Smile Like You Mean It

[lastofseven]

Characters: Ginny and Tom Riddle
Content: Start of Deathly Hollows. Ginny finds herself back in time with the use of a Time Turner she found.
Warnings: None / It's Tom Riddle.

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[lastofseven]

True courage is when faced with one's greatest fear, they do not hide. And if anything staring at Tom Riddle, face to face, and not backing down could be the definition of courage. It wasn't that Ginny wasn't afraid, she just chose to not let that fear rule her. If anything it was making her more obstinate. She knew what he was capable of, more than anyone in that present time.

Ginny bit her lip tentatively. This was Riddle. And he was going to escort her? To say she didn't trust him was an understand him. The redhead crossed her arms. She was just supposed to follow him? "Go ahead of me. I don't trust you." She said simply.

That was it? He just agreed? He was still too charming. Ginny knew he was ever calculating. He had to be planning something. And he was the only one that knew of her existence. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. If she thought she was in a bad situation before, it seemed to only get bleaker. But she had to hold her head high. She wouldn't give up.

Of course if he wanted to do something, she knew there wasn't much she could do. She was a capable witch, headstrong and potentially dangerous, but she knew his power was greater than hers - that he knew Dark Magic above her own knowledge. Even if what she learned in Dumbledore's Army could help, there was little she could do.

But that didn't mean she wouldn't try. She wouldn't move from her spot until he did. Not of her own accord at least. And this was a true test of her courage, with a little of the Weasley stubbornness and her mother's temper. It wasn't much, but it's what she had - it's who she was.

I confess my extreme appreciation for your patience.

[flight_ofdeath]

He offers her a small smile, friendly and tolerant of her hostile attitude (and perhaps somewhat knowing, as if he knew things were going to go his way in the end -- and who could blame him? They often do).

"I understand. Follow me." And with those words, he began their trek to Dumbledore's office. After a bit of walking, she could notice that they were headed towards the office she knew to be McGonagall's.

Tom, of course, was still in contemplation, was still pondering the situation. He spent much too time in this castle to have to think about where he was going, and therefore was free to let his mind focus on the girl behind him (he, of course, glanced back every so often to make sure she was indeed behind him).

The ideal situation, of course, would be to extract any useful information from her before offing her completely and simply leaving her body in the Chamber for the Basilisk to eat. And yet, she had escaped his future self, and she was obviously on her guard at the moment. It was more than obvious she didn't trust him, and it would take him quite a bit of effort in order for her to do so again... If he were to lead her to a girl's bathroom, or even an empty classroom, she would undoubtedly become suspicious. Was it too risky to try and do away with her now? Perhaps. Yes, better to be cautious and play it safe. He could ravage her mind another time... Hopefully.

And yet the factor of Professor Dumbledore was unpredictable. If he were to get involved, he would undoubtedly take things into his own hands, make it so Tom would no longer be necessary, be involved with this girl. No, Professor Dumbledore couldn't keep him away. Time Turners were never designed to be able to go so far into the past, not to mention the faulty magic that regards the future. This girl would be staying for a while, if only to work out the magic she would have to use in order to return. If it was possible, that is.

With that sorted and out of the way, Tom knew he would have to play even nicer than usual -- perhaps he could even try to seduce her? The thought made Tom sneer. Love, relationships -- idiocy, all of it. The bile that rose in his throat at the thought was swallowed back down. Trivial foolishness, it was. Tom had no doubt he would be a master at it. Anything he put his mind to he could master, there was no doubt. Not to mention, he had quite a number of - ahem - fans, and while he certainly didn't mind the adoration he got from the situation (he quite enjoyed it, actually), the idea of sinking to that level...

No. If he were to master the art of seduction, he would do it his own way. Ridiculous holidays, pet names, meaningless words thrown about -- it would not be anything of the sort. He would dominate her, spiritually, physically, magically, and she would be begging him to do it.

The idea had some merits, not to mention it wasn't as horrid as he first thought it might be. Uncomfortable and unwanted on the whole, yes, but perhaps he could work with it. Merely because certain incidents in fourth year --

One thing was certain: Tom was not going to commit to any course of action, not yet. First, he needed to get to know her, needed her to be comfortable in his presence. He needed the basics, and of course he had little intent to allow her to learn of his talent for Legilimency.

So, he began with the simple, "May I ask your name?"

No worries~

[lastofseven]

The silence was actually inviting. She had a few moments to collect herself. The situation was bad. More so than she could deal with, more than she wanted to, but she had to put her faith in Dumbledore. Ginny couldn't let herself get too run down. No, she wouldn't put down her guard, but him derailing her life again, she wouldn't let that happen.

Ginny's soft brown eyes weren't so soft every time he turned around. She was there, yes, but because she couldn't just go anywhere else. Her jaw was clenched, and she looked in his eyes each time. She wouldn't back down despite the pit in her stomach.

But he finally broke the silence. It reminded her that he was also in his head. That was never a good thing. But she wondered if she should continue to ignore his questions. It might be better to not anger him. Plus she'd rather not have him stew in his own thoughts.

Then again there was a whole other side that wanted to snark back. And it was winning out. "Ginny." The redhead answered. "Ginny Weasley. No need to ask who you are, Tom."

Tom Marvolo Riddle. She knew what it meant. His name, his father's name, the name that was forgotten. She bit the inside of her cheek; for half a second she remembered the first time she met him. But she couldn't let her own memories linger. She couldn't think of him like that. Well the memory, since she was unfortunately standing. And it was just a lie.

She looked back at him briefly. Ginny walked along the halls with her head high even if she had no other reason to not let herself falter. She knew where she was, suddenly remembering that Dumbledore was a professor in this time. Her face dropped and her brows furrowed. Still he was the one professor who saw through Riddle. That was some hope. And with things slipping through her fingers and seeping into his the longer she stayed.