Stolen Memories
Disclaimer; I do not own, nor will I ever own, Harry Potter or anything HP related, that all belongs to J.K Rowling. The plot is mine though.
A/N; I know I did this in the last chapter too but you all need to go and check out May La Nee's fanfictions! She is a fabulous writer with a very unique style, and her stories are not getting the attention or praise they deserve. All her stories are amazing, but my top three recommendations would be; 'I Am?' 'The Muggles Curse' and 'Misunderstandings'
Chapter 3
Ginny was back in the dirty room, the terrifying man was nowhere to be seen, but she could feel his presence nearby, he was never far from her. Ginny sat staring at the same stone wall for what seemed like hours. Her eyes no longer wandered around the room, she no longer jumped at every small sound, all she did was sit and think back to before all this happened.
In the beginning Ginny had tried remembering how she ended up here, tried to find something that would make sense, but it was hopeless. Her last memory before being in this room was sitting with her family out in the yard. Ginny assumed that she had fallen asleep, she remembered curling up near her mother's legs... and then, next thing she knew, she was here in this tiny room, with this man she didn't know, broken, terrified, hurt, violated, and alone.
Hot tears were streaming down Ginny's pale dirty cheeks, but she didn't notice. She didn't seem to notice much of anything anymore. Every sound seemed so far away, her own voice sounded foreign to her.
"Don't cry love." The man appeared in front of Ginny's face suddenly. "Why so sad?"
Ginny looked up at the strange man but didn't speak. There was no point anymore. Her questions were never answered and some of the things she said would get her into trouble.
"Oh tsk tsk." The man shook his head sadly. "No need to act that way with me."
Ginny didn't even look up, more hot tears flowed from her sore red eyes.
"You can't keep silent forever." The man was annoyed, even a child as young as Ginny could tell.
"You have to speak to me some time." His annoyance was turning to anger, Ginny tried to hold back a shudder; nothing good happened when he was angry.
"If you won't talk to me voluntarily then I'll force you to speak to me." There was an edge to the man's tone that frightened Ginny.
She opened her mouth to finally speak but nothing came out. Her voice seemed lost, as if sitting here for long in silence had caused her to forget how to speak. The man's shadowed face scowled, his hands clenched and unclenched. So suddenly, that if Ginny had blinked she would have missed it, the man lunged for her. Ginny finally found her voice and screamed out while she threw her arms up to block her body from the man.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Why are you still sitting here?"
I squinted my eyes from the blinding light but refused to open them. My body ached all over and I just wanted to go back to sleep.
"I want to know what happened."
"Why?"
I frowned, who was in my dorm? Why were they talking so loud and waking me up? I was about to yell at the other girls to shut up so I could go back to sleep when I realized the voices I heard weren't female. But males couldn't get into the girl's dorms... what was going on? I decided to keep my mouth shut and listen harder and try to figure out what was going on.
"No one's making you stay here. You can leave whenever."
"I want to know what's making you stay here though."
The two voices were very familiar. Why couldn't I think of whom they belonged to?
"I already told you, I want to know what happened."
Oh! It was Zabini, Blaise... why was Blaise here?
"And I already asked why."
And that... that was Malfoy... ugh, what was Malfoy doing here?
"How can you ask why?" Blaise asked Malfoy, but he didn't wait for an answer before he continued. "If you were having detention with someone and they suddenly fainted wouldn't you want to know what happened?" Even though my eyes remained firmly shut I could easily picture Blaise raising a dark brow.
Oh yeah... I had detention with Blaise. Snape came back and said we had more work to do. I was already tired so I argued with him, then he said something... something from one of my nightmares. All I could remember was the feeling of falling, and someone calling out my name, that must have been Blaise, and then everything went black.
"Not if that person was a Weasley." Right now I'd bet all the money I have saved that Malfoy was smirking, and that Blaise was rolling his eyes in response.
