Chapter 4—The Real Him

Severus could not aid the Weasley girl to the extent that Minerva deemed he should. Both Dumbledore and Minerva could tell that Weasley was "lonely." They felt that Severus should be doing more to reach out to the girl. Basically, that he should stop merely observing the situation that the girl was enduring and act.

Severus was more prudent. He would not rush in like a mindless fool without knowing almost everything he could about the girl's actions. He was not convinced that Weasley was lonely and merely stressed, as Minerva had put it. He'd seen what the girl was capable of, and despite the shortcomings of her idiotic brothers, he was not convinced that Weasley was who she pretended to be.

Severus had a little over seventy students in Slytherin house to look after. He also had to monitor several cauldrons full of Mandrake draught that was being used to revive Creevey, Finch-Fletchley, and Argus's pestilent cat. The Mandrakes weren't fully developed yet, so Severus found himself working alongside Pomfrey and Sprout around the clock in order to ensure that they properly reached maturity and that all stages of the potion were being properly carried out. He didn't have the time to see to the needs of every student—especially a moody first year who was too bothered to get a good night's rest and one whole course meal a day.

Severus could not allow his Slytherins to see him helping a Weasley. The Dark Lord was absent, not dead. His spies and his reach, even to this day, extended far. Severus knew his students would tell certain Death Eater affiliates in their families about his attentions towards a red-headed blood traitorous girl who they deemed a waste of good oxygen. He could not act outwardly, but there were precautions he had taken to help Weasley as much as he could.

He'd written the girl's parents. He'd alerted that prefect brother of hers about the girl's unhealthy habits, and he'd even talked to her a couple of times after class. Short of grabbing the girl's chin and forcing her to meet his eyes fully, he would never be able to Legilimize Weasley and therefore know exactly what the little chit was hiding.

He was not used to students making his Head of House duties easy; however, most of his students' behavior was quite simple to interpret. The girl, however, frustrated Severus. He just could not fully grasp what was wrong with Weasley. Severus fought the urge to sigh and massage both sides of his temple, choosing to head the girl off before she fully fled from his chamber.

"Miss. Weasley," Severus began, noticing how the girl completely stiffened while trying to place notes into her second-hand bag. She looked up and actually met his gaze but only for three seconds. "Follow me." He said abruptly, choosing to lead the girl into the more private potions classroom next door. The moment the door closed behind the girl was the moment Severus began talking.

"Miss. Greengrass tells me that your sleep is still disturbed. Silence." Severus said sharply, seeing the insolent girl open her mouth to interrupt him. "Greengrass's accusations cannot be denied—the bags underneath your eyes prove the girl's claims. It was only last week that I told you to get more sleep. I recommended that you come to me or Madam Pomfrey for sleep aides that would be tailored to your needs—and yet still you refuse. Explain yourself."

Again, Severus saw the raw emotion that seemed to almost cascade from the girl's orbs and wash over him. Severus did not delude himself into thinking that he respected any student's privacy and so he gently entered her mind, feeling the despair, the anger, and a haunting detachment that bordered unawareness; it felt foreign, but he was not familiar with Weasley's mind and so he could not be sure. Before he could see further, the connection began to fade until it was no more. She had broken eye contact again.

"I'm sorry, Professor." The girl said dully, although her tone was respectful. "I could never get a prefect to bring me to the infirmary or to your classroom after curfew, so I never came."

"Very well then." Severus said, "Why do you not eat three times a day? You could at least eat once in the morning and once in the afternoon, but instead, the proportions you intake are nowhere near where they should be. Do not say that you are not hungry. We both know that I can provide potions that slightly increase your appetite."

The girl visibly paused before saying, "I can't get here to get the potions, sir—and I don't have time to ask you for them after class. I wouldn't be able to make it to my next class if I stayed behind for too long."

Severus nodded, understanding that the girl indeed had valid points. Her excuses were plausible but he thought they were lies all the same. He wanted to see what would be her excuse once he took the others away.

"Come by tomorrow during the second half of lunch. The potions will be ready then." Severus said, seeing the girl nod and walk to the door to leave. "And, Weasley, should your appetite and sleeping patterns not improve, then you will face detention everyday for the next month until they do. Understood?"

"Yes, professor." the girl said muttered before exiting the classroom.

As he watched her leave, he couldn't help but hope that young Nott succeeded in earning Weasley's trust. Despite how much he wanted to help the girl, even he knew the likelihood of him always being there for her when it mattered was slim to none.

Ginny wanted to slam the door to Snape's classroom closed. The nerve of that man made her angry beyond all reason. Almost immediately after the holidays, Snape had ordered her into his class and demanded that she begin to eat and sleep more. He acted as if her loss of appetite and sleep was done out some urge to be a stupid rebellious teen, when in actuality, it was just something that Ginny couldn't really help. She forced herself to eat; she really did but the food was tasteless. She sometimes found herself sickening up what little food she'd eaten for the day.

Ginny didn't understand why it was happening and Madam Pomfrey couldn't either. All of her diagnostic tests indicated that Ginny was perfectly healthy—especially now that her anemia was treated; it still wasn't enough to make her feel like her old self. The second letter that Ginny's Mum had sent her was more of a threat, saying that if Ginny's health didn't improve, her Mum would take her out of Hogwarts for good. Needless to say, Ginny didn't appreciate her Mum and Snape's bullying.

The moment Ginny entered the Slytherin commons was the moment Malfoy decided to yell her name across the room. Ginny ignored him and continued to run up the stairwell to her room. This time, she slammed the door closed and threw herself down onto her bed. She didn't have long to wait, however. Malfoy came barging into her room a minute later. He sat down on the edge of her bed and Ginny decided to ignore the taunting gaze that she could feel on her.

"If you're here to make fun of what a big muggle-loving fool my Dad is, then you can go away now, Malfoy." Ginny snapped, not wanting to hear anything the jerk had to say. "Yes, my Dad's muggle-obsessed but he's a good man. You can't say that about your father, can you?"

"My father's a great man, Weasel." Malfoy sneered childishly.

"That's certainly news to me and that's definitely not what I've heard from our housemates."

"Who cares what you heard, blood traitor? You don't matter—you're nothing."

Draco's comment was met by silence. Ginny couldn't see how she could argue with what he'd last said but she would stand up to him all the same.

