"You look lovely tonight Ginevra," Tom Riddle spoke, his voice low as if she were the only one standing in front of her.
"Thank you," Ginny responded smiling, not returning the compliment.
"Green looks nice on you, it's unfortunate that you didn't get the chance to wear it more," he added, admiring her dress.
Bellatrix snickered at his comment, and covered it up by draining the remainder of her glass.
The song changed, and couples started heading out onto the dance floor, Tom extended his palm and Ginny wordless placed her hand in his as they headed out to the dance floor.
"You haven't written in a while," Ginny replied as he wrapped his free arm around her waist.
"I apologize," Tom chuckled, meeting her gaze. "I've been busy as of late."
Ginny looked down to her hand placed gently in his and noticed a dark ring, she had seen him wearing it nearly every time she had seen him, but hardly paid any attention to it before.. It was gold with a dark stone, with some kind of crest in the centre. She couldn't help thinking that it was ugly, but there was something about it that she couldn't quite place, she wanted to run her fingers over it, and caress it lightly. It seemed very familiar for something she had just seen in passing.
"Family heirloom," Tom spoke, following her gaze.
"Is it?" Ginny responded acting uninterested.
"Passed down for generations," he added.
Ginny smiled, she knew that he was lying Tom hadn't gotten anything passed down to him, not when he grew up in an orphanage.
"How are your studies?" Tom asked, changing the subject.
Ginny couldn't help but laugh, she was dancing in the arms of Tom Riddle and he was asking her about her studies.
"Pointless, although Hogwarts is proving useful for now," Ginny responded.
"How so?" he asked, his lips curling into a smile.
"Hogwarts is filled with secrets; you just need to know where to look."
"And do you know where to look Ginevra?" Tom responded, pulling her a little closer as his voice got lower. He sounded just like the teenage Tom she remembered so well, although he was much older now, he hardly looked as if he had aged at all.
"I managed to find you," Ginny replied.
The song ended and she took a step back from him.
"Thank you for the dance," Ginny smiled, as she turned and walked towards Lucius and Narcissa who were both leaving the dance floor.
Ginny could sense that Tom Riddle wasn't used to being dismissed, nor was he used to the cryptic manner in which Ginny often spoke to him. He would be behind her shortly, with a request to join him for another dance or to grab refreshment. She knew his own curiosity wouldn't let her escape.
"Care to dance?" Regulus asked, appearing out of no where, suddenly standing beside her.
"Of course," Ginny grinned as Regulus gestured to the dance floor and the two of them walked into the middle, falling into routine.
"Are you alright?" Regulus asked, dipping Ginny low before spinning her around.
"Yes," Ginny replied.
"You can change your mind at anytime, you don't have to pursue this," Regulus responded looking her over.
"I do though," Ginny responded her tone signifying that this was a conversation she did not wish to continue while in a room full of her enemies.
Regulus however continued; ignoring her obvious attempt at dismissing the subject.
"Is meddling not going to change things, which is what you're not supposed to do?" Regulus asked.
"It'll change the odds, but it won't change the course of events, besides everything has already changed," Ginny replied nervously looking around to see if anyone was within earshot.
"If things have already changed, then why can't you just continue to change them?" Regulus asked.
"Because that's not how it works."
"How do you know that?" Regulus asked.
"I just do," Ginny replied.
"I just don't want to see you get hurt," Regulus responded.
Ginny stopped scanning the room, and met his gaze. It had been a long time since she and Regulus could talk like this, and even longer since they were this close. She could see the sublet orange flecks of color in his eyes, how had she never noticed them before. The hand that rested in hers was much smoother than Sirius's. He had attempted to flatten his hair since Lucius had ruffled it up, but it still stood up in the back in nearly the same way that James's and Harry's did. How could so many boys have so much in common, yet let something as simple as the house a hat had sorted them into divide them. And let their birth set them apart.
It was no longer about making a better future for her family, their past and present was already tainted by war, the second Wizarding War would come no matter what Ginny did. It was about everyone's future, about the children her brother's would have, she wanted her friends to leave Hogwarts knowing that it wasn't the only safe place in Britian, that everywhere would be safe.
