Time will tell

Looking closely at the white piece of parchment, Draco could make out shapes of a face. The long wavy hair and big 'doe' eyes, the curve of her mouth, and the small freckles were also seen. He looked at the face he had mentally drawn. Never in his seventeen years had Draco seen such a beautiful face. In his drawing brown eyes and long lashes glowed with happiness.

That year at school after a particularly nasty fight with his 'bodyguards', Draco walked the halls of Hogwarts. Hearing muffled talking; he investigated as was his right as head boy. A girl, around 16, lay huddled in a corner near the dungeons. As she looked up at him with a desperate expression, he realized that his mother, whom he'd thought was the most beautiful woman in the world, didn't hold a candle to this girl. The red head was beautiful even with tears streaming down her face. Brown eyes filled with fear at the sight of him. He crouched down to her level.

"Are you alright?" He asked not knowing what possessed him to ask the question in such a concerned voice.

Ginny Weasley looked up startled at the question.

"I…I'm okay." She said nervously. She glanced down the hall opposite the direction Draco came from.

"Right, up you gets." He held out his hand. She timidly placed her hand in his. Gently he gripped her hand. She stared at him, her face uncertain, and bewildered.

"Why are you doing this?" She asked still sitting on the ground .

"Call it a chance of fate. I'm angry at my 'cronies' and want to do something spontaneous." He stood and pulled her up. She groaned and fell back on the ground. Draco followed.

"What's the matter?" He asked, truly concerned.

"I…I don't know." Ginny gasped in pain. She clutched her stomach. Draco looked worried at her.

"I'm sorry." He said pulling out his wand and cast a stunning spell in order to transport her.

He carried her to the hospital wing. Once he was there, Madame Pomfrey came out in a dressing gown.

"Mr. Malfoy! What are you doing up at this-… Who is that?" Pomfrey looked at him sharply.

"She was curled up in a ball in a corridor. I didn't know what to do with her. So I... err… brought her here." He said defensively. Walking past her into the hospital wing, he placed Ginny gently onto one of the beds. The Madame brushed past him and waved her wand over Ginny's body. Blue magic hovered over her. Pomfrey looked fearfully at Ginny.

"Mr. Malfoy, Go sit in one of the chairs and wait." With that she pulled the curtains around the bed closed.

After some time, the nurse called to him.

"Malfoy, run and get the headmaster. The password is 'acid pop'. Hurry!" He ran out of the room as fast as he could, towards the staircase to the headmaster's room. Once there, the gargoyle looked down at him.

"Rushing through the halls? At this time of night? Is there a fire? Or are you running from a teacher?" the gargoyle asked in a nasally voice.

"Acid Pop, open please." Draco said, out of breath.

The gargoyle sniffed ostentatiously but let him pass.

When Draco got to the top, he picked up the knocker.

"Come in." a voice sounded before Draco had the chance to knock.

He opened the oak door and walked in. The professor sat behind his large desk, littered with papers, fingertips together.

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, may I inquire as to the occasion?" Dumbledore surveyed him over half moon glasses.

"Good evening sir. Ginny Weasley is in the hospital wing. Pomfrey sent me to find you."

"Madame Pomfrey had best not be kept waiting then."

Dumbledore stood and walked to the fireplace. Grabbing ashes from the pile, Dumbledore threw them back over the logs saying 'Hospital wing'.

"Come Mr. Malfoy. We shall go see Ms.Weasley." Dumbledore stepped through the flame with Draco following a step behind.

When they got there, Ginny was awake. She was crying again as the nurse hugged her shoulder.

"Albus, come with me please." She said and led the headmaster away. Draco strolled up to Ginny and sat in a chair legs outspread.

"So Weaslette, what happened to you?" As he asked this Ginny started to cry again, burying her face into her hands. Draco hated to see women cry, especially when he made them. He moved next to her on the bed.

"Weasley, please stop crying." He pleaded. She took a deep breath and hiccupped. Cautiously he wrapped an arm around her shoulders; she leaned into the touch and laid her head against his chest.

"Ms. Weasley, might I speak to you for a moment?" Dumbledore asked watching amusedly as Draco smoothly untangled himself from her. Ginny's eyes opened as she felt her heat source distance.

Draco and Madame Pomfrey moved away.

"So what did happen?" Draco asked quietly. Pomfrey looked at him sharply.

"As I happen to know through various injuries, You, Mr. Malfoy, do not like the Weasley's. So you see how I am suspicious to why you found Ms. Weasley?" Draco looked at her and realization dawned.

"You think I did this?" he asked her shocked. She looked at him as though to see his soul.

"You come here with an unconscious girl, a beautiful young woman, a woman whose family you hate. You can't blame me for being slightly curious."

"She was huddled on the floor crying. I investigated and helped her up. She was in pain and so I stunned her to bring her safely here." He looked up at the nurse. She was watching him with a cross between confusion and wonderment. " I am Head Boy after all."

"Mr. Malfoy, did you see anyone with Ms.Weasley?" she asked.

"No. Why? What is wrong with the Weaslette?" He asked trying to stifle his curiosity.

"She… has been hurt. That is all you need to know until she decides she is ready." Madame Pomfrey looked back at were Ginny and Dumbledore were talking.

"When she is ready." She repeated. Then she turned back to her storeroom and hurried inside. Draco gazed at Ginny as she started crying again. He felt an urge to run to her side. She took a shuddering breath and continued her story, at least from what Draco could tell.

He stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. He faced towards Ginny and Dumbledore. Madame Pomfrey walked out of the storeroom.

"Good heavens! Mr. Malfoy do you have any idea what time it is?" he shook his head and the nurse ushered him out.

"Goodnight Mr. Malfoy. You may come visit Ms. Weasley in the morning."

"Goodnight." He said in a tone that startled the nurse, when she realized it was not directly aimed at her but at her charge. She smiled, sure that she would see this boy soon, and not just to visit her.