Growing Up Is Hard To Do
Ginny stood in front of the mirror in her dorm room, wearing new robes for the first time…new chestnut colored dress robes. Her friends helped her style her hair so it fell a bit below her shoulders in curls and she had to admit, she liked it. Maggie had reminded Ginny that she would love a picture of a Hippogriff and Ginny told her to start thinking of what to say to Blaise Zabini.
They walked into the Great Hall to find it decorated for the dance in the usual spectacular Hogwarts way. Floating pumpkins and candles; the house ghosts flitting about, the tables pushed against the walls for a nice sized dance floor. The band was in the corner playing a fast song and many students were out there dancing; some dressed up for Halloween, others in dress robes.
Ginny saw Luna at the Ravenclaw table and headed over to her to ask how it was going with Neville; they actually made plans to meet at the dance and Luna looked beautiful in a purple dress robe, her hair braided down her back. They chatted for a bit about the dance until Neville came in and Luna excused herself to go drag him to the corner where they talked quietly. Ginny talked to Meredith, one of Luna's dorm mates about Potions class when she heard voices behind her, near the door. She recognized the deep angry voice as Draco's. Pretending to look at the twinkling lights she listened to the conversation, along with Meredith who had turned around to see what grabbed Ginny's attention.
"Draco, listen, I don't know why you have to stay mad…," Pansy was saying, but Draco cut her off with an impatient wave of his hand, knocking her hand off his arm.
"You didn't come to my father's funeral. HE was the one who set up this," he gestured towards her, them himself, "arrangement and YOU couldn't even show up!" Draco's voice was very deep and angry. He was looking down at her and being over six feet tall he was a very imposing figure in his dark green dress robes, towering over Pansy.
"I didn't think you would care! You hadn't said one word about him for the past YEAR...," Pansy tried to explain, but Draco held up his hand. By now Ginny was watching them openly as were a few other Ravenclaw's.
"You should have been there, to show support for my family. But, you were just thinking of yourself as always. Leave me alone…we have talked about this over and over and you know how I feel. Leave. Me. Alone!" Draco turned around and his eyes met Ginny's. She hadn't heard the tempo of the music change to a slow song until he walked over, leaving Pansy staring at him, grabbed Ginny's hand and dragged her behind him to the dance floor.
"That would have been a much nicer exit if it looked as if I had gone with you willingly," Ginny said sarcastically as they stopped at the edge of the dance floor, removing her hand from Draco's. They stood there a minute, Ginny looking at him and Draco looking up at the band then down at her. Her red hair was flowing freely down her shoulders, contrasting with the chestnut colored robes that brought out her eyes.
"Will you willingly dance?" Draco asked a resigned note in his voice and Ginny's heart stopped beating for a second. She could sense he was restraining the anger he felt and thought maybe a dance wouldn't hurt. She nodded, still not trusting herself to speak, cursing Maggie in her mind, wondering if she was watching and smirking to herself…if Maggie COULD smirk.
They walked onto the dance floor joining the rest of the students dancing slowly with their partners.
Ginny felt Draco's arm go around her waist…
She saw Harry and Hermione dancing as close as two people could get with clothes on…
She felt Draco's hand take hers and raise it up towards his shoulder…
She saw Ron glance over at her and his mouth opened to say something, but stopped when Ginny gave a slight shake of her head…
She laid her hand on Draco's left shoulder and felt the silky cloth of his dress robes beneath her hand…
She saw Samantha turn slightly in Ron's arms, giving her a small smile and thumbs up which Ron quickly swatted down and Samantha turned towards him, slapping him on the arm…
She felt Draco's fingers splayed against the small of her back, practically covering the lower half…
Ginny smiled when she saw Samantha reach up and plant a nice kiss on Ron's mouth, distracting him from Draco and Ginny dancing. This was their first official public display of affection and Ginny was glad they finally got it out of the way.
