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Xx I'll sit here wondering about you

And how the pollen fell

All around your face in strange yellow patterns

But, i wasn't prepared for this

Oh, i wasn't prepared for this xX

Chapter 7

I Wasn't Prepared...

Blaise licked his lower lip with the eagerness of a hungry dragon. How could she have been so stupid to follow a corridor she didn't know? What was worse there was no way of knowing whether or not someone else would happen down the very same corridor. Ginny's eyes shifted uneasily towards Blaise again as the boy took an advancing step. If she could just make it to her wand she could hex him. Despite what some thought of her abilities, Ginny had learned non-verbal magic relatively quickly with Professor Flitwick. She had mastered it so well that he had asked her to assist others with their progress. All she needed to do was get that wand in her hand and she'd be alright. The look in Blaise's eyes confirmed that he had other plans.

His wand lifted above his head again, and he murmured something that she couldn't quite hear. In a blinding white flash wet sticky blood poured from her mouth again. Whatever he had thrown at her had slashed at her face. She coughed up a thick load of her own blood and backpedaled on the floor.

"Where do you think you are going?" He waved his wand back and forth as though scolding her. "I can't have you running away from me." His mouth opened partially, and Ginny waited for the stunner to hit her. He refrained. "What's the fun in having you completely incapacitated? If I stun you then you'll just be lying there like a dead fish."

Ginny's eyes leaked with what felt like a thousand tears. She could only imagine what her face looked like. Tear stained and bloody she probably resembled one of those old medieval portraits of war casualties that hung on the corridor wall.

"Maybe I'll just beat you around for awhile? Eh?" He snorted back a laugh, "that way you'll be too injured to fight back." He nodded to this comment as if agreeing with himself, and again the wand slashed down in a vertical motion.

Her robes tore straight down the middle, and a wide gash covered the area from her navel to her breastbone. She screamed in silent pain, and Blaise chortled. He slashed at her again this time drawing blood from her left thigh. It could have been mere seconds that his hexing went on for. To Ginny it felt like a thousand long tortured years. Over and over he cut at her, every now and then sending another swift kick to her side. She was badly bruised and beaten. Every inch of her body hung in perpetual pain. For a moment she thought he was going to cease his hexing but writhed in pain again as he cut this time at her stomach. The same gashes oozed more blood as they merged with new injuries. One sick moment he had healed one of her wounds and then slowly reopened it again with revolting glee.

Ginny hated him. If ever she wanted to kill someone Blaise had surely taken that spot at number one. She was belittled and humiliated over and over again as he laughed at her bloody exposed body. Her clothes were now in shreds along the stone floor.

"You take a good beating, Red." He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "But I think dinner is over…I'm in the mood for desert." Blaise shrugged off his robes to reveal the required Hogwarts uniform.

Her entire body ached, and the sticky bloody upon her skin had begun to mix with her tears and drip into her eyes and mouth. She had one second to get herself out of this. She knew what was going to happen before it even did. For one brief moment Blaise lowered his eyes and undid the first two buttons on his shirt. It was the gateway she needed, and Ginny, disregarding all the pain, pushed to her feet and lunged at him.

Her small bloodied frame collided with his sending him backwards onto the stone floor with her. She was up again and dashing towards the door. Screw her wand. She'd go back for it eventually. A pair of hands grabbed her ankles, and Ginny felt herself falling forward so quickly that her hands didn't have a chance to brace herself from the floor. Her face smashed into the stone surface with a nauseating thud. The pain jolted like rapid fire up through her jaw and across her face. It was broken. It had to be. The pain was far too intense for it to be anything but. He was clawing at her legs again doing his best to push her back over. For an excruciating moment his finger had poked inside one of the deeper gashes and sent another searing pain across her leg. She wanted to die, but her thoughts immediately jumped to Harry. Harry risked his life every bloody day, and despite death and danger he did his best to overcome the bad guy. Ginny refused to be a victim of Zabini's any further.

She kicked her left leg back hitting Blaise square in the face.

"You bitch!" Blaise clutched at his jaw as Ginny scampered to her feet. "Crucio!"

