"Draco, am I dead?"
Ginny feared the answer. If he said yes it meant that her suspicions were correct and she would never be able to enjoy all the wonders and pleasures she had planned. It meant no first true love, or her first time, it meant no wonderful career, no loving husband, no children, and it meant no future in this life. If he said yes, things were going to be deeply depressing. Then again, if he said no, it meant there was something seriously fucked up going on. She waited with abated breath for his monumental answer.
"No, you're not dead per say."
"Per say? What the bloody hell does that mean?" That really wasn't the answer she had been expecting.
"Just calm down and I'll explain. After that we can go to see Dumbledore." Ginny had to fight back the urge to throw a tantrum. How could he tell her to calm down when he had just informed her that she is sort of, but not really, dead? Restraining herself, she sat still on his comfy bed, quiet and intent to listen.
"Now everyone has an expiration date." Ginny mumbled something suspiciously sounding like Cap'n Obvious. Draco just glared at her and continued with his speech.
"I don't just mean everyone dies, I mean their deaths have a predestined time. Now it is up to grim reapers to take out their souls and guide the soul onto the next step."
"What's the next step? Is this the next step? Because really I do not think that it is fair that my after life is to be spent talking with a platinum headed prat?" She watched as his fist clenched and his lip pursed. Draco was obviously repressing his annoyance at her interruption.
"No, this is not the next step. I do not know the next step because I haven't made it there yet." He said through clenched teeth. "Now if you have no more questions I'll continue."
"Now you were not supposed to get hit by the chandelier today, your soul isn't finished with this world. Apparently somebody wants you dead. Normally this wouldn't be a problem but the fact that they would've succeeded if there hadn't been an intervention means, that they aren't any normal witch or wizard."
"Why couldn't a regular witch or wizard succeed? I'm not really getting the details here, Malfoy. An intervention, what intervention?" Ginny had tried to contain her questions but this wasn't something she could listen to without asking the whys.
"A regular Witch of wizard can't compete with fate, it's not possible. Some one who has a connection with the underworld had to have been involved. As for the intervention, well that would be my doing." He wasn't looking at her anymore. His face was turned towards the wall next to him, but Ginny could see a hit of a blush on his cheeks. "I tapped your soul before your body gave out. Without a soul inside the body can maintain itself, since it doesn't have to worry about a tormented soul within. The body can maintenance itself but with the soul unstable...well the body can't contain the soul anymore and dies out. Normally the soul comes out on it's own after the body dies and then the soul is guided to the next step."
"Wow. So then my body isn't dead?"
"Well considering you haven't seen any bright light and are conversing with me, I'm going to assume it is still functioning. The condition of it...well that is questionable. When we go to see Dumbledore he should be able to tell us."
"Umm, why couldn't Ron see me?"
"Haven't you listened at all, Weasel? You are a disembodied soul, meaning no normal human being can see you."
"Well you can see me, and touch me apparently." Ginny reasoned, rubbing her arm where he had been gripping her for emphasis.
"Who said I'm normal?" He asked, a smirk creeping it's way across his lips.
"Prick."
"Bitch."
"Alright we need to go see Dumbledore." Draco said, walking towards the door. He stopped when he realized Ginny wasn't following him.
"What is it now, Weaslette?"
"Why are you helping me?"
"I have an obligation to keep. Don't ask me anymore questions for now, we have to get everything sorted with the old coot, because I don't have a bleedin idea of what to do with you."
"Fair enough." Ginny stood up from the bed and followed Draco out of the room. They wove through various corridors, many of which she didn't remember passing through on the way there. She made an attempt to memorize the way but after the third changing staircase, she gave up.
It felt like forever and a day before they finally reached the Headmasters office. Ginny hadn't been inside since her first year, back when her life wasn't even her own. She shuddered at the disconcerting memory.
"You alright, Red?" Draco asked noticing her stricken look and unnerved stance.
"Like you care." Ginny spat, feeling slightly guilty, he had been mostly considerate towards her in the past hour.
"I don't care." Draco exclaimed stiffly. They proceeded up the spiraling steps to the headmaster's office and soon came to the room, Fawks perched elegantly on a chair back. Ginny slid into one of the chairs and Draco followed her example, sitting on the one next to her. Dumbledore just sat there, looking solemn and Ginny could swear she saw a hint of distress behind his twinkling eyes.
"Miss Weasley, you'll be happy to know that your body will heal." Ginny jumped in surprise.
"You can see me professor?"
"I can see a lot of things others cannot, Miss Weasley."
"Sir what's going to happen to me?"
"Madam Pomphrey claims that your body will heal completely in about two or three months. We cannot use potions to heal it until it stabilizes naturally and even then the potions will take a long time to work."
"Once my body is stable will I be able to return to my body?"
"I cannot answer that question for you, Miss Weasley. Now for the time being you'll be lodging with Mr. Malfoy, since his room is private."
"What? Why can't I stay in Gryffindor?"
"Oh yeah, Weasley, that's a great idea. You just go there and drive yourself insane watching as everyone is mourning over you. Go ahead, anything just so you don't have to be near a big bad Slytherin." Draco spat at her; if she didn't know any better she would think she had actually hurt his feelings.
"Despite the rather sarcastic tone Mr.Malfoy has taken, he does pose a very good point. It would be in your best interest to stay away from Gryffindor tower. A hogsmeade visit is coming up this weekend, you and mister Malfoy can purchase you some clothing."
"What's wrong with my clothing? Can't we just go get it?"
"Weasley, as much fun as going through your underwear drawer would be, my senses are telling me that knicking your clothes would be a very bad idea." Ginny glared at Draco, but the prat did have a point. She couldn't very well go to her dormitory nor could Draco.
"Umm can I even change clothes? I mean if people can't see me or feel me...well can I pick stuff up then?"
"Mr. Malfoy can solve your clothing problem, and you can rest on objects you just can't move them. Nor can you touch the living."
"Umm, then why can I touch Malfoy?"
"Why don't you ask Draco yourself?" Ginny turned to the uncharacteristically quiet blonde. He was sprawled out on the chair, one leg was draped over the arm and the other rested on the ground. He looked to be in deep thought, and Ginny noticed he was actually very handsome when he wasn't scowling.
"Malfoy, why can I touch you?" He lazily rolled his head in her direction, fixing his gaze upon her. Looking directly into Ginevra Weasley's eyes, he uttered,
"Because, Red, I'm a grim reaper."