A/N: The chapters get longer as the plot progresses (yes, there is a plot).
Chapter Five: Sympathy For The Enemy
Lazily, Ginny climbed out of her bed. She pried her sheets off of her legs before standing up. She had no classes that day, it being Sunday, but she was eager to get to Hogsmeade early. Being a seventh year Prefect earned her a few benefits — one being able to go to Hogsmeade without the rest of the school. Dumbledore had allowed her to go, as her brothers and Harry had promised her a tour around the twins' new joke shop.
She quickly pulled over a white, button-up shirt over her head, which she then covered with a thick, emerald sweater. The chilling, autumn air was reason to this heavy clothing, though it did not prevent her from sporting a black, pleaded skirt. She took a long look at herself in her full-length mirror before finally becoming satisfied. She grinned inwardly, thinking at how ironic it was that she was wearing Slytherin colors. No doubt Ron would protest, she thought lightly, before walking out through the portrait hall.
She decided to skip breakfast, feeling too anxious to see her brothers and Harry again to be hungry. She turned a corner, nearly colliding head-on with Professor Snape.
"Watch it!" he barked, and headed at top speed towards a large, stone gargoyle. Ginny huffed angrily, muttering words like "git" and "rude" as she continued her way out of the castle.
She entered the quiet village of Hogsmeade a lot earlier than she had planned to, so she was left with a few extra minutes on her hands. She crossed the street in a jog and entered the Three Broomsticks. In minutes, she was happily greeted by the pretty Madam Rosmerta, who continued to compliment her on what a fine lady she'd grown into all the way to her booth.
"And you hair!" Madam Rosmerta exclaimed, looking longingly at Ginny's ruby locks. "The way it shines!" she continued, her hand raking over her own hair.
Ginny grinned sheepishly, feeling her face redden from the woman's compliments.
"Thank you, Madam Rosmerta," said Ginny, and the woman tittered.
"Oh, Ginny, I've known you since you were 13 years old," said Madam Rosmerta, looking at the tomato-red Ginny lovingly. "What a woman you've grown to be!" She sighed dreamily. "Harry's a fool for looking over you."
Ginny choked on her butterbeer. She gaped at Madam Rosmerta, a few droplets still fresh on her chin.
"Madam Rosmerta!" Ginny gasped, staring at the woman disbelievingly. "How did you — "
"Know?" interrupted Rosmerta, scoffing as she took the seat across Ginny. "Oh, dear, everyone knows."
Ginny's mouth hung open. "H-How?!"
At this, Rosmerta grinned. "Oh, nothing stays secret in Hogwarts." Her expression softened and she took Ginny's hand in her's. "I'm sorry I've never been there to comfort you."
Ginny remained silent for a moment. True that it was silly of her to think the whole thing with Harry wouldn't remain secret for very long, but hearing that everyone knew about it still shocked her.
"Were you hurt badly?" Rosmerta pressed. She gave Ginny's hand a gentle squeeze and for a moment, Ginny felt annoyed. She imagined Madam Rosmerta to be quite the gossiper while she was in Hogwarts.
"It was a mutual thing," Ginny explained, not really wishing to get into detail. "Honestly, Madam Rosmerta, it was," she added at Rosmerta's disbelieving look. "We just didn't feel that way for each other, that's all."
"You did," said Rosmerta.
"I thought I did," admitted Ginny. She felt the old emotions rising up inside her heart again, and she turned to look out the window. Just as she had, the doors of the Three Broomsticks swung open, sending a cold chill to Ginny's neck, and in walked her brothers and Harry.
Ginny's back stiffened as the boys made their way over, shouting noisily over their heads at some familiar customers.
"All right, Rosmerta?" shouted Fred, though he was only five feet away from her.
Rosmerta immediately stood up from the booth, as all the boys piled in — Harry, Ron, and George at one side, with Fred scooting in with Ginny.
"Back so soon?" said Rosmerta gravely, as she pulled out a tab to take their orders.
