Summary: No one really knew and understood the real Ginny Weasley better than her long lost diary. Will she shine in the light, or bask in eternal darkness, when ghosts of a past best forgotten come back to haunt her?
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my own wild imagination!
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Chapter 1
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Lucius Malfoy was not a patient man. No, he most assuredly was not. He was jealous, cunning, determined and currently, his non-existing patience with the Dark Lord was thinning. How dare Snape outsmart him in front to their Lord? He should've been the one to be rewarded, not that…that traitor. The Dark Lord from before would've known better, but maybe the diary had affected him more so than in looks and vigor. And what did he really want with the Weasley chit. Surely the fragment of the horcrux couldn't still remember the bint. Even if he did, after the favour Draco did him, Lucius had expected a summons from the Dark Lord, some sort of recompense, but there had been none.
Now, he was forced to solitarily endure the silence of the Dark Lord, and think that maybe he had somehow been too forward and offended his master by delivering Weasley's photograph. With an enraged yell, he threw his wine goblet across the other side of the room, when suddenly the fireplace erupted into green flames and Tom Riddle stepped through.
"Floo is as unpleasant as I remember it," he dryly remarked, flicking his wrist. "Scourgify!" Lucius stared dumbfounded, watching as the Dark Lord sat himself in front of his desk and summoned a full glass of brandy from a nearby serving tray. He took a small sip, before allowing the glass to dangle from his fingertips.
"Now Lucius don't expect this kind of honour every time you pay your services to me, but I felt compelled to reward you in a way that must be kept secret until it can reach fruition."
"Of course not my lord," Lucius said, bowing and resuming his seat before the intimidating stare of the chilling Tom Riddle.
"I have thought some time about this, and despite your son's obvious failure in the past to prove himself, I have decided to allow him within the inner circle."
Lucius's face remained impassive, but underneath the unfeeling mask he felt as though he was finally coming into what he rightfully deserved and he relished in the pleasure of it. "However, he must first be kept under my watch. If I deem him worthy, he shall be initiated. If not, the consequences will be dire to both of you as you surely realize."
The blond man nodded. "I fully comprehend the situation milord, you shall not be disappointed."
"Lucius I care not for you're petty talk!" Tom silenced him with a low, threatening glare. "Have him wear this," he continued, placing a silver band in front of the senior Malfoy, "and I shall be aware of his accomplishments…or lack thereof."
"Thank you milord. I am grateful."
"You should be," standing up, the Dark Lord emptied his glass and set it down on the desk. "Your son is no worthy heir, but I am willing to accept his misjudgments as the foolishness of his education," he said pointedly.
Lucius lowered his head in shame, anger burning deep within him. "I assure you milord you shall not be disappointed this time." He stood, bowed, and kissed his master's robes.
"Stop sniveling Lucius, it is not becoming!" Voldemort sneered. "Now, lower your wards so that I may apparate."
"Yes milord, how careless of me!"
"Yes…carless…Oh and Lucius," the blond man turned, quickly caught unaware of the spell heading straight for his chest. "Crucio! Never forget that the Dark Mark allows me to hear your most profound thoughts." Tom Riddle smirked, stepping over the twitching body of Lucius Malfoy. "Remember your place, or you shall soon find yourself without one!" With this said, he apparated, Lucius's agonized screams enveloping him like a sweet lullaby.
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"My, what a day!" Charlotte exclaimed, dropping her book bag onto a nearby chair and settling herself across the mess of scattered parchment sheets which had Ginevra Weasley scribbling furiously at its midst.
"Mhm!" Ginny grunted, not looking up.
"What are you working on Gin?" Charlotte asked, leaning across her petite friend to get a better look.
Ginny's eyes snapped up and her quill rolled away from her fingers. "A three foot essay for Transfiguration because I was late three times this week. I have to explain why and how to transfigure an inanimate object into an alarm clock."
"Well, I did try to wake you up, but you were out cold. It's a miracle you don't have to write one for Snape as well, missing his classes as you did."
"If you're here to criticize you might as well leave Char. I'm exhausted, my hand feels as if it's ready to willingly detach from the rest of my body and to top it all, I'm in a foul mood. I mean honestly, what was that old coot thinking? I'm a fellow Gryffindor! What ever happened to loyalty?"
