Disclaimer: Not mine, you know the drill!
A/N: at the end of the chappie! Read it!!!
Follow the Voices
Ginny stirred. Her head hurt and her limbs were shaky and cold. She tried to sit up, but she had no energy left whatsoever.
"I think I just saw her move," came a voice that sounded like her brother Ron.
"Ron, you've been saying that every two minutes for the past 13 hours. You should've seen her. Just as I was coming into the bathroom, she was sinking down to the bottom of the pool. Had I not been there, she'd be dead by now!" That voice sounded like Draco but she couldn't be sure.
"Thank you," came the voice that she had assumed was Ron's. "As much as I want to hold a grudge with you over anything right now, I can't. You saved my baby sister's life, and I swear I will do anything to make it up to you. I love her more than anything. If I lost her, I'd go crazy." There was a sniffle.
"It's ok mate," there was no doubt that it was Harry that had said this. There was another sniffle.
"Harry, maybe we should give them some time alone," came the gentle voice that could only be Hermione's. Ginny's eyes peaked open just long enough to see Hermione grab his wrist from Ron's shoulder and lead him away.
"Ron?" Ginny asked in a weak voice. Ron's eyes widened and he threw his arms around his younger sister.
"I thought you were dead. I thought I lost you. When they said you had no pulse I nearly died. Ginny," Ron cried.
"It's ok Ron, I'm fine," Ginny comforted him, patting him on the back. He pulled away and he looked as if he had gotten no sleep the night before. Bags were forming under his eyes, and he looked as if, for the first time in his life, he had been crying. "What happened?" she asked, remembering some bits and pieces.
"I found you drowning in the Prefect Bath," Draco whispered. "What do you remember?" he asked.
"I remember…there was glass. I went under, and trying to come up I felt glass. And there was a blinding light. I shielded myself…but it went right through…" she trailed off, making barely any sense to anyone but herself.
"Ginny, why do these things keep happening to you?" Draco asked worriedly.
"I don't know, I just want them to stop," she murmured. Then, parts of her vision had come to her. "I…Draco, why have you never told anyone?" she asked out of blue.
"What?" he asked, taking her hand and stroking it. "What are you talking about? Are you delusional?"
"I might be a bit but I know what I saw. You and Bellatrix were dueling, and she said…" Ginny trailed off for a moment and looked to Ron.
"Would you mind if Draco and I could have just a moment Ron. I need to know something, and I'm sure he'd rather keep it personal." Ron looked like he had a hard time moving, but he slowly nodded and left the room.
"What is it, Ginny," he asked.
"Why have you never told anyone about your sister." Draco went rigid and his face paled.
"What makes you think I ever had a sister?" he spat coldly.
"I-I visioned it," she gulped.
"Then your vision was wrong," Draco sneered obnoxiously.
"Visions are never wrong. A seer has not been wrong since Mathilda the Maggot in 976, and even then she was a fake," Ginny responded in the loudest tone she could manage without losing her breath.
Draco sighed. He sunk down into the nearest chair and ran his hands through his flaxen locks. "Promise me you won't tell anyone," he whispered seriously, gripping her shoulders. "Please, Ginny, you must promise me."
"Cross my heart," she responded in an equal serious whisper.
He took a deep breath before starting, "when I was three, I was told I was going to have a baby sister. I was excited, as any boy would be to have siblings to play with. When Darla was born I would always help my mother take care of her, and I would sing to her and once I learned to read, I read to her. I loved her so much. She was much more than just a sibling to me. She was my best friend. Ever since Darla was born, my father was unhappy. He wanted only one child, a male. He kept Darla a secret from the outside world. No one knew of her except for my family. I would always ask father why, but he told me to mind my own business. Well, I started Hogwarts, but I wrote to her almost everyday of my adventures here. She got a kick out of my adventure in the Forbidden Forest." Draco laughed sadly. "Then, my second year, when I came home, I couldn't find her. I looked for her everywhere, but I couldn't find her. I asked my father and he said Darla who. I asked my mother and she started to bawl. I couldn't understand why she had gone missing. When I came home from my third year, I was searching for a paper in my father's library, and I found a series of Owls between him and Bellatrix, saying things such as 12:00 tonight, the deed is done, or she's six feet under. I pieced it all together. I nearly Avada'd my father right then and there, but I didn't want him to know I knew. I tried to tell Ministry Officials, but when I went to go find the papers again, they were…" Draco choked back a sob and rested his head against the bed railings, "gone." Draco began to sob as silent tears fell from his eyes onto the crisp white bed sheets.
