An Addictive Solution

Chapter Eleven

Ginny wished she hadn't made that request. Or then, that she had let her father talk her out of it. But she hadn't, and now she was there, ready to enter the cell of the wizard who had caused all of her recent problems.

She looked around, feeling overwhelmed by the place. Even without the dementors, Azkaban was the worst place she had ever been. The chamber had been more welcoming than that. The guard who had asked her to wait was now back and smiled at her.

"I'll be right here, and if anything happens, just scream. I trust you already left your wand at the entrance?" She nodded and he continued, "Good. It was for your own protection, Miss. If he attacked you and took hold of your wand, we might not be able to control him...but as it is, it's impossible for him to cause you any harm."

She nodded again, feeling her mouth go dry. The guard then opened the door, and she could see inside the small cell. The walls were dark grey and there was only a small bed on the corner, where a tall man was seated. He had very pale skin, with grey hair and light blue eyes. He was sitting straight; his hands were clasped over his lap and he stared at her with disdain in his eyes. She had to gather all of her courage to enter and felt it disappear when she heard the door closing behind her.

"Hello, Mr. Wakler, I am Virginia Weasley," she began, keeping her voice firm.

"I know who you are." His voice was naturally hoarse and it echoed through the small cell. "Your hair is unmistakable."

She just stayed there for a long time, staring back at him and trying to see anything other than hate in his eyes. But she couldn't find anything. The man didn't have any other emotion in him but hate.

"I'm here to tell you your plan failed," she started, never taking her eyes off him. "I'm getting married to Draco Malfoy, and, therefore, I will not die as you intended."

"What do you take me for?" The man laughed sordidly. "I didn't want you to die. That wasn't my objective."

"So what was your objective?" she asked, trying to keep her voice monotonous.

"I wanted to assure that your life would be miserable," he smirked. "And if I couldn't do that, well, then you could die. But I always knew the Malfoys wouldn't let you die. Lucius told me one day about the family weakness: he told me how his wife and his son wouldn't have the stomachs to follow in his footsteps. They have a weak spot for the weak." He laughed again. "And I found it so ironic. The day Lucius died, I came up with this plan..."

"To destroy the Malfoys and the Weasleys?" Ginny completed for him, smiling coldly, praying he wouldn't realize it was just an act. "You didn't succeed. Draco and I are in love now and you helped make us very happy..."

"Oh, girl, are you that naïve?" Wakler said, harshly, getting up and walking closer to her. "Just because they couldn't let you die doesn't mean they can love! Lucius' son could never love. He was not raised for that! I knew he wouldn't want to follow his fathe's footsteps - and neither would his mother want him to - so he would rush off and marry you, but it doesn't mean anything. I didn't curse you to fall in love with him; I cursed you to need him. And this will destroy you."

He walked away from her; his hands crossed behind his back. "And Arthur knows that. He knows he will be ruining his daughter's life when he hands you to that boy, and this will also destroy him. And, of course, there will be a Weasley at the Malfoy Manor. Lucius, wherever he is, won't be happy. But, then again, neither will you."

"You are truly disgusting," Ginny said, feeling somehow strong enough to fight him and his sardonic smile. "You took your time and you made the perfect plan. This is sickening."

"Years from now, when you're lying in your bed beside your beloved husband, wishing you were dead and wondering what went wrong, you will remember me... and you will instantly know the answer," he said, getting so close she could feel his breath on her face. "But please, don't take it personally. The problem wasn't you. You were too precious for your father and it ruined you. The really guilty one," he smiled, "was your father."

"Because he didn't support your stupid request?" She was really angry now. "Because he wouldn't play by your rules? You are mistaken, Mr. Wakler. I will be very happy, and you will rot in here alone. But don't worry," she smiled sarcastically, "I'll send you a picture of our kids."

She rushed to the door and knocked on it brusquely. She heard the guard put the key in the lock, and didn't turn when Wakler said:

"You don't fool me, Miss Weasley."

And that was it. She left the room as soon as the guard opened the door and didn't look back. She didn't hear another word coming from inside the cell, and neither did she stop to listen. She rushed to the exit, the guard almost running after her to keep up with her pace.

"Did he do anything to you, Miss?" asked the guard when he saw she was flushed and breathing hard.

"He destroyed my life," she answered, tears finally coming to her eyes. "And he knows it very well."