Fan Fiction ❯ china doll ❯ Isabella's follies, or ( Chapter 7 )

Virginia was waked up by a persistent pain in the neck and a subtle fragrance of cologne and orange-blossom. Cologne and orange-blossom?! The cologne surely belonged to Tom, but the orange-blossoms... The girl turned, but something weighed on her chest: she opened an eye and saw an untidy heap of black hair and still shiny with brilliantine. Slowly, several fragments went back in their place and Virginia remembered what had happened in the night: Tom and she had fallen asleep on the small couch in front of the window. Tom slept leaning against she, as a child on his mother's breast, beautiful slightly opened fleshy lips, dense black trembling eyelashes: urged by a certain something, Virginia began to stoke his hair, surprise to find them silky and soft despite the thin locks were still soaked with cosmetic, which left a light scents of orange-blossom on her fingers. She could think about nothing but what have happened: why did he have told it? But above all, why she? From their words, Virginia felt that Bianca and Isabella don't know the story very well; and for what concerned the Death Eaters... well, they seemed to take care very little of their Dark Lord's traumas. She pressed her lips on his forehead, her nose sinking in his hair, and she frowned: perhaps Tom had confided his secret to her because it reentered in a well definite plan to... nah, such things can't be told in this way, they are too intimate and personal. Perhaps Tom has had really need to confide with anybody, and it had been only a case if it was she: but what about Bianca and Isabella? In a way this concerned them too, being them his only fragment of family. Tom made a grimace murmuring something; he then waked up looking at her with sleepy eyes.

" Good morning, Tom."

" G'morning."

He replied sitting and rubbing his eyes: Virginia couldn't not find him handsome and sweet while he stretched like a cat, arching his back and yawning; and his eyes seemed like those of a cat, large and green as the leaves in autumn before they turn yellow. Tom looked at her with a small sleepy smile and stooped forward, kissing her: it was different from the usual kisses; it was a kind, clumsy and tender kiss and Virginia thought about the innocent kisses that Ron gave her when they were very little.

" Hey Gin, it's breakfast time!" Isabella exclaimed opening the door," Oops! Sorry, I didn't want to interrupt you: go on, go on, I'm leaving."

Tom and Virginia looked at Isabella's smirking face; then he grumbled something about showers and early mornings and went in the bathroom. The two girls looked at him and then exchanged a look.

" But what is happened to him? It's the first time that I see him in this way."

" He has just waked up, Isa. Ouch! This is the last time that I sleep so uncomfortable."

" Well, it's not my fault! However, when in the Hell did he have arrived?"

" Tonight, around one o'clock. He was in a black mood."

" Ah, perhaps his bootlicker has failed or something. Well, I'll wait you downstairs."

Suddenly, an inhuman cry rose from the bathroom.

" AAARGH!! IT'S FROZEN!!!"

Later Virginia and Tom went down the stairs: he seemed as embarrassed by something; and she was curious to know what embarrasses him -beyond his birthmark. At a certain point, Tom stopped and he stared at her, his cheeks a bit red.

" Er... Virginia, about.... about what.... well, what I have told you this night, I... no, I mean, I just want to tell you... er... you know how it is.... I want to ... I want to... "

" Thank me?"

" Well, do not get a big head now!"

Virginia hardly held back laughter: poor Tom, he was not even able to say a thank you! After all it was comprehensible, the girl guessed after have thought about it: after all she was speaking of Lord Voldemort, the most feared wizard of the last century; it was obvious that he wasn't able to feel thankfulness, and to admit it was out of the question!

During breakfast, Isabella proposed -rather, she imposed- the evening's plan and she told to don't wait her for lunch; Tom, instead, announced that he would have given lessons to Virginia: it was true that technically she was his prisoner, but this didn't mean that the girl must not have an average level of education. Virginia must admit that Tom was a good teacher: even a boring subject like History of Magic became interesting if taught by him: sure, Tom gave more space to the Dark Arts and Charms was studied theoretically -he didn't trust her enough to give her a wand, but this gave a shadow of normalcy to Virginia's life. Normalcy that was broken in the moment in which a package arrived from India for Tom: as soon as he read the name of the sender, the wizard opened the package and exclaimed at the peak of happiness:

" Nagini, love of Uncle Voldie!"

