Chapter 11:

Welcome

It was Valentine's Day and it had been almost three weeks since Ginny had been able to see Kalya. Ron had told her mother about the mark, keeping quiet at school due to Dumbledore telling them to mind their own business. Molly had forbid Ginny from seeing Kalya.

Kalya had gotten an owl that evening at dinner and after reading whatever was inside, she had stopped coming to the Great Hall and always avoided Ginny in the halls. Ginny hated her brother for being the way he was. Ginny had stopped talking to the Trio, but Kalya had stopped talking all together.

Kalya finally showed that morning for breakfast. Her eyes dull and lifeless and her face a pale white, looking like a ghost. She removed her robes and Ginny almost cried when she realized she could see her ribs. The Trio looked at her and sneered.

Draco looked up at her and said something; her dull eyes glanced at him before she sat down next to him, her lips never moving. She stared at the food in front of her and never placed any on her plate. Ginny knew the Trio was watching her every move.

"Eat something," Blaise said, his voice shaking in concern.

The quietness of the hall made his voice sound like a yell, when it was barely above a whisper. Her face turned up and her eyes stared at him, almost like she had been through a dementor kiss.

"Why are you here if you aren't going to eat," Draco asked.

Her hands came up and pressed against his chest on his heart and then moved to hers.

"Because it's Valentines," Draco guessed.

Nodding her head she looked up at the sky, the clouds looked puffy huge and white. The hall was decked out in pinks, reds and whites.

"It always was your favorite day of the year," Blaise sighed, "You're not going to eat are you?"

A shake of her head, she stood up and grabbed her book bag, kissing Draco on the cheek and hugging Blaise she removed herself from the Hall. Bursts of whispers erupted through the hall. Ginny had explained to her roommates that her mother had made her stop seeing Kalya, but wouldn't say why.

They still bugged her about it daily, asking her over and over again to tell them why she stopped seeing her girlfriend. She was probably her ex-girlfriend now. Once again at lunch they started asking her why she refused to tell them. Trying to ignore them, Ginny noticed the Trio was upset.

Kalya appeared beside her, no emotion on her face as she placed a package down in front of her. She turned and left, not even bothering to answer to the yells that Ron was screaming at her. Ginny watched her sit and stared into the dull brown eyes.

Opening the package in front of her, she pulled out a piece of parchment that contained a note written to her in Kalya's crafted hand writing. Putting in her pocket to read later, she found an album of pictures and a necklace. The necklace had a silver chain and the pendent that hung from it was almost like the ring.

A dragon laid on its belly, its wings folded against its back. A griffin lay over top of it, their faces near each other and their tails wound together. She smiled at the gift, it matched her ring so well and it was so unique. Clasping it around her neck she noticed a soft feeling of magic.

Grabbing a smaller piece of parchment from the box that contained the necklace she read it.

I liked that it matched the ring I had already given you. I decided I needed to do something to protect you. Ginny, this necklace is charmed to protect against the unforgiveable curses. The Imperious curse and the Cruciatus curse can be cast at you as many times and it will hold steady. Be warned, it will only protect trice against the Killing Curse.

She pulled the album in front of her, her friends leaning over the table to look. Flipping open the cover, pictures of a small child of four. As she turned the page, she saw the girl age, different parents in almost every picture. She saw a castle kind of like Hogwarts and the girl standing there with her brother.

Age eight was written under the picture. Age eleven showed her in her second year at her American school. The picture that attracted her attention was a group of students. They were all messing around and having fun. Kalya stood with a girl, their hands clasped together.

More pictures showed her friends and her with hair changed to different colors, her's was blonde with electric blue streaks. At twelve, there was a picture of her and the girl from before saying goodbye. The group picture following without that other girl showed all of the students being serious and not having fun.

Smiling sadly down at the pictures, she knew this was all she was allowed to have from her, even if her brother was going to try to talk her mother into making her give them up. She would fight to keep these pictures not only for herself but for Kalya's peace of mind.

She looked up and smiled softly at the girl whose dull eyes were watching her for her reaction. Her lip twitched up lightly before her face became emotionless. Standing up she left the Hall. Just after the doors had closed, the Trio moved over and took the album.

"We should have it checked," Ron stated.

"Leave it alone," Ginny snapped grabbing back the album, "just stay out of my life."

It was closing in on the end of the year. Ginny was scared about how well she had done in her O.W.L.s, knowing she needed good grades to continue all the classes she wanted to next year. There were only a few days before the train would take them all back to Grimmauld place.