"What?" Regulus asked, growing nervous over how long Ginny was starring at him.
"Nothing," She smiled as the song ended.
Regulus guided her off the dance floor and over to where a nervous looking Nacrissa stood beside a sour looking Severus.
"Oh Ginevra!" Nacrissa greeted somewhat relieved as they approached.
"Look at him over there, it's pathetic," Severus grunted once they were in earshot, as if he had expected them to know what he was talking about.
"What?" Ginny asked, looking over at Narcissa who rolled her eyes.
"Bartimius," Severus added.
Ginny and Regulus followed his gaze to where Bartemius Crouch Jr. stood, talking with a few boys Ginny recognized from school, but whose names she did not know. They were gathered around Tom, all laughing at something they just said. While they all looked entranced and hung off every word. Tom on the other hand, looked bored, his eyes were wandering to a group of gentleman on the far side of the room, where the Minister of Magic had just arrived.
As if he had heard them Baremius looked over his gaze meeting Ginny's as he winked, his lips turning into a grin as he looked her up and down.
"Did you know both you and the Dar-Tom, both you and Mr. Riddle are wearing the same color?" Narcissa asked, changing the subject as she shot Bartemius a look of disgust.
"We are?" Ginny asked, looking over again and noticing that Narcissa was right. Earlier Tom had still warn his robes, but now she could see that his tie and accessories to his ensemble matched the same color of green as her dress.
"I thought the tailor said this color was unique?" Ginny asked, bringing her attention back to Narcissa.
"They did say there was only one other item made in that color, I guess he owns it," Narcissa responded.
"Odd," Ginny replied looking down at her own dress.
Ginny spent the next hour being introduced by Narcissa and her father, to witches and wizards whose faces all blended together, at first it was exciting meeting the parents of people who were her classmates now, and whose grandchildren would be her classmates in the future but after a while it grew tiresome, and the comments grew quite aggravating.
'Do you plan on heading back to Ireland when you're done at Hogwarts?'
'Why you sound like you've lived in Britian you're whole life!'
'A Gryffindor, what a shame, what was that hat thinking!'
'I heard you're the top of your class'
'Regulus isn't betrothed yet, it's not too late to think about marriage.'
'I heard Tom has been asking quiet a bit about you, the two of you even match did you come together?'
'Dunham a strong family name, my mother's fourth cousin's, uncle's, brother was married to a Dunham, why we're practically family!'
'I heard the Black's are preparing your marriage to our young Tom,'
All the questioned blended together, everyone was concerned about her status and her vault and what she had planned on after Hogwarts, Ginny had never considered these things. She wanted to find the horcruxes but she realized now she had no idea what they looked like, and she had no means of survival outside of the castle. She needed to build on the relationships here at the ball. But she also needed to tread carefully. Her resemblance to the Weasley's was uncanny, and as her brother's would grow older the resemblance would be undeniable. Dumbledore not hiring Tom Riddle was a mistake. How could Ginny find out what he entrusted with his soul if she was nestled away at Hogwarts for most of the year.
When she finally had a moment to breathe Ginny had managed to sneak away to a far balcony on the landing and admired the vast grounds of Malfoy manor, it really did put the Burrow to shame.
"I haven't quite figured you out Ginevra," Lucius interrupted, as he approached behind her, holding two drinks in his hand, one of which he offered her.
Ginny gingerly took it, taking a sip and letting the refreshing taste wash over her dry mouth.
"What is there to figure out?" Ginny asked, growing tired of the games the purebloods always seemed to play, and the games she was realizing she was becoming reasonably good at.
"You're obviously in love with Sirius Black," Lucius said, in a bored voice taking Ginny by surprise. He took a step closer, closing the space between them, as he stood beside her. "Yet you continue to insert yourself in this life," he paused taking a sip of his drink, as he finally turned to look at her. The swarming ice blue orbs meeting her brown ones.
"If you're trying to keep your name in good standing, the Black's have already made sure of that."
"Is there a question in there?" Ginny asked,
Lucius chuckled; it was a deep chuckle that didn't seem to suit him.
"My question Ginevra, is why are you here, why are you putting on this façade with people you don't care about nor want to be a part of," Lucius asked.
