PROLOGUE

"Here, girl, take your book. It's the best your father can give you."

Ginny, at this moment, could still hear Lucius Malfoy's words spoken to her in Flourish and Blotts ringing in her ear; in fact, she remembered that day extremely well and the fight that had happened between her father and Malfoy Senior in the small shop. Now that Ginny had time to think back on life, she always wondered which moment exactly was the moment that had set her on the path to where she was today. She'd always thought it was the day Lucius Malfoy had thrust that diary into her hands.

Honestly, though, Ginny couldn't be sure. Perhaps it was the first time she ever opened the blasted thing. Maybe it was the first time she'd ever killed someone. Ginny sighed, no longer despairing over the life she'd always ached for. It was that despair that had caused her so much pain in the first place throughout the first quarter of her life—and she could remember the exact day when that despair had begun.

Chapter 1—The Beginning

Ginny's eyes were wide as she stared around the corridors of Hogwarts. She wasn't really focusing on the stern witch's voice as she lectured them about something concerning house points, a thing that Ginny understood very well because of Percy and the twins. As she saw the shining suits of armor and a moving stairwell, a wide smile spread across Ginny's face. It was just as Tom had described it; he'd been right when he said that everything in Hogwarts looked like it had a legacy in itself. Everything about the school, Ginny thought, screamed greatness.

"Miss. Weasley," said Professor McGonagall impatiently. Ginny was familiar with her name thanks to Fred and George. "Miss. Weasley, I've had to address you three times. Pay attention, girl, and take your place at the back of the line to be sorted."

"Sorry, Professor."

Professor McGonagall's mouth relaxed as she nodded at Ginny before walking ahead of them toward huge doors that Ginny knew opened up to the Great Hall. Ginny felt a slight wave of nausea nearly cripple her as her legs buckled and her heart rate quickened; her eyes became larger. Ginny thought her eyes were wider than her neighbor, Luna's, who was standing next to her with dirty blond hair and wide, ocean-gray eyes.

It wasn't long before Ginny was standing in a cluster of first years before the very stool where the Sorting Hat rested upon. Tom had told Ginny about the hat and how it sorted people; he knew she was nervous and so he took pity on her (unlike her family and Harry) and had explained the whole ordeal to her. She'd told Tom that she wanted to be Gryffindor like her family; that she wanted Gryffindor courage, bravery, and strength.

Tom only had one response to that ambition: That she should desire to be great above all.

Ginny didn't think that much of his response; in fact, she thought maybe Tom had a point. She was the baby girl out of seven and she did need to stand out. If Ginny was great, then she wouldn't just be another Weasley. There would be more special things about her herself outside of the fact that she was the second female Weasley by birth in over a century. Ginny stared ahead rather blankly; her thoughts were so centered on how she could make her Mum and Dad so proud that she'd nearly not heard Professor McGonagall call her up to be sorted.

Ginny swallowed and focused on trying to place one foot in front of the other without tripping in front of about three-hundred people. Clearly, even knowing exactly how the sorting would go still did nothing to soothe her nerves. Before the Sorting Hat fell over her eyes, Ginny chastised herself. What are you so nervous for, Gin. The whole family's Gryffindor.

"Yet another Weasley!" The Sorting Hat spoke from within Ginny's mind.

A bit of resentment welled up within Ginny before she said, "So what if I am. Just sort me already."

"I see the family temper certainly did not escape you." The hat said smartly. Ginny sighed rather impatiently before the hat continued, "Now, where to put you? I see that you're a very bright girl, sharp, witty, and brave, yes. Hmm, now that's interesting."

Ginny's eyes moved from left to right underneath the hat. "What's interesting?"

"The utter obsession you have to prove yourself." The hat replied.

"I'm not obsessed with—."

"It's all here in your head. Do not argue." The hat said a bit irately.

"Please, hurry. People are starting to stare." Ginny begged, although she couldn't be sure whether or not people really were staring. She just didn't like being in front of everyone for so long.

"You have courage but not a Gryffindor's courage, I see."

"I am Gryffindor, I am."

"You have a Gryffindor's fortitude, certainly, but you are not Gryffindor. SLYTHERIN!"

