I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I couldn't breathe.

ButI could hear the footsteps coming closer. Closer to finding me. Closer to help? No, closer to someone finding out my horrible secret. My horrible horrible secret. But there was nothing I could do about it.

"My my, if it isn't the little…" Whatever insult or comment he was about to say died the moment he actually looked at me. He was silent as he took in my appearance.

My hair was a crazy mess, but that was the least of my problems. A bruise covered most of the left side of my face, blood ran from my nose and mouth, and my close were torn and stained with my blood. Both my wrists were red and bruising from being held onto way to tightly. And more blood, stained my legs and the floor where I sat.

"The hospital wing, I have to take you to the hospital wing" I had never heard as much emotion in his voice as I did at that moment. He bent down to pick me up and I struggled to find my voice.

"No" It was cracked and broken, just as I was. But it was there. I was still there.

"Okay" He didn't fight me not one bit as he lifted me into his arms, carrying me as a husband caries his new bride. He cradled me close to his body as if it would protect me to keep me there.

For a few moments, I drifted away until he placed me gently on a bathroom floor. I looked around slowly trying to figure out where he had taken me.

"I have my own room." He answered as if he could read my thoughts. And then he turned on the shower, picked me back up nd carried me inside. The water stung and I automatically flinched in pain. He responded immediately by pulling me closer to his body away from the hot water. We stayed there in the shower until the water began to run cold.

He placed me down on the marble shower floor and I stood on my own two feet for the first time since he had found me.. Somehow he managed to undress himself and wrap a towel around his lower half quickly and without me seeing a thing. Then he pulled my shirt over my head gently and threw it in the garbage can. I didn't care. I would rather be naked then ever wear those clothes again. He reached around my body and unsnapped my bra letting it fall to the floor at my feet. He wrapped a towel around me then bent down to pull the remains of my clothing off of my body. If I could have I would have laughed at this situation. Never in a million years would I have ever been in a towel and only a towel in front of Draco Malfoy with him in the same in front of me.

"Can you walk?" His voice was gentle and so different from the cold Draco Malfoy I knew.

I took a step out of the shower and cried out as pain spread through me life wildfire. I stumbled but his warm arms wrapped around me picking me back up and cradling me once again. We walked into his large room and he put me down on the oversized bed before lighting a fire and digging through his dresser. Once again too quickly for my eyes he had changed. Now in deep green pajama pants and a deep grey t-shirt he walked over to the bed with clothes in his hands. He pulled a pair of black sil boxer up my waist. Once satified with where they were, he pulled the towel away and slipped a black t-shirt over my head.

He tilted my chin up so I was forced to look him in the eyes for the first time that night.

"You did not deserve this. This is not your fault. He is scum. The lowest of low and one day he will get what is coming to him. Do you understand me?"

I nodded. And the tears began.

I cried as he tucked me into bed.

I cried as he climbed in beside me a turned out the lights.

I cried as he wrapped his arms around me.

I cried. And cried. And cried until I finally fell into a dreamless sleep.

I woke up the next day with a sore throat and pain pretty much everywhere. And I noticed I was alone. For some reason this upset me and scared me. I jumped out of bed and my legs felt like jelly but I remained on my feet. I looked around but didn't see Draco. Instead there was a stack of clothes on a chair with a note on top.

The clothes are for you. I went to get breakfast for you. Get dressed and I'll be back soon.

Draco

I sighed in relief and put the note aside and began to dress slowly. Every move hurt and burned . And before I finally managed to button the dark jeans and pull the emerald green turtle neck over my head I was crying. I walked into the bathroom slowly and stood in front of the mirror for the first time since it happened. For some reason the broken and bruised girl staring back at me with tears in her eyes made me snap. I picked up a heavy candle holder and threw it into the huge mirror making it shatter. Shards of glass flew everywher. Slicing open my face and hands.

Two pairs of arms pulled me out of bathroom and back into Draco's room moments later.

