Lady Darkness

****

viii. 'Let me tell your brother, she's been sleeping in the Devil's bed.'

The giant python slithered across the floor. Its body undulated, tan and brown skin vivid against the dusty floorboards. It opened its jaws, swallowing a fat rat it had cornered.

Jaeger Macnair leaned against the counter, watching the snake happily devour its prey.

Ginny opened the door, striding in. She smiled and licked her lips decadently. She eyed the snake, kneeling down to skim her fingertips across its skin.

Brushing some stray hair off of his robes, Jaeger made his way around the counter. His smile was large, predatory. "Take a wrong turn, Strawberry? I so rarely have young girls in my shop. Especially so late at night."

Ginny stood up, smoothing out her skirt. "I'm sorry. Are you closed?"

Jaeger slid his fingers over Ginny's hair, fingering the locks. He raked his gaze over her form. "Most of my best customers keep midnight hours. Now how may I help you? I haven't any kittens for you."

"Basilisk," Ginny replied coolly, pushing his hand away. The snake wound its way around her ankle. Her toes curled inside her shoes. It was a pleasant feeling to have a snake slide across her flesh.

"A basilisk?" Jaeger blinked at Ginny. He ran his gaze up and down her again. "Those are lethal straight from the egg. Little girls shouldn't be handling them."

Ginny shivered as the snake's tongue flicked out, tickling her skin. She was anything but a little girl. Why couldn't the world see it? Oh well. She would just have to show them. "It's not for me. I am quite positive the recipient is more than capable of handling one."

"Oh?" This caught Jaeger's interest. Few people had ever been able to tame a basilisk. "Takes a very special hand to control a basilisk."

"Special tongue, actually," Ginny corrected. She licked her lips again, thinking back on the memories of the deliciously sinful hisses slipping off Tom's tongue.

Jaeger's brow arched. "Anyone I might know?"

"I guarantee it." Ginny examined a terrarium filled with large black spiders, each with a red skull on its back. "But I think it's best not to drop his name. So do you have one?"

"Trying to curry the Dark Lord's favour? As I understand it, he doesn't take in little strumpets like yourself."

"Did your brother tell you that?" Ginny turned back to Jaeger, cocking her head to the side. "I don't really care about your opinion. I just want to know if you have a basilisk egg."

Jaeger shook his head. "Sorry, Strawberry. No one in their right mind would keep a basilisk egg in stock. Never know when it's going to crack. I can get one for you in six months. But it's going to cost you. I'd have to say at least a quarter million galleons."

Ginny's lower lip jutted out. She looked down at the snake. "Too long. Need it now... Is the snake for sale?"

"Yeah." Jaeger furrowed his brow. "Snake like that won't win you any points with the Darkd."

"This time it's for me." Ginny knelt down, stroking the snake's head. "Royal python, if I'm not mistaking."

"Good eye, Strawberry."

Ginny's gazed travelled down the snake's generous length. "It's about two metres. Bigger than a normal. Growth potion?"

Jaeger nodded. "A special concoction I made. Makes them bigger and more aggressive. He'll cost you thirty galleons, Strawberry."

Ginny pouted again. "Don't have any money on me." She hopped up onto the counter, parting her legs. She trailed her fingers down her blouse, unbuttoning it slowly. "Perhaps we can barter?"

Settling himself between Ginny's thighs, Jaeger leaned in. "I believe that can be arranged." He slid his hand up to her breast. "How did you expect to buy a basilisk egg with only your charms?"

"Oh..." Ginny crushed her mouth to Jaeger's. She tightened her legs around his waist, holding him to her as his energy drained.

When she felt him go still, she let the slack body fall to the ground. "My charms get me quite far."

She clutched her belly, feeling something rush through her. There was something different about this kill. She needed to return to Tom.

She hopped off the counter, stepping on Jaeger's body. She waved her wand at the snake, charming him to follow. "Come on. I have a much better master for you."

****

Harry stood in the doorway of Remus' room. Remus had calmed, his breathing returned to normal. There was a bandage on his arm from where Snape had injected the potion. The danger had passed. Now it was a matter of waiting.

Sirius made it his personal mission to keep a vigil. He sat at Remus' bedside, resting his chin in his hand. His long black hair fell in front of his face. "Moony, this isn't funny. You've got to wake up. Come on. We had plans, remember? Once the war is over and I can show my face again, we were going to go out, hit the strip bar." He laughed hollowly. "I've got to get you good and laid. I know I've always been better with the ladies, but it's a bit pathetic that I've gotten shagged more times than you in the last three years." Sirius leaned in closer. "You bastard. This shit isn't supposed to happen. Not to you."

"Sirius?" Harry finally spoke, his voice shaky. He wasn't used to seeing his godfather so angry. It wasn't his usual fury. It was quiet, controlled rage. The deathly calm of it scared Harry more than any curses Sirius had yelled.

Sirius turned to Harry, blinking in surprise. He pushed his hair out of his face. "I didn't see you there."

