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. Breakfast in the Great Hall 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--
Strawberries and Blueberries--Cheers! *waves*
SugarCoatedCandy--I'm glad you liked that! I thought it was a vivid and chilling image to describe what was happening to her. It's great you're still reading, I hope you continue to do so.
Nekuyr2004--I'm not sure what happened to Zimmeron...it's nice to have his stories back on FF.net, but I understand how much of an effect feeling unappreciated can have on inspiration, so I can see how he might not want to update. I'm glad you're still reading and that you liked the chapter--this story is drawing to a close in a few more installments, but I do have tenative plans for a sequel I hope you'll look into. Thanks for reviewing! :-)
EEDOE--Ginny did what any self-respecting woman would have done. *winks* She's a role-model, that's why we love her. *smirks* I hope you enjoy what happens next. After all, you've been waiting a long time to see what happens...
Bill--Thanks for the great suggestions--it's so nice you enjoy my story enough to want to expose it to a larger audience! :-D I actually did submit the first couple of chapters of this story to Gryffindor Tower (because I love several of their stories), was assigned a beta, and have never heard from her again...*makes face* As for the Sugar Quill, I've wanted to submit for a long time, but have to wait for their scheduled newbie submission time. There's one coming up soon, so maybe I'll try my luck. *grins and shrugs* Several chappies are also available on FictionAlley (which I recommend as an amazing fanfic site), but I'm not sure they'll post the whole thing as my grammar is less than flawless. *looks sheepish* I'm tickled you caught on to the deliberate parallel structures employed in the sentences...and took it to mean exactly what I was trying to get across...Ginny was stunned, weary, detached...in a bad state together. You're right about Percy not knowing about Penelope yet, too, and I would like to give him center stage for his reaction, but felt it was more in keeping with the story for Ginny to deliberately avoid him, knowing who and what Penelope was...I hope that doesn't detract too much from your reading enjoyment. As always, looking forward to your next review! *winks and hugs*
******
Just before exams, Professor McGonagall announced they would be able to revive everyone that night. Ginny had never been more relieved in her entire life...but she knew they wouldn't be able to tell Professor McGonagall the culprit...They might remember the snake, but none of them had ever seen her. At least, she didn't think so. Even if they had, none of them knew about Tom.
Ginny didn't mind if one of the victims did give her away. In fact, she'd be relieved. But...there was always a chance it would happen again, to someone else, if she didn't tell someone about Tom...
She had to do it right away, before she lost her nerve. Right away, while she was still determined to fight him, not to let him win...She couldn't bear the thought of walking up to the Head Table in front of everyone to confess to Professor McGonagall. Besides, she wasn't sure how much she'd be able to say...maybe if she told someone who had seen the diary, who knew what it did...they might be able to figure out what Tom wouldn't let her explain.
Squeezing and pulling at her hands as if she could form a hold to keep Tom's control at bay long enough to confess, Ginny hurried over and sat down next to Ron.
"What's up?" he asked, not really paying attention.
Ginny craned around, not wanting anyone to overhear. That caught Ron's attention. "Spit it out," he said, watching her.
Ginny rocked back and forth, trying to build up enough momentum for the words to fly out of her mouth unhindered. "I've got something to tell you," she said, and even though Harry was the one she most wanted to tell, she couldn't look him in the eye.
"What is it?" Harry asked, almost gently, so that Ginny wanted to cry.
Ginny opened her mouth, but she could feel Tom's grasp, hovering just above her mouth, his fingers brushing her lips...
Harry leaned forward, his expression encouraging. "Is it about the Chamber of Secrets?"
Somewhere beyond her efforts and her embarrassment, Ginny felt a surge of satisfied pride...She'd known Harry would understand without words.
"Have you seen something? Someone acting oddly?"
Concentrating as hard as she could, remembering her progress down the hall after the snake, Ginny gathered words-
"If you've finished eating, I'll take that seat, Ginny," Percy interrupted, sounding too weary to be self-satisfied. "I'm starving. I've just come off patrol duty."
Concentration shattered. Ginny couldn't have said anything to save her life...and in front of Percy, she didn't want to...he already treated her like an idiot, an embarrassment...Maybe she'd said enough...she'd just have to hope Harry could figure it out. He'd seen the diary. He'd talked to Tom.
She was out of her seat before she'd finished the thought.
She told herself she wanted to find out what Tom had said to Harry so she'd know how likely it was for him to figure it out...she wanted to know what Tom had said so she knew whether or not Harry would think she'd participated willingly...but when all was said and done, she might not have the chance to talk to Tom again...and she wanted to say goodbye.
