A/N-This chapter is a little shorter and mellow than the others. It's purpose is to introduce a character that you will be seeing later and to show that the reality of Draco's life will begin to take over. Don't give up on me! I've got lots to put in the next chapters! I will update again soon.

Chapter 7

Ginny hurried back to the hospital wing as soon as Defense Against the Dark Arts was over. She walked in and noticed the curtain was pulled around Draco's bed. "I knew you were just moody. But don't worry. I'll take good care of you. To think you tripped and fell over that filthy muggle lover and got burned. It's all her fault you know! Oh, but she'll be sorry. She won't even know what hit her." Pansy said nasally. The swelling in her nose obviously hadn't improved yet.

Ginny heard Draco sigh loudly and based on his gentle tone, she could tell he was in desperate need of another treatment. "Listen Pansy….The last thing you need is to get beat up again by a sixth year. Don't touch her. Stay away from her and me." He whispered.

"Excuse me? Beat up? You're obviously so badly burned that you're hallucinating! And what do you mean stay away from her? Are you trying to protect her or something?" Pansy said in an accusatory tone.

"Why would I protect a Weasley? I just want to put this behind me. Stay away from her or you will deal with me Pansy." Draco said barely raising his voice.

"I think I'll send an owl to your mother…..Maybe she can talk some sense into you!" Pansy said in desperation.

"Damnit Pansy! It's over! Move on! I don't want you!" Draco yelled and knocked over a glass of water on the table next to him.

Pansy regained her composure and softly spoke. "I can see your upset by the pain right now so we'll talk later. We'll just forget we had this conversation won't we?" Ginny heard her kiss him somewhere on the face and turn her way. Ginny quickly moved to the other side of the curtain and watched Pansy walk out of the hospital wing.

Ginny wasn't sure if she should go in or not. "Ginny? Is that you?" Draco asked softly.

Ginny opened the curtain and sat down on the edge of the bed. "How did you know it was me?" She said a little amused that he knew it was her.

"I smelt something forbidden." Draco said with a smile. "I'm sorry you had to hear that. She's just out of her mind for me and I don't know what to do about it." He reached for her hand. "I don't know what I've been thinking lately. I could really create a problem for you. I will stay away from you unless were in Potions. Okay?"

"Right. This isn't about Pansy is it? I can handle her you know." Ginny said a little offended.

"Well, she usually does what she says. I wouldn't be surprised if she was up in her room right now sending my mum an owl. That will be a big problem." Draco whispered. The pain was really getting to him now. Before Ginny could respond, Madam Pomfrey appeared with the cream. Ginny stood up and tried to move out of her way but Madam Pomfrey stopped her.

"Mr. Malfoy, I am quite confident that you can bear the short pain the cream produces without Miss Weasley at your side. I am going to have her apply it as I have to tend to some third years who apparently met the wrong end of one of Hagrid's pets. I will be at the other side of the wing if you need me." Madam Pomfrey said as she placed the cream in Ginny's hand and cupped it with her own hands. "Just soft gentle strokes on all of the burns. You'll know when you've applied enough." Madam Pomfrey walked away and headed to the other side of the wing.

Ginny sat back down on the bed. "Are you okay with this?"

"Yes. It's getting easier each time and as soon as the pain stops, I'm numb. Go ahead." Draco said gripping the two bars in front of him. Ginny squeezed some of the cream on to her hand and realized it was blue with what appeared to be flecks of gold in it. For the first time she saw the burns close up. There were three huge sections of his back that were red and raw. One on each shoulder blade and one on his lower back. Ginny noticed the outline of each was a dark purple and resembled how the potion splashed onto his back. They looked so painful and she was sure they would scar him for life. She began to rub the sections of his shoulder blades that were affected and then his lower back. Ginny could tell that he was using all his strength to not wince, whimper, or breathe. He was stiff and his knuckles were turning white against the bars of the bed. The cream began to bubble where it had been applied and immediately crusted solid over the burns. Draco suddenly relaxed and let out a deep sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"Draco. Why are you so worried about the letter Pansy will send to you mum?" Ginny said now softly stoking his muscular arm.

"Because. My mum will surely mention meeting Rose Parkinson, you and then the truth will be out." Draco said and then with the release of the pain he was able to think more clearly. He shot up out of the bed startling Ginny. "Oh my God! She's going to kill you. I have to go." Madam Pomfrey saw him leaving and yelled for him to get back in bed. "I'm sorry I can't stay. I'm feeling much better though. Thank you." He said and walked out.

