A/N: Many, many thanks to the best beta there is, Rowan-Greenleaf.

Decided lack of brilliant witticism here, perhaps chapter six A/N holds future promise. In fact, if not for the desire to publicly hail Rowan's greatness to the masses, I probably couldn't be bothered.

Disclaimer: JKR would never claim this; I can barely claim it as mine.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CHAPTER FIVE

Ginny had initially fought against telling Snape the entire story, but now she was glad they had.

"Have you ever practiced Occlumency or Legilimency, Miss Weasley?" Professor Snape had listened to her entire story silently, without interruption, or even a scowl or sneer sent her way.

Ginny found herself confused again by Snape's respect towards her.

"No sir. I tried to get Harry to teach me when he was taking lessons from you, but he refused."

Snape sneered and Ginny heaved a sigh of relief at the familiar sight.

"In order to teach something you must have somehow acquired that knowledge. Mr. Potter never applied himself enough to gain any of the necessary knowledge for these skills. I suspect that you may have these talents naturally."

"How can one have spells naturally, sir?" Ginny wanted to show Professor Snape as much respect as he had shown to her so far since entering his office.

"Occlumency is only a spell of sorts. Even Muggles can clear their minds of thoughts with techniques of control, relaxation, meditation, etc. But Legilimency takes some natural talent and many cannot ever learn it -like our esteemed Mr. Potter." The sarcasm was heavy in his voice and encouraged a subtle snigger from the two Slytherins witnessing the conversation.

"But I've never tried to read anyone's mind before. And there are many days I wish I could get the voices in my head to shut up." This comment had Draco and Blaise snorting now, and even Snape had a suspect twinkle in his eye.

"Hey! I'm not a mad woman, I'll have you know," Ginny said hotly, glaring at the Slytherins, particularly at the blond one, who had the grace to blush. "You all know very well that there are little voices in our heads that talk to all of us. Aren't there?" Ginny felt a shiver of fear go down her spine at the thought that she really was the only one who feared her own mind, and what it might do to her if it decided to turn against her.

Her face must have betrayed her fear, for Snape leaned in closely and looked into her eyes.

As she gazed into the stygian depths, Ginny felt her memories of the Chamber coming to the surface of her mind. She saw Tom standing above her, holding her own wand in his hand. She saw herself writing on walls in blood and so many other things in her first year that at the time she hadn't known she was doing.

She had been Tom's puppet. Though she hadn't wanted to do any of those things, she had wanted to do anything for Tom that he asked of her. She had been so weak, and all for the attention of a boy.

Ginny definitely knew that after Tom she didn't have much faith in love at all. She believed in love, she even believed in the power of love. She just didn't believe that she would either find it or deserve it.

"Please Professor," Ginny sobbed out loud, to the shock of those in the room, "Make it stop. Don't look at those terrible things I did." Her sobs increased causing the three men to share looks of confusion. "I didn't mean to do it. I tried to stop so many times. I cried so much. Haven't I done enough? Can't anyone find it in their hearts to forgive and forget what happened? I know I don't deserve their forgiveness but I'm begging you, don't make me look at it all again."

Snape had long ago pulled out of her head and sat looking at Ginny with both great compassion and understanding.

"Ginny, love," Draco rushed to her side after he recovered from his initial shock at her outburst. "Shh. Don't cry, love. No one's mad at you. That was years ago. We know Voldemort possessed you, it wasn't you. No one thinks that about you. You have to stop blaming yourself for what you had no control over."

Ginny was clinging tightly to his shirt as she buried her face into his chest. She was still sobbing, but it had quieted down. Ginny was now taking full breaths, instead of being on the edge of panic.

"Miss Weasley, I have some thoughts on all of this and I need to do some research. I do not think you are safe in Gryffindor Tower right now. I am going to speak to Professors Flitwick and McGonagall about temporarily having you stay with Miss Lovegood. Since it is very late tonight however, you shall stay in Slytherin House with Miss Parkinson."

He looked sharply to Draco, "Only with Miss Parkinson. Am I understood?"

Draco twitched his eyebrows in amusement at his mentor, but nodded his agreement to his wishes.

As the three students left the office to go tell Pansy about the sleeping arrangements Blaise quipped, "He didn't say we couldn't stay with Miss Parkinson as well."

Draco pulled Ginny close and hoped she could get over her fears. He wanted to sleep tonight knowing that she was sleeping soundly as well.