Trust Me

Chapter Six: To Nurse a Wounded Heart

A week had passed, and while the pain that Ginny had felt after first breaking up with Harry had subsided it had by no means disappeared completely, just diminished into something she could manage ... most of the time. Ginny's life continued, much as it had before Harry had cheated on her -- she went to class, mucked around with Luna in History of Magic, ate dinner with her friends, did her homework -- albeit without Harry by her side, joking and laughing with her.

For the most part she ignored him and avoided him as much as she could, which wasn't difficult. Harry seemed to be keeping as far away from her as possible. He spent most of his time on the Quiddich pitch with Ron (who was keeping decidedly neutral in this whole affair), or talking to Professor Lupin, who had taken over the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor while their other teacher, Professor Varick, was somewhere in Ukraine trying to track down a handful of Death Eaters who had reportedly been sighted there.

Ginny sighed as she walked across the castle grounds towards Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures class. Halfway there a particularly strong gust of wind blustered passed, grabbing at a couple of pieces of stray parchment that she had precariously slotted inside a couple of textbooks and whisked them out of her grasp.

Swearing coarsely under her breath Ginny chased after them. She caught up to them a few meters before they reached the lake and were ruined. Looking up she suppressed a sniffle, as she saw that directly ahead of her, across the lakes smooth waters, was the place were she first told Harry she loved him. Coincidently, it was also the place where she had had that first conversation with Draco Malfoy.

Ginny wondered that if that conversation had never taken place whether of not Malfoy would have bothered telling her of Harry's betrayal. Did she wish that Malfoy had never told her? Yes ... and no. On one hand if she had never found out about Harry's rendezvous with Cho then Harry would be with her right now. Well, maybe not right now, but he would be waiting for her after her lesson had finished eager for a quick kiss and to walk her to her next class. On the other hand, if she had never known, their relationship and everything to do with it would have been based on a lie and tainted by her boyfriend's deceit. And Ginny couldn't stand the thought of that.

Brushing her hair from her eyes and tucking it behind her ears Ginny headed to the other side of the lake, her books lying forgotten on the grass behind her and all thoughts of school gone from her mind.

The sun was shining warmly and the sky was a cerulean blue colour. For a while Ginny could forget all about her recent problems and the troubles in her heart. As she skirted the edge of the lake, scuffing her brown school shoes across the sandy ground, she kept her mind pleasantly blank. Ginny had learnt that the best way for her not to dwell on her recent heartache was for her not to think at all.

As Ginny emerged from a particularly dense section of trees to approach the spot that she had begun to think of as her sanctuary, her special spot where she could go to escape the world - despite the bad memories that it stirred in her mind - she was put-out to notice that it was already occupied. A sliver of silver-blonde hair just evident from the other side of a tree revealed the identity of the intruder. "Shouldn't you be in class?" she asked coolly.

He was startled, but recovered quickly, turning his cool grey eyes to face her. "I could ask you the same question," Malfoy replied smoothly.

Ginny sighed, heavily. She wasn't in the mood to trade barbs with Draco Malfoy today. And even if she was, her mind was refusing, point blank, to supply her with an intelligent comeback.

She sat down and leant her back against a nearby tree so that she wasn't completely facing him but could still see him clearly from the corner of one eye.

"How are you feeling?"

Ginny was startled by the sincerity of the question and was, for a moment, stuck for a reply. "I'm coping," she answered finally, "a lot better than I thought I would when I first ... found out."

He nodded slowly. "Have you talked about it yet? I mean, really talked about it?"

She shook her head, blowing a wisp of hair from her eyes. "No," she replied. "I've tried talking to Hermione but she's in a difficult position right now, being Harry's friend as well. She's caught between wanting to bash the crap out of him with her copy of A History of Magic as a retribution for how I'm feeling, and wanting to forgive him because that, apparently, is what best friends do. And I can't seem to keep Luna's interest for more than a couple of minutes. She cares, but relationships aren't exactly her forte."

Draco stifled a snort. "Unless you count her love affair with the Crumple-Horned Snort Nack as a relationship."

Ginny shot him a dark look and put on a superior voice. "Actually it's the Crumple-Horned Snorkack, not Snort Nack, or whatever it was you said."

Draco laughed and the sound brought a smile to Ginny's lips and a warm feeling to her stomach. It had been ages since she'd been able to make anyone laugh, let alone Draco Malfoy. She didn't think she'd heard him really laugh in all the time she'd known him, except for the occasional spiteful snicker whenever he got the better hand of Harry or another Gryffindor.

Draco sobered up and asked her in all seriousness, "Do you want to talk about it."

Ginny looked up in surprise. "You mean, talk to you? Malfoy, we're hardly the best of friends."

"I know," he replied. "But I don't think you can really class us as enemies anymore. And I don't have any trouble siding with you against Potter. You can bash him all you want and I won't say a word, except to agree with you. Call it therapy, at a very reasonable price."

Ginny smiled softly and stretched out her legs in front of her. "Alright," she complied turning to face him completely.

***

Draco smirked in self-satisfaction, but quickly turned his head so Ginny wouldn't notice. He was feeling awfully pleased with his performance so far. The bullshit he was feeding her was so thick that he almost believed it himself. Part of his mind wondered whether most of what he was saying to her stemmed from a natural acting ability or if it was simply instinct. It was a small part though, and easily squashed.

