Chapter 13: The Fantasy

"I love you." He told her after the ceremony.

She didn't reply, just looked away.

"I love you every night and every day. Please don't do this." He begged, pulling her aside.

She smiled, the warm friendly kind of smile-not the genuine smile he used to be privileged to.

"You don't have to. You can divorce. You don't have to be with him." He reasoned.

She shook her head ever so gently at his foolishness, he was a stranger now, and her gestures were only friendly.

"But you love me, do you not?" He asked.

She smiled the friendly stranger smile again, she did, but he hadn't loved her enough.

"Why? Please! I love you!" He pleaded.

She smiled again, a simple warm gesture.

"You didn't love me. I saw it in your eyes." And with that, she stepped into the plane that she was to board, leaving him on the pavement alone, forever.

"Madame Pomfrey! Madame Pomfrey!" Draco called running into the hospital wing with an unmoving Ginny in his arms.

"Mr. Malfoy, what is the meaning of all this racket?" Madame Pomfrey asked, coming out from the wing.

"What have you done to the poor child!" She exclaims when she saw Ginny, rushing to Draco.

"Is she dead?" Draco asks frantically, helping Madame Pomfrey lie Ginny on the bed.

Madame Pomfrey checked for a pulse. "It's really faint! Quick! We must give her the elixir before the pulse stops completely!" Madame Pomfrey says, hurrying to retrieve the potion.

Draco felt helpless at that moment while he starred at Ginny's weak form as she became closer to death every second. Needing reassurance, he squeezed her hand, it was cold as ice, he had never felt so worthless before, Ginny had somehow got under his skin for him to care so much about her.

"Don't die Ginny! Last time was I show, I planned it, but this time, you musn't die!" He whispered to her, tightening the grip on her hand.

"Out of the way now, Mr. Malfoy! You are of no use here except getting in the way! You ought to notify Mr. Weasley!" Madame Pomfrey waved him off, trying to close the curtains around Ginny.

"No! Wait!" Draco shouts, rushing back inside the curtain.

"Mr. Malfoy! What is the meaning of this! I must give Ms. Weasley the elixir, her pulse is fading by the second!" Madame Pomfrey urgently scolds!

Draco stepped inside, laid a kiss on Ginny's forehead before disappearing out the door.

"Weasley! Potter! Granger!" Draco calls down the corridor.

The three turn around, disgusted.

"Ginny's in the hospital wing!" Draco shouts, ignoring their death looks.

"What have you done to her!" Ron demands, running to pummel Draco up, his face as red as his hair. "What have you done to my sister, you bloody git!"

Harry and Hermione immediately struggled to pull Ron back as Draco turned the corner.

"If Ginny is in any trouble, I swear, I will bloody kill him!" Ron threatens as they ran to the hospital wing.

They storm entered the room. Draco Malfoy was standing in the corner, perfectly composed. Madame Pomfrey was devastated, she was sitting by Ginny's bed, stroking her hair gently while murmuring 'poor child.' Professor Dumbledore and professor Mc Gonagall was with her, they were patting her bed sympathetically.

No one said anything for a moment and a wave of grief washed throughout the room.

"W-w-what happened?" Ron asked, his voice quivering with fright. His sister lying perfectly still on the bed.

None of the professors answered him, they just shook their head slowly, sadly…

"What? What is it!" Ron was frantic now, going up to Madame Pomfrey, shaking her shoulders violently.

Harry and Hermione didn't know how to act, and they didn't even dare guess if Ginny was dead or not.

"Professor Dumbledore! Tell me what is wrong with Ginny! Is she sick!" Ron questions, hysterical, shaking Dumbledore's shoulders seeing Madame Pomfrey look to the ground.

Professor Dumbledore doesn't reply.

"Is she…d-d-dead…?" Ron asks, cutting the tension in the air.

Silence, ringing through the air.

"Is she!" Ron angrily demands.

"No, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Weasley is not dead." Dumbledore replies. For a moment Ron's face looks relieved before he catches the grave look on Dumbledore's face.

"What's wrong with her! Why is she not awake! Why is she still asleep! Make her wake up! Make her wake up!" Ron cries, a tad bit away from insanity.

