Authors note: Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter updated, but I hope you enjoy it, Draco is a real as, very true to his character, but I don't want to tell you too much, I want you ton read and find out. Also I'm writing another fanfic, check it out and tell me what you think, it's called a new beginning and it's mainly about Harry, not really a love story. Well read and enjoy and don't forget to REVIEW please, I'll love you forever if you do.

Disclaimer: Wow you really are the stupidest munch of nit wits I have ever come across. Nothing belongs to me, well nothing but the piece of crap plot and the one dimensional characters but all else is J.K. Rowling's and since I'm obviously not her I own nothing. My gosh, idiots… just read, but since you still don't understand I don't own it then maybe you can't, god I don't know why I bother.

A Slave of Time

Chapter Six: Hidden Secrets

Ginny slowly rose from the bed and headed to the bathroom. There sitting on the edge of the tub was a little vial of crimson liquid, further investigation revealed it to be a potion. It had a small note attached to the top, it read:

Use this Potion! Add this to your Bath; it will help with the pain and the scarring. It will leave only one scar to remind you of what happens when you disobey me.

-Draco

Ginny did as the note said; she did not want to give Draco another excuse to pay her a visit. At least this potion will help, and even if he is lying, how much worse can I get. She turned the water on warm and waited for it to fill. She turned off the water and pored in the potion, it hissed loudly then spread through the water turning it a deep shade of crimson.

She gingerly stepped into the tub, it was warm, soothing, relaxing and calming, like she had stepped into warm clouds of the softest silks; she felt weightless. She sat down and sank deep into the tub, oh how she loved magical engorgement charms. It covered her whole body and the dull yet sharp pain in her back and head instantly faded away. She closed her eyes and reveled in the wonderful tingling sensations spread through out her body. She knew the potion was doing its job.

She never wanted to get out of the tub, she was content to sit and lie in there forever, but alas this could not be. A sharp nock jostled her out her paradise and back into the cold cruel reality that was to be her future.

"Ginny? Ginny! Are you there? Are you alright? We all over slept. Ginny, if you don't answer me I'm going to blast open the door." Ashley voice was mingled with fear and panic.

"It's alright Ashley. I'm in here. I'm fine. I'm just getting out of the bath. I'll come into your room when I'm done." Ginny answered lazily, keeping her eyes shut with the intention of staying in the bath several minutes longer.

"No Ginny. I know something's wrong and I want to talk to you. I will wait out here until you're done. Then we can talk and you can tell me what's really going on." Ashley's voice now held defiance and Ginny knew it was hopeless to argue. She opened her eyes and slowly rose from the tub. Shivering as the water steamed off of her. She quickly dried and put on her close thankful that her back and head were no longer throbbing. She opened the door and made her way slowly to the bed where Ashley was waiting. Before she was a few feet away Ashley ran at her. Ginny put up her hands to stop her, thinking she was heading for her, and was very much surprised when she ran past her and into the bathroom to collapse by the tub.

"Ashley, what on earth are you doing?" Ginny asked while her friend gently stuck her hand into the water. "Ashley? What's wrong? Why are you acting like this?" Ashley just shook her head. Ginny waited in silence several minutes before Ashley spoke back

"Blood" she mumbled softly, almost inaudibly. "Ginny, why is the bath tub filled with blood? What has happened to you? Are you hurt? Please tell me what's going on?" tears slowly started to run down Ashley's cheek.

"Shh… Ashley it is fine. It's not blood it's a potion. I'm fine there nothing going on. I promise." Ginny rubbed her back and tried to comfort her, but she was having none of it. Suddenly angry she jumped up and started yelling.

"Well why on earth are you using a potion that looks exactly like blood? I don't know if I believe you! And what do you need the potion for, are you hurt? What's going on! And I won't have any lies! Now talk!" Ashley said this all in a great puff of anger, ending it by pushing Ginny back to sit on the bed.

Ginny took a deep steadying breath before she began, giving her time to cook up some believable lie. "Well, you remember what happened to me in my first year a Hogwarts, right? The thing with Tom Riddle." Ashley smiled knowingly at this, but curiosity shone through the concern, wondering what this was leading up to. "He didn't just emotionally scar me he physically me too." With that she slowly lifted up the back of her shirt and turned around so Ashley could see the scar. Ashley gasped painfully at that.

"When he took the life out of me and almost killed me it left this scar. And this potion is the only thing that makes it better. When ever I dream of him it opens up and makes it worse so I have to use the potion. I just started recently, and I fond this potion. But you can't ell anyone because me parents don't know anything about it, and I don't want them too, it will just worry them." The story Ginny told as very convincing, she half believed it her self. But the other half knew the truth focusing on the crumpled note in her pocket. Ashley started to cry and came over to Ginny to comfort her.

Ginny took her sympathy graciously, pretending she hadn't lied to her best friend but told her the truth and that's why they were both crying and hugging. When the tears had finally subdued and the girls sat silently on the bed, it was Ginny who spoke first.

