Thanks for the reviews, I just love them. This is going to have 2 or 3 more chappies & then I'll call it quits! Hope you like this chapter.
CHAPTER 23
Ginny froze at the bitter anger in Draco's voice. "I, I, I wanted to, I mean . . ." Oh sod it, she thought. Just say it. "I missed you."
Draco remained stiff.
"I do. I'm sorry for the horrible stuff I said. But I had to. Tom said that-"
"Who the fuck is Tom, Ginny?" Draco spat, sitting up. "There is no Tom. There is only the Dark Lord."
She knew she deserved this, his anger and wrath, but she had unrealistically hoped he would immediately forgive her. Tears burned her eyes, and she was thankful he couldn't see them in the darkness. "I know, it's just-"
"I don't want to hear it!" he shouted. "Just get out!"
"Please, please listen. I want to explain to you, and I wanted to tell you how sorry I am that I did that."
"I don't want to hear it! Get out!"
"Draco, please! Don't shout, someone will hear you!" Someone like Tom.
"No one is going to fucking hear me! It's a full moon, so Lupin's out and Potter gets blasted before bed each night! So that just leaves one person, Ginny!"
"Can't you just give me one chance?" she yelled back, her voice thick with tears. "Can't I at least explain it to you?"
"Why? You'll be leaving in less than two weeks, and that'll be it! I won't have to see you again, and that's fine with me! I gave up everything for you! I loved you and you told me in front of everyone that you didn't! So get out!" Draco was now standing on his knees in his bed, screaming down at Ginny.
"I'm sorry," Ginny half sobbed, half yelled as she climbed out of the bed. "He hurt me and I was scared!"
She could hear the air rattle as Draco sucked in a breath. "They said he didn't hurt you, that no one hurt you."
Ginny shoved her arm at him, and in the moonlight, her scar stood out, slick and white against her freckled skin. "It was some kind of spell. Dumbledore said it bound us together."
"So? That's it?" he asked unimpressed, his voice like ice.
"One night I thought I was dreaming about you. I thought we were . . . but I woke up and there was no one there, except, I could still feel it. It was him. Dumbledore says he can manipulate my feelings, but . . . it was so horrible." Her voice dropped to a whisper and she crossed her arms over her chest, holding herself. "It was like . . . being raped."
The section of Draco's face that she could see in the moonlight froze and his eyes narrowed. "He raped you?"
"Dumbledore says he didn't," she repeated, shivering despite the warm summer air. "But it felt like he did."
Draco was silent, watching her carefully. "If you're bound, why are you in here? Aren't you afraid?"
"Yes, but I don't think he can come in Harry's house. It's protected. I haven't . . . heard anything from him all summer."
He didn't answer.
"That night we were in the hospital wing at Hogwarts, I thought he was going to kill me. I couldn't breathe. He had his hands around my neck and he told me that if I didn't get away from you he'd either kill you or torture you until you were like Neville's parents." The tears were still pouring off her face. Deep inside, she could feel that Draco didn't want to believe her. "I had to. I am so sorry. I love you. I do love you."
He watched her meticulously, and again, she was struck by the way the moonlight was absorbed into his hair, giving him what she could only call an anti halo. When he spoke, his voice was lower and his tone was softer, but his words still cut her. "Get out."
***
On Saturday night, Ginny sat alone in her room, staring at her trunk. She didn't want to stay in Harry's house, but she didn't want to go back to Hogwarts either. There was nothing there for her. True, she had done well enough on her O.W.L.s to get into just about any field or profession that she wanted, but she didn't want any of them. If anything, anything at all, perhaps she would enjoy playing Quidditch. She was an excellent Chaser; she knew that, but her heart wouldn't be in it. No, her heart had been smashed.
She had spent the past week avoiding Draco, which turned out to be easier than she expected. Of course, she wasn't allowed to leave the house, and technically, Harry and Draco weren't either, but no one stopped them. They went out nearly every night with disguises, coming back late and loud and sloshed, and so she did the same. There were several bottles of Firewhiskey in a secret cupboard in the kitchen and it only took a few shots to knock her out.
A sharp knock at the door rattled her out of her thoughts. "Yeah?"
Her mum stepped into the room and looked around. "Are you all packed?"
Ginny nodded.
"I brought all your school supplies. Sorry it took so long. George was supposed to pick them up, but they've been exceptionally busy."
"Thanks," she mumbled, as her mum placed the books in her trunk.
"We'll leave about 10:30, I suppose, since you can apparate now."
"Right then."
