After his conversation with Ginny, Tom kept replaying the memory of his Sorting. It had always been one of his favorite memories, but he hadn't thought about it too much. After a period of time in the diary, Tom had stopped reflecting on the past because it reminded him of the pain of being trapped in the diary. Instead, he had focused more on the future and what he would bring to the future. His conversation with Ginny had strengthened him even more. It is probably because she admitted her real desire to be in Ravenclaw only to me. Ginny's feeling behind the realization and the feel of secrecy was like a Healing Draught for him, and he had gladly basked in her feelings pouring through the diary, happy to finally get emotion from the girl. She has no sense of individuality, he thought. She only admitted her true desire after a lot of urging from me to think about what she really wants. She seems to have been following in her family's shadow for her entire life. If the obligation to be like family members and follow in their footsteps is the consequence of having a family, then I am glad that I do not have a family. I would never want to live up to my filthy Muggle father. I am much different from him, much better than him, and I am happy that I get to create my own path. His mind wandered back to his Sorting. He remembered the eager anticipation at finding out his House, the excitement at finding out where he'd belong, and the impatience that he felt since her was near the end of the line. Though he knew what he thought of himself, he remembered being curious about what the Hat thought of him. Tom fondly remembered the Hat's words to him. He hadn't told Ginny everything the Hat had said. "Ah, Salazar Slytherin's heir is finally here," it had started. "You have a sharp mind. You're cunning too. You are ambitious, and are willing to prove yourself. Yes, you are the true picture of Slytherin and do indeed live up to Slytherin's hopes for an heir even though he'd have been displeased with your Muggle father. Your sharp mind, cunningness, and ambition will get you far in life. You will be great one day. The house for you is...' Since that day, Tom had resolved to live up to the Sorting Hat's words. He swore that he would be great and he would complete Slytherin's noble work to help start a better future and make his ancestor proud. He clenched his fist in determination to continue that after he was out of the diary when he realized something strange. He was actually able to clench his fist! He looked down and noticed that his body's outline was more prominent. It had more of a shape, so that now he looked more like a ghost than a mere faint outline. It must have been Ginerva's excitement about Hogwarts combined with her confession about her relevation, Tom noted. Thank you, dear Ginerva. You are bringing me back to power. Everything that is happening is because of you, and Lord Voldemort never forgets those who serve him well. Tom wondered if Ginny was at the Sorting ceremony now. He wondered if she was feeling the same way as he was. He could feel a faint trickle of impatience and anticipation, and he figured that they must be coming from Ginny. He could feel her hands wrapped around the diary, clutching it tightly, and he was surprised that she had carried him with her into the Great Hall with her instead of stuffing him in her suitcases or even her robes. She must want me to be with her when she goes up to the front and tries on the Hat. After all, I am her best friend, and she probably does not want to face this alone. Tom felt somewhat pleased at that. He remembered the dinner he had eaten after his Sorting, remembering the taste of the juicy chicken and the flavor of apple tart melting on his tongue. Tom felt the diary open, snapping him out of his thoguhts, and felt Ginny scribbling furiously in it.
"I'm in Gryffindor. The Sorting Hat decided that I had a noble, courageous heart. But I don't think I'm noble or courageous at all!"
"Well, if the Sorting Hat said that, then he must see something you do not see. Besides, people often do not know their full capabilities until they are put in a situation that requires their capabilities. Tell me Ginerva, have you ever been put in a situation where you needed to be brave?" There was a pause as Ginny thought about the question.
"I've never been in danger, if that's what you mean, but if I can't face Harry confidently, if I panic at the sight of him and lose my nerves, then how can I face danger with courage and nobility?"
