Chapter 9:

When Tom Riddle was a young boy, his mother, unable to care for him any longer, dropped him off at Wool's Orphanage in London. All she left him with was one ring, which later cracked (he ended up tossing it), a small black book with the silver emblem of a snake on the outside of it and a dingy, brown, cheap velvet box. He kept the diary, although his mother had never written in it. Once, when he was a boy and full of fanciful thoughts, he thought the diary could somehow talk to him if he wrote in it. But no matter how much he wrote, it never did. Tom soon grew tired of "expressing" himself in it as the orphanage therapist often instructed him, telling the young boy that words were the "gateway to knowing himself."

As if he hadn't known himself already.

Tom didn't know where the diary had ended up after his stint in prison, but he knew where the velvet box was. He had entrusted it to Lucius and told the other man to take the utmost care and protect it at all costs.

It now sat on the metal table in front of him, and Tom studied it, pondering its contents a bit more.

When he had first seen the item as a child, it had confused him at first. But then…then he had felt the power. Just the smallest jolt of something otherworldly, and he had known. He had known that one day the item and he would have a great destiny with each other.

He reached for the box and opened the rusty lid. He had never once considered buying another container for it. He had tried to research what kind of material the stone was and had minimal information. It was basically what it looked like – a stone, almost glass-like in appearance and dark black in color. It was clear and smooth, with only the slight trace of markings on one side that no one could quite make out, and it appeared as though it had been cut to be completely perfect. As though done by the most delicate glass or stone cutter in the world.

Whenever he held it in his hands, he felt complete. Whole. As though everything was right in his world.

It was such a disarming feeling for Tom that he rarely touched the stone, but today, perhaps… he picked it up and held it towards the light, and closed his hand slowly around it. He shut his eyes. The whispering he always heard when he touched the stone grew louder and then quieted, once again, as he let the stone fall back down into the box.

The stone meant power. He knew it. He just needed to find a way to release it and take it as his own.

Their newest disciple, Severus Snape, was a master of chemistry and had said he may know of a way to help harness the stone's power. If they perhaps chiseled a small slice of the glass for an elixir…

But all of that would come later. Now he had other things to do. He smiled as he thought of his Ginny. He wondered if she had cried to her lover over him. Wondered if she shivered at the mere thought of him coming back into her life.

He knew he needed to go slow, and he really shouldn't have called her – but Tom could not resist. The old, itchy, needful feeling she always brought out of him was dying to be filled. Other girls had never come close to creating the type of emotions within him that Ginny had. At first, he had thought it was because she had rejected him so soon into their acquaintance. He later realized it was because she was the key to everything he desired.

Power, sovereignty, dominance, and oh, yes, a minor thing called magic.

Little Ginny Weasley was the key to his plan to bring magic back to their mundane, humdrum world.

And maybe later, when his plan had come to fruition, she would thank him. Perhaps even Harry Potter would thank him.

If they survived.

Tom smiled to himself and put the velvet box into his wall safe once more, locking the stone and his desires away. For now.

o-o-o-o-o

"Ginny?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you want to do with these?"

She looked at the pile of old cookbooks that Harry was holding and frowned. She'd never really used them all that much. But they had been given to her by her Mum, so…

"Put them with the other books we're boxing up for storage, I think. Or, no, wait, see if Hermione wants any of them?"

They were using one of their precious Saturdays to pack up her flat. Dora and Remus had finally moved out of Harry's house, and true to his word, he had asked her to move in with him the next day. Of course, there was still renovating to do, but Ginny thought saving money on her flat would come in handy for that when the time came. Sirius would still be living at the house, but she had a feeling they wouldn't be seeing him all that much.

It was four weeks until Harry's uncle's wedding and two weeks since Harry had slipped his ring on her finger. The weekend prior, they had told everyone related to them, and she knew that soon it would be time to tell her co-workers. But Ginny wasn't going to worry about that now.

Ron came back in from taking a few boxes down to the van they'd rented and put his hands on his hips as Harry hefted the books into his arms.