"Oh Dear Merlin," Ginny murmured. Her blue lips were trembling as she threw here arms around him. "Draco, oh God, I'm so sorry."
"I don't need pity," he whispered. "I just wish I had Darla back." Draco straightened up and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his head in the crook of her neck. "That's when I began hating my father. I have barely spoken to him since."
"That's horrible. I can't believe a father would do that to his own daughter," Ginny muttered.
"He's not a father, he's a monster."
And so they sat in silence. Ginny absently played with the hair at the nape of his neck, as he sought comfort on her shoulder.
"Poor Darla," Ginny whispered after they had sat in silence a while. A few seconds later, Ron came walking back into the room.
"Ginny?" he called. "Can I come back in now?"
"Sure Ron," she responded weakly, beginning to lose her breath again. Ron appeared next to her bed, giving Draco a suspicious look.
'Why is he crying?' he mouthed to Ginny. She shook her head, signaling she wouldn't tell.
"I'll leave you two alone," Draco said, standing up and wiping his face with his sleeve.
"No," Ginny protested, grabbing the cuff of his shirt. "We still need to talk."
Draco turned around and looked at her with tired eyes. You could tell he was rather melancholy at the moment. "I just want to be alone, Ginny."
Ginny sighed, placing her forehead in her hand. "Fine, but I will catch up with you later," she responded, emphasizing 'will'. Draco slowly walked away, hanging his head slightly and sticking his hands in his pockets.
"Hey Gin," Ron whispered, sitting by her side and taking her hand. He laughed slightly. "You should've seen me. I was going nuts. I think I pulled out half my hair thanks to you," he joked.
Ginny smiled slightly, appreciative of his feeble attempt at a joke.
"I know I've held a grudge against Malfoy for six years now, but what he does for you really makes me rethink him." Ginny sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tight. "And I'm thinking that maybe Malfoy isn't so bad after all. If his evil, nasty, sneering, bastardly side is just a façade, anyways."
"It is," she whispered into his shoulder. "I know the real him. The compassionate him."
"Well, if he is the way you say he is, than I guess I can allow you to see each other," he said jokingly.
"Oh, Great Ronald, how kind of you!" Ginny responded with a laugh.
"Just take care of yourself, ok?" he whispered, pulling away and looking her in the eye. "Don't let yourself get hurt."
"I won't. I swear."
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Draco sat quietly at the Slytherin table, hoping to be undisturbed. He nibbled on his lunch, which consisted of grapes, bread, and water. As you could tell, he wasn't feeling too hungry.
Suddenly, his family owl Roolin came flying into the Great Hall, followed by many, many others.
"Ahh, daily post," he said to himself, watching as the gracious midnight bird came swooping down and dropped a crisp envelope onto his plate.
Draco picked up the letter and sliced the top open with his butter knife. Pulling it out, he read:
Draco-
I have my ways to know that you have been fraternizing with the Weasley girl. The one I plotted against in the second year to have her killed? Because I knew this would happen. It has been foretold that you would fall in love with her, but one of you would end up dead. Well, if you do not sever all ties with that girl, you should find it that you are the one that is dead, and before long, too.
You have been warned
Sincerely,
Lucius Malfoy
P.S. And I know you told her about Darla. That calls for extra punishment. You better sleep with one eye open tonight, boy.
Draco sighed. He was used to empty threats from his father. They were becoming a once-a-week occurrence now. He stuffed his letter in his pocket and began picking at his food again.
He pushed his plate away when he was Ron enter the Great Hall. That meant Ginny was alone. He quickly began to make his way to the hospital wing, before she was no longer alone.
"Hey Draco," she greeted upon his arrival.
"Hey Ginny," he replied. "Look, I'm really sorry about-"
"No, don't say you're sorry. I was just being a bitch. Instead of being nice to you in the only week we have left together, I had to go and get us into a fight," she whispered, fiddling with a string on her bed sheet. Draco came forward and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tight.
"It's not your fault. I'm just afraid," he responded.
"Of-"
"Yea," he replied, knowing exactly what she meant.