Ginny frowned, Molly had sent a letter telling her they would be staying at Grimmauld place but Kalya would be staying somewhere else. Where would Kalya go? The only place possible would be with the Malfoy's or Zabini's, and Blaise was in hiding and Draco said his father hated Kalya. Frowning at the thought she moved forward sitting down on the window seal that Kalya and she had first really met.

She hadn't noticed the Trio following her. She knew she had been acting weird lately. She had been so depressed because of the stupid Trio taking away her girlfriend. She knew that Kalya still cared for her and wanted to be with her, but this was starting to get ridiculous.

Glaring at the ground her eyes jerked up when she saw two pair of dress flats. Kalya was standing there, her eyes so lifeless and cold. Her skin was pale and Ginny wanted to do everything to make her better. She could see every bone in her body, from her face to her feet.

"Hi," Ginny tried to smile.

A small movement of Kalya's lips signaled she was trying to smile back, no words flowed from her mouth.

"What happened to you," Ginny almost didn't want to know.

"Beaten," her voice was so hoarse from never being used.

"Who beat you?"

"Beaten… faith," Kalya choked out.

"To show your faith, you were beaten?"

"Yes."

"You look… dead. No emotions, why?"

"Useless, emotions. No happiness. No need."

"Did they drill that into you?"

"Every day."

"Can't you just stop?"

"No. Save Dumbledore, Save Draco," moving forward she placed her hand against Ginny's cheek and kissed her lips softly, "Must save you."

"What? Why would you need to save me?"

"All I have left."

Ginny didn't feel the tears spilling from her eyes. She only noticed them with Kalya removed her hand from her face. Kalya stared at the salty tears covering her hand. She stepped forward, bracing her arms on either side of Ginny, her hands leaving prints on the cool window behind them.

"Don't cry for me."

Kalya's lips pressed softly against Ginny's. Ginny couldn't stop the pain and hurt from filling her heart. Wrapping her arms around Kalya's neck she pulled her girlfriend firmly against her and deepened the kiss. Their tongues danced, as they both silently cried out their pain and shared a kiss full of passion.

They both still cared so much about each other, thinking of each other on a daily basis and loving each other from afar. They used this kiss to pour their emotions into each other, showing how much they felt for each other and all the emotions they felt even outside their relationship.

"We have to stop them," Ron whispered angrily.

"Leave them be Ron. They need this right now," his girlfriend placed her hand on his shoulder, "Your sister loves her, and they are hurting by not being with each other. You owe your sister at least this one kiss."

Ron looked sadly over at his sister, watching at her tears slid down and mixed with Kalya's as their lips melted together. Sighing he turned around. If he was going to let them kiss, he couldn't stand watching his sister be intimate with someone like that.

"It hurts to see them," Hermione murmured, her own tears rolling down her face, "So much pain and hurt between them and we are the cause, only to try to protect Ginny. I know what we did is for the best but look at your sister Ron. Look how she has been the last couple months. She is like a soulless shell, walking through the halls not because she wants to because she has to. The only thing different between the way those two have acted lately is that Kalya shows no emotion and Ginny only shows her sadness."

Ron blinked holding back the tears at the sadness in his girlfriend's explanation of his sister's love.

"We are doing what's best for her," Harry sounded like he was trying to convince himself and his friends.

"Yeah," Ron breathed.

Kalya pulled back slightly to breathe, their breath mingling together, their foreheads touching and their tears still spilling. It was a bittersweet kiss. One of the few kisses they got to share and it could possibly be the last one.

"Don't forget me," Kalya whispered softly, the hoarseness of her voice hidden.

"Never," Ginny cried as she fingered the locket that still hung around Kalya's neck.

Their lips met once more in a short and sweet goodbye kiss.

Summer was supposed to be a great time for teens to enjoy themselves and spend time with loved ones and friends. Most teens relaxed and enjoyed not worrying about school. It gave them time to their selves to do whatever it is they couldn't do while going to school.

For Ginny summer was more stressful then school. At school she could keep watch from afar over Kalya. She could see her daily and know she was still alive. Being away for the summer Ginny stayed up at night worried about Kalya, wondering if she was still alive or if she was being hurt.

She was still avoiding the Trio, but she had seen a look in Hermione's eyes that wasn't there before it looked like pity. Ginny didn't know what had happened for Hermione to look her like that, but she was sure it wasn't something she wanted to know.

Her mum was watching her like a hawk. Her owls were being watched and she wasn't allowed to send any kind of letter to Kalya. The only thing she had was the album she had gotten. She stared at the pictures almost daily. Such a beautiful girl, healthy and looked happy. Now there was a shell of a girl who once was and painfully unhealthy.

