Only The Heart Knows

By shadowlessphantom

Warning: YOUR OWN FLAMES WILL BURN YOU IN HELL. See you there mate. If you got a problem with what you read, tell me nicely, you don't need to be nasty, as you'll get old. If you don't want to be nice and certainly want to get old, then fine. FLAMES are accepted. Thanks.

Sorry for the very late update. I had a lot of things going on. And mind you, take that literally. A lot. I just finished my exams; I've got a few good failing marks; my Mom's in the hospital for stroke; our Math subject is so damn demanding and other stuff I won't mention here.

Thanks to the lovely reviewers though! I hope you'll enjoy the story. Any comments, suggestions and other stuff should be placed at the Review section. Thanks, and keep on reviewing! Now enjoy the story!

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Chapter Four: Even Closer

"The more I keep it, the worse it gets."

Harry turned off the shower and wiped himself dry, draping a dark blue bathrobe around his body. He was frowning despite the fact that it was a cool, crisp morning. Not too sunny but not too windy either—it was just a lovely Sunday.

"Hey mate, wait for me, I'll just take a minute or two." Ron called as he grabbed his towel to head to the showers. He had just woken up and Harry didn't trust that Ron would finish in a minute or two. He usually spent hours combing his hair.

Harry dressed up silently and proceeded to lying down on his bed again, staring at the hangings of his four-poster, waiting for Ron who was now singing the Hogwarts School song. He barely heard it anyway.

Lately his mind had been wandering: if only he could tell Ginny about THAT thing, but he couldn't. Maybe... maybe it wasn't the right time yet. And anyway, he didn't know where to begin and how he would say it.

He turned around and faced the window, looking out at the bright blue sky with hues of white and sighed. Lately life was confusing, Voldemort was out there maybe ready to strike, and still he couldn't talk to Ginny about his feelings.

"Hey mate, you doing fine?" Ron's voice rang out by his bed and he was already partly dressed. Harry pushed his raven black hair out of his eyes and nodded with a smile. "Yeah. Why'd you ask?" he asked back, standing up and leaning against his bedpost.

"Nothing. You're just sort of... distracted, you know? Is that because of the THING?" he asked as he started combing his hair neatly. It had gone longer now and it suited him well. Girls were starting to notice.

Harry turned away and nodded. "Yeah. It still bothers me... but I'm not ready to tell her yet." He replied quietly. Ron shrugged and dropped his comb on the bed. "Whenever you're ready and you need me, I'm here." He said and they went down, stopping the discussion.

They didn't want anyone else knowing of Harry's dilemma.

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"Yess! This is the last day of detention!" Ginny said as she and Colin walked towards the Great Hall from a studying session early this morning so they could have breakfast. With a lot of homework during Friday, Colin had helped her with all of them, no fuss.

He grinned and lightly pushed her. "Of course! At least I don't need to tutor you anymore. You're so hard to teach!" he teased and they entered the already crowded Hall. She rolled her eyes and grinned back, pushing him lightly away too.

"Look who's talking!" she teased back and they sat down, starting to fill their plates. A momentary silence filled them both as they got preoccupied with eating, watching the mail arrive. So far, both of them didn't have any.

Meanwhile Ginny happened to look at an eagle owl standing out from the rest of the mail carriers, just entering one of the higher windows. Only one person had an eagle owl of course. Malfoy.

She followed the owl as it landed in front of Malfoy and dropped an envelope and a small pouch, quickly leaving. For a while, she stared but not before he looked up at her and raised a brow. To cover up her embarrassment, she smirked and went back to eating.

"Hey, you okay?" asked Colin suddenly, out of the blue. Ginny looked up confusedly at him. "What? Why wouldn't I be?" she asked innocently, though she kept thinking it was connected to what she did with Malfoy just now.

"You're sort of red. Are you having an allergy or anything?" he asked in concern. Ginny waved a hand nonchalantly. "Nah, that's nothing. Climate change, that's it. There's nothing to worry about." She explained quickly.

He decided not to push any questions her way, and Ginny was relieved. Even she was sort of confused about how she had been acting lately. She wasn't just sure if it was about Harry or maybe—a certain Slytherin boy.

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"You're late. Come on, let's go." Ginny greeted the moment Malfoy came running down the staircases leading to the Great Hall where they agreed to meet.

He looked up at her as he tried to catch his breath, a little less than surprised that she wasn't angry he was late. If possible, she looked even cheerful. He was beginning to wonder why when she walked off and he, of course, had to follow.

"So, what's so special about tonight?" he asked casually, walking at least two feet away beside her. She shrugged. "Nothing much. You know, the last day of detention, peace at last..." she said and grinned like an idiot.

