Disclaimer: Everything in the story belongs to J.K. Rowling and her brillant imagination. All of the songs belong to Evanescence. I'm simply borrowing to write the story.
Author's Note: Wow, its been a long time since I updated this story and I know most of you must
hate me by now. I am sooo incredibly sorry for making you wait this long. The end of my senior year was
absolutely insane but now that summer is here, I finally have some time and I am definitely planning on finishing this
story. I only have 4 more chapters to write and then this is all over. I still feel horrible for not writing in forever
but I made this chapter pretty long so I hope you guys will be happy with the result. I started a new story as well so
I'm gonna bounce between updating the two until this one is finished then I will focus just on that one. Well,
I'll let you guys read now, please please leave me a review and thank you soo much for your patience! Enjoy the
read!
PhoenixFirebolt
The months that followed Ginny's horrific brush with death were ones she would never forget for as long as she lived. As soon as Draco had seen that Ginny was alive, he had raced back to the castle with her in his arms and practically threw the doors down to get her to the Hospital Wing. He had run in, yelling frantically for Madame Pomfrey who came out a few seconds later, looking disheveled and sleepy but almost feinted in shock when she saw the girl in Draco's arms.
Blood was still flowing from the massive cuts on Ginny's wrists and she was as white as a sheet. Barely breathing and just surviving because she knew she shouldn't die. She was only living because of Draco's love for her.
Every other moment was practically a blur. She remembered Madame Pomfrey healing her wounds on the outside but there were some wounds that went too deep for her to heal. Ginny had suffered so much already from her depression and all of her other cuts that many were afraid she was already too far gone. Her family was quickly notified by Professor Dumbledore and they were all in utter shock, along with all of her friends. She vaguely remembered her parents, brothers, Harry, Hermione, Luna, and a few others coming to visit her, all practically in tears and speechless that Ginny had been doing this for years behind their backs and none of them ever realizing it. None of them had known that Ginny was slowly dying, they were too blind to see it.
A week after the incident, her parents decided to move her to St. Mungo's so she could receive therapy and recover not only in body, but in her mind as well. Ginny hated the idea and stubbornly fought them on it but her parents were firm and ignored her pleas. So, she moved to a room at St. Mungo's in the Psychiatric Ward.
And through all of these events and the ones that would continue, Draco stood by her side and refused to leave her once. Ron had gone into hysterics when he had walked into the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts to see Draco Malfoy sitting by Ginny's bed, holding her hand and stroking her hair. Harry had to use all of the strength he possessed to keep Ron back. Only when Draco had looked up and everyone present had seen the tears on his face and still falling from his eyes did Ron back off. Over the next few days after, no words were really spoken to Draco by anyone but a silent truce was made and from that day forth, never again did the Trio hate Draco Malfoy and visa versa.
The months at St. Mungo's dragged on for Ginny but with Draco by her side, she was no longer afraid and was willing to try and start a new life. He was with her at every meeting with one of the Healers, with her during her mental therapy, with her through every painful moment she was forced to relive her past, with her through every tear and hurt. Draco was her constant and morale. He was her love and he was her life. He was the reason she lived and Ginny knew if she ever lost him, she would most definitely die.
The happiest day of her life had come almost 6 months after that fateful day in the Forbidden Forest. Ginny was to be leaving St. Mungo's in a week to finally return home and try to enjoy her summer and prepare for her final year at Hogwarts. She was sitting in her room, going through the mental exercises she was required to do each night to ease her mind when the door creaked open. Ginny turned around in her bed and a bright smile graced her face when she saw who was visiting her.
"Draco!" she exclaimed. She leapt off the bed and ran into his waiting arms. He pulled her into a crushing hug and buried his face in her hair.
"Oh, I missed you," he said softly before pulling away and looking into her mahogany colored eyes.
Ginny laughed playfully at him and shook her head in amusement. "You saw me only yesterday, you goof."
"Just can't get enough of my favorite girl I guess," Draco smiled with a laugh.
