Ginny woke up in the soft bed in the guest room at the Black's the next morning. They hadn't gotten home until late, and both she and Narcissa had headed straight to bed. Ginny's feet were happy to kick off the silver heals she had worn, and she massaged her tender feet now a she sat up.
She felt slightly defeated as she recalled the night's events, she received many invitations from different families to stay with them over the summer, this would prove helpful when she searched for horcruxes, but it didn't bring her any closer to finding them. She had no idea what they looked like, or even how to tell what they were. Tom had made his diary into one, so was she to search all of the bookshelves in everyone home for more Diaries? They would be something important to him, so Ginny had thought becoming close to him would point her in the right direction. Tom Riddle was someone who didn't care much for others, he appreciated and rewarded loyalty, however he didn't let anyone get close enough for anything else. Ginny had hoped curiosity alone would be enough to catch his attention, it had seemed to work at first, he came to Hogwarts, and met her at Hogsmeade, he even wrote to her, but then she hadn't heard from him in a few months, and he had barely paid attention to her at the ball. She wasn't expecting him to follow her around like a love sick puppy, and admit to her where he had hidden bits of his soul; but she was disappointed that she was no closer to figuring out where they were.
There was a soft knock on her door and Ginny sat up, pulling the covers closer to her.
"Come in,"
"Miss Dunham, I have brought some dresses for you to wear for brunch, Miss Narcissa is getting ready and says that Miss Dunham can meet her in her room when she is ready-if she wishes," the house elf squeaked.
She was so tiny and thin, she walked across the room quickly, placing the giant box on the edge of her bed and scurried back out of the room before Ginny had the chance to even say thank you.
Ginny lifted the lid off the box, and saw a collection of soft spring dresses, most in shades of pink and yellow- which Ginny thought would class horribly with her hair, so she chose a simple white one with blue stripes, pulling it on she pulled her hair into a pony tail and crossed the hall to Narcissa's room and knocked on the door.
"Come in Ginevra!" she called.
Ginny pushed open the door and saw Narcissa sitting on the bed, wearing a blue dress with purple flowers.
"Regulus should be here for brunch, most likely Lucius too," Narcissa greeted as Ginny flopped onto the bed beside her.
"Aunt Walburga will be nursing a hangover, and will likely drink all of the pumpkin juice," Narcissa added, giggling.
"Are we to head back to Hogwarts this afternoon?" Ginny asked.
"Yea, the floo will be open after brunch and we'll all just leave from here," Narcissa responded. "Excited to see Sirius?" she added, looking over.
Narcissa like everyone else knew Sirius was her boyfriend, but it was something they didn't often talk about, just as Severus and Regulus rarely brought it up.
"Everything is always so unfamiliar, and he's the one constant," Ginny responded.
"I know that probably doesn't make any sense," Ginny added, smiling.
"Oh no, it makes perfect sense," Narcissa nodded. "Did you enjoy yourself last night? I'm sorry my father showed you off," she added laughing.
"Oh that's alright; it's interesting to meet people you don't know."
"Was it interesting to dance with Tom Riddle?" Narcissa asked, lowering her voice as if it were a secret.
"He's very handsome," Ginny responded.
Narcissa giggled, and went on about Tom's good looks until a house elf came and told the two of them that Mrs. Black wanted them downstairs in the sun room.
"Ginevra!" Regulus greeted smiling as the two girls reached the landing.
"Huuullo cousin," Narcissa dragged out, rolling her eyes.
"Hello Narcissa," Regulus added, smiling.
"How's Aunt Walburga?" Narcisssa smirked.
"I wouldn't sit beside her unless you want to get scolded," Regulus warned.
"Who else is here?" Narcissa asked Regulus, looking around the corner.
"Your mother said the Lestrange's aren't coming, and mentioned something about having a peaceful morning since Bellatrix won't be here," he responded grinning.
"Oh, well at least I won't have to listen to her and mother bicker," Narcissa shrugged.
"Oh Narcisssa is that you? Come here and show me what you're wearing, the Malfoy's will be here shortly!"
"I didn't get a chance to speak with you before you left last night," Regulus said as Narcissa left rolling her eyes.
"I know, I saw Lucius storm off to talk to you, he wasn't too harsh was he?"
"He accused me of telling you of our extracurricular in Hogsmeade," Regulus shrugged.
"I'm sorry, I-"
"Oh don't worry, Tom Riddle asked Lucius to keep an eye on you, I can assume he's told Tom what you said by now."
"And that's a good thing?"
"Now he knows he can trust you, if he knows you know, not only that he orchestrated the attacked, but who was involved and nothing has made the papers yet, he knows that your claims to be on his side are true,"
"And Tom rewards loyalty," Ginny responded voicing her thoughts from that morning.
"And did you find anything out?" Regulus asked, his tone indicating what he couldn't say aloud.
"I'm not sure yet," Ginny responded honestly.
"Children, into the sunroom, I'm starving," Walburga called, stepping around the corner as she snapped her fingers as if that would make them obey her.
"Coming mother," Regulus called smiling over at Ginny.
"Ginevra, did you sleep well?" Cygnus Black asked, as Ginny entered the room.
"Very well, thank you," Ginny responded smiling, as she took the tea cup Druella offered her, she let the sweet smell and steam wash over her face as she closed her eyes before taking a sip.
"Ahh and he's the man himself, Abraxas! How are you?" Cygnus boomed.
Ginny turned to see Abrazas Malfoy standing in the threshold, wearing a perfectly tailored suit, Lucius standing off slightly behind him.
