Hey all! Here is an update… I'm so sorry for the delays and all, i'm revising for my exams and I wrote this in a couple hours where the power went out and I could only use my laptop, lol.

Anyway, ENJOY!!!!

Draco's pov

The light hurts my eyes even though they're closed. Where am I now? Last thing I remember was my head hitting the paved floor of the tower. Who saved me this time? I know I'm alive, the pain in my body clearly screams so.

I struggle to put a hand over my eyes and open them. White sheets, smell of disinfectant… Hospital wing. Damnit.

I feel Ginny's hand squeeze mine as I finally manage to keep my eyes open without them burning. She looks as pale as the white sheets surrounding me. But again, I'm only colourful because of the bruises. I smile at my own sick humour but she doesn't seem to agree with my conception of amusing.

I realize something must have happened to her too. I don't want to know what. I'm scared of hearing the truth, I'm scared it gets worse for her with time. I wish things would go back to when we were joking about Arthur the teddy bear or mimicking Pansy Ducky in the halls. But we seem to be sailing this black wave, all laughter smothered. Just surviving.

Being the stubborn brat that I am, I test my body to see how soon I can get out of this place. Methinks now, because the smell of meds and all gets on my nerves seriously. I feel dead already in there. Ginny's screams of protestation don't stop me.

I'm so lucky I always manage to escape the Hospital wing without getting caught. Ginny pesters me as soon as we turn the corner. But apparently, people are in class, so nobody is there to listen to her calling me an irresponsible and blah blah blah annoying little prat.

The pictures turn around, irritated by Ginny's constant ranting but I can't help laugh at the look on their faces. I walk quicker and quicker as my legs regain some strength. I don't really know where I'm going, I don't care actually.

"Draco Malfoy, if you don't turn around to go back to the Hospital wing, I'm gonna have to personally kill you. You're irresponsible! What if you have some internal damage? Madam Pomfrey didn't tell me anything about your diagnose, so get back in there before I lose my temper! You hear me, stupid? DRACO!"

A mad idea crosses my mind as Ginny keeps yelling. I spin around to face her.

"Gin, shut up or I make you shut up myself."

"I won't shut up! It's not a game! I'm serious, and worried and you don't care at all! We're-"

My mind screams enough. I just crash my lips on hers. Makes her speechless, to say the least. I smirk and resume my walk. She doesn't follow.

Dumbledore's pov

"We have a whole class of students as witnesses, what more do you need, Cornelius?" I sigh.

The Minister squirms. He can sense that I'm slowly, but surely losing my patience. I think it is time for him to understand that serious decisions have to be taken in life. Sometimes, we need to grow up and let go of our fears to do what is necessary.

I am not asking for much. I'm only asking for Lucius Malfoy to be arrested. He's powerful, sure, but Fudge wasn't so slow to arrest others.

Cornelius is sitting in an armchair, toying with his hat as he mumbles while watching his polished shoes. I storm to my desk to retrieve Draco's medical file that Madam Pomfrey carefully put together throughout the year. I throw it on Fudge's knees and watch him lose colour as the various pictures of Lucius' abusive traces scatter in front of him.

"It… It is not possible Albus. We already talked about all this. And, and… and Mr Malfoy is a… very important member of our co-community."

I slam my fist on the desk.

"The WITNESSES, Mr the Minister."

He's now trembling with fear but still finds the courage to get up and answer. "A bunch of children. Not serious. And everybody knows their teacher is a lunatic."

He regains his composure as he speaks, finally feeling he has some argument. But I flash him a glare that even Professor McGonnagal would admire and he stomps out of the office quicker than I would have ever imagined.

I know I won.

Sophia's pov

The war council is open. There's Harry, Ron, Hermione, Blaise and I. We're in the requirement room and we don't really know why we meet. I guess we need to share what's going on in our heads, with all this happening. It feels like nothing has sense anymore. So much changed over the past few months.

Colin came to talk to me this morning. I was ready for something like that. I didn't know what to tell him, how to make him understand. But it seems he put some pieces together. He said he understood now.

He also said he didn't want to be involved in anything. He can't stand Draco, and will never. He is ok with understanding the abuse but that's all. Maybe Draco has a sad life, but doesn't mean he's less of a freak.

