Pushing Through

Tayler

Rating: PG13
Genres: Drama, Romance
Relationships: Draco & Ginny
Book: Draco & Ginny, Books 1 - 5
Published: 10/03/2004
Last Updated: 12/07/2005
Status: paused

It begins with a blindness; one to sight and the other to his heart. When the blindness of one becomes more deadly it is up to the other to help find a cure for both. Not great at the summaries. Re-doing entire story. Please R&R redone chapters!!! Chapter Nine-Author's Note!

Chapters

1. Chapter One

2. Chapter Two

3. Chapter Three

4. Chapter Four

5. Chapter Five

6. Chapter Six

7. Chapter Seven

8. Chapter Eight

9. Author's Note!!!

1. Chapter One

Chapter One

The darkness was complete, not letting even the barest of peep-holes for light to shine through, and making a terrified Ginny Weasley wander fruitlessly down a street of Muggle London. Her hands swept the air wildly, willing her fingers to see what her eyes could not. Within her chest, her heart thudded so hard that it could have been compared to a jack rabbit’s when running from a hungry predator. Tears streamed down her cheeks like an endless water fall, leaving a small trail of dark spots along the sooty pavement as she stumbled along the pavement. She was lost, alone and, despite her best efforts, unable to clear the dark shadow that had fallen over her vision.

As her foot kicked out to find more solid ground that was supposed to be before her, it found nothing but air as she unknowingly stepped off the curb. She tumbled forward, unable to steady herself, and fell forwards. Her shoulder struck the cement, pulling a gasp from her parted lips and more tears to flow from her blinded eyes. Rolling over onto her stomach, Ginny’s body bucked and cringed as harsh sobs thundered coarsely out of her throat. She crossed her wrists, one over the other, and rested her forehead against them as she tried to make sense of the confusion that clouded the hour or two just passed.

A distant sound made her lift her head slightly. At first she thought it was just her imagination getting the better of her or, rather, her overacting mind that could tell her just about anything right now and she would have believed it. She strained her ears for anything that would tell her what the sound was and, if in fact, it was real. When it didn’t come again, she gingerly stood and she turned in a slow circle trying to understand where she was. A loud horn sounded, making her jump and the screeching of tires filled Ginny‘s ears. The horn sounded again for a second time, louder and closer than before. Ginny froze like a scared animal car headlights.

Before she had time to think, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist as the horn sounded again and Ginny felt her self being pulled sharply from where she stood. She gasped as her feet left the ground and the arms around her grew tighter. A moment later, the person had barely set her feet on the ground before grabbing her shoulders and shaking her violently.

"Are you blind?! That bus was coming right for you!" an angered voice yelled. “I thought you were stupid before but know you’ve just stumbled into a whole new category!”

The voice made something in Ginny’s mind start ticking, its familiarity bring back images of corridors and classrooms. Of spells and books. Of Gryffindors and…

"Hello! Are you listening to me?!" Ginny's eyes went round with realization. It couldn’t be. He wouldn’t…

"Malfoy?"

The person's grip loosened and one hand was removed, leaving a chill where heat had been a moment before. A soft breeze kissed her cheeks, followed by the rough flesh of a palm brushing the tip of her nose.

"Weasley? What's wrong with you, can't you see me?"

Ginny was surprised by the softness in Draco’s voice. It was hidden well by disbelief and a cautious hint of criticism, but it was there. A fresh fountain of tears began to sting the corners of Ginny’s eyes, threatening to spill over despite her will against it. The barriers only held for a moment however and soon tears began to once again cascade down her cheeks.

"I can't," she whispered, her voice shaking for the restrain she had tried to impose not a moment ago. She covered her face with her hands, not wanting her childhood tormentor to see her weakness. Her legs wobbled, not wanting to stand any longer, and gave way beneath her. As she slid to the ground, her mind became as black as her vision; her hope dwindling like a burnt out candle and depression soaking up the light.

Distantly, Ginny heard a forced intake of breath and a strong exhale. Heat warmed her side as she felt Draco kneel down next to her. He awkwardly ran a hand along her back, clearly not used to comforting a blinded and sobbing woman, before taking another breath and pulling her into his arms. Ginny buried her head in Draco's shoulder and grasped the front of his robes in her hands, pulling herself close against him in the search for solace. She felt him stiffen under her hands, obviously unsure of what to do with her. Malfoys, as everyone knows, weren’t the most caring of people. And now the son and heir to the Malfoy lineage, the very image of resentment and loathing, was trying to console someone. If it were someone else he was comforting, Ginny would have probably found this quite humorous.

"Shh…It's all right," he said in an attempt at a soothing voice, smoothing her hair with one hand while the other was placed loosely around her waist.

His words sent a tendril of rage through the former Gryffindor. Ginny pushed her self away and stumbled to her feet before turning her back to him. Fear, sadness, anger and confusion made Ginny's temper rise as she snaked her own arms around her torso.

"All right? All right?!" she snapped. "How can you say it's all right?!"

There was a moment of silence, the only sounds that caught in Ginny’s ears was Draco’s breathing as well as her own. The silence of the night seemed almost overwhelming to Ginny and without her sight, it made things worse tenfold.

"Let me help Ginny."

Draco’s voice broke the stillness, the quietness of it cut through the air like a knife. It was not the soft, feigning comfort that he had used a few moments ago. It held more defeat and sternness as if his answer was not his decision.

"Why would you want to help me?" Ginny asked in a clipped tone, catching the sound of his and not trusting his good will. "You hate me. You've always hated me as well as my family."

"People can change."

“Not when you’re Draco Malfoy.”

“I’m only offering this once Weasley,” Draco replied harshly. “If you want to find your way around London alone again, fine. Be my guest. But I don’t offer my assistance to just anyone, nor do I give it lightly. If you want my help say so now or I’m leaving right now.”

Ginny paused, weighing her options. Of course it would be stupid to try and find her way around Muggle London alone. It was a wonder she had made it so far without any other serious conflict. But did she really want to let herself be taken under the care of a Malfoy? A man who could just as easily lock her in a room and leave her there as appose to keeping her safe?

Ginny heaved a heavy sigh and nodded. It was better to be locked in a room then stay out on the streets.

“Good,” Draco said, taking her hand and putting on the inside of his arm. “Let’s be off then.”

Author’s note: Okay, so I’m redoing the entire story of Pushing Through because it needed to be done in my opinion. The chapters will be shorter than what the first started as and the initial story line will change a little in places but over all it will be the same story. I hope you all like it and please R&R!!! J J J

2. Chapter Two

Author’s Note: Please ignore chapter’s two to eight. I’m still working on them. Thanks a lot!

Chapter Two

Ginny woke when she felt a warm heat on her face. 'Sunbeams'. The thought floated through her mind as if from a dream but was closely pursued with another thought. 'What if I never see them again?' She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"Good morning," a soft voice whispered. Ginny smiled.

"How long have you been here?" she asked in an amused tone.

"Not very long." She yawned, stretching lazily and pulled her fingers through her hair only to have them get stuck on knots.

"What time is it?"

"Four o'clock, in the afternoon." Ginny's jaw dropped. She knew that she was tired but she didn't know she had been that tired. Draco chuckled at her expression.

"I'm sorry, I should have been up by now. I should have owled Mum or Dad or Ron or somebody. Sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"Because I probably put a major dent in your schedule and made a big mess for you." She felt the bed sink as Draco sat beside her.

"I don't have any plans for today minus getting you to St. Mungo's to see a doctor." He took her hand and gave it a light squeeze. "Don't worry about me."

"Thank you Draco," Ginny said. She leaned forward and slid her hand up his arm so she could wrap hers around his neck. Draco was surprised at her actions but returned the hug. "You have already done so much for me."

"It's okay Gin. I just want you to be okay again."

"You mean that?" Ginny pulled back, confusion and hope both appearing on her face.

"I do."

"Thank you so much Draco, you don't know how much that means to me," she said as she leaned forward again to hug Draco.

"It's the truth." Ginny tightened her arms around him. Suddenly she felt a paw batting her shirt. She pulled back and heard Draco chuckle. Shadow gave a pitiful meow and crawled into Ginny's lap. "Apparently someone's hungry, again." As if on cue, Ginny's stomach gave a low rumble. "And apparently you are as well. I'm not surprised though, you haven't eaten since eight o'clock last night." Ginny blushed and fondled Shadow's ear. She felt Draco get up, throwing an "I'll be right back" over his shoulder. He soon returned and the smell of pizza entered the room with him. Ginny smiled and gratefully took the pizza slice from Draco.

"You're right! This taste amazing, even on the second day." Draco chuckled softly. She soon finished and was licking her lips for any excess crumbs or taste that were left behind.

"I think we should head over to your flat so you can get changed into some of your own cloths and we can then head over to St. Mungo's. What do you think?"

"Sounds like a plan. Umm…What do you want me to do with your cloths?"

"There's no point in changing into your cloths from last night only to change out of them again so you might as well just keep them on until we get to your flat." Ginny nodded. "Shall we be off then?"

"Sure, I have to grab my cloths and sandals though."

"All ready taken care of, they're waiting at the door for us." Ginny grinned.

"Well don't you just think of everything?" she asked sarcastically.

"It's what I do." Ginny could practically hear him smirking back at her. She was about to move when she remembered the weight on her lap.

"I'm going to miss you Shadow," she said gently as she picked the cat up and cradled him in her arms. Shadow purred loudly in response.

"You don't have to say goodbye to him you know." Ginny tilted her head to the side, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Is this you giving me an invitation back here?"

"I thought that would be the plan," Draco smoothly replied. Ginny smirked broadened as she set Shadow down on the bed.

"All right then. I won't say goodbye, just yet."

"Good, now lets get going." Ginny nodded and made her way to the edge of the bed only to fall off the edge. Her face made full contact with the hard floor and she groaned while the rest of her body slipped to the ground.

"Ginny!" she heard Draco yell above her. "Are you okay?" Ginny could help but smile as she brought her hands to her sore nose. Her smile turned into a giggle and the giggle into all out laugh. She sat up and leaned against the bed while she held her face with one and her side with the other. Happy tears began to steam down her face.