Draco, noticing the smile on Ginny's face, turned around and looked over his shoulder. Suddenly, she felt Draco's hand squeeze hers, just a touch, as he watched them for a few seconds and then relax as he turned back towards her.
"Ron and a Muggle. Your dad must love that," Draco mused, managing to floor Ginny once again with the softness of his voice. Ginny's hazel eyes just moved over his face as if waiting for something else. He rested his dark, unreadable gaze on her and Ginny felt something she had never felt before. Not with Dean, maybe with Harry? She couldn't remember at the moment…but she felt a fluttering in her heart, a blush move throughout her whole body, and her pulse seemed to increase all on its own.
"Yeah," she whispered, "he likes her." Ginny managed to get out. She was still looking at him, their gazes not breaking. She wasn't even aware of Harry nudging Hermione to look over at them; or the look of surprise on Neville's face before he tripped over Luna's feet once again. Summoning up her willpower she broke off the staring contest and stared instead at a spot on his shoulder.
"Why did you and Pansy break up?" she asked softly, her gaze moving to the couple next to her who bumped into them. Draco moved her over a few feet and turned them so her back was to the band.
"She didn't show at the funeral, said some choice words and I realized that with no one dictating my life anymore I could see whomever I please."
Ginny knew that Pansy's family was one of the few full blooded wizarding families left and it didn't surprise her that the Malfoy's and Parkinson's arranged for them to get married. With Lucius out of the picture and Draco of age, he was free to do as he wished.
Ginny nodded, but didn't say she understood because she really didn't know what it was like to have someone chose your wife or husband for you at a young age.
"She is realizing her mistakes a bit too late," Draco added, seeing her nod again then tilt her head back to look at him.
"Did you love her?" Ginny asked him quietly, noting that he moved his gaze away from hers and it darted across the room to where Pansy was sulking by the doors with a few of her fellow Slytherins.
She knew then that the answer was 'No'; if it was 'Yes' he would have said so right away, instead he retreated into his past "Draco-ness" and didn't answer her, at least not right away. She watched his gaze slip over to Harry and Hermione. She had her arms around his neck and they were talking and smiling at each other. Harry had his hands on her hips and you could see one of them rub absentmindedly up and down, covered by her maroon dress robe. Ginny could hear Draco make a noise in his throat.
"No," was his curt answer and Ginny actually felt a bit sorry for him. Anyone who looked at Harry could see he was totally in love; you could even look at Ron who was dancing very close to Samantha, their hands tucked between their chests. Ginny heard the band say something about how everyone looked so happy that they thought another slow song was in order. Applause was scattered throughout the room and Draco stopped, looking down at her, his face expressionless but Ginny could sense that he was asking her if she wanted to continue. She noticed he didn't remove his arm or his hand, but they stood still as the music started up around them.
'Now, this is a dilemma', Ginny thought to herself.
If she stopped here and walked away there couldn't be any rumors. Most people had seen him drag her onto the floor and realized he was just being Draco. But, if she stayed she knew it would lead people to look even longer, to start talking and on top of that it would make Ron mad. She quickly caught Ron's gaze as he looked at her coolly from across the room, then someone blocked their view. Ginny found that she didn't care, impulsively she took a small step forward, their chests almost touching and felt his rough hand tighten around hers for a moment, the only emotion he gave away. They began moving to the music, but Ginny wasn't sure what the song was; her pulse sounded so loud in her ears she was sure Draco could feel or hear it. A little bit further and she could lay her head against his shoulder…such an intimate gesture, but wasn't his arm still tight around her waist holding her to him, intimate?
