Blame Somebody Else

[heidi]

This is all mctabby's fault. And it's unbeta-ed, so any mistakes are entirely my own. And yes, I know I'm not using the exact lines Tom quoted, but then again, I think he's a liar.

I may upload this to TDA later this week... Or just call it a big mistake.


I am nothing,
You are wind and water and sky,
Tommy.
Tell me, Tommy,
How I can earn your love.
I would swim oceans,
I would move mountains,
I would do anything for you.
What do you want me to do?


"What's it like to grow up on a farm?"
"Boring, much of the time. Nobody's around to talk to, especially when the boys are away at school. It's not like having you, Tommy. You're like a friend I can carry around in my pocket."
"But didn't you have chores and such? I can see you milking the cows, Ginny, your long hair in plaits, before sunrise. Or helping your mother make breakfast with eggs freshly gathered from the chickens. You do keep chickens, don't you?"
"Yes, fourteen, last I was there, and two roosters. We had a third, but he was too old this summer, and we had to...
"The rooster died?"
"My mum had to put him down, because he wasn't well and it was causing problems in the henyard."
"Did you see her do it?"
"Yes."
"So you know how to kill a cock?"
"A what?"
"A cock. A rooster. A male chicken. What do you call it?"
"A rooster, yes."
"Could you?"
"I- Myself? I never practised the charm she used, so I don't think I know how."
"A simple severing charm should get the head off, don't you think? Wouldn't Flitwick be pleased, and give you points for your house, if you knew how to do a severing charm before he even taught it?"
"Yes."
"You should practise. You can practise on your hair ribbons. Turn them into confetti. All you have to do is say 'Discerpo' and you've done it. I know you have the power, Ginny. I can see it in your words."
"Do you really think so? I worry in class, that I'm not going to do as well as my classmates and some of the professors are so strict and there's so much to learn."
"And you spend so much time talking to me! Ginny, it's flattering, but you should go practise your severing charms. It's always good to learn things outside the classroom."
"Yes, Tommy. I will. "

I am unworthy of your love,
Tommy, Tommy,
Let me prove worthy of you love.
Tell me how I can earn your love,
Ste me free.
How can I turn your love to me?

"My roommates were very unhappy about the confetti."
"Ah, so you were successful with the charm! I'm very proud of you, Ginny."
"Really?"
"I knew that if you put your mind to it, you could do it. It's important to focus on things you really want to do, isn't it?"
""You're proud of me?"
"Oh, yes, Ginny. But of course, a summoning charm on a hair ribbon or a piece of parchment isn't the same as using it for real, practical purposes."
"Unless you're having a party!"
"Hahahahaha! Ginny, you're so clever. That's really very funny."
"I"m not the funny one. That's my brothers - the twins. They're always making people laugh."
"You are funny. A funny, talented witch."
"Am I really?"
"Oh, yes, Ginny. It's so easy to flatter you. Now, do you think you're ready to try that severing charm on something more animate?"
"What do you mean?"
"You don't like spiders, do you?"
"Actually, it's my brother Ron who hates spiders. I don't like them in particular, but I've never particularly thought about them so I'm really not sure if..."
"Have you ever smashed one?"
"Of course, we need their legs for potions sometimes and it's always easier for Mum if I find them in the yard or the attic, instead of having to buy them."
"Your severing charm would make it much easier."

I am nothing,
You are wind and devil and God,
Tommy,
Take my blood and my body
For your love.
Let me feel fire,
Let me drink poison,
Tell me to tear my heart in two,
If that's what you want me to do...

"You have to do a severing charm on a spider eight times to get it to stop moving!"
"Oh, my, that must have been horrible, my dear."
"It was hopping and hopping and hopping and it wouldn't stop. Disgusting creatures, spiders."
"So you do loathe them?"
"Now, I do, thank you very much."
"You must have been very brave to keep working the spell over and over. I'm proud of you, Ginny."
"Oh, Tommy, every time you say that I just feel..."
"Surely you must hear it all the time! You're a bright and powerful witch, and so pretty too."
"Can you see me?"
"Only when you want me to. Only when you want to feel me inside your mind. And I look through those lovely brown eyes and I'm amazed by all you do. Everyone must admire you."
"No."
"No?"
"Nobody like you do, Tom.

I am unworthy of you love,
Tommy darling,
I have done nothing for your love.
Let me be worthy of your love,
Set me free-

"Ginny, you never write to me outside."
"I do. In the library and sometimes in History of Magic class, and..."
"Outside the castle. In the fresh air."
"But it's nighttime, Tom!"
"A bit of fresh air would do you good. You've been practising your charms too often. Why don't we take a walk down near the lake? I'm sure it's a lovely night. Bring your wand. We'll need a little light."

I would come take you from you life...
I would some take you from your cell...
You would be queen to me, not wife...
I would crawl belly deep through hell...
Baby, I'd die for you...
Baby, I'd die for you...
Even though-
Even though-
I will always know:
I am unworthy of
Your love,
Tommy darlin',
Let me worthy of your love.
I'll find a way to earn your love,
Wait and see.
Then you will turn your love to me,
Your love to me...

"Tom? I think I'm going crazy, Tom. The drop of blood that just fell from my hands onto the page... I don't know where it came from, Tom..."


Yes, a cliche a minute, that. But that's what a Ginny songfic will do to you...

Comments

[aome.livejournal.com]

Oooh, this was good! (Or should I blame someone else, too? ;) ) I liked where her talk of the farm and chickens turned into a means for Tom to get her to kill Hagrid's roosters....

[datta.livejournal.com]

I had forgotten the days when Heidi was just a fic writer (if it can ever be said that you were JUST a writer) and not the Supreme Goddess of FictionAlley.

This was beautiful. I love Tom in all his horrid little manipulative guises.

*snaps fingers, a la coffeehouse*

[darkrosetiger.livejournal.com]

Ooooooh. I've always loved that song--it's so delightfully creepy in context--and it fits perfectly here. Nice.

[quidditchgrrl.livejournal.com]

That was great, very original and is very much how I see Tom speaking to Ginny, molding her into his puppet. Slowly, working her up to the big events, not scaring her too much...just like a successful manipulator would.

The song fits the story very well, quite thought-provoking in this context.

[annchen.livejournal.com]

It's nothing wrong with writing a cliché a minute as long as it's not badly written clichés...
I liked it, and I normally stay away from Ginny-centric fics.

[mark356.livejournal.com]

I keep pointing people to this as a great example of Tom/Ginny; people have laready said that there's nothing wrong with a cliche a minute as long as they're not badly written! This is a very specific take on Tom/Ginny, but the way the snips of exchanges between Tom and Ginny in the diary imply the events of CoS is just beautiful. Why didn't you upload it to TDA?

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

Because of the 25/75 rule - although looking at it again, it is slightly more than 75% not-song-or-CoS, so perhaps I will. Or go back and stretch it a smidge...

Thanks for the compliment, btw. It's such a great song to play with, though, so all credit should go to Sondheim.