Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except Linda and the mysterious Lady; everything else belongs to JK Rowlings.

A/N: Thank to all my wonderful reviewers. I kind of expected people to comment on Draco's behavior, but don't fret, of course Draco is going to fall in love with Ginny, but not just yet. For those of you that were not able to read the author's not in the previous chapter, I just want to say that Hermione does not like Draco; she did during the summer though, but not anymore.

Chapter 9: The Month After

It has been a month since Draco and Ginny started going out together. They were the most talked about couple in the school. Nobody would ever have thought that a Malfoy would fall for a Weasley. Draco's declaration of love to Ginny was no secret. Everybody knew that he loved Ginny and he showed it, but they didn't know that it was an act. Draco did feel guilty for lying to Ginny, but he tried to make up for it. He did have feeling for her, but after just knowing her for a month, he thought of her just as a friend. He hoped that some day that it would be more than that, it had to be more than that. Some days when he is with Ginny he would watch her and think about what she feels for him.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Ginny asked him.

They were sitting in front of the lake watching the sunset. They did this every now and then, if they had time. Ginny would sit between his legs and Draco would hold her. Together they would watch the sun go down and they would not go back in the castle until it was dark.

"Yes it is," Draco said, but he was not referring to the sun.

Ginny leaned back against Draco. When she did this he smelled her hair, it smelt like strawberries. He fingered her hair, Ginny didn't mind since he would do this a lot.

"Draco?" Ginny said.

"Yes?"

"You said you loved me didn't you?" She asked.

"Yes, I said that," Draco said. It wasn't a lie; he did tell her that he loved her, but only once. He said that to her that day in her room, but he never said it to her again.

"Why?" She asked him.

"I don't know," he said truthfully.

"Oh," was the only thing Ginny could say.

Ginny looked up at him and saw him smiling at her. His smile was something that she loved. She thought that he looks handsome when he smiles. He only smiled for her, she never saw him smile at anyone else. That was something that made the other girls jealous. Lavender Brown once told her that she was lucky to have Malfoy as a boyfriend. He was rich and handsome and one of the most sought after boys in the school. Overall, Draco was everything a girl wanted, but couldn't have. Everybody thought that he was an annoying git and he was hated, but when they saw him with Ginny he was different somehow.

Draco kissed her on the forehead.

"Are you okay?" He asked her.

"Yes, I was just thinking," Ginny told him.

"A sickle for your thought," Draco told her.

"I was just thinking how lucky I was to have you," Ginny said hugging him.

Draco's heart broke at this. Draco held her tight.

"I don't deserve you," he whispered in her hair. Ginny did not hear him.

"Hullo, Ginny, Malfoy," Hagrid greeted them.

Ginny and Draco broke apart. Ginny settled on his lap.

"Good evening Hagrid," Ginny greeted him.

"Nice, isn't it," Hagrid said looking out the lake.

"Yes, it is," Ginny said.

"Well, I'm headed for Dinner. What about you two?" Hagrid asked.

Ginny looked at Draco and said, "I'm getting hungry. Can we go?"

"Okay," Draco told her.

Ginny got up and helped Draco. Draco wrapped an arm around her waist and they started walking towards the Great Hall.

A lone figure was watching the couple in the shadows.

"You don't deserve her," the person said, "You don't deserve her."

*_*_*_*_*_*

"They're so cute, don't you think Ron?" Lavender Brown asked.

Ginny and Draco just walked in the Great Hall together; it was not an unusual sight. Draco was went everywhere his sister went. If he could not go he would send his goons Crabbe and Goyle to watch/escort Ginny. Ginny grew fond of these two. They were loyal to Draco. Unlike the popular belief that Crabbe and Goyle were a bit slow, they were able to pass every class. They were just the silent type.

Draco and Ginny sat in their usual seats, across from her brothers. Draco didn't mind this arrangement. He never talked to her brothers unless he was addressed.