She wondered when they became pressed against each other; surely her legs weren't against his when they started the dance…what few coherent thoughts she had in her head went out the window as his hand settled on her hip. Together they found the songs rhythm and she found that he was a very adept dancer, moving smoothly along the floor, hips swaying together, close to each other as though they had never stayed apart for six years. Honestly, she had never felt like this and was sure he could feel how nervous she was, even though in the dim light people weren't really paying much attention to them as they were to their respective partner. She could hear the song winding down and was actually disappointed the dance was going to end. For a second he held onto her as the music shifted and carefully she took a step back, her hand still linked with his, but down in front of them. She swore that the look on his face was one she had never seen before; a mixture of confusion and something that she would almost describe as puzzlement…exactly what she was feeling at the moment.
"Fancy getting something to eat?" Draco dropped her hand and Ginny nodded, turning quickly towards the table where she saw her brother filling up his plate. Draco escorted her over and handed her a plate. Somehow, he ended up behind Ron and knew that Ginny's brother was going to say something about him dancing with the youngest Weasley. Ginny had filled her plate, waved to Draco as Hermione grabbed her arm and dragged her to the table.
Draco stood up straighter, holding his plate waiting for the remark to come while meeting Ron's blue stare and with Ron being taller than him he had to look up at him. All that Ron wanted to say was conveyed in those five seconds of staring into Draco's icy blue gaze. Turning around he followed Samantha to their table where the rest of the Gryffindors were eating and laughing.
Ginny saw Ron approach her and settle himself next to her. She steeled herself for what was coming telling by his movements that he was angry and the way he turned to her, staring at her for a second or two before he spoke.
"Be careful," was all he said as Samantha patted his leg under the table. Ginny's eyes widened and her mouth almost dropped open, not expecting those words at all.
"Ron, I-," she started and he shook his head, warning her not to push it. She smiled at him, leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, making him blush. Dumbledore had just made an announcement that it was time for the Prefects to do their rounds, so Ginny jumped up and headed out the door with the other Prefects, abandoning her plate and falling in step with Draco on his way out the door.
All the Prefects rushed through their rounds, wanting to get back to the dance. Ginny found her way back to the Ravenclaw table after a dance with Tom, who wasn't nearly the dancer Draco had been. She hadn't spotted the Slytherin and was on her way to grab more sparkling pumpkin juice when she felt a hand on her elbow. Turning around she saw Draco and smiled at him.
"Have an uneventful round?" Ginny asked and Draco shook his head. She poured them both some juice and handed him a glass.
"Got accosted by Pansy and had to talk to her; then found some fifth years snogging in a broom closet, so that was fun to break up."
Ginny shook her head, drained her juice and set the empty glass back down, watching it disappear, probably down to the kitchens. She glanced towards the dance floor, seeing her brother over near the balcony with Samantha, both leaning back talking. Harry and Hermione had gone upstairs already and Luna and Neville were glued together in front of the band, barely moving. Ginny found that she wanted to dance again with Draco; that connection she had felt with him earlier that evening was still lingering around her, IN her, and she wondered what that could possibly mean. Maggie had gloated to her and told Ginny that she actually had gotten up the courage to talk to Zabini and actually danced with him. Ginny was happy for her friend, but was already struggling with finding the time in her schedule to draw her the picture she wanted.
Ginny looked at the group of students standing behind Draco and saw Pansy glaring at her; Ginny knew that Pansy was jealous but what could she do? This whole relationship fiasco was between her and Draco.
"She's standing behind me isn't she?" Draco asked, drinking his glass of juice. Ginny's eyes retreated from Pansy and settled on the glass in Draco's hand.
"She is and if looks could kill, we would both be dead," Ginny retorted, then felt herself being steered onto the dance floor this time willingly.
"What are you going to do about her? She doesn't really seem to want to leave you alone," Ginny asked softly. She felt his hand move around hers and she tightened her grip, fully aware of how small her hand felt in his.
"It's the way Pansy is; until SHE is positive that there isn't anything to be saved then she won't move on."
"Lot's of girls are that way."
"Well, Pansy especially. Very clingy, very possessive, manipulative…," Draco explained.
Ginny interrupted, "Like most Slytherin's…the last two traits you mentioned."
