Summery: I love him! I realized with a start. He's kind and decent, and he listens to me, he understands me better than anyone else, so what if he's in a book we will get past that somehow. I held a trembling hand over the paper I had to tell him Tom-
An: This be chapter 2, oh and I forgot to put in the disclaimer in the first chapter so here it is. I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters. However, I wish I did own Tom Riddle.
This chapter is for my reviewers The Creatress, My sister Siy Rowling, and Kitty Black Cat thank your for your kind reviews. This is also for my beta Yamimommy without whom none of this would be possible.
Chapter 2 Little Gryffindor
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"Attention students! We are now pulling into Hogsmeade Station please be prepared to exit the train."
I blinked in surprise we were here? It felt like only an hour had passed! I went back to the diary.
I have to go Tom, the train just pulled into the station.
Don't forget to tell me what house you are sorted into later, I will be waiting.
I will… Hey, Tom does the sorting hurt?
No, why do you ask?
Fred and George said it would, they also said something about fighting a Dragon.
Do you honestly think the teachers would make un-trained first years fight a Dragon? Or be in any unnecessary pain?
No, your right they wouldn't but what do they do?
I don't want to spoil the surprise Princess. I pouted but didn't try to push him into telling me anything more. Tom hated to be forced into doing anything, and I didn't want to make him mad again. I didn't want to loose his friendship over something so silly.
"Hey, Redhead can you give me back my bottle now? It's time to go." I glanced up; the girl was watching me with narrowed eyes.
"Just give me a minute." that girl had an attitude problem; she could have at least tried to be more polite.
"Well hurry it up I don't want to be late." I purposely ignored her and started writing to Tom again.
Tom I really have to go now.
That's fine; don't forget to talk to me after the sorting.
I won't, bye Tom
Good Bye Ginerva.
I closed the diary and put it back into my pocket, I picked up the bottle and the quill I was using and handed them back to the girl. She looked into the bottle, and turned back to me with a curious expression on her face. It was like she was analyzing me. It was creepy.
"What?"
"You never turned the page but you used up half a bottle of ink." I froze. Did this girl suspect something?
"What do you mean?" The girl frowned.
"Don't play dumb with me, I was watching you, you never turned the page but you were writing enough to make a short novel." I scowled and tensed up.
"Why don't you just mind your own business!" I snapped and stormed out into the hallway and joined the students who were leaving the train. What right did that girl have to pry into my life? It was none of her business whether or not I turn the pages of my books or not.
I fumed a few more minutes before a loud booming voice got my attention.
"Frs' Years, Frs' Years ths' way." A giant man was waving the first years over to him. From the descriptions of my brothers I guessed that he must be Hagrid. I rushed over to were he was standing, he saw me. His shinny black eyes twinkled.
"Well ye' mus' be Ron's little sister eh?" I nodded. He gave a wide smile.
"I had a feelin it was you, the red hair and all," I shrugged.
"Well, I'd like ter chat but I got a job ter do," he said glancing around at the almost empty platform, and at the large group of first years surrounding him "I think we're all here 'bout now TO THE BOATS!" Hagrid led us to the lake were large boats waited for us, I chose to ride in a boat near Hagrid were I was joined by two other girls and a boy.
The girl behind me smiled and held out her hand, "Sara Jones, nice to meet you." I smiled back and shook her hand.
"Ginny Weasley, nice to meet you too." Sara turned and gestured to the girl behind her.
"This here is my friend Missy Dane, and behind her is Bill Afina, were all hoping for Hufflepuff." Missy nodded enthusiastically but Bill just shrugged, he looked familiar, but I was sure I had never seen him before in my life. Hmm I would have to solve the mystery later.
"Forward!" Hagrid yelled and taped his boat, the boats started moving forward. A few of the other first years let out loud shouts of surprise. Mostly the muggleborns.
"Oh! Well that was un-expected!" Sara squealed excitedly looking around at all of the boats. I glanced over my shoulder at her.
