Disclaimer: Still not mine! -pouts-
A/N: School is going okay if anyone cares. I have been doing pretty well with writing this fic considering all the schoolwork I get. Well, here is chapter 6. It's the longest one yet. Enjoy!Thanks to:
little-rowie- Thanks! I know chapter 5 was short. I had some really bad writers block then. Hopefully I'm over that!
Loah- Well, of course I'm going to thank you. You're my beta! Not to mention, my cousin… in some twisted way… Anyways, thanks for helping me out! I promise to try to update faster and write more for my other story. It's on my other computer though. Good job on your story on FictionPress also!
I give it all to Mr. Black- Thanks for your review! You can thank my friend Aly for suggesting I alternate point of views. I hope you like chapter 6!
~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 6: SuspicionsIt was late and students were starting to return from Hogsmead. Luckily, there weren't any students to notice Draco bringing Ginny up to the Hospital Wing. If anyone had seen him it would be all over the school by breakfast tomorrow.
There was no one in the Hospital Wing when he entered, but Madame Pompfrey must have sensed him there because she bustled in just as he was laying Ginny on one of the vacant beds. He looked up and saw that Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape soon followed Madame Pompfrey.
"Oh, poor dear. Foolish kids these days…" Madame Pompfrey was rambling on while examining Ginny, but Draco wasn't paying much attention to her. Instead, he was looking between the Headmaster and his Head of House.
"Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore's voice was strong, yet soothing. "Could you please tell us about happened to Miss Weasley?"
Draco glanced over at the sleeping Ginny and remembered what had happened earlier. She looked so peaceful, like an angel. He wished he were still holding her in his arms. If he told them that he was following her, then he would surely have to admit his feelings for her. He knew that if his father found out about him and what he felt for Ginny he would be punished most severely.
"Well, I heard a commotion on one of the side streets and when I had found her the attacker had fled," he answered, trying to show no emotions.
"Is that so?" His eyes twinkled like the brightest star against the midnight sky. "If that is all Mr. Malfoy you may leave now. Miss Weasley needs her rest. You may visit her tomorrow when she wakes." Draco looked into Dumbledore's eyes and felt as if the Headmaster were gazing into the depths of his very soul. The twinkle still in Dumbledore's eyes, Draco nodded and exited, heading for his prefect dormitory.
Once up in his room, he slumped down onto his bed, sighing. The images of today flashed through his head replaying all the events over and over again. He could still feel her body embraced in his. He sighed once more, turned over to his side and instantly fell asleep.
**
Breakfast the next morning went like it would have any other day. There was one slight detail, however, that wasn't as it normally would be (beside the fact that Ginny wasn't sitting at the Gryffindor table). He then realized what it was. Blaise was not hitting on him for once. In fact, Blaise wasn't talking at all! Instead, his gaze was upon the Gryffindor table as Draco's normally would be.
"Blaise?" Draco asked, uncertain of who or what the boy was looking at.
"Hmm…?" Blaise replied, obviously still in a dream state of mind.
"Blaise?" Draco repeated, trying to get the full attention of his best friend. There was a sudden glint in Blaise's eyes as his gaze diverted to the doors. Draco noticed this and turned to see who he was looking at now. It was the Weasel. A smirk spread across Draco's face. "And I thought you only liked blondes…"
Blaise shot him a nasty look and rolled his eyes quite femininely. "I said I preferred blondes. Wait… is there something you're trying to tell me?"
"Sorry, but it's not what you're thinking. What I was going to say was that I noticed you starring at Weasel over there. Have a thing for redheads now?" Blaise simply nodded, his gaze back on Ron. "Well, I'm sorry to break your heart. Not only is he straight, but also, from what I've heard, he's also taken."
"Do you always have to ruin my day?" Blaise sighed and stared back at the Gryffindors. "Why is it that all the cute guys are always straight?"
Draco thought for a moment then grinned. "Why don't you go after Potter?"
"Is he gay?" he asked hopefully.
"He's been turned down by almost every girl in this school; he might as well be."
"With my luck he won't be."
"Stop being so pessimistic."
"Fine, I suppose this could be a little fun even if he isn't," Blaise finally agreed, a smirk spreading across his face.
Draco pushed up from the table. "Well, since the Dream Team is down here I'm going to take this chance to go up to the Hospital Wing." With that, Draco left the Great Hall.
In the Hospital Wing Draco saw Elizabeth sitting at Ginny's bedside. He was about to leave when Elizabeth's voice stopped him.
"She's been asking for you." Her voice was low, but he could still hear the sincerity in it. He slowly made his way next to her, observing Ginny's form as she lay there sleeping. "She knows it was you who helped her." He could feel her eyes on him and his eyes met hers. He could almost see all the questions swarming inside her head.
Does she suspect me? Well, who wouldn't? I just saved her best friend and the youngest member of the Weasley family. Anyone in his or her right mind would suspect something. I'll just play like it was no big deal.
His eyes became cold and face emotionless. "Well now, I couldn't let Pansy have all the fun, could I?"
"You're lying…" Her eyes and voice became hard and full of hate as she glared right back at him. "Why would you save her if you were just going to hurt her again? Why not just leave her?"
Draco sighed and, once again, turned to leave. For once, he did not have a witty retort. Actually, he did, but he decided to just hold his tongue.
"I believe there is much more to you, Malfoy, I'm sure we'll know soon enough." The softness had returned in her voice but he could still feel the cold stare on the back of his neck as he exited.
