DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters in this story, they are the property of J. K Rowling. I wish I had a little Draco, maybe even a Snape. Ms. Rowling however does not own Professor Harmen, because you can't own a person, and Colleen, would probably get very mad if you own her and chase after you with a big stick, or run you over with her car. She's got a big car and it's scary, so I wouldn't suggest doing that. ;P
Chapter 2
My fall from grace
The summer started off well enough, I suppose, Harry was at the Burrow and I was finally joining four of my brothers at school. I wasn't going to be alone anymore; the princess was finally going to the castle! Shopping for school supplies was interesting; I didn't have to have hand-me-down robes, because all my brothers' robes were too big, (I was very mousy at that age.) Second hand was better than hand-me-down any day in my book. Buying books, I wish I hadn't stepped foot in that bookstore. I still get shaky when I go in it now, and I thoroughly check all my books at the check out and tie them shut securely. It's also why I write on freshly bought parchment and never looks while or after the quill writes it. I'm also scared of personally writing, that's why I bought the Quick Quotes Quill™, so I really won't have to touch the parchment or the quill. But I digress; I was talking about Flourish and Blotts's. Harry had given me his free set of Lockhart books and I was on cloud nine, then that great burke, Draco Malfoy, started to harass Harry. I tried to prove myself to Harry and stick up to Malfoy. However, of all the stories I had heard, I still wasn't prepared for the obstinaity that is Draco Malfoy. It seemed as if he saw through my skull and pulled out my crush on Harry and stabbed me with it. "Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend." I was humiliated. I've only had one other more humiliating experience in my life. My shyness in front of Harry only increased after that.
Soon enough, school started and I wasn't as confined with any longer, but that didn't lessen my crush. I had taken to my new diary as I had always done. Surprised to have found Tom's memory in the diary, I leant on it more heavily. It was truly as if I had a friend in my pocket all along. I became addicted to it, I was wholly dependent upon it, and I had been possessed by Tom. I can't verbalize how truly terrifying it is to black out and find yourself in odd positions.
It took me quite a while to figure it out. You can imagine the shock that an 11-year-old girl would have when she figures out that her body is being used to attack people. I was hysterical. I threw the bloody diary in the toilet and attempted to flush the damn thing down, but when Myrtle started to wail, I bolted, not checking to see if it went down. I ran to an empty dungeon classroom and sobbed my heart out.
I had actually gone on with life, determined to forget the doomed diary. I was still dreading the day when the petrified people woke up and pointed me out as the culprit, but I figured I would cross that bridge when I come to it.
Then came the most humiliating and horrifying experience of my life; Valentine's Day, I shudder at the thought and loathe the day. Those atrocious cupid dwarves were running around the school all day. When there was a jam in the hallways, I looked over to find a cupid hunting Harry down. Harry's bag ripped open and to my horror he had Tom's diary. I paled. Harry might know I opened the Chamber. I looked up in fright. Malfoy must have guessed that I had sent the singing valentine because of the look on my face. Very honestly, I didn't send it; I hadn't the money. If I had the money you could bet your sorry ass I would have sent one, albeit a more tasteful poem that THAT awful one. But alas, Malfoy yet again pointed out my ginormous crush on Harry in public, worse yet, in the crowded hallways of a gossipy school.
It took a while to overcome my humiliation. I was going to confront Harry about the diary, but I always chickened out last minute. I suppose at that point there was already too much of Tom in my soul, and his motives took over mine forcing me to keep quiet. It wasn't until much later that he became restless and weary of his inactivity. He haunted my dreams and twisted lies into my thoughts.
Tom had a twisted sense of sadomasochism and was incredibly overjoyed when I began cutting. Not many people know about that. Tom enjoyed me hurting myself, but I only saw it as feeling. I had stopped feeling anything, so feeling the pain and seeing the blood ensured me that I was still alive, that I was still essentially human, even though I had sold my soul to the devil, even though I had become a monster.