"If I'm nothing, then why are you wasting your time here with me, Draco?" Ginny asked, sitting up to look the platinum blond in his cold, gray eyes. "I'm not like Ron and so I won't truly care what stupid things you say about me or my family because—well, it's coming from you. Don't you think you seriously need to do more growing up to be truly worthy of the name Malfoy? I bet Daddy tells you that all the time, doesn't he? Of course he does. He's Lucius Malfoy."

"SHUT-UP!" Malfoy yelled, breaking his impeccable composure. His right hand was wrapped tightly around Ginny's throat as he pressed her back further into the mattress. She couldn't breathe, but Ginny just smiled up at him.

She was seeing black spots in her vision and her chest was quickly rising up and down in an attempt to breathe, even though her airways just wouldn't let that happen. Yet, she'd never felt more like herself than in that moment right there. She couldn't help but wonder why people always had the most important revelations when it was too late to change anything about how they'd lived. Ginny felt something within her give, as if it had been broken from within her. It hurt so much that she welcomed the empty blackness that seemingly existed everywhere, because at that moment, there was nothing else for her except this.

Ginny's eyes opened to see rich blue orbs looking into hers. She knew they belonged to Astoria, and she was right, as her vision adjusted to the dark room and allowed her to see her roommate and her Head of House. Upon seeing him, Ginny didn't know if she wanted to scream in frustration, throw something at the man, or just cry. She wanted Snape to leave her alone. Ginny wondered if the man thought he was helping her, when in actuality, all he did was make things worse and give her more detentions.

She hated him. He was the bane of her existence, a force she could do nothing to deter or stop.

"Ginevra," Astoria began shakily, "Who did that to you?" She asked worriedly.

Ginny just stared at her blankly. What is she playing? She could care less if I was hurt or dead. She's just pretending because of Snape, that's all. Bloody cow.

"Answer the question, Miss. Weasley." Snape said; his voice didn't portray any concern at all. He didn't want to be there, Ginny could tell as much. He probably doesn't want to punish his more precious, worthier snakes. I hate that man, I really hate him. And there he goes again, intruding into my mind like he did earlier tonight. What? Does he think I can't feel him when he does that? Snape frowned at Ginny, who glared at him in return. I can't stop you from seeing but I can make you see what I want you to see, you bastard.

"I don't remember." Ginny said slowly, as if she was trying to recall who had assaulted her, when all she was doing was trying to make her lie convincing. "I-I came upstairs because I really wanted to finish some of my earlier reading, but I had to use the Loo. When I came out, everything was dark. I was rushed and pinned to the bed. I couldn't breathe…"

Ginny knew her lie was believable. The number one rule in Slytherin after doing rule breaking was to never get caught. Snape would find it easy to believe her story because of that rule.

Ginny wasn't protecting Draco. No, she was savoring the moment he'd lost control and given into the emotions that made him so unworthy of being a Malfoy. Ginny could really care less how much of a Malfoy Draco was or wasn't. She only said it because it hurt him. She imagined it was always something Lucius would chide Draco for and Ginny now knew she was right in her assumption.

Draco's shortcomings in the eyes of his father meant everything to the boy who so desperately wanted to be a carbon copy of the man. In the past, Ginny knew she would have pitied him. Today, Draco was her enemy and Ginny never pitied her enemies. Tom had taught her that much, and from this day forward, whenever Draco looked at her, he would remember his loss of control. He would remember how he'd given into the weakness of emotions and allowed his enemy the upper hand, a very un-Malfoy like thing to do indeed.

"Before you awoke, Miss. Greengrass administered bruise salve to your neck." Snape said, his voice sounding clinical as he spoke to two eleven year old. "In order to improve and lessen the appearance of the bruise, I advise you to put the salve on every five hours. It should be gone completely by tomorrow afternoon. I am now going to teach you both two locking charms. One is simple, while the other is advanced. Watch closely."

Astoria watched the Potions Master as Ginny watched her calculatingly. Why has she been acting so nice to me lately? What does she want? Ginny snapped out of her thoughts, hearing Snape bark at her to pay attention to his instruction. Ginny watched, taking care to hide her boredom. She already knew how to do the simple locking charm. Once she saw the charm he classified as advanced, Ginny had to bite hard on her bottom lip to stop herself from sneering. Maybe I should look into other magical schools across Europe or even in America. If it wasn't for Tom, I'd never really know the endless bounds of magic at all.

"Now let's see what you both can do." Snape said, using his hand to tell Astoria to begin first. His black gaze turned to Ginny, telling her that she'd better get the charm right on her first try or there would be consequences. Ginny's gaze moved to Astoria; she didn't want the man Legilimizing her anymore this night.

It took Astoria three times to get the simple charm, and after she was finally done, it was Ginny's turn to have a go. With one try, she was able to lock the door. Ginny looked at Astoria, expecting to see jealousy written across her face; instead, she found herself met with a deep, thoughtful expression that bordered calculation. So she's not as immature as I thought. It was Astoria's turn again; this time, she'd be doing the more advanced charm. After five tries, Astoria had gotten it right. Ginny allowed herself to mess the charm up twice before getting it right on her third try.

"After I leave, you are to lock this door using either charm of your choosing. Tomorrow, I will be changing the wards surrounding this room."

And with that said, Snape was gone. Ten seconds after he left, Ginny focused on Astoria.

"You told him." Ginny said blandly, observing Astoria closely.

"You looked…dead." She said stiffly.

"And you put bruise salve on my neck."

"For appearance's sake, yes. I don't understand why you wouldn't lock the door from the start, Ginny—."

"Don't call me that," Ginny snapped, her eyes flashing at the girl. Astoria was not her family. She would not address her as Ginny.

Astoria's eyes widened fearfully before she masked her expression. "Ginny is your name. What's wrong with you?"

Ginny ignored her question and continued. "From now on, I'm Ginevra to you and everyone else in this bloody House."

Ginny wanted to tell the girl to stop pretending to be nice to her; that she wouldn't get anything out of Ginny by becoming kind towards her now. Yet, in the end, she couldn't tell what she'd gain by saying something like that to Astoria. Ginny recognized Astoria's game and so she would play it for now.

As Ginny climbed underneath her covers, she thought about what an unexpectedly productive night it had been. She now knew that she had to better organize her mind, because she would never be able to use Occlumency until she'd familiarized herself with all of her mind. Ginny and Tom had both guessed that it would take years to withstand a true master Legilimens, someone like Dumbledore or perhaps You-Know-Who. Tom didn't like how firmly against You-Know-Who Ginny was. Slytherins, Tom said, never made outright enemies. Enemies should doubt whether or not they are adversaries or friends. On that score, Ginny ignored Tom and could tell that he was frustrated by her disregard of his opinion on the matter.