The hall quieted and Ginny's heart seemed to have stopped. Something in the center of her chest felt like it was throbbing, but for what, she did not know. Ginny's mouth was wide open. It wasn't until Professor McGonagall's hand touched her shoulder that she realized that she had hardly been breathing. Ginny greedily took air into her lungs and her vision somewhat cleared. She was able to focus her eyes onto the Professor. McGonagall looked like a woman who had been shocked to her very core; she either was not—or could not—be sure about anything in life. Who could blame her? Every Weasley was a Gryffindor. Each and every single one. Ginny could hear the whispers amplifying throughout the Great Hall. She just wanted to completely vanish; that or run away.

"Miss. Weasley, join your house." McGonagall said, looking at Ginny with an assessing gaze.

Ginny's eyes widened as she slightly gave a shake of her head. "Professor, please."

McGonagall's eyes softened but Ginny knew exactly what she'd say before she even said it. "Miss. Weasley, go now."

Ginny swallowed and felt pain. Her mouth was dry; her legs and feet felt extremely heavy. The ground seemed to be further tilting upside-down. Ginny stood and looked away from Professor McGonagall, instead watching the Slytherin table. They were also whispering and sneering in her direction. As she moved toward the table, Ginny forced herself not to run. As she sat down, she told herself repeatedly in her mind that her parents would fix this. This was just an accident and everything would be fine tomorrow.

"Filthy blood traitor." a boy with mouse-like hair and horribly aligned teeth spat three seats down from Ginny.

"They can't seriously mean to keep her here, can they?" asked a dark-haired girl with a pug-shaped nose. She'd asked a boy with platinum blonde hair and cold, gray eyes that question. Ginny recognized his pointy face and remembered that he was Draco Malfoy. He'd picked at Harry in Flourish and Blotts.

"Wait till I tell my father about this." Malfoy said, glowering at Ginny who fought the urge to roll her eyes. "He'll have that trash swept out to join the other vermin in Gryffindor tomorrow."

Ginny opened her mouth to rage at the git, wanting to shout at him that she hadn't ever wanted this house. Ginny didn't choose to be there and she couldn't do anything to change the situation for now. Yet, it was at that moment, when a hand gently touched her right shoulder, stopping her from raging at Draco Malfoy and that stupid girl beside him.

"Don't." said a small, gentle voice that sounded kind. Ginny stared at the very blonde girl beside her, thinking that she perhaps was the most beautiful person that Ginny had ever before seen. "Arguing with him won't do you any good. Just eat your dinner and keep quiet until we reach our dorms."

Ginny opened her mouth to fume at the girl but then realized that she did have a point. Where would yelling get her with Malfoy and the girl? Sure, they probably would never accept the blood traitor but she didn't have to make it all the more easier for her other housemates to ostracize her.

Ginny wanted to close her eyes as a wave of bitter sadness and loneliness welled up from within her. She could feel people staring at her, whispering; she could see them pointing in her direction. There was a part of Ginny that wanted to get up from the Slytherin table and run over to the twins and even Percy to apologize and cry. Ginny slightly glanced over her shoulder, seeing the twins immediately. They were waving her over toward them. Although everything in Ginny wanted to get up and go to them, she shook her head no and faced forward, choosing to focus on the dinner before her at last.

To Ginny, dinner flew by fast. She felt detached as she ate the food and sipped pumpkin juice from her goblet. All she could do was focus on keeping a cool, calm composure. Ginny did not want the Slytherins to sense any weakness from her and that was mostly because she felt like this House—her House—did not appreciate weakness. When Ginny felt the gazes on her no more, she actually looked closer at her housemates and began to assess as many of them as she could. Ginny's mother had always told her not to judge people, and while Ginny understood why she shouldn't, she still did it all the same. After all, everyone had always told her that she was a great judge of character.

As she covertly looked up and down the table at her housemates, Ginny felt depressed by all that she saw. She doubted that she'd ever have a real friend in this house. Molly Weasley had always taught Ginny to look people in their eyes and even Tom and the twins agreed, too. Ginny therefore met her housemate's hateful gazes and felt as if she saw mostly all of them for what they truly were: ambitious—almost viciously so; calculating—even at the most relaxed of moments, Ginny noticed how her housemates studied one another for weakness, she thought; and selfish.