"You wouldn't be a little curious as to why that person fainted? Weasley or not?" Blaise asked.
"No, all the Weasley are fucked up."
"But she just fainted! No reason behind it." Blaise seemed annoyed at Malfoy's obvious lack of interest.
Malfoy sighed loudly. "You said she was arguing with Snape right?"
"Yeah..." Blaise answered slowly.
"He probably said something that made the little weasel upset." I frowned at Malfoy's words, I was the one who started the argument with Snape, does Malfoy really think I am that sensitive?
"I don't think so..." Blaise said after a few minutes of silence. "She's feisty." I felt like gagging at Blaise's husky tone. "I can't see her getting upset enough to faint." Well... at least Blaise doesn't think I am so sensitive.
"Whatever." I could feel Malfoy's eye roll. "Can we go now?" He asked annoyed.
"Go ahead." Blaise said dismissively.
"You're actually going to sit here and wait for the weaselette to wake up?" If anyone but Malfoy was saying that it may have sounded somewhat sweet.
"Yeah, I actually am, but as I said, that doesn't mean you have to sit here and wait."
I guess now was as good a time as any to 'wake up'. Blaise wasn't going to leave if I didn't, and Malfoy wouldn't stop bitching if I didn't either. Plus, I didn't feel like listening to them talk about me just because they thought I was asleep.
Slowly I groaned a little and allowed my eyelids to flutter slightly. I felt the two boys go still beside me so I continued my little act of waking up. I opened my eyes fully and the light that streamed through was so bright I had to shield my face with my arm. Slowly, in order to give the illusion that I was in fact just waking up, as well as to allow myself to adjust to the blinding light, I opened my eyes and looked at the two Slytherins sitting by my bed.
It was odd enough to hear Blaise and Malfoy talking about me while I 'slept' but it was even odder to actually see them sitting by my bed. The shocked look that I felt cross my features was genuine, Malfoy rolled his eyes at my obvious unease while Blaise just smiled and looked somewhat relieved.
"You're awake." Blaise commented happily.
"What are you doing here?" I asked despite already knowing the answer.
"Well... you fainted while having detention with me, did you honestly expect that I would just leave you here alone without knowing what happened?" Blaise asked with a small smirk.
"I would have." Malfoy muttered under his breath.
I turned my gaze to Malfoy and glared. Why was he even here?
"Are you going to leave now?" Malfoy asked Blaise and completely ignored my glare.
"No, I want to talk to Ginny for a bit. But you can go." Blaise said. He gave Malfoy a look that clearly showed that he was not only requesting Malfoy to leave; he was telling him to.
"Fine. I'll see you in the common room then." Malfoy stood abruptly and after sending a glare in my direction he moodily stalked out of the room.
"So, did you like what you heard before you 'woke up'?" Blaise asked with a smirk.
I gaped opened mouth at him. "How did you know?" I asked after I found my voice.
Blaise chuckled a little bit. "I saw you frown at certain things Draco and I would say."
I inwardly cursed myself for being unable to control my facial features.
"That," Blaise continued. "and you're a bad actress." He said referring to the way I 'woke up'.
"I still don't understand why you're here."
"I wanted to make sure you were alright." Blaise said innocently, I didn't believe him for a second.
"So you decided to sit here and wait till I woke up instead of just asking me the next time you saw me?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Uh... yeah." Blaise said slowly, obviously lying.
I sighed, knowing what was coming. "Why are you really here?"
There was a moment of silence. "What happened?" Blaise asked looking at me with something between curiosity and concern. "I mean, you were fine and arguing with Snape one minute, and then next you're on the ground."
"Why do you care?" I looked at the bed sheets wishing the blush in my cheeks would fade.
"I already told you I'm not like the other Slytherins. I do actually worry about people when they collapse for no known reason."
I frowned slightly. "You never told me you weren't like the other Slytherins."
Blaise cocked his head to the side. "Yes I did..." He paused for a second to think. "Didn't I?" I shook my head with a slight grin. "Oh well," Blaise sighed. "I meant to."
