Ginny Weasley and the Memory of Power" by Jedi Amoira
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Disclaimer--If you see something you like just assume I don't own it, and you'll be fine. I hope JK Rowling, the movies, and my fellow fanfic writers take my imitation in the manner in which it is meant--sincere flattery of their skills.

A/N--I have some great reviewers, but an author writes for praise. If you like it, please say so. And please respect my work and don't print or post it elsewhere without my knowledge. Thanks!

Emerald Dream-- I had a blast writing the light-hearted fun interspersed with the more significant threat, so it's nice to know you enjoyed reading it, too. Thanks for letting me know about the next chapter of your fic...I'll be sure to check it out!

Bill--I totally agree--that's the power of Chamber of Secrets...how the future can rest entirely upon a private struggle one little girl has with her thoughts! Who could resist playing with the possibilities and implications of that for a while? I just hope I do them the smallest bit of justice...You're very astute about Tom's control over Ginny, too. I think the fact she can remember or utilize his skills while not under his control is a sign that his control of her is growing. More and more of her life belongs to him. But as that becomes true, Ginny becomes more aware of Tom's presence, despite his efforts to keep her in the dark...and as she becomes aware, she is instinctively beginning to fight...I find it fascinating that each situation depends somewhat upon the presence of the other!

I agree that it is a bit early for any boy-and-girl relationship romance at Hogwarts. Ginny definitely has a crush on Harry, but she's got more than enough to deal with. I do think guys tend to be mostly clueless at that age...and even if Bion is attracted to her, he's probably just aware of thinking she's kind of fun and hanging out isn't too bad. Ultimately, I suspect a brother-sister relationship is in the works for them, and they will probably be best friends. As for Lee...he may have other intentions, but I don't think he's going to act on them yet! Who knows, by the time he does, Harry might not be so clueless...

And I can never read that line about Lockhart's wand (or Harry's) without snickering and blushing either. *winks*
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As soon as the teachers managed to get the crowd under control and disperse them slowly from the room in regimented groups, Ginny sputtered a quick goodbye to Bion, who was looking distinctly bewildered, and raced for Hagrid's, trying not to think about what might be lurking in the shadows.

"Oh, 'ello," Hagrid said as the door opened. "What are yer doing out now-bit late innit?"

"Yes," Ginny said, uncomfortable. "I really need to talk to you, Hagrid."

"Summat important?," Hagrid asked. "Don' know what it could be, but mebbe yer'd better come in."

Ginny stepped inside, her discomfort increasing.

"Like some tea?" Hagrid asked.

"Uh...okay," Ginny said. Mum always offered people tea when they were upset. Maybe it would help her get the words out. Even if it didn't, at least Hagrid wouldn't be looking at her if he made it.

"Easiest if yer just say it," Hagrid advised into the long, heavy pause. "Don' give yerself time to think."

Ginny squared her shoulders and sucked in a deep breath as he hung the kettle over the fire. "Hagrid, what do you know about...." She was still speaking, her mouth was still moving, she was still projecting the words with all her might, but it was as if her tongue was seizing up on her, refusing to cooperate, as if she had swallowed a potion that paralyzed her voice...nothing was coming out...Her throat burned with effort, and the muscles along her jaw ached. Hagrid was staring at her oddly.

"Okay, there, Ginny?," he asked.

"I...think so," she said, slightly breathless.

Hagrid smiled kindly, and Ginny nearly lost her nerve. If he had opened the Chamber of Secrets the last time, he couldn't possibly have meant to hurt anyone, and he'd been punished...and if she brought it up, she'd only be opening old wounds for him...But if anyone understood, if anyone could help her figure out what was happening to her, if anyone knew how to stop the horror the Chamber held within, it had to be Hagrid...

"Hagrid," Ginny said again, as he took the kettle off the fire and poured it into the pot, "can you..."

This time even her ears seemed to hiss with the pressure of trying to force the words between her teeth. Ginny tried to suppress a sudden shudder.

"That is," Ginny managed, determined to finish what she'd started, "I need help..."

The pain in her throat roared along in her muscles, scorching the all-too-familiar black cloud through her brain. Somewhere beyond the hissing in her ears, Ginny could hear a cold, high-pitched voice she somehow knew she'd heard before...~You will not say anything about the Chamber of Secrets.~

Ginny snatched up the teacup Hagrid had set in front of her and gulped the contents. "With History of Magic. I'm supposed to be researching...snakes and their roles in magic."