--It's over, Tom-
--I don't think so. Not just yet.-
--Harry's talked to you, Tom. He'll figure out you had something to do with it.-
--Oh, I'm sure he will. I'm counting on it.-
--You...want Harry to find out?- Chill inched a catepillar-like way up Ginny's spine.
--Nice of you to help give him a little push since I didn't get to tell him as much as I would have liked, but you always were such a nice little girl.-
--What did you tell him?-
--Does it matter?-
Ginny stared at the words for a long time.
--No. As long as he knows, I guess it doesn't, but I want to know.-
--Well...we all want things we can't have.-
--Fine. The real reason I'm writing is I want to say-
--Goodbye?-
Ginny swallowed. Hard.
--Will you miss me?-
--Oh, you'll always be a part of me...In fact, you mean so much to me, I think you should write me something else.--
Against her will, Ginny picked the lock on the supply cabinet. Against her will, she picked up the pail of blood red paint, and the paintbrush streaked from use. Against her will she carried them down the deserted corridor. Horrified, she watched her hand stroke gleaming words across the wall as if it belonged to someone else...And when she read them--HER SKELETON WILL LIE IN THE CHAMBER FOREVER-she began to cry. /Stupid girl/, Tom's voice mocked her, /spilling your heart and soul out to a stranger. What did you expect?/
Blinded by tears, she put the paint away and relocked the closet. Blinded by tears, she walked into Myrtle's bathroom, but they didn't block the sight of Tom's torturously perfect face as her voice grated roughly across her ears...and she opened the Chamber of Secrets once again.
For once, no snake emerged. Ginny walked down a shadowy tunnel alone with nothing but a diary, but Tom was with her every step of the way. She sat in front of the great face of Salazaar Slytherin, wrapping her arms around herself for comfort and for warmth. She knew there was nothing left for her to do but wait to die. "Why?" she whispered hoarsely. "I thought you said you couldn't exist without me?"
The diary slid from her hand, falling open on the floor. Of their own accord, the pages began to turn as if caught in a heavy wind. Light pulsed through them, dissolving parchment...and...in front of the light, almost invisible framed by glare, a stood a tall, sinuous boy with dark hair, a gorgeous face, and hard gray eyes. Tom.
"I couldn't," he said.
His lips touched hers once more, and there was only hissing blackness.
Author's Notes--
Strawberries and Blueberries--Cheers! *waves*
SugarCoatedCandy--I'm glad you liked that! I thought it was a vivid and chilling image to describe what was happening to her. It's great you're still reading, I hope you continue to do so.
Nekuyr2004--I'm not sure what happened to Zimmeron...it's nice to have his stories back on FF.net, but I understand how much of an effect feeling unappreciated can have on inspiration, so I can see how he might not want to update. I'm glad you're still reading and that you liked the chapter--this story is drawing to a close in a few more installments, but I do have tenative plans for a sequel I hope you'll look into. Thanks for reviewing! :-)
EEDOE--Ginny did what any self-respecting woman would have done. *winks* She's a role-model, that's why we love her. *smirks* I hope you enjoy what happens next. After all, you've been waiting a long time to see what happens...
Bill--Thanks for the great suggestions--it's so nice you enjoy my story enough to want to expose it to a larger audience! :-D I actually did submit the first couple of chapters of this story to Gryffindor Tower (because I love several of their stories), was assigned a beta, and have never heard from her again...*makes face* As for the Sugar Quill, I've wanted to submit for a long time, but have to wait for their scheduled newbie submission time. There's one coming up soon, so maybe I'll try my luck. *grins and shrugs* Several chappies are also available on FictionAlley (which I recommend as an amazing fanfic site), but I'm not sure they'll post the whole thing as my grammar is less than flawless. *looks sheepish* I'm tickled you caught on to the deliberate parallel structures employed in the sentences...and took it to mean exactly what I was trying to get across...Ginny was stunned, weary, detached...in a bad state together. You're right about Percy not knowing about Penelope yet, too, and I would like to give him center stage for his reaction, but felt it was more in keeping with the story for Ginny to deliberately avoid him, knowing who and what Penelope was...I hope that doesn't detract too much from your reading enjoyment. As always, looking forward to your next review! *winks and hugs*
******
Just before exams, Professor McGonagall announced they would be able to revive everyone that night. Ginny had never been more relieved in her entire life...but she knew they wouldn't be able to tell Professor McGonagall the culprit...They might remember the snake, but none of them had ever seen her. At least, she didn't think so. Even if they had, none of them knew about Tom.
