Chapter 6 A Dream and A Letter
"sometimes the things that happen the quietest
end up making the most noise."
Ginny softly rubbed her temples in hope that it would relieve her pounding headache. Her head ached, her body was so sore and in so much pain and she was extremely tired. But nothing she was doing was making her feel better. She had been on the train nearly fifteen minutes and with the trio next to her she couldn't get an ounce of sleep. They always talked so loudly and she just wanted to scream at them to shut up, but she knew the sound of her voice would make her headache worse.
After another fifteen minutes had passed Hermione and Ron left to do their prefect duties and Harry had begun to read a book about Quidditch. She did her best to make herself as comfortable as possible without having to move too much. And before she knew it, Ginny was fast asleep.
"You fucking bitch, you fucking whore get up now!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. His face had become red with fury and she could she the vein pulsing in his forehead. Ginny pushed herself farther back into the corner; she didn't want this, she didn't want it at all, especially after what happened in the past two days. He began to kick her relentlessly with his boots on and didn't stop until she was lying on the floor and wheezing. The last kick has sent her side in to extreme and unbearable pain. She had never experienced pain that bad and was afraid he had broken a bone. He took the cane out-the one he had bought earlier to go with his brand new suit- and began to strike her with it. Each hit stung and left a thick red mark on her skin. As he hit her he screamed, "Stand up this instant you little whore!" Each hit became harder and harder until Ginny managed to get on her knees and beg him to stop. But he only laughed and gave her a cruel smile, "You beg like a little whore, just asking for what's already coming to you." He said and then slapped her across the face. She a squeal of horror and quickly placed her hand over the red mark on her face. He had never slapped or touched her face before. Did that mean he would hit her face now too?
She scrambled back into a corner and watched him with pain in her eyes. He stood there in silence just listening to her breathing. It was raspy and heavy, like something was preventing her from breathing normally. But he just laughed again before walking over to her. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her up; he punched her one last time in the stomach before throwing her against the wall and watching her body fall to the ground in a heap.
He then slowly walked over to her and picked up her limp body. He then told her how beautiful she was as he gently rocked her in his arms. But before he set her on the floor gently he said, "You need to watch yourself, little one. Your beauty can get you anything, even the things you don't want." He gently placed her on the ground, kissed her on the forehead and silently left the room. Ginny was hurt so badly that she wanted to cry. But the tears wouldn't come and her eyes remained dry. All she could think about was getting to her knife as soon as possible. She used hr arms to drag her body across the floor and reached under her pillow where the knife was. She couldn't breathe she and began to cut. Each cut was long and deep and quickly drew blood. She kept at it until she got her breath back and the ache had slowly left. He had almost broken her, almost. He had dangled her off the edge to the point that she couldn't get back, but she still hadn't fallen and she still hadn't broke. She knew he wouldn't break her, not yet anyway.
Ginny heard a faint voice. "Ginny, wake up, wake up," said the voice. She opened her eyes to see Hermione standing over her.
"Mmm, what is it?" Ginny said very sleepily.
"You were whimpering in your sleep and kept scratching at your arms. I just wanted to make sure you were okay," she said quietly.
"Oh, yea, I'm fine. Just a bad dream that's all," Ginny replied trying to sound as casual as possible.
"Well if that's all, then do you think you and Ron could go to the luggage compartment for a few minutes?" Harry asked with a small smile.
"What for?" Ginny asked with an annoyed voice.
"I think Ron left his wand in his trunk and needs help finding it," Hermione said pushing them both out the door.
"Well then why the hell do I need to help him? I wasn't the one who lost my wand," Ginny said defiantly.
"Thanks for agreeing to help, Gin," Hermione said as she slammed the door in her face. "What is it? Do I have moron written on my face? Those two need to come up with better excuses for being alone together."
"Ron, you didn't really lose your wand did you?" she asked as if she were dumb.
"No, but I just don't get why Hermione is always pushing me away. She's always making up excuses to be alone with Harry. I just don't get it," Ron replied sounding confused.
"Uhh, Ron? What's not to get?" She asked. But when he gave her a questioning look she shrugged him off, "Never mind then."
Ginny hurried through the train towards the luggage compartment. If she was lucky and she hurried she might be able to catch Hermione and Harry in the act. That would certainly give her a good laugh; and a good laugh would be all she needed to slightly lift up her mood. Right as she began to quicken her step, she slammed into someone and found herself on the ground.
"Watch where you're going Weasel. You just dirtied up my robes with your filth," a cold voice drawled. She didn't have to look up and she already knew it was none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Malfoy, your insults are quite pathetic and lacking," she said coolly, "But I must say, the smirk that comes with them suites you better than that ugly blank expression you usually have."
Crabbe and Goyle snickered behind him. "Well it seems the youngest Weasel has learned to control her temper," he said with a vicious smile, "Perhaps this new family member has taught you how to show respect. I heard he spends a decent amount of time with you, just a little too much time if you ask me."
Ginny's cool face instantly changed to fear. She didn't bother to hide her expression, giving Draco another chance for an insult.
"Is that fear I see in your eyes, Weasel?" He said with another smirk, "It must be. Tell me does each one hurt more than the one before?"
Ron suddenly stepped in. "Ginny, what is he talking about?" Ron asked narrowing his eyes towards Draco.
"I don't know," she said doing her best to hide the fear in her eyes. She stepped past Ron and Draco and into the luggage compartment.
Ginny closed the compartment door and slid down towards the floor. Tears were pricking at her eyes but she knew they wouldn't come. She was beginning to lose her breath again and the ache was coming back quickly. She stood up and ran to her trunk. She began to frantically throw out all her possessions in search for her knife. She couldn't find it. Ginny's mind was screaming at her for losing it. Had she left it at home? Then she remembered. She had been looking at her knife that morning when Hermione suddenly burst in. She had quickly shoved her knife under her pillow. She guessed that she most have forgotten it when she left. "What am I going to do?" she thought sadly to herself. Losing her knife was like loosing her best friend, her only friend. She figured she would have to go to Hogsmeade on the next trip and purchase a new one. At that moment a large barn owl tapped on the glass.
Ginny stood up when she recognized the bird. She opened the window and let the bird in. "Errol, what are you doing here?" she asked the bird. It lifted its leg and she saw the packaged attached.
She quickly untied it and almost dropped the letter when she felt the weight. It was heavy; there must have been something along with a letter. She tore open the envelope only to find what she desperately needed, her knife. She grabbed the letter and began to read.
My Dear Ginny,
You seemed to have left this precious possession behind when you left this morning. I found it under your pillow and thought I'd send it to you. Remember little one, your beauty can get you anything, even things you don't want. This is what the knife is for. Protect yourself and be safe, it would devastate me if another precious family member was lost. You are so beautiful, Ginny, always remember that. I hope you think of me when you use it.
All my love,
Stephan
StephanGinny gave a shudder of disgust. What did he mean by think of me when you use it? Did he know her dark secret or was he simply referring to if she ever needed to protect herself? Either way the letter had frightened her. Even more frightening was the fact that Draco Malfoy possibly knew what happened at home. Either way she would have to deal with it step-by-step and day-by-day.
A/N: Chapter six is up! Sorry I couldn't post over the weekend, but I was vacationing with the family. I'll post again soon, by Friday at the latest.