Lilabennet: Thanks for your review! After rereading my story I totally saw your point and have fixed it. It was something I hadn't thought about when I started writing her memories. To be honest I forgot about it, lol. But thanks for pointing out my little slip! I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
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Rating: M for Later Chapters
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September 2, 1995
Ginny sat at the Gryffindor table, the first day of school now over. Everyone around her seemed excited for the New Year and for the next step in their wizarding career. To the unknown eye Ginny looked just as pleased to be back, though to her true friends she looked less than thrilled to be back. Two sets of eyes watched her from across the Great Hall, careful not to appear to be watching any of the members of Gryffindor.
"Draco, she doesn't look good…" Pansy whispered, watching Ginny push some potatoes around on her plate. "Its only been one day away from him and she looks really upset. Maybe we should write to him and tell him, perhaps he can find a way to see her, or at least send her some letters or something. If she keeps looking like that I don't think she'll make it to Christmas…"Pansy said, tilting her head to the side at the scandalized look on Draco's face. "Us? Write to… Him?" he said as if it were the most ridiculous thing to say. "Are you mad?" Pansy shook her head "Oh for Merlin's sake... Draco, before we left he asked me to write to him if anything was going on with her" Pansy said rolling her eyes.
"Why did he ask you and not me?" Draco asked, clearly offended. "Because I'm a girl and a million times more observant of other women then you are" she said in a matter-of-fact voice. "Oh really Pans? I didn't know you played on that team. This could be very entertaining" Draco smirked with a suggestive wiggle of his eye brow. Pansy lightly punched him in the arm, sticking out her tongue at him. "Oh shove off Malfoy. You know what I mean. Women observe and judge other women. It's something we're trained to do. So I'd notice if something was weird about her as soon as it changed, where you would need a written color diagram and an hour long lecture to even get an inkling." She said, standing up. "Good night Draco, I'm going to pop off to my dormitory and write a quick letter." She said cheerily as she pranced out of the Great Hall. Draco shook his head, following her at a more leisurely pace, glancing at Ginny as he left the Hall.
"So Ginny, how was your summer?" Hermione's voice brought Ginny out of her thoughts. "Oh…" She said, forcing a polite and friendly smile. –She's supposed to be your friend Ginny. Ignore the fact she's a mudblood. You did not learn everything you did over the summer to louse it up now- she chided herself as she glanced at Hermione. "Oh thank you Hermione, my summer was delightful" she said before realizing how she was speaking. She was supposed to be laid back, not hung up on proper manners or public behavior. "It was brilliant actually. Luna's family is great" she said in a lighter tone. "Oh great, what did you do?" Harry asked, his attention now focused on Ginny as well.
"Oh well we mostly just hung out, she had this neighbor who was very charming, so I spent a lot of time with him" she said with a flippant wave of her hand, smirking slightly as she watched the jealous look on his face. Ron looked positively furious. "You have to be kidding me? You met some guy? Who, I'll kill him" Ron said in a dangerous tone. "Honestly Ron, she's fourteen, she is probably going to date people. Plus he's Luna's neighbor, and Luna lives in a Muggle neighborhood. So Ginny's probably not going to see him again, and it's not like she can send him an owl." Hermione said, "Isn't that right Gin?" Hermione asked, turning back to where Ginny had been seated. "Oh, where did she go…?" The three of them had not noticed Ginny had gotten up at left the Great Hall while they had been arguing.
Breakfast seemed louder than normal to Ginny. When the owl post came she didn't even look up, it was simply another noise to try and block out while she tried to manage a slice of toast. "Gin, there is an owl trying to get your attention. I think if you don't take the package from it soon it looks like it might bite you" Harry said causing Ginny to look up from her plate to find a very annoyed owl hovering just in front of her. Instantly she recognized Tom's Owl. "Hello Nightwing" she said affectionately, removing the package from the birds talons. "I'm sorry for ignoring you. Here ya go" she said, breaking a piece of bacon and feeding it to the bird. The owl hopped onto her shoulder, nuzzling her cheek affectionately. "I'm sorry, I know. Have another bit" she said to Nightwing, stroking his chest feathers. "Who is sending you a package Gin?" Ron asked, trying to look at the writing on the package to see if he recognized the handwriting. "It's not even addressed to anyone. How did the owl know who to give it to?" Ron remarked, looking confused. "Well it's simple Ronald, Nightwing is smarter then you" Ginny smirked, Harry and Hermione snickering.
"Oh come on Ron, it was kind of funny…" Hermione said through her giggles, trying to soothe a very angry Ron. "No it wasn't" he mumbled. Ginny shook her head, carefully opening the brown paper. She cocked her head to the side to see an old leather bound book entitled 'Charms Through the Ages'. Was Tom trying to tell her that her charms skills needed work? If he was she would show him just how good she was with charms. She would charm his skin hot pink and only reverse it when he admitted she did not need any improvement, the man would certainly have a hard time corralling his followers looking like a walking tube of lipstick. She noticed a letter slipping out from between the pages and picked it up, breaking the green wax seal.
My little one,
I do hope you are enjoying your fourth year at Hogwarts. Pansy wrote to me last night that you seem to be upset, and requested that I do something to alleviate your sadness. I know it is difficult to be in a place where you must hide who you are. I did the same thing all throughout my own schooling. Be wary of Dumbledore, the old fool might seem harmless but he can cause endless trouble. You must keep up pretenses of being the Gryffindor Princess. Promise to write me everything you know about the old man and his Golden Boy. Soon we'll be together again little one and you'll be able to resume lessons. Remember, you also must not be seen spending to much time with Draco and Pansy, I am more than certain that everyone will get suspicious if you're acting chummy with Slytherins. It's not a far jump from Slytherin to Death Eater in most people eyes. Be safe and remember, how much I love you.
Forever yours,
Tom.
