A/N: You guys are the best :D Thanks for your kind words and reassurances that the story isn't dragging; I promise to have faith in you next time I get a little artistic insecurity. I really debated about what to have Ginny share with James but ultimately decided on the Chamber. Most of these stories would have simply been told to the Next Gen, and with Ginny actually at Hogwarts, I wanted her to have something to show. I'm not opposed to doing another "show and tell," so suggestions are welcome. I also couldn't resist having James already know that Tom Riddle was Voldemort; if Harry had known this one tiny piece of information...

Thursday morning break

the second floor

"You go on," Ginny said to the rest of the sixth years leaving Transfiguration. "We'll see you at lunch." She waited for a gap in the flux of pupils, then led James down the hall and into the last corridor. She checked to make sure they were alone, then stopped at a bathroom with an old "out of order" sign dangling by one corner. Looking left and right again, she pushed open the door and waved James inside.

"Mum, that's a girls' loo!"

"No one's in here. Come on." But he didn't move, so Ginny grabbed his sleeve. "Come on, quick."

"What are we doing in here?"

"Hello? Myrtle?" She breathed a sign of relief when there was no answering wail. Even the floor was dry. "Good, she's not here."

"You're acting really weird. What's going on?"

Ginny took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye. "This is the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets."

James's mouth fell open.

She pointed at the sinks but did not approach them. "Look closely and tell me what you see."

Sending her one more strange look, he did as instructed.

"This one! There's a snake etched into the side of the faucet."

She nodded. "That's it. This bathroom belongs, so to speak, to Moaning Myrtle."

"The ghost who likes to haunt bathrooms? She visited Dad in the bath once."

"She did? When?"

"During the Tri-Wizard Tournament, when he was working on the egg clue. The other Hogwarts champion—"

"Cedric Diggory," Ginny said quietly.

"Yeah, Cedric, he told Dad to take the egg into the bath and gave him the password for the prefects' bathroom. Dad told me last year, when I made prefect. Just to, you know, watch out for her. Why, you're not jealous, are you?" He grinned at her.

"Of course not," Ginny said, smoothing out her expression. "I've actually— Never mind. Anyway, Moaning Myrtle haunts this bathroom especially because this is where she died. She was killed by the basilisk when Tom Riddle opened the Chamber the first time, in the 1940s."

"And he tricked you into opening it through the diary."

Ginny nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. "It was … the diary was a Horcrux. It's why we have drilled into all of you to never, ever, ever trust anything-"

"That can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain," James said in a weary, sing-song tone. "And to always bring anything clever to you or Dad. I know. What's a Horcrux?"

"It is the darkest of dark magic, an object that shelters part of one's soul."

James frowned. "Part of your soul?"

"It requires an act of murder to split the soul, then the piece that's broken off can be protected by the object, tethering the wizard to life even if his body is killed."

"That's how Voldemort survived when he murdered Dad's parents? He had a Horcrux?"

Horcruxes, actually, but that was a conversation for Harry. "Yes."

"So what does that mean, that the diary was a Horcrux? I mean, what did that mean for you?"

"Because I opened up and shared so much of myself with Tom, it made me vulnerable, and our connection made him stronger. He was able to possess me, for longer and longer periods each time, until he finally came out of the diary and forced me to not only open the Chamber, but to actually enter it with him."

James looked from the sink back to her. "You were … possessed by Voldemort?"

There it was, the fear and revulsion she hadn't wanted to see.

She rubbed her arms, suddenly cold. "It was horrible. I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life as I was Harry when I woke up in the Chamber of Secrets."

"Let's get out of here," James said abruptly, taking her arm and leading her out of the bathroom and away from that corridor.

()()()()

"Here." James pushed open the door to an empty classroom near the marble staircase. "Sit down. Do you want some tea? I could go down to the kitchens." She looked awfully peaky.

"I'm fine. I just don't like going in there."

"You didn't have to do that," he said quietly, feeling a little ashamed that she had done so when he'd been so rotten to her. "You could have just told me."

Ginny shook her head. "It is important to face the truth, even when it's ugly."

He shifted, trying to think of something else to say. "So, that bathroom's been out of order since you were here?"

"So much so that Hermione brewed Polyjuice Potion in one of the stalls."

