A/N: This was the last day of actual school. I have to go back for testing in a couple days and then there's graduation, but most of my time now will be devoted to my various fanfictions. Enjoy. I thought that you would appreciate a lighter chapter after the tough one I dished out last week. But the end dives right back into the action.

Disclaimer: It is with very deep regret that I must inform you that I do not own any of the characters from the Harry Potter books. Those rights belong to one JK Rowlings, who simply will not give them up to a mere fanfiction author like me.

Warning: Cutting at the end along with misuse of alcohol by a minor. Do Not Under Any Circumstance, Cut Yourself In Order To Dissuade A Friend From Cutting. Only In My Fiction Will This Work. Go To An Adult Or A Professional. Thank you.

I Never Thought I Would Be A Hero

Original Dark Angel

Chapter 4: Unnecessary Competition

"This is a very bad idea, Draco. You can barely fly, let alone dodge bludgers and chase the snitch," Ginny protested. "Let Blaise play."

"Father expects me to play. And I don't want Potter and the rest to know."

"They'll find out if you fall off your broom and get sent to the Hospital Wing."

"I won't. I'll be fine. Careful even. Pass the marmalade."

"Cousin, I do hope you're going to bring a Slytherin victory." Lucas slapped Draco on the back in a 'friendly' gesture. Draco cringed, but nodded.

"Drakey, do you need one of my famous good luck back rubs?" Pansy asked with a vindictive smile, reaching for him, but Ginny was faster.

"He's my boyfriend, Pansy. Come on, Draco." She pulled him away and down a neglected corridor. "Off with the shirt and let me see the damage."

"I'm fine."

"Off!"

"All right. All right." He peeled off the black t-shirt, wincing as he did so.

Ginny ran her fingers over the cuts. "You're lucky."

"I know. I have to go. I'll see you at the match." He pulled his shirt back on and kissed her quickly on the cheek. "Bye!" Ginny watched him go.

Ginny watched nervously. Draco wasn't playing well and the last swerve had almost thrown him off his broomstick. It had been close to two hours and no sign of the snitch. Gryffindor was 140 points vs. Slytherin's zero. The ice and snow were terrible.

"100 galleons say Draco doesn't get the snitch." Ginny was careful to pretend that she hadn't heard. Lucas continued. "It's a sure hundred for me, Zabini. What do you say?"

"You're on!" Blaise exclaimed. "I have faith in Draco. He'll get a hold of the snitch."

Ginny had heard enough. She turned to Blaise. "They'll be calling a time out soon. I want to go see Draco. Save my seat?"

"Sure, Ginny."

Ginny practically leapt down the stairs. She only had a few minutes to change.

Draco wearily dropped his broom, and collapsed on the bench. He felt something dig into his back and turned. The bracelet he'd given Ginny for Christmas, hung on a protruding nail. "Flint! I need to get my other boots. The clasps on these ones are broken."

"Be right back and ready to fly."

"Sure." He headed into the locker room, carrying his broomstick, so it looked like he'd been telling the truth. He stopped short. Ginny was waiting dressed in his spare quidditch robes. "What on earth?"

"Give me your hat and goggles. I'm you for the rest of the match."

"I'm a head taller than you."

They won't be able to tell if I'm flying."

"I can do this, Ginny."

"Not with your back. Lucas is making bets against you. If I beat Harry, he'll lose a ton of cash. If not, at least you won't kill yourself trying." She tugged his cap over her flame red hair. "Wish me luck."

He stared down at her, dressed in the robes of a house she hated in order to spare him. For a second he fought the impulse to hug her, before giving in. "Good luck." She was startled by the embrace but returned it before running off.

Ginny zoomed out and up to her place above the gave, watching desperately for the snitch. Katie scored two more goals. Then Ginny saw the glint of gold, against the snow. She dove. Harry was streaking across the pitch. The snitch darted upward and Ginny back-flipped to avoid collision with Harry. Using a burst of speed, she grabbed the snitch and held it up. The Slytherin crowd went wild as she tossed it to Madame Hooch and zoomed towards the Slytherin locker room. Knowing she had a scant minute before the rest of the team followed, she tossed Draco's things in his locker, explaining as she went. "Gryffindor won 160 to 150, but you caught the snitch after a nearly vertical dive, averting collision with Harry by using a quick back-flip, before snatching the snitch. Harry had to race across the pitch, so it wasn't a race between you two. Got it?" He nodded and she ran out the back way, already hearing the team coming in.