An owl was flying in the Great Hall. This was unusual since all the mail usually comes during the morning. The owl circled around the Gryffindor table and then it dropped a letter in front of Draco. Draco looked at it wearily, it was a pink letter. Draco opened it and was surprised to see who the sender was. It was Tracy and Bru, Hermione's friends back home.

Draco and Hermione,

How are you guys? This is so cool. Do you know how many times we tried to write you guys a letter? Thirty times! Each time it was sent back to us. We finally went to Hermione's mom to ask her to deliver it to you somehow. She told us to us an owl. You don't know how surprised we were. Anyway, it went along great I hope you guys get this. If you did I wanted to know how you guys were. Please tell me you guys are still together. I don't want my matchmaking skills to go to waste. Do you know how hard I worked? (Draco scowled at this. Tracy was not his favorite person.) You two where so cute together. Anyway, just wanted to say hi. Write us back.

Trace and Bru

"Who is it from?" Ginny asked wondering why he was scowling.

"It delivered it to the wrong person," Draco told her folding the letter.

"Who is it for?" Ginny asked.

"Granger," Draco said giving Hermione the letter.

Hermione looked at him and took it from him. After Hermione read the letter she looked at Draco.

"Did you read this?" Hermione asked.

"What do you think I was doing with it for three minutes?" Draco asked.

"What is it Hermione?" Ron asked.

"It's nothing," Hermione said, folding the letter.

"Can I see it?" Ron asked.

"Ron, I said it was nothing," Hermione snapped at him.

Hermione didn't want to take the risk of anyone knowing about her and Draco. She burned the letter at the table. Everybody was surprised at her. She would write a letter to Tracy later, explaining that Draco and her did not work out. She saw Draco smiling at her.

"Didn't know that you had the gut to do that to your friend," Draco said.

Suddenly Draco got up from his seat.

"Ginny I have to go," Draco told her.

"Why?" Ginny asked, "You didn't eat yet."

"Something came up, I forgot about it," Draco told her, "I have to go. Your brother could probably walk you to the tower."

"Okay," Ginny said.

Draco gave her a quick kiss on the lips and then he left. Ginny stared at the door for a while. Then she looked back at the table. The burnt letter was gone. Ginny thought about what just happened. Did Draco just smile at Hermione? What was that letter? Ginny thought. Ginny looked at Hermione. Hermione never acted the way she just did, something was wrong.

*_*_*_*_*_*

"Madame Pomprey, I need help," Draco said walking in the hospital wing.

Draco was feelings a little tingling in his left arm when he was in the lake. It didn't hurt him so he didn't do anything. When he was in the Great Hall he felt a sharp pain, he left immediately.

"What can I help you with Mr. Malfoy?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"My arm. He's summoning," Draco told her.

Madame Pomprey's eyes widened. She told him to go in her office. Draco practically ran towards her. When Draco got in her office she closed the door and locked it.

"Pull up your sleeve," she told him.

Draco complied. When he did this they both saw the Dark Mark. It was glowing red. The thing that shocked them both the most was his scar over it. It opened and Draco was bleeding. Madame Pomprey started saying a spell to close the wound. When she was finished she cleaned it. The Dark Mark was still glowing. Madame Pomprey went in her cupboard and got out a potion.

"You will feel more pain. This will help lessen the pain," Madam Pomfrey told him.

After Draco drank the potion he felt a pain around is chest.

"My chest hurts," He told her.

"The potions takes time to work," Madam Pomfrey told him, "I need to give the Headmaster a note about this."

"I can give it to him, I can walk," Draco told her, "He's in the Great Hall right now."

Madame Pomprey looked at him doubtfully.

"I promise, I'll be fine," he tried to assure her.

Madame Pomprey wrote the note and gave it to Draco.

"After you give him this, I want you to come back," Madam Pomfrey told him.

Draco nodded and took the note from her. Then he started walking towards the Great Hall. Before he was able to open the door his vision blurred. Draco leaned against the wall and shook his head. After he got back his vision he opened the door and went inside. Everybody turned to look at him, when they saw who it was they turned back to their food. After he got half way to the teacher's table he heard a booming in his ears. As he was nearing the teacher's table the booming got louder. He was only a few feet away from the teacher's table before he could not take it anymore. Draco got down on his knees and covered his ears. In the corner of his eye he saw Ginny running towards him.

