Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, it is the property of the brilliant J.K Rowling. This story is the product of her marvellous characters and world and my imagination.

Any review or constructive criticism is welcome. Enjoy the chapter.

Studying Potions

Tom apparated them directly to her room and the instant he let go of her she fell to the floor, consumed with grief, sadness, anger and crying her eyes out. Tom eyed the display with distaste and she heard him speak in a lofty voice, "honestly Ginevra, you are above all those sad excuses for wizards and witches, you will be the most rewarded in my new regime. Do you not look forward to it?"

Red rimmed chocolate eyes met cold red ones, "I never asked for this Tom, I didn't want it at all. You were supposed to be my nightmare, not my reality. I want my family and friends, people I love."

Tom sneered, "love is overrated Ginevra and I'm sure you will soon adapt to your new life, it isn't like you're going anywhere anytime soon." With that he disappeared out of the door, leaving the broken girl on the floor pining for those she loved.

She dragged herself around the room, going through the familiar motions of getting ready for bed in an attempt to ease her morose mood. Lying down on her bed once she was done she finally managed to stop crying and then she was angry. It was Him who had caused all this and one day he would pay. She would not sit idly by and let things be, she would act, be it silently or in full view.

But first she would sleep and rest her tired body and mind, ready to plan the next day. With that comforting thought she fell asleep quickly and for the first time since she had arrived at the Manor she slept without dreams haunting her thoughts.

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She woke early the next morning, feeling much better after a good nights sleep free of a constant loop of Dean's last moments. She'd formulated a plan standing there in the forest clearing while listening to Dumbledore's parting words to her.

Snape was the only potion master in Tom's group of death eaters and so if she asked to continue on studying potions he would be the only one Tom would trust with her. There was the problem of Ginny then supposedly knowing Snape was a death eater. She knew she'd have to act surprised to see him there, angry too, but still wish to learn potions.

She was sure Tom was positive she wouldn't be leaving until the war was over and therefore would be unable to reveal Snape as a traitor to the Order. Of course he wasn't actually a traitor and she knew it but there was no point mentioning that little part to Tom.

She should definitely wait a few days to ask him, it would seem suspicious to ask him straight after they'd returned from seeing her loved ones. She would act quiet, grateful with a hint of sadness he hadn't let her stay with them and then ask him in a few days.

With the positive thought of being able to get some news on her family and friends and send messages back, as well as the possibility of a familiar face, she smiled. It was her first genuine smile since she'd been kidnapped, if you discounted her seeing everyone the night before. Yep, she would get out of there if it was the last thing she did.

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She spent the next four days doing much the same as she had between the time she had been captured and Dean's death. Apparently the visit to the clearing to say her goodbyes had signalled the end of her punishment and she was allowed out of her room again, though the only place she ever went was the library.

She practiced new spells on her own, delighted each time they worked and determined to try again until they did if she failed first time. She'd also come across an interesting discovery during her reading on patronuses, the steps required to send a message to someone with a talking patronus. She'd seen Order members use them a few times, but had never gotten the chance to ask them how they did it.

She still hadn't mastered the speaking patronus spell, even after days of trying. The wand movement looked simple but was incredibly complex and finicky. Still, she kept trying, though it was not of a huge importance yet. She knew when, or if, she saw Snape then it would be easier to send and receive messages through him. Plus, she did know the talking patronus' were only to be used in emergencies and luckily she had not had one of those as of yet.

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The evening of her fourth day back from the clearing came and she dressed extra carefully for dinner, for she would try and ask Tom about potions. Her dress showed just a little more cleavage than normal, not enough to make him think something out of the ordinary, but enough to make an impression. She'd also applied her makeup and done her hair with more care than normal.

When Tom had arrived as usual to collect her he had seemed taken aback for a moment, looking her appreciatively up and down and murmuring to her, "even more beautiful than normal Ginevra." He had then forgone his customary kiss on the hand for one on her cheek, lingering there just a bit longer than was proper and then taking her arm in his to escort her downstairs.

