Chapter 11: The Butterfly Garden

The summer days had started out beautifully with nice warm breezes and non sweltering temperatures. On days like these, Ginny would take Draco outside to St. Mungo's rooftop gardens.

The rooftop gardens were made specifically for long term or permanent patients, be it ones in Draco's case, or some with cases like Gilderoy Lockhart. It was made up of five sections: a flower garden, a vegetable garden, a garden where patients could grow whatever they wanted, a magical plants garden, and a butterfly garden.

Ginny decided that she would take Draco into the butterfly garden, which was a dome that housed flowers, small trees and numerous different types of butterflies in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

When they had entered the garden, Ginny pulled Draco out of the wheelchair she had pushed him in. She was glad that Draco could at least move his legs and body in the direction she would pull his hand, making it fairly easy for them to walk around it, and get Draco some much needed leg exercise.

As Ginny gently pulled Draco along the paths, he looked around as best he could, seeing as he couldn't turn his head the way he wanted to. He listened attentively to Ginny, as she talked about the butterflies she knew about, pointing them out to him as best she could.

They had approached a bench in the middle of the garden, where Ginny made Draco sit down, with her sitting beside him.

"As the man that your are, you probably don't like butterflies." said Ginny, looking at Draco's eyes.

'On the contrary, I like beautiful things. Some of them are very nice.' thought Draco quick blinking once to let her know he liked them.

Ginny was surprised, but humored. "Really? I would have never imagined the arrogant and mighty Draco Malfoy ever liking butterflies." she joked.

Draco rolled his eyes at her, earning a small push to the arm.

"Butterflies are simply amazing creatures." began Ginny. "They start out these sometimes hideous little creepy crawly things that are everywhere and then they make their chrysalis and stay in there for awhile, and then, they emerge from it, beautiful, colorful, and flying. It's almost like a rebirth."

Draco quick blinked once to let her know he understood her. Suddenly a pretty blue and green butterfly landed on his knee. Draco watched add the butterfly opened and shut its wings, as if it was exercising them, seeming content on staying there for awhile.

Ginny put her finger on Draco's knee, allowing the butterfly the walk onto it like her finger was a tree branch. She then lifted her finger so that it was eye level to Draco so he could see it better.

"You know Drayke, you're kind of like this butterfly." she said. "You started out this pratty little caterpillar, roaming around, consuming everything and making a mess of things. Now, you kind of trapped in your own cocoon, and eventually, hopefully real soon, you will be emerging from it, a butterfly. Somewhat reborn."

Draco thought about her analogy. He loved the way her mind worked.

"I wonder what color your wings will be." said Ginny, absentmindedly as she popped her finger up and encouraged the butterfly to fly off.

If you would have asked me that a few weeks ago, I would have said red and black." said Ginny. "The red representing anger, you always seemed angry and dark which is the black. But now? I feel like maybe they would be a sky blue. Like a clear sky after a storm. And maybe flakes of yellow for the sun."

Draco was glad he was sitting in a slant because he was really enjoying looking at Ginny's face as she described Draco being a better person after this ordeal. It made him feel proud that she thought of him that way. Like he had a goal to achieve.

"When you are cured of all this, do you think you'll go back to the way you were?" asked Ginny.

Draco quickly blinked his eyes three times, telling her he didn't know. And honestly he didn't. True, some aspects of his personality would indeed change, but he would be free to do as he pleased again. He could easily fall right back into his old habits.

Ginny looked a bit discouraged. She would have hoped that he would want to be a different person. That he would want to be a better person. Maybe instead of a butterfly, he was a no spot changing leopard.

"Draco?" asked Ginny, suddenly feeling nervous. "If I ask you something, would you give me an honest yes or no?"

Draco quick blinked once, telling her yes.

"Are we friends?"

Draco's eyes lit up as he quickly blinked once, telling her yes. He was really calling her mental and saying that of course they were friends, but he couldn't put that all in one blink.

Ginny felt her own butterflies in her stomach fluttering. "Really? You consider me your friend? That's good to know. Now I don't feel like I'm always boring you to death, and even if I am, now I know you don't care." she said with a blushing smile.

Draco rolled his eyes as affectionately as one could roll their eyes in that manner.

"Are you lonely in there? I can only imagine that you are. You're not able to freely move and go where you want it talk to whoever you please. I would feel isolated." said Ginny.

Draco took a second to think. A month or so ago, the answer would be a definite yes. But lately, even though she was only around 12 hours a day and 5 days a week, he didn't seem so alone anymore. He had her.

He quickly blinked his eyes twice, saying no, causing Ginny to blush. He liked seeing he do that, and he wish he could show her with even a tiny smile. As much as he willed himself to, he just couldn't do it.

'Oh well.' thought Draco, sadly.

He slowly blinked his eyes twice.

"Thank you? What are you thanking me for?" asked Ginny.

Draco sighed. Times like this, he wished he hadn't been so stubborn and learned to spell with his blinks.

"For bringing you here?"

Draco blinked no.

"For asking you what I asked?"

Draco again blinked no.

"For...for being your friend?" asked Ginny, once again feeling hot blush come upon her face.

'There you go.' thought Draco, as he blinked yes.

Ginny grinned as she tried to hide the fact that even more butterflies were fluttering around inside of her now.

"I have another question. Well, more like an apology and a question." said Ginny, nervously. "Were you mad at me, when I kissed you on your birthday? Because that was so unprofessional of me and I felt terrible. I didn't know what came over me or what possessed me to do it."

Draco blinked no. Ginny was shocked.

"Really? You aren't angry?"

Draco once again blinked no.

Ginny breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. Now I don't feel as guilty. You didn't actually like it, did you?" she asked, meaning it to be a joke.

Draco smirked. If he could talk, he would tell her that he liked it, it should have been longer, and he wouldn't mind doing it again.

Instead, he winked at her, causing Ginny to laugh loudly.

"Silly git." she said, gently nudging his shoulder.

She stood up and took Draco by the hand. Instead of holding it like she was originally, she laced her fingers through his.

"Is this okay?" she asked.

'More than okay.' thought Draco as he blinked yes.

She walked him back over to his chair, fingers intertwined. Draco wished he could tighten his grip on her hand to let her know that he was enjoying this. Then again, maybe she didn't need to know. Not yet anyways.

Ginny helped him back into the wheelchair and pushed him out of the butterfly garden as she made their way back to his room. She had a million other questions she would have loved to ask him, but for now she was satisfied with what she had learned. He was thankful for her friendship.

And apparently her kisses.