AN: Okay, so I'm not really a big huge "zomg Tom and Ginny foreva!" type of person. At all. But I do think their dynamic is an interesting one to explore, so here goes. R&R, how 'bout?
.x. Smoke and Mirrors .x.
He is beautiful. He has emerald eyes and tousled hair, and his hands… He has strong hands that could lift her with ease, and they have. In her dreams, he has carried her with him, holding her to him, and she has almost forgotten about Harry Potter now. This look-alike, this twin…he is almost as good. He might even be better.
He is kind, he is intelligent. He listens when others speak. He is wonderful.
Tom Riddle is no hero, and yet in her eyes, he is a knight in shining armor. He could save her. He might have already. He could love her. And she could love him, too.
"I want to see you."
She stares at where the ink had faded.
A new message appears.
"Do you want to see me, too?"
She writes her own response.
"Yes."
There is brilliant light and suddenly, surreally, there is a boy in her dormitory, a beautiful boy, his eyes only for her.
"Hello, Ginny. My name is Tom Riddle."
She stammers briefly. "I know."
He grins at her. He is in control now, if there was ever any doubt before.
"May I?"
He is nodding towards her bed.
She nods. He lies down, stretching gracefully across the length of the mattress.
She cannot breathe.
"Will you not also sit?"
She comes towards him. Her sweater sleeves have been rolled up; she becomes aware of the fact that she had unbuttoned her blouse slightly earlier. Cautiously, she places her legs beside his and lets her torso fall into his outstretched arm. She cannot take her eyes off of his ethereal presence.
"I assure you," he whispered, a hand placed so strategically in her red hair, "I am quite real."
She stretches out delicate fingers, placing them on his pale cheeks. "I can feel you."
He chuckles to himself, and then pulls her into a soft kiss. One strong hand still against her chin, he pulls away slowly. "Can you feel that?"
She nods.
He kisses her again, more forcefully. He is perfect.
"You could be mine."
"I could be."
"And we could be together like this, always. Would you like that?"
"Maybe."
"Think about it," he whispers.
He leaves the bed.
"Where are you going, Tom?"
"I have to leave right now, but please, let me know."
"I will. Let you know."
He smiles. There is a flash of bright light and he is gone.
The dormitory feels so very cold without him.