"Thanks for listening, Ash. I know it must be hard. But you have to promise you won't say anything. They don't even know about the scar; let alone what happens with it sometimes." Ginny looked Ashley full in the face, her eyes full of determination.

Ashley nodded her head and added "I won't say anything Ginny."

"No, you have to Promise. Promise me you won't say one word Ashley… I need you to." Ginny eyes were pleading with her.

"Yes Ginny. I promise I won't say anything to anyone about any of this. You have my word; you know I always keep it. Just trust me." While saying this Ashley looked deeply into Ginny's eyes showing her strong determination and love, comforting her and proving she meant what she said.

"Thanks Ashley, that means a lot. I know I can trust you, I'm just nervous about this whole thing." Ginny replied sadly, wishing she could tell her friend the truth but knowing it would only cause her further suffering.

"Come on girl, I think it's time to get you some ice cream, that's always what you need when you're depressed." Ashley squeezed Ginny's hand in reassurance, just as they were walking down the stairs the phone rang. Ashley's family used telephones since her mother was muggle born and they lived in a pradominatly muggle community.

"Hang on Gin, I'll be right back." With that she turned around and rushed back up the stairs to the 'office', basically where they kept all their muggle devices like the phone and the computer. After waiting several minutes all the while hearing Ashley's frantic muttering on the phone, Ginny got impatient and went up to see what was taking Ashley so long.

When Ginny entered the office Ashley was just hanging up the phone, wearing the most triumphant grim on her face. As soon as Ashley noticed Ginny she flew towards her, and started rambling something incoherently.

"Wow, Ash slow down. I can't understand a word your saying." Ginny was grinning all the while as she said this, amused and slightly puzzled at what had gotten her best friend so riled up. The day was steadily improving and all thoughts of last night fled her mind.

"I said…" she stopped there to take a deep breath. " I said that was Hunter and Jackson calling, they wanted to know if we would like to go out. So we're going to meet them for ice cream in a little over an hour." Ashley was jumping up and down the whole time this was happening and as son as Ginny got the meaning of what she was saying she started jumping up and down as well. Both girls ran to there rooms and started riffling through their clothes for the perfect outfits.

Ginny choose a little black dress that was strapless and went down to her knees, tight at the top and a full skirt that swirled around her knees, with a white ribbon that tied in a back and was an umpire waist (just under her bust line) with sandals. Ashley chose a white chiffon dress shirt over a black tank top, just buttoning the middle three and tight black pants with, matching pumps. Both wore only a little eye make up, going for a natural look that accentuated the most prominent feature.

When they were all put together they went down stairs and said good bye to Ashley's parents telling them where they were going and that they would be back in a couple hours. Ashley's parents agreed and offered them a ride but they said they would walk, seeing as the ice cream parlor they were going to was only a half mile walk away, 15 minute walk at most.

As they were walking down the side walk by the park Ginny was suddenly pulled aside by none other than Draco Malfoy. Before she could even begin to comprehend what was going on she felt an intense pain on her face, having just been back handed by Draco. Ashley screamed and ran to help Ginny, but not before Draco whispered. "You belong to be, remember that." And disapperated.

"Ginny. Ginny are you alright. Oh my lord, you're bleeding. Come here." Ashley lifted her up and helped her over to a near by park bench. Ashley reached into her purse to grab a tissue; she held it up to Ginny's mouth and wiped away the blood.

"Here. Hole that there and put pressure on it so it stops the bleeding." Ashley reached into her purse again pulling out another handkerchief this time muttering the iscadryn charm, which made the tissue as cold as an ice pack to reduce and stop the swelling.

"Come on gin lets go back. I have Jackson's cell phone we can call and tell them what happened, I'm sure they'll understand and be fine with rescheduling." Ashley looked at her friend with sympathy and sorrow, and that is what made up Ginny's mind most of all.

"No. I don't want to go back. I want to go on our double date. I'm not going to let that pig ruin my life. I will do what I want, when I want, and with whom I cant to do t. and no one can tell me other wise." As soon as the words left her lips she felt a burning white hot pain on the finger with the ring on it. she knew she would pay dearly for what she had just said and what she was doing but she didn't care, she was through being scared, it was time for her to live her life, and not what someone else think her life is.

Ashley looked tentative but followed when Ginny started walking. It took them about five more minutes or so until they reached the ice cream parlor. Draco had hit Ginny so hard that a bruise was already starting to develop on her face, despite the ice pack.

As soon as they entered the parlor they spotted the boys, but Hunter was quick to notice what had happened to Ginny, he immediately rushed over and helped her to the seat before asking what happened in a frantic voice.

"It's nothing Ginny said, blushing in smiling slightly her smile soon becoming a wince of pain.

"She's lying. We met that jerk Draco, you know the one from the day we met, and he did this to her." Ashley said with a voice filled with hatred.

Hunter's eyes darkened and he looked as if he could have killed anyone with one glance. "I'll kill him." He muttered before getting up and walking out the door.