"Fred was convinced you missed us," George explained, as Rosmerta's tiny quill floated around, taking their orders.
"Make mine water today, 'Merta," said Harry, and the tiny quill immediately zoomed over to write his order down.
"What brings you all here?" asked Rosmerta, shooting daggars at Harry, and looking consolingly at Ginny. Ginny prayed she'd stop.
"Promised Gin, here, a tour 'round the new shop," said Fred matter-of-factly.
"We should get going too," said Ginny, and popped up from her seat. She didn't want to risk Rosmerta blowing up on Harry.
"We haven't even gotten our drinks yet!" protested Ron, but Ginny had already begun to walk out of the shop. She stopped and waited outside the doors as Fred, Ron, George, and Harry came bustling out.
"You owe me for your butterbeer," said George jokingly, and made to tousle Ginny's hair. Ginny, having spent quite some time on her hair, quickly dodged out of the way.
"What was that all about?" Ron asked huffily. He must've really wanted his butterbeer.
"Nothing," Ginny lied, and cast a look around the street in hopes for a distraction. Her scanning eyes stopped, planting themselves on a staggering figure that was coming towards them. Her so-called distraction came in the form of a man, none other than Draco Malfoy, looking very sickly as he made his way towards them.
"Who's that?" she heard Fred ask, probably thinking they knew him as Draco did look like he was coming straight at them. Well, actually — they did know him.
Ginny turned to see the confused look of her brother, Ron, while the looking of recognition dawned on Harry's face.
"Malfoy?" thought Harry aloud, and suddenly Ginny felt her right shoulder get pushed. She whipped her head around just in time to hear Draco say "hey" rather whiningly. She could feel her defensive mode start up, as it was Draco's fault he had run into her. But Draco's behavior suddenly made her curious. He was swaying in his spot, blinking furiously at Ginny.
"Blaise?" she heard him mutter, and saw his face scrunch up as he squinted at her.
"Blaise?" Ginny echoed, brows furrowing at Draco's state. He did not look well at all.
"Bugger," said Draco, and Ginny gasped as he fell to the ground. Impulsively, she rushed to his side. She looked at him worriedly as he blinked at her, before he finally passed out. She heard the scuffle of feet rush towards her, though she did not remove her eyes from Draco's face. He looked deathly pale.
"What happened?" asked George, bending over to examine the lump that was Draco.
"Bloke doesn't look so good," Fred said, tilting his head from side to side.
"You're a quick one," Ron muttered under his breath.
"What's he doing here?" Harry said thoughtfully.
"And why does he look drugged?" Ginny added, looking even more thoughtful. Suddenly, George surprised them all as he gathered the man up in his arms.
"George, what're you doing?!" shouted Ron, looking thoroughly disgusted.
"I'm weightlifting, what does it look like I'm doing? People are beginning to stare," George explained, and he shifted Draco around in his arms. Ginny couldn't blame him — Draco looked about five inches taller than the twins. "We should get him to some mediwizard or something."
"Madam Pomphrey!" Ginny said suddenly. The Infirmary was the closest one from Hogsmeade.
"But Malfoy?" said Ron, his face contorted into a grimace. "Just leave him here."
"Ron, you git," said Fred, and he and George began to walk towards the Hogwarts castle. "Get over your silly little school-boy rivalry, alright? It's really very irritating."
"You don't know him," Ron huffed, but followed along anyway.
"Neither do you," quipped George.
"He's bad blood," Ron muttered, and almost immediately the twins had whirled around to glare at him.
"Stop being such a hypocrite. You're doing exactly what he's done to you," scolded Fred, and Ron recoiled. While the twins were normally very carefree and playful, they'll make you feel about five years old when they're mad. They definitely got that from their mother.
"He's right Ron," said Harry, and Ron suddenly looked scandalous.
"Et tu, Brute?" Ron uttered, quoting a man from a Muggle play they had watched one summer.
"I'm not saying you're not," said Harry, holding up his hands in surrender. "But right now, we don't really know, now do we? You know what he did for the Ministry last year," Harry added under his breath. At this, Ron reluctantly nodded, though he still looked murderous.
