AN: Hey everyone. This is the end of Ginny for awhile. We will be back to Hermione next chapter. This will all play into what is happening next.
It had been 32 hours and 16 minutes since Ginny made her decision. It took her seconds to know what she had to do. If there was one thing that Ginny did well, it was protecting the people she loved. She didn't have a choice in this matter.
Her childhood room seemed a lot smaller these days. She remembered when her mum put in her "big girl" bed. She remembered when her biggest fear was the space under her bed. This room seemed so big back then. Her little imagination made this room seem like a whole different world. She was so young and innocent. Her baby is young and innocent. Unfortunately, the world they lived in ruins things young and innocent.
Her machines continued to beep. It annoyed her at first, but now it soothed her. It reminded her of the ticking of time.
Beep…beep..beep.
Harry had visited her twice since she found out. The first time was a blur. She was heavily sedated and in serious shock. Laying in the bed was about as far as she was functioning. Harry sat by her and tried to sooth her. He was talking but Ginny wasn't listening. All she could see was his face, and all she pictured was his face on a little baby. She couldn't have a conversation with him if she was picturing his baby. When he left she told the Healer that she didn't want Harry to know, and she didn't want Harry to see her anymore. And then everything just stopped.
She didn't eat or sleep. She listened to the beeping of the machines. It was her religion. It was the only thing that made sense.
At one point, Ginny was vaguely aware of a disturbance outside of her room. She could tell it was Harry's voice yelling at the healer. He wanted to see her. Ginny shifted in her bed. She tried to cover her head with the pillow. She needed to focus on the beeps. The yelling stopped and the door opened. Ginny lifted her head from the pillow and was met with the face of her healer. She looked pained as she started to read her charts.
"I didn't tell him, so don't worry… He knows something is wrong though."
Ginny glared at the healer and turned onto her side. She didn't need to be guilted into tell him. This woman had no idea. NONE. They sat in silence for a few seconds. There was a soft mutted cry coming from the hallway outside her room. Her heart shattered into a million pieces. She knew Harry thinks she blames him or that he did something. Trading her must have killed him. He effectively lost his sister and now Ginny. She turned toward the healer.
"He is going to sit outside my door. Make sure someone checks on him." This was the first time she spoke since making her decision.
"I'll tell him you just don't want him to see you in pain. He will be told there is nothing to worry about," the healer stopped and looked hard at Ginny, "I hope there is someone to take care of you."
This made Ginny unbelievably sad, because there was no one to comfort her. Hermione was gone. She was killing Harry's baby. The healer seemed to understand. She left Ginny to her own thoughts. That was 8 hours ago.
Harry wanted babies. He wanted so many babies that they would make her family seem small. He wanted Ginny's childhood and siblings and loving parents. Honestly, Ginny didn't really care what she got as long as Harry was happy. He would want her to keep it, like his parents did. This baby would be so loved. The price of having this baby might mean the future of this world. He would still take it. That was too much pressure and it wasn't a fair thing to ask of Harry. His mission wasn't going anywhere. She told herself that was the reason to get rid of the baby. It would keep Harry from his destiny. Plus, there was plenty of time for babies later. She repeated this to herself over and over again. It was a lie.
If she was being completely honest with herself, she wasn't keeping it for another reason. She didn't want to have a baby without Harry. She didn't want to LIVE without Harry. This baby was force her here, and she would be forced to deal with his death over and over again. She couldn't follow Harry onto the battlefield. She would be stuck in hiding. She couldn't stay here with a baby and no Harry. It was selfish. But she couldn't do it.
She was told that she had a lot in common with Lily Potter. She got the red hair and fierce attitude they both shared. It wasn't until this moment she truly wished Lily was around for her, not just Harry. She would have known what to say to Ginny. She would understand, and maybe convince Ginny to follow her decisions. But then again, Lily and James died because of their decisions. But Harry was here with her. This all just made Ginny's head hurt. She just wanted to cry, but her body wouldn't let her.
