Author's Note: Ginny, in this chapter, may seem like a total klutz, possibly due to the fact of what is happening to her, her confusion and everything. Please forgive that in these few chapters she is such a doofy lovehead, but understand this needs to be written. Besides, I got inspired by something. Oh, she has no visions/dreams in this chapter. But however, in previous chapters, she has had, please pay attention to those, they're there for a reason. ^_^; Read on.

Dorks, the frowns were because they admitted they were wrong. Don't worry. You didn't insult me or them. I did feel a bit bad, but it's all good now. Don't worry! ^_~

Chapter Eight

~Something unexpected~

Ginny entered Dumbledore's office; and to her surprise, it was where McGonagall's office was in her own time. Ginny blinked, looked around the room to see many contraptions that looked very interesting. And upon a perch was a phoenix, with beautiful red and gold feathers. She recognized it from the bird in which she had gone out of the Chamber in her first year, though she couldn't remember its name.

Dumbledore sat across from her, gazing at her through his blue eyes, and she felt like he was seeing inside of her. She gulped and looked at him innocently. He twined his fingers together and put his elbows on the desk.

"Miss Weasley, what does a young Gryffindor do in a Slytherin robe?" he asked. "I have reason to believe that you are indeed a Gryffindor; and that your name is not Virginia Evans… but Virginia Weasley."

Ginny almost fell down from the chair in shock but managed to stay politely confused. She didn't say anything. Dumbledore proceeded to explain.

"What I don't understand, is why you are here. My sources tell me you must be in 1997. Why are you on 1944?" he said. Ginny just stared at him. "You were brought back in time…. But by whom…?"

"I don't know, Professor," lied Ginny quickly. "I just woke up in this time."

"I believe you," said Dumbledore and Ginny felt a pang in her stomach. "But I shall send you back to your time. I just need to figure out how."

There was a long silence after that where Dumbledore just stared at her and Ginny just bowed her hear to the front in mock regretting. At last, Dumbledore stood up and stroked his Phoenix. Ginny stared at him.

"I'll ask my Head Boy to help us out. Merlin knows he can keep secrecy." He looked at Ginny and sighed. "You may go pick up your things. Meet us outside at the grounds, tonight at midnight."

Ginny nodded and left in a rush towards the Chamber. However, she got caught up slightly by the fact that she was feeling very sick and had to head to the third floor girls' bathroom.

When she went out of the stall in which she was in, she went over to the sinks to wash her hands and her mouth. She saw her reflection looking back at her. Her face was slightly green and her hair was tangled. She looked like hell. She had a big headache and cramps that made her want to beg to die. However, she stood still and closed her eyes, the pain eased out and the nausea died down.

Feeling a little better, and after washing her face several times, she managed to stilly walk back down to the Chamber.

When she got down she quickly made her way towards the office in which Tom was always. And as usual, she found him. But before she could take a step towards him, before she could speak, before she could even breathe: she fainted.

***

Events were coming back very slowly…a reflection on a mirror…water on her face…Tom Riddle…feeling ill and fainting. She shot her eyes open and tried to make out the blurry figure standing in front of her. When her vision cleared she saw Tom Riddle, very worried, but still indifferent. He touched her forehead and took a damp washcloth and put it on it.

"Dumbledore knows." Tom simply said while checking his watch and eyed a cauldron that lied next to the bed. A bitter scent came from it.

"I know," said Ginny hoarsely and moaned in pain. "What are we going to do? He's going to send me back."

"Leave it to me, I know what to do." He said; he then removed the cloth from her forehead. "What happened to you?"

"I don't know," she answered and sat up, she felt extremely dizzy. But she knew what was happening to her. Her visions always made her feel sick, but perhaps this had just been one time too many. Deciding to distract the subject, she asked, "What are you going to do, exactly?"

"I told you, I know what to do. It is none of your concern," he said coldly. "Dumbledore came across my way before I came down, he asked me for help, and while I got down here I thought of what to do."


Ginny realized that she wouldn't know anything else from the subject so she didn't pursue it. Instead she quietly watched him as he stirred the potion that was bubbling on the cauldron.

"What time is it?" she asked, he looked at her oddly and checked his watch.

"Eleven thirty," he replied "You've still got a half an hour to go before you have to go to Dumbledore."

