A Long Way Gone

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my own wild imagination!

Summary: Tormented by a memory that was never really forgotten, Ginny Weasley is determined to be reunited with the young sociopathic Dark Lord and plagues herself with the foolish idea of forever changing the course of time. How far can love take you? Can it make you steal… or even kill? Takes place in Ginny's seventh year. Rating might change in later chapters for possible mature themes. Story will not be fully compliant with HBP and DH.

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Chapter 1

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It had been six years that she had been waiting for this day. Briefly, she had seen him at the Ministry of Magic in her 4th year, but it hadn't been enough. It wasn't her Lord. She wanted her Tom, the Tom that had charmed his way into her heart from the pages of a mere diary. She only felt hungered and exhausted after the whole ordeal. Days continued to pass and she found herself lusting after his powerful presence once again. Was it wrong to want something so sinfully forbidden, someone as evil as him? There had been a time where she would've been horrified with herself, but not anymore. Enough years had passed for her to refine herself and her beliefs had drastically changed over the span of endless months, maturing her, perfecting her into the ideal dark tool for him to use. Hours had been spent locked up in her room and away from the world, learning spells that would make even Malfoy cringe in fear. You've done well, pet, she could almost hear him say, the memory of his rich, deep voice sending shivers down her spine even now.

A sinister smile stole its way across her full lips. It hadn't been just her mind that matured either. She was no longer the small eleven-year-old bumbling fool he had possessed. The years passed had done beautifully for Ginevra Weasley. A perfect, well toned physique met her wandering eyes and she smiled appreciatively at her reflection, pushing her loose curls over her shoulder. She glanced at the clock and grabbed her wand from the dresser, along with two silver blade knives that she cautiously slipped inside her dragonhide boots. It would be time to fight against him soon and even though she felt no loyalties to the Voldemort of her present, she still felt as though in some way she was betraying her Tom.

Shaking her head, she willed herself to relax. If matters got out of hand for either side, she would gladly, quietly, slip away. Her life was more important, she decided, than some stupid, lost cause of Dumbledore's.

A knock sounded at the door, and Ginny turned just in time to see Harry come in. "All set there Gin?" he asked her, his searching green eyes lovingly gazing at hers.

She smiled warmly, pushing her defensive walls quickly around her mind. "I think I am," she said meekly, loving the fact that Harry had no idea what his innocent, little girlfriend was really all about. "But I'm scared Harry. What if -- what if I lose you?" she asked shakily, tears falling on command.

Harry walked over to her and wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I won't ever leave you Ginny, I swear to you! I love you." She smiled inwardly, triumphantly. Bad judgment, Potter. It will be the death of you, she thought sadistically.

"I love you too, Harry," she said, kissing him gently, mentally cringing. Thankfully, the charade would soon be over and she would join her lord as his Dark Queen. It really didn't matter to her how the battle tonight would end.

He nodded, grabbing her hand and steering her towards the door. "Come, we must leave soon."

Downstairs, they were met by the Order members, all of which were garbed in warfare attire, much like herself.

"Ginny!" her mother's shrill voice announced her presence. "You think that's appropriate?"

Slowly turning, the redhead forced herself against sneering. "Yes mum, Harry and I talked it over. These robes allow me better movement."

"But you're not protected at all!" Molly huffed, protesting, while Ron looked on disapprovingly. Snape eyed her suspiciously, but Ginny just stared back at him coolly.

"Really Mrs. Weasley, Ginny will be fine. It's true what she says, she will be much more fluid with spell casting dressed as so," he gestured, flushing. Spelling casting, sure, but she wasn't really planning to stick around long enough to find out.

Ginny smiled weakly. Truth be told, she and Harry had talked, but toward the end it had proved that he had needed a little Imperius persuasion. Ginny just thanked the gods she had managed to get her hands on an unregistered wand. The hand-me-down just wouldn't do. It wasn't even right for her magical capabilities! No harm had been done, and Borgin remembered nothing. He never would, she darkly suspected.

The wand was so perfect, so powerful! 13 inch rosewood, Chimaera scale core; it was the ultimate weapon. She shivered in anticipation of soon using it. Lightly grasping it in her right hand, she urged herself to calm down. She could not yet reveal her full knowledge of the Dark Arts. Tonight would not be the night for that. For now she would have to play it by the book and use the stupidly simple spells Harry had taught her. What a bore that had been!

Molly sniffed, displeased. "I suppose you're okay then, Ginny."

"Thanks mum," she answered insipidly, already tuning out the chatter around her. Her mind was much more preoccupied with grander thoughts.

