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Disclaimer: Ginny Weasley and the other characters of the Harry Potter universe belong to JK Rowling. Areas in bold are direct quotes from Chamber of Secrets.

It was Christmas evening and Ginny was content for the first time since coming to Hogwarts. When she had returned to Gryffindor tower, Fred and George invited her to a game of exploding snap. The twins had even been able to convince Percy to join a round in the spirit of the holiday. Fred's play had just exploded the deck in Percy's face when Harry and Ron entered through the portrait hole.

Percy composed himself and used his handkerchief to wipe the soot from his nose. "Where have you both been? Where's Hermione?"

Harry turned solemn, "Ron and I had to help her to the hospital wing."

The laughter died abruptly and smiles fell from their faces. Equal expressions of realization dawned on both Harry and Ron's faces.

"Oh, no! You've got it all wrong!" Harry protested.

Ron was nodding his head vigorously, "Yeah, she isn't petrified! She's okay, promise!"

Percy stood at attention, arms folded across his chest. "Well then, why is she in the hospital wing?"

Both boys cast sideways glances at each other. They appeared to have had a full silent conversation before Ron gave another nod and opened his mouth to speak.

"Well…you know how Hermione is about homework. She wanted to get a head start on next term's potions work and she thought we should study together. So she decided to brew one of the potions and something was wrong with it. Um… there was a side effect that we didn't know about. But I promise you, Madam Pomfrey said she'll be out in a few weeks."

"You are telling me that you didn't stop her from brewing and testing a potion without the supervision of a professor? Ron, what would Mum say?" Percy admonished. Maybe if Mum finds out, he'll be expelled. Then I can finally get to know Harry without him hanging around. Ginny halted her thoughts— Where had that come from? Yes, her brothers teased her and annoyed her, but she loved them all the same, didn't she? She would never want Ron to be expelled. But why had she even considered it? Why had the very thought secretly filled her with delight?

"I couldn't stop Hermione even if I wanted to! And why aren't you yelling at Harry too? He was right there with us!" Ron argued.

Harry scoffed, "Way to throw me under the bus too, mate."

"Never mind! She's under Madam Pomfrey's care now so I'm sure she'll be alright. I just expected more, Ron."

Ron's cheeks turned a bright shade of red in shame. Serves him right. He shouldn't have given us such a scare. With the festive spirit gone completely, Percy ordered everyone to bed.

%G%

"I'm just glad that she wasn't attacked. Ron says she'll be out of the hospital wing by the end of January."

"Well, you must admit that this is the perfect opportunity."

"For what, Tom?"

"To get close to Harry, of course! Now that the Granger nuisance is out of the way, you can get to know him and she won't have her claws in him."

"That's awful, Tom! How could you think that way? I don't want Hermione hurt!"

"Oh, admit it, Ginny. You've been complaining about her for months and how she's been throwing herself at Harry. Tell me things wouldn't be better if she was indisposed. Don't deny it!"

"I admit that she's annoying, but not enough for her to be stuck in the hospital or, worse, petrified!"

"My mistake then. I apologize if I offended you. I've only been trying to help. I thought we were friends, but maybe I was mistaken in that regard as well. Maybe we shouldn't talk for a while. It seems you don't require my advice anyway."

"No! No, I'm sorry, Tom! I overreacted, I guess. You have helped me so much this year and I am so thankful for that. You're my only friend. Please don't leave me."

"…"

"Please, Tom! I'm sorry!"

"Very well. Oh my dear Ginny, you know I can't stay mad at you. All's forgiven. I'll never leave you."

%G%

Another term at Hogwarts had begun and with it came the return of its students. Although her dorm mates were among them, Ginny felt more lonely than ever before. Matilda and Maggie had exchanged owls multiple times over the holiday, but apparently they had not shared everything they could in their letters. They spent hours before lights out gabbing away. Ginny fell asleep each night to the sound of friendship— one that she was not apart of. The girls still held a grudge against her for the twins' pranks and there was no release in sight. Viola had remained relatively quiet about her holiday. This wasn't too surprising since Viola kept to herself most of the time. She had jumped when Matilda had inquired whether she had enjoyed her break. Viola mumbled that it had been fine and the matter was quickly dropped. At least they speak to Viola. They won't even look at me.