As Ginny's eyes became fixed upon the dark brown eyes of a brown-haired, thin boy, she blinked and instantly looked down. If Ginny saw all of that in her housemates, then what did that say about her? She, after all, had been sorted there.

"First years," said a voice from Ginny's left. Ginny flinched before looking at the boy prefect, who was sneering down at all of them, "Follow me."

Ginny took a deep breath before following the blonde-haired girl who had stopped her from losing her temper earlier. It took them no time to leave the Great Hall together. As they walked toward the dungeons, Ginny noticed that she didn't have many housemates from her year. There were five boys and only herself and the blonde girl.

"When we get in the commons," the blonde said, slowing her pace until she walked beside Ginny, "I advise you to be in the center of us all. They're not as likely to hex you if they don't have proper aim."

Under any other circumstances, Ginny thought she might have laughed. Instead, she nodded at the girl. "Thanks." Ginny said quietly. "I'm Ginny Weasley."

Ginny held out her hand to the same blond girl with stunning blue orbs, seeing that the girl was assessing her rather thoughtfully in a condescending way. After a few seconds had passed, the girl took Ginny's hand.

"I am Astoria Greengrass—and there's no need to thank me. We are not friends."

With that said, the girl quickened her pace and joined the others who were slightly ahead of them. The girl's rudeness, surprisingly, did not bother Ginny; in fact, her bluntness surprised Ginny, who thought that her open dislike of her had truly been very un-Slytherin like. Yet, as Ginny caught up to the others before their house entrance, she realized that Greengrass must have thought that she'd never have any real use for Ginny and therefore she wouldn't have to befriend her or even pretend to like her. The more prudent thing to have done would have simply been to wait and see. Yet Astoria hadn't, which told Ginny that she was either confident about her standing in Slytherin House or that she was simply rash.

Ginny stepped into the Slytherin commons, and despite herself, she couldn't help but be very impressed by it all. "The Slytherin Common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and a ceiling from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Slytherins were silhouetted around it in high-backed chairs." The room was incredibly spacious and rich looking. Everything about it was cold, elegant, refined and very antique. Ginny was intimidated by this place, but she loved it the moment she laid eyes on it.

"The girls' dormitory is to your left. The boys' dorm is on the right. Your insolence better not cost us the house cup. Goodnight." The prefect spat, looking at them all disgustingly. Ginny thought he looked rather stupid. He acted as if he himself had never been a first year.

Astoria then cleared her throat and gave Ginny an impatient look. Ginny's gaze settled on hers before deciding to ignore Greengrass and to follow her up the stairs. Maybe—just maybe—she could get Astoria to change her mind about her. Ginny felt like she'd need somewhat of a friend in this house.

"Come, Weasley." Astoria ordered. Ginny shook her head, biting back a retort to say that she was already following her. Yet, Ginny thought she knew Astoria's character very well; she was the kind of person who fancied herself above all others and therefore she thought that she could dictate things to everyone.

Upon entering their room, Ginny saw that it was very spacious. The beds seemed to be richly carved and very impeccable. Everything about it was so different to the Burrow, her home. Yet, Ginny still found herself attracted to all of it. Instantly, she told herself not to think like that. Thinking like that was a betrayal of her family and of Gryffindor, which was where she truly belonged.

"Our things are already unpacked." Astoria commented, stating the obvious. She plopped down onto the bed and looked at Ginny thoughtfully.

"What?" Ginny asked; this time, Ginny's voice was hard as steel.

Astoria's right eyebrow rose as she looked at Ginny somewhat surprised.

"I don't know what you're doing here, Weasley, but now that we've established that we're not friends, we need to discuss some rules. First, unless I tell you otherwise, stay out of my way and I'll do the same in return. Goodnight." She said, flouncing to a door off to the left of Ginny's bed.

Must be the loo, Ginny thought, grabbing her shabby nightgown out of the drawer and waiting for Astoria to come out of the room. Suddenly, Ginny's room door burst open. Her head snapped up and her eyes settled on Draco Malfoy. His robes were much like Astoria's. Ginny thought his robes were of black velvet with silk black trimming in the front and a fur hood in the back. Malfoy perhaps would have been good-looking—that is, if a sneer wasn't always present on his face.