"Did I just hear you say 'see if Hermione wants any'? Please, Harry, for the love of all that is pure and good in this world do not ask my wife if she wants more books. We don't have the room. I'll soon be out on my arse because she's decided to use my study for her things. It's the only place I have left for me."

"Oh, honestly, Ron," Hermione said, catching the tail end of what he'd been saying. "You over exaggerate, as usual. Here, let me see those, Harry. Are you sure you don't mind, Ginny? Moving into a new kitchen with Harry might make you wish you could experiment more."

Harry met her eyes as they both recalled their various ways of experimenting in the flat's kitchen, and then they both looked away, trying not to laugh. Ron noticed and looked between his sister and his friend.

"I don't even want to know. Honestly, Hermione, really?" Ron noticed his wife pulling a few more books out of the box, and Harry rolled his eyes at them as he came over to her. He slipped his hand into hers and kissed her cheek.

"Think we should do some more, or are we done for the day?" he asked as he pulled away.

Ginny shrugged. They were almost done, actually. Just a few more bits and bobs and then they'd do a nice final clean, and she'd be officially moved out of her flat. She'd done it before, of course, back during the whole Riddle business, but she'd really grown to love the Phoenix's Roost. But beginning a new life with Harry…that definitely trumped it all.

"They probably want us to buy them dinner," Ginny said, indicating her brother and sister-in-law. "And it's only fitting since they gave up one of the weekends for us."

"Too right you are, sis," Ron said, appearing to give up on stopping his wife from nicking more books. "I'm definitely feeling peckish. Should we meet you two at the Dragon?"

"Yeah, that sounds good," Harry said. "I haven't seen Hagrid in a while. We can tell him about us." Harry looked at Ginny as he held up her hand, the sapphire ring winking in the sunlight. "He'll probably throw an impromptu party, and all the drinks will be free. But I'll insist on paying anyway, and we'll get into a proper row and then eventually Norbert will break it up and take half the money. Hagrid will blow his nose with a big hanky, hugging us both."

"Well, now I don't want to go," Ginny chuckled. "You've ruined the whole thing."

"You two are nutters, certifiably so," Ron said, shaking his head. "But twenty quid says Hagrid makes you pay from the get-go, Harry."

"Ron, don't gamble," Hermione said, standing up, her arms laden with books. Ginny didn't think there was much left in the box now and smiled at the other woman.

"Thanks, Hermione, this will be easier to box up now."

The other woman smiled and then hit her brother on the arm, making him take some cookbooks from her. "Well, let's say we meet in about an hour? I really want to shower first. I feel sweaty and dusty, no offense, Ginny."

Ron rolled his eyes and looked at his sister. "Well, do you have any crisps or something I can nosh beforehand then?"

"I don't know, mate, the cupboards are pretty bare," Harry said, looking around. They had moved most of the food staples to his house already. "Oh, wait, here's a box of biscuits. Uh, they're a bit old."

Ginny shook her head at her brother as he took then from Harry and hugged Hermione as they headed towards the door. "Thanks again for helping today. We couldn't have done it without you. You're the best organizer I know."

"Of course. Are you and Harry staying here tonight, or is tonight the first night in the house?"

"The house. Sirius moved into Harry's room and gave us his since it's the biggest. I feel bad for kicking him out, but he insisted."

Hermione nodded sympathetically but then grinned at her, strangely waggling her eyebrows. Ginny realized the other woman was trying to be sly.

"So, where are you going to do it first, to, you know, to christen the new place?"

Ginny snorted and glanced back at Harry and Ron. "Hermione, I'm shocked. Well, not really. Didn't you tell me you and Ron did it in every room?"

Hermione giggled, which sounded uncharacteristic for her, but Ginny decided she liked it. It wasn't often her sister-in-law allowed herself to be silly. "We did. I still have dreams about what we got up to in the loft." Hermione pretended to swoon.

"Please, I beg of you, nothing more. That's my brother we're discussing."

Hermione gave her a wide grin. "Yes, and he does very well in confined spaces."

