“An ambush? You don’t say? Well, this is a shock. Actually, not really. I was kind of expecting it. That’s why I made an army of my own. I hope you don’t mind,” Voldemort said, a creepy smile forming on his face.
Dumbledore chuckled, “You always had a flare for dramatics, Tom.”
“That I do, that I do, Albus,” Voldemort added, “I apologize for this, though. I broke the rules. I’m a bad guy, though, so you can’t expect me to play fair.”
“What are you going on about?” Ron questioned, getting annoyed with all the psycho babble.
“I’m talking about how I created myself all over again, using Miss Virginia Weasley. I’m saying -“
“I think what I’m trying to say is that I, Tom Riddle, am back to claim what is mine.”
Harry saw Tom Riddle floating up above the treetops, and then the image flew in the general direction of the castle. Oh Merlin, what in the bloody blazes is going on?
***
“Mr. Draco Malfoy and Miss Virginia Weasley,” Dobby announced as the couple entered the Great Hall. All eyes immediately turned to them, and the room was silent.
“Hello all,” Draco said, grinning. “I have something I’d like to say to Ginny here, and I want you all to hear it.” He turned to Ginny and got down on one knee. “I know I’m a Malfoy, that much is obvious. I’m an arrogant prat who doesn’t know when to shut his mouth, and pities nothing and no one. Your family considers me as an enemy, and for the past sixteen years you agreed with them. I’m cold and bitter most of the time, and I’ve been numb my entire life. Influence has ridden me since my first breath, and I was always meant to follow in daddy’s footsteps. I believed that I didn’t have a heart to give, and I pushed everyone away, afraid of commitment. But, I’ve been living a lie,” he paused for dramatic effect, “You see, this year I was supposed to engrave my life into stone, and throw it off a cliff. I was supposed to join forces with an evil I have never believed in. My mind was set, and nothing would stop it. Then, I got on the Hogwarts Express, and everything that I had ever known was thrown out the window. When you smiled at me, you stole my icy heart, and melted it so it could beat for the first time in nearly seventeen years. I swore to myself that I wouldn’t let you get to me after that first time I saw you in Flourish and Blotts, but you, love, are a force to be reckoned with. You wouldn’t let me go, and knew I never would give you up. How you knew, I don’t know. I didn’t even know it myself until I almost lost you. I never thought it could be possible to call myself a changed man, Gin, but you broke down every wall I’d ever built and burned the remains, so they could never return. You made me see that there’s a life for me in the light, and rescued me even when I denied saving. I know you’re young, and have a year and a half left of school and training, but I’ll wait for you forever if I have to. I lo-“
“Oh how touching!” the crowd turned to see a young man with black hair and sea blue eyes sitting in Dumbledore’s chair. Ginny gasped, and her terrified eyes turned to Draco.
“Tom,” she whispered, and he rose from where he knelt. He stood casually in front of her, but Ginny knew he was ready to pounce at the first upheaval.
“Yes, Virginia. It’s me, your beloved Tom. I was actually starting to worry that you would forget all about our escapades,” Riddle floated over to where Ginny was standing, motioning Draco away. When he didn’t move, Tom used wandless magic to push him into the nearest seat. He bound him to the chair and glued his mouth shut, and no matter how much Draco struggled, he couldn’t find freedom. “Look at this old chum. He thinks you love him. Ha! Like you could actually love, Virginia. That’s classic. The budding rose of the Weasley clan, loving? It’s madness, if you ask me. Why,” he said, grabbing Ginny’s chin, making her stare into his eyes, “You’ve never been loved. Your family only feels sorry for you. You’re the only girl in a house of men, forever being picked upon by older siblings and rivaling ferrets. Then, I came and went, and the only reason they kept you out of St. Mungo’s is because the Minister of Magic didn’t think it’d look good in the headlines that one of his ministry officials had a child that had been possessed by the Dark Lord’s former self. Everyone only feels pity for you. No one would actually put their lives before your own willingly. You may argue that your brother cares about you, but where is the dear Ronald now? Why he skipped over his own flesh and blood to save his best friend. He threw you to the enemy, entrusting a Malfoy to keep you safe. You may say that Harry Potter got rid of me of his own free will, and saved your life. That obviously means that he loves you, but he was just playing hero. His best buddy’s baby sister was in the evil hands of Tom Marvolo Riddle. Potter only felt obligated to help out. Didn’t want a dead girl to be on his conscience, did he now? Again, it plays on the pity factor. Most of all, you’d say that the Draco Malfoy is head-over-heels in love with you, Gin. I mean, anybody could see the way he looks at you. The way he cares for you. Any girl here would die to be in your position where he’s concerned. But, do all of them know the facts? I may have only been in your mind when this particular event occurred, but I seem to remember this young, strapping man only finding interest in you when you mentioned my... diary. Merlin knows, he’s a little different than his father, a little more cowardly, and it’s only normal for him to feel remorse, maybe even regret,” Tom had made his way from Ginny to the chair that Draco was sitting in. He was still struggling, and shaking his head. “Dear, dear boy. Trying to go on a crusade to fix all your father’s wrongs isn’t going to help the little virgin find redemption. If anything, it pins her deeper into Hell. Malfoys have very bad, oh what’s the word, ah yes, karma. What goes around, comes around. What you didn’t know, young Draco, is that from the moment you were born, you put Virginia at risk. Yes, yes, she wasn’t even conceived yet, but her destiny was already planned. Yours is still in motion. You’re lying to everyone, even yourself, Malfoy. It’s amazing what a few sweet words can do for a young woman’s heart, especially if she’s been ignored most of her life. You know that, and you did then, that Ginny was supposed to be untouchable. That only made you want her more, didn’t it? You knew your father would come after her, but that wasn’t enough to stop you. If you ever loved her, you would’ve walked away when she gave you the chance. If it weren't for you, she’d be safe, in Potter’s arms. That’s where she’s always belonged. If it wasn’t for you, Harry Potter would have another day to live, and so would you.”
