In The Absence of Light
by Inkblot-Crisis
.-.
-Chapter Four-
.-.
It was a considerably cold December afternoon in the area of the Slums that was the new Marketplace. People were rushing to and fro with merchandise to sell or trade and bargain with. You could find anything you need in the Marketplace, food, clothing, and medicine, even books. They weren't what people would say First-hand quality merchandise...but few could really complain in the Slums.
What the Marketplace didn't sell though, was jewelry...and the raw ingredients for making such.
Ginny Weasley walked in a calm pace, not wishing to draw attention to her from the watchful eyes of either the authorities or the resident hoodlums. She was carrying around twenty Galleons or more in her little metal safe-box, the money she needed to finance the next two or three pieces she had in mind. She had her hood up and the hems of her slightly worn out winter robe closed to keep the cold wind from her lithe frame as well as prying eyes from the box she was clutching to her chest.
She rounded a corner from the Main Market and went along her way.
She never looked back to see three faces sneering behind the dark brown scarves wrapped around their lower faces.
.-.
A figure wrapped in tatters leaned on the wall for support as he walked down the cobblestone path. Dried blood was clearly the cause of the strange splash of color on the ripped up cloak the figure wore. The sound of metal clanging against each other suggested that the figure had been wearing armor of some sort...true...but it was only the sound of it dropping to the cobblestone path as the armor was coming loose. And the person didn't seem to care...
...if a couple of full-fledged assassins were coming after you and you were sightless as well as defenseless, would you?
.-.
Someone had taken a few step ahead of her and was now blocking her way "Well, now, my pretty...where' you running off to in such a hurry? Let's talk for a bit."
"I don't wish to speak to you, good sir, so please..." Ginny took a step forward but was blocked again by the same person "Excuse me." she stated as she took a step to the side, this was again met with the same interference.
"What? We jus' want to talk to you for a tic..." the man was clearly smiling from underneath the scarf "...isn't that right, Mister Johnson?"
"Of course, Mister Johnson." A second voice made Ginny turn behind her "Just a tic."
"And if you have something good to share with us, maybe we'd be happy to take it as well." Another said from behind the second 'Mr. Johnson'.
"Well said, Mister Johnson." The first one said as he drew out a small dagger from inside of his vest "So...if you'd be so kind, dear Miss." with his free hand he raised it to part the cloak.
Ginny jerks away from his touch "No, get away from me you...!"
"No need to shout, little miss." The third one said as he too drew out a knife "No one will hear us in this part of the Slums."
Ginny was now petrified. If she didn't get the raw materials, she wouldn't have another piece to sell, if she didn't have any pieces to sell then she couldn't support the orphanage, if she couldn't support the orphanage then the children would truly BE homeless when the coldest nights of Winter would come. That wouldn't do.
Gathering her courage she kicked the first 'Mr. Johnson' in the shins, which made the thief drop his weapon, and finally stepped aside. She made a mad sprint towards the end of the alleyway when a hand turned her around. It was the third 'Mr. Johnson'. He clamped her mouth shut while dragging her back into the deeper part of the alley.
"You shouldn't have done that, dear Miss." The first one said as he winced slightly while taking every step of his right leg "Now we won't be so nice." he snickered menacingly.
Ginny's eyes widened as the second one opened her cloak to reveal not only the box but also her form.
"Well-well, looky-here, a little-bitty safebox." The third one said before he whistled inappropriately "You look real nice as well, miss, you'll fetch a pretty Knut when we sell you to the whore-house." he cackled.
Their hyena-like laughter filled her with so much fear that tears welled in her eyes.
"We've got an audience, gents." The first one stated as he nods his head towards a part of the alley that connected with another.
Ginny was turned as the second 'Mr. Johnson' turned around to see who the person was.
.-.
"Who's there?" the figure asked in a commanding tone, it held little strength compared to his usual tone of voice, he felt weak, as he should. His breathing was labored as he continued to walk, leaning against the wall as he did.
"It's just a blind bloke, looks like he had a bit of a rough brawl." a voice had said in the darkness.
"Is someone there?" he called out, he bit down on his pride "I am in need of assistance."
"Ooooh...'assistance'." another voice mocked, "Who d'you think you are, some fruity Noble?"