Ginny devoured books about the first war, wanting to know how it was fought because she'd lost her uncles Fabian and Gideon to it. She studied almost each and every battle ever recorded, trying to discern how You-Know-Who used his tactics to cripple the Wizarding world to a brink very near destruction. He-Who-Must-Not-be-Named had fought the war in many ways, but he'd especially liked playing what muggles called mind-games. Ginny often talked to Hagrid on the weekends, and if he was right, then You-Know-Who wasn't gone for good. Hagrid had said it, and he believed it because Dumbledore believed it.

Ginny knew Dumbledore to hardly ever be wrong. If Ginny learned Occlumency, she'd never be the weak link: The one who jeopardized the safety of her loved ones simply because she couldn't control her thoughts and emotions. Learning Occlumency was about keeping Snape out but it was much bigger than just that alone. Ginny didn't doubt Hagrid, and if he said You-Know-Who was coming back, then he was coming back. Ginny knew all about Harry's first year with the Sorcerer's Stone. It proved that You-Know-Who, wherever he was, was still out there biding his time.

And even Ginny wasn't young and naïve enough not to be ready for his return.

(Late January)

As Ginny and Tom increasingly disagreed on the topic of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, she decided to write less to Tom and to spend more time around Hagrid. She liked being around the friendly half-giant, who made Ginny remember the old her who Ginny was beginning to long for once more. Being around Hagrid was like being around her family; it reminded her of how they were before.

Ginny also liked being around Hagrid because he was very transparent in the sincerest way. He didn't have hidden motives or designs to manipulate others into getting the things he wanted out of people. He was not like her and he definitely wasn't a Slytherin. She didn't like to think about how much she needed Hagrid's friendship; it was something Ginny knew the half-giant didn't understand himself. Yet, he was the first person to believe in her since her sorting in Slytherin. He hadn't written her off as evil or manipulative, the latter being absolutely true.

"The Mandrakes are maturin' well." Hagrid said, pouring Ginny some tea, while sliding over his rock cakes toward her. "Pomfrey and Snape reckon it's goin' 'ter be another three months and a half before they're ready."

Ginny drank the tea, wincing at how hot it was as it went down her throat. She waved her wand over it to cool it slightly before responding.

"The sooner, the better," Ginny said quietly. "I've been studying the properties of that potion and I think I know a way to lessen the brewing time, but I can't be sure. I wish I had mandrakes to run tests on."

"You and yer books." Hagrid said fondly with a smile, throwing down some chicken legs to Fang. "Some things jus' take time. Things'll be ok. You'll see." He finished, and Ginny thought he sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than her.

"I still want to test those Mandrakes, Hagrid." Ginny said, hearing him chuckle afterward.

"Dumbledore's got no Mandrakes 'ter spare for an eleven year old who wants 'ter do tests." He said bluntly, earning a mock glare from Ginny. "Sorry, Ginny but that's not happenin'."

"Then how am I supposed to know if I'm right or not?" Ginny asked herself more than Hagrid, seeing him grin and shake his head at her.

"Yer worse than Hermione, you kno'." Hagrid teased, and this time, Ginny rolled her eyes. "Anyway, when was the last time you talked ter your brother, Harry, and Hermione?"

"Christmas," Ginny added nonchalantly, and Hagrid frowned at her tone.

"Almost two months," Hagrid began. "Dunno what's wrong with you lot."

"They won't talk to me." Ginny said; her voice was cold, defensive but soft. "They're in their own world, trying to solve this whole Chamber business. You should see them, really. It's quite hilarious how secretive they are about what they're doing, although anyone who cared to look close enough can see that they're up to something."

"That's Harry, Ron, and Hermione for yah, that is." He said thoughtfully, and something about Hagrid seemed evasive to Ginny. He's worried, Ginny realized. But what for?

"And yer not changin' the subject that quick." Hagrid said and Ginny sighed. "They're yer family, Ginny. Talk to 'em."

"Fine." Ginny said, not wanting to lash out and ask if he was telling them to do the exact same to her.

There was still tension between Ginny and Ron. Things were even tense between her and Percy ever since she'd caught him tonguing Clearwater. The only ones she got on with were the twins but they had each other. It still was too embarrassing to be around Harry. Hermione wasn't her family. She barely knew the girl at all. Ginny just wasn't close to them. Their distance made her wonder if she'd ever really had been close to them from the start.

"So…whatcha doin' fer Valentines Day?" Hagrid asked out of the blue.

Ginny blushed, seeing emerald orbs almost immediately after Hagrid's question. "I haven't thought about it." Ginny said honestly, seeing Hagrid frown at her.

"Tell Harry yer feelings," Hagrid said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world to do. "It's not like he don't already kno' but I imagine it'll sound better coming from you rather than the twins or Ron."

"Maybe," Ginny said distractedly. She did want to beat Ron to a pulp when he'd told Harry that she'd been talking about him all summer, the traitor. Ginny had felt so humiliated after overhearing him tell Harry that. From then on, she couldn't even look at Harry without doing something completely stupid. It was a mental thing that she should just get over by now but she just couldn't.

"Think about it." Hagrid said and Ginny nodded, standing up to leave now.

"I'll call tomorrow if I can." Ginny said, seeing Hagrid give her a small smile in return.

"You forgot ur cakes." Hagrid teased Ginny.

"Hagrid, I'd be insane to eat those." Ginny said, smiling widely at him. Hagrid's smile widened because it was the first smile he'd seen reach Ginny's eyes all year round.

"Well, at least yer honest about 'em." Hagrid said with a small chuckle afterward. "It tickles me to watch Professor Dumbledore, Harry, Ron, and Hermione movin' 'em around on their plates."

"How Slytherin of you to subject them to such torture?" Ginny smirked at him.

"Off with you, Gin." Hagrid said, looking at the clock behind Ginny's bed. "It's an hour and a half before yer curfew and I'm sure yeh wanna stop by the library before headin' in for good, eh?"

Ginny nodded. "See you later, Hagrid."

He nodded before saying, "Good night, Ginny."

With that said, Ginny left Hagrid's hut and walked back toward the castle. Maybe Hagrid did have a point. Perhaps Ginny should tell Harry her feelings, rather than having her idiotic brothers tell him for her. Now the only thing to figure out was exactly how she should go about telling him.