"Your muggleborn aren't you." she nodded.
"The first with magic born into my family! Mum and dad were so proud when they found out, shocked sure, but proud." She chatted on and on about her family, it was a little annoying, but she seemed nice enough so I just nodded every once and a while.
"What is that?" Missy shrieked pointing into the water. Hagrid glanced over the edge of his boat.
"Tha's jus the giant squid, don't worry 'bout him. He's harmless." Missy edged away from the side of the boat while Sara moved closer to the side to get a better look.
"Cool!" she shouted a wide grin on her face, I took a glance over the side too and saw a giant golden eye looking back, I don't know if squid have eyelids but I could have swore it winked at me before it disappeared back into the lake.
"Wow." I muttered. I wondered if Tom had ever seen the squid this close before? Or Harry? I glanced forward again, there was a large cave ahead of us.
"Ok lower your heads, you wont be wanting ter get a bump," we all lowered our heads, there were a few yelps from some of the others who didn't duck on time though, I couldn't help but giggle.
"Ya can come up now; you will be gitten yer firs' sight O Hogwarts in a minute." I straightened up and kept my eyes forward, this was it! This is what I had been waiting for! I leaned forward a little and heard Sara doing the same. Then it appeared.
My breath was frozen in my throat, there it was, Hogwarts, with its thousands of windows lit up in candles, fireplaces, and torchlight, the black looking castle on a silver background. It was beautiful! I reached my hand into my pocket and held on to the diary, wishing I could show this to Tom.
A wave of exhaustion hit me, and I think I blacked out for a moment. I blinked a few times and yawned. What had happened? I looked around; we were at some kind of dock, when then that happen?
"You alright Ginny? You got really quiet there for a while." it was Sara, she had a concerned look on her face, I nodded.
"I just got really tired suddenly, sorry about that." She smiled. Looking relieved.
"Well if your ok then let's go!" she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the boat to race after the other students who were already far ahead of us. By the time we caught up with them we were both breathing hard.
Hagrid led us up to the giant front doors and knocked. The sound echoing loudly, for a minute nothing happened but then door opened slowly and out stepped a woman a severe expression on her face.
"Firs' years Professor McGonagall." She nodded her head and turned to us.
"Come with me." we all trailed after her, the loud talking now turned into absolute quiet. Professor McGonagall took us to a room outside giant doors she stopped us there.
"I will see if they are ready for you." she went through the giant doors and left us in silence. Worried whispering broke out. Sara leaned over to me when we stopped.
"How do you think they will sort us?" I shrugged, I really didn't know. But I wasn't worried, Tom said it wasn't anything painful, and I knew he would never let me do anything that would hurt me.
The rest of the first years didn't have my comfort though and kept taking fearful glances at the door Professor McGonagall had entered. It felt like hours before she returned.
"We're ready now, please follow me." Even though I knew the sorting was not dangerous, there was still fear in the pit of my stomach. New worries entered my mind. What of I didn't get into Gryffindor? What if the hat thought I would be better in Slytherin? My family would disown me! Even worse, Harry would hate me!
My hands started to shake. I felt alone and scared. To hide my hands I stuffed them into my pockets were my right hand brushed the diary I relaxed. I wasn't alone. I smiled as I held onto the diary. I had Tom.
McGonagall led us into what I instantly recognized as the Great Hall, we walked up the aisle in-between two tables, the Gryffindor and the Ravenclaw tables I noticed when I looked up at the banners.
I glanced over at the Gryffindor table, I instantly spotted Fred and George with Lee, they all waived and George mouthed 'Good Luck' I saw Percy next, he just gave me a friendly nod and turned his attention to the Ravenclaw table. I wondered what he was looking at.
I scanned the rest of the table and frowned. Where were Harry and Ron? I looked around the table again, they weren't there! I turned back to Fred and George who were still watching me.
