Fan Fiction ❯ china doll ❯ The key was inside her soul ( Chapter 1 )

One at time, they said goodbye the family's youngest member: the mother checked with trembling hands that the suitcases were well shut, throwing worried glances to the daughter. The bus came and the twins helped the girl to load her luggage: a last hug, and then away from the fatherly home's cozy safety.
" But are you.... are you sure that nothing will happen to you at Cambridge? And if will be there an attack?"
The girl smiled kissing her mother's cheek.
" Don't worry for me, I'll be safe: the pension is frequented by many Aurors, so I'll always be safe. I'll owl you as soon as I arrive!"
She said getting on the bus and shaking a hand. Her family said goodbye to her again, warnings mixed with wishes; and they stayed at the bus stop, looking the bus fade away.

Virginia Weasley never reached her destination.

* * *

She started, awakening from a sleep full of nightmares: memories of her first year at Hogwarts with other fresher. An acute pain throbbed in each inch of her body, as if each single bone was shattered: she closed her eyes and took deep breaths, loosing the pain. Then she opened her eyes and looked around: the summer twilight's reddish light entered by two windows, illuminating the room. She sat on a four poster teak bed; the dull light blue cotton blanket was rubbed and, with any rusty stains, it stank with sweat and coagulated blood. Also, the draperies and the walls had the blanket's same color, with a motif of branches and flowers in dull and dusty hues. The teak and ebony furniture was inlaid, surely they dated back at the beginning of XIX century and they struggled with the coldness of the blue, giving an idea of warmth at the bedroom.
Virginia got off from the bed, but immediately lost her balance and must lean on the bed: she felt weak, as when she had the high fever. Near the bed, there was a mirror; the frame was a snake biting its tail: she was pitiful. The jeans and the tank top she worn were torn and dirty with blood and soil; her hair was ruffled, every lock soaked with mud and blood; her face and arms were pale, swollen, and covered in bruises and thin wounds. She licked her dry lips, and she felt her own dry blood's rusty taste.
With a sigh of desperation, Virginia sat on the bed and put her head between her hands, trying to remember what had happened: she was on the Knight Bus going to Cambridge, where she would have begun the search on the healing charms with Doctor Russell; on the bus was a five person family, two Aurors on duty and an old witch with a big Indian blackbird. The three children were around the old witch, watching amazed the blackbird repeat every their word; the parents, instead, were speaking with low voice counting worriedly the gallons in their purse; while the Aurors were drinking a cup of hot coffee; she laughed with the Knight Bus's conductor, whom flirted clumsily with her. And then... and then... her memory became faltering, like badly erased words on a blackboard. She remembered the children cry; the blackbird whistle wildly; the men throwing spells; some black figures.... realization hit her like a bucket of cold water: Death Eaters. The Knight Bus had fallen in an ambush and about fifteen Death Eaters were slaughtering the eleven people aboard: Virginia was defending herself with all her strength, drawing on her the attention and so as to allow the old witch to escape with the children. Suddenly she heard the crying of a child and she was distracted: it was an error. Three or four Death Eaters chose that moment to strike her simultaneously, and among the curses there was at least two Cruciatus: it was like plunge in the magmatic room of a Hawaiian volcano and at the same time be naked at the Pole South in winter; as if thousand red hot hooks sunk into her flesh and stretch her skin and daggers of cold steel pierced through her body; as if an invisible hand tears one at time her inner organs. As it began, the pain faded away leaving her almost without consciousness. She remembered like a dream a Death Eater aiming there wand against her.
" Avada..."
" Don't do it, it's her: our Lord wants her alive."
Then she fainted.
" Oh my God!"
Virginia gasped realizing her real situation: prisoner of the Death Eaters, and Voldemort wanted her alive to do who knows what.

