"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked quietly.
"I needed to see you," Draco said softly.
Ginny sat up in her bed. Quickly, she looked around. There were lots of other students in other hospital beds. "You shouldn't be here," she told him.
"I know. But I just needed to see you, Ginny," Draco repeated.
"You've seen me. You better go," she whispered.
"Ginny?" Draco asked. He seemed to realize that something was wrong.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Ginny pleaded. "Please, just go."
Draco looked hurt, but did what she asked. Ginny watched him leave the hospital wing. Ginny needed time to think. So much had happened.
Ginerva...Ginny laid back down in a fetal position in her bed. Facing the wall, she whispered, "Yes, Tom?"
I am very disappointed in you...Ginny closed her eyes. Hoping with all her might, she hoped that he wouldn't posses her tonight. She didn't know if her weakened body could handle it,
I do not know if you are worthy of that honor anymore...Ginny sighed. He knew what she was thinking. He knew everything little detail of her life. She couldn't keep secrets from him.
Do you have more secrets, Ginerva? What would I learn?"I do not wish to keep secrets from you, Tom," Ginny muttered softly. "My mind is yours."
You are growing tired of our relationship..."No, of course not, Tom," Ginny said softly. "I would do anything for the cause."
Then you will not question me!Ginny wrapped her arms around herself. Her head was pounding. Tom was so angry.
Perhaps you need a reminder of where your loyalties lie...Ginny sat up instantly. She knew what that meant. "Tom, please. I can't, not tonight. Can't you realize I'm hurt?"
Crucio!Ginny clamped her hand over her mouth to keep herself from screaming. She fell onto the floor and started twitching violently. Her knee hit her nightstand hard. It hurt, but it was nothing compared to the fire in her blood.
A few minutes later, Madam Pomfrey was helping her off of the floor.
"Are you all right, child?" she asked kindly.
There were tears in Ginny's eyes, and she had broken out into a cold sweat. "I'm fine," she said haltingly. "I had a bad dream, and fell out of bed."
"I'll be right back," the mediwitch told her. A moment later she reappeared with a cup of dreamless sleep. Ginny accepted the potion eagerly.
And then she slept.
The next morning, Ginny was released from the hospital wing. Black banners flew in every hallway for the fallen. Harry was waiting for her with some flowers. He took her hand, and they started walking towards the Great Hall.
They passed Draco as they walked. Ginny's eyes connected with his. He saw him mouth 'Same time, same place," to her.
"Who died?" Ginny blurted out. She had a sudden need to know.
"Professor Sinistra and Professor Vector," Harry told her. "I'm not sure about all the students. Dean Thomas, Dennis Creavey and Mary Jane Fink from Gryffindor. Not a single Slytherin was killed."
Ginny somehow made it through the rest of the day. It was a Sunday, which most students usually enjoyed, but no one was in a happy mood. Ginny sat with Harry and Hermione for most of the day. Ron hadn't left the hospital wing yet. Though Ginny didn't talk much. She just looked out of the big picture window that was in the Gryffindor Tower.
More than anything, she wanted to talk to Draco. She had to know how he felt about the Dark Lord attacking the school.
Finally, it was almost ten o'clock. Harry and Hermione went to bed early, so Ginny was on her own. She crept out of the common room, hoping that no one would notice.
He was waiting for her when she got there. The door had already appeared, and Draco took her hand and led her inside.
There was a small couch this time. They sat down. "How are you feeling?" Draco asked softly, stroking her cheek.
"Like hell," Ginny admitted. She still had the after effects of the Cruciatus Curse lingering over her body.
"Good acting job yesterday," Draco said smiling.
"Acting?" Ginny asked.
"'Help us, Malfoy!'" Draco laughed. "You were very convincing."
"I meant it," Ginny said in a small voice.
"You meant what?" Draco asked, eyebrows raised. "You meant you wanted help?"
Ginny nodded.
