Hey! This was written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments) Ballroom Dancing Task 5: Write a fic with the Hurt/Comfort genre.

Word Count: 533

Warnings for Tom Riddle being canonically manipulative.

"I'll see you later!" Ginny called to the group of other first-year girls as she left the library. Ginny hoped her smile seemed genuine. She wanted them to want to get to know her as much as she wanted to get to know them. So far, it felt like her efforts were in vain.

A couple of them waved at her as she left and shouted their own replies, but Ginny felt her heart sink when they quickly turned around and started laughing amongst themselves again. Sighing, Ginny made her way through Hogwarts to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Loud laughing drew her attention when she was at the bottom of the stairwell leading to the girls' dormitory. Ginny could see her brother's head of red hair bobbing up and down as laughter racked his body. Hermione Granger shoved his shoulder as she giggled, and Harry Potter was clutching his stomach. Longing pooled icily in Ginny's stomach. Ron was so lucky.

She turned and began climbing the stairs. A quick glance around the dorm revealed that none of her dormmates had returned yet, and Ginny took the chance to race to her bed and pull out the chest underneath it. The corners of her mouth quirked up in a smile when she pulled out the old, worn diary.

Ginny scrambled onto her bed and grabbed a quill and an inkwell from her bedside table. Leaning against her pillows and headboard, she scribbled out a brief greeting.

Hello, Tom.

A response appeared almost immediately.

Hello, Ginny. How is my lovely lady doing today?

Now that I'm talking to you? Bloody wonderful.

She could almost imagine Tom chuckling to himself. She wondered what his smile looked like.

You flirt better than I do, Ms. Weasley. But please, do tell me about your day.

It was nothing special. I went to classes, studied a bit with some other girls in the library, and then decided to call it a day and talk to you.

You said you studied with some other girls? How did that go? Did you meet anyone new?

I did. They all seemed nice enough, it's just that they were so close to one another. I feel like I exist on a different plane than them.

It felt good to admit that, no matter how many times she'd already hinted at it to him.

Ginny. You are a vibrant, powerful woman. I've been talking to you for about a month now, and I can see that, even if I've never actually laid my eyes upon you. Those girls have no idea what they're missing out on. There's a gorgeous fire burning inside you, Ginny. Don't let them extinguish it.

Hot tears streamed down Ginny's cheeks due to Tom's kind words. She brushed them away impatiently, and then saw that Tom had continued writing.

I'll be your friend, Ginny. I'll be your confidant, your advisor...and anything else you need me to be, for as long as you want me.

Ginny's heart started banging against her rib cage. She could hardly believe the wonderful gift Tom was offering her.

Do you mean it, Tom?

Of course I do, love. Would I ever lie to you?