"Logan go fix the mirror. Azlyn watch for Draco. Pansy and me are gonna fix her." They scattered into action at the boy I recognized as Blaise Zambin's instructions. He looked like one of those models. With his dark eyes and dark hair, he could probably sell anything with those looks. Pansy was a striking beauty with long blonde hair and pretty blue eyes.

They went straight to work casting spells on me and less than two minutes later I was led into the bathroom to look into the newly fixed mirror.

"Well what do you think?" Pansy asked.

The bruises and cuts were hidden and my hair was pulled into a long braid. I looked like me again. Before I could answer her question I heard the door open and shut.

"Draco's here." Came a feminine voice I regonized. Azlyn Kartikofia was a year behind me but we did have some classes together. She was a true beauty. Her mom was native american and it showed in her deep colored skin and long black hair.

I heard footsteps then saw Draco walk in with a plate of food.

"Wow, you look.."

"Normal" I finished quietly. If it wasn't for the physical pain and the memory of the night before, I could have pretended it never happened.

"She speaks" Blaise pretended to be surprised. Everyone in the room glared at him.

"Quiditch" Apparently full sentences, I could not manage.

"Oh yeah, we play them today. She's on the team." Logan Macnear was in my year. He was what I would call averagly handsome with brown hair and brown eyes.

Draco held the plate towards me and I picked up a piece of toast nibbling at it. "Azlyn, Pansy, walk her down to her locker room and talk to no one on the way there. This never leaves my room do you all understand?"

Everyone nodded before starting to shuffle into Draco's bedroom. He stopped me before I passed him.

"I am here if you need me. The password is silver dragon. Are you okay to play today?" He looked me in the eyes and all I saw was kindness so unlike anythign I had ever seen in Draco Malfoy's eyes before.

I nodded and followed the two girls out of his room doing my best to remember how to get back there. They left me at the Gryffindor Girl's locker room. I dressed quickly before the other girls piled in. I was one of three chaser on my team. All of us were girls. The other two were Sarah Jumblee a fourth year and Regan Temply a sixth year.

Ron was still the keeper and Harry of course the seeker and current captain as there were no seventh years on the team. The two beaters were Carter Temply and Travis Bickman. Carter and Regan were twins so he was obviously a sixth year. Travis was a fifth year.

The other two girls joined me soon after I was dressed and in all my gear.

"Hey Ginny." Sarah said as she began to change.

"Your brother is looking for you" Regan stated as she too began to get in her uniform.

"I figured he would be." So I could make sentences. "I just didn't feel like eating breakfast this morning. So I came here early."

"I'm so nervous. Slytherin looks really good this year." Sarah sat next to me on the bench as we waited for Regan who finished getting ready soon after.

"Let's go kick some ass." Regan led the way out and we met up with the rest of the team.

"There you are Gin. We've been looking for you." Ron looked realieved to see me.

"You worry too much Ronald" I said taking my place amongst the team before we went into the stadium.

I noticed that a good portion of the Slytherin team had their eyes on me. Draco was the seeker and current captain. Blaise and Logan were both beaters and Azlyn and Pansy were chasers along with Trinity Caldwell. And Garrent Windmen was the keeper.

As soon as the game began I knew it would be difficult. It hurt just to sit on my broom so playing quidditch was a hundred times harder than it normally would have been. Soon enough I was racing along Azlyn who had the quaffle and was headed towards Ron.

"You don't look so good" She noted as we whizzed past the cheering crowds.

"I don't feel so grand." I admitted as I shoved into her with tears forming in my eyes from pain and stole the quaffle changing direction and head back the other direction.

"So was it your boyfriend?" Pansy asked coming up on my other side.

"I don't have a boyfriend." I tossed the ball into the goal and scored ten points. The other chaser from Slytherin got the ball and was off towards Ron with Sarah and Regan following close behind.

"So do you know the guy who did this?" Azlyn wandered as we raced to catch up.

