Chapter Nineteen:
(A/N. Hey everyone. I'd like to dedicate this chapter to myself. I always used to fall head over heels with boys that would never notice me. Then I met my current boyfriend Alex who is the most perfect person ever but still likes me. K. Have a wonderful day people and REVIEW!)
Voices rumbled above her head but she couldn't hear what they were saying. Her head was throbbing painfully and she groaned. She forced her eyes open and slowly the blur faded and she saw Madame Pomfrey leaning over her. Ginny blinked and sat up slowly. Immediately a wave of nausea came over her and Ginny closed her eyes waiting until it passed.
"Here eat this." The plump woman said kindly, handing Ginny a large piece of chocolate.
"What happened?" She asked as she leisurely munched on the candy. A feeling of warmth and well-being passed over her and she sighed in contentment.
"You were hit with a bludger in the head and fell off your broom." Madame Pomfrey said, continuing on to complain about Quidditch's danger.
"I fell off my broom?" Ginny exclaimed wondering how she was still alive. The nurse nodded fussing with the pillows.
"Oh yes. A young man saved you. The young Malfoy boy, I can't recall his name." She said frowning.
"Draco." Ginny supplied wondering why on earth Draco would have been the one to save her.
"Yes, that's it. He just left a second ago." Madame Pomfrey said. "Well, I'll be in my office you need anything." She said and bustled away. Ginny waited to make sure the woman was gone before throwing off the blankets and standing up. She clung to the bed frame until the dizziness was pass then walked toward the door, hoping to catch Draco. She pushed the door open slightly but stopped as she heard voices.
"Sod off, Potter. It's none of your business!" She recognized Draco's angry voice say.
"It is my business when you save a friend of mine for no apparent reason." The next voice was Harry and Ginny's grip on the door tightened.
"She isn't your friend! She can never stop complaining about you Gryffindor lot." She heard Draco say and vowed to kill him the next time she saw him. Grinning as she imagined what ways she would use.
"Was it for the snitch?" Harry called out and Ginny's grin disappeared. She waited impatiently for Draco's answer.
"Yes, Potter. It was for the snitch. I didn't really care about saving the Weaslette's life." The snitch. It made perfect sense now even though she didn't know the details. Ginny turned and walked back to her bed, collapsing into the soft covers. She had found her answer, then why didn't she feel satisfied? She sighed as she stared up at the high, vaulted ceilings. She heard the whine of the hinges as the door swung open.
"Alright, Gin?" Harry asked as he came near her bed. She didn't bother to look at him.
"Yeah." She said softly. Finally she looked at him and saw the worry in his emerald eyes. "What happened?" She asked again, needing the details.
"Crabbe and Goyle hit a bludger to your head, Draco saved you and he managed to catch the snitch with a Plumpton Pass." Harry explained, sitting on the corner of the bed. Ginny nodded then flinched as the wooziness washed over her again.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" Ginny apologized feeling bad that they had lost the game.
"No, it was me. I should have caught the snitch." Harry said, and Ginny realized he had said nothing about him being there to save her. The door swung open once more and Ron and Hermione rushed in.
"Are you alright?" Hermione cried, the brunette's real concern touching Ginny. She nodded slowly making sure not to jolt her head too much.
"That wanker Malfoy caught you." Ron said his voice full of guilt. "I'm sorry, Ginny. I should have been there."
"It's alright, Ron." Ginny said, smiling feebly at her older brother. Ron relaxed visibly.
"He probably caught you to keep up the mystery of his appearance or some other Malfoy like reason." She assured Ginny. Ginny glanced away, unable to bear the sympathy in Hermione's eyes.
"We brought you some candy!" Harry said, breaking the awkward silence by pouring a bag of sweets on Ginny's bed. Ron reached over and took a chocolate frog and pooped it into his mouth.
"Ron! Those are for Ginny!" Hermione cried indignantly, slapping Ron's hand. Ron blushed and stepped away.
"Sorry, Gin." He said shamefully through a mouthful of chocolate. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"S'okay." Ginny mumbled. The voice's had attracted Madame Pomfrey's attention and she came in and tutted severely.
"Out, all of you. Miss Weasley needs her rest." She said steadfastly. The three Gryffindors sighed.
"Alright, we'll come back later, Gin." Ron said waving good humouredly as he backed toward the door, a box of chocolate frogs in his other hand.
"Yeah, and we'll bring you some butterbeer or something." Harry promised as he followed his friend out.
"Thank you." Ginny said weakly. The three nodded and walked out. Ginny watched them go, not really seeing them. She sighed and lay down carefully resting her head on the pillow. Why did she care so much that Draco hadn't wanted to save her? Why? Because you like him. A small voice whispered inside her head. Ginny scoffed.
"Impossible." She muttered firmly, then stopped and thought about. She concentrated to make sense of the chaos of confused thought in her mind. Who was Draco Malfoy? Draco was the frigid glacier on the outside; pale, emotionless, and cold, but he had a hardly seen fire within him. He was arrogant, lucid, manipulative, proud, cultured, cunning and completely unforgettable. He was undeniably self-confident, strutting around the school like he owned it and not caring what anyone thought of him. She called up his image in her mind's eye. Sharp features so much like his father's but seeming softer and much more attractive on Draco's face. His carefully guarded silver eyes and his irresistible lips…Ginny moaned heavily.
"Why do I always fall arse over elbow for boys that will never like me back?" She whined aloud. Suddenly Madame Pomfrey came back.
"Are you alright?" She asked her voice filled with distress. Ginny immediately felt guilty for worrying the kind nurse.
"Yeah, fine." She said cheerily. Madame Pomfrey looked confused. She frowned and walked away only to come back holding a small goblet.
"Here drink this, it will help you rest." She said. Ginny's nose scrunched up at the foul smell emanating from the cup but she downed the drink.
"Thank you." She said. Madame Pomfrey nodded and hurried away. Ginny sighed feeling the potion taking effect. Her eyes fluttered shut and soon she was fast asleep.