"But my dear Ginerva, confidence and courage are two completely different things. Confidence is belief in oneself, while courage is something that enables you to face difficulty, pain, or danger without fear. You do not necessarily need to believe in yourself to face danger. Sometimes, the thing that gives people courage is a lack of consideration for themselves in the face of something greater. Maybe you have that." Courage, Tom scoffed internally. Courage is dangerous. More often than not, courage stems from a lack of self-preservation. Careless, reckless Gryffindors, so valiantly willing to put their lives in danger to fight an opponent, even when he is considerably stronger than them. In the beginning, when I first rose to power, I remember that it was the Gryffindors who fought me first. Of course, they all fell like a stack of cards. And that was bound to happen, seeing as they were facing me. He thought about what he had just told Ginny. Well, by the definition I gave her, I suppose I technically have courage because I never have fear of my opposition, but that is a result of careful planning and decision-making so that I always come out on top. Gryffindors do not have that clever cunningness that allows them to face danger with guaranteed victory. He felt the quill scratching the paper, and Tom realized that he had missed part of what Ginny said.
"-so much Tom. You have no idea how much that reassured me. I was actually scared that the Sorting Hat didn't sort me correctly, that it just looked at me as another Weasley without seeing who I was, what I was like." Tom knew that it was impossible for that to happen. The Hat was created by the Founders, and its job was to Sort students into Houses based on their individual traits, so it cannot fail. But Tom realized that Ginny had just admitted that she really was scared of being seen as a mere extension of her family. Ginerva has no idea how much she's helping me with each sentence of hers.
"Do not worry, Ginerva. The Sorting Hat is created specifically to look for each student's individual characteristics to Sort them. That is its job, and it was created by the very Founders of Hogwarts to complete its job. Do you think a creation of the Founders can fail?"
"No, I suppose not."
"I am sure, Ginerva, that one day will come when you will prove, to yourself and others, that you do indeed belong in Gryffindor."
"Thanks Tom!"
"You are my friend, dear Ginerva. Of course I will be always be here for you." I need to come up with something different to say soon. This line is starting to get a bit old. Though from the feeling I can feel through her hand on the diary, it's still just as effective on her. "Now tell me, how was the feast?"
"Oh, it was amazing! All of my friends were Sorted into Gryffindor with me, so we all sat together and laughed and talked and had a good time. We have our own little group now. It's Pallavi, Colin, Andrew, and I."
"What are their last names? I am curious to see if I knew any of their grandparents."
"Wow, that's right, I forgot how old you were! Well, Andrew's last name is Williams, and Pallavi's last name is Patil. Colin's last name is Creevy, but you won't know his grandparents since he's Muggleborn." She is associating with Muggleborns? Tom shook his head. Of course she is. She's a Weasley, part of the biggest blood traiter family there is. I remember the Williams and the Patils being big blood traitor families too. I'm actually quite surprised that Ginny seemed not to know them before the train ride because when I was at school, the Weasleys were friends with the Williams and the Patils. They were all prominent, rich pure blood families. Maybe their friendship deteriorated in correlation with the Weasleys' wealth. From all of Ginny's complaining, it seems as if the Weasleys no longer retain their earlier wealth. Not surprising, since they always had huge families, and Septimus Weasley wasn't the brightest.
"Yes, I've heard of them. I remember that they were in my year at Hogwawrts."
"Were you guys friends?" Wow, I can't believe that I can feel her eagerness. She must be very eager, as if the prospect of me beng friends with them is actually interesting and exciting. I would never associate myself with blood traitors if I could, but even that notwithstanding, how does it matter to her? How could she really use that information? He saw a great potential for pulling out the pity card, however. I hate that I, of all people, have to not only accept pity but seek it. Lord Voldemort, reduced to accepting pity? After I gain my own body and am alive, I will torture Harry Potter for doing this to me. I will find out how he did what he did, and then I will kill him. Then no one can defeat me.
