Hazardous Sanity

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just this story.

Chapter Two: Bleed Black

Like water flowing into lungs,
I'm flowing through these days.
As morphine tears through deadened veins,
I'm numbing in these days.
I know what died that night.
It can never be brought back to life once again,
I know.
I know I died that night... -Bleed Black, AFI

The next few weeks went by in a blur for Ginny. She remembered, vaguely, nicking a few items from different people. Her friends, her enemies, her family, anyone who had anything worth having. She took money, clothes, jewelry, school supplies, even stuff she didn't really need- only wanted.

The dreams with Tom commenced, even their silly little name game. They called each other by what they wanted to be called. The dreams really didn't reveal much, Tom was probably just taking his time. He was slowly giving her little tips for what she did and how to get a better life. Ginny never remembered the dreams, but thought the knowledge had been in her mind the whole time.

She wasn't even aware she had dreams.

She was aware, however, of her sudden mood swings and the anger that seemed to be leeched to her. Ginny always had a temper, but this one seemed constant and the littlest things set it off. She was much more violent towards others, just like Harry the year before. Most people said it was just some teenage angst she was going through, how wrong they were. She was down in the kitchens the other night, and one of the house elves dropped a knife. Being the polite girl she was, she picked it up for him.

But she didn't want to let it go.

The blade looked so pretty. So perfect. So silver. It was too shiny, it needed something on it. Red. It needed red on it. Silver and red, Slytherin and Gryffindor colors. Way better than green and red, those were Christmas colors. Christmas colors were ugly. Soon the house elf gave up and told her she could keep the knife. Without even taking her food, she walked back to her dorm with the knife in her hand. It was now under her pillow where she barely remembered putting it. But a few nights later she got up feeling hungry again. In a half daze Ginny grabbed the knife under her pillow. All she knew was that she was hungry and wanted to bring the knife. Before she could register what was happening she had an house elf at her feet asking her what she wanted. But Ginny wasn't the one looking down at the elf with sick interest.

Lana Gwen decided to take a visit, and she makes people remember who she is. Unlike Ginevra Molly Weasley.

She'll make them remember her name.

Lana Gwen raised the knife gracefully. She wondered what color an house elf's blood was dreamily before she swung down the blade like she did it everyday of her life. The elf squeaked. It was still alive. So Lana grabbed him by the head and placed the knife gently at his neck. His thin, green neck.

"Please miss, no!" But the knife already sliced deeply in his throat. Blood dribbled down his skinny chest where a large puncture was located.

Not enough. Make them remember. Make them remember.

Stab. Stab. Stab.

Not enough. Make them remember. Make them remember.

Slice. Slice. Slice. The house elves screamed.

Not enough. Make them remember. Make them remember.

Gore. Blood. Flesh. Skin.

Not enough. Make them remember. Make them remember.

Veins. Organs. Bones. Clean the bones. Clean them dry.

Don't forget me. Don't forget me. I shall live on.

Lana, blood dripping off her clothes and smeared on her skin, turned to the quaking house elves, "You will not forget me. I shall live on. Tell everybody Lana Gwen has come to Hogwarts. Tell them they are either with me, or they die. Tell them anything else, and your bones will be hanging around my neck."

She nodded to them and left the kitchens.

House elves bleed black.

Ginny woke up the next day, clean and refreshed. She felt better than she had in days. Like she burned through her frustration in her sleep. She smiled happily as she remembered there was a Hogsmeade visit today. I can't wait to buy some new stuff with the money I have! Feeling incredibly excited, she got dressed and rushed downstairs to have breakfast.

Breakfast was nice, she sat next to Hermione who was waiting for Ron and Harry as they chatted about exams. After they came they all sat talking and eating happily. When the hall was pretty much full, Dumbledore strolled in briskly. There was something wrong by the way he walked in so hurriedly, and so late. He was usually the first and last person at breakfast.

But he didn't sit down to eat like everyone expected him to, he stood up and cleared his throat. "There has been a tragedy at Hogwarts," he began and everyone froze in fright, "A murderer resides here by the name of Lana Gwen-"

Ginny started for a reason unknown to her. The name seemed so familiar... Her friends stared at her before glancing at Dumbledore again.

"The murder was one of a innocent house elf last night." Some of the students snorted and went back to their breakfast. The Headmaster's eyes shone with powerful anger, "This is not a laughing matter! The house elf I found was so distorted it would make many of you ill. There is no student here by the name of Lana Gwen, so it is possible there is an intruder, a death eater (many students gasped at this), or... even one of you."

All the students looked thoroughly startled now, how could they not? A murderer may be in their midst. But a sensible Ravenclaw still managed to speak up, "Just because someone killed a house elf doesn't mean they would harm us!"

Dumbledore looked at the source. "Ms. Patil, very clever observation, but I have spoken to the house elves and the murderer- this Lana Gwen, left a message for us: Lana Gwen has come to Hogwarts. You are either with me, or you die. We will not be mislead by such threats, but if you have any information on this girl called Lana Gwen, please tell your Head of House or me."

The school was in disarray. The students looked over their shoulders, they accused other students of being the killer, they were all scared of the name Lana Gwen. The Hogsmeade visit was naturally canceled until further notice, this really got Ginny fired up. Anger that was gone by the morning bubbled up furiously by nightfall. She went to sleep angry, which was never a good thing.

"Lana, Lana, Lana... killing a house elf? Isn't that a bit juvenile? I expected better of you. I thought you might've finally taken care of Ms. Rogers."

Lana stood up in a rage. "Everyone knows my name now! They all know me, Salazar! They all fear me," she said wistfully.

Tom walked around her once, then faced her and raised her chin. "Yes, I suppose you couldn't handle anything so difficult on the first try," he bent his head and kissed her lips gently before continuing, "But if you want more to know you, to fear you, you must take larger bait. Show them all what they turned Ginevra Molly Weasley into..."

"I was never a Weasley. I'm me. Lana Gwen, the most feared and loved woman at Hogwarts. They fear me because of death, they love me for the same reason. Who says you can't scare people into loving you?" Tom, or Salazar in this case, smiled at her with unmistakable charm.

"Exactly, my sweet. Exactly."

His deceitfuleyes bore into her own.

"You are a creation all your own, aren't you," he then said, not breaking eye contact. It wasn't a question.

"Actually Salazar, you made me into this. I am your creation, soon she will be too. Soon. Half is not enough, I need all. Night and day; sleep and conciseness. It's no fun when I can burst out only when she is angry, or has done something dark."

Tom grabbed her by the shoulders, "You are not your own person. You are Ginevra's other half, the half I forced on her."

Lana growled and tried to scratch out his eyes.

He merely chuckled and went on, "No worries, my murdering nymph, no worries. You will become all Lana Gwen and Ginevra will dwell in the shadows where you have been the last six years. Have I told you it's lovely to see you again?" He eyed her up and down with a superior smirk, "All of you."

Lana mirrored his smirk and let her nightgown drop slightly over one arm.

"No," she said, her voice thick and seductive, "I do not believe you have. How about you tell me all about it while I start hexing off all your clothes?"

"I never turn down a lady"

Author Note: I'll try to put up the prewritten chapters up at least once a week. After that, updates will be pretty random, never going longer than a month though. Should be way less...

A/N 6/18/05: I just edited this chapter's format as well. I'm hoping for more reviews and readers if the chapters look less moronic and sloppy.