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Temper, Temper
Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait, things have been crazy and this chapter was being a little bitch. I really hope you all enjoy what I came up with; I've had a ball writing this story. Thanks to all of you, my readers and reviewers, you guys have no idea how much you all mean to me! Please don't hesitate to review and make sure you read my note at the bottom of the chapter.
"Well now, this has turned out even better than I had imagined," Tom Riddle's drawl echoed softly through the clearing. His tight grip on Ginny's upper arm turned painful as the redhead tried to twist out of his grasp. "Now, now, pet, I wouldn't do that. Stay put or I'll have to hurt you."
"And I'm sure you would just hate to do that," Ginny muttered under her breath.
Despite the fact that it looked as if his short life was coming to an end Blaise couldn't help himself - he laughed.
"You think I'm funny, boy?" Tom growled, aiming his wand steadily at Blaise.
His laughter over, Blaise smirked, nonplussed, at the supposed darkest wizard of all time. "Actually, I found Ginny's cheek funny. You … well, I just find you pathetic," Blaise winced around his smirk as his father pulled up tightly on his arms that were bound together behind his back.
"Pathetic?" Tom growled his grip on his wand so tight that his knuckles were bone white. He paused for a moment, silence blanketing them all before he gave Blaise a silky smile. A second later, he pulled Ginny to him so her back was against his chest. He towered over her, his arm bent so his wand was digging roughly into her side as he smiled at Blaise over Ginny's shoulder. "If I'm so pathetic then why is Ginny over here with me and not over there with you?"
"Because you've tied us up and dragged the little weasel over there like a rag doll!" Draco's voice rang out.
Tom's eyes snapped over to the pale-headed young man. A twitch in his jaw was the only sign of Tom's absolute fury before he sneered at Lucius. "Do keep your son under control, Lucius!"
Lucius Malfoy's eyes widened a fraction before he gave a curt nod. Turning his attention to Draco—who was still kneeling at his father's side from his and Lucius' earlier struggle—the elder Malfoy pulled his arm back before letting it go with a snap and catching Draco in the face with his fist. Draco stumbled forward, throwing his hands out in front of him to catch himself before he hit the ground entirely, but Lucius didn't even give him a moment to recover before he kicked him roughly in the ribs. Draco gave a pained cry and fell to the ground, curling into a fetal position and holding his ribs protectively.
"Stop it!" Ginny shrieked. She made a move forward to aid Draco but Tom wrapped his arm tightly around her waist.
"Considering that you have such a weak spot for Slytherins, Ginny, I'm surprised you've been able to resist me for this long," Tom breathed against her ear, loud enough for everyone else to hear him.
"I'm not," Blaise muttered the same time Ginny said, "That's because I hate you."
Tom flicked his wrist quickly and his wand disappeared up his sleeve. He swung Ginny around so violently that she had to grab at his arms so she wouldn't fall over. "Stop saying that!"
"Why? It's the truth!" Ginny hissed at him. She tried—without success—to pull her arms from his grasp.
"I will make you love me even if I have to put you under the Imperius!" Tom sneered at her. "I told you I would have you and I wasn't playing, Ginny. Lord Voldemort always gets what he wants!"
"I. Will. Never. Love. You," Ginny spat viciously. "You're a cold-blooded, psychotic, unhinged, completely demented murderer and not even the Imperius curse could make me see past that!"
"Ginny…" Tom started but Ginny screamed over him.
"I love Blaise, Tom! Not you! Him!" Ginny shrieked. Growing frantic and more distraught by the moment, Ginny tried to kick at Tom but he blocked her. She managed to rip one arm away from his grasp and brought it up to his face, raking her nails down his smooth, pale flesh. With a cry of pain, Tom let go of her completely to grasp at his face. Ginny spun around and her eyes locked with Blaise.
"Run!" he told her quietly. Ginny gave him a pained look and shook her head frantically, but even as she did so Lucius and Damien both made movements towards her.
Lucius didn't get more than a foot before Draco—who had been completely still up until now—struck out hard with his leg and swept Lucius' feet out from under him. The older wizard went down with a shout. Damien glanced back at him to see what he was shouting about then, with a curse, he turned back ready to fix his wand on Ginny. Blaise chose that moment, however, to twist his body around and launch himself at his father.
Ginny stared at the mayhem around her before the snap of a twig behind her knocked her back to her senses. She looked back over her shoulder and saw Tom stalking towards her, his face furious around the bloody scratches her nails had caused. Cursing her stupidity for the millionth time at not bringing her wand with her tonight, Ginny turned and fled. She didn't get very far before she was tackled from behind.
