Chapter Four – The Meeting
The next morning, Ginny woke up and went down to the common room to do her homework. She was surprised to see Harry, Ron and Hermione already out of bed and sitting down, books in their laps.
"We're up early, I see," Ginny said happily.
Ginny couldn't help but notice the looks of guilt on their faces. "Is everything alright?" Ginny asked warily.
"Fine," Hermione said too brightly.
"Guys, we can trust Ginny," Ron said softly.
Ginny decided to look upset. "Of course you can!" she said hotly, "What are you talking about?"
"I'm trying something new, Ginny," Harry said softly.
"What do you mean, new?" Ginny asked eagerly.
"Remember when I was taking Occlumency lessons?" Harry asked.
"Sure, that was, what? A year and a half ago?" Ginny asked, remembering.
Harry nodded. "Well..." He trailed off, looking around, making sure no one could hear what he had to say. "I'm teaching myself Legilimency."
Ginny's eyes widened. "Legilimency?" she repeated.
"I'm going to try to get into Voldemort's mind," Harry said. Ginny couldn't help but give an involuntary shudder when Harry said his name. "What's more, I'm going to try to plant images in his mind like he did to me."
"Wow," Ginny said softly, looking at her hands. "Are you any good?"
Harry looked proud of himself. "I've been able to plant memories in Ron's mind. I haven't tried to get into Voldemort's mind yet," He said proudly.
"What good will that do you?" Ginny asked.
"I want to be in control, Ginny. Don't you see? I'll be able to convince him to go somewhere, just like he did with me," Harry said.
"You'd have to be really powerful to do that, wouldn't you?" Ginny asked.
"Harry is powerful," Hermione said.
"But that powerful?" Ginny asked.
"With training, I will be," Harry said simply. "I'm going to end this war, Ginny."
Ginny couldn't think of anything to say. She just knew that she had to tell Tom as soon as possible.
"I think I forgot a book," Ginny muttered, not looking at the trio. "I better go upstairs..." Ginny trailed off and flung her backpack over her shoulders and ran upstairs, back to her dormitory.
She ran into her room. Two of her roommates, Gillian Birch and Mary Jane Fink, were sitting on a bed, laughing loudly.
"Hey, Gin," Gillian said, "Didn't you just go downstairs?"
Ginny didn't pay them any attention. She threw herself on her bed and closed the curtains tightly. Quickly, she took out her wand and placed a silencing charm on the curtains, so no one would hear her.
"Tom," she moaned. It had been almost three days since she had called him.
Yes, my pet. Why have you not called?
She decided to ignore the question. "Tom, Harry Potter is trying to learn your secrets," she said softly.
She heard a soft laughter. And what is Harry Potter trying to do?
"Learn Legilimency," she told him, "He wants to plant images in the Dark Lord's mind."
I must confess, I did believe this to be a possibility, my dear. You are certain?
"Very," Ginny said confidently.
Hmm...I believe you must tell this to the Dark Lord yourself...
"When?" Ginny asked eagerly.
Tonight...I believe a meeting is planned. You know what to do...
"I do," Ginny said softly.
And as always, Ginerva, your loyalty shall be rewarded...
She could fell Tom disappear; he was no longer with her. Ginny sat up quickly and caught her breath. She had participated in a meeting once before. It had been one of the most exhilarating nights of her life. And she would be at one tonight.
----
That evening, around ten o'clock at night, Ginny snuck out of the common room headed towards the room of requirement. In the shoulder bag she carried, she had everything she needed for the meeting.
Listening for teacher's footsteps every moment in the hallway, she finally made it to the room, unnoticed. She walked back and forth in front of the painting. "I need a place to hide," She thought to herself. The door appeared, and Ginny slipped inside.
The room was no larger than a broom closet, but it would do. Ginny took out the hooded robe she had in her shoulder bag. She then took out a hair fastener, and tied back her long red hair. Anyone who worked for the Ministry at the meeting would recognize her Weasley hair in a moment. She then gently lifted the hood of the robe over her eyes.
She was ready.
"Tom," she called out.
Ginerva, you are ready?
"Yes, Tom," she said softly.
Then I shall take you to the meeting. Close your eyes...
She shut her eyes tightly. Ginny knew that she would not be going anywhere. Her body would not be leaving the room of requirement.
You may open your eyes, Ginerva...
Ginny gasped, and immediately felt weak. She was in an open field. A graveyard to one side, and a large, imposing house in front of her.
Remember, Ginerva, this is only in your mind...
"I know Tom," she said softly.
"There she is," a voice hissed softly. Ginny recognized the voice instantly, it was the voice of her Lord. He was standing before her.
Ginny sank slowly onto one knee and bowed. "My Lord," she said softly. He held out his hand, and she kissed his hand gratefully. This was her Tom. And someday, he'd have his body back. And on that magnificent day, they would be together.
"You may rise, little one," the Dark Lord chuckled. Ginny did so, and bowed her head.
"I understand you have news for me."
"Yes, my Lord," Ginny said quietly. She closed her eyes briefly. She somehow couldn't believe that she was in his presence. Ginny could feel the power radiating around him.
