organs as we speak. She is dying in agony. It will be instantaneous for you. For her, it will be drawn out over weeks, perhaps months. She will keep going until there is nothing left but a hollow shell, eaten away by the poison you infected her with."

Voldemort leaned in, whispering into Tom's ear. "Her life for yours. That is the way it was always meant to be."

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