"You were a bit too busy getting angry at Remus." Harry stepped closer. He wasn't sure what to say to Sirius. It was obvious how much Remus' poisoning had affected him. There was nothing he could say that would offer any comfort. He wished there was something he could say to make it all better, yet he came up at a loss. There was only one thing he could think of saying. "Just who have you shagged since getting out of Azkaban?"

Sirius went to speak, but stopped short. He blinked at Harry, then ran his hands through his hair again. "You were standing there for a while, huh? Yuki Higashiyama. You've met her."

Harry nodded, sitting down beside Sirius. "Yeah. She's pretty." He paused, studying Sirius closely. Sirius had turned his focus back onto Remus. "Snape says he's going to be all right now."

"No." Sirius shook his head. "Snape said he'll live. There's a difference. The silver's been neutralized, but it's still in him. He won't be the same, he'll always feel it." Sirius shut his eyes. He swallowed hard, his face lining with controlled anger. "Most werewolves don't survive their first silver poisoning. This is Remus' second."

"I didn't know that."

Sirius opened his eyes. He looked to Harry. His grey eyes were a mixture of sadness and anger. "I think most of the people who were there have died now. I'll never forget it. It was our first mission for the Order."

Harry hissed in a breath. It was extremely rare that Sirius opened up about experiences during the first war on Voldemort. He waited, keeping still. Part of him wanted to hear the story, the other part wanted to muffle his ears.

"We were-- fuck, don't think we were any older than you. Death Eaters had attacked a party being held at the Vance house. Something about it had gotten 'em riled. We went in with wands blazing. Moony ended up dueling a Death Eater alone. The little shit had a dagger with silver in the blade. Stuck it in Remus' side." Sirius shut his eyes again, steeling his jaw. Tears shone in the corners of his eyes. "He didn't even know Remus was a werewolf. It was just dumb fucking luck. We barely figured out what had happened in time." Sirius got up, kicking the chair he had been sitting in. It flipped over, hitting the floor with a dull thud. "I swear if Ginny did this, I'll rip her apart!"

"Ginny?" Harry stood up. He furrowed his brow. "What are you talking about?"

Sirius barked out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "I shouldn't have mentioned it to you. I still need to tell the Order. I wanted to make sure Remus was all right first. Of course, if Snape's theory is right, then that's exactly what she wants me to focus on." Sirius righted his chair. "Snape thinks Ginny's being controlled by the diary again or something to that effect."

Harry felt his brecatccatch in his throat. His blood ran cold. He looked up, wide-eyed, at Sirius. "Then this probably isn't a good time to tell you that Ginny isn't in her room."

****

Tom sat cross-legged on the counter of Borgin and Burkes. He stared down at his hands, carefully flexing them, balling them into fists. He smiled, delighting in the sensation of each tensing muscle.

Even the sensation of smiling was miraculous. Tom could feel every muscle working inside of him. As he stared down at his hands, he thrilled in the solid definition of his form.

He looked up when the door of the shop opened. Ginny strode in, followed by a large serpent. Tom took a deep breath, almost hissing when he set his gaze upon the snake. This was a surprise he had not expected. When Ginny had asked to go out alone on her hunt, he had been suspicious. Now he could see why she wanted to go alone. "Pet, what have you done?" His smile grew larger as he unfurled his legs, swinging them around to get off the countertop.

Ginny put her hands behind her back, lowering her head. Her hair fell in front of her face. "I wanted to get you a gift. A welcome back present. Do you like it?"

"How very thoughtful, my pet." Tom knelt beside the snake. "He's marvellous."

He kept his gaze trained on the snake, staring deep into its eyes. "Introduce yourself," Tom hissed out.

"I have no name," the snake replied. "He never gave me one."

"The man who cared for you? No matter. I will provide you with one. I cannot just call you 'snake', can I? I think Apophis. A grand name for a grand creature. Apophis, you recognize my dominance?"

Apophis bowed his head in supplication. Tom nodded, reaching out and touching him on the head. "You will serve me. And the girl. She is my--"

Tom's gaze drifted to Ginny. She was watching him intently, biting her lip. What was she exactly? Every time hied ied to think of a description for her, it somehow failed. She went past mere servant. He certainly had no real emotional feelings for her. He was not capable of such things.

"She is special," Tom supplied after a long moment. "You are not only not to harm her, but you will protect her."

Apophis bowed again. Ginny moved closer, wringing her hands. "I love when you do that."

Tom straightened up, arching a brow. "Do what, my pet?"

"Speak Parseltongue." Ginny flicked her tongue out. Tom reached out to her, hooking an arm around her waist, pulling her against him. He brushed her hair aside, sliding his tongue across her neck. She gasped, "It's very sensual."

Tom crushed her against him, feeling his blood start to boil. Ginny gasped, pulling away. "Oh Merlin..."

"Get back here," Tom growled, insistently pressing against her lower back.

