a/n: hello, all. sorry for the delay as well as the length of this chapter. Longer apology's at the bottom, along with a nice little sneak peek into the next chapter...
Chapter X: Riddle
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Ginny tried to sleep that night. Actually accomplishing that task, however, was another matter that could not be resolved. She stayed up most of the night thinking about what had just happened to her. She picked up her journal from underneath her pillow and looked at it in disgust. She was sick of it. Diary or no, it was something that would always remind her of Tom, and she didn't need that right now, not when Tom was back, now, here, in Hogwarts. She took out her wand, used it to levitate the diary, and then burned it in midair. She watched the flames devour what she once used as a means of escape, what was once used to write crappy teenage angsty poetry to make herself feel better and to forget about her past. But she could never erase the past. Not while Tom was a part of her present, and, unfortunately, future.
Finally Ginny got up, took out a piece of parchment and a quill, and began to write a letter to Harry, wherever he may have been at the time. She started the letter out explaining that she was okay, had gotten back to Hogwarts alive and well, and that she hoped he was all right. She explained the situation with Tom staying at Hogwarts as 'Paul Elddir.' She explained that if she were injured, Tom would be injured in the same way, and if she were to die, Tom would die, and vice versa. She ended the letter saying that she was in no danger because of this, and that he shouldn't worry about her, just tell the ministry that Voldemort's back and to do something about it… without getting her killed. Ginny thought about the fact that if Tom were to die, she would, too, and since she wanted Tom dead, this was quite impossible. And if there were really no other way to stop Tom without her dying… maybe that was a risk she'd have to take.
Ginny pondered over her letter to Harry, over how to stop Tom, and over many other things, before she sealed up the letter, tied it to her owl's leg, and sent it off into the night. Then she went to bed, and it took her a while before she actually fell asleep, but it happened.
On Sunday morning, Ginny went down to breakfast to find the entire Gryffindor table crowding around Tom. Tom was talking animatedly about something or other, getting everyone to like him even more, undoubtedly. Romilda Vane was practically swooning. Only Tom noticed Ginny walk in. He stopped his little speech and smiled at her, motioning for her to join him. She groaned inwardly and kept walking, towards the Ravenclaw table. She sat next to Luna.
"Hullo, Gin," Luna said with a smile. "What's all that about over there?"
"Oh, just Tom-I mean Paul- showing off," Ginny said. Luna raised a brow.
"Do I detect jealousy?"
"What?" Ginny said. "No, of course not. I don't care if he has the entire bloody school's attention. Doesn't bother me in the slightest."
"Ginny," Luna said, "Why don't you just tell him if you don't like it? You're his girlfriend, aren't you?"
"Lu, please. I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone. I don't want anyone to know we're dating, okay?" Ginny lied. Luna nodded. It was bad enough that Tom's back, Ginny thought, but to have to keep up the pretense of being his girlfriend? Ew.
"Sorry," Luna said. "But you know, I think you're real lucky to have a guy like Paul." Ginny just laughed.
"Yeah, I know," she said. Except that guy over there, showing off? Yeah. That's not even Paul. That's Tom Riddle, a.k.a. Lord Voldemort. Not exactly boyfriend material.
"So… what'd you think of Anthony?" Luna asked.
"Hm? Oh. He seems nice," Ginny replied. Luna looked disappointed.
"Just nice?" she said. Ginny thought about it.
"Well," she replied, "he's pretty cute, actually. You know, Lu, how is it that you have a cute boyfriend and I've been single since last year?"
"So you took a break; who cares? It was hard for you to move on after Harry. But at least you have Paul now. Now that I think about it, Paul's perfect for you. He's charming, intelligent, popular, incredibly good-looking…"
"I know," Ginny cut her off. Paul was perfect. Except he was a clone of someone else. And that someone else just took him away from me forever.
"Hey, weren't you supposed to meet Harry yesterday? Did you see him at all?" Luna asked.
"Oh yeah," Ginny said, "We had a little reunion."
"What happened?"
