A/N: Well, I lied. The last chapter won't be your one and only warning. Since it's been a minute since I've last updated this story I would like to reiterate — THIS IS NOT A HAPPY STORY! Read at your own risk.
Something changed one Sunday as Ginny sat on her bed in the Room of Requirement, the curtains closed around her for privacy. As she brushed her hair, counting each stroke, she stared absentmindedly into a mirror she'd charmed to hover in front of her.
At first, she was busy with thoughts of exams she had to study for still, and that she didn't have time for this. But Ron had gone off again with Harry and Hermione; Bill was still struggling; Charlie had come back to England to help the war efforts; and Percy still hadn't come back around, the prat. She knew her mother had plenty to worry about without Ginny doing something petty like cut her hair.
But fuck she wanted to.
Tom hadn't stopped visiting her since that night at the Burrow. Sometimes his presence was calming, like when she was under the cruciatus curse and he somehow curbed the pain, and sometimes he scared her, like when he tried to give her advice about how to get revenge on the Carrows. She wondered if he was always there, just beneath the surface, or if something she was doing calls him to her. How much of it was real? Was she just going completely mental?
Her thoughts wandered to Colin Creevey, who had just been sent to the hospital wing for prolonged exposure to the torture curse. She was worried about him and the rest. The Room of Requirement was having to grow by the day as students sought refuge from the Carrows.
Getting closer and closer to 100, Ginny felt her arm start to get tired and her eyelids grew heavier. She was so exhausted, but there was still so much to be done.
As she fought to stay awake, she felt a sudden blinding pain surge through her. Tom was loud as he filled her mind, and she was lightheaded from the strength of his intrusion.
She bit through her tongue, and warm, wet blood filled her mouth as tears dripped down her cheeks. The corners of Ginny's mouth shook upward, though she had no control over them, and as she stared into her reflection in the mirror, all she could see was Tom in her eyes.
Ginny felt the full power of Tom Riddle's imprint on her soul. He could move her face, cause her hands to shake, tap her feet.
She tried to resist.
Adrenaline coursed through her, and she forced Tom back, grabbing her wand while keeping her eyes on her own warped reflection in the mirror. She watched as Tom winced when she sliced her hair magically, bringing it to a length just above her shoulders.
Blood dribbled down her chin as the hair fell away, and she shook the remaining strands out.
Ginny continued to overpower Tom and aggressively wiped the blood from her mouth, cleaning the rest with a charm.
She gingerly fingered her shortened strands with awe. It looked awesome.
Her mum was going to absolutely lose it, but Ginny felt powerful.
And Tom was quiet.
For now.