Three days later, Ginny found herself staring down at Tom's diary thoughtfully. Only recently was she finding that writing to Tom didn't make her feel quite as good as she'd first thought. It took Ginny a while to accept that perhaps Tom didn't ultimately want what was best for her; it was still a concept she struggled with now.

Ginny was beginning to notice a disturbing pattern in her behavior after long stints of writing to Tom.

She'd been so blinded by her loneliness that she really hadn't seen it. Ginny doubted that she would've ever caught on quite this quickly if it hadn't been for the Occlumency practices that she was carrying out six hours of every evening. Familiarizing herself with her mind had led Ginny to learn more about herself. She was learning about what she had been, things that she had forgotten, and things that she had done to become the girl that she was today. It was a deep introspection that revealed qualities of her being that had to be acknowledged for what they were and not only at face value. Ginny did not have any time to waste, and the better her Occlumency, the more secure in her person she became.

Her Occlumency practices, quite simply, were giving Ginny a clarity of mind that she hadn't had in months.

For once, Ginny could focus and think for herself. As Ginny stared down at Tom's diary, she couldn't help but wonder what sort of Compulsion Charm he'd placed on it. She knew that it was advanced, and she knew that something about it was inherently Dark Magic. Ginny couldn't be sure, but she felt like the more she wrote in it, the stronger the compulsion became. It was still very strong; she could feel it, even now after not touching the diary for about two weeks. Something about Ginny was strengthening the diary. She just didn't know what exactly about her was allowing Tom to be so dominant over her.

His reaction to what she'd done to Flint had been the first thing to make her uneasy. After all the things he'd instructed her to learn, his take on her cruelty toward Flint really shouldn't have bothered Ginny; she, however, was just lucky that she'd began practicing Occlumency techniques around that time. The introspection allowed her to reflect on what she'd done herself without the overwhelming feeling of detachment. The introspection allowed her to feel which feelings were hers and which feelings were not.

The amount of hatred, rage, and greed that Tom had so far poured into her made Ginny all the more skeptical of his true intent. She'd been thinking for two weeks now what she should do with his Diary. She knew Tom and therefore she knew the diary wouldn't be destroyed easily. She also knew that they were bonded now. Ginny didn't have to write to Tom to feel him within her mind.

She knew Tom was beyond angry with her at the moment.

She knew he now wanted to kill her but even she could tell that he didn't want to do that more than anything, which only meant one thing and one thing alone: She was still useful to him, and the moment her usefulness was outlived, she would die.

A part of Ginny wanted to take the diary to Dumbledore. She now knew that Tom had forced her into attacking those students but even she couldn't actually remember carrying out the attacks. She'd been writing to Tom for almost seven months now, and Ginny feared the depth of their bond more than anything else. She feared what he could and would do to her if she even told the Headmaster.

It was selfish to put herself above the safety of others in the castle, including her family and Harry. Ginny, however, wanted to survive and her knowledge of Dark Magic had taught her the dangers of certain bonds. The one that she had with Tom, she couldn't even be sure about. She just knew that before she did anything, she had to be able to gauge the strength of their connection. It was strong; she knew that much. The question was, how strong? The extent of its strength would determine the extent to which he could destroy her, but if he wanted to truly hurt her by now, he would have done so already. That made Ginny confident that, although their bond was strong, it wasn't strong enough for him to kill her.

Or he just didn't want to yet.

Ginny constantly wondered what exactly was Tom waiting for?

Ginny shook her head, trying to figure out a way to be rid of Tom's diary for good. She couldn't destroy it; she'd tried setting it on fire. It hadn't even marked the book. She dared not touch it again and so she couldn't rip pages from it, unless she wore gloves. Yet, even if she did rip page after page from the diary, Ginny suspected that it would do no harm to it at all. Tom would still be there and his bond with her would remain intact.

She'd get rid of the diary now. She'd figure out how to destroy the bond later. Maybe it'll go away with time. Ginny only hoped as much.

She stood from her bed to leave the room. "Where are you going?" Astoria snapped bossily. Ginny ignored her, donning gloves to wrap the diary in a maroon scarf before leaving their dorm room.

Ginny hurriedly walked down the stairs leading away from her room and through the common room, ignoring Nott's gaze as it followed her until she was out of sight. As she began her walk up the stairs to the main part of the castle, Ginny couldn't help but wonder what exactly to do with the diary.

I can't destroy it. I don't know how. I'm not strong enough to do it and what would Dumbledore destroying it do to me? Even if he did destroy it and all turned out well, would all be forgiven? The headmaster could probably overlook her transgressions but would the Ministry be so forgiving?

It was at that moment when Ginny, who was distracted by her racing thoughts, stumbled on one of the many steps she was climbing up. There was a sharp pain in her right ankle that caused her to lose her footing and fall forward, until her knees had crashed to the stone and her palms opened up and bled. Ginny wasn't aware of the fact that the diary had fallen to the right side of where her right hand was planted against the stone, and as she clumsily struggled to her feet, her right wrist accidentally brushed against the leather-bound book. Ginny flinched away from the diary and watched as the book was enveloped by a golden glow.

I will destroy you.

Those four words were written across one of the many diary pages. Ginny stared at it fearfully with wide eyes. She stood and snatched up the scarf, using it to cover the book entirely. Ginny quickened her pace in the dark dungeons, relieved when she saw light not far ahead of her. Once she reached the main part of the castle, Ginny felt the diary vibrating violently in her arms. She needed to go somewhere near and stash it; she needed to find a place where no one hardly ever went. I just need time to figure out what to do, Ginny thought in a panic. I can bring Professor Dumbledore back here to destroy it. The diary was now trembling so violently that it was shaking her entire person.

Just get rid of it.

Ginny ran until she couldn't carry Tom's diary anymore. She went to the only place that she could: Moaning Myrtle's loo. Ginny knew she couldn't hold the book for much longer. Before it could make direct contact with her skin again, Ginny just drew back her arm and threw the book away from her. She quickly fled from the lavatory; she didn't want anyone to see her near the place.

It wasn't until she laid down an hour later that Ginny realized how stupid throwing away the diary like that had been. She'd went back for it to take it to the Headmaster, but it was gone. If someone found it (and Merlin forbid destroyed it the wrong way), then it would probably be the end of her.

Tom would make sure of that much.

The moment Ginny entered the common room was the moment her right elbow was firmly grasped by none other than Theodore Nott.

"What? Let go of me, Nott. Now!"

