So Far Gone

1. Someone like Me

Ginny Weasley sat in the ministry car, watching the rain make little droplets as it slid down the window. As it reached the curve of the edge of the window, the rain droplet gently slid out of view.

She sat in the middle of two men, both looking ridiculous next to this slight, pale teenager. They were dressed in simple jeans and a plain, nondescript shirt. They looked like a normal, everyday family. Except, that is, for the handcuffs on Ginny's wrists and the way they sat, blocking every exit from her. Ginny herself was dressed in dark jeans and a dark shirt.

Then, suddenly, the car stopped. The driver got out and opened the door for Dave, the man on Ginny's left. He got out and waited for Ginny too. Ginny got out of the ministry car and was subjected to the harsh light of the daytime sun. Her skin was pale, testimony to the fact that she hadn't been out much in the past months. Chris, the other man, was behind them, dragging Ginny's trunk. Ginny raised her head and looked at the clock on the station. 10:25. Probably one of the last to get on the train, but that didn't bother her now.

Dave guided her towards the plain brick wall that served as the portal between Platform 9 ¾ and the muggle world. They were through in an instant, and before she knew it, they were looking for an empty cabin. There were none, but the last cabin held only one boy, who was fast asleep.

Chris shrugged and put the trunk down in easy reach of the metal bar by the door, meant for people to hold while it was slowing. Dave sat Ginny down on the plush old seat and unbuckled himself from her. Then he clipped the handcuffs to the metal bar and smiled at her before closing the door softly behind him.

--

It was only about twenty minutes later when Ginny started fuming. She was trapped in a compartment, chained in a compartment, with Draco Malfoy. But that wasn't the real problem. It was the fact that they thought was dangerous, and that she couldn't be left unchained without a guardian. She crossed her legs and stared at Draco Malfoy's sleeping form with hatred.

It wasn't his fault, but it was still better than thinking about killing someone. She got the shock of her life when he raised his head and stared straight into her glittering eyes.

"What is the little Weasel doing, chained to a metal bar, in my compartment?" He drawled, raising an eyebrow as he saw the handcuffs.

"I wouldn't be here if I had a choice, you stupid, little vampire. I was chained here, by my 'protectors'." Ginny said, spitting out the word. "The Dream Team chained you here?" Now both his eyebrows went up.

"You're such a stupid, dumb fuck. Don't you know anything that happens?"

"I don't make it my business to learn about rodents." Draco said, smirking.

"Well, for your information, I did something." Ginny's face fell. "And they locked me up, and then they decided that the hospital wasn't the right place for me. I needed a 'learning' environment. I needed to be around people my own 'age'. So they sent me back here. But they still don't trust me, so they chained me up here."

Draco's face changed from his trademark smirk to a look of pure surprise. He honestly couldn't imagine this girl, being a threat to anyone. She was only just sixteen, at the most, and yet here she was, chained to the wall. Suddenly a thought occurred to him.

"What happens when we get to Hogwarts? I mean, do you just wait here, or does someone come and unchain you or what?" He was suddenly stumbling over his words.

Ginny smirked, a thing that looked out of place on her small, pointed face. "I guess there will be some guards or some shit. I don't really care." She rubbed the red line that appeared on her wrists and winced at the pain that shot up her arm.

Draco sighed and dug around in his bag before coming up with what he wanted. He pulled out the bolt cutters he had hid in his bag and watched as her pallid face lit up for the first time since the beginning of the holidays, he had to bet. He gently leaned over her and felt the blood shoot to his face. Why was he blushing now?

He was just leaning over her to cut the middle bolt when the train lurched to a stop. Draco was thrown onto Ginny's lap, and since she couldn't move, it was a very awkward situation indeed. All of Draco's wit and cunning left him, and he found that he was face-to-face with a very calm Ginny Weasley.

Then something even worse happened. Pavarti Patil and Lavender Brown walked in to the compartment. Pavarti winked shyly at Ginny before turning around and walking right back out. Lavender looked at them both slowly before giggling and flicking her hair as she, too left.