P.S. This book works similarly to the diary I used during your first year at school. But instead of conversing with a memory your script will appear in my own copy of the book. To anyone but you it will look like an ordinary charm book, no one but you will be able to read or even see its true print. If there is a message waiting for you a little snake will appear on the binding of the book.
Ginny smiled, tucking the letter into her pocket, putting the book into her school bag. "Who sent you a charms book Gin?" Hermione asked curiously. Ginny had forgotten that her brother and his friends were sitting with her. "Oh, it's a book I left at Luna's. I guess I missed it when I packed the last of my stuff. Her mum found it and send it to me" she said softly, petting Nightwing who was still perched on her shoulder. "I thought Luna had that obnoxious pink bird." Ron added, looking over the jet black owl. "This is actually my owl. I bought him over the summer. Nightwing delivering a letter when I left for school, so he must have returned there and Mr. Lovegood sent him here with my book" she said, Ron still looked skeptical. "How could you afford to buy an owl?" He asked annoyed that his sister seemed to get money from their family when none of the boys could. "I don't have to explain anything to you Ronald!" Ginny hissed at him before standing up, storming off to her first class. "Off you go Nightwing, wait in the owlry for me, hmm?" she cooed at the ebony owl who took off after she finished speaking.
Ginny sat in the back of her charms class, opening up the book, dipping her quill in her never ending ink pot. She was not at all surprised to see the parchment of the book was blank. She thought for a minute about what to write, she was so excited to be able to speak to him, a lot faster than an owl.
My love,
I was so excited to receive your gift. I miss you. I know it has only been a few days since I was in your arms but still… I feel as if it has been years since you've held me, kissed me. I miss hearing your voice as you stroke my hair till I fall asleep. I miss you showering me with praises and kisses when I master one of the spells Lucius was teaching us. I'll write him and Cissy a letter later today. I miss them too. I wish I could find a way to not have to go home during the holiday, I'd much rather spend it at Malfoy Manor, or even Riddle Manor. You've yet to show me it, I'm very excited. But I have seen the memories you've shown me of Riddle Manor, and I don't think I particularly like the decorations or the color scheme. Would it be possible if I had control over the renovations? As I'm going to be living in it I'd like it to look more like a home then a headquarters. Anyway, I probably shouldn't write to long, I'm supposed to be paying attention to Professor Flitwick… Kind of ironic, don't you think?
Ginevra, September 3, 1995
Little one,
I'm pleased to hear you miss me, I wish you were here with me. I feel a void without you by my side. But it is only three more years my sweetest until you are through with school all together then you'll never leave me again. Perhaps I will see what I can do to bring you to Malfoy Manor for Christmas Holiday. But you must keep your grades up. Anything less than all 'E's' and I'll have to send you to your traitorous family. I think that is incentive enough for my little one to study, but if not then I will make you one more proposition. For ever 'O' you get on your midterms I'll give you any Slytherin treasure you desire. I'll find anything you desire. Now, be a good girl and pay attention in class little one. I'll write to you soon about Christmas Holiday.
Tom, September 3, 1995
September 8th, 1995
I hate her! That stupid mudblood can't mind her own business! Tom, I swear I'm two inches from killing that little whore.
Little one, what happened?
That stupid bitch! She has been bugging me for the last week about Saint Potter. She cornered me last night and demanded to know why I've been avoiding him. Said that only last year I was head over heels in love with him, wanted to know who my new interest was. I couldn't tell her the truth, and she wouldn't leave me alone.
Little one, you're not getting to the point… What happened love? What did you tell her?
I told her it was none of her business who I like. I said she needed to leave me alone and hide in the library in her books where she learned how steal magic. I was so angry, it took all of my control not to hex the little mudblood nine ways to hell.
Go find her and apologize little one. Tell her you are sorry and did not mean it. You need to make this right.
I will do no such thing. That mudblood needs to mind her own business and I will not go apologize to that filth.
You will do exactly what I've told you. You are my submissive and will do as I demand.
Yes, I am your submissive partner but not your slave. You cannot order me around like I am one of your minions. I am your equal and I think its high time you realize that Tom. I will not find that little mudblood and apologize to her.
No one can see you as anything other then the princess you've appeared to be for the last five years. You will go and find the mudblood, make things right in her eyes. I don't care if you have to beg on bended knee for her forgiveness. Now, until you tell me that you have made things right with her I will not make any attempt to contact you or to arrange your holiday with myself and the Malfoys.
Tom don't do that. Can't you see why I shouldn't go seeking out the mudblood?
Tom?
Please don't ignore me Tom. It isn't fair to make me go grovel to the mudblood like some common trash.
Fine, three days of you ignoring me. I can't take it. I'll go apologize to the mudblood…
"Hermione?" Ginny said in a timid voice as she rounded a corner of book shelves. " 'Mione?" she asked again, sitting at a table Hermione had ladened with books. "What do you want Ginny?" Hermione asked in a cold tone, never looking up from the potions book in her hand. " 'Mione I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say all those awful things"
Hermione looked over the tome at Ginny, her face hidden by her bushy hair and the thick pages. "Please Hermione, I'm so sorry. I was just already in a foul mood when you cornered me, and then you were attacking me about my feelings for Harry…." Ginny said in a pleading voice. "I didn't mean to be so hurtful… It's just I'm tired of being rejected by Harry, so you bugging me about it ground that in" she lied, thinking of anything she could to make herself cry. When her uncle died? When she had to leave Narcissa for school? When she woke up in the chamber of secrets and found the diary stabbed and she thought Tom was forever gone. That last thought brought tears flooding her eyes, sliding down her cheeks.
"Please Hermione" she whimpered in a shaky voice, reaching for Hermione's hand. "Forgive me, I didn't meant to hurt you. You're like the sister I never had" she said, silently apologizing to Pansy, the girl she truly felt was her sister. "Please don't be angry at me anymore" she said breaking down into more tears, thinking if she had a fight like this with Pansy or Draco. Anything she could think of to make Hermione think Ginny felt awful about their fight.
