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Shades of Green
Chapter Thirty Six: The Ties That Bind
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One week later…
When Ginny woke up, it was to barren white walls and trickles of sunlight through drab blue curtains. Her mouth felt as though a pygmy puff had died in it, her tongue feeling lead-like and heavy. Through squinted brown eyes she examined her arms and fingers, they seemed attached. With what felt like all her strength, she lifted the thin white sheet that covered the lower half of her body—two legs, ten toes wiggling back at her.
All things seemed to be intact, at the very least.
Her head was throbbing, her abdomen felt as though it had been serrated open.
She took in her surroundings, there was a striking familiarity to this place, yet she couldn't muster even the measliest amount of concentration to figure out what it was.
She wanted to call out, say something—scream, because the memories of what happened at Castle Black were flooding in.
The inferi.
The dementors.
The kelpie that had almost eaten her alive.
The horrible mazes and twisted clues.
The terrible cold that never left her bones.
The all-consuming darkness that was unending.
That overwhelming loneliness in the face of such disparity.
And then the end of it all was the worst part—what Draco had done to Blaise.
She had forgiven Draco for a lot, she had overlooked a lot, simply for the fact that he was different now. That the Draco that she had met and gotten to know over the course of this year was generous and kind and gentle when he wanted to be, he was adoring and when it came to her—he was selfless.
He loved her.
And that love overshadowed the majority of his sins, even the hateful accusation that he murdered her brother.
All of that, forgiven.
Under this pining notion that for her, he was different.
He had changed.
No longer that boy who let death eaters into Hogwarts, or the one who had stood by and watched Hermione Granger get tortured like an animal on the floor of his home.
The one that hadn't committed egregious crimes during the time of War.
He was simply—Draco.
Her Draco.
Her Draco who was no longer able to torture people on command or kill them when cornered.
And yet, she couldn't stop seeing that crazed look in his eyes as he hexed his best friend without restraint.
Tears pooled at the corner of her eyes, her heart speeding up as she was assaulted by the memories of what she had witnessed.
It was as if he was hollow, his gaze was dead and lifeless, he pointed his wand with calculated precision and a practiced hand. All the while muttering delusions and fighting demons that didn't exist.
The most terrifying part, the part that she could barely believe, wouldn't if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes was that if she hadn't stopped him, Draco would have done it.
He would have killed Blaise.
It was the thought that the man she loved more than life itself was still capable of performing the killing curse successfully, upon his best friend at that, regardless of what trancelike state he had been in, was what sent her reeling.
He wasn't supposed to be that person, not after everything she had seen in him.
For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, she was sure she had seen the monster that resided within.
The same monster he had repeatedly warned her of.
And the very same monster she so vehemently denied existed.
Guttural sobs threatened to escape from her throat, her chest heaving up and down as tears streamed down her cheeks.
She wanted it all to have been a nightmare.
"Hello!" She tried yelling out, her voice was hoarse and her throat felt raw.
It was barely above a whisper.
"Anybody!"
The door opened and a flash of blonde hair came swirling in, gathering Ginny in her arms within seconds.
"Thank god you're okay." Kennedy's familiar voice whispered in her ear. "I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if something would have happened to you." She felt Kennedy give her a wet kiss on the cheek.
She'd hardly ever seen Kennedy cry before.
It was touching yet alarming at the same time.
"What's going on?" Ginny asked a bit fearfully.
Kennedy let go of her, but kept a hand over hers. "How are you feeling, I should go get a nurse." She said hurriedly. "And, and your parents—and Ron, too. They've been so…" She rambled on, almost erratic in her mannerisms that were unusual to her normally calm demeanor.
"Rosie." Ginny cut her off quickly. "Please, I'm feeling okay. I just need to know what's going on. Where I am. Why are my parents here."
Kennedy's eyes widened. "You don't remember? Any of it?" She asked, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"I, I do. I know what happened at the crypt. I just, I don't know anything that happened after." She said shakily.
"You should get some rest, Gin. Honestly, all this will be here tomorrow I mean you've been out for a week so you should really—
"A week!" It had felt like a second, maybe a minute.
But a whole week…
"Where's Draco." It came out before she even realized it had been a thought. "Is he…" And all else aside, she knew it would end her if he something had happened to him.
Kennedy pushed her hair out of her face, "You're in St. Mungo's, Gin." She said as gently as possible, "Draco and Blaise are here too." She tried to sound collected, but the stress lines on her forehead gave her away.
"How did we get out." Ginny rasped, dread filling her stomach like water in a bathtub.
Kennedy sighed, "I don't know if I'm supposed to be telling you all this stuff, Gin. They don't wanna overload you with information because you're still in a really sensitive condition—
"Kennedy." Ginny put a hand over the blonde's. "You're my best friend, if there's anyone I trust to tell me the truth—it's you."
"I wasn't there, so all I know is what I've heard. First thing you should know, it was Narcissa that came back for you guys. She brought Deimos Mourning with her and he brought two of his personal Aurors. They got you guys out, but apparently nothing was salvageable."
Ginny's eyes widened at what the blonde had just told her, how could that be?
Was it even possible that fate would be so cruel, that they would come within an inch of losing their collective lives only to come back empty handed.
