A/N-I talked about them studying for the end of the year exams in the last chapter which was really pre-mature. Sorry! Hopefully this chapter will put us back on track.

Chapter 34

Ginny awoke the next morning feeling extremely tired as she had had terrible dreams all night. She sat up and immediately felt the nausea returning. Realizing that she had to make it to classes, she started breathing slowly and deeply trying to convince herself that she could beat morning sickness. After a few minutes and a small sip of ice cold water, she got up and took a shower. When she met the trio in the Great Hall, Hermione gave her an encouraging smile as she sat down next to her. Ginny looked over to find Draco speaking to Crabbe and Goyle about something that looked very important. She shook her head and reminded herself that her new priority was to protect her unborn child and not worry about what Draco was up to. She looked down at her food and realized how easy it would be for her to finish her and Ron's food in under a minute but thought it best to eat slowly as to not draw any attention.

Ron looked over at her with a frown. "You've got your appetite back I see. What was wrong with you the other day and why are you so mad at Malfoy all of the sudden?"

Ginny kept chewing her food as she hadn't even thought up a clever story to deliver to Ron and Harry. She swallowed hard and shrugged. "I think I ate something bad. Oh and I'm just getting tired of Draco I guess. It happens you know."

Ron shot her a look of surprise. "Do you mean to tell me that you went through all that rubbish to suddenly get tired of the bloke?"

Ginny shrugged again casually. "What do you care Ron? You never liked him anyway."

Ron began to respond but decided to hold his questions for a better time. As Ginny, Hermione, and Harry left the Great Hall, Ron stayed back to question Draco himself. When Draco got up to leave Ron walked over to him. "Malfoy."

Draco stopped and nodded. "Weasley."

Ron rubbed his chin and scowled in concentration. "Ginny's not acting herself lately….Any idea why?"

Draco shrugged sadly. "I was hoping you could tell me. I can't think of anything that I may have done to upset her. The least she could do is tell me….Is she feeling better?"

Ron nodded. "She's seems alright to me but there's just something different about her….Oh well, I'm sure it will all come up soon. See you on the pitch."

Just as Ron was about to walk away an owl delivered a letter to Draco. Just by habit, he waited with curiosity completely forgetting that they weren't really the best of friends. Draco didn't seem to mind until he opened the parchment. His face turned harsh and irritated. He looked Ron in the eye and spoke in a direct tone. "I'll see you around Weasley."

Ron watched as Draco stormed away. Emmery walked up to Ron smiling widely. "Hey Ron, have you seen Harry?"

Ron nodded and led her out of the Great Hall to look for Harry. When Ginny entered potions she thought it best to just tell Draco that she had had a change of heart and wanted to stop seeing him. She could hide the pregnancy long enough to make more efficient plans later. She waited for him to show but he never did. She looked over at Hermione who also noticed Draco's absence. Later that evening in the common room, Ginny was beginning to feel anxious about Draco not showing at lunch or dinner either.

She tried to bring his absence up indifferently to the trio. "Did any of you notice that Draco missed lunch and dinner today?"

Harry glanced up from the chess board. "You're right….Maybe he's got the same thing you had Ginny."

Ginny and Hermione shot looks at each other quickly. Ginny tried to respond casually. "Maybe your right. I've just never known him to miss a meal."

Ron looked up at her in frustration. "I thought you were tired of him and now you're wondering where he is? Ginny, it's not right to mess with a bloke like that…Even if it's a Malfoy. Besides, it's probably got something to do with that owl."

Ginny sat up quickly. "What owl?"

Ron yawned and stretched. "He received an owl after you left breakfast…Didn't I tell you?" Ginny shook her head frightfully. Ron shrugged. "Oh well, it seemed to really upset him."

Ginny started to shout. "Why did it upset him? Did he say anything else?"

Ron shook his head. "He just said he'll see me around. No big deal really."

Ginny looked over at Hermione who was desperately trying to believe that Draco was still innocent in all this. Ginny realized that she needed to speak with him immediately. She dashed out of the common room and ran towards the secret passage. She stepped out of the portrait hole to find a very dark and empty room. She immediately went to his desk and looked for any sign of the owl he had received. Since she couldn't find it there so she thought it best to check his trunk. He could have hid it in there hastily. Suddenly she realized how bare his room looked. Most of his clothes and personal items were gone including his trunk. Where could he have gone and why? She began to sob softly in confusion while she sat on his bed. Suddenly, his door opened and Draco walked in becoming startled at Ginny's presence. He grabbed at his chest. "You scared me Red."

She had the sudden urge to embrace him but fought it and wiped her eyes. Draco sighed and nodded. "That's right, I forgot you weren't speaking to me. Well, I'm going back to the manor for a while. Dumbledore's made arrangements for my studies to continue there and I-"

"You're going back?" Ginny shouted.

Draco looked at her as if going back to the manor was a natural thing. "Yes Ginny. I'm going back. There are some things I need to take care of and-"

"So it's true then….All of it. You never cared for me. You were just trying to get closer to Harry…For him." Ginny couldn't hold back her tears.