Ginny looked from Harry to Ron. It was a known fact that both men had played a critical part in the defeat of the Dark Lord, though they hardly ever mentioned it. And when they did, they were very vague about it. Ginny had read about what Draco had done for the Ministry, though each article were different in story. She suspected that no one really know why and how Draco had killed his own father.
She quickened her pace to catch up to the twins, and peared over George's shoulder to look at Draco. He was still the same pale color, though his black attire made him look almost dead. Ginny's stomach lurched and her eyes darted to his stomach. It rose up and down quickly. She saw his fingers twitch and suspected he was very cold. The poor man didn't even have a cloak on.
Wait — did Ginny just call Draco a "poor man"? She would've laughed at the irony, if she wasn't so concerned for him. Terrible as he was in school, Ginny had always been quick to feeling sympathy or worry for people.
Madam Pomphrey had dashed over as soon as they had entered the Infirmary. If she was by any means startled at seeing George carrying Draco, she hid it very well. She magicked him unto a bed, and quickly began checking his pulse.
"Good lord, what've you got in you?" Ginny heard her mutter, and the woman removed her hand from Draco's wrist to a spot just under his jawbone.
"What is it?" Ginny asked quietly, as the nurse had begun to feel Draco's forehead. He looked even paler against the whites of the sheets.
"I've no idea," Pomphrey admitted, and magicked a bunch of blankets to cover Draco's shivering body. "It's a potion, I know for sure." She sighed sharply. "If only Professor Snape was here..."
"Snape?" Ginny echoed, her brows furrowing. "But I just saw him earlier today!"
"Yes, as did I," nodded Pomphrey. "But he left, just minutes ago. Something urgent." The old woman turned her gaze back to Draco. "I'm afraid I can't treat him until I can be sure of what's in him."
"You're just going to leave him?" Ginny asked, worry clear on her face.
"Gin, I'm — er — sure he'll be okay," said Fred uncomfortably. Ginny worrying over someone was not new to any of them — but over a Malfoy? Ginny took a step closer to Draco's side, anxiously wringing her hands. Since her back was to her brothers, she could not see the concerned looks they were giving her — or the murderous look Harry was giving Draco.
"I should inform the Headmaster of this," announced Pomphrey and took her exit out the double doors. Ginny stared after her for a moment, before taking the seat by Draco's bed. At once, Ron began protesting.
"Ginny, what — "
"You guys should go," she told them, carefully avoiding Ron's glaring eyes. "I don't feel like going to Hogsmeade anymore today. Maybe next week."
"So... You want us to go?" asked George. He and Fred gave Ginny identical arched brows.
Ginny nodded.
"I'm not really in the mood anymore," she told them.
All four boys exchanged uncomfortable glances. Not one of them were very keen on leaving Ginny alone with Draco.
"Look," she said, finally turning to face them all, "I'll go up to my dorm as soon as Madam Pomphrey gets back. I just want to talk to her."
"About what?" inquired Ron, looking at her suspiciously.
"Something," she told him. "Honestly, Ron, I'm not 11. I can take care of myself."
"C'mon, ickle Ronniekins," teased George, grabbing hold of one of Ron's arms while Fred took hold of the other. "We have some treats for you to test out."
Still feeling extremely uncomfortable, Ron allowed himself to be dragged away by the twins. Harry, however, remained where he stood.
"You sure you'll be okay?" he said finally.
Ginny nodded, though she looked away. "I'll be fine," she said, in barely a whisper, but knew Harry heard. "You should go before they turn Ron into a canary."
Reluctantly, Harry walked towards the exit, shooting one more glance from Ginny to Draco before finally closing the doors behind him.
Ginny waited to hear their footsteps dying away before sighing exhaperatedly. "Honestly, they treat me like I'm some baby!" She shot up from her seat and began pacing around. "I'm 17 — I can bloody well take care of myself." She whirled around to glare at the immobile body that was Draco, but suddenly felt her expression soften. What was she doing, venting to Draco? She was being stupid. Dejectedly, she slumped back into her seat, and waited. Madam Pomphrey was sure taking her time.
