Chapter 12

They flooe'd that night.

Apparently apparation too dangerous a means of transportation for someone with as 'fragile' a state of health as Luna. She kept her mouth shut as Draco took her hand and helped her into the fireplace that sat in the foyer of the Manor.

Her future parents-in-law were already waiting for the young couple when they arrived downstairs, but only just to see them off. Draco and his bride alone had been summoned. That fact only made her more nervous. She was shaking furiously by the time Draco had followed her into the fireplace.

Draco exchanged an almost amused glance with his father before they left. He looked down endearingly at his fiancé who had at this point dug her fingers into his arm, practically clinging to his side. She could be so adorable at times. He wrapped a protective arm around her waist, and leaned down to place his lips on the top of her head. "Calm down, Luna. You're going to be fine,"

His words of assurance served a mere hollow comfort. She was about to come face to face with the wizard who committed genocide against his own race. She was about to meet the man whose crimes against humanity were incomparable to anyone else. She was about to meet Voldemort, and she was not going to be 'fine'.

"Wait," Narcissa stepped forward, holding a small vial of clear liquid out to them. "Luna, you need to take your draught before you leave. It'll help with your head,"

Luna was so caught up in everything, she'd forgotten about the pounding ache that assaulted the sides of her skull. She'd grown so accustomed to the pain. The petite blonde reached out, Draco's arm still around her middle to keep her steady as she retrieved the glass bottle. "Thank you,"

"You look wonderful," Narcissa commented while eyeing the conservative dress Luna had flung on moments earlier. "It never hurts to make a good first impression,"

"Enough," Lucius suddenly snapped at his wife. "They need to leave, now. We don't want to keep our Lord waiting,"

Narcissa's eyes fell to the ground at her husband's small outburst. If his shortness with her bothered her, she didn't show it. In a flash, she had placed the mask like smile she wore throughout the day back on. "Silly me," she smiled dryly, "Be on your way then,"

Luna never understood how such a lovely woman such as Narcissa had put up with someone like Lucius. A house elf retrieved the now empty bottle from Luna's hands. She was feeling a bit dizzy, the medicine always seemed to make her a little disoriented. She made a mental note to speak to Doctor Aillun about it later.

"Of course," Draco replied flatly, "Goodnight Mother," he hardened his tone as he tilted his chin down curtly, "Father," He didn't give them a chance to return his words before throwing a handful of Floo powder by the foot of the fireplace, murmuring an address of their destination.

After the momentary sensation of transportation had passed, Luna opened her scanned new surroundings frantically, though it didn't look all that different from the home they'd just left.

They had arrived in another mansion, constructed in medieval style. An enormous, fortress like set of iron doors were set out before them, likely being the main entrance to the building. The halls were dimly lit, but still extravagant. Dark, overreaching arches were carved almost everywhere, a single straight staircase leading to the second floor.

Draco walked in like he'd been there a thousand times, not even taking a second to blink. It was quiet, almost like no one else was around. In fact, there wasn't anyone else. The sound of Draco's shoes hitting the marble floor as he stepped down from the elevated fireplace echoed. He put his hands around her torso and lifted her down onto the ground.

She could feel her heart beating furiously against her chest. Now that the pain in her head had dulled, her chest was hurting. She put a hand to her heart, hoping to calm its pace. She took a deep breath. She looked up at the man beside her, he looked calm and unemotional as ever. It was rare for him to open up at all, but for some reason it was strange to see him with such a removed disposition. He grabbed her hand and began guiding her down the long hallway, she could feel the eyes of the portraits on the walls following her every move.

"Draco," She knew the day would come when she would have to meet the Dark Lord, Draco had mentioned it many times. She'd met with other Death Eaters who had also participated in wrongdoings before, but this was different. She felt the strength drain from her legs as she nearly collapsed.

Fortunately, like always, he was there to catch her. He sighed loudly as he steadied her. "You're afraid," he stated carefully. He spoke softly, like he was talking to a child. Luna could only nod as she held the side of her head. "I told you before, no one will touch you. You're mine,"

As if that gave all the answers in the world and made sense, she bobbed her head again. But she bit her lip, unsure of how to tell him. Maybe it wasn't too late to back out, "I don't think I can do this. I don't think I can face him," she tried to sound strong, but her voice broke halfway. "Don't make me do this, I just can't,"

This wasn't like the time she had dined with Death Eaters. This was their leader, the inhuman being who had waged genocide against his own race, he was the definition of pure eil.

"I understand, love." He hushed her as he brought his head down to place another kiss on her head. He then moved further to place a sweet peck on her lips. "But it'll be over before you know it. You can't get out of something like this, he's our Lord. You're going to have to meet him sometime,"

His kisses were toxic, they supplied a euphoria that was all too sinful. Countless concoctions had been brewed to cure her headaches and jumpiness nowadays, but their effectiveness would only pale in comparison to the way Draco made her feel. The numbness in her legs faded slightly as she regained some control and tried to prop herself back up.

