Summery: A curse has been placed on Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy. They both have to fall in love and once done so, within a year, they must wed and never part after that. What's odd though is that Malfoy is trying to convince Ginny that this will work and Ginny's the reluctant one. Will it work? Or will they die in their stubbornness? (Before HBP)

Nemo Autem Mei Amor

Chapter One

It began when she started to feel sick; her body craved for something she wouldn't understand and as this would happen her head would pound with this need or her blood would rush to make her light headed so she'd faint. It wasn't long before she couldn't hide the fact from others. Soon, once people had heard of her illness they sent her to the Hospital Wing in worry but also with curiosity, for there was another who held the same symptoms as her: Draco Malfoy. On the first night at the hospital wing, Madame Pomfrey said that her parents were going to be informed about this and that Dumbledore wanted to have a visit, but Madame Pomfrey hadn't allowed it just yet. Then she left, leaving a sleeping potion to Ginny's right. Also to her right, was Malfoy who seemed paler under the moonlight with his eyes closed as he leaned his back heavily against the headboard of the small bed.

She had looked away from him and stared out into the window at the full moon where she remembered her faithful and gentle Professor who was alone under this night. The thought saddened her greatly as she looked away and curled her legs towards her chest; the fainting spell that had happened earlier seemed to leave an aftermath of headaches. She hoped, that whatever this was, would go away. She had a vague memory of where she had been when she had fallen; she had either been in the common room with Trisha, a girl who was a year younger then her and who Ginny had helped with her homework or she had been with Harry and Ron talking about the latest Quidditch match…

Yes, she had been with Harry and Ron because she remembered before she had passed out that Ron had called out her name as he cradled her body in his arms, trying to save her from fainting. She wondered if he was still awake and hoped he wasn't because she didn't want him to stay up with worry, pacing in front of the fire while Hermione and Harry sat helpless, watching him. A sudden anger engulfed her body and she hit her fist against the bed, not knowing Malfoy was watching her now. She was tired of being the one who was weak and so tired of making her family worry over her. She closed her eyes and groaned, the dull ache from earlier seemed to become angry, the beat of it thumped harder against her head, bringing more pain. Now, she leaned against the headboard as heavily as she had seen Malfoy done moments ago. She was tired with her body weak from the pain.

Breathing in deeply, she opened her eyes and made to move for the potion but stopped as her eyes caught Malfoy's. She stared at him for a moment, curious as to why he was still awake before taking hold of the potion and drinking it. She moved her body down to lie and turn her back away from the moon's beam of light. As her eyelids closed heavily and her body sighed in relaxation she swore she heard Malfoy whisper something, and what he said nearly made her fight the potion completely to know why he did. His voice had been soft and low as he whispered: "I never expected to feel sorry for you."

At the same moment Ron Weasley did what his sister didn't want, but instead of pacing before the brilliantly lit fire he sat with his head in his hands while Hermione tried to sooth him with her hands, her finger tips by running them over his back and arms. It did some good but it didn't completely help him as he wished. His other friend, Harry, stood nearby the fire. He had a hand on the mantle as he stared into it as if the questions to his answers would show if given time.

Ron suddenly stood and began to pace, trying to release his sudden anger and tension. "I don't understand…I don't get it," he muttered, shaking his head slightly. "She was fine…she's healthy…she ate…she…she's in the Hospital Wing." Ron's voice trailed off and he stopped pacing as if the truth of it had finally gone into him.

"She's not the only one in there," Harry said, moving away from the fire to sit on a chair. It was nearly midnight and no one else sat in the common room and with the fire casting ghostly shadows around them it seemed odd and unfamiliar then it's usual comfort. "Malfoy's in there," he continued, closing his eyes as he leaned into the plush softness of the chair.

"That's right," Hermione said, nodding as Ron stayed where he was and stared at the fire which danced over to his right with it's flame jumping to hit the cement wall once in a while. "So, if there's more then one person acting like this then Madame Pomfrey can fix it. Don't you see Ron? She'll be fine. It's not like you've done anything to harm her."

