Though they had met at the tree for weeks now, neither had been too keen to get into lengthy discussions about their lives, and that was okay. It meant, however, that Draco had absolutely no idea what was going on.
"Ginny? Are you alright?" he asked as he sat down.
"Not entirely, no." Ginny was trying very hard to stay calm. No need to go and lose yourself now over something so stupid! she thought rationally.
"What is it? Is there anything I can do?" Draco had never been much with the comforting, but he was concerned. She had gotten an owl that morning at breakfast and had been in a mood all day.
She looked over at him, and the look in his eyes made her fall a little. He really cares. Well maybe it won't hurt to just show him the letter. Ginny sighed and reached into her bag. She handed the letter to Draco without looking at him. She knew if she did, she would lose the composure that she was trying desperately to hold on to.
Draco took the letter curiously and read: 'Dear Gin, I saw a girl who looked just like you on the street the other day and it made me think of you. I hope you are okay. Love, Ron.' He continued to the next section of the letter. 'Dearest Ginny, I know it has been ages, but we can't very well send off owls every day. I miss you, but I am glad that you aren't here with us. It is getting more and more dangerous everyday, I fear. I think about you lots and hope you are thinking of me. Harry.' Draco became angry quickly, but did not let this emotion out. He wasn't sure what it was- jealousy? And finally, 'Dear Ginny, How are you? I hope Crookshanks hasn't been too much of a bother. I've heard that there aren't many students at Hogwarts this year. I bet you are learning loads. I am jealous that you are getting such individual attention, but this is important too. Anyway, learn lots for me. Missing you, Hermione.' Draco turned it over looking for what had upset her. There was nothing else.
The letter seemed alright to him. No tragic news, no rude remarks. Not much of anything really. Except Potter missing Ginny. Draco wondered if that was why Ginny was so upset. He knew that they had dated.
"Do you miss him?" Draco asked trying to be tactful, but wanting to spit the words out as if they were venom.
"Who Harry?" Ginny looked at him incredulously. "Of course not. Well, I suppose I miss them all, but certainly not him in that way." She said it as if she was disgusted by the thought of it, and Draco was cheered though he knew not why.
"What is it then?"
Ginny sighed again and looked at his questioning expression. He is cute when he is curious. Too bad he isn't curious all that often. Probably thinks he already knows everything worth knowing. She smiled a little and began.
"There is absolutely nothing in that letter. Two months have passed and not a word. Then I get this?" She snatched the letter from him and shook it frustratedly. "Nothing but: how are you? I miss you. We used to be close. Well I suppose not really all that close. It was always the three of them, then me. But I was used to that when we were together as a group. One on one, we were great. Ron was always my closest brother. We spent almost all of our time together before he started Hogwarts. And now he doesn't think of me until he sees a girl that looks like me?" Ginny let out a grunt.
"And Hermione. She was always my closest girl friend. She's not into hair and clothes and all, which I appreciate. We got on really well, especially after the summer before fifth year. And yet, she cares more about the classes than me. No encouraging words after my three best friends ditched me out of the blue one-day." Ginny paused and looked out toward the lake before continuing. Draco wondered if he should say something, but she began again before he had the chance.
"And then there is Harry. When I was younger, I fancied myself in love with him. Well, of course you know that, you read my valentine to the school." She looked pointedly at him as if daring him to mock her.
"Sorry about that. It was stupid of me." Draco looked down at his hands.
Ginny was surprised, but continued. "Then wouldn't you know, we started dating last year and everything was great. I was fully accepted into their little trio, and I thought everything was going to be fine." She trailed off a little, and Draco was irritated by the far off look in her face. It seemed she was fondly remembering Saint Potter.
"Then, everything happened with Dumbledore," she snuck a look at Draco, but he had looked away, "and he broke up with me at the funeral." Draco looked quickly back at her, his face surprised.
"Why?"
"He said that I would be in danger. That Voldemort would target me if they knew we were close. I think it is rubbish. They can target Ron and Hermione, but that isn't stopping him from letting them go. He didn't want me there, and I can handle that. No one really thinks I can handle myself. They all think I am still just a child," she said bitterly.
