It All Began With Dwarfing Draco

Ginny stood nervously outside the Hospital Wing, her hand on the brass doorknob. There was silence from the other side, no yelling, fighting or even talking from behind the oak doors. This worried her. She wanted to go in but she was afraid that she might see her brother and Draco lying on the floor or worse. Nothing but her soft breathing could be heard and no one was in the corridors. She had waited around the corner from where she had talked with Harry, collecting her thoughts and what she would say before slowly making her way back to the Hospital Wing.

She gingerly cupped her bruising cheek, wincing at her own touch. She should go in at least to have Madame Pomfrey take a look at it. Her mind screamed at her, telling her to back away and let them settle this but her heart fought back saying that if she didn’t help there would never be peace between Ron and Draco.

She sighed heavily as her fingers of the hand that was still on the door handle trace the brass ridges. Why couldn’t they just make a sound, talk, scream, anything, just so she could know what she was going to be faced with instead of waiting out here and questioning her bravery.

"Some Gryffindor I am," she mused to herself before taking one last deep breath. She slid her hand all the way around the handle, turning it quietly as she could and flinching when it screeched in protest. ‘Stupid handle,’ she mentally curse and pushed the door open.

Expecting to see a blood bath, she shut her eyes for a moment before stepping in. When she reopened them, her jaw dropped. There were no bodies on the floor, no blood at all. Draco was back in his bed while Ron sat at the one across, both glaring at the other with determination. Neither had marks of any kind from what she could see and looked perfectly healthy. What in the name of Merlin’s beard was going on here?

They both looked up when the noticed her standing in the door. Ron got up and walked over to his sister before crushing her in a great bear hug.

"I am so sorry Gin, I never meant to hurt you," he said softly squeezing her tight. Ginny slid her arms around her brother.

"I know Ron," she replied gently.

"I would never hurt you on purpose…"

"I know Ron," Ginny repeated. "I stepped infront of your punch so it was my fault but you shouldn’t have tried to hit Draco." She felt his body tense with her words. "I don’t want you to fight with him anymore."

"Easier said than done Gin." Ron pulled back and rested his forehead on hers. He had often done this when they were small, making a connection between them. It was a comforting gesture.

"I think you should look a little closer before judging him."

"I just don’t want him to hurt you like he has done to the rest of us."

"There is no chance of that Weasley," Draco said from his bed. He had over course been listening to their conversation and decided that it was time he started to defend himself.

Ron turned to glare at him.

"How can I trust your word when everything you say is poison?" he sneered.

"Ron, just listen to him," Ginny pleaded. "That’s all I ask, hear him out and then pass your judgement." Ron glanced at Ginny and nodded slightly before releasing her and walking to the end of Draco’s bed. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared piercingly at his long time enemy.

"All right Malfoy, tell me why I should trust you period let alone with my sister." Draco struggled to sit up and shook his head when Ginny moved to help him. He returned his eyes to Ron and returned his stare with his determination in his eyes.

"I don’t expect you to trust me and I never will but I will not plead for your approval either. I can assure you however that I will never intentionally hurt Ginny. I would die myself before that day ever came. I love her too much to allow it." Ron’s arms dropped to his sides and his lips parted. His eyes were as round snitches and shock was visible on his face.

"Y-you…What?"

"I love her." Draco’s voice was steady and confident. Ron whipped around to face Ginny.

"How long?" he asked anxiously.

"Few days," she replied timidly.

"And you didn’t tell me?"

"Would you have listened?" Ron’s mouth opened as if he was going to reply but then it shut again. He dropped his head and chuckled slightly, slightly out of humor but mostly out of realization.

"Probably not," he muttered. He looked back up at Ginny with soft eyes. "Do you… you know…" He nodded towards Draco in an almost childlike manner. Ginny smiled softly and nodded. Ron’s lips formed and "oh" and he dropped his gaze again. "Can I talk to you out in the corridor Gin?" She nodded again and sent a hopeful look to Draco. He winked and smiled, the one that always made her feel warm inside. Ron was apparently oblivious to this look and ushered Ginny into the corridor.

