Roses and Venom
Rated: T
Pairings: Tom Riddle/ Ginny, Harry/ Hermione
Warning: Graphic scenes in later chapters
A/N: It's AU. And I won't get all cheesy with the diary. The diary shouldn't be making an appearance in my story. I love this pairing though and a friend wanted me to try and write a story. So, this is for you, Katie. (Blame her if you hate it. :P)

Ginny opened her eyes to a bright new day. Only it wasn't a bright day. In fact, it was a rather drab, hazy day. Yawning, she finally decided to get out of bed. She had Transfigurations in less than an hour and wanted to stop and get something to eat at the Great Hall before succumbing to eight hours of studies.

It was the middle of October of the sixth year. She still couldn't believe Hogwarts had reopened. Even after everything that had happened that previous summer. With all the sorrow and destruction, surely the Wizarding World hadn't recovered? But it had.

With the destruction of the Ministry and Dumbledore's death, Kingsley Shacklebolt had become the new Minister of Magic and Minerva had taken Albus' place at the center of the Staff Table. Sure, things were getting back together, but would they ever be the same?

Ginevra Weasley finished putting on her uniform as quietly as possible. Her roommate, Hermione, was still asleep. It'd been a busy year so far. Ginny hardly ever saw her best friend anymore. Hermione was taking at least seven classes and stationed up in the library. But that's how she coped.

The war was finally over, but it seemed they'd lost a great many to it. Just thinking about it made Ginny's heart plummet. She remembered the final battle. She remembered those who took their last breath that day. She remembered secretly crying in the shower the next day. She'd lost friends, family, and a lover.

Looking back over at Hermione who was draped across her bed asleep, Ginny shook her head. Even in her sleep, she looked like someone who'd dealt with a lot. The look on her face suggested that her dreams weren't much happier than her reality. She had lost a friend and a lover as well.

"Harry. Harry, wait. You don't have to do this!" Ginny said as she ran after Harry. She ran through debris as the tainted sky darkened to an even uglier shade of blood red. It seemed like the sky was as broken as the Order.

"He won't stop…" Came a subdued voice as Harry turned only for a second. "Your brother is dead, Gin. Hermione's injured. Seamus is gone. Oliver Wood is missing. Lupin is maimed…"

He was just listing off casualties as Ginny's heart sank even further.

"Harry, no. He won't stop if you just hand yourself over to him—"

"The plan, Ginny. Stick to the plan." Harry said as he turned his back and faced the forest.

Ginny would not let that be the end. No! He could not just walk out of her life like that and play the hero. Not when it meant that his life was at stake. Not when it meant their future was at stake.

"Harry!" She said running after him as the sky above lit up with lightening. A sudden downpour had started as Ginny caught up with him.

"Harry, I—I love you. You can't do this." She said as her tears now blended with the rain as it streaked down her pale face.

He looked down at her, tears dotting those perfect emerald eyes. "I love you, Ginevra Weasley. Never forget me." He said before uttering Petrificus Totalus.

Ginny wiped the tears from her eyes as she had done so many times before. "Damn it!" She cursed under her breath, trying to compose herself again. Ginny had to become angry again. It was the only way she could keep it together.

Trying to avoid looking at Hermione for fear of crying again, Ginny looked back into her mirror and dried her eyes. Reapplying some eyeliner, she looked back at herself. "So, this is what a sixteen year old failure looks like?" She thought to herself. "Too much has happened to allow me to ever forgive myself."

Looking down at her plain brown shoes, she thought of her family. She was the youngest and the only girl. For sixteen years she had six brothers, six silly, smart, crazy, amazing, redheaded brothers. But now? Now she only had five and with Percy secluded and off with his fiancé, it seemed like it was only four now. Bill and Charlie stopped by the Burrow after it happened, but she hadn't heard anything from them since school had started. And the twins? They tried. They tried to fill the void Ron left, but mostly, they just owled Ginny with silly jokes.

Dearest little sister,

So, we found this picture of you when you were four and we just wanted to know if you could still catch a Bludger in your mouth?

Fred and George

The letter was accompanied by a picture of a four-year-old redheaded girl smiling up at the camera with most of her teeth missing. In the background was a furious Molly Weasley scolding the photographer.

Ginny had hung both articles up on the wall next to the mirror. Ginny managed a small laugh remembering the situation. She'd always been a determined girl. Growing up with all of her siblings, it was one of her distinguishable qualities. Bill and Charlie where the rebel and the hero, Percy had the brains, the twins were the troublemakers, Ron was the brave one, friends with the famous Harry Potter. And herself, she was the only daughter to Arthur and Molly Weasley. She had spunk; being the only girl out of seven, Ginny was the girly girl with her mom, but was taught to be strong and capable by her brothers.

Now that she looked back on it, Ginny could see why Harry really wanted to be a part of their family. They were the perfect family. Sure, the Weasleys weren't rich and there were a lot of them, but when times were hard, they were there. Holidays were the best, because even though Ginny would end up with a worn out, poorly made sweater from her mum, she'd get to see her family and play in the snow with the boys. And eventually, it was like Harry was family.

Ginny never forgot the first time she saw him, standing on the platform of 9 3/4. She was ten and awfully sad that her brothers were once again leaving, when all of a sudden this cute boy with glasses, dark hair, and incredibly green eyes asked Mum if how they got in.

She never would have thought that they'd start a relationship the previous year. Sure, he broke up with her to find the last of the Horcruxes, but it didn't take too long to find the rest. By the end of August, the trio was at the last one, secure in Hogwarts when Voldemort heard they were going after it.

Ginny shook the memories out of her head. That was a story for a different time. She didn't want to just sit there and sulk while the day passed her by. No, there was still the trivial thing of school to attend. Ginny still couldn't believe Hogwarts was open. Well, at least the holidays were coming up soon. Not much longer, anyway.

Sighing, Ginny picked up her school bag and headed out her dormitory, ready to face the big bad day.