She sat back onto the headboard of the bed and stared at the wall behind Tom. Her thoughts traveled back to when she had been eleven, in that same room; sitting in the same position, in a trance that even she herself couldn't recognize.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

She fluttered her eyes open and saw a figure of a boy, of about sixteen, with black hair and blue eyes staring down at her. He had a Hogwarts robe, but she had never seen him before. But since she was a first year, she didn't know almost anybody in that place. She shrugged and eyed the Slytherin badge on his chest. Her eyes widened and her expression hardened.

"Who are you?" she demanded in a tiny voice. He chuckled and looked at her.

"Do you not remember me?" he asked. He then pointed to the diary that lay open in her lap, she stared at the diary, and then back at the boy in confusion. "When you've talked to me so much over these past few months."

Her eyebrows rose very high and she couldn't find her voice. "T-Tom?" she asked, he nodded slowly. Her eyes widened even more and she choked a gasp. He sat down on the bed and picked her up easily, putting her on his lap, she didn't move.

"I've done enough for you," he said into her ear. "Now you are doing something for me, darling." She looked down to her knees, she saw they were pale, and his hand rested upon them. "It does no harm for me to tell you this. You have been a very foolish girl," he started "Your entries into my diary, they fed me and that's why I can be here right now. But, in order for them to be useful, I needed to give you something in exchange, my soul. Just as you gave me yours. But that won't matter much, you're already weaker. It's a pity to lose such a dark heart like yours, but it is something I need to do." He caressed her cheek with the back of his forefinger and wiped the silent tears that came down. "Did you write your farewell?"

She nodded gloomily, accepting the fate that awaited her, and preparing mentally for it. Long she had dreamed for Tom Riddle to come out of her diary, to hold her and take her to another place that was unimaginable. She wanted it with all her willpower, but he had come out of the diary, he was holding her, and he would certainly take her to a place that was unimaginable, but not where she thought he would.

She had fallen into a web of lies, seduction, and betrayal. He hadn't lied to her, he never lied. The diary did not permit him to. He always just twisted the lies in a way that they would be catalogued as truth, though they were still lies. He had never promised her such things; she just let her mind wander elsewhere. She had thought that if at least Harry Potter didn't have eyes for her, then someone would do. How mistaken she was… or was she?

She looked up at him and gulped, her tiny curls of red hair bouncing in the air. He was looking at her intently. He then rose from the bed, carrying her in his arms. She remained silent and did not resist, it would be even more foolish to do so, besides, she was feeling very weak. She did not know very well what had happened next, she just knew that he was putting her down on the floor in the center of the main room of the chamber.

She saw columns, snake statues and heard dripping and hissing. The chamber was whirling in a blur of opaque colors that dizzied her. Tom Riddle placed a single kiss on her forehead before placing her down completely. The only thing she could see clearly was his face; he was smirking down at her.

And then she heard his voice, very distant and with echo, "Harry Potter is coming, but it's too late." And that was the last thing she saw and heard before everything went dark and she hardly slipped into unconsciousness.

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ginny shook her head to shake off the flashbacks of what had happened so long ago and looked at Tom, who was now holding a goblet and handing it to her. She took it and eyed the insides of it.

"It will make you feel better," he said, she nodded and drank it all in one gulp. It immediately gave her a boost of energy and she felt thoroughly relieved.

"Thanks," she said and smiled. He patted her arm and stood up.

"I'm heading up to Dumbledore," he said. "Put on your Gryffindor robes and everything you came with. It won't raise suspicion."

She nodded and saw him leave; she began undressing and putting on her clothes. She sighed as she put on her blouse and her tie. Her thoughts drifted off to her own time, wondering that no one would even know she had been gone, nobody but herself, Harry and Hermione. And for one of the few times since she had been in that chamber, she truly wished that she was really going home.

***

"Ah, you're in time, Mr. Riddle," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling in the moonlight and checking his pocket-watch. Tom nodded politely and stood before him.

"You have explained to me about Miss Virginia Weasley, sir." Said Tom, "Might you tell me how you found out she was out of her time. I myself did not notice."

"I cannot reveal that information, Tom." Dumbledore said. Tom grimaced. "However, it was very kind of you to help."

"Of course, professor," said Tom "You very well know that I am very interested for the well-being of this school and its students,"

"Ah, I know that, Tom," said Dumbledore and beamed. "How is the studying for the N.E.W.T.s coming along?"

"Very good, sir," replied Tom, staring at the lake. "Now, who will be performing the spell to send her back?"