They were over halfway through dinner when Ginny finally broached the subject of potion lessons. "Tom, could I ask something of you?" she asked in a deliberately subdued tone. Tom smiled a little, "that depends on what it is you wish to ask Ginevra."

She took a deep breath, "when I was in school I always used to enjoy potions, having such power at your disposal and the complex art of brewing." She was lying through her teeth but she didn't care as long as it worked, "I've started to get bored since the only place to do anything is the library and I just wondered if you had a potions master that I could learn from. Something to keep me occupied for some of my time."

He seemed to be contemplating her request, this was the moment of truth and he could see through her façade and punish her and possibly Snape for it. She breathed a sigh of relief when he gave her his answer, "I believe that could be arranged Ginevra, only a few hours a week mind you, I do not have any wish to share you with anyone else." He smirked, "you will be surprised with who shall teach you I am sure, you know him I believe and shall be shocked to see him here."

She looked curious to him, but inside she was jumping up and down with happiness, he had to be alluding to Snape and that meant the plan was working. "I shall discuss it with him," Tom told her, "he will agree of course as I command it and your lessons shall start next week."

She thanked him with as much politeness as she could muster for Lord Voldemort and once dessert was over she headed quickly to her room. Once she arrived she actually did jump up and down in her room for joy, but she was careful not to say something out loud, who knew if her room was bugged. Still, she was excited and couldn't wait for the next week.

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The week passed by much as the previous ones of her captivity had, though rather slower than she wished. She guessed it was the desperate want for the day of her potions lesson to come that had time seeming so slow. She also had to make sure she never let slip to Tom just how much she was looking forward to the lessons, he would know something was wrong and then it would all have been for nothing.

Then the anticipated day finally came and Ginny could hardly contain her eagerness to begin. She met Tom for breakfast as usual, but instead of her heading back to her room, he took her to the potions lab kept in the Manor. She pretended to look curious, as if she didn't know who would be teaching her and she was relieved her acting skills were up to par as Tom suspected nothing.

When Snape stepped out of the shadows as Tom announced him she played her part perfectly. Tom had to hold her back to stop her hitting him and she hurled abuse about him being a traitor to the Order and a lying, conniving snake. Tom merely smirked and Snape's face remained passive, though she could detect a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"So Ginevra, now you know Severus' true loyalties are to me do you still wish to have your potions lessons. Ginny looked down and made a great show of consideration before muttering under her breath, "yes Tom, I still wish to have the lessons/"

He smiled at her, obviously believing that her boredom and thirst to be active outweighed her supposed hatred of Snape. "I shall leave you two to work then, " he spoke in a bored tone before directing his next statement to Ginny, "I shall come to fetch you in three hours Ginevra." Then he was gone and Ginny was left alone with her old potions master.

Snape beckoned her forward with his hand and they headed towards an inconspicuous wooden door hidden in the shadows. Once they had both entered the room the door closed and she got a good look around; it was similar to their dungeon classroom, but less desks and more equipment.

She turned to Snape, unsure about what she was to do and he answered her questioning look with some clipped sentences. "As I'm sure you're aware Miss Weasley, we are both doing this in order to pass messages to and from the Order and yourself. We must only speak of such things within this room as I have placed all the necessary precautions to be sure we cannot be overheard. Since your potions work was adequate when I taught you then you will assist me in some of the less volatile potions I brew whenever you are here and we aren't discussing Order business."

He paused to allow her to take it all in before continuing, "obviously I don't need to remind you of the severe consequences for both of us if the Dark Lord should discover what we are doing and so you must ensure that your occlumency shields are always up to par. Do you understand."

She nodded, "yes Sir, I understand perfectly." He gave a short nod, "then let us begin."

As you can probably guess, as I always say it, the next chapter should be up in a few days.