"My wife couldn't make it, so I hope you don't mind, but I brought along a friend," he grinned as he stepped into the room.
All the heads turned to see who Abraxas Malfoy brought with him to brunch, and there were gasps of excitement as Tom Riddle stepped into the room, wearing a dazzling smile.
"Oh, you're always welcome!" Druella beamed, snatching the teacup back that she just gave Regulus and walking it over to Tom.
Ginny exchanged a look with Regulus, as he wordless told her he had no idea Tom would be joining them.
"Let's all take a seat, all this standing is giving me a headache," Walburga Black exclaimed as she plopped herself down into an empty chair.
"Excellent idea!" Orion boomed, following suit and taking a seat beside his wife.
"Narcissa you look lovely," Lucius greeted, smiling.
"Oh Lucius do sit here beside me," Druella gushed, pulling out a chair for Lucius.
"Of course," He smiled taking the empty seat.
Narcissa looked over at Ginny and rolled her eyes, before she sat down on the other side of Lucius.
Cygnus Black sat at the head of the table, and Tom sat at the other end, Ginny and Regulus sat side by side, leaving Ginny directly diagonally from Tom and across from Abraxas Malfoy.
Ginny didn't realize she was hungry until she looked at the assortment of pastry's, bread's and fruit that were laid out beautifully on the table, and gingerly took a plump strawberry from the platter in front of her.
Regulus kicked her under the table and indicated to his mother who was nursing a large jug of pumpkin juice, and she shoved the strawberry in her mouth to keep her from laughing.
"Ginevra, it's lovely to see you again," Tom spoke in a low voice, before he took a sip of his tea.
"And you, I didn't know see you soon meant the very next day," Ginny replied smiling.
"I am a man of my word," He grinned.
Ginny knew he was in fact quite the opposite, but restrained from saying so, and instead smiled back politely, as she sat back sipping her tea as the room filled with conversation.
Both Orion and Cygnus asked questions about her classes, and Abraxas offered to use his influence with the board to put her into Slytherin, where she 'clearly should have been placed.'
When the trays were removed, and the tea was finished, Tom leaned over and asked if Ginny would like to take a walk through the gardens.
"Oh that's an excellent idea, why don't we all go!" Druella chimed clapping her hands.
Walburga and Orion decided that they just weren't up for a walk.
"Splendid idea," Abraxas smiled, rising from his chair.
"Oh excellent," Druella smiled.
"Narcissa?" Lucius asked.
"Sure," She smiled, taking his hand.
"Regulus?" Tom asked, turning to him.
"No, I think I will sit this one out," he responded.
Cygnus stayed behind as well, so their small party of six all went out to the gardens.
"I must confess Ginevra, that you're the only reason I came here this morning," Tom spoke once they were out of earshot.
"Oh?" Ginny responded.
"I didn't appreciate the way young Lucius handled himself last night," he added, as he lifted Ginny's arm.
She had nearly forgotten the way Lucius had grabbed her, and was surprised to see the small bruises that resembled fingerprints on her arm.
"It's nothing," Ginny dismissed.
"We don't handle our friends in such a way," Tom continued.
"It's already forgotten," Ginny smiled.
"You are a strong girl," Tom responded. "I read that your family were killed in the uprising they started, I am terribly sorry," he added.
Ginny was surprised, she hadn't expected Tom to take her to the gardens and talk about her family.
"You must have been happy to know someone was continuing their work here," Tom added. "I assume that's why you came searching for me?" Tom asked, coming to a stop, as he looked behind to see that the other were on the other side of the garden.
"Death was the only thing that defeated them," Ginny responded choosing her words carefully.
"Yes, death is a funny thing," he responded slowly.
They stood silently for a moment, and Ginny looked down at the small purple flowers that lined the bottom of the hedges, they looked similar to the ones that filled the skirt of Narcissa's dress.
"I'd like for you to hold onto something for me Ginevra, it's something of great value to me," Tom spoke.
Ginny looked, up to see Tom looking down at her with a strange look on his face. He reached onto his right hand and pulled off the ring he had pointed out last night.
"It's a family heirloom, and I'm leaving on a trip to Albania, would you keep it safe for me?" he asked.
"You can't just leave it at home?" Ginny asked.
"I need to keep it somewhere safe with someone I can trust," he responded, placing the ring in Ginny's hand. She looked down at the golden ring with the dark stone ad turned it over in her hand. It felt familiar in a way Ginny didn't understand, and she closed her fingers around it, gripping it tightly.
"I can keep it safe for you."
"I know you can, I would also ask Ginevra that this stay between us," Tom said, his hands still cradling hers.
Ginny nodded wordlessly, as she tried to decide if it was his touch or the ring that felt familiar.
"I wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong idea," Tom continued, as he released her hads, and offered her his arm.
"What idea would that be?" Ginny asked, and she place her arm through his.
"I suspect that young Regulus follows you around for more than just you're interest in purifying the wizarding race."
Ginny felt her face grow hot, and it wasn't from the wind that blew through the garden.
"Regulus is just a friend," Ginny responded.
"I can see that, but does he?" Tom asked with a laugh, he looked over at her with admiration.
"When will you be returning from your trip?" Ginny asked, changing the subject.
"I am not sure, I don't know how long it will take me to find what I need," he answered.
"What is it that you need?" Ginny asked.
"For you to keep that safe for me," Tom said, his voice firm, indicating that, that was all Ginny would get out of him.