Confessions of Stone Hearts

Chapter 1: Love is Blood

As Draco walked down the deserted corridor, going nowhere in particular, his mind was buzzing with an inner conflict. Try as he might, Draco found that he could not deny his heart even if it pulled him towards a girl who, in his father's eyes was worthless. Ginny Weasley. Even as he thought of her, he could picture her every aspect. Then, suddenly, he was seeing her for real. However, there was something wrong with the scene before him. She was unconscious, sprawled out on the floor of an empty classroom in a pool of her own blood. She was pale and didn't seem to be breathing. He rushed to her side, feeling her blood soak through his robes and onto his skin. He touched her cheek, tenderly brushing her flaming red hair from her face. She was frightfully cold. Placing two fingers on her neck, he searched for a pulse. There it was, ever so faint, but it was there. Draco breathed a deep sigh of relief; next was to get her help. He couldn't let what was left of her life drain away.

He peeked out into the hall to see it was utterly deserted just as before. Slowly, he picked her up. Draco slipped away, racing toward the Hospital Wing. He burst through the door, out of breath. He was so concentrated on helping Ginny, he didn't notice the shocked faces around him until it was too late.

"What did you do to my sister!" roared Ron, his face nearing the shade of his hair. Hermione sat, with a shocked look on her face, on the edge of the bed in which a confused Harry resided for some various Quidditch injury.

"I'm trying to help her, not hurt her, you stupid git! Now where's Madame Pomfrey!"

"What is the commotion in here?" said Madame Pomfrey as she bustled in. She gasped as she took in the scene before her and quickly went to work, barking out orders.

Ron, Hermione, and Harry sat in silent shock. Draco gazed fretfully at Ginny as Madame Pomfrey tried to revive her. Soon, he was brought out of his ever-more troubling thoughts by a flutter of Ginny's eyes, followed by a gasping breath.

"Ginny!" he cried as the look on Ginny's face went from shock to a dreamy smile, leaving Draco very confused. What she said next explained it.

"This is sooo not real," She tried to get up, but a searing pain in her wrists stopped her.

"Okay this is real. Oh my god. Draco?"

"The one and only." he said, hanging his head.

"What the hell did you do that for!" she snapped suddenly, and Draco looked up, his face full of confusion. What is she talking about. I saved her life! Went completely against everything I have been brought up to know and this is my thanks! Fine! He glared at her, all compassion forgotten.

"Excuse me for caring Ginny, I apologize," With that he turned to leave. Seeing the concerned look on Hermione's face; he realized that there was a single tear, running down his cheek.

As Ginny slowly recovered, Draco tried several times to visit her, but there was always someone guarding her. Ron, Hermione, and Harry were always glaring at him from the doorway. Finally, one night, well past midnight, his restless mind decided that he could try to see her; that it would be okay to gaze at her sleeping face for just a moment. So he slipped out of his common room and crept to the Hospital Wing.

"Odd time for visiting," Ginny said, smiling at him as he closed the door. "Oh, and I'm sorry for snapping at you."

"Thank you and I had no choice but to visit now. Your sentries were posted at any other time." Ginny laughed and straightened the bandages on her wrists.

"Why'd you do it?" he blurted. She looked shocked for a moment, but quickly recovered.

"I'll only answer that if I get to ask a few questions of my own."

"Fine with me," Draco replied and Ginny took a deep breath, preparing to tell her story.

"I'm sick of those guys -and everyone else for that matter- treating me like a child; protecting me, trying to make my decisions for me. It's so ridiculous! Everyone talks of You-Know-Who as if the have met him face to face but I see how hopeless it is to fight him more than anyone. I was him. Through that diary I saw his thoughts and I know how inhuman he was even at that age."

"You make it seem so hopeless but as stuck up as Potter is I think he can beat the Dark Lord. But don't tell anyone I said that," Draco said "Now, what questions do you have for me?"

"Okay. To start, what were you doing in that hall?"

"Thinking," Draco replied. He hoped that she would not inquire further, but she did.

"About..." Ginny persisted.

"My father, school …you."

She smiled knowingly and said, "You could at least tell the truth."

"I am!" Draco cried. "I'm pouring my heart out to you and you don't even believe me!"

"Oh, Draco!" Ginny gasped. Her eyes widened and she put her hand over her mouth. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think that this could happen."

"Sorry," Draco said, looking away.

"No!" Ginny cried. "I've liked you since the beginning of the year!"

"Wow," Draco said, dumbstruck. Then an idea came to him. "Hey!" he said "Let's get out of here!"

"Where can we go?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know. We don't have any other chance. We might never be alone again." He looked at her, his eyes pleading, and finally she gave in.

Draco helped her out of the bed and they slipped out; walking at first, and then running down the corridors.

They ran, smiling and holding hands, until they were out of breath. Draco looked around and realized where they were. They were outside the Room of Requirement and to his surprise, the door was there. He hesitated for a moment, but Ginny pulled him in. The room was dimly lit by a few fragrant candles and had a large velvety couch.

They sat down on it and Ginny laid her head on Draco's shoulder. He felt, for the first time in a long time, peaceful. No father, lecturing him about becoming a Death Eater, no teachers nagging him to think about his lessons, and most thankfully, no wary faces. Whispering to each other about him, looking over their shoulders.

"I wish this could work," Draco sighed, and Ginny sat up.

"Why can't we make it work!"

"We come from different sides of the war, Ginny!"

"So you're telling me that you can forget? Forget tonight and go back to your game of charades? Love is the strongest kind of magic. I love you and I couldn't hide it, even if I wanted to." Ginny stood up and started to leave.

"Wait!" Draco called. He got up and ran after Ginny, stopping her in the open doorway.

"Of course I love you and you're right. I can't hide it." He wrapped his arms around her and felt their lips touch. Her kiss sent a surge through his entire body.

But it was short lived.

A loud noise caused him to open his eyes. He saw Ginny's brother, Ron roar with rage and whip out his wand. Then all he saw was blackness.