"Mr. Weasley, Ms. Weasley is in a coma." Dumbledore informs Ron.

Ron doesn't react, in fact, he's perfectly calm, rooted in the spot.

"That means….that means…that means…she's not going to w-w-wake up again…" Ron murmured, still paralysed in shock.

"Ron? Ron? Are you ok?" Hermione asks, rushing to his side.

"Ron! Ron!" Harry calls, but Ron doesn't reply, he's dazed.

"Ron! Ron!" Hermione calls once again, feeling his forehead before he toppled over, luckily Harry and Hermione managed to grab him, and together they brought him to the bed.

After Madame Pomfrey concluded that Ron had only fainted, and just needed some rest, Hermione and Harry sighed a sigh of relief.

"We should understand the whole situation." Hermione told Harry.

"Shouldn't we wait for Ron?" Harry questioned.

"Definitely not, you know how he is, especially with Malfoy and Ginny." Hermioned reasoned.

Harry shrugged, agreeing as they walked over to the Malfoy standing in the corner who hasn't said a single word throughout the whole time they were here.

"Malfoy?" Hermione called.

"What, Granger?" Draco asked, coolly.

"What happened exactly?" Hermione asked before Harry, knowing things would get out of control if she didn't phrase it precisely.

Draco ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know. You know what happened in the Three Broomsticks, and then you came asking me where she was, and I went looking for her. By the time I found her, she was drenched in the rain, and looked pale, and then I carried her here."

"That'll do for now, but when Ron wakes up, you had better think of a better story to tell." Hermione warned before going off to Madame Pomfrey with Harry.

"Do you believe him?" Harry asked.

"It seems real enough, and he looks like he still cares for her…" Hermione murmured.

"Cares for her! Do you know what you're saying 'Mione?" Harry exclaims.

"Of course!" Hermione says with dignity.

"Madame Pomfrey, may I ask how is it that Ginny could've been close to death from a storm?" Hermione enquired.

"When Mr. Malfoy came rushing to me with her, I felt her pulse and it was so faint! I hurried to get her the elixir, but there were some uh…troubles because Mr. Malfoy insisted to kiss her before leaving, but by the time the elixir was in her, she was so weak, she could only live. The reason is that the poor child was so depressed, and being out in the storm for hours straight, plus she has a very weak form, seeing as how she got sick the last time." Madame Pomfrey explains.

"Thank you." Harry says before the two walked out the door.

"Hermione! What are we going to do!" Harry hissed.

"I'm working on it!" Hermione whispers back as they both head back to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Days have passed. Weeks maybe. Or perhaps even months. Draco had lost count altogether. His days in the hospital wing were daily and he was permitted to skip classes as long as he kept up with his homework. There's been the Weasley confronation that's gone horrible. Now Weasley glares at him whenever he passes, which he's completely fine with. Now Draco sat beside Ginny's hospital bed, grasping her hand tightly and willing her to wake up.

"I love you, Ginny. I didn't mean what I said. If there's anything I can do to wake up you, I'll do it. I promise." He squeezed her hand tightly. It flinched. His eyes widened, and he squeezed it again.

"Another rose will be nice." Ginny's frail voice murmured.

Both surprised and happy, Draco jumped in the air and magically composed one for her on the spot as Ginny's eyes fluttered open.

"Ginny! You're awake! You're up! Merlin! Bloody hell!" Draco whopped still running all over the place. "Do you need a glass of water? Or maybe some food? You must be hungry! What do you want? Egg salad? No, that's cold, it won't do your stomach good. What about some toast? No. The butter's too oily. What about spaghetti? No, there are tomatoes. You hate tomatoes. Or do you like them? I forgot." Draco rambled, all the items flying in all directions to the tray on Ginny's bedside table.

Ginny let out a little laugh, massaging her temples. "A glass of water will do."

He hurriedly brought it to her like a little boy who was showing his mother his newest toy.

"Oh Ginny. I love you." He murmured.

"I know." She smiled the best smile she can muster from her weak self.

Then another thought burst into Draco's head.

"Madame Pomfrey! Madame Pomfrey!" He shouts, flailing his arms in the air like a maniac. "She's awake! She's up! Come! Come!"