And he pulled a twelve-feet-or-more long snake, cuddling and fondling it; while the enormous beast hissed in answer rubbing the head against its master's face, coiling around his body and shaking its tail's tip: it would have been perfectly normal, if Nagini had been a dog and not a snake. Later, Tom explained to Virginia that Virides Anguiculus -of which Nagini was a worthy representative- reproduced every fifteen years; and being one of the few kind of reptiles to have parental cares, the parents stayed with the young for about eighteen months: that's why Nagini had stayed in India for all that time with a Loyal. Virginia sighed in defeat: it was useless delude to be able to conduct a life more or less normal at Tom's side: if one day she has had the possibility to tell her experience as prisoner of the Dark Lord, nobody would have believed her.

When Isabella went back at Villa Trao, she was loaded with bags: that day's shopping session must be been a drain on her money, considered the amount and the signatures of her buys. The girl entered in the living room and set her bags before her cousin: Tom looked at her and arched an eyebrow, while with a hand scratched the head of Nagini, which dozed on his knees, and the other held his cup of mint tea.

" These are for you. Since you'll stay here for the whole summer, you'll go out with me and my friends; ergo you won't dress as a seventy years old man."

" Isabella, you're forgetting a small detail: I /am/ a seventy years old man."

" But you show around twenty-five, thus I am right."

" Not to be offensive, but you won't have intention to make me dress like... like a rapper!"

" No, am I daft? I hope only that they are of your size...."

" Perhaps it's a stupid question," said Virginia," but haven't you dissipate your bank account?"

" Nah, I have used To's credit cards." Tom spit his tea and looked at his cousin," Well To, now we're going your in bedroom and we try the many nice things I've bought you! Whaa! It'll be like be a child again and play with a giant doll!"

Isabella exclaimed getting back the bags and grabbing a reluctant Tom, whom threw a desperate glance to Nagini: Virginia wasn't sure, but she had the strong impression that the familiar was sneering at her master's misfortune; admitted that a serpent could sneer. After not even a quarter of hour, they heard the two cousins squabble upstairs: it was very funny because Isabella seemed to have almost always the last word.

Around 7:30 PM, Isabella told Virginia to get ready since they would have gone to the cinema: the girl had prepared everything for the redhead and had told her to use her bedroom, because she was still busy with the cousin. When she had finished, Virginia looked in the mirror; it was strange wear Muggle clothes after so much time: a simple turquoise tank top, white capri pants and white and light blue sneakers. After have picked up her hair in a high ponytail, Virginia went in the next-door bedroom: the two cousins were still squabbling and Isabella, on Tom's back, was trying to gel his hair.

" Will you keep still for God's sake? I have almost finished!"

" I've yet told you, Isabella: keep that filth away from my hair!"

" Do not be so finicky! And then for one evening it doesn't hurt!"

" Today you want me to use that filth; but I know you, the next time you will force me to change haircut or worse to put blond highlights in my hair!"

" I have no other choice, To."

Isabella growled lacing an arm around Tom's neck, choking him; then, with great and rare skill, she put gel on his hair, dressing them up as she liked, then she let go her cousin. Tom leaned against the closet and took back breath; his look fell on the mirror.

" AAARGH!!! I am horrible!"

His usually perfect hair, fell in messy locks around his face; instead of the usual immaculate suits, he wore a light beige T-shirt with a red print, jeans and sneakers. Tom took his wand to transfigure his clothes but Isabella him stopped: they resumed squabbling, and Virginia hardly held back her laughers. At the end, Isabella decided to use one of her most effective techniques to get something from Tom; something so powerful and evil that only she dared to use against Lord Voldemort: Bambi's Eyes; not puppy, not kitten, not gold fish or common fawn, but Bambi. It was impossible to resist...