"I don't want to talk about this." A bludger flew at us and we all ducked out of its way and resumed our chase. "Besides why do you care?"

"Because in our families we have seen our fair share of rape and beating. Me and Lyn are lucky but we've seen it a million times. So we may not know how you're feeling or what you're going through but we aren't going to let you go through it alone." Pansy stated as Slytherin scored their first goal.

"Why are you beign so nice to me? You don't even know me." I caught the ball as Regan tossed it to me and took off with it.

"Fine what's your favorite color?" Azlyn questioned as we headed towards the seekers who were chasing the snitch in our direction.

"Green" As I answered, I saw it. The snitch was comign at me, but before I could do anything about it, it zoomed past my head and I collided with Draco. The quaffle dropped from my hands and we both fell off our brooms.

Draco wrapped his arms around me protectivaly before we hit the ground. It wasn't long before we heard cheering. Harry had caught the snitch and we had won.

Before anyone could join us on the ground or even notice us there, Draco picked me up and carried me off the field. We were headed towards the castle and almost there before our teams caught up with us.

"Malfoy put my sister down this instant!" Ron yelled as he managed to get in front of us.

Draco placed me on my feet gently but kept and arm over my shoulder. Azlyn came around and stood on my other side. Pansy stood beside her and Blaise and Logan stood behind them .

Regan, Carter, Sarah and Hermione who had joined Ron on the field after we won looked shocked. Harry, Ron, and Travis looked pissed.

"Changing sides Weasley?" Travis questioned and I tensed up out of habit at his voice.

"We aren't on the other side Bickman. Don't associate us with our parents. We are ntohign like them." Azlyn had a temper. Everyone at hogwarts knew that.

"I wasn't talking to you little whore!" Travis snarled. Before anyone could stop him, Logan puched him square in the face and blood ran from his now clearly broken nose.

"Son of a bitch, you broke my nose! Wait till I tell McGonagal about this!" He yelled angrily.

"You broke your nose on the rock you fell on when you tripped." Draco said. "I never saw him hit you. Did anyone else see Logan hit Bickman."

Everyone including the Gryffindors shook their heads no.

"Perhaps you should watch your mouth and where you are going Travis." Carter told him before he stormed off into the castle.

"So now that he is gone, why are you suddenly hanging out with Slytherins Gin?" Hermione asked.

"Because we're dating" Draco spoke before I could think of a better lie. He put his arm around me and I wrap mine around him and smiled.

"Since when? " Harry asked.

"Yesterday, he asked me out. I said yes."

"No, you can't date him. " Ron was having trouble speaking as his face was growing red with anger.

"I'll date whomever I please Ronald" I let Draco lead me away before Ron could start a fight.

When we returned to Draco's room all his friends left us alone. I sat down in a chair and began pulling off my quidditch gear.

"Sorry about the game. It's probably my fault you all lost." As I pulled my quidditch jersey over my head I groaned in pain.

Before I even knew what was happening. Draco had taken over and finished undressing me until I was standing in front of him in my bra and panties. I looked down at my side where a huge bruise was forming from me colliding with Draco and falling. I walked into the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror undoing all the charms that Pansy had done. I heard Draco gasped from behind me at the gash on my cheek.

"How did you?"

"I shattered the mirror this morning. Sorry" I finally forced myself to look at how bruised and broken I was. It made me sick to look at all the bruises and cuts."I'm disgusting"

"No you're not" He pulled me by the hand out of the bathroom and sat me on the bed while he changed.

"Why are you helping me?" I questioned.

"Honestly, I don't know. But I've already started and I'm not going to stop. Perhaps you are my proof that I am not my father. That I am not evil. At least that's what my friends think. And they like you. It's like you are hope for all of us that there is another path we can follow."

Before I could respond there was a knock at the door. He opened it a little and spoke quietly to the person on the other side before turning back towards me with a bag in his hand.

