A/N-Am I updating too fast? I just can't stop writing! I hope I didn't just jinx myself! Lot's of action in this one! I hope you like it!
Chapter six
Ginny awoke the next morning with intense excitement for her upcoming potions class. She was finally going to learn something more complex than in her opinion, remedial potions. She walked into the Great Hall and sat next to Luna. "Ginny! I've been looking for you. I got your owl shortly after I spoke with Ron that day. There was just no way of covering up. I'm so sorry. Is everything okay?"
"It's okay Luna, Ron and I already discussed it." Ginny said reassuringly.
"No Ginny, I mean are you okay? You seemed so secretive in the letter. You were hiding something. Who were you actually with?" Luna said casting her large misty eyes upon Ginny.
"I'm fine. Something happ- I mean I just needed some time to be away from everyone to think about some things. I stayed with a friend that my family wouldn't approve of." Ginny said.
"Who?" Luna asked ignoring Ginny's attempt to be discreet.
"No one that matters now Luna. I have to go. See you!" Ginny said leaving abruptly.
She walked out of the Great Hall and began to head to potions class when someone hiding behind a statue tripped her in the corridor. Ginny fell on her hands and knees. Looking up, she could see Pansy standing over her with her arms crossed, smiling widely. "Looking for spare change Weasley?" Pansy said with satisfaction.
As Ginny stood she looked to see if anyone was around. Oddly, the corridor was empty. "Is that how you confront your enemies Parkinson? While hiding? Now that's brave. So, you've got my attention what are you going to do with it now?" Ginny asked daring her to escalate the situation.
Pansy's smile began to fade wondering why Ginny hadn't run away in the other direction. She pointed her wand at Ginny. "You don't have your trio of friends here to protect you poor girl. Are you prepared to face me alone?"
"Oh yes….No wands though Pansy." Ginny said tucking her's away and pulled her hair back quickly in a pony tail.
"Leave it to a muggle lover to settle it the muggle way. You have got to be kidding me right?" Pansy said gesturing for Ginny to raise her wand.
"Scared are you? Don't you want to show Malfoy how much you love being treated like one of his house elves? Come on Pansy, fight for him!" Ginny continued to egg her on.
"You're as laughable as your parents!" Pansy said in disgust. With that comment Ginny charged Pansy and punched her right in the nose breaking it. Pansy screamed as blood seeped from her nose and Ginny threw her to the ground punching every inch of her. Pansy some how got a hold of Ginny's arms and tossed her to the side and tried to get up and run. Ginny grabbed a hold of Pansy's almost fully extended leg and dragged her back down scratching and punching her face. They began to roll around elbowing, biting, and pulling each other's hair. The fight went on for at least five minutes as no one was there to stop it. Suddenly, Pansy screamed in Pain "OW! OW! Stop!" Ginny had just punched her clean in the nose again. Realizing that Pansy was giving up, Ginny let go of her and got up.
"Stay away from me Parkinson. You can keep your precious Drakiepoo….Not that he wants you." Ginny said as she spit blood from her lip onto the stone floor next to where Pansy was laying holding her broken nose and breathing heavily. Ginny went straight to the restroom to tidy herself up. She was surely late for potions so she didn't want to draw anymore attention to herself with the wounds of the fight. Her robes were a little torn and her lip was still bleeding but other than a few scratches, Pansy got the worst of it.
She could hear Professor Snape's voice carrying through the dungeons and becoming increasingly louder. The closer she got, the harder her heart pounded. She walked into the classroom and everyone turned to look at her. "Ah, Miss Weasley. You've decided to grace us with your presence. Class, Miss Weasley feels that sixth year potions is much too remedial for her to attend so she will be joining us for the remainder of the year. It appears that she also feels it is unnecessary for her to show up on time. Based on your disheveled appearance, I will assume you're not tardy due to grooming. Because of your arrogance, you have already disrupted our first lesson. If it would not be too tedious for you, I ask that you take your seat." He gestured in Draco's direction. Ginny ignored the gesture and sat next to Hermione who was wondering why her lip was bleeding. "Once again, Miss Weasley finds it unnecessary to follow simple directions. You wanted a challenge Miss Weasley, you've got it. You will be partnering with Mr. Malfoy."
Ginny cringed and walked over to Draco who was looking at her with a concerned look. She ignored it and sat down facing the board. Snape continued his lesson. Draco leaned over to her. "What happened to you? You look like you did that night. Are you alright?" He said whispering in her ear.
