Yours Forever, Ginny.

Finally, it was the day when most of the Hogwarts students would be leaving for Christmas. In a spur of the moment decision, Virginia had decided to go home for Christmas. She and Draco hadn't still hadn't spoken since their talk a few days earlier, and she needed time to think about what was going on. She knew she still loved him, but she seemed to be growing an everlasting urge to seem Tom again and feel the heat of his lips against her own. For the red-haired Slytherin, life was growing more complicated by the second.

However, back in Gryffindor tower, Harry sat in his room, by himself, his head in his hands. He had not been able to get Virginia's comment out of his head. It had really cut deep inside him. He knew that she'd changed, and now he wasn't sure he really knew the person she was anymore ... was it really his fault?

Ron walked in and picked up his trunk but set it back down when he noticed his friend.

"What's wrong Harry?" he asked. Ron had also not spoken a lot in the last few weeks. Neither Harry not Hermione had been able to find out why. Harry shook his head.

"Don't worry, it's nothing. Are you going downstairs now?" he asked, taking a deep breath and standing up. Ron nodded in affirmation.

"I'll be downstairs in a minute then, let me just do some last minute checking," he told his best friend.

"All right Harry, I'll see you downstairs." And he left. The room was nearly empty, only Harry's belongings remained. He lifted his trunk gingerly and pulled out a picture of Virginia that Colin Creevy had once given him. It hadn't been just of her, it had been of her and Ron back in her third year, but he had cut Ron out of the picture. He watched as her smiling face looked up at him. Had she been pretending then? Had she already started to turn? Harry still couldn't believe that he'd been put under the Imperious curse successfully. Virginia was right; he HAD been able to fight that curse for years. He hadn't really taken into account Dumbledore's words when he told him that even people that had been able to fight the curse previously, could be inflicted. The Imperious curse and all the other unforgiveables, he suspected, had been modified greatly. The events that had occurred since the beginning of term had been catastrophic and he was still pretty traumatized by the incident.

Harry looked at the picture again before sighing and picking up his trunk.

"You have to come back to us Gin ... you have to."

********************

Virginia said goodbye to Blaise and Pansy who were staying at Hogwarts, and got onto the train with Aleña. They had JUST made it. As soon as they scrambled on, the doors closed behind them and the train shuddered into gear and started moving. They walked down the length of the hallway but to their dismay all the compartments were completely full. Finally they came to the last compartment, and much to their even more horrified dismay, it was the only compartment that had enough space for them left. The other three occupants were none other then the dream team themselves. Squaring her shoulders, she and Aleña walked in and sat down. Hermione glared at them.

"What do you think your doing? You're not welcome here," she spat out.

"Hermione!" Harry cried, giving his best friend a look. Virginia was surprised. Harry was defending her?

"Oh thanks Harry, I didn't know you cared," se said sweetly, before sharing an amused look with Aleña. Ron looked uncomfortable. Ever since their so-called talk a few weeks back, he'd been sort of the silent partner of the team, not really saying much. Virginia could just see how this holiday was going to go.

After that initial outburst, the trip went fairly smoothly; with the two Slytherins keeping to themselves, and the Gryffindors either dozing or speaking in hushed tones. Somewhere near the middle of their trip, the compartment door slid open and a familiar blonde head appeared. Virginia's eyes met his gray ones. He stepped inside much to the Gryffindors dislike. Harry stopped them from saying anything though. He'd learnt that it was best to stop interfering in Virginia's life. She was mature enough to make her own decisions.

"Can I talk to you outside for a minute?" he asked politely. Virginia nodded and told Aleña she would be back soon.

Once they had left, there was silence in the compartment. Finally Harry took a deep breath and gave the Slytherin girl a small smile.

"So ... uh ... you're from Durmstrang right?" he said. Much to his surprise, Aleña did not scowl at him, but smiled politely back.

"Yes that's right," she said, not really offering anything else.

"Did your parents move here too?" Ron asked gruffly, finally coming out his silence. A shadow passed through Aleña's eyes for a moment. Harry winced. He wished Ron hadn't asked that he wished he could of told him why as well. He shot Aleña an apologetic look for Ron but she ignored it and looked at Ron.

"I would prefer not to talk about my parents, we do not see eye to eye on a lot of things. I live with my Uncle." Ron seemed surprised at this piece of information and even Hermione turned slightly to listen.

"I'm sorry," the red head said.

"It's okay, it's not your fault if you don't know," she replied. Whilst their conversation progressed, the one outside was much more personal.