'Were are Harry and Ron?' I mouthed, they both shrugged. Sara, who had silently watched the entire time, finally asked.
"Who are Harry and Ron?" before I could answer McGonagall had re-appeared with a tattered hat and a stool, she put the hat on the stool and stood back. Every head in the Hall turned to the hat and waited.
A rip appeared in the Hat and it started to sing.
Everyone clapped politely when it was finished. McGonagall pulled out a list when the clapping died down.
"Now when I call your name come up and I will place the sorting hat on your head, after you are sorted please go to the table of your new house."
"Afina, Bill." Bill rolled his eyes.
"Figures I'm first, I'm always first. Stupid name." He muttered and went up, he sat down on the stool, crossed his arms, slouched, and had on an expression that clearly said 'Lets get this over with'
The hat was placed on his head, a few seconds later the hat called out-
"RAVENCLAW!"
There was polite applause as Bill walked over to the table, he took a seat next to an amused looking boy with a prefect badge who leaned over and said something that made Bill chuckle.
Sara looked disappointed.
"Afina, Tilly." Sara flinched back in surprise.
"I didn't know Bill had a sister," she whispered.
A girl walked up to the stool, a book in her hands and an expression on her face that matched McGonagall's in sterness. In that instant I relised why I reconised Bill, I knew his twin, the girl who had sat across from me on the train.
"I know her," I whispered to Sara, "She sat across from me from the train!"
Tilly sat on the stool, in the same 'Lets get this over with' air her brother had. The hat was placed on her head. I wondered what house she would go in. Five minutes went by before the hat fianly yelled.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Tilly walked over to the Slytherins with a smug smirk and sat next to none other than Draco Malfoy. I rolled my eyes, now that I thought about it Slytherin was the obvious choice for her.
The sorting got dull after that, I didn't know anyone else besides Missy and Sara so the others sorting didn't really matter to me.
I ended up talking to Sara and Missy until Missy was called up. She got into Hufflepuff. Beaming with pride, she went over to her new house.
There was another lull in the action. Sara suggested bringing out the self-shuffling cards she had in her pocket when her name was called. She looked nervous for a minute before tilting her chin up in a stubborn matter and marching toward the stool. The hat was only on her head for a few seconds before it called out.
"GRYFFINDOR!" She looked surprised at first but then she beamed and walked over to the Gryffindor table.
I sighed, now that Sara was gone I had no one to talk to and my turn wouldn't come until much later, it gave me time to worry without distraction. I reached into my pocket and stroked the diary, it always relaxed me when I did, a pleasant sleepyness fell over me. I was so out of it I almost missed it when my name was called.
"Weasley, Ginerva." I stopped stroking the book and shook myself a little to get rid of the sleepy haze. All the nervousness rushed back to me as I walked over to the stool, my heart was thudding so hard I thought the whole hall could hear it.
When did it get so quiet? Why was so hot in here? Why was it so dark?
That would be because of me Miss Weasley
I jumped in surprise, who was that?
I am the Sorting Hat, now be quiet and let me do my job
What a rude hat!
I heard that, you should be kinder to the hat that holds the next 7 years of your life in its threads.
I tried to apoligise but the hat was ignoring me, busily shifting through my mind at breakneck speed.
Hmm well, I see cunning, a lot of it too, but most of the time foolish bravery and temper covers it up. You learn quickly and have a very level head for a girl your age but you are much too foolish in maters of the heart.
Hey!
The stupid hat ignored me. I will offer you one piece of wisdom that might help you young lady, remember your mother's good advice about things that can think without a brain.
What was he (If it had a gender) talking about? But the hat didn't answer when I asked.
I fear you will find out soon enough in-
"GRYFFINDOR!"
I didn't have time to question the hat anymore as it was pulled off of my head, I stood and walked over to the Gryffindor table thinking about its strange 'Wisdom' it didn't really hit me that I was a Gryffindor until Fred and George hit me on the back so hard I almost fell over.
