AN: So, 7th Chapter and Riddle may finally make some more progress on his 'recruiting' with how the entire school is panicking over a cat's death. :D
Reminder: Writing in Diary, Tom/SI's Writing back, Parseltongue.
Warnings: Manipulations, Magic, Probably Violence? And whatever else I put in...
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 or 6.
Chapter 7: Hidden Moves...
As soon as Ginny returned I was incredibly lucky to be a book... Well, one that wasn't enchanted to truly speak like some could be otherwise I'd have likely revealed myself by accident and traumatized everyone with how hilarious I found the current situation.
Apparently, they took the whole 'brutality' of my show rather dramatically with the immediate implementation of the obvious rules of teachers and prefects having to escort students around along with ghosts tasked with watching their preferred areas.
'To think I'd call that tame, wonder how they'll view what I do once I'm out?'
Ginny?
Here I use my link to make her more compliant and concerned for me, most of my work on her has been for exactly this moment... Getting myself a dedicated 'guard' for my vessel/book in case I need to hide once again.
Splinters got himself a nutjob, I'd no such luck... But I was rather good with Mental Manipulations before merging and now I'd spent time removing most of her emotional 'bonds?' Ginny was unknowingly waiting for me to give the word and watch her work.
Yes, Tom? Is something wrong?
I've been thinking about all you have found on ghosts and believe I may have found a way to leave...
That's great!
But it requires your help.
Whatever you need Tom, I'll help however I can... Just as I promised when you helped me. :)
I'm glad, though what I'm about to ask will likely be pushing beyond what you believe owe me... I need you to find someone else to write in me.
Someone else?
Have I done something wrong?
Not at all Ginny, it's just I need to test something and it requires someone who's used my book... I could use you, but you're too important for me to risk Ginny.
I won't just ignore or discard you as your brothers have.
Do you promise?
You have my word Ginny, I'll never let you go. :)
I'll see who I can find for you.
You truly are the greatest friend a book could ask for. :D
Thanks, Tom.
I've got to sleep now, but I'll write tomorrow.
Remember I don't require anyone specific beyond being alone or overlooked and who you can easily get to write a lot... Maybe someone who's obsessed with something or someone?
Though if that's the case I'll expect to have my eyes bleached from whatever they write.
Erm... Tom? You're a book.
So?
You don't have eyes.
Then why do I see a pretty red-haired girl?
No response? That's what you get for bringing up my lack of eyes... I'm not above embarrassing people.
'Next time just play along with my delusions of eyesight.'
My link does however let me know she was rather happy with the rare compliment, even if she reacted with closing me so quickly and deciding to sleep.
As she drifted off to sleep I sent her a few thoughts of people that would be possible choices, but otherwise left her alone as I wanted to test who she chose and why.
'Wonder if she even realized how much she's changed to not even ask how they're needed to get me out?'
Within the book, a single sentence began to form, the closest I could get to speaking aloud...
I do good work. :D
...Next Day...
I truly hadn't expected much for at least a week before Ginny made any progress, or Hermione could no longer 'fight' my command... Even if I'd hidden it as a recurring thought she'd have trouble ignoring it.
So when I felt someone else using my pages to write a certain student's day inside? I was both surprised at not having Ginny at least warn me, but also eager to get out for a couple of days.
'No one will care much for a stalker leaving them alone beyond feeling relief after all.' And Colin was a major fangirl... Which I had little interest in repeating, so will be going the 'brute force' route of merely forcibly taking over and letting him suffer when I'm done.
All I'll likely need to do is ensure his memories have him planning some weird plot regarding his obsession, add some subtle compulsions and he'll never even question his magically drained state.
Now, this doesn't mean I immediately took over the kid's mind... I managed to ignore his poor writing up until he'd done thirty bloody pages on Harry Potter and how he was 'the best'.
'Seriously, why is the muggle-born more obsessed than the 'magic-raised' ones? Those who actually lost family members to the war?' Eh, at least it works in my favor with how fast he's handing himself over which combined with his eagerness to fit into this new world and embrace magic makes him unknowingly open to me... Not that he'd have much chance of fighting back even if he tried.
I waited until he was alone down some random corridor on his way to the Great Hall for Dinner? During his ramblings, he mentioned having snuck off from his group to empty his camera due to all the photographs he'd taken.
The instant he turned the corner and no longer had any portraits watching, or any ghosts/students likely to follow his body momentarily froze as I jumped from the Diary into his mind.
I wasn't interested in being gentle, unlike Ginny he had little future worth as far as I recalled... Just a worthless muggle-born of countless others.
...Colin's Mind...
His mind is... Simple. Chaotic. Weak.
Kids, never realizing the true threat of a weak unordered mind.
I first just stood there, surrounded by the swirling lights that made up Colin's life.
His every thought, memory, emotion, dream, and fear was all here for me to seize control over.
Which is exactly what I did, reaching out with what magic I'd managed to gain, both from the surroundings and from Ginny, Hermione, and Colin himself... His mind immediately tried to resist, but what could a child so young do when I had mastered the mind arts years before the Diary's creation?
When I'd been reduced to Nothing but my Mind for years?
In the end, his mind submitted and Colin was buried beneath my own, drowning in a state between reality and fantasy.
Just a few images were needed as his mind links them together for me, why risk my work being found and reversed if his mind naturally fills the blanks for me? No need to edit his memory when he's made to do it himself.
'Now, is this where I proclaim 'I'm assuming direct control'? It feels like it is.' Shame only I'll get that for almost two decades... Then I'd still only get that due to their ignorance of the actual world beyond their pathetic lives.
I really need to kill something.