"God dammit!" Draco swore, under his breath. Being that he was still sitting on top of Ginny, on his knees, with his legs on either side of her, he was sure that this would get out as something horrible.

He got up and quickly snapped through the middle link before returning, a bit too fast, to his own seat. There he looked on as Ginny gently pressured the thick red line that was starting to bruise a purple colour. She then threw the other half of the cuffs onto the seat next to her and crossed her arms across her chest. They sat in silence for a while.

"Thank you, Draco." Ginny whispered her voice slightly ragged. Draco was jerked out of his thoughts and, without even pausing to think, replied with a soft, "You're welcome, Ginny."

With that, the two were silent again.

- -

"GINNY! I heard something and I'm not sure if its true. You know I needed to check on you or mum will go spare. How did you get out of the handcuffs? Why are you in here all alone with that ferrity git? Why didn't you come and find me?" Ron blabbered when he finally burst into the compartment.

Ginny sighed and rubbed her forehead before replying. When she did, it was a simple answer and Draco could tell Ron wasn't very happy with it.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking Ron. I didn't come find you because, until quite recently, I was handcuffed to that metal rail there. Draco has just helped me get out of them." Ginny nodded towards the form that was now slumped against the window. She would have said he was asleep, but she knew that he wasn't. The fact that he looked at her with cool approval after she finished sort of pointed that out as well.

Ron's face grew to a bright red colour, and Ginny noticed, with satisfaction, that he couldn't speak. It wasn't until Hermione came up to him, and nodding at Ginny, led him away down the corridor that Draco spoke.

"I didn't know he was such an idiot. What did he think we were doing in here, with students around for a million miles?"

Ginny slowly appraised Draco with new found vigour. This boy wasn't as stupid as she had originally thought. Her eyes slid down his face, and she found herself wondering something that should never be thought about an enemy. Then she surprised both herself and Draco by interrupting the silence that was surrounding them.

"Why are you wearing long sleeves?" Ginny's curiosity was peaked by the full length sleeves even though it was at least 30 degrees Celsius. Draco's eyes darkened and he yanked the end of the sleeve up to his shoulder. From this angle, Ginny could see the discoloured bruises that covered his arm. She felt her body shrink in response to this unknown pain, and the unknown enemy who did this.

Draco's eyes were studying Ginny severely. He watched as her beautiful hair shimmered in the light, that was coming through the blinds, and wondered how she could ever be unhappy with herself.

Without realising what she was doing, Ginny reached forward and placed her hand on top of the foremost bruise and showed him the bruises on her forearm as well. He felt him gasp and Ginny raised his arm to her lips and quickly placed a kiss on the bruise.

Ginny retreated to her corner and sighed while she watched the countryside as it zoomed past the window. She felt the light playing on her face but didn't draw back, but instead placed a hand on the warm glass.

"Where ever I go, there is always a prison..." She muttered, not realising that she was, in fact, speaking out loud.

Draco held up a book and tried to read it. It was no use; all he could concentrate on was her. He lowered the book and threw it angrily at the wall. The book fell to the floor and Ginny watched it with a funny smile on her face. Without warning, she burst into gales of laughter, unable to control herself.

"Imagine Hermione's face!" She whispered in between the receding giggles, and Draco found himself smiling for the first time in what seemed like six years. They chuckled together until they felt the train screech to a stop and heard several bumps along the train.

Ginny pulled herself up, off the floor and gathered her things, which were scattered around the compartment. She then sat down and watched as Draco collected his book and several other items. When he was finished, he stood and, draping his cloak on his arm, he bowed low. Ginny got up and curtsied before giggling again. Draco swept himself out the door and Ginny's mood jumped a few levels.

Perhaps this year wouldn't be so bad, she told herself as Dave and Chris reappeared. Perhaps someone else understands.

Authors Note: I hoped you liked it. I would just like to thank Liz, Winnie, Alice aka Calie and Kat for being the best BETAs in the whole world. The fic wouldn't be the same without you guys! Also, I'd like to add my disclaimer in here, I don't own anything related to HP, I just worship it. :)