Draco looked up as the rest of the team came in. "Sorry."

"Don't be. You caught the Snitch. Potter won't forget that for a long time. We're going up to the castle and using the prefect bathroom to clean up."

"I'll stay here, thanks."

"Suit yourself." Flint started out. "Hi, Ginny."

"Hey, Flint. Draco, that was a great catch." Ginny hugged him. She had ditched his spare robes somewhere, and her hair was sprinkled with snow. He hugged her close and kissed her forehead. "Love you," she whispered.

"Love you too, Ginny. I'll meet you in the Great Hall."

"Alright." She kissed his cheek and ran out. The rest of his teammates followed her. With a sigh, he turned back to his locker and carefully pulled off his shirt.

"Who took a whip to you, Malfoy?"

Draco spun around. Potter was standing in the doorway staring at him in shock. "Slytherin locker room, Potter. Get out."

"Just wanted to congratulate you on your catch."

"You did. Get lost and not a word to anyone."

"Sure." Potter shrugged and walked out.

"Ginny!" Harry caught her wrist on her way out of the common room. "It wasn't Malfoy playing after the time out was it?"

"What are you talking about, Potter?"

"He couldn't have pulled off that back-flip with that fresh a set of whip marks."

Ginny went pale. "What do you know about the whipping?"

"I saw the marks. You're helping him cover it up. I knew you were a good seeker, but I didn't imagine you'd play for another team."

"It was a one-time thing. I'm sorry, but I can't explain."

"Who whipped him? There had to be close to twenty slashes across his back. Why doesn't he go to Madame Pomfrey?"

Ginny grew angry. Did he think it was that simple? As easy as a visit to the school nurse? "Be glad you're the hero, Harry Potter. You wouldn't last long if you were playing Draco's part. I have to go. Draco's waiting for me." She stalked past him and left through the portrait hole.

"Nice back-flip Ginny pulled off today, huh, Draco?" Blaise asked from his position reading by the fire. Draco stopped short on his way to the dormitory. "You know, right before she caught the snitch."

"What did you say?" he asked guardedly.

"Potter wasn't the only one who went to congratulate you. You couldn't have played like that. It wasn't hard to figure out. Ginny leaves. Time out. And all of a sudden our seeker can move and play. I'm not an idiot, Draco."

"Blaise-"

"He whipped you for dating her, didn't he? Did he hurt her too?"

Draco shook his head vehemently. "I'd die before I let him touch her."

"Good. Tomorrow play sick, so you can rest. After that match, you need it."

"Fine, 'Mother.'"

"Someone has to help Ginny keep you alive," Blaise maintained stubbornly. "Go to bed and stay there. I'll keep an eye on Ginny for you so Lucas doesn't start something."

"Blaise?"

"What?"

"Thanks."

"Ginny!" Ginny's eyes fluttered open to see Hermione hovering above her. She had fallen asleep studying in the common room after everyone had gone to bed. "Ginny, wake up."

"I'm awake. What's up?"

"Harry told me about Malfoy. This is essence of murtlap. It stinks to high heaven but it'll help heal the cuts."

"Thank you."

"No problem. Get to bed. It's after midnight!"

"Yes, 'Mother.'"

"Boring. Professor Binns hasn't deviated in subject matter since the Goblin Wars he likes to talk about. History of Magic is stupid. At least I get to drop it after this year."

"Lucky you," Draco said, dryly. "Sadly, I have to continue the class in order to take on being a teacher."

"You want to teach potions or DADA. Why would you need extra History classes?"

"General knowledge, I guess. You can have my notes to study if you can read them."

"Maybe given a magnifying glass and a team of translators," Ginny teased, good naturedly. Since the Quidditch match, laughing with Draco became easier, and it was real.

He looked up startled. "It's not that bad."

"Mate, Ginny's right. Your handwriting is indistinguishable from a trolls. So by the way is your hair. The constant snogging sessions leave you as disheveled as Longbottom, Potter, and Weasley-no offense, Ginny."

Before Ginny could answer, Draco scowled. "Ha-ha. Very funny."

"You should let me spike it like the muggle boys do sometime," Ginny offered sweetly. "It'll be good for you bad boy image."

"What image? What you see is what you get," Draco growled.

"I'm kidding, but it would look good on you."

"Never." Draco caught her and kissed her until the bell rang. "We're late again."

"Like we care."

"Good point. Go ahead, Blaise. I'll catch up."

"Whatever . Want me to make up an excuse for McGonagall?"