"A traitor dies a traitor's death," said a voice in his head.

Then Draco saw a green flash. He let out a scream before he fell on the ground, unconscious.

*_*_*_*_*_

Ginny was pushing her food around her plate.

"Miss him already Ginny?" Harry asked her.

"What? Oh, well, yes a little," Ginny said, "It feels weird to not have him around."

"You better eat something. Malfoy might get worried about you if you get sick," Harry told her, "You have to take a bite of something."

Ginny took a bit out of an apple. After she swallowed she turned to him.

"There, happy?" She asked him.

"Yes, very," Harry told her laughing, "Still thinking about the ferret?"

"Yes, don't call him names," Ginny told him.

Ginny started eating her food. It was different without Draco near. After she finished her food she was about to drink her pumpkin juice until the door opened. As usual everybody turned to look how it was, who would come this late into dinner. Ginny was surprised to see Draco; he said that he had to leave. Ginny saw that he was paler than usual. He looked troubled to her, something that she never saw. She watched Draco walked towards the teacher's table. She expected him to at least look at her, but he never did. He was walking strangely, like he was tired. It wasn't his usual I'm-a-Malfoy-so-get-out-of-my-way stride. Draco wasn't walking straight; he would veer off a little. Ginny got up. Then she saw Draco get down on his knees and cover his ears. Something was wrong with him. Ginny started walking faster towards him. Then Draco screamed and he fell towards the floor. Ginny then broke out at a full run. The headmaster and the teachers went to Draco. Ginny got to him first. She kneeled down in front of him.

"Draco?" Ginny asked.

Draco didn't do anything. Then Dumbledore came; he saw the letter that Draco dropped. He picked it up and read it.

"We have to bring him to the Hospital Wing," Dumbledore told Professor Snape.

Dumbledore handed him the letter. Professor Snape read the letter and nodded at Dumbledore. Dumbledore levitated Draco and started walking. Ginny immediately went to Draco's side and held one of his hands.

"Ms. Weasley?" Professor Snape asked.

"I want to go with him to the Hospital Wing. I want to make sure he's all right," Ginny told him.

Professor Snape looked like he was going to protest, but Dumbledore stopped him saying that it was fine. When they reached the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey came out with a sleeping potions expecting Draco. When she saw his unconscious state she put down the potion and immediately went over to him. She told the Headmaster to put Draco on a bed.

"I knew I should have kept him here. He said that he was fine, but that shows how much students today don't know what's going on with their bodies. I knew that when he came here that it needed medical attention," Madam Pomfrey said.

"Draco is sick?" Ginny asked.

"Ms Weasley! I didn't know that you were there," Madam Pomfrey said, finally seeing her next to Draco.

"Is Draco sick?" Ginny asked again.

Madam Pomfrey looked at Dumbledore for help. She didn't know what to tell the girl. She heard that Draco was dating Ginny. If Ginny didn't know what was wrong with him, then maybe he didn't tell her.

Ginny looked at Madam Pomfrey, then at Dumbledore. Why wasn't she saying anything?

"Ms. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy will be fine by tomorrow, but he will be tired," Madame Pomfrey told her. In reality Madam Pomfrey didn't know how long Draco would be unconscious.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Ginny asked.

Since the rise of Voldemort two classes were added as electives. Medical Magic and History of Dark Arts. Medical Magic teaches healing spells and charms. History of Dark Arts goes into detail about the previous Dark Lords, their motives and also about dark spells. Ginny chose Medical Magic. She quickly became one of the best in the class.

"No, I'm afraid not," Madam Pomfrey told her.

"What can I do?" Ginny asked.

"I'm sorry Ms. Weasley, I don't think that there's anything that you could do. The only thing you could do is wait for his recovery," Madam Pomfrey said.

Then she closed the curtains around the bed and she started healing Draco. Ginny stared at the curtain.