Malfoy rolled his eyes and smirked. "Whatever. You sound like a little kid, you know?" he said and brushed his hair out of his face. She smiled. "I am a kid by heart. That's what makes me special." She replied.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm not interested in whatever you are, get it?" he said, turning away from her. He wasn't feeling bored at all; actually, he wanted her to keep talking. At least he could talk about something simple but important with her... and, unlike Crabbe and Goyle she could be interesting.

So he was quite glad she kept the argument going. "Then why did you ask about what's special about tonight? It means you're interested." She replied and smiled triumphantly at him.

He rolled his eyes again. She did get him there. "Well, there's no one else to talk to, might as well make do of you." He muttered and smirked again. She didn't seem shaken—in fact, she seemed to be in a good mood that nothing could sadden her.

"Well, hardest part of detention is today." Filch greeted them by the double doors. "Which is?" Malfoy quickly asked, looking over the caretaker's shoulder. His fears were confirmed by his answer.

"You're going to look for some owls who got wounded and fell on the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid said he saw them just after dusk. At least three of them." He replied and grinned broadly.

Malfoy had been in the Forbidden Forest only once. That was back during first year with Potter, Longbottom, Hagrid and Granger. That was probably the worst detention ever, or maybe this one would be even worse.

"Though I reckon Hagrid have some things to do. Don't think he can accompany you around the forest though." Filch added, grinning even broader. Ginny, meanwhile, felt her stomach lurch. Man oh man...

"Filch, stop talkin', yeh old Squib." Muttered Hagrid, his face looming into view as he held up a huge lamp. Filch's face twisted at the mention that he was a Squib, and Malfoy looked over at Ginny, who gave a sound in between a cough and a giggle.

"Well, let's go, you two. Yer business here Filch is done, so yeh can go with yer cat to yer musty an' old office." He mumbled and beckoned Ginny and Malfoy to follow him. Malfoy, though he hated Hagrid, knew that he was safer with him than Filch so he quickly followed after Ginny.

"Ruddy ol' bastard..." muttered Hagrid and whistled. Fang, the boarhound came bounding from his hut outside to greet him. Ginny patted him on the head, while Malfoy stepped back. From experience, that dog does drool a lot.

"So, ye would have ter find the owls, I'll be over at the edge of the forest—if ye need me, send sparks, all righ? Got ter finish some stuff, ye know, fer class..." Hagrid said, giving them a lamp. Malfoy took it and turned to Ginny. "Fang'll be with yeh, and he'll bound back ter warn me if anythin' happens."

"Well?" he asked, willing himself not to show a pang of uneasiness. He wasn't really a coward, but the Forbidden Forest had many secrets. And for all he knew, tonight must be his final night to ever walk the earth.

"Let's go."

She said, not hinting the tiniest bit of fear, worry or nervousness. Okay. Was she that brave, or was Draco just a big chicken? She said let's go as if they were just going to the library.

They walked towards the edge of the dark forest, momentarily stopping beneath an entrance of trees. The canopy of dark, thick leaves caused the Forest to look darker than usual, making light impossible to enter. Their feet finally moved.

He glanced at the redhead beside her, sensing nothing in her aura. Even her expression was calm. What's up with that? "Hey, Weasley. You aren't nervous? Not ready to faint or run back to your brother or Potter?" he asked coolly, knowing somehow, making her annoyed would make him calmer.

She shook her head and smiled, walking a few paces forward. "Nah. I'm excited. This is a whole new adventure. In the Forbidden Forest with my enemy. Brilliant." She replied and turned to him with a rare grin.

Malfoy narrowed his eyes at her. "What's wrong with you? Do you want to die or something?" he demanded. Ginny smiled. "Look, Malfoy, I'm the youngest girl in my family. Not only that, I'm also the only girl. So, it mainly means that my life lacks the adventure, as I've been protected my whole life." She explained.

Malfoy decided to shut up as they started looking. She did have a point there. Being the only and youngest girl, surely her brothers would be protective. He wondered what they'd do to him if he hurt her. He'd be dead before he could see them killing him.

"Wonder who we'll meet." She said quietly, her eyes intent on looking around. "Hey. Don't say that. Do you really want to die? Cause I can kill you now if you want." He said sardonically, rolling his eyes. She grinned. "Look, sorry. I'm just looking for adventure, I told you."

They both fell silent again. "Where are those owls? That's weird." She muttered under her breath. He turned to her and found himself smiling. Yeah, he could actually smile. He watched her red hair stand out in the darkness. He watched her as she looked around.

A tumbling noise made Ginny turn around, and she saw Malfoy kneeling on the ground, apparently tripping. "Hey, are you okay? You should be more careful you know." She said lightly, smiling and helping him up.

As much as Malfoy wanted to push her hand away, he just couldn't. Instead, he held on to it as Ginny dusted his robes in this sisterly sort of way. Sisterly. It didn't sound or look right.

