(A/N: Sorry that last chappie was so rushed, I'll work harder on this one I promise! Just keep up the reviews, and crunchy and good with ket, please email me, I want to talk to you about something I found rather amusing about your review…k? Now, without further ado, I present to you my next part to this very messed up piece of fic I call writing)

Ginny's eyes widened. No. It couldn't be him. It was impossible! He was DEAD!!

"Ginny, how I've longed to hold you once again," Tom Marvolo Riddle said, taking a step closer to her. Ginny whimpered and scuttled up a few steps. He smiled that handsome smile that made her shudder in fear. She took a deep, steadying breath.

"Tom, leave me alone!" she cried angrily. "How are you here?! You died! You are dead! Harry killed you! I saw you die! You have haunted my dreams, but you cannot be…" Ginny paused, stopping to think, then she chuckled slightly and stood. "That's what this is, isn't it? A dream? It isn't real at all," Ginny laughed musically to herself. Riddle's eyes narrowed. He grabbed her arms and pushed her against one of the cold, stone walls and kissed her with bruising force. It hurt. It wasn't a dream. Tears streamed down Ginny's face as she realized this. She tried to call out for him to stop, but he took the opportunity of her opening her mouth and deepened the kiss. Ginny couldn't stand it. His hot breath against hers made her sickened, and she couldn't bear how he attempted to make his kiss gentle and loving. It was absolutely nauseating. She kicked him in the shin and he drew back in shock and pain. She panted and touched her swollen lips, feeling how tender they were.

"HOW ARE YOU HERE?!" she half-screamed. His eyes followed her closely, keeping a clear distance of her legs.

"Ginny, those dreams you've been having…you're allowing me access to the school through dreams. By connecting me to you, I've been able to slowly take bits of magical energy from students. Haven't you seen them? Slightly tired in appearance and character? Rather than drain one person-" he paused as she winced, a wicked smile appearing on his cold, pale face "-I've found it easier to take bits from several. I'm almost complete. Then, Voldemort will return from the dead…"

"How did you know…"

"That my future self died? Dreams, Ginny, dreams. And memories. Everyone fears he will 'return from the grave.' It's all too obvious that I was defeated. But now I'm younger, faster, just as powerful, and less naïve. Soon, Ginny, I will rise again, and you will be by my side, as my queen…"

"I doubt that will happen." Ginny tensed from her spot against the wall. "Ginny will never submit to being your queen," It was Malfoy. He spat his words viciously before he rushed over to her and stood between her and Riddle. Tom scoffed. Ginny stared at Draco, wanting so badly to be angry with him from before, wanting to spite him and hate him, and most of all, wanting to stop falling for him. But with him at this proximity, it seemed like none of her wishes would come true.

"Silly, silly boy…why do you defy me? I am your lord. Your father bares my mark and the children of those who bare the mark are instantly pledged to me," Tom's words seemed to cut Draco deep, for he flinched slightly but held his ground.

"Your days of terror and reign have long since ended; leave us now!" Draco's words had to be forced out. What Riddle said was true. He had been promised as a loyal servant to the Dark Lord at his birth. He was shocked to find a set of arms encircle his waist from behind and locking together. He knew it was Ginny, and her touch alone gave him strength and courage. She leaned her head against his back and he could feel her quaking against him. She was terrified. He drew his wand in his right hand and pointed it at Riddle, who, unarmed, took a step back. His left hand strayed down to where hers rested upon his waist and covered both with his own. As he did this, he stroked them with his thumb.

Ginny stifled her gasp as his caress sent a million and one sensations through her body. It was an all new experience. Sure, she'd had other boyfriends who'd caressed her hand in the same way, but none had managed to match the effect Draco's light skim was having on her. She knew it was supposed to be encouragement, as one would give a friend, but she hoped and prayed there could be something more. She moaned slightly, while lost in her thoughts, unable to keep it quiet without focus. Instantly her face blushed, but Draco's steady movements did not cease.  Perhaps he had not heard…? She did not want him to know she had feelings for him. What he was doing should have been strictly comfort, nothing more. But the feeling, the inexplicable, unrivaled feeling curved her thoughts.

Oh, but how wrong she was. He had heard, and couldn't help but give in to the small smile tugging at his lips. But his heart was pounding as he realized that he could make someone as wonderful and amazing as Virginia Weasley cry out. Was it love? Or simply lust? He had to know. It would eat him. No, correction, it was already eating away at him.

Tom raged with jealous, his face burning with rage. He hissed under his breath at the sound of more footsteps.

"Thomas Riddle!" a heavily accented voice called. He turned to see Professor McGonagall fast approaching. He turned to run but Draco wasn't ready to let Ginny's attacker escape scotch-free.

Draco fired thin, black cords out of his wand, hitting his target dead-on. Riddle was instantly bound around his hands and feet. Dumbledore and Snape, along with other Hogwart's staff were soon rounding the corner.

"I did not work this hard to be re-captured!" he hisses. He closes his eyes and all present in the room stare, horrified, as Tom's body shifts and writhes on the floor, losing its fleshy-pinkness and becoming a pale green, and then shifting to a rich, emerald green. He became smaller, his limbs molding into one long body and black stripes appeared along the scaly back. His pupils became slits and the whites of his eyes changed to a golden, gleaming yellow. Fangs appeared where his canines were and his other teeth disappeared. A forked-tongue darted out, smelling there air. The bindings fell to the floor, and the snake that was the un-registered Animagi form of Tom Marvolo Riddle slithered away before anyone could react.

Throughout the change, Draco had turned and drawn Ginny into his arms, head turned as he watched the horrific sight. Ginny realized how close Draco held her as he stroked the ends of her long hair and massaged her back in small, rhythmetic circles. She looked up into Draco's eyes and he brushed a stray tendril of hair from her face. How he longed to kiss her. Her lips parted slightly, and he almost couldn't contain himself. Just that small movement pushed him to the edge of his endurance.

I love him…her mind realized, the thought echoing throughout the deep chambers. How long had she loved him? How long had she longed for his love in return? She felt as though a deep secret she'd been keeping for the longest time was finally exposed. The book shop. In first year. That was when she'd first laid eyes upon him, thinking how angelic he looked with his silver-white hair and his eyes that could match a stormy sky. It could have been love at first sight if only he hadn't made that comment about her and Harry. She had loved him that day. She denied it in her mind, but her heart knew better. It had waited patiently, as though knowing one day she would be ready to accept the truth. And that day had finally come.

"Keep me safe, Draco," she said as she leaned her head against his chest, allowing his arms to become her sanctuary. She realized just how pointless it was to resist him, to resist anything about him.

"I will, Love, I will," he vowed, embracing her tightly. He would protect her. With his life if need be. If only she loved him back.

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The next morning was awkward and skittish. The entire school was on high alert, everyone looking over their shoulders, making sure a snake wasn't there. Lavender Brown screamed bloody murder and passed out by the lake when she saw a harmless Garter Snake slithered by. People were on edge, the thought of Voldemort returning sending everyone into an over-protective state.

Ginny wasn't nervous. She wasn't scared either. She always felt like someone was watching over her, protecting her, ready to be there if ever danger threatened. And she did have someone watching over her. Draco was always aware of where she was, even when they were apart. They had some kind of weird bond now. They hadn't spoken since last night when they had parted, both nervous and unable to speak to one another, too afraid that their hearts were not in the same place as each others. Harry had heard rumors of what happened, and was walking with Ron and Hermione over to Ginny to see once and for all if she was really doing what they'd heard. Ginny saw them and groaned. This wasn't going to be a pleasant morning.