"Uh Gin?" Draco asked in a confused voice. "Aren't you supposed to be in pain and not laughing seeing as your face slammed into a wooden floor?" Ginny's laughter slowly subsided and she stood up.

"Oh it hurts like hell but that doesn't mean that that wasn't hilarious."

"You scared the crap out of me Gin," Draco said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door.

"Why are you so worried about me? I just fell of the bed," Ginny mused. "I did it enough even when I wasn't blind." This brought a chuckle from Draco and he seemed to relax. Draco stopped and let go of Ginny's hand.

"Wait here a sec." Ginny nodded and brought a hand up to rub her nose. It was still a little sore but it wasn't hurt to bad. She sniffed the air. The air still had the woodsy smell, she didn't know what made his apartment smell like that but she liked it. 'Draco's smell'. She smiled to herself at this thought and noticed the smell suddenly getting stronger.

"Nice try Draco." She heard him snort behind her.

"How'd you know?"

"That's my little secret now isn't it?"

"Fine, keep your secrets. I'm only helping you out here and you won't let me have any fun. " Draco fake whined but there was amusement behind it that cause both of them to laugh. Ginny felt something being draped over her shoulders. Her fingers touched a soft material. She scrunched her brow. "Wouldn't want you to catch a cold now would we?"

"Draco, we're just going to my flat," Ginny replied in an amused tone.

"You never know what you could catch in this wet weather, no harm in being careful." Ginny shook her head and smiled. "So do I smell good?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Ginny teased.

"Yes actually I would."

"Well if you're so concerned about it, yes you do."

"I was not concerned, merely curious that's all. We had better be off." Draco took Ginny's hand and led her first to her sandals and then out the door. They then apparated to her flat and Ginny fumbled through her cloths for the key. She soon found it and began to search the door for the keyhole.

"Need help?"

"No I'm fine," Ginny said even though she seemed to be having much difficulty. She bit her lip in frustration. Why couldn't she find that ruddy hole?

To her surprise she felt a warm hand over top of hers. Her hand was guided to the lock and the key slid easily into place. She turned the key and opened the handle. The door swung open with many groaning creeks from the un-oiled hinges.

"Thanks," she said quietly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks as she stepped inside her flat. She felt along the wall and found her bedroom. She had moved out of her parents house a year ago to this flat and now knew the place inside out. "You can take a seat in the living room if you want," she called over her shoulder.

"You sure you'll be alright?"

"I'll be fine."

"You said that earlier and you fell on your face." Ginny turned and faced the direction that his voice had come.

"Oh very funny." She heard Draco chuckle. "I'll be fine, I know me way around my own flat. I'll call if I need you." She turned back and continued down the wall. She soon found the door to her bedroom and gingerly opened it. Finding her way along the wall, she turned to her dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans (bottom shelf to the left) and a turtleneck (top shelf to the right). She was really glad that she remembered all this. She took pride in how organized her flat was. She carefully tugged off Draco's shirt and shorts and pulled on the turtleneck and jeans. She folded the t-shirt and shorts and placed them on her bed, which wasn't far from her dresser thankfully. Returning to her dresser, she fumbled for her brush and pulled it through her hair, not bothering to pull it up into anything. She then walked to the door, feeling along the door the whole time. She walked back out into the corridor and found the door to her bathroom, which was to the right of her bedroom. She found the sink and the cabinet above, reaching inside to find her toothbrush and tooth paste. She was surprised at how easily she was getting around without her sight. She finished brushing her teeth and ran her tongue along them to make sure they were clean. Reached under the cabinet, she grabbed her wash cloth and turned on the warm water tap above the sink. The soaked cloth felt great on her face and every muscle in Ginny's body relaxed. There was something about washing her face that made her feel calm and worked every time she was stressed. She hung the cloth back on it's hook and turned to reach for one of her fluffy towels. Satisfied she turned towards the door and felt her way to her living room. The woodsy smell reached her nose and she smiled. He was close. She put her hands out infront of her and felt around. Her fingers brushed something but when she reached again it was gone.

"Hey no fair," she giggled. Her ears perked when she heard a floorboard squeak close by. She slowly turned. The smell was all around her so she had to depend on her ears and hands.

"I didn't know we were playing a game," Draco whispered in her ear but by the time she had turned around, he was once again out of reach. Another floorboard creaked right beside Ginny and her hand flew out and grabbed something.

"Found you," she said in a playful voice.

"Well done," Draco replied also having a playful tone in his voice. Ginny felt his chest rise and fall under her hand. She had clearly grabbed the front of his cloak. She blushed and pulled her hand away but Draco caught it before it could fall to her side. He placed it on the side of his face and kissed the palm.

Ginny desperately wanted to know what Draco looked like and it was killing her that she couldn't see him. She slid her hand out from under his, tracing his lips and then back up to his eyes with her finger tips. The playfulness that she had heard in his voice a moment ago was not present any longer, she could feel the seriousness on his face. She felt his eyebrows. They were relaxed and not scrunched together. Ginny bit her lip and reached high to touch his hair. There was no gel and felt silky. Her hand dropped to his cheek, letting the back of her hand slid slowly down his soft skin. She felt his fingers slowly run through her hair and then his hand cupping her cheek. Ginny let her own hand rest on his neck, her thumb rubbing his jawbone. She was dying on the inside that she couldn't see his face but her thoughts were swept away when she felt his lips softly press against her own. She felt fire works going off in her brain as electricity swept down her spine and stomach turned into a million flapping snitches all at once. Draco slowly pulled back and rested his forehead on hers. Ginny placed her fingertips of the hand that had been resting on Draco's neck on his lips. She felt a smile there. Draco kissed her fingers and she smiled back.

"I wish I could actually see your smile right now," she whispered.

"Hold onto that thought, you will soon," Draco whispered back. He kissed her again and then took her hand, leading her back towards her front door. Ginny reached out for Draco's cloak that she had hung up when she had come in. She pulled it to her nose and sniffed.

"Do I smell that good?" Draco asked in an amused voice.

"Uh-huh," Ginny giggled.

"Then I guess you should have that cloak then, so you can smell me whenever you want."

"Thank you."

"You are most welcome," Draco said and kissing her cheek. He stepped infront of her and helped her put on the cloak before lacing his fingers with hers, leading her out of her flat. Once outside they stopped, wands out.

"Ready?" Ginny asked.

"Hold on a sec." Draco leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. "Now I am." Ginny smiled all the way to St. Mungo's.

When they arrived at the wizard hospital, a nurse lead them to a spare bed telling them a doctor would be with them shortly. They now sat impatiently waiting. Ginny sat on the edge of the bed, letting her feet dangle over the side. Her head had dropped into her chest and her eyes were closed. Draco pulled up a chair infront of her.

"Gin? You okay?" he asked.

"I'm scared," Ginny whispered back, placing her hands in her lap and began playing with her fingers.

"Why?"

"Because I can't stand the fact that I might not be able to see anything again." Draco took one of her hands and gently pressed his lips to it. Before he could comfort her, a doctor came in. He carefully examined Ginny, asking for every detail on what happened when she lost her sight. Draco held Ginny's hand, rubbing her knuckles with his thumb.

"Can you help?" he asked impatiently. The doctor gave him an annoyed look, Draco had asked the same question twice already.

"Without knowing the spell her attacker used, I don't know how to reverse it."

"You're doctor!" Draco exclaimed. "You're supposed to know what causes things like this!"

"I have already told you sir, we can't help without knowing the spell," the doctor replied in an irritated voice.

"So you can't help me?" Ginny asked quietly. The doctor gave a heavy sigh.

"Not at the moment my dear, but we will do everything we can." Ginny bowed her head again as tears stung her eyes. 'Never be able to see anything again, ever?'

"There has to be something you can do for her," Draco persisted.

"We will try sir but there is not much we can do." The doctor looked down at Ginny, his own heart reaching out to this young girl. Sometimes he really hated his job. "I'm sorry miss."

Ginny nodded as a reply because her own words caught in her throat. She heard the doctor's footsteps as he walked away. He tears began to fall as Draco wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm sorry Gin," he whispered. "I'm so sorry." Ginny crunched the front of his robe in her hands and sobbed.

"If there was anything I could do, anything at all, to help you I would," Draco said, his voice shaky. He hated to see her in so much pain. He kissed the top of her head and tightened his arms about her, gently rocking back and forth. Slowly Ginny's tears subsided but she still clung to Draco.

"I was so excited. I thought that I would be able to see you but now…"

"Shh…You will. I promised you and I don't intend on falling back on my word." He took Ginny's hand and let her fingertips feel his face. Ginny felt the seriousness on his face. She nodded bringing her hand back to her own face to wipe her tear-streaked cheeks. Suddenly an idea struck Draco.

"What did he look like Ginny? The man who attacked you?"

"I didn't see him that well. All I saw was a green and silver cloak."

"Did you see any writing, a picture?" Draco persisted but Ginny just shook her head. It didn't matter though, he had a pretty good idea who curse her. "Gin, I have to go but I will be back soon okay?"

"Were are you going?"

"To find out the cure to that spell." Draco kissed her full on the lips and then slowly left the bed. He spun around however when Ginny called his name.

"Thank you." Draco smiled at her even though he knew she couldn't see it.

"Don't thank me yet," he said, trying to make his voice sound as amused as possible. He was rewarded with a smile. He turned from her again and walked away.

"I'm going to kill the scum that's done this to her," he fumed as he exited St. Mungo's.

Back on the bed in the hospital, Ginny curled up into a ball. She hated hospitals and it was worse now that she couldn't see anything around her and Draco was gone. 'Draco' Ginny mentally sighed. He had been so nice to her. He had changed so much from being the snotty two-faced prick he was in school. Ginny tried to picture him in her mind. She had felt his aristocratic features but there was no smirk under her fingers when she had run them along his lips. She imagined the boy she had seen for the first time all those years ago, then how he had looked at graduation and finally during the war. His voice had held compassion and caring, which were odd things to find in a Malfoy. Ginny's heart fluttered when she remembered his kiss. She smiled to herself. At least now she didn't have to think about being in a creepy hospital.