Soon after, I had found myself blacking out again, but for longer periods. I came to finding out that Tom had taken control and ripped apart Harry's room to get back the diary, feeling that his goal was not being accomplished. The next day, I attacked Percy's girlfriend and Hermione. I was horrified by myself. I cut again as a way to punish myself. Tom revelled in my self-punishment.
One day, shortly after, I found myself in the library at the end of my rope. Tom was strong and I was losing more and more of myself in him. I had actually found a potion that would help me keep him at bay. I was similar in effect to a wolfsbane potion; it would help me keep my mind during a possession. I made the potion; it was a very simple potion. With Tom's soul in possession of my body, it meant that his skills, talents and knowledge were also taking possession. Moreover, that made the simple potion almost idiotic. The big problem with the potion was it wasn't meant for prolonged use. I had such a false sense of security in that potion. Tom had actually gotten used to it early and was gaining energy to finally release himself from the diary. That was when I was taken in to the Chamber.
There was a bit of time down there between him being released and myself falling unconscious and dying. We reached equilibrium, with him growing in power and I waning, he kissed me then. I hadn't the strength to stand on my own; shamefully, I admit that I was holding on to him. He released the kiss, holding me easily with one arm; he started to stoke my cheek and studied me intently with his eyes and his hands. It really isn't as dirty as that just sounded. He caressed my cheek, ran his fingers through my hair, and brushed his thumb against my lips. He easily wrapped his hand and fingers around my throat, applying gentle pressure as he laid me on the ground. At that point, I could only manage to stare at him through tearing eyes. With his hand still clamped at my throat, he bent down and whispered in my ear, "You're mine Virginia Leigh Weasley. I own your body, mind and soul. Never forget that I flow in your veins, and that you bore me to life again, for I never will. You are apart of me, just as I will forever be a part of you."
He left me there to die, but I didn't. Harry saved me. The students found out it was me, they freaked out. Some forgave me; most avoided me. I'm still haunted by him. I would wake up screaming from nightmares. I would feel so consumed in my guilt, numbness and self-loathing that I began to cut again with a fury. My mum and dad knew about my sleeping problems and would make me sleeping and calming potions. I became numb. I didn't feel the need to do anything. I barely existed. I can't tell what it feels like to hate your insides, to hate your very body and soul."
~*~
A shudder closes and a camera whirs. "Wow, that's going to be a great picture, I'd want it to be a muggle photo though. Wouldn't want to see what you would do if it was moving."
"'Lo Colin." She didn't look up.
He plopped down next to her and threw his arm over her shoulder. "Why so glum Ginluv?"
She gathered up her parchment and quill, "No reason, just reminiscing."
He suddenly grabbed her shoulders and turned her to look at him. Seriousness clouded his normal cheerful demeanour, "Ginny, listen to me. It's over. It's done with. It was four years ago. You need to let it go, everyone's forgiven you."
"Yeah, it's over." She suddenly hugged him. "You've always been too good to me Colin." He hugged her back tightly. She always felt better when talking to Colin, but she knew it would never be over. Tom and the Chamber would always haunt her.
"Hey Gin." They released the hug and looked at each other, "I was thinking about trying out for a chaser position."
She smiled, "Don't want to try for beater?"
"It's bloody terrifying being a beater! You keep chasing after these balls that are trying to kill you!" He slumped back and sat against the rock. "No thank you. I rather keep my life and my unbroken bones."
Ginny giggled, she sat back and leaned on his shoulder. "Does that mean you want to practice?"
"Yeah, but not right now, it's too nice and I'm too comfortable." He put an arm around her shoulder and leaned his head on hers.
