Ginny woke up feeling a vague sensation of pain flowing through her and her head felt all fuzzy. Looking around she realised she was in the hospital wing and that the fuzziness was probably caused by pain killers, then she remembered why she was there. She had fallen on the ice and . . . and Draco had saved her.
That was something to think about.
Another thing to think about was that he was right next to her, fast asleep. The first thing that registered in her mind was that he had stayed longer than even Jenny or Sarah and she was truly touched. Even after all the time they had spent together she didn't think he cared that much, obviously she was wrong.
Seeing his face made her mind turn to his appearance at the lake, she wondered if he was simply in the right place at the right time or if it was . . . no that was ridiculous. It was simply luck and that was all. Was she really air-headed enough to think they had some super deep emotional connection? Maybe she did think that, simply because she wished that they did. Merlin only knew how many times in the past few weeks she had wished for their friendship to develop into something more. She had even tried the jealousy tactic, mentioning that Colin had asked her out, but he had only responded with level headed reasoning, giving a rational explanation on why she shouldn't accept.
Inside Ginny yearned for him to be a little more impulsive, if only to give her some insight into what he was feeling. But then, she thought, he wouldn't be the person she had come to care for. She couldn't imagine Draco being anything other than what he was; reserved, sometimes cruel, but at the same time sweet when she needed help and oh so adorable when he was grumpy. She supposed it was the little things that drew her to him.
But now she was addicted. She looked at his face and for once was allowed to drink her fill of his features and gaze at the relaxed look on his face that was never allowed to surface in the day. She reached forward to touch him.
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Draco's mind was, for once, not occupied with thoughts of Ginny. His dreams were filled with childhood memories; one moment he was running around the grounds of Malfoy Estate riding imaginary dragons as his mother looked on, the next he was walking through Diagon Alley with his father as he explained the ways of the world to his five year old ears. Suddenly he was standing in front of an open door where a woman was beckoning him to enter.
Hesitantly he stepped over the threshold and into a world that was unlike anything he had ever imagined. Day and night melded into one and death merged with life. In the centre were two women. One looked remarkably like Ginny and was standing with her hands open as if she was offering something to him, the other sat blind on the grass, moving her hand over the ground every so often and killing the grass underneath. Belatedly he realised that she resembled a girl from his year; Blaise Zabini.
The one who looked like Ginny came up to him. "Hello" she said as she reached for his hand. Draco didn't resist when she pulled him over to a strange tree that was half dead. He didn't mean dying, he meant one half of the tree was dead and rotting and the other was full of life. "Do you know why you're here, Draco?"
"Um, no."
"I suppose you wouldn't, mortals are so blind sometimes. You are here because my sister Vehka and I summoned you and no, this is not a dream." She paused. "My name is Mirhe. I know that to your eyes I resemble the girl, Ginny, but that is not my true form. You see me that way because I'm The Giver, The Provider, The Goddess of Generosity and I choose for you to see me that way so that you will not fear me. Yes, I can read your mind and yes, I will tell you why I have summoned you here." Mirhe stopped there and Draco remained silent, every time he had opened his mouth during her speech she had provided him his answer. It was either his strangest dream yet or -
"I have already told you that this is not a dream." Mirhe said, anger creeping into her tone, "and as I am the one who gives you all you are thankful for it would do you well to believe me if only to keep me happy."
Deep down Draco remained sceptical but his budding trust in her words seemed to pacify Mirhe.
"I suppose I cannot expect you to have blind faith. We summoned you to inform you that you have been chosen as Ginny's protector." She let that sink in before continuing, "today's accident was no whim on Vehka's part, it was a test to see if you would come to Ginny's side when you were needed and you performed well."
"I'm sorry, it's very rude of me to not let you voice your questions for yourself; I don't deal with mortals often. Go on." Mirhe said.
Draco was silent for a moment before saying, "Suppose that I believe you completely, I still don't know what being her `protector' entails."
"Well, basically you would have to spend every moment you could with her, you would be alerted when she was in danger and would have to go to her."
"Right, another thing I don't understand is why she would need a protector at all?" Draco said, confused.
"She is very important to the actions of the Salvation in defeating the shadows or Death Eaters as they're commonly called. But for now she is unawares and in danger. The danger is not immediate but when the time comes you will be called. Do not worry, you will not die. You are needed later."
"Will Ginny die?" he blurted out, he had to know.
"I'm very sorry but I just don't know yet because it hasn't been decided, my sister and I only give and take. We don't hold the length of your lives on our hands, they are in another's. Neither can I tell you what kind of danger she is in because you aren't supposed to have that information yet. You will just have to respond as best you can."
"Oh, I see," said Draco, although he really didn't.
"There's no use in worrying child. If the time comes it comes, there is nothing you or I can do about it." Mirhe looked sorry to say this to him so, seeing as he wouldn't be able to extract any more information out of her, he simply changed the subject instead and asked about something that had been irking him.
"Why do I see Vehka as Blaise?"
"Vehka is the Goddess of Destruction; if I am the giver then she is the taker and you obviously think Blaise is taking something away from your life right now. You see that patch of grass she's burning over there?" Draco nodded. "That represents a small town in Indonesia; she's started a fire there." Mirhe's eyes narrowed. "She likes using fire, maybe it's because fire was my gift to mortals and now she's using it against them. I bet she sees it as ironic." Mirhe huffed. "Well, I know I've saved many more people from cholera and dysentery with that fire than she has killed with it."
Draco ignored Mirhe's obvious annoyance and squinted to get a better look at Vehka's eyes. "She's blind, isn't she?"
"Only to your face and your deaf to your voice. She sees all humans as you see ants, it's therefore amusing to see them run and burn."
"Oh." Draco didn't know how to respond.
"I think I've told you all you need to know and more. It's time to go back now, but first I have to give you this pendant. It allows you to feel if Ginny is in danger. You won't be able to take it off so don't try, your attempts will only cause you pain."
Draco nodded again before taking a step away. "How do I leave?"
"Just walk through that door, Ginny's waiting for you." Draco turned around, surprised to see a gate that wasn't there before. He stepped towards it but hesitated, unsure whether he should thank Mirhe or not.
"Don't worry, I understand." she said before the words could come out of his mouth, he simply nodded again without turning and stepped through the door.
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Draco opened his eyes and found himself in very close proximity with Ginny and she suddenly pulled her hand and its tender caress away from his face.
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A/N: Sorry if you're getting sick of the Mirhe and Vehka stuff. Don't worry, in the next few chapters there will be more on Ginny and Draco and on what's really happening in the plot. Please review.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything related to him. I own the plot as well as Vehka and Mirhe.