Draco pulled away and looked down at her.
"Don't tell me it's not true! You name one Slytherin who ISN'T possessive and manipulative?" Ginny chided him and she could tell Draco was filing through people in his head.
"Well, I wouldn't say all of us have those last two traits, but at least one or the other," she felt him move his arm so he pulled her closer and this time she did lean her cheek on his shoulder, enjoying the dark look that flitted over Pansy's face.
"Ok, I'll give you that."
Ginny was glad when they turned and she wasn't looking at Pansy anymore. She felt herself relax against Draco, and that's when she felt his hand move from her lower back and slowly slide up and rest between her shoulders; almost causing her to gasp out loud at the feelings it brought forth in the pit of her stomach. He bent his head until his lips were almost touching her ear.
"We have quite a few people looking at us," he whispered and Ginny gave a small shiver knowing he felt her do so by the way his hand tightened against hers.
"Like who?" she moved her head so her lips were near his ear, fully aware of how this must look to everyone.
"Your brother, his girlfriend, Pansy, your roommates, that bloke McEwan from your house, Longbottom and even Professor Dumbledore."
"Let them; now that Voldemort is gone, they need something to talk about," Ginny retorted before she could stop herself. He laughed softly in her ear and she swore it was the sexiest sound she had ever heard; a new sound to her ears and it reverberated throughout her whole body. Right then she realized that he was able to educe feelings out of her she never knew she had. Feeling him straighten up, he moved his hand back down causing her to close her eyes for a moment. And for a few moments she absorbed everything she could about this moment. The spicy smell of him, the hardness of his body, the somersaults that went from her neck down to her stomach and back up and the secure feeling she never thought she would ever feel in anyone's arms, let along someone from Slytherin.
"It's almost time to go," he said softly, pulling back and his eyes shifting over her face as if memorizing her freckles.
"Go where?" Ginny asked aware that they had stopped dancing but were still holding each other.
"Back to our rooms," he explained.
Feeling stupid that she had had no idea what he meant, she stepped back, letting her hand drop.
"I do have practice tomorrow, so I should probably make my last rounds soon," Ginny felt him guide her towards the balcony and was glad to feel the cool air against her face.
"Ours is earlier than yours. Snape thought 8 am would be a wonderful time to book the pitch," Draco leaned back against the stone wall and gazed out over the grounds of Hogwarts. Ginny took a few steps away from him and leaned forward against the railing, determined to bring her feelings, hormones and her blushing under control.
"Ours is before lunch," Ginny murmured.
Hearing a female voice, she turned around and saw Pansy emerge onto the shadowy balcony; Draco stepped away from the wall and looked down at her. Ginny wasn't sure if Pansy saw her to the side of the door or not.
"You are a bastard albeit a good looking rich bastard and I hope you rot in hell for what you have done," she got right up in his face and he placed his hands on her shoulders, pushing her away.
"Pansy, it's over. You never loved me, I never loved you. We're free to move on, so do so instead of embarrassing yourself," Draco glanced in Ginny's direction who was leaning back against the rail. Pansy turned around and finally realized that they weren't alone.
"I see you don't waste anytime in moving on, very easy to get someone who is beneath you isn't it"? Pansy hissed, still holding Ginny's level gaze.
"I think the way you are acting is beneath everyone; leave before I toss you over the balcony," Draco said lightly, but his hands were clenched at his sides and Ginny could see he was restraining himself. As if someone was causing her to move, she walked out of the shadows, walked past Pansy, stood next to Draco and actually tucked her hand in his arm.
"I didn't think Slytherins needed to beg, Pansy," Ginny said softly, causing Pansy to make a growling type noise turn around and walk swiftly off the balcony. Ginny dropped her hand from Draco's arm.
