When Worlds Collide

Chapter Five: A Second Meeting and Tragedy

She had been fine all day. Ginny had refused to let her friends see how upset she was; she got through the rest of lunch with a smile plastered on her face. Afterward she declined Harry and Ron's invitation to get in some more quidditch practice, due to the fact that she still needed to get her assignments finished. Hermione did not seem to notice that for all her headstarting the night before, Ginny did not seem to have much work done at all. In fact Hermione even offered her services with Ginny's potions essay.

But after all that faking, she couldn't handle being alone with herself. That night, Ginny arose from bed once more, to roam the hallways. She found herself in a familiar spot, and was surprised to find a familiar person occupying it. Draco sat on the windowsill, calmly looking out at the night sky. Ginny wasn't sure what to do, he didn't seem to notice her presense and she felt awkward now that she realized just who it was she wanted to talk to.

"Erm....hi," Ginny tried.

Draco turned to look at her with not so much as the smallest bit of shock on his face. He applauded himself, "Draco, old boy, seems you can keep the ladies wrapped around your little finger. I was beginning to think you weren't showing up."

Ginny ignored the obvious insult to her and her gender, and also didn't question why Draco had expected her to be there that evening.

"Can I...sit with you?"

Good, Draco thought. Girl still knows her place...

"I suppose..."

Ginny sat down next to Draco on the windowsill. They both remained silent for several minutes. It wasn't the same comforting silence of the previous night. Ginny sat, wishing she could come up with something terribly witty to say, and Draco sat, wrestling with his new found morals.

More time passed by.

"Talked to your father lately, Weasel?"

"What?"

Draco stood and walked away from Ginny without a backwards glance.

The youngest Weasley remained on the windowsill, watching Draco's back make it's way down the hall and wondering at what he had said. My father? She couldn't figure out what it could mean. Why would Draco Malfoy care if she'd spoken with her father lately? Ginny sat...and sat...and started to get a sick feeling in her stomach. This didn't feel right. It had to mean something and she didn't feel too hopeful about it. Ginny stood up rather suddenly and made her way to the owlry, hoping not to be seen by Filch or Mrs. Norris.

Throughout her journey to the owlry Ginny turned over thoughts in her head while her stomach turned over her dinner. She'd just send a quick owl to the Burrow, asking about Dad and Mum...nothing too suspicious or frightening. Just to make sure that her father was okay. After several thousand stairs (or so it seemed) Ginny entered the lofty owlry and called to one of the slumbering school owls. The creature was cranky, but obedient. Ginny found a quill and some parchment on a supply table and wrote out her note.

Dear Mum and Dad-

Had a nightmare and couldn't sleep. I thought of you and figured I'd send a quick owl. How are you mum? And how's dad? Hope everything is fine at the Burrow.

Be safe,

Ginny

Ginny had unconciously darked the letters spelling "dad". She tied the note to the owl's leg and watched as it flew away, blending into the black sky. Slowly, she turned and made her way out back to bed.

The next morning Ginny woke up to find that her stomach was still carrying boulders in it. She quickly dressed and made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast, preparing herself for her first day of classes. Magical Healing first. Ginny didn't know how she felt about seeing Draco after the odd meeting the night before. Breakfast was quick, just a piece of toast and some orange juice. Before she new it, Ginny was walking to her healing classroom and arriving a few minutes early. She stood outside the door and waited for the other students to arrive. After about five minutes there was a lively crowd waiting in front of the healing classroom. Professor Edwards opened the door and allowed the students to enter. He pulled Ginny out from the crowd and into a corner of the classroom with his back shielding the girl from her classmates' gazes.

"Ginny...," the Professor started, his eyes darting from her face to a rather interesting spec on the wall,"the Headmaster wishes to speak with you, you're to report to his office immidiately."

"What is this about, sir?" Ginny asked.

Professor Edwards paused. "Just go, Ginny."

Draco stared as Ginny was pulled aside by the healing professor. Oh no...

Draco did not know why the thought of Ginny hurt bothered him so much, but it did. He watched as the redhead exited the classroom looking shaken and anxious. He could not focus on the lesson that Professor Edwards began a moment later.

"Ron...Ginny...," Dumbledore said to the siblings as they sat down before him.

"What's wrong?" They both asked simultaneously.

"It's your father...he's been attacked. I'm afraid he's passed on."