Chapter 16: Trouble Triumphs

Ginny opened her eyes slowly, trying to remember what happened. She recalled being at the dance and trying to solve the mystery, but the specifics of everything were kind of blurry. Touching her head, Ginny remembered feeling dizzy and wobbling all over the place, but…oh, oh no. Ginny groaned as she remembered the blackness closing in and fainting.

Who caught me? She wondered. Ginny definitely remembered falling into someone's arms, but she couldn't figure out whom. She quickly forgot about that question as fear hit her when she realized that she had no idea where she was or how she got there.

The room was dark, but things slowly came into view as Ginny's eyes got used to the blackness. Eying the many white beds and curtains, Ginny could tell that she was in the hospital wing, and sitting in a chair at the foot of her bed, was none other than Draco Malfoy.

His head was lying on the bed next to her feet, his hair tousled gently across his face. Leaning forward, Ginny tenderly moved the stray pieces of hair from his face and touched his cheek ever so softly. Draco moved, and Ginny jumped back, quickly resuming a normal position.

"Hello," he mumbled, yawning loudly and stretching his arms way above his head.

"Hi."

Ginny watched him in confusion. How long had he been there? More importantly, why was he still waiting for her?

"Are you here for me?" she asked tentatively.

"Nah, I'm here for that other kid who passed out," he said easily, making Ginny grin. He was waiting for her even though she'd been so awful to him? He was waiting for her even after all the horrible things she'd said?

"Does that mean you forgive me?" Ginny asked with a pout.

Draco contemplated this. Even after they argued, Draco watched Ginny until she was stumbling around like a drunk. At that point, he rushed to her side, catching her just as she was about to hit the floor. It bothered him that even though Ginny hurt him, he still felt the need to rush back and save her.

Would it always be like that? Would he always run back to Ginny when she needed him, even if she had hurt him?

"For the moment?" Draco asked. "Yes, of course you're forgiven."

Ginny grinned, lying her head back down.

"So what exactly happened to me?" Ginny asked him. She wasn't sick or anything, and she'd never passed out before.

"Madam Pomfrey said you had a panic attack," Draco explained. "Too much stress or anxiety or something. She said you must've freaked out a little, go too overwhelmed."

Ginny listened intently while she remembered what may have triggered the panic attack. The fight with Draco was what definitely pushed her over the edge, freaking her out and making her woozy.

"I'm sorry."

Draco looked up at her, but Ginny was looking determinedly in the other direction.

"I wasn't that nice to you," she explained.

"Uh huh," Draco stated. "That may be a bit of an understatement.

"Oh, alright," Ginny gave in with a sigh. "I was awful. I get it, but I'm still sorry."

Draco noticed that Ginny really did look distraught, a fact that made his anger ebb away even quicker. He couldn't stay mad at her, and he knew it.

"You weren't that awful," he reassured her. "People always yell at me at the top of their lungs on a regular basis. It's no big deal." His easy going demeanor made Ginny laugh. Why did I ever avoid him? She questioned herself, thinking about how nice and sweet he had been to her all this time. She certainly wouldn't have forgiven him if he'd yelled at her like that.

"You should get some sleep," Ginny told him, noticing the bags under his eyes. "You look awful."

"Gee, thanks." Draco gave her a small smile, but she could still see the tiredness in his eyes. He didn't complain as he tried to make himself comfortable in the tiny chair.

"You can go back to your room, you know." Ginny was still watching him try to get comfortable.

"And leave you all by your lonesome?" He asked innocently. "Besides, it's too far of a walk, and I'm feeling lazy."

Ginny rolled her eyes but was delighted that he was going to stay. On a whim, she patted a spot on the bed next to her, indicating that he join her. Draco saw this gesture and raised his eyebrows in confusion.

"Are you sure?"

Ginny nodded even though she wasn't sure; it just felt right, and when so many other things in her life felt wrong, she wanted to embrace what felt true. Ginny slid over, making room for Draco to climb on her bed as well. He laid down gently, facing Ginny but not touching her.

"Are you feeling any better?" Draco whispered, staring into her eyes, wishing he could stare into them forever. She rolled the other way, snuggling backward into his embrace with a deep sigh and then answered.

"There," she said. "I'm better now."

He put his hand on her waist then moved it so he could pull Ginny's body closer to his.

"Perfect," she whispered.

Ginny fell asleep instantly, feeling like she belonged in Draco's arms; if she had the choice, she'd never move again. However, that wasn't reality, and the blinding sun, signaling a new day, brought Ginny back down to earth.

She remembered immediately what happened in the middle of the night and shrugged away from Draco automatically. What was I thinking? She couldn't just give in because of one nice gesture! Ginny needed to remember all the pain being with Draco caused. After all, he was the reason why she had the panic attack.