**
Ginny awoke a few hours after Draco had visited her. She could hear voices whispering in the background. When she opened her eyes she saw Elizabeth and Harry at the foot of her bed.
"I think he's hiding something also… Oh, hey Ginny. Are you feeling better?" Harry had looked over and noticed she was awake.
"Yeah, I'm doing fine, Harry." She glanced at Elizabeth who had now noticed her also. "Liz, have you been here all day?"
"Of course! You're my best friend. I worry about you. I just want to make sure you're all right. I'm sure you would do the same thing for me anyways."
"You know me too well." Ginny smiled warmly at the both of them. "Thanks, you both have always been there for me since we first met."
"Hermione and Ron were here earlier, but they left just before you woke up. Ron said he, uh… needed some help with his Transfiguration homework," Harry said with a grin.
"I'm sure… Typical Ron." Ginny knew her brother liked Hermione and she knew Hermione felt the same. They were just too blind to see it for themselves, so Ginny gave them a little push.
"You had another visitor also," Elizabeth added. "Malfoy seemed to be worried about you too…"
Ginny looked around the brightly lit room and spotted Pansy lying in a bed on the opposite side of the room, still unconscious. "Are you sure that he wasn't here just to check up on Pansy?"
"I'm sure, Ginny. In fact, I don't think he even noticed her here," Elizabeth replied.
Just then, Madame Pompfrey bustled in. " Ah, Miss Weasley, I see that you are finally awake. How are you feeling?"
"Well, my chest is still a little sore but other then that I'm fine."
"Here," she handed Ginny a pale greenish-grey potion, "drink this. It will help heal all your bruises and will prevent others from forming." Ginny looked down at the horrid looking potion and felt as if she were going to gag. It was now beginning to bubble and was starting to produce a yellowish gas.
Ginny raised it a bit to drink but hesitated. The smell was appalling and very strong. She looked up at her friends for support, but Elizabeth appeared as if she were going to pass out from the smell. She turned to Harry, but all he could do was give her a look of sympathy as he mouthed 'I'm sorry'. Oh, yeah, they are really there for me now, she thought sarcastically. Ginny took in a deep breath and again raised it to drink.
Once the thick fluid touched her tongue it gave her a sensation like no other. There was a warmth spreading throughout her body as the potion glided down her throat and into the pit of her stomach. She was a kid getting warmed up by the fireplace after a day of playing in the winter's first frost. The taste was also one she did not expect. It was of freshly grown strawberries. Ginny loved strawberries. She took in the last mouthful and handed the glass back to Madame Pompfrey.
"Well then, Miss Weasley, you are free to leave when you wish. Just be sure to come back in a week so I can check up on your condition."
Ginny nodded and swung her legs over the bed, slipping on her shoes. She stood and was about to leave when she saw Pansy still sleeping soundly, looking completely innocent. Ginny laughed at this thought. HA! Pansy will never be innocent! Although, Ginny couldn't help, but feel a little sorry for the girl. "Madame Pompfrey, will she be alright?" she asked, motioning toward the girl.
Madame Pompfrey let out a sigh and her voice became worried. "I'm afraid we won't know until she wakes up. There is a big possibility that she will have amnesia, but we will not know how severe until then. The spell that was used on her was a very powerful one and very advanced for anyone at this school."
**
Once back in Gryffindor Tower, Ginny headed straight to her room. She was sitting on her bed, her mind occupied with thought of Malfoy, when there was a knock on the door. "Come in," Ginny called out. Elizabeth entered the room joining Ginny on the bed. There was a silence as Elizabeth searched Ginny's face for any signs of what she was felling or thinking.
"What's wrong?" Elizabeth asked, giving up on trying to figure it out on her own.
"Everything," Ginny responded. There was a short silence again, and then Ginny continued. "Why would Malfoy help me, especially from Pansy? He's shown nothing but hate for me since my first year."
I believe that's all an act he puts on to keep up his reputation as a Malfoy. There's something he doesn't want people to know about him, at least not yet…" This wasn't really directed toward Ginny. It was more of Elizabeth thinking out loud.
Ginny really didn't expect an answer and was shocked when she got one. "Why do you say that, Liz?"
Elizabeth looked up and met Ginny's soft, golden brown eyes. "I don't know. The way he acted earlier in the Hospital Wing was not the normal Malfoy. When he came to visit you he just seemed so sincere. He seemed really concerned about you. When I confronted him he first tried to deny it, but as I pushed further he wouldn't answer at all. I think, deep down, he really cares for you, Gin."
It took a few seconds for Ginny to grasp the full concept of Elizabeth's words. She was about to respond on how ridiculous that sounded when there was a sudden tapping on the window. Elizabeth got up, and as soon as she threw the window open a beautiful eagle owl soared into the room. It landed on Ginny's lap, holding its leg out for her to remove the note attached. As soon as it was off, the owl soared back out the window just as gracefully as it had entered.
Ginny unrolled the note. Her eyes grew wide and her expression was one of surprised mixed with confusion. She stared up into Elizabeth's puzzled face, shocked.
"Well, who's it from?" Elizabeth asked with slight impatience in her voice.
"It's from Draco…"
~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Okies, there's chapter 6! I hope you liked it. My friend hates me now because of the ending. I know… I'm evil… and I won't update until I have enough reviews to satisfy me. Hmm… how about 18? That's my favourite number, so when I have at least 18 reviews I'll post the next chapter. I have most of chapter 7 written out. Come on! Just 8 reviews or more! It's not that hard.
