Author's Note: I am terribly sorry for the long delay, but I'm going to work on writing several chapters whenever I do have free time so that I can post more regularly. I hope you'll forgive me, and without further ado…

Chapter 4: When Everything Changed

"You've been avoiding me."

Ginny brought her hand up to shield her eyes, and she could make out Draco's lanky frame outlined against the bright midday sunlight.

"Sorry," she replied shortly. She let her arm fall back to her side and closed her eyes again. Draco didn't move; he remained standing stiffly above her. It had been two weeks since he had kissed her and since she had forgotten to ask about Harry, and she hadn't been able to shake the inexplicable guilt that had lodged itself in the pit of her stomach.

"Look," Draco said, his voice sounding impatient and frustrated, "if this is about that ridiculous little kiss, then I'm sorry, but I really don't think you should be making such a big deal out of it."

Ginny raised her eyebrows, feeling annoyance building. "Ridiculous little kiss? Is that what we're calling it now? You think you can just waltz into my home and my life and kiss me after years of being utterly insufferable and it won't bother me in the slightest?"

She knew, deep inside, that she was being unfair. She knew that it wasn't the kiss that was truly bothering her, but the fact that she had let herself forget about Harry, even for a moment. But it was that kiss that had made her forget, and Draco's nonchalance about it grated.

A glance showed that Draco was scowling now. "So it was impulsive and ill-advised. I admit that I never thought I'd kiss a Weasley, but it's hardly the most horrible thing I've ever done to you."

His comment about kissing a Weasley made Ginny's temper flare, and she launched herself up to face him. For the first time in almost two months she saw standing before her the same arrogant, morally corrupt Slytherin prat that she had always hated.

"Well I'm sorry you had to stoop so low," she snapped. "I guess you really are just a self-important rich boy who's following in Daddy's footsteps."

Draco's expression darkened. "Well, forgive me if I thought we'd made some progress in the past few months. Or haven't we been spending hours together every single day?"

Ginny knew she was going too far, but she was angry, and that pit of guilt in her stomach was just egging her on.

"I was trying to be nice to you, against the advice of my brothers and my own better judgment. But I'm not some Slytherin floozy. I'm with Harry, and he's somewhere out there, probably in danger and risking his life for me, and kissing me was…disrespectful!"

"Oh, so that's the problem is it?" Draco spat. "I've tainted the purity of Harry Potter's helpless little admirer. How will he complete his mission if you're not waiting desperately for him to return? Grow up, Weasley. I have news for you. You're not with Potter anymore. He broke it off. And he's not risking his life for you. He's risking it for a cause. At the end of the day, whatever mission he's on is more important to him than you are. He left you, and if you won't accept that then you're more deluded than I thought."

Before she could think, Ginny's hand flew forward and she slapped him hard across the face. He staggered back a little, shock registering in his eyes.

Ginny didn't know what to say, so she stood in silence as he regained his composure and tucked a stray piece of hair behind his ear. When he spoke, he looked her right in the eyes, and his voice was cold. "I'm sorry, Ginny, but that's the truth. Whatever the reason, the fact is that Potter left you here, and right now I'm the only friend you have. Or, the only friend you had, anyway."

Then, he turned and walked back toward the Burrow.

Ginny spent the next few hours sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest, wondering numbly how that argument could've gotten so out of hand. She had wanted a fight, she couldn't deny it, but Draco's last comments about Harry had stung harder than she had expected.

Staring blankly at the blades of grass before her, Ginny confronted it head on. The reason those comments had stung so badly was because they mirrored so precisely every guilty thought that she had been pushing down for the past two months.

Ginny knew that Harry's mission was extremely important, and she knew that to defeat Voldemort, sacrifices needed to be made. But she wished he hadn't felt the need to sacrifice their relationship. Had he really had to break up with her in order to do what he had to do? She wished he had chosen her over honour and her own safety and whatever else it was. Harry Potter was so damn noble, and sometimes, she hated him for it.

Night had fallen around the Burrow when Ginny knocked softly on Draco's bedroom door.