"Shut it, Weasley. You're coming with me." He said stiffly, pulling her to the other side of the room and up the stairs to Ginny's room. He shoved her into the room, all the while kicking the door closed behind them.

Ginny met his fierce gaze with a glare of her own. "What is your problem?"

"You're pathetic." He sneered, advancing toward Ginny who just stared up at him with slightly wide eyes. Ginny was so stunned that she didn't even think to draw her wand on him, especially now that he was standing in front of her. "—writing a poem to Potter. Of all people, it has to be Saint Potter."

Ginny glowered at Nott, pushing him away from her personal space. "You sound like Malfoy." Ginny spat, pointing her index finger at him. "And I can write poetry to whoever I want."

Nott quickly approached her, grabbing Ginny by the shoulders and giving her a slight shake. "He doesn't know you. He doesn't even see you and yet you still pine after him."

"Let—me—go."

Theodore looked down and back up into Ginny's honey orbs; instantly, he relinquished her with a look of regret. Ginny knew he'd never tell her sorry because Slytherins never apologized unless they absolutely had to. Ginny could see the effort he was taking to keep his composure, as he fixed her with a gaze that was neither ruthless nor calculating.

"Potter doesn't know that you barely sleep at night." Theodore said; his gaze was far away as he spoke more to himself than to Ginny. "He doesn't know that every morning you wake up, you wonder for hours about who you really are to the point where you can't even remember who you were from the beginning…"

"Stop."

"Why?"

"Because you don't know me, that's why."

"I know you a lot better than Potter. That's for sure."

"Leave," Ginny said, controlling her voice very carefully so that she wouldn't rage at him.

"Make me." Theodore said challengingly, nearing slowly towards her again.

Ginny drew her wand and leveled it straight at his heart. Theodore, however, impressed Ginny because he did not flinch or react to what she'd done at all.

"You can't push me away, Ginevra." He said evenly, gently taking a hold of her wrist but not moving her wand away from his heart. "I've seen you distance yourself from everyone who's ever tried to reach you. You are afraid; I can see it in your eyes. I can help you find your strength once more but only if you let me."

Ginny didn't know how she did it, but all of a sudden, she felt a desperate need to know whether or not he really meant what he'd told her. His hold on her wrist was gentle and his gaze on her was steady, intense, and comforting. She wanted to feel the very depths of his being, and without really meaning to do it, her mind reached out to Theodore's, until they were one. The connection could not have lasted more than a minute, but it was in that moment, that Ginny knew she really could trust Theodore Nott beyond all others.

He scared her.

Afterward, Ginny and Theodore both fell to the floor in her room, panting as they tried their best to gather their bearings.

"What did you do?" Theodore asked a couple of minutes later, looking at Ginny with wide eyes that seemed to be awed by her.

"I need you to leave, Theodore." Ginny said tiredly, not bothering to get to her feet since the world was still spinning in front of her eyes.

There was a long pause and Ginny realized that it was the way she'd said Theodore's name that had probably rendered the boy speechless for the moment.

"Answer me, Ginevra." Theodore said gently, and for a moment, Ginny almost opened her mouth to do just that.

"I will. One day, I will." Ginny said; her head was swimming and aching from what had just happened. "I now know that you're sincere about your offer. I understand, Theodore. Please let that be good enough for now."

Nott shakily stood to his feet and walked over to her, helping her stand because she was too weak to do so at the moment. He helped her wobble to her bed, which thankfully wasn't far. Oddly enough, it didn't feel strange when he removed her shoes and her tattered robes. Ginny never felt awkward as he pulled her bed covers over her, not even when he sat next to her on the bed and ran a hand through her hair. He leaned forward and his cool lips touched her forehead briefly before pulling away from her a little too soon. Their eyes met and Ginny couldn't help but want him to hold her, because she knew that he really cared.

Theodore Nott was several things: An intelligent, calculating, almost ruthless young teen like Ginny but he cared for her. It was a very possessive care. Ginny had felt that much in his mind. Yet, it didn't bother her. He wanted to protect her but she couldn't—well, wouldn't—allow him to get involved with Tom. Somehow, Ginny felt like Tom was killing her. She did not want him killing Theodore, too.

Theodore cupped her face gently before leaving Ginny alone in her room. Tom had taken a lot from her: He'd robbed her of her Gryffindor destiny and her family, but he would never be able to take Theodore.

Ginny closed her eyes, not feeling so bad about that awful singing Valentine she'd given to Harry today. In fact, it was now insignificant and didn't compare much to how Theodore really felt toward her. Yet, even Theodore's regard wasn't enough to make her relax and forget that Harry now was in possession of Tom's diary. She would figure out how to steal it back tomorrow.

That night when she closed her eyes, for the first time in months, Ginny's dreams felt warm to her and it was all because of a pair of cold, humored, chocolate brown eyes.

It took Ginny three days to fully master and manipulate the Glamour Charm so that she could enter Gryffindor Tower as another, but once she did, she found her task easy. Longbottom was forgetful about everything, including the Gryffindor passwords that he forgot behind at breakfast. Since the boy was so isolated within his own house, none of his housemates even bothered to pick up the slip of parchment to give to him later. After the students' massive scramble to get to their morning classes had quelled, Ginny just walked by Gryffindor's table rather leisurely and snatched it up. Overall, she'd been very lucky. Ginny was just glad that she remembered Ron telling her about Neville's poor memory, especially at recalling passwords.

Once Ginny entered the correct dormitory, she began to hastily look through Harry's things. After about eight minutes of searching, she found the diary wrapped underneath Harry's amazing Invisibility Cloak. She'd stared at it for about a whole minute; she couldn't resist trying it on. Then Ginny looked down at her watch and gathered up the book using a black woolen scarf she'd brought with her just to carry the diary out of the Tower. Before leaving, she made an effort to trash the entire room, hoping that it would postpone them from noticing exactly what she'd been after. Leaving was easy, but even she couldn't help but look longingly back at the common room one last time before exiting the Tower forever.

As Ginny now laid on her bed in the Slytherin first year girl's dorm, she couldn't help but wonder what she should do now. Tom was aware that Harry no longer had the diary and he was more than furious.

Ginny now knew that Tom wanted Harry dead and stopping him from killing the Boy-Who-She-Just-Couldn't-Fully-Get-Out-Of-Her-Sys tem made her wonder how she could stop Tom without killing herself in the process.

