Something funky is happening with my account and the page won't load all the way. So updating is hard. I can't figure it out but for now...a nice long chapter for all of you :)
JK Rowling owns everything
Draco was patiently taking out his school work when Ginny stormed into the Hospital wing. He smirked; he could feel her anger even without looking up.
He watched calmly as she stomped over to the bed he was sitting on and stuck her face in his. "What is this?" she demanded, thrusting out his note. He shrugged, looking innocent.
"Well?" she said in a shrill voice. Draco just relaxed back onto his headboard and crossed his arms.
Ginny frowned, adding a cute wrinkle to her nose. Something jolted inside of Draco. Cute? He thought, disgusting himself. Since when do I think she's cute?
"Why won't you say anything?" the girl asked, straightening back up and looking curiously down at her opponent.
Draco sighed. He hadn't wanted to explain this to her until he could square his debt to her by saying his sentence perfectly, but his graduation from Hogwarts was at stake. Rolling his eyes, Draco took out his wand.
"What? What's that? Why are you doing that?" Ginny's rambling questions caused Draco to stare at her for a moment. Was she really that annoying? He hadn't remembered her annoying side from St. Mungo's… He interrupted her stream of questions by writing purple letters in the air with his wand.
I CAN'T SPEAK, WEASEL.
The shocked look on her face was something Draco was expecting. "Why?" she asked. "Did you forget how? Death Eaters got your tongue?" She at least had the grace not to snicker at her own dumb joke.
Draco tried not to look too annoyed. He was going to need her help and her trust. IF I TELL YOU, YOU HAVE TO PROMISE NOT TO TELL ANYONE ELSE, OKAY?
He watched as her eyes narrowed, a look of careful calculation coming over her face. Draco knew that look; he had seen in many times on that of a scheming Slytherin. He had never expected to see it on a Gryffindor. The thought made him slightly more comfortable with his choice of confidant.
"I…promise," she said slowly, like she was savoring the moment, locking it in her memory as a contract rather than as just a statement.
GOOD. WHAT THE HEALER'S DID TO ME AT ST. MUNGO'S HAD LASTING EFFECTS. Draco wrote quickly. THERE WAS- Draco paused in his writing and then amended his wording. THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE SPEECH PORTION OF MY BRAIN. I'VE SPENT THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS HERE, LEARNING HOW TO TALK AGAIN.
The look of concern that crossed over Ginny's delicate features caused Draco's heart to squeeze. He rubbed his chest, disregarding it as him not having enough exercise that day.
"R-really?" Ginny finally said in a soft voice. Draco stuck up his chin. "That's…awful. I'm sorry I couldn't get you here sooner, I am so s-"
Draco held out a hand and cut her off. I DON'T WANT YOUR PITY. He wrote in slanting, angry lettering.
Ginny raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, throwing out a hip and standing with an attitude as her look of concern drained rapidly from her pretty face. Again with the pretty! Get a hold of yourself, Draco! The blonde reprimanded himself.
"Fine," Ginny spat. "Then what do you want?" She whipped out his note again and pretended to have a hard time remembering what it said. "You want…what was it again? A tutor? Why?"
Draco rolled his eyes again. YES, A TUTOR. OBVIOUSLY I'VE FALLEN BEHIND IN MY SCHOOL WORK SO-
Ginny cut him off. "So get someone else in your grade to do it. I've got my own stuff to worry about. And can't you get one of your Slytherin friends to help you out. Nut or something…"
IT'S NOTT, AND NO, BLAISE AND THEO ARE BUSY WITH SOMETHING ELSE.
Ginny looked suspicious, but Draco kept writing. AND GREG AND VINCE ARE TOO DUMB TO HELP ME OUT, PLUS, THEY DON'T WANT TO…
"So?" Ginny interrupted again. "I still have better things to do than help you out, ferret. What about your girlfriend, Parkinsang?"
IT'S PARKINSON; DON'T YOU EVER GET NAMES RIGHT? AND I DON'T WANT HER TO KNOW ABOUT ME. IT'S COMPLICATED, SHE STILL THINKS I'M AT HOME AND IT WILL STAY THAT WAY, UNDERSTAND?
Ginny held up her hands in defense. "Alright, I understand. But why me? And why should I help?"