Draco was right, this had been a long time coming. She'd signed her death warrant the day she fell in love with him.

"Such a good girl," he whispered deeply in her ear as he helped her stand up straight. "Come now," he took her hand again and continued walking where they had left off. She had to take rushed steps in order to keep up with his long strides.

She was concentrating on the tiling of the floor as they took down the path Draco effortlessly took. She realized that him being so high in ranking that he must have come here often to see the ring leader. They stopped after a few turns, arriving before a simple oak door.

Luna watched silently as Draco pulled out his wand and preformed an intricate unlocking spell. Once he was done, he deposited the wooden instrument back into his back pocket. He reached forward with his fist and hid his knuckles against the flat surface. A loud banging resonated through the air. By the time Draco had reached down to hold her hand again, the door had opened by itself.

As they entered, she shivered. The atmosphere was starkly colder in here than outside, chills ran down her arms. She was glad her dress tonight covered her knees and shoulders, otherwise she would have been freezing. She squeezed Draco's hand as they walked in.

"Draco, my boy," came a voice Luna couldn't recognize. Though she could sense the suffocating powerful presence in the room. Her delicately shaped eyebrows knitted together as she tried to figure out who was speaking, until her eyes landed on the figure near the back corner. He was reclining in a large leather seat, a glass of what appeared to be firewhiskey in his hand. "You were delayed," his harsh tone made her flinch.

This voice, though different, was still strangely familiar.

"We came across some minor complications on our way here," Draco's voice was somewhat strained.

The shadowed figure stood up, stepping forward into the light that the lone fire provided. Luna's eyes widened as she blinked several times to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. If only it were just a simple mirage instead of the true image that she found far more daunting.

This wasn't Lord Voldemort. No it wasn't him at all.

As he came closer, she immediately brought the back of her free hand to cover her open mouth.

Draco was unfazed as he continued, "My wife, Luna Lovegood," he introduced.

The stranger was lean and tall, he looked not much older than Draco. His hair was almost black colored, slicked neatly to his head. His face was slim, with a pronounced jaw. Under any other circumstances, she might have deemed this man handsome. His eyes were what gave the resemblance away.

Orbs of deep blue, almost black.

This might not have been Voldemort, but it was still someone just as terrible.

"Ah, Miss Lovegood, I've heard much about you,"

She stiffened, grabbing tighter onto Draco's arm. If he noticed her grasp, he didn't show it. He looked straight ahead as he said, "Luna, I'd like you to meet Tom Riddle,"

Her blood ran cold, her hellish fear had been confirmed.

Tom Riddle.

She'd heard the name many times in the past. It belonged to a cunning, ambitious, darkly led boy who turned against his own kind and grew up to destroy any semblance of humanity that he was born with. She'd heard the name muttered under Harry's breath to Hermione or Ron, she'd read the name in one of her father's unpublished articles. She'd heard Ginevra Weasley scream the name in terror in her sleep ever since their first year at Hogwarts.

Despite the lapse in time occurring in her head, time seemed to continue without pause. The two males carried on as if nothing was wrong, in fact in their heads, there probably wasn't.

"You have exquisite taste, Draco." The dark haired man loomed dangerously close to them, he folded his arms behind as back as he approached them. Despite being rather attractive, there was still a snake like show to the way he moved. He surveyed her thoughtfully for a moment, "I assume you've run the necessary tests; she is fertile?"

"Yes," Draco answered straightly, "Pureblood legacy is one of my Lord's tenants, I would not like to disappoint your expectations,"

That statement made her uneasy. Aillun would run a number of examinations during her weekly physicals, she never really knew what he was really checking for.

"Good then, congratulations on your engagement. I received the ceremony invitation only this evening, I believe your mother will have outdone herself this time,"

"She would be happy to hear that,"

Luna looked at them in silence, her lips parted in due part from incredulity. They couldn't seriously be this familiar, or friendly with each other, could they? Draco had made it a point not to discuss politics with her, he knew it would make her uneasy. She in response was grateful for it, she had yet to adjust to the reality of circumstances she was under. But that weight of truth had just been served to her.

All of it was starting to fit together. Everyone was so quick to please Draco, no one defied his orders. It wasn't because of respect, or gratitude, it was fear. Fear of his closeness, his connection with the Dark Lord. He was higher ranked than anyone she had known before. She never thought of Voldemort having any confidantes, but apparently Draco must have been one of them.

"Wonderful choice in a partner,"

Luna froze as she found herself the center of conversation again. She could feel pairs of silvery grey and then maliciously black staring at her as Riddle continued. His words came out smooth¸ languid.

"She carries the necessary characteristics of a good natured, pureblooded bride." He paused as he surveyed her again, "Young, pretty, quiet, submissive." He paused then, his eyes slitting thinly, "You're aware of her past?"

