Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot everything Harry Potter related belongs to the amazing J.K. Rowling. Also, perfect grammar credit goes to my beta reader, Carla.

Chapter Four: Very Odd Indeed

Ginny felt relieved when the sorting hat covered her vision of Tom Riddle. After five years of not seeing those cold, penetrating, almost black eyes, she was paralyzed. She remembered all of her memories of him from her first year and it wasn't until she heard the hat's voice penetrate through her mind did she become un-paralyzed.

'My, my what do we have hear? A Weasley, but not of this time how very odd indeed. I can see through your memories that in your time I sorted you into Gryffindor, but now I see that would be the wrong choice indeed. Although you still have the bravery and loyalty of a Gryffindor you are now hardened with dark realities. You now possess new qualities; qualities that fit a Slytherin.'

Ginny's eyes widened as she heard what the sorting hat was saying. He or it, whatever the proper term was, wanted to place her in Slytherin! Where Tom Riddle was!Ginny shivered at the mere thought of being in the same house as him, it would lead to too many encounters and she couldn't even handle his eyes on her! No, Slytherin would not do not do at all.

'No. I refuse to be placed in Slytherin!' Ginny spoke in her mind defiantly.

'Oh you do? Why? It would be the best place for you and if we want to get technical you're showing me right now that you are not meant to be in Gryffindor for you are showing signs of cowardly behavior. Not wanting to face your worst fear, Tom Riddle. But I suppose that is understandable for that boy is quite scary. I still remember the time I was placed on his head such an angry, hurt, bitter, vengeful mind he had. Now, that I think of it more I am even surer it would be best to place you in Slytherin. It would be best for you and him.'

Before Ginny could protest any further the hat spoke out loud so all the occupants could hear its decision, "SLYTHERIN!"

Right as Ginny was going to rebuke the merciless and cruel hat, she felt the hat being lifted from her head and her vision of the great hall return. Also, she once again felt the cold eyes of Tom Riddle. She got up from the stool dejectedly but not showing it to anyone for it would look very odd indeed. As she passed Professor Dumbledore he smiled at her giving her a small reassuring nod with his eyes twinkling amusedly as he took his seat next to a surprised Headmaster Dippet.

She walked over to the Slytherin table and took the only seat available, which to her dismay was in front of Tom Riddle. Deciding to gather up her Gryffindor courage, Ginny looked up across from her and looked straight into the eyes of Tom and smiled.

"Hello I am Ginevra Delauney, but you can call me Ginny if you like." She said, reaching her hand across towards him to shake.

He looked at her coldly for a moment before consenting and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, Ginevra. I'm Tom, Tom Riddle. Welcome to Slytherin house."

Ginny nodded her head, trying to conceal the shiver she felt running down her spine as their hands touched. Pulling her hand out of the shake, she started to fill up her plate hoping the conversation was now over. But of course Tom always did what she didn't want him to do.

"What year are you in?" Ginny looked up at him trying to show that she was not afraid of him.

"I'm in my sixth. You?"

Tom nodded his head, "Same."

Ginny was about to return to her food when Tom spoke up again, "What advanced classes are you taking?"

"Arthimacy and Ancient Runes."

A small smirk appeared on Tom's face, "Well then, I guess we will be seeing a lot of each other. I take those classes too."

Ginny cringed mentally, 'Oh sure that's just what I need. More time with him! But he isn't acting evil…yet. Who knows, maybe I could change him? Ha! Don't fool yourself Ginny, not you nor anybody else could change what he is going to become so don't even go there.'

As she was absorbed in her thoughts she did not notice a tall platinum blonde haired man coming towards them from the lower end of the table. "Hello, Tom, I was wondering where you went off to after the carriage ride. Why don't you come and join us? Nott has got some pretty interesting stories from his summer."

Tom and Ginny looked up at the man and Ginny instantly recognized him as a Malfoy. 'Great. But at least he's taking Tom away.'