While Virginia planned the escape above, someone came into the room: behind a pile of clean laundry there was a girl. The child got scared seeing Virginia: she should be nine, ten years old, small, pale, with hazel eyes and chestnut hair; she was untidy and her dress was rather old and battered. The young woman smiled to reassure her but the girl tightened her lips and drew near an easy chair, where she put the laundry. With three long footsteps, Virginia was next her and grabbed her shoulders.
" Listen, you must help me to leave from here! Tell me where my things are and where we are."
The child shook her head without utter sound, the eyes wide with terror.
" I... I beg you! If I stay here I don't know what could happen me, they could... they could kill me."
Virginia whispered hopelessly; the girl shook her head with vehemence, closing her eyes while two big tears stream down her the cheeks. The young woman understood that she was scaring her, thus she let her go whispering apologies; and the girl went in a nearby room.
Virginia walked back and forth, thinking over her unpleasant situation; and then there was that girl: she perhaps was mute or she didn't understand English; but she didn't seem dangerous, instead, Virginia had the impression that something terrorizes her. The girl touched her elbow and glanced at her, she then turned toward a door ajar and she glanced at her again blinking, as if she was trying to tell her something.
" What? You want me to go there?"
The girl nodded. It was the bathroom: it had the bedroom's same dull hues, with a motif of waves and sea plants and it was larger than her family house's bathroom. The tub was filled with warm water and on a shelf there were a sponge and any jars: Virginia took one and opened it, sniffing the fresh fragrance of oat milk; she tested the others too, each with a different and delicate perfume. She turned around and bumped against the girl, whom handed her any towels and clean underwear.
" Do you want... must I take a bath?" nod, " You are right, I just need a warm bath: I stink like a goat!"
Virginia said winking, gaining a weak smile from the girl. Sure, it wasn't much, but the small gesture gave her some safety. She sank in the tub after having poured a good dose of violet essence in the water: the perfume and the heat had a magnificent effect on her body, easing the pain softly; then she sank completely, entering a muffled world. When she resurfaced, she found again the girl, this time near her dirty garments.
" Must you take them? Well, I suppose that you'll make them washed: my clothes stink too."
Also this time had in answered a nod and a small smile.
When she went back into the bedroom, the girl was changing the bed's sheets and a dress leaned on a chair.
" Must I wear that?"
Nod. It was a dust blue linen old dress, with Greek frets embroidered: the dress, like the underwear, seemed made for her. There were the shoes too, low light blue satin ballerina shoes. Virginia drew near the dressing table and brushed her damp hair. The girl pulled an edge of the skirt and pointed a make up kit.
" Must I put make up too?!" Virginia asked shocked," Little one, not even all the foundation of this world could hide these bruises."
" I'll take care of them; just think to make yourself presentable."
A cold voice exclaimed behind of them. The young woman turned and saw a Death Eater leaning against the doorframe. The girl hid into a corner with the dirty laundry in her arms. The men took some steps toward the young woman, and, without speaking, studied her; then he said mockingly:
" I must admit that, once cleaned and with a decent dress, you are a not so bad dish Miss Weasley. But, my dear, those bruises are an eyesore!"
And he lifted the wand. The girl screamed, squeezing the laundry and frantically began smaller, as to give a minuscule target to the man's glance.
" S... S... Sir, I... I did nothing! I swear it! I have made only what, what the Ma.... Master has told me to do! I swear that I have said not even 'A' to the Miss!!"
Virginia looked the child, surprised by her shrill and fear filled voice: her second cry prevented her from hearing the Death Eater pronounce the spell. The sudden flash of light blinded the young woman and when her eyes regained the ability of see, the man was close to her.
" Now get ready. Meg, if Miss Weasley is not in the dining room within five minutes, I assure that this evening you'll have the hardest punishment of yours miserable life. Do you understand?!"
Meg nodded trying to hold back the tears and the Death Eater left.
The girl looked hopelessly at Virginia.
" Don't worry Meg, I will do everything in a hurry: it is so cruel treat you in this way."
Meg sniffed and she combed the woman's hair: she took two locks and tied them with a blue ribbon behind the head; she then took any wild narcissuses from a pot and slipped them between the locks. It was an extremely simple and ingénue hairstyle, but Virginia liked it.

