Ginny's Secret
Summary: Ginny Weasley is an average eighteen year old girl with a happy and hopeful future... until disaster strikes and she is left devastated. Will Ginny ever reveal her secret, or will she keep it hidden from the man she loves forever?
Disclaimer: Don't sue me- the character's are JKRowling's.
Authors Note: Wow, you people are so nice! I never expected such a lovely response and I just want to take the time to thank you all again, and hope the reviews keep coming! This is quite a long chapter with some drawn-out Ginny/Draco tension, which should keep you satisfied. Plus Ginny is coming to terms with what she heard, and what it entails. A few of you probably think this fic is going to be really depressing from hereon in, but I beg you to stick with it. You may be surprised.
Mo the Deatheater~ Here's some Draco action just for you.. :) And you'll have to keep reading to find out whether Ginny will die or not! Thanks for the review and please keep it up.
Littoxkigga~ Cheers for the review! I'm glad you'll keep reading even through the sad bits.
Siriusly Mione~ More Draco for you too- and you're going to love the next chapter, take my word for it! Thanks!
Dizzy2381~ thanks for the review. Oh, and just a question- what is Autumn in New York?
c-h-l-o-e-06~ Hehe, I never thought of the anorexic thing before, though I guess the symptoms were pretty similar. Yep, like most girls, Ginny has a chocolate passion!
Smokeline~ I hate checkups too and can totally relate to her. I love happily-ever-afters too... but I'm not telling you whether this one is or not cause I'm evil! Please keep reading and tell me what you think, and thanks.
Peachfreak~ Thank you for the review! I'm a sucker for Ginny/Draco too, though I also like Hermione/Draco. Basically I just love Draco! Here's this chapter, and hope you like it.
Everybody~ thanks very much and please review this one too, with Draco making a (very sexy) appearance!
Chapter 4- Life
Ginny Weasley ran blindly out of St Mungos, the words echoing over and over again: "Six months..."
Is that all she had left of her life? She didn't want to think about it- anything was better than facing it. She didn't stop running until her breath had left her and she was panting hoarsely, her pulse quickening. Tears formed in her eyes and she wiped them away, leaning against the wall and ignoring the bemused Muggles passing by, who thought was crazy.
How could this be happening to her? She had always been healthy... she wasn't fat, and though she didn't love exercise, she wasn't unfit, and she was so young! And yet her whole life was over- six months were hardly anything. Half a year! Half a year before she'd be dead. What would it be like to die? Ginny had never thought on it before, and being only eighteen, she never thought she'd have to, not for years yet anyway.
It was so unfair- there were murderers and rapists and truly evil people in this world and yet she was the one who was losing her life. There was so much she had wanted to do, so much she had wanted to see... numbness enveloped her and she slowly began walking up the street. Maybe they'd made a mistake? Maybe she wasn't going to die at all...
Where should she go? Her first thought was to see Hermione, but then the memory of Hermione's sweet smiling face, glowing with warmth as she placed a hand protectively across her large stomach, stopped her. She was the one going to die, not Hermione, so why should she ruin things for her? This would be her burden, and hers alone.
"What are you doing here, Weasley?" said Malfoy, crossing the street. Ginny gazed at him blearily, but it didn't register in her head. This was a Muggle street. What would Malfoy of all people be doing in it?
"Might ask you the same question," she snapped, and began storming off, not trusting herself to speak to him.
"I'll tell you if you tell me," he teased.
"Whatever," she spat.
"I'll take that as a yes, then. I'm getting a potion for my mother if you must know! Do you really think I come here out of choice? Urgh, Muggles disgust me. Now I've told you, you've got to tell me. Come on Ginny, share your part of the bargain." He grabbed her arm, his familiar sneer in place, but Ginny flinched, her hands going to her face as her vision was blinded with tears.
"Leave me alone, I don't want to talk to anyone!"
"What is it? Why are you crying?" His grip was so strong that Ginny couldn't pull away, so she gave up, her body racked with sobs. "I won't let go until you tell me!"
"Can't you see I don't want to talk to anyone?" Ginny mumbled, her brown eyes full of distress. Malfoy paused, noticing her expression. He hated seeing anyone cry, particularly women, as he regarded it a sign of weakness- but there was genuine grief and despair in Ginny's features. Her mouth hung open in a silent scream, her countenance so milky that her freckles contrasted sharply with the rest of her face. "Let me go right NOW!"