*****

"What did you do to her?! What spell was it?!" Draco bellowed as he slammed a man up against the wall. "Tell me now or I will force it from you!" The man smirked. Draco's eyes

flashed as he punched the man in the stomach. The man doubled over but began to snicker.

"Why do you care?" the man asked in a harsh voice. "I thought you didn't care about Muggle-loving scum like her."

"Don't you dare say things like that about her!" Draco threatened. "Say another thing like that and I'll end your life here and now. You know I can."

"And if you do that you will never find out the spell I used. Funny our world, isn't it?"

"I didn't say that I wouldn't get that from you first now did I?"

"You still didn't answer my question." Draco glared at the man.

"I don't have to answer anything you say."

"Now, now, is that any way to talk to your father?" Draco shuddered involuntarily. Lucius smirked, it was the same smirk that Draco had acquired all those years ago.

"You are no father of mine," he spat back and punched Lucius's jaw. He fell to ground. "Now tell me what you did to her."

"Do you love her?" Draco was taken aback.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Lucius sneered as he struggled to his feet only to be slammed once again into the wall by Draco. "Do you love her?"

"And why should I answer you?"

"Because she will never see again if you don't. And that's not all that will happen."

"What else will happen?"

"Answer my question."

"Tell me what else will happen!"

"Answer!" Draco hesitated. "Answer me, Draco."

"Yes," he said in a confident voice.

"Since when?" Draco was about to protest but was cut of. "Just answer Draco. She is a stake here."

"Seventh year at Hogwarts."

"I thought I taught you better than to love. Love is for weaklings Draco. Only pathetic fools fall in love."

"I answered your questions now give me the answers to mine!" Draco threatened only to receive a sneer.

"She has lost her sight now but soon it will get worse. She is dying Draco and it will be a slow painful death indeed."

"You bas…."

"Do not insult me Draco or you will not get anything else from me and you know it."

"How long until it gets worse?"

"Not very actually, I'd give it a week at best before it gets to it's peek." Draco's grip on Lucius slacked. His eyes went wide. Only a week?

"How can I reverse it? What spell was it?" Lucius laughed. Draco recognized the laugh. He had laughed the same way when Draco had cried for mercy in the dungeon under the Malfoy Manor. The laugh brought back horrible memories. How he longed to kill this man for what he had done to him and now to Ginny. He tightened his fists around Lucius's arms and glared. If looks could kill, Lucius would have died a thousand times and shaking six feet under by now.

"Tell me Lucius, tell me what I want to know." Draco's voice was now shaking with fury. Lucius gave a dramatic sigh.

"And then what will you do? Go off and try to save her even though you know you will fail?"

"I won't fail."

"Even if it is the Sebonist curse." Draco's eyes rounded with horror. "Ah, you remember it. The one curse that Potter and his stupid party of scum still haven't found out about."

"But-but the cure, it takes eight or nine days to prepare!" Draco exclaimed.

"Quite right my boy, you will fail this pathetic attempt to save that whore of yours and she will die."

"No!" Draco ripped his wand out of his robes without thinking and pressed it to his father's throat.

"Do it Draco, kill me, that won't save her and you know it."

"STUPIFY!" Draco yelled at the top of his lungs and Lucius collapsed. He didn't know why he hadn't killed him as his father had said but didn't have time to think about it. Draco ran from there with all his power. He had to help Ginny. He would not let her die.

*****

A wave of pain swept over Ginny and it woke her from her sleep. Her eyes shot open only to see darkness. The pain was so severe that she couldn't scream. Her back arched as another wave of pain hit her. She grabbed fistfuls of the sheets on the bed. Finally she screamed. She barely heard the doctor come running. She screamed again, he eyes squeezed shut as hard as they would go. She felt something cool at the side of her neck. The pain was replaced with a numbing sensation.

"Draco," she whispered as sleep over came her.

*****

Draco burst though the hospital doors. He ran as fast as he could to where Ginny lay and found her unconscious with the doctor standing over her.

"What happened?"

"We don't know. One minute she was fast asleep and the next she was screaming. We had to use a sleeping charm to calm her."

"I know what curse was used on her," Draco muttered as her sat next to Ginny, taking her hand in his. "And we don't have much time."

3. Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Ginny felt herself falling, falling through darkness while an evil laugh filled her ears.

"Who are you? Why won’t you help me?" she screamed but the laughter only got louder. There was nothing but black all around her and the air was so full of hatred and evil that Ginny felt herself being suffocated by it. She cried out again, begging the help of anyone that would listen. As if in answer to her pleas, a light shone down from somewhere above her and a figure flew through towards her, white wings spread wide to speed down to her falling form. The laugher turned to screams of resentment as the figure caught her out of the air and began to soar upwards again. She could not see the person’s face except for a shock of platinum hair.

"Draco?" The person did not answer, only flew higher and higher out of the darkness, getting closer to the light. Something grabbed her ankle and she screamed. The person turned to get a better grip on her but the thing held on. Ginny felt her energy being drained from her body.

"Hold on Ginny, don’t give in!" Ginny recognized that voice. It was Draco, she knew it was but those thoughts were swept away as the thing on her ankle nearly pulled her from Draco’s grasp. She tried to kick it but she felt nothing solid.

"Please, please save me Draco!" she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Hold on! Don’t let it get you!"

"I’m trying! It’s just so hard!"

"Hold onto me Ginny, don’t let go, I love you!" Ginny’s eyes grew wide. She suddenly felt the strength beginning to return but the thing that held her didn’t release her ankle.

"Fight back Ginny, don’t let it take over, you can defeat it just hold on!" The thing pulled her from Draco’s arms and Ginny fell back into the darkness.

* * * * *

"Come on Ginny. Hold on. Don’t give up," Draco cooed. "Were working on a cure, please hold on. I don’t want to lose you. Please, be strong."

Ginny had been given the sleeping charm over two days ago and she hadn’t shown any signs of life. She had become pale and cold. She was still breathing and her heart was still beating but both were almost gone. Draco had been back and forth from her side to the potions medical lab, working on the cure. They were getting close but they still need another six days before the potion would be ready. The doctors didn’t have any hope but Draco did. He talked to her through her unconsciousness, hoping that Ginny was receiving his messages.

"I love you Ginny." He kissed her forehead before he looked around the room. Ginny’s family had come. Her parents were asleep on a bed near by. Her brothers sleeping in chairs and extra beds they had found. Harry and Hermione were there too along with Luna, Ron’s girlfriend. All of them fast asleep and no wonder, it was three in the morning. It had been a long two days so far and they were breaking on the third. It was hard on her family but it was a lot harder on Draco. Ginny was the only person he had ever cared for other than his mother and now he was losing her to a curse his father had put her under. Draco managed a smirk, the same evil one that he had seen on the man’s face a few days ago. Lucius was going to spend the rest of his days in Askaban prison and even if it didn’t bring Ginny back to him, Draco knew that the man he once called father would suffer for the rest of his days. The smirk faded from Draco’s face when he saw Ginny move.

"Gin?" She moved slightly and her eyes fluttered open. Her blind eyes stared at the ceiling.

"Draco?" she croaked.

"I’m here," Draco cooed and kissed her hand.

"It hurts, it hurts so much, I don’t know if I can hang on."

"Shh…Don’t say that, please don’t say that," Draco pleaded. "You’re strong, you can get though this"

"I had a dream, darkness was every where but you came though a light," Ginny whispered. "I heard you, you told me to hang on and that you loved me. The darkness grabbed me, I tried to hang on but it was winning. You didn’t let go of me, you kept telling me to hang on but I fell. I’m trying to fight but it’s just so hard."

"Please Ginny, don’t let go. I love you and I want to be with you for the rest of my life." Ginny smiled a weak smile. And reached over trying to find his face. Draco took her hand and pressed it to his cheek so she could feel the tears.

"You’re crying," Ginny said in a worried tone.

"I don’t want to lose you, not now, not ever."

"I will always be with you Draco, even if I don’t make it this time. I love you Draco." Ginny’s eyes began to flutter close and her head fell to the side, asleep once again.

"Oh, Ginny. Please, don’t leave me, just keep fighting, love. I’ll wait right here for you when you wake up. I promise." Another tear rolled down Draco’s cheek. He had never been in so much pain in his life. The person he loved the most in the world was slowly slipping through his fingers. He leaned forward and kissed Ginny’s cold lips. As he pulled back he slid his free hand, that was not holding one of Ginny’s, down her cheek. A hand on his shoulder startled him. He hastily wiped away his tears and faced the person behind him with a stone face, he didn’t want anyone to see him looking weak.

"She be okay Draco, just believe." Arthur Weasley stood above him, his eyes showed compassion and caring as well as knowledge. It was the kind of look Dumbledor usually wore. "Our Gin’s a fighter and I think she knows that there are people still here waiting for her, especially you."

"She’s fighting a battle that she doesn’t think she’ll win, how can I believe she’ll make it when she doesn’t believe herself?"

"I know but I do think she has the strength. She just needs a helping hand." Draco gave him a look of confusion but Arthur just smiled. "She needs you Draco and I know just the way to get you there. It’ll be dangerous but it just might work."

"I don’t care what the danger is, I just care about getting her back."

* * * * *

Ginny was fighting. The darkness had taken the form of a basilisk, the animal she feared most, but this time she could look this one in the eye without dying immediately. It was feeding on her fear though and no matter how hard she fought, it kept getting stronger. She had her wand and was screaming curse after curse but nothing could kill it. She was beginning to get weak but she kept fighting.

"Have to keep fighting," she said forcefully to herself. "Cannot let this thing win." From out of no where, another curse came and struck the basilisk in the eyes. It growled loudly and shook it’s massive head. Another curse struck it in it’s open mouth. The basilisk hacked and hissed, retreating into a cave of darkness. Ginny whirled around to see Draco standing behind her. He smiled at her and began to run. Her feet that she hadn’t realized were moving also began to run. She leapt into his open arms.

