Identity Revealed
The sound of giggling made Ginny look up from her homework. She fought back the urge to roll her eyes at the scene that met her eyes. Hermione had somehow gotten a hold of Harry�s glasses and was being chased around the common room by a stumbling (and probably half blind) Harry. Then, when he caught up with her, he knocked her over onto the couch and Ginny looked away, not really wanting to know what they were doing anymore.
�Get a room,� Ron�s voice came from across the room. Ginny glanced up in time to see Harry and Hermione sit up, both looking a tad flushed.
�Sorry, can�t afford one,� Hermione said, grinning. �I figured no one would mind.�
�We mind!� said everyone else in the common room.
�Oh fine,� Hermione pouted, �we�ll just go to the Astronomy Tower after the ball.�
Harry jumped slightly, backing away from Hermione. �You�re not serious, are you?�
�Oh come on Harry,� Hermione pleaded. �It�ll be fun. Besides, I thought this was the kinda thing guys liked to brag about.�
�But�I�� Harry stammered, turning red.
�Oh Harry, you know I�m kidding,� Hermione said, kissing his cheek. �You know I�m saving that for the night of graduation.�
�Ugh, I think I�m gonna be sick,� Ron groaned, clutching his stomach. �Let�s please go down to the Great Hall now. You coming Ginny?�
Ginny immediately looked back down at her homework, shaking her head. �No, I�ve got a paper for Transfiguration due after holidays.�
�Oh come on Ginny,� Ron pleaded. �For crying out loud, it�s Saturday! Hell, it�s the Yule Ball! Besides, if you don�t come, I�ll be stuck with these two all night.�
�No can do,� Ginny said, not even bothering to look up. After arguing for about fifteen minutes, Ron finally gave up and the three left. The rest of the common room also emptied slowly as people started heading downstairs for the Yule Ball.
When everyone was gone, Ginny went back to her homework. Her assignment was to research the use of illegal spells to transfigure trees into broomsticks. Apparently, some witches and wizards thought it too costly to process the wood to make several brooms. This was a major problem, as it meant that more trees had to be used to make fewer brooms and hundreds of forests were being cleared to keep up with demand.
Ginny looked down at her half completed homework and sighed heavily. She wasn�t going to get any more work done tonight. She had too much on her mind. What she really needed right now was to take a walk to clear her head.
She considered going down to the Yule Ball but dismissed this idea quickly. She really wasn�t in the mood to watch Hermione hang all over Harry. Finally, she decided she�d take a little walk outside.
She thought about taking a cloak, but decided that she wouldn�t be out for long. She walked downstairs to the Entrance Hall and out onto the grounds. It was colder than she�d expected. She shivered slightly, but didn�t go back inside. Instead, she pulled her robes more tightly around her and started off.
The going was tough. On the way down the front steps, she had to grab the railing several times to keep from falling on the ice. Then, once on the grounds, she had to walk through about half a foot of snow. She tried to ignore the fact that her feet were numb with cold and trudged on.
Suddenly, Ginny heard a crack and jumped back suddenly. When she looked down, she saw a small hole filled with water in the ground where her foot had been just a second before. She�d almost walked right out onto the iced-over, snow covered lake.
Ginny sighed and sat right down in the snow. She was already numb all over and barely noticed the cold. She saw something white flash past her eyes and realized that it was starting to snow.
Ginny stared out over the frozen lake, lost in thought. Everything just seemed so simple out here. Out here, there was no homework, no teachers, no people brushing her aside. All that existed was the lake, the silence, and the snow, swirling around her in thick blankets, blocking out all other sights. She was starting to feel extremely tired�
�No,� Ginny whispered, shaking her head and standing up shakily. She couldn�t fall asleep. She�d read about this. If a person fell asleep in these conditions, they�d likely never wake up. She had to go back inside to stop this from happening.
But she didn�t want to leave.
You don�t have to leave, the voice said. Ginny looked back out over the lake and then up toward the castle, almost invisible in the blizzard. What did she really have to go back to? Friends who just brushed her aside? A family where it seemed there was no one who would listen to her? A person who pretended to worry about her but wouldn�t even tell her their name?
Barely conscious of her actions, Ginny stepped forward. The ice held up under her feet, so she took a few more steps. There was a loud crack and Ginny�s foot sank into the icy water. She lost her balance and toppled forward. She hit the ice hard and slipped into the water completely as the ice cracked beneath her. She had a glimpse of the murky, black water before she plummeted into darkness.
~~~~~~~~~~
Draco stood off to the side of the Great Hall, looking out the window. He always hated the Yule Ball. It was just an excuse for a few choice couples to show off who they�d gotten for a date.
�Drakie, this is boring!� Pansy Parkinson whined, moving her chair up right next to Draco�s. �Come on, let�s go dance!�
�You go,� Draco said, not taking his eyes off the window.
�Fine,� Pansy said angrily, �I�ll just go dance with some random guy.�
�Go ahead,� Draco said absentmindedly, not even listening to her anymore.