Professor Binns had been wheezing on about Merlin and his influence on the early British monarchy for nearly a half hour and no one was paying him any attention. Ginny marveled at how the Professor could manage to turn a wizard as interesting as Merlin into someone as dull as Percy. Her head had nearly fallen from its perch on her palm for the third time when she heard her surname whispered. Forcing her eyelids open, she tried to listen for it again.

"My mother says that she doubts he will be able to come up with fifty Galleons. I mean, have you seen the Weasleys? They look so dirty all the time and their clothes are obviously secondhand."

"Shhh, Lavinia! Ginny is right over there! She'll hear you!" Ginny recognized Viola's nervous voice.

Lavinia laughed, "I don't care if she does! What's the ginger gonna do to me? Her and her Muggle-lover father— he deserves the fine for messing with that muggle trash."

Ginny whirled around, not caring to whisper, "What are you talking about? What fine?"

Viola looked apologetic, "It's just a Daily Prophet article that came out over the holiday." Ginny ripped the paper out of Lavinia's hand. "Hey! That's mine, Ginger!" As Ginny's eyes scanned the page furiously, specific phrases jumped out at her. "Arthur Weasley… fined fifty Galleons for bewitching a Muggle car… disrepute… clearly unfit… ridiculous."

"I thought you already knew," Viola whispered. It all became clearer. This is why they couldn't afford to visit Bill this year. This is why her Mum and Dad had asked them to stay at Hogwarts. But that doesn't excuse the fact that they didn't tell us! They lied to me! Ginny tried to hold back the tears. She was already used to being teased for being poor, but she didn't know if she could handle this scandal. Did Percy know and was he keeping it a secret? Why hadn't he told me? She didn't want to give someone as vile as Lavinia the satisfaction of seeing her cry so she stood up abruptly and ran from the classroom.

She ran through the halls with no clear destination in mind. She knew that her family was already stretched thin. What if her Dad lost his job? What would become of them then? Would they have to go live with Aunt Muriel and live off of her charity? Aunt Muriel had always said that her Mum had married below her station. Ginny's Great Aunt would hold this against her Dad for as long as he lived. Ginny had become so lost in her thoughts that she ran into the nearest bathroom without thinking. She realized her mistake as soon as she heard Myrtle's whiny voice.

"Come to cry in private, have you? I always came here for a cry when I was alive." Moaning Myrtle glided through a closed stall door and halted in mid air. "Oh, it's you again! Are you here to ignore me some more? I'm used to people talking behind my back, but acting like I don't exist is a whole new low!"

Ginny wiped away her tears with her robe sleeve and puzzled over Myrtle's accusations. "What do you mean? I've never been in here before."

"And I suppose that there is another ginger haired, freckled faced little first year that looks exactly like you? I don't forget when someone's been mean to me. I never forget. You've been in here at least three other times." Myrtle scowled at her.

"But I don't remember! What have I been doing when I'm in here?" Ginny asked.

"Well, you ignore me for starters. I call out to you and have looked you in the eye, but you're always staring straight ahead as if you're looking right through me!"

"But I can look right through you. You're transparent."

Myrtle zoomed forward so she was practically nose to nose with Ginny. "I think I know that I'm transparent! Let's all ignore Myrtle 'cause she is almost invisible! Is that your game?" she shrieked.

"No, I just don't know what is going on. Where am I usually staring?"

Myrtle crossed her arms and stuck her nose in the air. "Maybe I don't want to help you. Rude little snot like yourself."

"Please," Ginny pleaded, "I didn't mean any offense. I think I may be a sleep walker. I've had a terrible day. I just ran out of class because my family is caught in the middle of scandal that could ruin my life. I don't have any friends and I keep forgetting things. Please help me."

Myrtle narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Ginny. "You swear that you don't remember or I will haunt you for the rest of your days here."