"No," Tom replied. He tried to hold back his thoughts, and then realized something. Wait a minute. I am always trying to hold back my true thoughts from Ginny with the fear that she will either read them in the diary or that she will feel them. So if I purposely try to feel a certain way and project those feelings, then maybe she can pick up on my feelings the way I can pick up on hers. He decided to try it out. "No, we were not friends. I had wanted to be friends with them, but they had never liked me. I always saw them casting dirty looks at my robes, so I think it was because I was poor. I think they also hated me because I was a Slytherin." Tom tried to imagine that he was talking to Ginny in person, and pictured himself putting on an air of deep sorrow at the thought of being alone and not accepted. It was quite difficult since he had to rely entirely on his ability to fake emotions because of his lack of ability to use facial expressions. He was having a hard time suppressing his anger at not being accepted. They have no right to not accept me. Me, Lord Voldemort! No, no, focus. Focus. He waited tensely, unsure of what Ginny had picked up, or if she had picked up anything at all. Sure enough however, he could feel a strong thread of sadness and sympathy wrapping around him.
"Oh, I'm sorry Tom! I understand how you feel. I think it's the same for me. I've seen the looks of disgust some people give my hand-me-down robes and books. The only difference is that I get resentment from the Slytherins simply because I'm a Gryffindor." You're so dramatic Ginerva, Tom thought. At least you only get resentment from one house. I got it from three houses. The Slytherins were the only ones I could use until my fifth year, when I became Prefect and my looks charmed all those stupid girls. Of course, my looks were a good asset to have because they served to compound my already angelic image. I mean, after all, people like Crabbe or Goyle could never look angelic.
"Perhaps the similarities in our lives allow us to understand each other so well. You understand me, and I understand you. I feel like I can trust you. Do you trust me, Ginerva?"
"Of course I trust you Tom! You're the best friend I've ever had. You understand me so well. I feel so comfortable talking to you. Sometimes I don't even feel this comfortable around myself. And of course you can trust me Tom! You have no idea how much you've done for me, and I hope that I can do the same for you in any way I can."
"Your friendship means so much to me. It is my beacon of light in my dark times. Please, just promise me one thing."
"Anything, Tom."
"Promise me that you'll never stop writing in the diary. Please, just promise me that. Promise that you'll never leave me."
"I promise, Tom. I promise." Tom didn't have to use Legillimency to tell that she said this with honest, pure conviction. But Tom could also feel something else. Hesitation. He felt hesitation, as if Ginny wanted to say something but was trying to hold back. "It's just that"... Ginny trailed off.
"What? You can tell me Ginerva, don't be scared."
"Will you ever leave me?" Tom was reminded of the fact that she was still a timid eleven-year-old girl.
"Of course not. How could you think such a thing? How could you think that I would do something so preposterous as abandon you? I promise you, Ginerva, that I'll never leave you. I will be by your side, with you until the end."
"Thank you, Tom." Tom could feel her delight and sheer happiness, enveloping him in the diary. Her heart seemed to be welling with emotion, and it poured into the diary, threatening to suffocate and drown Tom in its sheer strength. At the same time, however, Tom could feel himself getting stronger, as if Ginny's emotions were his own personal Elixir of Life. I don't need that Sorcerer's Stone when I have Ginny, he thought. Tom let the emotions swallow him up, basking in its strength and absorbing it as his own. He heard a faint yawn that seemed to come from outside.
"Tom, I'm really, really sorry, but it's late. I think I'm going to sleep. But I'll talk to you tomorrow, I promise. Good night, Tom." Tom could feel Ginny about to close the diary, but he stopped her.
"Wait," Tom hurriedly wrote. "Please, don't close me just yet. Could you fall asleep while holding me open? I think I'll find it comforting." I feel quite strong. I think I may be able to attempt possessing her.
"Of course, Tom. As a matter of fact, I think I'll feel good too." As Tom felt Ginny rest the diary on herself, he pictured himself "jumping" from the diary, and found himself actually leaving the diary and landing in Ginny's mind. As Tom came to his new surroundings, Ginny's eyes shut and she slumped forward. She lay there, still.
A.N. Hey guys, sorry it's been so long. This will probably be a trend b/c high school takes up a lot of time and my classes + extracurriculars make me very busy, but I'll do my best. As always, feedback is appreciated!