A/N: Sorry it's been a while, but i decided to take a well earned Christmas break :) I wrote this chapter yesterday, and it's filled with info and stuff to keep you thinking, so get reading! Oh, and next chapter there's more Malfoy! Yay! He's back for good! So go and read. What are you waiting for? Hugs and smiles, Angel.

Chapter 27- Just Ginny

'So who else knows?' Ginny asked Harry, as she wiped the tears away from her eyes.

Harry and Ginny had made their way quickly back to a deserted common room, and sat curled up on a sofa in front of the fire.

'Ron and Hermione.' Harry answered. 'They're here too. The real them.'

Ginny shook her head, and cuddled her legs up to her chest.

'Are they really together?' She questioned, looking open eyed at Harry. 'I mean, are they really dating?'

'No.' Harry replied, with a hand on his head. 'It's complicated.'

'Oh.' Ginny whispered, and closed her eyes.

'I never even thought that it could possibly be you.' Harry admitted. 'You've been so different. You look so-'

'Perfect?' Ginny asked, and was followed with silence. 'Well I guess that shows that anyone can be perfect, with enough clothes and make up. Anyone.'

Harry somehow wanted to right her, to tell her how that she wasn't just anyone, but the words couldn't come to him. There was no doubt in his mind that what she'd said was wrong, but he didn't know how to make it right.

'Ginny.' Harry tried. 'It's not the clothes and make up that made you perfect: it was you. You were yourself… Please cheer up.'

'I'm fine, Harry.' Ginny sighed.

'If it makes you feel any better, I didn't ask you to the ball just because I thought you were pretty or popular. I asked you because I liked you.' Harry explained, sincerely. 'Just you.'

Ginny gave Harry a heart warming smile, and a friendly hug.

'I don't know how you kept this up for so long alone.' Harry said. 'I would have gone mad.'

'I thought I was going mad sometimes.' Ginny laughed dryly. 'I just didn't know what else to do but keep it up.'

'How did you know what the other Ginny was like?' Harry asked. 'I mean, I'm lucky I still have the same friends, but you have a whole tribe of new ones to keep up with.'

'I read it in Ginny's diary.' Ginny explained. 'The other me keeps a diary of everything she does. She writes an essay in it every evening. When I first woke up in this world, I found it open on my lap. I've been reading it in continually ever since.'

'Wow.' Harry whispered. 'I wish I'd had one. It would have made things so much easier.'

'And weirder.' Ginny shivered. 'It's like you telling yourself what happened, yet you don't remember it ever taking place.'

Ginny rested her chin on her knees, before asking: 'How did we get here?'

'I can't answer that.' Harry said softly, leaning his head on the back of the sofa. 'To tell you the truth, I don't really know. I know we were in the common room and I was mad. I had Hermione's time turner, and I threw it as I hard as I could. I wished that voldemort-'

'Had never gone bad.' Ginny said numbly, then sat up and looked round at Harry. 'Hermione and Ron were still in the common room when you threw it, weren't they?'

'I think so…yeah. They hadn't gone to bed yet.' Harry said, thinking as hard as he could with a headache brewing. 'You had though. How come you were transported too?'

'I came back downstairs for my book.' Ginny said simply, lacing her fingers in her lap. 'I forgot to take it upstairs with me, so I went back down the stairs again, and when I reached the bottom, everything went black.'

Harry let out an exasperated sigh, and threw his hands behind his head in frustration. Ginny looked him wearily in the eyes, before lifting her hand to his face, and massaging his right temple. Harry closed his eyes for a moment, and reopened them a minute later, in surprise.

'How did you do that?' Harry asked, looking steadily into Ginny's cinnamon eyes.

'Do what?' Ginny asked.

'Make the pain go away.' Harry said gently, putting a hand to his head, in examination.

'I've always been able to do it.' Ginny shrugged, cuddling her knees once more. 'My Dad says I must have healing powers, and that I should become a healer one day.'

Harry simply grinned at Ginny, and suddenly felt all his insecurities fade away.

'Don't look so surprised though, it's not as exciting as all Erin's divination talents.' Ginny smiled, lamely. 'She can feel when things are wrong, and she can see auras and stuff.'

'I think I'll have to ask Erin about that.' Harry chuckled, before realizing. 'Erin! She's at Quidditch practice, where we're supposed to be!'