"The migraine one."

"Got it. See you two later." Blaise started off, and Draco hurried her into an empty classroom. "Code. Dumbledore will be here in a minute."

"What if you actually get a migraine?"

"I don't get migraines unless I'm having seizures," he said over his shoulder as he closed the blinds.

Ginny froze. "You have seizures?"

He looked up from the book he was now examining, surprised at her reaction. "Yeah, rarely anymore, but as a kid, what with all the beatings, it was two or three times a week."

"Why didn't you tell me that! That whipping could have sparked one. Damn it, Malfoy-"

He grabbed her arms. "Relax. Relax. I haven't had one since my father was put in Azkaban. If I have one at school, Blaise knows what to do. If I have one at the manor, ring a house-elf. Don't stress over it."

"With everything trying to kill you, I'm surprised you lived this long."

He smirked. "I'm stubborn, hard to get rid of, and I always get my way."

"You wish."

"Draco, Ginny."

Draco moved away from Ginny. "Headmaster." Dumbledore gestured for them to have a seat. "Sir, we have a problem."

"I know. Fudge is dead, leaving a tangled web at the ministry. Umbridge is trying to keep an iron hand on things, but security is lax. I'm spending more time at the ministry than at the school, and the laws have stepped up. I've been ordered to have the deatheaters children frisked daily, their dormitories searched and restrict them from Hogsmeade. I managed to overturn the last one but it wasn't easy. I need an account of what happened at that ball."

"Not much. It was only half an hour long. Guests arrived. We entered. Lucius pulled a dirty prank with a fixed memory recaller. Father and Aunt Bellatrix walked in seconds after midnight during the expected traditional good luck kiss. Father blew up at me, just as Lucas announced the minister's death. Blamed it on a faulty rocket from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Father ended the ball and sent everyone away. I got a whipping and Ginny took care of me. How did they get out of Azkaban, sir?"

Dumbledore was grave. "The dementors have joined Voldemort. The prison break killed three aurors, including Kingsley Shacklebolt."

Ginny fought back tears. She had liked the auror. "I'm sorry." Draco slipped an arm around her, and she leaned into him. "I hate war."

"I know, Ginny. We need to find an advantage soon."

"I don't think I'm cut out for a spy. I haven't done anything, but pretend to date Draco."

"Originally, that was all we intended you to do. It would keep Miss Parkinson from following him around and you could deliver his messages, but you have risen far above our expectations. You distracted Mr. Lestrange, so that Harry was able to steal Mr. Lestrange's diary. You overheard a conversation and got word to me quickly, saving my life. You cared for Draco's injuries, and helped him cover them up, winning a quidditch game in his stead." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled in amusement. "Yes, I know about your little switch. You're a very talented spy. Quick-witted, intelligent, an excellent actress, takes orders and ready for anything. You earned the trust and affection of Narcissa Malfoy and the Zabini family."

Draco nodded. "I didn't like the idea of working with someone else after five years working solo. Now you're the only one that I would even consider trusting."

"I didn't actually intend to distract Lucas. I had no real say in the matter."

"But you didn't chicken out. No one would have blamed you if you had, but you didn't give it up." Draco's tone didn't give room for arguing, but Ginny tried anyway.

"The pretend dating was why you were whipped."

"Lucas would have come up with an excuse to have me whipped or beaten anyway."

"We haven't had a real confrontation with Mr. Lestrange yet. His diary proves him to be dangerous to both of you. He hates Draco and the majority of the diary obsessed over Ginny."

"He's sick, twisted, and violent," Draco said flatly. "We'll watch out for him. We always do."

Valentines Day found Ginny surrounded by flowers. Draco had made a point of presenting her with a dozen red roses. She'd gotten a tiny bouquet of yellow tulips from Blaise, and some pansies from Ron, not including the dead bouquet of black roses from Lucas. But she didn't get the bouquet that she really wanted. One that represented her new friendship with Draco. The roses didn't count. They were just part of the act. It shouldn't have bothered her, but it did. One pleasant surprise was the white rose that someone had placed in her book-bag. She thought it might have been an apology from Harry, but she doubted he would admit to being wrong. So the identity of her white rose giver remained secret, and she sort of hoped it was from Draco, but he said nothing about it.
Ginny was studying in the library alone, waiting for Draco to get out of his detention for skipping History of Magic. Someone sat across from her, and idly she glanced up. Then realization sank in, and she leapt out of her seat. "Percy!" Her brother laughed and let her hug him. Ginny knelt and started to pick up the papers and books that she had knocked down. "I haven't seen you in ages. What are you doing here?"

