It All Began With Dwarfing Draco

‘Oh no. We’re too late,’ Hermione gasped. She turned her still feather-covered head to look over at Draco. His face was blank, showing nothing of his emotions. Only his eyes showed what he was really feeling. Anger, fear and agony were visible there as he stared down at the motionless Ginny. His heart was probably being torn in two and it hurt to watch him this way.

Turning away, Hermione saw Ron standing in the doorway. His large, grizzly bear body was too large to fit though the narrow doorframe and Hermione could tell that he was not happy about it. He had been surprised when he had found out what his animagus form was but had said many times as he clobbered Death Eaters that he loved the power this creature had. Clearly, he did not care for the power anymore.

‘Is she okay?’ he asked in a quiet voice. Hermione said nothing, unable to for once in her life. Ron immediately understood, flopping back on his haunches and letting his head hang. ‘Ginny.’ A tear fell from the corner of one of his brown eyes, landing with a tiny splash on his large paw before sliding off. Hermione had never seen a grizzly bear cry, frankly she didn’t think it was possible, but apparently many things changed when you became your animagus.

Harry, the white stag, also let his head fall. Ginny had been like a sister to him and had often thought of her as his own despite the no relation. He had loved her and protected her like a brother would. The feeling of guilt pulsed through him now and he couldn’t help feeling like he had failed her. He could not however, he admitted to himself, even begin to imagine how Ron or Draco felt.

A slight movement caught Hermione’s expert hawk eyes. She looked down at her beloved friend and noticed her chest rise a little then drop, rise again and drop.

‘Oh my gods,’ Hermione whispered in her mind before shouting ‘SHE’S ALIVE!’

‘What?!’ Ron and Harry asked in unison.

‘She’s alive!’ Hermione repeated. ‘But only just. Harry, go find Dumbledore. He’s the only one who can help.’

‘Right,’ Harry replied with a nod before galloping at lightning speed out of the stone room, leaping over Ron as he went. Hermione quickly muttered the spell to reverse her transformation. Slowly, her feathers disappeared and her body was human once more. She put her hand on Draco’s shoulder and gently spoke to him.

"She’s alive Draco," she said softly. "Help is on the way." He glanced up at her, his eyes questioning, and then lowered his gaze to Ginny. Carefully, slid one hand up to her neck and pressed his fingers to her pulse point, knowing that he was supposed to look for a heart beat. Under his fingertips, he felt the delayed rhythm as her heart worked to keep beating and his hope was renewed. Kissing her forehead, he wrapped his arm around her once more and rose to his feet. He turned to see Ron, also back in his human body, hesitantly making his way forward. Draco nodded and handed Ginny over to her brother, knowing it was what Ron wanted. Ron, in turn, smiled a little in gratitude.

A moment later, Dumbledore stepped through the door with Harry not far behind. The old man had his finger pressed together in a triangle and stared at the four students over his half-moon spectacles. His eyes wandered to the unconscious Ginny in Ron’s arms before motioning for the boy to come forward.

"What happened?" Dumbledore asked in a calm, studying the faces of his students.

"Voldemort," Draco said first, causing Hermione and Ron to wince. "He put her under the Cruciatus curse while she was still in animagus form and did not release her until he was trampled by that white stag." He gestured toward the stag, still not knowing the creatures true identity due to the fact that the boy behind the antlers and white fur still had not come forth.

"By Harry," Hermione corrected, as Harry finally made the change to become human once again. If Draco was surprised, he did not show it. He merely gave and understanding nod before returning his attention to the headmaster.

"And the Dark Lord?" Dumbledore inquired, voice still level and sounding as if he already knew.

"Gone," Hermione replied disappointedly. "He disappeared underneath Harry’s hooves and left nothing but his robes. He also left his followers behind." It was true. Lucius and Pettigrew still lay on the floor where they had fallen. Dumbledore glanced at the pair and the empty robes, his features thoughtful.

"Hope he dies from a chill," Ron said bitterly, causing Dumbledore to smile a little and shake his head amusedly. The ancient professor then turned his attention back to the youngest Weasley. Under his breath, he began reciting an incantation. Ginny’s body began to glow, letting off a soft light. Ron’s eyes went round with awe, Hermione clutched Harry’s arm and Draco waited by himself, praying that whatever Dumbledore had done worked.

Slowly, the light died and Ginny’s skin returned to it’s pale colour.

"You may open your eyes now Miss Weasley."

Ginny winced. A dull pain stirred in her chest and the rest of her body felt like they were weighed down with a heavy stone. She groaned and allowed herself to finally open her eyes. The first face she saw was her brother’s.

"Ginny!" he cried and crushed her against him in a hug. "You’re alive!" Ginny giggled softly and wrapped her arms around Ron’s neck. Peeking over his shoulder, she saw Harry and Hermione happily smiling back at her. Draco stood near by. There was relief in his eyes as he mouthed an "I love you".

"Ron?" Ginny asked sweetly, whispering to him. "May I go see Draco." Ron rolled his eyes and grinned.

" ’Course, have to see the boyfriend before the brother," he joked.

"Oh please…" Ginny began but was cut off.

"I know Gin," Ron said in his loving, brotherly voice. He carefully set her on her feet, making sure that she wouldn’t loose her balance, and walked her over to his former enemy. Ron gave them both a knowing look before clearing his throat and turning to his friends and headmaster. Dumbledore immediately understood.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger? Would you be so kind as to help me with these two? I’m afraid that spell has rather worn me out." Harry and Hermione smiled and agreed, levitating Lucius and Pettigrew and following Dumbledore into the corridor.

"Behave you’re selves," Ron mused and then exited the room. Ginny watched him go before turning back to Draco and seeing the seriousness in his eyes.

"I was scared that I was going to…" Ginny pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him.

"Shhh…" she hushed. "It didn’t happen. I’m still alive and I have already told you that I’m not going anywhere."

"That was before you were almost killed by the Dark Lord himself."

"The Cruciatus curse can’t kill, you should know that," Ginny said in a very Hermione-like voice. She paused for a moment, not sure if she should really say what was on her mind.

"Hurt like hell though didn’t it?"

"That is an understatement of a life time." Draco laughed quietly. He put his forehead to hers and locked his eyes with hers.

"I love you Ginny."

"I love you too." Draco slowly pulled his forehead away, still keeping his eyes on hers till the last moment before he leaned in to kiss her. They were so caught up in their moment however, that they did not see the pair of round, yellow eyes that watched them from the other side of the grate.