Hahahaha. Don't worry, I'll get to that part, ctc. Just so you know, no one would be awake at midnight. If you remember in CoS, everyone had to get woken up when Colin Creevey was wheeled in. I don't think Madam Pomfrey would want to stay up all night just in a case a student might want to come in. Good question, though.
If you guys do have questions about the story, just ask. I'll try to answer them for you.
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Ginny woke up slowly, looking around with blurry vision at her surroundings. It was green, most of it, and as her eyes focused, she saw the familiar serpent in silver and green.
But what was she doing anywhere near Slytherin? The last thing she could remember was.. the last thing was Draco. And then there was darkness. And that was the last thing she could remember. And now she was somewhere in Slytherin territory, alone, judging by the silence, and in a strange bed. Ginny moved to sit up, but her muscles felt so stiff and sore, she could barely move them. She let out a muffled groan, staring at the green curtains that surrounded her.
There was a bit of sunlight leaking through a crack in the curtain, and Ginny closed her eyes, letting it play across her face. Her memories were slowly creeping back; starting with the night before. She could remember the inevitable flash of anger, and the despair Ginny had felt, let alone pain, as Harry had struck her. Ginny almost sobbed, but then remembered where she was, which was not her dormitory, and so she stifled it. She heard a door open and close softly, and she stiffened, hoping that the person hadn't heard her.
The curtains drew back a bit, and Blaise Zabini's head popped through the crack. He grinned, seeing she was awake, and pulled back the curtains the rest of the way. Ginny was blinded for a moment by the overpowering sunlight, but it slowly crept back to a weak, morning warmth on her cheek.
"Hey, Gin." Blaise sat gently next to her legs, smoothing out his robes and putting his wand in a pocket. Ginny tried a grin back, but it turned into a grimace; her whole face was sore and bruised. Blaise noticed, nodding and giving her a small smile.
"Yeah, sorry about that, Ginny. We would've taken you to the Hospital Wing, but Draco wasn't sure if Madam Pomfrey would want to wake up at midnight.." Ginny nodded, a bit too vigorously, and her head started to ache. She took out her wand, wearily, trying to remember the spells she had used the last time Harry had beat her. One superficial one was all she remembered, and she used it, covering up her bruises. She could still feel them; stiff, sore spots all over her body; but she would have to wait until she could get back to her dormitory to cast the actual healing charms. Blaise watched her curiously, then helped her sit up. Ginny could feel something hurting in her abdomen, but decided to keep this to herself.
She couldn't go to Madam Pomfrey; she knew the kindly, strict nurse would wonder where she had gotten her bruises and internal injuries. She would just have to ask Hermione, in a round-about way, what spells and potions she could use. She leaned back against the headboard, her whole body a throbbing, painful mass.
"Blaise.." her voice was quiet, and she tried to hide the pain that shown through it. "What exactly.. happened? After I.."
"Fainted? Well, I wasn't there. Draco came into the dormitory, carrying you, and he woke me up. It was around midnight, I think.. he beat you really badly, Gin." His voice softened in the last sentence, and she could see him fidgeting uncomfortably.
"What time is it?" It seemed to be morning, almost midday. The sun was getting a bit warmer, a bit brighter, and it made Ginny just want to sleep and just forget.. forget about Harry, forget about the constant pain she was feeling, forget about everything. She closed her eyes wearily, waiting for Blaise's reply.
"It's almost noon. If you're feeling a bit better, I can go and get Draco and Emmy.." He regarded her pained expression, and flickering eyelids, deciding it would be best to just let her sleep.
"Actually, I think I'm better now.. I'll just.." She moved to climb out of the bed, but Blaise forced her back down, noticing her wince when she tried to fight against his arms.
"No.. Just forget I said anything. You can go back to sleep.. I'll just tell Draco, and I'll come up later with some food." He gave her another smile, drawing the curtains and shutting out Ginny's sunlight, Ginny's warmth. She groaned (after she heard the door close), trying not to move more than she had to.
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When Ginny woke again, the small shaft of sunlight was gone from between the curtains. It was colder, now that the sun was gone, but Ginny was feeling a bit more revived, and strong enough to stand up. She saw a small flask of water and a bit of bread on the nightstand, smiling softly at Blaise's thoughtfulness.
As she chewed the bread thoughtfully, she had her first view of Draco's dormitory. It was green and silver, as was everything Slytherin, with dark wood and small windows. She could see three other beds, probably for Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle. Ginny shuddered, glad that she hadn't seen the pair of oafs yet. She hadn't seen Draco yet, either. It was bound to happen eventually, seeing as she was in his dormitory.
Or she could sneak out now, while everyone was eating dinner.. Yes, that seemed logical enough. Just get out of there now, and she wouldn't have to see Draco, or Harry. She stood up slowly, waiting until her legs stopped shaking, then, with a parting look to the dormitory, snuck out of the door and into Slytherin common room.
