------------------------------------------Chapter 11: Parley

"Not again," Ginny moaned as she woke up in the Hospital Wing. This time was a bit different than before, though. It was not that she didn't have a splitting headache, but that she could remember everything that happened prior to knocking herself out.

"Tom," she whispered and a voice inside her head answered.

Yes.

What are you doing here?

Visiting my old friend, of course. You didn't think that I would forget about you, did you?

Of course not, I know I would never forget. I know you would never let me forget.

Ginny lightly touched the scar running her cheek and then the invisible mark on her forearm. The mark on her arm was in relation to the Dark Mark. A serpent twisted around her arm, just up from the wrist. Ginny had used several charms to cover it, but she had never been able to get rid of it.

Indeed, I would not.

Why can't you just leave me alone?

You know I cannot do that.

Why?

You are crucial part of the coming war. Dumbledore knows it; I know it. I am guessing your precious Harry knows it, seeing how he has been paying more attention to you lately.

Crucial, eh? I have never been important before, why now?

You have always been important. Why else would have I had Lucius give my diary to you?

To ruin my family?

There are many other ways of going about that. Anyway, if that arrogant Potter had not shown up, I might be ruling the whole world by now.

Still bitter, eh, Tom?

Shut up, girl. I suppose I should actually thank Potter though; if he had not stopped me, I would not have you, my precious.

You do not and will never have me; do I make myself clear?

You know that is not true. I have held your heart for five years.

Shut up. I absolutely hate you.

Do you now?

Don't patronize me.

I would not dream of it.

Oh, shut up.

"Ginny?" a voice said, interrupting her thoughts.

"Hi, Colin."

"How are you feeling?"

"Just great," she answered seethingly.

That is who you replaced me with? A pathetic little Mudblood?

He is a better friend than any I could ask for.

"Are you sure your okay, Ginny?"

"I need to talk to Harry and see Dumbledore," she said hopping out of the bed.

"You should wait, Madam Pomfrey will have your head if you leave."

"This is too important."

Ginny and Colin went to the Gryffindor common room first. She found Harry and Ron sitting by the fire finishing up some homework they had procrastinated doing, while Hermoine gave them disapproving looks.

"Ginny!" said Ron. "What are you doing? You should still be in the Hospital Wing!"

"I need to talk to you guys. Especially you, Harry."

"What's up?" asked Harry nervously.

"I am believe I am right in thinking that you know what happened yesterday."

"Yes, you are right."

"And you know why Voldemort wants me," said Ginny giving him a piercing stare. Harry, Ron and Hermoine all started to look nervous.

"We have only an idea," said Hermoine slowly.

"Spill."

"You might be able to restore some of his former strength. He is powerful now, but not as powerful as he used to be. Apparently, some of his former self is still with you from him possessing you. If he got of you, he could theoretically take that out of you," said Harry not meeting Ginny's eyes. There was an awkward pause.

"Is that all?" asked Ginny.

"Yes," said Harry, still not meeting her eyes.

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Draco needed to think of a way to get Ginny Weasley to trust him. According to his sources, Ginny hadn't been one to easily trust others since the Chamber of Secrets. It also didn't help that she hated him. Draco walked to Defense Against the Dark Arts pondering his situation.

"Today we will practice dueling. I will put you in partners. I also do not want any mishaps," said Snape venomously, after class had started. Snape looked directly at Neville Longbottom as he said the last part. "Potter, you will be with Mr. Goyle. Mr. Ceevey, with Miss Parkinson. Mr. Zabini, with Miss Brown. Mr. Malfoy, with Miss Weasley—"

Draco could not help but smirk. This might be the chance he needed.

"Now, I do not want any destructive curses, otherwise I might be cleaning some of the less apt off the floor," said Snape after he finished pairing students.

Draco walked over to Ginny and smirked at her. She gave him a sarcastic smile in return.

"Your going down, Weasley," said Draco.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Ginny said, giving him a smirk.

"Face your partners, and bow," called Snape. Draco and Ginny gave each other short bows. "Begin."

"Stupefy!" shouted Draco.

"Protego!" said Ginny rebounding his spell, Draco narrowly avoiding being missed.

And so it went. While at least one of every group of students were hit with a spell, neither he nor Ginny had managed to hit the other. He had to admit the she was very good. They each were running out of different spells to try. After a while all the other groups had finished, but they were still going. Finally the bell rang and they had to stop.

"You prove to be an adept opponent," said Draco smirking, and trying not notice how pretty she looked.

"As are you," she acknowledged.

Draco almost smiled, but he caught himself. Some how this exchange made him happy.

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Harry watched this exchange with a frown. He could tell there was something there, but he hoped that he might just be imagining it. He needed to think of a way to tell Ginny how he felt before he went crazy from keeping it in. He also hoped that she felt the same way. He knew that she used to really like him, but she had given up on him. He did not know whether she had a crush on him, or had lost interest. Harry needed to find out.

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A/N: Well, we are about half way through the story...I think. Thank you to everyone reading this and a special thank you to Ice princess grl, my fifth, sixth and eleventh ever reviewer! Also, as you can see in this chapter Tom Riddle, aka Voldemort, You-Know-Who, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and the Dark Lord, will be a very significant part of this story.

---Perplexity