It kind of hurt that such a nice guy as Colin thinks that. You'd think he's sensitive and sweet. It's what I used to think anyway. I guess sometimes, you don't know people that well.

Ron nudges me and I try to concentrate again on the discussion. It's mainly about where could be Lucius and what we can do. Ron wants to follow his sister and Malfoy all the time, Harry reckons using his Marauder Map is enough to see what's going on, Hermione insists Dumbledore is taking care of everything.

Only Blaise stays silent. I wonder what's going on in his mind. He seems lost in painful thoughts.

"Honestly, it seems pointless," he suddenly whispers.

Everybody was talking at the same time but now silence reigns over the room, creepy. I nod and add that I saw Fudge come out of Dumbledore's office with the scared-thus-obeying look. We can only hope Lucius won't come back.

Hannah's pov

I hear Voldemort scold Lucius once again about his pathetic attempt to get his son. I shudder just being in this room, with so many murderers. I'm just thinking about how they must feel about life when I hear Lucius whisper a question.

"Why, my Lord. Why do you want my son and his little slut?"

Voldemort laughs and orders all the other Death Eaters to leave the room. He starts to walk slowly around Lucius' crouched figure.

"What do you know about power, Malfoy. Nothing. What you seek, what you always looked for, was a place insured in the hierarchy. Preferably at the top. But never have you shown the thirst for freedom that would propel you to the top. You will always be the slave of someone. Never will you taste the true power of magic, because you are always limited. Your soul is conditioned to serve, to model your thoughts with modesty in front of your master."

"Master, I only want to execute your will."

"Yes Malfoy. Hence why you are weak. Weak and pathetic. The spirit of revolt makes Draco stronger. He is free and you are a prisoner. I want him. Not to bind him, no, that is reserved for lower people like you. I won't bind him. I will teach him the power he has in him. He is the one I choose and trust to continue my task. What you put him through was sickening, but you fed him. You fed him with anger and I only need to liberate it now."

My hands tremble at this discourse but I listen to every word. Recording them all in my head, realizing the importance of Draco in Voldemort's eyes. This doesn't make things easy. But Voldemort talks again… Ginny.

"Dear Malfoy, you must know they're bonded. The magic between them is fascinating. Ginny Weasley may be the daughter of that idiot of a muggle-lover, but she has my memories in her. She has a part of my soul in her and it will only make it easier to corrupt her. Her magic put with Draco's… What a weapon. Such power. More power than any wizard will ever have known. Dumbledore himself, Potter, all the little gang of the Phoenix… They will crawl. Crawl in the dust in front of that power. The power I created."

He then bends over Malfoy. "The power you created, thinking you were instead destroying it, idiot."

I fade away to Hogwarts as the Dark Lord's demonic laughter rings in my ears.

Ginny's pov

I stand glued to my spot till I hear the bell announcing end of class. I don't know how long I stayed just gazing in space, but now I run to my dorm to hide in my corner. Just think, that's all I want to do. I'm so… lost. Thoughts run and crash in my head, it's infernal.

He kissed me. I'm speechless. My best friend kissed me. I have an urge to slap myself to put some order in my mind. Ok, so I've been kissed before… But I don't know, this felt different…

I roll my eyes at myself. Snap out of the sappy roll Ginny, this is getting ridiculous. It probably meant nothing to him at all. I mean, we're best mates and he had warned me he'd make me shut up, one way or another.

Sophia enters the dorm and I don't have time to hide the storm of thoughts running wild in my poor fried brain so Sophia looks at me with concern.

"What's up Ginny?"

"Nothing, nothing."

That sounded… unconvincing to say the least. I know Sophia will get it out of me. And I fear what she will think.

"Ginny, I'm one of your best friends. Now shoot."

I sigh and tell her he kissed me.

"Who? WHO WHO WHO????" she squeals.

"Guess, you moron," I drawl while rolling my eyes.

I looked up from my bed cover to see Sophia's eyes basically fall out of their sockets. She giggles stupidly and claps.

I sigh. "Advice?"

"You walk up to him, smash him against the wall and snog him senseless. Sounds like a good plan to me."

"I hope you realize you're really not supportive there."

"Totally."

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