"Ginny, I thought I was losing you," he whispered into her hair. Tears rolled down her cheeks like a waterfall. She pulled back and kissed Draco with everything she had. Draco returned her kissed with the same force. It was like they had been kept from each other for years when in fact it had only been a few days but to them, it felt like it had been. Draco slowly broke the kiss. He looked into her eyes and saw the tears. She scanned her eyes over his face and then locked onto his eyes with her own.

"You can see," he said, amazement in his voice. Ginny nodded and smiled.

"You look just how I imagined."

"I told you to hold onto that thought back at your flat, remember?" Ginny nodded and Draco looked around. "So this is what your mind looks like." It was a barren wasteland with a huge cave infront of where they stood. The sky was the colour of blood. Draco cringed and Ginny laughed wryly at his expression.

"I can assure you its not usually this…interesting."

"Interesting nothing, this is just plain creepy." Ginny smiled and then sighed, her smile fading soon after it had settled and was replaced with worry. "How are you holding up?"

"It’s been so hard Draco. I feel like I’ve been fighting for centuries. How long have I been here?"

"Three days," Draco said hesitantly. All hope disappeared from Ginny’s eyes.

"Only three days?" she whispered in despair.

"We are working as hard as we can back at the hospital to bring you out of here," Draco said while taking his eyes away from her for a second to look around before returning his attention to her. "You have to stay strong Ginny. The potion won’t be ready for another five days. I will be with you as often as I can to help you through it."

"Five days? I don’t know if I can last that long Draco, I already feel so weak."

"Do not say that Ginny," Draco said sternly, cupping her cheek with his hand while the other remained wrapped around her protectively. "You have to keep fighting."

"It’s so hard," Ginny whimpered. "I don’t know if I can do it."

"You can do it," Draco said in a soft voice, his eyes showing all his love for her. "I believe in you. I know you can, you just have to believe in yourself." Ginny closed her eyes and looked down.

"Hey." She looked back up to see Draco’s comforting eyes staring into her own. "The Ginny I know could fall off a bed face first and laugh about it."

"This is different than falling off a bed Draco, this is a lot worse."

"You’re giving up, the more you give up the more harder the obstacles will get. Your family is waiting out there, just like me. They have faith in you Ginny. Your dad told me that you’re a fighter and that you have the strength to pull through. We can help Gin but you have to fight just as hard. Believe Gin and you’ll come out of this. The question is, will you?" Ginny stared into Draco’s eyes and saw the hope behind them. To see those eyes in the real world gave Ginny hope. He truly believed in her, now she had to believe in herself.

"I will fight as hard as I can." Draco’s whole face lit up and he pressed his lips against hers. Ginny’s spirit lifted. Draco had given her hope and courage that she had been slowly drained from her before his arrival. She broke the kiss to look at the face she had longed to see for almost five days now. His hair wasn’t slicked back but hanging down and still the same platinum colour she remembered from school. His face was still pale and flawless. His stormy gray eyes were full of compassion and love for her. The next thing he said was like he had read her mind.

"I love you so much Ginny and if I told you that a million times every day for the rest of our lives that I know we will spend together, it wouldn’t be anywhere near enough. I want to spend the rest of my days with you Ginny, I don’t think I could stand losing you now." A tear came to Ginny’s eye.

"I love you too Draco. I promise to fight my hardest. We will be together again." Draco wrapped her up in his arms. He began to spin her around in a circle, both of them laughing with joy. Their joy was not long lived however because the ground began to rumble under their feet.

* * * * *

Outside in the real world, Arthur was watching over them. Draco lay beside Ginny, his eyes closed and his hands that were holding hers lay between them. Many emotions ran through the eldest Weasley at that moment. He had seen the love in Draco’s eyes, which he knew belonged to Ginny. Arthur had never helped a Malfoy before but there was something about Draco that begged him for his knowledge. He wondered what would happen to Draco if Ginny didn’t make it.

He was brought out of his thoughts however when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Ron, his youngest son, standing behind him.

"She’s going to make it Dad," Ron whispered. "I know it."

"I think you’re right son and I think we are going to owe our gratitude to young Mr. Malfoy over there." Arthur laughed when he saw the look of disgust on his son’s face but his face went serious with his next words. "He loves her Ron. I know you can see that." Ron nodded and he sat beside his father on the bed opposite to Ginny and Draco.

"But why him? Why would he fall for her? He has always hated our family and gave her a fair share of his unpleasant mocking."

"I don’t think that’s the case though," Arthur said thoughtfully. "I think he has done what he has in order to please his father. But during the war he was on our side remember? Not Voldemort’s. He has changed from the immature Hogwarts student into a man who can care and now cares for Ginny. He brought his father into Askaban two days ago. Clearly that monster of a man is not Draco’s idol anymore." There was a look of surprise on Ron’s face. The boy Malfoy had grown up with worshiped the ground his father walked on. He looked over at the bed where his childhood enemy lay next to his beloved sister. Ron saw the same, pale structured face with the platinum hair that always reminded him of the Malfoys whenever he saw it. Ron heaved a heavy sigh. His father was right. The rich git had changed and Ron had to except him, for Ginny’s sake at least. It wouldn’t be easy but everybody disserves a chance. Ron’s gaze moved from Draco to his friends and family, sleeping peacefully in other beds, chairs and some even on the floor. Harry, Hermione, his girlfriend Luna, his brothers and himself had all fought in that final attack against Voldemort and Draco had been there right along side them. Ginny had been there too, just out of school. Ron remembered the day when the Dark Lord had fallen. Death Eaters had scattered, some escaped but most were caught and imprisoned. Many of their friends had died that day but many of them lived.

They had almost lost their beloved Ginny then too. They had waited at her bedside just like they did now, even Draco had passed by a few times now that Ron had thought of it. He now remembered the look of love in his eyes there too. How did he miss it the first time but saw it now? Ginny had been unconscious for about a week before her eyes fluttered open. It had been one of the happiest days of Ron’s life. They now waited again for her eyes to flutter open and to stay open.

* * * * *

Ginny screamed. There before her was her biggest fear. He had been defeated two years ago but had haunted her dreams since her first year at Hogwarts. Tom Marvolo Riddle was steadily walking towards her.

"Ah Virginia, I never thought I would be seeing you again," he drawled.

"You’re just an image, you’re dead, you aren’t here!" Ginny screamed. She wanted to throttle the man who had cause her pain for so long. She felt Draco squeeze her hand.

"And yet I stand here walking towards you and am very real indeed. In your mind, everything is real," Tom hissed. "And what do we have here? The young Malfoy. You were wrong not to join my side in the war. You could have gone places."

"Like where? Askaban prison? To my death? I think not," Draco growled. Tom chuckled, which sent chills down Ginny’s spine.

"We defeated you once Riddle, we can do it again," she threatened. Tom only laughed at her, sending more chills down her spine.

"You use my father’s Muggle name as if it were who I really was," he sneered. "I have told you before my dear Ginny, I am Lord Voldemort or do you not remember our little encounter all those years ago?" Ginny involuntarily shuddered. "I see you do. You used to love to talk to me Ginny, about you’re family, about Potter and even about Draco over here. About how you hated him more than anything in the world."

"That was a long time ago, things have changed," Ginny snarled.

"Really, why don’t you tell me hmmm? I know all your secrets Ginny. I know that you fear Draco leaving you and you’re thinking about running away before he can hurt you."

"That’s not true!"

"Your mind is an open book as it were to me Ginny, I can flip through the pages and read all your dirty little secrets that you keep from everyone."

"Shut up!" Ginny screamed.

"It’s just like how it was when you were eleven, I know everything about you, even things you don't know about yourself."

"Stop it!" Tears began to sting her eyes. How she hated this monster of a man.

"Don’t let him get to you Ginny," Draco said confidently. "The more you let him hurt you the stronger he gets."

"I’m tired of you Malfoy," Tom said, boredom lining his voice. "Go away." Draco suddenly disappeared from Ginny’s side. She screamed and stared horror struck at Tom.

"It’s just you and me now Ginny," he said as he licked his lips.

* * * * *

Draco’s eyes shot open. He was back in the hospital.

"Ginny!" he cried. Arthur was by his side in seconds.

"What happened? What’s going on in there?"

"Riddle! He’s come back inside Ginny’s mind! She is so scared right now and I don’t now if she’ll make it! I have to get back in there!"

4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

"Get away from me Tom, you’re nothing but a half breed, slimy, disgusting monster!" Ginny screamed as she backed up, trying her best to get control again but her hope was failing with every word.

"I take that as a compliment, all except the half breed part and you will eat those words before I’m through with you."

"That’s enough Riddle," a calm but commanding voice ordered. Ginny whirled around to see Dumbledor standing a few meters away. The Professor’s eyes where not twinkling with the kindness that was usually there. His eyes were determined and stern.

"Leave, now," he commanded. Ginny heard Tom snort.

"And what makes you think I’m going to listen to anything you say old man? You couldn’t control me in school, what’s in your head that thinks you can now?"

"You do not belong here Riddle, you no longer have control over her, Virginia has defeated the memory of you long ago."

"And yet she stands there shaking like a leaf ready to fall from it’s branch," Tom countered.

"You have only brought back horrible memories. She can easily lock you away again if she tries."

"But she can never get rid of me. I am a part of her."

"Oh I think she can, you’re just an injury that needs to be healed. Go ahead Virginia. He cannot control you unless you let him." Dumbledor smile a genuine smile at Ginny and it gave her strength. She turned back to Tom with a grin on her face.

"Get out of here Tom, you’re nothing to me and you can’t hurt me anymore." With her words, Tom began to disappear. He looked down at himself, shocked. "You are nothing more than horrible memory." Tom grew fainter and fainter. "Go away Tom and never return."

"You haven’t seen the last of me Ginny, I will find you where ever you are. You can’t escape me."

"Oh I think I already have. You had control over me once, never again will I let that happen." Tom howled and with a great gush of air he was gone.