********************

When Draco and Virginia reached the corridor, he closed the compartment door firmly. She started to say something but he placed a finger on her lips, shushing her. She was quiet. Draco reached for something inside his robes, and when he brought it out, Virginia felt tears welling up in her eyes. It was a box wrapped in beautiful Slytherin green paper with a silver bow.

"Draco-"

"Shh," he said, bringing his lips down to hers. She wrapped her arms around him and threw herself into the kiss passionately. When they pulled away many moments later they were both breathing heavily and looking flustered.

"Gin ... I want you to think about what I said the other day ... I want you to use this time to think about it, over the holidays all right ... you know that I ... that I love you ... and I don't want you to be swayed by the present no matter how much you love it," he smiled egotistically then, but she could tell he was only joking. She smiled softly. He pulled her close again and took in the smell of her hair.

"Don't open it until Christmas," he said softly. She nodded against his neck. Virginia felt him press another kiss against her forehead ... and then he was gone.

"Oh Draco ... I love you too."

********************

When the train finally reached Kings Cross station, the majority of students were cranky and tired. Ron and Virginia said goodbye to their friends, making promises of owls and visits before meeting their father. Virginia pushed down a wave of anxiety inside her. She was headstrong and stubborn, but she hadn't spoken to her family since the resorting ... this could definitely get awkward.

"Hello children, how was school?" they turned around to find their tall redhead father standing there, smiling.

"'Lo dad," Ron said. Arthur Weasley shook his youngest son's hand affectionately and looked hopefully at Virginia.

"Hello father," she said, allowing a small smile. This seemed to cheer him up.

"Are you ready to go? Your mother's cooked up one heck of a feast at home and the whole clan's there!" he exclaimed. Ron smiled and chattered on happily as they moved towards Mr. Weasley's illegally magically enhanced car.

The whole family was there? Virginia sighed. Yep. This was definitely going to be a long holiday.

********************

When they arrived home Molly Weasley bustled around excitedly, catching Ron in a warm hug and approaching Virginia nervously. Virginia in turn allowed her mother a brief hug before announcing she would be putting her things upstairs before coming down to help with dinner. (She had decided that she should be more independent and mature. She couldn't keep up her childish charade forever after all).

"Oh darling, you don't need to do that," Mrs. Weasley told her only daughter, smiling in disbelief. Wow, Ginny had definitely grown up!

Virginia looked at her in scrutiny for a moment.

"All right." And that was that. Virginia and Ron ventured upstairs separately and re-settled themselves back into their childhood rooms. When Virginia entered her room, it felt like a barren, empty and foreign place. She cringed at the bright pink wallpaper and all the teddies on her bed. She'd promised herself she'd get rid of them as soon as she got back from France, but just never got around to it ... or didn't want to. Now she knew that it was time. She picked them up one by one and transferred them to the back of her cupboard until her room, with the exception of the wallpaper, did not emanate 'little girl' any longer. Making a firm decision she took out her wand. Pointing it at a wall, she muttered a spell she'd learnt in France. Immediately, the room was transformed from the peeling, faded pink, to a clean, neat white.

"That's better," she said.

Virginia set her trunk down beside her desk and walked towards the small window by her bed. Night had already fallen, and the stars were shining brightly down at her. Draco is looking at these stars too, she thought, he must be. Opening her trunk, she brought out the wrapped present he'd given her. She wasn't going to open it until Christmas, she'd promised him, but she couldn't help but feel curious. She decided to hide it inside her drawer so she wouldn't be tempted, but when she opened said drawer, she fell upon her diary. Eyes wide, she gingerly pulled out the worn brown dragon-hide covered journal that Charlie had given her before she'd left England. He'd gotten it in Romania - he owned a lot of dragon-hide things.

Should she? She hadn't opened it in months ... the last entry had been before she left home for Hogwarts again. That was quite a long time. Maybe it was time to write again. She took herself over to her desk and sat down, placing the journal in front of her. Picking up a quill she paused before dipping it into some ink. Holding it over the pages ... she wrote.

Dear Journal,

It's been a LONG time since I wrote in you last, but believe me, I've had reason. The past few months at Hogwarts have been tumultuous.

I saw him again ... I saw Tom. The moment I saw him, my heart skipped a beat ... it's been long ... too long, and I didn't think that I'd feel as strongly as I did ... but I couldn't help it. His touch sent chills through my body and when he kissed me ... I felt like I was drowning. But this cannot keep happening. I've already met the man of my dreams ... or I thought I did, but I'm not so sure what is going on anymore. My past keeps haunting me, and challenging me ... trying to ruin me, I can't stop it; it's out of control.

