Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. The tuba I use during marching band is named Starbuck though!

First off, I am so sorry for the wait on this chapter. I really haven't had a spare second for the past few weeks. My updates will be random for a while but I will use every second I can to get them out to you.

So without further ado for this long awaited chapter,

Chapter 15

Draco POV

After that night, Ginny and I met often under that tree. So many happy memories were formed there. Just feeling her in my arms drove all worries of my task from my mind, even if it was only for that blessed few hours. But my task had to progress, nonetheless.

Whenever I wasn't in class or by the lake with Ginny, I would go to work on the vanishing cabinet. It proved to be a difficult thing to take on. Fixing it was a slow progress. Already the first bird had died when I put it through. I didn't want to risk the second one just yet. I was close to fixing it though, I was sure.

I sighed and slumped against a pile of junk behind me, staring at the cabinet. The though of letting Death Eaters into the school seemed less and less like a good idea. It had seemed brilliant at the time I thought of it. Not only would I kill Dumbledore, I would prove to figure out a way around the crackpot fools wards that were to keep Death Eaters out. They would aid me in my escape from the school after I killed him. It had seemed like a brilliant plan.

But now, all I could think about was what was going to happen to Ginny when they came. What if one of them hurt her? Or worse, killed her? I cringed at the thought. Not only that, I didn't want to kill Dumbledore. I wasn't a killer. I was only doing it so I wouldn't be killed. I felt horrid for thinking that but I was, after all, Slytherin. I valued my own skin over anyone else's. Everyone but Ginny, I though to myself. Yes, I would die for Ginny Weasley.

I sighed and stood, going over to the cage with the remaining bird in it. If this one died, I knew I might not be able to fix the cabinet. The idea appealed to me, not having to worrying about what would happen to Ginny. But then I would never make it out of the grounds after my task was done.

I sighed once more and reached in for the bird. It struggled lightly in my grasp as I went over to the cabinet. Opening the door just a crack, I let the bird loose, closing the door before it could escape. I muttered the spell and its twittering stopped. I closed my eyes, dreading bringing the bird back.

I couldn't face it. I muttered the spell and ran from the room before I could tell if it worked or not. I made my way slowly down to the Great Hall for dinner. The room smelled of a million different scents, but I didn't pay attention to the delightful aroma. What caught my attention was the black-headed Gryffindor casher talking to Potter. Katie Bell was finally awake.

What if she remembered it was me who had given her the necklace and told her to give it to Dumbledore. She shouldn't since I modified her memory, but Madam Pomfrey might have been able to reverse some of the affects of it. Potter glanced up and saw me staring. I guess he could see the panicked look on my face because he brushed Bell aside and started to walk my direction. Damn, why did Potter have to be the one to connect the dots?

I turned and walked from the hall, trying to appear nonchalant as I headed in the direction of Moaning Myrtles bathroom. After a few turns I could no longer see Potter trailing me and his footsteps died. The guilt of what I was doing crashed over me again as I made my way quickly to the safe haven of Moaning Myrtles bathroom.

I went over to a sink, I felt like retching. I furiously pulled my top shirt off, throwing it to the floor. A sob escaped and I gripped the sides of the sink to sturdy myself. Why was it I that was choose for this task? Snape could have easily have done it. First Bell almost died at my hand and now she was awake and possibly able to tell others it was me that did it. I wasn't a killer. I didn't want this task!

"I know it was you," I heard from behind me. I spun to see Potter standing behind me, wand drawn. My face turned into a hard, angry mask that probably showed how close my sanity was to slipping at the moment. "I know it was you that attacked Katie." He looked almost smug at figuring it out.

I screamed and, whipping my wand out, tossed a curse at him. Again and again I let curses fly. He dodged and blocked them, shooting a few back at me. We both dodged and fired, making it almost look like a dance as we made out way around the bathroom. I dimly heard a sink break though the angry red haze of hatred.

He dodged behind a pillar and I stood there, catching my breath, trying to find him. I stalked quietly toward his hiding place. Before I could react though, he stepped out and shot one last curse at me, hitting my square in the chest. I felt my flesh being slashed apart, gashes opening. I collapsed on the flooded floor, the pain unbearable as blood gushed from my body. I was beyond screaming though; I was slipping into the welcome arms of unconsciousness.

I could dimly make out someone yelling. Potter was standing over me, a look of shock on his face. The last thing I saw was Snape hovering over me, muttering while moving his wand across my chest. I drifted into unconsciousness, welcoming the relief with open arms.

Ginny POV

I was curled up in a chair by the fire in the common room, enjoying my book, finally done with all of my homework. I was at a really good, suspenseful part, when Harry burst into the common room, panting and almost running towards Ron, Hermione, and I. I sighed and looked up from my book reluctantly.

"Malfoy… Bathroom… Curse…" he stuttered out quickly between pants.

"Slow down Harry," Hermione said in a calm voice. "Deep breathes and calm down." I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes as I turned back to my book.