Percy knelt and began helping her. "Actually, I wanted to . . ." He paused. "What's this?"

Ginny looked up. Percy held three photos. One Colin Creevey had taken of her draped across Draco's lap, listening to what he was whispering in her ear, both smirking, suitable for the cover of one of Draco's Anne Rice novels. Another was a snap shot Blaise had taken of her and Draco wrestling over the last piece of a chocolate bar that Draco was easily holding out of her reach, laughing. The third had been taken the same day. She had both arms wrapped around Draco's neck as he gave her a piggyback ride. All second nature to her, but she realized that Percy didn't know a thing about this. He looked horrified.

"Are . . .are you dating MALFOY?" Percy didn't wait for a response. "He's our family's enemy! He's the son of a deatheater!"

"I like him!"

Percy spun around and slapped her. Then his mouth dropped open, but before he could apologize, a whir of black robes knocked him to the floor.

Draco drove his fist into Percy's nose. "Don't touch her! She's your sister, damn it! Never hit a girl, let alone MY girlfriend!" Percy seemed to have regained his senses and began fighting back, but Draco was better. He would have won if Ron and Harry hadn't walked in. Seeing Percy in trouble, they hurried to drag Draco off of him. He pulled away and joined Ginny, snatching up her books. "We're out of here." He led her out, stopping just outside the door to run long pale fingers over the red handprint on her cheek. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine."

He studied her for a moment, nodded and kissed her forehead. One arm still wrapped around her shoulders, he hurried her towards the Great Hall.

"Cousin Draco! Stop! I have a letter for you!" Draco paused and snatched the letter out of Lucas's hands. "Uncle Lucius sends his regards," Lucas smirked. Draco stiffened and went directly to his dormitory to read it in private.

Draco- You're initiation takes place over the Easter Holiday. Come home and take the mark. Bring the Weasley. –Lucius

Draco crumpled the parchment and shoved it inside the pocket of his robes. Then he picked up his remembrall and hurled it at the mirror. Glass shattered everywhere. He snatched up a piece of the glass and studied the edge. Not sharp enough. He pulled his pocket-knife out and carved deep slashes into his wrist. Then he shoved the knife back in his pocket and stalked towards the Great Hall. Pansy rushed towards him. "Off!" he barked. He kicked his chair and dropped into it.

Ginny leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Rough morning, Draco?"

Draco leapt to his feet. "Bloody hell! You're as bad as Parkinson!" He tossed his chair aside, almost hitting a second year. "I'm going to Hogsmeade," he said brusquely, avoiding the hurt and frightened expression on her face. He kicked the overturned chair on his way out.

Ginny sat there stunned for a second. Tears started running down her face, she stared after him. He hadn't said something that hurtful to her in a year. Blaise leaned over and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll go after him, Ginny. Don't listen to him. He loves you more than anything. Something must be wrong. He loves you."

She smiled sadly at him. "I know."

"Good girl. And it might be a good idea to hang with your brother today. Just until Draco and I get back."

"You got it." Ginny watched him leave and promptly ignored his advice. She blew off her tutoring session and ran outside. She didn't know where she was going until she stood in front of the whomping willow. Draco's words came back to her. "Power is all you need. But a reason makes it ten times easier." Without another thought, she grabbed one of the flailing branches, and pulled herself onto it. Two minutes later she sat in the upper branches and let the tears fall freely. She sat up there for the better part of an hour, refusing to think, and ignoring Professor Lupin when he came out looking for her. Then she saw something odd shaped coming back from Hogsmeade. She slipped down and hit the magic knot so she could walk away unscathed. The odd shape came closer and she realized that it was two boys, one supporting the other's weight. She gasped; the unconscious one was Draco.

"Draco!" Ginny started running towards the pair. "Blaise, what happened?"

Blaise smiled grimly, as he shouldered more of Draco's weight. "He got drunk. That's what happened. Never could handle his whiskey, poor kid. Crabbe and Goyle talked him into a drinking contest at the Hogs Head."

"How much did he drink?"

"There were six empty bottles in front of him alone. He passed out about five minutes ago."

"Room of Requirement. This way." Ginny led Blaise to the door and opened it. "In here."