I laughed lightly, momentarily forgetting why I was here in this hospital bed.
"So are you going to tell me?" Blaise asked looking directly into my eyes.
"Uh... I don't know. I didn't eat dinner and I barely ate lunch, I guess it had something to do with that." I lied quickly remembering Malfoy's comment about me being weak and not able to handle something Snape had said. I couldn't tell Blaise that it was in fact something that Snape said, he wouldn't understand, and I wasn't going to start explaining my nightmares.
Blaise looked at me curiously for a moment. He clearly knew I was lying, but he didn't say anything about it.
It was uncomfortable to have someone just sitting there staring at you without speaking. I looked out the window and saw that the sun had almost completely gone down, leaving the Hospital Wing in semi-darkness. "I doubt I'll be able to leave tonight, I should go back to sleep so Madam Pomfrey will let me out tomorrow." I said so Blaise would leave.
"Yeah, you probably should." Blaise nodded. "See you in Potions." He smirked before walking out of the Hospital Wing.
I sighed and slumped back onto my pillows. Madam Pomfrey, noticing I was awake, briskly walked over to my bed and started fussing with the different potions and vials on the small white table beside me. She muttered something about 'overbearing professors' and 'strenuous detentions' as she worked. But I was too tired to really pay attention.
Madam Pomfrey mutely handed me a vial of clear liquid. I drank it without question, gagging slightly as the burning fluid coated my throat. I placed the now empty vial on the small white table beside me and laid back down.
I felt tiredness begin to overtake me almost immediately. I barely noticed as Madam Pomfrey closed the curtains around my bed and cleared off the small white table beside me. The thought of sleep and experiencing another nightmare was frightening, but the potion made it impossible to prevent my eyes lids from slowly drooping closed.
~*~*~*~*~*~
I awoke the next morning feeling refreshed; I had gone the entire night without a disturbing dream. I looked out the window and saw that it was only dawn; I still had time to gather my books from my dorm and have breakfast before having to rush to class.
Madam Pomfrey noticed I was awake again and rushed over quickly.
"How are you feeling dear?" She asked while waving her wand over me to check my vitals.
"Great." I answered truthfully. "Am I able to leave now?" I asked biting my lip. I didn't want to have to stay in here any longer than was necessary. Hospitals always freaked me out for some unknown reason.
"Everything seems normal." Madam Pomfrey said absentmindedly. "You can go, but try to take it easy." She said with a stern look.
I nodded and slowly got out of bed just for show. I knew I was fine and that as long as nothing else from my nightmares popped up I would stay that way, but again, I wasn't going to explain that to anyone.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hey Gin." Harry greeted with a smile. "Feeling better?" He wrapped his arms around me.
It was then that I realized Harry hadn't come to visit me the entire time I was in the Hospital Wing.
"Fine." I snapped feeling hurt that he hadn't come to check on me personally. "Where are Hermione and Ron?"
"Ron's still sleeping," Harry rolled his eyes grinning. "and Hermione went down to the library."
I rolled my eyes. Of course she did. "Why didn't you come and see me?" I asked pulling out of Harry's arms.
"I tried, uh... Pomfrey wouldn't let me stay. I wasn't even allowed in; she told me all you needed was rest." Harry said without looking me in the eye. It sounded probable, but I knew he was lying to me.
"She let Blaise stay." I countered, deciding not to add to the oncoming argument by telling Harry about Malfoy.
"Really? Zabini?" Harry seemed surprised, I nodded. "Why was Zabini there anyway?" His eyes narrowed slightly, only adding to my anger.
"To make sure I was okay, like you should have done." I said through gritted teeth as I pushed Harry away from me.
"Gin, I swear, she wouldn't let me in!" Harry defended himself.
"You need to think of a better excuse than that, I know you're lying!" I shouted at him.
