Author's Note: I know we all don't like waiting too long for updates so here's another chapter!

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns everything you recognize. Only the plot is mine.

Chapter 6

He was sprawled bloody on the floor of a dark room. He was panting and his heart was hammering through his chest. He could smell and taste blood and sweat and his whole body was aching and burning. "I must escape," he thought, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps of air. Then he felt the presence of two people and felt, rather than saw, the two people hover above him. One laughed shrilly, making the hairs on his neck and arms stand on edge. The other stayed silent, but Draco didn't have to see the man's face to know that he was disappointed.

"You are weak!" the man yelled. "You are no son of mine!" He spat at the boy. "You were always greatly favored by the Dark Lord. If he could only see you now."

"Soon, my nephew, you will be reunited with your mother!" the too familiar voice of Bellatrix Lestrange rang through the room.

Draco felt rage course through his veins as his father and aunt taunted him.

"Kill him, Lucius!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

Draco woke up. He was breathing heavily and was covered in sweat, his pupils dilated. His heart was hammering against his chest and he could hear his heartbeat in his ears. He had been having these nightmares ever since he had escaped his father's wrath. The dreams were more vivid that night and he knew, like the previous nights, that he would not be able to fall back into sleep. Without realizing it, he got up from the couch and his legs carried him to Ginny's bedroom door. He knocked quietly but there was no answer. He tried the doorknob and to his surprise, found it unlocked. He opened the door quietly and tip-toed across the room.

"Get out of my room, Grey." Draco relaxed, despite the irritation that was evident in Ginny's voice, he was glad that she was awake. He ignored her and walked to the side of Ginny's bed. Ginny's red head emerged from under the covers, her eyes gleamed with sleepy irritation. "What do you want?" she snapped.

"Red… this might sound silly… but I've been having nightmares."

"There's a sleeping draught in the potion cabinet in the bathroom. Get it yourself."

Draco went into the bathroom and opened the potion cabinet. He found the purple liquid in a vial and drained it in one gulp. He went back into Ginny's room.

"What now, Grey?" she spat.

"Red, I can't sleep alone," he said. Ginny looked up at him to tease him but what she saw totally caught her off guard. She saw for the first time, Draco Malfoy so vulnerable and distraught that she wanted to hold him in her arms. She saw a pleading look in his eyes that she just couldn't resist.

"Fine… but you're sleeping on the floor," she said. Draco summoned his sheets and pillow from the couch and laid them out on the floor next to Ginny's bed. He lay down, more comfortable than ever now that he knew he wasn't alone. He placed his arm on his forehead and tried to go back to sleep.

Ginny felt more conscious now but seemed to like the fact that he was with her in her room. She pondered on the past week and found she had questions in her mind. She leaned over on the edge of the bed and saw by the moonlight, Draco lying there, shirtless. She could see the curve of the muscles rippling his stomach as he breathed. He really was a sight to behold.

"Can't you protect yourself?" Ginny blurted. "I mean, I've seen you fight in the war with us and you're better than I was at that time. Why do you need my protection?"

He groaned as he removed his arm from his eyes and opened them. "Because I'm not as strong as I was before. I've used all my energy and difficult magic to survive without even a scratch. I can protect myself, but I've got a better chance of surviving with help while I heal fully," he said as he turned to lie on his stomach.

"Grey?" she asked. She had more questions to ask and she wanted answers.

"What?" he said impatiently as he moved again to face Ginny.

Ginny looked into his eyes and asked, "Why did you really own up to the ministry?"

The question took Draco by surprise but was glad he didn't have to answer yet for she continued. "You escaped your father and your aunt's wrath and came to the ministry to tell us everything you knew about them. Why did you escape them in the first place?"

Draco sighed and sat up. He moved to lean against the side of the bed, resting his head on the mattress, Ginny still laying at the edge of the bed. They were again so close that Ginny's breath stirred his hair.

He hesitated but decided to tell her the truth. Maybe it would lighten the burden in his chest. Besides, there was no escaping Ginny Weasley's constant persuasion. "I escaped… because like my mother, I never wanted anything to do with the Dark Lord. I think that he's old and an attention seeking wizard who happens to be powerful." He glanced sideways to meet Ginny's eyes. "Lucius and Bellatrix had plans of wreaking havoc into the world; magical and non-magical, as vengeance for the Dark Lord. I don't know what there plans are except that they were to use me. They threatened to use the Imperius Curse on me but my skills in Occlumency shut them out. My own father, my own flesh and blood, cast several dark curses on me time and time again after that," Ginny gasped but did not speak.

"But I remained strong and used every blocking and protecting spell Snape had taught me. That's why I escaped with no injuries except for a few cuts and bruises. One night, I managed to steal Lucius' wand and immobilize them in their sleep, although it wasn't easy, buying me time to escape and I did. I couldn't think straight but I knew I had to get help. I wanted to run to the Order but it was too far and I was weak already so I decided on running to the Ministry and so here I am…"

A heavy silence hung in the air. Their eyes were still staring into each others'; full of different emotions: sympathy, anger and most of all, understanding. Ginny understood him but she had more questions. "Why don't you like the the dark side? I always thought you were avid for the dark arts."

Draco let out an uneasy chuckle. He averted his gaze onto the ceiling. "I'm not avid about it. In fact I wish that part of magic doesn't exist. But balance between light and dark wouldn't exist without it. I want to live freely in this world. I want to be able to live without glancing over my shoulder every now and then. I want to live my dreams, travel around the world and maybe settle down and raise a family someday," he glanced back at Ginny. "It's silly isn't it? What's more silly is that you're the only one I've told about this."

Ginny fought the tears forming in her eyes. She felt sorry for this man. He was a human being after all; capable of having dreams and feelings and at that moment, she saw the real Draco Malfoy. "No. It's not silly at all," she said and she gave him a smile. "You can take the other side of the bed."

Draco's eyes brightened in surprise. "What?" he asked, just to be sure.

"Now before I change my mind!" she said loudly. Draco smirked and got hold of his pillow and sheets and walked around the bed to the other side. He flopped himself onto the bed. Their arms touched but neither moved. He smiled at himself as he closed his eyes. "Sweet dreams, Draco." Draco's eyes shot open. Did she just call him by his given name?

"Good night, Ginny." He said under his breath. He smiled again and for the first time in months, he slept a dreamless sleep.