Hermione Double- I'm sorry! I totally forgot to tell you I updated. I promise to tell you when I put this up. Thanks for the review.
Chapter Three
Ginny followed Myrtle down the familiar halls that lead to the Gryffindor Tower.
"So do you like it at Hogwarts?" Ginny asked, making conversation.
"It's a wonderful school really. I think you'll like it here. The only thing rotten around here are the Slytherins. Do you know who the Slytherins are?"
"Isn't it another house?" Ginny answered, doing her best to stay in character of Dumbledore's niece.
"Yes it is another house. A house that produces the most vile and evil creatures on the planet." Myrtle spat. "Although not all of the evil witches come from Slytherin though." She added as a tall girl with short brown hair and a mean look approached them(1).
"Lost your sense of direction four-eyes? The classroom is back that way."
"Sod off Olive. I happen to be showing a new student around." Myrtle threw back, grabbing Ginny by the arm, preparing to walk away.
"Oh really." Olive said. "You really should have picked someone else to show you around." She said to Ginny. "Never know where you'll end up following this bottle-bottom-eyed geek." Ginny frowned and saw the hurt look that flashed on Myrtle's face. Ginny moved to stand in between them facing Olive.
"What is your problem? What gives you the right to make fun of her like that?" Ginny demanded, surprising both Myrtle and Olive. "It's not her fault she has to wear glasses." Olive said nothing but glared at Ginny and walked away.
"Why did you do that?" Myrtle asked looking at Ginny in confusion. "No one has ever stood up for me before." Ginny turned to Myrtle.
"I know what it's like to be teased constantly for being different." Ginny answered. "It's not your fault you have to wear glasses."
"Thank you." Myrtle said in a shy voice. "Come on, I still have to show you the Gryffindor Tower." Ginny followed Myrtle on the way to the tower before stopping dead in her tracks.
'Whoa wait a tick.' Ginny looked at Myrtle. 'I knew she looked familiar. I can't believe I didn't recognize Moaning Myrtle from the girls lavatory. She hasn't died yet.'
"Ginny? Something wrong?"
Ginny snapped from her thoughts when Myrtle waved her hand in front of Ginny's face.
"N-no. I just… got lost in thought. That's all." Ginny answered.
"If you say so." Myrtle didn't look convinced but continued onward.
'I wish changing the past didn't have consequences, she doesn't deserve to die.' Ginny thought as Myrtle showed her around the Tower and lead her to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"Okay, our last class is Double Potions with the Slytherins." Myrtle announced to Ginny with a groan. "I do hope you have a strong will. You'll need it to deal with Slytherins."
"I'm sure I'll do fine." Ginny said, silently hoping that this Potions professor was nothing like Professor Snape. Myrtle lead the way to the dungeons where a lot of the class was already waiting. The professor arrived not long after to let them in. Myrtle and Ginny were one of the last to enter before the professor held out his arm to stop Ginny.
"You're Professor Dumbledore's niece aren't you." He said more than asked.
"Yes Sir." Ginny replied.
"Then we'll have to find you a temporary seat." Ginny watched his eyes scan over the classroom. He ushered Ginny into the classroom. "The seat next to Mister Riddle is free. You may take that seat." Ginny was guided to the front of the class to sit next to a dark haired Slytherin with startling green eyes (2).
"Settle down class, settle down." The professor said quieting the class as he stood at the front. "First of all, we have a new student, Ginny, who will be staying for an unknown period of time before returning home to her own school." He said pointing Ginny out, who blushed slightly at the eyes falling upon her. "So let's try to give a good impression of Hogwarts." He added glaring at a few students. "Now since that is out of the way, it is time to begin the potion we will be working on today, the Draught of Peace. Who can tell me and the rest of the class what it is?" Ginny saw the guy next to her raise his hand.
"Yes, Mister Riddle."
"The Draught of Peace is a potion to pacify a person for a brief period of time. It's extremely similar to the Draft of Peace but much easier to make."
"Excellent Mister Riddle. Ten points to Slytherin. The instructions are on the board. Work in pairs of two." The professor said as instructions appeared on the blackboard behind him. "Ginny, work with Mister Riddle for the time being considering you don't belong to a house."
"Yes sir."
Ingredients were gathered and the potion was in the process of being made with little conversation between Ginny and her partner.
"By this time, the potion should be a dull turquoise color by now." The professor announced half-way through the lesson. Ginny looked down at the potion she was working on. They weren't even close.
"Oh no, what did we do wrong?" Ginny muttered to herself.
"Too much morkshed." Came the reply which startled Ginny. She turned to the guy next to her.
"What do we do?" She asked him.
"Find something to counteract some of the morkshed." He began searching through the ingredients on their desk.
"Would Basil work?" Ginny said holding up a vial.
"I think it would work fine." He took the vial and added some to the potion.
"Who knew a common spice would have potion properties." Ginny commented, watching the potion turn the right color.
"There are usually potion properties in most herbs and spices."
"Too bad they don't improve the flavor." Ginny grimaced at the thought of tasting another vile potion.
"Potion making has been around for over a thousand years and no one has figured that it's the flavor that makes potions vile." Ginny giggled slightly at the comment.
"The easiest conclusion if they had tasted it."
"True." Ginny studied his profile as he stirred the potion.
"Ginny." She introduced holding out her hand. He hesitated before taking her hand.
"Tom."
"Nice to meet you Tom." Ginny said.
"Likewise."
"The potion is looking very good." The professor commented coming around to their desk. "The two of you make quite the team."
"Thank you sir." Ginny and Tom answered simultaneously. Ginny took some more time to study Tom.
'He kinda reminds me of Harry.' She thought. 'The dark hair and green eyes. I wonder why he seems so familiar.'
If only Ginny knew, huh?
1. I really don't know if Olive Cornby was described but this is how she would look to me.
2. I'm pretty sure I'm right on this and Tom Riddle had green eyes before he turned into a human serpent.