Ginny rolled over onto her back and tried to push her assailant off of her but both her hands were quickly pinned above her head. "You little bitch!" Tom hissed at her. One of his large hands was big enough to easily clasp her two wrists together. His free hand was digging painfully into her hip, preventing her from moving around too much. Ginny was breathing heavily from their struggle and it wasn't until that moment that she realized how close Tom was to her and how their position on the ground must look to everyone else.
"Get off of me!" Ginny cried. She tried to pull her hands away from his grasp but he just pushed them further into the dirt above her head. She bucked her hips, trying to dislodge him from between her legs and throw him from her but that just caused Tom to smirk down at her.
"There will be plenty of time for that later, Ginny."
"Get away from her, you son of a bitch!" Blaise yelled from a few yards away. Ginny craned her neck and was able to see the other four occupants of the clearing.
Blaise was kneeling, again, in front of Damien, leaves sticking out of his hair as his father had his wand firmly digging into his neck. Damien muttered something to Blaise that sounded like "shut up" but Ginny wasn't entirely sure. Draco lay on his back, dirt smudged across his face as Lucius pointed his wand down at him, looking a bit worse for wear.
Tom turned away from Blaise to look at Ginny who had gone quite still at the sound of Blaise's voice, "Looks as if your boyfriend's a bit jealous." Ginny glared up at him but kept quiet. Tom threw Blaise a wicked smile over his shoulder before turning his attention back to Ginny. "I've been thinking," Tom drawled silkily as his free hand caressed its way from Ginny's hip up to cup her face, "might as well have a bit of fun while I have you at my disposal with your idiot boyfriend playing spectator."
Ginny turned her head quickly and tried to bite at Tom's hand. His dark chuckle washed over her like bitter chocolate. "This is what I like most about you, Ginny. You're just so bloody feisty," Tom whispered the last word an inch away from her face and Ginny's breath caught in her throat as he closed the space between them and ravished her mouth with his.
The small redhead struggled to get her hands free but Tom was having none of that. So, she did the next best thing. She bit his lip.
Tom quickly pulled his head back with a growl, ignoring Blaise's shouts of outrage at his actions. "Do that again and I'll Avada Kedavra your boyfriend so fast you won't even realize what happened!" Tom said this so furiously that Ginny went completely still. She stared up into Tom's beautiful blue eyes, trying feverishly to suppress the wetness from behind her own. The last thing Ginny wanted to do was show Tom weakness or submissiveness but she would not willingly put Blaise in any more danger. She stopped struggling to get her hands free and let out a shaky breath as one solitary tear found its way down her cheek.
"I love it when you see things my way," Tom smirked before leaning in close to her and licking the tear from her cheek. Her lower lip trembling, Ginny turned her face away from Tom but he just kissed his way down her throat, laying hot open-mouth kisses there and marking her as best he could.
"Ginny!" Blaise bellowed from his spot across the clearing. Ginny opened her eyes and her gaze locked with his. She let out a sob at the look of complete terror and anger on his face. She could feel Tom grin against her throat even as Blaise tried fruitlessly to get away from Damien. Changing his tactic Blaise looked up at his father, "Father! Please! Help her, do something!" he begged, his voice breaking on the last word.
"Hold your tongue," Damien hissed, grabbing the collar of Blaise's shirt roughly, trying to control his frantic son.
"You bastard!" Blaise screamed, struggling with all his might to get his hands free from behind his back. "How can you just stand there and watch him do that to her? I love her, Dammit! Why won't you help me?" Blaise's voice was hoarse from his shouting and Ginny couldn't bear to watch any longer.
Just as Tom started to undo the top button of her blouse, Ginny snapped her head back to face him. "Stop, Tom. Please," she whimpered. More tears rained from her eyes from watching Blaise and Damien.
"Now why would I do that when things are finally starting to go my way?"
Ginny bit her trembling lip as she tried to build up the courage for what she was about to do. Swallowing around the lump in her throat, she rasped out, "You can have me."
Shock flittered across his features before Tom pulled back a few inches so he could look Ginny full in the face. His lips curled up in the corners as he smirked at her. "Come again?"
Ginny glanced quickly at Blaise who had his head bowed in defeat. Closing her eyes and willing herself to last a bit longer, she turned back to Tom, "Please, Tom. Don't do this here, in front of them."
"And why shouldn't I?"
"Please!" Ginny begged. "I-I-I don't want Blaise to see that, to see you… and me…"
Tom interrupted her. "But that's the source of my amusement at the present moment, Ginny."