"I did it," Ginny whispered to herself. "I did it!" She turned to see Dumbledor smiling at her. She ran and hugged him. "Thank you Professor, I don’t think I could have done it without you." He gently patted her hair as if she was a young child once again.

"I think you could have Ginny, I did nothing but give you a little direction. I must leave you now, but remember, it’s all in your head." Ginny laughed as he gently touched his index finger to her forehead and nodded. Dumbledor chucked and then turned away. Within seconds he was gone. Ginny was not alone for long however. Draco soon appeared behind her and nearly crushed her with his embrace when he got close enough.

"Ginny! Are you all right? Where’s Riddle?" he rambled but stopped when he saw the grin on her face. "How did you defeat him?" he asked finally catching on.

"I had a little help from an old friend," she replied calmly. Draco gave her a puzzled look but smiled. "It’s all in my head after all."

* * * * *

Molly Weasley sat on the edge of the chair she had been sitting in. She had over heard the conversation between her husband and her son and had thoughts of her own.

Draco had proven himself that he cared about her daughter. She hadn’t expected to see him walk through the fireplace a back at the Burrow few days ago, yelling to the whole household that Ginny was under a deadly curse. He looked like a garden snake in a fox’s layer. Molly had never had a Malfoy in her home before and had to get over that shock before she actually heard what he was saying. She was glad he had come however. Otherwise, the Weasleys would have probably been left in the dark until the end of it, whether it was the death or life of Ginny. The memory of being in the hospital, in a room very much like this one and Ginny lying unconscious on the bed, was still too near and stung Molly like an old wound reopened. She had come so close to losing her daughter then and she was just as worried now, more so because of the kind of curse she was under this time. Molly had cried many tears in the last few days. Tears for herself, tears for Ginny, tears for her family and, to her surprise tears for Draco. This must be so hard on him. He had definitely showed another side of him that wasn’t cold hearted and stone. He had really shown himself to be a true prince in shinning armor for Ginny. Molly smiled at her next thought. ‘I hope it turns out to be like that Muggle story I once read.’

* * * * *

It was almost time. Draco had made many trips between Ginny’s world and reality. The potion was almost ready. Ginny however was getting worse. It was getting harder and harder for her to control what was going on in her mind and the battles were starting to drain her. Her body outside would go through spasms and she had not woken again. Her family, including Draco, were worried and on edge. Ron had snapped on Draco whenever he could.

"It’s all your fault!" he yelled.

"How is it my fault?!" Draco yelled back. Harry and Luna were holding Ron back so he couldn’t actually start throwing punches.

"Because that slimy git you call a father did this to teach you a lesson!"

"He is not my father!" Draco roared. Ron stopped struggling and every one in the room stared at him. "No real father would have ever done what that man has done to me." The room was deathly silent. The Weasleys, Harry, Hermione and Luna all had their eyes on Draco, mouths hanging open. Draco’s eyes fell to the floor and he laughed slightly. It wasn’t the normal kind of laugh but one of fear, anger and pain wrapped up into one.

"Draco?" Arthur asked wearily.

"You’re right Ron. That monster did this to Ginny was to teach me a lesson. He wanted me to watch the person I love most in the world waste away until she was nothing. Now that I think of it, it is my fault. It’s all my fault. I did this to her." His head shot up and his eyes bulged at his knew realization. His legs buckled beneath him and he collapsed to his knees. "What have I done?" To all they’re surprise Hermione stepped forward. She knelt before Draco and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You loved her Draco," she said calmly.

"And she is now fighting for her life in another world while she is dying in this one because of that love. Why couldn’t I have just…" Hermione slapped him, hard. He brought his hand to his face and stared at her in disbelief.

"Wake up Draco! You can not honestly believe that you did this can you? Can’t you see that you’re the one helping her and not the one who tried to kill her? You love her and that is what is keeping her alive now," Hermione’s voice softened. "You have done nothing but love her Draco. Nobody and I mean nobody blames you for this," Hermione shot a look over her shoulder the once struggling red head of the group before turning back to Draco. "Even it Ron doesn’t admit it openly, he doesn’t either. You were the one who came to tell us and now you are the one helping the doctors cure her. You have made countless trips between our world and hers to keep her hopes up. Don’t even think about blaming yourself Draco Malfoy because you have done nothing but the complete opposite to that, as you so greatly pointed out, monster of a man." Draco shuddered. He had been through so much in the last six days that he was physically and mentally drained. Hermione’s words, however, made it to his clouded mind.

"You’re right Hermione, thank you." Hermione looked shocked. For all the years that she had known Draco he had never called her by her first name let alone thanked her for something.

"No prob, I’m just here to help," she said breathlessly, eyes still round with amazment. Draco got to his feet and looked down at Ginny. He sat beside her thin body that was more like an empty shell at the moment. Someone clearing their throat caught his attention however but his eyes did not leave Ginny.

"The potion, Mr. Malfoy, it’s almost ready and we need your assistance for the last stage," the doctor said in a calm voice.

"I’ll be there in a moment," Draco said softly before he turned to the group behind him. The doctor nodded and left the room. The Weasleys, Harry, Hermione and Luna, all had stayed since Draco had called them. They had slept and ate almost as much as he had, which wasn’t very much at all. He finally, after a lifetime of hating these people, felt like he was excepted somewhere other than under the wing of the defeated Dark Lord. He wasn’t liked by all but he felt something that only he could call friendship because he had experienced very little of it during his child hood. He knew that he had to make amends now so the feeling would not slip away.

"Thank you, all of you. You have showed me the deepest kindness over the last couple of days." He turned to Ron. "I know you hate me more than anybody alive right now but I swear to you that I will not let Ginny die. If I have to I will switch places with her to make sure she lives. Whatever happens, she will be alive in the end. I know how much she means to you." Ron sighed.

"I don’t hate you mate," he said quietly. "Your not the stuck up arse you used to be and it’s the man who is rotting in Askaban right now that I hate. I’m sorry for making your life miserable." Draco placed his hand on Ron’s shoulder.

"Don’t be. I did the same to you for so long that I would expect it." He then turned to Harry and Hermione. "I would have thought you two as well would have hated me for all I have done, especially to you Hermione. I am truly sorry." He then turned to the rest of the people in the room. "You all have no idea how sorry I am right now for all the things I’ve done. I’m sorry for what Lucius has done."

"It’s all mostly sticks and stones dear," Molly said cheerfully. "You can’t take the blame for Lucius’ faults. I think I speak for all of us when I say we except your apology." Everyone in the room smiled at Draco and for the first time in days, he felt happiness.

"Now stop being such a softy," one of the twins said. "It’s beginning to creep me out." Everyone in the room laughed a little, the twins always knew how to lighten the mood.

"Sorry to interrupt but Mr. Malfoy? We need you now," the doctor said from behind the group. Draco nodded and followed the doctor out of the room.

* * * * *

Ginny was exhausted. She had been battling for days now and she didn’t know how much more she could take. She lay down on the ground, breathing heavily. She closed her eyes trying to catch her breath and rolled onto her side.

"Go to sleep Ginny," an eerie voice cooed. Her eyes snapped open to see Lucius standing over her all though her wasn’t completely there. He was faded and the visible part of him was skinny and paler than usual. "You can end it all here and now. All you have to do is close your eyes and let yourself fall asleep." Ginny struggled to her feet and glared at Lucius.

"No, I won’t give in."

"You really think you can last until the potion is ready don’t you?"

"Draco promised that he would make it as fast as her could and I believe him." Lucius laughed but it was harsher and thin. He immediately started to hack and wheeze. Ginny smirked at him.

"A little under the weather are we Lucius?" she asked, sarcasm dripping from every word. He shot her a menacing look. "I don’t have time for you Lucius so just go away." To Ginny’s surprise it worked. He disappeared from sight and she was alone once again. His words still buzzed in her mind however. Could it really be that easy to end all this? Just close her eyes and it would be done forever? No. She could let herself give in. Not now that she was so close to being cured.

She shuddered and began to walk. It was going to be a while now before she could close her eyes and not worry about dying.

* * * * *

The twins sat on the floor close to Ginny’s bed. Everyone else was talking amongst themselves, trying to make a dent in the remaining time. Fred looked over at his twin brother who was staring at the shaking Ginny. She was going through a fit again and all they could do was wait it out. Their mother was sitting with her now, smoothing her hair and singing a song that she had sung to all her children when they were younger.

"Do you think she’ll make it?" George asked quietly. This was an odd thing for the twins to be so serious and not to mention quiet.

"Do you think she won’t?" George’s eyes fell from Ginny and met his brother’s gaze.

"I don’t know. She’s a fighter, our Gin, we should know after all the pranks we have pulled on her over the years. She always managed to get us back some how. But I don’t know what’s going to happen."

"What do you think of Draco’s turn about?" George smiled grimly.

"He did make quite the turn didn’t he?"

"Yeah. The bloke has been through a lot lately hasn’t he? I mean with his father and now Gin."

"He’ll be happy again when Gin’s back up and about. Just wish somethin’ could cheer him up in the mean time, he too somber for his own good." George then got a mischievous grin on his face, which only meant one thing. "You thinking what I’m thinking?"

"Great minds think alike," Fred replied, the same grin gracing his features.

"Don’t even think about it you two," Molly said sternly, now standing over them.

"Yes mum," they said in unison but as soon as she was out of earshot, they began their scheming. Even after all these years, they still acted like the schoolboys they once were.

* * * * *

"Okay," Draco said, gulping slightly. "Let’s hope this works." It had been two days exactly since Draco had been pulled from the room and now the potion was as ready as it could be. Adding the final ingredient and muttering a spell that made the whole thing mix together, the colour turned from dark red to a snow white. Draco smiled. The potion was ready, everything had gone according to plan. Now all they needed to do was give it to Ginny. Draco poured the potion into a flask and walked back to Ginny’s room. He carried the flask as if it where a young child, careful when taking every step. He walked to where his new friends were waiting.

"It’s ready, but I want to check on her first."

5. Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Ginny coughed. The land around her had turned into a desert, monsters hiding around every sand dune. Every time Ginny breathed in she coughed as sand got sucked into her mouth. It felt like her lungs were being ripped open from the inside. She collapsed into the sand, coughing hard and struggling to breathe. One hand clutched her throat while the other held her up from falling completely into the sand. ‘Why was it taking so long? Where was he? He should have been here by now!’ were the thoughts going through Ginny’s mind. Again Lucius’ words went through her mind. They had been haunting her thoughts ever since she had seen him. The longer she waited the more tempting the offer sounded.

She was about ready to give up when she felt someone’s arms wrap around her shoulder. She looked up to see the stormy-gray eyes she loved so much.

"Draco," she whispered because she couldn’t talk any louder than that.

"It’s okay Gin, the potions ready. It’s going to hurt a bit but soon you will be back in the hospital."

" ‘Bout time," Ginny whispered sarcastically and was rewarded with a chuckle from Draco. It was like music to her ears. "I’m ready."

"I love you Gin and I’ll be waiting for you on the other side." Draco gently pressed his lips against hers and disappeared from her side.

* * * * *

Draco’s eyes fluttered open and he turned to the people waiting beside the bed.

"Hand me the flask." Arthur handed Draco the flask that he had been holding. Draco gently lifted Ginny so she was sitting against him. He carefully tilted her head and separated her lips with his fingers, causing her mouth to open. Draco then slowly poured the potion into her mouth and waited until the flask was empty. He set the now empty flak on the bed beside him and wrapped his arms around Ginny. Everyone in the room held their breath. Ginny suddenly began to shake uncontrollably and let out an ear-piercing scream.

* * * * *

Ginny screamed. Draco had lied when he said it would hurt a bit. The pain was unimaginable. Ginny rolled in the sand shaking as waves of pain swept over her. She heard someone calling her in the distance. She screamed again as another spasm of unbearable pain leapt through her body.

"Come on Ginny," a voice whispered. "You can do it."

"Come on Gin, don’t let us down," another voice said. Soon her mind was filled with voices. She recognized them all. Her mum, her dad, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Luna and most importantly Draco. They were all shouting out to her, encouraging her to make it past the pain. She looked up at the red sky above her as tears spilled down her cheeks. Another wave of pain washed over her and Ginny felt herself falling. Light surrounded her, it was bright and lifted her spirits as she fell. Suddenly, out of no where darkness grabbed her, bringing the sorrow and pain once again. The light fought back as Ginny squirmed, fighting with all her might to get free the darkness’ clutches. For Ginny, it felt like a dangerous game of tug-o-war and both sides were equally armed. She tried to scream but nothing would come. Clashing sounds ripped through the air as light and dark fought to gain dominance. They struck all around Ginny, both not willing to yield. The words of her family, their hope, protected her but the darkness was getting dangerously close to hitting her.

A bolt from each side hit Ginny, one on her back and one on her chest. There was a surge of pain that flowed though Ginny’s body and then she could feel nothing at all. She was floating and then everything faded.

* * * * *

"Come on love, you can do it." It had been hours since Ginny had been given the potion. Moments after she screamed she stopped moving all together. Everyone had stayed up but Draco had eventually convinced them to get some rest and he would stay with Ginny. Reluctantly they agreed after making him promise to wake them the second something happened. Now the Weasleys, Harry, Hermione and Luna were all sound asleep. It was early morning on the ninth day. Draco sat on the bed rocking Ginny back and forth, whispering encouraging words into her ears. Draco looked up at the sleeping figures scattered around the room. The twins were on the floor. Molly and Arthur were on the bed opposite the one he sat on now. Harry and Hermione shared a bed across from Ron and Luna. Bill, Charlie and Percy were all in the hospital chairs that they had changed into comfortable armchairs.

There were bags under Draco’s eyes and a week’s worth of stubble on his face. His hair was a mess but at the moment he didn’t care at all. Anybody that looked at him now would think he had lost his entire life and inheritance in an hour, but to him, it was taking a little over a week. Ginny had become everything to him. He had gone over the memories from the last couple of days before Ginny was taken into the other world a million times already in the last couple hour. He laughed remembering how she had fallen off the bed in his flat. He remembered the hide and seek game they had played in hers. She had made the room light up for him when she had walked in. He wanted to tell her all the things that she did for him and her wanted her to hear it. She had become his life all over again. It had been the same during the war. He had sat outside her room for what felt like ages, visiting her when no one else was around and even when people were around sometimes when he was desperate although he never let anything on to anyone. He thought he would lose her then and was having the same feelings now. His hope was slowly fading away.

"Come on Gin, don’t give up now. I need to tell you so many things but you need to wake up," he whispered. He smoothed down her hair for the billionth time. He then brought his hand to her face and began to trace her nose, mouth, eyes, eyebrows, cheeks and chin with his fingertips. Her skin was cold under the warmth of his hand and she was paler than Draco had ever seen her. He was startled slightly when he felt something move on his arm. He looked down to were Ginny’s hand rested. It was motionless. Draco sighed and took it in his own hand and pressed it to his lips, his eyes never leaving her face. He thought, for a moment, he saw Ginny’s eye flinch. He dismissed it until he saw it again.

"Ginny! Come on Gin, you’re almost home," he urged. Her whole face flinched and her body tensed up in Draco’s arms. "Come on you can do it." Draco squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek. Her eyes shot open and she was breathing heavily. She looked around the room frantically and then saw Draco hanging above her. She threw her arms around his neck and cried.

"It’s okay Gin, your home," Draco cooed, his own tears falling down his cheeks. "It’s going to be okay. You’re home." Ginny buried her face in Draco’s shoulder.

"I was so scared," she sobbed.

"Shhh…" Draco hushed and then pulled back to look her in the eyes. "Are you okay?" Something suddenly dawned on Ginny.

"I can see you," she whispered. She put her hands on his cheeks, wiping away his tears with her thumbs and kissed him before hugging him again. "You don’t know how much just waiting to see your face out here helped me. I missed you so much."

"I missed you too," Draco whispered into her hair and he tightened his arms around her.

Someone groaned in their sleep. Ginny didn’t seem to notice but Draco remembered his promise. He pulled back and kissed her one more time. It was like their first, complete with electricity, fireworks and snitches. Draco could have stayed there forever but his promise nagged at the back of his mind so he slowly broke it and looked intently into Ginny’s eyes.

"There are some people here waiting for you." Ginny nodded and let her arms fall from Draco’s neck to his hands. "You better wake them up hadn’t you?" Draco stood and picked Ginny up, taking her over to her parents and setting her gently down beside them.

"Mum, dad," Ginny said while shaking them softly. Their eyes fluttered open and they gasped when they saw their daughter.

"Oh Ginny!" Molly cried out as tears streamed down her cheeks while she and Arthur embraced Ginny. Draco went over and woke the others, Ron first.

"Hey mate," he chuckled as Ron grumpily opened his eyes. "There’s someone waiting to say hi." Ron’s eyes went round as he slowly turned in the direction Draco had motioned.

"Ginny!" he screamed and ran to her, wrapping her up in his arms. He sudden outburst woke the rest of the sleeping people who copied Ron’s actions and began a big, family hug. Draco stood back and watched the happy family who were all crying and squishing Ginny with their hugs and kisses. To his surprise, Ron of all people beckoned Draco to join them. He laughed and walked over to them. Ginny wrapped her arms around his waist and then the rest were soon around them, all laughing or crying and all were expressing their joy for the return of their precious Ginny. Arthur clapped his hand on Draco’s shoulder and held up his hand for silence.

"Draco," Arthur said calmly when everyone was quiet. "Thank you for saving my daughter’s life." He held a hand out to Draco and as soon as he took it, Arthur wrapped him in a hug. He then stood back and Ginny returned to her form position with her arms around Draco.

"Oh go on!" one of the twins yelled.

"Give her a kiss!" said the other and Draco happily obliged by leaning in and kissing Ginny. The two of them broke apart laughing however when the crowd around them cheered with approval.

6. Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Ginny had to stay for a few days at the hospital after her recovery but was soon home. The first thing she did when she got out was go home and have a nice long bath. She had to convince her family that she would be okay for an hour or two on her own though and it wasn’t an easy task. Draco had been the worst to convince but he eventually allowed it. Ginny was now sitting in her bathtub in her flat, going over the last week.

She had been so sure she wasn’t going to make it and that she would never see Draco or her family again. When she was falling after everything faded, she had heard Draco’s voice while all the others faded. His was strong in her mind and kept her going. She didn’t know how long she had been falling for but was glad when she finally surfaced in the hospital.

She sighed as she dunked her head under the soapy water. She had put her favorite vanilla and cinnamon bath soap in the hot water. It made her feel safe and comforted as she fought with her emotions. Her mind was a blur and all she wanted was for it to stop buzzing and for everything to be normal again.

Ginny finished in her bath and got out, drying herself off. She walked to her room and noticed a faint smell of the woods. Her eyes glanced over to her bed and saw that Draco’s cloths were still lying where she had left them. She picked them up and hugged them to her chest. She then dropped the shorts and brought the t-shirt to her face, breathing in whatever the scent of her room hadn’t taken from the woodsy smell that was embedded in the shirt. Bringing it down from her face, she ran her fingers over the blue stitching that spelled out seeker. Ginny knew Draco had become an Auror after the war but he had loved Quidditch as long as she could remember. She smiled and set the shirt down on the bed again before going over to her dresser. She pulled out her nickers and a pair of yoga pants. She had never participated in this said Muggle art but she found the clothing to be quite comfortable .She then slipped Draco’s shirt over head. She picked up the shorts off the floor where they had fell and folded them once again, placing them back to their former place on her bed. Casting a drying spell on her hair, she brushed it and then put it in two braids. Putting on her old, worn, black slippers, she walked down the hall towards her kitchen. She let her fingers graze the wall, remembering how she had had to rely on them to find her way to her room almost a week earlier. She sighed and walked into her kitchen. She almost had a heart attack however when she saw a person standing over her counter.

Draco was standing over two mugs and staring at the kettle that was beginning to whistle. As if sensing her presence, he looked up at Ginny and smiled at her shocked expression.