"You're not going to," she stated confidently. "I won't let you." Not wanting to start an argument again, Draco said nothing. He merely pulled away and pressed his lips to her forehead. Ginny grabbed the sides of his robes and pulled him down so their lips met softly.
She groaned and tried to pull him closer, but her attention was drawn away from his as a piece of paper fell out of his pocket.
"Draco, what's this?" she asked, picking the piece of paper up.
"Oh, er, nothing," he replied, trying to grab it away from her but she was too quick. A look of horror spread across her face as she read the letter.
"Draco!" she exclaimed softly. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It's nothing big. He threatens me every week but never follows through." Ginny bit her lips, worriedly peering at him.
"Just be careful tonight," she responded. "Just in case." He nodded in compliance, cradling her face with his hands and kissing her again.
Ginny was let out later that afternoon, after Madam Pomfrey had completely checked her out to make sure she was O.K. Draco had gone back to his room and Ginny hadn't seen him at Dinner. She just assumed he wasn't hungry, and wasn't too worried. They both agreed they would meet at the Prefect Bathrooms that night to discuss some more things that had been left unsaid.
Ron had been much more brotherly to her. He had been so sweet to her all day. She guessed after realizing how much Ginny had meant to him, he felt he should do more to show just how much.
Ginny was sitting in the common room, flanked by Colin and her other friend Melinda. She was trying to complete her homework for vacation, but her mind couldn't help but wander to what would happen at twelve that night.
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The next morning, to say Ginny was severely pissed would be a complete and utter understatement. Draco had not shown up for their meeting in the Prefect Bathrooms. He probably figured that she wasn't worth his time anymore. That smarmy bastard had another thing coming to him.
Ginny roughly pushed herself into her seat for breakfast and began grumbling about the lousy food selection that morning.
"Pissed much?" Colin asked her.
"None of your business," she snapped. She figured he didn't know about what had conspired between her and Draco.
"Sorry, Miss Piss," he responded, going back to his toast. "But did you hear what happened?"
"Does it look like I care?" she snapped again. She realized she was being out of line, and began to apologize before Colin cut her off.
"Sorry, Merlin! I just thought you'd like to know the hottest topic of gossip in this school," he replied sourly.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you Colin," she said softly. "I'm just having a few bad days. What's that news?"
"Blaise Zabini found Draco Malfoy near death this mor-" and that's all it took for Ginny to be up and sprinting to the hospital wing.
Ginny burst into the infirmary, roughly pushing both doors open. She quickly walked in and observed the first few beds, all of which were empty. She saw a bed covered by a white curtain and figured it must've been his. She tentatively stepped forward and reached out a shaking hand. She took a breath before ripping back the curtain.
What met her eyes could be classified no less than vile. Draco had been bruised, bloodied, marked, broken, and pretty much anything else you could think of. There were hand marks around his neck, bruises up and down his arms, cuts along his cheeks and legs, and one of arms was in a sling.
Ginny stepped forward, quivering, and pushed a lock of fallen hair from his eyes.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "When you didn't show up I knew I should've checked up on you! I just figured you were trying to make an ass of yourself! I should've known you wouldn't have ditched me."
Ginny clutched his good hand and lightly placed a kiss on his forehead. "I'm sorry."
"S'okay," he groaned.
"You're awake!" she exclaimed. She started to go forward, meaning to wrap him in a hug, but thought better of it. "I knew I should've stayed with you."
"S'okay," he groaned again.
"It was you're father, wasn't it?" she asked.
"I love you too," he responded. Ginny furrowed her brow.
"Draco?" He didn't answer. She gave him a slight nudge but his eyes didn't open. Then, it hit her. "Are you sleep-talking?" she asked. He didn't answer.
Suddenly, he jerked awake. As his eyes adjusted, he began smacking his lips together. "Hey Gin," he said when his vision cleared.
"I'm so sorry."
"S'okay. I've had much"-he winced then hissed with pain-"worse."
"Ten galleons says that's a lie," Ginny remarked.
"I guess I owe you ten galleons," he wheezed with a feeble laugh.
"It was your father, wasn't it?" she asked. He bit his lip before nodding. Ginny tried to hold back tears. She caressed the side of his face before giving him a small kiss.
"I'm so sorry you have to endure all the torture you get from that monster."
"Me too."