"If you do this for me, Tom… then I'll do anything you want."
"Anything?"
Ginny nodded her head once, "Anything."
Tom smiled at her as he ran a hand through her messy hair. "Ginny, pet, either way I'd still get what I want out of you."
And in that moment, Ginny realized that he was right. He would not stop until he had her. Until she was his and he would drive her mad in the process. Steeling herself, she plowed on anyway. "Yes, but… I won't fight you any longer. I'll – I…" Ginny stumbled over her words.
Tom watched her quietly before a triumphant smile curled his lips. "You'll submit to me?"
Ginny went still again. She dare not look over at Blaise. She would lose any resolve she had left. Submit to Tom? Was she really willing to go that far? If the aching pain in her chest, the physical illness she felt after knowing that Blaise was being put through this because of her, was anything to go by, then yes. Yes, she was. "Yes."
"You'll come with me; turn yourself over to me completely? No more fighting. You'll do as I say? You'll do what I say, when I say to do it?"
As Ginny stared up at Tom's wicked smirk, she could feel the fear and regret already coiling in her belly. But she had to do this. "Yes, Tom. Whatever you say."
Tom gave a short nod then paused, watching her for a moment. He leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. It actually made Ginny gasp out loud because it was so soft and lacked violence. It was so unlike anything she had ever experienced with Tom before. He pulled back quickly, "That was to seal the deal." In a flurry of robes, Tom gracefully leapt to his feet and pulled Ginny up with him. He led her back over to their previous spot so they were in closer seclusion with Damien, Blaise, Lucius and Draco.
Blaise lifted his head and Ginny could see tear tracks on his cheeks, streaking the dirty smudges he had gained throughout the night. "Ginny?" he whispered. Ginny tried to give him a small reassuring smile but it came out more as a grimace as Tom gripped her hand tightly in his.
"Ah yes. Ginny and I have come to an agreement," Tom sneered down at Blaise. "No need to worry about her virtue. Not yet anyways."
"What…" Blaise started but Tom continued speaking.
"Damien, Lucius, we will now carry out our original plan. The night is growing short and I'd like to get things over with so we can return to the manor." The two Death Eaters gave a nod of acknowledgement before pulling their respective sons to their feet.
"What's going on?" Ginny asked, frantic with worry. Tom was grinning broadly now and she was unnerved by his sudden rush to get things "over with."
Tom ignored her as he turned to Damien. "Do it quickly now, Damien. Prove yourself to me with this last task and I will reward you beyond your wildest dreams!"
"Yes, My Lord," Damien said quietly. He gave Blaise a long look before shoving him a few feet away from him and lifting his wand to point at his son's chest. "I am truly sorry, my son." Blaise opened his mouth to speak but he didn't even get his first word out before the deadliest spell in the wizarding world was flung from Damien's tongue. "Avada Kedavra," Zabini Sr. bellowed and everyone looked on in astonishment as—at the last possible second—Damien flung his wand to point not at his son but at Tom Riddle.
Surprising everyone even more, Tom dove out of the way, tumbling to the ground and taking Ginny with him, the death curse only missing him by inches. Blaise stared at his father, dumbfounded, before he was jostled to the ground roughly by Lucius as he dove at the elder Zabini.
"I knew you were a traitor!" Lucius shouted as he knocked Damien from his feet.
Damien's wand went flying from his hand and landed a few feet away as Lucius landed on top of him. "Then I suppose you're smarter than I gave you credit for," Damien bit out as he flung his hands up, grasping Lucius' arms to keep his wand away from him.
Damien didn't have long to struggle however as a moment later another voice shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!" Breathing heavily, Damien pushed the now still-as-a-board Lucius from atop him and gazed up into the face of Draco Malfoy. "I was hoping things would turn out this way," Draco grinned down at the older man. "I just knew you couldn't be evil…"
Draco's sentence was cut off as another voice joined into the fray. "Stupefy!" Tom Riddle bellowed, having regained his bearings. Draco dropped to the ground unconscious. Damien grabbed his wand and scrambled to his feet to face the Dark Lord one on one.
"You dare betray me?" Tom hissed, his wand held aloft.
"Did you honestly think I would murder my own son?" Damien asked, his voice perfectly polite as if they were talking about the weather or the latest quidditch match.
"It would have been the smart thing to do," Tom replied.
"Well, as my wife always says, she married me for my sense of humor not my intelligence," Damien grinned. Even as the last word was leaving his mouth he had his wand up and shouted a disarming spell.