(May 2, 1992)

Ginny had now been practicing Occlumency since the end of her New Years holiday, but she had increased the effort she'd put into the discipline ever since stealing the diary back from Harry. Ginny was now confident that her and Tom were bonded mentally, not by the soul. If the Diary was destroyed, however, she still couldn't be sure if it would be enough to separate him from her mind. They had been one for too long and the mind was vastly complex. Tom's mental connection to her was deeply parasitic. Only a powerful Legilimens like Dumbledore, she was absolutely sure of it, could really make sure he no longer remained in her mind.

But the more Ginny thought about it, she then realized that Tom could be expelled from her mind if she was able to best him by using Occlumency. There were dangers to confronting Tom so directly within her own mind, but while Ginny knew Dumbledore was capable of severing the connection, she did not trust him.

Her Occlumency skills had vastly improved. She was now able to fully isolate Tom, and with each day, his Compulsion on her weakened. Ginny was now able to raise an Occlumency shield around her mind that made it appear to a skilled Legilimens that she wasn't really Occluding. It had taken her so long to build the shield and then to enact it. She was always fortifying it, making it stronger from penetration, and most importantly, detection. Even Snape wasn't aware of its existence; Ginny was completely sure about that fact.

Therefore, Ginny was highly skilled at Occlumency and decent at Legilimency but she was not a Master of either yet. June, however, was three months away and Tom had to be dealt with now. There was a selfish part of her that did not want anyone knowing she had allowed Tom to use her to set the monster on so many innocents, including poor Colin Creevey, who'd always been rather nice to Ginny, though he was afraid of her, too. Ginny didn't want anyone to save her either. She could save herself; after all, she'd been stupid enough to get herself into this mess. Why shouldn't she be the one to get herself out of this situation?

Besides, she didn't trust anyone else not to make a mistake, all in the name of just helping her. Even the worst things could arise out of the best of intentions. Most of all, though, Ginny didn't want to hurt anyone else.

If she lost this battle of the mind, Ginny would use the dagger to her right and simply end it. Tom was still weak; even he could not possess her completely at all time. He wouldn't be able to contain her all day everyday. It would not be difficult to commit suicide to stop herself and Tom from hurting students, especially Harry and Theodore. Ginny knew that if she failed in this attack, Tom would immediately lash out and hurt (or kill) them to make her suffer. Yet, Ginny knew the risk. Tom was not weak, but he wasn't nearly as strong as he could be. Allowing him to remain in her mind this long had only strengthened him.

It was either him or her now, and if Ginny had to choose, then she would choose to end them both before she ever allowed him to hurt someone else again.

She closed her eyes and focused. It was easy to find him, where she had forced him to remain. Ginny was able to see him as a person. She knew the image she was seeing was the image that Tom's mind had created of itself. She had the element of surprise, and so she used every ounce of determination, hatred, and her need for revenge to push him further and further from her subconscious.

Ginny was able to weaken him, and to move him till where she wanted him to be. Yet, the sheer magnitude of Tom's counterattack against her was something she had not anticipated. She knew it would be a struggle but he was obliterating her now. The momentum and strength to which Ginny had used to find him had come from the strength and highly organized emotions and thoughts that were imperative to organizing her mind. Tom, however, was able to manipulate those strands of thoughts and emotions to his will, leaving Ginny utterly defenseless and on the ground at his feet. As she looked up at him in fear, she knew it would do no good to beg for mercy. He had the face of an angel, and the soul of a demon.

That was her last thought before he made her hurt.

"Pathetic." Tom spat down at her, as he circled Ginny where she still lay. "I will tell you why you failed, Ginevra." He said, using his right hand to hoist her up by the neck until she dangled, choking for air, directly in front of him. "It is because you lack true conviction to bring me pain. Your will is weak, you stupid little girl. It means you cannot fight me." He said with a cruel smile, as Ginny clawed at his hands to release them from their hold around her throat.

And that was when he threw her nearly six feet away from him. She landed and did not move because she couldn't. She tried again to launch another mental assault against him but he parried her attack like it was nothing.

"You fail to realize your shortcomings, yet again." Tom said, and this time, Ginny screamed, feeling the intensity of white hot knives viciously stabbing her all over her body.

'Not real,' were the only two words Ginny could coherently form. 'It's only in my head.'

Tom's cold laughter rang high, giving Ginny the chills. "It is your mind, Ginevra. I have not taught you so much for you to be this dimwitted."

'This is real.' Ginny realized and Tom evenly met her gaze with cruelty and no mercy.

He gave a slight nod, and his cruel smile morphed into a smirk. "You trapped me here, but you did not account for the fact that you isolated me in a part of your mind where I still could access your conscience. You did not consider what fortifications I placed around my…prison. I knew you would strike first and so I was ready for you to try and fail. You are weak, a sour disappointment. I am your enemy. You should've had the strength of will, the utmost unwavering determination, to bring upon my destruction and yet you failed to do so. You failed Harry. You failed your precious Theodore, and you failed your blood traitorous family because I will kill them all and I will make you watch."

"You're not strong enough." Ginny said vindictively, and again, was thrashing and screaming. When the pain dulled, Ginny wasn't able to see straight for minutes.

"Yet," Tom said glacially, kneeling beside Ginny and forcefully grasping her chin. "We both know it is only a matter of time, and I promise to kill everyone who's ever cared about you, my little Ginevra. You cannot stop me. You are powerless without me. Let me show you just how weak you are."

It was at that moment when Ginny fully understood why she wasn't able to make any headway in Legilimency. The art was a discipline that required one to willing impose their power and will on others. Legilimency was a form of domination—no matter if it was used for power, gain, pleasure, or pain. Ginny knew that she would have to lose her respect for other's people's minds if she ever truly wanted to become a Master, which was exactly the lesson Tom was trying to teach her at the moment, although it wasn't the most important lesson that he wanted to impart to her.

The battle of the mind seemed to wage forever, and while Ginny put up a decent fight for an eleven year old, every mental shield she conjured to stop Tom from advancing to the very depths of her mind were painfully brutalized until they were completely shattered. Ginny's Occlumency techniques were simply something that amused Tom, who was able to always find a way to render them useless.

Images from her early childhood played before her eyes.

"This is what makes you weak." Tom's voice said with hatred.

And suddenly, he lashed out. The torture she'd endured before was nothing compared to what she was experiencing now. He began with Ron, finishing what he'd begun that day in the library. Ginny wanted to scream for mercy but all she could do was yell in pain, as he manipulated the feelings attached to every single memory of her youngest brother, until she virtually felt nothing but utter resentment toward her own flesh and blood.

