Lost Persephone

Lost Persephone

By Katie

Chapter 1:

"Dissuasions"

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"It was completely absurd!" Mrs. Weasley yelled at Harry, Ron, and Hermione through her tears. "You could have all been killed and Ginny! My poor Ginny!" She fell down into the squishy armchair and Mr. Weasley, through his own pain which was clearly visible on his face, bent down to embrace her.

"The point," Dumbledore said firmly, staring at Harry with piercing blue eyes, "is, although no student was severely injured or killed, that one student was taken. It was extremely foolish and now, Miss Weasley will have to pay the price of your senselessness."

"I-" Harry began but was interrupted when the door swung open on its hinges and Severus Snape walked through it, closely followed by Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Alastor Moody. Dumbledore watched them intently as they made their way over towards them.

"She's alive," Snape breathed and his breath came out ragged. It seemed as if he had run miles and his skin was exceptionally paler than usual. Mrs. Weasley burst into tears again at the news and everyone in the room gave collective sighs of relief. The tension in the room began to disperse.

"Do you know, yet, where Miss Weasley has been taken, Severus?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

"No," Snape said. "All I have been able to find out is that Miss Weasley is alive and that the Dark Lord wants her that way. For how long, I do not know."

"Thank you, Severus," Dumbledore said and there was a tone of dismissal in his voice. Snape bowed his head, gave Harry a swift, piercing look and turned on his heels, black robe billowing behind him as he strode out the door, closing it behind him with a soft click. Once Snape had gone, Dumbledore motioned Moody over to him and they spoke in low voices so no one else in the room could hear. They straightened and Moody nodded before following Snape out the door.

"I suggest we all get some rest," Dumbledore said. "Molly, Arthur, I would like a word with you, if you please."

Mr. Weasley helped a silently weeping Mrs. Weasley to her feet. Dumbledore said his goodnight to Ron, Harry, and Hermione and went out the door, Mr. Weasley behind him. Mrs. Weasley, although a little shaky on her feet, went to Ron and hugged him goodnight and did the same with Hermione. She stopped in front of Harry and guilt stabbed at his heart as he stared into her dark brown eyes.

He was shocked when she pulled him into a tight hug and he felt compelled to return it. "I don't blame you, Harry dear," she said into his ear. "You did a brave thing out there and I know Ginny wouldn't want you blaming yourself either." She released him, gave them all a watery smile, and followed her husband and Dumbledore out the door.

As soon as the door closed, Harry slumped down to sit on the bed behind him and put his head in his hands. He stared at the gray-shaded tile on the floor and only looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He stared into Hermione's brown gaze for a moment before enveloping her in firm embrace, breathing in the cinnamon scent of her hair.

"It was my fault," he said, burying his head into her shoulder. "If I hadn't been so stupid, Ginny-"

"You were just doing what you thought was right," Hermione said, running her fingers through his jet black hair for comfort. "Mrs. Weasley doesn't blame you. You'll do a damage to yourself if you keep thinking like this."

"She's right," Sirius said from the edge of the bed where he and Lupin stood. Harry had completely forgotten they were still in the room. "Guilt can be your worst enemy," he paused and gave Harry a tiny grin. "Although you really were a bit stupid."

"Sirius!" Lupin said sharply, shaking his head. He gave Sirius a look then turned to the three of them. "All three of you should get some sleep. Since you are all relatively unharmed, you might be able to give us a hand repairing the castle tomorrow. It's a miracle the whole thing didn't collapse under all the pressure."

"I bet this place has a few surprises left," Sirius said and both Lupin and Sirius said their goodnights, Sirius squeezing Harry on the shoulder and saying quietly, "James would have done exactly what you did tonight, Harry. I'm sure of it," and he left, leaving Ron, Hermione, and Harry to sit in silence.

"We're supposed to stay in the Hospital Wing tonight," Hermione said, fluffing up Harry's pillow unconsciously for him. Ron muttered a quick, "'Night," before crawling in the bed next to Harry's and pulling the curtains around his bed, obscuring himself from view. Harry suspected he felt guilty as well for Ginny's capture.

Hermione grasped Harry's hand once and got up to make her way to her own bed, but Harry's hand tightened around hers, stopping her in mid step as she turned to look back at him.