Tom dodged the spell and tried for the killing curse but by the time he shouted the incantation Damien had blocked it with a shielding charm. "Petrificus Totalus!" Damien yelled.
"Protego!" Tom hissed and quickly followed up with, "Expelliarmis!" Damien's wand went flying as Tom shouted, "Incarcerous!" Thick ropes sprang from Tom Riddle's wand and shot at Damien Zabini, quickly wrapping around him and toppling the man over.
Blaise gave a shout and lunged at Tom. "Impedimenta," the latter bellowed, quickly sidestepping Blaise as he lunged by in slow-motion. Stepping forward, Tom stood over Damien, his wand fixed on his chest. "I'm going to spare your life for now," he smirked, "Let's see if your sense of humor is helpful when you wake up and discover the dead body of your son. Stupefy!" The red jet of light hit Damien in the chest and he slumped to the ground unconscious.
Tom turned around to face Blaise just as he rolled over onto his back and pushed himself up into a sitting position with his bound hands. Tom walked closer to him, his wand held out firmly. "I was hoping I would be the one to kill you anyway."
"I bet you were."
Tom smirked. "Game over. I win," he flicked his wand, the words already leaving his mouth, "Avad-"
"NO!" A blur or red and black flung itself in front of Blaise's body.
Tom quickly shut his mouth and glared down at Ginny. "What are you doing?"
"What are you doing?" Ginny cried. She had her arms flung out to either side, trying to shield Blaise from Tom as effectively as possible. "We had an agreement!"
"I never agreed to let him live, Ginny."
"But…"
"You're so naïve, Ginny. You've failed to see the entire picture," Tom drawled. "There were two reasons I came here tonight. One was to kill this idiot and the second was to finally take you for myself. You've agreed to the second so now I'm accomplishing the first."
"What is he talking about, Ginny?" Blaise spoke from behind her.
"It's nothing!" Ginny said quickly, still looking Tom in the eye.
Tom grinned at her. "Go ahead, tell him, Ginny. Tell him what you've promised me. How I get to take you back with me and do whatever I want to you…"
"SHUT UP!" Ginny screamed the same time Blaise hollered, "Ginny, no!"
Tom chuckled and grabbed Ginny's arm harshly – sending her sprawling into his chest. "Like I told him: I win. Now get out of the way."
Tom tried to shove Ginny away but she held fast to his shoulders. "Tom! No, please don't! Don't hurt him!"
Tom growled and pushed Ginny away. She stumbled sideways a few feet but managed to right herself just as Tom aimed his wand at Blaise again. She lunged at Tom Riddle and he gave a hiss of annoyance but it was quickly silenced. Ginny had not physically attacked him as he had suspected but she had kissed him instead. She wound her hand around his neck and greedily pushed his face down to hers. Tom's wand arm faltered as Ginny's tongue ran across his lips before pushing past them and into the hot cavern of his mouth. Caught off guard by the intensity of her assault, Tom completely forgot their surroundings and grasped Ginny around the waist, pulling her close to him. He groaned into her mouth as Ginny's small hands came up to cup his face and hold him in place. Tom ravished her in turn, sucking greedily at the sweetness of her mouth and massaging her tongue with his own. Gasping for breath, Ginny pulled back, her face flushed.
Tom took his share of oxygen before he smirked back at Ginny. "If you think..." but his sentence was cut off as a gasp of pain escaped his mouth. "What… Ah!" Tom gave another pained grunt and doubled over, his wand dropping from his hand as he grasped his stomach in agony. Ginny stumbled back a few feet, her eyes wide. Tom let out a yell of pain before he collapsed to the forest floor on his hands and knees. Breathing heavily, he shakily raised his head, his furious eyes fixed on Ginny. "What. Did. You. Do?"
For the first time that evening Ginny grinned. "You're so naïve, Tom. You've failed to see the entire picture."
"What…"
"It's the antidote to the rejuvenating potion," Ginny told him simply.
"No!" Tom Riddle rasped out in between more cries of agony. He began to twitch and convulse, much like Lucius Malfoy had earlier that evening when the polyjuice potion had worn off.
Ginny and Blaise watched in silence, both of them staring as the being before them completely morphed into something else. A few grunts later and the beautiful visage of Tom Riddle was no more. Lord Voldemort had returned in all of his non-glory. Gone were the silky smooth hair, handsome face and lithe body of Tom Riddle. In its place was now the snake-like and skeletal body of the Dark Lord.