Any passer by would think they would make a wonderfully cute couple. Really, they were more on the best friend side of things. After the Chamber, Ginny tired to do what she could to make it up to the victims. Penelope, Hermione, Colin, and Nearly Headless Nick were forgiving and told her not to worry about it. Filch had, and still has, a personal vendetta against her. Truthfully, Ginny could give any one of her brothers a run for their money on the detention race. The twins only had her out stripped by 512, but she still had three more years to go. The Hufflepuff, Justin Finch-Fletchly, was still terrified of her and warns the house against her. Nevertheless, Ginny had set herself upon the task of helping Colin catch up with the studies he missed because of her during first year. As a result, they became very close and continued to study together over the years. Their hard work paid off when they were both awarded Gryffindor prefect positions.
They sat there in silence until Ginny's stomach loudly reminded her that she hadn't eaten. She rubbed her stomach; "I think that's our cue for lunch." He helped her to stand and walked to the Great Hall for lunch. They ate a light lunch and decided to head out to practice. Both Colin and Ginny had recently bought Nimbus 2000s and were joyous about being able to ride a decent broom instead of the school provided ones. Colin surprised her, she hadn't seen him fly since first year lessons and he had actually gotten quite good. Ginny summoned some of the mince pies her mother sent her with and they snacked and continued to fly until the sun set. They lay in the middle of the pitch, exhausted. Colin lay on his back spread eagle with Ginny using his chest as a pillow, watching the stars come out, content with their upcoming year.
As every year before, and as every year to come, the professors set their unquenchable homework thirsts loose upon the fifth year students of Hogwarts. Colin and Ginny were soon to be found burying their heads in their texts and hushing anyone who made noise in their general area. Harry, Hermione and Ron were off doing their own thing, as normal. Ron berated Ginny when she told him she broke up with Dean. "Now why'd you go and do a thing like that? Dean's a great bloke!" She rolled her eyes and told him it just wasn't meant to be and he retaliated by telling her off for leading him on.
Gryffindor Quidditch tryouts were held the second weekend and Ginny and Colin both turned up eagerly smiling while Katie Bell, the new team captain, beamed at the turn out. With four spots to fill and twelve people showing up, there were enough to have reserves.
Monday morning a corner of the common room was crowded. Ginny snuck under the taller people's arms to budge her way to the front. She yelped as a big seventh year boy dropped his arm in disappointment and landing it right on top of her head. She scowled at the seventh year then looked back at the posting on the board and gave another yelp. She had made chaser and reserve seeker, Colin had made reserve chaser. Ginny jumped and hugged onto the closest person to her, who happened to be Gryffindor's new beater, Lynda McMerrick, a burly second year girl. Lynda looked at the smaller girl strangely, then glanced at the board and saw her name and squealed and hugged her back.
The morning seemed to turn into the best day yet at Hogwarts. Colin was still happy that he wasn't completely off the Quidditch team and rejoiced with Ginny. While at breakfast, a cute sixth year Ravenclaw asked Ginny out, she smiled and nodded, then arranged to meet for the Hogsmeade weekend this Saturday. The joy of the day continued as she gained 20 points from Professor Harmen, the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. The short young woman with short red hair and round wire glasses had tried to lull them with a music box, just like the one at Grimmauld place. Ginny had enough sense to get up and close the box. Professor Harmen had given her points for her resisting a spell much like the Imperius curse. Ginny beamed as she was greeted in the hall by her tall, dark and irresistibly cute Ravenclaw beau, William Ffyddiog.
All of the warm fuzzy feelings of the morning had caught her completely unaware as she walked into double potions that morning.
A/N: I want to put in a thank you to my little fishies, "pook pook pook" Hee hee, they are my betas and I speak beta, I think I can speak whale too! They keep me up especially when my father died, (which is why this chapter took so long to write) be prepared to see them in the story, I randomly put people in that I know, (but I change their names, so no stalking) Colleeny is Prof. Harmen, and my sister Lynda is in there too, Kari will be in soon, beware for Hogsmeade and Colleen's and Kari's favorite characters. It's my story so everyone will get their pick of people. And there is too much of my personality in Ginny to begin with, that's why I'm fascinated with her.
Another A/N: please give me reviews! Tell me if you love it, if you hate it, anything! Just beware that I may throw rotten vegetables.