This is a multi-chaptered Ginny/Tom fic. Takes place after Hogwarts...This is a Christmas gift for a friend, so enjoy, Elvra!
"Oh Hermione! It's beautiful!" Ginny's voice was awed as she walked around Hermione's gift to her. Hermione smiled. Ginny was one of the hardest people to shop for and when Hermione had set eyes on a large, full-length cherry-wood mirror in Diagon Alley, she was ecstatic. Harry and Ginny had been looking for bedroom decorations for their new house. Both planned to move into the old mansion and spruce it up after their marriage. Hermione's gift had been a dust-removing spell that cleaned the entire mansion and now the mirror.
Harry smiled and put his arm around Ginny. "It's wonderful, Hermione. Thank you. I just wish-" Ginny shook her head slightly. Hermione had taken Ron's death badly and there was no need to reopen old wounds before such a happy occasion.
"Harry..." Ginny said, enthralled by the mirror. The wooded base boasted the Hogwarts crest and each corner was emblazoned with the house mascots, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff on the bottom while a roaring Gryffindor lion seemed to roar at her from the top. However, Ginny's eyes were drawn to the Slytherin crest, a wooden snake that laced itself up the side of the mirror while its ruby eyes peered at her. It almost seemed alive.
Guiltily, Ginny ran a finger over the Gryffindor lion. "Can I put this in my room?"
Both Harry and Ginny had decided to have their own rooms for the purpose of privacy. No matter how close they got in their relationship, it was still nice to spend a little time apart. Harry laughed. "You just want to keep it all to yourself, eh? I don't see why not. I'll have the house elves move it up there right now."
Ginny leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Harry."
Hermione smiled at the affectionate couple. She missed that lingering sense of intimacy she had with Ron...
Later that night, when Harry was deep in the mansion setting up their library, Ginny entered her room. A wave of her wand set the candlesticks alight, casting the room in eerie shadows. The mirror was set up in a corner, exactly where she would have put it if she had the strength to move it. Her pale reflection was barely visible in the darkness.
A flicker in the ruby eyes of the snake made her gasp and start ever so slightly. No, it was late. She was tired and nervous about the impending wedding and her mind was playing tricks on her. Wasn't it?
With a shiver of undiluted anticipation, Ginny approached the mirror. Her own reflection wavered in the dim, flickering light of the candles. She looked tired, but her face held a certain glow from smiling so often. Her red hair was longer than it had been at Hogwarts and the small scar from the final battle, a testament to her love for Harry, was barely visible above the green turtleneck she wore.
She shook her head, embarrassed at her child-like indulgence into such fantasy. She turned, preparing to go to bed for the night when a noise behind her made her stop.
She turned slowly and saw a strange sight unfolding in the mirror. Her reflection grew taller, more defined and darker. It now showed her something familiar...someone she knew.
"Tom...Tom Riddle."
DUN DUN DUN! I'll update soon, I hope. Thanks for reading!