"Ms. Weasley, I am sure that Mr. Malfoy will be fine," Dumbledore told her.

"I'm worried about him," Ginny said.

Then the door to the hospital wing opened. Harry and Neville came in.

"Is Draco all right?" Neville asked.

Neville and Draco call each other by their first names. As Draco got to know Neville better he found out that Neville is not as clumsy as he puts on. Neville just tries to hard. Neville found out that Draco was not as bad as he used to be. They became good friends since they worked together a lot in Dumbledore's class. Harry and Draco were still uncomfortable around each other.

"Ginny?" Neville asked, "Are you all right?"

Ginny looked troubled so Neville went over to her to hug her. Ginny returned the hug. She thought that Neville was a good friend. Then the curtain opened and Ginny went to Draco. Neville watched her practically run to Draco.

"He will be fine. All he needs his rest. He should be awake by tomorrow," Madam Pomfrey told her.

"Thank you," Ginny said.

Ginny got a chair and sat down next to Draco's bed. She took one of his hands and squeezed it.

"Ginny will you be all right?" Harry asked her, "If you need Neville or me, we're just here."

"Harry, you and Neville can go. You don't have to wait for me," Ginny told them.

"Are you sure?" Neville asked.

Ginny smiled at them, "Yes, I'm sure."

"Do you want us to leave you with him?" Harry asked, "Give you privacy?"

"I…I don't know," Ginny said turning to Draco.

She pushed some hair out of his face. She asked him why he stopped slicking back his hair. Draco told her that a friend said that he looks better without the slicked hair. When Ginny asked him who was his friend he didn't answer. There were so many things that Ginny wanted to know about Draco. He would never talk about his past. Whenever he did there were so many holes that it was hard to figure out what happened. She wondered if he was ashamed about his past or if he wanted to hide it from her.

When Ginny turned to tell Harry that she wanted to be alone she found out that Harry and Neville already left. She looked at Madam Pomfrey's office and found it closed. She could see that Madam Pomfrey was talking to the Headmaster. Then Ginny turned to Draco. She traced his scar on his forehead with her finger. She told him that his father gave it to him, and that was all he said about it.

"Why are you so mysterious?" She asked him.

Draco of course didn't answer. Ginny started to talk to him. She felt like she could tell him anything. Ginny would tell him the most ridiculous things and he would laugh. She didn't care if he laughed. His laughter was another thing that she loved about him. He no longer laughed at the expense of others. When Draco would laugh his whole face would light up and Ginny thought that he looked handsome when he did. Ginny shook her head and laughed at herself. Ginny thought that he was handsome no matter what he was doing or wearing.

Ginny remembered her first real encounter with him on the Hogwarts Express. When she first saw him she almost didn't recognize him. He wasn't that short skinny rat faced boy that she remembered from the previous school year. She wondered how he could change so fast. Draco was no longer short, he shot up to an amazing six feet, almost as tall as her other brothers. The skinny boy developed some muscles during the summer, and she saw that when she saw his shirt opened. She remembered what her brothers used to call him that summer; it was either Malfoy the amazing bouncing ferret or rat face. How surprised she was when she saw him, his face was chiseled to perfection. He had a strong chin, his nose was straight and he had high cheekbones.

"Ms. Weasley?" Madam Pomfrey asked, "Why are you still here?"

"I wanted to stay with Draco," Ginny said.

"I'm sorry Ms. Weasley, but you have to go back to your dorm," Madam Pomfrey told her.

"Can I still a little while?" Ginny asked.

"I'm sorry Ms. Weasley I cannot make any exceptions. You have to leave," Madam Pomfrey told her.

Ginny was about to complain until Dumbledore came.

"Ms. Weasley, I think that it is best if you get rest. You still have classes tomorrow," Dumbledore said.

Ginny put her head down in defeat. Then she turned to Draco. She kissed him on the forehead.

"Good night Dragon," Ginny told him.

Then she turned and said good night to Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey. She walked to Gryffindor tower alone, unaware of the person in the shadows watching her.

