Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. But I do own everything in this chapter that J.K. Rowling could not dream up!

Well, I'm honestly as surprised as you guys about how fast I'm popping these chapters out! This makes three days in a row that I've updated, and several times the week before. How amazing is that? Pretty darn amazing if I do say so myself!

Well, I hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as possible and I cannot wait to hear what you guys think of it!

Thank you guys for all the reviews! They mean so much to me! I'm glad you all enjoyed seeing Draco POV for the first time in nearly ten chapters. I hope you enjoy this chapter with having Draco back in the story!

For all of you guys that answered my question as to what you think happened to Draco, thank you! It's nice to see what you guys are thinking. Some of you were almost right on the dot too! If you guys wanna keep guessing, I'll enjoy hearing it! As for what really happened, you should find out in the next chapter! Joy!

So, without further ado:

Chapter 46

Ginny POV

When I lay down in my bed, head hitting the pillow with an exhausted thump, I wanted nothing more than to close my eyes and sleep for a very long while. But something wasn't right. I could not sleep with the insistent nagging in the back of my mind. Eventually, after nearly half an hour of lying wide awake, I sat up with a sigh. Why couldn't I sleep?

Well, I knew why. I hadn't gone to the cottage in the woods last night, something I'd never forgone before. I knew the chances of Draco having shown up were slim to none and the chances he was still there, even if he had showed up, almost nothing. I felt a horrible sinking dread in my stomach though that would not go away.

Finally giving into the demands of my heart, I slip out of bed and pull some shoes on. Grabbing my cloak, I poked my head into Bill and Fleur's room. Fleur was asleep, curled against Bill side, while Bill held the sleeping Victoire. He looked up questioningly when I entered.

"I was just going to let you know I'm going for a walk before Mum and them get here and we go to the Burrow. I need some air," I lied smoothly, clasping my cloak around my neck.

"Okay," Bill replied quietly. "Try not to stay out to long, it's frigid outside." He looked back down at the little girl in his arms when she stirred a bit, but soon settled back down to the lull of his soft humming.

"I won't," I whispered before softly closing the door behind me. I didn't plan on being gone for long, just enough time to apparate to the cottage, look inside to ease my mind, and come back.

Striding out into the early morning air, I wrapped my cloak even tighter around me. I remembered the day I'd gotten this cloak. I'd had it for years now. It was the one Draco had given me that first night at the lake. I'd kept it thought everything, worn it though each trial and tribulation. It held many good and several bad memories.

Once I was far enough away, I lifted my wand and turned on the spot, apparating to the so familiar cottage.

I'd never been there in the daylight before. The most I'd ever seen was what my wand could illuminate. I didn't stop to take in the beauty of the snow covered forest around me though, didn't appreciate the quaint little cottage that looked like it belonged on a post card. The one thing that was illuminated in the early morning light that drew my eyes was a large spot of snow, stained red with blood.

Never before in my life was I as scared as I was now. The fear I'd had when delivering my niece was nothing compare to the racing of my heart now as I ran towards the door of the cottage, following a trail of blood and disturbed snow. I tried not to think of the worse as I got to the door, my hand pausing on the doorknob.

Was I prepared to see what lay behind the door? It didn't matter if I was or not, I flung the door open and ran in, stopping dead in my tracks at the sight before me. There, lying unmoving on the floor beside the bed was Draco.

My breath caught in my throat as I took in his bloody and mangled body. He looked thin and unhealthy, like he hadn't eaten in months. He looked much like Mr. Olivander had. But that was the least of it. His robes were ripped and dirty, stained with both dried and fresh blood. What little skin I could see was covered in nasty bruises, discolored to the point of blackness. He was covered in cuts and gashes and whelps. The thing that concerned me the most though was the blood that had dribbled from his mouth, indicating severe internal injuries.

I ran over to him and dropped to my knees, rolling him onto his back so I could clearly see his face, a face that I had so missed seeing. He didn't even stir at being moved but thankfully he was still breathing, but it was shallow and painful. I let out a sob of relief but didn't let myself collapse onto his chest and cry like I wanted to. I had to help him.

He looked like a broken angel, lying unmoving on the floor. Tears pouring down my face, I gently ripped what was left of the robes open to see his torso. His stomach was black and blue, distended from internal bleeding. It was then I realized I had to make the biggest decision of my life because I didn't know how to heal that.

Scenario after scenario played through my mind when I realized that the only chance he had to live would be if I had help healing him. That would mean taking him back to Shell Cottage, where my mum would soon be arriving. She would know what do to, if there was anything she could do.

Draco had told me time and time again, stressed over and over, the danger of letting anyone know about us. The only person that knew was Blaise but that had been unavoidable. I'd agreed with him, knowing what my family's reactions to us would be. My family already hated him, even more so since he was a Death Eater. Would they understand that I loved him? Would they help me save him? He was my life, how could they not?

What would Draco say though? He was the one who stressed it most. If Voldemort found out, he would kill us both. But if I didn't take Draco back to my family, he would die no matter what. He might not be able to return home, but the Order was powerful enough to be able to hide him. Weren't they?

Knowing I had little time left to help him, I grabbed my wand and stood. Leaning down, I used every bit of my strength to get a hold on Draco. He was much taller than me, but I was surprised at how much less he weighted than he should have. Leaning him against me, one arm holding him up, I lifted my wand and turned on the spot.

