Professor McGonagall walked Ginny up to the Hospital Wing that night. Ginny hugged herself tightly and winced as she passed the Room of Requirement.
"What will happen to his body?" she asked softly.
"He'll be given to his parents. No doubt they'll want to bury him with the rest of the Malfoys," Professor McGonagall replied.
"Poppy?" Professor McGonagall called as they entered the Hospital Wing.
Madam Pomfrey came fretting out of her office, tying her dressing gown. "Yes, Minerva?"
"Miss Weasley needs a bed for the night," Professor McGonagall said sternly. As an afterthought, she added, "And a cup of Dreamless Sleep."
"No," Ginny said sharply.
"Pardon?"
"No Dreamless sleep. I need my dreams," Ginny whispered. She might see Draco in her dreams.
"Very well," Professor McGonagall said, taken back. "Just a bed for the night, then."
"Thank you," Ginny said softly.
Professor McGonagall nodded and quickly left the room. Madam Pomfrey walked Ginny over to a cot that had a white curtain surrounding it. She then handed Ginny a hospital gown.
"Get some rest, dear," Madam Pomfrey said gently.
Ginny laid down, still almost disbelieving of what had happened tonight. She stared at the ceiling, willing sleep to come. But sleep did not come.
"What have I done?" Ginny asked herself.
She closed her eyes, and suddenly felt Tom's presence creep into her mind. "What have you done?" she whispered angrily.
I know you are upset with me...Ginny willed her mind shut. She would not give him any information.
If you had only given him up when I asked you too..."Leave me alone," she said with clenched teeth.
As long as Voldemort is alive, you will never be alone..."Then Voldemort shall die," Ginny said simply. She concentrated as hard as she could and forced Tom to leave her mind. When she knew he was gone, Ginny realized that she was drenched in sweat.
Voldemort would die. That much she knew. But first...but first she would make him suffer.
Ginny Weasley turned over on her side and fell asleep, a slight smile on her lips.
----
When Ginny woke up the next morning, she had to put her hand over her face to shield her eyes. The sun was pouring in through the windows.
"You mock me," Ginny whispered.
"What do I do?" a voice asked.
Ginny sat up suddenly and found herself face to face with Harry. He looked incredibly upset.
"Harry?" she asked.
"I know it was just a game, Ginny," Harry said angrily. "Why did you do it?"
"What do you know?" she asked.
"Why Ginny?"
"What has Dumbledore told you?" Ginny demanded.
Harry stood up and started pacing. "Nothing," he said loudly. "He said I needed to talk to you about what happened. And then I come in here, and find you moaning Draco fucking Malfoy's name in your sleep!"
Ginny brought her knees to her chest and stayed silent.
"Were you with him the entire time you were with me?" Harry asked. "It all makes sense now! All the times you needed to go to the bloody library. Or to the Great Hall. And then I would go looking for you like a pathetic puppy dog and you wouldn't be there!"
She rocked herself back and forth. "Why aren't you saying anything?" Harry asked, dropping down on a chair next to her bed.
Ginny's eyes flashed. "Because nothing I could say would make you feel better!" Ginny yelled. "I was with you because I was following instructions. I was with Draco because I wanted to be!"
"Following instructions?" Harry asked.
"You might have saved my body in the Chamber of Secrets, Harry. But you didn't save my soul," Ginny whispered. "Ever since that night I have belonged to him."
"Voldemort?" Harry said in horror.
She nodded. "He told me to start dating you. To see if I could find out any information. I didn't want to do it. Because I was with Draco."
"All this time...you've been working for him?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Ginny said shortly.
Harry looked like he had been run over. "I don't believe it!" he said fiercely.
"Don't let your feelings for me cover the truth," Ginny said, much more calm. "We need to work together now."
"Why in the world would I want to work with you?" Harry asked, standing up.
"Because in the first time in six years we have a common goal," Ginny said simply.
Harry crossed his arms over his chest. "And what would that be?"
"For Tom to fall."
----
Rumors started spreading wildly. Everyone knew that Draco Malfoy had been killed. But not a single student realized that it had been Ginny who had killed him. Everyone assumed that the same thing that killed the Creavy brothers and Dean Thomas killed Draco.
The Slytherins were terrified. Draco Malfoy had been one of their own. He was as pureblood as they could be. His death proved only one thing to them. That no one was safe.
Ginny realized that it was a matter of time before Tom tried to possess her again. This time it would be worse. She was sure that she would be forced to kill herself next time she was possessed.
Professor Dumbledore assigned two Aurors to follow her at all times. That way if anything happened, the Aurors would be able to protect her.
But no one could protect her at night. Her dreams were filled of Draco and Tom. Tom continued to creep into her mind. But Ginny was growing stronger. She was able to force him out now at will. But she couldn't keep him from coming back.
-----
Harry wouldn't really speak to her anymore. She didn't blame him at all. She supposed that he told Ron and Hermione.
A week after Draco was killed, Ginny was up in the common room by herself. Well, not completely by herself. The two Aurors were playing a game of chess by the fireplace.
Ron and Hermione let themselves in after their rounds. Ginny watched them share a look. Hermione went upstairs, and Ron walked over to Ginny, sitting next to her on the couch.
"Why didn't you tell any of us you were still in contact with Riddle?" he asked gently.
Ginny looked up, surprised. There was concerned etched on Ron's face. They never had been the best of friends. In fact, most of the time, Ron infuriated her. She couldn't quite understand why he seemed like he cared all of a sudden.
"I didn't want anyone to know," Ginny said after a moment's thought.
"Why not?"
"Because I was determined to become Mrs. Tom Riddle," Ginny snapped. "I embraced the dark side, Ron. Not quite something I could bring up wearing a Weasley sweater."
Ron cleared his throat. "Are you still on...on the dark side?" he asked tentatively.
"I'm on whatever side will defeat Tom," Ginny said fiercely. "Light, dark, neutral. I don't really care anymore."
"You do care," Ron said softly.
"I don't."
"You care so much that it hurts. I don't know what that bastard did to you, Ginny, but don't tell me you don't care," Ron lectured.
"Fine!" Ginny shouted, jumping to her feet. Her books and parchment fell to the floor. "I care. I want him to suffer. I want to hurt him as much as he hurt me. And I will do whatever it takes."
Ron looked up to her sadly. "Who are you?" he asked softly.
Ginny kneeled down on the floor and picked up her belongings quickly. "Ginerva Weasley. Honorary Slytherin."
She then walked up the stairs to her dorm without a backwards glance.
----
After that, Ginny wouldn't speak to anyone. She withdrew into a shell of herself. Nothing mattered now. She quit the quidditch team. She gave up really trying to do her homework.
All she could think of was one thing. Revenge.
It was on her mind day and night. It consumed her. Scenario after scenario would flash in front of her eyes. She kept hoping that the right idea would present itself.
Ginny spent a great deal of time in the owlery. Hogwarts' grounds looked of spring. She could spend hours looking out of the glassless windows.
I could make you jump, you know..."But you won't," Ginny whispered.
That's not the point, Ginerva..."It is actually," Ginny said. She could hear a longing in his voice. The bastard missed her!
I would like to discuss things with you, Ginerva...Ginny focused her mind and forced him out. He still loved her. She found herself laughing softly at this revelation. How she would use that to her advantage!