Chapter 5

"Why aren't you talking?"

'Please not again.' Ginny thought to herself. She had already been stopped by more people than she would have liked. She turned her head around slowly and was surprised to see Draco behind her staring at her thoughtfully.

"Yes Malfoy? What do you want now?" She asked, exasperated. He didn't move. He stared at her blankly without removing his hand from Ginny's shoulder. She stood up when he didn't answer.

"What's wrong with you? I haven't heard you utter one word to, well, come to think of it, anyone. Why aren't you talking?" She asked. Her voice as no longer angry but somewhat concered.

'Why did my voice come out like that?' She thought, 'I, the muggle lover, poor, red-headed Ginny Weasley actually feeling concerned for the pureblood, rich, snobby Draco Malfoy? No, I'm just tired.'

He kept staring. Ginny suddenly felt quite uncomfortable.

"God you haven't even said anything and I'm already sick of this. What, is this for attention. Yeah, that must be it because never ever could anything happen to you that would make you stop talking. You have no idea what it feels like to be broken. Your little droolly bimbos might go for the distress act but I won't." She said before turning and walking toward the castle.

He grabbed her arm and she turned and looked into his eyes. They were tearing and hurt. He looked like he wanted to talk to her. Maybe she would understand.

'This was a mistake. I should have let her walk back. I don't know how much longer I can last before breaking down.' He thought.

He felt like a tear was going to give way and fall down his cheek. He tried to turn away just in time but Ginny saw it shine in the moonlight as it slipped down his face.

She sighed. "You better not just be a good actor Draco."

He turned. 'Did she just say my name?' He thought.

Ginny reached up and hugged him tightly. She really didn't know why she was doing this. She felt him tense up next to her when she did it. Being so close to him made her feel safe. She wanted him to know all her feelings.

He loosened up and put his arms around her and rested them on her back. He drew circles with his thumbs.

Ginny couldn't hold it anymore. She sobbed into his chest. He hugged her tighter. They stood there for at least five minutes while Ginny cried and shook uncontrollably.

Draco pulled away and motioned to the ground, obviously wanting to sit down. Ginny sat and waited while Draco sat down and got comfortable. She stared out onto the lake for awhile.

"What do I do? Am I supossed to talk. Well obiously but he isn't going to talk back. Maybe it's better that way. I just want someone to listen to me right now." She thought

She cleared her throat. "Um, is it okay if I can talk to you? I really only need someone to listen to me.

Draco nodded and there was a long silence.

"Well. See as you probably already know, I've had this crush on Harry Potter since my first year." She paused while he nodded.

"Well you see I got a job this summer, just to get new clothes you know? I thought that this year would be different. I thought that if I got a whole new body and features and clothes then he might finally come after me like I have come after him for the past six years." She wiped her eyes and took a breath before going on.

"I was so excited to get on that train. It's kind of stupid once I think about it." She chuckled, "But it was strange that they weren't waiting for us at the platform. I thought that it was just because we were late and that the train was about to leave. Why didn't I think about it? Well anyway, we got on and Ron and I checked every single compartment." She laughed silently, she didn't know why.

She looked at Draco, who seemed very interest in her story. She went on.

"We finally came to the last compartment and opened the door and there was Harry right on top of the bitch. I should have seen it before. They were always really close. Always finding some excuse to touch each other. I had to run for it. Even when I was in the compartment I could still hear Harry's voice from the hall. He got what he deserved though. I'm glad Ron beat the shit out of him." She sat for a few minutes, prodding the ground with a stick.

"That's where you came in I think. You saw me in that compartment crying. When we got to Hogwarts, I thought I would be okay. This castle was big enough that I thought I could get away from Harry. I left shortly after Dumbledore's speech and went straight to my dormitory. I let the tears fall and fell asleep shortly after. Well guess who woke me up?" She looked at Draco. He was alarmed.

'Am I supposed to answer?' He thought.

"I'll tell you who!" Ginny said, "Harry! He decides that after all he did to me today that he can just march in and kiss me? It was like... like he was crazy. It wasn't like him. All I could see in his eyes were lust. I had to leave. I kicked him and ran. Just my luck, I ran out right when the students were going to there common rooms. As you know, I ran into Hermione. Well you already know what the bitch said so, no need to go there. I ran into Ron, to whom I told what Harry did and hopefully who is up there kicking his ass. Which brings me here, talking to you." She ended her story and took a big breath.

'I want to talk to her so bad. I want to comfort her." He thought, "Maybe she doesn't really count under my promise. Sure, she hasn't been hurt as much as I have but she's hurt nonetheless. Maybe I could just talk to her.'

Draco opened his mouth but no words came out. His vocal chords haven't been used in so long it would take some getting used to. He swallowed saliva, trying to wet his throat.

"Ginny." He whispered. She turned.

"Wha-What?" She stammered.

"I understand how... you feel." Draco replied. Ginny's eyes lit up and she threw here arms around him. He fell backward and she was lying on top of him.

"Um... sorry about that Draco." Ginny said while getting up and dusting off her ropes. She put out her hand and Draco grabbed it and got up. They walked toward the castle slowly without talking.

When the got inside Draco turned to her.

"I really should be going. We both have class in the morning. I'll see you tomorrow. You're the only one I'm talking to Ginny so please, talk to me as much as possible, about anything." He said.

Hey pushed back her hair and kissed her cheek gently.

"Bye." Ginny whispered. She was at a lost for words.

She watched him walk down the corridor and disappear around the corner. She got ahold of herself and walked up the staircase. She lifter a hand to her cheek as she walked. She said the password and walked into the common room. The once blazing fire was now just smoldering embers and no one was sitting in the arm chairs.

She walked up the spiral staircase to the seventh year girl's dormitory and changed into her pajamas. She pulled back the covers and fell asleep before she hit the pillow.

He dreams were filled with a certain blonde haired Slytherin.

Thanks for the reviews!