...Back in the real world...
Ah, it's good to stretch.
I wasted a little time stretching my arms to get used to suddenly having limbs, I swear it's way too weird going from 'ghost' to 'living' at times.
Still, once I'd gotten used to my new body I went straight to the Great Hall as Colin had intended, but instead of wasting time on Potter I made my way to Ginny and took a seat beside her.
She didn't even notice me, instead she looked lost or distracted by something? Perhaps wondering about myself or Colin? Wait that is me now, so most likely me...
"Ginny? Do you mind if we talk? It's about The Book." My 'not at all cheerful' tone cut through whatever was on her mind and instantly made her snap her eyes to me and Damn, that look I know rather well... It's the 'If you Damaged my stuff you'll spend eternity begging for death' look or at least an eleven year olds version, though the slight obsessive glint I see is rather nice to know is there.
"Colin? If you've lost it..." Her voice was quiet, yet for such a young girl it was remarkably threatening.
'Wonder if it's due to having to deal with her siblings?' Gotta ensure you're not their 'easy target' like Ron after all.
'I'm so proud of my little minion.' Letting an easy smile form I quickly cut off that thought of hers as I raise my hands in surrender, no need to see how far she'd go just yet and definitely not before the majority of the school. I had some awareness of a few eyes on us... Shame they'd already lost their chance at saving her.
"Nothing like that I swear! I just wanted to return it and don't think there was a good place to do so with so many people, including your brothers." While she still looked tempted to draw her wand and start cursing, she gave a short nod and rose.
'Just keep walking, ignore the Old Man. I can't wave or kill him yet.' Well, I probably could give it a go but I want him to suffer first, and how better than right under his nose from within his most loyal supporters?
Strip away his followers and stab him in the heart, right up to when I actually rip it out.
No, I didn't have to stop my smile from turning rather sinister as I thought of my future plans for him...
...Second Floor, unused room...
I barely had time to close the door before Ginny had her wand 'subtly' drawn and stood facing me.
"Where is it?" While she'd kept her voice down in the Great Hall, here she had no need to do so, and what little control she'd had on her obsession was gone now that it seemed so close to being 'returned to her.
"Come on Ginny, don't say you don't recognize me." My tone taking on a more polite, confident tone I'd used favored before being trapped within the Diary. "And here I thought we were friends."
"T-Tom!?" Her shock made her release her grip on her wand, almost dropping it as she just stared at me in a creepily focused way...
"In the flesh! Well, technically Colins? But, it's mine for now." Smirking at her reaction I really didn't need her to get so cheerful about it and hug me though.
'Clearly, I need to work on her self-control... And get some bug spray if she's going to be like this.' Still, she did allow me to get out today so I guess she can have two seconds before I consider curses?
'Crucio or No Crucio?' Before I 'accidentally' did anything she finally, after several moments of waiting, jumped back as she suddenly felt... Embarrassed? I think that's right, but I'll check later on.
"But how! Was this your plan? Is it permanent? Is it safe?" Her questions just kept coming! Colin, why couldn't you be deaf? Holding up a hand I was amazed, relieved, and proud that she immediately stopped as she realized how she'd just been bombarding me without time to reply and began shifting and fidgetting nervously as I silently stared at her.
'Apparently, this is going to be one long day.'
"I'm glad you're so happy as I had thought you'd suddenly forgotten me, though I'd prefer you don't crush Colin's body as I do like being able to breathe with it." Letting my smile fade I decided I'd best get explaining before she explodes again.
"Now, I can't say exactly how I did this as I don't want anyone hurting you should they find out, but let's just say I'm in control while Colin... Sleeps?"
"So it's not permanent? What if Colin gets control? He could tell someone!" Aww, little Ginny thinks Colin is capable of doing anything... I could flood his mind with some of my own memories, I'm sure experiencing a world war won't hurt him too much right? Depends on if he's worth the effort as so far he's been completely passive since I took over.
"In order, no, it's merely so I could make sure you really were alright with all that's been happening. Have some faith in me Ginny, I doubt he's even aware of what I've done, and should he wake he'll believe he's been busy plotting more Potter Stalking, and if he tried telling anyone I've got complete confidence in you being there to stop him telling anyone." She really is easy to manipulate, just one of the things I look for in my recruits.
"So, what do we do now that you're out? Can we make this permanent?" How she's so quick to disregard everything to focus on me yet not to the point of mindless obsession... Unlike how Bellatrix turned out for Voldemort, I want Ginny and my other 'recruits' to be willing to question me over begging for attention.
Plus, she did bring up a relevant question, now that I'm out for at least the next week or so providing no one begins to become suspicious of Colin I have a few personal things to do concerning revenge, and this time I've got a willing helper who I am not using as a puppet to assist me.
"That depends, how would you like to assist me in sending some Howlers out?" I don't know why, but Ginny became rather scary with a rather vindictive smile that almost made me jealous... If mine wasn't obviously superior.
'I do look forward to when I can find out how he takes my letters.' I did say I say I wanted to do this and so long as I don't reveal who 'Colin' is he'll just throw a tantrum as an eleven year old muggle-born gives him the reality check he's clearly needed since I was locked up.
Now, how many quills can myself and Ginny get on such short notice without a source of money?
AN: I'm truly sorry for such a long delay as it's been a mix of the weather and health leaving me barely awake for an hour or two before I had to rest... Fun times.
This chapter was done a while ago, but I just lacked the time/energy to get it uploaded and spell-checked.
Still, I've finally got this out and the next will follow straight after.
Please let me know if I've missed any errors or could improve parts of the chapter as I'm not sure how well this has turned out.
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