'Damn.' Ginny cursed, looking longingly out of the window. 'Well it's too late now. They'll all be finishing in about 40 minutes, and by the time we get down there…'

Ginny sighed, and picked up a book off her desk.

'Well, I've got an essay to write anyway.' Ginny huffed, and picked up her quill.

'So I haven't spoken to you for over a month and a half, and now you're going to spend the time we have to catch up, writing a pointless essay which won't even count when you go back home?' Harry stressed, making Ginny laugh.

'Ok, you have a point.' She said, putting the book down. 'But it's not like we haven't talked. I talk to you almost everyday, Harry.'

'But, that wasn't like talking to you, for me.' Harry tried to explain. 'I thought you were someone else. I was always showing off, trying to impress people. And I was flirting with you stupidly. You must have thought I was a right prat.'

'No, I liked it.' Ginny laughed, harmlessly.

'Really?' Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.

'I said I'd go to the ball with you, didn't I?' Ginny smiled lopsidedly. 'It was fun harmless flirting. You amused me. I like your company, Harry, and you never fail to cheer me up.'

'Good.' Harry said, feeling a familiar churn in the pit of his stomach. 'I like to see you smiling.'

Ginny opened her mouth to speak, but then faltered, her eyes finding their way to Harry's. She smiled honestly, and every freckle on her face smiled with her.

'So can I do my essay now?' She asked, with an cheeky glint in her eyes.

'Go for it.' Harry grinned, massaging his fluttering stomach. 'What's it for?'

'History of magic.' Ginny said emotionlessly. 'Riddle wants an essay on troll rebellions, or something.'

Harry sat forward in his seat, a new question suddenly filling his head.

'Why do you visit Riddle so often?'

Harry's words must have shocked Ginny, as she stiffened for a moment, before answering.

'He's a lonely old man, in need of some company.' Ginny said, almost warmly. 'He has problems, and leans to me for advice. I'm his favorite pupil. The only one who understands him.'

'You understand him because you wrote in his diary for a year.' Harry said harshly. 'Before he tried to drain the life out of you.'

'But this isn't him, Harry.' Ginny stressed, turning to face Harry. 'This is the Tom I knew. The listener. The great smart man who I wrote to, and who helped me through my problems. I know the way his mind works, Harry, and I'm the only one who understands. He realizes that I know him too, yet he can't seem to figure out how…'

'Well, what happens when he does?' Harry exclaimed.

'He can't.' Ginny said, putting a hand on Harry's knee. 'It's not possible. He needs me as a friend, that's all.'

'What do you talk to him about?' Harry asked, solemnly.

'Riddle wants to leave Hogwarts.' Ginny explained. 'He needs a change of scene. A job that's maybe…maybe a little more demanding. A job where he can be higher up.'

'A job which includes a gang of deatheaters?' Harry asked, humoring himself.

'Look, you just have to trust me.' Ginny pleaded. 'Whenever he begins to lean in the wrong direction, I advice him to do something else. I can change him Harry, before he makes the wrong choices.'

'So you think there's still a possibility that he could become Lord Voldemort?' Harry asked, jumping up from his seat.

'Of course not.' Ginny assured Harry. 'Unless the prophecy was still made.'

'Wait.' Harry said, dropping back into his seat. 'If the prophecy was still made, then he's still going to become Voldmort.'

'Harry, we can't be sure.' Ginny said. 'But just incase, I've been going to see him. He seems fine.'

'I'm still going to run this by Hermione.' Harry mumbled, feeling his headache come back.

'Look, if it makes you feel any better, we could go and see Riddle now.' Ginny suggested, lightly. 'He seems quite fond of you.'

'Fond enough to chose me over Neville 17 years ago.' Harry grumbled to himself, before saying: 'Lets go.'

Twenty six corridors, and three sets of staircases later, they arrived outside Riddles office. Ginny knocked softly on the door.

'Who is it?' A fatherly voice asked.

'It's me.' Ginny chirped. 'Me and Harry.'

Ginny pushed open the heavy door, and Harry followed her inside to a familiar dusty office. Riddle sat warmly behind his desk, which was strewn with loose pieces of parchment.

'Good evening.' Riddle smiled, almost falsely. Ginny didn't seem to notice.

'Evening.' Harry muttered, keeping his eyes on the floor.