***
“What’s going on?” Ron questioned again.
“Always were the dumb one in that copper headed clan of yours, weren’t you? Yes, you’ve got the bright Percy, the cool Bill, the funny Charlie, the sinful twins, the strong Virginia, and the inarticulate Ronald. You always did cause your family shame. No personality really. Harry Potter only felt sorry for you and your-“
“Shove it, you,” Harry broke in. “Ron isn’t the only one who would like to know what’s going on.”
“Short, Potter. You’ve got me on a very short string,” Voldemort answered.
Harry, who had gotten his wand back for the duel, only raised it, and said, “And I’ve got you at wand point. Now, you owe us an explanation.”
“Are you trying to scare me?” the Dark Lord questioned.
“No, I’m promising you that if you don’t explain why Tom Riddle is alive when Ginny never gave anything to give you enough power then I will blow you to bits,” Harry bit out, sounding very convincing.
“Fine!” Voldemort barked. “If you had been paying attention while Ginny spoke to Blaise, and don’t think I didn’t see you there, then you would have heard some key words. She told Blaise that she loved him. It doesn’t matter if she thought he was Draco. Just by having Zabini break her heart gave him a little piece, which he confided in me. Oh, and I should also point out that he gave me a bit of her hair that he had pulled out when he tied her up,” Voldemort said, dropping platinum locks to the ground, which Harry would’ve guessed to have belonged to Malfoy, but under the circumstances, knew they were Ginny’s. All the energy and light was stripped from the strands in order to make Tom real.
“It doesn’t matter what you do! Malfoy loves her! He won’t lose her! He’s fought too hard!” Harry shouted.
“And, you think I haven’t, Potty Pot? I’ve gone for decades trying to wipe that ugly little grin off that little girl’s face. I’ve done everything within my power to stop this prophecy, and I will not yield!” Voldemort yelled at Harry and the rest of the crowd.
“You want to know a secret, Oh Feared One? Your power isn’t as strong as theirs. I’d never admit this in front of Malfoy himself, but I’m jealous of him. He’s got the girl I want, but she loves him no matter which way you turn it. You see this scar on my forehead? Have you looked in the mirror at your appearance lately? This is what has kept me alive, and will end up killing you. Love, Voldemort, is something that no one can live forever without,” Harry finished, “Do we have a duel, or what?”
“No, Mr. P. We have a war!”
***
“In conclusion, no one loves you, Virginia. Can I repeat that, you ask? Oh yes, I can... no one. You’re alone in this world, and no one will save you.” Tom was still beside Draco, and grabbed the back of the blond’s head. “Isn’t that right, Drakie Poo Poo Poo?” He made Draco nod, but his eyes were pleading with Ginny to reconsider. Unfortunately, Ginny wasn’t watching Draco. Tom’s words were still floating in her brain, branded there as if by sin. He was right. Everyone only felt sorry for her. That was the last thing she needed. She had all the pity she could handle.
Ginny wasn’t paying attention to Tom’s words, though. She was remembering Draco’s from before Tom had interrupted. I’m an arrogant prat who doesn’t know when to shut his mouth, and pities nothing and no one. He was right. He may not be a true, pure Malfoy at heart, but he was raised not to pity anything, and Draco hated to be pitied himself. The Malfoys may be big hypocrites themselves, serving under a half-blood, but Draco wasn’t. He didn’t want to be like his father, yes, but he also followed under his own principles. He didn’t spend time on things or people that he didn’t think were worth his time. He didn’t serve under people, or follow rules he didn’t believe in. He didn’t pity anything. Draco believed that you got yourself in a situation, and you had to get yourself out of it, unless Ginny was involved. She was the exception to all rules but one. The reason was because he loved her. Yes, Draco was shocked and intrigued that she was the mystery diary girl, but he never said once that he felt sorry for her. In fact, she remembered being so amazed to his reply of wishing things were different, that she thought he was arrogant. Now, it was his arrogance that was saving her.
“You see, Malfoy? You see what you’ve done to her? Do you have any last words before you die?” Tom interrupted Ginny’s reverie. He undid the bounds on Draco’s mouth, and Ginny turned to see his eyes downcast. “Make it short,” Riddle ordered.
Draco sighed, and finally looked into her eyes, “Ginny, Tom mentioned earlier something about our conversation on the train. If you remember correctly, you will also remember what I told you about him. You will remember how I never apologized for what my father did to you, only wished you well. You, who know me better than anyone, would understand that I don’t pity anyone, and I don’t just hand out the word love. I meant it, and I mean it more each time I touch you. If you must know what I was about to say before our little friend interrupted, then it was this. I love you with everything I have. My heart is yours whether you want it or not, and it always will be. If I die right here, I’ll die happy. I know that my life is complete because I found you. I am yours,” Draco finished.
“And I am yours,” Ginny whispered, “You don’t have to worry about me. I love you, Draco Malfoy.” She ran past Tom, and kissed the only man she’d ever really loved. Draco lips were insisting and urgent. She opened her mouth to allow him access to it. He delved in, then pulled away, wanting to see the after effects of what had just occurred. His bounds broke, and he pulled Ginny to him. He softly kissed her, silently promising her that there was more where it came from.
“I LIVE FOR THIS WOMAN!” Draco shouted to the crowd.
“I LIVE FOR THIS MAN!” Ginny confirmed.
Just as their declarations echoed off the walls, agonizing screeches filled the air. Some were from a mile away. Another was located in the very same room.
Sorry it took so long! SO, so sorry. I have no excuse!
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