Home, at Last

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

*Exhausted from her meeting with Dumbledore, hungry and stressed from both being talk at and about by so many adults at once and from having her mind toyed with so badly, Ginny finally makes it back to her room; starts to knock on the door, then remembers she lives there and really shouldn't have to; so opens it and goes in.*

*Looking around, she notices two things, first there's a large, empty cage that wasn't there before, second, she's alone for the first time in ages and, removing her robes and wearing just the shirt and skirt of her uniform, lies down on the bed and waits for Tom to return*

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[basilisk-lord1.livejournal.com]

*enters the room, parrot on his shoulder* Oh, good. You're back. *kicks the door shuts and simultaneously locks and wards it as part of his usual habits*

Start talking. *eyes stray over her, paying particular attention to her neck and the lack of the collar around it* Who removed it?

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

*sits up upon hearing him enter; rubbing her eyes*

What a pretty bird!

Um, Professor Voldemort removed it, at the insistence of the damnded FurbyHeadmistress Kahnooloo. I never asked anyone to take it off. *isn't lying and hopes he knows it* Dumbledore told me he wanted to, and then the Headmistress said it wasn't part of my uniform and that I had to take it off.

It was awful, Tom they were all very cross with me and with each other and ... it was just bloody awful!

[basilisk-lord1.livejournal.com]

His name is Viane. I do hope you're not allergic. *doesn't tell her where it came from*

*looks at her carefully, as though making certain she's telling the truth* Very well. I'll get it back later on. Perhaps it was going too far.

*summons over a towel and tosses it to her* Put it on and come to the sauna. You can tell me about the wonderful meeting you had to sit through and why the hell it took three days.

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

That's a lovely name, and it suits him. Is it Spanish or something? I don't think I'm allergic. I've never had a parrot before, but I'm not allergic to owls.

*not sure if she likes being examined that way or hates it; wonders if suggesting she wear the collar in their room and take it off when she leaves would put him in a better mood; then thinks better of it*

Thank you. *takes the towel and changes into it and follows him* Oh, yes, it was just absolutely nifty! Best meeting, ever. *sits on the bench and leans back, closing her eyes* There was a lot that happened that made it last so long, I guess. But mostly Professors Dumbledore and Voldemort seemed to be arguing a lot and Charlie couldn't find the room at first and then couldn't get in it and honestly, I tried to tune a lot of it out, but I couldn't. I never meant for it to go on so long or become such a big thing! It was just supposed to be a quick chat with Dumbledore.

[basilisk-lord1.livejournal.com]

It's English. He was found in Bombay.

*sheds his own clothes while she talks, making sure to summon a towel over around his waist before stripping out of his trousers*

*has to preserve some modesty here*

*shoulder has one small scar on it while his back has a few more, doesn't seem to mind them as he has a seat on the bench next to her*

*the sauna was meticulously done, shapely wooden bench that had been smoothed out so that no splinters could be found, on the other side of the sauna is a small fire, charmed by an Incendio to prevent it from going on and can spring a bit higher with more power placed into the spell*

Dumbledore and my older self always tend to argue. That's what they're best at. Why was your brother invited to the meeting? And why couldn't he get in? Dumbledore lock the place up and forget to let him inside?

*likes listening to her bitch and complain*

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

Bombay? In India? That's a long way for a bird to come. Was he a gift?

*tries not to stare at his chest; not at all bothered by the scars, but thinks she'll save asking about them for another time*

*watches him sit next to her and has a sudden urge to put her head on his shoulder; it's warm and cozy and she could happily drift off to sleep in his arms, but she knows she'd better answer him, instead*

Well, they're quite good at it. Though I don't believe Dumbledore exactly won this round. He wanted me out of this room and the Furby said no. Dumbledore didn't even care to ask me what I wanted. Only your older self did that!

I don't think Charlie was invited, exactly. He must have been looking for me, as I'd been gone for so long, and he just sort of showed up outside the door, banging on it. It's always nice to see him, but the situation was a bit ridiculous! I can't imagine why Dumbledore couldn't just let him in. It's his office, after all.

Oh, you mentioned the tea. Do you think he's putting something in it? I didn't drink it, but I swirled it around a lot and it might've gotten on me. Can you believe he never offered any of us a thing to eat? Not a single damned cookie or cracker. Nothing!

*will happily bitch for hours if he lets her, as long as she doesn't pass out from hunger*

[basilisk-lord1.livejournal.com]

Yes, he was.

*reclines back, seemingly unconcerned about anything*

Dumbledore tends to assume things that are more than often erroneous. That's what makes him self-righteous. A good many Gryffindors are like that. And when you try to correct him, he won't listen or pretends not to understand. To him, everyone's a child.

Wait. *sits up* You mean to tell me that Charlie, your brother, was pounding on the door for three days straight, trying to work the doorknob, and no one let him in? For three days? *absolutely perplexed but thinks the mental image is hysterical*

It's good you didn't drink it. Sometimes he puts things into the tea but that's a whole other story that I don't think I'll be telling for the rest of my life.