"Yeah." Kennedy nodded sadly, "Whatever it was you needed to get Gin, whatever was so important that you couldn't trust me but you could go to Zab—" She stopped herself, the hurt flooding into her voice, before waving a hand. "Um, that's not what's important right now." She cleared her throat. "But anyway, it's all gone."
"N-no." A tear leaked out of her eye. "Nothing?" She gasped through a trembling bottom lip.
Kennedy shook her head regretfully. "I'm really sorry, Ginny. According to the Aurors, they had to bombarder through a shit ton of crap just to get to you guys, that crypt had started to cave in on itself before they had even arrived. Auror Perkins said you'd been holding up a shield charm with all your strength, Draco and Blaise were unconscious."
Ginny looked at her with a mixture of awe and horror.
She had no recollection of that.
The last thing she remembered was trying to staunch Blaise's bleeding.
A soft smile came over the blonde. "They'd have been dead if it wasn't for you, Gin." She rubbed a thumb across the redhead's knuckles.
"So they're not… dead?" She croaked.
It was the question that had been sitting on the tip of her tongue since Kennedy had walked in, but she had been too horrified to ask it.
"They're not dead." She repeated, but said nothing else.
"By the time they were able to get to you, half a dozen Aurors had shown up. There was a media frenzy outside of St. Mungo's before you were even admitted. It's all over the papers. Narcissa's been battling press and paparazzi almost nonstop, and there are so many questions."
"And my parents?" Ginny asked, fear evident in her voice.
A pained expression befell the blonde. "They're worried. Your poor mother was beside herself. They're sleeping right now, they'll probably have my head if they catch you awake and find out I didn't tell them." She admitted.
"But aren't they… angry?" She whispered.
Kennedy looked as though she was trying to find the right words to say. "Um, maybe not so much angry as…confused." She tried. "Their worry is paramount, they just want you to be okay. I think everything else will come later." She said honestly.
Ginny averted her gaze, brown eyes pooling with tears.
"Hey, listen." Kennedy started. "Your parents may not be everything you want them to be all the time, but I know one thing that's obvious—they love you, G. It's unconditional and pure and unchangeable. Take it from me, at the end of the day that's all that matters." She'd had more interaction with her best friend's parents over the past seven days than she had in the last seven years.
And there were some things she was able to learn about them that she was absolutely sure of.
Arthur Weasley, while proud and moral, would do anything for his family.
Molly, while hard on discipline and expectant, loved her children more than life.
And Ginny's brothers, while overly protective and a bit judgmental, would go to the ends of the earth for their sister.
They were a family, the Weasleys, a real one.
And Ginny was lucky to be a part of it.
"I just, I hate that I've disappointed them… again." It felt so much worse when she said it out loud.
Kennedy shook her head, "I think they have questions and I know it's going to be a shock to them. I won't presume to know how your family truly feels about Malfoy, but I'm sure it won't be at all easy. It might even be the hardest thing you ever go through." She said. "But they will get past it, Ginny. Because I don't think any of the people that have been sitting outside of your hospital room for the last seven days can bear the thought of losing you in any capacity." And of that she was completely certain.
"People?" Ginny asked, eyebrows shooting upwards. "Who all is here?" She felt dizzy again.
Dealing with her parents was one thing, but God forbid her brood of brothers were here as well… she wasn't sure if she could handle it.
Her worst fears were confirmed by the awkward grimace Kennedy gave her. "Erm. Ron, George, Percy, Bill and Fleur. Charlie was here too, he had to floo back to Romania this morning—some dragon crisis or other—but he'll be back tonight." She listed off, watching Ginny's expression of horror continue to grow with every name. "Harry and Hermione haven't left since they got here. Luna and Neville are in and out, same with Daph and Romilda. Cass splits his time between waiting rooms. Ter hasn't really come by except once but he asks about you all the time, Gin, it's just with Ron here and your family—he doesn't want to upset anyone right now." For that bit of sensitivity, she was grateful to her boyfriend.
"And you?" Ginny asked quietly.
Kennedy gave her half a grin, "Haven't left a moment since I found out." She promised. "You're my sister, Ginny. I mean that. You mean more to me than anyone I've ever cared about, the only family I've got." She was hardly ever candid or mushy. "I couldn't even think about what I would do without you, you're really all I have."
But the thought of losing her best friend had her wanting to say everything she never had.
She gave Kennedy a reassuring squeeze. "I know." She promised, "I know."
"Um, you should know, Gin—Narcissa's been here everyday to check in, she's worried sick over Draco but she's worried about you too." It was saying a lot, Narcissa Malfoy cared for very few and none outside of her own blood.
Ginny felt a twitch of a smile tug at the corners of her mouth. "I can't imagine she and my mother put aside their differences." She mentioned.
Kennedy shrugged a shoulder. "I think they can appreciate being in the same situation." She surmised. "Narcissa's not really the type to take no for an answer anyway."
"So I've noticed."
"She paid to have private care staff and the top mediwizards tending to you around the clock, insisted on you having your own room, all without your parents finding out." She elaborated. "She made me swear I wouldn't tell you, but I felt weird hiding it. I know how you feel about the Malfoys and their money, so I just thought you should know."
"Thanks Rosie, I appreciate that." Ginny said honestly. "No use in kicking up a fuss about it now though, huh?"
"I don't think so."