Beep…beep…beep…beep…
"Knock, Knock, little weasel. I brought food, and if you're anything like your brother than I better drop this plate and run for cover." The door swung open and in walked her least favorite person.
Draco looked a little worse for the wear. His scruff needed immediate attention. His hair looked in need of a wash. Hermione was clearly dropped as a child.
"Get OUT, Malfoy!" Ginny was not in the mood at all. Her yelling didn't seem to deter him in the slightest. He settled down at the edge of her bed and placed the plate of food on her lap.
"Potter told me you aren't eating. So stuff it in Weaselette." Ginny looked toward the door.
"He has left his post for a few minutes. I told him I would feed you. Please don't make me force it in you."
Ginny glared him down. He visibly shuttered. She decided against calling him on his bluff and nibbled on the bread.
"What's going on with Hermione? Tell me or I'll stop eating." Draco glanced at the door, almost hoping that Potter would return.
"Open your fucking trap, Malfoy!"
"Im sorry you were in market. Its..- unhumane to be kept in darkness. She is out of the market, but she is still surrounded by darkness. Just—a different kind. I have a handle on this. Trust me."
She could tell he was keeping things from her. He was too relaxed under her glare. Sure fire sign.
"I don't know why you ask us all to trust you. I DON'T trust you. You have too many secrets and too many coincidences. I think you would save yourself before you save any of us. I don't trust you. You are up to something, and I don't know what it is. So keep one eye fucking open, Malfoy. I. Do. Not. Trust. You."
"You are ruthless. Too bad you were a blood traitor or we might have been good friends." Ginny rolled her eyes and looked toward the door. Harry needed to get him out.
Thinking of Harry made her sick to her stomach. Thinking of Hermione in the market made her sick as well.
Draco shifted at the end of the bed. He was debating saying something. Ginny ate her plate in silence, and avoided his eye contact.
"Hermione made me check on you. I guess you were pretty bent out of shape when the swapped you."
Ginny choked on her bread. Ok. He had her attention.
"You don't want to like me. But you do like me, and it makes you crazy. We are cut from the same cloth, Weasley. She is ok….but I don't think that is why you are held up in here. If you tell me, I would keep it to myself. Even if I said anything, no one would believe me."
Ginny picked at the last remaining piece of her sandwich. He had a bit of a point, but saying it out loud made it real. She shook her head.
"How about I guess?" he watched her nod slightly and look toward the door.
"You are getting rid of Harry's baby, but you cant tell him. He would never forgive you or understand why you had no choice. You are choosing your survival and the world's survival over your relationship. You are killing your baby, and you are feeling like a horrible person. Like I said, we are cut from the same cloth."
Ginny looked right into Draco's eyes and saw that he understood. He understood it ALL. That was all it took for the dam to break and the tears to fall. Ginny sobbed and groaned. Her body shook and she mixed her sobs with screams. It was a verbal show of the internal trauma this was causing her.
Draco sat at the end of the bed and let her cry.
Ginny cried until there was nothing left. She had no energy so she just laid there. She felt helpless in this situation.
"I know what it's like to choose your own survival. This feeling will pass."
Ginny grunted in response. There was no way she would ever feel good about this. They sat in silence, both unsure how to move forward from here. They were spared by the healer entering the room.
"Ginny. It is time. Are you ready, because I can come back?"
Ginny shook her head and sat up in the bed. She was finally ready to face her fate. What Draco did next startled her the most.
Draco stood, and with a nod toward Ginny, he headed for the door. Instead of leaving however, he turned back around and sat next to her.
"Ok Ginny. I'm going to have you drink this potion. Afterwards there will be some bleeding. There are some medications to take tonight and then it will be over."
Ginny grabbed the potion handed to her and downed it. Lying back down, she looked off toward the door. She wished Harry could be with her, but Draco would have to work. She felt him grab her hand, and for a second she understood Hermione. Just for a second.
"This doesn't mean I like you Malfoy." She stated dead pan.
Draco sighed and nodded his head.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
AN: Draco shows a nice side. Remember this for the next chapter. Death Eater chapter coming up soon.