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Dark Days by jessica k malfoy
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Dark Days

jessica k malfoy

This is basically chapter 4 continued. Sorry guys, uploading problems!!!

Change of Face (continued)

Narcissa cupped her face with one hand and stroked her cheek with the other. All Ginny really knew of Draco's mother were the occasions glances at the Hogwarts Express train Platform and the Quidditch Championships she had went to before her 3rd year.

"My son did this to you?" she asked, her voice tender and compassionate.

"It's not his fault," Ginny whispered, fearful of saying anything that might enrage Draco even more. "He's just upset. I spilt the water."

Narcissa's nostril's flared. "You are delirious." She used her wand to mend Ginny's ankle, stop the blood still trickling from her nose, and give her an anti-pain charm. "Come here." She led her into Draco's bathing chamber and turned on the water for the large tub. With a look of disgust she began to pull her soiled robes off.

"I can't," Ginny begged. "Master will be angry with me."

"Get in," Draco's flat voice came from behind Ginny.

She turned, trembling, and saw him looking worn and unusually pale.

"Go on. Do it." He motioned to the tub with his hand.

"Leave," Narcissa commanded. "I will do this." She threw Ginny's robes aside and suddenly stopped. "What are these?" Her eyes flew back to Draco's, narrow and fierce but he turned on his heel and left.

Ginny looked down and saw several small black bruises on her inner thighs, thick with dried blood. "He was helping me."

Narcissa put her in the bath and gently began to scrub her hair. "Tell me how you got those."

The warm water and anti-pain charm made Ginny so sleepy she could barely speak. "They, the others, they thought he was . . . they thought he was doing something else to me." A fresh tear rolled down her cheek. "It was better than the alternative."

Narcissa finished bathing her in silence, washing her dull hair and gently scrubbing her skin, changing the water several times, and then wrapped her in a thick towel and conjured a clean, soft dress robe for her.

That was when Ginny decided that she loved this woman. No matter what family she was from, Ginny loved her.

Narcissa helped her back into the room and looked at Draco. "I'm going to put her in the bed if that is alright by you, Master." She spat the last word with such venom, Draco's face flushed. "Sleep child," she told Ginny, kissing her forehead.

But Ginny couldn't sleep; she was too petrified about what Draco would do to her when his mother left.

"I want to take her with me," Narcissa said. "The manor is lonely and I could use the company."

"No," Draco refused. "She is a prisoner, and she will stay here."

Ginny's sudden hope died in her chest, but she opened her mouth to speak anyways. "Take Luna, then."

"What?" Both mother and son stared at her.

"Take Luna. Let her take Luna, and erase her memory," Ginny requested quietly. "She needs it more than I do."

Draco gave her a long, hard stare and she began to fear reprimand, but he finally nodded to his mother. "Very well. We can go get Longbottom's wife to accompany you."

When Draco returned he was alone. Ginny watched him as he crossed the room and then sat on the edge of the bed.

"I will move," she whispered hoarsely.

"No," he shook his head. "Stay there."

"Are you alright?" she dared to ask after a long silence.

He sat still for several moments, and then slid off the bed, kneeling at its side. "My mother was right. My father was with one of the prisoners." His voice broke and he buried his face. "How could he?"

Ginny didn't want to feel any sympathy at all for him. None. She wanted him dead this morning. But now, he seemed so wretched and broken, she couldn't stop herself as she reached out to pat his arm. Here was Draco Malfoy, her tormentor at Hogwarts, the head of the Wizarding world's worst prison, the person who forced her to lick his shoes, the person who had hit her and kicked her, kneeling before her. "You should sleep," she told him, rising from his bed.

"No," he whispered. "Stay there. You sleep there."

Ginny sat silently, watching his trembling body. "You . . . sleep here . . . too."

When Ginny woke in the morning, Draco was still sleeping beside her. Automatically, she glanced up at the windows, and decided that by the feeble rays of sun, it was still very early. Draco had not attempted to touch her once during the night. Instead, he had lain in the bed, never crying, (Malfoy's, she was sure, never cried) but shaking with despair, and it was Ginny who reached out to comfort him.

In the light of the early morning though, she worried about Percy again. She said a silent prayer, hoping that he was still alive. She would have to beg Draco to look after him, to take him food or potions or whatever he needed; whatever it took, she would ask him to help her with this. Sadly, she recalled the oath she had taken when she was sworn into the Order. She had vowed to always put the safety of the Order first. Well, she wasn't telling, and she had to keep Percy strong so that he wouldn't either. That was her first duty. The Order.

When Draco woke, he didn't speak to her. He climbed out of the bed, went to his shower, dressed, and left the room in silence. Her heart dipped lower in her chest, still clinging to the tiny remaining hope that he might do her the one last favor.


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