"Ginny Weasley and the Memory of Power"
by Jedi Amoira
***********
Disclaimer--If you see anything you like, it ain't mine, so please don't you sue. I have borrowed from JK Rowling, the movie scripts, and my fellow fanfic writers, and I hope they realize this isn't intended as theft, but as imitation--the sincerest form of flattery.
A/N--I may not own it, but I worked hard and I loved it...if you read it, please tell me what you think! Also, please respect my hard work and don't print or post this elsewhere without my permission!! Thanks. :-)
My Thanks to Bill who caught the mistake about Ginny's age...I meant for her to have her 11th birthday in November--I hope I've corrected it now. :-)
**************
Ginny found the book half-tucked into her second-hand copy of "A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration". Confused, she picked it up and began to flip through it; it looked like someone's diary, but they'd never written in it in spite of the fact it was quite old. "Poor thing," Ginny mumbled sympathetically. "You just need someone to appreciate you."
Secretly, she would have preferred something more attractive herself, but a diary was to confide things in, not to look pretty. Shrugging, Ginny added ink to her quill and wrote the first words that came to mind on the appropriate date.
--What I need is someone to talk to-
She stared at the sentence in wistful silence, wondering how someone who lived in a house full of people could be lonely. She had raised the quill to put as much on the page, but her previous sentence had begun to dissolve before she could, fading away as if it had never existed. Ginny stared, wondering what she should do, but before she'd really gotten started, the words reappeared. Only, she realized with an odd shock of amazement and something she couldn't name in the pit of her stomach, they weren't the same words.
--I have waited for years with no one to talk to-
Ginny blinked.
--It sounds as if we need one another-the diary prompted.
Quill poised over the parchment, Ginny hesitated. -You're not really mine. I'm not sure I should keep you. I've never heard of a diary that writes back before, so you must be kind of valuable-
--I would like to think so, but obviously the person who owned me didn't feel the need to keep good track of my whereabouts. You know what they say. Finders, Keepers-
--Even if that's true, I still don't know anything about you-Ginny wrote, aware of a strangely surreal aspect to arguing with a book that was--more or less-empty. -I don't think I'm comfortable telling my innermost thoughts and secrets to a stranger-
--Strangers are the best people to tell secrets to; their opinions don't matter-the diary contradicted smoothly.
Ginny stared at the stark words. They made an odd sort of sense she found strangely attractive. Something about their appeal bothered her, though...
--But if it makes you feel better, I'll introduce myself. Tom Riddle, at your service. And you are?-
--Ginny Weasley-she wrote automatically, and almost regretted not having thought about it. To distract herself from worrying she added -Tom? Shouldn't you be a girl?-
--A girl? Why?-
--You're a diary. Aren't most diaries kept by girls?-
--Maybe, but what's harder to find? A girl who's willing to listen, or a guy?-
Ginny grinned. -You've got a point.-
--Exactly. You need a male perspective and I need company. So go on-
--I don't know about this-Ginny protested, sighing. -But I'll give it a shot. After all, I was going to write 'What I really need is someone to talk to, but this diary will have to do-
--And you got exactly what you needed?-
Ginny grinned. The written words somehow sounded exactly like her brother Bill. --Can't resist bragging about yourself, can you?-
--Life Lesson #1, Ginny Weasley. It's never bragging to know your own worth-
Ginny considered that and nodded. -Someone should explain that to Ron-
--Ron? Is he your boyfriend?-
--No, he's my brother. Mum says I'm too young for a boyfriend, because I'm only 10-
--And what do you think?-
--I-I'm not sure. There's this boy-
--Tell me about him-