"Not so brave now that you're not around Potty, the mudblood, and that brother of yours, are you, girl?"

Ginny felt her wand inside of her robes but decided that she should not draw it yet. Besides, she was a first year; she'd probably hurt herself, rather than him.

"My name is Ginny, and the last time I checked, you weren't so brave yourself." Ginny said, giving him a heated glare that the boy returned with a chilling coldness. "I seem to remember how you ran away from something in your detention last year. I think it happened in the dark forest, did it not?"

Malfoy's lips thinned and his wand hand slightly twitched as he glowered at her. Ginny held up her hands and decided that a change in tactics was needed. She stood slowly, seeing Malfoy frown at her actions. How she loved doing the opposite of what people expected of her? It had always kept her steps ahead of her brothers and their antics. Now she wanted to see how well she could maneuver Malfoy—that is, if she could do so at all.

"Honestly, Draco—if I can call you Draco." Ginny corrected, seeing the boy sneer at her. "Okay, Malfoy then. Look, anyone who's smart enough can see that people in this house care most about what you think. I'll be honest and say that I'm not of them—."

Again, Malfoy sneered at her before saying, "Obviously."

"Still," Ginny said firmly, looking at Malfoy with as much distaste as he looked at her. "I don't want to be petty enough to make an outright enemy of you. I think we'd both know that would be a mistake."

A gleam of something that Ginny didn't really understand appeared in Malfoy's eyes, although she'd thought for a second that it had been pride. "You should know that you'll never be good enough to call yourself a Malfoy's friend, blood traitor."

"And you should not be impertinent enough to think that I would desire a Malfoy's…friendship. I'm still a Weasley."

"I can see that."

"But," Ginny said a bit impatiently, "I think we can tolerate one another. I actually think we may find use for each other."

Malfoy leaned his back up against the threshold of their dorm room door before leveling a cool gaze at Ginny. "I'm listening."

"If you were to somewhat begrudgingly accept me in front of the house, then what would that cost me?" Ginny asked, her gaze never leaving his as a smirk spread across his face.

"You could never afford it," he mocked and then stood straight, approaching Ginny. "But," He added, his eyes lighting up as if he'd thought of something wickedly brilliant, "You could earn it."

"By doing what exactly?"

"Nothing short of bowing to me in front of the entire Great Hall and perhaps licking my shoes."

"Fuck you, Malfoy." Ginny raged, glaring at the prick. "I was trying to be reasonable but I see that you're not. You can go."

"You said so yourself, Weasley." Draco sneered, coming closer to Ginny before quickly drawing his wand and placing it under her chin. "I could make you or break you."

Ginny glared up at him before taking a step closer. "We'll see who breaks who," Ginny said, drawing her wand just as fast as he did, aiming it at his heart. "Now, get out."

Draco leered at her, saying in her ear, "Big mistake."

At that moment, Astoria came back into the dorm and her gaze traveled from Malfoy's cold stature to Ginny's fiery stance. Ginny's gaze met cold ice before Draco turned and swaggered out of their dorm without bothering to shut the door at all. A frustrated groan escaped Ginny, who walked over to her dresser and snatched out a nightgown without looking at Astoria. She stood to head to the Loo, and on her way there, she intentionally bumped into Astoria's shoulder, easily jarring the girl out of her way. Ginny slammed the Loo door shut and turned on the water taps. As the water ran down her face, she couldn't be sure whether or not she'd cried. She just felt so alone.

Tom, help me. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to tell Mum and Dad what I am now.

Ginny? Of course I'll help you. What do you mean by what you are now? Are you referring to your sorting?

I don't know how it went so wrong, but I'm not supposed to be in Slytherin. I don't BELONG here.

The Sorting Hat is never wrong, sweet Ginny. But, if you're truly worried, you can talk it over with the Headmaster. I honestly do not think anything can be done to change your situation but perhaps it will help you to better embrace it. Your experience in Slytherin House, I think, will make you greater. No one can now call you another Weasley, can they? And people have even said that Slytherin was the greatest of the Hogwarts four.

Slytherin was Dark, Tom! Witches and wizards from this house tend to go bad! I don't want that.