Draco mumbled slightly, trying to grasp Ginny's leaving presence but didn't wake. Ginny slipped on her shoes quietly and tip-toed out of the hospital wing and back to Gryffindor Tower. The sun was just rising so everyone was still asleep. Almost everyone that is.

"Are you okay Ginny?"

Ginny jumped at the sound of the voice but was relieved to see that it was only Hermione; if it had been Harry or Derek she probably would've screamed, not being in the mood to deal with either of them.

"I'm fine," Ginny said briefly.

"We were all really worried about you, especially Harry."

Ginny huffed with impatience. She knew Hermione was only trying to be considerate, but she wasn't in the mood to talk, especially if it had to do with Harry.

"I'm really tired, Hermione," she explained. "I just really want to go to sleep."

Ginny, in fact, wasn't the least bit tired, but she didn't want to be around anyone; it was time for her to sort out her feelings and decide what she wanted for her life. Ginny was completely sick of pleasing everyone and doing what others wanted even if she was hesitant. She hated walking through life without a clue, realizing that life's too short to simply lie back and watch it go by.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Hermione's voice disrupted Ginny's thoughts. For some odd reason, Hermione was able to see past the surface of Ginny's life and understand the struggle she was going through. Sadly, Ginny knew this wasn't something anyone else could help her with; she needed to do this alone.

"I'm sorry, Hermione, but you know as well as I do that it's time for me to do something."

With that, Ginny turned herself around out through the portrait hole and began to wander the school, not thinking where she was going but allowing the moving staircases and twisting corridors to guide her way. The battle of head versus heart was in full throttle, and Ginny wondered whether there would ever be a winner.

Before she realized it, her feet stopped her in front of a familiar portrait of a beautiful, white centaur. Ginny recognized the moving picture immediately, thinking back to the night Draco brought her to the Head Boy room and how they fell asleep together.

"Porridge Swerp," she said automatically and the picture flew open, allowing Ginny to step delicately into the room. Almost nothing had changed, and she felt as if it was only yesterday that she had been there. Was this a sign? A clue that this was where she was supposed to be?

Ginny had figured out the mystery at the masquerade, but now she needed to figure out the mystery of her own life. She wandered around the empty common room; Hermione was up at Gryffindor Tower, and Ginny bet that Draco was still asleep in the hospital wing.

"Yo, Draco." A voice came from the portrait hole. "I know you told me never to come in here again, but I've just been wondering—"

Blaise stopped mid-sentence, looking at Ginny with curiosity and marveling on why she was there. Had she spent the night with Draco? Did the two of them finally get together or was that only wishful thinking?

"Why hello, Ginny," he said quickly, still confused and curious.

"Hi, Blaise," Ginny replied as the boy made his way in her direction. He sat down on one of the couches, motioning for her to do the same.

"So how are you?" he asked quickly, eager to get to the point but not wanting to be rude.

"I'm fine." She gave him a curious look but allowed him to continue.

"How are you and Draco?"

Ginny didn't know quite how to answer this but was spared from further questioning by Draco's arrival. He stepped through the portrait hole with ruffled hair, looked at Ginny and Blaise with confusion, and then walked over there anyway.

"Party in my room I guess," he mumbled. Draco sat down next to Ginny, a little too close for her comfort actually, which made her slide over and away from him. Blaise took this into account before questioning his friend.

"Where've you been?" He asked. "You simply disappeared halfway through the masquerade last night."

Ginny blushed, a fact that Blaise also noticed, but Draco didn't reply.

"You two weren't together, were you?" He asked this incredulously, not believing that it finally had happened but hoping for it all the same. Personally, he saw nothing against either of them to be together. Although he loathed her brother, Blaise thought that Ginny was okay, no, more than okay. He thought she was amazing, a perfect match for Draco. Too bad she didn't see it.

"Oh no," Ginny said hastily. "We weren't together like that. I just had a bit of an episode at the ball, and I guess Draco took me to the hospital wing and didn't leave until just now."

Blaise digested this news.

"But why did you come back here without him?"

"Um," Ginny stammered.

"She woke up and left me there, I presume," Draco explained, giving Ginny only the slightest of looks but not letting it bother him in the least bit. After all, she was the one that suggested they fall asleep together in her cramped hospital bed.

"I see," Blaise said, eyebrows pulled together in a way that clearly said he really didn't understand.

"Sorry 'bout that," said Ginny in an off-hand manner. If Draco wasn't bothered by it, then she wouldn't let it bother her either.

"I guess I'll see you two later," Blaise said, a hint of suggestion in his voice but suggesting what? That was the thought that entered Ginny's mind. Maybe I should give this another chance, she thought happily, realizing what a pleasant idea that was. Why fight something like this?

