Chapter Six – Jealousy
"Miss Weasley, is it too much to expect that you pay attention in my class?" Professor Snape asked dangerously.
Ginny snapped out of her reverie and muttered, "Sorry," under her breath.
She couldn't believe it. She had lost her concentration in Potions. That hadn't happened in a long time. And it was because of Tom. He hadn't responded to her calls in three days, not since the night she had spent in the Room of Requirement with Draco. It was very unlike him to be gone this long.
And it worried the hell out of her.
As soon as the bell rang, Ginny practical ran out of the Potions classroom. She needed time to think. She ran into the first floor girl's bathroom.
"Tom?" she whispered.
Nothing.
"Tom?" she whispered just a little louder.
Still no reply. Ginny couldn't move. He couldn't have abandoned her, could he? Ginny shook her head. That was impossible. She was sure that she would be able to tell if he was not with her.
The rest of the day went quickly enough, and ended with Quidditch practice. She tried to get all of her frustrations and anger out on the Quidditch pitch. After practice, she declined Harry's offer to walk back to the Gryffindor Tower with him.
She wandered through the halls by herself, when suddenly everything went black.
-------------------------
Ginny knew where she was without even opening her eyes. "Not again," she said under her breath.
Gingerly, she stood up. She was still in her quidditch robes, which meant she never made it to the Gryffindor Tower.
"Why are you here all the time?" a whiny voice called from a toilet stall. It was Moaning Myrtle.
"I'm not here all the time," Ginny said defensively.
"Yes, you are."
"No, I'm not!" Ginny yelled.
"You've walked in here a couple of times now, and then collaped on the floor. I wasn't sure if I should get help or not," Myrtle said sadly.
"Myrtle, promise me," Ginny said frantically. "Never get help when I'm in here. I don't need help, okay?" That was the last thing Ginny needed, Moaning Myrtle telling the Headmaster everything.
"But who are you talking to?" Myrtle asked curiously.
"Myself," Ginny said softly.
"Really?" Myrtle asked gleefully. "That's a good sign to tell that you're insane!"
Ginny gave her a dirty look. "Thanks, Myrtle." She left the bathroom as quickly as she could. Hoping that no one was walking in the corridors, Ginny ran up to the Common Room.
She could hear a bit of a commotion in a different hallway, but didn't stop to find out what it was. She gave the Fat Lady the password and ran through the Common Room. She was in luck! It must be late, because no one was there.
Quietly, she left herself into her dormitory. It looked like the other girls were already asleep. She threw on a nightshirt and flung herself into bed, casting a silencing charm on the heavy red curtains.
She had already begged him to talk to her. Maybe it was now time to try a different approach.
"Tom!" she demanded.
Yes, my pet...
"I insist that you stop possessing me!" she said shrilly.
That's impossible...
"At least give me some kind of warning," she asked.
But then you might fight me...
"I would never fight you, Tom," she said, shocked that he would think that.
I'm not so sure anymore...
"What does that mean?"
I don't like sharing...Goodnight, my dear...
Ginny was worried. She had never heard Tom sound so upset before.
----
There was an uproar when Ginny went into the Great Hall for breakfast. Students everywhere looked terrified. Ginny sat down slowly next to Ron, Harry and Hermione.
"What's going on?" Ginny whispered.
"You haven't heard?" Hermione asked.
Ginny shook her head.
"Three muggle borns were attacked last night," Harry said softly.
Ginny's eyes went wide. "Three?" she squeaked.
Ron nodded. "Dean Thomas, and Colin and Dennis Creavy," Ron said bitterly.
"Notice that it's all Gryffindors," Harry spat. "I'd bet my life that it was someone in Slytherin."
"Are they dead?" Ginny asked, dreading to hear the answer.
"Not dead," Hermione said. "Just like your first year. They're petrified."
Ginny couldn't listen to anymore. She jumped up from her seat and walked as quickly as she could out of the Great Hall.
She practically sprinted into the Girl's Bathroom. She quickly shut herself into a stall.
"Tom," she whispered.
Yes, Ginerva...
"Three attacks in one night? Are you insane?" Ginny asked.
It is not for you to question me, Ginerva. You are my servant, you shall obey my commands...
Tom sounded furious.
"I can't help you if I'm expelled or worse, thrown into Azkaban," Ginny tried to reason with him.
You will help me as long as you remain useful...
Ginny sighed. "I want to help," she said finally.
Where are your loyalties?
Ginny's mouth dropped in shock. "To you! Always to you!"
Why do you continue to see the Malfoy boy?
"I was weak, Tom. I told him my secret. He demands payment. I thought you understood!" Ginny pleaded.
You are mine, and mine alone, Ginerva!
The words sounded harsh, but all Ginny could do was smile. Tom was jealous. He loved her, wanted her, trusted her.
She tried to change the subject. "Please stop attacking students Tom. Dumbledore is bound to become suspicious, if he's not already."
I'm sure you will find an excuse...
"Tom..." she moaned softly.
We shall talk later, my dear...
Ginny stood up slowly; trying to take in everything she had just learned. She quickly went to the door, and looked in the hallway. No one was there, and Ginny slipped out, and started walking to her Charms class.