*_*_*_*_*_*_

Ginny moved her food around in her plate. It was breakfast; before she went to the Great Hall she went to see Draco in the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey forbids her to go in despite her protest. She wondered how Draco was doing and if he was awake. Then she felt someone kiss her on the cheek. When she turned she saw Draco smiling at her. Ginny flung herself to her.

"Why, good-morning Red," Draco said. Draco's nickname for Ginny was Red because of her famous Weasley hair.

Ginny pulled away from him and slapped him on the face. Everybody turned because they heard the slap. They were now staring at the couple wondering what Draco would do.

"What was that for?" Draco asked angrily.

"How dare you do that to me," Ginny said, "Do you know how worried I was about you? When I saw you walking in here yesterday like a drunkard and then you fainting."

"Malfoys don't faint," Draco told her crossing his arms.

Ginny just looked at him madly. Draco went over to her and hugged her, Ginny didn't return the hug, and she just stood there. Draco buried his face in her hair.

"I'm sorry," Draco muttered in her hair.

Draco pulled away from her and smirked.

"So you were worried about me?" Draco asked.

"Why are you joking about this?" Ginny asked angrily walking back to her seat and sitting down.

Draco frowned as he watched the back of her head. Draco took his usual seat at the Gryffindor table, next to Ginny.

"Come on Ginny, please forgive me. It's not like I wanted it to happen," Draco told her.

"Did you know how I felt when I saw how pale you were? What happened Draco?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know," Draco told her.

"That's bull, you did know what happened. Madam Pomfrey said that you went to her," Ginny told him angrily, "Tell me what happened."

"I can't," Draco told her.

"Why not?" Ginny asked.

Before Draco could answer and owl dropped a large package in front of him. Then another owl dropped another smaller package. Then a third owl dropped another package. Ginny looked at him questionably.

"Ginny can we talk about this later, away from everybody else?" Draco asked her.

"Fine, but you have to talk," Ginny told him.

"What's all that Malfoy?" Ron asked.

Each of the packages had a card, he opened one of them.

"Birthday presents," Draco answered after putting the card back in its envelope.

Ginny was surprised, she never asked Draco when his Birthday was, and now she missed it.

"Oh my gosh Draco, I'm sorry I didn't know," Ginny told him immediately forgetting that she was mad at him.

"It's fine Ginny, I never told you anyway," Draco told her.

"Why don't you open them Malfoy," Ron asked curious as to what he got.

Draco opened the package on the top of the pile. He ripped the wrapping paper and saw a box. He opened the box and was horrified with what he saw. It was those hideous leather trousers that he saw that summer.

-*Flashback*-

"You have to wear these," Tracy told Draco.

Tracy, Bru and Hermione dragged Draco to the mall. Actually Tracy and Hermione dragged Draco, Bru was threaten to come along.

"I will not wear that hideous thing," Draco told her scowling, "Do you know what it is?"

"Of course, these are trousers, leather in fact," Tracy told him.

"I will not wear them," Draco said crossing his arms.

"If I were you I would do what the Princess of Evil wants," Bru said laughing, "Or she'll strap you to a chair and put it on for you."

Tracy scowled at him.

"Just wear them Draco," Hermione said smirking.

Draco looked at her horrified. After a lot of pushing and protest Draco came out of the dressing room. Hermione turned to look at him and her eyes widened.

"Doesn't leave much to the imagination, does it," Bru said.

Tracy slapped him on the arm.

"Speechless Hermione?" Draco asked smirking, "I can barely walk in this thing. Can I change now?"

"We are definitely getting those," Tracy said.

"We are not. End of the conversation," Draco said walking back to the dressing room.

Much to Tracy's disappointment they didn't buy the leather trousers that day.

*_*_*_*_*_

"What is it Draco?" Ginny asked.

Draco gave her the package. Ginny took out a pair of leather trousers. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Are you going to wear this," Ginny asked.

"Of course not, I'm going to burn it," Draco said trying to get it back from her.