Still gasping in pain, Voldemort reached out a trembling hand and regained his wand. He pointed it at the petrified body of Lucius Malfoy and gasped out a ragged, "Finite!" With a groan, Lucius sat up and glanced around owlishly before Voldemort hissed at him, "Lucius! Come to me, quickly! We are finished here!" Shocked and frightened to see the old body of his master, Lucius scrambled towards him. He dug around in his pocket and held something out to Lord Voldemort and a second later, they were gone.
"They had a portkey," Ginny muttered, not knowing what else to say.
"Well, I can't say I'm sorry to see them gone," Blaise replied from his place on the ground.
Slowly, Ginny turned around and dropped to her knees beside Blaise. They stared at each other before Ginny flung herself at Blaise with a cry. "Oh gods, I'm so sorry!" she sobbed into his neck.
"Sshh, its okay, Pix. Everything is alright now," Blaise nudged her head lightly with his, seeing as his hands were still bound and the only thing holding him up at the moment.
With a sniffle, Ginny pulled back and looked at him. "I never would have gone with him! I would have rather died!"
"I know. It's not important now."
"But it is!" Ginny cried, wiping at her wet eyes irritably. "I – I just … I love you."
"I love you, too," Blaise replied before leaning forward and capturing her lips in a tender kiss. He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. "I reckon you better untie my hands so we can take care of Draco and my father."
"Oh yes, of course," Ginny said at once, looking rather sheepish. She stood up and helped pull Blaise to his feet. They watched each other for a second, Blaise in anticipation and Ginny in embarrassment. "I don't have my wand."
"Oh. Right," Blaise chuckled. He nodded towards the unconscious form of Damien. "My wand should be in my father's robe pocket."
Ginny hurried over to Damien and found Blaise's wand. She turned back to her boyfriend and with a quick "Finite" he was free and massaging the red rings around his wrists. Ginny turned to Draco and with a flick of Blaise's wand, revived him.
With a groan, Draco rolled over onto his back and squinted up at them. "Did we win?"
Chuckling, Blaise bent over and pulled Draco to his feet. Clapping his best friend on the shoulder he informed him, "I reckon we did, mate."
The three Hogwarts students turned their attention to the remaining form on the ground. Ginny handed Blaise his wand back as they stared contemplatively down at Damien Zabini.
"So…" Draco said. "Are we just going to leave him there?"
"I don't understand," Blaise said quietly, staring down at his father.
"I guess it was all just a ruse," Ginny said softly. She clasped Blaise's free hand between her own, a small gesture of comfort.
"But..."
"Well if you bloody well revive him you can ask!" Draco announced, sounding both annoyed and exhausted.
Blaise was quiet for a moment before he waved his wand, removing the ropes from his father's form. Another flick later and Damien was looking up at all of them, disoriented. When he caught sight of Blaise he leapt to his feet and wrapped his son in a tight hug. "Thank Merlin you're okay!" he muttered.
"Don't worry, I'm fine, Dad," Blaise mumbled into Damien's shoulder. They pulled away from each other and Blaise looked at his father in obvious confusion. "Why did you…"
"Not here," Damien interrupted with an apologetic grin. "We need to get back to Hogwarts. It's not safe here."
Blaise gave a sigh of relief as Hogwarts castle loomed only yards ahead of them. He pulled Ginny closer to his side and relished in the warmth of her as she tightly wrapped her arms around him.
Suddenly, Draco gave a yelp and jumped back, his wand poised, as the heavy front doors of the castle swung open. From the back of the small group, Damien gave an amused chuckle as McGonagall and Snape came rushing down the battered stone steps.
"Oh my word!" Professor McGonagall gasped, rushing towards them like a stern mother hen. "Explain yourselves! Rushing off in the middle of the night, not even bothering to inform any of us! Who do you think you are?"
"Potter and his rag tag lot?" Snape sneered at the old woman before focusing his beetle black eyes on the group. "Is everyone unharmed?"
"The children are quite safe now, Severus," Damien said softly.
Snape was quiet for a moment as he gave the other man a piercing look. "And you, Damien?"
"I've done what I've had to do."
"It is over then?" Snape inquired.
"For me it is, I'm afraid."
"Very well," Snape answered curtly. He turned back to everyone else, who were all looking on interestedly if not a bit confused, before saying, "Into the castle now, the Headmaster is waiting in his office."
"I'd prefer a shower, if you please," Draco bit out as he sneered down at his dirty hands.
"The Headmaster first, Draco. You can primp later," Snape said dryly.
Draco folded his arms with a glower as Blaise snickered, "Its okay, princess, you're hair doesn't look that bad."