Ginny mock-shuddered and Ron came up behind them as they headed downstairs. "Do I even want to know what you two were just talking about?"

"No," both of the women said together, and then laughed. Ginny looked behind her for Harry and saw that he was bringing another box down with him. Always so thoughtful, that was her Harry. He loaded it into the van and pulled the door closed, locking it. Ron and Hermione got in their car and waved at them. Harry stood next to her, putting his arm around her shoulders.

"Were you two really talking about having sex in the attic?" Harry asked as they walked back upstairs.

"Maybe," Ginny said, laughing. She stretched and then sneezed. Maybe Hermione had a point about cleaning themselves off. She looked at Harry. "Your house doesn't have a loft, does it?"

"Actually, it does. Terribly small area, though. Not much room for…wait, is this about that 'we have to do it in every room' thing you mentioned to me the other day? Something about making the house ours, officially?"

Ginny smiled as she went into the bedroom, pulling her shirt off as she walked. She paused and saw Harry's eyes focus on her breasts and laughed as she slipped her jeans down her legs. "How about we make use of the shower that's here one last time?"

"Hmm," Harry said, moving towards her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "Sounds like a plan."

They kissed, and Ginny sighed into him, his hands already cupping her breasts. They could be a little late for dinner. Surely her brother wouldn't mind too much?

o-o-o-o-o

A few days later, Ginny was driving home from a lunch date she'd had with Hannah. She almost forgot where she lived and had turned to head to her flat, but managed to get back into the traffic flow and use the roundabout to get back on track to Harry's. No, stop calling it that. It's your home, too. Harry said. And so did Sirius.

Shaking her head at herself, she drove through the more suburban area of Godric's Hollow and started humming along to the radio. She should be at work, but Ian (really Harry, she knew) had convinced her to take a personal day and rest from all the packing and unpacking she felt like she'd been doing nonstop. Having lunch today with Hannah had proved to be the balm her soul had needed, and Ginny felt in much better spirits.

She started to park alongside the street next to the house when she saw Sirius waving her in. She pulled Pig into the drive and rolled down her window to see what he wanted.

"I cleaned out the other side of the garage, Ginny, pull right on through," Sirius said, bending down to grin at her. She nodded and maneuvered Pig next to Harry and Sirius's Jeep. It was a tight fight, but her car was small enough to just make it work. But only just.

Sirius waited for her as she shimmied herself in between the two vehicles. She smiled at him.

"Thanks for that, I really appreciate it, Sirius."

"It's going to be your house soon enough. You may as well stop parking in the street like a salesperson. Although I think I should convince Harry to get a smaller thing to drive so you can actually breathe in there when you get out of your car."

"Breathing is for wimps," Ginny said cheekily, and Sirius barked a hearty laugh.

"How was your lunch?" he asked as they headed inside.

"It was nice. Hannah is a great person. I feel bad I never made an effort to get to know her before when all that stuff was going on."

"You shouldn't be too hard on yourself, I imagine Hannah would say the same. You had a lot going on."

Ginny nodded, not really wanting to talk about it, so she changed the subject as they entered the house. "Where's Harry?"

"Went to the shops to get something for dinner. Zee and I are going to London for a few days so you two can nest like a proper couple and not worry about the big, bad Godfather walking in on you."

Ginny snorted at him as they automatically went to the kitchen. It was funny how she now just ended up there, like Harry often did, to either get a coffee, which Sirius always had going or to put the kettle on. She grinned at Sirius when she saw that he had already done that for her.

She pulled one of the cups down from the shelf and started making her tea as Sirius leaned against the counter next to her.

"You haven't walked in on us once!"

"Yes, and what a travesty that has been for me," Sirius said, winking at her. Ginny shook her head.

"You're a nutter, I can see where Harry gets it."

"His father was half a nutter, too, so Harry was actually doomed before the start."

"Surely, his Mum evened it out a bit?" Ginny said as they moved to the table. Sirius grinned as he grabbed a box of chocolate biscuits and waved them at her. Ginny nodded her head in agreement.