"Mr. Malfoy, if you continue this racket, I will have no choice but to-" Madame Pomfrey stopped mid sentence when she came out of the other room.

"Why Miss Weasley! Look at yourself! You are up and about!" Madame Pomfrey exclaims, rushing over to feel her forehead. "It seems to me a few more days at the wing will do you good."

Ginny just nodded.

Then Madame Pomfrey turned to Draco. "Well, what are you doing standing there! Go get her some nutritious food! She need some more energy to get healthy!" She scolded.

Quickly, Draco scampered out the door towards the great hall in search for food.

"Just where do you think you're going with all that food!" Ron selfishly demanded as Draco passed him with a huge plateful of food.

"To your sister." Draco smirked.

Ron's jaw dropped mid-chew. "My sister is awake and no one tells me! What has the world come to!" He quickly jumps from his seat and followed Draco indignantly with the Harry, Hermione and Colin after him.

"Ginny!" Ron flies to her bedside.

"I'm fine." Ginny murmurs before everyone starts to hurl questions at her.

Ron's eyes are wide and his mouth is open starring at her in shock.

"Are you ok? Feeling better? Hot? Cold? Need me to turn the temperature down? Are you thirsty? Hungry? What would you like to drink? Juice? What kind? Pumpkin? Apple? Grape? Pear?" Ron rambles on.

Ginny smiles. "Ron. I don't even think there's such things as Pear juice."

"Oh." Ron's face turns a light shade of pink before he continues rambling. "Are you hungry then? What would you like to eat? Pizza? No. That's too oily. It must be bad. Is oil bad for you? I think it is. What about apple slices? No. Maybe they'll have worms in them."

"Ron, I think Ginny just needs some rest." Hermione steps in to prevent Ron from rambling anymore.

"Right." Ron says again.

"I'm fine. Don't worry." Ginny reassures them.

"Here's your food, Ginny." Draco dutifully gives Ginny her platter servant-like style.

Gratefully, Ginny starts to eat and an awkward silence takes place.

"So…are you two together again?" Colin manages to ask, starring at the ground.

Ginny smiled and nodded.

Ron's eyes bulge out. "What! You're getting together with this jerk after what he did to you!" Ron explodes.

"Ron, I love him." Ginny declares.

"Bloody hell! What is wrong with that. Can anyone tell me what is wrong with that! I can't believe you'd do this again, Gin! What has gone into you!" Ron starts as Hermione pulls him outside to talk and explain.

"Well…congratulations, I guess." The crest-fallen Colin musters a smile before leaving.

"Er…I'll go see how 'Mione's doing." Harry says as he walks out, clearly weird out with the situation.

"I guess it's just you and me then." Ginny concludes, taking another bite, facing Draco who was sitting by her bedside.

"Yes, Ginny. Forever." He grasps her hand firmly again and they exchange a smile.

With a gust of wind, an owl swooped in, dropped a letter in his lap and flew off again. He looked at the scrawny writing, recognizing it as his father's immediately. Slowly, he ripped it open and pulls the parchment out.

Draco,

Do not lie to me. You know very well that you are kidding yourself. Think about what will happen to her! Once you become a Death eater, what will she become? Nothing. You'll have no feelings. Where will that leave her! Be rational, my boy. She will be nothing but a mess like your mother. I know you still have feelings for her. Let go, my boy. She will mean nothing to you after you become a death eater. I have sources that tell me that you are still with that pitiful Weasley! Do not shrug off this warning, Draco. If you do not rid of her soon, I will take evasive action instantly.

Lucius malfoy

Draco involuntarily shivered a bit as he finished reading the threatening letter. What would his father do? He knew yet he did not cease to question, would he actually do it? Would he? Of course he would. Nothing is stopping him. It's not as if the Ministry suddenly can stop him, it has never stopped him to kill others. But when Draco thought about it. There were a lot of flaws in this plan. He did not want to become a Death eater. And most of all, he could not live without Ginny. But he was being selfish again. What would Ginny really be after he becomes Death eater who was immune to feelings like his father. He had no choice. He had to rid of her. But just the thought of her breaking and him without her made him miserable. How could he let go of her. He could not. Never. But… He knew he had to. And he would. Soon.