With deep reluctance, he freed her arm to avoid making a scene and she rushed off, her red hair whipping her face in the chilling wind. He watched her go, wondering what the hell it was that made such a strong, constrained and brave woman cry- she might have been shy and retiring at school, but from what he'd seen of her since, she was a lot different now. No matter what her own thoughts about herself might be, she had played a crucial role in the downfall of Lord Voldemort, and was now seen as something of a heroine. People often thought she was destined to marry Harry Potter, but Malfoy knew different- he saw that there was just no attraction anymore. Both of them had moved on to better things, though Draco still deeply despised what they stood for- after all, wasn't that the reason his father was a gibbering wreck, and no longer did he live in a beautiful house with everything he wished for?
Still, there was something about Ginny that drew him- and though he wouldn't admit it out loud, he was curious and maybe even... concerned... about her. Shuddering at the thought of being affectionate to such a blood-traitor, he still couldn't resist pondering on Ginny's plight.
He would find her tomorrow, and make her tell him.
Yes, Malfoy thought. Good plan.
***
Ginny lay in her bed that night, tossing and turning restlessly. She had no tears left to cry- they'd all fell hours ago as she'd paced her bedroom, still not wanting to believe it. She couldn't die! There were so many people who were at risk than her, and she'd hardly had a day's illness in her life! Besides, if she was dying, wouldn't she be bed-ridden all day or something?
Fear gripped her heart relentlessly and she sighed to herself as she wallowed in the depths of despair. Everything in her life was wrong- stuck in a pathetic office job, her family away, a tiny flat, not even anybody to talk to. That was the worst part; most of her family were in Egypt visiting Bill, or otherwise far too busy to speak to her. Ron and Hermione were just too happy for Ginny to even contemplate telling them, because she could just imagine the result. Ron would worry endlessly, fussing and calling her parents and ruining their holiday, whereas Hermione would be upset and she really didn't need that when she was pregnant.
Ginny had nobody.
Everybody was too wrapped up in their own perfect little worlds were death didn't exist and everybody was happy and healthy. Only one person around here had an inkling something was wrong- and that was Draco Malfoy. He had seen it in her eyes, for she hadn't been crying like a normal person would- he had known that she was in a state of hopeless desolation. But she couldn't tell him, she couldn't tell anybody!
If she told people, they'd treat her like some sick ill person and tiptoe round her like she was about to keel over at any minute. Besides, she wasn't going to cause anyone any more grief than necessary, and dying was bad enough. Hugging her knees to her chest, she promised herself she wouldn't tell a soul about what was going to happen.
It would be her own little secret.
And anyway, maybe the Healers had made a mistake- maybe they'd got her results mixed up with someone else's! A tiny ray of light glinted for a second, and she clung to it desperately. It was her only hope: she'd visit the doctor first thing in the morning, and find out that it was all some mix-up. Yes, that was it, they'd got the results wrong! It was ridiculous to even think that an eighteen year old was going to pop her clogs.
Even in her own head, Ginny began to seriously doubt the words, but she shrugged it off, refusing to give in and lose everything without a fight. She closed her eyes and eventually sleep took her, though her dreams were far from pleasant that night.
***
"Healer Tyler! Healer Tyler, wait a minute, please," Ginny said breathlessly, her feet pounding across St Mungo's polished floors. The receptionist tutted disapprovingly, and pointed to a sign hanging nearby: "NO RUNNING IN CORRIDORS".
Ginny had risen extra early that morning after waking up from nightmares that haunted her sleep, so she had Apparated to the hospital as soon as she had dressed, desperate to speak to the Healer. The hospital was almost empty this early, with only a couple of patients milling around and a few cleaners still polishing the portraits, the squeaks reverberating around the uneasy silence of the building.
"It's Miss Weasley, am I correct?" Healer Tylerman said, looking surprised. "I'm glad you've come; please follow me and I can explain things properly to you."
Once again Ginny was led into the strange examination room with the single bed and a lot of magical equipment where she pulled up a stool and sat opposite the Healer, whose eyes radiated sympathy from behind their spectacles.
"Is it true?" Ginny asked softly, speaking before the Healer got chance. "Are you sure there isn't some mistake? Because I've heard of that happening before and if there is any chance-"
"Virginia, my dear," Healer Tylerman said, losing the formality in his kind voice. "I wish I could say it was some silly error, but I would be lying. I'm sorry you found out that way too- I wish we could have sat down and discussed it properly." He sighed. "However, we can't go back and change it so there's no use in me glossing it over now. But that doesn't mean you should give up. We must never give up hoping for a miracle- because without hope, we might as well be dead."
Ginny nodded, a dead weight dropping to the bottom of her stomach. "So n-nothing can be done?" she mumbled.