"Dear," her mum began, sitting down next to her and patting her on the leg, "I know this is hard for you, but perhaps it is for the best."
Ginny remained silent. Her mum had never felt more like a stranger.
"There's going to be lots of other lovely boys at Hogwarts, you know, and you'll find a lovely career, and then a lovely-"
"You have no idea, do you?" Ginny asked rudely. "Nothing, not one thing, is sodding lovely!"
Her mum stopped and looked at her for the first time since entering the room.
"Everyone keeps saying that Tom didn't hurt me, but he did. He raped me!" She stood to her feet and began to pace the room. "He wasn't there in person, but it happened!"
Her mum shook her head. "Dumbledore said-"
"I know what he said!" she shouted. "But he wasn't there, was he?"
"Ginny, I know that horrible things happened to you. I believe you. I just want you to be better. He can't hurt you anymore."
"Yes he can. The minute I leave this house, he'll be there, waiting."
"Haven't you been doing those mind exercises Snape showed you?"
Ginny shook her head. "No."
"But why not?"
"Because he can't reach me here. As long as I stay away from Draco, he doesn't care."
Her mum just nodded. "Then you won't have to worry about it, will you? I mean, you'll be going back alone."
Ginny could barely believe what she was hearing. "I think I should go to bed."
Her mum left, and Ginny crawled into bed, unable to sneak to the kitchen for liquor since her parents were there, and unable to sleep knowing that Tom would be waiting for her tomorrow.
At 10:15 the next morning, Ginny shrunk her trunk until it fit in her pocket and apparated by herself to the train station. When she crossed the barrier into the Platform, she was relieved to note other students there already. She found an empty carriage and watched out the window as students began to pour in. She was on the verge of relaxing when he spoke.
I told you to stay away from him.
"I did," she answered dully.
Lie! You went to him! You wanted him! AND YOU ARE MINE!
"He wouldn't have me."
She could feel it as Tom took a deep breath and tried to regain control. You will pay. He will pay.
"Why? He won't have me."
Because I never go back on my word.
"Fine. It doesn't matter. He doesn't love me. I'm all yours, just like you said."
But I want to make sure you remember that forever.
Before she could answer him, pain like she had never, ever known shot through her body.
You will learn.
"Stop, please," she managed to gasp before the world went black.
***
Draco was leaned against the wall outside Ginny's bedroom. She was leaving in 15 minutes, and he had to tell her something, anything. He wanted to apologize for acting like such a prat when she told him about being raped or whatever, but he couldn't figure out the words. Whether it had really happened - please dear Merlin, no - or if it really was all in her head, she deserved sympathy of some sort, at least for that.
He had been shocked to hear the door creak open that night, and even more surprised to feel her slide under his covers. For a moment, he was glad, and then he was furious. What was she thinking, treating him that way for so long and then trying to get into his bed? For two months after she had told him she didn't love him, he would have given anything for her to creep into his bed and admit she had lied, but when she didn't, he became furious. He had given up his family, their money, and his identity for her. His father had disowned him. He had learned to tolerate Potter and his Mudblood girlfriend for her. He had broken into his father's house to rescue her. For the very first time in his life, he had told someone that he loved them. And she told him she didn't love him.
So when she came into his room, he was glad for the chance to hurt her the same way she had hurt him.
But it didn't feel as good as he had expected. And going out every night to get sloshed with Potter didn't do anything to help either. So he had to tell her. He had to apologize, and damn it, he was going to. Malfoy pride or not, he wasn't going to let her leave for a year without knowing how he felt. He still loved her. Still missed her.
Draco raised his fist to knock, and heard a loud crack. He stopped, and realizing what it was, threw her door open, finding her room empty.
"Ginny's gone!" he nearly screamed as he bounded down the stairs. "She left!"
"What?" her mum nearly collided into him.
"She apparated. Her stuff is gone!" He caught Potter's eye, who nodded sharply and with a crack, Draco and Harry disappeared from the kitchen.
Draco bowled over a nervous group of first years as he struggled to get on the train. "Ginny! Ginny!"
Harry was doing the same, throwing open doors to the carriages, and calling her.
"She's in here," a panicky voice called.
Draco charged ahead and saw a short boy with a camera.
"In here," he said.
Ginny was sprawled on the floor, her breath labored and shallow, her limbs twitching.
"We've got to get her to St. Mungo's," Harry gasped, coming up behind him. "Can you get her?"
Draco shook his head. "We've got to go back to your house. She said he couldn't get her there."
"Who?" Harry demanded, shoving gaping students out of the way.
"Him. Voldemort."
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