The common room resembled the dormitory; dark wood, green and silver everywhere. There was a house elf starting the fire, and it squeaked when it saw Ginny, disappearing with a crack. She crept through the empty common room, heading down a short stone hall, then stepping through the door that led to the outer hallways. She turned back, staring at the blank stone wall, then maneuvered quietly through the halls, relieved to find herself in the Entrance Hall. A few students were already milling out of the Great Hall, and Ginny hurried back to her dormitory, intending to look through Hermione's numerous books on healing to find a spell that she could use.
As she rushed back towards the Fat Lady, she wasn't aware of a lone figure with bright green eyes and dark, mussed hair, who had been watching her since she had arrived in the Entrance Hall, coming from the direction of Slytherin Common Room.
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"Ginny! Come here a minute." It was after dinner, and Ginny had just cast one of Hermione's healing spells on herself, instantly feeling the pain dissipate from her body. She grinned, ascending the rest of the stairs and steeping into the common room, heading over to Ron, Hermione, and Harry. Harry was staring out of the window, oblivious to Ginny. Hermione gave her a quick hug, looking over Ginny worriedly.
"Are you alright, Gin? We didn't see you at all today.." Hermione seemed actually worried. The thought had little comfort to Ginny, who felt uncomfortable having to stand so close to Harry. She couldn't stop picturing him poised over her, flailing his fists in her face. It frightened her, and she could feel herself trembling at Harry's proximity.
"Umm.. yes, Hermione, I'm fine. Just wasn't feel.. quite well, today. That's all. Just a bit sick." Harry gave a barely perceptible nod, and Ron immediately started barraging her with questions.
"Why didn't you tell us you were sick, Ginny? Where have you been this whole time? You haven't even been down for dinner!" He was starting to turn his infamous shade of magenta, and Ginny just heaved a large, dramatic sigh, sharing a look with Hermione.
"Ron, I can look after myself. I had dinner earlier. I'm fine, now. Just a bit tired. In fact, I really think I should be getting some sleep.." Ron looked like he was going to stop her, but Hermione gave him such a look that he just mumbled something about stubborn little sisters and slunk off, haunting a dark corner of the common room. Hermione sighed sadly.
"He really does worry about you, Ginny. You haven't been yourself at all lately.." Ginny glanced at Harry, who was now listening to Hermione and Ginny. He was angry again, and the sooner Ginny could escape to her dormitory, the better.
"I'm really alright, Hermione. Just a bit tired, like I said. I'm going up to the dormitory.. Goodnight." She hurried out of the common room, aware that both Harry and Ron were watching her walk out, with completely different expressions.
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The next day, Ginny woke up as early as she could, taking a quick shower then heading down into the common room.
She nearly jumped as Harry stood up from where he had been sitting in a chair, watching the fire.
"Oh, Harry.. I didn't know you were awake.." He gave her a cold, very Slytherin look, and she could still see anger smoldering behind his bright green eyes. She watched him look at her, and he obviously became very displeased when he couldn't find as much as a scratch on her.
"I saw you coming from the dungeons after dinner, Ginny." She had been about to leave and stiffened, standing behind the Fat Lady's portrait. Now, he was the angriest Ginny had ever seen him. And she knew why, too.
"Harry, I wasn't with Malfoy or anything.. I was just.. er.." He laughed bitterly.
"I was there, Ginny. I saw him carry you off." He whipped out his wand, pointing it at her. "This wont last much longer, Ginny. Unless you can.. communicate to Malfoy that he's not going to touch you again without him paying for it, I'll just have to end this. I'll expose you and Malfoy and your little games, and then where will you be? I don't think the Weasleys will enjoy the presences of the Malfoys too much, Ginny darling.." He laughed again, then a flash of light hit Ginny, sending her sprawling backwards. Instantly, pain shot throughout her body, flowing like lightning through her limbs. It seared into her bones, jarring her mind into numb confusion. Then it stopped, and Harry stepped past Ginny, who was writhing on the floor. He stopped to whisper, "Goodbye, Ginny dear," still laughing, then he disappeared out of the portrait hole.
Ginny could barely move for a few minutes. The spell was starting to wear off, but it left more pain than any other of Harry's beatings. There was only one curse that Harry could have used to cause this much pain… The Unforgivable Curse, Crucio. If Harry wasn't afraid to use an Unforgivable Curse, who knew what he would try to Draco.
Armed with the though of warning Draco, Ginny slowly sat up, her head reeling. She cast the charm she had used yesterday, and it only managed to dull the pain, not make it completely disappear. Still, it was enough, and Ginny stood, swaying slightly, clambering out of the portrait hole.
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Ok. I'll put up Ch. 11 immediately, I just didn't want to ramble on and on in this chapter. It is a lot to disgest, anyway. Thanks for reading & reviewing, dears.