*conjures her up a candy bar* Here. Eat it quickly before it melts.

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

*starting to really unwind and relax a bit*

He does treat me like a child! I knew you'd understand! He just didn't understand anything I was saying to him. It was so frustrating trying to explain and he gives me one of those looks and acts like I'm too young and stupid to get what's going on. And says he's known you for sixty years which is just ridiculous.

Yes, that's exactly what was happening. Three days. Door pounding! It was insane! *giggles a little*

He ... He does? Won't drink anything when I'm in his office then. I had no idea. I always thought he was so kindly.

*takes the candy bar and almost inhales it* Oh, god, thank you! That's the first food I've had in days. And I have days and days of private lessons I have to take now and I have a feeling Charlie's going to be all but shadowing me. He sort of acted like he might.

[basilisk-lord1.livejournal.com]

He likes to have known me for sixty years. Unfortunately, he's only known my original for so long. Not me. He will, however, think that I'm my original and vice versa. Since becoming separate, I still have my original's ideas and plans in mind, but I'm still my own identity. If that makes any sense.

Your brother is the most idiotic person I've ever met. No offense or anything but how difficult is it to open a lousy door?

He's kindly so long as you're on his side. Once you've attained your own ideas and opinions, you lose favour with him and he shuts you out in the cold.

Typical of him. What private lessons? *to Viane* Be nice.

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

*gives him a shocked look* That's not nice!

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

*decides to just ignore the parrot, as it's Tom's pet and she doesn't want to make Tom mad at her*

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

And see I told him that! At least that came up at the end when Charlie was *getting very angry at the memory* god, Charlie was trying to tell me you're no good which is absurd and Dumbledore kept smugly insisting that I didn't have a clue, which is just so bloody stupid, because Obviously I've spent more time with you than he possibly could have.

Charlie means well. I think there was some sort of odd enchantment in the all, or something. He just doesn't understand. He's too old now and he just, he doesn't know you or know th ewhole story and I'll just have to make him see.

I don't think I've never not been on Dumbledore's side until now. Except, well, some of his previous decisions were a bit odd. *thinks she better not be specific here; takes a minute to sit up and stretch and watch the parrot*

May I pet him?

Oh, they were all fighting over who would teach me what. *wonders if she's allowed to tell, but he's going to know everything anyway, so plunges ahead* I probably should have started the story from the start, but it's all just a mess now. The lessons are because, well, when Dumbledore saw that collar he went a little ballistic, and then he sort of read my mind and knew you'd try to um, get me to do something. So he insisted I be taught how to resist the imperius curse. And um, things just sort of grew from there.

[basilisk-lord1.livejournal.com]

*smirk* He was right. I'm not any good. Not for you nor for anyone. *glances at her* Who are you trying to convince? You know me better than Dumbledore, so you say. You know what I'm capable of and you know what path I'd choose if given the choice.

If you want to handle the situation on your own, then you need to keep other people from interfering. You can't go to anyone since all they'll do is try to take the control away from you. Either that or they'll try to take you away from the situation and it's clear you don't want that.

So learn to stand up to them. Tell them precisely what it is you want. Tell them you won't accept anything less. You can't hide or banter around something like this. Otherwise, they'll think you less than capable and take the matter off your hands.

Yes, you may pet him.

*smirk* The Imperius Curse. I put that on you once to show you my own power and do they actually think it's now an every day sort of thing?

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

*absolutely refuses to believe him* There's good in you. There's good in everyone, Tom. You do have the choice, don't you? *sighs* I'm not trying to convince anyone.

*Is getting confused* I should have talked to you before. I didn't go to anyone about anything that was discussed in the meeting. I went to Dumbledore with a whole other question, or really, just to let him know something I thought he should know. And then he started asking me questions and well, you know how he can be. He's awfully hard to stand up to.

I'd like to learn how. I wanted to stand up to him, and I tried. But he wouldn't listen to me. Even when I did tell him what I wanted, he called in your original and Professor Snape and got into an argument with them. And your original had to ask to have the Headmistress brought in. I need a lot of lesson, I think if I'm going to be able to stand up to him.

*reaches up very, very cautiously, hoping to make peace with the parrot* Thank you, Tom.

I don't know why he would think that, but he seemed to think the worst of everything. And he thinks I need other lessons as well, so I also have to take them with him and Professor Snape.

[basilisk-lord1.livejournal.com]

I do have the choice. Doing good will always get one punished. It's the way of the world. I follow my own path, set for me by fate. That's all there is to it. I'm not inclined to help anyone save those I need or care about.

I know what you mean. He has his ways about him and he likes getting all the information he can to use against another. As it stands, he rarely listens to anyone when he has a set opinion in his mind.

