[HP] Three thousand days of innocence

Faint disbelief turned to confusion, which led to frustration—and by Friday, Ginny was furious with Draco.He doesn't have any ability now, but he still wants to bite the hand that is willing to feed him?Of course he had a right to mourn the loss of his mother, and Ginny knew how terrible it was to lose a close relative, but it was too much.At first, she vented her anger by breaking a few things every night when she came home.However, the only way to get it out is - well.She knows what to do.

It started on Tuesday when Harry approached her for a confession. "I already told you, Draco has amnesia." She rolled her eyes. "Besides, he won't talk to me. I thought you might try."

"Don't you think amnesia is bullshit?" Harry asked sullenly. "Honestly, Ginny—"

"Did you hear what I said? I mean listen carefully," she snapped. "He remembers shit, Harry. He won't confess to anything, because there's nothing to confess." She put away a pile of papers, ready to re-file. "Seriously though, someone needs to talk to him about this case. He's an idiot and I've had enough."

"Okay," said Harry angrily. "I'll get Ron to come down. We've also got Lucius Malfoy's owl, and their lawyer is coming to talk to Malfoy later this week."

That afternoon, Ron came back from Draco's cell in a huff. "What's going on?" Ron called. "I never thought I'd say that, but I want the old better Malfoy!"

Ginny snorted. "What did he do?"

"He's just ignoring me," Ron complained. "He said he wouldn't talk to anyone but you, Ginny. He was very insistent. I told him you wouldn't see him, and he got mad at me and started screaming. Damn, my ears are ringing now .I think he cast a loud spell on the voice, he's very loud." He dug his ears with his fingers. "Kim, you'd better go see him. He's totally unreasonable right now."

"But I have a lot of paperwork to deal with," she complained. "The court needs to make an appointment, and the media to be present must be selected—"

"Oh, damn it," said Ron.

This went on for days: someone would go and talk to Draco, intending to give him an overview of the case and make him understand what he was accused of, and then they would come back and complain that he wasn't listening.Ginny pleaded not to let her go, saying she had a mountain of paperwork to do - not much - and other work to do - and it was almost done now, just waiting for the trial.Every time someone came back empty-handed, Ginny would make another mark on the scorecard.If Draco was going to make things difficult for her, he would understand how hard life would be without her by his side.She bides her time.

Even Lucius Malfoy's lawyer was out of luck.On Wednesday afternoon, the wizard arrived, dressed in ornate robes and carrying a briefcase, and introduced himself as Giles Montgomery.His slick tone, his hair sprayed with gel, his jaw raised arrogantly - Ginny made a bet with Angelina that he'd be in Draco's cell for five minutes.

They all lost.The Lord Giles Montgomery escaped from his cell in less than three minutes.

On Friday, when things had come to a head, the last person willing to speak to Draco went down. "People will think we're all underage wizards trying to ride a broom for the first time!" Harry exclaimed exasperatedly at the weekly meeting. "He's unarmed! He can't do anything to any of you—hell, you all carry wands, don't you? Use them!"

"There's no Ministry of Magic law saying we can force suspects to listen to us," Terry Boot pointed out angrily. "It's entirely up to them."

"Okay," said Harry angrily. "I'm going to talk to him, I'm going to get something out of him. Honestly, he's just Malfoy. What kind of damage can this idiot do?"

"Famous last words," whispered O'Connell.O'Connell had tried to see Draco on Thursday, as evidenced by the scars on his body.Ginny couldn't help laughing beside him.

In the confusion caused by Draco's reluctance to speak to anyone other than Ginny, she finally made contact with John and Simon.She wrote to them, telling them everything that had happened since they left her apartment on Saturday night, and asking them to bring Draco some change of clothes, since he was probably still wearing last Friday's clothes.John wrote back right away, saying he would bring something.Just the sight of John's regular handwriting comforted her, as if he was there, exuding his usual calm.

Ginny ran to the entrance to the Ministry of Magic during her lunch break, and onto the street through the red Muggle telephone box.John stood at the end of the deserted alley, leaning casually against a red brick wall.She let out a squeal of excitement that caught his attention, and she flung herself into his outstretched arms, and he twirled her in a circle.

"Ginny, dear," he said to her cheerfully. "Damn, it's good to see you."

"God, John, I really needed you this week," she said wistfully, and took his hand as she walked to Neil's, Ginny's favorite café. "Everything here is crazy."

"Ginzie sends you hello," said John, and they sat down at a table in the corner; Ginny immediately and discreetly cast a listening charm, keeping their conversation completely private. "He wants to come too, but he's close to a deadline and has to go to work."

"Say hello to him for me," said Ginny. "I think you brought..."

"Clothes? Yes, I rummaged through Ben's—damn, Draco's, I'll get used to it eventually—I rummaged through his drawers and wardrobe, and stuffed some stuff." John pulled it out of his pocket. A significantly shrunken suitcase.Ginny took it and put it in her pocket. "Not much, but enough for him to wear for a while." He paused and looked up at her warily. "How is he? Tell the truth."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "He's such a nuisance," she blurted out. "He doesn't listen to anyone, he's going to bite everyone's heads off. His stance now is that he doesn't talk to anyone but me, but I'm not going to see him. After what happened on Monday — —" She stopped.

"What happened on Monday?" John pressed.

