Unofficial Portkey Archive

so here we are, back to the start again
trying hard to wait till morning
hey rise and shine, and open up your eyes
to give this world some color
shine on diamond eyes
separate the space, between love and lies

and as days go by, the memories remain
I'll wait for you
as days go by I swear I'll try
I'll wait for you until I die, anything for you

Draco stayed up all night, worrying about Ginny, devising ways to kill and torture Pansy and Potter, and a way to get revenge on Snape as well. He wondered if Ginny had woken yet, if she had wondered where he was. He hoped that she knew he was worried about her, and that he was thinking about her.

As it was Sunday there were no classes, and Draco expected to spend the day with Ginny once he was let out of the prison that was Snape's office. It was after breakfast when Snape finally entered his office and told Draco to have a seat. Draco refused to sit and demanded to be let out.

Snape pretended not to hear him, and said, "Miss Parkinson has left Hogwarts permanently, so there will be no need for you to go charging after her. She admitted to Headmaster Dumbledore and myself that after being provoked by you, she went after Potter, and then involuntarily caused Miss Weasley to fall. Mr. Potter will be serving detention for the remainder of the school term with yours truly, and you, Mr. Malfoy, will be serving your detention with the headmaster."

"My detention?" Draco asked.

"Of course!" Snape snapped. "You didn't expect to start this entire incident and walk away, without punishment did you?" Snape looked at Draco's angry expression and smirked, "You are free to go, your detention will begin tomorrow evening at seven o'clock."

Draco glared at Snape as he left the office and headed to the hospital. He thought it was ridiculous that he should have to serve detention, he hadn't meant to harm Ginny, he was trying to piss off Pansy, how was he to know that…Draco realized that Pansy had taken her revenge against him for that stupid kiss.

What a bastard he was!

If he wasn't thinking of himself all the time, he would have realized the repercussions of such a stupid act. Pansy wasn't sorted into Slytherin for nothing. He couldn't find the locket down by the lake, and he realized he must have dropped it when he'd been keeping his hands in his pockets to keep from hurting her. When he'd decide to kiss her, to humiliate her with his relationship with Ginny the locket must have fallen out, and Pansy put the pieces together, and instead of hurting him directly, she had harmed Ginny.

He headed to his room to shower, and couldn't shake this odd feeling the entire time he washed and dressed. Was he tired? Was he nervous about seeing Ginny's family after he was sure they had been told the full story of the night's events? Was he hung over? He knew it wasn't guilt. He had never felt that before…Could it be? Draco decided to stop by the library on his way to the hospital and found what the Muggle studies class called a 'dictionary'.

It didn't take Draco long to figure out how to use the book, and he soon found the word he was looking for. His mouth fell open for a moment as he stared at the motionless page. What really shocked him was the definition for guilt;

1. The fact of being responsible for the commission of an offense.

2. Remorseful awareness of having done something wrong.

3. Self-reproach for supposed inadequacy or wrongdoing.

4. Guilty conduct; sin.

Draco dropped the book and left the library. He supposed that was an accurate description of how he was feeling, and it outraged him! He liked himself the way he was, he didn't want to start going all soft, and having…feelings. Draco shuddered and felt disgust start to overcome him. If his father could see him now…

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Mrs. Weasley stayed by Ginny's side all night and was there the next morning. Ginny hadn't woken up yet, but she would toss and turn, and mumble in her sleep. In the daylight her bruises looked even worse, and Molly couldn't decide who she was more upset with; Draco for starting this whole mess, or Harry for humiliating her and sending her daughter into Pansy's trap.

Of course Molly knew Ginny wasn't completely innocent either. She knew that Ginny too would be receiving detention for 'violation of school rules'; being in Draco's room when she should have been in her own. Molly sighed and accepted the cup of tea Arthur brought her.

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When Draco finally made his way to the hospital wing he found Loony Lovegood with a vase of flowers, reaching for the door handle. "What are you doing here?" he asked with more anger than he meant to express.