The figure leaned away from the wall and stood as straight as he could while clutching his side with one hand "No..." he said as his pride returned after realizing this wasn't exactly a good part of town "...my name is Draconis Lucifer Malfoy, Commander of the Beta Squadron of the Death Serpent Corp. I am being unduly hunted by assassins and I am in need of assistance."
There was a brief silence before the sound of boisterous laughter filled his ears.
"Commander indeed, not only are you blinkin' blind but you're as loony as that witch who keeps on preaching in the Square." A third voice said.
"Three of them." The figure who claimed was The Commander thought as he calculated their height from where their voices originated from, then their reach and if he could take them on and perhaps nick their clothing for a disguise. "Not exactly good odds...but I've faced worse." he smirked at that thought.
.-.
"Oh no." Ginny thought as he saw them ready to fight the defenseless blind man who was clearly in some sort of a delusion "Face somebody who can actually fight back you miscreants!" she mumbled behind the second 'Mr. Johnson's' hand.
"What did you say, Miss pretty?" 2nd asked in her ear before letting his hand off her mouth for her to speak.
Ginny spits out the taste of sweat and grime before yelling to the two standing near the blind man "I said: leave him alone, you bollocks!"
1st turned around and had the look of anger in his eyes "Bollocks?" he repeated, "You heard her lads? She insulted us because we were having a little fun..." he picked up his knife from the alley's floor and wiped it against his trousers "Now, we'll be killing the poor bastard...to save him from his misery, a good cause all-in-all." his eyes widened maniacally as the corners of his lips were seen from behind the scarf.
.-.
"I don't want you to see this, Miss." The man claiming to be Draco Malfoy said from underneath the bloodied hood "So please shut your eyes for now." his voice was calm and collected.
"What do you think you're doing? You're outnumbered! Find your way back and run! I can handle these poor excuse of wizards!" he heard the young lady yell at him "No!!"
The swish in the air told him to turn towards the left.
"What?!" this told him his little trick was correct.
He 'saw' the attacker's hand and grabs it with his right, he pulls the attacker closer all the while with his left hand stretched towards the attacker's face. A sound smack was heard before the attacker fell down in a heap, the clatter of the knife was heard half a second later.
His senses told him that there was another attacker running towards him from behind. He picks up the knife of the first one and dodges the second attacker's knife as well. He then soundly places the knife's hilt into what he could determine was the attacker's jaw.
"Two down one to..." he thought before hearing the third one's whisper.
.-.
"If I'm going down I'm taking her with me!" the last 'Mr. Johnson' said as he held a knife at Ginny's throat.
Ginny's tears fell from her eyes now. She was now thinking about how Lav would manage the orphanage without her, she thought of how just the other day she promised to a little girl a stuffed dragon for her Christmas present...she even thought about the strange deluded blind man that came to her rescue, fighting as if he could see...only to find that he truly was indeed handicapped.
'Mr. Johnson' was moving from one part of the alley to another, leading Ginny along with him, hoping to confuse the blind man as he did.
Ginny lets out a small pained cry as her ankle fell on itself.
Thuck!
The next thing Ginny knew was the knife at her throat was gone.
She saw that the blind man had an outstretched hand toward her and the knife that was supposedly in it, was gone. She also saw, as she turned around, that the last 'Mr. Johnson' was on the alley floor, clutching his shoulder as a knife was embedded in it.
"Did I get him?" the blind man asks, unsure if he really had saved the 'Damsel-in-distress'.
"On the shoulder." Ginny managed to answer against the shock.
"I missed?" he said in disbelief "I was...aiming for his...his head." The blind man lets out a sigh as the adrenaline in his system seemed to be wearing off, he then swayed slightly before leaning back on the wall's surface.
Ginny rushed towards him and helped the man on his shoulders, but not before picking up her safe-box from the alley's floor. If only all wizards were as helpful as this one...though she did hope he wasn't still thinking that he was a Death Serpent Commander.
The man lets out a grunt of pain as she began to walk back into a more populated area of the Marketplace, hoping that someone would help him.
"Miss...Do you have a place...a place to hide?" he asked in a rasp voice "I'm being chased by-!" he lets out a hissing sound as pain shot through his spine "-I'm being chased." he repeated.
She could feel the man's breath, which was extraordinarily warmer than normal. Ginny maneuvered the man so he was sitting up, leaning against the wall, she then placed her hand on his forehead "You're scalding!" she exclaimed "I'll get someone to help you, so please, trust me and don't move from this spot." she instructed, but before she could take a step, his hand was gripped at her robe's sleeve.