"I swear by my mother's wand," she vowed.

Myrtle nodded towards the sinks, "Over there. You just kept staring at them every time I saw you. That's all I know."

"Thank you," Ginny whispered gratefully and rushed to the sinks. She searched them for any hint of recollection, but they seemed to be just ordinary, if not filthy, old sinks. It was then that she noticed a small snake engraved in the side of one of the copper faucets. The strangest sensation came over her. It was like a recurring dream, familiar yet vague. She tentatively reached out to run her finger over the engraving. When the tip of her pointer finger brushed the metal tap, a rush of images came to her mind. Green rooster feathers. Red paint on her hands and robes. Night treks through a wintry blizzard. Dank, dark tunnels. A monster with sharp, yellow fangs. Red slitlike eyes. It was her reflection and the red eyes were where her brown ones should be.

Ginny came to on hands and knees. She was still in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and she was shaking like a leaf. It had been her all this time.

%G%

"What am I going to do? I think I'm going mad… I think I'm the one attacking everyone, Tom!"

"Oh Ginny, it's alright. We'll just have to keep this a secret. We're in this together to the very end."

"I just wish I knew why! Maybe I should go to Professor McGonagall or tell Percy. Maybe they could help me."

"No, Ginny! Just think this through. Do you think they will hear you out? None of your brothers, including Percy, have been on your side all year. You'll be locked away in Azkaban for the rest of your days. You've already told me how your family has been fined for the flying car incident. Your family will never be the same if you turn yourself over. They could never survive the shame of a murderer in the family."

"But I didn't mean it! I don't even remember doing it!"

"I believe you, Ginny, but the evidence is stacked against you. Calling Colin a slur. You being a pureblood and sneaking off in the middle of the night. Overhearing that Justin was a muggleborn merely hours before he was petrified."

"Wait. I never told you about Justin. How do you know about that?"

"Forgive me, Ginny, but I have been viewing your dreams. You wouldn't let me see your memories and I couldn't help you without them. I can only do so much with what you write here in the diary."

"I told you that I didn't like you looking at my memories! Why would you do that? I trusted you."

"Haven't I done everything for you? Aren't I the only one who truly cares for you? I think that I have earned the right to your memories for all the support I've given you this year!"

"Well… I don't! Maybe we should take a break."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I don't think I can trust you anymore. I don't think we should write to each other for a while."

"…Very well. If that's how you want it, Ginny."

%G%

Ginny was happy to have normal dreams for once. Ever since she had stopped writing to Tom, the monster from the Chamber of Secrets was absent from her nightmares. She'd honestly take falling off of her broom or going to class in her underwear over the slimy, killer serpent any night. She was currently in the middle of a pretty boring dream. She was wandering the hallways after class. She didn't know where she was going, but she silently walked none the less. Then she remembered who she had needed to see. Hermione Granger. But why? She should have been going to the infirmary in that case, but she was heading towards the first floor. Well, this is a dream, isn't it? It shouldn't really make sense. Ginny turned the next corner and headed straight for Myrtle's bathroom. Why am I going back here? Oh, yes, Hermione.

Hermione must die.

But that's wrong! Where did that come from? Ginny tried to stop walking, but her feet took her over the threshold of the bathroom. Everything screamed within her to stop what she was doing, but her body persisted against her will. Wait! I remember that I was walking from dinner back to the tower and… THIS ISN'T A DREAM! A voice whispered from her pocket and her mind simultaneously— "Kill Hermione. Kill the Mudblood."

Ginny used every ounce of concentration she could to reach into her pocket. She hurled the diary across the bathroom and collapsed against the cold, stone wall behind her. It felt as if something had snapped back into place. As the fog lifted from her mind, she struggled to her feet. She had to get out of there before anyone noticed.