"He basically apologized to me for not being there and we decided that we'd be just friends. And you know what? I'm perfectly content with that. In fact, I couldn't be more satisfied." I really am satisfied, Ginny thought. Harry's such a wonderful friend to have; of course I'm satisfied. I just want Paul back now. Please.
"That's good," Luna agreed.
They ate their breakfast, talking occasionally. Ginny mostly stared over in the direction of the Gryffindor table, watching Tom gain more and more fans. Romilda would smile at him and laugh whenever he said something funny and twirl her hair and try to look cute in front of him. This made Ginny laugh on the inside because, although it annoyed her and she hated it when Romilda hung all over Paul, the fact that this time it wasn't Paul but Tom who she was trying to impress was hilarious. Tom would never give Romilda a second glance. He wouldn't give anyone a second glance. No girl deserved such an honor from him. He was so pompous, so vain, so arrogant, Ginny thought.
The fact that no one seemed to notice a change in Paul's behaviour almost surprised Ginny, even if Tom did have all of Paul's memories. It couldn't possibly be that easy to pretend to be someone else, especially somebody who's your polar opposite. Then again, Tom could just be a great actor. He was certainly good at deceiving people. However, why did it seem like Tom had such a knack for being Paul? Is it because he and Paul are, in fact, similar? Ginny wondered. Their personalities do have some similarities, but the two can't be compared any other way, she thought. For one thing, Paul is not evil. And Tom is certainly not capable of love, like Paul is. And… I want Paul back! Ginny sighed. Then she sent a death glare in Tom's direction and he must have felt it telepathically or something, because he turned his gaze towards her and gave her a mock-smile. She rolled her eyes and looked away.
Ginny spent most of the day avoiding Tom, which didn't seem to be a problem since he had a crowd following him everywhere he went and he could never be left alone. That evening, when she was in the common room playing a game of chess with Dennis Creevey, she saw Tom finally get the crowd to disperse. It seemed he had something to discuss in private with Romilda. Ginny could not tear her eyes from the pair, unable to help wondering what they were talking about.
"Ginny? It's your turn," Dennis said. She nodded and looked back at the chess board. Then she heard Romilda giggle. She looked back at them.
"Really?" she heard Romilda say, while glancing over at Ginny. Uh oh, Ginny thought, why did Romilda just look at me? What's Tom done now?
"Ginny," Dennis called, "it's your turn. …Are you okay?" He asked.
"Oh," Ginny said, turning her attention back to their game. "Yeah, I'm fine. Where'd you go?" Dennis pointed at his rook, which he had just moved into a lethal position near her king.
"Dennis, you're supposed to say 'check' when you're one step from getting my king," Ginny pointed out.
"I did," he said. "You weren't paying attention."
"Well, I… How did this happen, anyway? You almost have me defeated," Ginny said.
"I know. You know there's something seriously wrong when you lose to me at chess, Ginny. You're not going easy on me, are you?"
"Dennis, I always go easy on you and you still lose. But this time, I really don't know what happened…"
"You're distracted, that's what. Now, what's bothering you so much that you can't even beat me at chess?" Dennis asked, concerned. Ginny sighed.
"I don't know; I'm sure it's nothing. Here," she nonchalantly moved her queen in the way of the king, leaving Dennis' rook to take it.
"Checkmate," Dennis said. His rook knocked her king over and the game was done.
Ginny shook her head, shrugged, and looked back over at Tom. His little conversation seemed to be over as Romilda walked away from him and towards her friends. Tom was walking towards Ginny now, a grin gracing his handsome features. She groaned inwardly; what could he possibly be up to now?
"Hello, love," he greeted her and sat beside her on the couch. He briefly examined her and Dennis' finished game and then looked at her questioningly.
"Oh, so what? I lost a game of chess. One game," she said.
"Two, if you count the last one you played with me," he said. With Paul, not with you, you pompous piece of filth, Ginny wanted to say.
"I wasn't even trying anyway. I went easy on Dennis, like I always do. Right Dennis?" Dennis looked between the two, noticed the sparks flying between them, and deemed it better not to take sides.
"Whatever," he said. "I think I'll go… finish my homework," he said, and left. Ginny turned to Tom.
