Where Two Paths Meet

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters etc. That is all JKR.

Warning: Book 1-6 spoilers

A/N: I am so sorry that I have not updated in the longest time. I really was going to update quickly but I moved and then I had to wait until I got settled in and from one thing to another I ended up putting my fanfiction on hold. In my excitement in getting this chapter up, I have not yet had my BETA look over it so I hope you can excuse the errors that are most likely there.

Chapter 2: Enter The Darkness

A man sat at a small wooden table slowly sipping his morning coffee. His black greasy hair hung limply around his sallow face, slightly covering pitch black eyes that looked slightly sunken from tiredness and worry.

Faint rays of sunlight filtered through the open windows, casting a warm golden glow on the porcelain cup, resting in his long spindly fingers.

“This coffee is too sweet.” The man muttered to himself, as he stared down his hooked nose at the steaming liquid.

A brown owl flew through the window, depositing a paper at the table. It gazed at the man through beady eyes, as it hopped about waiting for its fee.

The man paid the owl, which immediately took off out the window again, and slowly unfolded the paper.

Spitting out his coffee, the man stared at the front page in disbelief, his black eyes widening in surprise, his mouth opening in horror.

“What's wrong?” A worried voice said from behind the man.

The man did not answer; he seemed transfixed by the paper, as his eyes would not budge from the horrid scene playing before him.

On the cover of the newspaper was a black and white picture of the Hogwarts Express lying in wreck over the English countryside. Greyish flames danced over the twisted metal, as wizards and witches guided wounded students along with their wands to escape the wreckage.

The man's eyes darted to the caption under the picture, his black eyes narrowinf with each word he read.

Quickly, the man put the paper down and stood up, his chair scraping loudly across the wooden floor.

“I'm going away for a while. Don't leave the house!” He said picking up his cloak that had been lying on the opposite chair.

“Are you even going to tell me what is going on?” A voice asked angrily from close by him.

The man ran his fingers through his greasy hair. “I don't have time! I have to go now…It may already be too late.” The man said more to himself, as he headed towards the door.

“Well I want some answers when you get back!” The voice said forcefully.

Severus Snape's curled ever so slightly into a smile. “I think this will give you your answers.” He said, thrusting the paper at the person behind him.

OOOOOOOOO

Ginny opened her eyes slowly, raising her head slightly so that she could see where exactly she was lying.

It seemed to be a small square room made of thick stone that had no windows and only a heavy metal door as a way of escape. There was also a pungent smell of mould and rot, which made Ginny think she was in some kind of dungeon area.

The sound of heavy footsteps was coming closer from outside; Ginny had barely noticed them at all from the splitting headache she had.

After hitting her head and falling unconscious, Ginny could only remember waking up dazedly in someone's arms before she had been thrown in this room. She had been too dizzy to stay awake then, but now she realised she was being held captive and did not want the owner of those footsteps to come anywhere near her. It would only mean pain.

The heavy footsteps stopped just outside her door. Ginny could feel her heart pounding in her chest and it seemed all her senses had heightened in the growing fear she was feeling.

She could taste the dampness of the room and smell her own cold sweat, as it dripped down her forehead.

Ginny stood up of the cold concrete floor and stared at the door in front of her in apprehension. She wondered what the person was doing just standing outside.

“The Dark Lord wishes to see the girl.” Came a cold female voice from behind the door.

Ginny gasped in horror. “The Dark Lord?” She whispered to herself, as she stepped closer to hear the people's conversation.

“Is it true she is a seer?” Came another deeper voice, clearly a male.

“The Dark Lord seems to think so.” The women responded with a touch of impatience in her voice. “I don't have the time to be chatting with you. Would you like me to say to him that it was you who kept him waiting?”

“N-no. I'll open the door now.” Came the male's hasty reply.

The door creaked opened, causing Ginny to jump backwards, as a woman with long black hair and heavily hooded eyes walked into the room gracefully. She stopped and stared at Ginny haughtily, as though Ginny were no more than a piece of dirt stuck on her shoe.

A tall man stood next to the open door looking at Ginny curiously. She could see his fingers idly playing with his wand, as he gazed at her.

“The Dark Lord is desirous to see you.” The woman said harshly to Ginny, causing Ginny's eyes to snap back to the haughty woman.

The woman's expression showed nothing but impatience, though it was clear she was not impressed that Ginny was being ordered to see her master. Ginny herself wondered why Voldemort wanted to see her. She had nothing of importance to say; she didn't even know where Harry and the others were so she couldn't help him there either.

“Hurry up girl, the Dark Lord does not like to be kept waiting.” The woman snapped, her eyes narrowing in dislike.

Ginny swallowed in pain; her throat had decided to stop working from fear.

Realising that there were no alternatives, Ginny followed the woman out of the room, as the man closed the door and stood silently watching them.