Pansy left in a huff and, moments later, was seen dancing past with Taylor Nott, another 7th year Slytherin.
Draco sighed as he continued to stare out the window. He saw a few snowflakes drift past the window but didn�t think much of it. After all, it was winter. Then, he spotted something moving across the grounds. He squinted and realized that it was Ginny. What was she doing out there?
One thing was for sure. Draco wasn�t going to wait around to find out. He got up and moved quickly toward the door. He got to the Entrance Hall and went outside, sliding down the steps and cursing as he fell and scraped up his hands really badly. He got up and started walked faster as the snow started falling more rapidly. Within minutes, his vision was reduced to just a few feet.
Then, Draco heard something that made him stop cold. A loud splash from somewhere up ahead.
�Ginny,� he muttered and ran forward, no longer caring about the snow. He spotted the edge of the lake just in time to skid to a halt. He squinted through the snow and saw a faint outline where the ice had been broken.
Barely aware of what he was doing, Draco fell to his knees and plunged his hand into the lake. The water was cold as ice and stabbed at his wrist like tiny needles, but he didn�t pull his arm back. He swept his hand through the water, praying to get something, anything.
In answer to his prayers, he felt his fingers close around something that felt an awful lot like a wrist. He pulled his arm out of the water and found that he was indeed holding someone�s wrist. He reached his other arm into the water, felt around until he found another arm, and pulled. Ginny�s head came up to the surface and Draco grabbed her by the shoulders, dragging her up onto shore.
�Please,� he muttered, �please don�t be dead.� He felt her wrist for a pulse, but all that he felt was cold, limp skin. He looked up at her face and realized that her lips were turning blue and her skin had gone very pale.
Draco carefully slid his arms under Ginny�s limp form and lifted her up off the ground, getting up. This proved to be very difficult, as he seemed to have lost all feeling in his legs. Nevertheless, he stood and started toward the school, knowing very well that if he fell down, he probably wouldn�t be able to get back up.
He didn�t remember much about the trip up to the school. It was all a blur. It seemed that in an instant he was at the hospital wing for the second time that year, once again having to kick the door with his foot.
�Who is it?� Madam Pomfrey�s voice said from the other side of the door.
�Draco Malfoy,� Draco answered quickly, �please let me in. It�s Ginny.�
The door was thrown open immediately. Madam Pomfrey took one look at Ginny and pointed to the bed nearest the door. �Bring her over here,� she said.
Draco stumbled into the room and carefully lowered Ginny onto the bed. Then he collapsed into a chair, shivering.
�Oh dear,� Madam Pomfrey muttered to herself as she rushed over to the cabinet, grabbing a huge stack of blankets. She gave a couple to Draco, who gratefully wrapped them around his shoulders, and took the rest over to Ginny.
�Sh�she f�fell in the l�l�lake,� Draco stuttered through chattering teeth.
Madam Pomfrey pulled out her wand and pointed it at Ginny. �Suscitatio,� she said. A burst of white light exploded from her wand, hitting Ginny�s throat and seeming to make her pale skin glow. Then, slowly, she opened her eyes.
�I�d move out of the way if I were you,� Madam Pomfrey said.
Draco wondered what she meant, but stood up and backed up anyway. He was immediately glad he�d done so as Ginny rolled over, bent over the side of her bed, and was promptly sick all over the floor not far from where Draco had been sitting.
�Ugh,� Draco groaned. Madam Pomfrey waved her wand and the mess disappeared instantly.
�Come on,� Madam Pomfrey gestured for Draco to come forward again. �I think she�s done now.�
Draco hesitated for a moment but finally stepped forward. The floor was clean now, but he still tried to avoid the spot.
Ginny sighed and sat back up. Draco wondered why she didn�t notice him at first, but then realized that her eyes were closed again. �What happened?� she asked, coughing.
�You almost drowned,� Madam Pomfrey said, feeling Ginny�s forehead. �I�ll have to get you a potion to treat your frostbite and to keep you from catching pneumonia. I believe Professor Snape has some left from the last time this happened. You two may talk until I return.� She left the room.
�You couldn�t just leave well enough alone, could you?� Ginny said once Madam Pomfrey was gone, making Draco jump.
�What do you mean?� Draco asked.
�You think I don�t know that you were the one who brought me here last time?� Ginny asked. �You do know that, as soon as I open my eyes, I�ll know who you are, don�t you?�
�Yes,� Draco said. He actually hadn�t thought about it, but he did know.
�I�ll give you time to leave, if you like,� Ginny said, keeping her eyes tightly shut. �I don�t even know if you�re still here now, so I�m just going to talk. Madam Pomfrey told me you stayed with me the last time.�
�I did,� Draco interrupted.
�No,� Ginny said quietly, �my brother was here and he said there was no one else.�
Draco didn�t know what to say to this without telling who he was, so he just stayed silent.
