A/N: This chapter brings tears to my eyes. Really. So many tears I nearly drown in them. So if you're a sensitive sap like me (who is on the verge of crying just writing the Author's Note and thinking about this chapter) I suggest you have a box of tissues ready. And, also, I find that this chapter is much improved if it is read while you listen to Rose, by The Feeling.

Disclaimer: I am not lucky enough to be as smart enough as to invent these characters myself. They are not mine. Too bad. –pout-

The Stone Speaks

Chapter Fifty-Eight: Perhaps

DRACO

The lump in Draco's throat was back. He swallowed past it. He wanted so badly to have Ginny alive again, but he was scared of dying. After a few seconds (through which Draco wondered why he had run so fast when he would come only to waste time), he said quietly, "How? How… do I…" he glanced at the book, the words of which were slowly transforming back into Runes, "…exchange love's truest purpose?"

Their lips were only separated by a tiny space of oxygen and total fear, and then Draco closed it. He bent over her, pressing his face close to hers, feeling tears come, and holding what would probably be the last memory he could have of Ginny. Then he kissed her.

…

BANG.

The Hospital Wing doors flew open, and Draco heard the weeping, and the sulking, and the voices and heard the footsteps drawing closer, and knew instantly that they were the Weasleys.

Panic flooded through him as they drew closer, and he tried to pull away from Ginny, but he couldn't – he couldn't – just leave her and never see her again… and then he realized that he was being ridiculous, and he pulled his face back… he was stuck.

"Ginny!"

The Weasleys had arrived.

Shit. I have been found snogging their dead daughter. Oh, shit almighty.

Draco pulled back, the fabulous and tender moment severed, and he stared, wide-eyed, up at the tear-stricken family around him.

"Get the bloody hell away from my daughter!" Mr. Weasley screamed, absolute fury and distress edging every syllable.

Unable to find words, Draco nodded hastily. He looked around. Fred and George looked as though they were ready to kill someone; Percy had an I-could-have-you-arrested-for-that look in his eyes; Bill and Charlie looked ditto to the Weasley twins… Draco searched for Ron's face, looking frantically for anything who could help him, understand what was going on. However, Ron merely wore a look of shock and betrayal.

"I think it's time to go," said Myrtle sheepishly, coughing delicately and making an okay-bad-timing-let's-go face at the Slytherin.

"Yes, I think so, too," said Mr. Weasley angrily, trying to comfort his swooning wife.

Draco nodded again. "I'm… I'm sorry," he mumbled feebly. "I really am. I'll just… go."

His heart was collapsing all over again. It hadn't worked. She was dead. She would never come back. She was… gone…

Budging past the Weasleys awkwardly, he fought back a sob, but let the tears come silently. He made his way, crying quietly, towards the door, and was halfway through the gloomy ward when he heard it.

Tiny, frail, and very familiar.

Small, weak, and as though it could fail at any moment.

Fragile, slightly cracked and feminine.

A voice.

"Draco?"

He froze. No. It was impossible. It was sheer, bloody impossible. Slowly, he turned.

The Weasleys gasped. "GINNY!" they shouted, and suddenly they were around her, holding her and kissing her and sobbing hysterically.

A waterfall of emotions swirled through Draco. She was… alive. As impossible as it seemed. But she hated him. And he loved her. And she was alive, alive, alive! He nodded for the third time, and turned away. He continued down the corridor, tears streaking down his pale face unchecked, but was stopped.

"Draco?"

"No, darling, sweetie, it's okay, he didn't hurt you, love, he's gone."

"Oh my God, Ginny, you're alive!"

"…Draco?" she repeated, her voice a tiny whisper.

"Darling, it's alright, he's gone-"

"Mum, shut up!" Ron suddenly said. "Let her speak."

The seventeen-year-old stood perfectly still. Not a muscle moved, though something twitched in his jaw. Every ounce of his being was directed towards listening to whatever Ginny was about to say.

"I… Draco…?" she whispered.

Mr. Weasley cleared her throat. "Er. Malfoy?" he said uncertainly. "It… er, seems that Ginny wants to speak to you."

All eyes were upon him as Draco turned and walked back towards the bed – Mrs. Weasley's brown, the males' blue… and her beautiful hazel. He stopped beside the bed, and looked nervously down at his feet. Ron, sensing the mood, ushered his reluctant family away. Draco shot the redhead male a grateful look, before returning his eyes to his shoes.