'Hope we aren't interrupting anything.' Ginny said, like a young naïve child. 'I thought I'd bring Harry with me, as he had some interesting job ideas for you.'

'Did he really?' Riddle asked, as he raked in all the papers off his desk with his wand, before making them burn to ashes in midair. Harry and Ginny took seats opposite him.

'Well that's very nice of you, Harry.' Riddle said, almost spitting Harry's name. 'But I've found a job to suit me. I got the letter of acceptance only today.'

'That's brilliant.' Ginny cheered. 'What is it?'

'Some teaching work, with a private student.' Riddle announced, almost smugly. 'I'll be my own boss, and the hours are agreeable. It's exactly what I was looking for.'

Ginny turned to Harry, and gave him a knowing smile. He had to admit, it sounded perfect. Too perfect for Harry's liking.

'So when are you leaving?' Ginny asked, her eyes lit up with excitement.

'I'm not too sure yet.' Riddle said strangely, almost as if it had only just occurred to him. 'It's undecided. I'll probably just leave suddenly, when I'm called for.'

'Does Dumbledore know yet?' Harry asked, looking at the ashes on Riddle's desk.

'Not yet, but he'll know when I leave.' Riddle hissed. 'For now, this needs to stay as our little secret, ok?'

Both students nodded their heads mutely, feeling almost as if they were signing their souls away to Satan.

'Good.' Riddle smiled, unsettlingly. 'Now who would like some hot chocolate?'

Harry and Ginny stumbled out of Riddles office some time later, their tummies full of hot chocolate and biscuits, and their minds full of questions. They bid him goodbye, and walked away unsurely, not speaking until they'd rounded the corner.

'Well judge for yourself.' Ginny said openly, throwing her arms out at her sides.

'He seems nice, but something just doesn't add up.' Harry explained, as they rounded the corner. 'There's something about him…he makes me feel uneasy.'

'The giant squid makes me feel uneasy, but he's not an evil dark wizard.' Ginny smiled.

'Riddles not an evil dark wizard…not yet.' Harry said softly to himself, as Ginny raced up the stairs. 'You're too trusting.'

'And you're too…untrusting.' Ginny said, finally. 'Now hurry up. If we get to the common room quickly, we can probably catch the others and apologize about Quidditch, before they head off to bed.'

'We're sorry for the millionth time.' Harry droned, once he was back in the common room. 'We just forgot.'

'I bet you they were making out.' Seamus grinned to Dean.

'They'd better not have been.' Ron grouched, eyeing Harry suspiciously.

'Oh Ron.' Hermione sighed. 'Give them a break.'

'What were you doing then?' Erin asked, crossing her arms.

'Reading.' Ginny said sweetly, and Seamus snorted.

'Oh really?' Dean slurred. 'Prove it.'

'Prove we weren't.' Ginny said cheekily, putting an arm round Harry.

'Leave them alone.' Daisy grinned, as Erin whispered something amusing in her ear. 'If they got together, it would about time.'

Harry suddenly went red, and scratched his head nervously.

'Lets go to bed.' Erin said, sensing her brothers discomfort.

'But I don't want to.' Dean grumbled to Erin, who pouted at him.

'Please.' She said. 'Then you can get up bright and early to meet me for breakfast, before Hogsmeade.'

'Alright.' Dean grinned, and Erin gave him a kiss on the cheek.

'Thrashed.' Seamus coughed, humorously.

'Whatever.' Dean said, dismissively. 'Lets just go.'

Everyone began to exit to their dormitories, before Harry and Ginny pulled Ron and Hermione back.

'What?' Ron asked bluntly, before Ginny put her hand over his mouth.

When the others were out of earshot and sight, Harry enlightened a very confused looking Ron and Hermione.

'Its Ginny.' Harry announced.

'Good Harry, now what color is the carpet?' Ron asked, in a patronizing tone.

'No, it's really me.' Ginny chuckled. 'I'm from your world. You know, with you know who.'

Ron's mouth dropped open about a mile, and Hermione pulled Ginny into the tightest hug.

'Oh Ginny, I had no idea!' Hermione exclaimed.

'She let it slip earlier.' Harry explained, as Hermione and Ginny pulled apart.

'But you weren't you, were you?' Ron asked, looking confused.

'It's me, Ronnikins.' Ginny said, as she hugged Ron tight. 'I've missed you guys.'

