Ginny was crying.
"He doesn't mind being touched." – She said in a matter-of-fact voice, as soon as Hermione entered the room. – "He just doesn't want me to do so."
"No, no, no. You've got it all wrong."
"Don't try to comfort me by lying, Hermione. You aren't good at it."
"I'm not lying. He said that it's because he can feel Voldemort's emotions. You know what that scar does to him."
Ginny tensed.
"He can feel You-Know-Who?"
"Yes. That's why he behaves like that."
"And he can see what he sees?"
Hermione looked puzzled.
"I don't think so. Why?"
Ginny let out a sigh.
"I don't know. I just wondered, I guess…"
He touched her and smiled, with a knowing look that said he understood why she was pretending he didn't exist, and that he'd be rough this time.
Her insides burnt. She wouldn't cry. She had never done so before, and she wouldn't do it now.
"Come on. You know you want to." – He teased.
'To throw up.' – She thought, but didn't reply.
"Didn't you see him?" – He continued. – "You are afraid he will find out. Maybe, if you cooperate, I'll make sure he doesn't."
His laugh was hollow. She gasped in pain at his brutality.
"You're surrendering?" – She ignored his question angrily, but couldn't resist a small whimper as he continued viciously. – "Good, Ginny, very good…"
Hermione woke up with a start. She was trembling slightly. The charm wasn't about her. It had never been about her. It wasn't a memory charm gone awry, or a dark magic spell that didn't let her see her attacker. Ginny was the victim, and someone had charmed her to find out. But who?
She knew Ginny was awake. She could hear her ragged breathing from across the room, and she could feel the pain Ginny was feeling now. That's why Harry shrank away from her. She wasn't possessed, but she was too close to Voldemort for Harry to handle. The girl set his scar on fire every time she came close to him… Shame and guilt were overflowing, and the redhead couldn't escape. Voldemort did this in her dreams, leaving her without defenses or explanations. And no one knew...
Hermione felt sick. She had to tell Dumbledore somehow, but she feared what he'd do. Sighing, Hermione knew that she didn't feel safe at all.