It's not that he thinks the worst, it's just that he's overly cautious and thinks he has to take care of every possibility there is. That's one of his many flaws.

*to Viane* It's all right. She won't hurt you.*smoothes down a few of his feathers*

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

*notices the sulk, but is trying so hard to be good; slowly, carefully, and gently reaches over to pet him*

Oh, he's so soft, Tom! Beautiful and soft!

I won't hurt you, Viane.

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

*does not want to disagree with him, not today; but quietly files all of that away, especially the last part*

He certainly wouldn't listen to me! It sounds like you've managed better against him, though. *pause* I don't want him interfering with, um, things. I ... Can you help me with that?

I think you're right. He wants control over every second of my life now, it seems. And I really did not ask for that. I still can't figure out how he managed to get so much of what he wanted. Sometimes I feel like he can see right into me, without me feeling it. It's creepy!

Oh, and he's so not trusting that he's going to try to teach me everything your original and Professor Snape are supposed to be teaching me, as well. He could've just let everything be divided up. But no, that wasn't enough for him! *getting worked up again*

[basilisk-lord1.livejournal.com]

I manage because I have to. My life tends to hang in the balance when it comes to him. That's all there is to it. I suppose I can help you. Just lie in the owls and if he wants a face-to-face meeting with you, have an excuse ready. Be constantly busy with people who can give you a good alibi.

He does know Legilimancy, you know. Of course he can see right through you to know the truth.

Aside from the Imperius Curse, what else is he going to teach you?

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

*startled* You ... your life hangs in the balance? Do you mean he's trying to kill you? I'd be very grateful for the help. But not go to lessons at all? I'm supposed to have class with him this evening. I'm concerned he'll have a fit and the Furby will get involved again. I can say I don't feel well for a few days, I suppose. I was supposed to meet with Charlie to go flying, but that's off now. But I think I have a couple of other friends I can meet with. *doesn't want to name names* And um, a knitting project I'm working on.

Was that legilmency? That ... it ... hmmm. I feel different things when ... I mean, it only feels like he might be reading my mind or something. It's not like, it didn't feel like anything I've felt before.

He's supposed to teach me that! Or someone is, and I think it was him. I think Professor Snape's supposed to teach me occlumency. And um, I think that's it.

[basilisk-lord1.livejournal.com]

I mean he probably would if he could. He tried to before in giving Potter the implements of murder.

No, you'll go to his lessons. Those things can't be helped. Unless, of course, you tell Severus that you'd rather take lessons only from him and my original. I can help you with the third final lesson, whatever the hell it may be. I would've made a good teacher.

Legilimancy can feel like various things, depending on the Legilimancer. If they want you to feel it, you'll feel it. If they're very good at what they do, you won't feel or suspect a thing.

The Imperius curse and Occlumency. My, but they do wish to break my supposed hold over you, don't they? They don't know me that well.

*can and will change tactics if need be, has many other ways of getting what he wants*

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

I would never let him use me that way, Tom! If you think he might use me for that purpose, I need to know how to prevent that from happening.

I can tell Professor Snape and your original that I only want lessons from them, but I'm sure Dumbledore will become suspicious if I do. I guess I should go to the first lesson, at least. But please help me get better at standing up to him before I do. *worried now*

Oh, so he doesn't want me to know when he's in my mind? That's sort of ... devious. I hadn't thought he'd do something like that. *even more worried*

Yes, I'm supposed to learn how to resist the Imperius, Occlumency and leglimency. And Dumbledore hinted at other things, but I don't know what they are. See, I knew he didn't know you that well! And I kept trying to say that! But he and Charlie wouldn't listen at all!

[basilisk-lord1.livejournal.com]

*to the parrot* Be good. She's not a threat.

*back to Ginny* He has many different motivations for doing what he does. Using you in just one way wouldn't be like him.

Dumbledore shouldn't mind so long as you're being taught what you need to be taught. It's doubtful he'll want me to teach you anything but he shouldn't take issue with the other two teaching you things.

All the same, it's best that you learn how to handle him on your own. I learned how to hone my own skills by going up against him. Not that he knew what I was doing at the time, but it was the best way to see how far I had to go.

He's been in my mind before. He's been in many people's minds. He's good at what he does. Technically, he taught me Occlumency and helped me perfect it. He just wasn't aware of it.

Let him try and aid you. It won't matter in the end. *not sure what Dumbledore will try but vows to keep aware of the situation*

[ginevram.livejournal.com]

Oh, I wouldn't tell him you were teaching me anything. Not after how he was in that meeting! But he'd see anyway, wouldn't he?

If you think that's best, I'll manage it. If he and Professor Snape are teaching me occlumency, I'll eventually be able to use it to keep him from getting in my mind, right?

I suppose I'm going to have to go back to his office fairly soon. I'm tired. You'd think I deserved a night off rather than just jumping straight in. I hope he doesn't keep me long next time.