A Lonesome Night in October

A Lonesome Night in October

He was standing on the shore of the lake and the shadow of the castle towered in the darkness. A young man dressed in a black cloak, his hair the matching tone, so that he nearly disappeared into the shadows of the lonely October night. He just stood there quietly, waiting... Waiting for her. And with all his will he sought her. He knew she would come. After all, she was his.

The night was cold and the freezing raindrops burned his skin like nails of ice. He didn't seem to care. Endless fields of grey clouds, not a patch of the night sky to be seen, not a ray of moonlight reflecting on the restless surface of the water. All the stars were gone. He waited.

And then she came.

***

Ginny carefully closed the door behind her, trying to remain unnoticed and headed for the lake. She didn't know why. She just had to.

The loud howling of the wind consumed her, and her silver cloak got soaking wet from the moment she stepped outside. The rain hurt her beautiful face and the storm played wildly with her scarlet hair. She was afraid-. Afraid of the dark, afraid of the lightning, afraid of the wind ripping the treetops. Yet most of all, she was afraid of him. Frightened of facing him, but too weak to escape.

Thunderbolts danced across the heavens as she drew nearer to her aim. She heard his voice inside her mind, calling her, pulling her forward. And she wanted to. She wanted him.

The Dark Forest whispered mysterious things and the lake sang the song of the lonely ones. She was there, and so was he. She could sense his presence even though the darkness hid him from her eyes. Then another clap of thunder ran through the night like a sharp blade piercing her heart. It lighted the shadows and she could see him. A tall figure in a black cloak, standing there; so handsome; so perfect; so terrible.

He turned his eyes to her and smiled.

"Tom," she whispered.

***

She was prettier than he'd expected, looking so innocent and fragile, her slender body trembling with cold and helplessness. He would have felt sorry for her, if he hadn't forgotten what it was like - to feel.

"Ginny, my love, you came," he purred.

She didn't answer. Just stared at him bewildered, her young face displaying a strange mixture of desire and loathing.

"Are you not happy to see me at all?"

Silence.

"Didn't you miss me?" He crossed the distance between them and whispered into her ear, "You cannot fight me."

"No!" she exclaimed and spun away from him quickly as suddenly awoken from a dream. She wanted to run, wanted to be back at the castle in her bed, anywhere away from him. But she couldn't. She was under his spell. She knew it. And with every moment she felt more trapped, every bit of control left in her chased away by the intolerable yearning.

Once she had opened her soul to him. Had poured out all her secrets. But he had stolen her will, playing cruel games with her consciousness. Remains of that felon magic were still tying them together. He still knew how to wield her mind and dominate over her thoughts.

He reached out and took her left hand, ran his fingers across the smooth skin of the inner side of her arm. She knew what he was looking for. The faint silver scar, shaped like a serpent. He had left that mark on her.

It was too dark to see anything, but he could feel it.

"See, you belong to me," he said and kissed her hand where the scar was.

Ginny felt like everything inside her was torn apart. Her eyes filled with tears, her sorrow and loneliness running down her cheeks, her pain becoming one with the rain. All those years she had kept it inside her, a secret sealed in her heart, a burden too cruel and heavy for anyone.

But now, standing so close to him, she couldn't deny it; couldn't hide anymore. His body against hers, the smell of his skin, brought forth every suppressed emotion inside her.

He pulled her even closer and gently kissed away all her tears, made her forget about the storm and the cold. She could only feel his body pressed against hers, his hair brushing her face, the soft touch of his lips. She closed her eyes and felt like flying in a dream, with no cares in this world, her fears all gone. The only thing that mattered was this moment, and it seemed like an eternity.

Then he covered her mouth with his own, his lips burning her like fire. He ran his hands down her back, his fingers sending shivers through her spine, and held her tightly. She leaned in and answered his kisses. She wanted it. Wanted to feel his touch, to be his, to stay this way forever.

"I love you, Tom," she whispered.

He pulled away.

"Do you?" His voice sounded different, filled with bitterness and malice. "No. You only think you love me now. And if you'd wake up in the morning, you'd remember that you hate me, just like the rest of them."

"No, that's not truth! Tom, I love you, I'm sorry..."

"Hush now! I'll make everything better. I promise I'll make you free." And he whispered into her ear again, "You are what I need. I won't be sorry... To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born and a time to die."

He kissed her on the forehead, and before the meaning of his words became clear to Ginny, she felt his hands tighten around her throat.

Everything disappeared and there was only darkness.

***

The rain had stopped and the world was buried under a grey mist. He carried her body to the forest, took her to a plain hidden in the depths of it and placed her on a stone covered with curious markings. The quiet birdsong sounded like a lament. It felt like if the forest were watching them, waiting in a wary gloom.

From his pocket, he drew out a glass vial filled with golden liquid, and a silver stagger ornamented with black stones. The dim morning light reflected on its flawless blade, trenchant and perfect to protect or kill. He drank the shimmering potion and reached for her hand, slashed open her palm and his own. Then he held her hand tightly, his blood mixing with hers.

"Love given willingly, life taken forcibly. My blood, her blood, bind her body with my soul."

There was a blinding red flash. Everything went black for a second.

***

Tom opened her hazel eyes, stood up, and straightened her robes. It had all gone as he planned. "There'll be no one to stop me now. Embrace your death, Potter." And he headed for the castle.