"I don't," Draco said off-handedly. Noticing the look on Ginny's face, he continued, "I've had to deal with some of your hexes. Right nasty, if you ask me. If they had ever had to deal with one of your bat bogey hexes, they would know you do just fine on your own." Ginny smiled and shook her head.
"Sorry about that."
"Don't apologize, I deserved it. Always stirring up trouble…" he faded away looking wistfully at Ginny's small, sad smile.
"Anyway, ever since that business with the Chamber of Secrets no one has trusted me to take care of myself, and being the youngest of seven and only girl, that is a problem." At the mention of the Chamber, Draco blanched slightly. Ginny noticed, and said, "It's fine. I'm fine."
"This is really the first time you've heard from them after that day on the train?" Draco had figured that something happened that day. He had walked into a train car full of tension, but the trio was there. Then they never showed up at Hogwarts and Ginny stopped talking. He had felt a bond with her since he saw her stumble into his compartment looking so lost. And then her biting comment had reminded him how spirited she was, and he admired her all the more.
"Yes." Ginny looked away onto the lake. She was feeling hurt and frustrated, but she felt immensely better after getting it out to someone.
There was a cold breeze blowing over the lake, and Ginny pulled her thin cloak tighter around her shoulders. Draco noticed, took off his cloak, and wrapped it over her shoulders.
"Won't you be cold?" she asked. He shook his head. "Thank you."
As Draco gazed as the small redheaded girl huddled under his cloak, he suddenly felt the need to talk. He wanted to tell her things. And he never wanted to tell anyone anything, so that in itself was surprising.
"You know about what happened, don't you? In the astronomy tower?"
Ginny was caught completely off-guard. She stared at him wide-eyed a moment before nodding slightly. "Harry was up there. He told me what you did. Or rather, what you didn't do." It was difficult to discuss this with him. Even if he had not been responsible to Dumbledore's death, he had let those people, those monsters, into the school. Bill was irreversibly changed.
He must have seen the look of pain flash across her face. "I heard about your brother." He looked down at his hands. "I am really sorry. I know that will never be enough, but I am." Draco sighed.
Ginny studied his face a moment, then said, "You know I don't really blame you. You had no choice. It was your family on the line. You did what you had to do, and you did not attack my brother. Greyback did." She hadn't known what she was going to say. She didn't even know she thought that until she said it.
He turned to her, and Ginny had never seen anyone's eyes so full of emotion. Certainly not him. The usual dull grey of his eyes was a shimmering silver. He has beautiful eyes, she thought and smiled at him and the disbelief she saw swimming in his eyes.
"Thank you," he whispered before turning away.
Silence passed. Minutes passed. Finally, Ginny heard him say quietly, "He said that he would protect her. He said he would protect my mother." Ginny saw his back shudder, then still.
How do you respond to that? More silence. Then, "But it was too late. He was gone and I had disobeyed my orders. That thing took her from me. Even took my father." He took a few deep breaths.
"After that, Professor McGonagall told me that I could come back here. I had no place to go. My godfather did what I could not and would not, and for that, I could not stay with him. I was disowned by all of my friends. Not that I had many left after last year, mind you. I was a mess and no one wanted anything to do with me. I had no one. I have no one," he finished dejectedly.
Ginny gave a small chuckle and he looked at her astonished. He wondered how she could laugh at him after all that he just said.
"That is where you are wrong," she said still smiling, "You have me. I am your friend."
Draco just stared at her. He did not know what to say or think. He didn't know what to do. He shivered a little.
"Let's get you inside. It's cold and you insist upon giving me your cloak." She reached her hand out to him, and he grabbed it to stand up. When he was standing, she moved in and gave him a hug. When they broke away, he looked so dumbfounded and astonished that she laughed out loud.
"Oh honestly, I'm not all that bad," and with that, Ginny started to walk toward the castle with him trailing behind.
He stared at her back as she walked wondering what on earth had just happened.