"Gin, how could you say things like that? You sounded just like Malfoy when you told me to go to the library and bury my nose in a book and learn magic." Hermione said in an icy tone, pulling her hand away from Ginny. "I was half expecting you to call me a… a mud.." Ginny cut her off, trying to play the part. "Hermione don't say that word. It's a horrible word and does not suit you at all." Ginny said forcibly.
"Dirty blood… That's just ludicrous Hermione. You've got more power then most purebloods" she said biting her tongue to keep her voice even. How could she possibly say things like this to a mudblood. She did have dirty blood. She stole her magic from a wizard creating a squib. It was people like her that were ruining their world. "And don't compare me to that foul ferret" she hissed, hoping it sounded angry. "You know very well that blood status means nothing to my family." Which was entirely true, her family didn't care about blood purity. Ginny did, but her family didn't. One of the many reasons she hated being a Weasley. No, she wasn't a Weasley. She was a Riddle. Always a Riddle.
"Gin I'm sorry for cornering you about that. It's just Harry's been trying to get your attention, and you've been nothing but rude since the start of term. I mean really, you're not yourself lately and we're all fed up with it." Hermione said setting the book down, crossing her arms. "You're acting more and more like Malfoy. With that air that makes it seem like you think you're better then everyone else and we're all sick of it." She said, collecting her books, standing up. "I forgive you Ginny, and I'm not mad any more. But you need to seriously reconsider your priorities. Are you with us? Or with them? You're fifteen, you need to figure out where you stand, and I know you Gin" she said in a softer tone. "I know you'll make the right decision. Harry loves you, and he finally sees that. Don't turn your back on him and forget who you are. When the time comes for him to defeat Voldemort he'll need all the support we give him." She added, noticing the way Ginny flinched. She figured it was simply because she had the courage to use the dark sorcerer's name.
Ginny recoiled when Hermione mentioned Harry defeating Voldemort. She did not care about the name, it was one she was quite fond of. She did not want to think about the impending war. She knew the two men would be locked in an epic duel to the death someday soon. She just didn't know how soon, no one did. And although she was confident in Tom's abilities and power she knew Harry's as well. She'd seen him before, and he had defeated Tom three times and had managed to escape him four times. She knew Tom would reign superior, but she always had this slight worry in the back of her mind, terrified about what would happen if Harry defeated Tom. She did not think she could go on living without Tom.
"I know Hermione" She whispered in a small voice, thinking of how awful life would be without her beloved Tom in it. She looked up at Hermione, genuine tears sliding down her cheeks now, though not for what Hermione thought Ginny was crying for. "I'd never betray him" she said, referring to Tom not Harry. "He's my world" Ginny cried "I could never lose him. I'm so scared about this stupid upcoming battle" Ginny laid her arms on the table, burying her face in her arms, her body shaking with silent sobs. "Oh Gin…"Hermione breathed as she dropped into the chair beside Ginny, wrapping a comforting arm around Ginny. "Harry will kill Voldemort and we'll be free from his reign of terror. Don't worry, Harry won't die" Hermione said, thinking she was comforting her friend. Ginny only cried harder, not making any noise as she sobbed into her sleeve, her entire body shaking.
"Gin, it's six o'clock, lets go down to the Great Hall hmm?" Hermione said after a few minutes of failing to comfort Ginny. "Harry will be there and I'm sure he'll make you feel better" she added. "" Ginny said into her arm, not lifting her head. "Um, Gin, could you say that again in English? I don't speak Yiddish…." Hermione teased, hoping to cheer Ginny a little. "I said; I don't feel like eating right now I'll meet you in the common room later" Ginny said shifting so her arm no longer muffled the sound of her words. "Oh… Okay Gin. If you're not up there by seven I'll send Harry down here to cheer you up" Hermione said giving Ginny a quick hug before leaving the library and Ginny seemingly alone.
"I thought that mudblood would never leave" Ginny looked up as she heard a familiar voice. Before Pansy could say anything else Ginny launched herself into her friends open arms, burying her face in her best friend's robes, crying so hard her entire body hurt. The two girls stood like this till Ginny's sobs slowed to a stop and Ginny looked up at the brunette holding her, her eyes puffy, red and watery. "Now Gin, tell me, what did Granger say to upset you so much?" Pansy asked, moving them to the table to make themselves more comfortable. "How much did you hear?" Ginny hiccupped, wiping her eyes. "Pretty much everything since you came over groveling for forgiveness for being mean to her… Though I don't think she heard how fake it sounded" Pansy giggled.
"Oh Pansy! Don't say that, I don't even want to have to worry about her not believing me" Ginny gasped, looking over at her friend. "So why were you lowering yourself to that level love?" Pansy asked, fixing Ginny's tussled hair. "Oh it was humiliating. But she cornered me about Potter, yelling at me that I was acting like a blood supremacist and I was so angry I told her she should just go to the library and pretend to learn magic" Ginny said, rolling her eyes at Pansy's amused expression. "So why did you apologize? It sounds like you simply put her into her place. She doesn't deserve magic." Pansy added after recovering from her silent giggles.
"Well I wasn't going to but then Tom got upset with me. He said if I didn't make things normal he wouldn't make it so I could join you and the Malfoy's for Christmas and he wouldn't respond to me with the book until I apologized." Ginny said angrily. "I'll get even with him" she added, crossing her arms over her chest. "He said everyone still needs to see me as the Gryffindor Princess, head over heels for Potter. No one can see a difference." She mumbled, resting her head on Pansy's shoulder, enjoying the friendly presence of someone worth her company.
"Gin, sweetheart, I'm sure this isn't what you want to hear. But he's right. You can't be seen as any different. If anyone finds out you're true allegiances then you'll be in danger, and the Lords possible plans. You remember Mr. Malfoy telling us about Dumbledore's Order… The phoenix… The Order of the Phoenix." Pansy said after a second. "Your parents are known members, and no doubt Potter, Weasel and Granger will probably join in the second they become of age, if not sooner." Pansy said.