Ginny turned her attention to the man beside her — because that's what he was now, a man. He looked just like she had seen him last, if not paler and with more dark circles around his eyes. His silvery hair was uncharacteristically thrown about, some strands flowing over his features. His expression was visibly softer now, more peaceful. She imagined he'd have quite the smile, upon seeing the curves of his pale lips. She'd never truly seen him smile, only a sneer or a mad grin. She wondered if he ever smiled at all — a real, honest smile. She wondered if he ever had anything to smile about.
She heard about what happened to his family. She could never imagine ever killing her own father — but then again, her father was not Lucius Malfoy. But the calm and sleeping man beside her hardly looked like a killer. She studied his features more and noticed tiny creases along his mouth. She doubted they were from smiling — lines like that came from laughing, and she had never heard Draco Malfoy laugh. At least not sincerely. But no, those lines were from frowns. Scowls even. Her heart gave a guilty pang as her mind wandered over to Draco's mother. She had read the papers. Just after Lucius' death, Narcissa had gone mad and was sent away to St. Mungo's. So Draco, barely 18 years old, was left alone. But then again, Draco was probably used to being alone. Her heart gave another ache at the thought of it. She could never imagine having to live alone. Having to be alone. Being left alone was her deepest and darkest fear. No one — not Ron, not Harry, not even Hermione — knew about it. She had not even realized that fear til she was 11; when she met Tom...
She twitched at the thought of him. She cast a pleading look around the room, searching anywhere for a bit of hope to help her stop thinking about him. Her eyes finally settled back on the man beside her. She watched him, laying there so peacefully, his breaths coming out in small gasps, and felt her eyes begin to droop. The last thing she remembered hearing was his even breathing, before finally nodding off to sleep.
Chapter Six; Draco wakes up and we finally see some D/G interaction, Professor Lupin's back, and now Ginny has a dream!
Chapter Five: Sympathy For The Enemy
Lazily, Ginny climbed out of her bed. She pried her sheets off of her legs before standing up. She had no classes that day, it being Sunday, but she was eager to get to Hogsmeade early. Being a seventh year Prefect earned her a few benefits — one being able to go to Hogsmeade without the rest of the school. Dumbledore had allowed her to go, as her brothers and Harry had promised her a tour around the twins' new joke shop.
She quickly pulled over a white, button-up shirt over her head, which she then covered with a thick, emerald sweater. The chilling, autumn air was reason to this heavy clothing, though it did not prevent her from sporting a black, pleaded skirt. She took a long look at herself in her full-length mirror before finally becoming satisfied. She grinned inwardly, thinking at how ironic it was that she was wearing Slytherin colors. No doubt Ron would protest, she thought lightly, before walking out through the portrait hall.
She decided to skip breakfast, feeling too anxious to see her brothers and Harry again to be hungry. She turned a corner, nearly colliding head-on with Professor Snape.
"Watch it!" he barked, and headed at top speed towards a large, stone gargoyle. Ginny huffed angrily, muttering words like "git" and "rude" as she continued her way out of the castle.
She entered the quiet village of Hogsmeade a lot earlier than she had planned to, so she was left with a few extra minutes on her hands. She crossed the street in a jog and entered the Three Broomsticks. In minutes, she was happily greeted by the pretty Madam Rosmerta, who continued to compliment her on what a fine lady she'd grown into all the way to her booth.
"And you hair!" Madam Rosmerta exclaimed, looking longingly at Ginny's ruby locks. "The way it shines!" she continued, her hand raking over her own hair.
Ginny grinned sheepishly, feeling her face redden from the woman's compliments.
"Thank you, Madam Rosmerta," said Ginny, and the woman tittered.
"Oh, Ginny, I've known you since you were 13 years old," said Madam Rosmerta, looking at the tomato-red Ginny lovingly. "What a woman you've grown to be!" She sighed dreamily. "Harry's a fool for looking over you."
