Disclaimer I do not own Harry Potter- as you may have noticed. As my name happens not to be J.K.Rowling
A/N.
notavailable: Yes, that part on Fleur wasn't explained well on purpose! You'll find out more on Fleur soon...lol. You're about to find out who Mathew Livid is, muhahaha...yessss, I'm evil! Hope you enjoy this chap too and THanks for the review!
spaceyksee: Thanks for the review, Hope you like this chapter as well!
Denethor's Angel: Thanks for the review! Although there isn't alot of TG in this, as I've hinted in the chapter there is plenty from next chap! Hope you like it!
Lili:Thanks for reviewing, hope you didn't guess who it was already...
Jadexxx: Thanks and hope you enjoy this chapter!
FACE IT
CHAPTER SEVEN
Her head felt oddly fuzzy as she landed in a well furnished place with a number of random couches. In the middle of the room was a center table made of Rose Wood with a vase full of assorted flowers. She stared at him, bewildered. Even though she had experienced far weirder things in the previous few days, she found the fact that a stranger had lured her here impossible.
"Who are you," Ginny repeated as the boy who had introduced himself as Mathew Livid settled on one of the fine leather couches.
"Settle down, Ginny," he said, the attempts to disguise his voice abandoned. His voice now appeared tender, caring and somewhat helpless. The familiarity struck her and this time clicked.
The boy tapped his wand on his temple and muttered a curse, as his eye color changed, her suspicions were confirmed.
Her feelings were a tangled mixture of disbelief, betrayal and an odd longing for her past. He seemed to make her twisted web of life a simple sketch. She was shocked at the way her thought pattern changed, just because he had reentered her life.
"Harry?" she cried.
He looked up, facing her for the first time. Oddly, she didn't feel that heart leaping sensation she normally felt towards Harry any more. More like brotherly comfort, even that confused her. She was supposed to loathe him, for the way the Trio had abandoned her…
"Ginny, I- I'm really sorry for not letting you on…you know… I thought the best time to fill you in was now… I haven't had much time to do so," Harry explained looking straight into her eyes. He seemed to take it for granted that she would just nod, accept whatever he told her.
Ginny looked at him sadly. Harry had always, in the past, found time for her. However busy his schedule maybe, he was taking his role as a "superhero" seriously. She had mistaken their prior relationship to be that of love, trust and understanding. Only, he didn't trust her, he never confided in her. She suspected he considered her beneath him. He didn't mind leaving her to do so.
"Go on," Ginny said with a nod.
She wouldn't burst out at him. She wouldn't shout, scream and let him know how he had made her feel lately. It would just waste time; Harry's mind wouldn't change because of her. Deep down, she knew she owed him an explanation. He had saved her life once after all. She listened to Harry tell him everything- About the Prophecy, Voldemort, the Horcruxes…
"I know there is one Horcrux in Hogwarts," Harry finished as Ginny looked up at him.
"I need you to find it, Gin. …and send regular reports to me," he explained as his fingers meddled with the armrest of the couch.
Ginny's heart sank slightly. She was hoping he would ask her to be his girlfriend again. Deep down, she always wanted to be with him. Again, the war ruled over their relationship. He thought of the world at large first, rather than the one he wanted to be with. He expected her to make time for him, he never made time for her. As these thoughts flashed in her mind, realization finally dawned upon her. For the first time in days, her mind was crystal clear.
"I'll do it," Ginny promised as she stood up. A grin flitted across his face as he stood up as well.
"I'll apparate you right to the Hogwarts grounds then, Gin. There is a real Mathew Livid who's stunned and transported to the Great Hall. His memory's been tampered with, he'll think he gave that speech and arrived at the Great Hall early…" Harry rambled on.
Finally when he realized he was boring her, he cleared his throat all of a sudden, taking her hand. His voice softened and smiled. The smile seemed to speak a hundred words: Him, Us, We.
"So well, Thanks a lot Ginny," he said quietly.
Her pulse quickened, yet her will power took over. It wasn't going to happen, she knew it. She shook her hand away from his grasp and gave him a poignant smile.
"Bye, Harry," she whispered with a note of finality in her voice. He seemed to get the message as his smile dropped slightly and his emerald eyes lost its gleam. He nodded, to say that he understood.
"Goodbye Ginny," he said and took her hand again. As he apparated, taking her with him again, Ginny was finally able to think clearly. It was over, she was free.