Ron was silent, as if taking in what his friends had said. His blue eyes shimmered and seemed to hold all the colors of the world when he watched the fire. His body was stiff and his shoulder's tense with unresolved stress. He shook his head slightly, after a few minutes when Hermione had spoken, disagreeing with her. "I did harm her," he whispered, his voice so low that his friend's strained to hear what he said, "she told me and Harry that night…told us that she didn't feel so good and I told her to stand up and head to bed. She stood up…and she fell." He was shaking now, as he ran a hand through his hair. He felt Hermione's hand clutch his shoulder and it soothed him enough to continue. "I don't think…I was so scared because a few moments before I had joked that I wish she'd catch her death and then…"

"Shh, shh," Hermione said, now lightly touching his hair. He turned to face her and she frowned at his expression; confusion, pain, and guilt shown through out his face. Through the frown he wore on his thin lips, in his blue eyes that also held tears that didn't drop but got caught by his long light lashes, and when he spoke his voice was crawling with emotion Hermione didn't want to hear. But it was there, and the only comfort she could give him was to let him know she was there because he didn't belong to her as she had hoped all these years. The person he belonged to was up in bed by his wish.

"She'll be fine, Ron," Harry said, breaking their gaze and Hermione's thoughts. "Ginny's a fighter, she'd never let anything get her easily. My bet is that she'll be out of that place before the weekend ends."

Ron nodded, giving a small smile. "Yeah, yeah, just worried I guess," he said bashfully a light pink touching his cheeks and ears, "er, you two can head up. I just…need to think a bit."

"You have to get some sleep-"

"I know, I know," Ron said, now showing his regular smile at Hermione, "I'll be up in a few moments after you two go up."

"Swear it?" she whispered, returning his smile with a smaller one.

"Swear," he said, and Harry yawned before muttering a good-bye and last comfort to Ron. Hermione lingered a bit longer before whispering her good-bye and leaving without her regular kiss on his cheek. Ron sighed, when he heard two of the doors click quietly in their wake. He sat himself back onto the couch and gazed at the fire. He didn't say what he should've but then he didn't want to seem a wreck to his two best friends. He wanted to tell Harry and Hermione that he was worried about Ginny because of how distant she was becoming with the family or how her moods seem to be more on edge then her usual helpful self. For a long while, he tried convincing himself that she was growing and this was normal, but then she got sick. She would complain about headaches and say she needed to lie down often.

First, he thought she did it to get out of chores at home or be excused from classes at school. Then after some denial he noticed how pale she was getting and how tired she was acting. Then when she fainted! Oh Merlin, he thought he was going to have a heart attack when she started to sway at first and Harry had to steady her asking it she was alright. She said the same thing she had been saying for the past month, that she just needed to lie down. So he sent her to her bed and joked that she looked like she was going to die, and then she fainted. She fell so quickly that Ron barely remembering moving to catch her; he remembered more of trying to wake her. Slapping her face, and calling her name which brought the common room to panic about the two Weasley's.

He didn't know how long he cradled Ginny and said he was sorry before Mcgonagal had came in and took her. All he realized as Mcgonagal took Ginny without him was the pain, the guilt that flooded his veins. Now, he sat there in his damn able guilt wondering how come he never told anyone about how pale and sick Ginny got with each passing day. He scathed the back of his neck and saw that the fire was dying from the lack of movement around it. His eyes moved to the clock and read that it was forty minutes since Harry and Hermione had left him. He moved to stand and the fire lit up again, lighting up the whole room with it's glory. With a sluggish form, he walked up to his room and fell into his bed with surprise that he fell to sleep so quickly.

When she woke, she felt her stomach growl in it's hunger and her head already begin to beat in a dull ache. She had rolled over in her sleep and now faced where Malfoy slept. Her mind went to what happened yesterday and that soft voice she had dreamed of. The ache subsided slightly and she closed her eyes with a slight smile before opening them again and staring at the Malfoy again. On of his arms laid beside him with the palm of his hand facing downward; the other arm curved itself over his stomach as if he were hugging himself. His head titled slightly towards her with his nose up in the air and Ginny nearly snorted at the thought of how he could retain his arrogant posture even when he slept. His light hair fell over his eyes and with his mouth parted slightly in his sleep, he seemed more innocent.

A sudden deep groan escaped his lips and Ginny jumped with a start at the sudden sound as the sound was closely followed by a soft whimper before foaming a name that Ginny didn't catch. She wrinkled her nose at the thought of Malfoy dreaming of some slut he was possibly shagging; at that thought her eyes traveled down to his anatomy and wondered why she was surprised to see nothing awake down there. She shook her head and the door to the room opened, Ginny looked away from Malfoy's sleeping form and found the comforting face of her head master. Her smiled at her and she returned it but then frowned for it was no need to visit her less something was horribly wrong with her.

