"'Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where it keeps its brain'," Ginny muttered to herself as she watched the arched entranceway between the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley form. Her father had been right - she knew that. She'd been stupid, naïve, and thoughtless, and she knew that as well. But for all the horror of that nightmare year, there had been one thing she could count on, something that she'd never had before. ..someone to confide in. Someone to whom she could pour out all her troubles, and who could never gossip about those troubles to anyone else. A friend, a confidante, who would always love her, and never judge her. ..Tom Riddle had seemed to be all of that. But, just as her father had said, she couldn't see where he kept his brain. Not this time, though, she promised herself. Not this time.

Taking a deep breath, Ginny strode through the doorway, blinking in the sudden change from dark gloom to glaring sunlight. She'd thought this through, long and hard. Somehow, she didn't think she could bring herself to trust another human again - let alone share all her secrets with one. And keeping a diary, or even a journal, would just plain be a bad idea. But there was one more option.

Fred and George had apparently gotten their hands on some gold during the last term, Merlin knew from where, and they had deigned to share a bit of the wealth with their little sister. Two Galleons worth of wealth, in fact. It wouldn't seem like much to most of the wizarding world, Ginny knew, but it was more money that she'd ever had, to spend just by herself. Glancing at her watch, she quickened her pace, almost jogging along the cobbled streets, before she came to a stop in front of the shop she'd wanted. A triumphant grin began to creep across her face as she reread the name on the sign: 'The Magical Menagerie'.



((Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and a big thanks to my one reviewer ~_~.))