"Nice comment," Draco said, his voice expressed a note of respect and Ginny nodded, hearing Dumbledore announce that it was time to retire back to the Common Rooms and Prefects needed to do one last round. Ginny turned around, startled to find him standing right behind her, hands in his robe pockets studying her openly.
"What?" Ginny cocked her head and gave him a wary look.
"I just never thought I would see a Weasley stand up to a Parkinson," he said slowly.
"I could kick her arse if I needed to. Having six older brothers teaches you many things," Ginny said angrily, thinking about Pansy and how she just wouldn't let Draco go and move on.
"I bet; I have been on the receiving end of you and obviously they taught Granger how to throw a punch too," Draco said. Ginny felt a pang of remorse for a second then realized he was joking when he said it.
"Come on, let's make sure everyone it tucked in for the night," Ginny walked into the Great Hall and they followed the flow of students into the hall. Touching her arm lightly he turned and headed down the stairs while Ginny headed upstairs, catching her brother snogging Samantha in the hall. Telling them to get a room, she clamored into her Common Room and headed upstairs, catching Maggie coming out of the bathroom.
"You win," Ginny said as she changed into her nightgown.
"I did, but it sure looked as if you were having fun," Maggie said in an even voice, climbing into bed.
"Maggie's right, Ginny. Whether you see it or not, there is something going on there," Susan echoed, waving her hand and turning off the light as everyone settled in for the night.
"Maybe," was all Ginny would allow and after tossing and turning she fell into a restless sleep, only to be awoken hours later by an insistent Crookshanks.
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"Crookshanks, you are annoying me!" Ginny tried to push him off the bed, wondering how he managed to get into her room. He was pawing at her, so Ginny reluctantly stood up and shivered.
"Hold on cat, let me get dressed really fast, then I will let you back into Hermione's room," she whispered and quickly threw on over her undergarments, a pair of jeans and a sweater. She shoved her feet into her shoes and as she opened the door the cat took off down the stairs. Looking around Ginny caught sight of Ron and was momentarily confused.
"Ron?" Ginny walked across the landing to where Ron was coming down the hall from Hermione's room.
"Get Harry; something is wrong with Hermione-cramps, blood, something," Ron was carrying her and looked very panicked. Immediately she took off at a run up the stairs and barged into Harry's room.
Only three beds had lumps in them and she quickly found Harry lying on his side, glasses on the table next to him. She ran over and shook his shoulder. Sleepily turning over he was the epitome of what a teenager looks like having been woken up after a few hours of sleep.
"What?" He squinted up at her. "Ginny?" his voice rang with alarm as he sat straight up in bed, sheets falling off his bare chest.
"It's Hermione," Ginny tore her eyes from his naked chest and stepped back, thankful he was wearing bottoms.
"Ron is taking her to the hospital wing," she followed him out the door as he struggled into a t-shirt and she grabbed his glasses, handing them to him. Trotting behind him to keep up with him she followed him, heart in her throat, to the hospital wing, seeing the early-to-rise students grabbing breakfast. Bursting into the hospital wing, Harry paused a moment until he found Ron at the end of the aisle.
Ginny saw Harry go to her brother and Samantha then saw him point to a curtained bed. Harry bolted in there and Ginny saw Ron's gaze find her near the doors. He started walking towards her and she met him halfway, pulling him to her.
"Madam Pomfrey is pretty sure she is losing the baby," he whispered in her ear and Ginny squeezed him hard, feeling tears run down her cheeks. She was partially aware of Samantha putting her arms around both of them and they stood like that, holding each other trying to reign in their emotions to be strong for their two best friends. Holding each other for a few minutes helped them calm down and side by side they walked slowly down the aisle, in time to see Harry outside the curtain asking Madam Pomfrey questions.
Ron placed a hand on Harry's shoulder as Madame Pomfrey explained that she most likely lost the baby and he grabbed Harry as he turned blindly away from the healer. Ginny put her hands over her mouth and Samantha sat on the bed motioning Ron to guide Harry to sit next to her. Ginny didn't know what was worse: Hermione losing the baby or Harry sobbing like he had lost his best friend.