"Stay with me," he whispered and Hermione froze for a moment, and then nodded, crawling beside him. Harry felt her breath on his cheek and wrapped his arms around her tight, almost afraid that she, too, would be taken away.

Hermione continued to stroke his hair until his breathing became deep and even. Then she stared across the bed and out the window and, for the first time in a long time, prayed for her friend who was lost, cold, and very much alone.

*******

A familiar creak of a door came to her ears. She turned her head sharply to see a door appear out of the wall and a burst of bright light as a figure stepped into the room.

He or she, Ginny couldn't tell because it was hooded, was carrying a metal tray with a bowl, a glass of what looked like water, and a piece of bread. They walked slowly towards her and she backed away from them. When she finally felt her feet slide over the end of the stone slab that she lay upon, the figure stopped.

"I have not come to hurt you, young one," it said in a quiet voice and it was then that Ginny noticed that it was a she. "I merely come to bring you provisions. You must eat to keep up your strength."

"I'm not hungry," Ginny said in what she hoped was a defiant tone. She mentally slapped herself as she heard her voice shake ever so slightly at the end.

"Master commands that you eat," the woman said simply.

"Your master," Ginny said, now visibly shaking. Her breathing was becoming shallower with each passing moment and the pain in her ribs was beginning to become unbearable. "Not mine."

"You're in pain," the figure said and it came closer. Too afraid to move, Ginny simply sat there, eyes wide in terror. The figure sat the tray down on the end of the stone slab and walked over to Ginny. When the woman took out her wand, Ginny jumped a little and let out a moan of pain as her ribs shook.

"I said I would not harm you," the woman said and, to Ginny's horror, she pointed her wand at Ginny's chest. A small streak of light blue light emanated from the tip of the woman's wand and Ginny felt as if she had just been dowsed with a bucket of ice water. She felt no pain and barely felt a tight band wrap around her chest.

"A Bandage Charm and a simple Numbing Spell," the woman said as Ginny brought her hand to her chest, feeling the bandages underneath her shirt that held her ribs in place. "I'm afraid I'm no healer so you must wait for them to arrive to be fully healed." The woman pushed the tray towards Ginny. "Eat and my Master will not keep you waiting long. He wishes for an audience with you later."

After a moment's pause where the figure merely stared at Ginny from underneath its hood, it gave a wave of her wand. A thick cotton blanket materialized out of thin air and she set it on the slab before bowing and walking away where she disappeared through the wall.

A low rumble came from Ginny's stomach as she sat alone in the room, staring at the food. She slowly slid over to the tray and picked up the bread. Passing it from hand-to-hand and casually sniffing it, she brought it steadily to her mouth and took a bite.

Feeling positive that the bread was not corrupted, she continued to eat and after a moment at staring at the broth in the bowl, dipped the bread in the soup and drank the water. She finished quickly and pulled the blanket around her frail body. Whatever that woman did apparently helped her ribs for she felt little pain and breathing definitely came easier now.

She was only alone for a couple minutes before the wall opened again and this time, a group of four hooded figures walked in. She stared at them as they walked over to her and she slipped off the table, hoping her feet would be able to support her. Luckily they did and Ginny continued to back up as they advanced. She felt the cold stone of the wall hit her back and she gulped. The hooded figures stopped about eight feet from her and one of them spoke.

"The Dark Lord wishes to speak with you" came a cold, drawling voice that Ginny recognized at once: Lucius Malfoy.

"What if I don't want to go?" Ginny said chin held high, pride keeping her from allowing Lucius Malfoy the upper hand.

"I do not believe you have a say in this matter," Mr. Malfoy said and he signaled to two of the hooded figures behind him. They walked over to each side of Ginny, who could do nothing but watch in panic, and grabbed her arms, pulling her foreword painfully. She bit her lip to keep in a yelp of pain, not wanting Mr. Malfoy to see her weakness. It did not seem to matter anyway.

"Careful now," he drawled and she could almost hear him smirk. "Master does not want his prize damaged. Move!" He motioned for them all to follow and Ginny had no choice but to comply, dread and full-fledged terror creeping up on her as she headed off towards something she had tried to forget.