AN: Read and Review

The Easter holiday was a month away but the Quidditch matches had begun so had the load of the N.E.W.T's. Ron was the captain of the Gryffindor and Ginny the seeker. Draco was both the captain and seeker for Slytherin. Harry did not wish to have any more pressure than being a Head boy along with the seventh year studies. Ron was looking forward to the career in Quidditch and Ginny was still confused between Quidditch and journalism.

Draco had a month left before he had to submit the Ministry with the 'Doubt of Confidence' with the signature of nine more people. More than disappointed with the names that the Headmistress had suggested, he had wasted enough time thinking when he had no choice. He walked almost reluctantly towards the lake where 'the lot' as he called the group consisting Potter, Granger, Longbottom, Weasley, Nut-head (Luna Lovegood) and Ginny. Funny how one make-out can bring you on first name basis, he thought. It was a weekend with surprisingly less work than what they were bombarded with for almost a month, hence 'the lot' was chilling. Holding the parchment in his hand he approached them with mock ease.

Ginny and Nut-head were lying on a blanket giggling like little girls. Granger was reading, Draco rolled his eyes internally, 'how boring', he thought, 'did the girl do anything else?' The guys were playing cards which he didn't recognise. Ron was the first to see him, "Malfoy" he said in a cold voice making the intrusion known to the others. Ginny shot up as if she just realised there were snakes all around. "Weasley" he responded in a bored voice. "What do you want Malfoy?" Harry asked cutting straight to the point, his anger for spewing the kiss between himself and Ginny to Hermione long forgotten. "Nice to see you too Potter" when the rest kept staring he huffed and thought there is no point stalling. His gaze lingering on Ginny's for a moment, making her heart beat faster. "Alright, I … the Ministry has given me a form kind of. It is ... I need you people to sign this parchment with your name agreeing to take responsibility of the 'Doubt of Confidence' … that is my mother so she can get a job at the Ministry." he said in one breath. There was no way in hell he was saying 'please'.

At the lack of response, Draco thought he might have to repeat everything, probably the dumb wits didn't understand or just leave clearly no one is jumping to help him out. "Okay, I will sign." Harry said. Draco surprised but still nervous, started shuffling where he stood till Harry accio-ed some ink and quill. When Harry was about to return the parchment to him, Neville tapped his shoulder wordlessly asking for the paper. When Neville signed, Ginny said, "I will sign." "You can't." Draco informed without looking at her, "Underage cannot sign" he explained. Neville then passed it to Ginny, "I am not" she whispered and signed. Next was Luna and Ron finally gave in, "Hell give it here." Assuming Hermione will sign he called her, everyone turned their heads to where she was sitting minutes ago to find a book without its owner, she was far away, sprinting towards the school entrance.

Harry handed the parchment back to Draco and rushed behind Hermione, one of his worst memories flashing in his mind like it happened yesterday. "What the hell is her problem, goody two shoes doesn't want to help someone is need!" Ginny exclaimed looking at the guys and back to a retreating form of Harry then Draco and Ron. Ron started at Draco with furious eyes and Draco kept the eye contact to show his guilt, and then eventually left head hanging low. She turned to face Ron who wore expressions he had after the battle when Charlie was lying dead with the other fallen warriors. Pain, was flowing through his misty eyes.

Eventually Neville and Luna left the Weasley siblings alone, the air too thick with tension. Watching the setting sun Ginny soft asked Ron what happened. "After all it was not like Hermione to leave a book behind". She tried to make light of the heavy mood. Internally she was scared to hear what Ron would say, never before did she want Draco to be innocent.

In a sombre tone Ron started, "When we were on the run the death eaters captured us and took us to the Malfoy Mansion. Just before getting caught Hermione jinxed Harry to hide the scar make his face unrecognisable to anyone. They asked Malfoy if he was Harry, that coward son of bitch said he wasn't sure." "But that probably saved you" Ginny interjected Ron glared at her for defending Draco Malfoy and laughed bitterly, "Yes saved me and saved Harry maybe but not Hermione." He paused forcing himself to recollect the horrid event. "Bellatrix tortured her for hours, wanting to know about the Gryffindor Sword. On her right arm she carved 'mud blood' which she now hides as it is permanent and was subjected to the Cruciatus Curse countless time. When we finally got there to save her, the Malfoy family was just standing there watching a girl be tortured bloody. Narcissa didn't help nor did your Draco" Ron grit through his teeth, jaw hurting, he could not believe Ginny had feelings for Draco Malfoy. Most of the times he wasn't so observant but certain things didn't get past him either. He saw how she shot up when he mentioned his name, or how she kept staring at him barely blinking while Draco Malfoy avoided her gaze. And if someone missed all this even Luna would have found it fishy that Ginny Weasley wants to help Draco Malfoy.

"I didn't know I am sorry." "Yeah there is a lot you don't know Ginny, Hermione has earned her place by Harry with sacrifices not by following him through stories and newspapers." He said harshly and left her alone in the dark evening. On an afterthought he returned to her with a test tube carrying the sliver threads of his memory.

With Ron's memory in hand, Ginny rushed through the unfilled passages of Hogwarts and desperately waited for the doors to appear. Luck was on her side, the Room of Requirement let her in to a small room. Without looking around, she walked straight to the pensieve cabinet and poured Ron's memory and dived in.

The first scene was when they were captured by death eaters, Hermione being dragged by her hair, then it was Ron and Harry locked in the dudgeon hearing Hermione scream. It transformed to her lying on the floor with a bloody hand, almost a lifeless body, eyes and face red with tears. Draco, Narcissa, and Lucius were watching her from afar. She pulled herself out of the memory and sat on the floor. There was no way she would ever forget the image of Hermione on the floor embedded in her head. Ginny was overwhelmed with pain, her own because she lost Harry, to see what Hermione went through, pain for losing her brother, Charlie, she was letting out all that hurt her. She had no idea how long she sat on the floor by the Pensieve crying, wishing she had the comfort of strong arms around her or just someone there other than an empty room.

What Ginny didn't have Hermione had in abundance. Though, the forced recollection of countless Cruciatus Curse was more painful than a belated realisation of loss. Harry caught up with Hermione when she reached their common room. She was so lost in the dark memories, that she only noticed Harry when he embraced her in a bone crushing hug from behind. It would have been fine for Harry if she were crying opposed to the statue that she had become.

Harry laid out a blanket near the fireplace and snuggled with Hermione, after hours of lying by the fire with Harry soothing her with soft caresses; Hermione had warmed up but did not lose her ridged, tense posture.

Harry woke up when he felt someone clutching his shirt. Then he saw the fire blazing and realised where he was. Hermione had started breathing heavily; she was sleeping and obviously going through a nightmare. Without thinking he shook her hard and broke the curse of the dream. Hermione sat up, glad to see the fire and light perverse to the darkness she was stuck in minutes ago which felt like a lifetime.

"I just…I don't…I am…" she was still distorted to form the right words. Harry hugged her close, "Shhh…its ok. Everything is fine. Just breathe." she cleared her throat before saying "Can we just sleep here?" "Yes of course, do you want to change; the jeans must not be comfortable." She nodded and went to her room.

When she got back, looking much better than before, Harry had already changed into some pyjamas and was piling some pillows. She dropped the extra blankets at his feet and snuggled into the cosy makeshift bed for the night. "I am sorry." "Don't." Harry pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her, protectively and possessively, putting an end to the conversation. He let out a satisfied sigh when she copied his action if not more strongly. As if staged, the moment harry brushed his lips over her forehead she did the same over his heart.

AN: R&R