"I'm rather busy," came the short reply from within. Ginny shifted her weight a little nervously from foot to foot.

"It's me," she said.

There was a long silence, then, "All right, come in."

The room was dim. Draco was lying on the bed, back against the headboard, reading by the light of a squat candle that flickered on the bedside table.

Ginny closed the door slowly and stood with her back to it. Draco raised his eyebrows at her expectantly.

"I'm sorry," she said finally. "I know you didn't mean anything by the kiss, and I was wrong to avoid you and say all the things…," she winced, "that I said."

Draco didn't say anything, just regarded her cooly.

Ginny took a deep breath. "I think it just really brought things into focus…I'd been spending so much time with you and I'd been happy, which I don't think I wanted myself to be. Happy, I mean. But I think you were right…about Harry. Not any of the negative things…just that he did leave me here, and he had perfectly noble reasons, but at the end of the day I'm here and…well, I'm allowed to be a little happy sometimes, you know? Does…."

"Stop babbling, Weasley," Draco cut in. Ginny stopped abruptly. "Apology accepted."

Ginny cleared her throat. "Well, good." She beamed at him, and Draco smiled back amusedly.

"Do you want to sit down?"

Ginny looked around the room. There weren't any chairs, so she walked over and settled herself beside him on the bed. "What are you reading?" she asked, trying to peer around him at the cover of his book.

"The First: A Biography of Merlin," he said.

"Any good?"

"Not bad," he said.

They lapsed into a silence that Ginny found surprisingly comfortable.

"I'm sorry if I was harsh earlier," Draco said after a few minutes.

"It's okay. I'm sorry I hit you."

Draco looked down at her skeptically. "Really?"

Ginny smirked at him cheekily. "Not really, you kind of had it coming."

Draco chuckled. "Well, you're a force to be reckoned with, Ginny Weasley," he said, gaze returning to his book.

"And don't you forget it," she quipped.

"Draco, wake up!"

Ginny jolted awake, and immediately felt disoriented. Where was she? Her father was in the doorway, and Ginny realized that she was in Draco's bed. She must have fallen asleep after they made up last night. Was it morning already? A quick glance out the window told her that it was still deep in the night.

Mr. Weasley seemed to do a double take at the sight of his daughter sprawled in Draco's bed, but he didn't comment. "Death Eaters just crossed the barrier outside."

Ginny's stomach dropped. Beside her, Draco immediately turned to the bedside table and withdrew a small vial.

"How soon?" he said.

"Five minutes, at most," Mr. Weasley said briefly. "Take the Polyjuice, and don't come downstairs until it's worked."

Ginny scrambled out of bed and felt for the security of her wand in her back pocket. She watched Draco take a breath and swallow the Polyjuice Potion.

"I hope they got the right hair," he muttered as his body began to contort and mold itself into its new shape.

Ginny rushed to the dresser and threw Draco some of Ron's clothes. When she turned back, she saw her brother standing before her. "Put those on," she said frantically.

She could hear a commotion filtering up from downstairs and knew that the Death Eaters were in the house.

"Where's Potter?" she heard a gruff voice demand.

"He isn't here," her mother was replying.

"Are you ready?" Ginny said, turning to see Draco pulling a jumper over Ron's head and torso.

"Yeah," Draco replied.

"Your voice," Ginny said, "Make it deeper. And slouch a little…Ron slouches."

"I'm sure you won't mind if we check the house," came a female voice from below. Ginny's heart plummeted. It was Bellatrix Lestrange, and the subsequent sound of footsteps on the stairs told her that the Death Eaters were on their way up.

"What are we going to do?" she said, heart pounding.

Draco/Ron took Ginny's hand and stared into her eyes. "Ginny, you need to calm down. We're going to face them. You're a force to be reckoned with, remember?" Then he gave her a smirk that, though it was on Ron's face, was decidedly Draco's.

Ginny steadied her breathing as the footsteps came closer and closer. Draco didn't let go of her hand.