"Are you serious?!" Ron snapped. "He’s a Malfoy!"

"You are quite the obvious one aren’t you?" Ginny replied sarcastically trying to lighten the mood.

"Don’t be smart with me Ginny," Ron said in a fatherly tone. He pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers and squeezed his eyes shut. When he looked back up at her, his eyes held hurt in them.

"Do you hate me that much?"

"What?!" Ginny exclaimed. "You’re my brother, I could never hate you."

"Did I do something that made you run to him then?"

"No! You didn’t do anything! How can you think this?"

"Well you’re with him now, it must have been something I’ve done to make you do it."

"What’s wrong with you?" Ginny was baffled, there was no reason for him to think this way. "I love Draco because I got to know him."

"Why didn’t you say anything?"

"Because like you said not two minutes ago yourself, you wouldn’t have listened. You would have probably marched down to the Slytherin common room and tare his head clean off." Ginny stepped up to her brother and wrapped him in a hug. "I never wanted to hurt you Ron." Her words sounded so much like the ones he had said earlier and only after that did she realize it.

"I love you Gin, always have always will. I don’t want to see you hurt, that’s all."

"I know Ron but you have to trust me. You have Draco’s word, will you take mine?"

"I think you already know the answer to that question." He gave a sigh and then stepped back. "Fine, he’s on trial. If he harms a single hair on that head of yours or hurts you in any way, he’s in for a Ronald Weasley pummeling. Do we have a deal?" He stuck out his hand infront of him in a business like manner. Ginny smiled and took his hand, shaking it firmly.

"Deal."

"Good. I don’t want that git harming my favorite sister." Ginny rolled her eyes.

"I’m your only sister."

"All the more reason for you to be my favorite." A goofy grin formed on Ron’s face, making Ginny laugh. "Well you better get in there before you’re lover boy dies of heart-ache." He put his hand over his heart and pouted, apparently trying to mimic what he thought Draco would look like. Ginny swatted his arm playfully with a mischievous smirk on her face.

"Oh! Harry and Hermione want to talk to you."

"Finally hit it off did they?" Apparently Ron already knew. "Well it’s about time! I’ve been trying to get those two together since our first year!" Ginny giggled, she had heard the stories of his attempts.

"You better get going before you’re late for class," she warned and laughed when Ron yelped. He kissed her cheek and turned on his heel, bolting down the corridor.

"You seem rather happy about something," Draco sarcastically remarked as she re-entered the Hospital Wing, noticing her smiling face.

"Seeing as I just got my brother to agree not to pummel you and to give you a trial, I’d say that’s a good reason for me to happy don’t you?"

"Trial eh? What for?" he mused. He took her hand when she was close enough, pulling her gently down to his side and shimmying down so he could lay his head on her lap. His eyes closed as she began to play with his hair, feeling himself slipping into sleep.

"You don’t need me to answer that one. I believe you are quiet capable of doing it yourself." Draco groaned softly in response, not re-opening his eyes. "Are you falling asleep on me?"

"Mm-hmm." Ginny let her hand fall away from his hair and began to trace his face. Her fingertips gently grazed over the pale skin of Draco’s face. First his eye lids then his cheeks and lingered on his lips. She ran her thumb along the top and then the bottom, her eyes scanning his face with a soft look in her eyes. She couldn’t help but jump when he gently took her hand. His eyes opened and stared at her as a smile began to tug at the sides of his lips.

"I can’t sleep if you’re doing that Ginny." He brought her hand to his face and brushed his lips against her knuckles. She muttered an apology and tried to relax against the pillows that Draco had been propped up on. She watched as his eyes closed once more, her hand clutched in his and resting on his chest. She felt her own eyes closing. It had taken a lot out of her today, with Ron and all, and now that there was a moment for sleep she was willing to accept. The moment was swept away however when a screech came from the door. ‘Bloody hell, just what I need.’

"Get your filthy hand off him Weasley!" Pansy stood just inside the door, eyes bulging and her hand clenched into fists at her sides. Ginny heard Draco groan, apparently just as displeased with the pug-faced girl's presence as she was. Why couldn’t everyone just leave them alone?