Draco obviously cared about her, and Ginny knew she still loved him, no matter how hard she tried to convince herself otherwise. But she was going to take this slow. It wasn't going to be like last time; this wasn't going to be some decision she made on a whim.

Blaise left with joyful thoughts, hoping that the two of them could resolve and make up as quickly as possible. Even though Blaise liked the new Draco—the Draco who was determined to win back Ginny's heart—he liked the happy Draco even more.

"Let's do something," Ginny said immediately, wanting more than anything just to be around Draco, spending time with him and only him.

"Alright, what do you want to do?"

Draco asked this in a nonchalant way, trying to hide his own excitement and fearing that Ginny might turn and run as soon as she realized what she had suggested. Ginny looked out the window, taking in the signs of spring, the beautiful way all the plant life was trying to live again. That's what she needed; she needed to try and live again.

"Let's go outside!"

She jumped up and rushed to the door, something that made Draco grin despite his efforts to remain neutral.

"I'm right behind you."

They practically ran outside, Ginny setting the pace and Draco keeping up fairly easily. Ginny sprinted around outside, feeling light and free and loving every bit of it. This was how life was supposed to feel. This was living.

Eventually Ginny stopped running around, deciding to walk next to Draco instead, talking and chatting like friends. But Draco was dying to be more than friends. They wound up finding themselves in Professor Sprout's magical garden again. Most of the flowers hadn't bloomed, but it was still a beautiful sight to see, as always.

Ginny flopped to the ground, dragging Draco down with her.

"Why do I feel so happy around you?" Ginny asked him. This might've been a little forward, but the thought tugged at her mind so much that she couldn't help but finally speak it. Anyways, she was dying to hear his reply.

"I don't know," he answered truthfully. People normally didn't ask him that question; normally everyone detested spending time with him.

Ginny reached for his hand boldly, holding it tightly in her own. This made Draco sigh, half out of happiness and half out of frustration that she wouldn't just lean over and kiss him. But he knew what he had to do and that was letting Ginny move at her own speed.

They eventually left the garden and went their separate ways, both feeling incredibly cheerful.

Blaise was running to catch up to Draco; he was dying to know how it was going with Ginny. It had been a week since the masquerade, and Draco was as happy as he had been earlier in the year.

"I'm fine," Draco answered curtly, getting sick of Blaise's pestering questions. He knew his friend cared, but it was slightly annoying.

"She seems happy too, you know."

This perked Draco's interest.

"Really? Did she say something?"

Blaise shook his head.

"Nope, it's more like there's an extra bounce in her step, a smile in her eyes." He shook his head with a grin. "I don't even know if that made any sense."

But it made perfect sense to Draco; it meant that soon, they could be together, and he wanted nothing more than simply that. Blaise interrupted his pleasant thoughts of a future with Ginny, concerning a party that some seventh years were throwing that night.

"Are you going to go?" Blaise asked. "You could maybe invite Ginny."

Draco smiled. Perfect.

Ginny was stepping into her dormitory, when Dani bombarded her with questions.

"What are you doing with Malfoy?" Her voice sounded angry, and one glance at her expression told Ginny that Dani was beyond angry. She was pissed, livid.

"What do you mean?"

Dani thrust Ginny a piece of parchment that was unrolled and scrunched up, indicating that Dani had already read it. It was a letter from Draco inviting her to a party later that night, but Ginny wasn't thinking about the party, she was more concerned with the fact that Dani was being ridiculous.

"You opened my letter?" Ginny asked incredulously. She looked at her so called best friend with new eyes. Dani had always wanted Ginny to be a certain way, but she had gone way too far this time.

"Don't you dare think that, Ginny," she said icily. "Don't patronize me for opening a letter when you've been sneaking around behind my back to be with that git."

"Don't call him that!"

Ginny looked at Dani, her own anger matching her friend's.

"So you don't deny it, do you?" Dani asked angrily.

"Deny that I've been spending time with him?" Ginny asked. "No, I don't deny it. What's so wrong with that?"

"You want to know what's wrong with spending time with Draco Malfoy?!" Dani was hysterical. "Everything is wrong about that, Ginny! Don't you remember how much he hurt you? Don't you remember how he ignored you and forgot about you and broke your heart? And you're just going to forget about all that and forgive him?"

Ginny didn't answer these questions. Of course she remembered; how could she forget? At the mention of this past, Ginny's heart ached as she recalled how badly it did hurt, but she wasn't going to allow Dani to brainwash her.

"You know as well as I do that I'll never forget that, Dani," Ginny informed her. "But yes, I have forgiven him, and I'm going to keep spending time with him and seeing him. It was stupid of me to try to forget about him in the first place."

"I'm only saying all of this for your sake, Gin. I don't want to see you hurt again."