Ginny didn't mind if one of the victims did give her away. In fact, she'd be relieved. But...there was always a chance it would happen again, to someone else, if she didn't tell someone about Tom...
She had to do it right away, before she lost her nerve. Right away, while she was still determined to fight him, not to let him win...She couldn't bear the thought of walking up to the Head Table in front of everyone to confess to Professor McGonagall. Besides, she wasn't sure how much she'd be able to say...maybe if she told someone who had seen the diary, who knew what it did...they might be able to figure out what Tom wouldn't let her explain.
Squeezing and pulling at her hands as if she could form a hold to keep Tom's control at bay long enough to confess, Ginny hurried over and sat down next to Ron.
"What's up?" he asked, not really paying attention.
Ginny craned around, not wanting anyone to overhear. That caught Ron's attention. "Spit it out," he said, watching her.
Ginny rocked back and forth, trying to build up enough momentum for the words to fly out of her mouth unhindered. "I've got something to tell you," she said, and even though Harry was the one she most wanted to tell, she couldn't look him in the eye.
"What is it?" Harry asked, almost gently, so that Ginny wanted to cry.
Ginny opened her mouth, but she could feel Tom's grasp, hovering just above her mouth, his fingers brushing her lips...
Harry leaned forward, his expression encouraging. "Is it about the Chamber of Secrets?"
Somewhere beyond her efforts and her embarrassment, Ginny felt a surge of satisfied pride...She'd known Harry would understand without words.
"Have you seen something? Someone acting oddly?"
Concentrating as hard as she could, remembering her progress down the hall after the snake, Ginny gathered words-
"If you've finished eating, I'll take that seat, Ginny," Percy interrupted, sounding too weary to be self-satisfied. "I'm starving. I've just come off patrol duty."
Concentration shattered. Ginny couldn't have said anything to save her life...and in front of Percy, she didn't want to...he already treated her like an idiot, an embarrassment...Maybe she'd said enough...she'd just have to hope Harry could figure it out. He'd seen the diary. He'd talked to Tom.
She was out of her seat before she'd finished the thought.
She told herself she wanted to find out what Tom had said to Harry so she'd know how likely it was for him to figure it out...she wanted to know what Tom had said so she knew whether or not Harry would think she'd participated willingly...but when all was said and done, she might not have the chance to talk to Tom again...and she wanted to say goodbye.
--It's over, Tom-
--I don't think so. Not just yet.-
--Harry's talked to you, Tom. He'll figure out you had something to do with it.-
--Oh, I'm sure he will. I'm counting on it.-
--You...want Harry to find out?- Chill inched a catepillar-like way up Ginny's spine.
--Nice of you to help give him a little push since I didn't get to tell him as much as I would have liked, but you always were such a nice little girl.-
--What did you tell him?-
--Does it matter?-
Ginny stared at the words for a long time.
--No. As long as he knows, I guess it doesn't, but I want to know.-
--Well...we all want things we can't have.-
--Fine. The real reason I'm writing is I want to say-
--Goodbye?-
Ginny swallowed. Hard.
--Will you miss me?-
--Oh, you'll always be a part of me...In fact, you mean so much to me, I think you should write me something else.--
Against her will, Ginny picked the lock on the supply cabinet. Against her will, she picked up the pail of blood red paint, and the paintbrush streaked from use. Against her will she carried them down the deserted corridor. Horrified, she watched her hand stroke gleaming words across the wall as if it belonged to someone else...And when she read them--HER SKELETON WILL LIE IN THE CHAMBER FOREVER-she began to cry. /Stupid girl/, Tom's voice mocked her, /spilling your heart and soul out to a stranger. What did you expect?/
Blinded by tears, she put the paint away and relocked the closet. Blinded by tears, she walked into Myrtle's bathroom, but they didn't block the sight of Tom's torturously perfect face as her voice grated roughly across her ears...and she opened the Chamber of Secrets once again.
For once, no snake emerged. Ginny walked down a shadowy tunnel alone with nothing but a diary, but Tom was with her every step of the way. She sat in front of the great face of Salazaar Slytherin, wrapping her arms around herself for comfort and for warmth. She knew there was nothing left for her to do but wait to die. "Why?" she whispered hoarsely. "I thought you said you couldn't exist without me?"
The diary slid from her hand, falling open on the floor. Of their own accord, the pages began to turn as if caught in a heavy wind. Light pulsed through them, dissolving parchment...and...in front of the light, almost invisible framed by glare, a stood a tall, sinuous boy with dark hair, a gorgeous face, and hard gray eyes. Tom.
"I couldn't," he said.
His lips touched hers once more, and there was only hissing blackness.