Ginny found a chair a few feet away from them and collapsed into it, burying her face in her hands. She heard Ron softly tell Harry they should walk and she heard them getting up off the bed. Looking up, Harry met her gaze and she reached out to squeeze his hand, he squeezed back and followed Ron down to the doors, his posture that of being a defeated man. Slowly, Ginny and Samantha followed the boys but instead of going outside, they made their way upstairs to properly dress and try to eat something.
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Draco led his team outside, yawning hugely along with his teammates.
"Early morning practices suck," Goyle grumbled and everyone agreed with him.
Kicking the door shut after the last of his team filed out of the castle, he walked behind them going over their practice routine in his mind.
A flash of red ahead on the path caught his eye and he saw Ron Weasley sitting on a rock, talking to Potter looking deep in discussion. As they drew closer he could hear his team in front of him start tittering about Potter being outside in a t-shirt on this cold morning. He looked over at the two Gryffindor's and saw such a defeated look on Potter's face and a murderous one from Weasley that he told his team to shut up and just get moving, knowing that whatever happened to Harry Potter was probably one of the saddest things he ever experienced. Frowning, he walked on urging his team to get moving, wondering what could have made such a defeated look present on Potter's face.
The day slowly ticked on as the Slytherin's finished their practice and headed inside to clean up. Harry managed to convince Ron and Ginny to run practice for him as he wasn't leaving Hermione's side. Ginny had never known Harry to miss a practice on his own volition before and was duly impressed with how he protected Hermione.
Ginny tried to keep her mind on practice, but try as she might it keep wandering towards the castle. Ron would yell up at her to pay attention, though not in his usual angry voice that he would have used yesterday. Ginny would halfheartedly wave and throw her thoughts into Quidditch, but her concentration never lasted very long. Her thoughts turning towards her friend in the Hospital Wing; visions of Harry sobbing into Ron's shoulder something she would never ever thought that she would see and she felt that that had scared her the most--to see him lose control like that. She briefly wondered how Ron felt, holding his best friend while he broke down.
During one of her daydreams she didn't notice that she flew into the path of a quaffle. She felt it slam against her side, knocking her off her broom and with a heavy thud she hit the ground. Staring up at the sky she saw Ron's face, along with Dean's appear over hers, Samantha came running over and joined the collage of faces in her line of vision. She couldn't answer their questions right away as she tired to catch her breath that was knocked out of her body.
"Ginny?" Dean asked timidly.
"Fine..," Ginny breathed, experimentally moving her arms and legs, wincing as she moved her neck.
"Dean, take over while I carry my sister to the hospital wing. Samantha, I'll be back. Should've just left you there with Hermione," Ron grumbled, picking her up without any effort.
"Ron, I am fine. Put me down." Ginny pushed against his chest, feeling his arms tighten around her.
"Stop," Ron kicked a Quaffle out of the way and announced he would be back in a minute and to listen to Dean.
"Ron, come on." Ginny struggled to get down.
"Look, Gin, you aren't doing anything out there. Let me take you in to Madame Pomfrey and you can also see how Hermione is doing, ok?" he asked softly, letting his underlying reasons for taking her come to the surface. Ginny sighed but insisted he put her down, rubbing a hand on the back of her neck. For a few minutes neither one said anything as they walked side by side up the path, Ginny limping slightly, Ron's hand on her shoulder.
"Do you think they will be ok?" Ginny asked, stopping to rest for a moment. Ron made a move to pick her up again, but she shook her head.
"In the long run, yes. Now…I guess we just have to be there for them," Ron leaned against the same rock that he and Harry had sat on earlier.
"When did you become so responsible?" Ginny asked, looking up at her older brother, who was looking off into the distance towards Hagrid's cabin.
"I think since last night," Ron answered in such a way that Ginny wasn't sure if he was joking or not.