"Well, well, well," Bellatrix said as she mounted the landing. "What's this? Are the baby Weasleys hiding?" She pouted mockingly as she came into the room, followed by the burly Macnair and another male Death Eater that Ginny didn't recognize.

Bellatrix continued to advance toward them, and Ginny gripped Draco's hand tighter to keep herself from taking a step backwards. She would be damned if she was going to show fear in front of Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Oh, little babies," Bellatrix continued in the same mocking tone, drawing closer and closer until she and Draco were mere centimeters apart.

"Where has Potter gone?" she hissed suddenly.

Draco shrugged, and when he spoke he had lowered his voice as Ginny had advised. "How should I know Harry's whereabouts?"

It still retained Draco's cool undertones, and his words were far too formal, but for the unfamiliar Bellatrix, it was close enough. "Ronald, isn't it?" she said. Draco nodded. "Aren't you and Potter supposed to be…the best of friends?"

She waited for a response, and Draco nodded again. "So you expect me to believe that you have no idea where he is."

"I didn't want to help him anymore," Draco replied.

There was a long pause in which Ginny was sure that Draco had said the wrong thing. Would Bellatrix believe that Ron would willingly abandon Harry? Everything hinged on her believing him. If she didn't…Ginny shuddered to think what methods Bellatrix might invoke.

But then, quite suddenly, Bellatrix threw her head back in a full, throaty cackle. Behind her, Macnair and the other Death Eater began to laugh as well.

"Didn't want to help him anymore! That should teach Potter to trust a blood traitor! Once a traitor, always a traitor, hm, Ronald?" She tapped Draco/Ron on the nose, and he flinched back a little.

Ginny's heart began to pound even harder as Bellatrix's eyes slid over to her. "And the littlest Weasley. Do you know, my nephew once told me that you were considered quite desirable at Dumbledore's excuse for a school. I think dear Draco even half believed it himself." The black eyes darted across Ginny's form and twisted a piece of Ginny's hair around her finger. Then she shrugged. "I can't for the life of me understand why."

"Still," Bellatrix continued speculatively, "You are Pureblood, so I suppose you're not completely repulsive. But how could you bring yourself to touch that half-blooded Potter boy, hm?" She raised her eyebrows at Ginny and brought her face close. "Didn't he make your skin crawl?"

Ginny felt defiance rising up within her and she couldn't bite back the brash comment that came to her lips. "Not as much as you do, Bellatrix."

Bellatrix's eyes hardened dangerously and her lips curved into a humourless smile. "You're very brave," she quipped, raising her wand. Ginny steeled herself for what was coming next.

"Wait," Draco said, and Bellatrix's hand paused in mid-air.

"Ginevra is…incautious," he said, "but she has no loyalty to Potter. He left her and broke her heart," Draco continued, and the anger in his voice was incredibly convincing. "No one in this family is loyal to Potter anymore. And I don't think that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would take well to the hurting of a Pureblood witch for no reason but your hurt pride."

Bellatrix's wand dangled in the air. "Are you threatening me?" she hissed.

"No, of course not," Draco said, and Ginny couldn't believe how calm he sounded. "I merely state the facts."

There was a pause that seemed to Ginny to last a lifetime, but finally Bellatrix lowered her wand. "What dramatic lives you do lead," she said, smiling chillingly. "Come, boys," she said to the Death Eaters, and she strode from the room, her black robes billowing behind her.

Ginny and Draco stood motionless, hardly breathing, until they heard the front door slam behind Bellatrix and the other Death Eaters followed by Mrs. Weasley's fearful cry as she raced upstairs.

"Ginny, are you hurt, darling?" she cried as she barreled into the room. "Draco?" She looked between the two of them, and seeming to ascertain that they weren't physically damaged at least, plunged forward and took Ginny into her arms.

"Are they gone?" Draco said.

"Yes, dear," Mrs. Weasley replied.

"They obviously didn't find what they came for," said Mr. Weasley, who had followed his wife into the room. "But I think they were satisfied that we didn't know anything about Harry. Whatever you two said must have been very convincing."

