Author's Note: I never had so much fun writing a chapter! Don't worry, you'll find out. ) Bit of a cliffhanger, but I did give you guys two updates and a very good ending to this chapter!

Nemo Autem Mei Amor

Chapter Eight

He could hear the bedroom door open and that same feeling he had gotten earlier came back, cutting him off for speech for the moment. "Did they just let you out?" he asked, turning on his heel before frowning at the figure before him. "Potter," he said, rolling his eyes, "What? She doesn't want to see me anymore?"

He watched as Potter's face twisted into a sneer, his eyes narrowing in anger. "You should be happy now, shouldn't you Malfoy? After all it's what you wanted isn't it?"

He could feel his headache throb harder in anger, sucking in a breath he turned back around and continued his thought on the last line before he would forget. "And I suppose your happy as well?" he asked, turning back around, "Or is she living hell as I have for the past two days?"

"What does it matter to you?" Potter snapped which made him close his eyes in stifled laughter; had he truly said that he missed this? Potter's quick anger?

"You're right, it doesn't," he said, with a small shrug, "her stuff is on the right bureau. I can only guess she's not coming back." For a moment they stood there, staring one another down. Then he turned his gaze to the pictures on top of the bureau and smiled back at Potter. A loathing smile that caused Potter to scowl in return. "She always chose you Potter," he said, walking towards the bathroom, "remember that."

With the sound of the door closing, he left Potter to take her stuff. Seating himself at the tubs edge he mumbled the locking and silencing charm before placing his wand aside and dropping his head into his hands. Why did he have to feel so stupid though? He thought squeezing his eyes tightly against the headache that he knew was because of her.

Her…

If it weren't for her, how different would life have been? If he could, if he wanted, would he wish for her out of his life? To never again, set his sights upon her?

Yes, he would love that and yet---

--Why did it hurt so much to think this way? Did he lie? Did he force himself to say that he was acting with her? Breathing in deeply through his nose he looked up at the sink and eyed the two sets of two brushes there. Could it be…?

No, it's...impossible, he thought standing up and heading over to the sink. Reaching down he lifted her toothbrush and gently touched the engraving before eyeing himself in the mirror. He hated what he saw. Pale and a look that proved to show lack of sleep he felt utterly helpless…

Because of her. Breathing in deeply he decided that it was the curse and only the curse, and yet, that day and those words that Dumbledore had said still attacked him. He wished he knew which were actions was his and which was the cursed one. He wished he knew, but the longer he lived day to day feeling as though he longed for her…he couldn't tell the difference.

He couldn't tell the difference…

Throwing the toothbrush back into the cup, he heard it twirl around in the cup before hearing the cup crash into the sink below it. I'll wait then, he thought, I've waited most of the summer and I can wait once again. He walked back to the tub and turned the faucet with his hand. The hand he held her smaller one in, vaguely hearing the hiss of water he eyed the hand and closed his eyes. He could almost feel her grip against his.

Quickly, he slammed that hand down onto the marble tub siding and felt tears blind his vision. He probably broke the blasted hand, but he was glad. Laughing quietly to himself, he turned off the faucet and walked out of the quarters (ignoring Potter) and headed to the infirmary.

She rolled her eyes at Ron who was growing desperate in meeting her in Chinese checkers. She watched him concentrate for a while, and nearly laughed at the memory of him looking completely convinced she would lose to him. She was spending another night at the Hospital Wing before being able to leave to Hermione's quarters. Although it was unhealthy, she was glad that Madame Pomfrey had potions that numbed her headaches.

"Ron, move already!" she said, while vaguely wondering where Harry was. He had said he was getting a few clothes for her a mere half-an-hour ago and even though she knew she was being paranoid, she hoped Malfoy and him weren't fighting.

"Oh I've got one," Ron said, moving his red piece to jump over two of her blue ones and enter her headquarters. Ginny just merely shook her head and moved one of her blue pieces into his headquarters and smirked.

"I win," she said, triumphantly. She winced slightly and looked sideways at Lavender who had come in with Ron. "Lavender, you're pulling all my hair out."

"Oh shush," she said, "it's the only way for me to braid your hair like this. Merlin, I love your hair; it's nearly as soft as your brothers," she muttered, missing the blush on Ron's face and Ginny's false gagging.

"I hate this game," Ron muttered a second later as they began to pack it back up, "don't' know why Hermione bothered to give it to me."

"Because she thought you'd like it, you prat," Ginny said, thanking Lavender for braiding her hair. "Don't you both have work to do?" Ginny asked, raising an eyebrow at Ron who blushed again.

"Er, yeah, yeah I think we do," he said quickly as he packed the game into his backpack, "we'll see you Gin."

"Bye," Ginny said, with an utterly sweet smile on her features, "don't do anything wretched, OK?"