Percy leaned forward and shook my hand with a serious expression on his face.
"Congraulations Ginny." I nodded and sat next to Sara who was bouncing excitedly in her seat.
"This is great! We're both in the same house, sure, it's not Hufflepuff but this is cool too, the hat said I would do better here than there anyway, did the hat talk to you too? What did it say-?"
"Sara! Slow down!" I laughed she blushed.
Dumbledore stood.
"To our new students, welcome, to our returning students welcome back now before you all starve let the feast begin!" the food appeared, Sara grabbed as much food as her plate could hold then starting eating at a pace that would impress Ron.
Fred and George watched Sara in awe for a minute before turning back to their own plates and adding more food in an effort to keep up with her.
I laughed and turned back to my own plate and was about to start eating when I noticed that someone went up to Fred and George and taped their shoulders. She had buckteeth, frizzy brown hair, and muddy brown eyes. She had a worried frown on her face.
The twins turned and broke out into identical smiles, "Hermonie! Long time no see!" they said at the same time. She gave a tiny smile.
"Hello Fred, George, have you seen Harry and Ron?" both shook their heads. The worried frown reappeared on her face.
Fred reached over and patted her arm, "Don't worry Hermione, I'm sure they are fine." She nodded and went back to her seat. I watched her the entire time, so this was Hermonie, the girl who spent all her time with Harry. Was she going to be competition? I tensed up. I would have to keep an eye on her.
"Ginny?" I glanced over at Sara who had stopped stuffing her face, "Are you alright? You got a really mean look on your face just then." I forced a smile.
"I'm fine Sara; I was just thinking about," I paused "Stuff." I finished lamely. Sara shrugged and looked at my untouched plate.
"You going to eat that?" to her disappointment I was, I had barely started eating when desert appeared. Sara instantly went for the carrot cake while I took a slice of apple pie. Desert didn't last as long as dinner and I was disappointed when it all disappeared about ten minutes later.
"Now that we are all fed and watered I have a few things to say before I let you go off to bed," Dumbledore was speaking again, his light blue eyes twinkling, "First, the Frobidden Forest is, as its names suggests, forbidden, to all years," he turned to look at Fred and George who put on their most innocent faces.
"Also, Snapping Gum, Jailbird Jolly's, and Werewolf Whistles have been added to the list of items banned at Hogwarts, the full list is available in Mr. Filtch's office," he paused when McGonagall ran up to him and whispered something, he nodded and she left the room.
"That is all for now, Prefects please lead your first years to the common rooms." He turned and left.
"What was that all about?" Sara asked, I shrugged and went after Percy who was calling the first years together.
The next few minutes consisted of us walking up miles of stairs and Sara gapeing at the pictures who kept telling her it was rude to gape at people.
I felt like I was going to pass out from exhaustion, I briefly considered switching to Slytherin just because their common room was in the dungeons and not on a vertical incline, when Percy led us to a portrait of a fat woman, The Fat Lady I guessed.
"Now, this is the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, the password right now is Wattlebird." The painting opened and we all entered into a red and gold room.
"This this is the common room, boys rooms are up the stairs on the right, girls same on your left, if you don't have any questions then I will be going." he went up the boys staircase without waiting for any questions.
The group of first years split up into two and went up to their individual staircase's, Sara kept talking excitedly about the paintings when we found our room, my bed was the closest to the bathroom and had a small table next to it. There was also a window that overlooked the lake it was pretty.
Sara had the bed on the other side of the room by the door, three other girls I didn't recognize had the beds in the middle of ours, they seemed to know each other. I didn't introduce myself, I didn't feel like bothering with them right now and I had plenty of time to get to know them later.
I carefully pulled the diary out of my pocket and sliped it under my pillow when I was sure no one was watching me and got into my P.J's as soon as I could. I rummaged around my trunk until I found a quill and ink and went to my bed.