Slowly, she allowed herself to slip behind the protective walls of her mind. Thoughtfully she gazed on, staring fixedly at the wall across her, a faraway look settling upon her face. Soon, she would be at his side once more and that alone was more adrenaline driving than the thought of death awaiting her on the battlefield.

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"Come out, come out wherever you are, little Red," the hoarse voice whispered in a singsong tone, malice dripping from every word.

Ginny rolled her eyes impatiently. She had to get away quickly. Already enough time had passed and she was itching to get back on track with her plan. The battle only seemed to be delaying her.

She griped her wand tightly and bent down quickly to retrieve one of her knives. A bush ruffled at her side and she immediately looked to her left. The werewolf was exactly where she wanted him, just a little bit further now. She smiled, enjoying the prospect of her first kill.

"I won't harm you pretty Red," he said chuckling evilly and taking another step in her direction.

Ginny gritted her teeth, fingering the sharp, silver blade. It had to be now! Easily, she maneuvered her taunt body around the trunk of the tree, jabbing the end of the knife in the weak spot at the base of the werewolf's neck. The blow came as a surprise, and the man staggered, his body morphing between his current human form and the wolf hybrid as he fell twitching to the ground. "Never did like you, Greyback. In fact, I can't possibly imagine why the Dark Lord would even associate himself with riff-raff like you!" she commented dryly and without an ounce of remorse, retrieved her knife and moved past his corpse and into the heated battle.

"Ginny! Look out!" her brother, Bill, yelled, and she ducked, the knife she still clutched instantly finding a place in the flesh of her attacker. She looked back briefly for her brother, but he was already gone, engaged in combat. She was now alone and soon she could easily apparate away.

"You little bitch!" the Death Eater yelled, lunging for her, sending the killing curse in her direction.

Smiling, she once again pulled herself from the path of the spell and checking to make sure no one was watching her too closely, raised her own wand, "Deletrius!"

The man disintegrated with a horrified yell of agony, his robes and mask falling in a heap at her feet. Quickly, she bent down to retrieve them, draping the black cloak over her arm and placing the overly large mask in the dark folds of the garment. Checking her surroundings again, she broke out into a run, stealthily keeping to the shadows.

Creeping further into the forest, she drew her wand out and closed her eyes for the brief apparition. Walking briskly into number twelve, Grimmauld Place, Ginny silently inched her way up the stairs towards the bedroom Ron shared with Hermione. When she reached the landing at the top of the stairs, she checked to make sure everything was clear and shifted sideways, quietly opening the door. Rushing forward, she threw Hermione's trunk open, and dug in furiously, searching through frenziedly.

Her small fingers enclosed around a cold, metal object and she pulled on the chain, pushing aside any unnecessary articles of clothing and various stuffy books in the mudblood's possession.

With a wicked grin upon her face, Ginny stood up and restored the items to their proper order with a whisper and a flick of her wrist.

Smiling triumphantly, she ran to her own bedroom and quickly retrieved her trunk, stuffing the black cloak and the Death Eater mask at the very bottom. The time turner, she daringly placed over her head, relishing in the feel of the cool metal on her skin.

Ginny stepped back, smiling appreciatively at her handiwork. She grabbed the shrunken trunk and slipped it inside the pocket of her shabby cloak, along with a folded piece of paper and her wand. Briskly she checked that everything was it should have been and upon reassuring herself of the fact, she opened the door and stealthily stepped out.

Quickly stealing down the stairs she crept slowly towards the entrance room, careful to blend to the shadows and keep out of the gaze of Mrs. Black's portrait. She promptly turned the corner only to have to bite her lips against a yelp, slinking back the way she came and watching wearily around the corner as the approaching figures drew closer to her hiding spot.

"Really now Severus, I think that's a far bit of a stretch," the voice of her headmistress whispered quietly. Ginny watched with mounting annoyance as she stopped and surveyed her companion quizzically.

"Maybe so," he agreed thoughtfully, halting as well, "but it does not change the fact that she has strangely disappeared tonight. How would you explain that Minerva?" Ginny resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"I think Miss Weasley is a very respectable young woman. Why, I think it's preposterous for you to even suggest such a thing!"

Snape sneered, but to the redhead's satisfaction, McGonagall didn't look the least bit perturbed. "I think everyone would do well to remember what happened to her during her first year. Such ordeals do leave their scars, Minerva."

Lips pursued in disapproval, she looked at him oddly. "You're lucky her parents are not back yet to hear you utter such atrocities. Granted, no one should have gone through what she did, but that does not mean she should be held in less regard than the rest of us," she declared heatedly, and continued walking. "And it certainly does not mean she is a Death Eater! Just enjoy the victory of tonight. Perhaps she is with the others Severus. Goodnight."

