AN - so here's the long-awaited chapter, sorry its taken so long, havin to sort out uni applications etc! is this chapter worth the wait, probably not, but i'll leave it to you to decide as you usually do!
Felton118 -i'm glad you love my story, its hard work and i love it when new people arrive! please continue reading and reviewing
america sucks move to europe - love your name, being english myself i have to agree! thanks for reading my story do continue to review as i love them! but you do know what wanker means, right?
Gryffindor's newsie - it was supposed to be short, just a little something to keep you entertained!
chicklepea - hope your faith in me to continue isnt ruined by this chapter
Keeper of the pine needles - wow, you flatter me, the best fic you've read! i'm shocked and honoured, but you've probably had time to read more now!
superspunky7 - ok, i will finish it! just for you, trouble is i have no idea where to end it!
dracoandme - im glad you like lucius, he's one of my fave characters! nott isn't really anything, i think you might have read too much into the last chapter, he wasnt supposed to be a goody or a baddy!
chrissy-angel - there, im continuing, i shall never have a moments peace!
psychic selina - have fun reading this chapter and there will be more to come i shan't stop!
AngeliqueCollins - and im continuing - read on!
jjp91 - well i don't know whats going to happen at christmas, it may never happen or theo may gatecrash whatever flows from fingers really! lucius is a nice guy, get to know him and he won't be so irritating i promise! but you are defs one of my faithful reviewers, so please continue!
summary - Ginevra has just been hysterical and asking werid questions like why me, to blaise who happened to run into her whilst she was crying!
Chapter 16 – Tom Riddle
Blaise's mind raced through all the possible causes of Ginevra's tears. His mind drew at a blank, what had Draco done to her? They were all spending Christmas together; they had finally professed their love for each other, what had ruined this idyllic relationship? Frowning, Blaise saw that Ginevra had fallen asleep, exhausted from her crying she was now lightly breathing with her head resting on her shoulder. Slowly moving her to the sofa, he left her quietly in search of Draco.
Entering the common room, Blaise found Draco as Ginevra had left him. Planting himself besides him, he pondered over how to start the conversation. Cursing to himself, Blaise realised that Theodore was so much better at these types of things. Luckily for Blaise, Draco interrupted his thoughts and provided him with an easy entry into the conversation.
"Have you seen Ginevra? She left in quite a hurry I didn't get a chance to ask her to Hogsmeade this weekend." Draco didn't look up from his book while he naively asked this.
Blaise stared at Draco. "Well, I'd say she left in quite a hurry because you upset her Draco. The last time I saw her she was crying in my arms shrieking hysterically about the two of you." Folding his arms across his chest Blaise registered the look of shock on Draco's face as his jaw dropped slowly open.
Leaning forward slightly Draco raised his eyebrow. Pronouncing each word as if he were speaking to a toddler he addressed Blaise. "So, you're saying that I said something which reduced Ginevra into a hysterical fit? Do you think I would still be sitting here if I had done that Blaise?" Draco's voice had fallen to a deadly whisper. Blaise shivered unconsciously at the menacing tone in Draco's words. Wishing with all his heart Theodore would appear, Blaise tried to appeal to Draco's more humane side.
Protesting slightly Blaise tried to convince Draco, "Don't get all puffed up Draco, I was only telling you what I saw and had to deal with. The poor girl was shaking and crying everywhere, for merlin's sake, it drained her of all her effort that she's fallen asleep in my room." Leaping to his feet Draco answered, "Why didn't you tell me that blunder head, I'd rather talk to her than you."
Blaise placed a restraining hand on Draco arm to prevent him from leaving. "I think not Draco. Ginevra scared the shit out of me just now, I'd rather we discuss why she was upset before you go barging into my room and waking her up."
Frustrated at Blaise's audacity, he flung himself back into the armchair. "Fine, tell me what she said then. She's probably just having another tantrum; you know what she's like." Sighing to himself, he smiled a little. "It's kind of odd seeing how much our lives have changed since she's been here, don't you think? We're all so different now."
"Yes, well before we travel back to memory lane, could we possibly sort this out, I have things to do." Retorted Blaise rather sharply. He still couldn't believe he was sorting out Ginevra and Draco's love life out when he was still heart-broken from being dumped by her.
Sensing Blaise's hostility to the situation Draco went straight to the heart of it. "What exactly did she say?" Blaise frowned yet again. "It was quite hard to hear her but she kept repeating 'why me' over and over. I don't know what else; she asked why I didn't know, she said that you and I never had secrets. To be honest Draco she was just muttering away, I could hardly catch watch she was saying."
Draco was watching Blaise sharply, "did she ever mention my name Blaise?" Startled by his question Blaise thought back to the scene, looking up slowly he shook his head. "No, she never did, but what she said about being close with someone and never keeping secrets made me assume that she was talking about you, who else could it be?"
"I think she meant the both of you." Draco's and Blaise's heads swivelled around as Theodore replied from the fireplace.
Draco leapt up, "Where the hell have you been, I haven't seen you for ages." Theodore walked towards the sofas and lay down on one of them with a calm air about him. "I was with your father; we had a lot to discuss." Grimacing Draco said "I don't understand why you still tolerate him. Your father left him long before he died Theodore, besides you know I hate to share!" Grinning at this, Theodore shook his head at Draco's attempt at a spoilt façade. "So anyway," Draco continued, "Why would Ginevra mean both Blaise and I, she ran to him crying and not me, why would he tell him if he were the cause of the problem too?"