Ginny raised herself a little higher in bed, "Look, I know you told me Draco and Zab aren't, you know, but are they okay?" It was the question that had been turning itself over in her mind.
She was so afraid of the answers, especially since Kennedy had done such a good job of evading the question so far.
Kennedy bit her lip. "Draco…um. He was littered with all these cuts and bruises, four broken ribs, a broken femur. His skull had been fractured upon impact which proved to be a little difficult to mend because apparently skelegro doesn't work for your head." Kennedy rolled her eyes.
"Is he awake? Can I see him?" Ginny asked almost frantic with anxiety.
Kennedy shook her head, "I don't think so, Gin." She said as gently as possible. "Aside from the bodily injuries, Draco drank a potion and they haven't told anyone except Narcissa the extent of how much it affected him, but he hasn't come out of a coma—at this point, they haven't guarnenteed if he will…"
Her heart sank into her stomach, her breaths coming in in heaves, the room was spinning rapidly and all she could do was hold on to the edge of the bed.
Kennedy looked frightened. "Crap, I shouldn't have told you." She said, immediately regretting it. "I have to go get your mediwitch."
"No, no—don't." But it was no use, the blonde had already ran out as Ginny's vision began to blur.
She tried calling out to Kennedy, but no sound came out, as she felt like she was sinking deeper and deeper into quicksand until finally she couldn't move at all and everything around her disappeared into nothingness.
When Ginny awoke again it was to the peering faces of a medi-wizard, two nurses and Molly Weasley.
The medi-wizard shined his wand into her eyes, "Ah, yes. Nasty thing magical exhaustion." He said in a thick Irish accent. "You'll likely be feeling these effects for at least a month, I've seen bigger wizards than you lose their magic when they aren't—
The professionals were quickly pushed aside by the matron, as she grabbed her only daughter into an almost bone-crushing hug.
And as tight as she was being squeezed, Ginny couldn't bring herself to let go, it had been so long since she'd felt the genuine warmth in her mother's embrace.
Molly Weasley had looked worse for the wear, her orange her was a tangled mess, the corners of her bright brown eyes crinkled with worry, the bags under her eyelids swollen and obvious as tears gathered at the corners.
"Oh dear, I must've been crushing you." She said hastily, wiping at her eyes. "How are you feeling, sweetheart? You're looking so frail, let's get some food in you, shall we?" It was the familiarity of her mother's tone that had caused her to break into sobs.
For the first time in what felt like forever, she finally felt safe.
"Ginny." Her mother gasped, collecting the girl into her arms again. "There, there, darling. You're alright, I promise." She soothed.
"I'm so sorry, Mum." She repeated through ragged breaths. "Please forgive me, I never meant for any of this to happen." In her hysterics, she was unsure of what she was even apologizing for anymore.
There was so much.
"I'll have none of that, young lady." She was stern but loving. "We'll have plenty of time for apologies and explanations later, right now we're all just happy to see you're okay. You gave us quite a scare, you know."
"I know mum, I'm so sorry." She sniffled.
Molly wiped away the remnants of her tears. "I know, honey. And we aren't angry." She assured the youngest Weasley. "Let's just focus on getting you better, alright?"
Ginny nodded.
"How about I bring you something to eat? I've made your favorite […] and some raspberry pies just like on Christmas, I know how much you love those." She suggested brightly.
"That would be great, mum." She could feel her stomach grumbling at the mention of her mother's savory cooking. "But I was really hoping to get a shower first." She could practically feel the dirt and grime caked on like a second layer of skin.
Molly smiled. "Whatever you'd like. Let me help you to the bathroom then, get you set up. How's that sound?" She offered.
Ginny nodded, "Perfect, thank you." She appreciated.
-x-
When she got out, a fluffy white bathrobe tied around her waist, sopping wet hair and blood shot brown eyes were met with the slumped over form and bushy brown hair of Hermione Granger.
Well, now Potter.
A sigh of relief escaped her at the sight of the redhead. "Ginny." She breathed out, rushing over to hug her. "I'm so happy you're safe."
Ginny hugged her back, "I…yea, me too." All she had been able to think about in the shower was Draco.
All she wanted was to see him with her own eyes, know he was here and at the very least alive. She needed to be sure.
Being without him, so unsure of how he was, all she could think about was how fragmented she felt.
"What's going on with you, Gin?" Hermione asked softly, her face full of concern.
Ginny walked gingerly over to the hospital bed, all her muscles feeling so sore it was as if they were being ripped apart with every step she took. With a heavy sigh, she collapsed on the bed. "Don't they have something stronger than a pepper up potion." She was dying for a shot of Ogden's Old.
Maybe a whole bottle, to drown her pain and her sorrows.
"Where do you want me to begin, Hermione?" She asked tiredly, because that's exactly what she was.
Tired of the questions, the explanations, tired of crying over Draco and everything he represented, tired of being awake for mere hours.
It felt like eternities.
"Malfoy, would be a good start."
There were so many ways she could have answered that, a laundry list of reasons, a thousand defenses and all of them starting with how much he'd changed.
Yet she hadn't the strength to say it all, barely enough to conceptualize it. So she said the only thing that meant anything.
"I love him." And as hollow as she felt, the conviction was undeniable.