She told him everything the letter didn't mention: Narcissa dying before Draco's eyes, Lucius refusing to acknowledge his amnesia.And their fierce and ill-advised kiss.After finishing speaking, Ginny held her head in her hands and stared down at the table. "I'm trying, John," she said. "But it's hard to help other people when they treat you like nothing."

"You have to stay strong," John said firmly. "He only has you."

"I know. I do know, but..." She sighed and smiled derisively. "I've never had to fight before. I've never had to defend what I believe in. Not really. During the war -- against Tom Riddle -- I mean, I was 16, but I thought I was ready Okay. But no one gave me a chance! I am little Ginny, too young to take care of myself, too young to fight alongside others," she said bitterly. "You know what, they hid me in a room," she told John. "Yes. When Harry went to save the wizarding world with my brother and Hermione, I was alone in a hidden room and not allowed to join them." She crossed her arms and looked away.

"Then this is your chance, isn't it?" John said. "Prove to yourself—and to Draco—that you're capable of something like this." He took another item out of his pocket and thrust it into Ginny's hand abruptly. "Give him this," John said, and she looked down to see another shrunken object—a scrapbook with a map of Europe on the cover. "He'll know we gave it to him. We gave it to him with other friends before he went to Italy and France."

"Great," Ginny said. "John, how thoughtful you are."

John laughed and was about to answer her when a deep voice suddenly came from somewhere below.The cafe guests all stopped talking and looked at each other with frowns.Ginny turned her head to look at the street outside, and found that pedestrians were also looking for the source of the sound.It can only be one thing.

"I think I should go," said John casually.

"I need to take care of it," said Ginny, pocketing the scrapbook as well. "I can't thank you enough for coming, John—"

"Kim, take care of him for us," he said.They stood up and he hugged her again.When she was still in his arms, he said again: "Don't forget that he loves you. No matter what he says or does, I know he loves you."

Ginny looked up at him and smiled sadly. "Thank you," she said softly. "Give my regards to Simon. I've missed you both terribly this past week."

"Before you know it, we'll be back to how we used to be," John assured her as she led him back down the street. "You'll see. Kinzie is a prophet, but I know things will work out."

"I hope you're right," said Ginny.After saying goodbye to him again, she ran to the staff entrance of the Ministry of Magic.Only then did Merlin know what would happen when Harry and Draco were squeezed into the small detention room.This usually spells disaster.

When she reached the bottom floor, Harry covered his ears and staggered up the stairs.Blood trickled from between his fingers and ran down his neck, and Ginny could smell him foul. "That bastard broke my eardrum!" Harry exclaimed at the sight of her, his eyes welling up behind his glasses. "He's completely insane!"

Ginny's heart sank.All right.Her game is over.As much as she liked the prestige of someone being able to kill Harry, she felt that serious injury was her limit. "Go to the infirmary," she said. "I'll deal with him."

"What?" Harry called. "I'm totally deaf and everything is humming. Did you know he can do wandless magic?"

"I know." She nodded.

"Thanks for the reminder," Harry exclaimed angrily. "I've got him locked up in an anti-magic barrier now, with a guard at the door. The little bastard will get his way."

She immediately flew into a rage. "You're a vicious monster, not a man," Ginny hissed.

"What?" Harry called. "I have to go to the infirmary."

She nodded and waved to him.Harry frantically continued upstairs, while Ginny turned and walked towards the cell. "You suck in bed, too," she added in a low voice.

"Are you sure you want to go in?" When she reached the door, the guard outside frowned.

"I'm the one he wants to see," she said, showing her Ministry of Magic credentials angrily.The guards reluctantly let her in, and Ginny stormed down the corridor.

Draco was standing in the doorway of his cell, his arms draped between the cracks in the bars.Beside stood another witch guard, wands at the ready; Ginny waved her. "Do you think that's funny?" she asked him, raising her eyebrows, crossing her arms across her chest. "Did you see me laughing?"

"My request is simple." Draco said slowly. "I refuse to talk to the fools who come here - especially the so-called lawyer who seems to have confirmed my guilt. I only talk to you."

"I thought you had clearly stated my position and yours a few days ago." She said coldly.

He glared at her. "If it's the lesser of two evils, then I choose you."

"I'm really flattered."

"You should be happy," he said with mock gaiety. "You saw what happened to your dear Harry. By the way, how did you feel seeing him hurt? Are you mad at me? Are you going to—"

She shot - Ginny pulled out her wand and yelled a spell that sent Draco slamming into the cell wall.He groaned, but managed to stand up. "I would have liked to do you a favor, but you must be a complete bastard," she snapped, painfully aware that she couldn't speak freely in front of the witch guards. "I just had a chat with John—"

Draco was immediately at the door again. "John?" he said. "John Palmer?"

"He gave me some of your stuff," she told him. "I was going to give you—"

"Ginny, please, if—"

She laughed. "It's too late," she said. "It's kind of useful though. I'll let you think about it over the weekend so you can tell me on Monday if you're going to take this trial seriously."

"I will, I swear—"

"While I'm away this weekend, you have one more thing to think about." She looked back at the witch guard, then turned to him. "During my investigation, I lied to you a lot," she said, in a more even tone. "I know, and I won't deny it. But what surprises me is that you believe the biggest lie of all."

Draco froze, his breathing paused visibly.Ginny forced herself to look into his eyes, but it was difficult to see the light of hope in his eyes.He had to know what the hell she was talking about.Didn't he say that what matters is what you do, not what you say?

He swallowed, and put his hands between the bars again. "Ginny--"

"See you on Monday," she said, and turned to leave.