My sweet, Ginny. If only you knew how one of a kind you are. For the month and two days that I have known you, I know that your heart is pure and light. Slytherin will not take that away from you; rather it will more than likely teach you to hone it and harness it to its utmost potential. You will make your parents proud. Remember, they love you.

I know—but Fred, George, Ron! And Harry?

They will love you still.

My housemates hate me. They call me blood traitor, Tom.

Can I truly confide in you, my sweet Ginny? I do not want to alarm you.

You can always trust me, Tom. You've been really great to me.

I was also a Slytherin.

But you never told me. Why?

Please don't be angry. It's just—well, a stigma surrounds Slytherin house. You yourself said that witches and wizards go bad there. My past experience in Slytherin, I think, will be similar to your future experience.

How?

I, a half-blood as you know, was not liked by my house. I was shunned, hexed, overlooked, and constantly bullied up until my fourth year. It took me years to learn how to truly survive in Slytherin house.

Tell me.

You have a kind heart, sweet Ginny. What you will need to survive our house will require a hardened heart.

So I should be cold, is that it?

You should guard your heart and be careful about those you are willing to let in. People can hurt you—but only if you let them. Most in our house will seek to use you in a constant game for power that is played throughout all of our lives, even by Gryffindors, too.

Power is not everything, Tom. Love—

Before Ginny could finish writing her sentence, Tom's scrawl stopped her.

—is a power within itself that can override the senses, and at times, impair one's sense of what is good and bad or right and wrong. You will find that life is a constant struggle for power and several means are used to get it, be it love, kindness, cruelty, or deception. You could also be used as a means toward someone else's end, Ginny.

Tom, love is beautiful and—

Yes, it is. But it can also be a power that is terrible. People will use it (and other means) either to help or to hurt you—but they can only do what you let them. You must see people for who they are. You must see their desires, their needs—and you must choose for yourself—

That's selfish—

Only you control how far you allow your wants and needs to overshadow others, Ginny. But you always must choose for yourself—that is, if you truly want to be great. Greatness requires a certain predisposition to dominate all others to a certain degree, and if you truly seek to survive this world, least of all Slytherin House, then you must embrace this aspect of human nature and embrace this part of yourself, a part that is in us all.

That sounds so cruel, Tom.

Only if you take it to such a dark place, but you do have a choice. Beware of those you call friend, when perhaps they are allies or enemies. You are too special, Ginny. I do not want to see you hurt.

Maybe you're right. I really do want to prove that I'm more than what I seem. I want to show them all.

And you will by excelling academically, for knowledge is the greatest power. In order to do that, you must get adequate sleep.

Bollocks, it's after midnight!

Yes, sleep well, Ginny—and do not be troubled about your family and Harry. They'll love you—you'll see.

Thank you, Tom. I'm glad you're here. You're so amazing. I don't feel quite as alone when I'm writing to you. Thank you for being my one and only friend. Goodnight.

Good night.

Ginny shut the leather bound diary—a gift that had either been from her father or Harry she hoped—and placed the book under her pillow for safekeeping. As Ginny stared up into the stone ceiling that was tinted green, she ignored Astoria's soft snores and thought more about what Tom had said. Maybe he did have a point. She should think more of herself. Doing that wouldn't make her inherently selfish; it would just make her all the more true to herself. Even Tom had said she would have a choice in everything that she did and her parents had always said that she was the most gentle, the most compassionate, out of all her brothers.

Ginny sighed, thinking that she was crazy to think that her family would ever turn their back on her because of Slytherin house. Tom was right: They loved her. They knew her better than everyone. As she closed her eyes and remembered the twin's as they waved her over to their table back in the Great Hall, Ginny couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. Her family still wanted her around and would love her all the same.

That was her last coherent thought before she thought no more.

WARNING: Chapters will be LONG. The beginning of this story will be VERY slow. 70% to 75% of this story should be canon compatible.