"Sit down, so I can lay his head in your lap." Carefully, Blaise maneuvered Draco onto the couch. "Well at least he has seven hours to sleep it off before curfew. There's a restoring potion over there, that you can give him when he wakes up." Ginny nodded absently, smoothing Draco's hair back from his face. He looked so young and vulnerable, that the idea of him shouldering this much responsibility was ludicrous. There was no resemblance to the arrogant jerk who always had a comeback, whom she had hated for so many years. Asleep like this the years fell away, reducing him to the eleven year old innocence he had been before. She looked up at Blaise; he was worried. "Ginny , when I came in, he was announcing that he didn't want to be a deatheater and his father could suck eggs for all he cared. Is that true?" Looking up at Blaise's worried expression, Ginny made a decision she would never regret. She nodded. He swallowed. "I'll go do damage control. You take care of Draco." He started towards the door, and then turned back. "I'll take care of it. You can trust me." Then he left.

Ginny stared down at Draco. "I hate you, Draco Malfoy. I hate how much this hurts you I hate you for doing it anyway. And that shouldn't bother me, but it does. It bothers me because I've seen the real you and stupid me, I went and fell in love with someone I shouldn't, yet again. I love you Draco Malfoy, and I know better than anyone how this is killing you inside. I can see it." Tears fell from her face bathing his.

Blaise walked in to find Ginny asleep too, one hand tangled in Draco's hair. He walked over and shook her shoulder. "Brought you something to eat." She took the pasty. "We should probably try to wake him up now." He saw the tearstained cheeks. "Ginny . . ."

"I'm fine." She combed her fingers through Draco's hair. "You want to try or should I?"

"Shaking him won't help, but if you kiss him, he'll be awake in a second." Ginny leaned over, her red hair spilling forward in a soft curtain, as she kissed him persuasively. As Blaise predicted, Draco was awake almost instantly. "Mate, you're an idiot and a pathetic drunk."

"Figured that out about ten seconds before everything went black." He slowly sat up, wincing sharply.

"You all right?" Ginny asked, seeking reassurance that this incident had not permanently scarred him.

"Just a killer headache, Ginny. I'll be good if you'll get me that restoring potion." Ginny turned to obey. "Blaise, what did I say?"

"Stuff you'll regret, but don't worry. A couple of memory charms took care of the two trolls. I'm your friend, Draco. You can trust me. You need to learn how to do that, Draco. Trust me and Ginny, because we don't want you to get hurt. You've got a girlfriend who loves you. Don't push her away the way you do me." Blaise stalked out of the room, leaving them together.

"We do have him fooled," Draco remarked dryly, reaching to take the potion, not noticing the sleeve of his robe fall back revealing the fresh cuts. Ginny dropped the potion. "Watch it," he snapped, catching the bottle, before realizing his mistake.

"You promised."

"Malfoys are famous for breaking promises. Don't get all teary."

"Show me the knife."

"You can take it away. I'll just buy another," he said, pulling the silver knife with his name on it from his robe pocket.

"I'm not taking it away." Ginny pulled her own sleeve back. "Cut my wrist."

Draco pulled back like he'd been bitten. "Like hell!"

"I mean it."

"I won't do it!" Draco roared. Ginny darted forward and snatched it from his grasp. "Ginny, don't. Please, Ginny." She flipped the blade open and made a quick slash movement across her wrist, before setting it down. "Ginny?" he begged, tears starting to fall. 'Why?" She moved forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. He wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry."

"I know. I know." She held onto him tightly. "I love you, Draco Malfoy."

He stiffened. "Say that again."

"I love you."

Ginny was suddenly crushed in an even tighter embrace. "I love you too," he whispered huskily.

"I know."

"Good, because it took me the longest time to figure it out," he chuckled.

"When did you know?"

"When I saw your brother hit you. I saw red. Didn't even think, I just tackled him. You?"

"When your father whipped you. You tried so hard to pretend it was nothing and you walked straight in there with no fear even though you knew there would be a painful punishment. Watching you sleep that night, I never felt so worried and protective. If Lucas had dared try anything, I would have jinxed him into the next century."

"Sounds good to me." He let go of her for a moment and smirked. "Do you remember how I always get what I want? I did it again."

"This is the only time you're right," Ginny warned, then hugged him again, resting her head against his chest. "But I'm so glad you are."

"Me too. I love you."

"I love you."

Blaise poked his head in having returned in search of them and catching the last bit. "I love you both. Can we please go to dinner now?"

Ginny giggled at Draco's murderous look. "We're coming, Blaise." She intertwined her fingers with Draco's. "We are coming."