"Don't keep me waiting child," he told her.
"Harry Potter is trying to learn Legilimency, my Lord. He is hoping to become powerful enough to plant images in your own mind; convince you to do things," she said.
A voice to the right of the Dark Lord spoke. "I doubt that Harry Potter would ever be able to accomplish that," the voice chuckled. Ginny recognized it as Lucius Malfoy's voice. Ever since her first year, she always wished she could find a way to repay Lucius Malfoy what he had done for her. He had given her Tom, after all.
"I don't know about that," Ginny said softly, not wanting to contradict, but knowing she must.
"Really?" the Dark Lord asked.
"Yes, my Lord. Harry is very angry. He is willing to push himself to the edge, in order to defeat you. I am convinced that he will stop at nothing to learn Legilimency," Ginny told the two men.
Since she had the hood over her eyes, she couldn't see any of the men's faces. She looked down at their feet. There were three sets of feet. She desperately wanted to know who the third set belonged to.
"We have ways of breaking him," the Dark Lord laughed bitterly. "Don't we, Severus?"
Oh gods! Ginny thought to herself. Surely, Professor Snape would be able to recognize Ginny's voice.
"I do believe his Occlumency lessons will be becoming more...difficult," Professor Snape said.
"You have done well," the Dark Lord told her. He took a step forward. Ginny almost winced when his hand stroked her cheek. She was very glad she stopped herself just in time. She knew she shouldn't wince. This was her Tom, just not in his body. He bent down and whispered in her ear, "Not much longer, my dear."
Tom was back in her head. Close your eyes...
Ginny closed her eyes, and felt a sensation in her stomach. She had to remind herself that she wasn't moving.
You are back...
Ginny opened her eyes. She fell to the floor, panting. Amazing how a journey through the mind could be so exhausting. Quickly she took off her robe and stuffed it into her shoulder bag. Catching her breath, she opened the door slowly.
She gingerly took a few steps, and heard a voice behind her. "Weasley!" Draco said sharply.
She turned around to face him. "Hello, Draco," she purred, putting her arms around him. Suddenly, all Ginny wanted was to be with Draco. The meeting had made her feel so alive. She was helping the Dark Lord. There was no better calling than that.
Draco shook her arms off. "What are you doing up here, Weasley?" Ginny couldn't believe how angry he looked.
She smiled up at him seductively and took his hand. "I was paying a visit to the Dark Lord," she whispered in his ear.
Draco's face didn't betray what he was feeling. Ginny quickly walked back and forth in front of the painting. The door appeared and Ginny slowly led Draco inside.
The next morning, Ginny woke up and went down to the common room to do her homework. She was surprised to see Harry, Ron and Hermione already out of bed and sitting down, books in their laps.
"We're up early, I see," Ginny said happily.
Ginny couldn't help but notice the looks of guilt on their faces. "Is everything alright?" Ginny asked warily.
"Fine," Hermione said too brightly.
"Guys, we can trust Ginny," Ron said softly.
Ginny decided to look upset. "Of course you can!" she said hotly, "What are you talking about?"
"I'm trying something new, Ginny," Harry said softly.
"What do you mean, new?" Ginny asked eagerly.
"Remember when I was taking Occlumency lessons?" Harry asked.
"Sure, that was, what? A year and a half ago?" Ginny asked, remembering.
Harry nodded. "Well..." He trailed off, looking around, making sure no one could hear what he had to say. "I'm teaching myself Legilimency."
Ginny's eyes widened. "Legilimency?" she repeated.
"I'm going to try to get into Voldemort's mind," Harry said. Ginny couldn't help but give an involuntary shudder when Harry said his name. "What's more, I'm going to try to plant images in his mind like he did to me."
"Wow," Ginny said softly, looking at her hands. "Are you any good?"
Harry looked proud of himself. "I've been able to plant memories in Ron's mind. I haven't tried to get into Voldemort's mind yet," He said proudly.
"What good will that do you?" Ginny asked.
"I want to be in control, Ginny. Don't you see? I'll be able to convince him to go somewhere, just like he did with me," Harry said.
"You'd have to be really powerful to do that, wouldn't you?" Ginny asked.
"Harry is powerful," Hermione said.
"But that powerful?" Ginny asked.
"With training, I will be," Harry said simply. "I'm going to end this war, Ginny."
Ginny couldn't think of anything to say. She just knew that she had to tell Tom as soon as possible.
"I think I forgot a book," Ginny muttered, not looking at the trio. "I better go upstairs..." Ginny trailed off and flung her backpack over her shoulders and ran upstairs, back to her dormitory.
She ran into her room. Two of her roommates, Gillian Birch and Mary Jane Fink, were sitting on a bed, laughing loudly.
"Hey, Gin," Gillian said, "Didn't you just go downstairs?"
Ginny didn't pay them any attention. She threw herself on her bed and closed the curtains tightly. Quickly, she took out her wand and placed a silencing charm on the curtains, so no one would hear her.
"Tom," she moaned. It had been almost three days since she had called him.
Yes, my pet. Why have you not called?