%G%

She felt so stupid. She had allowed herself to be fooled by a smooth talking boy from a book. Her parents had been right all along, even though she was loathe to admit it. It was strange though. Although she felt a sense of freedom since throwing the diary away, she also missed the friend that had been with her for months. It was if a part of her had been hollowed out and there was nothing to fill it. In fact, she often found herself searching for something that was missing until she realized that she was looking for the diary. She needed to talk to somebody and she knew exactly who. She just didn't know whether she had the nerve to face him. A few weeks passed before Ginny finally gathered enough courage to go to the hospital wing.

"Please, Madam Pomfrey, may I visit Colin?" Ginny begged.

"I've told everyone time and again. There is no point in talking to someone who is petrified. They are not aware of their surroundings. He will neither see nor hear you."

Ginny's felt the tears form behind her eyes. "But I have to see him. He is my only friend."

The school nurse surveyed Ginny with a critical eye until her face softened. "Very well. Follow me." Madam Pomfrey led Ginny to a cordoned off bed in the farthest corner of the wing. She paused before pulling back the partition and placed a hand on Ginny's shoulder. "Prepare yourself, Miss Weasley. It may be a bit distressing to see your friend this way." Ginny took a deep breath and reminded herself that she needed to stay strong— for Colin.

"You have fifteen minutes. Please don't touch him. He may be hard as stone, but there is a potential that he could break if he were accidentally jostled." Ginny nodded, but Madam Pomfrey continued, "I am rather pleased to see someone visiting him. You're the first student who has asked to see Mr. Creevey. It's good to know that he has friends. I'll leave you to it then."

A fresh wave of guilt washed over Ginny. "Some friend," she chastised, "Took me months to come visit him."

Colin's hazel eyes stared blankly ahead; wide and wild as if Ginny were about to murder him. "Well, I almost did," she thought bitterly. His hands were frozen in place beside his face. He must have been taking a photo with his camera at the time. Maybe this had been a mistake. Maybe she should have stayed away. First she calls him a filthy slur, then she goes and petrifies him! True, she didn't even know how she had done it, but it didn't excuse the fact that it had been her. Tears began to flood her vision.

"I'm s-so s-sorry, Colin. I've been the worst friend! No, I can't even consider myself your friend. This is all my fault!"

Colin still remained as frozen as a statue. He didn't offer any placating words or forgiving embraces. Ginny wouldn't have deserved them, but she would have given anything for him to be revived. Even if it meant that he would scream at her to never speak to him again, it would be better than this.

"I know that you can never forgive me, but I needed to tell you that you're safe now. I was so blind about Tom. I was so stupid! But he's gone now and the Mandrakes will be ready soon and you'll be fine. You have to be fine. I won't be able to live with myself otherwise."

Silence was his reply. She wiped the tears from her eyes and stood from the chair. "I know you probably can't hear me. Anyway, I just needed to say that I'm sorry. I'll be back soon." Ginny thanked Madam Pomfrey as she left for dinner.

%G%

In the following weeks, Ginny made a point to visit Colin as often as she could. She hoped that her company was providing some sort of comfort to her friend. She reasoned that if the roles were reversed, she would want someone to show they cared. She talked about anything she could think of: Maggie and Matilda's latest gossip, Quidditch scores and strategies, childhood memories, what she thought certain muggle objects were for, and Harry Potter.

"So it's kind of embarrassing, but I've wrote a poem about him. It's not Goshawk, but it's just for fun. I've been trying to find a way to give it to him. I just can't find the right time."

Colin lay silent.

"Well, yeah, when you put it that way," Ginny smiled at her friend.

Her opportunity came on February fourteenth. Lockhart surprised everyone at breakfast with a blindingly pink Great Hall. Giant flowers covered the walls, floor to ceiling. Ginny sat down at the Gryffindor table and wiped heart shaped confetti out of her hair. It was a hopeless task because the confetti was continually falling from the pale blue ceiling. "I hate pink," she grumbled.

"Happy Valentine's Day!" Lockhart shouted. "And may I thank the forty-six people who have so far sent me cards! Yes, I have taken the liberty of arranging this little surprise for you all— and it doesn't end here!"

Lockhart clapped his hands and through the doors to the entrance hall marched a dozen surly-looking dwarves. Not just any dwarves, however. Lockhart had them all wearing golden wings and carrying harps.