He took a breath to fill his suddenly cramped and crushed lungs. Finally, after what seemed like days, Draco said softly, "Hello," and lifted his gaze onto her pale, weak face.

Ginny was watching him with an odd look on her face – something tender and unreadable. It tugged at Draco's heart. This is who I would have destroyed. I would have disregarded her to save the world. Would I do it again? I have no idea.

She leant back in her bed, against her icy-cold cushion. "What… happen…ed?" she said, her voice fragile. "I don't… remember… what…" her words trailed away.

"The Dark – You-Know – He-Who -" Draco took another breath. "Voldemort," he forced out curtly, "is dead."

Her eyes widened slightly. They were all that remained the same after a week of being dead, all that was still beautiful, but Draco couldn't meet them. It was like staring into the sun, and he didn't want to be blind.

"Did… Harry?" she whispered.

"…No." Draco stuck his hands into his pockets. "I did."

Further her eyes widened. The Slytherin glanced into them, before staring at the side of the bed again. "How?" she asked tiredly.

I used you "It doesn't matter," said Draco quietly. I never want to have to let her know. But I will. When she's better.

Ginny nodded, but the gesture seemed to cause her pain. "I'm… sorry," she said after a few seconds.

Now Draco's eyes widened. "Why?"

"For nearly… getting… you… dead… killed…" every word was separate for the redhead, and she looked at Draco, imploring him to understand.

Trust me. It's nothing. I did get you killed. I think we're a little more than even.

Draco lowered his head to stare at the ground. "S'okay. I suppose it was revenge for me and the whole… trying to kill you thing."

"I hate you I hate you I hate you"

As if Ginny was reading his thoughts, she said gently, "I'm sorry as well… for… saying… hate…"

She doesn't hate me?

Silence.

Clearing his throat, Draco said softly, "I really thought that you were…"

"It wasn't… my… time…" said Ginny weakly. A tired smile fluttered up onto her lips. "I refuse… to pass on… before… I… finish… my duties…"

"What 'duties'?" asked Draco.

Ginny was looking at him. "Normal things… kill Dark Lord… graduate… tell you sorry… tell you…" she cut herself off.

Heart beating fast, Draco said, "Tell me what?"

She laughed nervously. "Oh… the usual…" she paused, and seemed to be summoning courage before she looked up at him and said, "You know… like… the fact that I think… I've been… in love with you… my entire…life?"

Heart. Frozen. In. Chest.

Hit it now, or you'll probably drop dead in front of her.

Gone numb.

Did she actually say anything, or did your brain just go into overdrive?

Yes, I think she did say something.

What did she say?

That she loves you.

"Oh," said Draco. He looked up, the tiniest of smiles quirking up his lips. He met her eyes, warm hazel and hard grey – no. Soft blue – melting into each other, "Is that so?"

Ginny's eyes sparkled, and colour was flushing back into her gaunt cheeks. "Yes, and now that the message is across, I think I'm ready to die," she teased, lolling her head back.

"Don't you dare!" Draco said, moving closer and holding her head back. "I've been through enough for you."

"Hmm," said Ginny, and – did he imagine it? – her grey-brown hair seemed to glitter redder and redder by the second, "I suppose you have." She tilted her head sideways, as if thinking. "Come here," she said softly.

Draco, almost instinct, slipped his hand into hers as he stepped towards her. "Mm?" he said, raising one slim, white-blonde eyebrow.

She, with a slight struggle due to lack of strength, reached up, twined her arms around Draco's skinny neck and then, looking straight up into his face, murmured gently, "Can I kiss you?"

"Perhaps," Draco replied, and then brought his head down to hers. Their noses touched, and he smiled down before closing the gap between their lips.

And something broken felt whole again.

A/N: AW. Don't give up on me yet, my lovely reviewers. There's ONE MORE CHAPTER. And I'm considering writing an alternate ending… But I might not. I hope you've enjoyed the ride so far – just hold on! ONE MORE MILE TO GO! Review review review!

I need help on this chapter's name as well. I was torn between Frozen (when he said that his heart was frozen in his chest), Miracle (because Ginny survived) or Perhaps (because of that last dialogue). I was originally going to use Miracle, but I thought that killed the suspense because it immediately told you that Ginny pulled through. What do YOU think?