Luna didn't seem bothered by his rudeness, and glanced up at him. "I came to check on my friend Ginny. What are you doing here? I would think you'd make yourself as scarce as a purple-tailed diggymoph."

Draco resisted the urge to ignore her altogether, or to ask what the hell a purple diggymoph was and instead asked why he should make himself scarce.

Loony Lovegood seemed to find his question vastly amusing, then when she could control herself said, "Well, the whole school is talking about you…And my poor friend Ginny." Luna held up the flowers for Draco to sniff he supposed.

He pushed them away, and encouraged her to continue. "And Loon- Luna, what are they saying?"

Luna looked him right in the eye when she told him that the whole school was talking about Ginny and Draco's secret romance behind Harry Potter's back. How poor Harry found out, and confronted Ginny who didn't deny it, and then Draco hid behind Ginny, and Harry in one of his rages threw Ginny down the stairs, in one version. In another, Luna informed him, Harry found them in bed together, then tried to drag Ginny back up to Gryffindor tower and she fell, or another version-

Draco had heard enough, and opened the doors to go see Ginny. He couldn't believe the school believed such foolish rumors, and of course the truth was not interesting enough. And Pansy wasn't mentioned. She was tossed out of school and nobody was talking about that yet? Draco put all thoughts aside as he got closer to Ginny's bed. Mr. Weasley was leaning against the wall, looking out of the window. Draco took a deep breath and decided to approach the old man. "Good morning, Mr. Weasley. How is Ginny this morning?"

Mr. Weasley was quiet for a moment as he stared at Draco. The boy had a lot of nerve to show up here this morning. Or a death wish. Molly would be livid when she saw him. She had gone to the staff room to floo Fred and George, who had been at home when they got the news about Ginny. Arthur didn't know when she would be back, but he knew that she would have a fit when she saw Draco. Arthur saw Luna place a vase a flowers on the table next to Ginny's bed and begin a one-sided conversation with his daughter.

Draco was getting nervous as Mr. Weasley continued to stare at him, and ignore his question. Mrs. Weasley was nowhere to be found, and Madam Pomfrey was in her office, making a foul-smelling potion.

Mr. Weasley finally spoke. "She has not improved much since last night. She hasn't woken up yet. And I would ask that you do not …Come to see her again while my wife and I are here, Malfoy." Arthur raised his hand when Draco opened his mouth to protest, "I recommend this for your own safety, as well as for my daughter. She needs to rest. And my wife is upset by your presence; I won't have her upset any further. You'll understand one day, when you're a husband and father-"

Draco nodded, muttered, "Thanks", and headed towards the exit. He tried not to glance at Ginny as he passed; he knew he would want to stay if he did. He headed back to his room and took his anger out on anything he could get his hands on as he tore his room apart.

********************************************************

A red faced Harry told Hermione exactly what had happened between Pansy and himself in the locker room the night Ginny fell. He had no idea why he told her such a humiliating story. His face felt like it was hot enough to start a fire as he told her about the kiss.

He reasoned that perhaps he was telling her because he couldn't tell Ron, (even if they were speaking) or perhaps he had to tell someone and she was his other closest friend in the world. Hermione blushed crimson and tried to act as though the topic was not the most embarrassing one she had ever discussed. She scooted closer to Harry on the couch and put a hand on his shoulder. "Oh Harry, I am so sorry. I know this must be really…Difficult. You know that Pansy is just horrid, and Draco, well-"

Hermione wasn't sure what to say. Draco was just as horrid as Pansy, he was worse in fact. Pansy wouldn't have done any of this had Draco not provoked her. Yet Ginny had been so happy and content these past months, so much more so than when she was with Harry. Draco must be responsible for this, change, but how could he be? How could someone so cruel and selfish give anything to anyone else?

Harry turned and accepted Hermione's hug, feeling some of his embarrassment ease away at her acceptance of him, despite his humiliating experience.