Again she had almost made it to the door when the unforgivable curse hit her. If death hurt then this had to be what it felt like. Her face twisted in obvious pain, and still clutching his own jaw Zabini got to his feet. Ginny was now on her knees, and Blaise held the curse with an angry scowl on his face. When he finally closed the gap between them he lowered his wand, but gave her a hard knee to her chest. Clutching at the spot Ginny fell back onto the floor again.

"Are you blind?" He pointed down at the Dark Mark, "I could filet you right now and no one would give a flying fuck."

Ginny's eyes darted the mark and then back to his face. He was hovering over her while his fingers worked at the buttons of his shirt again. He lowered himself to the ground and slapped her hard across the face again. She spit a mess of blood from her mouth. Blaise smirked and then wiped his finger across the trickle of red that had dripped from the corners of her mouth. The red stained his skin and Ginny watched horror struck as Zabini lifted his finger and licked her blood from his own finger.

"Filthy blood … a Pureblood Mudblood lover…disgusting you are, Red." And then Blaise lowered his mouth onto hers.

Ginny squirmed frantically beneath him as he left hard humiliating kisses on her lips. They were forceful and desperate, and Ginny fought back the urge to vomit right then and there. She didn't know where the burst of power came from. Perhaps the quick image of Harry in her mind sent her some much needed strength. As he leaned in to kiss her again, Ginny pushed all of her weight up upon him and bucked him off of her. She was free again, and she got to her feet and ran for the door. Unfortunately Blaise was still just as quick, and a red shot flew just over her head and hit the door. Ginny moved to the right and dodged another hex as it whizzed right by her left ear. Her wand. She could see it against the wall just a few feet from where she was currently standing.

She moved forward again and Blaise growled in obvious frustration. He charged forward, his wand raised over his head, and shot a bright orange light from the tip if his wand. She didn't hear what the curse was. All she heard was her own oxygen leaving her lungs as she threw herself to the floor and knocked the wind out of her gut. Behind her a large mirror had been stationed and the curse Blaise had cast bounced directly off the flawless glass and hit him dead in the face. He let out an audible wail, and Ginny watched as ropes appeared out of thin air and began tightening around his arms. His wand fell from his grasp, and he tried to pick it up again. Ginny realizing what he was about to do moved across the short distance and grabbed the wand in her own tiny mangled hand.

With much satisfaction she flopped down on her side and snapped the wand firmly on the floor. If she could have spoken a very loud laugh would have passed through her lips. Unfortunately the silencing charm was still firmly in place so she just grinned up at him, as painful as it was, triumphantly.

With his arms tied securely at his sides Blaise did the only thing he could have done. He pulled back his foot and kicked her again landing his toe right into her nose. This time she knew it was broken as the bones made a shattering noise that seemed to fill the empty room.

"This doesn't end here, Red. You've just black listed yourself, and I always make good on those who've been black listed." Leaning over he spit coldly in her face before turning and reaching the door. With a bit of maneuvering he turned the knob and slammed the door shut behind him.

Ginny couldn't move. The blood from her nose spilled like a faucet down her face, and she cried. Her torn robes revealed a badly beaten body and the blood loss was finally beginning to get to her. The room swirled in fuzzy circles around her head. The throbbing in her sides was only measured by the throbbing in her legs, and since they were both excruciating she concluded that her level of pain was beyond anything imaginable.

Failing twice she tried to roll to her side and push herself up. She felt the contents of her stomach lurch up and she vomited right onto the floor. How was she going to get back to the common room?

The doorknob clicked again, and Ginny threw her hands over her face careful not to hit her now broken nose. It was bad enough she was half naked, bloody and sorely beaten. She didn't want Blaise to have the satisfaction of her tears.

"Bloody hell."

It wasn't Zabini's voice at all. She winced as she lowered her hands to catch the eyes of Draco Malfoy. Immediately she started crying harder. Vulnerability went out the door. She didn't care how silly and weak she looked lying there on the floor. She was in so much god awful pain that all she wanted was for someone to bring her to Madam Pomfrey. Malfoy though could not stop staring down at her defeated figure. She didn't want to know how bad she looked. She could feel every inch of her crawling with disgust as the thought of Zabini filled her head. A look of mild concern passed across Malfoy's features.

