Captive Bride

*Authors Note: Sorry for not updating. Been busy running the store/branch and there have been (ok most) nights that by the time I get home I'm so tired from looking at a computer screen that I leave the computer off at home. So I'm going to give you a quick chapter that will leave you hating me, probably. Enjoy! The next chapter is on its way plus I've had an extra muse come visit me this month which inspired a one shot but is turning into a long long long shot. I'm hoping that when my vacation comes I'll be able to sit down and just create. Cross your fingers everyone because I was supoose to be on vacation this week but it got canceled due to circumstance beyond my control at work.*


* Citten, how am I to email you if you do not have an email address available. *

Chapter 9


A few nights later found Ginny sneaking down the hall after midnight. One of the advantages of being a school prefect is that she could be in the hall later than most students. But, she had to admit, being out this late was pushing it a little too far for many if not all the professors. Pausing at a corner of an intersecting hall, Ginny took a moment to listen then peeked around the corner. Not seeing or hearing anyone she hurried for the door halfway down the next hall. With one more glance up and down the hallway she entered the room.

The moonlight glimmered through the windows as she crossed to the archway she most wanted to explore. With a quiet word she lit the tip of her wand so that she could see the landing that she stood on. Slowly she started down the stairs, circling towards the dungeon exit. She had tried last night to get into the passageway from the dungeon but she discovered that she couldn't enter the passageway from the exit. Ginny couldn't help but stop for a moment to peer into the spyhole in Professor Snape's chambers. The room was dark and the only thing she could make out was the dim outline of the dooor across the room.
"Well its not like you wanted to see that old bat anyways, especially in all his glory. You didn't see everything last time so get over it." Ginny sternly told herself when she realized that she was kinda disappointed.
Firmly she turned away from the peephole and continued on to the bottom landing behind the statue. Ginny looked out from behind the statue and made sure that no one was about in the hall. Looking around carefully in case she had missed a detail a detail from the other night, Ginny finally noticed the shadows behind the facing statue across the hall. The statue wasn't there last night, at least from what she could recall. Quickly she ran across the hall, keeping her eye steady on her mark, she ducked behind the statue reaching out to feel the walls of the alcove.
"Yes!" ginny smiled, "Wait till hermione hears about this." As she brought her wand up higher before her to light her way the shadows closed behind her, tightening the farther she ventured into the passageway. Time passed unnoticed as she traced the wall of the tunnel with her fingertips. There wasn't any peepholes to peak into or doors that opened into hidden rooms. The stone floor changed into old wooden planks that echoed with each creak. Ginny started to wonder if the tunnel would ever end or at least turn a corner because , by her calculations, she was going to hit the lake or an underground grotto at the very least.
Finally the tunnel ended.
"How strange. No door or hatch or even a window. It just ends." Ginny turned in a circle looking up at the ceiling wondering why build a tunnel that was this long and just have it end. Suddenly as she decided that she had wasted her time the floor collasped beneath her, causing Ginny to shriek in fright as she fell. Twisting in the air Ginny held her arms before her face to protect it from the ground. She just knew that this was her end so she closed her eyes and braced herself for impact. She stopped, the sudden change of momentum caused the air to rush out of her lungs. As she gasped like a landed fish a bright light flashed across her eyes. Blinking rapidly while gaining back her breath, Ginny became aware of a soft warm light flickering around her.
Ginny found herself floating in the middle of a huge fireplace. Flames surrounded her on all sides but she wasn't being burned and before her was a man rising from his chair within the outer chamber.
***
Luna sat silently on the lone chair in her room. A single bed was to the side of her little chair and both pieces of furniture faced the locked door. Four days now, she figured, she had been kept here in this little room. The only time she was aloud out of the room was for her three trips to the loo. After each visit she would be returned to her room where she would find a tray of food and a pitcher of water on the floor. She knew eventually someone would come and get her for whatever purpose they brought her for. It was just a matter of time, plus it wasn't like she was going to escape anytime soon. She no longer had her wand, that was the first thing theytook from her when she was captured. Luna did have to be honest with herself, she was getting tired of waiting. She knew something had to happen, something or someone. Someone had to at least come and gloat, but all she had seen so far was the same four walls, the same path to the loo and back and the same little house elf that wouldn't speak a word to her, no matter how much she tried to converse.