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Ginny didn't wake up for three days, and when she finally did she was shocked and worried to find her parents there. She remembered clearly what had happened in the common room, and the soreness in her body made her remember the tumble she took down the stairs.

She wanted to ask how much her parents knew, were they disappointed in her? How long had she been in the hospital? Her parents looked like they hadn't slept in days, she was going to ask how long they had been with her but what came out in a scratchy voice was, "Where's Draco?"

The smile left Molly's face as she looked back at her husband. Molly decided to ignore Ginny's question, and asked, "How are you feeling, my dearest? Your father and I, and your brother's are all so worried about you."

Ginny noticed her mum's avoidance of her question, and that made her more curious. "Did something happen to Draco?"

Molly muttered "Not yet," and said in a louder voice, "He hasn't been here for a few days' Ginny." Molly saw Ginny's face fall, and the tears begin to gather in her eyes, and she couldn't lie to her. "He was here the night you fell…And the morning after, but your father asked him not to come by for a few days, to let you rest."

Ginny tried to smile, but her bruised face only allowed for a small one, and Molly felt her heart break for her daughter.

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Hermione couldn't get the story Harry had told her out of her head. She had decided that she would have to tell Ginny as soon as she was feeling a little better; she had a right to know. Hermione had gone to visit Ginny with Ron the day after the Weasley's had decided to go back to The Burrow. Madam Pomfrey had assured Molly a hundred times that Ginny was well on the mend, and that she would contact her if there was even the slightest change in her condition.

Ron acted like a sentinel, standing over Ginny's bed, and making sure no one but Luna, Hermione, Collin, and himself were allowed to visit Ginny. The rumors flying around the school were vicious, and he wanted Ginny as protected as he could make her.

Draco had tried to visit once the Weasley's had left, but he had been kept in detention for three hours three nights a week, and had head boy duties, and when he tried to enter the hospital wing, Ron chased him off.

He offered Ron 500 galleons, but he wouldn't take it.

He tried bribing Ron with his new Firebolt Millennium broom, and Ron seemed to consider it, before saying no.

He tried sending his owl, but his letter was returned, unopened, and whatever happened to his owl, he wasn't sure, but it must have been unpleasant, because his owl bit his ear hard enough to make him bleed.

Draco wasn't one to give up, but thought he'd have to come up with something a little more clever.

He finally decided instead of bargaining with that idiot redhead, he'd just sneak into the hospital in the middle of the night. Draco waited until a little after two in the morning, then climbed the stairs to see Ginny. He quietly opened the door, and made his way over to the bed. He pulled the curtains back and sat down on the edge of the bed.

She still looked beautiful to him. He hadn't seen her in a week and a day, and her bruises were fading, she looked like she was going to be alright. Her hair was in two braids on either side of her face, and Draco missed the silky feel of it. Before he knew it, he was freeing the long strands from the confines of the braids and spreading it out on the pillow behind her.

Ginny woke up when she felt Draco undoing the braids in her hair. She smiled at him, but he didn't look at her; he was concentrating, being so gentle, trying not to pull her hair.

Ginny finally put a hand over his and smiled, and Draco swallowed hard as he looked into her eye's. "Did I wake you?" he whispered.

Ginny shook her head and tried to sit up, but Draco insisted that she lie down. "Please, stay resting. Your brother will kill me."

Ginny laughed and sat up, legs criss cross in front of her. "I wondered why you hadn't been to see me," she said, leaning her head against his chest.

Draco took one of her hands and seemed to be studying it. "I wanted to, but with detention, and head bo-"

"Detention?" Ginny asked, looking up at him.

Draco didn't realize that Ginny wasn't aware of all that had transpired. He didn't want to tell her. He didn't want to fight with her; he'd missed her too much in this past week to have a row with her now. He'd had to sneak around in the middle of the night just to see her. He wasn't going to lie to her though, that would come back and bite him on the ass, he knew.