"I'm fine. Just got into a small scuffle that's all. No big deal." Ginny said trying to pay attention to Snape. Just then, Pansy walked in looking a mess. Her eyes and nose were swelling and she also had a bloody lip. Her clothes weren't torn but were dirty along with her hair. Her arms and legs were scraped and bleeding. Once again the entire class was staring.
"Miss Parkinson! You look like you've been attacked. You need to go to the hospital wing immediately." Snape demanded.
"I just left there sir. Madam Pomrfey's done all that she can. I'd rather not miss class." Pansy's jaw dropped when she saw Ginny sitting in her seat.
"Well if you insist, but you will be pairing with Miss Granger from now on. Miss Weasley has taken your place with Mr. Malfoy." Snape said in a more casual tone than he used with Ginny.
"But sir, I." Pansy looked as if she was going to lose it any minute. Snape said that Ginny had taken her place with Malfoy. This just didn't seem to be Pansy's day.
"Sit Miss Parkinson! No more interruptions!" Snape shouted. Pansy stormed over to the seat next to Hermione and plopped down. She crossed her arms, laid them on the desk, and dropped her head on them. Everyone seemed to snicker realizing why the two girls had been late. Snape finished his lecture and instructed them to begin brewing their potions.
"You didn't." Draco whispered to Ginny with a smile as they began to add ingredients to their cauldrons.
"Oh yes I did Malfoy and you'll be next if you don't leave me alone." Ginny whispered back and then glanced over at him. He had a grin from ear to ear and looked extremely impressed.
"Just didn't know you had it in you Weasley." Draco said with a chuckle. "Now I really don't want to get on your bad side."
"Don't forget that you're already there. If I have to, I will slaughter you like I did her." Ginny said unable to hide her smile.
"You promise?" Draco said excitedly and nudged her arm playfully. Ginny laughed and then caught sight of Hermione who was looking her way suspiciously.
"Malfoy…Stop. Hermione is watching." Ginny whispered through gritted teeth. "Wink at her or something to throw her off."
Draco looked her way, smiled, and winked very animatedly. Hermione gasped in disgust and looked away. "Hey, that was fun. Is that all I have to do to get under her skin? I thought you wanted me to be nice to your friends anyway."
"I did but now you can't. Hermione suspects something is going on between us and if Ron finds out he may try to kill us both." Ginny said half serious.
"Oh please. That's the last thing that will keep me up at night. Wait, why does Granger suspect something?" He began to stroke his chin and looked up in concentration. "Did she catch you staring at me again? Were you moaning my name in the middle of the night? Did she figure that you beat up Pansy to win me over?" Draco started laughing hysterically.
"You are such an arrogant slime. For your information, she caught you winking at me in the Great Hall last night. You really need to get over yourself Malfoy. I think I'm becoming nauseated." Ginny said with a sigh and holding her stomach. The class went on and they exchanged several more flirtatious insults. Ginny didn't feel there would be a problem talking with him now as they were supposed to be partners anyway. Draco and Ginny were the first to finish the potion and sat observing the rest of the class. They looked over at Neville and Seamus whose potion was bubbling violently.
"Longbottom! You forgot to add the skrewtnive herb. Step back! Everyone step back!" Professor Snape yelled as the potion exploded sending the boiling hot substance in Ginny's direction. Draco quickly pulled her close to him and covered her body with his.
"AAAHHH!" Draco yelled and winced in pain as the boiling substance splashed on to the back of his robes. It began to smoke as it was burning straight through to his skin. The class was in shock for two reasons. Draco had just prevented Ginny from being hurt (a very un-slytherin thing to do) and he was being badly burned.
"Miss Weasley! Take him to the hospital wing immediately!" Snape shouted. Draco's eyes were filled with tears but refused to drop a single one as they left the classroom together. He had his fists clenched and demanded to walk without assistance to the hospital wing. Ginny didn't say a word knowing that he was using all his strength not to burst into tears from the pain.
They entered the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey immediately ordered him to lie on his stomach. "Help me remove his robes carefully dear." She whispered to Ginny handing her a pair of scissors. "We have to cut them away without touching the burns. Oh what a mess. It will get worse before it gets better."
Ginny began to cut away at Draco's charred robes from his back. He had both hands clutched tightly around the bars at the top of the bed. Every time they touched him, he shuddered and winced in pain as the potion was still burning his skin. "There there now Mr. Malfoy. Now that we've got your robes off I can apply a cream that will stop the burning. Please stay with him Miss Weasley I will be only a minute." Ginny began to stroke Draco's hair softly as he was now crying. He just couldn't hold it in any longer since his back was now fully exposed to the air, the pain was increasing.