The woman beckoned Ginny to follow her as she started to walk, her legs moving in long strides, which Ginny found difficult to keep up with.

They passed some dark corridors, lit only by dim torchlight, the flames casting flickering shadows across the walls, looking horribly like creatures trying to catch her.

The air seemed stale, like there were no gaps for the fresh air to get in. Ginny knew now that she must be in some kind of underground dungeon.

Ginny looked back at her guide but the woman did not talk to Ginny, as she walked mutely ahead of her. Ginny was glad, as she found the woman slightly intimidating, especially knowing that the woman was a Death Eater and had probably killed plenty of people.

She thought the woman looked faintly familiar and suddenly realised she knew where she had seen this woman before. It had been in her fourth year, at the Department of Mysteries. The woman had wanted to torture Ginny so that she could get Harry to hand over the prophecy but thanks to Harry's quick thinking, they had been able to escape. Ginny could only hope the woman would not be able to get her way this time...

The woman stopped walking and looked at Ginny, through her dark malicious eyes.

“In here” She said, opening a thick metal door.

Ginny gulped and stared at the woman, as though wishing in some way that she wouldn't have to go in.

The woman narrowed her eyes, her lips curling with distate and pulled Ginny roughly in the room.

In the corner of the room was a man hidden in the shadows, his fingers softly tapping a round table in which he sat at. On the table was a crystal ball that glowed sinisterly in the flickering light.

“Thank you, Bellatrix. That will be all.” The man said in a soft voice that made the hairs on Ginny's neck prickle.

Bellatrix bowed and left the room, glaring at Ginny as she went.

“Please, have a seat.” The man said, as he gestured to a chair opposite him at the table.

Ginny slowly walked over and sat down gingerly on the seat. She barely repressed a shudder as she looked into Voldemort's nightmarish face.

His eyes were a deep crimson red and he had two slits for a nose, like a snakes. His mouth was thin and curling into a slight, twisted smile as he looked at her.

Ginny could not believe she was sitting opposite the most evil wizard of her time as though they were about to have a cup of tea. She had talked to Tom Riddle, Voldemort's past identity, but she had never seen the evil snake himself.

Ginny had always expected to be scared when she saw Voldemort, but she had never imagined it would be so paralysing and frightening. His face alone seemed to make her spine tingle with just a simple look.

“Please don't look so nervous; I am not going to hurt you.” Voldemort said smoothly, as he placed his unnaturally long fingers together, his red eyes surveying her, much as a scientist examines his latest specimen.

Ginny shivered slightly and gripped the chair tightly, until her fingers were throbbing.

What in Merlin's name does he want with me?

“I want you to do me a favour,” Voldemort said slowly, as though he had read her mind.

Ginny stared at him blankly, “What do you want?” she asked, trying to keep the fear out of her voice. She did not want to make him know how much he terrified her. She was a Weasley and a Gryffindor too. She had to be braver than that.

“I want you to tell me what you see when you look into this crystal ball.” Voldemort answered, leaning forward a little, his eyes glowing slightly. It was almost like he was excited by the prospect of her looking into the ball.

Ginny tried not to leap out of the chair as his snake-like face came closer towards her.

Frowning to herself, Ginny realised that there was no harm looking in the crystal ball. It wasn't like she would see anything anyway and if she didn't look he would probably just force her, or kill her…

Ginny leaned forward, trying to ignore the satisfied look that graced Voldemort's features, as she stared into the crystal ball. She felt rather stupid watching the fog swirling round, but to her amazement the fog seemed to lessen and an image began to form.

She leaned in even closer, completely oblivious to everything around her, watching, as the image became clearer.

There was a swirling shadow covering a vast plain. A green serpent and a large lion appeared. The serpent and lion clashed together in a fierce fight and it seemed the serpent would win….

The vision changed and a black dragon formed in the sky. The dragon transformed into a beautiful sword, which was being held by a boy with pale skin and white blond hair. The boy with the sword stood behind the lion, leading thousands of men.

The serpent was crushed and light began to pour forth from the shadow over the sky bathing the plains in a luminous light….

Slowly, Ginny watched as the images began to fade and the crystal ball changed back to fog.

Panting slightly, Ginny closed her eyes, as she tried to catch her breath. She couldn't believe what she had just seen. Through all her years in Divination, she had never seen so much as a glimpse of an image and now she had seen a real vision.

Voldemort looked up at Ginny expectantly, his eyes reflecting his impatience. “Well, what did you see?” He demanded, as his hands spread against the table.

“I saw…I-I saw nothing” Ginny lied, inwardly praying that he wouldn't keep pressing her for answers.

“Do not lie to me girl, if you know what is good for you!” Voldemort said coldly, his red eyes narrowing in anger.

Ginny looked at Voldemort fearfully. She didn't know what to tell him. If she told him the truth he would kill her, and if she lied, he would kill her anyway. He obviously only wanted to know what the vision one, so once he knew she would be of no use to him.