"By doing our homework?" Ginny could hear Lavender ask as Ron quickly pushed her away from Ginny. Laughing quietly to herself, she reached over and poured herself a cup of water. Cradling the cup in her hands, she leaned her back against the headboard and looked over at the bed nearby her. Frowning, she turned her gaze back to the clear water and forced herself not to think about what had happened one night.

Lifting the cup to her lips, she swallowed it and turned to the infirmary doors opening. Her frown deepened as she watched Malfoy walked past her, clutching his hand, and to Madame Pomfrey who was tending to a student who had caught the flu. Looking away she covered her mouth and fought a cough before placing down the cup and letting it go. I'm getting sick too, she thought grumpily as she rolled her head upon her shoulders.

Easing back onto the pillows she looked down at the braid Lavender did and ran her fingers against it. A small smile crossed her features and she thought that she should ask if Hermione could do this to her hair as well. Coughing into her hand again, she looked up and caught Malfoy's gaze before looking away again. An odd burning sensation filled her chest as she realized that he had been watching her. Looking towards the ceiling, she sniffed and blinked back the rush of tears that couldn't seem to stop from coming ever since Malfoy had left that day. Which of course couldn't be helped, or ignored because the utter sad fact was--

A low sigh escaped her.

--She loved him and he didn't feel a thing for her.

Pulling at the ribbon that held her braid she ruined the hair and let it fall in waves. It flowed away from her shoulder and wrapped around her back, warming her slightly. Bringing her knees up she rested her head there and forced her self not to cry.

The infirmary doors opened again.

She lifted her head up and smiled at Harry who came in with a bag held in his hand. He smiled back but not before casting a glance at where Malfoy was. Walking over, she looked at Malfoy out of the corner of her eye and say he was still looking over. Fixing her gaze back to Harry she watched as he placed her bag down and walked over to her…

The place changed again; she was back in the Chamber. Weak and tired she watched as black shoes walked towards her, it's heel clicking onto the floor as if mocking her. "Ginerva, Ginerva," she could hear Tom whisper as her gaze lifted back to his face that looked so solid now, "What a fool you are."

Yes, Tom, she thought feeling tears blind her; I know…I know…

When she awoke this time, she found herself cradled in someone's arms. Tears still flowed from her cheeks and her body shivered with…fear? She didn't understand the feeling that enveloped her. Looking up she smiled as her eyes rested upon the worried gaze. Reaching her hand up, she felt that feeling disappear as she touched his cheek. "Draco…" she whispered, feeling utterly drained before she passed out.

"You're orders are to stay, Mr. Malfoy," Madame Pomfrey said, her voice harsh and nearly threatening as she helped poured more water into the jug that lied to the right of Ginny on a nightstand.

"Of course," he answered, watching her sleeping form, "I wouldn't have it any other way." For a moment Madame Pomfrey met his eyes and he swore he saw a small smile flitter upon her thin lips before she walked away from the bed, leaving them be. Rising from his chair, he stood before her and watched as her chest rose gently from the breaths she took from her parted lips. Her wavy hair flowed around her and he smirked at the thought of her becoming sleeping beauty.

Leaning forward, he brushed a hair away from her face, with his good hand, and eyed her freckles that scattered about her nose. "So innocent," he whispered, narrowing his eyes slightly as if going against the feeling that crept upon him.

Kiss her…

He could hear himself think as his eyes dropped upon her lips. Slightly chapped and red, they seemed to be the most delicious looking thing in the world. His breathing grew harsh as he trailed his finger around them, touching and awing at how soft it was even though it looked so rough.

Kiss her…

He thought again and he barely placed up a fight as his finger touched her hair, twirling it around. He shouldn't because she was asleep and wouldn't feel it. He should because she was practically his fiancée. He shouldn't because at any moment she could wake again. But he wanted to…he wanted to…

Kiss her…

And brushing his lips gently against hers, he did. Before standing up and removing his shoes. Was it so hard to admit that he missed sleeping next to her the past couple of nights? No. To her? Yes. Ignoring the creaks of the bed, he laid next to her and an unknowing smile crossed his lips as she moved her body to fit against his…

Waking up he found the bed empty, quickly placing his shoes on once again he asked Madame Pomfrey what had happened and was told that she had left with Granger. Feeling like he was slapped, he had first moved to go after her and demand what the hell was going on but then thought better of it and went back to their quarters where he bruised himself with a plan.

She lifted two fingers to her lips and felt her brows inched forward as she wondered why they felt so tingly. Sighing, she continued her make-up work, only to drift off in thought a moment later. Was it right for me to leave? She thought, remembering how shock and oddly happy she was to wake next to Malfoy again. "But then," she muttered, tightening her messy pony tail, "he might've just done it because he probably has aches."