"I'm sorry I ever thought you would ditch me. You should've seen me today in the Great Hall I was snapping at everyone because I thought you just left me there to make me look like an idiot," she whispered, holding his neck and caressing his cheek with her thumb.
"I would never do that," he responded. He began to cough and Ginny pulled her hand away.
"Are you ok?" she asked worriedly. He began to cough harder. "Draco?" she asked.
"I'm"-cough-"fine."
"No, you're not," Ginny said. "I shouldn't have woken you. I'll leave so you can get some peace and quiet." Ginny stood up and was about to walk away when she felt something pulling her back.
"No, really. I'm fine," he said stubbornly. Ginny sighed and sat again.
"Are you sure?" she asked, taking his chin with two fingers and checking him out. "You don't look too fine to me."
"Well, I'm fine enough considering my current condition. I could be worse," he said. Ginny raised an eyebrow. "I could be dead."
"Don't make me even think of that," Ginny said with a shiver.
"Sorry," he responded. Ginny's hand returned to his cheek, as he closed him eyes. "Thanks."
"For what?" she asked. He opened his eyes and looked meaningfully into hers.
"For caring about me," he responded. "Besides Blaise, you're the first person to visit me. And trust me, I'm not expecting many more to come."
Ginny smiled. "My pleasure." She gave him a soft kiss before a slight nervous cough interrupted them. It was Ron.
"Hey Ginny, Malfoy," he said, walking forward and stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I was wondering where you were. When I heard, I came to check if you were here. I don't want what happened to him happening to you."
Draco's anger began to rise. "Why you-" he began, but Ginny held him back.
"He didn't mean anything by it, Draco," she said softly. He relaxed back into his bed, but the hateful glare still remained.
"I didn't, really. I just meant I don't want both of you getting hurt."
"That's very sweet, Ron," Ginny said as he took a seat next to her.
"How are you doing?" he asked Draco.
"Fine, fine, beside the fact that my skull is nearly bashed in on itself," he replied sarcastically.
"Well sorry! I was just trying to be nice!" Ron retorted. Ginny stood up and stuck up her hands between the two.
"Don't fight, please?" Ginny asked. Both of the boys began glaring daggers at each other. "For me?"
Ron relaxed back into his seat, muttering something about "bloody wanker Malfoy".
"I'm sorry," Draco piped up. "I guess I should say what I said was out of line. I'm just very sore, very aching, and very-what's the word?"
"Disgruntled?" Ginny asked.
"Eh, that'll do," he responded.
"Thanks," Ron replied. "I guess I'm sorry too. I just get worked up too easily."
"That's been your weak point for as long as I've known you," Ginny muttered to herself.
"I guess I should be going. I'll see you in the common room, Gin," he said, giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Feel better, Malfoy." Draco nodded a thanks and Ron began walking away.
Ginny took Draco's hand again and sighed sadly.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked.
"You're leaving in a week," she responded.
"I know, but given my current condition they may not let me leave," he said, only half-joking. Ginny lunged forward and caught him in a soft hug, only so he wouldn't see the tears streaming down her face.
"I never wanted to like you. I never wanted to get involved in this. But where my brain says no my heart says go and I just can't keep myself away from you-" she blathered, sobbing into his shoulder.
"It's ok." He wrapped his good arm around her waist, patting her back comfortingly.
"-and, Merlin, I pulled you into all of this and you probably think I'm some kind of freak bec-" she rambled on, but Draco stopped her.
"I don't think you're a freak," he responded softly. "If anything, you probably think I'm a freak."
"Why would I think you're a freak?" she asked.
"I don't know," he started. "Maybe because my father beats me and threatens me."
"I'd never think you were a freak for that," she replied. He smiled gratefully.
"Come here," he said, scooting to the side, and pulling back his sheets.
"In the bed?" Ginny asked, wide-eyed. "With you?"
"No, with Victor Krum," he replied sarcastically. "Duh with me."
Ginny glared at him. "You know what I mean. You're not nearly well enough-"
"I'm fine!" he exclaimed, exasperated. "But get in here and I'll be much better." You could tell Ginny was mulling it over in her mind. She sighed, before kicking off her shoes, shrugging off her robe, and pulling her sweater over her head and setting them in a neat pile on her chair.