Ginny pointed towards her throat and opened her mouth to show the silent screams. Malfoy seemed to finally grow aware that he was gawking at her and removed his wand from his pocket with fumbling fingers. He had seen a lot of foul things due to his involvement with the Dark Lord, but for some reason seeing Ginny like this cut him more deeply then any other appalling sight.

He pointed the wand at her throat and murmured the counter jinx. He expected her to scream out in pain. The sight of her made him wonder how she had managed to stay conscious for so long. Instead she blubbered out a cough. Her sobs replaced any initial feeling to scream obscenities at the top of her lungs. She didn't want to be awake any longer. All she wanted to do was close her eyes and forget that any of it happened.

She felt him shift beside her, and with an agonizing turn of her neck she saw that Malfoy had crouched down and was now kneeling beside her. She was certainly glad she had worn the plain red knickers and not the ones with the tiny golden snitches. For some reason despite her beaten state she couldn't imagine Malfoy leering over her while sprawled out in the old knickers she had bought in her fourth year.

He pointed his wand down at the gashes along her stomach, and Ginny emitted a whimper and recoiled as much as she could.

"Easy." Malfoy's voice was very monotone, but there was a small trace of actually worry that Ginny caught. " Just be still." For some unknown reason she trusted his word and let out a deep breath.

One by one Malfoy ran his wand over the gashes murmuring some sort of healing charm. It took a couple of times on each gash before they began to fade, but eventually they began to slowly mend. Ginny watched as they stitched together and let out a few sharp intakes of breath when the pain surged again. It was at these moments Malfoy looked down on her and waited until the pain subsided. Then when she seemed ready he began the charm again finishing off each gash with such precision that Ginny knew immediately he had done this before.

When he finished the length of her body and siphoned the dried blood off of her he moved to her nose and fixed it with a quick flick. "There." Again he flicked his wand and her slashed uniform was mended again. Unfortunately he couldn't put it back together perfectly so the seams of her skirt were a bit off, and her shirt was still missing four buttons. "Take this." He removed his robe and placed it on her stomach.

"My jaw." She croaked, and Malfoy furrowed his brow. "It's not right." Again her voice was so hoarse that she had to repeat herself twice for him to understand.

Malfoy leaned over even more so that his nose was practically touching hers. His fingers worked along her jaw line and he examined the bone structure with such precision that when he told her it was just sorely bruised she believed him. He pulled away, and only after this did it dawn on him how close his own face had been from hers.

"Can you walk?" He reached down and offered her his hand.

"I don't-" But they both froze instantly when they heard the muffled voices on the other side of the door. Ginny knew it had to be way past curfew. She had left the D.A. meeting at half past eight. She winced as she tried to push herself up onto her elbows. "Ack…" Her eyes went wide as the noise echoed, but she couldn't help it. The throbbing was still so severe that she couldn't even pick her own body up off the floor.

Malfoy glanced wildly around the room. He didn't want to imagine the punishment they would receive if they were caught. Granted his punishment wouldn't be as harsh as Ginny's, but he didn't want to risk it. His eyes landed on the mirror right behind her. It was large enough to hide behind, and without wasting another moment he reached down and scooped her up.

Ginny bit her lip in fevered pain. Her head dropped to the side, and for a second she thought Malfoy was going to open the door and just hand her over to whoever was on the other side. Instead he moved them behind the mirror and placed her down on the floor gently. With a wave of his wand he lifted the mirror and slightly moved it so it would conceal the two of them perfectly. Ginny looked up at him through her watery eyes and he held his index finger over his lips. Lowering himself to the ground beside her Draco did his best to press against her and to keep his arms or legs from sticking out. Ginny tilted her head to the side and glanced up at his pointed face. She was so damn close that she could see a series of tiny scars down the side of his neck. She was so close she could definitely smell his cologne which was a mixture of mahogany and sharp spice. Her ears burned red and she quickly turned her attention to the back of the mirror.

The doorknob jingled again and then clicked open.

"He will not listen to me." A female voice filled the room. "he says that he will do it when he is ready, but how dare he sit on the orders of the Dark Lord."

"From what I understand, Bellatrix, Severus is waiting for authenticity. He wants to be sure that it is-" It was Amycus Carrow.