�But even if you did stay,� Ginny continued, �you left before I woke up. And now it comes down to this. I�m going to open my eyes now. Let�s see if you�re still there.� She turned her head toward Draco, opened her eyes, and gasped softly.
�Not exactly what you were expecting?� Draco asked, looking down at the ground.
Ginny sat up and backed up as far as she could without falling off the bed. �What the hell are you playing at, Malfoy?� she asked, her face contorted in pain.
�Please, just lie back down,� Draco said, standing up and reaching a hand out toward her. �You�re going to hurt yourself.�
�Don�t touch me!� Ginny screamed. Draco was glad that everyone was down in the Great Hall and, therefore, not in hearing range.
�Fine, I won�t,� Draco said, backing away and holding his hands up. �I just don�t want you to hurt yourself.�
Ginny eyed him suspiciously but finally laid back down, breathing like she�d just run a marathon. �Who do you think you are?� she asked once she�d calmed down a bit.
�What do you mean?� Draco said, confused.
�You know perfectly well what I mean,� Ginny said icily. �I�m sure that you only brought me in here because I didn�t want to come here. If I�d been poisoned by someone else or had fallen in the lake on accident, you would�ve just left me.�
�Hey,� Draco said, �I told Madam Pomfrey that you fell in the lake, because I knew that if I told her you�d jumped in then you�d be in trouble.�
�Oh well, that�s so much better,� Ginny said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. �So as an added bonus you get to play the hero?�
�I��
Ginny held up her hand to silence Draco. �I hear what you have to say, and it�s nothing. You were right in your letter. I�m not pleased to know who you are. I�d be happier if I didn�t know.�
�Ginny�� Draco started, reaching out to touch her arm.
�I said don�t touch me!� Ginny hissed, making Draco jerk his arm back immediately. �And don�t call me that. You have no right to call me anything other than what you always have. Now, please leave.�
�But��
�What am I suddenly mumbling that I have to repeat everything for everybody?� Ginny asked. �I said get out!�
�All right, I�ll leave,� Draco said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a bracelet, �but please take this as proof that I sometimes think of others besides myself. And, before you start thinking it, it�s not cursed. If there�s one thing I�m not, it�s a liar.� He dropped the bracelet on the table, turned around, and left without looking back.
Once outside, Draco pulled up his sleeve to look at his own bracelet, identical in appearance to the one he�d given to Ginny. �Enchanted, yes,� he muttered quietly, covering the bracelet back up, �but not cursed.�
~~~~~~~~~~
Ginny sighed and covered her eyes for a few minutes, suddenly aware that she was getting a headache. She pulled her covers up to her chin and shivered. Madam Pomfrey came back just then carrying a potion bottle.
�Where is Mr. Malfoy?� Madam Pomfrey asked, looking around.
�He left,� Ginny said stiffly.
�Oh, I wish he would�ve waited for a bit,� she said, shaking her head. �I wanted to make sure he didn�t get frostbite.�
�I hope he does,� Ginny muttered darkly.
�What�s that dear?� Madam Pomfrey asked as she measured out a glass of the most revolting looking, bright pink potion Ginny had ever seen.
�Nothing,� Ginny said quickly. Then she thought for a moment and asked, �Why didn�t you tell me that Malfoy was the one who brought me last time?�
�He asked me not to,� Madam Pomfrey answered simply, setting the potion bottle down. �Why?�
�No reason,� Ginny looked down at her clenched fist.
�Here,� Madam Pomfrey held the glass of potion out to Ginny. �Drink this. I�ll have to keep you hear tonight for observation, but, if all is in order, you�ll be allowed to leave tomorrow. Call me if you need anything or if anybody shows up.� She went to her office, leaving Ginny alone.
Ginny sniffed the potion and choked as a smell like rotting fish hit her full force. She pinched her nose and swallowed the potion in one gulp. Amazingly, it didn�t taste half bad compared with some of the potions she�d had in the past. She set the glass down on the table and leaned back.
Malfoy had asked Madam Pomfrey not to tell her that it was him. Ginny didn�t have to think too hard to know why. Something like this would tarnish his reputation. That wasn�t something Malfoy would risk. It was why, even in his letters, he�d kept his identity secret. He hadn�t revealed himself until he had to.
But he didn�t have to, a new voice said, one so different from the other that had overpowered Ginny�s thoughts recently. You gave him the chance to leave, but he didn�t. And besides, maybe he didn�t tell you because he knew how you�d react.
Ginny looked once more to her clenched fist and now opened her hand to look at the bracelet. It was very beautiful, made with stones that she recalled from Potions class to be tiger�s eye.
�Maybe�� she whispered, admiring the way the light bounced off the reddish stones. Then she forced herself to turn away, shutting her eyes to prevent any tears that might threaten to fall. No, it couldn�t be. Malfoy would always be just that: Malfoy. She was a fool to think that he could be any different.
Yet, even so, the voice�s words stuck with her so that she finally let out a defeated sigh and slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.
_________________________________________________________
Author's note: Don't you just want to strangle her? Okay, maybe not that far, but still...
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