Tom looked at Malfoy and the other sixth year Slytherins beckoning him to join them and shook his head, "No thanks Abraxias I would rather like stay here with Ginevra. Anyway, someone has got to show her the way to the Slytherin common room."

Abraxias looked at Ginny just realizing she was there. "Oh hello? You must be the new girl. What was your name again?"

Ginny sighed, 'Yep he is definitely a Malfoy. And why is Tom being so nice to me? I don't want him to be, I want him to treat me as if I don't exist!' "It's Delauney, Ginevra Delauney, but I'd prefer it if you would call me Ginny."

Abraxias smiled but unlike the cold feeling Ginny was used to receiving when a Malfoy smiled at her she felt a genuine sincerity from his smile. 'Maybe it's because I'm now in Slytherin and am now deemed worthy to be someone worth getting to know. Stupid Malfoys and their prejudice.'

Abraxias made a gesture with his hand to the Slytherin boy, who had been sitting to Tom's right, to move over to make him room. He sat down next to Tom and reached out his hand for Ginny's and not wanting to seem rude she gave it to him. "Hello Ginny I am Abraxias Malfoy. I hope we become close friends."

Ginny was surprised by the sincerity in his voice and gave Abraxias a true smile, "I hope we do, too." 'I'm going to need someone to talk to while I'm in this era or I'm going to go stark raving mad!' Her gaze shifted over to Tom and saw red flecks appearing in his eyes as he looked at her and Abraxias's hands still holding each other.

She gulped and pulled her hand back as she remembered what those red flecks meant. He was starting to get angry and no one wanted to deal with an angry Tom. 'But what the bloody hell could he be mad about? I haven't done anything except shake Abraxias's hand and I am guessing he and Abraxias are friends. So, I have no idea what's going on with him.'

As Ginny's hand pulled back, the red flecks vanished and Tom spoke to Abraxias, "Didn't you want to hear those stories of Nott's summer, Abraxias?"

"Oh? Well, I s'pose you're right. I'll see you two later at the common room then." Abraxias said as he walked back to the other sixth year Slytherins.

Ginny sighed in disappointment. There went the only person she could talk to besides Tom. "Fancy Abraxias do you, Delauney?"

Ginny looked up at Tom startled, "What! No. I mean he seems nice enough, but I don't think he's my type."

Tom raised his eyebrow curiously, "Well, then, what is your type?"

"I don't think that's any of your business Riddle." Ginny said perturbed.

"So, you do fancy Abraxias." Tom said nodding his head as if it was most obvious thing in the world.

"What! No, I said he wasn't my type." Ginny said angrily as her cheeks started to flush with her fury.

"Well then, why don't you tell me your type?" Tom asked also getting agitated and the red flecks were starting to reemerge in his eyes.

"Considering I don't know you very well I don't think it would be proper to tell you such intimate things." Ginny said trying to take control over her temper.

"Well what do you want to know?" Tom asked the red flecks slowly fading away.

"Excuse me?" Ginny asked surprised by the offer.

Tom sighed, "I said, what do you want to know?"

"Why are you opening up to me so much?" Ginny asked confused. This was something she would never have pictured Tom Riddle to ask her. Especially after meeting her only half an hour ago, but when she had found his diary this was exactly how he acted. And he had asked her the exact same question, 'what do you want to know?' That was the question that started it all. After Ginny had seen the ink re-appear with that question she completely trusted Tom. But this time she wasn't going to be fooled again.

Tom had been silent throughout her whole contemplation and it seemed he didn't have an answer for her. Just as Ginny was about to ask another question and leave the previous one in the past he answered, "I don't know. Come on Delauney, I'll show you to the Slytherin common room and dorms."

"Huh?" Ginny asked, as he started to stand up, and looked quickly around the hall it seemed that dinner was over and she had been so deep in her contemplations that she hadn't heard Dippet's final speech. 'Oh, well, I'm sure it was something along the lines of what Dumbledore always says.' She thought, as she followed Tom out of the Great Hall.