"My hair!" Draco yelped, throwing his hands up and trying to smooth down the dirtied mass that was his hair as they made their way to Dumbledore's office. "I didn't even think of my hair! I was referring to my brand new pants, but now..."
"Do shut up, Mr. Malfoy," Professor McGonagall snapped as she came to a stop. The stone gargoyle that bore entrance to the Headmaster's office lay just a few yards before her.
"How did Dumbledore know about what happened with Tom anyway?" Ginny asked. It was the first time she spoke since they had entered the castle.
"He had a rather urgent visitor just a short while ago and was informed of the happenings of tonight," McGonagall answered. Both Blaise and Ginny opened their mouths to question her further but she cut them off with a stern look before speaking the password and ushering the battered group into the moving stairway.
Once they reached the door to the Headmaster's office, Snape gave a brief knock before opening the door and stepping inside. Ginny and Blaise entered the room at the same time. Ginny's eyes immediately focused on her beloved Headmaster as he rose from his seat and smiled at them welcomingly. A startled gasp from Blaise drew her attention to the other occupant of the room.
"Mother!" Blaise cried, and Ginny watched as a beautiful brunette witch hurried forward and gathered Blaise in her arms. She whispered words of comfort to him and kissed him on the forehead fondly before she turned to Damien and threw herself at him as well.
"It's alright, love," Damien said quietly as he stroked Mrs. Zabini's hair.
"Alright?" the woman cried as she pulled back from her frowning husband. "Alright? Is that all you have to say for yourself, Damien Zabini?"
Damien looked around at the others as a light blush appearing on his cheeks. He turned back to his wife and with a charming smile said, "Er… I love you?"
With a hiss of anger, Mrs. Zabini poked her husband hard in the chest with a slender finger. "How could you do that to me? Leave me a note – a bloody note! And take off to be possibly killed by the Dark Lord?"
"Father, you didn't!" Blaise scoffed as everyone else in the room watched in amusement.
"Well... I..." Damien sputtered sheepishly but Mrs. Zabini was having none of that. She furiously dug her hand in the pocket of her robes before pulling out a crumpled piece of parchment and reading from it.
"Dear Sabrina, I'm off to save our son from the Dark Lord, which will inevitably be the end of my spying days, for my disobedience to him will be most surprising and unappreciated. Do save me some of your roast beef in case I make it back in one piece. I'm sure I'll be rather hungry. All my love, Damien!" Mrs. Zabini read the note with a hiss and when she was finished, she turned bright brown eyes to Damien. "You bloody prat!" Ginny giggled behind her hand as Mrs. Zabini punched her husband in the shoulder before sitting down in one of the numerous plush red chairs situated before Dumbledore's desk. She crossed her arms over her chest furiously.
"Well, now that we have that out of the way," Dumbledore chuckled. He waved an inviting hand towards the others. "Please, I insist, make yourselves comfortable so we can hear this tale in full."
Blaise pulled Ginny along with him as he sat down in the chair to the left of his mother and Ginny sat to the left of him. Damien swiftly seated himself to Mrs. Zabini's right and gave her a charming smile before pulling one of her hands into his own. Draco gracefully threw himself into the seat next to Ginny as both Snape and McGonagall stood on either side of Dumbledore.
Everyone was quiet for a moment before Dumbledore finally spoke. "Lemon drop, anyone?"
Draco groaned, "The dirt is soaking into my pants! Not even the best laundering charm will get these grass stains out," he muttered causing Ginny to giggle and everyone to turn and look at her.
"Miss Weasley," Dumbledore smiled. "I'm delighted to see you've been able to retain your sense of humor after such a trying year."
"I do what I can, sir," Ginny smiled.
Sabrina Zabini leaned around Blaise and gave Ginny a brilliant smile. "I just knew you would have a wicked sense of humor! The way Blaise went on and on and on about you in his letters home!"
"Mother!" Blaise hissed, embarrassed flush worked its way up his neck and face.
Nonplussed Sabrina leaned across Blaise, her hand extended towards Ginny. "I'm Sabrina Zabini, dear. You can call me Sabrina. It's so nice to finally meet you."
"Ginny Weasley," Ginny replied with a brilliant smile as she leaned across Blaise's other side to shake his mother's hand. As Ginny leaned forward Blaise noticed something come untucked from underneath her blouse and fall forward.
"What is that?" he asked, grasping the now ruby stone suspended from a golden chain that had once been the vial necklace that held the antidote to the rejuvenating potion.
"Oh, it's…" Ginny started, but Sabrina interrupted her. "…My necklace."