Yawning, she stretched in her seat and grunted in the odd satisfaction of finding herself in an awkward position in the chair. That seemed to help her back much better then sitting straight up for the time being. Grunting again she sat back up and looked down at her Potions essay. In a fierce thought, she wished they weren't fighting so that she could have help on this. She was sick of asking Hermione for help--which only seem to turn out as confusing her. Placing her quill down, she noticed the sudden growling of her stomach and laughed quietly to her self.

Getting up, she placed on her cloak and decided to head to the kitchens for a snack and maybe get some motivation to help her work.

"Why do you always do that?" he asked, rising and eyebrow and lifting his gaze from the book he had to read in History of Magic. She looked up at him and paused for a moment before going into the bed next to him with a yawn.

"Do what?" she asked, turning her head to look at him.

A small smile appeared upon his features as he closed the book. "When you make a mistake or do something stupid--"

"Malfoy," she said warningly, although a smile was on her lips as well.

"--You laugh at yourself," he finished, his voice lowering to a whisper. She stared at him for a moment, but he had turned and placed his book onto the night stand before lowering himself besides her. She almost asked why it would matter if she laughed at herself or not, but he cut her off, his gaze up high to the ceiling with his hands tucked under his head. "It takes a strong person to do that--to laugh at your mistakes and to keep on doing that even when you think no one is around."

She laughed. "What? And you think I'm a 'strong person?'"

He moved his gaze from the ceiling and dropped it to hers. Eyes widening slightly she stopped laughing, stopped smiling, and stared back at him. "Yeah," he said, "I suppose you can say that."

She was blushing too much to even retort back.

"I'm an idiot," she whispered, as she dodged past a prefect. Standing before the pear she tickled it and stood before the open door for a moment. "If I keep this up, it'll be as if I'm morning…" she stopped and stood face to face with, "…him."

"Really?" he asked, his tone dry, "Who died?"

She rolled her eyes and reluctantly took the only free seat--in front of him. "None of your business," she snapped, as a few house elves made their way quickly towards her.

"Then don't go talking to yourself out loud then," he replied, calmly scooping up a piece of chocolate cake.

"Isn't it late to eat that?" she asked, hotly, "you can get fat doing that you know."

He raised an eyebrow and placed the scoop into his mouth before shrugging. "None of your business," he replied calmly, which was enough for Ginny to flush angrily in return.

Seething she forced herself to calmly ask for some food before laying her head down onto the table. After a few moments, she calmed a bit and finally heard him asking her something. Raising her head she threw him a confused look and he smirked before repeating himself.

"Want to try? Much as I hate to say, the cake here is quite good," he said, placing fork in front of her and waving it slightly like he had done when feeding her soup. Looking at the cake and back to him, she was about to eat it--even moved for it--before he drew it back and ate it himself. "Of course," he said, swallowing the piece and licking at a crumb that stayed on his upper lip, "I wouldn't want to make you fat."

"Then don't offer it," she retorted, licking her lips unconsciously as her gaze dropped back down to the cake. She lifted her gaze back up and felt her ears go hot at the look he was giving her--or more, her lips. "W- what are you looking at?"

His gaze lifted to her eyes and they shined slightly, the color going back from a dark blue to his usual grey. "Nothing," he said, smiling, "here." He scooped up a last part of the cake and waved it in front of her again. "It's good," he said, after she hadn't moved for it.

Frowning, she opened her mouth and ate the bit of chocolate cake. Almost immediately she could feel it melting into her mouth; sighing, a smile appeared on her lips. She looked over at Malfoy who chuckled lightly before motioning with a clean napkin that she had something on her lower lip. "Oh," she muttered, before licking it and looking back over at him, "Is it…"

She trailed off at the look that had, once again, appeared on his face.

"…Gone?" she muttered softly, looking away as food appeared before her.

"Yeah," he answered, sounding breathless, "it's gone."

Picking up her spoon she scooped up the soup and lifted it up to her lips, blowing gently on it before placing it into her mouth. Immediately she could feel the warm soup drop down into her throat and warm her chest. Looking back to Malfoy, she smirked at him. "Want some?" she asked.

He placed down his fork and pushed aside the empty plate, that held some crumbs of the cake before shrugging. Smiling, she fed him.

Hermione heard the portrait door open and walked down her stairs quickly. Raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms, she watched her best friend as she walked into the room, staring at her left hand. "Ginny do you know--" she began, ready to scold her for abandoning her work and wondering off past curfew.

"Hermione," Ginny said shocked, as if just noticing where she was, "Hermione…he…" her voice trailed off and Hermione's own shock came as her friend began to cry.

"Ginny?" Hermione asked, rushing over to her. Once close enough, she touched her friends shoulder and tried to make eye contact. "Ginny, what's wrong?"

"He…proposed to me," Ginny whispered.

"What?" Hermione asked, "Who?"

"Malfoy…proposed and- and I said no..."

Malfoy proposed…

How?

Ginny said no...Why?