"What?" Ginny questioned, studying his face.
She had a sudden vision of him and Samantha in the hallway and of them following her into the Common Room; then the realization started sinking in that RON had been in HERMIONE'S room, that she shared with SAMANTHA, that morning. The truth hit her and she had to physically sit down.
"Ohh…," she made a noise that Ron almost didn't hear. Ron's eyes met hers and Ginny smiled at him.
"You really love her."
It was a statement about Samantha. Ron nodded and blushed that famous Weasley blush, looking at his feet.
"I am really happy for you; but please I am NOT ready to be an aunt," Ginny kidded, seeing a slight smile across his face.
"Yeah, well, experiencing this whole," Ron's arm swept towards the castle, "thing with Harry and Hermione, I don't want you to be either." Ron helped Ginny up who was becoming very sore and couldn't walk very fast, which frustrated Ron because he needed to get back to practice. Bypassing Ginny's insistent proclamations that she was fine, he picked her up again. Ginny threw an arm around his shoulders, taking in her brother's profile. He had grown up so much the past six months, shooting well past six feet tall, stubble covering his face if he didn't shave every day, and now he had a serious girlfriend.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard a familiar voice speak her last name. Ron stopped and Ginny turned her head away from Ron's face, saw that they were almost to the castle and Draco was sitting on the steps up to the school.
"Put me down Ron," Ginny hissed in his ear, but Ron ignored her.
"Malfoy," Ron said in the way of a greeting, the first word Ginny had heard him say to Draco in a long time. Ginny saw Draco raise an eyebrow at her then saw him take in her grass stained robes and her hand on the back of her neck.
"Need an escort to the hospital wing?" Draco asked coolly.
Ginny could feel Ron hesitate and she didn't argue, afraid that Ron might say something to ruin this almost civil moment between Gryffindor and Slytherin.
Ron let his sister down and she steadied herself holding onto his arm, hand moving from her neck to her hip, feeling twinges there too. It was the first time she had fallen off her broom and she had no idea how Harry and Ron could survive from the heights that they had fallen from.
Besides the soreness, she could feel the struggle going on inside her brother-should he trust Draco with her?
And she sensed a struggle within Draco as well-being civil wasn't something that came naturally and the Weasley's knew it, but would they accept this offer? She was in the middle, like a bargaining chip and it actually amused her.
"Okay," Ron reluctantly agreed. He turned to Ginny, "I'll be by after practice." Ron nodded at Draco, turned and voiced the command, "Accio, broom." He waited all but three seconds for it to zoom into his hand then took off for the pitch. Draco stood up and grabbed her arm as she steadied herself against the stone wall.
"Should I sweep you off your feet then?" Draco asked lightly, holding her arm as she limped up the rest of the stairs. She stumbled and Draco's hand tightened around her upper arm and he stopped, pulling her towards him. 'I think you already have' Ginny thought but didn't voice that thought.
"Funny," Ginny mumbled sarcastically, then let out a squeak as he swept her up into his arms.
"I can walk," Ginny pushed at his chest but was ignored as he "alohamora'd" the door and walked through it. The truth was Ginny didn't mind being carried. Not just because she was sore, but she was mildly interested in the way his arms felt under her legs and around her back. She saw him up close, so very close that for the first time she could see how long his eye lashes were; that his eyes were really a unique shade of blue…and thought that if she moved her head forward just a bit she could…she didn't even finish that thought as she quickly turned her head forward.
"I've never known you to fall off your broom, or get hit by anything," Draco turned the corner to pass the Great Hall, where students were starting to eat their lunch and make his way down the hall to the Hospital Wing.
"My mind was elsewhere," Ginny murmured, feeling his arm grip her shoulders as he silently ordered the Wing doors to open. Madame Pomfrey looked up from her desk and both could see the surprise that crossed her features before the professional face fell into place.