Ginny gasped and looked up into the sparkling brown eyes of Blaise's mother. "You sent me the antidote?"
"Of course I did, dear," Sabrina replied with a smile.
Ginny frowned in confusion. "But... I don't understand."
"Damien would tell me bits and pieces about the Dark Lord, Blaise and you. One night, he was telling me about having seen you and mentioning something about the first edition of Most Potente Potions, in hopes that you would be able to find the antidote and be able to use it against Tom Riddle once his plan was put into motion," Sabrina explained. "Being a rather adequate potions maker, I took it upon myself to make the antidote and send it to you."
"But the antidote wasn't listed in the book, or at least not how to make it."
"Which is why I had to visit an old friend of mine, Mrs. Ludwig, the owner of the apothecary supply store in Diagon Alley, and get a rather illegal and outdated book from her," Sabrina smiled at Dumbledore sheepishly.
Dumbledore gave her a wink. "No need to fret, my dear. It seems as if everything has turned out for the best. Your secret will not leave this room."
"Yea, just like this stain will not leave my pants," Draco muttered.
Blaise snickered before turning to his mother with a wry grin. "Well, it's nice to know that at least one of my parents was trying to be helpful."
"I resent that!" Damien growled. He leaned forward in his seat so he could fix a glare on his only son. "I'll have you know that I wanted to help you but I couldn't! Besides, I was rather useful in the end, wasn't I?" he sniffed.
"Oh yes, the whole getting tied up and stunned was rather amazing on your part," Blaise grinned.
Damien returned his grin. "Well, I meant to do that."
"For the love of Merlin, the grass stain is seeping into my skin!" Draco groaned, "My beautiful skin! I can feel it!"
Professor McGonagall had to hide her smirk behind her hand as Dumbledore looked over his spectacles at Draco, "Very well. Let us get to the bottom of this."
Clearing her throat, Ginny began to explain about the reanimation of Tom Riddle and his harassment of her throughout the year. Blaise and Draco and even Damien and Sabrina helped to fill in the story where they could. A little over an hour later the tale had been told and Ginny was yawning loudly into her hand.
"Now," Dumbledore stated, rising from his chair and straightening his long white beard, "that about sums it up."
Ginny rose from her seat, her hand still tightly clasped in Blaise's as she fought back another yawn. "But, sir, what about Tom?"
"Fear not young Tom, Miss Weasley. If my assumptions are correct, Voldemort is rather weak right now. He will not be up to any injustices in the near future. And do not forget about the antidote; Voldemort now has no other way to revert back to his former self. You are quite safe from Tom Riddle and his obsession with you."
"You-Know-Who will not stay weak forever," Blaise spoke up.
"No, indeed he will not," Dumbledore replied quietly. "But the end of the war is coming, Mr. Zabini and when the time is right, we have one who will stand up and challenge Voldemort. Voldemort knows this and I doubt he will waste any more of his strength or time on Tom Riddle's obsession for Miss Weasley."
From beneath the crisp white covers of his bed, Blaise grinned over at his mother, who was seated in a chair placed between Blaise and Ginny's beds. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Well, I would be lying if I said no," Sabrina smirked. She turned to Blaise with a soft smile. She reached over and brushed some of the hair from his forehead. "It's the least he deserves."
"It was a bit heroic, really, what he did," Ginny spoke up from her spot in bed. She was lying on her side, her blankets pulled up to her chin. Every few moments a tired yawn would escape her mouth.
Sabrina turned and smiled at her before repeating her actions on the small redhead and brushing the hair from her face in a motherly fashion. "Yes, it was, dear. And I'm sure he'll gloat about it for the next month at least."
Ginny giggled.
"Do shut up, little weasel. Some of us are trying to sleep," a muffled voice barked from the bed next to Ginny's.
"Yes and we all know how much you need your beauty sleep, princess," Blaise smirked in the direction of Draco's bed.
Draco made a rude hand gesture before burrowing farther beneath his blankets and falling silent.
Blaise's attention was drawn back to his father as Madame Pomfrey escorted him back over to Sabrina. "Well, I gave him a Pepperup Potion and he should probably take a dreamless sleep draught before he goes to bed, but otherwise than that he's fit as fit can be."
"Thank you, Poppy," Sabrina said graciously as she stood up and hugged Damien's arm to her side.
The mediwitch gave her a smile before telling Ginny and Blaise to get some rest and she would see them in the morning. She hurried away, presumably to go to bed and the hospital wing was silent for a moment.
Sabrina bent down and placed a kiss on Blaise's forehead. "Sleep well, sweet. Write me tomorrow."