"Azlyn and Pansy put this together for you. It is some clothes and some cream that will hide the cuts and bruises." He handed it to me and I pulled out some black yoga pants and blue tank top. After dressing carefully I went in the bathroom and put the cream on my face and arms before returning to Draco.

"I should go back to my house soon." I figited suddenly uncomfortable standing before him especially considering how handsome he looked in his dark jeans and black t-shirt.

"I know but first we need to get some things together. Like since we are now pretending to date I should know your birthday, your class schedule, your brothers names, and such"

"Well my birthday is October 13. So in a week I will be fifteen. And I have Potions at eight, Transfiguration at nine, Defense Against The Dark Arts at ten, Herbology at eleven, Care of Magical Creatures at one, and then Study Hall at two. Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, and Ron." I curled up into one of the chairs in front of the fire.

"How many of them are going to kill me?" He sat across from me.

"Well Bill and Charlie trust my judgement. Percy and I are not that close. Fred and George probably will find it hilarious. Ron well you know how that is" I explained.

"What should I get you for your birthday?"

"I don't want things. And I hate flashy. I could honestly care less what is is or how much it costs."

We spoke for awhile and before we knew it, it was nearly nine at night. I bid him goodnight before walking to my own common room. Regan and Carter were playign chess and Sarah was reading a book by the fire.

"You and Malfoy huh?" Regan asking taking out one of her brother's pawns. Carter and Regan were albino. They both had almost red colored eyes and white hair. They were beatiful people and could easliy pass for famous models or movie stars.

"Yep, I'm heading up to bed. It's been a really long day." I made my way up to my dorm room and joined the rest of the fifth year girls getting ready for bed. I was so tired by the time I curled into bed that I fell asleep instantly.

It wasn't long before the nightmare began.

"Ah red, you know you want me" The dark figure shoved me against a wall.

"Let go of me" I begged as my hands were pinned over my head while he tore at my clothing.

"You know, I have always loved your long hair." He played with it a little before continuing on his conquest.

I shot up in bed, with silent tears pouring from my eyes. I threw the covers off and went to the trunk at the bottom of my bed. I dug around until I found what I was looking for and went to the bathroom. I stood in front the mirror and began cutting my hair. I chopped away at it until if fell in choppy layers a little below my chin. I used my wand to get rid of the pieces of hair on the floor before tiptoeing back into the room. I threw some clothes in my backpack and snuck out of the dorm.

It didn't take as long as I expected to find my way back to Draco's room. I spoke the password and slipped inside silently. He looked so young and innocent asleep in his bed. I slipped in beside him as quietly as possible and curled up. It wasn't long before I fell into a dreamless sleep.

"Ginny!" I sat straight up in bed looking around. Draco was sitting next to me staring at my hair. "What did you do to your hair?"

I reached my hand up and felt my shortened hair and the night before flooded back. I shuddered ivoluntarily at the memory.

"What happened last night?" He wrapped an arm around me and I fell back comfortably into his chest.

"Nightmare about what happened Friday. He told me how much he loved my long hair right before he …he" I couldn't finish but Draco knew what happened.

"I like it." He just brushed over what I said, obviously trying to bring me back to comfortable conversation.

"You do?" I smiled a little bit. It felt weird and foreign but in a good way.

"Yep." He smiled back at me. "You know" He said. "You're going to have to talk about it eventualy." The smile was gone replaced with a concerned look.

I jumped out of bed ignoring him and started getting dressed.

"Ginny"

I pulled a pair of jeans on.

"Ginny"

I pulled a black polo over my head.

"Ginny"

I pulled on my black boots over my jeans.

"Ginny"

I grabbed my backpack and headed for the door. He grabbed my arm and spun me to face him.

"I have homework to do"

"Ginny, please. Just give me a name. I promise, I won't go out and kill him."

"Bickman…Travis"And suddenly I had a feeling that he might be breaking his promise.