A/N: I read a story once about Ginny or maybe Hermione (I can't remember) helping or feeling sorry for Draco after this event & that's what stemmed this chapter. So I don't think the idea is mine, although I've read SO many D/G & HP fanfics they tend to get a bit jumbled. If anyone knows the story, let me know so I can credit it!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox
CHAPTER 8
Ginny was heading down to the Great Hall to retrieve her potions book, which had been left there in the commotion of the evening. It was her third year, and things were pretty interesting at Hogwarts. Not only was the school hosting the Tri Wizard Tournament, but the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody, had turned Malfoy into a ferret and bounced him down the hall that afternoon.
She was still chuckling to herself about it, recalling the way the squealing little ferret had bounced up up up and then crashed back down, when she saw Draco step out of Snape's office, holding his wrist upright, and his face twisted into a grimace of pain.
"Are you okay?" Ginny heard herself asking before she could stop.
"I'm fine," Draco snapped, his ice colored eyes flashing angrily.
"Want me to go with you to the hospital wing?"
"I said, I'm fine!"
Ginny narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath, then pulled out her wand. "Menadero Hilario!" What the bloody hell am I doing? she asked herself.
Draco jumped in surprise, but his wrist immediately stopped hurting. "Where did you learn that?" he asked grudgingly, flexing his wrist back and forth.
"I take some healer classes."
"Why did you do it?"
"Because you seemed too stubborn to go to see Madam Pomfrey."
Draco grunted, grimacing as he did.
"Are you okay? I know a couple of simple anti-pain charms."
"Why do you care?" he snapped.
"I don't know," Ginny admitted, surprised at herself. "Am I not supposed to?" Although Draco's antics mostly annoyed her, she had caught him showing off several times, and telling stories loudly for her benefit, she was sure.
Draco limped into an unused classroom and sat on a wooden bench, rocking slightly back and forth.
"I'm sorry that he did that to you," Ginny began, not quite sure she actually was sorry. "I don't think he-"
"Don't talk about it," Draco commanded, his voice loud and vicious.
She found herself chewing on her fingernail, a habit her nerves refused to let her break. She sat down on the bench next to Draco and remained silent.
"What," he finally asked, "are you still doing here?"
"I just thought I'd make sure you were okay before I left," she told him nervously.
"I'm fine. So go."
But his voice cracked with pain and Ginny pulled her wand out again. "Dileverox Tynanderon!"
Draco jumped slightly as the charm hit him, but she could tell immediately that he felt better. "I said I was fine."
"Now you are," she shrugged, leaving the room.
On her way back from the Great Hall, Draco's voice called to her. "Come here."
She stepped inside the room, and found him sitting in the same spot. "What?"
"Why did you help me, Weasley? What do you want?"
"Nothing," she shrugged. Even she was confused at her actions.
"Don't lie," he snapped. "Just tell me now. You have a better chance of getting it."
"I said nothing," she snapped back. "I don't lie."
Draco snorted and Ginny glared down at him.
"Next time I won't!"
Draco nodded, and then began to pace the room, something he would do often when he was upset, Ginny would soon learn. "My father is going to be furious," he said, glancing at the bruises on the backs of his hands. Ginny could see one on his cheekbone, and she was sure there were more.
"What did Snape say?" she asked.
Draco scowled. "That Moody uses improper methods for most things he does in life, and it was a good lesson to leave Potter alone!"
The more he paced, the angrier he became. "I hate them," he finally screamed with rage. "I hate all of them!" Several of the candles went out and a dusty glass globe in the corner exploded. Ginny ducked as Draco yanked out his wand and began making things fly across the room, crashing into the walls.
"Stop," she yelled, trying to reach the door.
Draco spotted her and used his wand to lock the door. "Expelliarmus!" he screamed as Ginny yanked her own wand back out of her pocket.
"Accio wand," he shouted before she could do a thing.
She watched in fear as her wand went flying out of her hand. "Draco-"
"I hate them," he roared again, grabbing Ginny by the armand shaking her. "Every single one of them!"
His fingertips pressed so fiercely into her arms that when he let go, she would look down to find five finger print bruises forming on her upper arm's, like some morbid depiction of a flower.
When he did let go, Ginny wanted to run, but Draco dropped his face to her shoulder and put his arms around her. "But I don't hate you," he whispered, standing against her, shaking until Ginny finally, nervously, put her arms around his back, and they stood there until he calmed down.
The next day, during their afternoon meal, an eagle owl brought her the largest bunch of exotic flowers she had ever seen. There was no note attached, but between Harry and Ron's surprised faces, she could see Draco's pale one watching her with unreadable gray eyes.
After that they were cordially friendly towards each other, but in a nervous and guarded way so that no one else knew a thing. It wasn't until later, when Ginny had removed several hexes from him on the Hogwarts Express that they became more than friends.
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