Chapter 16

"Miss Weasley, I'd like to see you in my office." Ginny turned around to see Professor Dumbledore standing behind her. Ginny nodded silently and gathered up her books. The headmaster started out of the Library and Ginny followed close behind. It had been a week since she had returned from The Burrow and Draco was still not in school. Ginny was starting to get really worried. "Lemon Drops." Ginny was jolted out of her thoughts as the gargoyle moved aside and she started up the stairs after Professor Dumbledore.

"Did I do something wrong Professor?" she asked when they had entered his office.

"No, of course not Miss Weasley. Please sit down." Professor Dumbledore motioned to a chair and Ginny sat down obediently. "I wanted to inform you of the status of a certain student." Ginny's heart was beating hard against her chest; was he talking about Draco?

"I'm sorry, sir?" she said in a shaky voice.

"Yes, I am talking about Draco. I can't tell you very much, as of yet, but I do have a few questions for you." Ginny nodded slowly, not trusting herself to speak. "Did you talk with Mr. Malfoy during the break?"

"Y-yes."

"Did he say anything to you involving his father?"

"Y-yes." Ginny swallowed hard, remembering the multiple bruises Draco had received from his father.

"I'm going to have to ask you to tell me what he said." Ginny nodded and took a deep breath; she didn't want to imagine where this was all going.

"He said his dad got angry with him when he didn't want to become a Death Eater, but that his Mum's a great healer and Lucius didn't catch her this time. He had bruises on his neck and arms." Ginny sighed and wiped away a tear; she had that feeling again. Like a huge block of ice had been dropped into her stomach.

"Did he say anything else to you?" Professor Dumbledore studied her with a serious face as she thought about the day in Diagon Alley, desperately trying to remember if there was anything else.

"No, but a night or so later ... Lucius was hurting him again. He sent me an owl saying that he was okay, but he didn't say anything about Lucius. I didn't owl him back because I figured I'd just talk to him on the train ... but then he wasn't there." Ginny sniffed back some tears as Dumbledore came out from behind his desk. He sat down in the chair next to her and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"I know how hard this must have been for you, Ginny. And I thank you for your help. I will be able to tell you more in a few days, hopefully. Until then, I ask you to try and go about your life as normal." Ginny nodded as more tears started to well up in her eyes. How in the sodding hell was she going to go about her life as normal when Lucius was off torturing Draco somewhere?

"Professor, can I ask you a question?"

"You already did, but you may ask another." Ginny looked up and met Dumbledore's eyes; he was clearly worried about her.

"How did you know about Draco and I?"

"I have my ways, Miss Weasley. I will have some hot chocolate sent up to your Dormitory, where I would ask you to return." Ginny nodded and stood up. Dumbledore stood as well and led her to the door; he opened it and turned to her. "Please try not to worry too much, Miss Weasley." Ginny nodded wordlessly and stepped out of the Headmaster's office.

Gryffindor Girls' Dormitory

"I don't know where he is ... but I've got that feeling again." Ginny was sitting on her bed with Zi and Hermione; Charlie's head was protruding from the green flames in the fireplace. Hermione and Zi enveloped Ginny in a three-person hug as tears started to course down her cheeks again. "I'm not crying because I'm weak ... I'm crying because there's nothing I can do to help him."

"Shh, I know." Hermione rubbed Ginny's back reassuringly.

"Don't cry, little one, everything's going to be fine. If something had happened to him, Dumbledore would know and would have told you," Charlie's head said.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. I'm sorry, but I've got to go. Hermione, Zi, I'm trusting the both of you to take care of her," he said in a serious tone. Hermione and Zi, equally serious, nodded. "Owl me if you need anything else, little one."

"Okay, Charlie." Ginny sniffed and wiped her tear-stained cheeks.

"I love you."

"Love you." Ginny sighed as Charlie's head disappeared from the fireplace and the green flames faded away.

McGonagall's Classroom

It had been two days since Ginny's meeting with Dumbledore and she had still not found out anything more. She was sitting in Transfiguration, thinking about the meeting. She had finished her assignment and was waiting for class to end while McGonagall helped the other students. She looked at the clock; she still had another half hour to go. She sighed and tried to keep her mind off Draco; it was only depressing her.

"No, Zi you're not using the correct incantation!" McGonagall sighed exasperatedly and Zi stared at her confused. Zi was a very good student, but Transfiguration was her worst subject. Ginny chuckled and shook her head; Cho would be disgusted, but that was just what Zi wanted.

A few minutes later, McGonagall had moved on to helping a scared Hufflepuff that Ginny didn't recognize. Snape strode into the classroom and straight up to Professor McGonagall. He tapped her on the shoulder and she turned around, surprised. He leaned over and said something in a hushed tone. McGonagall looked at him skeptical for a moment, before walking over to Ginny.