I apparated strait into the living room of Shell Cottage, collapsing onto my knees from the weight of Draco's body. "Bill!" I yelled, praying wasn't asleep. "Bill!" Cradling Draco in my arms, I sobbed.

"I'm coming, Ginny," I heard Bill's voice from down the hall. He sounded worried, what with my crying out in name in a panic. He appeared in the doorway a moment later, quickly taking in the scene before him. "Ginny?" he questioned, confusion and worry tingeing his voice.

"Bill, please, help me! I have to save him," I cried, tears pouring down my face as I struggled to my feet, still holding on to Draco.

My brother asked no questions as he quickly made his way to me, easily lifting Draco into his arms. Taking him back to my room, he laid him gently on the bed. I ran after him, my wand gripped tightly in my hand. I stopped at the beside, my mind quickly running over all the healing spells I knew.

"I think he's got broken ribs," I said quickly, tapping his chest with my wand and muttering a spell. "They punctured a lung I think. He's also got horrible internal bleeding, probably a ruptured liver or spleen. I don't know how to heal that though, Bill!" I cried, my voice breaking in a sob as I waved my wand again over his body, using a spell I hoped would stop the internal bleeding.

Bill's own wand was out now, gliding over the broken body of a Draco Malfoy. Cuts and gashes healed under his wand, but that was about the most healing he knew how to do. "I don't know either, Gin, but do you have a potion that stops bleeding?"

My head snapped up and I looked at my brother for a second. He was right! I did have something that might help. Skidding to the dresser, I ripped open a drawer and pulled out some vials of a dark purple potion. I could hear Draco's breathing getting shallower and shallower; slowing with each breath he took.

Dumping the first vial into his mouth, I prayed it would go down. With a little help it did, but it didn't seem to help. More blood merely dripped from his mouth. Bill, having done all he knew how to do, touched my shoulder. I didn't look up at my older brother as I forced a second vial down Draco's throat.

Just then, I heard the crack of someone apparating, then another. "That'll be Mum and Dad," he said, running out of the room.

I paid him no mind, only thankful that Mum was here. She would know what to do. She had to. Before I knew it, my mother was at my side, questions in her eyes at the boy on the bed, but none voiced as she whipped out her wand. "Tell me what's wrong," she said quickly.

I glanced up at her with tears of relief pouring down my face. I pointed to his abdomen. "Internal bleeding and punctured lung are the worst of it, I think," I said, trying to keep my voice from breaking.

"I've heard of spells used to heal bleeding in the body, but I've never had to test them to see if they work for myself," she said as she placed her wand against his abdomen. "Vigoratus crudus penitus," she said. Moving her wand to another spot, she used the spell again.

If it helped, it did not show. "Mum? Why isn't it working?" I questioned with a sob, looking up at the woman I'd believed could fix anything. I heard Draco take another shallow breath.

"It might have stopped the bleeding, but he's already bleed so much that I'm not sure if it will do any good," she explained softly, reaching out comfort me.

I turned away from the comfort. I could not just give up on him! "I have to save him," I said again with conviction. But I didn't know how.

"Ginny," Mum said again as she grabbed my hand, trying to take me away from the dying boy on the bed. "There's nothing more you can do."

I lost it then, the realization that I was too late. There was nothing I could do to save the love of my life. I couldn't save Draco.

"Ginny," I heard from the doorway. I didn't turn to look at my father as I sobbed, having only eyes for Draco as his breathing got shallower and slower. It was getting too hard for him to breath, they almost wouldn't come now. I felt the tears pouring down my cheeks as I collapsed beside him, half kneeling on the floor and half lying on the bed. "Ginny, the Phoenix tears!"

My head flew up then and I all but stopped breathing. I flew over to my dresser, pulling open my sock drawer. How did I forget about them? Grabbing out the drawstring bag that I'd been given for my birthday, I struggled with the knot, my hands shaking. Behind me, I heard Draco take another painful breath. Praying for help, I finally got the bag open and pulled out the tiny vial of the healing tears.

It was like time stood still as I ran back to the bed. I heard Draco take another heart wrenching breath. I unstopped the vial, only to realize another breath didn't come. I didn't pause to think what that meant as I poured three drops of the tears into his mouth.

I stared at the beautiful face of the boy on the bed, my tears wetting us both as I knelt over him. "You can't die on me Draco," I whispered to the unmoving body of my soul mate. "You promised you would always come back. You promised!" I cried out, lying my face down on his chest, sobbing.

It was then I heard it, the steady pounding of a beating heart and the most beautiful breath I'd ever heard taken.

Okay, well, was that suspenseful and nerve-wracking? If so then yay! That's totally what I was going for! Was it okay? I hope you don't kill me for very nearly killing Draco off. Don't worry though, I don't believe in character death! To kill of the main character is just mean.

BJ thanks all of you for such wonderful reviews! A special thanks to Faerie0975 for the oodles of organic gummy bears and to Julia Erwelin for such a long review that it wouldn't fit on the screen without scrolling! I loved it! :D You guys are amazing!

So, I hope to hear your opinions and keep your eyes peeled for another chapter soon!

A happy author writes better and faster! So review and make me happy!