Panic surged through her and she closed her eyes while Dumbledore walked to Malfoy's bed. When she re-opened her eyes she stared, shocked, that Dumbledore was now shaking Malfoy awake and then the shock ebbed away when she remember Malfoy was in the same situation as she was. "Professor?" Malfoy's hoarse voice made Ginny look to Malfoy. He blinked furiously as he tried to adjust his eyes to the light before clearing his throat and sitting up. In a gentlemanly manner he offered a smile and said: "Good morning, Professor Dumbledore."

Ginny rolled her eyes at his act, seeing as he was the one who often called Dumbledore a nut case. She smiled when Dumbledore turned, he returned it. "How are the two of you this morning? I hear that your brother is worried sick over you Ms. Weasley."

"Really?" Ginny asked, frowning, "I really wish he wasn't."

"You should consider that luck, Weasley," Malfoy sneered and she looked over at him her face changing in confusion and what he said next baffled her even more. "He cares about you hence the reason why he worries over you; you're lucky and you barely see this."

"Well," Dumbledore said, grabbing her attention again. "I suppose you're both worried on why your ill as you are. Actually, I suspect you would be more worried since I filled some information for Mr. Malfoy about this illness already."

"What is this illness? Can it be cured? Do I have to go on treatment?" she asked, and Malfoy laughed. She threw him a look of utter annoyance before snapping at him: "What? Do you think my worry weather or not this can kill me is funny?"

Malfoy stopped laughing and regain his posture, his face now serious. "No, not at all. However, I do find it funny on your utter lack of the positive side of this meeting. Have you ever thought that Professor Dumbledore might be here with good news rather then bad?"

"No…"

"Precisely," Malfoy said, nodding before looking away from her confused face which had flushed with anger before looking back to their head master. "You may continue sir."

Dumbledore smile, after watching the two fight it seemed that their was a possibility that this may all end well. "Thank you, Draco. Now, please don't interrupt me with questions until the end. There's a lot I must say and I fear that you may not take it well…

It was worse, far worse, then Ginny could ever imagine in her life. A curse had been placed upon her family; a horribly wretched curse that made Ginny so confused, angry, and upset that she nearly wept in front of Dumbledore and Malfoy. Nearly, being the main word. She wouldn't let Malfoy see her pain nor would she cry in front of her head master; she wasn't weak. Ginny Weasley was never weak. However, in the case of being away from Malfoy then she was. For if she strayed away from Malfoy for too long her pains: headaches and fainting spells, will grow as worse as Malfoy's. Nausea, fevers, and migraines that worsen until you would faint.

No matter what Ginny could convince herself as Malfoy and Dumbledore spoke about this case she knew that she was scared. Scared out of her mind that she would have to be with Malfoy because of this curse. But, there was more and this caused Ginny to sulk against the headboard and wish her brother was here so he'd blow up in his anger, like she wanted too. She had to fall in love with Draco Malfoy or she'd die within the year. By the end of it, and if they were still alive and in love, they had to wed with one another and promise one another an eternity of love. Her brown eyes brimmed with tears as she looked away from the two men who spoke in hushed voices now. Malfoy could never love her even if his life was on the line…

"Ms. Weasley?" Dumbledore's worried voice cut through all her thoughts and she looked up with a small forced smile hoping that her eyes went brimming with tears still.

"Yes Professor?" she asked, cursing herself when her voice shook as she spoke.

Dumbledore gave her a soft sympathetic smile and she hated him for it. He said there was no way to change this, and for some reason she didn't trust him when he had said this. "Your mother and father are already informed about this. As we speak, your brothers are being informed by Professor Mcgonagal and Professor Snape."

"Oh," she whispered, her head hanging down like a lost puppy. Now she was going to be hated by her brothers and all of Gryffindor. Her throat tightened and she had to pick up the water Madame Pomfrey had given her a while ago, and try to sooth the tears. But what she truly needed was to see her mother and hear her mother tell her everything will end up all right, even though, Ginny was sure it wouldn't.

"Ginny," her head snapped up; it was Malfoy and when he had spoken her name it had been soft and strained. She swallowed and stared at her future husband, waiting for a response to why he called on her. "Come here, will you?" he asked after some time, "I would go over there but I'm really tired."