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Weasley. What brings you here?" She led them down the space between the beds, and motioned for him to lay her down on the one across from Harry and Hermione's. Ginny saw that the curtains were open; Harry was leaning back in his chair, watching them, a hand laying on Hermione's head as she slept away.
"Fell off my broom," Ginny felt Draco's hands linger on her arm for a moment and she blushed as she met his gaze.
"You ok?" a tired voice said from across the room and Draco turned around, visibly surprised to see Harry and Hermione there.
"Fine Harry. Ron insisted I come here, but passed me off to Malfoy on the way." Harry raised an eyebrow.
"She's so "fine", she can't walk normally," Draco threw himself into a chair next to her bed, tallying up another surprise in Ginny's mind.
"How's practice?" Harry asked quietly, standing up and walking to the foot of Ginny's bed, careful to stay out of the way of Madam Pomfrey. Ginny shrugged off her robes, feeling Draco reach out and help her pull her arm out of the sleeve.
Ginny answered Harry after she got done going down her list of sore body parts for Madame Pomfrey. She glanced over at her sleeping friend and felt sadness flood her.
"How's Hermione?" Ginny asked quietly. Harry grabbed the metal bars at the foot of her bed and glanced over his shoulder.
"Sleeping; drained," he answered, being vague because Draco was sitting right there. Ginny winced as she was prodded in the hip, practically jumping off the bed.
"Sit still; let me finish."
"I'm trying," Ginny threw an arm over her eyes, feeling very stupid, that she let down her team.
She was a mix of emotions, it felt like someone had just stuck a spoon in her and stirred up anger mixed with sadness because of what happened to Harry and Hermione; a deflated feeling because she let her team down at practice; and nervousness because Draco wasn't leaving.
Ginny gasped as she felt hands probe her neck, then heard Madame Pomfrey say she would be back with a few potions and a salve for her bruises. Drawing the curtains around her bed, she told Ginny to change into a gown while she went to get her supplies.
Slowly Ginny stepped out of her clothes and into a long white hospital gown, buttoning it down the front. She heard Harry talking to Hermione, then Hermione's quiet voice.
"You ok Gin?" Hermione asked in a tired voice, her dark eyes resting on Draco across the room.
Wisely, he stayed silent, and averted his gaze.
"I'll live," Ginny said from behind the curtain. "You?"
"Same," Hermione echoed.
"Ready Miss Weasley?" Madame Pomfrey balanced a tray in one hand and peeked in the curtain, then pulled it back. She handed Ginny a salve for the pain and said she would be back with the potion to heal the muscle soreness.
"Need help?" Draco asked and Ginny turned her whole body to look at him, feeling the soreness in her neck move to every muscle she had up there. He was stretched out, long legs crossed in front of him, hands clasped on his stomach. Madame Pomfrey was behind the curtain with Hermione and she could hear the low murmur of talking. Sighing, she tossed the bottle into his lap and gathered up her hair wincing as she lifted her shoulders.
Draco sat on the edge of her bed, his leg against her thigh as he squirted some of the salve onto his hand and began to rub it on her neck.
'Oh, sweet Merlin that feels great,' Ginny thought and closed her eyes, loving the feel of his fingers rubbing her neck. He was working his way from the nape of her neck to the base and Ginny almost dropped her hand that was holding her hair up because she felt so relaxed. She wasn't quite sure if it was the salve or just him rubbing her neck and being so close but she wasn't about to complain. Madam Pomfrey came out, saw that everything was under control across from her and headed to her office.
Draco rested his hand on her shoulder and Ginny let her hair drop and dropping her arm into her lap, she realized she needed to rub salve on her hip too.
"Better?" Draco asked his voice close to her ear and she nodded, feeling very relaxed with just a twinge in her hip. She swore she felt him touch her hair as he got up and moved back to his chair. Ginny asked him to shut the curtains while she took care of her hip herself and without comment he did as he was asked.