When Tom touched me I felt the power surge through me. I told you before that I needed to see him, needed him to truly open up this darkness inside of me ... he did, in a way ... maybe it wasn't darkness, but it was definitely true, unadulterated power and it's all mine. Dumbledore ... I used to trust that name so much. The man behind the name was one of my most trusted advisors, but now, even he has worked against me. I said before that my moving up to seventh year was not pure ... he used me as the Dark Lord's bait and I could not stand it.

Draco. We must be together to win in the ensuing battle; the only question on every one's lips is ... which side will we choose? That is for us to know, but whichever one it is, it is the right one for us, and our friends at Hogwarts are behind us 100% ... with the exception of that ... of that FOOL Caleb Ambrose! He will pay; I will make sure that he does. For now, keep safe; I will pick up my quill soon for you.

Yours forever, Ginny.

********************

Whilst Virginia had been arriving back to the home she'd grown up in, miles away in Europe, a plot brewed. The Argentus Society, still smarting from her abrupt dismissal had not forgotten about the powerful fiery redhead that had once been in their midst.

"It's been a year Nikolai, we have not been able to penetrate the protection that her headmaster has placed on her," Gemarie told him, frustrated. Nikolai ran his fingers up his trusted wand.

"I understand. That mudblood-loving fool has been wise in protecting her, he must have foreseen the power that she holds, otherwise he would not have gone to so much effort. I believe it is time to rebuild some English contacts that we have not touched on in a long while," he said, turning to look at his equal. Gemarie's eyes opened in surprised. She smiled contemptuously.

"I have been waiting for the day when you would say that. It has not been done since the days of our grandparents when our society would contact outside help, especially one of such a dark wizard. The last one in England was Gindelwald was it not?" she asked, cocking her head to the side. Nikolai smiled back with equal maliciousness.

"That is right. But I'm afraid that this time we have to pull out all the stops. We have to make sure that Virginia Weasley is eliminated. Permanently."

********************

"DINNER!" Virginia heard her mother yell up the stairs. There was a thundering of footsteps as six brothers and a father made their way towards the food. Virginia got up and walked calmly down to the kitchen. Everybody was already seated by the time she got there and some of her brothers gave her a strange look.

"Make way for the evil Slytherin!" Fred exclaimed unceremoniously. He and George snickered.

"Fred! George!" their mother admonished sternly. Virginia rolled her eyes and sat down.

"So er, Virginia, how is school going?" Charlie asked. Virginia felt her heart soften slightly, although she had been closest to Ron out of all her brothers, Charlie had always treated her like the adult she felt that she was - included was that dragon-hide journal.

"School is fine, I've been moved up to seventh year," she said casually. At this, practically the whole Weasley clan dropped their forks.

"Darling! Why didn't you tell us! That's amazing!" Molly Weasley cried. Virginia shrugged.

"I thought Ron might have," she said, giving her brother a look. Her stared back at her stubbornly.

"Well I would have if you hadn't gone sniping off at Hermione," he bit out. Virginia felt her temper flaring up.

"Well I thought that family loyalty meant SOMETHING to you Ronald! But no, of course, you have to take Hermione's side! I should be used to it by now!" she said, her voice raised. By now, the whole table was deadly quiet except for the argument between Ron and Virginia. Even Arthur and Molly were too afraid to stop it.

"Well maybe I'd want to protect my family if that family didn't include some evil, rude Slytherin slut!" he finally yelled. Virginia's face turn ashen. Even the twins seemed shocked at Ron's harsh words. She rose from the table with as much dignity as she could.

"I didn't know that near-rape experiences turned girls into sluts, especially when the attempt was made by their brothers very own best friend. Or hadn't you told anyone that Harry tried to rape me Ron?" the words were quiet and attained the impact that Virginia had wanted to achieve. Instead of basking it in though, she walked quickly back up to her room and slammed her door.

"Ronald Weasley! What in Merlin's name was that all about? You'd better tell us right now!" Molly hollered. Ron shrank back and looked to his brothers for help. But they were all too busy looking enraged.

"I guess I'd better start at the beginning."

*********************

By the time Ron had finished the story of how Harry had been put under the Imperious curse and attacked Virginia, the entire Weasley family were in a state of absolute fury, partly directed at Harry but mostly at the inflictor whom was yet to b identified.