The blind man lowered his hood and revealed a blonde head, matted with so much blood that he looked more like a Weasley than anything else. His eyes seemed to be shut close by a curse of some sort as black veins were seen at the corners. He had many cuts and scrapes on his face as well as his neck "Please, whoever you are...don't...don't..." he seemed to have passed out as his head was now leaned to one side.
Ginny was again stunned by shock. There he was...one of the most powerful wizard in New Wizarding England, begging for her help. She thought she had imagined him actually beg, that was until his grip on her sleeve loosened and his arm lay on the alley's floor with a thud. His form was beginning to lean onto one side as his muscles went limp. She just caught him in time before his head hit the cobblestone floor of the alleyway, her face embarrassingly close to his.
"Get a hold of yourself Ginerva!" she thought/yelled at herself as she felt her cheeks burn.
"..."
"I know I'm going to regret this somehow..." she muttered as she made her decision.
.-.
"It's dark."
"But why is it dark?" he thought as he felt that he had indeed opened his eyes. He tried to close his eyes and open them back again.
There was no difference.
"I'm...blind?" he mumbled in disbelief.
His mind then recalls the events that led him where ever 'Here' was: The two Alpha's waiting at his office, The fight, The vial of bubbling black liquid smashing into his face, The poison seeping into his eyes...And the pain, oh the excruciating pain. It was a type of poison he could easily fight back with his immunities, but that would take time and that commodity was somewhat sparce as of now.
There was the sound of footsteps coming from the left of him, from what he could guess it was probably a wooden flight of stairs. He then heard the footsteps halt and was replaced by a slightly shrill shriek. He winced before shaking his head of cobwebs inside it "I'd appreciate it miss, if you wouldn't scream...my ears are compensating for my lack of sight." he explained, hoping that whoever it was, understood that when a person lost one of his senses, the others would increase in sensitivity to compensate.
"I-I'm sorry, it's just that your eyes..." she trailed.
"Can you tell me how badly damaged my eyes are?" he asked in a more kinder tone, knowing full well that he had to be a little bit more docile if he wanted to heal in a safe place rather than die outside.
"It's..." he heard her begin, but sensed the hesitation.
"I can handle it." he reassured her with a smile.
"They're red...blood red." he heard her voice; it was melancholic, as if she sympathized with him. Which surprised him "Shouldn't she be angry at me? I am after all a member of the New Order." he thought but held his tongue on that matter "Manticore toxin." he muttered, more to himself "Causes damage to anything organic it touches." he stated as he tried to raise himself, he winced as pain jolts his body back on the bed.
The sound of footsteps neared towards him as the lady helped him sit up with his back on the headrest.
"Where...where are we?" he asked in curiosity.
There was a change in the lady's voice as she answered "We're in my living quarters above my shop, it may not be a mansion like you might be used to but it's better than being outside in the streets."
Draco lets out a small laugh, which wasn't entirely a good idea of late as his ribs were either bruised or broken "That's something an old schoolmate would berate me about." he stated in a friendly manner "Anyway, may I ask who you are, so I may thank you properly." at least his smooth-talking skills were still in pristine condition.
There was a pregnant pause before the lady answered.
.-.
"Think, Ginerva, think!" she thought/yelled at herself again. Should she tell him who she really is? What difference does it make, really? But what if he goes ballistic at the fact he's under the roof of a Weasley? "Think fast!" she thought to herself.
"Red." she answered "Call me Red."
She heard him let out a chuckle again...and winced "Red." he repeated "That's a word you do not hear often in New London, but none-the-less...thank you." he said with a smile while turned towards her. The smile was increased ten-fold with his eyes shut, making him look innocent in a child-like manner...that thought was banished as she remembered as to whom this person in her bed truly was.
"How are you feeling?" she asked in a colder tone.
"I can't say really, my back aches as do every part of my torso, my head feels lighter for some reason and I can't feel my hair against my shoulders anymore...why is that?" he asked as if trying to think that she really didn't "...No...She couldn't.... she wouldn't..."
"I had to cut it off, the blood was stuck to it no matter how many times I tried to wash it." she explained "But don't worry, you still have a head-full of hair, I didn't just hack it off with a knife."