"Of course it is the authentic sword of Godric Gryffindor. Would you believe Dumbledore to have anything but?" She sneered, " How stupid are you Carrow?"

A huff followed this. "The goblins have sent word that they will examine it soon. Apparently they are busy now and Snape trusts no ones judgment on the piece but theirs."

"Snape." Bellatrix let out a disgusted choke, "He is no more interested in learning the truth then he is about his proving his loyalties. I am the Dark Lords most faithful and here I am forced to sit by and watch that traitorous man steal away my glory. I should be running this school…not that imbecile."

"So what are you suggesting, Bellatrix? Take the sword ourselves and seal it?" Amycus coughed. " It would be unwise to go behind the Dark Lord's orders. He is already angry that Harry Potter-"

"Harry Potter may be alive, but it only remains like that for now."

Ginny felt her chest tighten at Harry's name. Harry was alive. The horrible thoughts that she had been dreaming about for weeks were finally put to rest. Harry was ok. Harry was alive. Beside her Draco shifted uncomfortably. Her eyes moved up towards his face and for one awkward second they locked into his and they both turned away quickly. She could only imagine how he felt about Harry's mention. Sure enough when she glanced up again the vein that was obvious in the side of his neck began pulsing again. Jealousy just never seemed to fade regardless of the situation.

"Shall I tell Alecto then?" There was a pause. "We will wait a few days and it Snape does not deliver the sword like the Dark Lord wishes then we will take it ourselves." Bellatrix must have nodded because Amycus continued, "Good then."

"What is this?" Bellatrix's footsteps moved across the room and paused mere inches from the mirror.

Neither of them knew where the two Death Eaters were looking. Ginny had a sneaking suspicion they were looking in the large antique looking mirror. Then it dawned on her. Her wand was still sitting against the wall in the room. The pieces of Blaise's wand were still sprawled on the floor. And the blood… What if they found it all? What if they started snooping around the room looking for something? They were like sitting flobberworms.

"Don't know." Amycus piped up, "this ruddy school has massive amounts of odd things. That crackpot Dumbledore looks to have collected junk and stored it away in old classrooms." There was a tap against the glass of the mirror. Ginny felt her shoulders slope in relief.

Bellatrix let out a murmur of agreement. "Whatever it is it must be broken." She clicked her tongue, "I see myself surrounded by a mess of muggle bodies. The Dark Lord is nodding his approval to my left and-" She stopped, and Ginny could tell by the apparent confusion in her tone that whatever she had seen was something she did not want to continue with. What was in that mirror causing Bellatrix to falter?

"Someone's been in here." Ginny jumped against Malfoy as Amycus interrupted the silence.

"What do you mean? You said this corridor was vacant all the time." Bellatrix hissed coldly, and again the footsteps moved rapidly across the room.

"Usually is, but it looks like someone found it and-" There was another pause. "Is this blood?"

Ginny bit down again on her lips causing her eyes to well with more tears. If they found the blood it was only a matter of time before they found everything else. She began to breathe quickly, and as much as she tried to stop the hyperventilation it wouldn't cease. It was only when Draco lifted his hand and lightly placed it over her mouth that she calmed. The touch of someone being there beside her brought her hurdling back into her senses . Yet the pressure caused the tears to slip slowly down her cheeks, and upon realizing this he quickly eased his hand.

"That's absurd! How would there be bloodshed in this classroom?" Bellatrix stepped across the room.

Carrow squirmed under the inquisitive eyes of the dark haired Death Eater. "Perhaps some students got in earlier to duel?" His voice came out in a semi squeak.

Bellatrix scowled. "Why do you question me? You are the Professor here." She scuffled across the room again murmuring under her breath. "I knew the Dark Lord should have placed me here. I could have done things right in this blasted place."

Ginny felt her breath hitch in her throat. If she lost her wand at such a critical time...

Malfoy shifted next to her again, and this time she was certain he had made a very obvious noise behind the mirror. Her eyes went wide with worry, and Malfoy pressed his hand down harder on her mouth again.

"What was that?" Amycus hissed, and Ginny knew from the carried voice that he was staring at the large mirror again.

