Sorry for the hold on chapters, I've been having some internet problems but I'll be on as much as I can be!
You know the drill, everything but my plotline and OCs belong to JK Rowling.
Thank you to ReadingRobyn for all her hard work.

Read&Review Please&Thanks!
.:x:.

Ginny tucked another loose strand of red hair behind her ear, ignoring the anxious glances Hermione was giving her. She clenched her teeth and stared straight down at her plate, irritably stabbing at the mashed potatoes that were quickly becoming cold and lumpy. She could feel them looking at her, staring her down and watching her every move. It was uncomfortable and made her feel uneasy and nervous. Each time Ginny saw Hermione glance at her, she wanted to smash her plate down onto the floor and run away, even though she knew that it wouldn't help in any way. For that matter, Ginny was finally getting tired of running.

"Gin…" a voice said softly.

"What?" she snapped, sounding angrier then she meant to.

Hermione flinched at the bite in Ginny's words, she actually cringed as if they had stung her. Ginny felt sudden guilt when she saw the care and concern welling up behind Hermione's gaze.

"What?" she asked again, more softly.

Hermione gave a small smile, still not the smile she would normally give. "Honestly, are you all right?"

Ginny sighed and closed her eyes, pressing her hand on her forehead. She felt Hermione place a loving hand on her shoulder. She wanted to pull away, but she was too tired to put forth the effort.

"Ginny, you can tell me anything, you know that," Hermione said gently in Ginny's ear. "I just want to be there for you."

Don't tell her a damn thing. Don't you dare open your bloody mouth.

Ginny's eyes flew open when she heard the voice in her head. It wasn't even a normal voice. It was more like a deep, hoarse snarl, angrily giving her orders from a place that she thought was only hers.

"I don't…" Ginny began and felt a sharp pain snap through her head, causing her to inhale sharply and squeeze her eyes shut. She didn't get to see the concerned look grow bigger on Hermione's face.

I can hurt you like nobody else can Ginny Weasley. So make this easy on yourself and keep silent, don't tell that mudblood a damn thing.

Normally, she would've lunged at the person's throat if she'd heard them call Hermione that horrid word, but this person was indestructible. She couldn't see them or even touch them. They clearly knew her though, and they knew her too well for comfort. The whole situation was terrifying and at the same time, reassuring Ginny that she really was going crazy.

She felt herself shake her head and force a smile. It was a like she was floating about the whole situation, watching herself perform like a self-inflicted circus clown.

"Hermione, you don't need to worry, I'm just overly tired." She twirled a lock of hair around her finger, smiling sweetly like an angel.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at Ginny, suddenly looking suspicious and mistrustful. It made Ginny's cheeks burn and her heart swell with pain, she wanted to tell her. She wanted to lay her head on Hermione's lap and sob and cry and spill her soul out, telling all of the secrets she'd been harboring for so long. And then she felt her breath stop as if someone was holding onto her throat.

Stop thinking like that! Stop right now! Lie you stupid girl, lie!

"What would make you think otherwise?" Ginny whispered feebly. She wanted to cry, her own thoughts were no longer just hers.

You're pathetic.

But the pain stopped, she had to fight the urge to sob and rub her throat. Hermione's skeptical gaze didn't falter making her anxiety grow.

"Ginny, what color are your eyes?" Hermione said firmly.

"Brown, why?" Ginny replied, her true irritation with being integrated coming out into the open.

"Never mind. I have to get to class," Hermione said hurriedly, grabbing her books and rushing from the table. She didn't even finish her pasta, it just sat alone on her plate, looking as alone as Ginny felt.

Ginny slowly rose from the table. The feelings of guilt and remorse for lying to Hermione were flooding over her as she made her way out of the Great Hall. She trudged through the hallway, both confused and frightened from what had happened. Why was she hearing voices? It was one thing to think she was crazy, but now that she actually had confirmations that she really was losing her mind, she was terrified.

She pushed open the door from the lavatory and dropped her bag by the wall. Class had already started and she was skipping Potions. She knew she was in for a lecture from Professor McGonagall and that she would undoubtedly lose Gryffindor some house points, but she didn't care. Ginny made her way to one of the sinks and turned the water on full blast. She splashed the water onto her face, making her hair wet, and feeling it drip down her nose. When she looked up she had to hold in a shriek.

Lela was in the mirror. Her grey eyes were narrowed and her mouth formed a thin line. Ginny reached her fingers to the glass to be sure it was there and breathed a sigh of relief when they touched the smooth surface.

"How," Ginny whispered, her fingers recoiling into a tight fist as she defensively took a step back.

Lela flipped her black hair over her shoulder. "Does it matter? Does it, Ginny?"

Ginny managed to shrug as she looked down at the floor.

"I didn't think so," Lela said in a low voice. "I'm here. You're being too risky Ginny; do you know what's going to happen to you if you tell somebody about your utopia and or me?"

Ginny felt herself shake her head even though in her mind she did have a very good idea of what Lela was going to say.

"They'll lock you up. They'll think you're insane. They'll take you away and you'll never see your precious Harry or your friends again. Is that what you want? Do you want that to happen?" Lela hissed.

"No," Ginny murmured, crossing her arms and feeling her eyes well up with tears. She looked up to Lela, who quickly turned her head.

Lela sighed, her grey eyes softened a little bit but she managed to maintain her strong stance as she looked to the left of Ginny. She refused to meet Ginny's gaze.

"I didn't think so," she began. "You're lucky I was there today to keep you from losing your head."

Ginny's mouth dropped. "That was you? You're the one that was yelling at me?"

Lela shrugged. "I'm keeping your world safe. I know what's good for you."

"You're making me think that I'm crazy," Ginny snapped, feeling ready to break the mirror that Lela was harboring herself in.

"If you would've opened your mouth today, which thanks to me you didn't, you wouldn't be the only one that thinks that you're losing your mind," Lela said simply before vanishing.

Ginny felt herself inhale sharply, realizing that Lela was right. If she had told Hermione what had been happening, she wouldn't be in school right now. She'd be somewhere else, probably locked up in the mental institution of Saint Mungo's. She really was crazy, and only Lela knew how to keep her safe.

Ginny looked in the mirror and frowned at what she saw. She rubbed her eyes and looked again, inhaling sharply and just backing away in fear again. Her eyes were grey, no wonder Hermione had asked. She fled into a stall and slammed the door shut, finally able to cry. Ginny choked on her sobs and buried her face into her hands. Now not only did she think she was crazy, someone else did too.