--We were on Platform 9 3/4 last year when I saw him for the first time-Ginny lifted the quill, staring at the words as if she could see the scene all over again. -I'd gone with Mum to see Ron off on the train because it was going to be his first year at Hogwarts. He thought he was nervous, but I didn't know how I was going to get through an entire year without him. And this boy walked up and tried to ask Mum how to get onto the Platform...-- Ginny blinked against threatening tears. It was an unremarkable incident, and she was a little embarrassed to be affected so strongly, even though she knew no one could see. --He had the biggest, most trusting green eyes I'd ever seen, but they looked sad at the depths. I just wanted to hug him and tell him everything would be okay. And he had dark hair that was rumpled like he'd just gotten out of bed-Ginny swallowed another little sigh at the way Harry's hair always made her want to touch it. --Mum told him how to get onto the train with Ron, and I knew I'd never see him again and I had to talk to him at least once, so I wished him good luck. When Mum and I found Fred and George (my older brothers, they're twins) on the Platform, they told us the boy was Harry Potter and I knew that was why he looked so sad. I wanted to go and find him so I could tell him I understood, but Mum said he wasn't something to gape at, and she was probably right. I have a huge family and he lost all his. How could I understand how he feels?-
--Quite a story. But you talk about this Harry Potter as if he were famous-
--Well, he is? When were you published? Haven't you heard about the Boy Who Lived? He defeated the Dark Lord-
--After my time, I'm afraid. He sounds quite ambitious. A Slytherin is he?-
--A Slytherin? Harry?-
--Harry? So you met him again, then?-
--Well, yeah-Ginny was acutely aware of the blush simmering through her face to the tips of her ears. -As it turns out, he was in Gryffindor and he became friends with Ron. Apparently they had all sorts of adventures together, along with a girl named Hermione. You should hear Ron talk about them- If half those stories were true Harry Potter was every bit as smart and sensitive and likeable as she had thought, and a great friend. -Anyway, Ron brought him to visit-
--Ah! Now we get to the interesting part!-
--I didn't know he was here, and when I saw his face I turned around and ran right upstairs again! I was in my nightdress! I must have looked ridiculous-
--I'm sure he hardly noticed. He was probably too worried about making a good impression. Besides, shy girls are adorable-
Ginny's blush deepened. -Thanks, but I'm not usually shy.-
--All the better. Guys like to know they have an effect. -
--Really?-- Ginny frowned bemusedly, tucking the information away to ponder later. -Anyway, I heard Ron tell him that and he mentioned I'd been asking about Harry all summer!-
--If the boy is famous he probably assumed that's why you were interested-- Tom suggested reasonably.
--Maybe. But he showed up yesterday morning while I was eating breakfast-
--Not that surprising, Ginny. You said he's staying at your house.-
--Yeah, but I was so...so...---
--Overwhelmed?-
--Sort-of. Overwhelmed by his face that I accidentally knocked my porridge bowl off the table.-
--He didn't make fun of you, did he?-
--Of course not!! But he didn't have to. I blushed from head to toe.-
--Blushing can be an incredibly troublesome affliction, but with any luck you'll grow out of it.-
--I hope so. But that doesn't help me now.- Ginny glanced away from the diary as if trying to escape her fate, then re-inked her quill with a sigh. -Then Fred and George had to go and tell him how poor we are.-
--Did he seem surprised? Taken aback?-
--Well, no. I'm sure he knew, but that doesn't mean we have to advertise, does it? He just asked me if I'd be starting school.-
--What did you say?-
Ginny was suddenly afraid the heat from her face would set her room afire. She wanted to crawl under the bed and hide. -I put my elbow in the butter dish-- she wrote reluctantly.
--Points for creativity.-
--Just what I wanted.--- Ginny made the ugliest face she could manage. -He hasn't said much to me since, probably afraid of what I'd do.-
--He'll come around, Ginny. You sound like a very attractive girl.-- The nature of her blush seemed to change. Ginny shifted in her seat uncomfortably.