"Miss Weasley, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office immediately. Professor Snape will escort you there, I trust you have completed the assignment?" Ginny nodded and pointed to the pincushion on her desk, which she had transfigured from a rock, along with an essay. "Good, thank you." McGonagall turned to Snape as Ginny gathered up her books. "Severus, if you would please give this to the Headmaster." McGonagall handed Professor Snape a folded piece of parchment. He nodded and turned on his heel, as Ginny followed.

Professor Dumbledore's Office

"Ahh, Miss Weasley. Thank you very much, Severus." Professor Snape handed Dumbledore the piece of parchment before exiting his office. Dumbledore tucked it inside his robes and motioned for Ginny to sit down. "As you have probably already guessed, I have asked you here to discuss Mr. Malfoy." Ginny nodded silently, she felt like she had been doing that a lot around him. "You will be happy to hear that he has returned to school, but not in the best condition. His father became angry with him and Narcissa for some reason, which we have yet to determine. Narcissa was able to apparate out, but she could do nothing to help Draco." Ginny stared at her Headmaster in horror.

"How ... is he ... alive?"

"Yes, he is alive, Miss Weasley. He was only just found yesterday, at the Malfoy Mansion. Very close to death, but they were able to save him. As to the issue of Lucius, he does not know that Draco is here and I would advise that you did not tell anyone." Ginny's brow knotted as she thought about everything. "Hmm ... I suppose since you have already informed Misses Granger and Chang of the circumstances, you can tell them that he is fine. But I would not disclose any information as to his whereabouts." Ginny nodded.

"Professor? Can I see him?"

"Are you sure you want to Miss Weasley? He is not in very good condition, however, I will not stop you from seeing him."

"I don't care what the bloody hell he looks like, I want to see him!" Ginny sunk back into her chair and covered her mouth in horror. Dumbledore chuckled, his eyes twinkling.

"You may see him, of course, Miss Weasley. I shall escort you there myself, I have to see Madame Pomfrey." Dumbledore got up and he and Ginny started for the Hospital Wing. "I hope this has not caused you too much emotional distress." Ginny almost snorted at the comment, but was too wrapped up her desire to see Draco to do so.

"Professor, why isn't he at St. Mungo's?"

"Because Hogwarts is the safest place in the wizarding world, other than Gringots and he can't very well go there. His father will be looking for him, no doubt, when he does find out that Draco is alive. That is the reason we have to keep this a secret." Ginny nodded and sighed as they reached the doors of the Hospital Wing. Dumbledore opened them, but didn't stop; he walked through the rows of beds to Madame Pomfrey's office. Ginny, following closely behind, noticed that there was no one in any of the beds. Dumbledore said a few hushed words to Madame Pomfrey and handed her the paper that Snape had given him. Madame Pomfrey nodded and turned to Ginny.

"You can follow me dear." She walked to the middle cabinet behind her desk, which was supposed to contain potions. But she opened the door to reveal a hidden part of the Hospital Wing. Ginny stepped cautiously through it. There were only 2 beds in it, along with 2 chairs and a desk tucked away in the corner.

Laying on the bed to her right was the ragged figure of none other than Draco Malfoy.

A/N: EEP, a cliffie! Mwahaha! I'll update soon so don't murder me! I would update again tonight, but my Mum's making me go to bed. So how did you like it? It was a little bit random, but I hope I didn't confuse anyone. Charlie made a semi-appearance, which makes me happy. More of what happened to Draco in the next chapter! Please review!

Also, take a look at the note in my Bio concerning Charlie and Draco.

CoolMilena: Thanks, that's okay because you are reviewing now! Glad I made her reaction believable! How was this one?

Krystal1989: Haha, thanks! I've been trying to finish this damn chapter for a while, but I finally did, so here it is! Yay! How was it?

Sadofia: LOL, so flattered! Mwahaha, glad it kept you up! Haha, just kidding. I'll try and update frequently for you, but you know how it is with hw. Anywho, yes, Charlie's awesome, but check out the note in my bio. How did you like this chapter?

LilBre: Haha, Draco will continue to think ... for unknown reasons. But hey, he's got to do something! LOL, thanks a bunch! How was this one?

MoonlightPrincess: That was what was wrong with Draco, hehe. It will be explained better once he wakes up, which should be soon! Yeah, Charlie's gift was the best! How did you like this one?

Paintedsecrets: Ok, please read the note in my bio, it explains a lot! Well it wasn't actually Draco that had the Invisibility Cloak ... you'll find out where Ginny got it later on, betcha can't guess?! Thanks so much! I know, I miss the snow so much. I used to live in Chicago, where it snowed, but now I live in this hellhole called Phoenix. No snow here. Anywho, I know what you mean and I'm so flattered! How was this one?

MasterHarperMenolly: Well, I asked because I'm not too sure whom I'm going to make him yet. So the feedback would be appreciated. Yeah, Zi's great. She's going to meet Draco ... lol, soon. I'm looking forward to that scene! How was this chapter?