443 Ginny and Draco Pt3

A few days later after taking Draco to the hospital wing, Ginny found herself in the empty classroom alone but a few minutes later, Draco appeared and sat down without much surprise.

"What were you trying to learn that day?" Ginny suddenly asked propping herself on the table of the empty classroom.

"Huh?" Draco looked up at her.

"The day I first saw you here, what were you doing?" Ginny clarified. "I was curious and after thinking about it for a while, I realized maybe you were practicing some spell. So what is it?"

"Ah . . . that . . . well, even though it's none of business," Draco teased and Ginny rolled her eyes. "Since you are curious, I was trying to learn the Patronus Charm."

"You don't know the Patronus Charm?" Ginny said surprised before realizing how difficult and rare it was to master Patronus charm at their age. She along with the rest of Dumbledore's Army only learned it because Chris and Harry learned it from Remus.

"I take it you know it," Draco guessed and Ginny nodded. "Good. It's a great spell. What does your Patronus look like?"

"It's a horse."

"Wow, horses are really powerful," Draco looked impressed.

"How do you know?"

"I read all about it so that I could learn. Though it didn't help much. It's a bit tricky to do it practically."

"Do you want to learn?" Ginny suddenly said on impulse. "I can teach you."

Draco stared at Ginny for a full minute as different emotions passed through his face. Surprise, shock, hope, worry, and then disappointment. 

"Do you pity me, Weasley?" Draco asked and before Ginny could answer, he continued, "Maybe I – no, I definitely deserve it, after how I have been treating your family for years, how my family and I have looked down on your family. It's only right that you do the same, I just – never mind, sorry."

And Draco walked out leaving Ginny feeling very confused and angry. 

The next week, Ginny didn't go even near that empty classroom and completely ignored looking at Draco. She was beyond pissed at him. Maybe for the first time, she genuinely tried helping him, and yet, he took it the wrong way. Ginny thought she tried to reach out and if he couldn't accept it, it wasn't her problem anymore. 

But despite trying to ignore him completely, Ginny started to notice that Draco didn't show up for any meal at the Great Hall. At first she told herself, she didn't care, but after three days, she got worried. She even thought about asking Chris to ask Jason but before she could do that Chris told her how Jason and her were not taking much anymore. So she decided to ask Luna without directly asking her since the Ravenclaws had a few classes with Slytherins that year.

"Yeah, Draco is not attending classes for a few days," said Luna flipping through her latest Quibbler edition. "I think the teachers were saying he was sick or maybe he just got attacked by Nargles."

Ginny's heart dropped as soon as she heard it, and without even thinking about it, she ended up visiting the hospital wing. Luna was right, Draco was indeed sick, he looked paler and thinner than before, and the dark patches in his eyes made him look extremely sick and weak as if he hadn't eaten or slept for days.

As Ginny got closer to his bed, she heard Madam Pomfrey yelling at him as he stared at the untouched food plate in front of him. He was looking at the food but there was a faraway look in his eyes.

"Mr. Malfoy, if this continues, I will have to contact the Headmaster and your parents, I don't think they would like to see you like –" Madam Pomfrey stopped noticing Ginny. "Miss Weasley, are you here to visit Mr Malfoy?"

"I –" Ginny looked around quickly to see if someone heard her and saw Ginny there. She didn't want to get caught talking to Draco by Dean or Ron but this side of the beds was mostly empty. Ginny looked back at the bed only to find Draco looking at her with a shocked look on his face. His eyes looked bloodshot red.

"Doesn't matter," Madam Pomfrey shrugged seeing Ginny's hesitation. "If you are for anything call me, if not then please ask Mr. Malfoy to eat. I need a moment with the other students."

Madam Pomfrey went away muttering underneath her breath and Draco went back to staring, this time at the ceiling, while Ginny looked around again.

"Pull the curtains around if you don't want to be seen here," Draco muttered without looking at her.

Ginny huffed but eventually pulled the curtain around before sitting down.

"Why are you here?"

"Shouldn't I ask you that?" Draco said still staring at the ceiling. "Trust me I don't want to be here."