"Malfoy was in the bathroom crying. I confronted him about attacking Katie and he attacked me. I hit him with the first curse that came to mind. I now know what Sectum Simpra does," he said in a rushed whisper since more than a few people stared at his unusual entrance.

The blood drained from my face, book forgotten, as I listened to Harry relay his tail of the fight. Blood everywhere. Snape showing up and using a counter curse. My mind whirled. Was Draco okay? What was going to happen? Did Snape appear in time for the counter curse to be effective? Was he going to be ok?

I tried my best to hide the whirlwind of emotion as I said to Harry, "We need to hide that book. Somewhere where not even you can find it." I didn't want to chance this happening again, if the opportunity arose again. The book needed to go.

Harry looked down, ashamed. "Yeah," he said quietly.

I wasted no time. "Go get it," I said, standing up and putting my book on the table.

Ron and Hermione looked at me as I took control. I was barely holding on to my control. Tears were threatening and I could tell I was still pale from hearing the news. Luckily they didn't ask questions, assuming I was scared for what was going to happen to Harry once this news reached Dumbledore. The still believed I had that childhood crush on him.

Little did they know Harry was the least of my worries. My thoughts were focused on the boy in the hospital wing. The one Harry attacked. The one I loved. I couldn't stop thinking about Draco, laying in a hospital bed somewhere floors below me, possibly hovering on the brink of death, or maybe even already gone.

I turned from Hermione and Ron to wipe the few tears away that had escaped. Soon though, Harry appeared back in the common room, tattered book in hand. I motioned for him to follow me; not daring to talk yet for fear my voice would shake from restraining my hysterics. I gained control enough to talk by the time we came to the corridor I was looking for. Harry recognized it immediately, the Room of Requirement.

I paced back and forth three times thinking, I need a place to hide this book. After the third pass, the door appeared. I grasped the handled and pushed. The room that was behind the door was huge and multi storied. I heard a soft gasp from Harry as he followed me in. I walked father into the room, making sure I could see the door so I didn't get lost.

"Close you eyes Harry," I said in a hushed whisper that seemed appropriate for this room, "so you're not tempted to watch." He did as I said and I took the book, walking amongst the piles of junk. I spotted one of the hundreds of bookcases and slipped the tattered volume of sixth year potions onto the shelf.

"It's done," I said as I walked back towards Harry.

He nodded solemnly and said, "Thank you Ginny." Then he looked at me with an adoring look, taking a step towards me. His hands reached for me and I froze with shock as he put them on my hips and pulled me to him, planting a kiss on my lips.

Kissing Harry was nothing like kissing Draco. With Draco, there was a sense of abandonment and passion that made me wish it would never end. With Harry, it seemed too controlled and awkward. It felt like I was kissing one of my brothers. I pushed him away.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I said, "I'm sorry Harry," before rushing from the room. This wasn't right. I had been infatuated with Harry since I was ten. He never showed any feelings towards me until my heart was already taken. Was this the fates idea of a cruel joke?

I brushed it aside for now. Right now, I need to see Draco. I had to know if he was all right. I would go crazy if I didn't. When I had fled from Harry, my feet automatically pulled me in the direction of the hospital wing. Now, as I turned the last corner and saw the door at the end of the hall I wondered what I was going to do. I couldn't just waltz into the room and sit by him, holding his hand till he woke.

I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but I had to see him. I pushed the door open and saw Madam Pomfrey hovering over the only occupied bed in the room. The blond hair that was visible to her left gave me no doubt as to who she was tending to. She turned when she heard me tentative footsteps. "Miss Weasley?"

"Umm, hi," I said lamely. I could see his face now, paler than usual, and he was unconscious.

That one anxious glance was all Madam Pomfrey needed to understand why I was here. She nodded her head slightly and backed away from his bed. "I'll leave you alone with him for a while," she said softly, a gently look in her eyes.

I gaped at her and stuttered out, "How did you know?"

"I've had years of experience in judging peoples relations to hurt loved ones," she said with a smile. "Don't worry though. I won't tell a sole." And with that she flicked her wand to lock the doors and strode back to her office with saying, "He will be fine."

I stood there stunned for a few seconds before running to Draco's bedside. I collapsed into the chair next to his bed and took his hand in mine, letting the tears flow down my cheeks. Gazing at his drawn, pale face, I couldn't help but feel anger towards the boy I once thought I loved. How could Harry do this to him? Even if he hated him, he didn't need to risk his life. He could have killed Draco!

Tears of anger joined the tears of relief that flowed down my face. I lay my head on Draco's shoulder, afraid to touch his heavily bandaged chest, and cried myself out. Draco would be ok. He had to be. But Harry would have to answer for what he did some day. I didn't hate him for what he did, but very nearly. He almost took Draco from me. I would not let that happen. I closed my eyes and let myself drift asleep against Draco's shoulder while I waited for him to wake.

Did you like? Did you like it? xD I hope you did because I loved it! It was hard to write but so worth it. I hope I did these few scenes justice. Tell me what you though!

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