"Lily was the worst of us because she looked normal, but trust me, that girl could get into some mischief. Remind me to tell you and Harry about the time she hid all of James's pants from him because she was in a strop about him missing one of their dates. He had to go to class regimental, if you know what I mean, for almost a week! But she took pity on him, in the end. Ah, Lily was a fine lass, always full of good cheer. I wish you could have met her. Met them both, really. I think they would have really taken to you."

Sirius sounded bereft suddenly, and Ginny took a sip of her tea while he fiddled with the biscuits. After they each enjoyed one, Sirius gave her a lopsided smile.

"Sorry, didn't mean to go nostalgic on you. It's just…with Remus and Dora finally getting married and now you and Harry, I just…I just really miss them. Sometimes I almost envy Harry, his lack of knowing them, as awful as that sounds. I know he misses them, but he never really knew them. For me and Remus, sometimes the pain is…too close. Harry's pain is from lack of knowing, but ours comes from knowing what we lost."

Ginny reached out and put her hand over Sirius's, gripping his fingers tightly in hers. Sirius finally pulled away and avoided her gaze for a moment. Ginny snagged one of the biscuits out of the box and handed it to him.

"Here, chocolate is good for the merriment of the soul. Or something like that. It'll make you feel better if we eat this whole container."

Sirius gave a weak smile. "All right, but don't tell Harry I'm the reason his dinner is a bust."

"Mum's the word," Ginny said, winking.

After a moment, Sirius finally met her eyes and gave her a full smile, grabbing another biscuit. "Bet I can eat more than you."

Ginny counted the biscuits left and nodded her head at him. "Be prepared to lose, Black. I'm a champion biscuit eater from way back. And I've trained on bigger biscuits than these paltry things."

"Harry's gonna kills us," Sirius said, laughing as he grabbed two more out of the package. Ginny shrugged.

"Harry doesn't have to know. This will just be our own private little contest."

"Oh, my godson has chosen wisely, indeed. What does the winner get, by the way?"

"The loser has to pay for all of the biscuits for the next…six months?" Ginny asked as she started to eat two more. "We should keep track of it too, maybe a chart? We'll have to be on the honor system, of course."

"Of course," Sirius said, nodding his head. "Contest runs from now until…the wedding?"

Ginny nodded as she bit down on another biscuit. She vaguely wondered if she should start running once in the morning and once in the evening now, to help offset the extra calories she was sure to be eating. Sirius continued, oblivious to her inner struggle to remain healthy.

"All right, but let's make it biscuits for a year, and you're on, Weasley. And not the cheap, dodgy kind either. The good stuff."

"And the winner gets to wear a tee-shirt, made by the loser, of course, that says Biscuit Champion," Ginny added after they shook on it.

"I take a size large, by the way," Sirius said nonchalantly.

"I take a size small."

"Not after eating all those biscuits, you won't!" Sirius guffawed, and Ginny grinned, shaking her head. She was going to like living in this house a great deal – she could already tell.

o-o-o-o-o

"Are you feeling all right?" Harry asked her after dinner as they settled on the front room sofa, ready to watch a movie.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?" Ginny asked as she flipped through the collection of DVDs they kept under the coffee table.

"You didn't eat much at dinner, that's all."

Ginny hid her grin and tried to play it off. "I had a whole plate full of pasta, Harry, and you know it. It was delicious."

"Hmm, I'm just used to you having seconds, I reckon."

"Well, I do have to stay fit and trim for the wedding, you know," Ginny said lightly, holding up the film she wanted to watch. Harry nodded his head, and she got up to put it into the machine.

Ginny settled into his arms as Harry clicked off the lamp that sat next to the sofa and the opening screen of the movie appeared. Harry kissed the top of her head.

"I've got chocolate biscuits hidden in the cupboard, should I get them?"

Ginny bit her lip and shook her head. "Uh, actually, I think Sirius may have taken them with him to Zee's. Something about how they were her favorite brand or something." She glanced up at him.

"Why would Sirius take my biscuits instead of just stopping to get his own?"Harry frowned in confusion.