Looking directly into Draco's eyes Theodore murmured, "not Blaise, I think she meant you and Tom." Blaise watched the tension increase between Draco and Theodore as they stared at each other. After a few seconds passed, Blaise lost his patience and confusedly diffused the situation with his ignorance. "Would someone be kind enough to tell me who Tom is, and why the hell he has anything to do with Ginevra?"
"Well, let me see, I do believe the Tom that Theodore referred to would be Tom Riddle, the one who made me open the chamber of secrets, the one who slowly stole my soul, the one who was responsible for my being an outcast in Gryffindor and the one who was more commonly known as Lord Voldemort." Ginevra quietly but clearly stated her list as she stood on the threshold of the common room. Too hurt to look at their reactions she resorted to sarcasm. "That was what were you about to say wasn't it Theodore, or was did I interrupt you unnecessarily? I just thought that I might be able to help since I knew him much better than any of you. I didn't leave anything out of that list did I?"
Draco was making his way to Ginevra while Theodore stood up wary of what may happen next. Blaise's face was a mixture of shock and disgust.
Go light with her Draco, we have to do it now but gently, we don't know how she'll react.
I'm not an idiot Theodore, of course I'm going to make it as easy as I can for her, but she needs to accept it and then move on, otherwise we're all stuck with her. That's if you're right of course.
I'm always right.
Trying to hide a smirk at Theodore's remark, all thoughts vanished when he looked into Ginevra's haunted eyes. Picking up her limp hands he held them tight, "Little one, Tom stole something else didn't he?" The silence in the room was unbearable, all three boys waiting for a sound to come out of Ginevra's mouth. Draco saw her expressive eyes change like lightning. Her brown eyes were boiling with bitter resentment. He winced at her reaction but kept a hold on her arms, hopefully it would provide an element of control to the whole situation. Ginevra took a deep breath that did nothing to allay her rising anger. "What did he steal Draco? Since you know everything that happened, tell me, please." She spat out the words but Draco didn't move a muscle.
"Ginevra, you know what happened and it would be easier if you said it. At least we would know that you're acknowledging it." Theodore plead with her, he felt so helpless. None of his training had prepared him for this.
Whipping her head to the left so she could see him, her eyes narrowed. With a yelp Draco let go of her hands and proceeded to rub the burns on his palms which had just appeared.
Suddenly Ginevra had pounced on Theodore. Her magic seeped through every pore in her skin. The green glow radiated from her so strongly that Theodore had to shield himself with his white core. Draco incensed at letting her go shouted, "Ginevra, stop it, you know he's stronger, just leave him alone!"
Ginevra and Theodore were too absorbed in their own powers to be able to take nay notice of their surroundings. Growling at the unexpected attack enhanced his magic and stretched it out further to envelop Ginevra as well. Taken unawares, Ginevra felt her entire body being tugged mid air and flew straight into Theodore's arms. Struggling for freedom, Theodore sent bolts of his magic through her, pacifying her whilst shocking her. His magic dissolved all her core magic, and he just watched her gently as bewilderment replaced her anger.
Draco and Blaise stood in the common room amazed at the sight of a mass of bright white light in the form of two human shapes embracing. Both were speechless and knew they were also helpless. Blaise's eyes didn't leave the light until he spoke. "Voldemort raped her, didn't he?"
"Why are you all doing this to me?" Ginevra found that Theodore had calmed her down into a rational state of mind. "You need to get it out of your system. It's affecting everyone. When you get upset it bursts out like today and when Draco first asked you to be a Malfoy. But it also happens when you get too close to someone. Blaise and Draco were both witnesses to what happened when they tried to get too close to you."
A resounding slap across Theodore's face was the answer to his unwanted comment. "How dare you Theodore, whether I want to sleep with my boyfriends has nothing to do with you or Tom." Frustrated at her lack of comprehension, Theodore gripped her shoulders and shook her roughly.
"It has everything to do with Tom you stubborn child. Stop trying to forget it, its obviously not working. Just bloody remember what Tom did to you; just add up the numbers Ginevra, its not that hard!"
"Do you want me to slap you again Theodore? Just shut up, ok? The only bloody thing I left out of that list was that he also stole my heart. I loved him and I still do even though he left me to die. Is that what you wanted Theodore, you wanted me to admit my pathetic life, are you happy now, have I sorted out the entire problem." Ginevra's voice reached new heights as her entire body shook with fury. Unleashing her magic once again onto Theodore's outer shell of white light, she broke through and out of his reach. Theodore followed her just as much enraged.
"Get back here Ginevra. We weren't finished. How the hell can you still fucking love him when he bloody raped you and left you to die? He was an evil piece of shit and never cared for you. Look at what you've done to yourself over him." Bellowing out these words in a moment of hot passionate fury, they echoed around the entire room.
Ginevra stumbled backwards, white as a ghost and her eyes showed no sign of recognition. Blaise put out a hand to help her but she recoiled immediately. Her eyes flickered over the empty spaces in the room, "you lie, its all lies, no-one was raped, you lie, lie, lie, he did care for me, its just lies, lies!" Ginevra's stuttered response caused Draco to run forward to hold her.
Ginevra's scream pierced all three boy's souls. She ran from the room, leaving them all standing. Her shuttered look hadn't disappeared, and Theodore stood shell-shocked. He had pushed her to the knife-edge of madness instead of helping her.
Draco stared at the blank space in the doorway. "She still loves him," he whispered to no-one in particular.
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