Character & Plot Info: This story (including Ginny) will be different in several ways from the original ACD, though the timeline of the events that occurred in the HP Books will be similar up until the Battle of Hogwarts. Then the story completely changes. Also, Ginny's characterization will be sharper, colder, more calculating and ruthless. At times, her characterization will appear to shift. This is intentional. There will be times when Ginny's behavior/thoughts will be incredibly warm; other times, she'll be incredibly cold. This story is a VERY detailed depiction of Ginny's struggle for her identity, which will be incredibly unstable throughout this story; it portrays only a single part of her struggle between the Light and the Dark. She will do things and say things that'll make you want to quit reading this fanfiction. I'll place warnings to alert readers of disturbing/graphic scenes. Also Ginny will appear older than she really is due to her diary influence and growing up in wartime, but I'll try my best to keep it believable.

Both arguments for Ginny being (or not being) a Mary Sue are valid, but here's why I respectfully say she's not: (1) While Ginny is exceptionally talented, that talent isn't depicted in an implausible way. First, her talent is derived from the nature of her possession by Riddle; he only enhanced the talent that was already present by sharpening it and making it more unconventional upon practice. Also, Ginny is depicted as studying hard and frequently. (2) This Ginny doesn't possess rare or nonexistent skills that weren't depicted in or alluded to in the HP Book by Rowling herself. The spells she does can be done by any above average witch or wizard (like Ginny) who's as dedicated as she is to certain magic. I've taken creative liberty with skills (wandless magic), yes, but even that skill does not make Ginny all-powerful. (3) Her flaws are NOT meant to be endearing. I haven't written Ginny in a way to make readers sympathize with her. I want readers to question her "logic" and actions and to understand that she's flawed, young, and makes stupid (but understandable) mistakes. (4) This Ginny will face real consequences suitable for her actions. (5) This Ginny does not solve extraordinarily difficult and impossible problems that have stymied other characters for years, nor does she remarkably outperform the more popular characters magic-wise. She's NOT one of a kind. Most witches and wizards can do the same spells that she can do with a wand—and without a wand—that is, if they're dedicated enough to study/practice as much as this Ginny does or were even willing to do magic (like the Dark magic) that she sometimes does. That's a reason why she's a Slytherin in this fanfiction. If you want a perfect character who's clearly Light or Dark, then this story isn't for you. I once told a reviewer that there are several fanfiction stories where Harry, Draco, and even Neville are by definition Marty-Sues. Even canon-Harry could be interpreted as a Marty-Sue but that still doesn't make the actual HP books or these fanfiction stories terribly written. If the stories are Mary or Marty-Sues, then sue us all for appallingly unoriginal writing—but wait, isn't that the purpose of fanfiction? I've unleashed my creativity and imagination—and though I protest so much because I'm passionate about this story and offended by the notion that a woman is inherently less intelligent (and also less powerful magically) than a man—the only thing I have left to say now is that I rest my case. Please do not flame this story with 'It's a Mary-Sue' comments.

How are the Slytherin boys able to access the Slytherin Girls' Dormitory? Hermione says that in Hogwarts, A History that boys are not allowed in the girls' dorms. I made this change out of creative liberty: (1) Because it's much easier for me to depict the private relationship between Theo and Ginny; and (2) because I wanted to show just how cunning enough Slytherin house is to bypass these wards. Make no mistake, the wards exist. The Slytherins figure out how to dismantle a couple of wards (this one and the other wards concerning the practicing of Dark Magic). They only dismantle the wards after the term starts, and set them back up just before Christmas holiday, only to dismantle them again around the start of the new term in January, and then to put them back up again before leaving for summer holiday in June. That way, Snape or Dumbledore won't detect the wards being up or down—especially if they're dismantled from inside the castle. This might not seem plausible but let's examine Book 6. After Draco lets the Death Eaters into Hogwarts and Hermione explains what happens, she never directly mentions how the wards alerted everyone (including the professors) to the fact that they'd been dismantled. I think the reason why is because it was done from inside of Hogwarts, not outside. Therefore, I think it's plausible for the wards to be dismantled from the inside, making Dumbledore/Snape unaware of the nonexistence of the wards.

Disclaimer: I HAVE NO RIGHTS TO HARRY POTTER. Anything recognizable—such as events or characters—belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Bloomsbury, and Scholastic Inc. respectively. All original characters (and events) are products of J.K. Rowling. Copyright infringement is NOT intended, and I make absolutely no money from posting this story. At times, this story will quote Harry Potter Books 1-7 but those quotes will mostly be indicated throughout the text with quotation marks.

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