She looked up at Dumbledore who was walking over towards the door; he gave her a small nod and she looked back at Malfoy. He was trying, she thought and this thought should've made her want to go to him and try as well. But once Dumbledore was out the door she shook her head and curled her legs to her chest. She heard him sigh, and when she looked over at Malfoy he didn't seem to be the person she knew. The one who had teased her relentlessly, shoved her around school, and made her cry when he left her wondering why his words had hurt her so much when her brothers could take them. He looked older, with his tired face. He leaned back onto the headboard again and closed his eyes even though he knew she was staring he made no movement to prove that she was the annoying red-head he distasted. Then he opened his eyes and he swung one leg over and grunted as if it pained him. Ginny froze not being able to take her eyes away as he swung his other leg over, more slowly. If this had been anyone else, someone else, then she would've got up of bed and mutter her apologies to even make them move in such pain.

But it wasn't. This was Draco Malfoy, her most loathed enemy besides Voldemort.

He soon wobbled over to her and finally landed on her bed with a feeble smile. He sat where her legs would have been if not pulled close to her chest and he frowned when she leaned more into the headboard. "I'm trying, Weasley," he snapped, his eyes narrowing and she was relieved to see him acting like the Malfoy she knew again. However, her body acted differently as her head throbbed a bit more insistently. "Headache?" he asked. "I want to see something, and if you so much as flinch Weasley I'll make you regret it."

"You could never hurt a girl," Ginny said, her voice was soft and he caught her eye for a moment. Then as if she hadn't said anything he reached his hand over to hers and she was shocked at how cold he was. "You're freezing," she murmured, acting on impulse as she place the thin blanket around him.

He laughed. "Oh, now you care," he said, smirking at her keeping a hold on her hand. "You're quite warm you know."

"Don't you dare try anything, Malfoy," she snapped, ignoring how it felt as his thumb skimmed over her skin. She could feel Goosebumps raising on her skin and forced herself to think that it was from how cold he was against her.

He shrugged. "How's your headache?" he asked, his eyes studying her intently. The throbbing was gone and this surprised her so much she snatched her hand back. Almost, immediately she felt a small throb against her head. Light enough to be ignored until it grew more persistent. She nearly reached for his cold hand so she could press the hand against her forehead in hope that it'll help more but then just dealt with the pain, still not being able to trust Malfoy. He raised a hand and she winced when it neared her face before sighing as he placed it against her forehead, the ache subsiding a bit.

He laughed again. "You're so weird, Weasley," he shook his head but instead of removing his hand from her forehead he lowered it to the nape of her neck, causing her to shiver when he touched it. "I'm feeling better too," he said his face passive.

"Great," Ginny said, feeling odd as he began to play with the hair that covered her bare shoulders. She moved and fixed the Hospital gown to cover her left shoulder again. His eyes flicked from where his hand were and up to her eyes. "What are you doing, Malfoy?" she blurted, "Why are you acting so nice?"

He pulled away from her as if she burned and she stared at him growing more and more confused. "If you have to ask then you're not as smart as I thought," he said, and when a pain hit her from his words; she flushed in anger.

"I know you hate me, Malfoy," she said angrily, her fist tightening while the ache in her head grew steadily, "you don't have to act nice to me because there's no way we'll fall in love with one another. Now, get off my bed, please."

She jumped when Malfoy grabbed her shoulder's with odd renewed strength; his face was twisted with anger as he shook her gently. "Don't be naive, Weasley! This is our lives we're talking about! If you give up now then of course we're going to die! You're being foolish, Ginerva, you have a family to live for. People who would do anything to save you from death, even risk their own! Don't let them remember you dying without a fight," he snapped, his face flushing with a twinge of pink in his speech. He kept his hands on her shoulders.

"Then why are you trying?" she asked, her voice was soft but her own anger shimmered in her light brown eyes.

He breathed in deeply and sighed before letting her go and walking back to his bed, his health seeming to return with the little time they had spent arguing. "I'm afraid to die, Weasley. You don't know what I've done in my life," his voice was soft and she had to strain to hear what he said. Her heart was beating furiously in her ribcage from the sudden anger. He stopped and lied against the head board again with both her and his blanket curled over his body. He closed his eyes as he leaned against the headboard and Ginny thought for a moment she would try but then shook it off. There had to be something Malfoy wanted out of this and she was intent on solving what.