Snape watched her go and sighed. "Perhaps, perhaps not…" After a short while of just standing in the middle of the hallway much to Ginny's frustration, he turned around and with a sweep of his robes went towards the direction of the dingy library of the rundown Black residence.

With a relieved sigh she swiftly crossed the narrow corridor and checking behind her hastily to make certain that she was indeed alone and that she would have no more unexpected surprises, she pushed a hand against the heavy doors and stepped out into the night.

The air was slightly chilly but for Ginny her excitement was far too great and she could barely feel the crisp air as it bit into her skin. She grinned manically, thinking back on the conversation she had overheard moments before. They were all fools, McGonagall for being so trustful and Snape for being such a slimy, meddling bastard. Soon though, they would get what was theirs and when that time came, she would enjoy watching them squirm under the Cruciatus Curse. She shook her head lightly, pulling herself from her fantasizing thoughts. There were other pressing matters at hand that demanded her immediate attention.

Rushing across the street she nearly tripped twice in her haste to reach a more secluded area. Breathlessly she pulled out the time turner, her eyes sparkling in eagerness as she twisted the tiny hands and watched with scrutiny as the golden sands trickled within the magical instrument.

Slowly she registered the blur in her line of vision. Her world twisted upside down and a sharp tugging feeling behind her navel made its presence known, leading Ginny to feel as though she were traveling somewhere by portkey. In the few seconds that already-passed years went by, the scenery before her eyes ever-changing as the sky bled into day and then back into night.

She closed her eyes against the dizzying images and struggled fitfully in opposition of the growing nauseating feeling in her stomach, praying it would all be over soon. Finally, when she thought she would resist no longer, the whirling feeling in the back of her head stopped and she collapsed exhaustedly on the sidewalk of muggle London.

Carefully picking herself off the ground, she dusted her robes and rearranged her clothing, her right hand slipping in the pocket of her cloak to check that her possessions were still with her.

Satisfied she trekked slowly through the streets and at the first opportune moment, she apparated into Hogsmeade. She half ran, half walked up the path leading away from the little town, grinning as she reached the double set of doors that led into Hogwarts. Once inside, she leaned against one of the entrance stone pillars and breathed in whilst closing her eyes, a smirk stealing its way across her lips.

She had actually managed the whole thing, without anyone noticing…well almost. Snape was bound to figure something was up when she turned out missing the next day. He would likely search the mudblood's room and find the time turner missing. Even so, their hands were tied. There was nothing they could now, she was unreachable. And by the time they figured everything out, she would already have changed too much in the past for them to help anything in the future.

The sound of light footsteps met her ears and she instantly perked up, looking around skittishly for a place to hide. Quickly turning around she started heading to her left when a familiar voice made her stop abruptly.

"You there! Stop! What are you doing out of bed?" Shakily, she turned around and raised her eyes evenly to his.

"Me?" Nervously, she pushed back a stray curl and smiled delicately. "I am not a student here. However, I must see Headmaster Armando Dippet. Would you possibly point me in the right direction, I seem to have lost my bearings."

The dark haired head boy stared at her suspiciously before he nodded and motioned for her to follow him. "It's late into the night." He stated pointedly.

She trembled at the sound of his seductive voice. "I know and I am most trouble by that," she answered sincerely. "I hope the Headmaster is still up."

Tom glanced at her, his cool eyes betraying nothing. He did not counter her answer, but Ginny doubted he believed her vague statements. What a fool she was! "Thank you…"

"Tom. Tom Riddle."

"Ah! Thank you for your help Tom," she said politely, charmingly, studying him from underneath lowered lashes. He was just as handsome as she last remembered, possibly even more so! Black hair neatly combed back, dark eyes sparkling and face kept impassive, he continued onwards, seemingly unaware of her thorough inspection.

They paused at the top of the third flight of stairs and he pointed somewhere behind them. He again briefly looked sideways at the redhead and inclined his head in her direction. "The headmaster's office is through to your right. The password is Phoebus."

She nodded, softly thanking him, and before she had a chance to say anything else, he had disappeared. She sighed, heading towards the familiar gargoyle entrance. Whispering the password and climbing up the winding staircase, Ginny Weasley decided that making Tom Riddle succumb to her will would surely be an ambitious feat indeed.

With a mind made and a steely determination, she pulled out the piece of paper from her pocket, knocked once, and stepped through.

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A/N: I've decided I didn't like where this story was going. I honestly didn't even like how Tom's character was developing. I also felt, as some of the readers addressed as well, that it was too rushed. So as a result, I've changed a few things, coupled a few chapters and this is the final product. Hope it alright. Stay tuned for more soon…Hopefully… :D

Leah