"My friendly, card-carrying cupids!" beamed Lockhart. "They will be roving around the school today delivering your valentines!"

Ginny hurriedly finished her eggs and ran up to the nearest dwarf.

"Excuse me, but how much would it cost to deliver a message?" When you were raised in the Weasley household, the question of money was always the first to be asked.

"Lock'art's payin'," grunted the dwarf.

It was perfect. She wouldn't have the embarrassment of actually going up to Harry. She could watch his reaction from a safe distance. If he didn't like it, she could pretend that she hadn't been the one to send it. And it was free of charge. Not that she had a knut to her name in the first place. She eagerly handed over her poem.

The dwarf perused it quickly, "You wan' me ta sing it to 'im? It's included."

"No, don't do that! Just give it to him."

The dwarf frowned, "But Lock'art told us ta go all out. I wouldn't be doin' me job otherwise."

Ginny shook her head fervently, "No, just give the message to him. Don't make a big deal out of it."

The dwarf waddled away, muttering something about wasted talents.

Later that day, Ginny was on her way to class when she heard the dwarf call out.

"Oy, you! 'Arry Potter! I've got a musical message to deliver to 'Arry Potter in person," he said, strumming his harp.

"Not here," Harry hissed. He was blushing profusely and tried to walk past without being noticed.

"Stay still!" grunted the dwarf, grabbing hold of Harry's bag and pulling him back.

"Let me go!" Harry snarled, tugging.

With a loud ripping noise, his bag split in two. Ginny gasped. This is not how it was supposed to go at all! All the bag's contents tumbled out and scattered on the floor. It looked as though his ink bottle may have broken because everything lay in a puddle of black, sticky mess. Harry bent down and began to stuff whatever he could back into his torn bag.

"What's going on here?" It was the Malfoy git. Upon seeing Harry struggling, the blonde boy smirked loftily. He was going to enjoy this too much.

"What's all this commotion?" Ginny groaned. Why did it have to be Percy? This is getting worse and worse.

Harry seemed to be thinking similarly because he tried to head towards his class, but not before the dwarf tackled him around his knees and dragged him to the floor.

The dwarf grunted, "Right. Here is your singing valentine:

His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,

His hair is as dark as a blackboard.

I wish he was mine, he's really divine,

The hero who conquered the Dark Lord."

A small crowd had begun to gather around the scene and everyone had burst into laughter at the end of the song.

I told him not to sing! Ginny was absolutely mortified. But Harry was laughing along. He thought it was all a big joke. Ginny's heart fell into the pit of her stomach. He thinks I'm a joke. But her heart stopped when she saw what Malfoy had in his hand. He had stooped down to snatch upone of Harry's books. The small, faded black book was unmistakable to Ginny for she had had it in her possession for months. It was Tom's diary.

"Give that back," said Harry quietly

"Wonder what Potter's written in this?" said Malfoy with a taunting smirk.

"Hand it over, Malfoy," said Percy sternly.

"When I've had a look," said Malfoy. He was waving the book in front of Harry's face.

Percy began to tell Malfoy off, but Ginny's mind was racing. The last person in the world that she would have wanted to find that book had found it. Had Tom begun to talk to Harry? If so, what did they talk about? Did they talk about her? Had Tom told Harry about her attacking people? He must not have because Harry would have been forced to turn her in. Then she would be thrown in Azkaban for all of her remaining days. She and Tom had left things less than amicably so he was bound to tell Harry sometime.

Harry had cast a disarming spell at Malfoy and Ron caught the diary. All her secrets were right there in her brother's hands. She couldn't stay there anymore. She bolted past Malfoy to enter her classroom.

"I don't think Potter liked your valentine much!" Malfoy called venomously after her.

Ginny covered her face to hold back the tears. A poorly written poem was the least of her worries.