--Thanks. I'd better go, it's almost time for dinner.-
--I hope we'll talk again soon.-
--Don't worry, we will.- Ginny started to leave the room, stopped in the doorway, turned back and stashed the battered little diary under her bed. Feeling much better, she clattered downstairs to the table.
by Jedi Amoira
***********
Disclaimer--If you see anything you like, it ain't mine, so please don't you sue. I have borrowed from JK Rowling, the movie scripts, and my fellow fanfic writers, and I hope they realize this isn't intended as theft, but as imitation--the sincerest form of flattery.
A/N--I may not own it, but I worked hard and I loved it...if you read it, please tell me what you think! Also, please respect my hard work and don't print or post this elsewhere without my permission!! Thanks. :-)
My Thanks to Bill who caught the mistake about Ginny's age...I meant for her to have her 11th birthday in November--I hope I've corrected it now. :-)
**************
Ginny found the book half-tucked into her second-hand copy of "A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration". Confused, she picked it up and began to flip through it; it looked like someone's diary, but they'd never written in it in spite of the fact it was quite old. "Poor thing," Ginny mumbled sympathetically. "You just need someone to appreciate you."
Secretly, she would have preferred something more attractive herself, but a diary was to confide things in, not to look pretty. Shrugging, Ginny added ink to her quill and wrote the first words that came to mind on the appropriate date.
--What I need is someone to talk to-
She stared at the sentence in wistful silence, wondering how someone who lived in a house full of people could be lonely. She had raised the quill to put as much on the page, but her previous sentence had begun to dissolve before she could, fading away as if it had never existed. Ginny stared, wondering what she should do, but before she'd really gotten started, the words reappeared. Only, she realized with an odd shock of amazement and something she couldn't name in the pit of her stomach, they weren't the same words.
--I have waited for years with no one to talk to-
Ginny blinked.
--It sounds as if we need one another-the diary prompted.
Quill poised over the parchment, Ginny hesitated. -You're not really mine. I'm not sure I should keep you. I've never heard of a diary that writes back before, so you must be kind of valuable-
--I would like to think so, but obviously the person who owned me didn't feel the need to keep good track of my whereabouts. You know what they say. Finders, Keepers-
--Even if that's true, I still don't know anything about you-Ginny wrote, aware of a strangely surreal aspect to arguing with a book that was--more or less-empty. -I don't think I'm comfortable telling my innermost thoughts and secrets to a stranger-
--Strangers are the best people to tell secrets to; their opinions don't matter-the diary contradicted smoothly.
Ginny stared at the stark words. They made an odd sort of sense she found strangely attractive. Something about their appeal bothered her, though...
--But if it makes you feel better, I'll introduce myself. Tom Riddle, at your service. And you are?-
--Ginny Weasley-she wrote automatically, and almost regretted not having thought about it. To distract herself from worrying she added -Tom? Shouldn't you be a girl?-
--A girl? Why?-
--You're a diary. Aren't most diaries kept by girls?-
--Maybe, but what's harder to find? A girl who's willing to listen, or a guy?-
Ginny grinned. -You've got a point.-
--Exactly. You need a male perspective and I need company. So go on-
--I don't know about this-Ginny protested, sighing. -But I'll give it a shot. After all, I was going to write 'What I really need is someone to talk to, but this diary will have to do-
--And you got exactly what you needed?-
Ginny grinned. The written words somehow sounded exactly like her brother Bill. --Can't resist bragging about yourself, can you?-
--Life Lesson #1, Ginny Weasley. It's never bragging to know your own worth-
Ginny considered that and nodded. -Someone should explain that to Ron-
--Ron? Is he your boyfriend?-
--No, he's my brother. Mum says I'm too young for a boyfriend, because I'm only 10-
--And what do you think?-
--I-I'm not sure. There's this boy-
--Tell me about him-
