Mixed Feelings

By puppyeyes

Chapter 3 - Fear Increases

"Wake up! I've got Quidditch today! Watch me kick that Potter's butt! C'mon!" "Wha?" Tom's eyes slowly opened. He raised his head the tiniest bit. "Yeah, I'm coming, Draco," he said. Tom got up as he thought. Harry Potter was on the team? This was the perfect chance for him to kill Harry. But he had to make it seem like an accident. Could he set fire to his broomtail? Or make him fall off his broom? Or - use a Hurtling Hex! Tom dressed quickly, and watched the teams walking out on the grounds. He saw the end of a Firebolt. Tom took out his wand and performed the Hurtling Hex. Then, he walked out to the grounds, satisfied. The match was very excitig, but Harry couldn't seem to fall off his broom. Tom realized that the Snitch wasn't flying high enough. If Harry only fell from five feet, he wouldn't be killed. Tom mumbled a jinx under his breath. The Snitch rose. Harry struggled, but tried to force his broom up. Tom looked at the score. Because of one red-headed Chaser, the score was 200 to 30. If Draco did catch the Snitch, Slytherin would still lose. But that didn't matter. Harry Potter would have to die.

He was rising higher. The Gryffindor captain saw Harry's dilemma. "Madam Hooch," a brunette called. "We need a time out!" "Not yet!" That was Ginny's voice. "Harry nearly has it!" "Never mind," she called. But Harry fell. Ginny took out her wand and pointed to piece of ground. "Spongify!" she yelled. When Harry hit the ground, he bounced off of it, and was safe. But a Bludger caught Ginny and she fell and landed in a certain tree. "The Whomping Willow," someone gasped. Her screams could be heard as people rushed to find the switch that would freeze the tree. "Protego!" she yelled, and tumbled out of the tree, rolling away fast, still in shock. Somehow, she knew who had tampered with Harry's broom.

Neville Longbottom visited the Hospital Wing very frequently from then on. So did Tom Riddle. "Why are you here so often, Tom?" Madam Pomfrey asked him one day. "Uh, patrol duty," he answered. Madam Pomfrey had narrowed her eyes, but nodded. Tom couldn't help noticing that whenever Neville was by Ginny's bedside, she let him stroke her hair, and they would hold hands. But whenever Tom tried to do it, she moved away in fear. Finally, Madam Pomfrey decided that tom didn't need to patrol the Hospital Wing. In fact, she allowed no visitors from then on, unless they were sick or hurt. And you can imagine Ginny's reaction when she received a Nimbus 2001 for Christmas. How did she know these things? Even though it was addressed from the twins, she must have recognized Tom's handwriting.

None of these things could be of greater magnitude than the events to come later in the year.

Is that a good cliffie? Reviews please. Vote for a Ginny/Neville, Ginny/Tom, or Ginny/Harry couple, too. The winning couple is what that story will be about! (for the romance part!)

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