He meant her history as a blood traitor.

She felt Draco's protective arm hold her closer, "She's been reformed," He made it sound like she'd been domesticated and groomed to become his wife. What made it hurt more was that she knew it was completely true, he'd broken her and she had been more than willing to comply these days. While her mind had armed itself with ammo of outrageous questions, he remained calm.

"Wonderful," Riddle's glare seemed to fade for a moment as he brought the glass of burning alcohol back up to his lips, "If only my little pet were as eager to obey,"

Pet?

Luna looked up at Draco, only to be met with his rigid profile. She felt him stiffen after listening to Riddle speak.

"Actually, I believe Miss Lovegood was quite good friends with my little Pet. Perhaps it would be a nice treat for both of them to catch up. Don't you think so, Draco?"

"Of course," he agreed dryly.

She was about to ask him what he had meant, when the doors she entered through creaked open once again. This time, they revealed a lonesome figure. She was rake thin, ghostly white, walking with a deep forward hunch. Her copper toned hair was flung over her face, her visage half covered.

That hair.

If Luna had been able to breathe earlier, she surely wouldn't have been able to now.

Red hair was a rare physical trait in the muggle world, and even more uncommon in the Wizarding one. Luna knew of only one family that possessed that same ginger shade of hair: the Weasleys.

In that moment, she forgot about Riddle, she might have almost forgotten about Draco. They just felt to disappear, all she was concentrated on was the girl who was newly present.

The fire in her once warm, brown eyes had died out; her lively eyes overflowing with seemingly undying defiance and independence had dulled. As her line of vision fell to the petite blonde, an old spark ignited again. The surprise on her lightly freckled face was obvious as she called out, "Luna?"

The pain potion she'd ingested had begun to wear off, the pain started to pound like a mallet against the inside of her head.

Riddle had been right, they were old friends. Or at least, they had been at one point.

They hadn't seen each other in ages. She was the only girl her age that Luna had found a friend in. Their close relationship had pulled farther apart after the War began for reasons beyond their control, but none of the seemed to matter anymore anymore. After months of being surrounded by slithering Slytherins, it was refreshing to see a familiar face.

Not that she was recognizable anymore.

"Ginny?" she whispered, she stepped forward, inclined to see if the woman in front of her was real.

Draco's grip restrained her in place. His hold was tight, he couldn't have her running reckless. His roughness surprised her. She watched as Riddle beckoned the redhead over. Luna thought she was seeing things when Ginny listened without hesitation, despite the look of pure repulsion on her face.

"She's quite beautiful as well, isn't she?" Tom's face twisted into a satisfied smirk as he caressed Ginny's face with the mock gentleness. She cringed while his hands ran down her neck,"I believe she's coming around slowly, don't you think Malfoy?"

"Yes," Draco agreed flatly, ignoring Luna's pleading looks. This was part of his job, he wouldn't allow his emotions to show, even if it was Luna that was begging him to. She was only left to look at his rigid profile and gape.

Riddle's didn't bother hiding his amusement with the circumstances before he broke the thick tension that had formed. "As nice as this social call has proceeded, I believe us men have real business to discuss. Why don't we let the ladies get reacquainted?"

Ginny gave no indication to acknowledge Luna's presence. It was as if her very soul had left her body.

Meanwhile, Luna eagerly awaited the prospect of privacy. Seeing as how uncomfortable Draco was already with Luna and Ginny being in the same room, it was safe to assume that he wouldn't have allowed her to exchange any words with her friend. What was Ginny doing here?

"Why don't you give me a kiss, darling?"

Luna watched in horror as Ginny followed through with the dark haired man's command without dissension. By the time Ginny had shakily pulled away from Riddle's lips, the couples were left to stare at one another. It was then that Luna realized they were all waiting for her to mimic the same loving antic with Draco.

Had he known that Ginny was there? Had he been keeping that a secret from her?

While she pondered Draco's openness with her, he took the opportunity to capture her lips without permission. She didn't pull away, but she didn't return the kiss.

Resistance was futile.

He wasn't surprised, of course he wasn't. He always knew what he was doing, he played for himself and no one else. He probably knew about all of this before they had arrived that evening. He whispered one last thing before following the Dark Lord after he took his leave.

"Don't do anything you'll regret, we'll speak of this when we get home,"

It wasn't as if she would dare to disobey.

As she watched the backs of the two handsome men slowly disappear. Her breath hitched as she thought about Tom Riddle, she froze in place.

Controlling, handsome, manipulative, with an imposing presence. He only had own interest in mind, willing to use any means to achieve his goals. Ambitious, condescendingly, dangerous: these were all words that could be used when describing the younger version of the Dark Lord.

She wondered why he scared her so much. But then she recognized the striking similarity.

He reminded her of Draco.

End Chapter 12