As I Lay Me Down To Sleep

Chapter 11: That Night

I’m a bad one

I’m a good one

I’m a sick one

With a smile

 Magic hangs in the air, and my heightened senses recognize its sharp, metallic scent. It is faint, as magic performed with a wand is almost pathetically weak.

Not like the blistering energy flowing with delicious intensity through my fingers, which clouds the air even in its smallest quantities.

I am cloaked in shadow, waiting for the right moment to reveal myself.

Draco and his father stand side by side in front of the so-called Dark Lord. Another Death Eater is on his knees, presumably begging for mercy.

Why do they all fear him so? He may look different, more grotesque, but he is still Tom Riddle. A bitter teenage boy who couldn’t deal with what he was.

Pathetic, really, that they bow to him as though he is a god.

"Find her," Voldemort hisses, and I know he is talking about me. "Or I shall kill you."

This is it, this is my cue. I step out from my curtain of darkness. "That won’t be necessary," I state.

Draco immediately glances over, his eyes hungrily taking in my appearance. The others quickly follow suit.

A smile twists across Tom’s face. "Well, if it isn’t the talented Miss Weasley. You gave us quite a fright."

I cock an eyebrow. "Did I? How?"

I am no idiot, I know what had them worried. My cell was decimated. They thought their little prize had managed to get free.

For the first time, the kneeling Death Eater speaks. "Your cell was empty. We feared you had escaped."

I laugh coldly. "And if I had? What then? Would you have killed some more of these disgusting men?" My gaze flickers over the crowd of black clad figures, the many pairs of eyes watching my every move, ready to attack. As if they could. "Tell me, what do you want with me, Tom? I grow weary of your games."

His eyes gleam. Finally, he is ready to tell me what he wants. I hope he doesn’t babble on too long. I am ready to kill him.

"Virginia, Virginia. Not one to waste time, are we? Then I shall tell you. I wish for you to join me. Help me take over, and you shall rule by my side."

I recall all the promises he made me, so long ago. When I was young, and sickeningly naive.

"You have promised me this before, Tom. You promised me many things. It is your nature to lie. "

His horrible smile widens. "Your power is immeasurable. You could do great things with that power. We could do great things."

Great things . . . My mind flashes with images of blood stained grass. The blank, emerald eyes. Harry’s eyes. I know that now. I was there. I saw his broken and bloodied body. The fire roars within me, burning with the heat of a thousand suns. The earth gives a terrified shudder.

"You seek my power, yet you know naught of it. Perhaps I should teach you a lesson."

Before any of these pathetic creatures can blink, I allow the buzzing magic to escape my fingers,

The room is burning, pieces of rubble falling from the ceiling. I see Draco fall to his knees and smile before turning my attention to Tom.

The horrible smile is gone from his face, replaced with panic. Flames are licking at his skin and he is melting like wax.

A scream of rage escapes my lips. And then I fall.

*

Thunder rumbles, and a streak of lightening flashes through the darkened sky.

"Please don’t go, not tonight," she pleads.

He tucks a strays strand of hair behind her ears. "Gin, I have to."

She leans into him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and burying her head in his chest. "You can’t. Something is going to happen."

He pulls back and looks her in the eyes. "What is it?"

She glances down. "I don’t know. But something is."

He sighs. "Whatever it is, I have to face it. But I have to go."

She meets his eyes once more. "I know," she whispers. And she does. This is his destiny. She only wishes that it were different.

He lays a gentle kiss on her forehead and mumbles something into her skin. She thinks she hears him say that he loves her, but she can’t be sure. He gazes into her eyes one more time.

"Goodbye, Ginny."

 

*

The grass is slick beneath her feet, and the sight of so much blood makes her slightly sick. She tries not to look at the scattered corpses, or the distorted faces of those who are fighting death. She has to find him. Suddenly she trips and falls over a stray object. Looking down, she feels her stomach flip and vomit rise. Blank green eyes.

Harry.

Dried blood is caked beneath his broken nose, trailing down his chin and over the front of his robes. More dark liquid is pooling around his head, and seeping from a gash along his ribs. His glasses are shattered, the round black flames laying beside him.

She staggers to her feet and stands with one hand clamped over her mouth. She knew. She knew. Something was going to happen. And now, here she is, standing in a field scattered with the bodies of so many of her friends. She wonders if any of her family is still alive. Her father and brothers had all come here tonight.

This is all Tom’s fault. Why does he destroy everything?

A voice in the back of her head tells her that she must get revenge. The voice is unfamiliar, but it has a strong, resounding quality to it. Suddenly, she is infused with new strength.

 Around her, the sky turns to a vivid, blood red.