"I ken tell yer a bit about snakes," Hagrid allowed, pouring her more tea, and offering her a plate of strange-looking cakes that she politely declined. "But snakes seem like a Care of Magical Creatures topic to me. "

"Um...yeah.." Ginny said, hastily sipping tea to hide her expression. "Maybe I misunderstood. Sometimes it's hard to pay attention to what Binns is saying."

"Mebbe yer should ask one of yer classmates?" Hagrid suggested.

"Umm...they probably wouldn't be much help either...I'm not the only one with trouble paying attention."

"Hermione's yer best bet, then," Hagrid said decidedly. "She's right brilliant, our Hermione." The warmth in his voice put any lingering confusion Ginny might have had about what Ron and his friends might see in Hagrid forever to rest.

"Great idea, Hagrid," Ginny said, "I'll do that."

"Right. Well, now that's settled, yer best head back," Hagrid said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Ginny stood, smoothing her skirt around her legs. "Thanks, Hagrid."

"Anytime. Back to the castle with yer now."

Even though she hadn't managed to say much, the effort of talking to Hagrid left her feeling exhausted. Her head felt heavy and full, so that the effort to hold it upright was almost more than she could bear. Her legs felt stiff and alien as she tried to move them, as if she were walking through thick mud pulling at her boots, even though the ground was cold and hard, near freezing.

A chicken scrabbled across the path in front of her, its wings flapping madly. Ginny stared, a buried part of her mind, wondering pointlessly if it was the same chicken from her first visit.

Before the possibility even occurred to her, let alone before making a conscious decision to do so, Ginny lunged forward and caught the chicken by the neck. She didn't know who was more surprised-the chicken or herself. They stared at one another blankly. Hissing trembled through her mind as the muscles of her body responded, once again speaking, defying her with that voice. ~The chicken must die.~

Trembling, Ginny forced herself to look at the chicken. She had killed it. She threw it away from her, screaming in a small, frightened gasp.

With each step she managed toward the school, her fear subsided and her exhaustion ebbed. By the time she reached the darkened dormitory, she was humming under her breath almost cheerfully. Speculating sleepily on the fun she would have over the Christmas holidays, Ginny began to change into her pajamas.

She stopped suddenly, staring at her robes. She couldn't imagine why, but they were covered in fluffy white bits that looked strangely like... "Feathers?"

Ginny shoved the robes out of sight under the bed as if they might suddenly come to life and tell everyone her secret. "But how can I have a secret if I don't even know what it is?" Ginny whispered. "What have I done?" The shadows offered no response.

Somewhere, deep in her soul, an answer shuddered through her-- ~You have performed a great service in my name.~

Ginny fought down an inexplicable surge of fear. "Who are you?"

~I am one who knows what power is and how to use it...I am one meant to rule.~ She simply knew, like she knew to breathe, or that the sky was blue, or that her parents loved her...the answer was so ingrained within her, it seemed part of who she was; Ginny was absolutely certain she knew nothing about power, and never wanted to-Ginny was content with the color of leaves in the autumn and stolen socks, with an occasional glance from Harry and a kind word from Ron. Ginny had no desire to rule...

//She looked into the mirror in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and the face looked clearly out; a thatch of thick, wavy dark hair, each strand perfectly in order over a wide, straight forehead. Equally dark eyebrows made low, straight slashes almost like threats over wide gray eyes the color and softness of a tombstone. A long, straight nose cut a sharp path to full, almost sensual lips that curved slightly upward-there was nothing unusual about the expression, but somehow it was cruel. The face was pale, almost as pale as Ginny's own milky complexion, and the contrast made the face even harder, even more unyielding. It was a boy's face, bordering on becoming the face of the man, smooth and untried, full of confident disregard for the world. Something about that face made Ginny feel sick to her stomach. "You look familiar," she said to the mirror.

"Of course I do," the boy said, almost mocking. "Your life is mine."

"That doesn't make any sense," Ginny protested.

"Time, sweet Ginny," the boy crooned. "You will see in time."

The words seemed like a hiss, low and continuous, and the face moved away from her as the mirror began to shift...the floor opened up in a way that Ginny felt she had seen when she was awake, and, with a loud sound of scraping, a huge snake swayed upward. It spoke, too, its voice constant and demanding...Kill...rip...tear...

"Secret," the boy whispered. "It's a secret..."//