Author's Note: Sorry about accepting only signed reviews, I tried to change the settings then forgot to save it….heh heh, it's all fixed now tho. Thank you for the reviews… they were a little mixed so now I'm not sure whether it's a good thing that Ginny starts out anti- Draco or a bad thing. I know it doesn't sound at all like Ginny and Draco getting together now and liking each other…but be patient…unless of course it starts getting boring! If I find out how to steer my story in that direction, love will blossom! =P Oh and another thing, with so many HP fanfics floating around, I'm starting to doubt the originality of my own fanfic…so just to succumb to peer pressure and be like everyone else, I don't own anything…not even the liver-flavored bean you'll read about which I had thought so ingenious of me to invent. ^_^

~ Marigold

Chapter 3: Sympathy

Late in the afternoon, Ginny was sitting at the kitchen table eating out of a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean. Draco sat across from her, eating the unwanted beans that Ginny was graciously giving him.

"You know what," Draco asked, carefully turning over a bean reflectively in his mouth. "When you're really hungry, to the point that you eat raw eggs, liver- flavored beans actually taste pretty good."

"And if you're not hungry, strawberry cheesecake beans taste delicious anyways," Ginny said cruelly, tauntingly savoring a delicate pink bean.

At that moment the doorbell rang, and Ginny jumped up to answer, curious to see who had come. It was Harry, pulling a cart of thick, heavy books.

"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed, giving him a friendly peck on the cheeks. "What are you doing here?"

"Checking to see how you're doing of course," Harry said, smiling. But the smile fell when he looked in to the kitchen and saw Draco.

"Aww, how sweet, it's Weasley's boyfriend," Draco sneered.

Harry jerked and raised his wand threateningly, but Ginny placed a restraining hand on Harry. "I can deal with my charge quite capably on my own, thank you," Ginny told Harry coolly. She favored Draco with a freezing glare. "And you had best learn that quickly, Malfoy."

Harry raised an eyebrow but otherwise made no response. If the situation amused him, he wisely did not show it. "Well," Harry said, breaking the momentary silence. "I have Malfoy's meal that the Ministry provides. It's to last him all the way 'til tomorrow around the same time when the Ministry will find a way to deliver your charge's next meal. As I understand, Ginny, you've provided for yourself." Ginny nodded in affirmation, accepting the box of food Harry handed her.

"And those books are for me?" Ginny inquired, nodding at the enormous stack of books on the cart behind Harry.

"Ah yes," Harry nodded. "Besides looking after your charge, the Ministry also expects you to do some research. We are trying to develop some new spells. You will be doing research on the Avada Kadavra curse and trying to develop a spell to track the curse back to the one who cast it."

Ginny narrowed her eyes. "Isn't it enough that I have to look after Draco, now I'm expected to read all these mundane manuscripts?"

Harry shrugged. "Ministry orders. And you will be expected to owl to the Ministry regularly for reports."

"I'm sorry," Ginny said icily. "But I really think this asking too much. And look at these books, some are written in Old English. I'll practically have to translate these books before I can fully understand what I'm reading."

"If it's any encouragement," Harry said, lips twitching suspiciously into a smile, "the Ministry realizes their demands and is willing to be pay you the adequate salary for your service."

Ginny scowled, a sour look on her face. "Are Ron and Hermione also expected to do research?"

Harry nodded, trying not to smile and failing. "I can't say they're happy." He chuckled. "Ron nearly exploded, but Hermione was relieved that she had something to do besides watching her charge. You have no idea what she and Ron are going through watching Crabbe and Goyle. I have to wonder myself how those two brutes managed to be death eaters. The Avada Kadavra curse is far too complicated for those simpletons."

Ginny had to laugh. "You almost make Draco sound like a lamb."

Harry grew serious. "Quite the contrary. The fact that Malfoy can think makes him all the more dangerous. And remember, it's his father that found a way to escape Azkaban. Many aurors are concerned that Draco will be the first person Lucius will try to find and free from the Ministry. If that's the case, you're in considerable danger. Just keep on your toes and you'll be alright."

Ginny smiled dryly. "Thanks, I'm sure I'll be able to sleep tonight."

"You'll do fine," Harry said reassuringly. "I just don't want you to grow lax and lazy."

Ginny laughed. "Point taken. Now go before you scare me witless."

"Take care then," Harry grinned and disapparated.

When Harry had gone, Ginny bent down to look at the books he had brought. Some were yellow and torn and others looked in excellent condition. A couple authors and wizards Ginny recognized from past education. Magic and How it Works by Nicholas Flammel, Secrets of the Wand by Ollivander, Avada Kadavra, The Curse that Can't be Undone by Alastor Moody, The Killing Curse by Carrolus Argucher.

"The Curse that Kills," a voice over Ginny's head read aloud. Startled Ginny whirled around and saw Draco standing behind her.

"Phoenixes!" Ginny gasped. "Don't scare me like that!"

Draco raised an amused brow. "Why such morbid books? Surely you didn't want to kill me that badly."

"I wouldn't bet on that," Ginny muttered. "Actually, it's research for the Ministry so you can sleep tonight and rest assured you'll wake up tomorrow quite alive and healthy, much to my bitter disappointment."

"Well, I'm not so sure," Draco replied. "Judging by my eating schedule, I've calculated that I'll die from starvation within the next day or so."

"So soon?" Ginny asked in mock surprise. "I'd better prolong your torture then. Here." Ginny handed Draco the box of food Harry had earlier brought.

Draco eagerly tore the box open and sighed with blissful content when he saw the beautiful sight of four chunks of stale bread the size of a fist and some shriveled up pieces of fruit. "Food," he cried and tore hungrily at a piece of bread.