"Shhh. You'll be okay. I'm here." Ginny said wiping his tears with a tissue. "Thank you for saving me again Malfoy." She didn't receive a response but didn't expect one either.
Madam Pomfrey returned with the cream and a worried look. "Miss Weasley, this is going to be rough on him. I understand if you want to leave."
"No! I mean…I want to be with him if it's alright?" Ginny said not meaning to raise her voice at Madam Pomfrey.
"Of course it is dear. Just don't let go of his hand no matter what he does or says." Madam Pomfrey said sternly. "Mr. Malfoy, I am going to apply a cream that will burn worse than the potion did at first but, you must trust me. The pain will desist soon after. Are you ready?"
"YYYesss." Draco moaned in pain. He released his hand from one of the bars and waved it around trying to locate Ginny. Ginny grabbed it interlacing their fingers and knelt down beside the bed so he could see her.
"I'm right here Malfoy. You're going to be fine." Ginny said as she softly pressed her forehead against his. Suddenly, he screamed in pain as Madam Pomfrey had begun applying the cream.
"NOOOO! Stop!" Draco cried and was violently squirming trying to escape the pain. He tried to release his hand from hers but she grabbed on tight and held their foreheads together.
Madam Pomfrey suddenly stood and took a deep breath. "The worst part is over. I will reapply this in about an hour. It won't hurt as bad as it just did." She walked away leaving Ginny holding him tight. Ginny softly kissed his forehead and continued stroking his hair. Draco's eyes were full of tears and he was whimpering. After about a minute he passed out due to shock and exhaustion. Relieved that he was now peacefully sleeping, Ginny began to cry quietly into her hands.
Ginny walked into Madam Pomfrey's office. "Will he be alright?"
"Oh of course he will dear. He just needs a lot of care for those burns. He should have actually reacted much worse to the first application. I will assume you played some role in that? Being brave for you was he?" Madam Pomfrey said as she smiled. Ginny was glad Draco hadn't heard that. She thought that he would say something about crying not being very brave. "I expect you can continue to help me keep him calm in further treatments?"
"Oh yes of course. I'd do anything for him-his recovery." Ginny said and then blushed.
"Well why don't you go down for a quick lunch and return to help me apply the second treatment." Madam Pomfrey had placed her arm around Ginny and escorted her out.
Ginny practically ran to the Great Hall and ate the quickest thing she could find. She ran back out before the seventh years had arrived avoiding any questions from anyone, namely Hermione. She ran back to the hospital wing to find Draco still asleep. She knelt down beside him again and held his hand. It was an odd feeling for Ginny to be trying to take care of him. Since that terrible night in Knock Turn Alley, he had always been taking care of her.
He began to stir and whispered something barely audible that sounded like "Gny."
Ginny gasped as her heart began to pound. It seemed about a million butterflies were flying happily in her stomach and her legs began to tingle. He said her name. He had never said her name until now. "I-I'm here Draco. I'm here." Ginny said trying not to sound too overjoyed as he was in excruciating pain.
And then he said it again much more clearly following a deep sigh of relief. "Ginny."
Madam Pomfrey walked over with the cream again and instructed Ginny as she had before. "Don't let go no matter what he does or says."
"Urrrggghh!" Draco yelled which was an improvement from the screaming he had done before. He didn't try to squirm away this time. He just squeezed Ginny's hand tighter than she could bare but she still did not let go. When Madam Pomfrey was finished again, Draco whimpered softly then relaxed slightly.
"Mr. Malfoy, you are doing wonderful. I will reapply this in two hours. Miss Weasley, will you return then?" Madam Pomfrey asked assuming she was leaving and headed to her office.
"Of course. I will be here." Ginny said as she stroked Draco's hair again. He didn't fall asleep this time. He was staring at her with a look of exhaustion on his face. "Draco, this probably isn't the time but, thank you. I wish it was me that got burned. This is just terrible seeing you go through this for me….Uh, because of me."
Draco took a deep breath, winced, and whispered to her. "I just couldn't bear to see you being hurt again." With that, he passed out again. Ginny wanted to stay in hopes that he would whisper her name again but she knew she had to attend the remaining classes for the day. With much hesitation, she left Draco sleeping and went to the Defense Against the Dark Arts class.