"You going to bed Ginny?" it was Sara, I nodded she looked a little disappointed. "Oh well that's ok, I was planning to get some shut eye too, night Ginny!" she said cheerfully and leaped into her bed closing her drapes..
I got into bed, shut my own drapes, and pulled out the diary again. I opened it to the first page and started to write.
Tom?
Ginerva! How did the sorting go? I smiled; he always seemed so excited when we would talk.
The sorting went fine I got into Gryffindor! I was so afraid that I wouldn't!
I know how you felt, when I was sorted I thought they would tell me I didn't belong in any house and send me back to the orphanage.
Orphnage?
Yes, I was… Am, an orphan
Oh, I am so sorry.
Its in the past, it doesn't matter.
All this time I was complaining about my family-
Ginerva, leave it be, I've gotten over it by now it doesn't matter.
I think it does, I think it's sad.
Don't worry about things you can never change. It will cause you unnecessary pain.
Fine. I scowled at the book; I felt a mix of pity and anoyance for this boy, why wouldn't he let me worry about him? Stupid boy.
Now, have you made any new friends?
A couple, a girl named Sara Jones she is in Gryffindor too, another girl named Missy Dane, and a boy but I don't think he is really a friend, his name is Bill Afina. His sister is the girl I sat across from on the train, she's in Slytherin, lousy girl.
She can't be all that bad.
Yes, she can! She nossy, bossy, and mean! Just like all Slytherins!
Now not all Slytherins are like that, I'm not like that am I?
I froze You're a Slytherin?
Yes is that a problem?
Well no, its just surprising is all; I thought all Slytherins were, well evil.
Ginny do I seem evil to you?
No. You're the nicest person I know unlike- I stopped unlike that skank Hermonie who had the gall to worry about my Harry.
Unlike-?
Unlike this girl who thinks, she owns Harry just because she is his friend! I was pressing my quill so hard against the paper I thought it was going to rip.
Ginerva calm down you'll rip the-
Oh, look at me I'm Hermonie! I have buckteeth and frizzy hair!
Gin-
Oh, HI Harry let me bat my big ugly mud eyes at you!
GINERVA!
The word took up the entire page, and it was underlined.
Sorry Tom. I felt slightly embarrassed, I mean, I haven't even seen her with Harry, for all I know they could just be good friends.
Its ok, just don't take your temper out on my book ok?
I smiled Ok.
Now that we are calm I think its time for you go get some sleep, you must be exhausted. I was about to tell him I wasn't, but I felt suddenly drained.
Yes, I am, good night Tom.
Goodnight Princess. I sliped the diary under my pillow and fell asleep.
--
I waited until I was sure she was asleep before I snuck out of the diary. I appeared in a room filled with the brightest shade of red I had ever seen, it almost hurt to look at. I found myself missing my old room in Slytherin for a second. But I shook the feeling away.
I glanced down at my hands, still just an outline, I sighed. This would take longer then I had originally thought, I might just have to drain the girl's entire life force to get a full body. That would take months! Months in the company of this whiney little girl! I would have to work her into my plans. I grumbled to myself.
Positives Tom, I told myself, look at the positives.
I looked down at the sleeping girl, she is pretty, and I suppose that is a small bonus.
She was also young and naïve, trusting to a fault. Now that I thought about it, I was lucky to have been found by her. An Auror or someone with more experience with the dark arts could have found me. I would have been in trouble then.
I reached down and gently tried to brush a bit of hair out of her face.
Not out of care, just to see if I could do it. I couldn't, I couldn't even feel her hair. Just a slight tingle on my fingertips.
"Looks like we will be in each others company longer then I had planed little Ginerva," I said to the sleeping girl, the sound so quiet I could barely hear it myself, I leaned down, "Sleep well my little Gryffindor I have big plans for you now." I said right by her ear, she twitched in her sleep and rolled over; I smirked and disappeared back into my diary.