“What did you see?” Voldemort repeated, his hands clenching on the table in frustration.

Ginny opened her mouth to speak when the door flung open. The woman named Bellatrix walked in looking flustered. She walked over to Voldemort and whispered something in his ear, never once looking at Ginny.

Voldemort stiffened from her words and looked at Bellatrix in frustration.

“Keep watching her,” he said gesturing to Ginny. “She saw a vision. Make her tell you what.”

Ginny stared at Bellatrix warily, who was smiling evilly at Ginny as though she had just been given a rare treat.

Ginny gulped, as she realised she was stuck at the mercies of Bellatrix, who was surely going to torture her. It was ridiculous but Ginny almost thought she would rather be at the mercy of Voldemort than Bellatrix Lestrange.

Bellatrix bowed as Voldemort left the room. She turned around and smirked at Ginny. “Well then, the Cruciatus curse should get you talking.”

Ginny's stomach twisted violently. She knew that the Cruciatus curse allowed the caster to make their victim feel unimaginable pain. It could also cause people to go insane, as had happened to Neville Longbottom's parents.

Ginny had no idea what she could do. She had no wand and no way to protect herself.

Bellatrix circled Ginny, like a cat prowling its prey. Her hooded eyes were alight with undisguised excitement and Ginny found herself feeling sickened by just looking at the woman.

“Crucio!” Bellatrix screamed, sending Ginny crashing to the floor as the spell hit her body.

Ginny twisted on the ground in agony, as sharp, invisible needles, seared all over her body. She cried out, as she curled up into a ball, trying to escape the unrelenting pain.

Bellatrix lifted the curse off and smiled at Ginny with a wolfish look in her eyes.

“Had enough girl? Ready to talk?”

Ginny moaned and clutched her side. “I…can't…tell…you” Ginny choked out, as she gasped fro breath.

“Why?” Bellatrix asked harshly, putting the curse back on.

“Because-I-don't-remember” Ginny cried in between fresh screams of torture.

“LIAR!” Bellatrix shrieked, looking quite deranged. Her eyes were wild and she was panting heavily, as she pointed her wand at Ginny's writhing form.

Ginny felt the room swimming before her eyes in black, hazy dots. She didn't know how much more she could take before she would black out…or worse, die.

Bellatrix seemed to regain control of herself and lifted off the curse.

“The Dark Lord always knows when someone is lying to him. He will find out what you are hiding anyway. You had might as well save yourself the pain and tell me now.”

Ginny did not answer. She didn't think she even could answer, as she sat huddled against herself clutching her side in pain.

Bellatrix smirked, “Very well, I see you aren't going to make this easy on yourself...”

The door opened with sudden ferocity and Voldemort walked in, his eyes quickly taking in the scene before him.

“That's enough Bella.” Voldemort said coldly, his lips curving into a frown. “Take her back to the cell.”

Voldemort walked towards Ginny and stared down at her limp body, his towering frame casting a dark shadow over Ginny.

“We'll have another chat on this later.” He said softly, his red eyes promising pain for her misbehaviour.

Bellatrix pulled Ginny roughly up by the arm and began dragging her like a rag doll back to the cell.

The world seemed to slide in and out of focus, as black dots swarmed around her eyes. She was in excruciating pain and her body kept twitching, as though electric shocks were jolting through the nerves in her body.

Bellatrix yanked open the cell door and pushed Ginny inside, sending her sprawling along the floor. Ginny felt her leg graze against the rough concrete and could feel the warm blood trickling along her skin.

“You're lucky the Dark Lord is merciful, but don't think he will be forever. You'll be dead by dawn”. Bellatrix said, laughing cruelly as she shut the door with a bang.

Ginny huddled herself in a corner and began to cry silently.

Her body ached from the effects of the curse and she knew eventually Voldemort would get tired of her and she would be killed. If what Bellatrix had said was right about Voldemort knowing when someone was lying, Ginny would have no choice but to tell him the truth in the hopes that somehow she would be rescued before he got the chance to kill her.

Ginny sighed and stared at the door. Who was she kidding? No one was going to rescue her. They probably didn't even know where this place was and she doubted whether Scrimegour would bother to risk the lives of his Aurors for one measly girl, who had no extraordinary talent, apart from managing to get herself into the worst of situations.

Fat tears slid down her face, as she curled her throbbing body into a ball, wondering how her life could possibly have taken such a violent turn.

Harry had told her to stay home so that she would be protected, but here she was, trapped in a cell in the middle of the Death Eater Headquarters, with no hope of survival.

At the thought of Harry, a small sob escaped from Ginny, followed by another. She missed him so much and wanted nothing more than for him to put his arms around her and tell her everything would be alright.

How she longed to stare into those almond green eyes and just let herself be lost in their depths, never to fear or worry again.

Please let me get out of here so I can see him again. I just can't die yet!

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