Ginny rolled her eyes, pushing her friend away. "You're supposed to be on my side Pans, when did you suddenly get all logical and mature?" Ginny said laughing as she shook her head. "I know you're right, and I know he's right. But that doesn't mean I have to like it" She said softly. "I just hate that he made me lower myself to her filthy level." She said, fiddling with her bonding bracelet. "But Ginny, you didn't tell me why you were crying so hard when she left. I was listening and I didn't hear anything that should really upset you… She's just filth, why would you let her get to you?" Pansy said, stroking Ginny's hair affectionately.
"Oh well, it wasn't so much what she said that upset me… It was what thoughts her words sparked that upset me…" She said in a small voice, looking around. She knew they were alone, but it was reflex to check and make sure. "Pans, I'm just worried. What if by some miracle Potter manages to defeat our Lord?" She asked, her voice barely louder than a whisper. She knew how Hogwarts was. Even the walls have ears. "Ginny?" Pansy looked scandalized, her hand covering her mouth in surprise. "You did not just say what I think you just said?" Pansy gasped, staring wide eyed at the redhead in front of her.
"Pans shush! That isn't how I meant it!" Ginny nearly cried. "I have full faith in our Lord. It's just I'm scared Pansy" tears threatened to brim over her eyes once more. "I know our Lord will triumph over Saint Potter but I can't help it. There is this little part in the back of my mind that says 'what if he loses? What if Dumbledore somehow figures out a way to defeat him and Potter exploits it?'" Ginny said, her voice growing smaller and smaller as she snuggled into Pansy's shoulder once more, trying to control the floodgates to keep a second rush of tears from breaching her eyes. "I can't lose Tom, Pans. I just can't. I just got him back in my life I can't lose him" she said in a small voice as she took a shallow breath.
"Don't worry Ginny. You remember everything we've been taught. Our Lord is powerful, you are powerful. With you by his side he will triumph over all over England and then the rest of the world. He's not going to die and you won't lose him" Pansy said encouragingly. "Don't think on it one second. Now, run along to your dormitory, write to him and tell him you've made amends with the Granger chit and tell him you miss him. Get all lovey and gooey and he'll steal you away for Christmas." Pansy said with a knowing giggle. "What do you have up your sleeve?" Ginny asked, raising one eye brow suspiciously. "Nothing Gin, now run along" Pansy said, standing up, walking off with a self-satisfied smirk.
Ginny shook her head. Pansy was going to be the death of her. She nearly ran up to her dormitory, blowing past several terrified first years. "Hey watch it!" One dared to yell at her, Ginny simply cast a bat-bogey hex over her shoulder at the annoying kid, smiling as she heard the girls scared shrieks. She chuckled to herself as she flopping onto her bed, drawing the curtains closed. "Colloportus" she whispered with a flick of her wand, locking her bed curtains so that none of her dorm mates would bother her. She pulled her book out from under her pillow, pulling her ink pot and quill from her school bag. She flipped it open to the last page with writing, adding a new entry.
My love, I've made things right with Granger. She thinks I was just under stress and has forgiven me. But I'm very angry with you for making me sink so low as to beg forgiveness from the likes of that chit. But I understand now why you told me to do it, but that does not mean I have to like it. I'm sorry for being so disrespectful to you my sweetest. Do you forgive me?
She set the quill down on her lap, waiting for a reply. She needed to hear from him, she missed him terribly and she felt like she was dying she couldn't stand it any longer. She needed to hear from him and soon or she'd go stir crazy. It felt like hours passed before she noticed anything. Her eyes lids grew heavy, she was fighting to keep them open, and she heard her dorm mates all come back a long time ago, now they had all been asleep for a while. She wasn't sure what snapped her out of her daze as she saw Tom's beautiful script slowly appearing on the page in front of her.
Little one,
I am glad you did what I told you. However, I am disappointed that it took you so long to obey me. I am well aware of the fact that you are the only person in this world equal to me, but that does not change the fact that you are my submissive mate and must do what I tell you to. I am not trying to treat you like a slave or one of my Death Eaters, but my sweet girl… I know what is best for you and everything I do is for your own good. Me telling you to be friendly with those Gryffindor idiots for your own protection, and for the good of our future plans of ours. Little one, I need you to trust me and do what I tell you to, its very important.
Tom
Oh Tom! I'm so glad to see your writing! I'm so sorry my love! I promise to always listen to you, but please do not ignore me like that. It killed me. I know you were right about me pretending to be friends with these mudbloods, blood traitors, and half breeds. I was just so angry with the way she dared to speak to me I just snapped at her… Have you any thoughts on Christmas? My mother sent me a letter saying they are going to Egypt to visit my older brother Bill. They want to know if I'd like to go. Ron told them he was going to spend the holiday with Harry and Hermione at her families vacation home in America. I can't tell her I'm going with Luna, because there was some big article about how her father's magazine print shop was caught by a rouge fiend fyre. She's been pulled out of school and is being homeschooled because her father thinks it was an attack by you and thinks she'd be safer with them. I think she mentioned something about moving out of Europe all together. Something about Snarlax being more prevalent some place. I don't know, I was not really listening when she was babbling about it.
Ginny
Don't worry about it little one, I've already got something in the works. I'll let you know when I have a plan. But as for the fiend fyre, yes it was my men. I decided they were to much of a risk to continue to remain near you. Her father was fighting against our memory charms and was starting to question why he thought you spent the summer with them, I decided he could be useful in the future so I decided to distract and not kill him. Behave yourself and study hard, I'll see you soon my pet.
Tom.