The truthfulness of Dani's voice brought tears to Ginny's eyes, but no, she wasn't going to be convinced otherwise.

"Can't you support me?" Ginny asked tearfully. "Can't you hope for me that things turn out for the best this time?"

Dani frowned, sadness and anger controlling her words.

"No," she said, shaking her head and backing away. Dani opened the door and left, leaving Ginny alone and miserable. What did this mean? Ginny just lost a friend because of Draco. Was Draco really worth Dani's friendship?

Ginny didn't know, but she knew seeing Draco would make her feel better instantaneously. She pulled on a quick illusion, choosing a short denim skirt with a loose and flowing top. After fixing her hair up a bit, Ginny grabbed her wand and headed out to meet Draco where the letter instructed.

Draco had been at the party for an hour, searching hopelessly for Ginny. He asked everyone if they'd seen her, but nobody knew where she was, a fact that frustrated Draco incredibly. Why isn't she here?

Something that was even more frustrating was how every single girl at the party had felt the need to go up and introduce themselves to him. At least twenty girls had already tried to entice Draco in some way or another, and he was getting pretty sick of it. He eventually decided on sitting on a couch near the door. This way, he was away from the main part of the part and he could easily spot Ginny if she did show up.

"Hi, Draco," a girl whispered, walking over to him and swinging her hips from side to side in a way that she must have thought was seductive. It only made Draco cringe.

"Hi," he replied curtly, turning away to show that he was clearly not interested. She didn't take the hint. The blonde girl plopped herself next to Draco and began to make conversation, talking rapidly and animatedly, trying to get his attention.

When this failed, she grabbed his shoulders and forced him to turn and look at her.

"That's much better," she said, slipping her arms around his neck and kissing him urgently.

As soon as Draco realized what was happening, he pushed the blonde away from him. She glared but didn't move from where she sat. Draco heard a tiny gasp from behind him, and he turned around quickly to see Ginny standing there, mouth open and eyes wind in shock.

His heat fell. No, his mind screamed. No, it's not what you think!

She turned away, shaking her head furiously as if she were hoping she was imagining things.

"Ginny wait!" Draco called after her, following her out into the corridor. Ginny was already rounding a corner, sprinting at full speed to get away, away from the nightmare she'd just witnessed. He caught up to her soon, grabbing her arm to make her stop. He held her shoulders to keep her from running and tried to look at her, but she refused, keeping her head bent and eyes downcast. Draco barely saw a tear slip down her pale cheek.

"It's not what you think, Gin," he tried to explain.

"Let go of me," Ginny muttered icily. Her voice was so deadly that Draco almost listened.

"No!" he shouted in disdain. "I want you to understand!"

She looked up at him, tear trails down her cheeks but with a fiery vengeance in her deep and endless brown eyes. She looked at him in such pain and anger that Draco could sense each emotion she was feeling, and it hit him hard in the bottom of his heart.

Ginny whipped out her wand and muttered an incantation, sending an icy hot wave of magic at Draco. He relinquished his hold of her immediately, staggering backward from the blow. When he looked up to search for Ginny, she was already gone.

Ginny ran and ran and ran until she couldn't run anymore. She didn't know where she was going, and she didn't care. Her heart ached, and the tears blinded her eyes as she staggered down endless corridors. She needed to be away from, away form everyone. She couldn't stand to see anyone at the moment, knowing each of their reactions to what she's just seen.

Of course he would do that, her brother and Harry would say. He's a Malfoy, and that's what that type of scum do!

Oh, Ginny, Hermione would say with a sympathetic embrace.

I knew this would happen, Dani would say. I told you he would only break your heart.

Ginny found herself on the very edges of the Black Lake, and she sat down, resuming her old spot and old practice of crying until the sun rose. She cried for what she had seen, for the pain that was gripping her heart, and for everything else she couldn't explain.

She felt betrayed, broken.

It's like, somewhere along the line, Ginny had fallen in glass, and there were still shards sticking out everywhere, making life painful and unbearable. That, however, didn't stop people from pushing those pieces in further.

And it hurt. It hurt so badly.

But this last blow was by far the worst. There was a single piece of glass emerging from somewhere in the depths of her heart, and Draco had just pushed it in deep, leaving Ginny no hope of recovering.

She sobbed, gasping for breath and only wishing that the pain would go away.

A/N: Wow. How come my chapters never end the way I plan them to? Weird…but what do you think? Read and review please!!!! And thanks to everyone who has reviewed and to those who have added me or my story to their favorites. YOU ROCK!

Did anyone see the new Harry Potter movie?! Holy crap it was sooooo good! Comment me or send me a message about it because I could discuss it for HOURS on end! And that kiss?!? Double holy crap. That was intense.