"Gin, calm down, you don't want to get worked up." Harry looked around the room to make sure it was empty.
"I will not calm down! You're lying to me!"
"I'm not!" Harry shouted back.
"Bullshit!" I hissed. "Madam Pomfrey never stopped you from visiting Ron in the Hospital, and if she hadn't been allowing visitors then I wouldn't have woken up to Blaise sitting with me."
"What was Zabini doing there anyway?" Harry said accusingly.
"Don't you dare try to turn this around on me Harry!" I stomped my foot, acting very childish, but I could care less at this point.
"Ginny I'm not ly-"
"Just stop." I held up a hand and closed my eyes. I took a few deep breaths to ensure that I wouldn't hit him before reopening my eyes and looking at him again. "I'm not going to stand here and listen to you lie to me."
Harry opened his mouth to speak again but I cut him off.
"You've been caught, why won't you just admit it?" I looked at him almost pleadingly.
"I... I..."
"Gin? What's going on?" Ron had come down the stairs still dressed in his pyjamas, Harry and I yelling must have woken him up.
"Nothing." I said tiredly. I was finished with Harry anyway.
"Are you feeling better Gin?" Ron asked with concern.
"Yes, I feel fine."
"Good. I visited you while you were sleeping, that Slytherin was there, Zabini. I didn't stay long." Ron admitted a little sheepishly. "Sorry." He added in a guilty tone.
"It's okay Ron." I smiled weakly. "At least you showed up." I said bitterly turning my head to glare at Harry who was glaring at Ron. "I'm going to go get ready for class. See you in the Great Hall."
Without waiting for a reply from either of them I walked up to my dorm. Some of the girls were already up, dressed, and about to leave, others were just crawling out of bed. The few that were up asked me what happened and how I was feeling. I gave them the same excuse I gave Blaise and said I was fine now.
I was finishing packing up my bag for the day when I noticed a small wrapped box sitting on my bed. I slowly picked up the box and looked at it closely. It wasn't big; in fact, it was probably the smallest gift I'd ever gotten. But who was it from? I peeled back the wrapping and saw that it was a chocolate frog. I frowned in confusion, who would send me a single chocolate frog? Maybe it was from Ron, feeling guilty for not staying with me in the Hospital Wing, no... Ron could never part with food...
I flipped it over and saw that on the back was a small folded piece of parchment with my name printed neatly on it. I unstuck the parchment and unfolded it smiling as I read the words.
To be sure you don't faint again today.
Love –
Blaise.
I laughed lightly and pocketed the parchment and the chocolate frog before slinging my bag over my shoulder and walking out of my dorm. I guess Blaise wasn't so bad after all.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Come out come out wherever you are." The taunting voice called.
Ginny stayed huddled in the corner trying to curl into a ball as much as possible. The man was looking for her; Ginny didn't want to be found. After she had woken up on that lumpy mattress with her body aching Ginny decided that she needed to hide. So as soon as that awful man stepped out of the room Ginny jumped off the mattress as silently as she could and began looking around the room for a decent hiding spot.
The bed in the room was only a mattress on the floor so Ginny couldn't hide underneath it; also it would have been the first place the man checked. There were no cupboards in the room that Ginny could squeeze into, and she couldn't step out of the room because she didn't know which part of the house the man had went to.
Ginny spotted a small closet near the covered window. Again, she thought it was an obvious hiding spot but when she heard footsteps Ginny knew she had no other choice. Quietly she stepped into the closet and closed the door. Ginny winced when it clicked shut, but luckily the man didn't seem to hear the noise.
Here she was now, curled into a ball in the corner at the back of the closet try desperately not to make a sound. The closet was dusty and it took all Ginny's willpower not to sneeze. The man searched around the room, which didn't take long because of the lack of furniture, constantly taunting her to come out of her hiding place.
"I'm not going to hurt you." The man said in a would-be-soothing tone.