Half hour later, the three of them were in front of the cinema, waiting Isabella's friends: Tom was in a bad mood, he mumbled like a beans' pot with his hands in the pockets; the two girls wouldn't have been surprised if he has Avada Kedavra anybody, just to relieve a bit. The people had already begun to enter when the small group came: the thing that most amazed Virginia was to learn that they were all Muggle. They were six, three girls and three boys: Rosanna, Chiara and Lucrezia; Roberto, Leo and Giancarlo. Rosanna was petite, with short light chestnut hair, glasses and... er... just say that her eyes were light too; Chiara was a bit taller, blonde shoulder-length hair and blue eyes; Lucrezia, instead, had brown and wavy hair, glasses and brown eyes. Roberto, Lucrezia's boyfriend, had chestnut hair, hazel eyes and a quite satanic expression; Leo, Chiara's boyfriend, had dark eyes and hair and glasses; Giancarlo was dark too, but slender. Isabella introduced Tom and Virginia to her friends, who greeted them happily: when the other seven began to talk, Virginia felt a bit lost, not knowing a word of Italian.

" I'd like to know why they're laughing...."

She mumbled to herself. As if he has felt her difficulty, Tom laid his hands on the girl's ears hissing something; he then moved his hands on her sides.

" .... at home with Teodolindo, Eustacchio and Priscilla!"

" Who are Teodolindo, Eustacchio and Priscilla?"

Asked curious Virginia; Rosanna smiled and answered in English:

" Luigi's children: that's why that today, veeery oddly, he hasn't gone out with us."

" What? So young and yet father of three children?!"

" To, sometime you are really stupid." Isabella replied staring at her cousin, " Luigi doesn't have a girl -at least that's what we know, so tell me how could he have children! We say that he must take care of the children because he goes almost never out with us."

" Ehy guys, let's go before they take the better seats!"

Said Giancarlo urging the others to enter: after have looked around, they were able to find nine seats in the same row. Tom and Virginia must admit it, " The Matrix - Reloaded" was a very gripping movie; and even if there was nothing to laugh about, some smile escaped at Isabella's friends' comments. Even Tom gave his contribution when, at a certain point (when, during the party in the underground city, Neo has the second vision of Trinity's death while they are.... and she more or less says "What's up, Neo?" A/N) he stooped toward Virginia and hissed:

" I am gay!"

Virginia putted a hand on her mouth to hold back laughter; while Roberto, who with the others had heard, he turned around and looked in the wizard's eyes.

" I was about to tell it."

But as soon as that the movie went on, their attitude changed: Roberto and Lucrezia lovey-dovey-ed like two love birds; Chiara, Rosanna, Leo and Giancarlo watched exchanging words in half voice; Tom showed a certain interest with an arched eyebrow and stroking his beard; Isabella, instead, was as if she has a celestial vision, rapture that grew as the show went on. When they got out of cinema, the six teenagers talked excited about the movie: only Isabella seemed to be in another world, with an vacant stare that was in rivalry with Lucrezia's and a dribble of saliva straining from the corner of her mouth. They had just decided to go to eat a pizza, when the young witch threw her cousin's shirt and said with a childish voice:

" To, and will you buy a Ducati 996 like... like the one Trinity rode on the highway for me?"

"No Isabella, you have already a motorbike: I have given it to you for yours last birthday! And as if it isn't enough, you ride it when you had promised me that you would have waited the legal age."

" But I want a Ducati 996 like the one Trinity rode on the highway!"

" I said no!"

" C'mon, To: buy it for me, pleeeaaase!"

" No, stop to throw tantrum like a three years old child! And do not dare to use that Bambi's Eyes of your: my reply is and will be no!"

Isabella seemed to explode, then she decided to change tactic: she sighed and began to examine the fingernails with nonchalance.

" Don't you want to buy me it? Ok, no problem: then, to scrape together some money, I'll write to a certain Rita Sketter about a certain birthmark of a certain Dark Lord; and as proof, I'll send her a copy of a certain photo of the aforesaid Dark Lord in which the aforesaid birthmark could be seen very well."

Tom turned, pale like a ghost, and stared at his cousin.

" You're... you're joking, right Isabella?"