Draco smirked. She was making this challenging for him and the difficulty was fun. MOST OF THE WORK I MISSED WAS FROM LAST YEAR, AND YOU'RE DOING THAT WORK NOW, SO YOU KNOW IT THE BEST. AND BECAUSE I TRUST YOU, EVEN IF YOU ARE A STINKING GRYFFINDOR.
Ginny raised her eyebrows, doubting. Draco just shrugged. YOU WERE THE ONE WHO BROUGHT ME HERE, WHO SAVED MY LIFE; IT MAKES SENSE THAT I TRUST YOU. IT'S LOGICAL.
"Logical," Ginny snorted.
Draco rubbed his forehead. YES, LOGICAL, AND I KNOW THAT YOU LIKE HELPING PEOPLE AND YOU'RE A GOOD PERSON AND THIS WILL NAW AT YOUR STUPID GRYIFFINDOR CONSCIENCE UNTIL YOU DO HELP ME SO IT'S YOUR MOVE, REALLY.
Draco sat back feeling satisfied with the seed he had planted. Alright, so the helping people thing was a guess, but Slytherins had stereotypes about Gryffindors too. And judging by the strange look on Ginny's face, he had made the right gamble.
"Okay," she exhaled heavily. "But if I do help you, and I'm not saying that I will yet, but if I do…hypothetically…then what's in it for me? I mean really, did you think I would do this out of the pure goodness of my heart?"
Draco frowned slightly. YES.
Ginny let out a short laugh. "Of course you did. Well! Sorry but if you can offer me nothing in return I am happy to say that I am disinclined to ac-"
PROTECTION. Draco interrupted Ginny for what felt like the thousandth time that evening. I CAN OFFER YOU PROTECTION FROM THE DEATH EATERS.
Okay, so that was a gamble too. Not really a gamble, more like an empty promise; his family had no more power within the ranks of the Dark Lord, but she didn't have to know that.
Ginny was brought up short by this comment and looked like she was seriously considering it. Draco breathed a mental sigh of relief. Take the bait, come on, take the damn bait…
Finally. "Deal. But I decide what kind of protection and where, no questions asked by you and you don't give me a hard time, okay?"
Draco nodded, trying not to look too happy.
"Good," Ginny looked satisfied, and then curious. "But if you've been here for two months why are you still using a wand to communicate? Shouldn't you have been speaking a little bit by now? Please don't tell me you want me to help you with that too?"
IT'S TOO LATE TO START ANYTHING TONIGHT, WEASEL. I'LL SEE YOU NEXT THURSDAY. REMEMBER, NOT A WORD TO ANYONE.
Draco turned his back on her and hoped that she got the hint. The quiet click of the Hospital wing door confirmed that she had.
It wasn't that he couldn't talk by now; it's just that he didn't want to. I sound like an idiot when I try to speak, and I refuse to let her, or anyone, hear me before I'm perfect.
He eyed the door that had closed on the red-head girl and rolled his eyes. That girl is going to be the death of me, I can feel it.
Ginny left the Hospital wing feeling weird. She had just agreed to help Hogwarts Most Hated catch up on his studies. Which he was only behind on because he had tried to kill the school's favorite headmaster.
What the fuck is wrong with me? The girl asked herself on the way back to Gryffindor tower.
But he was right; she did feel the need to help him, to do something to make up for what happened to him. Of course she felt responsible. If she had just gotten him to Hogwarts a little earlier…
Well, there was no use in thinking about ifs. Right now Ginny felt like someone had just rammed into her on a broom, she was so tired.
It's those damn nightmares I keep having, Ginny thought to herself as she climbed the staircase and stopped in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady. I need a sleeping potion.
" 'Eclipse'," Ginny said to the painting and expecting it to swing forward she banged into it when it didn't. "Hey!" Ginny shouted, rubbing her forehead.
"Sorry, love," the Fat Lady said, looking down at the student. "The passwords changed. Didn't anyone tell you?"
"Clearly, no." Ginny sighed thinking hard. I could go down to Hagrid's…or the Hospital wing-No! Not there. Never mind. I'll sleep in the hallway…
Ginny turned when she heard giggles coming up from behind her. Two first year girls were coming around the corner looking satisfied with themselves for sneaking out so late and making it back without being caught. But they froze at the sight of Ginny.
