Real

Finding Yourself Unable

"They say, when you see a cute guy, you can't breathe. So, if you can't breathe when you stare upon the face of pure evil, does that mean he's really cute? Hmm...I'd like to think so...."

~ Ashley's Ironic Files

Ginny swallowed, allowing a slow uneasy breath in. It was true, there was a difference between strange and weird. Weird was Ron's behavior around Hermione...strange was the situation she was in right now.

"Please, sit down," the man in the chair ushered her, directing to another leather armchair beside him. Ginny, uneasily, found her way over to the chair and sat down, after pulling it a few more inches away from the other chair.

"What's...what'...."

"Shh, Ginny," the man said, putting a pale, slender finger up to her lips.

"I believe you two have already met," Tom said leaning against the wall. Ginny thought how uncanny it was that she was in the same room with two of the most evil minds on earth, and both of them were now about the same age as her.

"We have," the man nodded pulling his finger back. "Have you explained anything to her, My Lord?"

"We've discussed this, I am no longer the Dark Lord," Tom insisted.

"Of course," the man said. Smirking he turned to look at Ginny. "I suppose you're quite surprised to see me here."

"Not really," she said...or she wanted to say. Suddenly she found herself unable to speak, to breathe, or to think common sense.

"Maybe not," he said, understanding she was having difficulty speaking. "Ginny, we have a proposition for you."

Shaking away her shock and fear she cleared her head, registering his words. "What?"

"We want you to help us. Truly, when you think about it...it's incredibly beneficial to you," the man spoke. Sliding off his chair and kneeling before her, he placed his hands on her knees. Now that he was in the small amount of firelight, Ginny understood. He was the same person she had thought at first...but there was definitely something different about him. "Ginny," he said gently, capturing her attention.

She nodded, showing she was listening. At least she was still able to listen...her heartbeat was quickly overpowering it though.

"Ginny, we want to make this change permanent," the man said slowly, making sure she understood.

"I don't under...I mean, I understand, but what your telling me is that..." she was so surprised she had spoken she couldn't find the words.

"Is that, theoretically, we would change places in history, in the past." Ginny stared at the man before her. He had always been the best looking at Hogwarts, Harry not nearly matching him. He had been smart too, Ginny knew that. But this...

The face before her was handsome, hands down. But it wasn't the face that had taunted her childhood years...it was...older. Older by nearly thirty years, Ginny assumed.

"I don't understand how I could help," she stuttered, her fear easing a bit, confusion taking its place.

"Ginerva," Tom spoke stepping closer to her as well. "Draco Malfoy and I would like to switch places in history."