Days passed. Draco still had no mustered up his courage to do so. To prevent Ginny from dying. Better her heart-broken than dead. He couldn't be selfish any longer. He would do it today. With this thought in mind, he started for the hospital wing, ignoring the loud cheers for Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff in the Quidditch Stadium. Who cares who won? Slytherin would face the winning team next week and he had plenty a time to practice.

He walked into the familiar looking room to find Ginny's bed empty. He patiently took a seat in the chair beside it thinking that she had gone to the kitchen or the restroom. He knew she didn't go to the game because the dream team had insisted she stay in bed and rest. Minutes passed. She did not return. Frustrated, he searched her covers knowing it would be empty. Instead of finding a Ginny, he would the same kind of parchment he had received days earlier. Ripping it open frantically, he was once again shameful of his actions.

Draco,

Come to the manor if you want to see her.

"Weasley. You are with my boy, are you not!" The cold voice of Lucius Malfoy questioned angrily, looking at the scarred Ginny who had been chained up by his Bellatrix.

"Yes. He loves me!" Ginny bravely retorted, ignoring the steely eyes of Lucius and Bellatrix.

Lucius could not help but laugh. "Oh does he? He loves no one. He is to become a Death eater-"

"Against his will!" Ginny pointed out, gritting her teeth. "He'll never be a Death eater! Death eaters can't love."

"Which is why he does not love you. It is all a game, Weasley. A fling to him before he graduates." Lucius explains.

"He loves me." Ginny persisted.

"We'll just wait and see, won't we, Weasley?" Lucius challenges.

"Yes. You'll see." Ginny confidently proclaims.

The door flies open and Draco walks in, not even glancing at Ginny.

"Father," Draco says.

"Yes, Draco. I was just telling Weasley here about her childish dreams of you loving her." Lucius tells Draco.

"Ginny," Draco starts. "I thought I told you already. I will never love you." His tone was cold and unfamiliar to her ears. His eyes steely and emotionless.

"I don't believe you." Ginny stubbornly said.

"Very well." Lucius says. "I shall prove it to you."

With that, Bellatrix has been granted permission to attack the unarmed and defenceless Ginny.

For a moment, sorrow flashed through Draco's eyes before he masked them again with a sheet of nothingness as he looks at Bellatrix electrocute Ginny.

"Draco!" Ginny screams for help through all the racket.

Draco remained composed, ignoring the conflict within him.

Meanwhile, Harry and Hermione were looking from the doorway. They had retired after the second half of the game to find Ginny and Draco gone, replaced by a slip of paper. They had rushed here instantly.

"I have to go save her." Harry whispered, watching as Ginny screamed helplessly to the non-yielding Draco.

Hermione gently touches Harry's arm. "This is his battle. He will do something. Surely he won't have the heart to leave her with this torment."

Harry nodded reluctantly and continued to watch.

Draco's insides were burning with pain, but he knew that he had to do this. If he did not, the pain she will go through staying with him will become magnified by thousands. So he watched on, praying that something would happen, praying that his father's plans were not that cruel, praying that if he agreed to become a Death eater they would let Ginny free.

At last, Harry could not take it anymore. He burst from his hiding place and pointed his wand at both Bellatrix and Lucius. Lucius merely chuckled as Hermione rushed to free the death ridden Ginny from the chains. Bellatrix looked at Lucius for instructions.

"Let them go. They are powerless to Lord Voldemort." Lucius commands as both Harry and Hermione supported the limp and fraying, but most of all downcast Ginny out of the room and away from the Malfoys.

"This is not the end, Lucius! You will pay for this." Harry menacingly threatens.

"Do not throw empty threats at me, Potter. I look forward to see you die before Lord Voldemort." Lucius laughs again as they disappeared from sight.

"Everything will be ok." Hermione reassures Ginny as they returned to Hogwarts.

"Please don't tell Ron. Or anyone." Ginny pleas.

Hermioned thought about it for a while. "Ok. We won't." Hermione promised, looking sympathetically at the weak and poor girl.

Ginny turned away from the both of them. She has been dreaming. It has been fake.

"I don't love him anymore." She murmured to herself and tears fell from her eyes, washing away the fantasy forever.