*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

It was late at night, and Draco couldn't fall asleep, partly because his stomach continued to growl and partly because the two bed sheets that served as his blanket was hardly adequate protection from his cold, unheated bedroom.

Prowling around the house he discovered, through the light shining through cracks between the door and wall, that Ginny was still awake. Unable to resist the chance to peeve her, Draco reached out a hand and rapped the door.

Instead of a harsh reply as Draco was expecting, Ginny called out, "Come in, the door's unlocked."

Surprised and curious by this almost civilized response, Draco opened the door and peered into the bedroom. It was a pleasant site that greeted Draco. Ginny sat curled in her bed dressed in the muggle pajamas Hermione brought, which consisted of a simple spaghetti strap shirt which clung to her figure and comfortable-fitting flannels. Her red hair was no longer confined into a strict bun but hung past her shoulders in thick curls. Around her were scattered the various books Harry brought and in her hand was a steaming bowl of soup that Draco could smell from where he stood by the doorway. Draco took a moment to admire Ginny's profile before realizing that she was talking to him.

"You were just the person I was looking for," Ginny said. "Doubtless, as a Death Eater, you're more familiar with the Avada Kadavra curse than I am."

"It's possible," Draco said cautiously.

"Excellent," Ginny smiled. "Then perhaps you could explain to me what you know, because these books are incredibly confusing."

"Gladly," Draco answered. "but with a price of course."

Ginny raised an alarmed eyebrow. "What price?"

"You give me your bowl of soup," Draco said. "And I'll answer your questions with what I know."

Ginny smiled, looking relieved. "That's it?" She chuckled. "That's a small price for me to pay."

Draco eagerly snatched the bowl of soup, shoveling down the delicious creamy broth, flavored with vegetables, pits of pasta, and chunks of meat.

"The way you beg your food is positively shameful," Ginny commented superciliously.

Draco shrugged. "It was a bargain. Now what did you want to know?"

Ginny threw him the book she was reading. "This! What does it say? What does it mean?"

Draco flipped through the book, with genuine interest. "Fascinating," he murmured. "So it is Arethrach Slytherin that the Dark Wizards must thank for making their jobs so much simpler."

Ginny stared in confusion. "What do you mean? Who is Arethrach?"

"Arethrach?" Draco looked at Ginny in disbelief. "Arethrach Slytherin was the great- grandson of Salazar himself. And he was the one who discovered the Avada Kadvra curse." Draco looked at the book reverently. "The Avada Kadvra curse is really quite beautiful in its simple ingenuity. With the Killing Curse, Dark Wizards can kill so much faster and easier."

"Kill?" Ginny shuddered. "What a horrible thing. But I don't understand how the Avada Kadvra curse is such a great invention."

Draco looked at Ginny, shaking his head at her lack of knowledge. "Obviously you know almost nothing about Killing curses," Draco said.

"But I will once you explain everything," Ginny said, looking at Draco pointedly.

Draco peered into a thick book, yellow with age. "Why don't you first tell what you know about it?"

Ginny shrugged. "I can perform it."

Draco nodded. "Then you know how it works. That to perform the curse, you concentrate all your anger and hatred at someone or something and the concentrated power kills the person." Ginny nodded. "Do you know about the other killing curse?"

"No," Ginny said, her brows wrinkled in confusion. "I didn't know there was one."

"There's only one other curse besides Avada Kadvra that can kill people. It's simply called the Killing Curse because at the time, it was the only curse that could kill. The only other method wizards and witches used to kill was by hand. Since the Killing Curse is really complicated and requires a lot of power, very few wizards could use it. Basically, the Killing Curse takes raw magic, channels it through the wand, and blasts it at a person." Draco's eyes darkened, as if recalling a bad memory. "Only the most powerful wizards can use this curse, because all that raw power used is taken from the life source of the wizard performing it, and thus the curse is very draining."

"Who would use the Killing Curse if it could literally drain your life force away?" Ginny wondered, eyes wide with horrific fascination.

"Salazar Slytherin," Draco said. "And other wizards who were powerful enough. However, after the Avada Kadvra curse was invented, you can imagine how that curse was far more preferable to the Killing Curse. Avada Kadvra doesn't take anywhere as much energy as the Killing Curse. The only disadvantage is that Avada Kadvra can be blocked."

"Blocked?" Ginny exclaimed. "I thought no one ever survived Avada Kadvra except Harry."

"It's possible to protect yourself form Avada Kadvra by concentrating all your love for something, all your good memories into a barrier," Draco explained. "Potter survived because his mother died out of love for him. However, very rarely is it possible to stop the Avada Kadvra curse because it's so much easier to hate than love. The advantage of the Killing Curse is nothing can stop it, it's pure, raw magical energy. But there's also a significant disadvantage to the curse, besides that it drains you." Draco's face darkened and his lips was set in a tight line. Ginny looked at him curiously. "When you use the Killing Curse, all that power radiating, enhances your magical senses a thousand times over and you can literally feel the life of your victim draining away." Draco looked away from Ginny's piecing gaze. "It's the most horrible experience you can imagine."

Ginny stared at Draco wide-eyed. "You've performed the Killing curse?" she squeaked.

When Draco spoke, it was like he spoke from afar, from a different time. "My father showed me," Draco said softly. "Years ago, when I just entered Hogwarts. He performed the curse on my pet snake, but he drew the power for the curse from me, so I was the one who experienced the after effects." Draco shuddered.

Ginny listened, speechless with shock. Even now, years later, she could sense the pain and horror the experience had left imprinted on Draco. Her hand twitched and she unconsciously laid a comforting hand on Draco's shoulder.

Draco jerked at the touch and glared at Ginny's soft, sympathetic eyes with his own cold ones. "Don't pity me," he snapped. "I don't need your sympathy!" Angrily, Draco got up and stumbled out of the room.