His hair was actually even more debonair, now that it was short, the back stood up slightly because he was lying on the bed for more than twenty-four hours, it was a shade lighter as well. If it were properly managed she could even say that he looked handsome...for a Dark Lord supporting, mindless, murdering son-of-a... "Calm down...relax...don't blow your top off..." Ginny thought to calm herself. This wasn't the time for the past...for now she had to help this...person.
"Well Red...I believe you did a good job, though I can't see it." he stated as he ran a hand slowly through his now shorter hair, admiring the look his mind was forming.
"Don't flatter me...I don't need your praise." she stated in a much harsher tone than intended.
He fell silent for while and had his head was hung "To say sorry for intruding into this life is quite daunting...but to ask forgiveness for the past would be unimaginable to ask from someone like yourself, I believe." he then raised his head "I stood up for what I believed in, that much I can proudly say. There are things that I did in the War that I thought was right for this world, and there are also things that I did that brought shame to me...I am only human. I make mistakes, big ones and small ones, but I atone for it everyday...I can't just...I-uhhh..." he stopped there as the pain was making him dizzy again. His head went limp again and he was again unconscious.
Ginny only stared at his form, wrapped from torso to his neck in bandages. She was thinking about the last thing he had said.
"How could you ever atone for such sins?" she asked in a whisper before she gently moved him back to a lying position so he wouldn't wake up with a much worst back, she then pulled her blanket back and slept on the small area next to him. She pulled the blanket closer to both of them afterwards and silently thanked Merlin that his fever had gone long before he had woken up.
That night she had the first night's rest she had in over a year without actually crying herself to sleep.
.-./.-.
Draco looked into darkness as he leans back on an old oak, the leaves of multiple shades of brown, yellow and gold slowly fluttering down to the dirt below. Silence enveloped his ears. It was odd...he never had felt like this. He was alone...
A small giggle echoed.
...or so he thought.
Draco raised his eyes and saw a little girl with platinum blonde hair in two big braids craning her neck to the side as she peered through his hair "Hello." she said softly.
"Hello..." he answered. He felt he knew this little girl.
"Cass!" a young boy's voice called.
Draco looked towards where the voice came from and saw someone he couldn't believe...he was looking at his younger self, he had to be at least six years old from the looks of it.
He ran closer to the two "Cass, Mum's been calling for you." he noticed Draco "Oh, good day sir, please excuse my sister if she's been bothering you, she does that often to me as well." he said with a smirk towards the little girl.
"I do not." the little girl, Cass, pouted "I wasn't bothering you, was I?" she asked the older Draco.
Draco stared at her for a few seconds. "I have a sister?" he thought "But...that's...not possible." he searched through his mind and saw no memories of a sister. He realized he was staring and shook his head "No, she wasn't bothering me." he managed to say. He then realized that the darkness that surrounded him had changed to a soft morning day, there was a large structure behind the two children that Draco felt he had seen before, as to where he saw it however, was somewhat difficult to recall all of a sudden. His attention went back to the two children "May I ask a question?"
The younger Draco seemed to be thinking for a few seconds before nodding "I don't see why not." he turns to the little girl who nodded as well.
"May I...may I ask for your names?" he said softly.
The younger Draco smiled as his sister stifled a giggle from behind her hand. Younger Draco ran a hand though his hair "My name is Draconis Lucifer Malfoy, heir of the Malfoy Clan." he motioned to the little girl "..and this is Cassiopeia Lumina Malfoy, my younger sister...unfortunately."
The little girl curtsied to the Older Draco before she blew a raspberry at the younger one.
"That's not lady-like." both Dracos stated. Cass again stifled a girlish giggle "You sound just like Draco, sir...um, we don't know your name." she said with a smile.
"Oh, forgive me..." Draco stood up slowly as he leaned forward and raised himself with his hands on his knees "...my name is-!" he stopped as he looked back up...they were gone, as was the scenery...he was again alone in the dark. He takes a few steps as he looked around "Draco?" he called out "Cassiopeia?" he searched frantically for the two children, he had so many questions.
"There, there..." there was no mistaking the sound of the voice of Lucius Malevolent Malfoy "...she is in a better place now, son."
He turns around and saw his family, Lucius, Narcissa and himself, standing at the side of an ivory coffin intricately designed with silver ivy-vines. Narcissa was sobbing silently at Lucius' shoulder as younger Draco tried not to bawl his tears out "I-It's not fair!" he heard his younger self yell "She should have stayed by my side instead of helping that muggle girl fetch her ball..." he continued "...if she hadn't been so bloody helpful then that Muggle 'Thing' wouldn't have hit her!" his hands were balled into fists so tight they turned shades paler than it already was.