* * *

Four minutes and fifty-three seconds after, Virginia and Meg were in front of the dining room's door. Meg knocked shyly and entered. There were many paintings on the walls, and many silver mirrors; a chandelier of Moreno glass lights up the room discretely. The dominant hue was the red: red were the curtains and the carpets; red was the marble of the floor and red was the silky material that covered the walls. On the left side, there were four windows that gave the look of a lushly garden; and on the opposite side there was the fireplace. In the center there was a teak table with a fine white linen tablecloth and sixteen chairs; and at the head of the table there was Lord Voldemort himself. Virginia felt her stomach writhe: she knew what the appearance the Dark Lord has, Harry had described him different times; but the reality was worse than her imagination. He seemed very thin and tall; his skin had a clammy look and a greenish paleness; two red eyes watched her in a mixture of amusement, mockery and something else that she didn't want to catalog; two minute holes instead of the nose and a lipless mouth completed this creepy sight: Virginia felt like vomit there and then.
" Welcome to Elysian Fields, Miss Virginia Weasley." The snake-man said with affected gentleness, " What did you think? Perhaps that I live at House Riddle? Nothing more wrong than this: my mother's family's abode is... my nest of serpents. Please, sit dear."
Meg watched her: it was better not to contradict that /man/. Virginia sat in the farthest place, before the wizard.
" And tell me...Ginny? They call you in this way, doesn't them? A rather childish nickname; Virginia will be better; do you like your room?"
He said among the twelve Death Eater's disdainful snickers around him. Virginia puffed to hide her fear and answered with the mocking voice:
" I have always thought that, if you lived in a house, every thing would have been black: I am surprise to see that your hideout is so... colorful."
The laughers were replaced with low growls.
" Tsk, tsk, tsk, anybody who has the guts to challenge me in my own home. I am sorry, Virginia dear, to be not so obvious." Voldemort exclaimed with a bow, he then addressed to his acolytes," Now go: the Baron has organized a nice little party and any Mudbloods has accepted his... er... /kind invitation/. I would come too, if my Host Duties don't allow me. " The Death Eaters joined his laughter and after a bow they left, "Meg, I have decided that, until dear Miss Virginia will gladden us with her presence, you'll take care of her."
Meg, stayed alone with the two adults, she bowed clumsily and turned toward the door.
" Ungrateful girl!" Hissed the wizard raising his wand, "After all these months you haven't yet learned how behave, have you?! Crucio!"
Virginia watched shocked, the child scream and writhe trembling on ground and then Voldemort, whom seemed rather amused. The spell lasted not more than ten seconds; and Meg left sobbing incoherent words and trying uselessly not to cry.
As soon as the two adults were alone, on the table dishes with an inviting look and smell appeared and the wizard began to eat under the young woman's disgusted look. Sensing her eyes on him, Voldemort put down the fork and stared Virginia.
" Pimky will be offended knowing that you haven't touched food."
He said after an along silence, licking the edges of his own mouth with a bluish tongue. Virginia tightened her lips, the more and more obvious disgust on her face.
" How could I... how you could eat after you have... have.... Heavens, she's only a child! She did nothing!!"
" She's a mere, stupid Muggle girl, here what she is. Why do you think I have spared her and accepted her like a house elf? For my kind heart?" he laughed amused," No, my dear Virginia, it's for my pure amusement. The house elves are boring, they /want/ punishment: what is amusing in giving pain to anybody so willing? Instead Meg doesn't want to feel pain and she does everything possible to not be punished: part of the fun, even, is just in the search a reason."
" You are... you are a heartless bastard!"
" Thank you for the compliment. Now eats." No answer, "Infuriating girl! I just have to say a word and shake my wand to make you do whatever I want: you must be in good health for the /little/ plan I have for you, otherwise why would I have ordered to my Death Eaters I wanted you alive? Why would I have allowed the Baron to take care of you while you were unconscious? Surely not for your cute face! You'll be alive and in health until I will need you!"
" What do you want to do? Use me like a bait to draw Harry here? I'm sorry, but I know how take care of myself and I don't need help to leave from this place!"
Voldemort laughed his creepy laughter; and Virginia felt the hair of the body stand up at the dirty sound.
" My dear Virginia, why do you think that I am so obvious? Oh no, I won't do a so predictable and obvious think like I would use you like bait: you have something that interests me and that I will take...no, not your miserable life, or I would have let that my followers to kill you during the ambush; and after.... well, I think that I will decide then. Now eat."