Draco stood with his mouth open in shock. "Look Red, I-I don't know where you heard that but-"

Ginny interrupted angrily. "What does that matter? It's true isn't it? All this time you've been working for him. Helping him get closer to Harry. And now you'll be his most faithful servant!"

Draco leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. He was studying her carefully with a smirk and seemed to be searching for the perfect words. "So you know then?"

Ginny's jaw dropped. Was he actually going to admit it? "Yes I know you prat! I know that you've been using me. I know that you've lied to me every moment that we've been together. And now you're going back to join them!"

Draco nodded and smiled. "Well since you've got it all figured out then I guess there's nothing more to say. I just need to be sure of something." He walked over to her and stood only inches from her face. He whispered softly. "Do you truly believe in your heart that I deceived you?"

Ginny's stomach turned at his question. She was determined not to show any weakness and threw her shoulders back. "Of course I do…You are a Malfoy aren't you?"

Draco walked towards the door as he grabbed his cloak and put it on. "You're right I am a Malfoy. And I was hoping to make you one someday too." He closed the door behind him leaving Ginny trembling and crying. What had he meant by that? He was working for Voldemort! Were his orders to take it as far as marriage? Ginny had never been more confused in her life. Was he just as caught up in this mess as she? She couldn't bare the uncertainty anymore as it was making her sick. She returned to the common room to find Hermione by the fire alone. Ginny told Hermione about everything he had said as she listened intently. Once Ginny was finished, Hermione pondered over everything. "We need to speak to Dumbledore."

Ginny responded with frustration. "Dumbledore? What would he know about this?"

Hermione sighed. "Everything Ginny. Why would he make arrangements for Draco to leave school if he knew he was going back to become a death eater? Why would he instruct Draco to wait an entire month to see his father? It's just a hunch but….I think Draco's actually working for Dumbledore."

"You know what Hermione? It doesn't matter. What does matter is the protection of my child. Regardless of which side he's on, he's not safe right now. I need to figure out what I'm going to do! How am I going to tell my parents?" Ginny began to shift nervously as she thought about them.

Hermione stared at her in disappointment but decided to support her best friend. They talked on through the night about Ginny's options and found it best to hide the pregnancy as long as possible.

The entire school noticed Draco's absence immediately and assumed he had been sent home to settle affairs with his Father. Ron and Harry didn't comment on it much since they knew Ginny wasn't seeing him any longer. Ginny began to bury herself deeply in her studies to distract herself and keep her thoughts on anything but Draco. Hermione continually encouraged her to speak to Dumbledore but Ginny refused.

After four months, Ginny's morning sickness subsided and she was lucky enough to not be showing yet. The summer break had begun and Ginny hadn't seen or heard of any sign of Draco. She didn't know how but she had conjured enough courage to forget how she had once felt about him and all the precious moments they had shared. All that mattered to her was protecting her unborn child.

It was on a trip to Diagon Alley with her Mum that she realized they were about to pass Knock Turn Alley. Ginny took a deep breath and walked slowly with her Mum as the feeling of terror returned as if it was just yesterday. Once again, she felt as if there was something more than that terrible night in there haunting her. Just as they were almost passed it, Draco turned the corner and bumped right into Ginny. Ginny's heart leapt at the sight of him. She suddenly realized how much she missed him holding her. Mrs. Weasley became startled at his current state. "Draco! How wonderful to see you! You look dreadful! We haven't seen you in ages. You must stop by soon so I can feed you properly!…What were you doing in there?"

Draco had dark circles under his eyes and looked much thinner than usual. He had a dazed look and spoke sternly. "Hello Mrs. Weasley…Ginny. I'm sorry I can't-" Draco suddenly looked behind him and ushered them both away from the entrance to Knock Turn Alley. "I um I'm in quite a rush so I'll see you around." Draco didn't even bother to look at Ginny which drove a knife through her heart. It was easy to forget about him when he wasn't around. As he walked away she felt a flutter in her stomach. It suddenly occurred to her that she had just felt the baby move for the first time. She began to sob as she watched him get farther and farther away.

"Ginny dear? Are you alright? Is everything with you and Draco alright?" Mrs. Weasley said as she rubbed her daughter's back.

Ginny wiped her eyes and shook her head. "No Mum, it's not alright. Draco and I haven't been together for months. I just miss him I guess."

Mrs. Weasley tried to comfort Ginny as they headed home. Ginny spent the rest of the afternoon in her room trying to come to terms with the fact that she wasn't going to be able to hide the pregnancy much longer. She lay on her bed and stroked her stomach hoping the baby would move again but it didn't. She rolled on her side and began to think of Draco and what he may be going through right now. Was he in danger? Was he truly working for Voldemort? If he wasn't than why was he in Knock Turn Alley? Ginny started thinking about that terrible night and how Draco had rescued her. She thought of their first kiss at the manor which made her smile. Just then, she felt the flutter in her stomach again.