"Aunt Hermione?" Brewing potions outside of lessons was strictly forbidden (not to mention that Polyjuice Potion was a controlled substance), and his godmother was a stickler for rules. James had always thought she should have married Uncle Percy instead of Uncle Ron.

"That same year. They thought Draco Malfoy was the Heir of Slytherin and came up with the idea of taking Polyjuice Potion to get into the Slytherin common room and question him."

"Scorpius's dad?"

"He's the one."

"Wait, that same year? Aunt Hermione brewed Polyjuice as a second-year?" He knew his aunt was smart, but … that was N.E.W.T.-standard, that was!

"Indeed she did. Perfectly, of course. Only…."

"Only what?"

Ginny's lips were twitching. "She thought she had a hair from one of the Slytherin girls, but it turned out … it was her cat."

"Don't tell me…."

"She had pointy cat's ears just barely sticking out of her hair, and whiskers, and—" Ginny joined in James's laughter—"a tail! She was in the hospital wing for a month."

"I can't believe no one has ever told me that! Do Rose and Hugo know?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Can I tell them?" Most of the stories that had anything to do with Voldemort he was forbidden to share with his cousins. He didn't think his parents and his godparents agreed on what they, the kids, should know.

"You may tell them she drank Polyjuice with a cat hair, but not about the Chamber or the bathroom, and definitely not about Horcruxes."

"Why did you tell me?"

Ginny pulled her braid over her shoulder and began fiddling with the ends. "I thought you deserved to know. Neville said something about you having all the bad of being related to me and your dad without any of the advantages." She shrugged. "He also reminded me that you'll be out of the house in less than two years, and being here has reminded me how old sixteen is."

"Did you really go to the Yule Ball together?"

Ginny smiled. "Yes, we did."

"Why? You fancied Dad."

"Your dad didn't ask me. Neville did."

"That's it?"

"I was a third-year. The ball was for fourth-years and above, so unless one of the older boys asked me, I wasn't going to be able to go. And I liked Neville. He was sweet."

"So, you would have gone with any bloke who asked?" James said skeptically.

"Not literally anyone, but yes. It's not as hard to get a date as most boys think."

James considered this for a minute before changing the subject again. "Where did you go last night at Quidditch practice?"

"I went flying. I thought—"

"You've been following me everywhere for days, and you couldn't stick around when I actually wanted you to?"

"I didn't know you wanted me to. I thought—I didn't want to be a distraction."

He rolled his eyes. "At Quidditch practice? It's the once place in this castle you actually belong!"

She pushed her braid back and stood up. "I'm sorry! I know you haven't been Captain very long, and—"

"There were a bunch of people waiting to watch you fly! I wanted to introduce my team to my mother, the famous Quidditch star. Maybe she could give us a few pointers, help us look good at the Slytherin practice tomorrow, but no. She's off doing her own thing and couldn't be arsed."

"Oi, watch your mouth!"

James crossed his arms and looked away from her. That had really hurt, when he had turned around and she was gone. Like he was nothing, like she didn't care to see him play.

She was standing right in front of him now, but he refused to look at her.

"I'm sorry, Jami—James. I'd have been delighted to help you. I wish you had told me."

"I wish you just knew," he muttered.

"How am I supposed to know anything? You won't talk to me!"

"But you're my mum." He faced her. "You're supposed to know what's good for me and what I want."

"No, James, I supposed to do what's best for you. And I thought I was."

"Are you going to be here tomorrow?"

"I was thinking of hitting a couple of practices and spending some time with your dad."

James shifted. "Would you come to the double practice tomorrow? It's for a scrimmage match, us and Slytherin against the 'Puffs and 'Claws."

She beamed at him. "Of course. Lily said it was your idea. I think it's brilliant."

"You do?"

"I do. Took me by surprise to think of playing with Slytherin, but it's a great way to build interest in the season."

"Yeah, well, we weren't thrilled about it either, but I drew the short straw."

The bell rang, signaling the end of his free period.

"Tell me about the Slytherin beater," Ginny said as they joined the pupils spilling into the halls. "Is he any good?"

()()()()

Thursday afternoon

the Arithmancy corridor

Ginny turned around at the sounds of a scuffle and breaking glass.