"Startle you a bit, did I?" he asked in an amused tone.

"Only a lot," Ginny replied hotly but smiled back all the same.

"Like my shirt?"

"I like how it smells." Draco chuckled as he took the kettle off the burner and poured the boiling water into the mugs.

"How did you get in here?"

"You had a spare key hanging on a hook by your door. Thought it might come in handy."

"Turning into a thief are we?" Ginny mused.

"Hardly. How do you want your tea?"

"Milk and sugar please." Draco nodded while spooning the tea bags out of their mugs, pouring some milk into the hot liquid and then added a spoonful of sugar. Ginny sighed and took the spoon from him, adding two more healthy spoonfuls.

"You seem to like your sugar." Ginny nodded childishly and grinned. She then lifted herself onto the counter, letting her legs dangle over the side, and sipped her tea. Draco smiled and made his own tea. Ginny watched him as he did so. His movements were so dignified and graceful even when he was just making tea.

"When did you learn how to make tea?" she blurted out without thinking. She just assumed that he had never known how because he had grown up in a household full of house elves.

"Well seeing as I have lived on my own for a little over three years ago now, I had to learn to take care of myself some time, now didn’t I?" He dropped the spoon in the sink and leaned against the counter, bringing the mug to his lips. Ginny looked down at her own mug in her hands and rubbed the edge with her thumb. The two were quiet for a moment, both staring into their tea as if it would bring out the word they wanted to say. Ginny bit her lip and tucked a piece of stray hair behind her ear. Draco silently tapped the fingers of his free hand on the counter. Both were feeling the uneasiness mounting in the room.

"This is silly," Draco finally said. "We have closer in a week than many people have in years at a time and we can’t talk now." Ginny laughed half-heartedly and looked up at Draco. He was smiling at her and it made Ginny’s heart flutter. She carefully brought her hand up to his face and ran her knuckles along his cheek.

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly. He had asked the same question a few days ago but things were different now. He set his mug on the counter and took her hand from his face, holding it in his.

"I was afraid Draco. I thought I would never get to see you again. I don’t think I would have made it if you hadn’t of been there with me. You risked a lot helping me like that. You could have gotten trapped or something worse could have happened or…" She was silenced with Draco’s fingertips on her lips.

"I would die for you Ginny, you should know that by now," he said softly. "I don’t think I could have gone on living without you coming back to me safely. You are everything to me." A tear slid down Ginny’s cheek but Draco kissed it away, bring his hand up to cup her cheek. Ginny leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Draco’s neck, burying her face in his shoulder. His arms soon were around her waist, pulling her close to him. He kissed the top of her head and then bent down to whisper in her ear.

"I love you Gin, more than you will ever know and I promise you that I will never let anything separate us again."

"I know Draco. I love you too." Ginny pulled back. Draco eyes locked with hers and she smiled as then brought her hand to his face, tracing his mouth, nose, eyes, cheeks and chin.

"What are you doing?" Draco asked quietly. "Remembering me by heart?" Ginny shook her head.

"No, I already know you by heart." A smile now appeared on Draco’s face. Before either of them could speak another word, a very urgent tapping sound came from the living room.

Ginny slid down from the counter and walked into the living room, Draco right behind her. A barn owl was perched on the edge of the balcony, a small envelope clutched in it’s beak. Ginny looked back at Draco before opening the screen doors and stepping out onto the balcony. She did not recognize this owl so she was a little weary. She gingerly took the letter from the owl and was surprised when it took off without any payment. Ginny opened the envelope, pulling out a newspaper clipping. A picture of Lucius Malfoy and herself just after waking up in hospital looked back up at her. Lucius was in a cell, pacing back and forth, snarling. The picture with herself in it also had the rest of her family and they were celebrating. She didn’t even remember seeing the flash of a camera. The article underneath read:

July 2nd

Today, Lucius Malfoy was given the Dementor’s Kiss. Malfoy, being one of the only remaining members of the Dark Lords circle, has been followed by Aurors for some time now and it was a surprise to the whole wizarding world when his own son brought him in a little over a week ago. The youngest Malfoy was one of the heroes during the war against Voldemort but no one expected him to take down his father.

Lucius himself has been charged with countless crimes, the greatest being murder. He was also charged with attempt at murder towards our Minister’s daughter. The Minister would not give any comment but did say that he was glad the monster that did this to his daughter was behind bars.

Virginia Weasley was placed under the Sebonist curse, a new curse to the Ministry, where the victim first loses their sight and ends with their death. Thankfully, this did not happen to Miss Weasley. The picture above was taken just after her stunning recovery after being under the curse for around a week. The recovery itself was all thanks to Draco Malfoy and his knowledge of the curse. This news reporter wonders why Mr. Malfoy did not give up the information of this curse before hand?

For more details on the Sebonist cure turn to pg. 10.

Ginny frowned as many questions buzzed through her mind. She looked back in the envelope to see a note.

Thought you might want to see this. Luv Charlie

"What is it?" Draco asked, stepping out onto the balcony. Ginny handed him the clipping and leaned back against the railing. She watched as Draco skimmed over the clipping. He sighed when he had finished and handed it back to her. "I would have hoped that it would have been through me you would have found that out and not for a while yet but apparently someone had other plans."

"Charlie sent it." Draco nodded. "Why didn’t you tell me?" She saw him hesitate. He brought his hand up and rubbed the back of his neck while the other delved into his jean pockets. His eyes fell to the floor. Ginny walked over to him and took his hand from behind hind hid neck, holding it in both of her own. "Draco?"

7. Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

"Draco?" Ginny didn’t know what to expect. There were many things ranging from the worst to the best case scenario running through her mind at rapid speed.

Draco’s eyes still were on the stone of the balcony beneath his feet, his face thoughtful as if trying to either find a way not to tell her and a way to at the same time. He then suddenly smirked to himself in an almost cynical way.

"There’s no way to tell you with out telling you everything," he said, not looking up.

"I’ve got all the time in the world right now Draco," Ginny replied softly. This finally made Draco look up. He scanned her face, as if testing whether she was sincere, and then nodded. He pulled her back inside her flat, leading her to her worn, red coloured couch and motioning for her to sit down.

He stood, pacing before her, gathering his words carefully. His face was stern. Finally, he sighed and began to speak.

"In all honesty Gin, I never expected to see this curse ever again so I never told anyone. I thought it died with the Dark Lord but apparently, I was wrong. The Sebonist curse, as you experienced, first starts out with the blindness of its victim and then quite literally sucks them into a world made up of their own fear. You had help so you were able to fight it off and we got the cure to you on time but for most, they die in a world where they can’t protect themselves. You knew it was all in your head so you were strong against your fear but many don’t realize it and become consumed.

"The Dark Lord created this curse, perfecting it on hundreds of innocent Muggles. He then passed the knowledge on to his servants closest to him, my father being one of them who then passed it on to me in hopes that I would use it someday. He taught me that curse along with all the other Unforgivables when I was eight. Through out school, he tutored me, making sure I could perform these curses with out emotion. By my sixth year, I could have killed any one I wanted with a mire flick of my wand. Dumbledor knew this and began to pay more and more attention to me. I confronted him one day, demanding the reasons for his interest. He told me that he knew what my father had taught me and he asked if I really wanted to kill people so freely as Voldemort would and did. After that day, my life changed. Dumbledor offered to help me change and said that he could keep it secret.

"In seventh year, I had changed sides but no one knew besides Dumbledor and myself. Even my father was oblivious. He thought I was still going to be the next in line to receive Voldemort’s confidence and his mark. Whenever I was home, I pretended I was loyal to Voldemort when in actual fact I was spying for Dumbledor. I was a better resource than anyone on the inside because I was the son of someone closest to the Dark Lord." He paused and kneeled before Ginny, taking her hands in his.

"My seventh year was also when I started watching you. I followed you just to be nearer to you but never giving away anything. I acted the stubborn asshole that you had always seen me as because I didn’t know what you would think of me if I told you how I really felt.

"At the Yule ball I couldn’t hold it in. I asked you to dance."

Ginny remembered that night. She remembered dancing with someone unknown because they hadn’t revealed their face to her. It was one of her fondest memories and it meant so much more now that she knew who it was.

"When I graduated, Dumbledor took me under his wing and I became a part of the Order along with Potter, Granger and your brother. It wasn’t long after that that the war started. I hated it when they sent in the strongest of Hogwart’s and other school’s students to help in the fight because you were one of them. I remember watching you once. You looked so scared but brave at the same time. I went over and talked to you." Draco laughed. "We talked about how Snape looked like a rat with all that greasy hair."

"You thought that he and Umbridge would make a perfect couple," Ginny said between her own burst of laughter.

"That made the war far away," Draco chuckled, but then his face went stern again. "At least for the moment. That was the same day you got hurt."

Ginny’s laughter died at his words. One of the most horrible days of her life was that day. She had thought she was going to die. She remembered sitting in a bed very much like the one she had been in a few hours ago. He family had been there, waiting over her with the same worry they had held before she had woken up. She almost didn’t make it then either but, just like this time, she had managed to pull through.

"I watched from the sidelines while your family waited and then celebrated," Draco said in a sad voice. "I thought that if I got involved, someone would hurt you. So I moved away and shielded myself, avoiding you in hopes that no one would know. Well, you can see how well that turned out.

"When I left you at the hospital, I went to search for my father. I found out that my assumptions were correct when I confronted him. He put that curse on you to teach me a lesson. He said only fool’s fall in love and he thought I was weak. It was my fault you were cursed. I’m sorry." Ginny’s eyes went round as she jumped to her feet.

"No, Draco! It wasn’t your fault! How can you say that?"

"Do you see any other possible reason?!" Draco snapped as he stood, turning away from her. "It was my fault Ginny, he cursed you because of me…"

"That doesn’t make it your fault!"

"If I had of never shown any emotion towards you, if I had never looked at you or been nice to you…"

"We wouldn’t have what we do now." Draco stopped his ranting and whipped around to face Ginny. "Would you go back and take this all away so I wouldn’t have to be curse by your father? Would you do that just so I wouldn’t be hurt?" Draco said nothing as he ran a hand through his hair looking away from Ginny once more. Ginny walked towards him and brought a hand to his face, pressing gently to force him to look at her. "Would you?"