--We were on Platform 9 3/4 last year when I saw him for the first time-Ginny lifted the quill, staring at the words as if she could see the scene all over again. -I'd gone with Mum to see Ron off on the train because it was going to be his first year at Hogwarts. He thought he was nervous, but I didn't know how I was going to get through an entire year without him. And this boy walked up and tried to ask Mum how to get onto the Platform...-- Ginny blinked against threatening tears. It was an unremarkable incident, and she was a little embarrassed to be affected so strongly, even though she knew no one could see. --He had the biggest, most trusting green eyes I'd ever seen, but they looked sad at the depths. I just wanted to hug him and tell him everything would be okay. And he had dark hair that was rumpled like he'd just gotten out of bed-Ginny swallowed another little sigh at the way Harry's hair always made her want to touch it. --Mum told him how to get onto the train with Ron, and I knew I'd never see him again and I had to talk to him at least once, so I wished him good luck. When Mum and I found Fred and George (my older brothers, they're twins) on the Platform, they told us the boy was Harry Potter and I knew that was why he looked so sad. I wanted to go and find him so I could tell him I understood, but Mum said he wasn't something to gape at, and she was probably right. I have a huge family and he lost all his. How could I understand how he feels?-
--Quite a story. But you talk about this Harry Potter as if he were famous-
--Well, he is? When were you published? Haven't you heard about the Boy Who Lived? He defeated the Dark Lord-
--After my time, I'm afraid. He sounds quite ambitious. A Slytherin is he?-
--A Slytherin? Harry?-
--Harry? So you met him again, then?-
--Well, yeah-Ginny was acutely aware of the blush simmering through her face to the tips of her ears. -As it turns out, he was in Gryffindor and he became friends with Ron. Apparently they had all sorts of adventures together, along with a girl named Hermione. You should hear Ron talk about them- If half those stories were true Harry Potter was every bit as smart and sensitive and likeable as she had thought, and a great friend. -Anyway, Ron brought him to visit-
--Ah! Now we get to the interesting part!-
--I didn't know he was here, and when I saw his face I turned around and ran right upstairs again! I was in my nightdress! I must have looked ridiculous-
--I'm sure he hardly noticed. He was probably too worried about making a good impression. Besides, shy girls are adorable-
Ginny's blush deepened. -Thanks, but I'm not usually shy.-
--All the better. Guys like to know they have an effect. -
--Really?-- Ginny frowned bemusedly, tucking the information away to ponder later. -Anyway, I heard Ron tell him that and he mentioned I'd been asking about Harry all summer!-
--If the boy is famous he probably assumed that's why you were interested-- Tom suggested reasonably.
--Maybe. But he showed up yesterday morning while I was eating breakfast-
--Not that surprising, Ginny. You said he's staying at your house.-
--Yeah, but I was so...so...---
--Overwhelmed?-
--Sort-of. Overwhelmed by his face that I accidentally knocked my porridge bowl off the table.-
--He didn't make fun of you, did he?-
--Of course not!! But he didn't have to. I blushed from head to toe.-
--Blushing can be an incredibly troublesome affliction, but with any luck you'll grow out of it.-
--I hope so. But that doesn't help me now.- Ginny glanced away from the diary as if trying to escape her fate, then re-inked her quill with a sigh. -Then Fred and George had to go and tell him how poor we are.-
--Did he seem surprised? Taken aback?-
--Well, no. I'm sure he knew, but that doesn't mean we have to advertise, does it? He just asked me if I'd be starting school.-
--What did you say?-
Ginny was suddenly afraid the heat from her face would set her room afire. She wanted to crawl under the bed and hide. -I put my elbow in the butter dish-- she wrote reluctantly.
--Points for creativity.-
--Just what I wanted.--- Ginny made the ugliest face she could manage. -He hasn't said much to me since, probably afraid of what I'd do.-
--He'll come around, Ginny. You sound like a very attractive girl.-- The nature of her blush seemed to change. Ginny shifted in her seat uncomfortably.
--Thanks. I'd better go, it's almost time for dinner.-
--I hope we'll talk again soon.-
--Don't worry, we will.- Ginny started to leave the room, stopped in the doorway, turned back and stashed the battered little diary under her bed. Feeling much better, she clattered downstairs to the table.