Summer had only been in session for one full month and Ginny was growing so anxious to get back. She didn't want to do homework or have to go to class she just wanted to make sure Kalya was still alive. She also wanted to know if Kalya still considered Ginny her girlfriend.

The morning was normal, eating breakfast and talking with her mum. Her avoiding the Trio's eyes as they tried to talk to her. Her mum had given up trying to make Ginny talk to them again. Molly kept trying to convince her daughter it was for the best.

Sirius had taken it the hardest. His soon to be daughter wasn't even allowed in his house. It was his house, but because Harry couldn't be stay anywhere but here, he had to do what made Harry happy. He still glared at Molly constantly, along with Arthur.

They sat at the dinner table. There was suppose to be a meeting today and Ginny was surprised when even she was invited. Everyone was here; her whole family, Dumbledore, Remus, Snape, Kingsley, Tonks, Moody, Sirius, Harry and Hermione. The only one that wasn't there was Percy.

As the room quieted down Dumbledore began to speak, "Now that we are quiet, we can begin. I found out through a source that Voldemort was trying to recruit someone to kill me last year."

"And you never said anything," Harry's voice sounded harsh.

"It was nothing to concern everyone with at the time, seeing as it never happened."

Everyone started to snarl about how he could have died and no one would have known. Slowly the noise died as everyone stopped speaking, turning their attention back to Dumbledore.

"I was helped actually. By someone very dear to me and I know them to be dear to some of you. Some of you are weary and will not believe a word I speak, but it has to be known. I can't find a place to hide them much longer, as everywhere I have tried has been found."

"Them as in more than one," Remus questioned.

"Three of them actually."

"We are suppose to just let whoever these three are walk into here and stay here no matter who they are," Sirius hissed standing up in outrage.

"You once needed someone to trust you and believe in you, giving you a place to stay," Dumbledore hummed.

Sirius snapped his jaw tight and sat down. He couldn't argue with that. He had expected everyone to trust him right away and never even thought twice about people not believing him or being uncomfortable about it. A loud crashing noise was heard.

A moment later the dining room door was opened and Blaise Zabini poked his head around it, "Did I come at the right time?"

"Of course, come in and sit down," Dumbledore waved his hand and three more chairs appeared at the table. Blaise sat down next to Snape leaving two empty chairs between him and Dumbledore.

"Blaise came to me on his own free will and asked me for my help. I refused to tell this boy no, but he was found at his last location and I needed to find a place for him to stay that would save his life. He has no tie to Voldemort and wants to help us fight, but he can't do so if he is dead."

"So, Zabini, who next Malfoy," Harry asked in a sarcastic manor.

"Good guess, Potter," Draco drawled from the door as he strode in, taking a seat next to Blaise.

"No way! He is a Death Eater," Harry yelled, many people called out their displeasure.

"He is a Death Eater for our benefit," Dumbledore cried out, effectively shutting everyone up, "He came to me asking me to help him in the same fashion as Mr. Zabini. But, I couldn't protect him from his father's wishes. We decided to use this to help us. The information he brought to me of my impending death, helped us all."

Harry turned up his nose. He didn't believe a single word that Dumbledore was saying. Someone had put a spell on the old man, it had to be. Draco wasn't on their side there was no way.

"How come you look so healthy," Ginny suddenly asked, drawing all attention on to her.

"What are you talking about Ginny," Molly asked.

"I look healthy because I am healthy. Because they leave me alone because I don't have to be broken in because I was already broken since I was born as Lucius Malfoy's son," Draco looked her straight in the face.

"So they don't beat you? They don't try to break you? They don't force you to do as they say when they say it? So what do you do? Do they even have you do anything? Do you bust your arse to save us," Ginny cried out, the anger invading her face and voice.

"Ginny," Molly and Arthur cried out.

"No, they don't beat me," Draco stood up, "I was already broken in by my father. I don't have to follow their lead, only Voldemort's. I don't do anything. Is that what you want to hear? That I got off easy and I only have to sit there and listen to them talk and give Dumbledore the info?

You want me to say that they beat me? That they treat me like the shit on the bottom of their shoes? You want me to tell you I'm like her? You want to feel like it's fair that I'm going through the same thing she is? Well I'm so bloody sorry that I can't tell you that! If I could take her place, Weasley, I would in a heartbeat!"

Ginny felt the tears pool in her eyes, while she knew it wasn't fair, she also didn't have to watch what Draco had to. She could see the haunted look in his eyes. Everyone around them was asking what was going on but it seemed like their eyes wouldn't move from each other. Draco letting her know the pain he was in.