Draco moved the position of his back against the tree so he was now looking at her straight on. "So, where do you want to start?"

Ginny shifted uncomfortably, not making eye contact. "Um," she began nervously. "Well, I guess this all started when Harry began to prioritise his time mucking around with my brother over the time he spent with me." She looked up. "I mean, of course I understand that he's Ron's best friend but it came to a point where it seemed as though every time I wanted to do something with him he already had a prior arrangement with Ron. It's like I had to book an appointment beforehand if I ever wanted to see him or organise something." She exhaled in frustration and began to chase a nearby ladybug around with a twig.

"Hmm," Draco said, trying in vain to look studios and important while at the same time keeping a straight face. "So, how does that make you feel?" He asked in such a manner that Ginny was reminded of a muggle shrink.

She burst out laughing. "For heavens sake Malfoy, are you taking this seriously!?" she asked wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

"Not one bit," he responded with a cheeky grin. "So why did you stay with him?" he asked her after the mood had sobered down again.

Ginny shrugged, knowing that it was a question that she didn't really have an answer for. It was also a question she should have asked herself long before now. "I guess, well, I thought I was still in love with him." Draco raised his eyebrows questioningly. "And, I guess I still was - but I was in love with the Harry I first met, when he first asked me out, not the Harry who'd fobbed me off with excuses so that he could go play Quiddich with my brother."

Draco nodded silently. When Ginny realised he wasn't going to say anything she took a deep breath and continued. "And I guess I thought I owed it to him." Draco snorted in disbelief. "Well I did in a way." She elaborated. "He was the one that really got me to open up to the world, instead of remaining the quite, frightened little girl I know I was before I met him. He was the one who saved me from Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets." Draco looked thoroughly uncomfortable at the mention of the incident which his father had helped bring about. "I was so scared, Draco, when I realised Riddle planned to kill me. And I was so alone and I thought I was going to die. But then he came and I just knew everything was going to be alright."

"Maybe he did save your life. Maybe you should be grateful to him. But that doesn't mean you need to spend the rest of your life following him around like some sick puppy in need of a master. You're stronger than that Ginny." Draco didn't even notice that he'd slipped into using her first name, just like Ginny hadn't noticed when she's spoken before.

Ginny nodded, conceding that he had a point. "I know that," she replied. "But now that Sirius is gone -"

"Who?"

Ginny looked at him suspiciously. She wasn't prepared to believe that Draco had no idea of the identity of Harry's former guardian. She was willing to bet her life that Lucius Malfoy knew of him, and it was more that likely that he would have told his son. "Sirius was Harry's godfather." She explained anyway. "He died last year. Harry hasn't really got over it. He still has nightmare's sometimes, even though it's been months since it happened and I honestly believe that Harry thinks he's somehow still alive, even though that's impossible."

Draco chewed on his bottom lip as he processed this latest piece of information. Harry Potter was still distraught a grieving over the death of his beloved godfather. That was a piece of information that would be useful to store away in the depths of his mind for future consideration. He kept his face carefully impassive. He couldn't let Ginny realise just how important that last fact had been to him.

"So, you think that because Harry came to your aid in your hour of need, you should be there for his." He supplied.

Ginny nodded. "Something like that."

Draco exhaled softly and looked at her. She had her face turned away from him, towards the still depths of the nearby lake. The sun was shafting gently through the clouds to reflect off her coppery hair and make it shine even brighter than usual. Her eyelids where half closed over her green eyes, making her whole being appear to be serene and relaxed. She really is something, he thought idly before shaking the imposturous though from his mind.

Ginny seemed to be snapped out of her reverie when she notice him watching her. She eyed him quizzically as if silently asking why he had been staring at her. When he didn't say anything she looked down at her feet, seeming to become exceedingly uncomfortable. The awkward silence lengthened, and Draco racked his brains for something, anything, to say but couldn't come up with anything that would justify him opening his mouth.

The silence lengthened. Finally Ginny stood up, brushing a couple of stray blades of grass from her robes. "I should get back," she said quietly. "Class is almost finished and Hermione will wonder if I'm not at lunch."

Draco nodded, quelling the feeling in his stomach that was hoping she'd stay. "I'll see you around then," he answered, hoping his voice sounded as casual as he meant it to.

Ginny gave a small smile and turned to leave.

"Ginny wait!"

She turned again, her brow creased in confusion.

Draco cleared his throat, wondering what he was getting himself in to. "I was wondering, well it's Hogsmeade this weekend, and if you're not going with anyone else ..."

She looked startled. "Um ..."

"It's okay," he said quickly, trying to keep his cool. "You're probably going with Hermione,"

"No I'm not," she replied. "She's staying back to study in the library." She gave him a knowing smile. "That'd be nice. Thanks,"

With this she turned and left the clearing. Draco waited until she had disappeared completely before letting the broad smile drift onto his face. He hadn't planned to ask her to come with him. It had been a completely spur of the moment decision, but it had worked out perfectly. Now he'd have a whole day to get inside her head and find out whatever information he could about Harry.

And the fact that you'll be spending the entire day with *her* has nothing to do with the smile on your face, does it?

"Shut up," he told the traitorous voice in his head.

Shit. He was talking to himself. He must be going crazy.