Ginny looked away and gave a shrug. "Maybe he didn't want to stop? And anyway, don't worry about them, I'm full, and the film's about to begin. Oh, I didn't know Catherine Tate was in this one. I like her, she's brilliant."

"She's ginger, so that goes without saying," Harry said, laughing, seeming to forget about the biscuits for the time being. "I thought you wanted to watch this because you fancied that bloke."

"Well," Ginny said, stretching her legs out to get more comfortable. She grinned because she couldn't help herself. "I definitely wouldn't kick James McAvoy out of bed for not having any biscuits, if you catch my drift."

Harry snorted and pulled her closer. "I'll get some more tomorrow."

"Get two or three," Ginny said causally. "And let's hide them from Sirius this time."

If Harry thought it was odd that she wanted them to keep all the biscuits to themselves, he didn't mention it, and they soon became engrossed in the movie. Ah, Sirius, Ginny thought, score one point for me.

o-o-o-o-o

As they got ready for bed, Ginny emptied another one of her boxes marked "bedroom" and put the last of her winter clothes in the wardrobe's bottom drawer. Harry was stretched out on the bed, one of his many mystery books in his hand. His glasses were half-slid down his nose, making him look extremely adorable. But she pursed her lips at him as she carried to the box to door to get rid of it in the morning. He hadn't said one word about her evening attire. She lay down next to him and waited for him to finally notice what she was wearing. When he continued to read, Ginny sighed dramatically and stretched her hands above her head.

Harry eventually lowered his book and looked at her, his eyes going a bit wide as he finally took her in. A low whistle escaped his lips. "What's the occasion for the new nightie?"

Ginny smiled and moved closer to him. "No reason. Just you know, we're here. In your house. Alone." She let her voice dip down a bit lower on that last bit and smiled as Harry's cheeks turned a pinkish hue.

"We've been in the house together for a week and been alone a couple of times now, Gin."

Ginny shook her head. "Honestly, I move into your house, and already the romance has left our relationship, Harry. I thought we could at least coast until after the wedding."

Harry snorted and finally put down his book. Ginny grinned and climbed into his arms as he held them out to her.

"Are you trying to say I'm neglecting you by reading before bed?"

"Never," she murmured as she shifted on top of him. His hand ran down the length of the nightgown she'd put on.

"I like this; it's silky. And sexy," he said after a moment, and she could tell that he did indeed like it by the sudden poke of something against her stomach. Ginny gave him a sly grin.

"I thought you might."

"Are you attempting to seduce me then? Is that it?" Harry said, lifting her hair up to work his fingers through it.

Ginny shifted again and smirked at him. "Attempting? No. Succeeding? Oh, yes, definitely. Your body gives you away every time, Harry."

Harry chuckled and then suddenly wrapped in his arms around her. He turned them over quickly so that he was looking down at her. Ginny took in a deep breath as her head stopped spinning. She grinned at him.

"Hello, there."

Harry moved his mouth down to her neck, kissing her in precisely the right spot, and Ginny couldn't help but make a half-moaning noise of pleasure as she turned her head to the side to give him more room.

"And your body gives you away, Red," Harry said, pulling back again to look at her. "You're quite flushed."

"Am I? Hmm." Ginny worked her hands around his neck, pulling him down to her. She paused as they gazed at each other. Harry's green eyes made her heart catch as she lifted his glasses off. "You won't be needing those where you're going, Mr Potter."

Harry smirked and kissed her. He started moving his way down her body, his hands already pushing up the nightie. Ginny sighed happily as his dark head lingered on her breasts, and she put her hands in his hair, loving the soft, luxurious feel of it.

His breath felt hot against her skin, and she shivered, and when he reached her sex, she tried not to blush any further, knowing he'd just smirk at her again for being so eager. She shifted her legs apart, sighing as his fingers found her body's rather obvious enjoyment of what he'd been doing and relaxed back on the bed, already feeling quite done in.