%G%

She had resigned herself to the fact that she was going to be found out. It was only a matter of time before Professor McGonagall would escort her from class to the Headmaster's office. She would then be promptly expelled and shortly after remanded into Auror custody. But to her surprise and relief, the days of waiting for the Bludger to drop turned into weeks and then a month. Ginny felt oddly torn. On the one hand, she hoped that she would never be punished for something she didn't even remember doing. She was innocent in that regard. But on the other hand, a dear friend of hers had been harmed and she knew the attacker needed to be brought to justice. The only problem was that she was the attacker and the punishment would ruin her life. She was only eleven years old! She was too young to go to Azkaban, right? There was no way out of this predicament.

Unless she could get the diary back somehow. Thus began Ginny's plans of recovering the diary from Harry. She spent much of her free time in the following months observing the habits of the second year Gryffindor boys; their comings and goings from their dormitory. Getting into the boys' dormitories was easy enough. Hogwarts had a double standard when it came to security spells. It was impossible for a boy to go into any of the girls' rooms. The stairs would flatten into a slide the moment his foot touched a step. Not so with the boys' rooms. Ginny had made a running start for the boys' staircase thinking she would be climbing a steep hill, but instead found herself on the first landing quick as a Snitch. The staircase remained steps.

Ginny also learned a few things about Ron's room mates. Dean and Seamus were inseparable and liked to spend most of their free time in the common room. With the warmer weather, Seamus took to spending more time outdoors. Ginny attributed it to the increase in girls wanting to study out on the grounds. Dean was more than happy to join his friend. Harry was easy to keep track of. When he wasn't with Ron or Hermione, he was at Quidditch practice. Oliver Wood had the Gryffindor team practicing every night after dinner. Ron usually got dragged away by Hermione to study in the library before curfew. Because of this, Ginny decided the best time to sneak into the dormitory would be during one of the Quidditch practices.

The sticky point was Neville Longbottom. He was the outsider of the group. He spent much of his time alone and liked to study in his dormitory. He would often go directly to his room after dinner while everyone else wandered the grounds in their last hours before curfew. Try as she might, Ginny couldn't come up with a plan to get Neville out of Gryffindor house so she would have time to search for the diary.

Her chance finally came one Friday in May. As had become her habit, she had returned to the common room after dinner. She sat in one of the plush armchairs that usually the upperclassmen reserved. She had been studying Potions for the last quarter hour when Neville came running down the staircase from the boys' dormitories.

"Have you seen a toad come by this way?" he asked her frantically.

Ginny swiftly lied, "Yes, I did. I thought he had gotten in from outside. I let him out."

Neville cried despairingly, "What!?"

"I'm sorry. Was he yours?"

"Yes, that was Trevor! He's my toad. He got loose from his terrarium again. I got to go and find him! Thanks!" And with that, Neville rushed through the portrait door.

Ginny looked around the common room. No one was around. Everyone was outside enjoying the spring weather. She ran up the boys' stairs quickly and burst into the second year dormitory. The five beds displayed each of the boys' unique personalities. Ron's predilection for the Chudley Cannons and predisposition for mess. Dean's dichotomy of things both Muggle and wizard: posters for the Weird Sisters and a band called Nirvana were displayed proudly on his walls. Seamus's bed was neat and orderly. A replica of a Common Welsh Green sat next to a bottle of Pot O' Gold cologne on his bedside table. Neville's trunk looked hastily put back together. He had obviously gone through it in search of his beloved toad. The terrarium on his bedside table was indeed empty.

The last bed was rather nondescript. It was neither too messy nor too tidy. It looked like a typical boy's bed. She would have died to have been in this position a couple months ago; to gain some insight about the boy who she fancied so thoroughly. Stealing the diary back was her focus now. She had to be quick about it. She had riffled through his bed, bedside cabinet, and robe pockets and came up empty handed. She hoped that Harry trusted his room mates enough to not lock his trunk and her assumption was correct. There at the bottom of his trunk was Tom's diary.

%G%

"Tom, this is Ginny. What have you told Harry?"

"Ginny! My, my! I never thought I would hear from you again. How have you been these past months?"

"You didn't answer my question. Did you tell Harry anything?"

