7
Over the next few weeks, Ginny stole moments with Draco and Adam whenever she could. Ron, Harry, and Hermione got more suspicious as time went on, but as she wouldn't offer any information, they would eventually give up. Katherine was not getting any better, and even Dumbledore was beginning to get worried. In potions class, everyone noticed how Snape seemed to have lost his energy. Ginny still didn't know his connection with Kit, and it wasn't really a conversation she wanted to start. Unless he offered, she was not going to pry into his personal life. Adam got increasingly worried, and as much as he tried to fit in at school, he had so far made no friends except herself and Malfoy. Malfoy helped him out the best he could, but that only went so far.

Ginny laid in her bed, thinking. She didn't get to spend near as much time with Draco as she would have liked. She knew what was happening to her, and as much as it made her happy, it also made her sad. Every time she saw him she fell more in love with him. Yes, that's what it felt like, she was in love. She noticed that the only time he smiled at all anymore was when he was with her, and he had even stopped taunting her brother and Harry so much. He was becoming increasingly worried about Katherine, and more than once, Ginny had noticed dark circles under his eyes. She knew he was trying to be strong for Adam and she could see that it was beginning to take its toll on him.

She turned and looked at her clock. It was too late to try and go back to sleep. Sighing, she got up and began to get ready for the day. She made her way down to the Great Hall, surprised to see that quite a few students were already there, including Draco and Adam. She sat down, smiling at them. They smiled back, though they were weak smiles, and once again, Ginny noticed dark circles under Draco's eyes and knew that he hadn't gotten any sleep. Sighing, she began to eat breakfast, and was only alone for about ten minutes before she felt someone sit down beside her. "Hey, Ginny," he said.

She turned to him, "Hi, Harry, you're up early," she said.

He shrugged, "Couldn't sleep. Besides, I rarely get time away from the lovebirds."

Ginny laughed, "Harry, they've only been dating for a month. What did you expect?" she asked, as one of the school owls dropped a letter in her lap.

"Bit early for mail," Harry commented, as she opened the letter, "But anyway, I don't know, but it kind of makes me feel left out, you know. Ginny, I need to ask you something," he said, turning serious.

"What is it Harry," she said, pulling out the parchment. On it was only one word, but Ginny felt her heart skip a beat as she read it, Katherine. Ginny was out of her seat in a second, mumbled a quick "Gotta go" to Harry and ran out of the Great Hall. Only then did it register that Harry had been just about to ask her out. "Oh, well," she said to herself, "that's all for the better."

She entered the Room of Requirement, scared as to what she might find. Madam Pomfrey was looking grave. "Miss Weasley, thank you for coming so quickly. I don't know what has been done to this child, and I require your help," she said, turning toward the bed.

Only then did Ginny notice that Kit was not, as she had been for weeks, lying motionless. She was instead thrashing about in her bed, and seemed to be mumbling to herself. Ginny caught the words "Draco", "Daddy", and "Adam" a lot. Ginny could also see the damage that the poor girl had inflicted upon herself in the night. The cuts on her arms and face appeared to come from Kit's own fingernails. Ginny couldn't hold back a gasp. "Madam Pomfrey, what happened to her," she asked.

Madam Pomfrey turned to her, "Miss Weasley, I'll explain what I think happened in a moment. First, help me get her tied down so she'll not be able to injure herself anymore," she said.

Ginny quickly complied, wondering how Draco and Adam were going to take this news. Not well, she supposed. After they had sufficiently secured Kit's wrists and ankles, Madam Pomfrey gave her some sleeping draught. She then turned to Ginny, "Miss Weasley, I do believe that Katherine has suffered the Cruciatus Curse, I trust you've heard of it," she said.

"Well, yes ma'am. One of my brother's friend's parents were tortured with it back when You-Know-Who was in power. I met them one year at St. Mungo's," Ginny said.

Madam Pomfrey nodded, "The Longbottom's," she stated, then continued, "So, you saw what it did to them?"

Ginny understood what Madam Pomfrey was getting at, and stared hard at Madam Pomfrey, "But you don't think...you can't think...that Katherine will stay like this?" she asked.

Madam Pomfrey sighed, "She could very well. It is either that or she has had a muggle reaction to her injuries, resulting in high fever and delusions, I don't know. Tonight will tell," she said. "I need to go and retrieve the headmaster. Please stay with her."

Ginny nodded, blinking back tears. She didn't even know Katherine, but she did know of three people who loved her very much, and she was horrified at what this would do to Draco, Adam, and Snape.

Madam Pomfrey returned quickly with Dumbledore, who was looking unusually grave. He looked at Katherine lying on the bed, and turned to Madam Pomfrey, "Poppy, what happened to her?" he asked.

Madam Pomfrey explained to Dumbledore what she believed happened to Katherine. When she was finished explaining, Dumbledore turned to Ginny, the usual twinkle gone from his eye, "Miss Weasley, I think it would be wise if you were to collect Mr. Carson and Mr. Malfoy. I do believe that they are in potions with Professor Snape. He will undoubtedly not give you a hard time," he said.

Ginny nodded and walked toward the door. "Also, Miss Weasley, I think it wise for you to let me break the news to them," Dumbledore said to her.

Ginny turned, "trust me, sir, this is not the kind of news I wish to break to them, I promise," she said softly, blinking back tears.

Dumbledore looked at her sharply, then softened, "You care for him a lot don't you Miss Weasley," he asked.

Ginny knew at once who he was talking about, "Yes, sir, I do, and this is going to kill him. Adam, too," she said.

"Then we must hope for the best, Miss Weasley," he said.

Ginny nodded, and left the room. She dreaded going down to the dungeons, and walked as slowly as possible. This really was going to kill both of them, she knew. How she wished things were different. She paused outside of Snape's door, wiping the tears from her eyes and cheeks. She had not even noticed that she had been crying. She couldn't let Draco and Adam see. Taking a deep breath, Ginny opened the door. Much like she had so many weeks ago, the entire class turned to look at her. Snape's face lost its malice the minute he saw her face, and both Draco and Adam stood at the sight of her. She also noticed that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were looking at her strangely. How could she have forgotten that they had potions together. She walked to Snape's desk. "Miss Weasley?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Professor, the Headmaster wishes to see Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Carson immediately," she said, then added, "I think you should come, too, professor."

Snape went pale. "Is there good news, Miss Weasley?" he asked, earnestly.

Ginny shook her head. Snape stood up from his chair, "Class dismissed," he said, sharply, "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Carson, please wait a moment."

Malfoy's worst fears were confirmed with that simple statement. He felt something was wrong as soon as she walked into the room, in fact he had felt it since he had seen her run out of the Great Hall that morning. He could tell she had been crying, that much was obvious, but now he knew something was wrong. He noticed that Weasley and Potter were not willing to leave. They were never going to let Ginny simply let this one go. Why did she have to be cursed with such people.

Snape noticed Weasley and Potter, also, and turned to them, "Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, I assure you no harm will come to Miss Weasley, now I said, class dismissed," he said, rather harshly. Draco watched as Potter drug a still reluctant Weasley out of the room, and then turned his focus on Ginny.

"Dumbledore wants to tell you something. I'm not supposed to tell you, she said, as they started toward the Room of Requirement. Draco noticed how scared she was, and not caring who saw them or who didn't, he reached out and clasped her hand in his. He was scared, too, and needed her support as much as she needed his. Together, the unlikely four entered the Room of Requirement.