"Ronald Weasley, I am appalled that you didn't tell us this as soon as it happened! What were you thinking? How could you be so thoughtless?" Molly Weasley raged. Ron looked down at his hands. There was nothing he could say in his defense, he had been so mad at the time ... but the anger that he had felt was hard to define. He wasn't sure if he was mad at Harry or mad at Virginia or at Draco or at the world. He just didn't know what was going on anymore.

"Okay boys, I don't want any of you to disturb Virginia tonight, I'll go up and talk to her, please try not to mention this around her though, it's obviously still a very delicate subject and it's Christmas, I want my only girl to have a good holiday, understood?" Arthur Weasley said, looking hard at all the boys. They nodded reluctantly and trudged upstairs. He turned to look at his wife. She had tears in her eyes, and so he pulled her towards him.

"Where did we go wrong Arthur? I just don't understand how this could have happened," Molly sobbed into his chest. He looked on grimly.

"We can't blame ourselves Molly. Now listen, I'm going to go up and talk to Virginia, will you be alright here by yourself?" he asked, looking at her concernedly. She nodded, wiping her eyes.

"Okay, I'll see you later on, goodnight dear," he said, kissing her forehead, and made his way upstairs.

*********************

When Arthur got to Virginia's room she was face down on the bed, still. He went and sat on the edge of her bed, noting the interior changes she made to the décor and smiled grimly.

"Virginia ..." he said softly. She sat up and turned around, her eyes cold.

"What do you want?" she asked. He sighed.

"Why didn't you tell us? Your mother and I will always be behind you, you should know that," he told her. She was silent for a moment.

"I wanted Ron to be the one to tell you. How could I slander Harry's name? You both worship the ground he walks on, you treat him like your own child ... even more so then ... even more then me," she said, tears coming to her eyes. Arthur looked horrified at this statement and went to put a hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged it away. He wrung his hands together nervously - a gesture she'd seen Ron do on many an occasion.

"Please don't ever think that Virginia, you are our only daughter, you are blood, you will always be one of us," he said desperately. She looked on, eyes hard.

"I'm going to bed," she announced. He sighed again heavily and got up.

"Please remember what I said," he said quietly. He looked at her once more before turning and walking out the door, closing it softly behind him.

"You don't understand. None of you. Nobody understands."

Dear Draco,

I wish you were here with me; I miss you so much ... there are so many things that I want to say to you but I don't know where to start and I doubt I ever will. I love you so much, with every piece of my heart and that's never going to change. My family ... I don't feel for them like I use to, you're the only one I've got, I see my future with you, I see myself with you forever and always, holding me, touching me, kissing me, is it too late for that now? Have I messed everything up like I always do? When will I learn, everything I touch turns to dust and becomes evil, there's no way out of this hole that I'm in ... I can never get out ... you're all I have left ... Draco ...

Virginia looked at the letter in her hands, reading it silently over and over. Sighing she folded it up and put it in her drawer. She wasn't going to send it ... she couldn't.

"Oh Draco ... I love you so much ..."

*********************

Miles away, Harry lay in his bed in the home that he now lived in with his ex-Azkaban prisoner godfather Sirius Black. A sudden pain wrenched him out of a troubled sleep and his hand flew to his scar.

As if he were standing there in the room, Harry watched as the familiar redheaded girl he loved stood in the middle of a circle full of dark-cloaked figures with her wand pointed. Another figure caught his eye. It was misty and a swirl of whiteness but there was no mistaking who it was.

"Mum?" he whispered, but no one heard him, he wasn't really there. He watched as the ghost roared at the girl, and then as the girl pointed her wand at the ghost. Oh god, no, she wasn't ... was she? He had to stop it! He ran towards the girl but when he jumped at her to knock the wand out of her hand, instead of bumping her, he went right through her. It was the strangest feeling he'd ever felt. He turned around and watched helplessly as she cast a spell that he had never heard before. He clutched his ears in agony at the desperate screams of the ghost as it was sucked away, and caught the words of the girl seconds before the ghost had completely disappeared.

"I have summoned you. Prepare to be banished into the depths of hell. Goodbye ... Lily Potter."

Harry wrenched himself out of his vision. He was drenched in sweat and was breathing heavily. Virginia couldn't have ... she wouldn't ... no ... but she did, he'd seen it with his own eyes. Oh gods, he thought desperately.

"Gin ... how could you do that to her? How could you do that to me ..."