The emotions Ginny had expected to see, weren't there. There was no shock, no anger or contempt. She just looked a little perturbed, maybe a tad bit confused. But with the scrunch of her eyebrows Ginny knew underneath all that there was grudging acceptance.
Hermione had to have, on some level, known that this was exactly what it was. Perhaps there was denial and maybe she hadn't wanted to believe it, but Hermione was not naïve in any measure.
It was the answer she had expected and the answer she had dreaded.
"How did that happen?" She asked quietly.
Ginny let out a dry laugh through her nose, "How does it ever happen?" She stared up at the ceiling. "It was slow, steady, didn't know it was happening until it was too late. I thought I hated him, I was convinced of it, really. I tried to keep a fair distance away from him, maintain the order. I don't know when but he got under my skin, Hermione. And I don't know how, but I am so in love with Draco Malfoy it has consumed me." She shook her head. "And I know you want to judge, but I'll save you the trouble. I know, okay? I know he's all wrong for me and there are times where I absolutely hate myself for allowing this to happen." She dropped her face into her palms.
A week wasn't nearly long enough to be knocked out.
Hermione put a hand on her knee, "I didn't mean to upset you, Ginny. And as much as I don't understand it, I'm not judging you, I promise." She said honestly. "It's just, you know about Fred, don't you? You must."
"Its why we were at that house in the first place!" She rubbed her eyes. "I loved Fred so much, Hermione. He was my brother. When he died it killed me, and my whole family with him. Do you think that if I, even for a second, believed Draco had done this that I would be with him?" She demanded.
Hermione let out a patient sigh, "I'm not here to lecture you, Ginny. I am on your side." She promised. "I want to be your ally. Just let me."
Ginny's eyes widened. "You, you don't think I'm absolutely crazy?" She gasped.
Hermione gave her half a smile. "A little." She admitted. "But I love you so much more. Just catch me up to speed. I don't need the nitty gritty on you and Draco but what the hell where you doing at that old house?"
She struggled to answer the question, the entire thing with Castle Black had been shrouded with such secrecy that it was hard to shake the feeling that this wasn't something she was allowed to talk about. But it was over, they were out and whatever the verdict would be now, it was out of her hands.
"If I tell you, I need it to be between us for now."
A look of discomfort crossed Hermione's face.
"I know, you and Harry are all soul bonded and don't keep secrets from each other." She rolled her eyes. "But it's not forever, just for a bit?"
She was silent for a few minutes, before finally she looked up. "Fine." She relented.
-x-
Explaining everything to Hermione, even just the short noted version, took almost an hour. The brunette was nothing if not inquisitive and there was no shortage of questions. However, as excruciating as some of it was, she was relieved to have told someone. Especially when that someone wasn't in her inner circle of Slytherin friends.
Hermione, at the end of it, had offered to field the Weasley questions, being the ally she promised to be. She would handle the explanations and reason witht hem as much as she could and to have that off her plate, Ginny was grateful.
Her second request to Hemrione was one that had been met very grudginingly and almost not at all.
Operation: See Draco Malfoy.
Phase one: Hermione had very unhappily agreed to tell her family and the medi-wizards that Ginny was sleeping for the night, that she didn't wish to be disturbed by any more visitors.
Phase two: sneak Kennedy into the room and sneak Ginny out, though glamouring the redhead's hair blonde was a bit more challenging than Kennedy's.
Phase three: Getting Ginny into Draco's private ward—which proved much easier said than executed.
With Kennedy's dark green cloak over her, the hood pulled up so just the shadows of her eyes were visible, she shuffled out of the room, making sure to give the gaggle of Weasley's in the waiting room outside a glimpse of her blonde hair.
"Kennedy, wait!" Ron's voice called out to her.
Ginny felt her eyes widen, "Not now, Ron. I need to—
"One thing, Ken. Just one." He said pleadingly.
Ginny didn't stop, "Ron, I can't. I'm sorry. I'll talk to you later." She said over her shoulder, hoping he would stop following her.
She heard his footsteps fade and eventually stop, she didn't need to turn around to know he had stopped. She wondered what it was that was actually going on between Kennedy and Ron, only briefly though, because there were so many other things she had on her mind that took precedent.
Ron and Kennedy's unclear, pseudo-Shakespearean, overly convoluted love story would still be here a few weeks from now.
As she turned the corridor she hoped led to the private wing of Mungo's, she felt a hand on her elbow, then a hand over her mouth.
"It's just me."
Cassius.
Ginny let out a sigh of relief, wiggling out of his grasp. "Cass." She breathed out, pulling down her hood.
A look of concern passed swam through his kind hazel eyes. "How're you, Gin?" He asked, squinting down at her, she didn't look too good.
He knew the gist of what went down, sure the details were shrouded in mystery, but he knew they'd been through hell and back.
"Alive."
"You look like you shouldn't be outta bed, if I'm honest." He put a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Magical exhaustion, that's what they said it is." She sighed. "Apparently, I used up way too much of my magic and for now it's depleted." She held up her hands on either side. "Guess I look as bad as I feel, huh?"
"Still beautiful." He winked. "Is that why you're wandless?"
"Yeah, they can't give it back to me until at least half the amount of my normal magical energy has returned. Since it's a conduit, it would ending up depleting my magic whenever close to me." She said miserably. "Anyway, Rosie told me you'd meet me here—will you take me to go see him?" She asked hopefully.
