Conversation By the Lake
"Ginny!" MacKenzie yelled, running into the infirmary.
"Hush child! You'll wake my other patients!" Madame Pomfrey scolded her.
"Sorry," she whispered.
"Did you tell someone, Mackie?" Ginny asked. Her cuts and bruises were no longer there, but her jaw was still swollen.
"No, Ginny. I didn't." MacKenzie handed Ginny her clothes.
"Thanks, Mackie," she said, taking them.
"Um, Ginny?"
"Yeah?" She closed the curtain around her bed so she could change.
"I didn't tell anyone, but..."
"But what?"
"I think your brother followed me here."
"Why do you think that?" she asked ugently, snapping the curtains back.
"He knew you were missing and he saw me with your clothes. He asked what I was doing, and when I told him nothing, he said he would follow me if I didn't tell him. I heard footsteps behind me when I was coming, so I don't think he was joking..."
Ginny yelled in frustration and Madame Pomfrey shouted at her to keep it down. "Sorry," she replied.
"Gin?" Ron came in and walked up to her. "What happened?" he asked, staring at her swollen jaw.
"I... erm..."
"Ron!" Hermione said exasperated, running into the room, Harry trailing after her. They were both breathing heavily.
"Keep it down!" Madame Pomfrey shrieked from a back room.
"Oh my!" Hermione said, gasping. "Ginny, are you okay!"
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"What happened?" Ron demanded.
"It's... It's really n-nothing," she stuttered. At that moment, Dumbledore burst into the room, Draco close behind.
"That's it!" Madame Pomfrey yelled. "Everyone OUT!" She walked into the room and stopped when she saw Dumbledore. "Oh, Headmaster. I didn't know that was you."
"Quite alright, Poppy. I need to see Miss Weasley, if it's fine with you."
Madame Pomfrey wore a disapproving look, but said, "Yes, yes, Headmaster. Ginevra, please stop back by later."
"Of course, Madame."
As Ginny left, she saw MacKenzie, Harry, and Hermione all having to hold Ron back from attacking Draco.
-------
"Miss Weasley?"
"Yes, Professor?"
"Mr. Malfoy has just lost his Head Boy position and is now on the verge of being sent home. I trust you know why."
Ginny didn't answer. Instead, she stared coldly at Draco, who was avoiding her gaze. I can't believe him! He told Dumbledore! That stupid, idiotic prat! Tears welled up in her eyes. Though she was angry, she was also upset. Upset that Draco told, upset that Dumbledore knew, upset that Nott was an evil, future Death Eater... she was just upset in general.
"Don't get angry with Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said, as though he read her mind. "He held his tongue. That's actually why we're here. I need you to tell me what happened to you that made this fine, young man so angry that he turned against a fellow student. A Slytherin, at that."
Ginny's tears finally spilled over. Everything that happened the night before replayed painfully and vividly through her mind.
-$-Flashback-$-
Nott punched Ginny hard in the jaw after she kicked him. She tried screaming out of pain, but forgot that he had sealed her mouth shut.
Oh my gosh, he broke my flipping jaw! Tears streamed down her face out of pain, frustration, and fright.
"Oh, is Little Weasley scared of Big Bad Nott?"
Ginny quickly shook her head He then leaned close to her ear. "After tonight, you will be," he growled.
A whimper came from Ginny's throat. Nott gave an evil smile. "This might hurt for you, but it's going to be a blast for me."
He got off of her and stood up long enough to undo his belt and trousers.
Ginny was so scared she couldn't think straight. She scrambled up and made a run for the door. When she was just a foot away from the entrance, Nott grabbed her waist and slammed her hard onto the floor.
"I was hoping you wouldn't try that." He murmured a quick spell and invisible ropes bound her arms and legs to the floor.
Then, he punched her in her eye. "Don't try that again," he hissed.
He quickly pulled her pajama bottoms off of her, along with her knickers.
Ginny sucked in a sharp breath and more tears fell down her cheeks.
-$-End of Flashback-$-
Ginny was sobbing uncontrollably, slumped onto the floor.
"Ginny," Draco said, helping her off the floor. "You don't have to do this."
"I want to," she replied, tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Are you sure?"
"Miss Weasley, a thought just crossed my mind."
