Hazardous Sanity

Chapter One: Lana Gwen and the Bracelet

Disarm you with a smile,
And cut you like you want me to,
Cut that little child.
-Smashing Pumpkins, Disarm

---

Ginevra Molly Weasley was looking wistfully at the bracelet Parvati Patil was showing around. It had to be the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. There were huge pink jewels all around it with four pretty diamonds between each in a cute flower pattern. Then there was a gorgeous sparkling gold frame holding everything together. There was even a little heart engraved in the clasp!

Ginny never wanted anything so badly. But there was no way for a Weasley to afford something so costly, most of the school could barely afford it! There it sat on Parvati's nicely tanned arm, even though she probably had a dozen bracelets just like it sitting at home.

Girls swarmed around her, touching it, examining it, whispering about how beautiful it was and asking where she had gotten it. Not that they could afford it. Pansy Parkinson sat across the room with all her expensive jewelry as well. By the sulking look on her face, she was planning to outdo the Gryffindor. Or try to. Again.

What I wouldn't do to have fancy jewelry like all the rest of the school. even if they can't afford much, it's still more than me. Even Hermione's slightly wealthy, her parents have the same job. Fixing people's teeth. Supposedly, muggles pay a lot to have shiny teeth, Ginny thought sullenly.

She sneaked back up to her Common Room when she was finished with dinner, deciding to plot her way into making some galleons. There had to be a way to be successful like Fred and George, they were getting richer by the second! Even though they sent her family money, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley used it for school supplies and other "much needed" things.

The sixteen year old scoffed. What was needed was some new cool clothes and jewels. That was all she wanted, simple right? So how could she get the money that was needed? And the other things that were needed?

As Ginny walked into her dorm she saw it. Her classmate's trunk. Amber Rogers was rich, and had a lot of fun showing off her pretty (and sometimes hideous) looking things. Purses, clothes, rings, bracelets, necklaces, shoes, hair ornaments, almost anything she could think up. Amber also got new things frequently and sometimes forgot about them, yet she lets only a chosen few borrow them. Ginny not included, as she was poor and might undervalue her precious items and mess up or lose them.

Amber wasn't totally greedy and pompous though, sometimes she let Ginny hold one her things, or even keep it if it was damaged enough. Ginny growled. She had enough broken and damaged things already, she didn't need this tart's hand-me-downs. No matter how pretty they used to be.

Her hands nimbly worked the lock on the trunk. After a couple minutes of cursing, kicking, and hexing, she finally had it opened. Inside there was gorgeous, glittery dress robes, many jewels, and accessories. Ginny felt as if Christmas had come early as she dug through all the fantastic things.

CHINK!

Ginevra started and untied a dark purple, velvet sachet. "Oh. My. God." Galleons. Lots and lots of golden, gleaming galleons ripe for the taking. Without even having to think about it, she scooped out a handful and dumped it in her pocket. I have money. I have lots of money to spend whenever I feel like it. However I feel like it. But I also will have lots of free time in Azkaban if I don't hurry up!

After picking some random possessions Ginny locked the trunk and turned to her own. Then she buried it all at the bottom and looked around breathlessly. She had just stolen her roommate's money... and didn't even feel an ounce of guilt. Fear of being caught, yes, but no guilt lurked in her mind. Ginny grinned like a Cheshire cat and got ready for bed.

---

"Hello, Ginevra."

Ginny stared at the figure before her. "Don't call me Ginevra. I hate my name."

The figure smirked, "Too bad. You're stuck with it, unless you change it."

"I'll change it. I just don't know to what yet."

"How about Lana? Lana Gwen"

"My last name's Gwen?"

"No, no," the figure was beginning to become impatient, "Gwen is your FIRST name. Lana Gwen Weasley. See no middle name, either. Do you want to change Weasley?"

Ginny glared at him. "I'm not ashamed of my family! I'm not like Percy!"

"Indeed."

"Pompous git..." she muttered under her breath. "What do you want anyway?"

The figure smiled charmingly. "To help you, of course."

Ginny snorted. As if she hadn't heard that before.

"Really, Lana. I want to help you."

"Help me in what? Potions?" she snorted.

"I know you want more money. I know you want to take control of your life and go in the best direction. I can help prod you to it. I can help you make a name for yourself. Lana Gwen, I can help you become rich."

Now Ginny was interested. "Really? Now how do you intend on doing that? Why do you even CARE?"

The figure stepped closer.

"You know I care about you, Lana. I want you to be happy, I want what's in your best interest," he said sweetly.

"You never cared about me before! You left me to die, Tom! You framed me!"

"Lana, I'm not calling you Ginny. So please refrain from using Tom," he ordered.

"Alright," she agreed sullenly, "but I'm not calling you Voldemort. It's stupid and I'm not use to saying it."

He chuckled. "Call me Salazar."

Ginny made a disgusted face, but agreed regardless.

Tom seemed to decide it was time to continue. "Lana, my sweet nymph, I saw what you did just now," he whispered and swept closer to her. She didn't back away.

"What, look horrified at your new name?" But she knew what he meant, and she shivered involuntarily.

Tom stepped closer to her, "Are you cold, Lana Gwen?" he asked her.

She shook her head.

He took another step towards her and spoke gently in her ear, "Then why are you shivering?"

Ginny shivered again. She swore the temperature dropped at least twenty degrees in the room. The dark, dark room...

"I want to go now, Tom," she mumbled while trying not to show her fear.

He spoke again in her ear, "Say my new name, Lana. Say the magic words."

For once, Ginevra Molly Weasley swallowed her pride and submitted.

"I shall hail and heed you my beloved lord Salazar," she said numbly. Those were almost the exact same words she had spoke to him so many years ago... the promise that she shall let him take her over. Control her. Even if it kills her.

There was no going back now, no Harry Potter to save her. Hell, he could hardly save himself.

Tom stroked her face, "Yes, you shall heed me." His pale, thin fingers grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him.

Her defiant look wavered. He bent his head and bit into her bottom lip, hard. Ginny squeaked and felt the blood flow into her mouth.

Tom looked into her eyes for a second. Then his pale finger traced over her lip, making the tip red. "You shall not get away this time, Lana. You will fulfill your duty as my faithful servant, my little nymph," he told her and placed one hand around her neck.

Ginny stood still. Tom tightened his grip, harder and harder, but she still made no sound. "Good, Lana, good."

Then he brought the bloody finger to his lips, and licked it.

---

Ginny woke up screaming. She didn't know why, but a knot formed in her stomach. She just wished she could remember her dream. It felt important to remember it, so very important. But there was only darkness in her mind, as if she hadn't dreamed at all.

---