"I would watch my tone if I were you, Ginevra. I merely showed him the identity of the Heir of Slytherin. Rest assured, your secret crush on him is still between us."

"I know who you are, Tom. I don't know how you did it, but you have been controlling me this entire time. This is the last time I'm ever writing to you. You are not going to hurt anyone anymore."

"We'll see about that, Ginny."

She slammed the cover shut and threw it into her bedside drawer. Ginny settled in for the night. First thing tomorrow morning, she was going to hand the diary over to Professor McGonagall.

%G%

Ginny woke with a start. Her first thought was that she needed to get rid of the diary once and for all. Professor McGonagall was sure to be at breakfast. She may miss out on the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff match, but this was more important. It was going to take some time to explain herself to Professor Dumbledore. She just hoped that he would be lenient. After getting ready and putting the diary in her robe pocket, she made her way down to the Great Hall. When she reached the first floor, however, her legs seemed to freeze in place.

"Didn't I tell you that we were in this together to the very end?" Tom's smooth voice hissed in her mind. "We have more work to do."

Ginny began to march forward against her will. She wanted to scream for help, but her mouth was sealed shut.

"Shhh, Ginny. You don't need to say anything. This will all go easier if you just play along," Tom hissed.

She knew where he was leading her: Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. He had puppeteered her to the bronze faucet with the snake carved in the side. He forced her mouth open and a series of strange hisses emanated from it. The tap glowed with a brilliant white light and spun. The sink sank into the floor leaving a pipe open wide enough for a person to slide into.

"I had so hoped that you would see things my way. We had become such close friends, but you betrayed my trust. You need to learn who is in charge here. Come now. We don't want to miss it."

Once again, Ginny felt her own feet drag her forward. What was he going to do to her? She was just down the hall from the library when she saw them.

"Do you happen to have any reflective surfaces on you?" Hermione asked the willowy Ravenclaw.

Penelope was searching through her school bag. "I think I might have a compact mirror. Wait, here it is!"

"Fantastic! Now whatever you do, look in the mirror." Hermione ordered.

"And you say this will protect us from the monster?"

Hermione frowned, "In a way. It'll all be clear once we get to the match. I need to tell Professor Dumbledore what I've discovered."

Tom cackled in Ginny's mind. "Perfect! My precious pet is on its way and two Mudbloods are walking right into its path! And you will witness it all, Ginny my dear!"

Ginny was horrified as the monster from her nightmares burst from a grate in the floor. The serpent's bright, green scales gleamed in the torch light. It would have been beautiful if it wasn't so deadly. She was thankful to be behind the snake so she could not look upon its gruesome face. Unfortunately, the two girls were not as fortunate. They used the compact mirror to peer around the corner, but it had no power over the serpent's lethal gaze. Ginny tried to turn away, but Tom forced her back.

"Now, now. Isn't this what you wanted? Both of these girls have stolen your brothers' attention. Now you are the only one they will notice. If you look away, you'll miss it! We can't have that!" Tom mocked.

The color had left both Hermione and Penelope. Their faces were frozen in matching states of shock. Ginny watched on in horror as their bodies clattered to the floor as if they were made of marble.

%G%

She couldn't turn herself in now. Her one alibi had been that she could not remember attacking anybody. Tom had forced her to be his accomplice. Ginny couldn't even go to Professor Dumbledore because he was removed as headmaster shortly after Hermione and Penelope were petrified. Hogwarts was in greater danger than ever before and it was all her fault. Although she had quit writing in the diary, Tom had found a way to speak to her through her mind. Any time she decided to turn herself in, he would whisper horrible things that would crumble her resolve.

"All the victims wronged you in some way. I chose them because they were a threat to you. So in essence, you chose who my pet would attack. Do you really think Professor McGonagall would be so blind as to overlook the victims' connections to you?"

It was true. Colin had teased her about revealing her secret crush to Harry. Justin had been spreading lies about Harry and would have singled him out as the Heir of Slytherin. Penelope had been snogging Percy. Hermione fancied Harry. But she hadn't wanted this. She had never wanted this.