"So, I noticed you and Romilda had a pleasant little conversation just a few minutes ago. It makes me wonder: what would a dark lord be doing talking to some boy-crazy gossip queen girl for?" Ginny inquired. Tom smirked.
"My my, Ginevra. You seem to be doing a lot better than yesterday. You're not cowering before me now. I'm proud of you," he said. Ginny's face reddened for a moment, then she regained confidence.
"Look, Tom," she said boldly, "We are not on your turf here. We are in my school. Here, I'm Head Girl. That means I make the rules, and you listen to them, okay? I am not your prisoner while we're here, or anywhere else, for that matter. Got that?" Tom just laughed. And laughed. And laughed. Ginny's face reddened.
"Okay," she said, "That wasn't meant to be funny, you know. …Okay, Tom, stop laughing now. …Enough!" She had to hit him with a pillow several times to shut him up.
"Ginevra," he said finally, grabbing the pillow from her hands, "I am not here to keep you as a prisoner. I am here to make sure you don't get killed, or go blabbering to the ministry of magic that I'm back. I'm not telling you what to do otherwise, so there's no need to boss me around. I'm not giving you any orders, and in the same way, I don't take orders from anyone. So don't for once think that I am going to listen to you." His face darkened. "However," he said, "If I find you are contacting the ministry, I'll have to see that you're punished." Ginny shuddered. Then, with a happier tone, he said, "But you yourself told me that wouldn't be a problem, so there should be nothing to worry about, right?" Ginny nodded silently. "Good."
Just then two 5th year girls walked by, whispering to each other. They looked at Tom and Ginny, and then giggled. Ginny distinctly heard the words "they" and "dating." She turned to Tom.
"Do those girls think we're going out?" she asked. He shrugged.
"Maybe some boy-crazy gossip queen old them," he said with a sly grin. Oh my god, Ginny thought, he must have told Romilda we were dating! The whole school must know by now! I'm dead… Suddenly, making sure the same girls were watching, Tom leant down and placed a kiss on Ginny's cheek. Ginny was in too much shock to move. Immediately, the 5th years began whispering to each other more animatedly.
"T-tom…" Ginny said once she had gotten herself together, "what did you do that for?"
"It was just a show, Ginevra. Don't flatter yourself. Like I said yesterday, I have to keep a close watch on you constantly. It's better that they think we're a couple. And that also means that you have to act the part and show me some respect. If you behave like a fool in front of me, people will talk," Tom explained.
"People already are talking! They're going to think I'm the Hogwarts whore!" Ginny said. Not something I want to happen. And I certainly don't want you kissing me. Or coming within ten feet of me, for that matter.
"You're not a whore, Ginevra. And don't worry about what others think of you. Didn't I teach you about that back in your first year? If you live your life always trying to impress people, you'll never get anywhere. Just be yourself, no matter what anyone says."
"I suppose you're right," Ginny said. Tom smirked.
"I'm always right, aren't I?" Ginny yawned in response. "Oh, I'm putting you to sleep, am I?" he said.
"Sorry. I'm just a little tired."
"It's late, Ginevra. Go to bed, you need your beauty rest," Tom commanded. Ginny nodded and obediently got up.
"You know, Tom," she said tiredly, "I actually sort of miss having you around to take care of me. That's not to say I'm glad you're back, because I'm not glad you're back, but…" Another yawn.
"I think I know what you're saying," Tom responded with a smile, "And I'll just take it as a compliment." Ginny yawned again. "Good night, Ginevra."
"Good night, Tom."
Yeah I know, I take forever to upload, and then I come up with this uber short crap chapter and a crap ending for said crap chapter. I'm terrible, aren't I? But I just wanted you to get used to Tom being back before I moved on with the story. And to make up for leaving you with such a short chapter, I'll give you a
CLUE ABOUT THE NEXT CHAPTER:
Draco Malfoy makes his appearance.
I know there are plenty of Draco fans out there, so I hope you'll enjoy. And, um, if you really love Draco, review. If you hate him, review anyway. If you love Tom, review, too!