Ginny smiled again, amazed at how much he had changed since she had first met him. He had been an absolute spoiled brat, arrogant, cursing everyone, and hating the world. Now he was so loving, gentle, caring, and sweet. He was definitely not the same Draco Malfoy as before, and Ginny absolutely adored the new one.
"Come on," she said, grabbing his hand, "sit down. I was just doing my mental exercises but I think I'm finished for now. Why don't we do something? Want to go for a walk in the garden or help me catch up on my studying?"
Draco shook his head slowly. "No, Gin. I actually can't stay too long tonight. I'm sorry...." he said quickly when she got a sad look on her face, "I really do want to say but, my father......" he glared briefly before sighing deeply, "he finally got out of jail about a month ago. He's very subdued and I really doubt he's planning anything, but, I want to be safe so I'm keeping a very close watch on him, as is the rest of the Order."
"They let him out?" Ginny gasped in shock. "Why?"
"There wasn't enough proof to keep him in there for an extended period of time, though I'm working on that, cause there is so much more about him that no one really knows, I just need real proof," he scowled and his face darkened.
Ginny touched her hand gently to his face and Draco visibly relaxed and calmed himself. He smiled softly at her. "You always have that affect on me."
Ginny blushed and looked away but Draco grabbed her chin and turned her back to face him. "Ginny, I came here cause there's something I need to tell you. I've had it in my head for a long time but I never really knew how to tell you or when the right time was, because of everything that happened I was scared of telling you. But now, I need to say it because its just too important to me."
Draco turned away from her for a second and Ginny dropped her arm back down, staring at him, hoping with all her heart he was finally going to say to her what she had been wishing would leave his lips for the past 6 months.
He finally turned to face her again and Ginny found herself drowning once again in his beautiful silver eyes that were glittering with so much emotion at the moment. "When I first met you, Ginny, I thought you would just be another annoying Weasley. You were so attached to Harry Potter and all you did was worship you. I made fun of you for that and it caused you to hate me. I made fun of you for everything, from your name to your red hair. But deep down I knew there was something different about you. I saw how empty you looked, how much hurt truly reflected in your eyes, and how distant from everyone you seemed. I tried not to care though and I went on ignoring you, just like everyone else. I eventually couldn't though and when I walked up to you in the Great Hall, I knew I was starting something I could never turn back from. I was starting myself on something that I know I will never, ever regret. Over the months that you built your trust in me and spilled all of your pain on to me, I was holding back so much. I realized how much I care for you and how I can never not have you in my life. I never thought I could love a person but I realized I was wrong because I love you and I always will love you. I wanted to cry everytime you hurt yourself and I almost died myself when I found you lying on the forest floor, drenched in your own blood. I can't lose you Ginny so I'm telling you that I love you and asking that you never leave me. Please, I don't think I could survive without you."
Draco stopped his heartfelt words to her and stared at Ginny, waiting for her response, knowing he had just put his heart out on a line. Ginny was staring at him in shock, almost expressionless. Draco shuffled his feet a little and started to stumble out some words, "Um..if you don't feel the same way, I understand....."
"Oh Draco, shut up," Ginny said, a huge smile on her face now.
Draco looked up in shock but his shock became even greater when he saw her face. Ginny didn't wait for his response and instead quickly walked to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. It didn't take long for Draco to respond to the kiss and they soon both found themselves completely lost in it. Eventually Ginny pulled back and stared up into his eyes. "I love you too." Draco smiled brightly at her words and no more words were spoken as they continued with their passionate kissing.
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Ginny stared at the beautiful sunset that was splashing a variety of vibrant colors across the sky from her bedroom window at the Burrow. It had been a month since she had left St. Mungo's. A month since she had cut herself. A month since Draco had told her he loved her. A month since she had last heard from him.
A lone tear trailed its way down her pale skin and fell to the floor. It had been a month since she was truly happy. Draco had left that night, promising to come visit her at the Burrow and telling her he would try and write to her every day. She shouldn't fear being alone though, for he said he would always be with her and in her heart.
Ginny smiled sadly, remembering his last words to her so clearly and the smile he had given her before he had walked out the door. That was what kept her going. When she had arrived back at the Burrow, her family was ecstatic for her return and that she was healthy again. Ginny only cared about one person though, and he was constantly on her mind.
