Disclaimer--I don't own Ginny, the Weasleys, Hermione, Harry or Tom. I don't Hogwarts, Diagon Alley or the Chamber of Secrets. I don't own...well, if you see something you like just assume I don't own it, and you'll be fine. Professor McGonagall's speech in the Common Room is taken from CoS--no copyright infrigement is intended by this, and no money is being made. Please don't sue, I have nothing.

Author's Notes--WOW! I'm ecstatic--I never expected to see so many reviews in my inbox at once! *does happy dance* Thanks so much to everyone who let me know they enjoyed my story...I've worked hard and I love it, so it means a ton to know you do, too. :-D

Strawberries and Blueberries--Hope this was fast enough for you. ;-)

SugarCoatedCandy--I'm glad you like the way the story is written. I've tried to make it a pleasurable read. The whole thing in one go is pretty dedicated...and a huge compliment, thanks! I'll try to keep writing...I hope you keep reading as well.:-D

Nekuyr2004--Zimmeron's stories are a RIOT, and well-written to boot. I recommend them to anyone. I'm honored that the first HP fic you've read in a while happened to be my relatively obscure one (and even more honored I served up any inspiration, however small, for your own story--I'll have to check it out); I hope I made the experience enjoyable enough you'll be willing to read another. Thanks for the encouragement...I hope you keep reading. :-)

PhoenixSong--I'm rather partial to Ginny myself. ;-) I'm glad you like the way I've tried to keep things in sync with CoS, because this is the same story...from a different perspective. It's DEFINITELY not JK's style--I would never kid myself I could match that--but I think maybe that's not a detriment to the story since the change in style gives Ginny her own separate identity, and that's the point. You made my week (at least) by telling me you feel like you found a treasure--thanks so much! I hope you continue to enjoy it!

EEDOE--I was proud of Ginny, too (and I thought her b-day gift was genius *winks*). I agree with you about Tom influencing Ginny's reactions to her own behavior--nasty trick for a nasty git. I think maybe Ginny's description in OotP was meant to be a bit pat--not only does it fit with her trying to make things easier for Harry, not harder, but poor JK can't develop everything she wants--she just doesn't have space! I'm very touched you think I've helped fill in those unfortunate gaps and give Ginny a voice, I consider that a very high compliment indeed. I hope you enjoy what's coming next!*hugs*

Bill--You deserve standing applause!! That is exactly one of the themes this story holds for me--love--Ginny's for others as well as theirs for her--is exactly what prevents Riddle from doing any lasting damage in my opinion. *beams* Like you, every time I read or re-read a Harry Potter novel, I am more convinced that one (if not the most central) message of the series is the "redemptive, transforming power of sacrificial love" (as well as the many forms that love can take), and my limited imagination can't conceive of an ending to the series that doesn't make use of that in some way. I like the parallel to Harry and Sirius... And,as usual, your observations about Ginny are dead on. *winks* I'm not sure there IS any higher praise than what you gave me at the end of your last review...just thinking about it gives me (very pleasant) chills. I will do what I can to live up to it--and I'll certainly never forget it! Thanks so much! *hugs*

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Ginny had no idea how long she stood, staring at Hermione and Penelope without seeing either one of them. Professor McGonagall found her there, shaking, her mouth hanging wordlessly open. Professor McGonagall's hands on her shoulders were surprisingly gentle. Ginny could feel them tremble. "My poor, dear girl," she murmured, and Ginny didn't think she imagined the quaver in her voice. Her face pressed against the rough tartan of the cloak Professor McGonagall wore to watch Quidditch. It should have been uncomfortable, but Ginny reveled in it. Professor McGonagall's grasp was a haven.

"I am sorry," Professor McGonagall said softly. "Ginny, did you see-can you tell me--"

Being expelled didn't matter. She didn't matter. Ginny knew that now...She should have told Dumbledore months ago. She tried to tell Professor McGonagall. She could feel Tom's fingers, long and narrow, burning icy paths across her face as they pressed over her mouth, could feel them wrapping like frigid iron bands about her throat...Still, she struggled to form words...until black and blue spots danced like deathly fireflies before her eyes...