"Oh Ginny, dry your eyes! I have much more in store for us and we need to be at the top of our game. We've bought ourselves more time now that Hagrid has been incarcerated. To think that the Ministry believes that oaf could be the Heir of Slytherin is beyond me. No matter. It fits in well with my plan."

The atmosphere at Hogwarts had grown exceedingly tense. Professor McGonagall had become interim headmistress while Dumbledore was suspended. At breakfast the next day, she announced the security measures the school was taking to prevent any more petrifications. No one argued with her. The students were looking each other with more suspicion. They seemed relieved to have the teachers escort them from class to class.

One day after class, Ginny made her way to visit Colin. Tom had whispered that she was merely trying to alleviate her conscience, but she tried to ignore him. Ginny slowed her pace as she came closer to the infirmary. Percy was in a heated argument with the school nurse who was peeking through the cracked door.

"I would like to visit her just this once. She is a close friend of mine and I want to make certain that she is alright," Percy kept adjusting his glasses as was his nervous habit.

"Absolutely not, Mr. Weasley! I have been ordered to bar any visitors from the infirmary unless they are suffering from an illness as well. At this time we can not take any chances that the victims will come to further harm," Madam Pomfrey replied.

"I would never harm Penelope! I am a Prefect!"

"I can not make exceptions for anyone— even Prefects such as yourself. I can assure you that I have Miss Clearwater's care very much in hand. Good day, Mr. Weasley." And with that, the infirmary door snapped shut.

%G%

Professor Flitwick had announced that exams would begin in a week on June first. Ginny tried to recall all that she had learned this year. She remembered very little from her classes. Don't write in books that talk back. Don't attack your friends. Don't let a homicidal maniac run rampant in your mind. If those items were on her exams, she would fail spectacularly.

Last night Fred and George had challenged Harry and Ron to a few rounds of Exploding Snap and she had sat quietly and watched. Ginny realized that she was sitting in Hermione's usual chair. This had been what she had wanted since the beginning of the year. She had wanted to take Hermione's place. But it felt all wrong now. She had resolved then and there to turn herself in no matter what Tom said. She just needed to say her goodbyes first.

That is why Ginny had come to see Colin. It was past curfew, but she didn't care anymore. Getting caught out of bed after hours was a small infraction in comparison to what she had got up to all year. As she entered the infirmary however, a familiar ginger head caught her eye.

"Ron? What are you doing here?"

Her brother jumped up from the chair, "Ginny? Don't tell anyone I was here. Uh… I was just reading to Hermione. You know she would kill me if she got behind."

She stared curiously at him, "But Wanderings with Werewolves? Ron, I thought you had taste."

"Yeah, well, I know Lockhart's rubbish, but she left her Hogwarts: A History at home. Plus she really seems to enjoy his books," Ron's ears were turning more crimson with each word.

First Percy, now Ron. Weasleys sure know how to sit vigil at bedsides. Hmmm… Ron and… Hermione? What else don't I know? She felt even more guilt for what she had done. Ron and Percy would never forgive her once they found out.

Ginny tried her best to encourage him, "I don't know what Hermione sees in him."

Ron cleared his throat, "I have no idea what you're talking about." Yes, his ears were definitely on their way to maroon.

"I'm sorry, Ron."

"For what?" Ron cocked his head to the side.

"Nothing. Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me."

Her brother looked puzzled for a moment then shrugged his shoulders. "Well, goodnight, Ginny. Don't get caught." He left quietly as she approached Colin's bedside.

"Hi, Colin. I know I haven't visited in a while, but things have gotten worse around here. I had to break some school rules to get here, but I had to come. I just came to say goodbye. You deserved a much better friend than me and I'm sorry for that. Just know that I wanted to make things right. Goodbye now."

Ginny wiped away a stray tear with her robe sleeve. Clearing her throat, she stood and quietly left. She was going to finish Tom if it was the last thing she did.

I couldn't help putting a little Ron and Hermione moment in here. One more chapter to go! I hope you've enjoyed this chapter just as much as the rest. Reviews are always appreciated.