"Of course." Cassius nodded. "But, are you sure you're up for it? You don't have to do everything all at once, you know."
"I know, but I've always been a rush into danger headlong sort of girl."
"Ah, yes. Must be the Gryffindor in you then."
"Some say I was tragically misplaced." She cracked a smile.
Cassius shook his head, as he started down a long, dimly lit hallway. "I'd disagree. You're one of us, I can see it in your eyes." He gave her half a grin.
Ginny followed behind him in a comfortable silence, he looked around at the end of the corridor. "Pull your hood back on and try not to let anyone see your face." He instructed quietly.
"Get where?" Still, she did as she was told.
"Draco's room isn't in the private ward of St. Mungo's, it's in a whole different building." He told her, he pulled out some kind of I.D badge from his back pocket.
They approached a set of elevators, Cassius waved the I.D in front and a dinging sound soon followed.
She pressed her fingers into her temples, feeling a mean headache coming on.
"Listen, if you aren't ready, if you don't feel up to it, I can take you tomorrow—or any other time you want." He offered.
"No, no. I appreciate the concern, Cass, I really do but I have to do this. I need to see him, being away from him and not knowing how he is—it's literally killing me." She told him, tears pooling at the corners of her eyes.
Cassius let out a long sigh, "Alright, I won't pretend to get it." He said. "But I won't ask again, either." He promised.
"So what should I do when I get there?"
"I'll take you to the door, but they only let in one person at a time. So after that you're going to go to the front desk and tell the woman behind the glass that you are Kennedy Rosier, here to see Draco Malfoy, make sure you give her this" He pulled out something and gave it to her. "It's Rosie's visitor's permit, you cannot even get past the gate without this. Once she clears you, which she will as long as you don't say much, two security demi-auror's will take you up to Draco's room, you'll most likely run into Narcissa, try to walk right past her if you can—she'll know you're not Kennedy without sparing a second look." He instructed quickly.
Ginny tried to focus on his voice, on the things he was telling her but her head was spinning. It was as if all his instructions were going in one ear and out of the other. She felt like her heart was beating out of her throat, a cold bead of sweat trickling down the back of her neck.
The elevator came to a stop, it opened outside as the setting sun painted the sky in hues of cotton candy pink and periwinkle blue, reminding her instantly of the way the it had looked the first time she had Draco had gotten close enough to kiss.
That day at the Black Lake seemed like it was another lifetime ago.
When had everything gotten so complicated?
She felt herself sway to the left, her eyes drifting shut for a moment, before she felt a pair of strong arms around her. "Oh no, you're alright." Cassius said softly, holding her against him. "That's okay, I've got you."
She waited a few minutes before attempting to get back on her feet. Cassius steadied her, keep a hand on her back for insurance. "Ginny, I know I said I wouldn't ask. But I'm worried about you and to be honest cap't ever found out I didn't rush you back to bed immediately, he would have my head." He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"He won't." Ginny took a few deep breaths. "Just work with me, okay? Please." She swiped a hand across her damp forehead.
Cassius gave her a look of reluctance, before a short nod. "It's just down the knoll." He pointed down the small grassy slope.
It was a relatively small building that paled in the shadow of St. Mungo's, but it looked a lot less inviting if that was possible. They stood at the threshold of two tall wire rimmed gates, a voice came out. "Welcome to Parkinson's inpatient Infirmary, a proprietor of St. Mungo Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Please state your name and purpose for being on the premises and have your visitor's identification badge out at all times." The robotic voice instructed politely.
Cassius pulled out his wand, "Cassius Dolohov and Gin—ahem Kennedy Rosier, here to see Draco Malfoy." He said clearly, giving her a sheepish grin at his accidental slip.
The wrought wire gates slowly began to divide, "Do the Parkinson's own this place?" Ginny whispered.
He nodded, "They donated the wing some odd years ago, I think after the first war." He answered.
She felt a wave of annoyance wash over her, of course the Parkinson's must have spared no expense for the Malfoys and the idea of Pansy having unrestricted access to Draco at all times, doting over him and rubbing elbows with Narcissa, made her blood boil.
She barely noticed her pace quicken and suddenly they were at a brownstone door. All the winding pathways and doors, reminding her all too much of Castle Black and the torture that was all too fresh in her mind.
Once they got in, she did as Cassius told her, keeping the hood low and flashing a sliver of blonde hair. The demi-aurors searched her person, before taking her to the second floor. The infirmary was a lot different than the rooms in St. Mungo's most of which were three patients to one, small and unfriendly. The ones here were large, brightly lit, brilliant white walls and what looked like long, large rooms. The main waiting area on the second floor was sprawling, outfitted with a huge dining table and a magnificent chandelier.
They stopped in front of a big wooden door, "Mrs. Malfoy. A Kennedy Rosier is here to see your son, shall we let her through?" He asked through it.
Narcissa came to the door a moment later, dressed in a billowy royal navy robe, her silvery blonde hair wrapped in an intricate braid down her back.
How did this woman manage to look positively regal even in a hospital.
Ginny held her breath under the scrutinizing gaze of Narcissa Malfoy, she stood on her tip toes as Cassius had suggested and kept her hood low. Still, she was unconvinced that Narcissa would be fooled.
The woman was no Weasley, she was a master at detecting deception.