Lucius said nothing, as did Narcissa, but their eyes held so much sadness. They vanished in the dark and left the younger Draco alone.
"Cass..." he heard his younger self whisper as droplets of blood dripped from his frail little hands "I..." he began to shake "I'll kill them." Draco couldn't believe his ears, he always felt such anger towards Muggles, but he never thought as to the reason why. Could this be the source of it all? He was startled as his younger self suddenly turned around and locked into his gaze. His younger self's eyes were pure silver and glowing in madness "I'll kill them all."
There was a bright flash of blue light and he saw no more.
.-./.-.
Ginny was startled from her dreamless sleep as Draco thrashed around the bed. In reflex she got out of bed and watched, having known that it wasn't a good idea to wake up somebody from a nightmare.
"N-no! Cass!" he cried out as his arms threw itself into the air and he sat up "Cass!" he yelled. He reached out towards something in his dream, something cherished...or perhaps someone "Cassiopeia..." she heard him whimper as Draco sobbed into his hand.
Ginny places a hand on his shoulder "Shhh..." she soothingly whispered, she then felt his forehead, his fever had returned. She was startled when Draco suddenly pulled her close into a hug, all the while sobbing like a child.
"Cass...please wake up, wake up Cass..." his grip on her increased somewhat "Cass, please wake up."
It would have been somewhat intimate to be hugged in a manner like that after how many years of living alone...the only problem was...she couldn't breath "Malfoy..." Ginny managed to speak from his vice-like hug "...let...go!" she was beginning to blackout from the lack of air. She felt him jerk, he was now either awake or perhaps he heard her words in his sleep, in any case his arms slowly loosened and he again falls back into the bed, muttering something inaudible.
Ginny watched the strip of cloth that wrapped around his eyes, as it was slowly drenched in blood-tears. Questions filled her head. "Who was Cassiopeia? A lover? A girlfriend?" she felt a slight uneasiness before continuing "Fiancé?" she shook her head "It doesn't matter, it's not my business anyway." she lets out long breath she didn't notice she was holding and looked out the window. The sun was still underneath the horizon and wasn't coming up for an hour or two.
"What a way to start the day." She made her way towards the bathroom to find the washcloth and some water to ease his temperature with.
.-.
He woke up...perhaps...he wasn't entirely sure. He felt there was something important that he had dreamt...but for the life of him he couldn't remember what he dreamed about. "Are you awake?" a female's voice asked. It was Red. He slowly sat up, his ribs weren't painful anymore "I don't know..." he muttered. He suddenly felt someone pinch him on the cheek "Oi! What was that for?"
"Well, you're awake now, that much I can say..." there was the sound of clattering, dishes, perhaps "...you were talking in your sleep, I didn't know if you were awake or not during the entire ordeal." he heard her say as she moved closer. He felt the bed sink down near him, Red was sitting down next to him "I'm going to feed you some soup now, be careful, it's hot." she warned. A warm sensation neared his lips and into his mouth, the soup was indeed hot, but not hot enough to burn thankfully "Is it alright?" he heard her ask.
It was delicious. Not quite like the bland (though very expensive) soups in restaurants he was used to...this was more...flavorful "This is good." he said before she fed him another spoonful.
"It was my mother's recipe." she stated sadly.
The meal continued in silence. After he finished he began itching on the bandages "I think it's time to change your wrappings." she said "Wait here and I'll fetch the new ones."
Draco heard her footsteps walking away from him. He noticed the aura she was emanating, he didn't know if it was sadness or empathy...but it was much more calming than her the hostile one she had the last time he was conscious. He flexed his fingers and felt the wrappings; he had over-all coverage, not to mention he didn't feel constricted. Whoever Red was...she had healed before, that much he was certain. Other than that he felt somewhat familiar of her presence, the reason as to why was beyond him, however.
.-.
Ginny watched as Draco's breathing slowly calmed down after he woke up again. He had fallen asleep from the soothing balm she applied on his slightly fresh wounds; she had little trouble with the bandages, though she did find it very daunting when she had to change the bandages near his...private parts. She did it though...with as little visual contact as possible.