"Well- there are numerous pain relievers, such as pills and medicines, though we don't have any substantial miracle cures. There is nothing to prolong the- ahh- life expectancy, I'm afraid. Though in fact I do have some pills in the store cupboard-"
"-Thank you for your time, Healer Tylerman," she said finally, getting to her feet and hiding her trembling hands behind her back. "I appreciate your offer, but I'd much rather live what I've got left of my life, instead of relying on drugs. Pills are useless- useless! They couldn't change what's happened." Without pausing, Ginny rushed out of the room, ignoring the doctor's protests, and marched straight out of the hospital, not looking back.
No matter what, they couldn't make her go there again. She was going to live for six more months, and she was going to make every moment count! Tears flooded her cheeks like tiny rivers, but she knew that this would be the last time she'd cry in public. If she was going to live every day like it was her last (like it could actually be), then she'd better start now.
The weather reflected the occasion- the heavens burst and the rain hammered down forging puddles on the pavement, as the lightning forked the sky and thunder boomed out magnificently. Ginny broke into a run, her feet splashing water up her legs and soaking her to the bone; Apparating into Diagon Alley, she began running the streets, unsure of where to go.
Other magical creatures began to stare at her, some in a concerned, motherly sort of way, whilst others glared as if she were a maniac. Meanwhile Ginny became more and more disorientated, the world spinning and the chill making her shiver uncontrollably.
"Watch where you're going!" someone yelled at her, only their voice seemed so very far away... all of a sudden she felt herself falling but she couldn't stop, her eyes becoming heavy....
"Weasley!" It was Malfoy, and she realised dimly he had caught her as she fell. Just as her head had been about to hit the pavement, he had captured her in his arms. "What the fuck is the matter with you?"
The fog in her brain slowly began to clear as she glanced around, but her chest exploded in agony, the white hot surge pulsating through her veins. Gritting her teeth, she struggled to get to her feet with his arms wrapped around her. "Nothing," she said vaguely. "Get off me Draco, I'm fine."
Malfoy paused. "You said my first name... not that it matters. Look, you're going to freeze if you stay out here. Come on." Wrapping his arm around her shoulders in support, he half carried, half walked, her up the street to the holiday firm where she worked, and rapped grimly on the door.
The reality of where she should be hit her like a ton of bricks. "Oh! I was supposed to be going to work anyway. You can leave me here..." Was that right? She really couldn't remember- everything seemed so blurry. And where the hell had Malfoy come from like that? It was as if he'd appeared out of thin air to catch her.
"What are you doing around here?" she muttered.
"Actually... er..." Malfoy blushed, which was not something Ginny was used to seeing. "I wanted to see you for a second. You never shared your part of the bargain." His voice was rough and hard as steel, and Ginny realised that just a second before he had been almost- caring.
"Excuse me." It was Hermione, who had opened the door and was staring at Malfoy apprehensively. "What are you doing here? And- Ginny! What have you done to her Malfoy? I'll kill you, I swear! You wait till Ron-"
"Relax Mudblood," Malfoy said harshly, "Your giddy little friend here was running out in the rain like a madwoman, and nearly fainted."
"Ginny my dear, oh you're ill aren't you? Come sit through here, we've got the fire on. You're wet to the bone! And if you honestly think I'm stupid enough to believe you had nothing to do with this Malfoy-"
"Oh shut your face Granger. And Ginny, you still haven't told me why you were at St Mungos, so you'd better deliver your side of the deal. After all, I told you. I'll be waiting for you- seven o` clock tonight, The Three Broomsticks."
With that he made his exit, his dark robes billowing out behind him like wings.
"Did he just- ask you out, Ginny?" Hermione gasped.
"Don't be ridiculous," she answered faintly, shivering in her sodden robes. Secretly her mind was whirring- what had just happened?
"I told you he's bad news," Hermione said firmly. "What a pathetic excuse to ask you out on! 'Tell me why you were at St Mungo's'... honestly! Maybe he should have a go at minding his own business! You know, just a few minutes before you arrived, he came here looking for you."
"What?!"
"He came here looking for you," Hermione repeated. "Wouldn't tell us why though, and now it's obvious. Ginny, remember what I said- don't go there. Just imagine how Ron would feel."
"Hermione, I haven't even decided whether I'm going yet-"
"-Hush, we need to get you all warm. I'll get you some nice hot coffee and warm you up in a jiffy, while you tell me all about what the Healers said. Is everything okay then?"
Ginny took a deep breath, and prepared to tell the biggest lie of her life.
Longest one yet! I know it probably did drag on a little bit, but I wanted all that bit cleared out of the way for the next chapter. I'm trying to keep Draco as mean as I can, but it's tough- I mean, even he isn't so cruel as to start calling Ginny when she just fainted! Next chapter- more on Draco's emotions and Ginny's deception of everyone- and find out whether Ginny accepts the date or not. Review pretty please!