Ginny held the trouser away from him.

"You will not, a friend spent money on you, you shouldn't burn your gift," Ginny told him.

"Fine, I won't burn that thing, but I'll never wear it," Draco said putting the trousers back in its box. Draco opened letter to the next package.

Draco,

Happy Birthday. I saw you looking at this when we went shopping one day. I thought that maybe you wanted it, so I bought it for you. I hope that you like it.

Love, Hermione

Draco put the letter in his robes. He opened the package. It was a switchblade with an intricate design on the handle. When he opened it the design on the blade was that of a dragon. He examined it a little. Then he threw it towards Hermione. The switchblade was sticking out of the apple that she was holding. Hermione looked shocked, so was everybody that just saw what Draco just did.

"Draco! What do you think that you're doing?" Ginny asked.

Draco stared at Hermione daring her to do something.

-*Flashback*-

"How could you do this to me?" Draco asked Hermione.

"Draco, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen," Hermione told him.

She walked towards him.

"Stay away from me!" Draco yelled at her.

"Draco, please listen to me," Hermione said.

"Where you just playing with me?" Draco asked, "You knew that nothing could have ever happened between us, you knew!"

"Yes, I knew that nothing could happen between us. I'm sorry Draco, I didn't know that things would get so far," Hermione tried to explain.

"You said you cared for me. You said that you loved me, was that a lie like everything else?" Draco asked her.

"I did love you Draco, but not the way that you wanted," Hermione told him.

Draco pushed her to the wall and held her there.

"Why?" Draco asked, "Why did you do this to me?"

"I'm sorry Draco. I'm sorry that I hurt you," Hermione said, she was beginning to cry, "Are you going to hurt me?"

Draco let go of her and backed away. He looked at her horrified.

"I could never hurt you. I could never hurt you, Hermione," Draco said.

*_*_*_*_*_*_

Ron pulled Draco from his chair.

"What do you think that your doing Malfoy?" Ron asked angrily.

Hermione walked over to them. She put a hand on Ron shoulder.

"Ron, put Malfoy down. Leave him alone," Hermione told him calmly.

"But Hermione," Ron pleaded with her.

"Ron, just leave Malfoy," Hermione told him.

Ron released Draco. Ron tried to pull Hermione away from Draco, but Hermione pulled away from him. Hermione walked towards Draco and gave him the switchblade.

"I don't want that," Draco said.

Hermione took one of his hands and put the switchblade on his palm and closed his fingers around it. Hermione looked at him in the eye.

"I'm sorry," she told him.

She knew that the knife reminded him their summer. She was surprised that he still talks to her, after what she did to him. Draco's eyes seemed to pierce hers.

"I forgave you a long time ago," Draco told her so that only she could hear.

He then turned away and walked out of the Great Hall, forgetting about the other package. Hermione watched his retreating figure. Everybody else in the Great Hall wondered what just happened. How could Hermione act the way that she just did, everybody wondered.

Ginny on the other hand was wondering what was going on between Hermione and Draco. She never saw Draco act the way that he just did. Hermione's actions were also surprising. Ginny had to find out what happened between those two.

"Hermione, are you all right?" Ron asked.

"I'm fine Ron, I'm going to the library, I need to return a book," Hermione told him as if nothing happened.

"Do you want me to go with you to make sure the git won't hurt you again?" Ron asked.

"He didn't hurt me," Hermione simply told him, "He'd never hurt me."

Hermione left the confused Ron. Ron stared after her and then ran to catch up with her. After Ron left Ginny saw a letter on the floor. She picked it up and recognized it as the letter that came with the switchblade. She wanted to open it, but she wanted to respect Draco's privacy. But, she also wanted to know why Draco was acting so strangely. Maybe this letter will explain it she thought. Ginny opened the envelope and started to take out the letter.

A/N: Well that's all for chapter 9. I know that I said that there would be Quidditch and stargazing, but plans changed.

Next chapter: Will Ginny read the letter? What will happen if she does? We find out what was in the other package. Ginny and Draco have a talk.