Mind Slavery

CHAPTER 4

"Very good, Ginny," she said, releasing me.

My skin still crawled as she spoke, but it wasn't as intense, and at least her voice wasn't so dreamy.

Then Madam Pomfrey walked in. "Hi Ginny. I want you to take this potion. It will help you sleep with no more nightmares, okay?" she asked gently.

It took me a moment to realize she was talking to me. "Okay," I whispered, almost inaudibly.

"Good girl." She paused. "You look so pale, sweetie," she said and handed me the potion. I took it and fell asleep almost immediately.

True to her word, I had no dreams. When I awoke the next morning, I again wondered if everything had been a dream.

"When are you going to give that up?" I heard her again. "No. You are not dreaming. I am real, and your master. You belong to me."

Panic filled me. It wasn't a dream and I knew it.

"Don't you dare start screaming again," she said calmly, as if she was telling me what was for lunch. "I'll just stop you, and trust me, you will be punished."

I debated screaming anyway, but the memories of the last few tortures kept me quiet.

"Good girl," she praised. "Now, calm down. You're okay."

The absurdity of that statement caused me to want to start laughing hysterically. Luckily, I didn't, so I didn't get into more trouble. "How am I okay?" I asked trying to keep my hysteria in check.

"Well, for one thing, you've admitted one truth," she remarked.

"What truth?" I asked, confused.

"Why, you admitting I was your master, of course."

I hadn't remembered that part until now. Shame covered me. I had admitted to this . . . this . . .

"I'd be careful of how I finished that statement if I were you," she remarked. Her voice was calm, almost casual, but I could hear the warning hidden in it.

Against my will, I felt a twinge of fear. No! No! This couldn't be happening! I wasn't scared, I could hold out if I wanted to!

"Oh, but you are scared. You're absolutely terrified at the thought of what I could do to you. You know you can't hold out against me long. I've already proved that. You must know."

I did. But that didn't mean I had to admit it yet.

"You must surrender to me, I will require that you surrender to me," she continued, "Let's start with the given. Repeat after me: 'You are my master.'"

I whimpered. "Say it," she commanded again.

I had to say it, didn't want to, didn't want to admit I knew she had me, had me good, that I belonged to her now, and I was terrified of how I knew she could control me."You . . . You ar . . . ," I tried to say.

She sighed. "Listen to me," she said gently, "You need to say this, you need to admit it. You already know that it's true. Think about it a moment." She paused, letting me think. "Now, just take a deep breath, and say it."

I didn't want to fight. I knew I should. I knew I shouldn't give in to her. That I should be strong, and fight to the death. That's what Harry would do. That's what Hermione would do. But I was so, so very tired. I could feel her power, her strength radiating through me. I couldn't fight.

"You are my master," I said, feeling submission smothering me, "You are my master."