Ginny squeezed her eyelids shut even when she felt Malfoy move beside her. His leg was dragging up against hers and she felt his hand reach down and slip off a shoe. The shuffling of the two Death Eaters was growing closer towards the mirror, and apprehensively Ginny let on eye squint open. Malfoy had his shoe resting idly on the floor beside them. He was now fumbling for something in his pocket.

"Lumos." Bellatrix's voice was sharp, and virtually right on top of them

Ginny flickered her gaze towards Malfoy again, and she furrowed her brow as he gripped his wand tightly in his hand. Much like Ginny had mastered nonverbal spells, Malfoy pointed his wand at his shoe and transfigured the black trainer into a rat. With a short zap of light from the tip of his wand the little rodent burst out from behind the mirror. The rat's rapid footsteps drew up just as much echoed attention in the room as Draco's earlier movement.

"What in the name..." Carrow had spluttered as the thing scampered across the room and away from the mirror.

Much to Ginny's relief the rat had brought Bellatrix and Amycus away from the mirror. It was a great needed distraction, and Ginny felt her eyes turn upwards towards Malfoy and thank him knowingly. She didn't want to think of what would happen if either of them were caught. She was already severely injured, and another round of beatings from someone like Lestrange would surely do her in.

"Avada Kedavra" Bellatrix's voice was enough to send a jolt of pain through Ginny. Granted she knew that the rat was actually Malfoy's shoe didn't sway the thought that the thing had just been murdered for no reason.

"It was only a rat." Carrow explained with a speck of amusement in his voice.

"I know perfectly well what it is Carrow. I am not blind." She seethed, and swept once across the room again.

"Come now, Bella." Amycus let his voice resume the inferior tone, " Lets go find my sister and sort out this sword business. I know very well she will side with us."

Bellatrix muffled a sneer, but much to Draco and Ginny's delight the doorknob clicked open, and them shut forcefully behind them.

They remained silent behind the mirror for what seemed like hours. Neither one of them keen to make a noise just in case someone happened to be waiting for them. Finally after a spell Malfoy slipped away from her and sighed.

"That was one of my finer shoes." He cursed, and then leaned over to lift her up again.

Ginny however felt multitudes of adrenaline pumping through her. The pain had subsided. "I'm fine...I'm fine." She slowly pushed herself to her feet. Once again the pain lurched to her wounds but the news she had just heard blinded her from the severity of it.

Malfoy merely shrugged. " I'd take you to Pomfrey, but the Carrows have demanded that she only see to Slytherin students. I don't think you qualify."

Ginny hadn't even registered his words. Instead she looked off into the far off wall with an unusual smirk present on her lips.

"Did you hear what they were saying?" A slight stitch pierced her side. One of the gashes suddenly lit with searing pain. " They want the sword of Gryffindor! The sword that Harry was supposed to-" she cut herself off in a hurry. No one was supposed to know of Harry's involvement with Dumbledore. Letting Malfoy of all people learn that Harry had been left the sword seemed like the worst idea possible.

Malfoy merely stared questioningly at her. He knew that look in her eye. It was the same fiery look she received any time she wanted to dance toe to toe with him. She was going to get herself killed over something stupid. That much he was certain of. He didn't know why he felt compelled to stop her from doing something stupid but he did.

" Don't be foolish, Weasel. I know what you are thinking..." His voice tripped when she slipped out Potter's name. Once again Potter had ruined his train of thought. He cursed and looked away from her.

"What?" she quirked a brow.

"You get beaten beyond recognition and the first thing you can do is think of precious Potter." He let out a low grunt of disgust.

Ginny just stared at him with mild amusement. It didn't matter what the situation was. Malfoy would find himself jealous of Harry as often as he possibly could. The only difference this time was that Malfoy seemed more than jealous. It was as though Harry was standing right there between them stamping on Malfoy's feet. Reaching up she brushed some of her bloody hair out of her face.

Another burst of intense pain went through her. "I'm concerned about my boyfriend...yes." She hissed between her clenched teeth.

Malfoy sneered. "Boyfriend? I thought Potter went the smart route and ditched your sorry arse."

"You are a complete prat, Malfoy." She bit back on her lip and turned toward the mirror that had saved her from sudden torture.

"Wasn't much of a prat when I was saving you." It was a swift jab at her, and he smirked as she lowered her eyes to her own disheveled robes.