If Ginny wasn't so terrified, and hiding in fear of her life, she would have laughed at his statement. He had already hurt her.
"Why are you hiding?" Ginny raised her head off her arms and peeked out of the small crack in the door, the man was only a few feet away with his back to her. "I'm not really in the mood for games." He said dangerously.
Slowly the man turned, Ginny didn't want to see his face again so she buried her face back in her arms trying not to whimper. His footsteps were coming closer, his breathing was getting heavier... suddenly all sounds stopped. Ginny opened her eyes but didn't raise her head from her arms. A shadow was cast in front of the closet door, the man was standing right in front of where she was hiding, nothing more than an inch thick piece of wood separated them.
"I wonder where you could be." The man said amused.
The handle slowly turned, Ginny snapped her eyes shut, it's not happening, it's not happening, she chanted over and over in her head. Ginny covered her ears as she heard the soft creak of the door being opened, she squeezed her eyes shut tighter as the dim light flooded the dark space.
"Gotcha!"
~*~*~*~*~*~
I awoke screaming again, thankful that the silencing spell I was using seemed to be working. That nightmare was one of the more vivid ones I've had in a while, it left me trembling with beads of cold sweat running down my back.
"Bloody hell." I muttered as I threw the blankets off my slender body.
I padded silently into the bathroom and turned to my reflection in the mirror. I had almost expected to see myself as I used to look at the young age of eight, the way I am in my nightmares, but nothing had changed in the few hours that I slept. Okay so I kinda looked like the walking dead, but that was to be expected after just waking up, and waking up as violently as I did doesn't help either.
My eyes traveled around the bathroom and rested on a pink razor sitting on the edge of the small tub. Last time this had happened I had cut myself shaving, which resulted in me sleeping the remaining hours of the night without a single nightmare. I walked towards the tub in a trance like state, thinking that if it helped it couldn't be so bad. As if suddenly realizing what I was planning to do I stopped dead and shook my head.
Not wanting to go back to sleep, and knowing how hard it would be not to if I went back to my bed, I slipped out of the bathroom and across my dorm. Maybe sitting in front of the dying fire would help relax me.
"What if someone comes down?" A voice whispered from the common room.
I stopped with my foot halfway to the next step. I knew that voice; that was Hermione's voice. I grinned and moved more carefully down the steps. I knew I should just go back to my dorm and give Hermione her privacy but the thought of seeing who she was with was too tempting. Hermione had always been so proper, so hearing her obviously fooling around with someone was too good to leave unchecked. I stopped at the base of the stairs, not wanting to be seen, and listened closely. Hermione was giggling; the sound of it was sickening.
"It's four in the morning; no one will be coming down for hours."
I paled. I knew that voice too. Suddenly white hot rage filled me, Hermione was with Harry. Harry was cheating on me, Hermione was fooling around with my boyfriend! Just when I was thinking that I was too harsh with him about not visiting me, and lying to me about it, I had planned on apologizing, and now I find out he's cheating on me?!
Hermione giggled again, I had the sudden urge to punch her. Mad with anger I stomped down the remaining steps, Harry and Hermione must have been too busy to hear me because neither of them got up when I came closer.
I was close enough now to see what was happening. Harry was on his back, wearing just his boxers and Hermione was straddling him wearing just her bra and underwear.
"Ginny!" Hermione said shocked.
"Ginny?" Harry was confused. Hermione crossed her arms to cover her barely-there chest and stood up quickly. Harry sat bolt up and looked at me guiltily.
"Ginny..." He started.
"Now I know what you were doing when you didn't visit me in the hospital." I spat bitterly.
~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N; I can't believe the amount of reviews I am getting already! 50 reviews for only two chapters and the prologue! Thank you all so much! You're reviews mean a lot to me, I especially love it when you tell me what your favourite part of the chapter was, mainly because then I may be able to write something similar to it in later chapters. Again, thank you all so much! Remember, it's your reviews that determine when I get the next chapter out. So review!