"Are you sure?" she asked him. "Because you know I could-"
"I'm sure," he replied. Ginny hesitantly climbed up into the bed and slid in next to him. She turned on her side and made herself comfortable (as comfortable as anyone could be in bed with a skirt on). "Thanks," he said, closing his eyes and settling into his bed.
Ginny lightly draped her arm over his stomach. He winced and she took it off right away. "I'm sorry," she said. "I really shouldn't have done this. You're in no condition."
"I'm alright!" he exclaimed, then when he tried to sit up he got winded and had to lay back.
"So much for being alright," Ginny muttered. Draco sighed and wrapped his good arm around her. She turned onto her stomach and buried her face in the crook of his neck.
"You smell good," he commented offhandedly. She raised her head to look at him.
"What?"
"You smell good," he repeated. "Like, you shampoo or soap or whatever. It smells good."
"Thanks…I think." Draco laughed, which turned into a small coughing fit. "Let's get some sleep," he said after his coughs had subsided.
Ginny draped her arm across his abdomen again and this time he didn't flinch.
"I love you," she whispered softly.
"Right back at ya."
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Four days. It was how long Ginny had not slept (without him, at least). It was how long until he got released form the infirmary. It was home many days they had left together.
Ginny and Draco agreed to meet in the Prefect Bathrooms that night at eleven. It would be one of their last. They both knew that, and knew not to let time waste away.
Draco entered the bathrooms and found Ginny standing near the edge of one of the tubs that was filled with water.
"Hey," she said softly.
"Hey," he responded, walking towards her and giving her a chaste kiss. "Do you want to get in?"
Ginny shook her head. "Not yet. I'm still prune-y from my shower today."
Draco chuckled slightly, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Well?"
"How are you feeling?" she asked suddenly, meeting his eyes with her own.
"Fine. Still a little battered, but nothing a few potions a day won't fix," he responded.
"Sounds fun," she stated.
"When Madam Pomfrey shoves them down your throat it isn't!" he replied.
"I was kidding," she said with a small smirk. His let out a soft "oh".
"Well, at least with the potions she gives me I can't feel the pain. I could run three miles and not feel all my aching muscles." He raised a hand and tangled it into her crimson tresses.
"That's good," Ginny responded. He unwove his fingers from her hair, and took his arm from her waist.
"What's wrong?" he asked, taking one of her hands.
"Nothing, I just feel a slight…wave of…vertigo," she trailed off as her eyes rolled and her head lolled back. Draco caught around the waist right before she fell into the large bathtub.
"Oh bloody fuck!" Draco exclaimed. "Not again."
Draco swept her up in his arms and began as fast as he could to the Hospital Wing.
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Light. Large, glowing light. Large, glowing light at the end of a dark tunnel. Large, glowing light disappearing.
Running. Her feet began moving as she wondered what this light could mean. Suddenly, a wind blew and carried her off her feet, as if she weighed nothing. It began carrying her to the light.
Whispers. More whispers. They pounded in her ears. Her eardrums were going to burst.
"Follow the voices," one said loudly and clearly. "Follow them. Follow." All the other voices died out but this one stood strong and clear. "Follow the voices. Follow them and ye shall succeed."
"What? What voices?" Ginny called. "The voices! Which voices?"
"Those voices Ginny. Those voices Ginny. Ginny. Ginny." Then it hit her.
Ginny snapped awake, panting and sweating. Above her was none other than Draco Malfoy. Next to him was her brother Ron. She threw her arms around both boys.
"I know," she blathered. "I know why it's all been happening. It's pointing me to something. Something I just now need to place."
"What?" Draco asked, pulling away and looking at her, concerned etched into his features. "Ginny are you delusional?"
"No I just-wait, why?" she asked.
"Because you were muttering something about "what voices" in your sleep," he responded.
"Yea," Ron said, nodding vigorously.
"Oh," Ginny trailed off, then began tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"Ginny?" Draco asked, but she barely heard him. "Ginny?"
"She's beginning to scare me," Ron discreetly whispered to Draco.
"Me too."
A/N: not much of a cliffie, but I needed to kill it off somewhere. For once in my life, I like how this chapter turned out! R & R, and tell me what YOU guys think!
Oh, BtTT should be up within the next two days, and then following that will be the release of my latest fic. After that, I may take a break from fanfic writing to concentrate on school (high school is gonna be killer!) and my REAL writing…like one I can publish someday without getting sued :D.
Love,
OceanAve