A Chance To Mend

Chapter 5: "It worked!"

She jumps to her feet and attempts to make herself look more presentable. Of course Draco has to find her when she feels like she is going insane.

She opens her mouth to ask what he is doing here. The words die on her lips as he pulls her to him in a fierce embrace.

"It’s really you. God, it’s really you," he whispers as he holds her tightly, taking deep breaths as if trying to inhale her.

He pulls back after a minute to look at her, one hand moving to sweep her hair behind her ear.

"Of course it’s me, Draco. Who else would it be?"

He smiles then, a smile so bright that it scares her coming from him. His eyes are sparkling. "Then..the spell worked."

"What spell? Draco, are you feeling alright?"

He doesn’t seem to hear her.

"I’ve got to tell Blaise," he exclaims, grabbing her hand and pulling her with him as he turns.

As he leads her down the corridor, she cries, "Blaise Zabini? Have you gone nuts??!"

He doesn’t speak as he leads her through the Slytherin common room. Pansy Parkinson is seated on the black leather couch.

"Pansy, Pansy, have you seen Blaise?"

The blonde girl looks up from the book she is holding. "Yes, she–" Her words break off and her eyes widen as she sees Ginny. "What the–?"

"Never mind," Draco says impatiently. "Where is Blaise?"

"She’s in her room, studying, as usual."

"Then go get her," he says shortly, the old edge creeping back into his voice.

Pansy nods mutely, sets down the book, and throws another bewildered look at Ginny before running up the spiral staircase to their left.

"Let’s sit down," Draco says suddenly. She lowers herself onto the couch beside him, slowly, hesitantly. What the hell is everyone smoking today?

A few minutes later, a tall girl with dark hair steps off the stairs. She looks over at Draco, and when her eyes fall on Ginny her jaw drops.

Draco smiles broadly at her. "It worked, Blaise. It worked."

The girl steps toward them, stopping a few feet away. She gazes at Ginny as if Ginny is a new species in herself.

"Oh my..."

"It actually worked," Draco repeats.

Blaise continues to stare, Draco continues to smile, and Ginny feels her patience draining. Finally, after what seems like an eternity of awkward silence, she takes a deep breath and jumps to her feet.

"Could someone PLEASE tell me WHAT THE HELL is going on??"

They both blink at her, their expressions bemused.

"STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT! Why is everyone looking at me like that??"

"We’re sorry, Ginny, it’s just..so hard to believe that you’re back," Blaise says softly.

"Back from where?? I haven’t been gone!! Has everyone in this school gone fucking INSANE? First, my brother fucking attacks me, then, the whole of Gryffindor house gawks at me like a zoo animal, I get told that I’m dead, of all things, Draco drags me off like a kid leading their mom to a new toy in a department store, and now you are staring at me like you’ve never seen me before and saying ‘It worked!’ Well I’m just a little confused, and I would appreciate being told what the hell it was that ‘worked’ so well and WHY everyone seems to be under the impression that I’m DEAD!!"

There is another moment of silence in which Draco and Blaise exchange glances. Draco nods his head and Blaise sighs.

"Because," she begins, "Up until yesterday, you were."

Ginny feels the adrenaline rush leaving her. Her pulse is slowing, her breathing steadying, and the reality of what was just said slowly sinking in.

A knot forms somewhere in her gut. She is having trouble finding her voice.

"W-what?"