Although he was looking onto the grounds, acting uninterested, Ginny could tell he was holding his breath, waiting on her answer.
"Maybe you don't know me as well as you think Lucius," Ginny replied, her heart beating fast, as she gripped her glass a little tighter to keep her hand steady.
She never understood what is what about everyone in this time and their instant distrust. In the future it made sense, you never knew who was corrupt in the Ministry and you never knew who was on Voldemort's side. Here however, in a room full of future death eaters, all doting on Tom Riddle, it was clear to see they were all on the same side. Ginny was here, mingling with their children, had caught the attention of Tom, and yet her intentions were always questioned.
"As your mother pointed out earlier, my family was well known for their values long before the Malfoy's voiced theirs," Ginny added, referring to a conversation she had had with her at the punch table, where she had loudly- possibly due to too much to drink- voiced the way the Dunhams had once used their influence to sway the Ministry into denying muggle borns an invitation to Hogwarts. The idea was quickly squashed, the Minister of Magic was quickly replaced, and the ordeal with hushed. However some families still remembered it.
"So you're here because you want to gossip about mudbloods?" Lucius asked.
"Why are you here Lucius?" Ginny asked.
"I live here," He responded smirking.
"Your family isn't the only one that wants to be involved in what Tom is doing, and unlike you I can't sit back while Mommy and Daddy tell me when it's time to put on my mask," Ginny responded finishing the rest of her drink and placing it on the banister before turning on her heels and headed back to the landing where the ball continued.
Lucius easily caught up to her, reaching out he grabbed her arm roughly and pulled her close.
"What do you know about that?" Lucius growled, the pleasant tone disappearing from his voice.
"Like I said, you're not the only one who wants to be involved," Ginny replied calmly, as she looked down at his hand on her arm.
Ginny wanted to do nothing more then to reach for her wand and send one of her famous hexes his way, but as he pointed out this was his home, and she had taken a risk saying the things she did. No one knew she was in Hogsmeade that night. In fact she didn't even know Lucius was. His reaction confirmed her suspicions though.
"Lucius Malfoy, I doubt your father would be pleased to see the manner in which you have poor Ginevra in," Tom Riddle interrupted, causing Lucius to jump and let go of Ginny.
They both looked over to see Tom standing on the stairs, his posture and voice were relaxed, but Ginny could tell by his eyes that he was anything but.
Lucius shot Ginny one last look before he descended down the stairs ignoring Tom and made a beeline through the guests, Ginny followed him through the crowed to where he stopped in front of Regulus pulling him off to the side, presumably to blame him for telling Ginny.
"It seems you rather upset young Mr. Malfoy," Tom chuckled, although the laugh was unfitting, as his eyes scanned her face.
Ginny didn't respond as she descended the stairs, and came to a stop beside him.
"You do seem to draw odd attention Ginevra," Tom spoke softly.
Ginny looked up to meet his gaze and was disappointed that his eyes were much darker than the Tom of her youth, the color was almost unrecognizable, and his smile never reached them.
"As do you, but you aren't quite recognized for it yet are you?" She asked.
Ginny held her breath after her question, her palms were sweating, and her heart was beating so fast she was sure he heard it. It was one thing to drop hints to Lucius Malfoy to drop the smug smirk from his face, but it was another entirely to speak to Tom Riddle so bluntly.
"No," he replied after a moment.
If he was surprised by her comment he showed no sign of it.
"I hear Albus Dumbledore has taken it upon himself to take care of your wellbeing while you remain at Hogwarts," Tom asked.
"Professor Dumbledore found me after my family died, and invited me to Hogwarts," Ginny responded.
"Did you ever ask yourself why he took such an interest in you Miss Dunham," Tom asked, emphasizing on her surname.
Ginny was taken aback by the question. Dumbledore had never really taken an interest in her, he had done the opposite, asking her to reveal nothing, never asking what brought her to this time.
"Perhaps you could help me after all Ginevra," Tom smiled.
It was the smile Ginny recognized, the one near the end that he often used to accomplish what he needed. "I'm afraid I'm heading out, but I will see you soon," he added, reaching for her hand as he planted his cold lips on it, before he turned and disappeared through the crowd.