Black Plague

Chapter 19

Things have been interesting for the last couple months. Voldemort's army has expanded ten fold. What was once a little over a dozen people are now well over a hundred. I have been seeing more and more people filter through the Malfoy Manor to duel and strengthen their defenses. Everyone seems excited about this new direction Voldemort is taking. I don't think anyone misses the crazy, unstable leader they once had. I don't know if everyone has come back to the fold, but I would be surprised if they didn't. The concerns they once had are no longer there. There has been no killing yet. Everyone is training and preparing. Draco has become more determined than ever to catch up to me. Although, I am sure that is impossible. I train, and study, and practice continually. Even when I am not in my room learning new spells, I am out practicing mind magic. I also always make sure to stay on top of my studies for school. I always know the topics and am prepared. Simply because I know most of it already. I have studied the theory behind all my subjects and have read through each of the text books a few times even before school started.
Lockhart is still a fraud. I can't imagine why Dumbles would hire him, other than him being a pretty face. I have no doubt we will have a new teacher again next year. I have learned nothing. Not that I expected to anyway. The only think I might not know are dark creatures. And I suppose these stories could teach me something, in theory. But I highly doubt they are even true. So not likely.
The school seems to have taken a collective sigh of relief now that the Basilisk has stopped roaming the halls. If I wasn't so driven to learn more magic, I would probably consider starting it back up randomly just to entertain myself. But I have better things to do.
Ginny has seemed ragged and lethargic. I am not sure how much of her life force Tom had taken from her before we found a quicker and better solution for his reincarnation. A solution that also melded his soul piece to his original. But I suspect he took most of it. It isn't likely she will ever live a full and happy life. Nobody has seemed to notice her struggling. But I find it interesting. Through scanning her mind I learned she misses Tom. She thinks about him a lot actually. It almost seems as though her obsession has shifted from me to him. Which couldn't make me happier.
I have asked Tom to help me learn Apparating. He has told me he will give me lessons right before summer. This way I have the ability to work on it every day at home. Not just when I'm off the school grounds on the weekends. This will give me incentive to learn so I can go to the Malfoy Manor on the weekends during the summer. Because I can't go there without it. I am sure someone could drop by and pick me up. But he wants me to earn my way there. And I will. I hope to get it down within a week, so I don't miss a weekend. He tells me that isn't likely, but encourages me to try anyway.

Tom has decided to try laying hands in me and reciting the incantation you are supposed to use to make a Horcrux. Hopefully that will secure the soul piece. If not, he will have to think of more solutions. He was hesitant to do this from the beginning because of the pain associated with touching me. Especially my head, but I assured him I was strong enough to handle it. I have had a lot of pain in my life. And it has prepared me to handle almost anything.

I enjoy my weekends with him. We have begun talking a lot about ideas, solutions to political problems, and good spell books. But we have also talked a lot about our similar upbringings, our inability to trust, and other similarities. He may be over 60 years old. But almost all of his soul is still a teenager. So, he still struggles with the fact his father abandoned him, like it was yesterday. Because in some ways, it did happen less than a year ago. His soul was frozen in time. So, we discuss our pain and struggle often. We get each other on such a fundamental level. Our lives have been so similar.  If Dumbles had honestly wanted me to become a hero, he should have made sure I wasn't raised exactly like the 'villain'. That was honestly the stupidest thing he could have done. I am sure he would fane ignorance. But what type of magical guardian doesn't even check on their charge. He abandoned me. Plain and simple.
So, now I stand against him. Although he doesn't know that yet. It will be a few years until I am ready for him to know this. He is still more powerful and knowledgeable than I am. But there will be a time when I surpass him. Hopefully within the next couple years. Some might say it is impossible. But I have already proven the impossible. More than once. First when I lived through the kill curse, next when I perfected Legilimecy. I plan to continue to do the unimaginable. Because, I strive for perfection. In all magical arts. But most of all, in spell casting.

I am sitting with Voldemort right now. On his left hand side. We are eating dinner in the Malfoy dinner hall. And I am watching as a couple dozen people talk and eat. Soon I will be dueling with Voldemort again.
I love the weekends. They help me with puting my spell knowledge to use. I think some people resent me for being more valued than they are. For I am, as one person said, but a child. But most of these people would be hard pressed to beat me, even now, in a duel. I have become much more quick and efficient with my wand waving. I am small, yes. But that small size, and agility, that comes with youth, makes me a smaller target. And quite difficult to hit. My reflexes have become fast as a viper with regular practice. And there are probably only a handful of people who could take me down. The multitude of spells I use on a regular bases are much larger than the average wizard. Even while they may have learned more over all, it takes constant practice to keep then fresh in your mind. I find most of them like to fall back on only a small handful of spells. Mainly the three unforgivables. But those three curses won't win a war alone. Something Voldemort has made abundantly clear. He makes them practice with other spells most of the time. While they have there place. They shouldn't be all they use.
Infact, a coupe weeks ago Voldemort duplicated my flash cards a couple times and has encouraged everyone to do as we are. Grab ten and practice those as they duel. And if they don't know a spell they have one less spells they can use during that duel. And are expected to research the spell later that week. It's been quite a learning experience for many. And forced his solders to freshen up there rusty knowledge as well as sharpen their dueling skills and reflexes. Many people have become lazy and complacent. But no longer. They need to be in top notch shape, mind and body, if they want to live through the war that is to come.

"Come Hades" Voldemort snaps me out of my thoughts. I nod and stand up to follow him. I am surprised when he leads me to my bedroom. But follow without asking questions.
"Strip and Lay down. We are going to try to anchor my soul to you better." I nod, cautiously removing my close then lay down on the bed. I close my eyes, trying to relax as much as possible. My face burning from embarrassment. I find him quite attractive. And have had a bit of a crush for a while. The last thing I wanted was him to see me completely bare, before him.
He got out a large bowl and filled it with water, added herbs to it and used a pestle to make a herb paste. He began rubbing the herbs over my body. Preparing me almost ceremonially for what lay ahead. "Here rub this anywhere you wish me not to touch" I blushed deeper and began to cover my personal areas with the herb paste. After I was covered. He said an incantation to cleanse me from any impurities, preparing me as he would any other Horcrux. After he finished, he scorgified my body.
Then he placed his hand in my head and began repeating the spell to make me a Horcrux. Finishing what had been started.

Ecce pono animam meam, ut conserva me. Gloria terram hanc, sic ut nusquam discedere.

As he repeated the chant over and over. First, I felt the once excruciating pain begin to dissolve as his Horcrux was finished being made. Then I felt the power radiate and circle around me. Reverberating though my body. Then, I felt as the piece, I had never noticed before, shifted and latched onto me, melding with my soul. Becoming one. No longer floating loosely within my head.  But binding properly. I immediately felt closer to Voldemort than ever before. For I was him, and he was I. We were one. I now understood what Snape meant by soulmate. For our souls would forever be interconnected. When he finished. I felt better than I had ever felt before. I no longer felt alone. For we were fully joined. I felt him within my mind. I shared his soul. His conscience would connected to mine. Yes, we were one.
I may not be able to trust anyone. Love anyone. Care about anyone. But I had faith that I could do all that with him. For he would value me as himself. And he would never leave me. Never forget me. Never abandon me. Never betray me. For in doing so, he would hurt himself. I knew this because our connection was so strong I could feel his fondness and emotions towards me, as clear as day.
He would cherish me. Love me. Protect me. Value me.
For I was his soul.

"Holy shit" I whispered in near reverence of the whole experience. This was far greater than I ever anticipated.

"Yes, holy shit, indeed." He quietly said back. With as much awe as I felt.