Draco opened a small chest on his dresser and stared at the silver ring that sat within. It was a signet ring - not his, which sat on his finger, but his godfather's, Severus Snape's. It wasn't ornate or particularly beautiful, but to him it was special. With that ring, Draco could contact Sev and hear his wise words. The portkey was activated whenever he put it onto his finger and would immediately take him to Sev. It was what kept him from killing himself sometimes. The ring and the dagger were his saviours.

He grabbed the ring and slipped it onto his finger, sighing with relief as he felt the familiar tug at his navel. He had felt so conflicted lately. His feelings for Ginny were escalating out of control and he didn't really understand them. While Sev might not seem like the best person to go to for relationship advice, he had already talked to Blaise and still did not know what to do. Sev had always helped him before and he knew he had felt great love in his life.

He arrived in a cave that looked a lot like every other cave he had seen Sev in. And there he was, his godfather. He walked over to him and sat down next to him on a chair Sev had wordlessly conjured upon seeing him. He pulled his supplies from his bag, and silently handed them to his godfather.

"So," Sev began. "Why are you here?"

"Can't I just come to see you? Perhaps I simply missed you," Draco asked, faking a wounded expression.

"No," Sev replied dryly.

"I wanted some advice from someone who would actually be able to help me. Unfortunately, none of them would talk to me so you'll just have to do."

"So glad I could oblige. I suppose if I must…"

"It's about a girl."

"You're asking me for advice on a relationship?" Sev asked sceptically.

"Well, it's complicated. She's not exactly the girl I pictured myself with. She's-"

"Ginevra Weasley. Oh, don't look so shocked. I knew it would happen the moment you brought her to me."

"So what do I do?"

"It's not what you have to do, it's what you have to not do. Ginevra has a good life ahead of her. Her family is respected by most, they love her, she's smart and she's on the right side in this war. You have to leave her alone. No matter what you feel, don't act on it. You'll ruin her life. She won't be lonely. She has her family and she has Potter. He loves her Draco, don't ruin that for her." Sev sounded sad as he said the last sentence.

Draco listened to all of this and as he listened, he understood. Ginny had everything she could ever need; she didn't need him. People hated him and his family, and would hate her too if she was with him.

"I understand," he finally answered, sounding resigned. "It's just… never mind. I should leave. I have stuff to do. Goodbye Sev."

And with one last look he portkeyed away.

**

When Draco returned he replaced the ring in the box and steeled himself for what he was about to do. While taking a deep breath in preparation for the upcoming task, he decided that this was by far the most un-Slytherin thing he would ever do. Even turning himself in to the Order was more Slytherin, at least that was self-preservation. He couldn't believe he was sacrificing what he wanted for someone else. He was turning into Pothead. But this was, undoubtedly, for the best.

Cool facade in place, Draco descended into the common room, where he had arranged to meet Ginny that morning. She smiled as she saw him and his resolve almost failed him. She had a beautiful smile, one that could light up a whole room. She stood up to meet him at the bottom of the stairs and looked so happy it almost broke his heart.

"Hey," she said softly. "I haven't seen you all day. What's wrong?"

"I've been…busy," he answered. "Shall we sit by the fire?"

She nodded, walked across and sat on the sofa. He sat in the armchair next to it. He stared into the fire, trying to work out how to do this. She bit her lower lip gently, her white teeth denting the rose pink flesh. The silence hung between them as they both struggled to work out what to say.

"So... how was your day?" she finally asked.

"It was acceptable," Draco replied, remaining aloof.

"What did you do?" she attempted again.

"I had lessons, didn't really do anything except work."

The silence settled over them again and Ginny soon began to nervously tap her fingers against the arm of the sofa. Finally, she snapped.

"What is wrong with you today? You won't talk to me; you'll barely even look at me."

"Well what did you expect? When has it been any different between us?"

"Well last week it seemed-"she began, sounding shocked and hurt.

"You thought what? That we were going to be best friends? Date? That just because I kissed you and danced with you at some lousy ball I cared about you? Be realistic, that was never going to happen."

"But at the ball it seemed as though you liked me and during those dance lessons you seemed to too."

"Think about it, Weaslette. Who else was I going to dance with? No one else gives me the time of day and maybe you shouldn't either."

"I believed in you!"

"Belief is for fools and idealists. I've never been anything but what I am now. A Malfoy and a Slytherin."

"You bastard! You used me!"

"Ooo, finally caught on have you?" he asked sarcastically.

Ginny leapt out of her seat. "Go to hell Malfoy!"

With that she ran out and Draco stared into the fire. Well, he'd taken Sev's advice, now all he had to do was see whether he had been right.

**

Ginny ran from the room and straight to Tonks and Remus' quarters. Knocking, she waited until the portrait was opened, and ran inside. She collapsed on the sofa and immediately started sobbing.

"Hey," Tonks gently said. "What's happened?"

"Draco said something really cruel to me."

"Look hun, he's Draco. He's used to being able to be cruel to people. I'm sure he didn't mean it, whatever it was."

"I don't know, he said some really harsh stuff to me."

"Look, I know I haven't known him for very long but from what I do know about my cousin I can tell that he often acts cruel and says harsh things even when he doesn't mean it. Give him a chance to realise what he's done."

"I'm not sure I agree with him, but I'll give him a chance for your sake. Just one though. Anyway, how have you been? Has teaching been okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine, kind of weird. It's amazing how much everyone except the Slytherins loves Remus. I've got a lot of competition. DADA is intense. Everyone knows that the war is going on out there, and they know that they need to be able to protect themselves."

They continued talking until late, when Ginny finally had to return to her own room and sleep.

**

Ginny didn't want to wake Draco so she made sure that she made no noise as she entered the common room. Unfortunately, he was already awake. He hadn't noticed her come in though, and she thought there might be a chance of getting up to her bedroom without Draco noticing her. She softly walked behind the sofa he was sitting on and made it all the way to the foot of her staircase before turning back to look at him. It was then that she noticed what he was doing.

He was staring, entranced, at his dagger, the one he had said was for DADA, as it slowly bit into his skin. There were already several cuts all over his arm and they looked bright red. She gasped and the sound seemed to bring him out of his trance. He slowly turned to look at her and their eyes locked.

"I thought that was what the dagger was for," she whispered, still in shock.

"Well now you know."

"Why do you do it?"

"What do you care? I have my reasons. Besides, this is the first time I have for a long time."

"I care."

"Yeah right. After how I treated you?"

"It doesn't matter. You shouldn't have to do this."

"I need to. It makes me feel pain, I need to feel pain."

"You might need to feel pain but you don't need to feel it this way."

Draco looked down sadly, with a look on his face that said that she clearly didn't know what she was talking about, and Ginny shook her head and turned, going into her room.