"What Draco said," Ginny added over her mother's shoulder. "Will they come back, do you think?"

"We can't know," Mrs. Weasley said, releasing her.

"But the Polyjuice seems to have been believable," came Fred's voice from the doorway. He and George's expressions were more serious than Ginny had ever seen them.

Ginny nodded slowly. The after-effects of the adrenaline that had been coursing through her seemed to be kicking in, and Ginny felt her extremities beginning to shake and her eyes to fill with tears. She had been so close to being cursed by Bellatrix Lestrange that her limbs felt weak, as though they could feel the shadow of a Cruciatus.

"I think…I think I'm going to go to bed, if that's okay." She knew she had to make a quick escape if she was going to keep up a strong front.

Mrs. Weasley stood back and surveyed her, then touched her cheek and nodded. "Of course, dear. But are you sure you're all right?"

Ginny smiled reassuringly. "Of course, I'm just a little shaken, that's all." Avoiding everyone's eyes, she hurried downstairs, down the hall, and to her own bedroom. Only when she had locked the door and cast a quick Silencing Charm on it did she allow herself to collapse on her bed and burst into tears.

Sleep came in short, terrifying bursts for Ginny that night. She dreamt of Bellatrix's cold stare, and nightmares she had had years ago when Neville had told her about his parents' insanity came back to haunt her. Her mind was flooded with the sounds of Bellatrix's cackling laugh when she was jolted awake by a soft knock on the door. She sat bolt upright, and grasped her wand in a shaking hand.

"Ginny?" The door opened just a crack and Draco's lowered voice filtered into the room.

Ginny sagged back against the headboard. "Come in," she replied.

Draco ducked inside and closed the door softly behind him. The Polyjuice had worn off and he looked like himself again. Ginny scooted over so that he could settle himself on the edge of her bed. He looked down at her concernedly.

"Are you all right?" he said.

"I'm fine," Ginny responded.

Draco looked her up and down. "You don't look fine," he replied.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Oh, thanks," she said sarcastically.

"You know what I mean."

Ginny shrugged. "Nightmares, that's all."

He nodded. "I couldn't sleep either. Dear Aunt Bellatrix has that effect on people."

Ginny shivered. "I forgot she's your aunt," she commented. "You must have some festive family get-togethers," she added.

Draco snorted. "Yeah, they're really lighthearted and not at all soul-crushing."

Ginny laughed. It was nice to have some company right now, and she settled herself back under the covers. They were silent for a moment.

"Draco?" Ginny said finally.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for saving my bum up there."

"No problem, Weasley," he replied. "You must have a death wish, baiting her like that."

"I couldn't help it," Ginny said, "My mum always said my big mouth would be the death of me one day." She laughed mirthlessly.

"Well, it certainly keeps life interesting."

Silence fell again.

"Are you here checking on me?" she asked.

"Like I said, I can't sleep."

"Oh, so it's actually for your benefit. Purely selfish motives," she said, looking at him skeptically.

He gave her his signature smirk. "If you'll believe it."

"Not for a second," she quipped. "Well," she added impulsively, "I could use the company too. You can stay if you like."

She patted the bedspread next to her. Draco seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then he lifted the blanket and got into the bed beside her. They both stared up at the ceiling.

"Do you make a habit of inviting strange boys into your bed for the night, Weasley?"

"No!" Ginny said in mock horror. "How would I keep up my reputation as the most desirable witch in Hogwarts," she teased, waggling her eyebrows at him.

"Oh, don't gloat, it doesn't become you," Draco replied. "And I never said that," he added primly.

Ginny laughed. "Of course you didn't."

They spent the next few hours talking and laughing, and it wasn't until the early morning sun had begun to creep over the horizon that Ginny fell asleep, her head resting comfortably against Draco's shoulder.

Author's Note: So? What do you think? A lot happened in this past chapter, and I hope it all flowed well…I'd love your feedback! Also, what did you guys think of the Deathly Hallows Part 2 movie! I thought it was amaaaaaazing! But I'd love to hear your thoughts on that too. Much love, mugglehugger