"Yes, Headmaster?"
"Do you know what a pensive is?"
"Yes, I do."
"I have one here," he said, pointing to a nearby cabinet. "Since this is a very special case, perhaps you could use it, so Mr. Malfoy and I may see... You are free to take back the thoughts whenever you feel you can deal with them." Dumbledore folded his hands on the desk, pressing his two index fingers together, and leaning on them.
"Oh, could I?" Professor Dumbledore nodded and she threw her arms around the caring old man. "Thank you!"
"You're very welcome, Miss Weasley." Whenever Ginny stopped hugging him, he got up, strode over to the cabinet, and took out the pensive.
"Do you know how to use this?" he asked, setting it down in front of her.
She nodded and Professor Dumbledore handed her a wand. "This is yours. Mr. Malfoy found it in the Library this morning, but in all of the excitement, forgot to give it to you."
"Thank you," she said, taking her wand.
Ginny closed her eyes, gently placing the tip of the wand to her temple.
Whenever she withdrew it, a thin wispy, silvery substance clung to the tip , and she placed it into the pensive.
"Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said softly, "what happened last night?"
Ginny opened her eyes and shrugged. "I don't know, Professor."
"That's good. That means you put all your thought in there."
Draco sighed heavily beside her. "Ginevra, I won't look in there if you don't want me to."
Ginny looked at him, confusion written on her face. "Sure. Go ahead." She remembered everything that happened today, starting from her wake up, but it confused her. Why were her clothes ripped? Why did she have bruises all over her? Why had Malfoy addressed her as Ginny? What happened?
"Miss Weasley, Mr. Malfoy and I will be back in just a few minutes," Professor Dumbledore said. "Please make yourself at home." He smiled, eyes twinkling, motioning to the office around them.
"Thank you, Professor," she replied, chuckling.
Draco uncharacteristically put a hand on Ginny's shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze, and gave a half-hearted smile. He stood up and walked to Dumbledore's side.
"You may go first, Mr. Malfoy, if you'd like."
Draco hesitated before nodding.
Ginny watched him lower his head into the pensive, then disappearing altogether. She watched Dumbledore do the same thing.
Ginny closed her eyes and started softly humming 'I Swear' to herself, as daydreams swirled through her head.
Ginny looked up into his grey eyes. The ones that were usually so cold were now warm and gentle.
"Hold me, Draco," she said softly.
Without a word, he quickly obeyed, his strong arms gently wrapping around her waist.
Ginny's head quickly snapped up. Ginevra, what was that she asked herself.
She stood up and started pacing back and forth, mumbling to herself.
"What is it with him? Why am I always so desperate to have him talk to me? What's been up with him lately?"
Ginny laughed out loud. She couldn't believe he was even in her head. She decided to busy herself with one of the miniature objects on Professor Dumbledore's desk until the two men returned.
Professor Dumbledore had a grim look on his face and Draco looked as if he was using all his willpower not to Avada Kedavra Nott.
"Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said in an unbelievingly calm voice. "I'm sorry, but you're going to have points taken away. Let's make it five, shall we? You were out after hours."
"Headmaster!" Draco shouted, startling both Ginny and Professor Dumbledore. "She was-"
"Malfoy! If I was out after hours, let him take points," Ginny said softly, giving him a reassuring smile. Draco shut up but glowered hatefully.
"Theodore Nott is going to be expelled and I'm going to see to it that he'll be up for trial. I know it's not a very humble thing to say, but I'll make sure he gets what he deserves," the usually warm headmaster ended bitterly. "Please excuse me, Miss Weasley, for wishing awful things upon another..."
"It's alright, Headmaster."
"For you, Mr. Malfoy, a detention will be served for trying to pulverize a student of mine," Professor Dumbledore said, giving a warm smile. "Thirty-five house points will also be taken."
Ginny saw Draco clench his jaw, but he stayed quiet.
"But," the old man continued, "I'm awarding fifty house points for helping bring this to my attention. You will also be given an award for Special Services to the school.
"I didn't do anything, though!" Draco protested and Dumbledore held a hand up.
"I insist."
Draco gave a smug half-smile.
"Miss Weasley, I'm awarding Gryffindor thirty house points for such bravery you have shown."
