Oh, wow. I didn't realize that it had been checks over a year since I updated. I hope everyone is still with me!

But a note on why this took so long.

I was originally using this story as a way to get out some issues with a guy I used to know, with whom I had a Ginny-Tom-like interaction. Over the course the months following the last update, events conspired to make me realize he's more like Draco: big mouth, but easily over-powered. So, I lost interest in the story for awhile, thinking it was a relic of a problem I no longer had. I also started university this year, which has deadlines that don't allow me the time to write fanfic when I frustrated with an essay or assignment like I could when I was in community college.

But, I'm out for the summer break now, and I've decided that I like writing, even if my issues are null and void and I don't always have complete faith in my ability to pull off my grand scheme of a plot. So, it's time for me to kick up my feet and answer those reviews!

AlienSmile13: I didn't find out until after I stopped updating that it was Ginerva and I don't know if I should change it. Canon Correctness vs. it-just-sounds-prettier-to-me. Decisions, decisions.

Maleficus Lupinus: Kinkafication comin' right up!

Cow as White as Milk: Thanks! I had been playing through my Les Mis sheet music and that song just stuck in my head and made me love it.

Vixen: That means a lot to me. I know I'm taking more than a few liberties with Tom Riddle's character, but I think it's worth it with his interactions with Ginny and his ultimate road to redemption, if that's possible for him.

Amelle Me? Do whatever I can for shameless D/H smut? Surely you jest! (Heh.)

Aliesha: 2,000 cool points to Aliesha for the LOTR slash-liking.

Innogen If being a perv is wrong, I don't want to be right. I hope in the intervening months you've had time to catch up on the actual Harry Potter canon. As for Harry's calmness about the broom closet thing, I think at this point in his life, being caught snogging is relatively low on the things that would shock him list. Catching McGonagall and Dumbledore snogging is another matter...

the-almighty-berriy: Yeah, sorry about that. I'm still looking for a beta, but I was thinking the fact that Willow spent a lot of time in magical Britain would be fun to play with.

Ginny hummed quietly to herself as she stood in front of a large mirror in the bedchamber, attaching the last silver clips to her dark red tresses. She noted, with mild curiosity, that her hair had darkened since her arrival at Riddle House and now, instead of resembling the ugly rust colour she had always complained about, it had taken on a bloodlike tinge.

Behind her, on the enormous canopy bed, lay Tom's choice for the evening: a tight black dragon's hide corset, and a flowing black velour skirt that stopped mid-length down her thigh. For accessories, Tom had given her platinum hoop earrings shaped like snakes that had emeralds for eyes and a black choker with a serpent weaving its way around the band. Both items sprang to life, hissing and writhing, when Parsletongue was spoken to them.

"Nobby." Ginny called over her shoulder as she shimmed into the skirt. "Let's get me dressed." The house elf nodded quickly and the corset floated gently over Ginny's head and slid down her up-stretched arms to fit snugly around her waist. A soft snap of Nobby's spindly fingers had the strings tying themselves, tightly binding Ginny and stretching her until her already tiny waist even tinier and her breasts jutted out provocatively from the top of the garment. Satisfied with the appealing shape the constrictive clothes had created, she jerked her head to the small vanity that had been set up earlier in the day and sat down in front of the mirror. At Nobby's bidding, they attached themselves to her ears and throat, completing the effect that Tom had predicted: a gorgeous dark Pureblood, ready to instil fear and obedience in all who saw her.

"Well, aren't we a vision." Lucius sneered from the doorway.

Ginny's smile snapped into a thin red line. "What are you doing here, Lucius?" she demanded impatiently. "Where's Tom?"

If he was offended by her familiarity with his master, it didn't show. "He's finalizing our agreement with our latest ally in the library." he replied smoothly, lips set into a polite smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I've been sent up to accompany you to welcome him."

"Delivering messages like a common owl." Ginny smirked. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Tell me, Lucy, did you lick his boots, too, or just his - "

"Filthy little wretch!" Lucius growled. "You will watch you mouth around your betters!"

Ginny laughed cruelly. "Temper, temper. I wouldn't want to have to report your insolence."

Lucius stormed across the few feet separating them and grabbed Ginny's arm, yanking her close to him until she could feel his hot breath on her face. "You will show me the respect my place deserves! I was at his side before you were born and will continue to be at his right hand long after you have served you purpose here!" He held her gaze for a second longer before suddenly releasing his grip and sliding his mask of frosty civility back into place. "Now, if you'll follow me." he said tightly, the edges of his eyes maintaining the only traces of his rage.

"Leave, and wait outside the door.", was all Ginny could grind out, rubbing her sore wrist. "Now."

Lucius pursed his lips but obeyed. Ginny watched his retreat with a chaotic mix of fear, loathing, and haughtiness. 'If he thinks I have any intention of letting him be anything other than Drusilla's playmate, he's dead wrong.' she thought savagely.

Then, came the unbidden thought: 'Because I have no chance of finding out why I'm really here as long as he lives...' Shaking her head angrily to clear her mind, Ginny whirled around to face Nobby, who had taken refuge under the vanity during the argument. "I'm not forgetting anything, am I?" she asked impatiently. Scurrying out quickly, Nobby pointed to Ginny's wand, which had lain stupidly out of reach during the altercation. She grabbed it with a huff and started towards the stairs. "He'll pay for what he's done." she muttered to herself. "We'll see who's by his side by the end of the night."

The Gryffindor common room was buzzing with excitement as the older members of the house prepared for a rare night time visit to Hogsmeade. Harry, Ron, and Hermoine sat quietly to the side, trying not to attract anymore attention to themselves. For most of the day, students had gone from barely concealed staring to quiet giggling to outright applause when Harry and or Draco walked into a room. The whole thing, after the shock wore off, was beginning to wear on Harry's nerves, almost eclipsing his relief at being able to openly share his affection with Draco. That was, however, until the aforementioned Malfoy came down the stairs from the boys' dorm rooms to the common room. Even amidst the riotous clapping and catcalling, the only thing Harry's senses registered was his lover.

"Good evening." Draco said theatrically, as he bent to kiss Harry's hand.

"Knock it off." He mumbled, blushing and grinning as he pulled away. But Draco seemed to be adjusting far better than Harry, to the point of seeking more attention. "But, my sweet, it's time to depart." He leaned in and kissed Harry on the cheek, adding, sotto voce, "I can't wait to show you the Smokender."

"The what?" Harry questioned, but Draco held up a finger.

"Not now, dearest." he said, taking Harry's arm in his. "For now, we take a romantic walk, under the moonlight!"

Hermoine sighed. "I'm still not sure we should be taking this break. We're still quite far off from finding a way into Riddle House undetected." she said, looking reproachfully at the large stack of books she and Ron had carted back from the library as if they were purposely concealing the key element of Ron's plan.

Ron rolled his eyes. "If you say one more word about those bloody books, I'm going to have to start shoving balled up parchment in my ears." He pushed himself up from the cozy fire-front chair and cocked his head toward the door. "Do you think we can make it out on our own or should I set off a round of Fred and George's fireworks to distract the mob?"

Draco laughed. "Who cares? They're going to be following us all night anyway, so why don't we just get used to them?"

The other Gryffindors heaved rolled their eyes and started out into the night, the newly formed Potter-Malfoy fan club trailing faithfully behind.

So, what did you think? Reviews are like crack to me!