"Don't worry, I won't report you," Ginny surpressed a smiled. "But only if you tell me what the new password is."
One of the wide-eyed girls nodded quickly. "Sure, its 'ferret'."
Ginny's head jerked. "What?" Oh great, she thought, entering in through the portal after the two girls. I just can't escape him, can I? Oh, Merlin, that boy is going to be the death of me.
Waking up the next day, Ginny wasn't feeling so ambivalent to 'that boy' like she had the previous night.
"I hate him," she told herself brushing her hair in the mirror. "So I won't help him. I don't care what protection he has to offer, he's a Death Eater, he could be lying for all I know. I hate him."
"Who do you hate?" Nora asked, bouncing back in from the bathroom.
Ginny's nerves fizzed from surprise and she gulped and quickly tried to avoid the question. "Has anyone ever told you how annoying you are in the morning?"
"Several times," her friend laughed, putting away her toothbrush. "So, who do you hate?"
Ginny sighed. "Malfoy."
"Yeah, but he's hot," said Lucy Wren from across the room.
Someone else giggled. "Yeah, for an evil Slytherin!"
"Mmm," Nora said, joining in. "I'd like to punish him for his evil deeds, if you know what I mean."
Ginny felt her cheeks flush and ignored them. Grabbing Nora by the arm she tugged her out of the room. "There will be no punishing of anyone, as far as I'm concerned."
"Oh come on, Ginny," Lucy sang out from behind her. "Don't tell me you haven't thought about it. We all have! Forbidden fruit and all…" the rest of the girls in the room collapsed into giggles again as Nora and Ginny left them behind to descend the stairs to the common room.
Nora pulled her arm free of Ginny's grasp, still chuckling. "Well he is sexy," she said, checking her school bag for all her books. "Don't deny it."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Whatever, let's get breakfast."
"No, look! You're blushing! I knew it; you do think he's hot!" Nora did a little dance which almost made her trip going out the portrait hole.
"Shut up," Ginny growled.
Nora shook her head, grinning broadly. "Ooh, does Ginny have a crush oh her rescue-e? Hmm? Come on, say it. Say Malfoy's hot, come on-"
"No!" Ginny suddenly yelled, earning odd looks from passersby. Nora looked especially startled. "No I won't! Can't you just leave it alone! Merlin, you're annoying!"
"Jeeze, Gin, I was just teasing you. Merlin, can't you take a joke?" And with that, Nora strode off to the Great Hall without Ginny.
The fuming red-head watched her go, anger still pounding hot in her veins. Frankly, she didn't care what Nora did, she was kind of getting sick of the girl anyway.
And I don't think he's hot, Ginny said furiously to herself as she sat down next to Neville at breakfast, ignoring Nora.
Because he isn't. He just isn't…
Draco was practicing the alphabet when Blaise came to see him next. Ignoring his tall black friend until he was directly by his bedside, Draco lazily acknowledged him with a slow nod.
"Hi to you too," Blaise said, flinging himself down on a chair next to Draco's bed. "What?" the boy said in response to the judgmental look his blonde friend gave him. "It's been a long week okay? I'm just happy that tomorrow's Friday."
Draco's stomach gave a lurch. Thursday. In a few hours he would see Ginny. It had been a long week indeed…
"Wuh-ye?" Draco spat out with some difficulty. He had improved slightly and it showed on Blaise's impressed face.
"Nice, I see you're progressing, however slowly." A grin twitched at the corners of Draco's fellow Slytherin's mouth, contorting his handsome features into the picture of mischief.
Draco had never wondered why Blaise had problems with girls. Landing them no, maybe keeping them, but Blaise always had won out over Draco in that department for years. The only one Draco had managed to keep was Pansy, and he didn't even want her anymore.
"Shh-ut i-it," Draco managed with a smile of his own. Deciding that he had spoken enough he whipped out his wand to move the conversation along faster.
WHY HAS IT BEEN A LONG WEEK?
Blaise's smile died almost immediately. "Oh, no reason, just homework and stuff…" By the way he had trailed off; Draco knew his friend was lying.
I KNOW WHEN YOU'RE LYING. I'VE BEEN FRIENDS WITH YOU LONG ENOUGH.