He moved to Charlie next but Ginny did not have much recollection of him and so it was all the more difficult for Riddle to latch onto an emotion concerning him. Even Ginny knew that Riddle would have to go deeper in order for him to change that most natural love she had for her brother. That, however, didn't stop Riddle from wiping away every memory that she'd ever had of him. He couldn't take away her love for her brother, and so instead, he took away all memory of him. It was like loving a stranger with no face now, for that was all Charlie Weasley was to her.

And then Ginny saw her mother.

Tom was attacking every memory she had of her mother, going deeper to the core parts of her mind. Accessing that part of her—stripping her of those feelings—would more than likely kill Ginny. Since her mind couldn't defend itself, then her magic, upon sensing this overwhelming threat, reared up until Tom was thrown back to the place she had originally isolated him in. Her magic began constructing mental shields, and her mind barely registered the fact that these protections were temporary.

Her last thought before giving into exhaustion was that she should have went to Headmaster Dumbledore.

It had been six days since Ginny had slept. She feared the night, and even worse, she feared Riddle.

She couldn't defeat him and now she was completely powerless and therefore could not go to Dumbledore. Confronting Tom had been a mistake; she should have let Dumbledore deal with it.

Ginny now had to spend every waking moment fighting Riddle. She fought him, each and every second of every day. They were not quite at a stalemate. Tom constantly threatened Ginny and tried to reach the part of her mind that would make her forget her family. Worst of all, he'd threatened to render her what he called a vegetable.

He would make her live without really living if she fled to the Headmaster. Riddle promised to mutilate and trap her mind in a place where even Dumbledore would not be able to free her—and Ginny knew Tom: He always kept his promises.

Ginny was now forced to do constant mental battle against Riddle. She couldn't focus in class and she could barely pay attention to the number of days that passed, or for that matter, when the sun rose and set. Ginny was exhausting her magical reserves, using them to keep Tom at bay, while also trying to keep herself awake. When she would spend her evenings in Snape's study lab, Ginny would sometimes find herself making Pepper-Up potion for at least twice a week. The potion had gotten her through most of that year, but now she was taking it every five hours so that she wouldn't go to sleep.

It was ridiculous really, thinking that she could defeat Lord Voldemort at Occlumency. Ginny was now aware of who she harbored in her mind, especially since she was using a lot of Legilimency to fight the monster who was trying to fully take her over. Ginny could only contain and deflect him…for now.

Yet, if she went to sleep, all would be lost. And if she so much as dared to take a step toward Dumbledore, the battle in her head would be over for good. So Ginny found herself waiting and fearing the inevitable which was one thing and one thing alone.

Time.

Because it was only a matter of time before He won. That fact was something that more than sickened and disgusted Ginny with herself because it was her weakness that had made all of this year's wrongs her fault.

(May 28)

She was dying, though it was the guilt that was really eating her alive. At first, it had empowered her to fight him but Ginny soon grew weary and weak. It was that weakness that had allowed him control in early May, and he decided to lash out against Hermione and Clearwater. She had fallen asleep and her defenses had crumbled. Since then, Ginny had been taking potion after potion to energize her enough so that she wouldn't need sleep.

She always had to hide from McGonagall and Snape. They saw every weakness and every change. Thankfully Ginny was a Master at Glamour Charms and was able to manipulate them to her will. Other than the fact that little Ginny was always rather a bit pale, everyone actually thought she was getting healthier, if only a bit quieter.

Yet, even Ginny realized that she couldn't keep Voldemort at bay for much longer and so she decided to tell Harry because Dumbledore was gone. Ginny wished she just would've told him from the start. Percy, however, ran her away from the Gryffindor's table and now Riddle was making her suffer for her 'disobedience,' he'd called it. He was Crucio-ing her, and Ginny didn't have to have the curse physically cast on her to know that it was more traumatic and unbearable to endure from within the mind since it was the mind that magnified and heightened every sensation.

Ginny now had to choose between either stopping the pain or stopping Riddle from turning her into a vegetable. Ginny chose to do the later, because she'd had a whole year of pain that she was more than used to by now. Though Riddle tried to break the barriers that protected the utmost core of her mind, even He could not penetrate them.

At last, Ginny had finally mastered Occlumency—but she'd suffered a price for that, too.

It was a horrible thing to feel one's life force drained from their body and poured into another. He was stealing her soul, forcing it into his incomplete fragment that Ginny noted was less than half. Since Ginny could feel his soul, then she honestly couldn't say what Voldemort was. She knew he was not human—at least, not completely.

Ginny had finally admitted to herself that he was an abomination, an evil monster. This time, she allowed herself to admit it again. She now lay on the floor of the Chamber of Secrets. The trap had been set and only Harry could really save her now. Ginny had never wanted to involve him; she'd wanted to protect him, and instead, she was the reason for getting everyone killed.

As she lay dying, the guilt was more than unbearable. Ginny would never get to tell them she was sorry. She'd never get the chance to make up for her wrongs.

"Do not worry, little Ginevra." an almost solid Tom said to her, purposefully running his hand through her hair to prove that he was stronger as she grew weaker. "You have served me well and so I have decided to repay you by giving your precious Harry a quick, petrifying death."

Ginny couldn't even shake her head or cry out; she was just that weak. Her reserves were nearly depleted; it would be a miracle if her magic ever healed properly, they both knew that. Ginny could not speak. That still didn't stop her from using the last of her reserves to enter his mind. Ginny had surprised him, the so-called Master Legilimens, when she'd reached out to him.

On my life, on my magic, and on my blood, I vow to do any and everything in my power to end you, Tom Marvolo Riddle.

And before the last of her magic gave, Ginny thought she saw the most beautiful emerald and chocolate brown. And then she saw no more.

(9:30 AM June 19)

Ginny found herself sitting in the Headmaster's Office. In front of her sat Headmaster Dumbledore. To his left stood Professor McGonagall and to his right was Professor Snape. Ginny had found herself released from the infirmary two days ago. Only her parents, the Headmaster, Madam Pomfrey, and Professor Snape truly knew some of the extent that she'd went to keep Riddle at bay. Her reliance on sleeping potions to keep her awake for three weeks straight was thankfully something that was easily undone within the first week of her treatment in June. The road to recovery had been painful but Ginny stuck to it and made it through.