"Don't worry, Ginevra. I don't want to talk about it. I just want to look at you, and…kiss…you." Draco leaned in and kissed her cheek, as he made his way to her lips.

Draco's kisses were so overwhelming, she soon forgot to ask any more questions. She scooted even closer to him, trying to gain some of his heat. "I was on my way to see you…When it happened, when I fell, I needed you."

Ginny looked up at Draco, and he was pained to see tears rolling down her cheeks. He gently wiped them away, and told her not to cry anymore. "I'm here now. I'd like to take you back to my room…"

Ginny smacked his arm and winced from the ache it caused. "Draco Malfoy, is that all you think about?"

Draco pretended to consider her question, and then said. "Yes, as a matter of fact it is."

Ginny shook her head, but hugged him to her.

Draco was careful to not hug her too tight, and could feel the guilt rising in him. He hadn't meant to hurt her, and he knew this was probably a good time to tell her the truth, but they were so comfortable, and he didn't want to ruin the moment.

Draco stayed with her for two hours, until she was too tired to keep her eyes open, then he pulled the covers around her, and kissed her goodnight.

**************************************************************

Hermione came to see Ginny the day after Draco's late night visit.

Ginny sat up and hugged her friend and after making small talk, Ginny asked what was going on in the school.

Hermione was a little taken aback at that question. She knew that Ginny was no fool, but she didn't know what Ginny wanted to know either. "What do you mean Ginny?"

Ginny raised her eyebrow in what Hermione considered a Malfoy fashion. "Hermione, please. I know that Gryffindor tower had to have spread the story to the entire school, and the way that Ron is standing guard over me! Please you're my friend, what's going on?"

Hermione looked away for a moment, then back at Ginny. "Well, there is no easy way to say this, Ginny. There are all sorts of absolutely ridiculous things being said, which I won't even repeat. But suffice it to say that the entire school knows about you and Draco. Everyone also knows that Harry said some horrible things to you, which by the way, he is very sorry about…Anyway, there is something more Ginny, do you know how this entire incident started?"

Ginny shook her head, and tried to calm her rising nerves. She almost wanted to stay in the hospital for the rest of her time at Hogwarts. Who knew what it would be like when she stepped out the door. Ginny looked at Hermione and waited to hear what she had to say.

"Ginny,…Harry, said that he was in the uh…Oh God this is hard." Hermione took a deep breath and tried again. "Harry was in the locker room after the Quidditch match, and Pansy Parkinson came in. She had the locket that he had given you. Harry wasn't sure how she got it, but she held it just out of his reach, and then she kissed him."

"She kissed him?" Ginny asked, shocked.

"Yes, but she kissed him, because…Draco had kissed her earlier."

Ginny looked angry now, why had Draco kissed Pansy? What the hell was going on? "Hermione, wha-"

"I'm getting there, it's just awkward. Draco kissed Pansy, after you two…Had had, relations." Hermione looked away, and then continued. "Pansy was furious at Draco's trick, and decided to take it out on Harry, so she found Harry and kissed him. Which provoked Harry into finding you, and saying those things to you. Then Pansy meant to find you, and confront you, but you fell, instead of seeing the locket, as she planned."

Ginny stood up and began to pace the space around her bed. How could Draco do something so disgusting and wicked? Why had he done this to them? She now understood why Harry had behaved the way he had, she could understand his anger now. Ginny didn't forgive him for yelling at her in front of everyone, but she understood. She wanted to see Draco, she wanted some answers. She had fallen for Draco, a Draco she thought she knew, but now she wasn't so sure she knew him at all.

Hermione told her the rest of the information as she knew it, Draco was serving detention with Dumbledore, writing out the entire school rules handbook, for three hours, three times a week. Harry was serving his detention with professor Snape, in a version of what Muggle's call 'Anger Management' also for three hours, three times a week. And Pansy had left Hogwarts to attend Durmstrang.