Ginny watched the sun disappear behind the hills and the sky began to turn dark as dusk settled. She got up from her seat by the window and laid down on her bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling. For a month now, that was her ritual every night, stare at the sunset while hoping that maybe one day an owl would arrive, carrying a letter from Draco to her.
No such luck though and Ginny was starting to feel that maybe he had put up an act and had forgotten about her while she was left here to forever dwell on him. She couldn't forget him, not matter what she did. Draco was in her mind morning until night, and even in her dreams. She tossed and turned at night, remembering him and then waking up, shaking with tears racing down her face. Tears glistened in her eyes even now and she fought them back with little strength.
You don't remember me but I remember you
I lie awake and try so hard not to think of you
But who can decide what they dream?
and dream I do...
Ginny sat up and furiously wiped the tears from her eyes. She wouldn't cry again over him like she had every other night. She refused to let this bring her down. But as much as she tried to convince her mind of this, the ache wouldn't leave her. The ache that dwelled in her heart that a part of her was missing and that she needed Draco desperately.
She had never forgotten the words he had said to her at St. Mungo's, when he had professed his love for her. Those words kept her going and kept her believing that Draco truly did love her and that he hadn't left her. Ginny didn't just need him to love her though, she needed Draco to survive, to breath, to keep living, to keep herself from going back to her old ways. He was her strength when she had none, and right now her strength was waning.
I believe in you
I'll give up everything just to find you
I have to be with you to live to breathe
you're taking over me
Ginny bit her lip in desperation and started pacing the room in a frantic, twisting her hands and shutting her eyes tightly to the tears that threatened to spill forth. Draco had done so much for her. He had saved her and noticed her when no other person had taken the time to. He had trusted her and put his faith in her that she could save herself as well. No one had ever loved her as much as she knew he did and she knew her love for him ran deeper than anything. Draco had reached for her hand and pulled her from death so many times but that night in the Forest, when she had seen him desperately trying to save her, she had known he had loved her. That was the love that kept her from dying that very night.
Have you forgotten all I know
and all we had?
You saw me mourning my love for you
and touched my hand
I knew you loved me then
That was the love she was mourning right now and so desperately needing at the moment. She needed Draco to hold her and tell her once again that he loved her. She wanted to kiss him again and feel the love coming from that kiss.
Ginny just wanted to see him again, touch him, know he was real and not just a dream, know that he had come into her life and had saved her.
I believe in you
I'll give up everything just to find you
I have to be with you to live to breathe
you're taking over me
Ginny stopped pacing and looked into the full-length mirror that was hung on her door. She stared at her reflection and closed her eyes in sadness. Even when she looked in a mirror she saw him. He was in everything that she was. Draco had changed her, made her better, made her want to live, and Ginny could see that reflecting back at her.
She couldn't stand to see herself anymore and in a quick fit of anger she grabbed the lamp sitting on her desk and threw it against the mirror. With a loud crash, the mirror and lamp both shattered, crumbling into a million tiny pieces of glass at the foot of her door. Ginny stared at the now blank door with wide eyes, hardly registering what she had just done. Tears again started to cascade down her already wet face. With a sob she turned away from the door and collapsed once more on her bed, all of her strength and will leaving her body and mind.
I look in the mirror and see your face
if I look deep enough
so many things inside that are just like you are taking over
Ginny lifted her blurry eyes once more and stared out the window, which now showed the full moon glowing in the black sky. Its silver light shone down into her room, making her tears shine and the shards of glass glitter.
Ginny shut her eyes from the beautiful sight and clutched her pillow to her chest. Pain and sadness were welling up inside her and the want to release it was slowly beginning to build up inside of her once more. She desperately tried to ignore it but the more she did, the stronger the need became.
"Oh Draco," she sobbed to the silence, "I need you so much. Where are you? Please, find me and help me, I need your strength....and your love."
With those words, Ginny finally fell into an exhausted and restless sleep.
I believe in you
I'll give up everything just to find you
I have to be with you to live to breathe
you're taking over me
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Song: Taking Over Me by Evanescence