As Harry began his loving of her, Ginny could only cling to him in response, her legs wrapped around his head. She moaned his name in heated whispers. But when she came, she cried out, her voice remarkably loud, and she grinned to herself as it echoed through the house.

Harry propped himself up above her sometime later and smiled down at her. "Liked that, did you?"

"I think you could tell."

"I think the whole neighborhood could tell."

"Let's finish this someplace else?"

She threw her arms around his shoulders as he chuckled and sat back. "What do you reckon?"

"Do you think the kitchen table can hold us?"

"I'm game if you are," Harry said, laughing. He pulled her off the bed, and they kissed. Ginny tasted herself on his lips and felt a thrill shoot through her.

"From behind?" She asked as she winked at him.

"I am never not going to love living with you," Harry said, sounding happy. "You have the best ideas."

"I'm just getting warmed up," Ginny said as she turned to him. "Let me tell you about the plans I have for Sirius's workbench in the garage."

"Ginny?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

Ginny pulled him down the stairs and turned to him as she entered the kitchen. She walked backward until her backside hit the table and smiled at him. She turned and then put her hands on the table, testing it. Flicking her hair over her shoulder as she bent forward, she gave Harry a heated look.

"Come over here and prove it, then."

And he did—quite a few times. And Ginny loved him right back.

o-o-o-o-o

"Lucius mentioned you knew the Potters, Severus?"

They were walking around the grounds at the Malfoy manse, and while Tom could recognize the beauty of it for what it is was, it still left him cold. It was pretentious in some parts, with the white wandering peacocks Lucius preferred just the start of it. He did not, nor would he ever understand the idle rich. But he would happily use their money, of course.

"I knew the mother. She and I were…we were childhood friends. I had no use for the father."

"You are not the first person to tell me that," Tom murmured, thinking of Pettigrew's dislike of the senior Potter as well. "Although I do believe your reasons are deeper than mere schoolboy jealousies."

Snape flicked at an imaginary piece of lint on his dark coat and looked Tom in the eye. "It could be that others disliked him for being an annoying prat who always got his way. And while that is part of it, I believe he is why my friendship with Lily Evans was never rekindled. I have never quite…forgiven him for that."

"So you hold no feelings towards the boy? He does, as they say, look a great deal like his father, and I have seen the photos to prove it. But the mother's eyes…surely you feel better knowing that there is still a part of her alive within him?" Tom chose his words carefully. It would not do to allow Snape into their inner circle if he carried sentimental feelings for the child of his boyhood love, and he had an idea that they both knew that. Snape struck him as a completely cynical and logical man, and he would be good to have on their side, but only if he could keep any maudlin feelings about the past at bay.

"I do not, my lord," Severus said, his voice soft but firm. "I am completely at your disposal, through and through. I do this because I believe in your cause, not to settle an old score."

Tom let a bitter smile fill his face as he looked at the other man. "But Severus, those who are, are usually the most dedicated at their cause. I may be more inclined to believe you if you told me that hurting the son of James Potter would be satisfactory to you."

The other man blinked at him, once and then again, before looking away. There was a slight frown on his countenance as he appeared to be thinking. He looked at Tom with a surprised gaze.

"You surprise me, my lord, I must admit. While I admit a certain feeling may exist in me about hurting Potter's son, I am, after all, human, there is also my belief that you are right. There is something off about this world that we find ourselves in. If what you believe is true, that magic is our birthright, and if it has been taken from us, then I will support you until the end, or the truth is uncovered. No matter who or what is in the way."

Tom nodded, and they continued walking. There was a lonely cry from one of the wandering birds, but it did not sound sad to Tom. No, it sounded as though another piece had fallen into place. The man at his side would be a good ally – he was cold, logical, and forthright. And Tom would make sure to use him to his utmost efficacy.

o-o-o-o-o

Author's note: a few britishisms - "going regimental" is another way of saying "going commando", fyi, also, what we usually call attics, they call lofts, basically a small, confined space for storage, not a type of apartment, and while we might rent a truck to move, they sometimes call that a van. A lorry is something altogether different. Just thought I'd be a geek and point those out, lol