* * *

About six or seven weeks were passed since when Virginia had waken up in the blue chamber; in the past that had been the chamber of Herentas Meridiae, Voldemort's mother; and she didn't yet know which was the /plan/. Nevertheless she had never imagined that being the Dark Lord's prisoner could be so... pleasant: she had free access in every room; except for Voldemort's private chambers; she had a good dose of liberty; and often she went with Meg in the estate's wood, if at least two Death Eaters were with them. Once they brought her even at Verdi Macbeth's première. The house elves took care of her as if she was a special guest, feeding her with the more refined foods and giving her the best treatment. Every day, then, Meg brought her a new dress; that was new for her, whom, for all her life, had had only second-hand clothes: Virginia would have denied it, however she knew that, although being a kind of asthmatic snake-man, the /dear/ Voldie had good taste and surely he knew how gratify a woman. Few things were forbidden: the use of every kind of magic and communicate with her family.
One day, Virginia wanted a gooseberry pie: she had had that wish since when she had seen the bushes near the stream. So, after they had had breakfast and the Dark Wizard had left, Virginia and Meg took a picnic basket and two smaller ones for the gooseberries, and they went in that place under the guard of three Death Eaters. The two of them had been so accustomed at their presence, and they very often ignored them and they tried not to think about their real situation: instead, quite in spite of those bootlickers, after lunch they started to play in the stream. Become impatient, a Death Eater took his wand to put an end to the game, but who seemed to be in charge stopped him:
" Have you forgotten what our Lord ordered us? 'Don't arm for Miss Weasley until Halloween.'"
" Yeah; and then have the opportunity to enjoy a show that not even our Master allows to himself." Said the third with a voice mixed with lust watching the young woman, "If wet, the linen clothes become transparent. It's a shame that we can /only/ watch."
" August is nearly ended: within about two months we'll have a great fun...."

* * *

October was almost ending, and Virginia didn't have yet realizes what Voldemort's intentions were. At Halloween the Dark Lord stayed at Elysian Fields: a preparatory tension was sensed in the air and the woman didn't like it.
" This evening, Virginia dear, I will bring you at House Riddle."
The snake-man hissed with seriousness.
" Really, /Voldie dear/?" From must of the time they mocked each other, and always with sarcasm, "I thought that you would have brought me in some village for trick or treat."
The man (?) grinned.
" I am sorry disappointing you, but I have other in store for you. Tell me, Virginia dear, have you been ever kissed?"
The cup of tea in her hands tottered and any drops stained the tablecloth: the question hid what would have happened; it just needed the right interpretation. Still pale, Virginia grinned.
" This is a private question, Voldie dear. Why?" She shook a hand," No, let me guess. Mmm...Knowing you I think that....you will tie me on a table or something and your minions will rape me until I'll be died. A suggestion: instead of tying me, why don't you use the Imperius Curse?"
Voldemort burst in laugh, a laughter that sends shivers on the woman's back. Still laughing, he shook his head.
" Oh no, you should know that I'm not such an obvious man. Who knows, we could do it.... later."
She wanted to ask about that later, but she didn't.

