Lost Persephone

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Chapter 3:

"Undermined Healings"

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Ginny simply stared in shock, the pain, but for a moment, disappearing in her startled mind. Professor Snape was here; she was saved.

What even surprised her more was that Snape did not look at her, just stood staring at his Master, awaiting orders. His shoulders were set straight and his dark black eyes were clouded and he showed no emotion. She searched for a sign, anything to tell her that Snape acknowledged her, but she waited in vain.

"Yes, Master?" Snape said silkily under his head of greasy hair.

"I have an assignment for you, Severus," said Voldemort casually with gleaming red eyes. He turned his head to smile cruelly at Ginny before turning back to Snape. "I believe you know Miss Weasley here, Severus?"

"Yes, Master," replied Snape, eyes turning on Ginny but for just a second before returning onto Voldemort.

"She has come about a few, ah, unfortunate injuries," Voldemort's mouth curled as he spoke. "I believe, perhaps," he suppressed a chuckle here, "that you are the right healer to mend her."

"Of course, my Master," Snape said bowing low and in a few long strides, he had crossed the room towards them, his hand gripping Ginny's upper arm so tight it hurt. He essentially dragged her over to the door when Voldemort called at her.

"I enjoyed our meeting, Virginia," he called in an almost taunting tone. "We shall have another one soon, I daresay." Ginny's eyes widened before Snape roughly pulled her out of the room.

The only light was from the torches high up on the wall, not unlike her trip up to the chamber were she had just departed. Only this time, Snape seemed to be leading her, not down to her stone cell, but up higher in wherever she was. As they walked, Snape still having a very tight grip on her arm, passing Death Eaters, their masks removed, sneered at her.

"P- P- Professor Snape," Ginny whispered quietly, eyes wetting with tears as the pain increased with each passing step.

"Shut up, you stupid girl," he said sharply out of the corner of his mouth as a tall, black-haired man passed, glaring at her. His eyes, she now noticed through her pain, were darting around at each corner, almost frantic.

He stopped at a large oak door, opened it quickly, and nearly threw her inside. She stumbled to regain her footing as she took in her new surroundings. This room was quite bare save the bed, a dresser, and an open window. The bed had an elegant dark green comforter and the small dresser beside the bed held naught but a few beautiful crystal glasses. The window was open, its navy blue drapes blowing in. A chill went through Ginny's body and sighed with relief as Snape closed the window and locked it with a click.

"Sit," he said sharply, motioning to the bed and she complied, not knowing what to do. He opened on of the drawers of the dresser, which was filled with tiny multi-colored glass vials, and began pulling different ones out and placing them on the base of the dark oak bureau.

"Professor, what's-?" He shushed her immediately s the door creped open. Narcissa Malfoy, followed by her son, Draco, walked softly into the room, carrying a set of robes and a tray of cloths and bowls of lotions and purified water. Draco shot Ginny a nasty and evil smirk from his place beside his mother, he being the only reason why he did not say anything.

"Do you need any assistance, Severus?" Narcissa asked and Ginny recognized her soft voice immediately. She was the one who had taken care of her earlier and given her food.

"No," Snape answered back smoothly and Narcissa said nothing but nodded, beckoning to Draco to follow. He gave one soft chuckle as he left the room, Snape closing the door behind them with a soft snap. He locked this as well.

Snape glided back over in front of her and put the tray on the bed beside Ginny. He dipped one of the cloths in the water and rung it out carefully before pressing it to the back of her neck.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly and in a so unSnape-like manner that she shivered.

"Uh-huh," Ginny said just as softly, feeling the cool water fall down her neck. "What's going on?"

"Do you remember your first year, Miss Weasley?" Snape said and now his tone was more, well, himself, though kinder.

"Hmm," was all Ginny could say. Any thoughts of Tom right now only increased her pain.

"Drink this," said Snape handing her a purple vial. She brought it to her lips and swallowed, nearly choking on the strong, bitter, medicine-like taste. At once, the pain in her chest lessened and she watched, a bit numb in the mind now, as Snape pointed his wand at her chest.

"This will hurt for a moment," said Snape and he muttered, "Ossis Retractum!" and there was a great burst of pain in her chest followed by a crackling noise as her ribs fell back it to place and resealed themselves. She bite her lip so hard to not cry out in agony that she split it, the copper taste of blood filling her mouth. And after another couple seconds the pain disappeared and she took an experimental breath, feeling no pain.

