Chapter X

That morning, Ginny woke up with the impression that something was about to happen. It was Dark Arts class day, and she was counting the days until she was called to use a curse on one of her classmates. Until now it seemed the Carrow's had forgotten her, but she knew it wouldn't take too long for them to notice her.

The week before, they made Lavender Brown do it. She cried the whole time, and yelled "I'm sorry"'s and had to go to the infirmary with a nervous breakdown. The week before that, they asked Neville, and he refused. Ginny knew he would refuse every time he was called. He wasn't afraid of getting punished. And when she saw him with that scar on his cheek, all she thought was he's so brave.

Of course she was right. That day was her day. She saw it in Amycus Carrow's eyes when she entered the classroom. She shivered at his sight, and looked for Draco. He was between Crabbe and Goyle in the front row by the window. He gave her a half smile and she wished she had gone to Madam Pomfrey's with a fake cold.

Draco already tortured someone with the Cruciatus Curse in front of the class. He did it in such a coldly way, it almost freaked Ginny out. When he turned around to get back to his seat, his face was pale and hard, as if he was in another dimension. Remembering how easily he did it made her wonder wich was his real side, this one or the one he showed when he was alone with her.

"Good afternoon, class," the professor started saying, and Ginny felt more sick with each word he spoke, "I hope you are excited to continue training your Curses! Our subject today will be Miss Brown."

The whole classroom fell into a deep silence. Lavender got up and walked to the front of the class, her golden-brown locks glued to her tears. Everybody knew this was the punishment for her weakness the week before.

"And I think there's someone who is ready to practice," he turned to face Ginny with his disgusting evil smile on his face. "Miss Weasley, I believe I haven't had the chance of calling you yet."

As she was getting up, she saw Draco sit still on his seat, watching everything with attention. Neville was rubbing his scar with his finger, probably fearing what would happen next. Because he knew what would happen next.

Ginny got to the front of the classroom and looked at the scared Lavender. She knew she could never hurt her. She turned to face Carrow and said, "I refuse to do it."

"What?" he asked, not looking nearly as impressed as when Neville said it. "You Gryffindor's and your stupid courage and pride. Miss Brown, you may sit, and Miss Parkinson, I believe you were asking me earlier for your turn?"

Lavender ran for her seat next to Parvati Patil as fast as it took for Pansy Parkinson to get up, her bulldog face turning in a twisted smile.

After Pansy yelled the curse, it didn't took long for Ginny to feel it taking action. She felt herself lose control over her body, falling on the ground looking like she was having a seizure. She felt pain like she never had felt before, hundreds of imaginary knives stabbing her flesh. Her screams were so loud and filled her ears with ease. She got so used to them she felt empty when everything stopped. She didn't even realize she started crying until she felt the tears streaming down on the side of her nose while she breathed heavily, feeling beaten up.

Her thoughts were clouded and her head hurted bad, but she still managed to see Draco grabbing Pansy's arm and telling her "That's enough" in front of everyone when she seemed like she would curse her again. He looked darkly at Carrow, and the professor didn't protest.

Draco turned to Neville and said "You should take her to the infirmary," to wich Neville answered, "You don't need to order me to help my friend, Malfoy."

Neville picked her up and took her out of the classroom. And they were leaving, embracing Neville's neck and almost passing out, Ginny looked at Draco with her eyes half closed. He was insane for doing that. And why didn't Carrow do something about a student standing up to him? Perhaps he was afraid of the Malfoy's, since they were so close to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? Or because Draco always seemed to be protected by Snape?

It seemed they were in the infirmary in the next second. Her head was hurting as hell and she felt worse when she tried to think. Madame Pomfrey examined her quickly, and ran to her potion's cabinet.

"You have a concussion because of your fall, dear. You need to drink this, it's to prevent brain swelling. Drink it all!", she demanded, seeing Ginny's disgusted face while drinking the muddy liquid. "Now, Mr. Longbottom, it's best if you go back to your classes. Miss Weasley will stay here until tomorrow morning so we are sure she's healthy."

Neville looked at Ginny and left the room. Madame Pomfrey took the glass from Ginny's hand and looked at her face again. "You need to stay awake during the whole night. And you will have a bump on your head but it will heal in one or two days."

She left to her office and Ginny stayed sitting on the bed, looking at the Windows in front of her. Stay awake the whole night? How would she manage to do that? She didn't even have a book to read or anything. She tried to stay awake the whole afternoon, but by dinner time she was so tired she just wanted to close her eyes for just a little while. At least her headache was already gone.

At that time she listened to the sound of the door opening and saw Draco entered the infirmary. He was wearing the shirt, pants and tie of his Slytherin uniform, but his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows.

He sat next to her on the bed and asked, "How are you?"

"Better than ever," she joked, half smiling and closing her eyes. He removed a lock of hair from the front of her forehead with his cold fingers, and looked carefully at the bumpy red spot on her skin.

"That looks nasty," he said, letting her hair fall in front of it again.

"Madam Pomfrey said it will be good in a couple of days," she tried to sit more straight, but felt a little dizzy. Draco grabbed her shoulder so she wouldn't fall to her side.

"Be careful, Weasley, I don't want tou falling again. Maybe it's best if you lay down."

"I can't lay down, I can't sleep tonight," she argued, while he forced her to lay on the bed.

"I will keep you company," Draco started pushing the next bed to the side of her's, and in that moment Madam Pomfrey came out of her office to see what was going on.

"We're not allowing any visitors, Mr. Malfoy," she said, looking mad.

Draco looked at her with a smile on his face, "I would like to keep her company tonight, Madam Pomfrey. I hope I don't need to call Headmaster Snape for permission."

Madam Pomfrey seemed like she wanted to argue with him, opening and closing her mouth like a goldfish, but just sighted and locked herself inside her office again.

Draco sat on the bed and grabbed a blanket to cover Ginny up. He kissed her temple and touched her face. "I promise I won't let you fall asleep tonight."

He laid down next to her, both facing each other. "Why do you think Pansy looked so happy about torturing me?" she asked, curious.

"I think it must have something to do with you being my Potion's partner and we spending so much time together," he answered, as if it wasn't a big deal, turning and laying on his back with an arm under his head, and his right leg bent. He looked so relaxed looking at the ceiling as if being there with her was completly normal.

"She still likes you," Ginny concluded, without taking her eyes from him.

"I don't care," he casually took her hand and intertwined his fingers with her's, and turned his head to face her. "I don't like her anyway."

Ginny blushed, confused by his touch, but didn't let his hand go. They talked the whole night about everything and then some, until the golden sunrays brightned the room, and she finally let herself fall asleep with her head on his shoulder.