Tom,
You'll never believe what Dumbledore just told us. There's going to be a halloween ball. Everyone goes in masks with a concealment charm so you can't tell who people are. It's a wonderful way to hide and spend an entire night with Pansy and Draco, of course we have to be careful, because we really wanted to go shopping together, but we can't because we need to keep up pretenses. So I'm going to go to Hogsmeeds this weekend with the rest of the students. I'm thinking of modeling my costume after that portrait of Lady Slytherin that is hanging in the Entrance Hall. I wanted to do a sexy kind of costume, but since you're not here I don't see any point in wearing anything like that. Maybe I'll shorten it for you this Christmas, but maybe I'll simply buy something else for you to enjoy. I have to cut this letter short, I need to run to class. Snape is doing a double potions lesson today on Drought of the Living Dead... Worth half our years grade. But I'm not worried. I'm brilliant at potions and my Partner is this Ravenclaw boy, he's pretty brilliant too so I'm sure we'll be able to brew a perfect potion. Bye!
Ginny
Ginny,
Who is this brilliant potions partner of yours? Someone I need to be concerned with? I don't particularly like you partnered with some guy on this type of potion. It needs constant attention in its final stages. You'll be spending hours on end in a cramped space with him. I would tell Severus to switch your partner but he can't know. Not only do I want no one to know of you, but I am truly doubting Severus' loyalty. I am not entirely sure he is my man or the old fools. So, I'll leave it to you. Find a new partner Ginevra, a female partner. I don't care what kind of lie you use but get rid of him.
Tom.
Tom,
You don't need to worry about my potions partner, he's a Ravenclaw, he's supposed to be brilliant. He's not a threat to you or to me. Please don't make me change partners. I really want to finish this potion and I don't need the extra stress of making sure my partner isn't screwing up my potion. I'll be fine, the assignment is over in one week anyway, then I'll choose a new partner.
Ginny
P.S. I'm sorry for arguing with you, I know you're just trying to protect me. And your possessiveness is kind of cute. I asked Snape if I could change partners and he just sneered at me... He's really creepy when he does that. Any way you can make him less creepy? He said if I was to dumb to keep up with my partner then I needed remedial potions lessons. Then he gave me a detention for back sassing him... All I said was I was smart enough to make the potion on my own and did not need ramedial potions lessons. Maybe he should give them to the slytherin students who he always passes yet they blow something up every lesson. He was not amused I guess... Oh well, it's only one detention and all I'll probably be doing is scrubbing cauldrons or something...
Little one,
I'm glad you wrote that little addition before I read your last letter. I do not like you arguing with me, it becomes very tiresome trying to watch after you from a distance and having to fight you every step of the way. Honestly, I love you're firey personality and strong will, but it is very frustraiting when you don't see everything I do for you. Does anyone look after you like I do? No, I'm the only one who takes care of you and gives you everything you want, so please behave little one.
Tom.
October 31st, 1995
Every corridor in Hogwarts was extremely quite. No students were walking about chatting, the library was empty of people cramming for their upcoming exams. Every Professor in the school was in the Great Hall working on final preparations for the nights festivities. Even peeves seemed to be quieter then usual. If you didn't know this was a school you'd never think twice about a castle seemingly void of life on a Tuesday afternoon.
The dormitories and common rooms were an entirely other story. Students were scrambling about, half in costume half out. Girls walked around with hair half finished in a frantic panic over who knows a good teasing charm or a glamor charm to hide an unfortunate zit. Boys were still sitting in the common room in their uniforms, playing wizards chess or exploding snap, being nagged by their girlfriends to hurry up at get dressed, even with three hours till the ball. With all the commotion in the girls dormitories no one noticed Ginny's somber mood.
Ginny sat on her bed, silently reading a book and pretending she was anywhere but here. What was there to look forward to? She couldn't go to this ball with the man she wanted to, and she couldn't get all dressed up with her best friend like all the other girls were. Why should she freak out? Sure she was going to meet Pansy and Draco downstairs, thankfully there was a charm in place so you wouldn't recognize anyone once you went into the hall. Supposedly it was to add to the mystery of the Halloween costume party and to try and create some inner house relationships. If the professors really believed that's how it would work they had to be mental. Every student would walk to the entrance hall, find their friends then walk in together so once the charm took effect they would have their friends already with them.
Ginny put her book down once all the girl left, grabbing her wand. She chuckled to herself as she glanced at the door. "Honestly, are you witches or not?" she chuckled to herself "That's what happens when you let mudbloods and muggles have wands, then dumb down the school work so they can follow along." She said to herself, going to the mirror in the girls lavatory.
Twenty minutes later Ginny left Gryffindor Tower, after making sure most everyone had left. Pansy was expecting her to come late, so they didn't encounter to many people until they got inside. She made quick work of the corridors on her way downstairs, smiling happily as she saw only Draco and Pansy standing in the entrance hall. "Hey Gin!" Pansy said excitedly.
Ginny wore a floor length medieval style dress with a tight cinched corset to accentuate her small waist. The tight black sleeves came to a point on her middle finger. The black satin fabric clung to every curve of her body and the loose flowing skirt swished in the breeze from the open doors. Four silver bands lay on her sleeves just below her shoulder and then above and below her elbow and once more at her wrist. The black feather mask she wore looked like two tear drops stuck together at the largest part coming to two points on with side of her chin, leaving most of her face uncovered. She wore her hair in a fountain of brown curls, finally having mastered part of the spell Narcissa had tried to teach her. But she hadn't quite gotten it to stay permanent.
"Gin! You look stunning!" Pansy gasped, spinning her best friend to get a full look. "You definitely should get Mrs. Malfoy to make your hair permanently its so adorable!" She said "Yeah, and that salve Pansy gave you has completely gotten rid of your freckles." Draco added. Ginny laughed, knowing that was his way of giving her a compliment. "What are you two supposed to be?" Ginny asked, getting a good look at the two of them. "I'm a frog..." Draco said rather annoyed. "Well I can see that" Ginny laughed, covering her mouth, trying not to laugh. "I can also tell Pansy's a princess, so what gives? I thought you were going with matching costumes..." Ginny said a bit confused. "We did! There is this muggle fairy tale where a witch transfigured a prince into a frog. He could only been turned back by the kiss of a princess, his true love" Pansy said in a dreamy voice, getting equal looks of disgust from Draco and Ginny.