She decided to ignore the question. "Tom, Harry Potter is trying to learn your secrets," she said softly.
She heard a soft laughter. And what is Harry Potter trying to do?
"Learn Legilimency," she told him, "He wants to plant images in the Dark Lord's mind."
I must confess, I did believe this to be a possibility, my dear. You are certain?
"Very," Ginny said confidently.
Hmm...I believe you must tell this to the Dark Lord yourself...
"When?" Ginny asked eagerly.
Tonight...I believe a meeting is planned. You know what to do...
"I do," Ginny said softly.
And as always, Ginerva, your loyalty shall be rewarded...
She could fell Tom disappear; he was no longer with her. Ginny sat up quickly and caught her breath. She had participated in a meeting once before. It had been one of the most exhilarating nights of her life. And she would be at one tonight.
----
That evening, around ten o'clock at night, Ginny snuck out of the common room headed towards the room of requirement. In the shoulder bag she carried, she had everything she needed for the meeting.
Listening for teacher's footsteps every moment in the hallway, she finally made it to the room, unnoticed. She walked back and forth in front of the painting. "I need a place to hide," She thought to herself. The door appeared, and Ginny slipped inside.
The room was no larger than a broom closet, but it would do. Ginny took out the hooded robe she had in her shoulder bag. She then took out a hair fastener, and tied back her long red hair. Anyone who worked for the Ministry at the meeting would recognize her Weasley hair in a moment. She then gently lifted the hood of the robe over her eyes.
She was ready.
"Tom," she called out.
Ginerva, you are ready?
"Yes, Tom," she said softly.
Then I shall take you to the meeting. Close your eyes...
She shut her eyes tightly. Ginny knew that she would not be going anywhere. Her body would not be leaving the room of requirement.
You may open your eyes, Ginerva...
Ginny gasped, and immediately felt weak. She was in an open field. A graveyard to one side, and a large, imposing house in front of her.
Remember, Ginerva, this is only in your mind...
"I know Tom," she said softly.
"There she is," a voice hissed softly. Ginny recognized the voice instantly, it was the voice of her Lord. He was standing before her.
Ginny sank slowly onto one knee and bowed. "My Lord," she said softly. He held out his hand, and she kissed his hand gratefully. This was her Tom. And someday, he'd have his body back. And on that magnificent day, they would be together.
"You may rise, little one," the Dark Lord chuckled. Ginny did so, and bowed her head.
"I understand you have news for me."
"Yes, my Lord," Ginny said quietly. She closed her eyes briefly. She somehow couldn't believe that she was in his presence. Ginny could feel the power radiating around him.
"Don't keep me waiting child," he told her.
"Harry Potter is trying to learn Legilimency, my Lord. He is hoping to become powerful enough to plant images in your own mind; convince you to do things," she said.
A voice to the right of the Dark Lord spoke. "I doubt that Harry Potter would ever be able to accomplish that," the voice chuckled. Ginny recognized it as Lucius Malfoy's voice. Ever since her first year, she always wished she could find a way to repay Lucius Malfoy what he had done for her. He had given her Tom, after all.
"I don't know about that," Ginny said softly, not wanting to contradict, but knowing she must.
"Really?" the Dark Lord asked.
"Yes, my Lord. Harry is very angry. He is willing to push himself to the edge, in order to defeat you. I am convinced that he will stop at nothing to learn Legilimency," Ginny told the two men.
Since she had the hood over her eyes, she couldn't see any of the men's faces. She looked down at their feet. There were three sets of feet. She desperately wanted to know who the third set belonged to.
"We have ways of breaking him," the Dark Lord laughed bitterly. "Don't we, Severus?"
Oh gods! Ginny thought to herself. Surely, Professor Snape would be able to recognize Ginny's voice.
"I do believe his Occlumency lessons will be becoming more...difficult," Professor Snape said.
"You have done well," the Dark Lord told her. He took a step forward. Ginny almost winced when his hand stroked her cheek. She was very glad she stopped herself just in time. She knew she shouldn't wince. This was her Tom, just not in his body. He bent down and whispered in her ear, "Not much longer, my dear."
Tom was back in her head. Close your eyes...
Ginny closed her eyes, and felt a sensation in her stomach. She had to remind herself that she wasn't moving.
You are back...
Ginny opened her eyes. She fell to the floor, panting. Amazing how a journey through the mind could be so exhausting. Quickly she took off her robe and stuffed it into her shoulder bag. Catching her breath, she opened the door slowly.
She gingerly took a few steps, and heard a voice behind her. "Weasley!" Draco said sharply.
She turned around to face him. "Hello, Draco," she purred, putting her arms around him. Suddenly, all Ginny wanted was to be with Draco. The meeting had made her feel so alive. She was helping the Dark Lord. There was no better calling than that.
Draco shook her arms off. "What are you doing up here, Weasley?" Ginny couldn't believe how angry he looked.
She smiled up at him seductively and took his hand. "I was paying a visit to the Dark Lord," she whispered in his ear.
Draco's face didn't betray what he was feeling. Ginny quickly walked back and forth in front of the painting. The door appeared and Ginny slowly led Draco inside.