"Yeah, yeah," Blaise muttered, looking defeated. He rubbed long fingers across his eyes, massaging his temples before continuing. "It's the Carrows."
I FIGURED AS MUCH. WHAT'S GOING ON?
"Well," Blaise began to explain, looking uncomfortable, and then rushing a head. "They treat everyone but the Slytherins something awful but most of us still are uncomfortable with what they're doing…"
WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
"You don't want to know."
WHAT ARE THEY DOING, BLAISE?
Blaise's voice softened to a harsh whisper, one full of bitterness and rage. "The Cruciatus Curse. They're making their favorite Slytherins perform the Cruciatus Curse on people from other houses who've earned detentions. It's a punishment for both sides, really…"
Draco wasn't listening anymore and interrupted his friend. WHY THE HELL WOULD THEY DO THAT TO THE SLYTHERINS?
"Well," Blaise's shoulders heaved. "Because they think all Slytherins want to be Death Eaters. Like we're all evil or something. Bit demented really."
Draco was quiet. Well he was quiet most of the time these days, but he stopped writing to think hard.
SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HELP? IS THE PLAN GOING WELL? HOW'S THEO?
"Whoa, one question at a time, mate," Blaise held up large hands. "We're doing what we can to help with the Slytherins but to tell you the truth, no one in the other houses want our help. Plus the Gorilla Twins aren't making it any easier."
GREG AND VINCE? WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
"Pansy too. They're pro-Darks, along with some other underclassmen; they think that the Carrows are the best thing to happen to this school. It's divided our house actually, you should see the common room. If you cross over to the 'wrong side'…" Blaise sighed heavily. "It's a shit show down there, mate. Fucking terrible. No one even laughs at my jokes anymore." He pretended to pout.
THAT'S BECAUSE YOUR JOKES ARE AWFUL. Draco smiled at his friend. SO WHAT ABOUT THE PLAN?
Blaise nodded, back on track. "It's moving along, but slowly. We haven't been able to place anyone in a position of trust with either one yet, but we're working on it. And yes," Blaise said before Draco could interrupt him. "We still have kept your involvement a secret just in case it would cause people not to support us. And Theo?" Blaise leaned back in his chair, groaning as he stretched his back. "Theo has hardly slept, stupid tosser, it seems like he doesn't understand the concept anymore."
Draco frowned, willing Blaise to expand. Blaise licked his lips, pausing. "He's been staying up late at night organizing new meeting places and schemes that will put us ahead of the Darkies. His name not mine, I know, a bit gay but go with it. And on top of all that he's studying and playing Quidditch…poor bloke."
Quidditch. The word tugged at Draco's heart. He hadn't played in such a long time…Draco missed the sport terribly but shook his head to concentrate back on what Blaise was saying.
"So yeah, he's doing his best, but really, he's shouldered too much. I keep trying to offer to take some of the load off, but he just gives me this look and then goes back to what he's doing. Don't worry, he won't jeopardize the plan, he's too smart for that."
Blaise stopped speaking when he heard the Hospital wing door click open and shut behind him. Turning, he saw Ginny enter the room.
"Ah! The lovely Ms. Ginevra here to help Draco is it?" He asked with a wide smirk.
Ginny flushed. "That's Ms. Weasley to you Zabini, and unless you want to be hexed until your dying day, I suggest you don't forget it."
"Easy there, Weasley," Blaise laughed, unconcerned by her threat. "I was just leaving, no need to get territorial."
"Territorial?" Ginny spluttered.
Blaise clapped Draco on his shoulder. "See you later, mate. Have fun you two." He waved cheerily and passed the fuming Ginny. "Don't wear him out too much," the boy said, bending down to speak closer to Ginny's ear.
Ginny shrugged him off. "Goodbye, Zabini."
Blaise just laughed as he exited the wing.
DEAR MERLIN, WEASLEY, WHAT'S GOT YOUR KNICKERS IN A TWIST?
Ginny looked increducdiously at him and then motioned to the door. "Look, I could leave if you want me too or…"
NO, DON'T LEAVE.
"Well then," Ginny said pompously. "I suggest you act civil towards me or you risk losing your tutor."
FINE.
"Good," Ginny stated, sitting down in the chair Blaise had recently vacated. "Let's get this over with. I thought we'd start with Potions…"