"Pansy, why on earth did you go with such a poorly created Muggle fairy tale?" she said, every word leaving her mouth in a foul tone, as if the words themselves tasted bad. "Because silly, I looked it up in the library and it really did happen!" Pansy squealed in delight. "I heard these two mudbloods talking about it and it reminded me of something my mother read me as a child. There was a Witch on the original High Council, you know, the first wizengamot... Anyway, she was in love with this Wizard Fountalon. He was the crowned prince of England over a thousand years ago! Her spell could only be broken by a potion using the blood of his soul mate! He traveled England for fifty years before stumbling across a young Princess who was being tutored by a Wizard. They were making a drought of the living dead potion. Well, needless to say she messed it up so bad the cauldron exploded and threw her back into a tree. She cut her face on a tree limb and he was so concerned for her he went over to her unconscious body and tried to wake her up by nudging her face, hopping on her arm, anything he could think of. When he thought she was dear he felt his world fall apart and before he would find a way for himself to succumb to death to meet his love he placed one kiss on her cheek, not noticing her blood and ruined potion mixed on her cheek. He was turned back into a human and was able to save his love. They lived together for almost a hundred years in perfect happiness." Pansy finished dreamily.
"I'm sorry Draco" was all Ginny said, shaking her head as she grabbed Pansy's wrist, dragging her into the great hall. "Pansy, I can not wait to see how he gets you back for making him come as a frog! Where is that little creep with the camera?" Ginny said looking around, seeing dozens of people with cameras. Good, she'd have evidence of how horrible their costumes truly were. She couldn't wait to show Tom Draco's far to real looking frog costume.
The trio spent the night dancing and talking, and in Draco's case, drinking so much to forget how silly he looked, though Pansy was pretty drunk too. Ginny looked at the large clock on the wall, seeing it was almost three in the morning and the party was finally starting to wind down. "Pans, I think you should get him back to your... His dormitory" Ginny corrected herself seeing the giddy grin on Pansy's face. She shook her head as the two stumbled from the Great Hall.
She waited till they had been gone a few minutes before leaving herself. The second she left the Great Hall she got a shivering sensation, someone was watching her. That much she knew. She froze, looking around, finding herself alone in the corridor. She bit her lip, walking a bit faster, still feeling like someones eyes were on her. She made it to the fourth floor before grabbing her wand, spinning around, pointing her wand in every direction. "Who is there?" she tried sounding confident but it came out in a trembling whisper. Only silence met her question. "I know someone is there. Show yourself!" she said a little more daring this time, casting a few floating orbs of light, finding she truly was alone in the hall. "I could have sworn someone was here..." she mumbled to herself
She turned back down the hall, lost in her own thoughts as her feet automatically lead her up to the seventh floor. "Well, Well what is the little Gryffindor doing out all alone?" She froze when she heard a deep sinister voice behind her. She turned around to find herself only a step away from a large man in a black cloak and a muggle goth outfit. She swallowed hard, it only took her a second to recognize who the man was. "Marcus Flint..." She said in a small voice, looking around for an escape. She was alone in a sixth floor corridor. No dormitories or teachers quarters were on this floor, and there was at least two levels of stone between her and the nearest dormitory, and most of the students had snuck in alcohol so most were in a drunken slumber and wouldn't hear her if they were three feet away from her.
She gripped her wand so tight her knuckles turned white, all the color draining out of her face. "What do you want? You're about eight floors away from your dormitory. I know you are damaged from all those bludgers to the head, but you can look out the window and see the ground below, that's a pretty good indicator you're not going the right direction for your dormitory" she didn't know what possessed her to speak to him like that, but she couldn't help it. Being snarky was quickly become a defense for her. She quickly realized why most Slytherin's lashed out in anger when confronted. It made her feel much more in power then she really was.
"Little Gryffindor's should learn not to talk against their superiors" He said in a slur, walking toward her on wobbly legs. She bit her tongue, resisting the urge to laugh at him. Who was superior to the queen of darkness? Before she could say anything else he slammed her against the wall, hands roaming over her body roughly as she struggled underneath him. "Get off me!" She screamed, trying to free herself or at least wiggle her wrist to point her wand at him. He started sucking on her neck, leaving sloppy kisses all over her neck.
She finally managed to move her wand and point it at his head. She intended to cast Expelliarmus in order to throw him away from her so she could run. But the spell that came out of her mouth seemed to be more effective. "Crucio!" She cried. Marcus stumbled away from her, screaming and writing in pain. His inebriated state did not take much pain and he quickly fell unconscious. Ginny panicked, she knew Dumbledore had alarms set up for when dark magic was cast by a student. The teachers would be here any second. She knew she couldn't just run because Marcus would tell them who attacked him. What he did to her would never excuse her for using an unforgivable on him. She quickly thought to her summer classes and everything Lucius taught her.
She quickly altered his memory so it appeared he cast the curse at her and it rebounded off her shield, then she used his wand to cast the spell on a spider so if they tested his wand they would see his wand had been used to cast the unforgivable curse. She closed her eyes, wincing as she dragged her wand across the back of her head, trickles of blood matting her brown curls, trying to make it look like her head split when he slammed her against the wall. She could hear Professors running toward them now, it would be any second they would find them. She brought her wand in a slashing motion in front of her whispering "Servo mihi ex panton" a large gray dome surrounded her. She sat down on the ground, shivering, thinking of anything she could to put herself in a panic.
Her vision was starting to swim from blood loss when she felt spells start to hit her shield. She was sure the professors were screaming at her to get her attention and voicing their spells, but not even sound managed to break through her shield. With every spell that hit her spell the structure shook. She knew she needed to stay in here as long as she could in order to make it look like she was terrified. But the large amount of magic it was taking to maintain the spell was taking its toll on her already weak state. A loud thump of a spell hitting her shield was the last thing she heard before the gray spell dissolved and Professor Dumbledore's face swam into her vision. "Headmaster..." she gasped in a breathy voice, " I..." she never finished her sentence as everything went black and the world seemed to drop away.
