Truths Revealed

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Alistair quietly said, "Ginny, I think I know who Shadow is. And you're not going to like it."

Ginny frowned, took a deep breath and said, "Who?"

"Our beloved Draco Malfoy."

Ginny cringed, and glanced at Bianca to catch her reaction. The blonde girl looked simply horrified. "Are you sure? How do you know?" Ginny asked.

"I overheard a group of Slytherin guys in my Divination class talking about Draco's light-up box. Apparently he's been trying to hide it from them, but they've noticed." Alistair paused and frowned. "They said he's been messing with it for hours every night."

Ginny now had her head buried in her hands, red hair making a curtain that covered her face. Her friends tried to comfort her as she moaned, "No, no, no! How could I be so stupid? Why him? Not just a Slytherin... one of the worst Slytherins! What is wrong with me? You think I would've learned my lesson after falling in love with the worst Slytherin there ever was!"

Bianca and Alistair exchanged bewildered looks, trying to deny the obvious. They would have to discuss that comment with her later. Then Bianca had the sense to lead Ginny in the direction of the Gryffindor Common Room.

Ginny was still in hysterics, and when they tried to seat her in an armchair, she pushed them away and ran up to her dormitory. She returned a moment later, holding her box. She ran towards the fire, and was about to throw it in when Alistair stopped her.

"Ginny, don't. This box was given to you for a reason," he said, handing the box to Bianca for safe-keeping as he pushed Ginny into a chair.

"Hey, Ginny, what's this?" Bianca said, pulling a bracelet out of the box.

"Let me see that," Ginny said, still looking wide-eyed. Bianca hesitantly handed her the bracelet, no doubt worried that she would fling it into the fire. Ginny scowled at her friend and examined the bracelet. She immediately recognized the three red beads that she had sent to... Draco... as a test. Between these beads were smaller topaz ones, and the rest of the bracelet was strung with smoky quartz. Ginny slipped the bracelet on her wrist, and fought back the tears that were threatening to flow. Then she looked up and said, "Was there anything else in the box?"

Bianca handed her a folded piece of paper and said, "You can read it first."

"Thanks," Ginny said as she unfolded the parchment. It read:

Fire,
The bracelet is a gift to you. And as another manifestation of the poetic side you bring out in me, the beads are symbolic. You've probably already figured it out, but your red beads and the yellow topaz are for you- Fire. The smoky quartz look shadowy for me- Shadow.
And on a more serious note... I regret what I said about inter-house relationships. And I don't care who you are, as long as you're still Fire. You said you've been to the Room of Requirement? Meet me there tomorrow night at 10:00.
Shadow

Ginny handed the letter to Bianca, who was joined by Alistair looking over her shoulder to read. When they were done, Ginny said, "What should I do?"

Bianca looked thoughtful, but Alistair spoke right away. His face was livid, although he kept his voice calm and quiet. "Don't go. Look how he treats you, Ginny. You can't be with him."

"But... Shadow treats me differently. He's the only person I've ever known who treats me this way."

"Shadow is just a name for a quill that writes enchanting things. It's not real. Malfoy is real. And Malfoy is a Dark wizard who ridicules others until they despise him. You're looking for love in a person incapable of anything by hatred."

Ginny didn't say anything, but just let tears run silently down her cheeks. Ron, Harry, and Hermione walked into the Common Room, laughing happily. Obviously, Ron had forgiven Harry after the Quidditch game. When they saw Ginny, they rushed over and started asking what was wrong. She didn't really want to tell them, at least not yet, so she signaled Bianca and Alistair not to say anything. After awhile, they gave up and went to their own corner of the Common Room.

Ginny was done crying, and she now had a defiant look on her face. "I will go meet Draco. Shadow at least deserves that much, I think."

Alistair looked about to protest, but Bianca laid a hand on his arm to quiet him. Then she looked at Ginny and said, "Would it help if you told us about this other Slytherin you loved? It might help you handle your meeting with Draco..." Bianca trailed off, not sounding too hopeful.

Ginny sighed and beckoned for them to follow her out of the Common Room. She led them to an empty classroom and then said, "This is not something to be discussed openly for anyone to hear." She sighed again, "But I suppose it is time I told someone."

Alistair nodded and gave her an understanding look, and Bianca gave her friend a supportive hug. Then they settled down to listen to what Ginny needed to say.

"There's not really all that much to tell. Until now everyone has believed that in my first year at Hogwarts, I found Tom Riddle's diary and he possessed me. But that's not entirely true. I desperately needed a friend that year, and Tom was much more than even that. He made me feel so special, so needed. Much like Shadow has done for me this time."

Alistair opened his mouth to protest, but Bianca shot him a warning look.

"So I fell in love with him. I did all of those horrible things because he told me to, and I listened to him. So he did possess me, in a way, but I was always in my right mind. It was only after Harry destroyed him that I saw how much he had really changed me. But I suppose it was only natural... he was my first love, my first lover. And now it has all happened to me again. I've fallen in love with the Prince of Slytherin." Ginny became silent. She was no longer crying, but Bianca could see the sadness in her eyes. She only wished that Ginny was about to meet a man that would take that sadness away.

Alistair hugged Ginny tightly, feeling sorry that he had been so hard on her. "Come on, let's get back to Gryffindor Tower."