Ginny ran out the door, tears streaming down her face, with Draco chasing after her. He called out to her. He wanted to help; he wanted to be a comfort.
She ran, her hard-soled shoes echoing loudly on the flagstone path. A few moments later, her foot caught a ridge and she tumbled to the ground. Falling in a crumpled pile, she sobbed silently and heavily. Draco rushed to her, knelt down beside her and wrapped his arms around her, cradling her gently. He comforted her while he rocked her with slow, tender motion. As she began to quiet, he picked her up like a baby and walked her out of sight of the house, into the nearby grove of trees.
They found a stump just inside the grove and he sat down with her again. Kissing her gently on her forehead, he said nothing. He didn't know what to say anyway. As he searched for something to say to comfort his darling, Ginny managed to choke out, "I'm sorry."
His face fell in a way of misplaced blame. "No, no, it's my fault. If I hadn't had come back…" He trailed off. It was true, if he hadn't come back, none of this would have happened.
But he couldn't stay away. She was too beautiful, too wonderful. She had grabbed his heart too tightly to ever allow him to let go. Everyday he had dreamt of her, thought of her, longed to be in her presence again. His heart ached to just be able to hold her gentle frame in his arms again. Somehow, he got such pleasure out of holding her, out of being her protector. But it had been so long since he could last do that…too long.
It pained him beyond belief when she hurt. It must have hurt him to the point of heartbreak to see her melt there in his arms. That protection he wanted more than anything to give her was shattered, here, right in front of him. His person, his name, his physical being was worth nothing against her family. All he had to give her now was his heart. And he fully intended to do so.