As every evening before dinner, Meg helped Virginia to get ready: both were silent, knowing that very probably that was the last time that they see each other. The Dark Wizard had made her wear a plum silk dress with rhinestones and gloves of the same color; finally Meg placed on her amethyst necklace and earrings: Virginia was worried and wasn't able to understand the reason of that overdressing; however she was sure that soon she'd have known it and that she wouldn't liked it. When she was ready, she, Voldemort, the twelve Death Eaters and some house elves took the principal path and went beyond the gate: Virginia was able to read the name of the estate, Elysian Fields, on the wrought iron arc while two Death Eaters grabbed roughly her arms and unexpectedly, instead of the gate, there was a heavy oak door. They had apparated to House Riddle. The two guards pushed her, and she almost stumbled, and they made her walk behind their Lord, between two rows of masked figures wrapped in black cloaks. Only then, Virginia noticed that the twelve Death Eaters' cloaks were of a different shade of black, a red so dark to seem blood: perhaps the cloak's color indicated the hierarchical grade; a useful bit of information for the Aurors, if she was able to survive and run away. They pushed her into another hall, where a banquet was held and they made her sit at the side of the Dark Lord, who raised a goblet and said mockingly:
" My faithful followers, I have gathered you here to honor this /pretty young woman/: thus I ask you to avoid every rough remarks about she or her relative." general laughter, "This toast is for you, Virginia dear."
" You should know that I don't drink alcoholics, /Voldie dear/!"
" Tsk, tsk, tsk, your tongue is sharp as always. It is a shame that this is the last time that I hear your sweet venomous voice: you are rather amusing. And that's why that I have organized this /little party/ in your honor: tonight, thanks to yours... er... voluntary sacrifice, I will regain my ancient strength and full powers; To Virginia Weasley!"
" To Virginia Weasley!"
Toasted the grinning Death Eaters as they raised the goblets and uncovering their mouths. Virginia was pale while a spell forced her to toast with them and small sweat drops pearl her forehead and upper lip.

It was a horrendous party: after the banquet many people, very probably Muggles, they were leaded in the hall's center where the Death Eaters tortured them for their own fun. Virginia felt her stomach twist, and if it weren't for the spell, she would have vomited: she tried to fight the spell, but she was just able to low her head. Then, when the tortures reached their apex, Voldemort raised a hand and everybody stopped.
" The moment has come, since tomorrow nobody will be able to struggle me! But don't stop your celebrations: enjoy yourselves and toast to our nearer victory!"
The Death Eaters cheered, while the twelve grabbed Virginia again and dragged her behind their Master. They carried her outside, near the cottage, knocked her against a wall and blocked her with a spell: few footsteps in front of her an elaborate magic circle was drawn and the twelve Death Eaters were around it. Virginia began to sweat: that meant that they would have done advanced magic, a very ancient spell judging the circle's symbols and she didn't know what her role was. She remembered that some Phoenician spells involved the sacrifice of a virgin and...And, if her deductions were right, she was the sacrificial victim. This could also explain why she had been treated in that way at Elysian Fields, the chosen person had immense respect, and perhaps at Halloween there was an astral conjunction that favored the spell. The woman swallowed and picked up all her courage.
" Well, I have the impression that you will kill me, so... what do you want from me? What do I have?"
" What do you have? What do you have?" Hissed Voldemort approaching her, " my dear Virginia, is it possible that after all this time you hadn't noticed what you were guarded from five long years? Is it possible that you have forgotten yours first year at Hogwarts?"
" The diary was destroyed! Harry transfixed it with the basilisk's fang and Dumbledore made it burn!"
" I don't want the diary. Tell me, Virginia," He breathed in her ear, " Haven't you have ever sensed it? Don't you sensed his presence in your thoughts? Don't you ever hear his voice echo in your dreams?"
Virginia tightened her lips and shut her eyes, her face paler: sometimes she had the feeling that there was somebody in her head, as if a hand draws away the veils that parted her thoughts. Her psychotherapist had told her that that was only a weightless consequence of the trauma received in the Chamber of Secret: the only thing that she could do was ignore this presumed presence of Tom Riddle in her unconscious and learn to cohabit it.
"Aha, you're remembering now. That memory that has sucked your vital energy and has devoured with your soul, corroding it from the inside: when the diary had been destroyed they went back into your body and with them my sixteen year old memory. At its creation, I poured part of my power and my soul in the diary: you will agree that is my right take claim what is mine." He stepped back and reached the circle's center, " I think it opportune that you know what you'll be going through, just for my sadistic tendency: first, we will extract from your soul what belongs to me; then the Twelve will purify it, I don't want Gryffindor, Muggle-loving, kind soul's fragments inside me, and I finally will reabsorb it. For what will concern you, probably you will die; but in past you have proven stronger than what seem, thus... I will decide on the moment that to do with you. It's the moment: lead here our... friend."