November 15, 1995
"Harry, I'm worried. She's been in a magic coma for two weeks now." Hermione said in a shaky voice "What if she doesn't wake up? It would be like losing my baby sister!" She cried. She looked up at Ron, who was currently asleep in a high back arm chair Hermione had transfigured for him. He had barely left Ginny's side in two weeks, and Harry wasn't much better. "He's lost weight... I don't think he's eating the food Dobby had been bringing up" Hermione said, Harry simply glanced over at Ron before turning back to Ginny, taking her hand. "Gin, please wake up" he said in a soft voice.
Madam Pomfrey shuffled two students out of the infirmary who came in complaining of a stomach ache. "Madam Pomfrey, have you figured out what's keeping her asleep?" Harry asked in a hoarse voice. "No dear, and I wish I could. Not just for her sake but because I want all these people out of my hospital wing" she said, mumbling the last bit to herself. All hours of the day Weasley's were in and out of here to stay with Ginny. With only three people by her bedside it seemed like blessed quite. "It's like I told her mum. Every wizard needs their magic inside their bodies to survive. As much if not more then blood or air. She used so much magic trying to protect herself from Mr. Flint. It's a good thing she was able to do such an advanced spell, but it took a lot of her magic to not only cast it but maintain it as long as she did. She would have been weak for days, if not a few weeks. But she shouldn't have slipped into unconsciousness or not woken up from it... It's almost as if she doesn't want to wake up" the mediwitch finished, casting a couple charms to check Ginny's vital signs. "She's stable and normal... If she were awake I'd say she was in perfect health..." She mumbled as she walked away, heading to her office to do some more research on how to bring someone out of a self induced magical coma.
She didn't make it to her office before the Draco Pansy, and Goyale came into the hospital wing with a whimpering Crabbe. "What's wrong with you?" Madam Pomfrey asked, ushering them to the open bed a few beds away from Ginny. "I broke my arm at quidditch practice" Crabbe whimpered, his left arm cradled to his chest. "Very well, hold still" Madam Pomfrey said, moving the three Slytherin's out of her way.
"Look Draco, the redhead's still in here" Pansy said in a clipped voice. Draco knew it was concern lacing her words, but to Hermione it sounded like a start to a string of insults. Hermione looked up, noticing Draco and Pansy eying Ginny and snapped "Can't you two just piss off? If ever there was a time to grow a conscience it would be now." Hermione hissed, moving between the two Slytherin's and Ginny.
"No one asked your opinion Granger" Pansy snapped with equal venom. Draco grabbed her arm, silently trying to tell her to calm down. "She's my best friend, so while she's unable to tell you herself I'll tell you what she would say. Piss off Ferret. No one wants you and your Slytherin whore stinking up the place. Why no go join your Death Eater parents with you-know-who" Hermione said angrily, Harry's head snapping up when he felt Hermione was getting out of hand.
" 'Mione, they aren't worth it. Arguing with them isn't going to help Ginny wake up." he said in an oddly small voice. He leaned down, kissing Ginny's forehead, brushing a hair behind her ear. "Please Gin, come back to me" he said in her ear, begging her to open her eyes. Pansy tensed as she watched Harry touching Ginny. Draco wrapped his arms around her, to anyone else it looked like a romantic gesture, but Draco's only objective was to hold back Pansy. "Shh Pans, relax. You know Gin would tell you she has to keep up pretenses" he whispered in her ear low enough no one but her could hear him. "He shouldn't be touching her, not like that" Pansy hissed equally as low. "I know Pans, but he doesn't know that and you know she needs to seem normal. He's made that perfectly clear to us"
"What are you two still doing here? I'm sure as pathetic as you four are, Crabbe doesn't need three babysitters to get his arm mended. We promise when he's done we'll send him off in the right direction with a lolli" Hermione said in a sickeningly sweet voice. Draco simply smirked, looking over at Ginny, wishing she'd wake up. He hated that he had to break Crabbe's arm to do it, but they needed to see her. They hadn't been able to visit her at all because there was always someone by her bedside. Even at night. They simply couldn't risk it. And Tom was getting increasingly angrier with their lack of information for him.
"Oh no, we think we'll wait for Crabbe to finish getting his arm mended" he said "It's actually pretty fun watching you fawn over the little Weaslette because she won't wake up. What happened? She finally succumb to shame over being such a disgrace to the name of wizard?" he asked, probing for information, hoping Saint Potter and the know-it-all would be thick enough to give him the answers he was really looking for. "That's rich coming from you Malfoy" Harry hissed, glaring up at the irritating blond in front of him. "We have very different ideas about what disgraces the name of wizard" he added pointedly. "So then you finally kissed her and she fainted from snogging Saint Potter, the Golden Boy-who-lived?" Pansy said, catching onto what Draco was doing.
"For you information, Parkinson, she is in a coma because she tried to defend herself against one of you horrible snakes!" Hermione hissed, tears brimming in her eyes. "Honestly, I don't see why you are here and not in Durmstrang. All of you snakes are nothing but weak minded people, to afraid to stand up against him or to dumb to resist the evil allure of Dark Magic" Hermione said. "Do us all a favor, go get your mark and leave us alone" Hermione threw at him.
"Thats funny Granger, read that in one of your books?" Draco smirked at Hermione "Tom... Draco?" Everyone's head snapped to the frail looking redheaded girl in the bed. No one seemed to hear the first name she called in a hoarse voice, but everyone heard her say Draco's name. Harry looked pale and on the point of tears. "Gin! You're awake. Don't worry Gin, Malfoy is leaving" he said wrapping her in his arms, but Ginny's hazy-cloudy-confused eyes were trained on Draco, wishing he were the one holding her. She really wished Tom were here to explain what was going on, but Draco was a close second. "H..h..harry?" Ginny asked in a soft voice, feeling utterly exhausted. "Yeah Gin, it's me. I'm so glad you're awake!" He said never letting her go.
