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After The War by karnikiss
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After The War

karnikiss

***No, I don't have a beta-reader so those mistakes you see I can claim complete and utter credit for. Yay! I understand the confusion and all about how she died and how can she still be alive. Truth is I don't want to not have a happy ending so I can't have her really dead. Then it's like I can't do something like have someone on polyjuice potion who looked like Ginny was the one really killed. Why? Well, because that would have been simple. Where's the challenge in that. Besides it may have not been a D/G story but I know we've all read one just like that.

So I'm struggling her for originality. It is a struggle seeing that all the characters and the concept already exist. Originality is something very important to me. I hope that it's not too far fetched but then again we are dealing with witches, wizards, and magic. Besides it is fan fiction.

I hope that I cleared the problem in this one somewhat. The detail wasn't too deep ,but I'm trying to get into the real meat of the story. Everything will get going once Draco has to go and save her…***

Draco lifted his head slowly and matched gazes with familiar eyes. Brown eyes stared down at him with uncertainty. It made a uneasy feeling begin in his stomach and work it's way up. Making sure to breath he set his pen down and pushed himself up. Whatever the news is he doesn't want to be sitting. The fall is a comfortable and familiar experience.

"Who is it Ronald?"

The redhead swallowed down the lump in his throat and shook his head slowly. Never one minute in school did he ever believe he would feel bad for the man standing in front of him. He's dealt with lose after lose to become the harden Malfoy he is now. Inside is a different story. One that no one might ever know.

"Something happened."

"Who?" he repeated feeling the uneasiness turn to waves of nervousness in his stomach. He's been here one too many times. Person after person has been taken away from him. Ginny wasn't the first and she won't be the last.

"I-I don't know how to tell you. It's…complicated. We've all-"

"Dammit," Draco snapped raising his voice. "Stop your constant rambling and just tell me! What is the problem? You don't just drop by my doorstop, and you most certainly don't stop by my office for a chat. So spit it out already Weasley!"

Ron blinked a few times not sure where to go next with what he wants to say. How can he compile words into a sentence for something of this magnitude? Some words lose their meaning and become used and trite. Can he just come out and say 'Gin's not dead. You think you might want to help us and see if there's something we can do to help her?' Highly unlikely that it would go smooth and sound subtle.

"I'm sorry." Draco stared at the man in front of him trying to process his words.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm sorry," he repeated. "I don't know what I would do if I lost Luna. If I never got a chance to hold Tory I don't think I'd be sane right now." Draco sighed deeply releasing the held breath he didn't know he was holding.

"I appreciate your words, but you have no idea what I'm going through. Just one day I'll give up everything I have for what you have. Even an hour Ronald."

"That's why I'm here," he began but stopped himself. That sounded corny. As if he was God and could give him his heart's desire.

"Are you going to go on or just stare at me as if I'm grown two heads?"

"No," he stammered. "Something's happened. It's not your everyday occurrence either." He smirked.

"When is it ever?"

Ron took a deep breath and thought about what he went through his mind while he had processed the news. It had been all so overwhelming. Emotions that he didn't even know existed enveloped him while his mind was trying to grasp what it meant.

"This is difficult enough. I don't really need your sarcasm."

"It's called wit Ronald. Those blessed with intellect know what I mean."

Ron sent him a look that said his shot rolled right off his back. He no longer harbors ill feelings towards the man now. The boy he hated with a passion but not the man. Not when he's done so much for his family and the world as they know it.

"Dumbledore and Snape had some news for us." Visually the tenseness of Draco's body could be seen immediately. Those two can not bring any good news. They are looking for those that escaped. The war may be over, but the battles will never stop.

"And?"

"And," he stopped himself and groaned out loud. This was harder than he had ever imagined. Shrugging his shoulders and shoving his hands into his pockets he stared down at the suddenly very interesting floor. "I'll have to show you."

Show you?! What had he been thinking? Dropping the news with words would have had a bad enough impact. Now to do it with simply a visual will shock him to the core. It's like throwing him over the boat into the icy water and sail away.

"In here," Ron mumbled standing in front of the sacred door.

The only people who had ever frequented it were the headmaster and the potion's master. Now the Weasley have somewhat access to it as well. Once the blonde steps through the door and sees who's slumbering he's never going to leave. It'll be his home as well as hers.

"Did you plan on moving? You're not made of glass." Exhaling his shaky breath he opened it and stepped aside…

"What the hell is the meaning of this?! I don't understand what gave you the right! How dare you have even the audacity!"

The blonde's rantings could be hear throughout the halls of nearly the entire school. No one dared asked him to lower his voice. It was all expected and understood. If he even started throwing objects and curses no one would have blinked an eye.

"Draco I-" the headmaster began but was immediately cut off. The young man reached across the desk and grabbing onto his robes pulled him close.

"Don't you dare," he hissed and was released with a small amount of unnecessarily force.

Feeling emotional exhausted and physically drained he stumbled back to the room. Dropping down into the chair placed beside the bed he immediately took a hold of her hand. It was icy and limp, but he pressed it against his face.

Murmuring deliriously to himself and her tears fell from his eyes. They washed over her still hands and down his cheeks. No spectators would have been aware of his crying. His body didn't shake and no sounds left his mouth. He has no more energy to make movements or noise. Four years ago he had done that enough to last a lifetime. Now he nothing left in him to do it again.

****************************************

"How is she still alive?" he whispered to the other person in the room.

"How did you know-"

"How?" he repeated.

Harry ran a hand through his already messy hair. His hands have had constant contact with it since he's heard. It's a nervous habit. One that Hermione can read even before others notice it.

"The healing spell," he whispered.

The healing spell that Ginny hadn't wanted him to do. It was a very draining spell, but the most powerful and effective one at that. His own essence was stripped from him and focused into the spell. Now because he gave a little piece of himself unselfishly and stubbornly she's still alive. The physical wound was healed as if the sword never pierced her flesh. Mentally, it was not enough.

"If only she didn't stop me," he muttered to himself.

Harry heard his whispered words and shook his head. That fell in the 'what if' category. No one goes there any more. It's too hard. The whole war could fall in that area. It's an aspect that is it a sore spot for all those involved.

"I'm sorry," Draco continued. "I'm so sorry Gin. I promised you everything and I gave you nothing. I'm a liar."

Harry felt as if he was eavesdropping and slipped out unnoticed. The tears that cascaded from Draco's eyes seemed like an endless supply. He thought that eventually it would meet a quota. Now he knows that was an insane belief. Muttering to her he was farther lost than he was before.

"Liar," he breathed.

***I know it's not that long but I'm working on other things as well. I'm really trying to get focused on another chapter of As Days Go By. Have patience and review and I'll see what I can manage. Thanks!!!***