A figure wrapped in a cloak drew near, while six of the Twelve raised their wands in a defensive gesture. Virginia felt an intense cold pierce her body, up to the bones and perhaps even more deeply and she felt a wave of sickness came: it was a dementor. It drew near her and when it was a step from her, it lowered the hood >Happy thoughts, Ginny, think about happy thoughts! Think about your family! Think about mummy and dad! Think about Sundays at home, playing with Arianna while Penelope helped mummy in kitchen! Think about your eighth birthday, when Bill and Charlie and Percy gave you the new doll! Think about the first time that you went out with Harry and when he told you that he loved you! Think about... thinks about...> inevitably her thoughts went to the Chamber of Secret.
" Now!"
The dementor stooped on of her, aspiring the air; it grabbed the woman's head of the woman and then kissed her, sucking her soul. Virginia tried to withstand, but she felt weaker and weaker, her mind crossed by the most horrendous memories of her life: she felt as if been drowning in a frozen pond; she felt her lungs unable to work. It was as if a hook was anchored to her heart and tried to pull it through her mouth. Then, nothing.
The dementor left her and at once was surrounded by the six Death Eaters' Patrona, (it's in the plural form, so it's Patrona instead of Patronum. Ndr) which was imprisoned inside the circle. Also, the other six raised their wands, chanting a litany: with an inhuman cry, the dementor consumed and rotted; at the end of it stayed only a bunch of dead and rotten leaves and a cloud of sparkling dust. The Northwest wind shook the treetops.
" Come on! Before the wind scatters it!"
The Twelve raised their wands, chanting another litany with hoarse voices: the cloud gathered in a sphere and the crystals whirled inside.
" My Lord," Said a Death Eater, "we'll need much time to extract the part of your soul: it is very difficult to distinguish the two souls' crystals. Maybe even repeating the process one hundred times, it'll have some impurities."
" Then try to make it as purest as possible! No! Don't speak Baron: concentrate on the spell."

* * *

Three whole days passed, and the fourth night, in the center of the sphere was a small yellowish core surrounded by a silvery dust: with a clean flick, the Twelve parted the two portions. They led the core toward Voldemort, whom swallowed it, while the other part was putted in a dark green glass vial. A sharp yellowish light wrapped the Dark Lord, which began to scream and writhe on the cool grass: it was as if the light was burning the hardly regained body. The Twelve surrounded their Lord, not knowing if to act or wait: then the light grew weaker, showing a cloak covering the Dark Lord. Breathing with difficulty, Voldemort sat on his heel, hands on the knees: without raising his head, he started to examine his hands and his body; then, still weak, he got up.
" Are you well my Lord?"
Asked a Death Eater supporting him.
" Oh yes: very, very well!"
He exclaimed with a different voice: not thin and asthmatic, but firm, deep and silky. Then, he looked in a cottage's window: his face was yes pale and emaciated, but he had the healthy look of anybody who has been sick and was getting well. He smiled and replied him the reflection of his youth: not more a horrendous snake-man, but a handsome man in his middle twenty, and it would have been so easy seduce his Death Eaters' wives without them knowing his true identity. If he knew how to exploit the new appearance, he could have walked quietly in Diagon Alley in full day and with dozens of Aurors on duty. He smiled when the perspective appeared in its entirety: officially he would have been still Lord Voldemort, wearing a mask because after losing metamorphoses his appearance was too dreadful even for his followers; only the Twelve would have known; in the private life he would have been Tom Marvolo Riddle and... Wait a second! Dumbledore and Potter knew that Tom Marvolo Riddle and Lord Voldemort were the same man; use his old name was too dangerous. But nobody would have connected the Meridiae family to the Dark Lord! Since that day, with that appearance, they would have known him as Thomas Marvolo Meridiae, a very neutral: modifying some memory and some document, it would have been easy fool the Ministry.
" Don't tell about this change of my appearance to anyone!" He ordered, " Instead, describe me to the others so ugly I must wear a mask."
The Twelve nodded; then one took a step forward and asked:
" What do we do with the girl, my Lord?"
He watched Virginia, whom lay on ground like an old rag: her cornflower eyes were half open and blank; her breath was as light as a bird's; her complexion extremely pale. She seemed a china doll forgotten on the grassy carpet. He liked that thought.
" Bring her back at Elysian Fields: she'll be my china doll."