Hermione heard Harry speak from behind the curtain.

"I wish I had told you...please don't die...I love you..." A single

tear traced a line of white through the red smears on her face. She

turned away from the curtain to find Ron staring at her. Hermione

nodded.


"She did it again. She did it, and I don't know if she's...she's..."

Hermione choked on the last words, and Ron swept her up in an tight

embrace, trying to hold onto a hope that was slipping away with every

drop of blood.


It was black in the halls as the figure made its way towards the

hospital wing. It drew back its cloak and pushed the door open,

treading soflty so as not to wake Madame Pomfrey. It bent beside

Ginny's bed.


"Ginny, you don't have to go..." it said. "Ginny, just stay, I'd love

you if you did. Not like...him...Potter. The famous Harry Potter.

He never loved you, did he." Ginny's eyes fluttered open, and focused

on the figure beside her bed.


"Ha-Harry?" she murmured softly. The figure shook its head, its hair

whisping over its face.


"No Ginny. Draco."