Chapter Four:

"What happened?"

She was on her side, his arms slowly coiled around her, in a protective soothing sort of manner. He was whispering things to her, but she could barely make out his words.

"You-well...I don't exactly know. You went all rigid and started crying."

"Did I say anything?"

"Yeah...but it didn't make much sense."

"What'd I say?"

"You said...you said that you died."

"That's absurd, I'm right here!"

"I know...maybe-maybe we should go to Dumbledore."

"No!" She said rather too quickly for his liking. He knew that the Headmaster could help her, he had to help her.

"Ginny...please, be reasonable. We don't know what it is we're dealing with!"

"I do!" She cried, tearing away from him abruptly, causing the bed to shake slightly. She slithered away from him and barricaded herself in his bathroom and refused to come out.

He opened his eyes a bit later, obviously having fell asleep, he shifted slightly and bumped into something. His eyes widened as what little light in the room reached the slumbering figure to his right.

Gently he watched her sleep, pale skin bruised with red lines as her hand slides under her pillow again. Her red hair was curly at the ends, which raced down to her elbows, pink lips parted slightly and her breathing was shallow. His eyes drifted to her body; she wore a black silk nightgown...it suited her well. Sexy lingerie really did Ginny Weasley good. That alone, changed who she was. Man her brother would kill me if he saw this. He smirked as she stirred, and her hips grind into his. He didn't realize she was this close. The straps of her gown fall off her pale smooth shoulders and he couldn't help but love her; for everything she is and for the way she's risking it all by being with him.

"I'll protect you." He whispered and kisses her temple. So soft. Then he realizes that the light is from the fireplace. He mutters a spell and points his wand at the flames, they die down instantly and the room is in complete darkness. It's almost soothing. He settles back down and turns his back on his love, whom suddenly drapes her clean arm over his chest.

And he slept, a smile flickered on his lips as the night crawled on.

His fingers trace the lines of nothing as he arises that morning. She has already left. Frowning he pulls his trousers back on and grabs a black button down shirt, combs his hair and brushes his teeth and sets off for the Great Hall for breakfast.

He slides into the Slytherin table just as he always does. Parkinson is jabbering on his left, and he smirks tightly at her before ignoring her. His gray eyes scan the Hall, they fall on Potter and his mouth twitches and he sneers. Harry sees and narrows his eyes in return, as does Weasley. His eyes sweep over the Gryffindor table, but he only finds one Weasley, Ron. Where is she? He shakes his head and gets up. Beyond shuffling past them he heards Granger speak. He stops.

"-She's never be this upset before...she won't come out of our dorm. She only appeared there this morning. I wonder where she was all night?"

"-So do I..." Weasley said and Potter gave a nod.

This couldn't be very good, Draco knew. And so he set off toward Gryffindor Tower, how he'd get in he didn't know. But passing by the giant window gave him view to the lake and something else. Something horrible.

She was in the water, knee deep and still walking. It didn't take her long to become distant. He tore out of the oak doors and skidded on a patch of muddy grass. He hit the ground hard, and felt the earth tremble beneath hi as he got up and ran toward the lake.

"Ginny!" He called, his voice rising with panic. Once he had reached the edge of the lake, he saw her. She was stopped a ways out, and she turned her head slightly and smiled at him.

"This is the only way I can stop them..." Was her reply to his cry to save her. He stepped into the water, determined to save her at any cost. It was freezing.

"No...no we can beat them...together." He offered his hand, his fingers outstretched and pleading. Suddenly things turned dark and cold.

"We will not allow you to interfere."

It was Ginny who spoke, but it wasn't. The voice was horribly mean and sounded murderous and male.

"G-Ginny?" Full of fear.

"We will not let you interfere." It repeated again. Ginny's eyes glowed a light yellow, as the coldness died.

Ginny gasped and sunk to her knees in the water, Draco caught her before she could go under. He picked her up and held her close to his body for heat. He coughed and damn near dropped her, as he trudged through the halls. The person that stopped him, wasn't whom he expected at all.

"What's happened? I heard shouting outside. Mr. Malfoy-what are you doing with her?"

"Professor...she's in trouble. I-I've been taking care of her for a while now and I just don't know what to do anymore. This things keep thriving around in her brain, making her do things."

"I know." Professor Snape nodded lightly, and Draco almost detected a frown.

"You-what?"

"We all knew. The Headmaster said this might occur after Riddle her first year."

So, this is what all the secrecy was about? He shook his head, refusing to believe any of this. How could she be going through this and they knew?

"Mr. Malfoy!" He kept walking.

"Draco!" He ran, he didn't know where he just needed to save her...to get away from this hell.