"Thank you," Ginny murmured quietly as Snape handed her a glass of water to clear her mouth from the blood. After a few more vile potions, she was feeling physically better but that did not ease the pain in her heart.

"My family," she said fervently as Snape took the green vial from her. "Harry, Hermione- are they alright?"

"You family plus Miss Granger and Potter are all well," Snape said, conjuring up a chair for him to sit on, facing her still. His mouth frowned with distaste. "Though Potter should be feeling extremely stupid now after that stunt he pulled."

"Don't blame Harry for this," she said angrily, eyes narrowed. "I followed him! It was my choice!"

"Keep your voice down, you stupid girl!" Snape snarled, eyes darting to the door. "Don't you understand? I'm doing the best I can to keep you alive. To remain alive, you have to play the part!"

"What part?" Ginny snapped back.

"You say you remember your first year," said Snape smoothly, looking at his hands before looking back up at her. "Does the name Tom Riddle sound familiar to you, then?"

Ginny simply nodded and he continued. "Then you shall need to know that the Dark Lord is-"

"Tom Riddle, I know," her voice dropped to a whisper and she looked back at the door, seeing Snape do the same every few seconds. "Dumbledore told me."

"For some reason," said Snape quietly, "the Dark Lord has become, ah, how shall I put this?- attached to you. He seems to desire your presence which is all very well because-"

"Why is it very well?" Ginny asked, voice rising slowly. "It doesn't seem that way to me."

"Because," Snape ignored her, "it will keep you out of any immediate danger. No Death Eater will touch you while you are here or they will face the Dark Lord's wrath. You are safest now, right here," Snape said answering the question that was on the tip of her tongue. "I cannot smuggle you out with me, Miss Weasley."

"I know," said Ginny softly realizing what would happen if she disappeared. Voldemort would know and Snape's cover would be blown. "How long-"

"The Headmaster is figuring out your escape plan at this very moment," Snape said even softer now.

"But why does he was me?" Ginny asked as Snape's eyes flickered over to the door again. Who 'he' was, was fairly obvious.

"I have not discovered the reason as of yet why the Dark Lord craves your presence," Snape said tonelessly. "It probably has to do with your connection from the Chamber of Secrets episode five years ago. Now," he said, standing up and gazing at the door. "New robes have been brought for you," he motioned to the dark navy set on the edge of the bed. "I will leave you but for a minute while you change. But first I have a few instructions for you."

"Everyday for the next week, someone will bring you a bronze vial filled with a potion to heal you upper body injuries. It must be taken with food. Listen top me now, Miss Weasley," Snape said firmly, drawing her gaze firm the door back to himself. "If it is not in a bronze vial do not drink it, do you hear me? Do not drink it."

"I thought you said I was in no harm," Ginny asked dramatically, staring into his black eyes.

"That does not mean any Death Eater, especially Lucius Malfoy, will not try to kill you and make it look like an accident," Snape said quietly. "If it is not in a bronze vial, pour it into your empty drinking goblet when you are finished. The potion is clear and it will be mistaken for left over water."

"Secondly, do not try to escape on your own," he said and his mouth curled a bit. "You Gryffindors are known for your bravery that can easily lead to stupidity. We will get you out of here as soon as we have conceived a plan. Any questions?"

Ginny shook her head and Snape replied, "I will be just outside the door as you change and will give you a minute and a half before I return. Leave your dirty robes here. This will not be the last time we meet," he said softly before walking swiftly out the door.

Ginny changed in a rush, feeling considerably lighter knowing the fact that Dumbledore was going to get her out. How soon, she did not know, but just the knowledge that he was trying (and that he was Dumbledore) was enough for right now.

Snape came in after a moment and said, "Come," tonelessly as she walked out the door. He did not grasp her arm this time but lead her back downstairs to, she could feel it calling, her desolate stone prison. She passed no Death Eaters in the halls and thankfully, no Tom. Once the cold air, not unlike the dungeons at Hogwarts, hit her body, she knew they had entered the lower part of the castle, if indeed she was staying in a castle. (Snape had failed to mention that.)

He stopped her in front of a barren wall and kicked softly one of the bottom bricks. A door appeared magically and Snape turned the door knob, motioning her inside.

"Soon, Miss Weasley, soon," he muttered softly as he closed the door behind him, stone coming back into place as the door disappeared, leaving Ginny standing in her brisk cell, alone again.