omg another one

jk rowling owns it all

Draco could see that she was shocked. Her face was so easy to read sometimes. Please say yes, he willed her.

He had originally been shocked when she had yelled at him but he had sucked up his nerves and asked her anyway.

But now he was regretting that choice.

He arranged his features into an expression of haughty indifference and looked down his nose at her.

She finally had the grace to drop the surprised look off her face and shrug. "I'm sorry; Malfoy, but I really don't have the time. And besides, people would notice that I'm always gone and they would ask questions…"

Draco stiffened his shoulders so they wouldn't slump. He turned his broom away from her and busied himself in adjusting the foot rests. IT'S FINE, he wrote hurriedly. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

At least it sounded like it had been a hard decision for her. "Besides," he heard her add behind him. "We hate each other so at least we won't have to suffer any more than we have to, right?" She laughed half-heartedly, a poor excuse at trying to lighten the situation.

RIGHT, Draco finally relented. He turned around. TIME'S UP.

Ginny looked startled. "Yeah, er…I guess it is."

Draco sneered at her. It made him feel better. "I-I guess I'll see you on Thursday," Ginny added before she dove back down to Hogwarts.

Draco sat on his broom for a moment longer thinking. It probably would have been nice to see her everyday. Just to ease the loneliness, he told himself. He swore in gibberish as he realized that she still had his broom.

Ginny felt horrible.

Draco Malfoy had just asked her for help and she had said no.

Her. An aspiring healer and a Gryffindor. And after they had agreed that it was better to be with someone you hate than alone.

"I'm a fucking retard," Ginny berated herself under her breath, swooping into the common room and shutting the window.

Stepping off the broom she smacked herself on the forehead. "Fuck," she grumbled holding his broom. Now she would have to see him again.

Tomorrow, she promised her self as she trudged up the staircase to her dormitory. I'll give it to him tomorrow and then forget about him until Thursday.

Sunday dawned rainy and cold, sucking away the last of the false warmth they had all enjoyed the day prior. Rolling over in her bed Ginny felt hung over even though she hadn't drunk last night.

Groaning she heaved herself upright and winced at her broom-sore muscles. "Need to practice more." She muttered getting dressed. Pulling on her jeans and Charlie's old huge Quidditch rugby she hastened to grab Draco's broom and slip out before anyone saw her.

Successful she padded through the hallways of Hogwarts silently towards the hospital wing. It was only nine in the morning but most of the students were still asleep.

Sneaking past an empty classroom on the third floor Ginny paused when she heard a voice.

She froze when she realized it was Snape's voice.

Creeping toward the cracked open door, Ginny held her breath listening with all her might. Her eyes widened when she saw him on his knees, black robes pooled around him.

It was an abandoned classroom that was gray with dust and empty desks. Ginny trembled when she heard the raw emotion in Snape's voice. "I can't do it, I can't…" he was talking to someone…something. Ginny saw a portrait hung on the wall that she noticed would normally be covered with powerful disguising spells.

She tried not to gasp as she realized that it was Dumbledore's portrait.

Someone had started a rumor that his portrait had been removed from the headmaster's office because the Carrow's and supposedly Snape kept defacing it. Ginny had commented upon the bravery of whoever had done the deed with her fellow Gryffindors but the scene before her told her a very different story.

"I've been trying to help them, I have. I've placed listening spells everywhere and I've threatened the Carrow's repeatedly to send the really bad ones directly to me but the trust just is not there."

"Did you expect it to be?"

Ginny's hand flew to her heart as Dumbledore's portrait's voice floated softly to her ears. It felt like she had just been covered by a warm blanket and she closed her eyes, allowing herself to pretend for just a moment that he was still alive.

Her eyes fluttered open again at Snape's reply.

"Obviously, no, but I need to reach one, just one of the students…of course McGonagal is in and many of the other teachers but they can't say anything. It's too risky…"

"You're doing fine, Severus, it just takes time, you know this, it's not even December yet, just keep working at it. You better go, this conversation has gone on for too long."

Snape stood up and pushed his long black hair out of his eyes, clearly composing himself. "Of course you are right. Before I go…"

Dumbledore's portrait held up a hand and interrupted him. "As always I do not, and will not accept your apology. I asked you to do it. We both know how important that was and we will leave it at that."

Snape sighed and Ginny saw Dumbledore's bright blue eyes soften. "When will you stop asking for forgiveness?"

"Never," Snape whispered before performing the spell to hide the portrait.

Ginny backed away quickly and ran around the corner before peeking back. She saw Snape shut the door quietly and stride off down the other hall, disappearing with what looked like a huge weight upon his rounded shoulders.

Ginny continued the rest of the way to the hospital wing in stony silence. Before she opened the door to the wing she wiped her eyes and tried to capture the sound of Dumbledore's voice in her heart before it vanished like a dream.

saaaaaaad. but i thought i'd end there.

SNAPE ANGST iloveit