Now he was asleep again after another thrashing session. It was the same as the one before...he was whimpering like a lost child, pleading to someone named Cassiopeia to wake up. His crying reminded her of the little boys and girls at the Orphanage where Lavender worked, so lost without their parents, thankfully there was Pastor Cross, a Pastor under the Merlin Sect of Mysticism. He ran the Orphanage since the time before the War...but right now he needed help running it due to the increasing numbers of orphans coming into his fold every other month, at the moment there were an odd fifty or so children currently under the Orphanage's roof, thankfully Lavender was their to keep things in order (Ginny helps out whenever she can on occasions).
Ginny did have a secret about the Orphanage though...
She gave herself a small smile as she just reminded herself of where most of her profits went.
A knock on her store's front door snapped her out of her revere. She had closed the shop for the day, as there was something (someone rather) that needed her attention at the moment. She recalled if she had changed the sign to the "Closed for the Day" sign she puts up whenever she helped around at the Orphanage, she shrugged her shoulders at the thought and decided to see who it was...from her guess it could have been Lav with news about the Christmas celebration both women planned for the little tykes.
She took off her apron and folded it neatly before placing it on the small bedside table. She tip-toed her way out of the room and slowly went down the stairs, she peered at the front door from the thin wall that hid the stairs from view, she calmed down a bit when she saw Lavender's bright smile and a medium sized brown paper bag of home-made doughnuts.
She made her way towards the door and unlocked it.
"Ginny!" Lavender practically jumped on the five-foot-eight-inch nineteen year-old as she hugged her "You'll never guess what happened this morning!" she squealed in delight "We received another donation from that anonymous donor again and its even more than enough to cover the taxes of the Orphanage, the food for Christmas Dinner, the gifts and even the groceries 'til early January!"
Ginny worriedly hushed her friend gently "I'm delighted, really I am Lav...but please, not so loud."
"Why?" Lavender was almost jumping around the store in happiness "No one can hear us even from outside, the glass is thicker than Trelawny's glasses."
"It's not who is outside I'm worried about." she said as she jerked her head towards the stairs.
Lavender stopped in the middle of her little happy-dance, her jaw was open and her wide eyes locked unto Ginny "Oh my...you...you have a bloke upstairs?"
"No! I mean, yes...I mean...argh!" she composed herself and pulled Lavender towards the stairs and into the little living area that had a considerable amount of space and a small table in the middle of a simple maroon rug. She set Lavender down and stared directly into Lavender's blue eyes "Lav, what I am about to tell you will either make you think that I am certifiably someone you should lock up in the loony-bin or...well this may sound a little wonky in whichever manner I say it..." she took a deep breath and began her little tale.
.-.
Lavender sat on the rug like she had in the numerous times she visited her friend. Like before she brought some of her delicious homemade honey-dipped doughnuts and like before she greeted her friend warmly.
Unlike before though, her friend ignored the brown paper bag and even greeted her back rather coldly...and unlike before there wasn't the usual chitchat that followed. She just sat there and listened. Listened about how her friend was saved by a blind man, which later turned out to be a bloodied soldier which then turned out to be none other than one of the most fiercest warriors in all of Wizarding England.
"Oh dear..." was all Lavender could say.
"Indeed." Ginny sighed as she buried her head underneath her arms "I plan to kick him out after he is well enough, I don't want any trouble from the likes of him." she said in a venomous tone.
Lavender shook her head in a motherly manner "Even if he is who he is, we still have to help him if he asks of it." she stated in a tone that reminded Ginny of Pastor Cross giving a lesson to the children about the Teachings of Merlin "In any case, how badly injured is he anyway?" she asked.
Ginny lets out another sigh "He has multiple lacerations, nothing a bit of healing balm couldn't handle, he's surprisingly healing much faster than I anticipated...that much quicker I can kick him out then, good riddance." she propped her chin on her arms and had a forlorn look in her eyes.
Lavender seemed to be receiving something hidden in her words as she squinted her blue eyes at Ginny, studying her face "You fancy him, don't you?" she said with much seriousness.
Ginny's eyes darted to Lavender, she looked like a Kniffler caught in-between a carriage's lights "W-what in Merlin's beard are you talking about?" she sputtered. She tucked a strand of hair as she sat erect, she was avoiding eye-contact with Lavender.
Lavender was about to tease her when the bedroom door slowly creaked. Slowly a blonde head was seen, followed by the form of Draco Malfoy, leaning on the wall for support.