"I almost bloody died this week. I felt a stab in my heart every time you screamed. Your pain was my pain and I never wanted that to happen to you, ever."

"That didn’t answer my question." Ginny’s voice was soft but had a demanding tone behind it that told Draco that nothing would be right again if he didn’t answer her. His eyes dropped. "Look at me Draco." He did. His silvery-gray eyes locked with her ocean blue. "Would you?"

"No." Ginny gave a sigh of relief. She was so scared that he might of said yes that her legs had begun to shake despite the composure and determination on her face and in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around Draco’s waist, resting her head on his chest. She closed her eyes, breathing in the woodsy smell that was Draco. She soon felt his arms around her shoulders and his chin resting on the top of her head.

"It wasn’t your fault Draco. It was Lucius’ and no one else’s." She looked up at him and smiled. "I don’t think my life would be the same without you and I wouldn’t have it any other way."

"Even if it means you had to spend over a week in a hospital bed?"

"Especially because I had to spend a week in a hospital bed." Draco raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"You’re lying."

"You’re right," Ginny said and giggled. "I could have done without that but that just makes life interesting now doesn’t it?" Draco chuckled. "I love you Draco and nothing will ever change that."

"I love you too Gin and I will tell you that every day for the rest of our lives." Draco leaned forward, gently pressing his lips against Ginny’s.

8. Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

It had been a week since Ginny had gone home and naturally, the Weasleys deemed it time to throw a party in her honor. They all assembled, the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione, Luna, Draco and Ginny, and packed into the Burrow.

Molly had out done herself once, again. She made and enormous meal complete with appetizers made up of soups and salads, a grand main course of roast beef and Yorkshire puddings with mash potatoes and garden grown corn and an amazing desert of custard, chocolate cake and some of her homemade strawberry ice cream. By the time they were done, everyone was too stuffed to eat another bite and that included the bottomless pit himself, Ron.

They couldn’t all squeeze into the dinning room seeing as it was originally for only nine so they all picnicked outside. The summer sun was still high in the sky as they dined, sharing stories and anecdotes of days gone by.

"An then all you could see was a bouncing ferret in the middle of the corridor!" Ron exclaimed making everyone in the group laugh, even the star of the story but he had his means of revenge ticking in the back of his mind. When the group had quieted down, he struck.

"Does anyone remember the time Ron started puking slugs?" Draco asked calmly, taking the audiences attention away from his own embarrassing moment.

"I remember that!" Hermione giggled. "His breath was horrible after that!"

"Well yours would be too if you had over a hundred slugs comin’ out of ya!" Ron protested in his defense. Everyone laughed.

"Oh!" Ginny exclaimed. "I’ve got a good one! Remember when Fred and George flew out of the school, telling Peeves to give Umbridge hell?"

"I don’t remember that," Molly said while eyeing the twins.

"Thanks a lot Gin," Fred grumbled, smile however not leaving his face.

"Just another thing that needs to be explained," said George who was wearing the same expression on his face as his brother. Laughter sounded again.

"There has to be something for Ginny," Fred said with a wicked grin.

"Yeah," said Charlie, catching his brother’s drift. "We have heard something about everyone here, even our newest member of the family meaning our young Mr. Malfoy of course, but nothing of our sweet lil old Gin."

"Mum? Do you have anything?" Ron asked pleadingly.

"Nothing that would be as embarrassing as the rest," Molly replied,

"I’ve got one," Draco said while looking down at Ginny, a grin appearing on his face.

"That was just clumsiness," Ginny said matter-of-factly. "They have all seen that before."

"Yes but they haven’t seen it when your blind," Draco countered.

"Just tell us the bloody story!" Ron demanded. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"The day before we went to St. Mungo’s, Ginny stayed at my place and I assure you Mr. Weasley that nothing happened," Draco said while looking over to Arthur and holding up his hands in defense.

"I trust you Draco and please, call me Arthur for goodness sakes," Arthur chuckled. Draco nodded and continued.

"Ginny had just woken up. We had just decided that we were about to leave so Ginny began to crawl to the side of the bed. Well, lets just say she crawled a little to far." Draco then made the motion of her falling off the bed with his hands. Laughter erupted from the group. "So I see her fall off the bed and it scares me half to death so I rush over and she’s laughing as if nothing happened at all!"

"Well it was funny!" Ginny said, a smile appearing on her face. Draco laughed along with everyone else, Ginny soon joining them.

"I suggest you boys go play some Quidditch while we clean up here," Molly said when all the laughter had died.

"I think that’s a fine idea Molly," said Arthur, kissing her on the cheek. Everyone then got up, couples untangling themselves from each other.

"I’ll see you later," Draco whispered before kissing Ginny.

"Save me a broom, I’ve got a score to settle with Potter," she replied sending him a smirk that would give his own a run for its money.

"I think I’m rubbing off on you."

"Oh probably." Draco kissed her once more then ran off to join the boys. Ginny watched his retreating form and smiled contently.

"Hey Gin!" Hermione called, pulling Ginny from her thoughts. "We could use you’re help you know!"

"All right, all right, don’t get you’re nickers in a twist." Hermione smiled and went back to gathering the supper things. Ginny glanced once more over her shoulder and went to join the girls.

* * * * *

"Scared Potter?"

"You wish."

"You may have been good at Hogwarts but things have changed mate."

"Keep talking like that Weasley and you are going to be more disappointed than is already necessary."

"We’ll see."

"Are you two done yet?" Arthur called from the ground. Harry and Ginny smirked at each other and nodded. The quaffle was up and the game began. Ginny soared up, trained eyes searching for the snitch. Harry was opposite her doing the same. Everyone one the ground cheered as a goal was scored but Ginny didn’t hear them. A glint of gold caught Ginny’s eye and she dived, Harry not far behind her.

"Come on Gin!" Molly cheered from her seat on the ground.

"Come on Harry!" Hermione cried.

Ginny saw it, just infront of her. It swerved and Ginny moved to catch it. Harry was fast on her trail, the only thing slowing him down was the old broom. She bent close to her broom, giving her more speed. The wind wiped through her hair and brought tears to her eyes. Her heart beat with the adrenaline that pulsed through her. Ginny stretched out her hand and her fingertips brushed the snitch feathers. She willed with all her might to go faster. She stretched her arm as far as she could and she felt her hand close around the snitch.

"Yes!" she screamed before soaring upward in victory. She zoomed around the pitch as her family cheered below. She dove towards the ground, pulling up at the last moment and then slowly coasted to a stop. As soon as she was off her broom Ron tackled her.

"You did it! You did it!" Ginny laughed and let herself be swung around by her brother. When he finally set her down she was face by Harry. His face was stern as he held out a hand to her. She handed Ron the snitch and took Harry’s hand with pride.

"Good job Weasley," he said in a voice to match his face. "But you know that it was just the broom that slowed me down and I could beat you any day." His lips turned upwards into a grin.

"I highly doubt that Potter but good try," Ginny replied, a grin appearing on her own face. Harry laughed and then swept her up in a hug.

"You owe me one Gin," he said when he released her.

"Anytime," Ginny said confidently.

"And you do realize that seeing as you beat the famous Potter, the only one to beat me, you owe me a match as well," Draco said while coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.

"And I give you the same answer, anytime."

"Good."

The sun was beginning to set and a late night breeze swept over the party, making a few of them shiver.

"Well, it’s getting late," Arthur said. "I suggest we all go inside and have a nice cup of tea." They all agreed and followed the eldest Weasley back to the Burrow.

They all stayed up till around midnight, talking among each other about different things. Around two the crowd had thinned. Molly and Arthur had disappeared up into their bedroom, putting up a strong silencing charm. Percy soon followed their example. Charlie and Bill left for home not long after that. Ron and Luna flooed back to their flat and Harry and Hermione soon followed them. It was only Draco and Ginny left. They sat on the love seat, curled up together. Draco was playing with Ginny’s hair, gently pulling his fingers through her fiery red locks.

"Hey," Draco whispered to a dozing Ginny who groaned in reply. "Let’s go for a walk."

"Right now?"

"Yeah."

"Why?" She was whining now.

"Need to ask you something. Please Gin?" Draco looked at her with pleading eyes.

"Fine," Ginny grumbled. She gingerly got up and led the way to the back door.

The moon was out and the stars shinning as Ginny and Draco walked hand in hand underneath them. A light breeze blew over them, brining the smell of wildflowers to their noses. They stayed silent for a while but Ginny’s curiosity and frustration was getting the better of her.

"So what do you want to ask me Draco?" He stopped walking and turned to face her. He brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face and stared into her eyes before taking her hands gently in his.

"Ginny, I should have told you back in seventh year that I loved you. For over three years now I have woken up with you on my mind and go to sleep thinking of you. Your face is always in my dreams. You are my life, my love and my friend. I have never loved anyone half as much as I love you. You mean so much to me Ginny that I don’t think my life would be complete without you." Draco fished inside his pocket and pulled out a little black box. Tears were already coming to Ginny’s eyes before she saw the box. Her eyes went round and her jaw dropped slightly. Draco smiled and dropped down to one knee.

"Virginia Weasley, will you marry me?" A tear of joy slipped down Ginny’s cheek.

"Yes, Draco, I will," she replied with a shaky voice. Draco stood and opened the box to reveal a silver ring with a large white diamond and two smaller diamonds mounted on it. Draco took her hand and slipped the ring onto her ring finger.

"It’s beautiful Draco," Ginny breathed.

"No where near as beautiful as you," Draco said softly. "I love you Gin."

"I love you too." Draco then leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers, proving his love for her and Ginny kissed back with the same passion. He then broke the kiss and picked her up, swinging her around in circles as they laughed. They made their dreams come true by pushing through.

9. Author's Note!!!

Author’s Note: So I just wanted to remind you that I’m still working on the last seven chapters and I’m sorry if you read through them. I am trying to fix them up and thanks for reading!!!