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Ginny Weasley settled down in the Gryffindor table. Normally she was found seated in right in the heart of the table where she was the center of attention. Now, she felt she had gotten enough attention for the day. She instead, took the seat at the edge of the table, her face almost invisible to all.
The Headmistress, Professor McGonagall stood up. Ginny faintly recalled the days when Professor Dumbledore stood there beaming. The Great Hall had, in his presence had lavishly decorated including the grand chair he occupied. Now, the Great Hall consisted with pretty yet prim decorations and the Hogwarts Crest was adorned in the center. The Headmistress's chair was just like all others.
"Attention, students," McGonagall said in a tone that demanded and got notice right then. "The Sorting ceremony shall begin,"
As the brim of the hat opened and sang its song, newcomers entered trembling. Slowly the line thinned and then there was a pause as only two other people were left. One had dark black hair and brown eyes (The real Mathew Livid, Ginny recognized) and another blonde girl. Both looked the same age and the sudden silence was filled with whispers.
"This year, we have two other new students to be welcomed. May I present Mathew Livid, who hails from Drumstrang and will now attend his Seventh Year. Angelique Kyle, from Beauxbatons is a Seventh Year too," McGonagall continued cutting short the whispers.
"Mathew Livid, I am happy to say… has outsmarted all here and has secured the position: Headboy," More whispering took place, this time that of outrage.
"That is so unfair," Dominique Will shouted out loud.
Mathew stepped forwards and sat on the stool. The hat seemed to take a long time in deciding the outcome, then yelled :Ravenclaw!
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That night, Ginny curled up in her Four Poster bed watching the Diary hop into her lap. She by now, considered this as something plain and ordinary. She calmly read what was written on the yellowing pages, maybe she could get information of the Horcrux's location through Tom.
Hello, Ginevra. How was your first day?"
She flinched slightly as she read her full name printed neatly on the book. Tom seemed to enjoy teasing her like that. She wondered what she had to write now…. Playing along with his plans seemed the best way.
Tom, Where are you?
Closer than you may think.
As always, he seemed to play along well. He had made sure he hinted enough to outrage her but didn't give out any definite information. Giving an impatient sigh, she scribbled a fresh sentence.
The real point, Tom, is, what do you want?
She watched the ink fade completely, the answer wasn't written immediately. Finally, a single word appeared :
You.
She pierced the tip of the quill on the page with frustration; clearly he wasn't telling her anything. She would show him how it was to be isolated too. She flung the diary to a corner of the Head Girl's quarters, predictably it hopped back.
You must have learnt on avoiding that, Ginevra.
Again, she flung it aside as it hopped back again.
FOOL
Then, to her satisfaction, she felt herself get in the Diary. Then, transported with a thud, through it. An icy chill enveloped her as she found herself perched on a rough piece of earth and recognized her whereabouts at once. She was this time, in the graveyard he had taken her to in her dreams. Only, there was no Tom now. Neither, was anyone.
Finally, she heard footsteps which soon quickened its pace. It was him, a smirk of satisfaction clearly shown on his face.
"Welcome, Welcome…make yourself comfortable…" he drawled as she scowled.
"Comfortable? Here? Please, Tom. I was hoping for answers, not comfort.." Ginny shot back as his eyes narrowed. He conjured a wooden chair for himself and settled down. Ginny noticed, that he conveniently didn't conjure her one. Finally, he spoke :
"Ask away, love. I'll answer those I find necessary to be answered at the moment." He replied as a slow, hesitant smile formed on Ginny's lips.
"So, what do you want? A straight, understandable answer please," Ginny asked her tone light yet dripping with sarcasm.
The answer seemed prepared in advance, as he barely stopped to choose his words.
"The Chamber of Secrets was more that just a Chamber with a basilisk in it. It was the key to the triumph against Dumbledore. It had more power and magic in it that none realized. Not foolish Potter, Dumbly Hag…. Even my elder self didn't realize this, Only I did recently…."
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A/N. Hope the Harry/Ginny scene wasn't overly maudlin or plain sappy... That scene had to happen eventually to stop her from being the "depressed kid." Though she isn't going to change into Superwoman at once... Is this crazy that even I don't know whats going to happen? Seriously, I'm Clueless… Anyway the usual 5 Reviews and an update! Hope you liked it!
Emotionlessxxx