A young Hufflepuff sat on the floor outside the girls' loo surrounded by books and scrolls of parchment. From the looks of things, the older girl in front of her had knocked her clean off her feet. Ginny crossed the hall to help as the girls collected their belongings.

"Here, I can fix that for you," she said, pointing her wand at the broken flask that had spilled out of the Hufflepuff's schoolbag. "Reparo. Tergeo." She smiled kindly at the girl and handed it to her. "No replacing the potion, though. Sorry."

"Potter!"

Even more than twenty years later, the displeasure in the crisp voice was instantly recognizable.

"I didn't do anything!" came James's voice from ten feet away.

"Mrs. Potter," Professor McGonagall said, coming to stand in front of Ginny. Every eye in the hall, including the two girls who had collided, the sixth-year Arithmancy class, and several stragglers, fixed on the Headmistress, but her eyes focused on the wand in Ginny's hand.

Ginny whipped it behind her back.

"What is the first rule of Hogwarts?"

Ginny swallowed, feeling as thoroughly chastised as she had in her first year when she had successfully transfigured her match into a needle and stabbed Colin Creevey in her excitement.

"No magic in the corridors, Professor."

"Mmm." McGonagall was pressing her lips together, but Ginny thought she saw one corner of her mouth twitch. "Are you a teacher?"

"No."

"Are you otherwise exempted from the rule in a way of which I am unaware?"

"No, Professor." Ginny could see James out of the corner of her eye. He looked delighted.

"Mr. Potter, perhaps you can remind your mother of the penalty for such an infraction?"

"A non-malicious use of magic in the corridors is a deduction of five house points. But…." He paused, then continued when McGonagall remained silent. "It's been a really, really long time since Mum was a pupil here, Professor."

There was no mistaking it this time: McGonagall's lips definitely twitched.

"Very well. Three points from Gryffindor. Off you go, everyone. Lessons are about to start."

"I'm sorry," Ginny said as she returned to her place in the queue. She certainly hadn't meant to cause trouble for James by losing house points, but most of the Gryffindors in line looked amused, not angry. "I forgot about that rule. And that bit about it being a long time was completely unnecessary."

"It worked, didn't it? We lost half as many points as we would have otherwise."

The girl in front of James turned round, and Ginny noticed she was wearing both a Ravenclaw patch and a prefect badge. "I heard you had Quidditch practice last night."

James looked surprised. "Yeah, so?"

"If you can play Quidditch, you can resume prefect duties. I was supposed to have an extra patrol tonight, but you can have it back. Meet Charlotte in the Entrance Hall at nine o'clock."

"Great," James muttered.

()()()()

Thursday evening

the Entrance Hall

James, Ginny, and several of the older Gryffindors were crossing the crowded Entrance Hall after dinner when they passed a group of Slytherins lounging near the entrance to the dungeons.

"Oi, Potter, is your mummy going to be at practice tomorrow? Maybe she can make sure you don't fly too high and fall off your broom."

James kept walking. Cameron and Evan sent a couple of dirty looks in the Slytherins' direction.

"Yeah, Jimmy, I heard she's been cutting your meat for you. Does she take you to the potty too?"

"It's Jamie," Ginny snapped. "I thought Slytherins were supposed to be cunning, but you lot look like you just crawled out from under a rock. Why don't you use some of that resourcefulness and find something better to do than revealing your reptilian stupidity in front of half the school?"

That brought the hall to a halt, even the two boys and their companions.

"What?" Ginny said, noticing all the Gryffindors staring at her. "What?"

"Mum, you can't talk to them like that," James said in a low voice.

"They're Slytherins," she said indignantly. "And they were making fun—"

"I know, but you can't insult them," CeCe said.

"Why ever not? They insulted James, didn't they?"

"Yes, but they were just being obnoxious," Caitlin said.

"Of course they were obnoxious," Ginny said impatiently. "They're snakes!"

"That's just it, Aunt Ginny," Louis said. "House-related insults are double points."

Ginny's face turned red in one instant flush, and she pointed in the direction of the dungeons. "You mean to tell me ... after—after detentions and—Cru—" She broke off, then pushed through the cluster of Gryffindors and practically ran out the front doors.

James turned to Al, but he looked equally mystified. The boys followed their mother.

"Did she just say Crucio?" Louis asked, keeping pace.

"I don't know."