"I will, mum," Blaise replied tiredly, letting a yawn slip past his lips.
As Sabrina bustled over to Ginny to say goodnight and goodbye, Damien stepped up beside Blaise's bed. "I'm sorry for any pain I've caused you," he whispered quietly.
"I know, father. I understand now."
The elder Zabini was quiet for a moment before he grinned down at Blaise. "I'm still waiting on that catalogue from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. Do send it when you get a moment."
"I will," Blaise grinned. Damien clapped him fondly on the shoulder before turning and making his way over to Ginny. He spent a moment apologizing profusely and Ginny had to tell him at least five times that she was indeed alright and didn't hold anything against him.
Sabrina finally managed to pull him away. "Come on now, dear, let the children get some rest." With a nod, Damien turned to follow a few feet but Ginny's voice rung out after them.
"Mrs. Zabini, wait! Your necklace!" the redhead cried. She sat up and grasped the gleaming golden chain in her hand.
"You keep it, Ginny," Sabrina told her affectionately.
"Thank you," Ginny smiled gratefully, "For everything."
"You're quite welcome."
Ginny watched with sleepy eyes as Blaise's parents exited the hospital wing. As the door clicked shut quietly, Blaise threw back his blanket and scooted over. "Over here," he whispered quietly as he patted the empty spot next to him and grinned over at Ginny. Ginny giggled before slipping out from her bed and crawling into Blaise's. He lay on his back, Ginny curled into his side, her head resting on his chest as their clasped hands lay on his stomach. "Well, tonight was eventful," Blaise said quietly.
"That's an understatement," Ginny snorted, her eyes heavy with sleep.
"I can't believe my mother sent you the antidote," Blaise said.
"I know," Ginny's face broke out into a wide yawn. "I thought it was your father at first, but then he went all fake-evil on us…"
"I'm glad it was just fake-evil and not real-evil."
"Me, too. It would have been such a waste for such a brilliant parent to be evil," Ginny smiled.
Blaise chuckled quietly before pulling Ginny closer to him. "Speaking of which, I think my mother simply adores you."
"I really like her, too."
Blaise smiled. "That makes me happy."
Ginny smiled faintly, her eyes already closed in the anticipation of sleep. "Well it makes me happy that you're happy."
The room was quiet for a few moments as Blaise stared up into the darkness. He unconsciously ran his hand through Ginny's hair and as he felt his eyes tire and his lids flutter shut, he pulled the small redhead even closer to him. Turning his nose so it was buried in her hair, Blaise took a deep breath and let Ginny's scent consume him. "I love you," he whispered softly into her hair.
"Love you too," Ginny replied, her words mumbled into his chest. She let a small grin grace her features as Blaise's arm wrapped tightly around her and he soon fell asleep.
I really hope Ron is the one to find us in the morning, was the last thought that flickered in Ginny Weasley's mind as her brain finally succumbed to her body's exhaustion and she fell asleep in the arms of Blaise Zabini.
The End.
Please Review
Since this chapter was long enough already, I'll have to forego the individual responses! But I really appreciate all of the feedback, more then I can ever express in words, so a huge thanks to:Lady Ghost Buster, RavenEcho, ISirouslyLoveGinny, Sabine Strohem-Moss, ronslilprincess, LadySnake, Willow Tree Pixie, superspunky7, myzteek, Vanessa-Black and Zabini, .spitxfire., Elaanabeth, .oo, padfootedmoony, hart-break, lady patronus, Like Totally Like, freekofnature, moony's number 1, CrazyStar2, cocoa-latte, Ehlonna, leia40216, Boonzie, monkeycgm, Adnama, ExtremeDancer, Flavagurl, AureliaMalfoy, Holly, bluenotebook, Moranar, venka, bluefire 1987, Aime4u2, the1TRUEST3heir2ofSLYTHERIN, jellybeano44, Red9889, Jpearl1991, Mystress Fate, Luksich, Bloody Corsets, Swtndreamypnay, Tsadora, xeia, coffeeaddict14, PP Ruffie, xxvalkyrie17xx, Kay-Dee-S, ThePurpleEmperor, ilovedrcartER, Winterkisses, FullMoon-insanity, Tristanlover59, sparkley-tangerine, Slymom, Sinned Darkness, iheartfredandgeorge83, insaneclownpossefan, grahamcrackers, GoddessofNight419, 11, flowerpot munchkin, PsYcHiC SeLiNa, lovey31, isgrid, curry the cool, applebottoms, Stevania-felton, The Great Neg Snifh.