Ginny choked on her butterbeer. She gaped at Madam Rosmerta, a few droplets still fresh on her chin.
"Madam Rosmerta!" Ginny gasped, staring at the woman disbelievingly. "How did you — "
"Know?" interrupted Rosmerta, scoffing as she took the seat across Ginny. "Oh, dear, everyone knows."
Ginny's mouth hung open. "H-How?!"
At this, Rosmerta grinned. "Oh, nothing stays secret in Hogwarts." Her expression softened and she took Ginny's hand in her's. "I'm sorry I've never been there to comfort you."
Ginny remained silent for a moment. True that it was silly of her to think the whole thing with Harry wouldn't remain secret for very long, but hearing that everyone knew about it still shocked her.
"Were you hurt badly?" Rosmerta pressed. She gave Ginny's hand a gentle squeeze and for a moment, Ginny felt annoyed. She imagined Madam Rosmerta to be quite the gossiper while she was in Hogwarts.
"It was a mutual thing," Ginny explained, not really wishing to get into detail. "Honestly, Madam Rosmerta, it was," she added at Rosmerta's disbelieving look. "We just didn't feel that way for each other, that's all."
"You did," said Rosmerta.
"I thought I did," admitted Ginny. She felt the old emotions rising up inside her heart again, and she turned to look out the window. Just as she had, the doors of the Three Broomsticks swung open, sending a cold chill to Ginny's neck, and in walked her brothers and Harry.
Ginny's back stiffened as the boys made their way over, shouting noisily over their heads at some familiar customers.
"All right, Rosmerta?" shouted Fred, though he was only five feet away from her.
Rosmerta immediately stood up from the booth, as all the boys piled in — Harry, Ron, and George at one side, with Fred scooting in with Ginny.
"Back so soon?" said Rosmerta gravely, as she pulled out a tab to take their orders.
"Fred was convinced you missed us," George explained, as Rosmerta's tiny quill floated around, taking their orders.
"Make mine water today, 'Merta," said Harry, and the tiny quill immediately zoomed over to write his order down.
"What brings you all here?" asked Rosmerta, shooting daggars at Harry, and looking consolingly at Ginny. Ginny prayed she'd stop.
"Promised Gin, here, a tour 'round the new shop," said Fred matter-of-factly.
"We should get going too," said Ginny, and popped up from her seat. She didn't want to risk Rosmerta blowing up on Harry.
"We haven't even gotten our drinks yet!" protested Ron, but Ginny had already begun to walk out of the shop. She stopped and waited outside the doors as Fred, Ron, George, and Harry came bustling out.
"You owe me for your butterbeer," said George jokingly, and made to tousle Ginny's hair. Ginny, having spent quite some time on her hair, quickly dodged out of the way.
"What was that all about?" Ron asked huffily. He must've really wanted his butterbeer.
"Nothing," Ginny lied, and cast a look around the street in hopes for a distraction. Her scanning eyes stopped, planting themselves on a staggering figure that was coming towards them. Her so-called distraction came in the form of a man, none other than Draco Malfoy, looking very sickly as he made his way towards them.
"Who's that?" she heard Fred ask, probably thinking they knew him as Draco did look like he was coming straight at them. Well, actually — they did know him.
Ginny turned to see the confused look of her brother, Ron, while the looking of recognition dawned on Harry's face.
"Malfoy?" thought Harry aloud, and suddenly Ginny felt her right shoulder get pushed. She whipped her head around just in time to hear Draco say "hey" rather whiningly. She could feel her defensive mode start up, as it was Draco's fault he had run into her. But Draco's behavior suddenly made her curious. He was swaying in his spot, blinking furiously at Ginny.
"Blaise?" she heard him mutter, and saw his face scrunch up as he squinted at her.
"Blaise?" Ginny echoed, brows furrowing at Draco's state. He did not look well at all.
