Saved

Draco carried Ginny up to the front door of the tumble down shack that had been named the Burrow. It was dark and splashing with rain, but Ginny had fallen asleep in the carriage and try as he would, Ginny would not wake.

He kicked the door a few times and waited for an answer.

"Who's there?" came a shrill voice through the wooden door.

"It's...Draco Malfoy," Draco answered. He wasn't sure that anyone would answer the door to him. But within two seconds someone had lifted the charm on the door and it swung open. It was Mrs Weasley that Draco saw first. She looked from his face to the person in his arms. Ginny's hood was up so Mrs Weasley didn't recognise her. He staggered through the door and through another door until he'd entered a cosy room which he assumed to be the living room. Mrs Weasley slammed the door and charmed it again.

"What the-!" someone cried, jumping out of an armchair facing the fire and pulling out his wand. In the firelight, Draco recognised him as Ron Weasley.

Draco laid Ginny on the settee, and drew her hood back. Ron gaped at Draco, and then dropped his gaze to the person on the settee.

"Is that Ginny?" he whispered, as if he couldn't believe it was true.

"Yes, but don't wake her, she's had a trying journey and her life for the past year and a half has been terrible. She won't be herself and you may not recognise her. But she is Ginny and when she gets used to things, she should be herself in no time."

"How did you find her?" Ron asked, dropping to his knees and cradling Ginny's head in his arms.

"Dumbledore sent me to a muggle contact of his. He'd been double-crossing the Order, and it just so happens that the Death Eaters had sold her as a slave to him," Draco said, rubbing his eyes.

"Is she alright though? Is there something wrong?"

"No," Draco answered. "Not physically. But inside. There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?" Ron asked, his eyes giving away his concern. Draco suddenly felt uncomfortable.

"Well, I gather from the bruises I found on her body that Mr Marsh was accustomed to using Ginny. You know, for sex."

"What?" Ron gasped.

"I'm sorry."

A tear ran down his face. Draco got up and left Ron alone. Mrs Weasley was waiting in the kitchen, sitting at a scrubbed wood table. She was clutching her head in her hands. Draco sat next to her.

"Can I call the others down? Can I see her?" she begged.

"I would give Ron a few minutes. He's very emotional."

"Why?"

"If I were you, I'd wait and ask him yourself," Draco said softly. "For now I have to report back to Dumbledore about the assassination."

Draco stood and lifted the charm from the door.

"Thank you, Draco. You don't know how much it means to me, to have her back. I can't thank you enough," Mrs Weasley said sincerely. She took Draco's hand and kissed him on the cheek, though she had to stand on point because he was extremely tall, and she was extremely small.

"I'm just pleased to return her."

"Yes."

Draco nodded swiftly, and swept out of the door, closing it behind him.

***

Ginny woke in her bed. She smiled as the warm sunlight spilled over her body. She'd been home for a month or so, and she was beginning to feel herself again. She was filling out slowly and her eyes were beginning to glitter. Bruises she had acquired from Mr Marsh were almost gone, and her broken rib was almost healed. But the scars weren't gone. They were still there - shining and they served as a reminder of the terror she'd faced every night when the servants were asleep. She stripped her nightdress off and stood completely naked in front of the mirror. She could see faint yellow outlines on her hips, across her breasts and on her inner thighs. She still had bruises on her neck. There was a scar underneath her left breast where Mr Marsh had bit her. There were also scratch scars on her inner thighs were Mr Marsh had forced her legs open. She ran her fingers lightly over the scars and sighed. She would never look the same again with them.

Just as she was about to dress, her door opened and someone burst in. Ginny jumped and tried to cover herself with her nightdress.

"Harry!" she shrieked.

"Ginny! I'm so sorry, I came to wake you! You're never up this early," Harry explained. He went to turn around, but caught sight of the bruises and scars.

"Harry, get out!" she cried, but he looked completely horrified He slowly walked towards her.

"Ginny...Is this what he did to you?" he whispered, taking her hand. Ginny felt her shyness fall away. Harry only cared about how she'd been hurt, not her body. She dropped her nightdress so he could look. He followed the bruises and scars around her body with his fingers. When he stood back up, Ginny saw tears in his eyes. He kissed her lips gently, and then pulled her nightdress back over her head.

"Harry...I would've stopped him if I could! You can see - by the scars - that I tried," she whispered. Harry nodded, as if he understood, but as he turned to leave Ginny saw a flash in his eyes. She didn't like it.

***

Harry stormed down the stairs from Ginny's room in a rage. He burst into the living room and startled Ron and Hermione, who were kissing passionately on the settee.

"Harry! You need to learn to knock!" Hermione giggled nervously. Harry sat down next to them while Hermione fastened her shirt and pulled her skirt down. Ron tried to fasten his trousers without Harry noticing.

"Ron, you know, people can tell exactly what the pair of you are doing. But at least use your room," he snapped.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, placing her hand gently on his arm.

"Do you have a clue what I just found out? Do you know the extent to which Ginny suffered? I can't believe it," Harry growled. "She's got scars all over her body, and terrible bruises that haven't even healed yet! She's got scratch scars all over her legs, and a bite scar on her chest!"

"How on earth do you know this, Harry?" Hermione asked, looking concerned.

"She showed me them."

"She showed you?" Ron gasped. Harry knew what he was thinking.

"But that's not the worst. Can you remember Malfoy telling us that Ginny had bruises all over her body that he had seen? Well, she's got bruises all over her neck, breasts, stomach, inner thighs and...you know," Harry explained, fumbling over his words.

"I don't get what you're trying to say, Harry," Ron said, but Harry could see that Ron was putting two and two together.

"Well, he saw them! Which means he was looking at her in detail when she was naked!" Harry cried, jumping to his feet. Ron slowly stood up.

"I'm going to kill that ferret," Ron hissed. "How dare he?"

"Boys! I can't see how this is worse than Ginny being raped! Harry, you saw them! Ginny was probably showing him the way she showed Harry!" Hermione protested, grabbing Ron's arm. Ron growled and shook Hermione off. Hermione looked angry. She stormed out of the room into the kitchen. Ron stormed out of the side door, and off down the drive. But Harry was angry. Very angry.

He stomped back up the stairs. Ginny was coming out of her room, but Harry shoved her back in roughly and locked the door behind him. Ginny was getting to her feet after being knocked down, looking extremely angry.

"Harry, what the hell are you doing?" she screamed. Harry pushed her onto the bed and held her hands by her sides, leaning over her.

"You told me you tried to stop Mr Marsh. I believed you. But then I find that on the night of your escape you open your legs to Malfoy! I can't believe it!" he snarled.

"Malfoy? I did not!" Ginny cried, "Harry, get off me!"

Harry ripped her cardigan and slid his hands roughly under her bra. She screamed, but Harry knew no one would hear her. Tears splashed down her cheeks, which infuriated him. So he hit her around the face, and she fell silent. He pushed her skirt up and prized her legs open...

"No - Harry! Please," she begged. Harry hit her in the stomach, and continued.

***