"Tom, you're alive." Ginny placed a hand on his heart, beaming at she felt his heartbeat. He had enjoyed the thrum of it himself when he realised what had occurred.

Tom placed a hand over hers. "I realised. You did very well, Pet."

Tears slid down Ginny's pale cheeks. She looked up at him in awe. "What do we do now, Tom?"

Tom didn't answer in words. He grabbed her by the hips, shoving her against the wall. He groaned, every nerve ending of his body alive. Her form was hot against his, yet he was as warm as she was. He could fully appreciate every curve of her body pressed close against him. He rubbed against her, wanting every millimetre of his body to touch her.

He crushed his lips against hers, plunging his tongue into her mouth. He relentlessly plundered her mouth, the hot, wet feeling coursing through his entire body. He couldn't take it slowly. He needed to devour her whole right then and there.

He gripped her shirt in his fist, pulling it fiercely from her. The buttons gave away easily, falling to the floor. Tom growled when he saw the support undergarment. As he worked out in his mind how to rid Ginny of it, she pulled his shirt open.

Tom's patience was limited. He tugged the cups down, exposing her breasts to him. He pressed against her again, skin to skin. He had been too long without form. Now that he was flesh, he needed to enjoy the pleasures that came with it.

He buried his face in her neck, digging his teeth into the tender skin. Ginny arched her back, clawing at his shoulder. Tom laved his tongue over the teeth marks.

With his leg, he forced her thighs apart. His hand shoved her skirt up to her waist. He gripped her underwear, tearing it off.

Ginny gasped, burying her fingers in his hair. "Tom!"

Tom looked up at her, panting for breath. He smirked at her. "You said you wanted me to break you."

He threw Ginny to the ground. He drank in the tableau. Laying there, clothing torn, eyes wide, she looked glorious. Tom unzipped his trousers, pulled them and his pants down. He got down on his hand and knees, slinking to her, hovering over her. "You are--"

He plunged into her, luxuriating in the cry signalling the breech of her innocence. She was his utterly. His senses went into overdrive at the slick tightness. He stared down at her. Her eyes were shut tightly, her face contorted in pain. "Open your eyes," he demanded. "I want you to see this."

Ginny opened her eyes, gasping as Tom began to thrust insistently. She buried her hands in his hair. Even the feeling of her tugging at his hair sent a thrill of pleasure through him. Her legs tightened around his waist. "I love you, Tom," her voice was ragged, breathless.

Tom smirked at her. "I know you do."

****

Tom leaned against the counter, his legs stretched out in front of him. He smiled contentedly, reaching out and petting Ginny's head. He cocked his head as he observed her. She hugged her legs, shivering slightly. Apophis slithered to her, rubbing against her bare legs. She reached down, stroking its head.

She had been quiet since they had finished having sex. He didn't know why this was of concern to him. He had enjoyed himself. That was all that really mattered. Still, he found himself pushing her hair away from her face. "Diinjuinjure you?"

Ginny looked up, blinking. She opened her mouth to speak, but hesitated. Tom stroked her cheek with his fingertips. She didn't relax into his touch as he hoped. "Do you care?"

Tom felt his stomach tie in knots. He pulled his hand away, placing it on the floor. He would not show her affection. That was beneath him. "You cannot serve me if you are damaged, now can you?"

Ginny nodded, gazing back down at Apophis. She appeared distracted, lost in her own world. "I am fine."

Tom shook his head, crawling to her. "You don't look 'fine'. You look distracted. What are you thinking of, pet?"

"Was I--" Ginny paused. She turned back to Tom, her lower lip drawn up between her teeth. She shifted, uneasy. "Was I good?"

Tom pulled away. He had never bothered to think about the girls he'd lain with. They had just been there. He never stayed long enough to experience this sort of uncertainty. "Were you good? Well... You responded adequately to my--"

He paused, seeing her face fall. He sighed, reaching out, cupping her cheek. "You were good, Pet."

"Oh, Tom!" Ginny threw her arms around his neck, pulling elf elf to him. Tom tensed as she snuggle against him.

The writhing feeling in his stomach returned. He couldn't understand what this was. Had something happened to him during his resurrection? This was something he hadn't experienced before.

Ginny stiffened in his arms, pulling herself back. Her cheeks had turned a deep crimson. "I'm sorry," she murmured, "I didn't mean..."

Tom reached out, snatching her wrist in a vice-like grip. "What was that?"

Ginny shook her head furiously, trying to pull out of his grasp. "I shouldn't have grabbed you like that. I'm sorry, my Lord. Please, Tom. Let me go."

Tom pulled her back to his chest. Ginny panted, nuzzling his shoulder. "What are you doing?"

"Whatever I want," Tom whispered, wrapping his arms around her, holding her tightly against him.

Tom wasn't sure what these sensations inside of him meant. He wasn't sure if they were a side effect of being resurrected. He wasn't sure if they would eventually go away. And he wasn't sure he wanted them to.