"Bugger," said Draco, and Ginny gasped as he fell to the ground. Impulsively, she rushed to his side. She looked at him worriedly as he blinked at her, before he finally passed out. She heard the scuffle of feet rush towards her, though she did not remove her eyes from Draco's face. He looked deathly pale.
"What happened?" asked George, bending over to examine the lump that was Draco.
"Bloke doesn't look so good," Fred said, tilting his head from side to side.
"You're a quick one," Ron muttered under his breath.
"What's he doing here?" Harry said thoughtfully.
"And why does he look drugged?" Ginny added, looking even more thoughtful. Suddenly, George surprised them all as he gathered the man up in his arms.
"George, what're you doing?!" shouted Ron, looking thoroughly disgusted.
"I'm weightlifting, what does it look like I'm doing? People are beginning to stare," George explained, and he shifted Draco around in his arms. Ginny couldn't blame him — Draco looked about five inches taller than the twins. "We should get him to some mediwizard or something."
"Madam Pomphrey!" Ginny said suddenly. The Infirmary was the closest one from Hogsmeade.
"But Malfoy?" said Ron, his face contorted into a grimace. "Just leave him here."
"Ron, you git," said Fred, and he and George began to walk towards the Hogwarts castle. "Get over your silly little school-boy rivalry, alright? It's really very irritating."
"You don't know him," Ron huffed, but followed along anyway.
"Neither do you," quipped George.
"He's bad blood," Ron muttered, and almost immediately the twins had whirled around to glare at him.
"Stop being such a hypocrite. You're doing exactly what he's done to you," scolded Fred, and Ron recoiled. While the twins were normally very carefree and playful, they'll make you feel about five years old when they're mad. They definitely got that from their mother.
"He's right Ron," said Harry, and Ron suddenly looked scandalous.
"Et tu, Brute?" Ron uttered, quoting a man from a Muggle play they had watched one summer.
"I'm not saying you're not," said Harry, holding up his hands in surrender. "But right now, we don't really know, now do we? You know what he did for the Ministry last year," Harry added under his breath. At this, Ron reluctantly nodded, though he still looked murderous.
Ginny looked from Harry to Ron. It was a known fact that both men had played a critical part in the defeat of the Dark Lord, though they hardly ever mentioned it. And when they did, they were very vague about it. Ginny had read about what Draco had done for the Ministry, though each article were different in story. She suspected that no one really know why and how Draco had killed his own father.
She quickened her pace to catch up to the twins, and peared over George's shoulder to look at Draco. He was still the same pale color, though his black attire made him look almost dead. Ginny's stomach lurched and her eyes darted to his stomach. It rose up and down quickly. She saw his fingers twitch and suspected he was very cold. The poor man didn't even have a cloak on.
Wait — did Ginny just call Draco a "poor man"? She would've laughed at the irony, if she wasn't so concerned for him. Terrible as he was in school, Ginny had always been quick to feeling sympathy or worry for people.
Madam Pomphrey had dashed over as soon as they had entered the Infirmary. If she was by any means startled at seeing George carrying Draco, she hid it very well. She magicked him unto a bed, and quickly began checking his pulse.
"Good lord, what've you got in you?" Ginny heard her mutter, and the woman removed her hand from Draco's wrist to a spot just under his jawbone.
"What is it?" Ginny asked quietly, as the nurse had begun to feel Draco's forehead. He looked even paler against the whites of the sheets.
"I've no idea," Pomphrey admitted, and magicked a bunch of blankets to cover Draco's shivering body. "It's a potion, I know for sure." She sighed sharply. "If only Professor Snape was here..."
"Snape?" Ginny echoed, her brows furrowing. "But I just saw him earlier today!"
"Yes, as did I," nodded Pomphrey. "But he left, just minutes ago. Something urgent." The old woman turned her gaze back to Draco. "I'm afraid I can't treat him until I can be sure of what's in him."
"You're just going to leave him?" Ginny asked, worry clear on her face.
