Over the next couple of weeks, she and Draco met when Ginny would and could, during her free fifth period. At first, it had been every few days but as they got comfortable with each other, it grew into almost every day. Draco always looked exhausted, both physically and mentally. Sometimes they just talked about what was going on in their classes, Quidditch or friends, other times they got into deep moral musings or she would open up bit by bit about what had happened with Tom and the regrets she had. Draco would share too, never giving specific details, but still revealing himself to her. Every once and a while Draco would show up with burns or gashes from his "research". He always refused to go to the infirmary so it was up to Ginny to try and play medi-witch on the fly. They had formed a collection of books, mostly on magical remedies but some on rare spells and curses too. Draco would read on the origins of apparition while Ginny healed his flayed skin and muscle detachment. He had always had top marks in every class (his pureblood parents wouldn't have it any other way) but his natural abilities had been inclined towards potions. So, she would help him through the more difficult spell work, taking his hand and guiding it through the motions.
As time went by Draco's injuries were getting worse and worse. One day he came in and collapsed before saying anything. Ginny rushed over to him in a panic. She had no idea where to start and it didn't look like she had time to go get Madame Pomfrey. She rolled him onto his back and noticed he was all bloated. Doing a screening charm, she looked inside to find the problem. And what a problem there was. His organs were all in the wrong places, strewn about his body like a bag searched and shoved back together carelessly. She quickly made a mental sketch of where everything was, and then where it needed to go. She knew with the lungs cut off he would die quickly so she stared there. Less than two minutes later, she started casting heart shock charms to try and revive him. Everything would have to be perfect for this to have worked. She knew they would need a miracle for her knowledge of eclectic healing magic to get it right.
Finally, there was a sharp inhale of air and he came back to.
"Oh thank god." She gasped, breathing for the first time since having him collapse in front of her. "you're alive!" she said, choking up and hugging him gently.
"Yeah yeah, I'm good." Said Draco, holding her hand in his.
"I thought you were going to die" she sniffed while scowling at him. "How the hell was I going to explain your dead body?"
He cracked a smile and then placed her hand on his chest. "I'm good," he repeated.
"Well good." She said still scowling "I can kill you for scaring me then" His smile widened and he shut his eyes. She began doing the little charms and enchantments to check her work and keep him from hurting further. Like fine-tuning a clock, she adjusted her handiwork until she got all systems running something close to normal.
When he woke up much later she was still there cleaning up from his major medical event. It was dark outside so he could tell they had missed the rest of their classes. "Hey," he said, groaning as he sat up.
"I had to put a bunch of things back where they go so you'll have internal bruising and be pretty sore this week," she said without looking back at him.
"Thank you." He said hoarsely, looking at the back of her head.
At first, she didn't acknowledge him but then she said "No, you're not welcome." Spinning to face him. "I'm not doing this Draco. I agreed to help you. But you went from beating yourself up mentally to physically instead. Me enabling you is not helping."
"Please Ginny, don't be like that. I have to do this, I don't have a choice. You are helping, I don't care about the physical toll. When you're here, I have hope."
"I care! I don't want to pay the price of that hope. You do have a choice, tell me what's going on and let me actually help you."
"I… I can't do that." He said, not meeting her gaze.
"Then I can't do this. I won't watch you kill your self Draco," she said
"I'm sorry, I can't" was all he said
"Why not?" She pushed "You think, I'd judge you for it? You think I'll tell your family's secrets? After all this time together haven't I shown you that you can trust me?"
"I JUST CAN'T!" He snapped at her.
With a hurt look on her face, she nodded, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked out. Draco called out after her, realizing his error but Ginny didn't turn back.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. All characters, names and situations are the creation and property of J.K. Rowling and Universal Studios. I do not receive compensation for writing this story.