November 22nd, 1995
It took Ginny another week to be healthy enough for Madame Pomfrey to let her leave the Hospital Wing, and Professor Magonagle finally made them attend classes once she woke up so she'd have some peace of mind to heal. That didn't stop them from spending every free period in the hospital wing with her. "Honestly Harry, please go to the library, or to the common room or some place else!" Ginny would say. "I need to study so I can catch up before midterms in two weeks. Please go away and let me study. I promise I'll be out of here soon" she would beg him to leave her alone. So she was thrilled to wake up this morning by herself with nothing but the sound of Madame Pomfrey fixing some of the beds.
"Ah good, Ms. Weasley you're up" the old woman said with a smile as she came over and check Ginny one more time with a diagnostic spell. "Finally. In perfect health" she beamed at Ginny as she helped the girl up into a sitting position. "Here dear, drink this to help your legs. You've not been walking in three weeks, your legs are bound to be a bit wobbly, this will make them a lot steadier." Madame Pomfrey said, handing Ginny a clear glass of blueish liquid. "Thanks" Ginny mumbled tilting the glass against her lips. She grimaced as the blue potion slid down her throat. "Can't they make healing potions that taste decent?" she asked to no one in particular. "Oh yes, Ms. Weasley, the Headmaster wanted me to send you to his office once you were discharged. The password is lemon fuzzles" Madame Pomfrey said the last sentence in exasperation.
Ginny swallowed hard. She knew this would be coming soon. Dumbledore no doubt wanted to question her about the event. She knew Marcus had been expelled and was being held in Azkaban. The Wizengmot was waiting to see if she died whether or not she died. She was pretty sure they wanted to charge the son of a known Death Eater with the murder of an 'innocent fourteen year old girl'. She sighed, hoping he would believe Flint's implanted memories and her story. She wished Hermione would have brought her the charm book she kept asking for, but Hermione kept saying Charms was Ginny's best subject so she she didn't need to waist healing time studying things she knew.
Ginny walked as slow as she could to the Headmaster's office, trying to prolong her time as a free person. "Lemon Fuzzles" She said to the statue, watching as the gargoyle jumped aside to reveal an ascending staircase. She stepped onto it, clearing her mind and bringing forth the fake memories in case Dumbledore used legilimency on her. She'd learned enough to block him from seeing anything else and stirring him to fake memories, so she was sure he wouldn't find anything she didn't want him to. However that didn't mean he'd believe her. That just meant he couldn't prove she was lying.
She knocked on the door, looking a lot calmer and confident then she really felt. "Enter" she heard someone from the other side of the door, it certainly didn't sound like Dumbledore. She pushed open the door, stepping into the office. "You wanted to see me Professor?" she asked slowly, looking at the other two men in the room. "Minister Fudge, Mr. Malfoy. How are you gentlemen today?" she asked, nor thoroughly confused. Fudge looked nervous, Lucius looked concerned and Dumbledore was to difficult to read, he just looked... tired. "Yes Ms. Weasley, have a seat" Dumbledore said, motioning to the empty arm chair across from his desk. Lucius and Fudge standing behind the desk on either side of him.
"Don't worry Ginevra, you're not in trouble." Fudge said in a shaky voice. "We just need an official statement from you to use during Mr. Flint's trial, so you won't need to testify. We'll take your memory and your statement." Fudge said. "Is that alright?" he asked, looking everywhere but at Ginny. "Yes sir... That's fine. But if you don't mind my asking, Professor, what is Mr. Malfoy doing here?" Ginny asked. "I'm here on business for the School's Governors. A student attacking another student with such a dark curse is not something to take lightly" he said pointedly. Ginny knew he was chastising her for using the curse. "Now, Ms. Wealsey, if you wouldn't mind, start from the beginning." Fudge said.
"Yes Sir..." she said softly, thinking back to that night. "I was leaving the Halloween Ball, on my way back up to my common room. It was around three in the morning. Maybe Three Thirty. He cornered me on the sixth floor. He threw me against the wall and started kissing me. I started screaming and trying to get him away from me. I managed free from him. I told him he would join his filthy Death Eater father in Azkaban and I saw him raise his wand. I had a feeling it was bad and I cast a shield charm. I remember my head hurt really bad. Madam Pomfrey said he cracked my skull when he threw me against the wall. It wasn't until I talked to Harry when I woke up that I found he tried to use the cruciatus curse and it bounced back at him." she said the story just as she rehearsed. "I feel awful that he fell under that curse. But I was so scared I was just wanting what ever he was planning to do to bounce away from me" She said tear sliding down her cheeks.
Lucius had to admit, she was a pretty good actress. He knew Fudge was buying every lie she was spinning. Then again he was an idiot, he'd believer her if he said his deputy minister had done it. "Very well, now for the memory" Fudge handed her a vial and she pressed her wand to her temple, pulling out a silver strand of the fabricated memory. "Here you are sir" she said in a shaky voice. "Thank you dear, and I'll keep you posted Dumbledore." he said leaving through the floo. "We're all glad to hear you're safe, Ms. Weasley" he said her name pointedly, making her well aware he didn't believe her. "The Governors will send you the new updates to the magical network and alarm spells, as well as new school policies" Lucius said, throwing one more heated look at Ginny before leaving through the floo as well.
"May I leave Professor, I'm anxious to see some of my friends who were unable to visit me while I was stuck in hospital" she said, wiping her cheeks. "Yes Ms. Weasley, you may go" Ginny stood up, moving toward the door. Just as her hand was on the knob Dumbledore said. "One thing before you leave Ms. Weasley" She turned to look at him with a questioning look. "Is there anything you need to tell me?" Ginny shook her head in response. "No Professor."
Translation: Servo mihi ex panton - Latin - Protect me from everything
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