"What's gotten into him? He's not healed yet. If he doesn't finish his treatments, those scars will be with him forever." Madam Pomfrey said angrily making his bed.

"I apologize. He said it was something of a personal matter. I wish there was something I could do." Ginny said not knowing what else to say.

"Actually dear. There is. I will give you the cream and you can simply apply it in four hours, then eight, then sixteen and that will be it. No more pain, no more scars. Mr. Malfoy seems to be more relaxed around you anyway." Madam Pomfrey said handing her the cream once again and escorting her out of the hospital wing.

Ginny didn't know where to go now. She wasn't ready to face her friends and explain what happened in Potions class nor was she going to attempt to find the Slytherin common room. She began to walk aimlessly down the corridors and stepped outside onto the grounds. There was a slight wind and the air was crisp. She walked past Hagrid's cabin and stopped at the edge of the Forbidden Forrest. She just stood there facing the forest with her arms crossed as the wind blew her hair onto her right shoulder. Ginny was listening to the leaves of the trees moving in the wind when someone placed their hand on her shoulder.

Ginny quickly jerked around in fright and to her surprise she saw Cormac McgLaggen standing in front of her. "Cormac what are you doing here? Didn't you graduate last year?" Ginny realized that he looked even larger and intimidating since she last saw him. His broad shoulders and wiry hair made him look like a giant troll.

"I've returned to assist Madam Hooch in her flying class and Quidditch duties. Sort of a consultant you know. Dumbledore thought we may need another referee for the games seeing how serious it is here. And of course he called upon me." Cormac said proudly hitting his chest. Ginny wasn't exactly sure why Dumbledore would have asked him of all people to assist Madam Hooch. He caused nothing but trouble when he had a go at keeper last year.

"Well it's nice to see you Cormac." Ginny said politely.

"It is isn't it? I understand you will be playing chaser again. Let me know if you want private lessons. I'm really good at it…Actually, I'm good at all the positions. I just don't like to tell people that you know." Cormac said pompously.

"RRRight. Well I should go. See you on the pitch." Ginny said and headed back to the castle.

Finally, Draco came upon Pansy in the Slytherin common room. She was at one of the tables writing a letter. "Um Pansy." Draco said in the most even tone he could conjure.

Pansy's hand shot into the air. "Shhh. I'm concentrating. Almost finished." Pansy said with a foul sound in her voice. "There, that should do it." She said as she reviewed the letter. "Did you need something Draco? I really need to get this letter out straight away."

"About that letter. I uh was hoping you wouldn't send it." Draco said trying to think of a plan, any plan as he sat down next to her.

"But why? I really think your mum ought to know what I think has been going on." She said eyeing him.

"What do you think has been going on?" Draco said not wanting to offer any information.

"Well…I think you've fallen for a poor little muggle lover. She seems to have you under some kind of spell or something. But don't worry Draco, I'm sure your mum and I can think of a way to bring you back to reality. Now if you'll excuse me." Pansy said as she stood.

Draco stood also and grabbed her arm. "Don't. You'll ruin it!"

"Ruin what exactly?" Pansy said yanking her arm away.

"The uh…..Surprise!" Draco said with a smile formulating a magnificent plan. "You'll ruin the surprise and I just know my mum will tell you if you send her an owl. She's just too excited to wait any longer."

"What surprise?" Pansy said with interest.

"Oh well. I guess I have to tell you now. I wanted to take our relationship to the next level. Become more serious you know. I was just trying to throw you off a bit with the Weasley girl so that when I asked you, you would be surprised. You can't possibly think I enjoy being her new partner! But, now it's ruined so I guess it didn't work out. Oh well. I'm going up to my room." Draco said thinking he and Ginny were off the hook. Now Pansy grabbed his arm.

"Wait. You didn't ruin it. I just get carried away sometimes." She began to stroke his arm with her hand making him realize he still wasn't wearing a shirt. "Don't say it didn't work out….I can be patient! Really I can. Let's start over and pretend this never happened." Pansy said ripping up the letter.

"You're right. We should start over. I'm tired from everything that happened today so I'm going to take a nap." Draco said slowly sliding his arm away from her hand that was now gripping him tightly and the other brushing up against his leg.

"You want some company?" Pansy said taking a step towards him.

"No, I'll be down in a little while." Draco said as he ran up the stairs into his private room.