"Leave us." She commanded, and the guards dissipated at once.
Ginny stood in her place, waiting on bated breath as Narcissa's ice blue eyes travelled the length of her.
"Miss Rosier, I wasn't expecting to see you back so soon." She said after what felt like a lengthy silence.
Almost stunned into silence, Ginny floundered for a response before clearing her throat. "I just wanted to check on him." She tried to channel Kennedy as best she could, but for the life of her couldn't even recall her what her best friend's voice sounded like right now.
Narcissa, allowed her in, to the left was another door which they passed. "How is Ginevra? I hear she's awake."
Her breath hitched in her throat, there was something telling in Narcissa's voice. "Weak, suffering from magical exhaustion." She answered meekly.
"She shouldn't be out of bed, should she?"
Her eyes widened under the cloak, she knew.
Narcissa had known from the moment she had seen Ginny behind the door.
"No, she uh, she's asleep right now. Again." She maintained.
A scoff escaped Narcissa as they came to a half in front of the door, "Let Ginevra know I will be by to see her some time tomorrow afternoon. I've been concerned for her health." The words were soft at the end, not too endearing but still they were heartfelt.
A small smile touched her lips, "I…I will."
"Try not to linger, Miss Rosier. You need your rest as well." And with that, she opened the door to Draco's room and disappeared back down the hall.
She had never thought that Draco could look small to her, not in all the years she had known him, not when his six foot tall, broad shouldered frame towered over her, constantly owing her his protection, always watching over her—saving her.
Yet in this immaculate room, with its floor to ceiling windows and a bed that reminded her of a hotel, a fireplace at the end of it, with a plush armchair that looked mighty comfortable right now, he seemed little.
So fragile.
She tugged off the hood, pushing her hair out of her face and bravely walking forward. He was sickly pale, so unlike his normally porcelain pallor that was aristocratic in its nature. His limbs looked as though they were attached to him by just skin, his face sunken in and almost ghostly. His hair that was normally so shiny it was mesmerizing now limp and dry, caught around his ears and tangled on the top of his head.
But the worst part of it all was not being able to see those familiar silver eyes, to be assured by him that everything would be okay, that they would make it through this.
She had envisioned this moment over and over again since she'd woken up, it was all she was able to think about. She thought it would end in her breaking down into a fit of sobs over his condition, over their failed mission, over the injustice of it all.
Yet in the face of it, staring him down and all their decisions that have led up to this very moment, none of that came.
No overwhelming grief, no emotional breakdown.
She would be strong, she would be positive and she would fight like hell, for the hope that was barely breathing inside her chest.
She wouldn't lose him, not now, not like this.
Not ever.
She knew there was a storm coming, it would rock the seas and flood the land but she was going to hold on to him for dear life.
They were going to get through this, they would get through to the other side.
Ginny settled into the armchair that was beside him, curing a hand into his limp one, threading her fingers between those familiar long ones. She brought the back of his hand to her lips, pressing a few kisses into his skin, before laying her cheek against it.
"Hey, handsome." She finally said, her voice raspy and low.
And it was probably just a trick of light, but she could've sworn she saw his lip twitch up—even just for a second.
"You know, me waking up without you was never part of the deal." She started, pulling herself a little closer to him.
With a free hand, she brushed a few fingers against his hair. "I think my parents might be on to us." She chuckled. "Guess the whole double life thing might not be an issue anymore, but I don't know how well it's going to go over with my brothers." She continued to stroke his hair.
"They're all here, even Percy." She let out a snort. "Fretting over me and treating me like I'm five. As if I'm made of glass. It's so weird because I've never needed that, but it's kind of nice too. My family's been so…fractured since Fred, it was touching to see them all in one room for once, even if it's just for now. Coz I know things are going to get messier once…well, we can cross that bridge when we come to it." She rubbed a thumb over his knuckles.
He was so still, almost like a statue. And yet even in this completely disheveled state, he looked like Adonis carved in marble.
"You are beautiful, Draco Malfoy." She breathed out, a smile touching her lips as she thought of how much he would hate to hear her say that.
But God, was it true.
He was perfection embodied.
"Listen." She sniffed, her tears betraying her resolve to stay strong. "I need you to do something for me, okay? I need you to come back to me, Draco." She leaned in closer to him, inhaling that familiar scent of pine. "Just like you promised you always would."
She hazarded to lay her head against his chest, for a moment finding solace in the sound of his heartbeat.
At least there was one.
It was the only thing that kept her from completely falling apart.
"I love you, Draco. Nothing will ever change that, not my family, not your family. Not the wizengamot or the trial." She swore. "And I won't lose you, not to Azkaban and not to death. I refuse to." She wasn't willing to accept the idea of a life without him.
She brought his hand to her chest, holding it between both of hers. "Wake up, Draco. Please." She whispered. "For me."
In all his paranoia, his fears about losing her and fearing for her life, it was a little ironic that she was here begging for his. Yet, this was what Draco had been prepared for all along.
He had resigned himself to a fate that he was not ready for but had accepted as a possibility. He would do anything for Ginny and he was willing to sacrifice everything for her.
