Chapter Three:

She sat up and rubbed her head. Had she been drinking? She couldn't remember. No, but she hadn't touched liquor since she was fifteen. So she didn't understand why her head was pounding so terribly. She tensed even more when someone spoke, and it wasn't one of her roommates.

"You fell asleep on the stairs and somehow hit your head. I brought you back here."

She could feel the weight of the mattress sink as he sat down. It was still dark out, but she could faintly see his outline. She watched his pale hand raise and she backed away.

"Please, don't..."

Those words were whispered and cried out from both. He blinked at her for a moment before dropping his hand. She watched him slouch and felt the mattress lift again.

He'd brought me here...?

Is he different?

Yes.

Her mind had answered everything for her. It was hard to think. And he was still staring at her. She watched his run his hands through his hair and start to pace the room. Suddenly she started to move abruptly and twist.

"I can't..."

"What's wrong?" He stepped toward her, and his lips curved into a smile and he chuckled.

Ginny was cursing and throwing a tantrum because she was stuck in dark green sheets: twisted around her thighs and upper body she struggled to get out, only making it worse. Draco stepped into the now growing sunlight and touched her cheek, calming her immediately. Once she stopped freaking out she was able to untangle herself. He was sitting at the edge of the bed when she daringly sat down next to him.

"You don't have to stay here...you can leave." His voice was airy and held no malice, hate or bitterness. It was almost sad.

"I know I can. But I also know that you...need help."

"Why?"

"You helped me."

"That's not what I meant and you know it." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair again. He was becoming quite comfortable with that gesture.

"I know." She frowned and he twined his hands together on his lap.

"You say that but you don't really. You've never had reason to trust me...so why do you? I've done nothing to make me trustworthy."

"People change."

He stared at her like he'd never really seen her before. Crimson hair and pale features were alien to him, but still made his heart pound rather raptly. Why did a girl with less wealth then anyone make him feel so...strange?

"I don't." His voice was flat. Then he felt something, he stared down at his hand.

She had slid hers into his.

"You can."