"Here, I can hold the lamp." Ginny said and smiled. He shook his head. "No. I can do it. I'll be in the rear, Fang'll lead us and you be in the middle." He said, nodding towards Fang who was scratching his ear.

"Middle? Why can't I be the rear?" she asked. "Hello? You're a girl, I should be protecting you." He replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. At these words, Ginny smiled brazenly.

"Oh? So Malfoy wants to protect me now?" she teased, her dark brown eyes sparkling. He rolled his eyes at her. "Oh please. Come on, just go on," he said with a hint of annoyance on his voice. "Fang, go, find the owls." He added.

At once, the boarhound stood up and followed Ginny who didn't want to be in the middle and be guarded by either Malfoy or Fang.

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They've been walking for forever yet there was no sign of any fallen owls whatsoever. "Where are those? Are we in the right direction?" asked Malfoy, stopping beside Ginny on what they presumed to be the same spot, or seemingly the same spot they've been a while ago.

"I think so. We're following the path. Unless someone's leading us off somewhere else." She said, looking around for something he didn't know, and walking off a few paces forward.

He too, did the same, and what he saw made his blood chill. "Get down!" he shouted, pushing Ginny out of the way, the same time a whistling filled both their ears, followed by the sound of the lamp breaking. Malfoy felt something hard hit his right shoulder, but he didn't mind it.

He looked down at Ginny, who had sat up. "You okay?" he asked, suddenly feeling numb on his arm. "Malfoy, your shoulder!" she said, springing to stand up. That was when he knew where the whistling came from. An arrow had hit him and pierced him straight near the heart. It was starting to bleed.

"Did you see who did it?" asked Ginny, sending out sparks for help and holding on to Malfoy who was leaning against a tree, trying to feel his arm again. There was immense pain when he moved it but sheer numbness when he stayed put. He didn't know what was worse.

"Think—it was—centaur..." he choked out, turning paler than his already pale complexion. Ginny fanned herself with her hand, a sign that she was nervous and she looked out of the woods. "Where's Hagrid... Hagrid..." she muttered to herself.

Malfoy fell down on his knees beside the tree, feeling a little bit dizzy. "Malfoy! Hey, you okay? Oh god! Fang, go get Hagrid, hurry!" she told the boarhound. He barked and sped off out of sight to do what he was told.

"Hang on, hang on... you're gonna be fine..." she muttered under her breath, caressing the back of Malfoy's palm. As numb as he felt, her thumb moving on his skin made currents run through his body.

He shocked himself by laughing. "Funny, huh?" he asked, his silver eyes meeting Ginny's dark brown ones. "What is?" she asked curiously, still absently caressing his hand. "You wanted adventure, now you got it. In the Forbidden Forest with your "hurt" enemy. Brilliant?" he asked weakly.

"Oh, of course not! I don't want you to be hurt, what kind of person am I?" she replied, her voice still nervous. Malfoy fell silent at this, only staring at her as she looked around for a sign of Hagrid.

"What's taking him so long? Oh gods! Come on, we'll find our own way out." She helped him up slowly and put his arm around her shoulder. "Come on, try to walk." She said gently, pushing his hair out of his face so he could see.

Malfoy gritted his teeth at the wave of pain he felt as they started finding their way out of the forest. The tiniest movements on his arm caused major suffering, like his muscles were set on fire.

"I think I know where to go, if I'm going the wrong way tell me, okay?" She muttered again, looking at Malfoy momentarily and then back to the path they were following. He grunted to indicate he understood but couldn't speak.

Malfoy could only see haze—like everything was blurred. He shook his head slightly to clear the view, but nothing happened. "Ginny..." he called softly, not knowing what possessed him to call her by her first name.

"Oh, hold on, don't die on me!" she said, but to him, her voice was so far away like she was shouting her reply from the Astronomy Tower and he was down on the Hogwarts grounds. It was vague.

He felt a rather painful slap on his cheek and he, for a while, came back to reality. "Stay awake, stay awake!" she said sharply, trying to keep his eyes open. "Hand—hold—my—hand." He muttered.

At once, Ginny did what she was told and grasped his hand. Malfoy felt the heat radiating from it but even that, couldn't keep him awake and he fell down hard. "Malfoy!" she exclaimed, kneeling before him. She didn't know why, but she started crying.

"Wait right here, I'm going to find Hagrid!" she whispered and she stood up and started running and following the path. In her haste, she tripped on a tree root and there was a resounding crack. Ginny felt a thousand knives piercing her foot.

"Shit." She cursed, closing her eyes. Tears flowed down her cheeks because of the pain and her worry. Damn, she was so worried about Malfoy. Malfoy. Wait, she had to go on!

Willing herself to stand up and trying to ignore the pain, she limped, still following the path and saw a huge figure loom into view. It was Hagrid. "Hagrid! Over here!" But after that, she knew no more.

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