Ginny nodded, but her thoughts were so jumbled, she just wanted to be alone to sort everything out. Hermione told Ginny that she was sorry that she had to be the one to tell her, but she felt that she deserved to know the truth. Ginny was barely paying any attention as Hermione said goodbye. Why would Draco do something so stupid? He had told her he would wait until she told Harry, and if he had done that, none of this would have happened.

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Ginny tossed and turned all night, hoping Draco would come again tonight to see her. It was past two, and he hadn't come yet, but she hoped that he would make an appearance. What was he thinking? Ginny knew that he had to have a reason And she knew in her heart that if it was a good reason, she could forgive him. What was she thinking? What could be a good reason?

Ginny heard a slight creaking noise, and knew that Draco had indeed come. Ginny sat up and waited for Draco to enter her curtained room. It took seconds for Draco to show up, he looked as handsome as ever, he was wearing a crisp white shirt, and black slacks, and his hair was hanging softly over his eyes.

"What are you doing awake princess?" he asked, as he sat on the side of her bed and gave her a kiss.

Ginny tried to ignore the racing of her heart at his nearness, and extracted the anger from her voice when she said, "Waiting for you. Hoping you would come tonight."

Draco smiled, and tried to hold her, but Ginny pushed away, saying "Close your eyes, I have something for you."

Draco did as he was asked and was stunned when he felt his cheek being slapped.

"Draco, damn you! I thought I could trust you." Ginny was so angry she was shaking.

"You can!" he retorted, holding his cheek in surprise.

"Can I? Then why am I here? You said you would wait until I told Harry!"

Draco was taken aback. He was speechless for the first time he could remember. She was right, she was there as a direct result of his stupidity. He was trying to piss off Pansy, but all he had managed to do was get Ginny very badly hurt, Pansy thrown out of school, and Harry and himself in detention for the rest of their time at Hogwarts.

"I, I'm sor-"

"Don't you dare try to apologize Malfoy! I know you don't mean it. You're trying to get yourself out of trouble, that's all. What you did was unforgivable"

"Unforgivable, Ginevra? I've done worse. I had no intention of harming you when I foolishly-"

"I don't want to hear any of your stupid excuses! I never want to see you again!" Ginny picked up the vase of fresh flowers Luna had brought for her and tried to smash them on Draco's head.

Quickly, he grabbed them out of her hand. "You Weasley women are a violent lot."

"I want you OUT Malfoy, I mean now!!"

In an instant, Madam Pomfrey was there. "Mr. Malfoy! You are not supposed to be in here! Out this moment!"

Draco wanted to talk to Ginny, he knew there was a lot more to say, but he was being shoved out the door, and Ginny had turned her back on him, although he could tell she was crying. He couldn't do anything right anymore.

He had made a mistake, he was sorry, he would like to change it. He never meant to hurt Ginny, he cared for her, he wanted to continue his relationship with her, but at the rate he was going, he didn't think Ginny would ever speak to him again. What did she want from him anyway? He'd already apologized, he'd meant it, why couldn't she be happy with that? She had said she never wanted to see him again, well too bad, he was a Malfoy, and he did not give up so easily when it came to something that he wanted.

Ginny was completely heartbroken. She cried and punched her pillow, she paced, and briefly considered going after Draco. She was sorry she had told him that she never wanted to see him again, she hadn't meant it. But she also knew that she couldn't allow him to behave the way he had and think that there were no consequences. That was typical Draco Malfoy, to think he could easily smooth things over with a quick apology, after he'd done something he'd not even given any thought to.

Ginny never thought she'd say this, but poor Pansy. How would she feel if someone had done that to her? She would be beyond humiliated, and Draco hadn't cared about her feeling's at all, he'd thought only of himself. Well, Ginny decided it was high time Draco Malfoy got a taste of his own pepper-up potion, and even though it would kill her to stay away from him, someone had to try to teach him a lesson.