"Gin, I'm — er — sure he'll be okay," said Fred uncomfortably. Ginny worrying over someone was not new to any of them — but over a Malfoy? Ginny took a step closer to Draco's side, anxiously wringing her hands. Since her back was to her brothers, she could not see the concerned looks they were giving her — or the murderous look Harry was giving Draco.
"I should inform the Headmaster of this," announced Pomphrey and took her exit out the double doors. Ginny stared after her for a moment, before taking the seat by Draco's bed. At once, Ron began protesting.
"Ginny, what — "
"You guys should go," she told them, carefully avoiding Ron's glaring eyes. "I don't feel like going to Hogsmeade anymore today. Maybe next week."
"So... You want us to go?" asked George. He and Fred gave Ginny identical arched brows.
Ginny nodded.
"I'm not really in the mood anymore," she told them.
All four boys exchanged uncomfortable glances. Not one of them were very keen on leaving Ginny alone with Draco.
"Look," she said, finally turning to face them all, "I'll go up to my dorm as soon as Madam Pomphrey gets back. I just want to talk to her."
"About what?" inquired Ron, looking at her suspiciously.
"Something," she told him. "Honestly, Ron, I'm not 11. I can take care of myself."
"C'mon, ickle Ronniekins," teased George, grabbing hold of one of Ron's arms while Fred took hold of the other. "We have some treats for you to test out."
Still feeling extremely uncomfortable, Ron allowed himself to be dragged away by the twins. Harry, however, remained where he stood.
"You sure you'll be okay?" he said finally.
Ginny nodded, though she looked away. "I'll be fine," she said, in barely a whisper, but knew Harry heard. "You should go before they turn Ron into a canary."
Reluctantly, Harry walked towards the exit, shooting one more glance from Ginny to Draco before finally closing the doors behind him.
Ginny waited to hear their footsteps dying away before sighing exhaperatedly. "Honestly, they treat me like I'm some baby!" She shot up from her seat and began pacing around. "I'm 17 — I can bloody well take care of myself." She whirled around to glare at the immobile body that was Draco, but suddenly felt her expression soften. What was she doing, venting to Draco? She was being stupid. Dejectedly, she slumped back into her seat, and waited. Madam Pomphrey was sure taking her time.
Ginny turned her attention to the man beside her — because that's what he was now, a man. He looked just like she had seen him last, if not paler and with more dark circles around his eyes. His silvery hair was uncharacteristically thrown about, some strands flowing over his features. His expression was visibly softer now, more peaceful. She imagined he'd have quite the smile, upon seeing the curves of his pale lips. She'd never truly seen him smile, only a sneer or a mad grin. She wondered if he ever smiled at all — a real, honest smile. She wondered if he ever had anything to smile about.
She heard about what happened to his family. She could never imagine ever killing her own father — but then again, her father was not Lucius Malfoy. But the calm and sleeping man beside her hardly looked like a killer. She studied his features more and noticed tiny creases along his mouth. She doubted they were from smiling — lines like that came from laughing, and she had never heard Draco Malfoy laugh. At least not sincerely. But no, those lines were from frowns. Scowls even. Her heart gave a guilty pang as her mind wandered over to Draco's mother. She had read the papers. Just after Lucius' death, Narcissa had gone mad and was sent away to St. Mungo's. So Draco, barely 18 years old, was left alone. But then again, Draco was probably used to being alone. Her heart gave another ache at the thought of it. She could never imagine having to live alone. Having to be alone. Being left alone was her deepest and darkest fear. No one — not Ron, not Harry, not even Hermione — knew about it. She had not even realized that fear til she was 11; when she met Tom...
She twitched at the thought of him. She cast a pleading look around the room, searching anywhere for a bit of hope to help her stop thinking about him. Her eyes finally settled back on the man beside her. She watched him, laying there so peacefully, his breaths coming out in small gasps, and felt her eyes begin to droop. The last thing she remembered hearing was his even breathing, before finally nodding off to sleep.
Chapter Six; Draco wakes up and we finally see some D/G interaction, Professor Lupin's back, and now Ginny has a dream!