Draco looked confused. "For Merlin's sake, why?"
"I don't think the Dark Lord should have attacked the school like he did," Ginny said firmly.
"I don't understand, Ginny," Draco said. "It was a great attack. Students are terrified. Parents are thinking less of Dumbledore after this. It was perfect."
"First and second years, Draco!" Ginny cried. "What have they ever done to you, the Dark Lord or Death Eaters?"
"Is this why you're upset?" Draco asked. "Because a couple of first years were killed?"
Ginny nodded, and looked away.
"This is war, Ginny. There are fatalities in war," he said tenderly, bringing her to him. "Just remember, you've chosen the winning side."
To Ginny's horror, she felt tears running down her cheeks. She brushed them away angrily. She felt so weak. She hated feeling weak.
"You didn't really expect me to help you, did you?" Draco asked finally.
Ginny sighed. "I guess not. I just wanted to get as many students back to the school as I could."
Draco chuckled. "Just when I think you should be in Slytherin, your Gryffindor side comes roaring to life."
Ginny swatted him in the arm. "That's not funny," she said, smiling slightly.
"I happen to think that was a very amusing comment I just made," Draco said, bringing Ginny in close.
Ginny made love to Draco passionately that night. It was almost as if she was trying to forget.
Ginny was sitting on Harry's bed, almost two weeks after the attacks. Slowly, the school was getting back to normal. People still cried in the middle of class, and no one wanted to go outside by themselves anymore. But everyone was starting to adjust.
"I think I placed a memory in his head, Gin," Harry said quietly.
"Who?" Ginny asked. "Surely not..."
Harry nodded, looking very pleased with himself. "I wish I knew a way to find out for sure," he said.
Ginny almost wanted to laugh. She would be able to easily find out if Harry had succeeded.
"What was the memory?" Ginny asked carefully.
"I simply had him sitting alone in a dark room," Harry told her. "I can't do anything complicated yet. But I'm getting a lot better."
"That's great, Harry," Ginny said.
Harry started to lean in for a kiss. Ginny kissed him briefly and suddenly remembered a lot of homework she needed to get done.
Harry was disappointed, but Ginny knew that he'd get over it. She ran up to her dorm room, glancing briefly at the now empty bed of Mary Jane Fink.
Ginny threw herself on her bed and quickly placed a silencing charm on the bed.
"Tom," she said softly. She finally had some information to offer.
What, Ginerva..."I have news."
There was silence. Ginny gulped and continued. "Harry Potter tried to place a memory in the Dark Lord's mind last night using Occlumency. We need to find out if he was successful."
Potter told you this?"Yes," Ginny said quickly. "Just now."
You need to tell him now, Ginerva..."Give me ten minutes to get ready," Ginny said, starting to get off her bed.
A force knocked her back onto her bed. Ginny closed her eyes tightly. A few moments later, she was in the Riddle House. She reminded herself that she was actually back at Hogwarts. This was only in her mind.
He was sitting on a large chair, in front of a fire. Immediately, Ginny felt ill at ease. Normally, he had at least two Death Eaters surrounding him. Now, now he was alone.
"You have news?" he asked.
Ginny nodded, and walked towards him. She knelt and kissed the hem of his robe. Quickly, she told him what she had learned.
"I did have this vision last night. Potter must be getting stronger," he said darkly.
"He says he feels getting more powerful," Ginny added.
"Keep an eye on him, Ginerva," the Dark Lord instructed her. Ginny nodded.
"Now, come closer," he demanded. Ginny took a step forward. "Sit next to me."
Ginny complied. "I have missed the bond between us, Ginerva," he said softly, stroking her cheek with his long, white fingers. "I am offering you one last chance to give up the Malfoy boy."
Ginny stayed silent. She didn't know what to say.
The Dark Lord chuckled. "I have taught you well. It is very wise to say nothing at this point, Ginerva. But some day, some day soon, I will require an answer."