" No, I'm not: you know that I would do it. And even if in this photo you were seven months old, there is in England who could confirm that it's really you." Isabella replied flourishing a photo under his nose, but when Tom tried to catch it, she hide it in her bra," Tsk tsk tsk, try to take it and I'll report you for child molestation. Then, beloved cousin, is a Ducati a good price to keep your lil' secret?"

Tom bit his lower lip: it wasn't that he couldn't afford to buy it, on the contrary! How can I say, it was a matter of principle; and he then wanted to show to himself that he was able to resist to Isabella's prayers -and blackmails. But if it was found out about the heart-shaped strawberry birthmark.... Lord Voldemort would have lost credibility over both his followers and enemies and his plan for the conquest of the Wizarding World would have gone down the tubes. < It's all Helga Hufflepuff and her curse's fault! >

" Ok, I have understood: I'll buy! Just don't show around that bloody photo, ok?!"

Isabella smiled doing the victory sign and, announcing the cheerful novella, she reached her friends, whom looked quite shocked at her. Tom shook his head and sighed, then whispered to Virginia:

" A dispassionate advice: do not allow Isabella to know yours secret, or she'll blackmail you for the rest of your days."

* * *

As the days passed, Isabella's eccentric and despotic character had free vent: she had continually tantrums, which Tom was forced to satisfy; she dressed like Trinity; she made despair Bianca with her experimental charms; at the beginnings of June she had stopped going to school despite the lessons weren't over.

" Why should I spend my mornings stifling in a classroom when I could go to the beach?" she said one day," Plus I haven't tests to do: I've all the grades I need."

Bianca was on the edge of an attack of nerves, and she continued to wonder what she has done to have a wild animal as sister; Tom tried in every imaginable way to resist his cousin's persuading powers, with scarce results; Virginia, instead, had found anybody that could compete with Fred and George, and she trembled thinking what could happen if one day the three of them would met. The housekeeper just shook her head, said that that happened every June and that Isabella's was just a case of prebirthday anxiety. As foreseen from the elderly house servant, the escalation of screwy-ness grew till June, the 30th, Isabella's seventeenth birthday: between her party's preparations and her new motorbike's arrival, it looked as if Isabella missed energies for all her follies.

The first guests came after nine and half in the evening: schoolmates, friends, Wizards and Muggle all together. Virginia was spellbound by the variety and by the joy of the people around her: she had never seen such a thing, and knowing it was all Lord Voldemort's favorite cousin's doing! After Isabella had unwrapped her gifts -Virginia had convinced Tom to buy for her something from the twins' shop- the guests attacked the buffet, where the dishes filled magically; there were things that Virginia had never seen: rice croquettes as big as peaches, tiny rolls, sandwiches, brioche, flat breads, eggplants roulades and with tomato and cheese, cold pasta and rice, salads dressed in different seasonings. And then, the desserts' table: a triumph of marzipan, cannoli, cassata, tarts, Bavarian creams, cakes, ice creams, crushed-ice drinks and much more. When everybody was satiated, they opened the dances; the lawn in front of the villa was crowed with teenagers: at times the Muggle had some difficulty with the Wizarding dances and vice versa, but nothing that a good observation could make up for. Virginia always danced with Tom -actually he didn't allow her to dance with somebody else- and she must admit that he was good also at it. < Oh Circe, now I don't know what expect from him! > Thought the girl among twirls. When she was tired and able to get free from Tom's arms, Virginia reached Rosanna and sat close to her: the girl had a weird smile, as if she knew something and wanted to tell it to no one. When Virginia asked her what was up, Rosanna just smiled and winked.

" Oh, you'll know quite soon, Gin; and we'll have fun too. MUAHAHAHAHA!!"

" Have you heard?" Chiara said to Virginia," Rosanna laugh like Snowwhite's witch!"

" That's not true! I don't laugh in that way!" Rosanna grumbled pouty," Hey Chia', it's about to start!"

Isabella called her friends' attention, announcing a round of "The-song-you-would-never-ever-sing-in-your-whole-miserable-and-I-add-pathe tic-life":

" And the first will be.... " her eyes grazed all the presents until they fell on one particular person and Isabella grinned from ear to ear," my beloved cousin Thomas! To, come here!"