Professor McGonagall sighed. "No, I didn't think you could. There haven't been any witnesses all year--why should this time be any different." She patted Ginny's back absent-mindedly. "I'm sure whoever it was was long gone by the time you got here."

They stood in silence, gathering strength. At length, Professor McGonagall took a deep breath, and straightened her back. "Ginny, do you think you could go and alert Madam Pomfrey?"

"No need," a quiet voice said behind them. Ginny jumped.

"Professor Dumbledore," Professor McGonagall said, and Ginny could hear her relief.

"I had hoped we'd seen the last of the Chamber of Secrets," Dumbledore said sadly. Was Ginny imaging it, or was he looking straight at her? "Minerva, I believe the Quidditch Match must be canceled. If you would be so kind as to go and instruct the students to return to their Common Rooms for further direction..."

"Certainly," McGonagall said with a measure of her usual crispness.



"Miss Weasley ...I'll have Madam Pomfrey send you something for the shock if you'll wait in the Gryffindor Common Room."



Ginny nodded mutely.



She went back to the Tower without complaint, drank the potion delivered by a house elf a few moments later without complaint, waited without complaint. Within a few minutes, the others began filing in, filling the room with the low continuous roar of their speculation.



"Ginny!" Lee said in relief, sprawling across the arm of her chair. "Thank Merlin! When I heard there was another attack...I thought maybe you...I mean...since you hadn't shown up yet."



Still mute, Ginny reached out and covered his broad dark hand with hers, tiny and impossibly pale, as they were joined by Fred and George. He seemed to understand. Percy bustled around the room trying-as usual-to impose order. He was-as usual-without success.



Just as the fear, impatience, and suspense threatened to boil over into utter chaos, the portrait swung open to admit Professor McGonagall. She was flanked on either side by Harry and Ron. Harry's face was set, his eyes a trifle too wide, and Ron looked stunned and pale. They stepped hastily off to the side as Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. She unfurled a piece of parchment she held in her hand and began to read immediately.



"All students will return to their House common rooms by six o'clock in the evening. No student is to leave their dormitories after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom without a teacher. All further Quidditch training and matches are to be postponed. There will be no more evening activities." Professor McGonagall rolled up the parchment, close to tears.



"I need hardly add that I have rarely been so distressed. It is likely the school will be closed unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught. I would urge anyone who thinks they might know something to come forward."



/HOW!/ Ginny yearned toward her as she climbed out of the portrait hole. She would do anything to save Hogwarts, anything to stop the monster she had loosed, the monster she had become. /I can't...Tom won't let me.../



But Ginny refused to accept that.



/I'm not going to let Tom tell me what to do-he said himself, he's just a diary./



Ginny got through the next several days muttering, "He's just a diary," under her breath like some sort of demented mantra. She half expected someone to ask about it, but no one did, possibly because they couldn't hear her in the noise of the common room. But, while the words afforded some comfort, they didn't do much good...she still couldn't figure out how she could tell what she knew.



Not that it would have made much difference if she had. The school governors had removed Dumbledore, and Ginny wasn't sure what anyone else would be able to do about Tom even if they knew...



All her life, she had wanted to go to Hogwarts, and she had managed to destroy it in less than a year...



As if that wasn't enough...Hagrid had been arrested. He was in Azkaban being punished for something she had done...She wondered if there was any truth to the story he'd opened the Chamber once... if he'd been influenced by Tom...or just framed...



Lockhart told them in class that Hagrid had been guilty. Most of the class eyed him warily, a few breathed sighs of relief. Ginny hit him with a curse when he wasn't looking. She hoped he had to go to Snape for help with the countercurse-she was sure Snape would take plenty of time. It wouldn't be enough, no matter how long he took. /Now, if I could just curse Tom.../ but part of her protested at the thought...



Ginny sat in the Common Room, ostensibly watching Fred and George play Exploding Snap against Harry and Ron, trying to talk herself out of the urge to go upstairs and hide in bed with the diary, letting Tom soothe her fears...explain how she'd misjudged him...but she hadn't. She knew she hadn't...Tom was the reason Ginny was afraid.