"I never asked you to do that." She replied softly.

" You didn't stop me either." He shrugged, and moved his own attention to the oversized mirror as well. "But I'm serious.."

She cocked her head to the side, "About what?" she almost added in another snide Harry remark but refrained.

Malfoy pursed his lips together as though this was the most difficult thing he had ever done. "Don't get involved with anything my Aunt may be involved in. Whatever that sword is..." He paused, " I just don't think its wise for you to go parading off to be some sort of heroine when you can't even deflect a simple attack from another..." He gestured towards her beat up body. This again caused her to lower her eyes in defeat.

Ginny hated feeling so weak against someone else. It was humiliating and perhaps her greatest fear. Weakness was a sign of lameness, and that was something Ginny prided herself on not being. To have Malfoy come in on his white high horse and fix her up only seemed to make her feel even worse then she already did. He really didn't need to keep rubbing it into her face to make the matter worse. She turned her attention to the mirror that had deflected the spell earlier. Even the mirror was better at protecting her then she was at protecting herself. How utterly sad. She stepped forward and let her eyes take in her reflection. For someone who felt like they had been thrown off the North Tower Ginny looked pretty good. Too good in fact. She wasn't even wearing her disheveled school clothes anymore. Now she was adorned in a pale long dress with tiny little flowers in her hair. She was holding a bouquet of flowers, and smiling so broadly that she gave off a very flighty sort of look.

"Can you see this?" She didn't look over her shoulder at him, but heard him move behind her.

"See what?" Again his voice had dropped into that monotone severity.

Ginny jerked her head in the direction of the mirror. "It's some sort of strange mirror. I mean I don't look all beat up in it. I look …well…" She paused and squinted at the sharpening reflection. " well I think I may very well be married in this."

Malfoy quirked a brow and stared at his own reflection. He had no idea what she was seeing, but Malfoy saw himself standing with a child. A young boy to be more exact. He looked exactly like him when he had been very young. There were similar features in the boys face, and the way his reflection kept staring back at him Draco immediately knew he was looking at his son, or at least what his son would look like if he had one. The sleeves on his reflection shirt were rolled slightly, and his eyes fell upon his forearm. The Dark Mark was not present. His lip quivered into a slight smirk. What sort of mirror was this?

"I see myself." He stated blandly.

Ginny turned to look at him. "I don't see you…" She was still staring at herself dressed in the simple white gown. Her family had now appeared in the mirror behind her smiling and waving with pure joviality. Harry was standing beside her as well, and Ginny could see him reach for her hand. A grin pressed against her cut lip. She was marrying Harry.

"I see you…I think." Malfoy was now staring at a woman with red hair who had found her way into the reflection. He wasn't sure if it was Ginny, but she resembled her slightly. He frowned. Why was she leaning down towards his son? The woman picked up the young boy and turned to face his reflection self. "No." His voice rose slightly as he watched the woman kiss him lightly on the lips. He looked over at Ginny who had now stepped closer to the mirror. Did this mirror predict the future?

Ginny was smiling so broadly now that Malfoy knew they were both seeing completely different things. Even if it wasn't her that he was seeing in the reflection he doubted the little Weasel would be so happy about it.

" What sort of mirror do you reckon this is?" Ginny brushed her hand over the smooth surface.

"Don't really know." His voice hitched slightly in his throat.

She grabbed at her side. "You think it's a mirror that tells the future?" She narrowed her eyes at the reflection. Why was it fading? Now she was looking at herself wearing Quidditch robes completely and utterly alone. "How bizarre."

Malfoy merely shrugged. He couldn't rip his eyes away from the image he was witnessing.

"Its rubbish." He stated firmly before turning away from the mirror. There was something uncomfortable about looking at the phony reflection, and he was certain it had everything to do with the Weasley like girl that he saw.

Ginny's smile faltered. How could it be rubbish when it was something she so desperately desired? She took one more look at it before turning to face him. "It's just interesting is all..." Her voice trailed off slightly.