"Malfoy..." Ginny stood up immediately and supported the wounded young man "...why are you up? Shouldn't you be in bed?"
Draco lets out a cough. Ginny felt the heat still in it, his fever hadn't gone away yet "Well, Miss Red, unless you want to change your sheets I would have done my business there." he said with a weak smirk and an even smaller chuckle before he went into a fit of very dry coughs "I've been a nuisance too much as it is, I wouldn't want to insult you by soiling your linen."
Lavender saw the blush that ran across Ginny's cheeks.
"The bathroom is just several strides from the door." Ginny stated to the weakened soldier "If you ever need to go, you know where it is." she said all the while walking towards the bathroom door and looking away from his face. She told him where the toilet was and he thanked her kindly, she closed the door and sat back on the rug with Lavender with a flop and a sigh.
"You do fancy him." Lavender said all the while fluttering her eyelashes and making kissing noises with her lips.
"I-I do not!" Ginny hotly said.
Lavender waved her hand side-to-side "Ginny my dear, it is too early in the morning to be in denial." she continued teasing her best friend.
Ginny stood up and pointed at the bathroom door "How could I ever be in love with a monster like him?! He has killed numerous wizards mercilessly and without remorse, how many children had he orphaned because he followed the Dark Lord? How many tears have been shed because of him? How could you even think that anybody could love someone as evil as that man?!"
Lavender turned away "I was only teasing you, Ginerva...you should know that I have no feelings for whoever serves that demented wizard, remember...they killed my Dean." she said with tears forming at the corner of her eyes "But even if he is evil, no person should be void of the compassion of others, he is still in need of help and even if you do kick him out, I will lend him my hand should he ask for help."
.-.
Draco heard Red's voice, raised and angered, from behind the closed door of the bathroom. Her words struck him where no sword could, his soul...or what was left of it.
"Am I that much of a monster to everyone here?" he whispered as he finished doing his business in the bathroom. He washed his hands animatedly before limping towards the door and clutched the bathroom door's doorknob. His thoughts hung on every word she had said.
"...a monster..."
"...killed numerous wizards..."
"How could you even think that anybody could love someone as evil as that man?"
He heaved a long sigh "Perhaps...perhaps, I am a monster." he thought sadly.
.-.
"Throw me out."
Ginny was startled as Draco's voice suddenly pierced the slightly weeping conversation with Lavender "W-What did you just say?" she asked as she moved to support him back to the bed, she was startled when he gripped her hand and gently pushed it away.
"Whoever did this to me is still out there." he said before being taken over by another fit of coughs "They will not hesitate on killing you and your friend to get to me."
"How are you certain?" Ginny asked, she felt somewhere in her heart that he must have heard her call him a monster a while ago. She felt a little guilty.
"Believe me...I know monsters." he stated with a bitter tone, he had his face away from the direction of her voice, ashamed.
"I..." Ginny began but was silenced as she saw Lavender shking her head solemnly.
"I will deal with this on my own now, I-I thank you for your help." he said as he turned back and bowed to the extent of his will "Now, Miss Red, will you do me one last favor?" he asked softly.
Ginny looked at Lavender and saw a small nod "I will." she answered.
She saw Draco smile weakly as he raised his head so she could see his face. Even with the scratches it still looked very handsome, as if it was charmed with a spell of some sort.
"May I..." he began to sway again, his hand clutches his head as sweat formed on his brow "May I...uhh..." he began falling forward.
Ginny caught him just in time and thankfully this time Lavender was here to assist her. She was startled as Lavender lets out a gasp as she saw the damage on Draco's eyes up close "Lav?"
"H-He's been poisoned!" Lavender stated.
"I didn't know, I thought he was just hit by a spell!" Ginny said as she saw Draco's face contorted in pain, he was mumbling something inaudible but she could clearly hear the word Red being called over and over again. She leaned in closer to hear his whispers...her eyes widened.
"May I ask for your name, Miss Red?"
.-.
-Chapter Four End-
-Savior's Cry-
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AN
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A few D/G moments in this chapter, a bit tiresome to write but it's there. To those that rememeber in the last chapter, Blaise did say that Draco didn't have any siblings...there is a reason for the statement and the little dream sequence in this chapter, but as always...it's in LATER chapters still. Look out for the next chapter, an old friend will make an appearance.
Read, Review, Write as you please.