" What? What in the Ades do you want from me?"

" Come here and sing."

" Me? Sing in public? Are you nut?!"

" You've nothing to lose."

" No-oh! And stop to tug me!"

" What, are you ashamed? Yet Isa has told us that you have quite a good voice!"

Said Rosanna with a grin worse than Isabella's while she helped her friend helped to drag the cousin close the stereo.

" It's not that I'm ashamed, but..."

" Tom is shy! Tom is shy! Tom is ashamed! Tom is ashamed! Gnah gnah!"

" Virginia! Don't tell me that you let yourself to be influenced by these two nut cases?!"

Isabella and Rosanna exchanged a glance and nodded, then convinced Tom with a Bambi's Eyes double attack.

" C'mon To: sing for us, pleeeaaase!"

" Gea Demetra and Persefone, ok, I have understood! Just leave me in peace!"

The two girls cheered while Tom read the song's words written on a notebook: he tried to protest, but they stopped him switching the stereo on.

Dicitencello a 'sta cumpagna vosta

ch'aggio perduto 'o suonno e 'a fantasia...

ch''a penzo sempe,

ch'è tutt''a vita mia...

I' nce 'o vvulesse dicere,

ma nun ce 'o ssaccio dí...

'A voglio bene...

'A voglio bene assaje!

Dicitencello vuje

ca nun mm''a scordo maje.

E' na passione,

cchiù forte 'e na catena,

ca mme turmenta ll'anema...

e nun mme fa campá!...

Na lácrema lucente v'è caduta...

dicíteme nu poco: a che penzate?!

Cu st'uocchie doce,

vuje sola mme guardate...

Levámmoce 'sta maschera,

dicimmo 'a veritá...

Te voglio bene...

Te voglio bene assaje...

Si' tu chesta catena

ca nun se spezza maje!

Suonno gentile,

suspiro mio carnale...

Te cerco comm'a ll'aria:

Te voglio pe' campá!...

Tom sang with a passion and a transport out of ordinary, and the girls looked ecstatic and drooling at him: Virginia knew that he had a good voice, nevertheless there was something that....

" You used a spell, right?"

She asked him when he sat close to her: Tom nodded slightly and set a forefinger on his lips. The party kept on among plays and laughers, everybody having fun. Well, almost everybody: Virginia felt a wave of homesickness invade her thoughts, and she remember the parties in the Common Room or the days spent at the Burrow. Not bearing more that noise, Virginia took a walk in the garden, reaching the parapet overlooking the sea: it was a gorgeous and moonless night, the stars shone and trembled as a myriad of tiny candles. This made her think to Hogwarts's Great Hall, her Housemates, her teachers, her family; in moments like that she missed them more, even that old git of Snape: before she could stop herself, tears began to flow on her face.

" What are you doing here alone and in the dark, Virginia?"

She turned forgetting to wipe her tears: Tom arched an eyebrow and leaned against the parapet, his look lost in the nocturnal landscape.

" I didn't know that Isabellina's parties were so awful to make someone cry."

" Mind your own business."

" We have a bad mood tonight, eh? Well, let me tell you one thing: being in a bad mood isn't your duty; you should know that you must be nice, kind and obedient. Do not forget that you are my China doll."

" Stop it, you had repeated it until I feel sick. And I don't bear it."

Tom laughed shacking his head: it was too amusing tease her in that way, remembering her what she had become, what she must do.

" Oh, a bolero." Tom whispered recognizing the melody," Dance with me."

" As if I have other choice... "

Virginia grumbled placing her hand in his: he grabbed it and threw the girl to himself, swaying at the rhythm of the melody. She didn't understand the words' meaning, but she had the feeling that they are suitable for her and the wizard who was embracing her: they were simply perfect. Tom hummed the song to himself, as lost in thought; he then fixed his fiery eyes in those of her and kissed her, holding her with strength. Initially Virginia tried to resist to the kiss, but it had become natural for her to give in to his touch and...

" Hey lovebirds! Cake's served!"