As they walked down the staircases to the dungeons an awkward but comforting silence hung between them. It felt as if she should say something, but she didn't know what so she let the silence continue. Then she decided that Riddle should be the first to break the silence.

They continued their way to the dungeons when Riddle stopped in front of a tapestry of a basilisk fighting a lion, "Pureblood." As the tapestry moved to reveal a door behind it Riddle caught Ginny looking at the tapestry curiously.

He turned to her and explained, "The lion is the symbol of Gryffindor. Slytherin and Gryffindor were two of the four founders, but believed in different politics and their friendship ended on bad terms. We Slytherins do not get along with the Gryffindors, just to let you know."

Ginny nodded mutely and followed him into the common room. The common room was much larger than the Gryffindor common room and much less homely. Tapestries of the Slytherin house flag hung on almost every wall, the floor were of white and black marble, to the left and right corners were dark oak desks and chairs with dark oak bookshelves no doubt filled with books of dark magic. To the right of Ginny were black and dark green leather arm chairs and one dark leather sofa and loveseat standing in front of a stone fireplace where two statues of snakes stood with their mouths open showing their menacing fangs; also emerald stones were used as their eyes. In front of her stood two black winding staircases leading to the different common rooms at both of the handles ends were black miniature snake statues like the ones on the fireplace.

Riddle walked right between the two staircases and looked her squarely in the eye, "The staircase to the left will lead you to the boys' dormitories the ones to the right will lead you to the girls dormitories. Since boys are not allowed to go inside the girls' dormitories you will have to lead yourself to your dorm. You'll know you found yours when you come across a door that says Sixth Year Girl Dormitory."

Ginny nodded as she headed towards her staircase as she started to ascend it she turned around and smiled at Riddle, "Thank you, Riddle. Good night."

Riddle looked back up and nodded, "Good night…Ginevra."

Ginny was too exhausted to reprimand him for calling her by her first name and just continued her way to her new Slytherin dormitory. She finally came across a dark oak door that had an emerald inscription saying Sixth Year Girl Dorms. Ginny sighed, relieved, as she couldn't wait to get out of her robes and snuggle into the cool, crisp sheets. 'Wait! What am I going to do for books and pajamas and new Slytherin robes!' Ginny thought just realizing that she and Dumbledore had not discussed this.

As she opened the door she found five beds all with trunks in front of them except one trunk to the very right by the window had letter propped up on it. Ginny walked over to that trunk and saw her new name scribbled on the front and she opened it.

Dear Miss Delauney,

Enclosed in this trunk you will find your new school supplies, Slytherin robes, clothing, and nightwear. I hope you enjoy your stay in Slytherin house I could tell you were very surprised by the Sorting Hat's choice, but I have learned that the Sorting Hat always knows what is best for a student when it comes to being sorted into houses. So trust it that the Sorting Hat has never been wrong before and I don't believe it'll start now. And who knows, you might actually like Slytherin? I look forward to seeing you again in my class.

Sweet dreams,

Professor Albus Dumbledore, Head of Gryffindor House

Ginny sighed in relief and folded the letter back into its envelope. 'Dumbledore always thinks of everything. Thank goodness.' She opened her new trunk and found all new robes and school supplies all in top condition unlike the second hand worn out robes and supplies she was used to from her own time.

Moving her new belongings carefully she found two black pajama tops one with long sleeves and the other one a tank and the bottoms with were black with sliver stars on them. 'Very nice.' She quickly changed into them and got ready for bed sighing in content she climbed into her bed and pulled up the covers as she closed her dark green hanging around her bed. 'Who knows? Maybe this won't be so bad.' Ginny thought as she slipped into sleep as her new dorm mates entered and they too got ready for bed.

A/N: Well what did you think? I sort of have mixed feelings about this chapter, but hey finally this story has a long chapter! Five pages long and over 2,000 words. Hope you all liked it and please don't forget to review! The more reviews I get the more inspired I am to write.

Dark Angel