Malfoy looked away from her. The small cuts across her face would not scar. He knew from his own experience which ones would scar and which wouldn't. She'd be fine. He had marks on his own body to know which ones would remain and which would eventually fade. She was lucky. Her cuts would leave nothing more than scars upon her soul. Suddenly he hated her for that, and at the same time he wished he had been there to stop it all from happening. He knew that Blaise was out to try something like this. He had caught on to that little notion only a few days back when Blaise had taken up the redhead as a new pastime. Draco wished he could have been there to prevent it unlike everything he had been unable to prevent in his very own house. He spit upon the floor.

"You should get back to your common room." He moved across the room and grabbed her wand from the floor. He thrust it wordlessly in her face.

Ginny narrowed her eyes. "Are you stupid?" She grabbed the wand from him. "I can barely even walk. You think I'm going to be able to make it to Gryffindor tower without getting caught?" She winced at the sharp pain in her jaw.

He had not thought that far into it. All he knew was that an awkward feeling in his guy was urging him to get away from her. Between the feeling and the reflection something was twisting his guts around unlike anything he had ever felt before. "I'll help you."

"Get bent, Malfoy." She began shuffling into the far corner of the classroom behind the mirror again. "I'm going to sleep here for the night and I'll slip up to my common room in the morning when everyone else is at breakfast." Removing one of her own shoes she ripped off a sock and cleaned it with a quick charm. "Besides I'd much rather chance it here then be caught out in the corridors by your batty Aunt." With another wave she transfigured the sock into a small pillow.

Malfoy sneered. "My Aunt it not batty. She is loyal to her cause, and deserves respect."

Ginny choked out a bitter laugh. "Respect? The witch is a complete loon. You know I gave you a lot more credit then this, Malfoy. I figured you'd at least see through her insanity even though she is part of your family." She tried to bend her knees but the shooting pain caused her to yell out in agony.

He should have laughed at her pain. There was a perfect moment where he could have flung insults at her until he reduced her to tears. This was impossible. His voice had become hoarse within his very own throat. Her words played like a broken record over and over in his head. She had given him credit? Credit for what? He wasn't a good man. He despised her and loathed her family to a ridiculing degree. Yet she had said she gave him credit.

"I'll stay with you." As soon as it came out he regretted it. Her expression bore nothing of gratitude.

"That's not necessary." She had begun pressing herself against the wall and lowering herself down by sliding along the stone.

"You are right though." He stepped forward. "There is too much chance being caught out in the corridors. I'm staying."

She opened her mouth to protest again, but he was already moving towards her transfiguring his other shoe into a pillow as well. "This really is stupid. I'm perfectly capable of-"

"Pissing and moaning till you get your way?" He snapped back as they both sprawled out onto their backs.

Ginny twisted to her right to glare at him, but this only caused a sudden tightening of her sore muscles. She growled under her breath and turned so her back was facing him. The night air had begun to creep into the room, and despite the robe he had given her earlier Ginny could sense the chill. She shivered, and wrapped the robe tighter. Beside her Mafloy shuffled around, and Ginny rolled her eyes. Merlin now this was a story to top all stories. Perhaps once Harry returned to her she'd tell this lunacy over a picnic in the park. The humor of her sharing a small area with the blonde git was enough to drive anyone into tears…and pity. Something brushed the back of her leg, and she jerked forward releasing another series of pangs. Malfoy had rolled slightly into her.

At once both of them stammered apologies.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry."

"No I moved to much."

"It's fine."

"Did I hurt you?"

"Sorry…oh no." An awkward pause of silence erupted, and Ginny pulled the robe even tighter against her.

Malfoy cleared his throat. "Goodnight then."

Ginny had never wanted to die more then she did at that moment. "Malfoy…" Her voice had suddenly found her again.

"What?"

"You don't snore do you?" A small delicate giggle managed to slip out the side of her mouth.

"Sod off Weaselette." Though she couldn't see him there was an evident smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Malfoy?" She broke the silence once again ripping him from an almost slumber.

"What!"

"Thank you." She closed her eyes and allowed herself to slowly drift away from the dull pains in her body. Somewhere off in the distance of her mind she was certain she had heard a very faint 'Your Welcome' come from behind her.

This chapter contains lyrics from I Wasn't Prepared by Eisley

This is probably my favorite chapter. PLEASE review! I love feedback! Magic cookies and rainbows to all of you :)