Isabella shouted toward the garden and to no one particularly: Tom and Virginia weren't the only to be among Villa Trao's plants.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And here finished the seventh chapter of this fic: sure, it's a decidedly odd chapter, but we needed to boost our morale, don't you agree?

About birthdays... in this fic, Ginny has born May 8th 1986, while Tom May 22nd 1932: for the calculation of the years, I based on my CoS's year edition, which is 1998; however the characters are only six years younger than the officials dates. A lil' curiosity: the day in which Tom has born, it has been chosen at random, but only few days ago I've noticed that in this way Uncle Voldie Uncle is a Gemini, Thomas means "twin" and in this story he has a kind of double life. Really a funny coincidence ;)

The song that Tom is forced to sing, it's an old Neapolitan song: I have chosen it because he would never sing it spontaneously!!

Tell to that friend of your / that I've lost my sleep and reason / that I always think of her / that she's all my life / I wish to tell her / but I don't know how to say // That I love her / I love her so much / tell her / that I won't forget her/ it is a passion / stronger than a chain / that torment my soul / and doesn't make me live // A shining tear is running on your cheek / tell me a bit, what are you think about? / with those sweet eyes / only you look at me / take off this mask / just say the truth to ourselves // I love you / I love you so much / you are this chain / that won't ever break / gentle dream / my carnal sigh / I crave you like air/ I want you to live!

And now the usual thanks! From FF.net:

RaistlinofMetallica: I really think that Tom needs more than /one/ embrace... ready for a group hug? ;)

Lil kawai doom: nah, I did nothing but my duty as writer ::blush::

Coward in the Shadows: thank you! :)

Neni Potter: I answer to your reviews at once only 'k? cap. 2: even if we are at the seventh chapter, Uncle Voldie could still have a bunch of plans for ours dear Ginny. cap. 3: nah, I think that Ginny doesn't want to admit that she has liked it XP cap.4: oh well, you've found the answer by yourself ;) cap 5: he loves her, he loves her not, he loves her, he loves her not, he loves her, he loves her not... perhaps this question won't ever have an answer.... Thank you so much and continue to read and review!!

Midnight Rose 3: thanks to you too :D

Skywalker26: poor Tom? Well, we'll decide about this later...

What's their name: you're so damn right, I have a desperate need of a beta, but I don't find one. And about organs donation, here in Italy it's just like I've described: donations from living to living could be only between relatives - remember that Tom has told that Ginny is his sister- and only kidney and liver. For what concerns kidney, we know it: it is a double organ and we could live quietly with only one; liver, instead, if cut re-grows: it isn't needed a /whole/ one, it's sufficient a liver lobe transplant. If then these questions in your country have treated otherwise... when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Hey you: ouch, not only you're touching on a sore point, but are twisting the knife in the wound too! Well that is a mere error of distraction: in Italian for "mood" and "humor" we have the same word, "umore". I positively need a beta reader...

From AFF.net:

Cuttie_blossom: don't worry; I do not take offence at it :) I hope that you have liked this chapter too.

Liv: thanks, thank you so much!

And now for the Italian version!

Lilith the Black Swan: wow, what an enthusiastic reader! Don't despair; I don't have intention to give up this fic. Thank you for the compliments and I return the kiss;)

Nimue: I feared your response to the sixth chapter, and I feel better knowing that you have appreciated it despite the atrocities in it. Sure, this chapter is the opposite of the precedent, but I needed loosen the tension, thank you.

Ryuko: wait to spill tears for Uncle Voldie....

Ele: Tom? Changed? Who knows: maybe he has just taken a vacation from himself ;)

Tosca: I pity Ginny more; poor girl, she must bear Tom's moodiness... no, it is not pleasant at all.

Tilly and cugi: thank you so much for the vote, now I can bear... ops, We can bear the title of Queen of Evilness that We have earned with Our electoral based campaign based on Our sadistic-ness, perversion and evilness. What Tom senior has done not only is cruel, but also even so bloody present.

Ann: thanks so much to you too!!

See ya

Herentas Meridiae, Queen of Evilness