Madam Pomfrey was convinced that Ginny's dangerous taxation on her magical reserves would need about six months to properly heal. During those six months, she was forbidden to use magic, something which her parents knew all about. Ginny was glad that they were more worried about her than they were disappointed in her. Often her Dad would read to Ginny in the infirmary, even when she was asleep. Ginny thought her Mum was slightly distant; Ginny could sense a change in their relationship. Dumbledore and the matron, however, had convinced them that Ginny was not at fault and that she'd nearly lost her life by fighting as she did against Voldemort.

Ginny wasn't foolish enough not to believe that she wasn't at fault. She just knew she was and Snape knew it, too. He had not spared her feelings. The day she was released from the infirmary was the exact day he assigned her detention for the first three months of her second year. He'd tried to give her a six-month detention but the Headmaster forbade it. Ginny didn't so much mind Snape's presence near her now that she was a Master Occlumens and a decent Legilimens. She now only had to worry about keeping those two facts away from him and the Headmaster.

She now sat in the Headmaster's office, waiting for them to place the Sorting Hat on her head once more for a re-sorting, as McGonagall called it. Surprisingly, it was done at the behest of Professor Snape, for reasons that Ginny herself couldn't understand. She just wanted to get it done and over with. She now understood why she truly belonged in Slytherin; she accepted it but did not like it.

"This, I think, shall only take a moment," The Headmaster said all-knowingly with a twinkle in his eye, giving a slight nod and smile to Ginny as he placed the hat on top of her head. It slid over Ginny's eyes and Ginny simply waited.

She did not have to wait long.

"Curious that we should speak yet again." The hat said, sounding rather annoyed. "I said it once and I shall repeat myself: You are a Slytherin, girl."

"I know that." Ginny said simply. "It's them that need to believe it."

"Hmm, and yet even you still do not understand why you are truly a member of your house."

"What do you mean?" Ginny asked slowly, trying to keep the sharp quality out of her voice.

"You know that you have a Gryffindor's fortitude that is greatly strengthened by your resourcefulness and your ambition to achieve your desired ends. Fear not, I do not criticize you, Miss. Weasley." The hat said, sensing her anger. "The truth, girl, is that you do tread a fine line, but you have much that Tom did not. Still, that fortitude is your greatest strength and your most crippling weakness."

"Will I become like Him?" Ginny asked, holding her breath for the hat's answer.

"As always, no matter the person, what you become is your choice, Miss. Weasley. I am but a hat, though I am the most intelligent of my kind." It drawled, continuing, "Some things, my dear girl, cannot be told. They must be lived in order for one to learn. Undoubtedly, Miss. Weasley, you will be great. But will you be terrible? That is something only you can determine. SLYTHERIN!"

Ginny lifted the hat from her head and stared down at it as she held it in her lap. She didn't care how the three professors looked at her then. Being Sorted into Slytherin wasn't something she could completely lay at Tom's feet; besides, she didn't want to do that anymore. The hat was trying to tell her many things but the most important thing was that the reason for her belonging in Slytherin house did not have to wholly define her forever. The Magical World had a habit of believing that Houses decided everything, when in actuality, it didn't really have to be that way.

It would be that way—that is, if Ginny allowed it. She would face the stereotypes surrounding Slytherin House, and she'd prove them wrong.

Ginny stood and handed the hat back to Professor Dumbledore, who took it with an analytical look behind the twinkle in his eyes.

"Thank you for letting it touch me again." Ginny said more to the Headmaster than to Professor Snape. The Headmaster's gaze was clearly curious by her comment, as was Snape and McGonagall. "I think I can now be at peace with its decision. I can't really explain it but I'm just…confident that its decision is really true to me." Ginny said with a far away look in her eyes. She focused again on her Professors before finally saying. "Have a great summer, Professors."

McGonagall frowned at Ginny while Snape sneered at her. Dumbledore inclined his head saying, "As should you, my dear girl."

And that was Ginny's cue to leave for the train with the others. She offered them one last smile before closing the door to the Headmaster's office, hoping that she wouldn't be returning again anytime soon.

The Hogwarts Express moved quickly over the hilly Scottish land, bringing them closer and closer to London. The halls were filled with happy students who were loud and excited about what they'd be doing over the holiday. Ginny, though, couldn't share in their excitement. Riddle was no longer a parasite to her but that didn't mean that he was forever gone for Ginny. Her vow to kill him would always make their paths tethered. As Ginny was fading, she'd made an Unbreakable Vow, while simultaneously declaring a blood feud between all of her bloodline against his.

Somewhere in the world, Voldemort was out there waiting. And while Ginny held several weapons—advantages that he was not aware of—he still had taken more from her than she'd ever be able to rob him of. Being around Ron now was utterly unbearable. He was a brother only in name, not in feeling. She didn't know if the feelings were still there or if they were all gone. She doubted the latter, but her mind needed time to heal, including her magic. Her parents couldn't afford Mind-healers and the Headmaster would probably tell her to wait, on top of making the process highly uncomfortable for everyone. Now only Ginny had to hope that her magic would heal what Tom had broken.

She'd spent hours on end being around her parents and her brothers. Most of the time, this company included Hermione and Harry. It shouldn't have been so hard to be around them because Ginny still loved them. Yet she felt so separated from them. She was a part of them but then she wasn't and everyone knew it. Yet, they loved her all the same. They would die for her, just as she would die for them.

They had all changed. She'd changed, too.

Ginny didn't even notice the door to her compartment open. She was too lost in her thoughts, desperately hoping that the cool glass that her forehead rested against would lessen her migraine and rushing thoughts. Needless to say, it didn't for either. She barely registered the warm touch that enclosed her small hand, but when she looked down and saw the pale hand that covered hers, she couldn't help the small smile that touched her lips as she looked up into the eyes of Theodore Nott, who was seated next to her.

Ginny's mind reached out to his again, but this time, Theodore didn't notice her intrusion. When she withdrew from his conscience, she found herself being pulled into his embrace. He shared the same pain as she, for Voldemort had somehow taken his mother. They both knew that, should He ever return, that Voldemort would consume Theodore's future. Yet he still cared for Ginny, a girl he knew full well to be a blood traitor. Ginny knew that he no longer tried to understand his feelings; he just went with how he felt towards her.

There was a pull between them that even she couldn't ignore. At this moment, Ginny didn't want to ignore it, despite the fact that they could be each others joy and pain. None of that mattered, as he held her in silence. Theodore comforted her as she truly broke down for the first time that year. The world was bleak and full of suffering but at least being in his arms at that moment made her truly feel stronger. Nott would not forsake her, no matter who she would later choose to become.

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