"You had asked me once, what made me choose you. That the reason you were so enraptured to me was obvious—it was because of my 'goodness'—but for the life of you couldn't understand what someone like me could see in someone like you. And at the time, I didn't have much of an answer, I really regret that now. I think I was too scared of my feelings for you to understand them. To say out loud that I loved you meant accepting that I could and I was still struggling to understand how after everything you'd done." She felt a hot tear leak over the bridge of her nose.
"I always knew though. I knew what it was that made me want to be with you and I think… I think I was too ashamed to admit it. That deep down, you and I were the same." She confessed. "You see, I had always felt that there was something inside of me that had drawn Tom to me, that had allowed him to take over my mind and slip into my conscience so easily. And when I woke up, I just felt so sick and dirty and used. I felt stained—forever marked by this year of my life that I could never ever take back." A choked sob escaped her. "Even after it was all over, I carried around this guilt over all the things I had done that I just couldn't get rid of no matter how hard I tried. I felt like it was my fault, I think maybe the worst part of all that was no one ever told me it wasn't." She felt herself shaking, as emotion racked her body.
"Years went by and I learned to bury my pain. No one talked about what happened that year, so I didn't either. Everyone was better off acting as if it never happened and I was willing to grant them that ignorance if it meant not burdening anyone with my emptiness." She said with a quiver in her voice. "But I never really escaped it—that darkness which seemed to lurk inside me. I never got back my light." She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling her throat constricting under the weight of everything she had never said before.
She took in a deep breath, "I just figured never would." She whispered. "But then… you happened." A small smile touched her lips. "You crawled into my body and made a home out of the bleakest corners of my heart. It was as if I had been running on a backwards axis my whole life and you snapped my entire world back into place. You made me feel alive and free, you gave me purpose. You took the crushing loneliness I have felt for as long as I can remember and replaced it with a love that has been nothing but unconditional. A love that has consumed me." She lifted her face up, gently putting her chin on his shoulder. "And suddenly that awful darkness that I had been so scared of—it didn't seem so big anymore. I didn't have to fight it. I didn't have to be humiliated by it. You let me accept that part of myself that I so desperately hated. And that acceptance, that devotion, it finally allowed me to let go of all the things that I'd been carrying around. All the guilt and shame, it just went away…" She caressed his face lovingly, brushing her thumb back and forth over the hollow of his cheekbone.
"I know somewhere deep inside, you can hear all this Draco. And I need you to know something, for those reasons and probably a million more—I will always choose you." In that moment, her voice didn't break, her gaze didn't waver—there was only assurance.
"In any lifetime, across space and time, I would choose you." She lifted herself out of the armchair. "I love you, Draco Malfoy." She whispered across his lips, before pressing a kiss into them.
-x-
Cassius had met her outside of the room, insisting they leave right away because the guards were starting to get suspicious. That and the fact that her hair did not even have a strand of blonde any longer and was just Weasley red through and through.
She had begged to see blaise, but Cassius had vehemently denied that request. Blaise's condition hadn't changed since they brought him in, he was being held in the emergency icu, quarantined for risk of infection. Apparently, the lacerations he had suffered were so deep they may not heal fully and there was quite a few dark puncture wounds across his vital organs that weren't mending the way they should have been.
Things were so touch and go with Blaise that they weren't allowing anyone to enter his room, not even his own mother.
When she got back to her room, she was exhausted, completely spent and between the health of Draco and Blaise all she wanted was to sleep until they were awake again too. It was too much, having gone through all this with Draco and especially Blaise and for neither of them to be conscious right now.
It wasn't fair.
She didn't want to be the only one out of the three of them to survive this.
She couldn't.
She would never be able to bare it.
When she got into her bed, Ginny fell into the deepest sleep of her life and she hoped she would sleep until she got some good news for once.
That wasn't the case.
Ginny was woken up by Hermione's frantic whispers, she blinked her unconfused eyes as she struggled to comprehend what was going on in her sleepy stupor. "Finally." Kennedy huffed from beside her. "Granger's been driving me starking mad with her ranting, I don't know why you thought it would be a good idea for this one to run recon." Kennedy jabbed a thumb at the bushy haired brunette.
"That's Potter to you." Hermione rolled her eyes. "And it's not as if she had much choice, not as if any of you could be useful for an investigative mission."
Ginny rubbed her bleary eyes, still feeling as tired as she had the night before. "Guys, what's going on." She asked hoarsely, her throat feeling like sand paper.
Hermione came over, "There's bad news…and worse news." She handed Ginny a glass of water. "Which do you want first?" She put her hands on her hips.
"Great way to phrase it, Granger. I'm sure that doesn't make her anxious in the slightest."
Hermione ignored the blonde before turning to Ginny with her eyebrows raised.
Ginny drank the last of the water, "Just start at the beginning, Hermione." She sighed.
"Well, your parents and especially your brothers are not going to be accepting Malfoy into the family any time soon."
"Tell me something I didn't already know."
"Long story short, they think he has imperius'd you and they plan on adding this to the list of allegations they have compiled in their case against Malfoy. Oh and before you ask, it was fully Ron who convinced your father of this theory." She got out in one breath.
Ginny let out a groan, "Please tell me that was the worse news." She pushed her head back against the pillows.
"Well, that depends on what you think when I tell you that they've also appealed the Wizengamot to expedite Draco's trial."
"To when?" Ginny asked sharply, dread filling her stomach.
