Even after the Horcrux had been destroyed, the nightmares persisted. Strong and painful images would cycle for hours in Ginny's mind tormenting her in her sleep. As time passed however the images slowed and for a time ceased. Years passed and the images of Tom stopped haunting her every moment, and she had peace…for a time. As she neared 16 the images came back, but this time they were different, almost real.

This is the first of several conversations between Ginny and Tom…for all intensive purposes the Ginny/Harry won't happen. This begins during the summer between Ginny's fifth and sixth year summer break

I DO NOT OWN THESE CHARACTERS; HOWEVER I DO OWN THE PLOT AND THIS COMPUTER I AM TYPING ON!

Opening her eyes Ginny tried to become accustomed to the darkness of her surroundings. As she recognized the chamber she gasped. The pools of water surrounded her on the wet floor and she lay beneath the monkeyish face of Salazar Slytherin. As her eyes panned the scene she looked to the far wall, and screamed.

Tom watched her wake maliciously amused by her fear. She was older than when he last saw her, nearly four years ago. Those years had been good to her, she had filled out quite nicely. He grinned wolfishly when he saw the small scar on her shoulder. A part of him was thrilled at the marking, she was his and she couldn't fight that. His eyes met hers right as she screamed.

Ginny scrambled to her feet and backed away from Tom as though he had bit her. "Hello Ginevra." Tom laughed when Ginny shuddered, "I've missed you."

"How did I get here?" She glowered at Tom, "Your dead, how are you here?" Without taking her eyes off of Tom she moved to stand by an opposite wall and leaned against it feeling faint.

Tom smirked and uncrossed his arms drawing a circle around the chamber in a grand sweep he chuckled "Don't you realize little pet…your dreaming. Right now we are inside your mind, you're asleep and safe in your bed. I am here because you wish me to be." Tom watched Ginny closely waiting for a reaction.

"Why the hell would I want you here? You tried to kill me, what makes you think I want you anywhere near me?" Ginny met Tom's eyes, but seeing the cool green she looked away.

Turning to the water she refused to look at Tom but focused on the wall behind them. Tom watched her with just a hint of sympathy, he knew she was afraid, and for good reason too. He was after all LORD VOLDERMORT the most powerful wizard whom ever lived, and yet she was refusing to show fear. This surprised him, and he was not used to being surprised.

Stepping closer to the snake he bent down and lightly stroked its long dead skin. Glancing down he frowned at the hole where the fang used to sit. Ginny turned at the sigh but shuddered when she saw the snake. Catching the movement out of the corner of his eye Tom laughed, causing her to start.

"Afraid of my pet?" Ginny glowered but didn't answer and instead returned to the water. Tom laughed again and moved away from the snake toward the girl.

Stepping up behind her he grinned lazily and quietly asked; "Why so scared pet?" Ginny jumped not realizing he had moved.

"Gee I don't know, why might I be afraid?" She returned venomously. "I'm standing in a hidden chamber, with a person who's tried to kill me once already, and I have no idea how to get back…" Her voice trailed off as Tom began laughing again.

His laugh was surprisingly warm but underneath it Ginny could still hear the coldness in it. Glaring at him she finally cracked.

"WHAT THE HELL IS SO DAMN FUNNY? YOU THINK THAT THIS," She waved her arm around the chamber "THAT THIS IS AMUSING…TAKING PEOPLE HOSTAGE, HURTING THEM IS FUNNY?"

Wrenching herself from the lake she turned to meet his eyes. His eyes were blazing but she met them brazenly and refused to look away. Tom stopped laughing and looked at her curiously waiting for the echoes of her shouting to die down.

Once they had he spoke quietly his voice nearly a whisper, "You have no idea who I am Ginevra, no idea what I am capable of." He bent closer to her so that his breath tickled her ear. "And for the record I have not yet taken you hostage. I could though…you might even find it enjoyable." Ginny pulled back shocked at his remark, and spun away from him.

Tom turned to keep her in sight and continued in a normal voice; "The night that I brought you down here the first time, how much do you remember?"

Ginny kept her gaze on the water thinking, how much did she remember, too much.

FLASHBACK

She'd been getting scared, the blackouts were becoming more frequent, and she hated them. She was walking toward the great hall when it happened. She got dizzy and the room began to spin, her last thought before losing consciousness had been fear

Sometime later she blinked, not knowing where she was, but she was afraid. Looking around she saw a boy several years older, and quite handsome, leaning against a stone pillar a few feet away. Blinking away the last of her confusion she looked at the boy again. "Tom," she asked tentatively "where are we?"

The other boy smiled and stepped forward. He moved smoothly as though he were a snake. He prowled in a circle around the young girl enjoying her fear with malicious content. "We are in my home, in the chamber of Secrets."

Ginny looked around confused, fear crept into her voice "Tom, why are we here?" She tried to catch his gaze, but he eluded her easily.

Before she knew what was going on, he had stepped up behind her, and was holding her easily. One hand was on her waist, and the other rested on her shoulder gently restraining her. She tried to struggle but his grip tightened so that she couldn't pull away. Tom used his wand and pointed it at Ginny. Murmuring a spell he felt her go limp in his arms.

END FLASHBACK

The feel of an arm at her waist pulled Ginny back to the present. Unlike last time, both of his hands rested at her waist unobtrusive and un-restraining, just lightly holding her. He seemed to know where her mind had gone as he followed her gaze to where the scene unfolded for him too.

"Why are you here Tom?" Ginny asked the question more to herself than to him, but he took pity and answered here.

"Although the diary was in fact destroyed that night, enough of your soul was drained that Potter couldn't actually kill me. I've been able to remain here inside your mind, alive albeit bored, for the past years, as a memory." He let go of her and began pacing.

"Right now we are in your mind as a dream…but what I can't figure out," He paused and turned to his companion, "Is what made you want to speak to me after all this time?"

Ginny paused and thought what had made her want to see him. Instead of answering his question she returned with another question. "If what you said is true, then you can't control me again, can you?" The last part was barely audible.

Tom looked at her understanding her fear. "I don't know," he smirked "However I'm sure we'll find out soon enough." Ginny shuddered at his tone and turned around.

"It didn't work last time, and it won't work this time. I won't let you control me again." He voice was steady despite the uncertainty of her words.

Tom scowled prowling close to her. He murmured "You have no idea what I am capable of Ginevra Weasley." His voice was little more than a growl "I can't control you, you think."

His hand encompassed her waist and he continued, "If you truly think that, you're sorely mistaken." Tom lowered his head farther and gently kissed the faded scar his wand had made on her skin.

Ginny jerked away and shouted as the chamber began to spin, and she lost consciousness. At that same moment Ginny woke up screaming.