The door to her room suddenly opened revealing the small house elf. The little elf stared at her with his large bulbous eyes then beckoned luna to follow him from the room. Luna stood, curiously grateful for the break in pattern, but also dreading the reason why. She had already been to the loo her alotted three times. The elf gestured again for her to follow him down the hall and up the stairs into a room with a roaring fire. Wormtail sprang at her from the corner as she appeared in the doorway. grabbing her by the arm he pulled her to a spot before the fire where he began to grovel in front of a chair.
"The girl is here as you ordered. What do you wish to do with her, My Lord?"
"Stand away from her so that I may get a better look at her." A pale, bony, hand appeared from the depths of the high backed chair, angled in such a way that a deep shadow fell across the occupant's features. At the man's feet crouched a woman with wild hair and a malicous grin on her face. It was Bellatrix, Luna realized.
The evil witch atched Luna intently as she rubbed her face against the Dark Lord's knee then rose to her feet.
"A few steps closer to me, Bella." Voldemort ordered.
Bellatrix reached out and grabbed Luna by the hair. Twisting the strands harshly as she pulled the young girl closer to the fire and the chair. Releasing the hair she slowly started circling, poking and prodding at tender spots. Turning Luna this way and that as though inspecting a new set of robes that were on sale.
Luna could now make out the cold reptillian eyes that watched intently from above a pair of hands meeting at their fingertips. Luna began to understand how a bug felt under a magnifying glass so she tried to keep a calm exterior on her face. A fruitless effort to hide her fear.
"A cool one is this one." Bellatrix cackled, "She has bit of the Malfoy look about her. The same blonde hair." She pulled again on Luna's long hair. Turning away suddenly she went back to crouch beside the chair.
"They would look like matching bookends." Licking her lips she gazed at the Dark Lord's visage and stroked his arm. "Plus a girl child from this one could be a nice addition for you heir." Bellatrix pressed her body closer to the Dark Lord's leg.
Voldemort narrowed his eyes at Luna then said to his quivering minion, "Take her back to her quarters and continue to see that she remains untouched."
Wormtail quickly pulled Luna from the room and back down the stairs to her narrow room. As she was being pulled away she heard Bellatrix voice "She would be a tasty one. Can I keep her?"
At the bottom of the stairsLuna was finally able to stammer out, "What do you intend to do with me?"
Pushing Luna into her room wormtail paused as he pulled the door close. His long nose twitched, "The dark Lord has plans for you just like he did for the other one before you."
He shut the door before she could ask her next question. leaving Luna with only a lit candle that flickered on the sill of the boarded small window. her knees began to knock together as she collasped on the edge of the bed. She layed back on the bed in an attempt to regroup herself from having met the Dark Lord face to face.
***
Hermione stared intently at her book, but for the life of her she couldn't tell anyone what the topic was or even why she was reading that specific book. Today been a very strange day. Even when you compared it to the past couple weeks. First had been the first year Gryphondor this morning in the north tower hall. For no reason that she could fathom she had just started lecturing the poor boy on the merits of being prepared. That 'one' must always have their wands within reach of their hand. The next incident happened after lunch in advanced Potions. She'll never be able to look Harry in the eye again. There she was getting ready to pour her daily potion assignment that she had finished when she started stripping. She placed the vial back onto the table let her robe drop to the floor then her hair came down, all while sitting on her stool. When Professor Snape cleared his throat she came suddenly back her senses and her surroundings. Harry had his hands in his hair and his lab partner was drooling. Following their line of sight she found her self with a foot propped on the lab table and her stocking in her hands rolled to her knee. Thankfully her shirt was only half way unbutton or everyone would know how perky she was today. Quickly she gathered her things with one hand while trying to button her shirt with the other, which wasn't very efficient to say the least. Finally she stopped, looked up at Professor Snape and calmly asked to be excused since her potion was finished except for the storage part. Without waiting for permission she walked out of the classroom, head held high, her face red as a ripe tomato.