"I am not joking Draco, you look like a . . . dead person walking," Ginny said scanning him and seeing his bony hands. "You look like an Inferi with white hair."

To her surprise, Draco chuckled, "Thanks."

"Draco –" Ginny angrily began.

"That's twice," Draco mumbled.

"What?"

"That's twice you called me Draco," Draco closed his eyes. "Makes me feel like we are close . . . almost friends and not . . . kind of enemies."

The silence stretched for a few moments as Ginny searched for something to say. He was right. They hated each other a few weeks ago but in the last few days, they kind of didn't . . . Ginny showing up here was the proof of it. She didn't want to care but Draco right now reminded her of the first year Ginny. Lost, scared, had no idea what was happening, and hated herself for that. The irony of this situation was it was Draco's father who was responsible for Ginny's situation and now Draco was going through it. Maybe that's what people called Karma. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to be happy at Draco's misery. It wasn't him who planted Tom Riddle's diary on her and according to Hermione, he didn't even know it. So should he be accountable for it? 

"Did you know about what your father did in my first year?" Ginny asked breaking the silence. It was probably not the time to ask this but she needed to know.

Draco's eyes flew open and he stared at Ginny for a moment before his eyes dropped and he sighed.

"I found out after the year-end. I didn't know it was you or that all of it had anything to do with my father . . . Ginny, I . . . I know I don't deserve it and honestly don't know how you even ask forgiveness for it but . . . I would like to apologize for my family and I put you, your family and your friends through. After what you have done for me in the last few days, I thought it would be worse not to apologize to you. So sorry."

"You were right that day. You can't just ask forgiveness for something like that but you can earn it. If you really feel bad then fix your mistakes rather than drowning in your mistakes and guilt," Ginny advised looking at the food plate in front of Draco. "So earn my forgiveness by doing better and stop sulking and eat your damn food. This Inferi look doesn't suit you."

"You think I can do that?" Draco said with wonder and hope in his eyes. He really wanted to believe Ginny but the self-loath was still there.

"If you really want to," Ginny pulled the food plate closer to Draco. "If I can be forgiven after what I did in my first year . . . if people can forgive me, then why can't I forgive you?"

"That's different. You were under Dark Lord's influence."

"Weren't you?" Ginny raised an eyebrow turning to him and saw understanding dawning on his face.

Draco's eyes became misty and as soon as he realized it, he diverted his eyes and looked at the food.

"Thanks," he pulled picking up the spoon.

*

"So what did you do this week?" Ginny asked watching Draco as he failed to produce any sort of Patronus yet again.

It had been almost a month since Draco was in the hospital wing. Since then Ginny had started to teach him the Patronus Charm and Draco had regained all of his health. However, he still hadn't managed to create even a small wisp of Patronus but Ginny didn't give up and kept encouraging him. Not to mention they had gotten considerably close, so much so that they started practicing in the hidden room that Fred and George told her about before leaving the school. Although she told herself, she only showed that place to Draco because she didn't get caught by Ron or Dean.

"Well, I stopped two third-year Slytherins from calling some muggle-borns mud blood," Draco said lowering his wand. "And I almost jinxed Pansy for calling you names at the Quidditch match."

"And?" Ginny prompted when Draco stopped talking.

"And . . . I cheered you on when you won the last match . . .?" Draco stretched his words in question and Ginny gave him a side-eye.

"You didn't."

"No, I did," Draco said defensively. "I said it in my heart."

"It seems like you just don't want my forgiveness," Ginny said with a fake long sigh as she tried to hold back laughter seeing Draco's face.

"Ginny, it was a Slytherin-Gryffindor match, what was I supposed to do? I can't just switch teams like that . . ." Draco began annoyed but then saw Ginny's face and quickly back-tracked. "I mean I know like . . . I mean . . ."

Ginny burst out laughing seeing him scramble to find words and after a moment Draco started laughing too. 

But a moment later, Ginny's smile faded as she stared at Draco. Her recent fight with Dean surfaced in her mind. Ginny was already planning to break up with him, but Dean kept going around in circles about how Ginny always just did things without caring about anyone else. He claimed that Ginny cared more about her stubbornness and her own wishes and everyone just agreed with her to make her happy. He even said it was because in her family she was treated the best compared to her brothers and that was why she was like this.