"You, Tom, I am here only to supervise." Dumbledore said. "I do not know how to perform that spell, and I might do it wrong. Causing, in fact, severe consequences by my doing, and we don't want to harm her. However, this whole ordeal must be kept under strict secrecy."

"Of course, sir,"

Perfect, thought Tom. If he were to perform the spell, it would be easier for him to do what he planned to do. He had no intention of sending her back; he had started to discover feelings for this girl. Unusual feelings that he dared not accept. However, she was willing to help him and he needed her for the Activation of the Chamber, as well as for other things.

His thoughts were interrupted as he saw her walking towards them, her small figure shaking slightly, but she looked determined and her step was steady. She stood before them, her hair was pulled back into a very messy ponytail; she had on her Gryffindor robes, her tie was left undone, her gray stockings reached up to her knees, and her skirt reached down a little lower than the half of her thigh. She locked eyes with him for a moment and her gaze reassured him.

"Miss Weasley," said Dumbledore beaming. "This is Tom Riddle; he will be performing the spell on you." Tom saw her nod briefly. "I'm sure you'll be glad to go back to your own time."

"Of course, professor," she said and smiled weakly. "I've been stuck here for too long, and I want to go back. It's driving me mad, professor."

There was more truth in these words than she attempted to show, Tom noticed this. He inwardly growled, but he understood. He was truly keeping her like this, and he blamed himself for it. Still, she wouldn't know that.

"Then we will be sending you back, may your trip be a good one." Said Dumbledore. Ginny ran and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you, sir," she said and stepped back a little blushed. "Sorry."

"Not to worry," said Dumbledore beaming, "You're just overexcited."

"Well, Miss Weasley," said Tom now, making Ginny jump shortly. "Will you please stand before me?"

Ginny nodded and stood face-to-face with Tom. Her eyes looked into his own eyes and he nodded briefly. He saw her hesitation and understood what was happening in her mind, he shook his head slightly. He put out his wand and held it steadily pointing it at her. She took a deep breath and sighed deeply, he saw her shut her eyes tightly. He replayed the spell in his mind and shouted it.

"REDITIO CONCLAVE!" he bellowed and watched Ginny disappearing from the front of him. Dumbledore sighed and placed a hand on Tom's shoulder.

"You did it," he said "Well done, Tom. Thirty house points for Slytherin. You should head to bed. It's a tiring thing."

Tom didn't say another word and left hurriedly towards the Chamber, hoping that his spell had worked at all.

***

Ginny opened her eyes reluctantly. The jolt from the spell had been a terrifying thing. She looked around the dim-lit room. She was lying on a bed; green drapes dangled from the wooden canopy above it. She propped herself up and stared around herself. She was in the Chamber, in the bedroom.

Had Tom sent her to the Chamber? Or to her own time, but to the Chamber as well? She blinked and stared around again, she then heard footsteps resounding in the walls, her heart started to pace faster and she saw in slow motion as Tom came inside the bedroom and shut the door behind him. He gave a relieved sigh and ran to the bed, sitting next to Ginny on it. He embraced her longingly.

"It worked!" he said and held her. "You're still in my time, mind you."

"Oh," she said, and she couldn't help but to feel disappointed.

"I know you wanted to go back to your own time," he said "I saw it in your eyes. You're disappointed that you're still here." He released her and she lied down on the bed again.

"Sleep next to me tonight," she said absentmindedly and not knowing why, either. He raised an eyebrow, but he began to lie down next to her.

"Tom," she said when he'd lied down next to her "I'd surrender everything."

"So would I," he said and turned towards her grabbing her right hand on both of his own. "You're the reason I go on. I reach to you, I know you can feel it to, we'll make it through."

"I still believe the thousand dreams I used to have." She said and put her forehead against his chest. She sighed against him and felt him wrap his arms around her.

"I'll make you give them all to me," he replied "I'll hold you in my arms, and never let you go."

"I'd surrender everything to you," she said. "I must give up this fear within, of what would happen if they ever knew I'm in love with you."

"I think we will find a way," he said. He then placed a single kiss on her forehead and she closed her eyes.

Disclaimer: The dialogue with the whole "I'd surrender" part was inspired by a song by Celine Dion, my muse, called—yes you guessed it—"I'd surrender" Those are the lyrics. They're a bit changed and out of order, but none the less, not mine. It was an inspiring thing. It's all fluffy and blah… but I dunno… I leave it there for the sake of the plot. Wait, is there even a plot? O_o;

These are the kind of things that make you wonder.

Review, please!

~Blue