Her hand was on the doorknob when someone stopped her.
"Weasley!" Professor Snape barked.
Ginny looked up guiltily. "Yes, sir?" she asked.
"Follow me, Weasley. The Headmaster would like a word with you," he said softly.
Ginny nodded and followed the Potions Master. They walked through the corridors silently.
Finally, they reached Professor Dumbledore's office. He was standing behind his desk, pacing.
He looked tired. "Miss Weasley," he started. "Please have a seat."
Ginny sat down timidly. He knew it was her; she could just tell. He sat down across from her. Professor Snape stayed in the room, standing behind the Headmaster's left shoulder.
"Miss Weasley, I'm sure you have heard about the attacks on the students last night?" he asked.
Ginny nodded, but looked him straight in the eye.
"I hope you can appreciate the awkward position I'm in. The manner in which these students were attacked...Mrs. Norris being killed...Tom having a body again, this all leads me to one conclusion," Professor Dumbledore said softly.
Ginny decided to be a step ahead of him. "You think it was me who attacked the students?" Ginny asked sadly.
Professor Dumbledore interlaced his fingers. "Yes," he said simply. "No one seems to have any idea where you were after Quidditch practice."
Ginny knew she had to think fast. "I went up to the Astronomy Tower. No one would be able to prove it, because I was by myself," Ginny said, hoping not to get caught in a lie.
"I see," Professor Dumbledore said. Ginny could tell he didn't believe her at all.
"I believe I have offered you the chance to tell the truth, Ginny," the professor said. 'I would like you to submit to a drop of Veritaserum to validate your claim. If you were where you said you were, you are free to go."
Ginny thought quickly. Veritaserum was a trip to Azkaban as far as she was concerned. She was about to say no, when she Professor Snape ever so slightly nod his head. Ginny couldn't believe it! He was telling her to take the Veritaserum.
"That's fine, Professor," Ginny said confidently. "I'll take the potion."
Professor Dumbledore smiled briefly. "I'm glad, Ginny. Severus, if you could give me the potion I asked you to bring up?"
Professor Snape brought a vial of clear liquid of out his robes and handed it to Professor Dumbledore.
The Headmaster stood up and went over to a small cabinet. He took down a drink flask and poured some into a glass. He then poured one drop from the vial into the glass. He then walked over to Ginny and handed her the tumbler.
"Pumpkin juice," he said softly. "You shouldn't taste the Veritaserum.
Ginny drank the glass in one gulp. She was ready to answer the Headmaster's questions.
"Miss Weasley, is it too much to expect that you pay attention in my class?" Professor Snape asked dangerously.
Ginny snapped out of her reverie and muttered, "Sorry," under her breath.
She couldn't believe it. She had lost her concentration in Potions. That hadn't happened in a long time. And it was because of Tom. He hadn't responded to her calls in three days, not since the night she had spent in the Room of Requirement with Draco. It was very unlike him to be gone this long.
And it worried the hell out of her.
As soon as the bell rang, Ginny practical ran out of the Potions classroom. She needed time to think. She ran into the first floor girl's bathroom.
"Tom?" she whispered.
Nothing.
"Tom?" she whispered just a little louder.
Still no reply. Ginny couldn't move. He couldn't have abandoned her, could he? Ginny shook her head. That was impossible. She was sure that she would be able to tell if he was not with her.
The rest of the day went quickly enough, and ended with Quidditch practice. She tried to get all of her frustrations and anger out on the Quidditch pitch. After practice, she declined Harry's offer to walk back to the Gryffindor Tower with him.
She wandered through the halls by herself, when suddenly everything went black.
-------------------------
Ginny knew where she was without even opening her eyes. "Not again," she said under her breath.
Gingerly, she stood up. She was still in her quidditch robes, which meant she never made it to the Gryffindor Tower.
"Why are you here all the time?" a whiny voice called from a toilet stall. It was Moaning Myrtle.
"I'm not here all the time," Ginny said defensively.
"Yes, you are."
"No, I'm not!" Ginny yelled.
"You've walked in here a couple of times now, and then collaped on the floor. I wasn't sure if I should get help or not," Myrtle said sadly.
"Myrtle, promise me," Ginny said frantically. "Never get help when I'm in here. I don't need help, okay?" That was the last thing Ginny needed, Moaning Myrtle telling the Headmaster everything.
"But who are you talking to?" Myrtle asked curiously.
"Myself," Ginny said softly.
"Really?" Myrtle asked gleefully. "That's a good sign to tell that you're insane!"
Ginny gave her a dirty look. "Thanks, Myrtle." She left the bathroom as quickly as she could. Hoping that no one was walking in the corridors, Ginny ran up to the Common Room.
She could hear a bit of a commotion in a different hallway, but didn't stop to find out what it was. She gave the Fat Lady the password and ran through the Common Room. She was in luck! It must be late, because no one was there.
Quietly, she left herself into her dormitory. It looked like the other girls were already asleep. She threw on a nightshirt and flung herself into bed, casting a silencing charm on the heavy red curtains.