"Do you think I am stubborn and forceful, Draco?" Ginny asked distracted.

Draco wasn't even surprised at the sudden change of mood. By now, he was used to Ginny's mood just switching like that, and even though Ginny refused to talk about it, he had a good idea it was because of her current boyfriend Dean and also feeling kind of left out because of some things with Chris.

"Maybe," Draco answered honestly. "But not the way, I would describe you. You are more like resolute and powerful."

Ginny looked at him surprised as Draco sat down beside her.

"You are –"

"Not lying," Draco said before Ginny could ask. "How do I explain it – You are like a fire, Ginny, many people often fear your power and the destruction you could bring but that doesn't change the fact that people need you in their lives, and some people even find solace in your unyielding and untamed nature. Does that make sense?"

Draco whispered the last part as Ginny stared at him with glossy eyes. She never noticed how grey his eyes were. Her nerves settled looking at them and calmness washed over her. And now they were too close, so close that Ginny could feel Draco's breath on her skin.

"Draco, I –"

"Let me try again," Draco said suddenly jumping up from her seat and waving his wand. He avoided looking at Ginny as he pointed his wand up and murmured, "Expecto Patronum."

Neither of them expected it to work but a small silver light burst out from Draco's wand and stared at it dumbfounded as Ginny gasped.

"You did it! You finally conjured . . . something! This is a start," Ginny grinned standing up. "What did you think of?"

Draco opened his mouth to answer but stopped looking at Ginny. He just smiled and shaking his head mumbled,

"You are a good teacher, Weasley."

Ginny knew there was more to Draco's smile but she didn't push it, especially because she herself was confused about her feelings. But there was one thing she was sure off, she needed to break things off with Dean as he wasn't one of the people who found solace in her fire.

And up to the day of the battle in Hogwarts, Draco had proved again and again why Ginny's decision was the right one, why she was right to choose him despite their family differences. Draco not only understood and respected her but found solace in her and she found peace in him. 

Even now as she watched Draco argue with her parents, who had quietly entered Hogwarts to take Draco away, she knew he had kept his promise. He had earned his forgiveness.

"Draco, stop being stupid, haven't you fought enough by now? Don't you understand as soon as the Dark Lord comes he won't spare anyone now that you all have defended Potter," Lucius Malfoy almost shouted at his son but Draco remained calm.

"As if they weren't killing anyone up until now," Draco said with disdain in his voice. "Although I have told you multiple times that I am not leaving and you decided not to listen to me, I will humor you. Tell me where will go, Father? Where do you think we will be safe? Don't forget we are already traitors in their eyes. And unlike you, I refuse to bow and beg for my life in front of those people."

"YOU–" Lucius grabbed Draco's arm but he shrugged it off.

"Draco, you can't talk to your father like that," Narcissa Malfoy spoke furiously. "Everything your father did was for you . . . for us."

"And where did that get us, mother?" Draco sighed. "I am not judging or accusing you of anything, I am just trying to tell you that father made his choices and so did you mother and those choices led us here, and now that I am of age, you let me make my choices."

"But Draco, darling, your choices could get you kil–" Narcissa softened her voice but Draco cut off her again.

"So did father's choices, mother."

Loss at words, Narcissa glanced at Ginny, who stood a few feet behind Draco, she didn't plan to just stand there but Draco asked her to stay there for support.

"Is this because of her?" Narcissa glared at Ginny. "Are you risking your life because of a girl, let alone her?"

"What?" Lucius finally put two and two together and yelled. "You are dating a Weasley, a –"

"Careful how you finish that sentence, father," Draco raised his voice for the first time. "I would not hear anything bad about her or her family. Especially when they are the ones who are fighting this war just so that the people who are alive could have a good future and that includes you and Mother. If you going to benefit from what are they fighting for the least you could do is show them some respect."

Lucius and Narcissa were stunned to silence for a few seconds and while Lucius started seething, Narcissa looked embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, Draco, I–" 

That was when a sharp and cold voice erupted against their eardrums. 

"Harry Potter is Dead!"

[To be continued]