Chapter 3

"Good" Tom replied, making sure his voice was heavily laced with warmth, "Would you like me to lead you toward your dormitory as the new Head Girl" he continued, bowing as she stammered again.

"Of course" and they walked together up the passageways. Ginny was extremely nervous, Tom Riddle had bowed, had bowed to her.

"So" Tom said, anxious to resume conversation so she didn't ever get nervous around him, "What did you do at your own home before this?" he continued

"Uh" Ginny started, "Well, my mom and dad"

"What are their names?" Tom interrupted,

"Err, George and Heather" she said weakly. She really was a bad liar.

"Very nice names, continue on?" he said and then clapped a hand to his mouth, "I am so sorry, I have this issue will people I don't know very well. I tend to interrogate them but I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone" he said, knowing that if he started to confide small and worthless secrets to her that she thought were very important to him, it would work in reverse. Ginny seemed to brighten,

"Oh, I won't tell a soul, Tom" she said kindly and smiled up at his impressive height. Tom waved it away,

"Don't worry about me, continue on" he said eagerly,

"Oh" Ginny said, surprised at his willingness to give her the chance for conversation, "Well, like I was saying my mom and dad and I lived in France. My mom has a load of brothers and sisters that are always fighting against Grindelwald. So he targeted us, it's not as if I enjoy his ideas because I don't, but he attacked out of spite which isn't very smart." She continued on, weaving the intricate story of her imitation life for her benefit and Tom's.

"That's all great" he said, "but what about daily life?"

"Oops. My mom and dad homeschooled me in magic so I really don't know what level I'm on, I suppose I'll find out soon enough. I had chores for my family's farm every morning and night and it's very hard at times. I had a couple friends, Colin Cree- I mean Colin Neal and Luna- I mean Tina Roper. Sorry, I don't know what's gotten into me today. I'm stumbling over my words like crazy. So anyways, they were my two best friends, Lu-which I mean to say Tina was really vague and smart and her own way. Colin was very crazy about celebrities" she finished, her mouth tired from talking so long,

"This Tina Roper is so much like Xenophilius Lovegood and that other girl Patricia Zealer. Maybe they are related somehow?" he gauged her reaction carefully. Her face had turned pale and she swallowed painfully and he noticed a tear forming in the corner of her eye but she pushed it back,

"Thanks, I'll definitely try to owl my friends, I hope they are okay" There was no mistaking the truth in that last statement. Tom could tell that easily, the way her voice surreptitiously cracked and her eyes were suddenly glassy.

"And I don't know anyone that's like Colin, there's a Seraphim Creevy but otherwise nothing really matches with him" once again her heart seemed to split and although it was easy to tell she wished it, she did not break into tears. She was strong and she smiled wanly,

"Never know, maybe there's a family relation somewhere" she said in a voice that one was tell was true.

"I'm so sorry if I upset you" he said, swooping down on her. "I like making connections to people but sometimes I say the wrong thing, it's kinda stupid" he continued on, making his voice sound uncomfortable.

"Tom" she said, her face showing shock in every way. "Don't say that! Saying the wrong thing is never stupid, just cause you say too much or give away your thoughts and feelings to someone you don't know at all. It's just, well,

that you are a nice person and want to be friendly" Her eyes had spotted with tears. Tom noticed and thought about how similar this fake situation he had set up was to her experience with his memory.

"Ginevra, thank you!" he said softly, sidling up to her closer than usual and looking deep into her brown teary eyes,

"Er" she said, backing up and smiling nervously, "Ur, Where is the, um, the common room",

"Up te staircase" he said, gesturing grandly to their left. She took off at a fast pace and she was shaking all over. Tom Riddle had , had looked at her flirtatiously! Somehow she felt like this was wrong and that if she continued

with this approach it would never turn out good. Tom Riddle followed silently but smirking all-over. It was clear to him now that Ginevra did not like flirting or any relationships, maybe it was just that she didn't feel as if she could

trust him. He didn't know whether to pursue this relationship approach or stay friends, both had their advantages. If he got into a relationship then he could easily control her and there would be an excuse for all the time that they

spent together. If they were friends then he could easily make her feel as if he was an older brother and freely trust him and listen to him. Both were beneficial and because of Ginevra's reaction, he would keep it at the friendship

stage for now. They neared to the end of the hallway and Ginevra turned, only to find TOm Riddle standing next to her. He smiled like a friend and she immeidanly relaxed, it was all safe again, he was okay.

"Like this" he said and tapped his wand against a rusted window, the rust turned to flowing words which read

Student or teacher, heed the words written on the wall

Only the red who seeks can dare to stop them all

Patter carefully, whistle softly,

please take heed, only the red can stop it all, trust her

And green will stain over all

"What in the world does that mean?" Ginny asked, she looked confused. Tom was curious, if not Ginny, who would have done that?

" I don't know, it's some old Hogwarts saying or something" Tom said dimissively and then the window enlarged into a door

The door opened and Ginny stepped, amazed, into the Head Common Room.