Anyone who has read The Healer will know who Ginny's beautiful stranger is, but if you haven't, I suggest you do, upon finishing this. It's a darn good story, considering at that time, I couldn't write…
As usual, all characters belong to J.K. Rowling…
Part II Beautiful Stranger
She whirled around, and lost her balance as she let go of the handrail. The boy behind her caught her just before she fell, and set her back on her feet. "Careful," he said to her, not concerned or scolding, just telling her to be careful. "What're you doing here?"
"Who are you?" Ginny gasped, trying to regain her balance. The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn't seem to place it. "What do you want?"
She felt the boy turn her to face him, and could almost feel his eyes searching her face. "You—you're blind, aren't you? That spell on the way out…" He swore under his breath. "I should have seen that coming."
The voice—Goddess, it was familiar… It was the boy who had let she and Harry out of their cell, maybe two months ago! She hadn't seen his face then, it had been covered by the cowl of his long black cloak. She had only heard his rough whisper as he told them to follow, and make no noise until they were well away from the castle. She had lost him when they had been attacked by the sentries.
He continued to talk. "They've told you that there's no cure, am I correct?" the boy inquired. "For the spell? Because it's dark magic, right? They can't break it."
Ginny squirmed out of his grip. "Who are you?" she hissed. "How do you know what's happened to me?"
He let go of her, and there was the sound of someone stepping backward into the wall. "I was there, Virginia Weasley. I saw what happened to you. I let you out. Didn't Potter tell you who it was that opened the cell door and led you out?"
She shook her head. "He didn't tell me anything," she whispered. "Who are you?"
He didn't answer her question, only asked another. "You want to be able to see again, don't you?"
She snorted. "Only more than anything."
"I know how to remove the spell," he told her quietly. "It was dark magic that placed it on you, and it's dark magic that'll take it off." He paused as she started to back away slowly, feeling with her heel for the edge of the stairs so she wouldn't fall. "You'd have to trust me."
"Why would I trust you?" she demanded. "I don't even know who you are!"
Ginny could hear him starting to smile. "Well, you would know when I took the spell off, wouldn't you? I'm the only one here who is going to be able to help you, Ginny," he said, serious again. "If you don't trust me, you'll never find out who I am."
Something brushed her cheek. A hand, she realized with shock. He turned her head to face him. "Trust me, Ginny," he whispered. "I promise I won't hurt you."
That voice. Something made her want to believe him. And that simple fact alone made her breath catch. "If you kill me, or hurt me in any way," she told him, drawing a rattling breath, "I will personally see that you die tomorrow and burn in hell for all eternity."
She could feel his breath on her face, smelling of cinnamon candies. He was very close. She should have been terrified—and she was, sort of—but at the same time she could feel herself beginning to trust this unfamiliar boy who was holding her by the shoulders.
"Ginny," he was barely whispering, now, but she could hear him, close. "You know I would never hurt you."
"I do know," she answered shakily. "That's what scares me."
"Trust me, Ginny," he told her quietly.
She let out the breath she had been holding. Silently, closing her eyes, she nodded.
His fingers brushed her eyelids lightly, and he murmured a few selected words under his breath. Ginny felt something tingle in the outside corners of her eyes, spreading until her whole eyes seemed to have come alive with maggots. It was disgusting, and it hurt. She cried out, and his hands tightened on her shoulders. "It hurts," she whispered, knowing she sounded pathetic and not caring.
"I know," he told her reassuringly. "Hold on, it'll be over in a moment."
The pain flared again, and she bit her lip, holding in a scream. Finally, it slowly drained out, and she collapsed into the boy's arms. He held her up patiently, stroking her back, comforting her. "Are you all right?" he asked.
She stiffened, and he let her go. "I shouldn't have trusted you," she whispered huskily. "What did you do to me? Who are you?"
"Ginny," he whispered. He touched her eyelids, which were screwed shut. "Open your eyes."
Steeling herself, Ginny let her eyes slowly open—and focus on the floor and the laces of her trainers! She could see! She gasped and held her hands before her lowered eyes, looking over them with a critical eye. Finally, she lifted her gaze to thank the boy that had done this for her…
And just about fell over. It was none other than Draco Malfoy, and he was standing in front of her now, a few steps away, hands held casually at his sides, regarding her with a mix of caution and concern.
She felt her eyes widen, then narrow. "You!"
'
Did I mention that I'm psychic? I can tell when you don't want to review my fics! Tough! Review 'em anyway! If I can put the effort into writing them and putting them up, the least you can do is tell me what you think!