Draco felt a strange, falling sensation. And it was so comfortable, this falling. He decided he would just stay here, it was so peaceful...nothing to worry about...he closed his eyes...and his body was just about to slip into what promised to be a restful and reviving sleep when something ferociously strong grabbed his shoulder and pulled him up, higher and higher. The hand that had save him from oblivion was his desire for revenge, his desire to become better than anyone else...his ambition.

His eyes flew open. The light seared through his eyes. 'Where am I?' he wondered. As his eyes adjusted to the light, something moved in his peripheral vision. He tried to sit up, to defend himself against whatever it was, but he was too weak. He sat back, leaning on the pillows propped behind him. Waiting for the inevitable. He quickly sat upright. Pillows???

The Slytherin had sat up too quickly and he felt the searing pain that was the consequence of his rash move. Even though he wanted to see what had moved and to find out where he was and what he was doing, his mind refused. It tugged at his conciousness promising the soothing relief of sleep. where you had no worries...he lay back on the bed and the lines around his eyes softened. He slipped back into the warm embrace of sleep, of darkness... ____________________________________________________________________________ _____

Outside Draco's sickroom, Ginny pried her mother with question, the furthermost being, " Is he going to be alright?"

It was two weeks until school started again and her brothers were out playing a game of Quidditch. They were unaware of the events that had occured.

"He'll be alright, dear. He just needs plenty of rest and a minimal amount of stress." Mrs. Weasley laid a gentle hand on Ginny's shoulder. " He will be able to recover, but if you hadn't found him..."

Just then the front door slammed and a content Arthur Weasley walked into the hall. " How are my two favorite ladies in the whole world doing this fine day?"

"Hello dear." Molly said, kissing im on the cheek. Ginny hugged Mr.Weasley tightly, his warm strength reassuring. " Hi, daddy."

"Why the long face?" Mr. Weasley asked in concern.

" Nothing, really. It's just I found a boy in the woods today. He was injured and I'm scared for him." Ginny explained.

"Do you even know who he is?" Mr. Weasley asked suspiciously.

" Well...not exactly.." she hedged,"But he was unconscious Daddy! I couldn't just leave him there." Ginny said, defending the fact that she had brought a stranger into their house, which now held many valuables.

Mr. Weasley's expression softened. After all, who could blame a young girl for caring?

He spoke, "Okay, I suppose an unconscious guy can't do too much damage." his voice became stern, " But you will have to be the one to nurse him back to health. You must stay in that room 24/7. We will bring you your meals."

Ginny quickly agreed to all of these terms.

"Let me see how he is."

'Draco Malfoy...how will he react to being in the house of those who put his family in jail? I should alert the Ministry...but they'll just toss him into Azkaban. A boy like that in Azkaban...'

Mr. Weasley walked out of the room in deep thought. "Ginny." Ginny was lost in a daydream. " Ginny!" She was jerked out of her fantasy abruptly. "What?" she asked irritably.

"The guy in the next room is Draco Malfoy. You can decide whether you'll turn him in or not. If you believe he is innocent, I will try and convince the Ministry that he is." Mr. Weasley shifted the burden of decision onto her shoulders.

Ginny's irritability turned into shock. "D-draco Malfoy? But wouldn't he hate us? What if he tried to kill us in our sleep?"

Mr. Weasley,"Be kind to him, if we care for him, he'll care for us...I hope. Anyhow, it's your choice."

Ginny's brow furrowed as she pondered. Then she nodded.

Mr. Weasley nodded, and that was that.