Ginny frowned and wrinkled her forehead. She knew something horrible had happened, she just couldn't remember what. "Erm... thanks, Professor."
Professor Dumbledore gave a heavy sigh. "Would you like your memory back?"
Ginny nodded, taking the given opportunity. She hated being in the dark.
She drew her wand from her robes, placing it to the silvery substance in the Pensive. She pulled the wand away, silver strand clinging to the tip, and placed it to her temple.
Suddenly, memories from the night before flooded her head, and she instantly regretted wanting them back.
"Oh, Merlin," she mumbled, burying her face in her hands and falling back onto the chair.
"Mr. Malfoy, would you kindly escort Miss Weasley to the Gryffindor Tower?" the elderly man asked with a tired-filled voice.
"Of course, Professor." Draco gently took a hold of Ginny's arm, making her shudder.
"Come on, Weasley," Draco muttered.
Draco and Ginny made their way slowly to Gryffindor Tower in silence until Ginny felt the need to break it.
"I'm sorry, Malfoy," she whispered.
"For what?"
"I don't know... making you see what happened last night. Making you get detention."
"You didn't make me do either of those things. I did them of my own accord."
"Look, Malfoy-"
"Whatever it is that you have to say, save it!" he spat suddenly, turning on her.
Ginny was both surprised and scared. Anger flashed in his eyes. She had never seen anyone so livid and she didn't even know what set him off. All of the sudden, he looked calm. He looked... guilty, in fact.
"I'm sorry, Ginevra. I didn't mean-"
"Don't use my name!" she yelled angrily. She turned and ran, leaving him just staring after her. Ginny didn't know what came over her, but she didn't feel comfortable with Malfoy saying her name.
When she finally stopped running, she had ended up beside the lake, resting her back against a tree. Her lungs felt like they were going to explode, because she ran down five flights of stairs. Tears were forming in her eyes. She just didn't know how to handle everything that was happening. Her legs gave out on her and she collapsed onto the ground, staring at the blurry vision of the lake before her.
"Oh, this is lovely," someone growled. "I'm sweating."
Ginny rolled her eyes and turned her head to look at Draco, blinking away the tears in her eyes. "Malfoy," she said softly, acknowledging him.
Breathing heavily, he sat down about half a foot away from her. "You know... you can run pretty fast and pretty good."
Ginny didn't respond. She just stared at him. He looks so vulnerable. Then, she clucked her tongue. This was Malfoy she was thinking about.
"You need to talk," he stated, turning to stare her in the eyes.
"Why do you say that?" she asked, cocking her head to the side.
"So many horrible things have happened to you lately. If you're not careful, you might actually get me feeling sorry for you." He gave a loud, fake laugh. Ginny chuckled bitterly.
"I don't want your sympathy, Malfoy."
"Talk," he demanded in a pompous, arrogant voice.
"About what?" she asked softly. She couldn't believe she was even considering to make conversation with Malfoy.
"I don't know... what are you going to be after you graduate?"
"I can't decide." Ginny diverted her eyes to the ground, because she could feel herself blushing every time he talked. Malfoy liked to make eye contact. "I either want to be an Auror, which I don't think is going to happen, a Healer, or a Dragon Keeper."
"Dragon Keeper?" Draco asked, his eyes going wide. "What on the bloody earth would posses you to become a Dragon Keeper?"
"My brother, Charlie, is one. I've visited him a few times in Romania, and the dragons took well to me. He says that I have potential."
"Oh... I never knew that about you."
"Not a lot of people do. They've never asked, though. What about you? What are your plans?"
He cocked an eyebrow at her. "Do you not remember me wanting to become an Auror?"
"Oh, yeah!" Ginny exclaimed, clapping a hand over her mouth. "I forgot!" Then she did something unusual: she placed a hand on Draco's arm and giggled.
Draco looked in surprise at her hand. She quickly drew it back. "Sorry," she mumbled. "I don't know... I didn't mean..."
He touched her arm. "It's alright," he said and winked. He stood up and stretched. "I better be going. I have to find out what my detention is."
"Mm-hmm," she replied, watching him leave. She felt the blood rush to her cheeks. What the bloody Mary was that all about?