Charlotte snorted, "I'm not here to criticize little Gingersnap! But really, have you considered the possibility that McGonagall's shagging Snape…that would explain so much!"
Ginny looked about ready to faint. "I think that's illegal. Anyway, suppose that they were, wouldn't that put McGonagall in a better mood, I mean, she still walks like she has something up her arse, not like she's been shagged out of her mind."
"Oh Ginny," Charlotte laughed, holding onto her sides for good measure, "Snape fornicating with anyone should definitely be illegal!" Ginny smirked, picking up her quill yet again. "Say Gingersnap, why is Draco Malfoy staring at us, you in particular?"
"What?"
"Malfoy is staring at you!"
"Well that's strange, but then again, I've always had my doubts about the sanity of the bouncing ferret."
"It's creepy."
"It's Malfoy."
"True."
Pushing away from the library table, Charlotte stood up and reached for her book bag. "Dinner."
Ginny sighed, looking at the scattered clutter of papers dejectedly. "If we must."
"I wasn't asking you Ginny love," Charlotte chuckled, helping her friend shove her untidy parchment rolls in her bag.
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"You know Ron, if you tried to study before these things maybe you wouldn't be doing so dreadful. You should really be thinking about your N.E.W.T.s!"
"They're months away Hermione."
"The better reason to get a head start," she huffed. Ron rolled his eyes and turned to Harry. "Say, up for a little chess later on tonight?"
"Can't. I was thinking of going up to see Madam Pomfrey before curfew. I don't feel so well."
Charlotte grew pale and hustled closer to him. "Is it your scar?"
He nodded, gingerly touching it. "It is, but I don't understand it. I feel as if Voldemort is near, as if he's in the school."
"But that's impossible! The Hogwarts wards would detect such a magical disturbance." Hermione interjected, looking thoroughly worried.
"I really hope so." Harry replied, "I'm sorry Ron, but I fear I wouldn't be much company tonight," he smiled weakly.
"S'okay mate. No worries, Gin here would give me a fair play, won't you Ginny?"
"Sorry, Char and I have Prefect rounds tonight. Any other time though, right Ron?"
"I'll hold you to it!"
"Well Gingersnaps, we best be going. Come Harry, we can walk up to the Hospital Wing together."
After parting with Charlotte and Harry, Ginny was left well alone to handle patrolling the South side of the castle. To say the least, she had never liked Prefect rounds much. For one thing, they had to be done alone and for another, they were always at night, way past curfew. She would've rather been in bed, curled up and reading a good novel or talking with Charlotte until their eyelids dropped heavy from sleep. Ginny sighed turning yet another corner.
Somewhere in the distance a torch flickered and went out with gasp of smoke, making Ginny jump. Perhaps it was just her imagination or her dislike for the eerie corridors of Hogwarts at night, but she had the distinct feeling that she was being watched, followed even.
She shook away her apprehensions and climbed down a flight of stairs, when she was suddenly seized by her midsection and yanked into a dark lit alcove. She went to scream straightaway as she tried to wrestle out of her captor's grip but she quickly found that whoever had attacked her had a vice-like grip around her wrists and a hand tightly clamped over her mouth. Still, she continued to struggle, pulling and thrashing until her arms felt heavy and sore. Finally coming down to terms that she would not be getting away easily, she quieted down. She just hoped that whoever it was would not notice when she reached for her wand if the opportune moment came.
"You smell better than I've ever imagined," a low voice murmured, lips just barely touching her neck. Ginny stood stock still as the man behind her loosened his hold on her wrists and trailed his fingers lazily up the front of her uniform. She shivered in spite of the close proximity and her captor's radiating body heat. If she could only reach the back of her robes, she could easily remove herself from the unfortunate predicament.
"Now now princess, you wouldn't be thinking of cutting our most privileged meeting short, would you?" Ginny was rendered speechless upon hearing her pet name uttered by such a distinct voice, a very familiar voice in fact. As his hold on her arms was removed and she found herself standing face to face with her attacker, Ginny found that she could only gape in confusion.
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Well thanks all to your lovely reviews. It really gave the extra push to find my muse and write more! Keep it coming!
Leah
P.S: If anyone knows of a good beta who'd be interested in reviewing my story that would be much appreciated.