A comforting silence filled the room for a moment, before Hermione broke it.

'Well this definitely gives us something to talk about at Hogsmeade tomorrow.' Hermione yawned.

'Yeah.' Ron grinned, ruffling Ginny's hair fondly. 'Lets talk tomorrow. I'm dead from Quidditch.'

'You can't honestly tell me you worked hard, without me there to supervise?' Harry laughed.

'No, but it was worth a try.' Ron shrugged. 'Goodnight.'

'Yeah, night.' Hermione smiled, giving Ginny a final hug, before her and Ron headed off to bed.

'Wow.' Ginny sighed. 'One minute I'm all alone, and the next I've got all my best friends with me. You know, no one could replace you guys.'

'I should think not.' Harry smiled genuinely, as he wandered aimlessly towards the boys staircase.

'Harry?' Ginny asked, almost inaudibly. Harry turned round to face a very awkward looking Ginny, twiddling with her cloak. 'Are we still on for the ball? I mean, as I'm me now, and you're you, you don't have to go with me.'

'What?' Harry asked, concerned more than anything else.

'I mean, if you'd rather go with someone else, then I wont be offended.' Ginny explained, looking like a little lost puppy. Harry's heart went out to her, and he suddenly felt a tugging in his throat.

'Why wouldn't I want to go with you?' Harry asked softly, trying to understand, as he approached Ginny.

'Well, I'm not Ginny the popular, cute and fun one anymore.' Ginny said, wrapping her arms round herself defensively. 'I'm just Ginny. Plain and boring.'

'I've never thought you were plain or boring.' Harry said strongly, the words issuing from his mouth before he'd even thought about them. 'You're funny and interesting and pretty, beautiful even.'

Ginny's eyes lit up, and Harry held his breath.

'Thanks.' She said, sadly. 'You're a good friend.'

'I try.' Harry sighed, not quite knowing what to say. 'So do you still want to go with me, even thought I'm not the wonderful, flirty, prank hero Harry?'

'You'll always be my hero.' Ginny grinned, and embraced Harry in a friendly hug, which caused Harry's stomach to flutter. When they pulled apart, Harry looked wonderingly into Ginny's eyes, before asking her another question:

'What made you say yes to me anyway? Surely the diary told you that Ginny was never going to say yes.'

'Not quite.' Ginny smiled, something silently amusing her. 'From what I read, she was coming close to saying yes. I think she would have gotten there. I suppose we can't be sure…'

'But you said yes anyway.' Harry stated, almost itching to take Ginny's hand, and read her mind.

'Yes.' She giggled. 'I guess seeing you here, and the ball, it reminded me of how I used to be. A few years ago I would have done anything to have gone to a ball with you. I guess I thought I owed it to myself. Owed it to the little girl in the chamber of secrets, who wanted more than anything for you to like her.'

Harry stood thoughtfully for a moment, feeling all of a sudden sorry for the things he'd never said to Ginny. Things which could have made a great deal of difference to a little girl. But she wasn't a little girl anymore. She was a beautiful young lady, who he suddenly had a thousand things to say to, and just one thing to do to.

He lent in surely, and kissed Ginny softly on the lips, and then pulled away somewhat regretfully.

'For all the things I never did.' Harry said warmly, taking one of Ginny's hands in both of his. Ginny nodded her head, and looked him fondly in the eyes, with an understanding between them.

'I'm going to bed.' Ginny smiled, and hugged Harry automatically.

'Night Gin.' Harry said, as he smelt her hair.

When they pulled apart, Harry suddenly had the strange urge to kiss her again, but he resisted. She pranced to the bottom of the girls staircase, and Harry was watching her, when she turned to speak to him again.

'I never got a chance before to thank you for asking me to the ball.' Ginny said, shyly. 'I wasn't planning on going, until you asked me.'

'Why not?' Harry wondered aloud.

'I just didn't want to spend the whole evening dancing with some random boy.' Ginny said, sounding more like her old self.

'Well what were you going to do instead?' Harry asked. 'Sit alone and bored, all by yourself.'

'No.' Ginny said, with ease. 'I'd promised Riddle I'd help him with school things that evening. Good night.'

Harry felt a sick cold sweat wash over him, as Ginny climbed out of sight. There was something ill about Riddle's situation, which Harry knew he was yet to figure out.

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