Hermione pushed her wild curls back, "As soon as he has been cleared to leave 's." She said gravely.
Ginny cut her eyes to Kennedy who looked away.
"Look, the only reason your family is doing this is because they really don't want this to fall through the cracks like some of the other death eater trails." She defended. "It's no secret the Malfoys have money and with the way the Ministry has been lately, they want to make sure this is a fair trial before galleons have exchanged hands." She said rationally. "Besides, if Malfoy is innocent he has nothing to worry about."
"Draco didn't do this, Hermione. After everything I've told you about him and what's gone on between us, do you really believe he could have?" She asked hurriedly.
Hermione shook her head, "I believe you, Ginny." She promised. "I don't really know Malfoy except through his who he's been for as long as I've known him and that doesn't exactly work in his favor." She said honestly.
Ginny felt her heart twist in her chest.
"But having said that, if you believe he's not guilty—then I'm on your side. I will stand by you."
Ginny's eyes widened, Kennedy looked equally surprised as well.
She wasn't sure what to say, but Kenned wasn't ask speechless. "No offense, but how is are you so sure of all that? I mean those—" She jutted her chin towards he door. "Are your people, why would you go against them?"
"So skeptical, are you this untrusting of everyone or am I just special?" Hermione said through narrowed eyes.
Ginny pinched the bridge of her nose, she wasn't touching this argument with a ten foot pole.
"Standard Slytherin behavior." Kennedy retorted. "Now out with it. Where is all this undying loyalty coming from now, last I checked Ginny hasn't been much of a priority to any of you guys the last, oh I don't know, seven years? So with that being said, how do we know you're not just here playing double agent to get information on Draco?" She shot Hermione an obviously unconvinced look.
"Rosie." Ginny said reproachfully. "That's uncalled for."
Hermione held up a hand, "It's okay, Gin. She's right, I guess." She said with a shrug. "I haven't really been there for you, not the way I should've. Truth is, I've always looked at you as a little sister and more importantly as one of my very good friends. After the wedding, it really made me realize I haven't been a good enough friend to you in the past—I just want to change that. If you trust Draco, I'm not going to fight you on it. I don't know if I'll ever trust him, but I trust you Gin." She finished honestly. "I want to help you any way I can, if you'll let me."
"Even if that means going against Harry and my family?" Ginny muttered.
Hermione looked conflicted, her silence furthering that this wasn't the easiest decision for her. Finally, she let out a breath. "Yes, for this one instance—I would."
Kennedy looked from the brunette to Ginny with wide blue eyes, her mouth popping open into an 'O', "You can't be serious, Granger."
Hermione cut her eyes towards the blonde, "I am. Now is the interrogation over, or do I have to pass some sort of written examination before I gain your confidence."
"I wouldn't be stupid enough to give you a written test, you'd pass it with flying colors regardless." Kennedy snorted.
"Uh, thanks…I think."
"Now that we've gotten past that, can we rewind to the part where you told me my parents think Draco has had me under the imperius curse for the last year?" Ginny exclaimed with outrage.
Hermione winced at her tone, "Yeah, Gin… I'm sorry about that." She rubbed the back of her neck. "There was nothing I could say, they're all livid. Ron's gotten them on this whole 'crucify Draco Malfoy' vindication tour and it's kind of hard to put out that fire, while still dealing with the fallout from Fred's murder trial." She said apologetically.
"Ugh." Kennedy rolled her eyes. "Leave Ron to me." She said with a growl, before breaking into a purposeful stride out the door.
"You know, as much as I believe in her powers of persuasion, especially where Ron is concerned—I think even Kennedy Rosier has her work cut out for her with this one."
Ginny rubbed her face with her hands, "You know, something tells me that Ron and my family are going to be the least of my problems once Draco wakes up." She said dreadfully.
"One day at a time, Gin." She put a hand on her shoulder.
"Just so I know, which of those two was the bad news? And which oen was the worse?"
Hermione gave her half a grin, "For you? I knew nothing would be worse than learning Malfoy might be taken into Auror custody the moment he awakes." She admitted.
And she wouldn't be Hermione if she wasn't completely right.
Ginny knew she had to think of a plan and fast.
-x-
A/N: HELLO! Bet none of you were expecting such a speedy update—but I aim to please. I can't say I've thoroughly edited this but as always I'm running on no sleep and it's way past my bedtime. I wanted to get this up with out delay.
HUGE HUGE HUGE THANK YOU'S TO ALL OF YOU FOR REVIEWING. Truly, I don't deserve you guys and you're too good to me! I can't tell you how much I appreciate everything. A bit shout out to a new reader—frekles, who reviewed almost every chapter as they read, thank you so much for that, you're amazing and I hope this update finds you well.
To all of you lovely people who read and review, this is all for you. Your positive words and encouragement really help me write and keep me motivated.
This is another kind of long chapter, it was very Ginny heavy but we will get to draco in the next chapter I PROMISE. As you can see the story is winding down, so I'm really excited about these last few chapters.
I decided to include Ginny's trauma after Tom here because it seemed like a good fit. I always found it strange that it was never addressed. I get that the first four books were meant to be kid friendly, but still—I feel like there is no way an eleven year old could have gone through all that and then been fully functional and unbothered the next year.
Anyway, tell me what you thought of it! I look forward to hearing from all of you!
Happy reading!