She had already begged him to talk to her. Maybe it was now time to try a different approach.
"Tom!" she demanded.
Yes, my pet...
"I insist that you stop possessing me!" she said shrilly.
That's impossible...
"At least give me some kind of warning," she asked.
But then you might fight me...
"I would never fight you, Tom," she said, shocked that he would think that.
I'm not so sure anymore...
"What does that mean?"
I don't like sharing...Goodnight, my dear...
Ginny was worried. She had never heard Tom sound so upset before.
----
There was an uproar when Ginny went into the Great Hall for breakfast. Students everywhere looked terrified. Ginny sat down slowly next to Ron, Harry and Hermione.
"What's going on?" Ginny whispered.
"You haven't heard?" Hermione asked.
Ginny shook her head.
"Three muggle borns were attacked last night," Harry said softly.
Ginny's eyes went wide. "Three?" she squeaked.
Ron nodded. "Dean Thomas, and Colin and Dennis Creavy," Ron said bitterly.
"Notice that it's all Gryffindors," Harry spat. "I'd bet my life that it was someone in Slytherin."
"Are they dead?" Ginny asked, dreading to hear the answer.
"Not dead," Hermione said. "Just like your first year. They're petrified."
Ginny couldn't listen to anymore. She jumped up from her seat and walked as quickly as she could out of the Great Hall.
She practically sprinted into the Girl's Bathroom. She quickly shut herself into a stall.
"Tom," she whispered.
Yes, Ginerva...
"Three attacks in one night? Are you insane?" Ginny asked.
It is not for you to question me, Ginerva. You are my servant, you shall obey my commands...
Tom sounded furious.
"I can't help you if I'm expelled or worse, thrown into Azkaban," Ginny tried to reason with him.
You will help me as long as you remain useful...
Ginny sighed. "I want to help," she said finally.
Where are your loyalties?
Ginny's mouth dropped in shock. "To you! Always to you!"
Why do you continue to see the Malfoy boy?
"I was weak, Tom. I told him my secret. He demands payment. I thought you understood!" Ginny pleaded.
You are mine, and mine alone, Ginerva!
The words sounded harsh, but all Ginny could do was smile. Tom was jealous. He loved her, wanted her, trusted her.
She tried to change the subject. "Please stop attacking students Tom. Dumbledore is bound to become suspicious, if he's not already."
I'm sure you will find an excuse...
"Tom..." she moaned softly.
We shall talk later, my dear...
Ginny stood up slowly; trying to take in everything she had just learned. She quickly went to the door, and looked in the hallway. No one was there, and Ginny slipped out, and started walking to her Charms class.
Her hand was on the doorknob when someone stopped her.
"Weasley!" Professor Snape barked.
Ginny looked up guiltily. "Yes, sir?" she asked.
"Follow me, Weasley. The Headmaster would like a word with you," he said softly.
Ginny nodded and followed the Potions Master. They walked through the corridors silently.
Finally, they reached Professor Dumbledore's office. He was standing behind his desk, pacing.
He looked tired. "Miss Weasley," he started. "Please have a seat."
Ginny sat down timidly. He knew it was her; she could just tell. He sat down across from her. Professor Snape stayed in the room, standing behind the Headmaster's left shoulder.
"Miss Weasley, I'm sure you have heard about the attacks on the students last night?" he asked.
Ginny nodded, but looked him straight in the eye.
"I hope you can appreciate the awkward position I'm in. The manner in which these students were attacked...Mrs. Norris being killed...Tom having a body again, this all leads me to one conclusion," Professor Dumbledore said softly.
Ginny decided to be a step ahead of him. "You think it was me who attacked the students?" Ginny asked sadly.
Professor Dumbledore interlaced his fingers. "Yes," he said simply. "No one seems to have any idea where you were after Quidditch practice."
Ginny knew she had to think fast. "I went up to the Astronomy Tower. No one would be able to prove it, because I was by myself," Ginny said, hoping not to get caught in a lie.
"I see," Professor Dumbledore said. Ginny could tell he didn't believe her at all.
"I believe I have offered you the chance to tell the truth, Ginny," the professor said. 'I would like you to submit to a drop of Veritaserum to validate your claim. If you were where you said you were, you are free to go."
Ginny thought quickly. Veritaserum was a trip to Azkaban as far as she was concerned. She was about to say no, when she Professor Snape ever so slightly nod his head. Ginny couldn't believe it! He was telling her to take the Veritaserum.
"That's fine, Professor," Ginny said confidently. "I'll take the potion."
Professor Dumbledore smiled briefly. "I'm glad, Ginny. Severus, if you could give me the potion I asked you to bring up?"
Professor Snape brought a vial of clear liquid of out his robes and handed it to Professor Dumbledore.
The Headmaster stood up and went over to a small cabinet. He took down a drink flask and poured some into a glass. He then poured one drop from the vial into the glass. He then walked over to Ginny and handed her the tumbler.
"Pumpkin juice," he said softly. "You shouldn't taste the Veritaserum.
Ginny drank the glass in one gulp. She was ready to answer the Headmaster's questions.