Chapter 2 – The Tale, part 1

''He doesn't even look at me, Tom.'' Ginny sat on her bed in the dormitory with the Diary on her lap. She liked talking with Tom, at least when he wasn't boring her or demanding something or... Well, at least, he did listen to her. Not ignoring like her stupid brothers or bothering her with some silly things like her dormmates. Ginny didn't want to even start thinking about Harry now. Though she knew, her mother and Ron both most likely hinted Harry that she would be available for him in the future if he wished so, Ginny was still unsure. If not Harry Potter, then they could sell her off to someone...less desirable. She may be only eleven now, but someday she will be seen as a woman. And she had to make sure that she would be Harry's woman when that time comes.

''He is probably looking, but discreetly so you wouldn't notice, Ginevra.'' She could almost sense irritation in Tom's curly lines. ''As much as I got from your description, he is observer. He wouldn't do anything rush, he would think things through. But you need to appear interesting to him. Not just your future body, he must see something more in you.''

''Guess you are right,'' sighed Ginny. After a long pause, she remembered he wanted to tell her some story, so she asked him about it.

''Did you perform mental exercises I told you about?'' words appeared in black ink. Ginny thought back to last month or so. It was nearing Halloween now and she was doing Tom's exercises almost every night and morning. He insisted on their importance for her future safety and she decided to believe him.

''Yes, I did,'' she answered honestly. He also told her not to look into Dumbledore's eyes, and Snape's too, but appear unsuspecting at the same time and don't let them notice her intension to avoid their gaze. It was rather disturbing to have people pry in your mind, thank Merlin only few people could do that.

''Then I can't stress enough the importance of keeping this story a secret; this knowledge can give you a lot of power, people would readily kill you for it. Are you ready to hear that I have to tell you? I must also warn you that it contains some unpleasant things, things which even I can't easily speak about.''

''I'm not a baby Tom, I'll manage not to cry. And I'm not so dumb to throw my advantage away by confiding in other people.'' She really wasn't dumb. She appeared shy and quiet but she was observer just like Harry. Only she didn't have his power base, she was just a youngest child and the only girl in Weasley family. Her family might have power because of her father's position in the Ministry and close association with Dumbledore, but she herself was powerless. So Ginny needed to be quiet for her own safety. She often wondered how she managed to get into Gryffindor - she was pure Slytherin inside. But as she wasn't actually one, she could pity them just like the most of school did. Miserable little snakes. Though Tom was one as he said, and Snape was Slytherin too and they should not be underestimated.

''Look at me, Ginevra. I'll show you the truth of the Chamber of Secrets.'' Ginny's astonishment at the topic only increased when she was pulled into yellow page and found herself standing in one of Hogwarts corridors. And Tom's tale swirled around her in the vortex of memories.


The second floor girls' bathroom was usually deserted. It seemed to have a bad luck - most sinks didn't work and floor often was damp. But with some imagination and the couple of charms it was a good place for snogging. That was exactly what two current occupants were doing. The boy in black and green robes and the girl in black and blue. Both seemed to be sixth or seventh years and clearly preoccupied with their task. Girl's elegant glasses was carelessly tossed aside as things started to get heated and her ponytail swayed around rather madly. In their way across the bathroom floor (which was dried by Myrtle's charm earlier) they somehow managed to get under one of sinks. The Ravenclaw girl, who was on her back being kissed by Slytherin prefect Tom Riddle rather thoroughly, opened her eyes only to have them widen in sudden interest.

''Tom,'' she said while pushing him off her, ''I think we found the entrance to your secret chamber.'' Tom's wide grin mirrored the one of her own.


A/N The fact that snake was carved on a pipe below the sink, unlike in the book where it was on the tap has its reasons. Like on the tap it would be easily noticed by any girl who would try to use that sink. Surely one of them could guess that it was carved there intentionally and make some connections.

Next chapter - the continuation of Tom's story.