A/N Okay, to make up for my cliffhanger, this is the longest chapter yet. I had actually already written it, but went back and changed it. I like it much better now. I had wanted to make you all sweat it out for a couple of days, but I got too excited wanting to know what y'all would think of what I did to Harry! Fair warning, this is an emotional chapter, at least for Ginny!

"It's Harry." Dumbledore's words haunted Ginny in her dreams. She dreamt about it every night. "He's been poisoned." Even thinking about the words filled Ginny's eyes with tears. Vacaterous. That was the name Dumbledore had given the poison. "If enough is consumed it can be very deadly. Fortunately it doesn't appear that much made its way into his blood stream." Fortunate? Being left lying in St. Mungo's like a vegetable for two weeks was definitely not what Ginny called fortunate. Ginny could still hear Hermione's loud sobs in her head. She could still see Hermione collapsing on Ron's shoulder, and Ron trying very awkwardly to comfort her, despite his own depression. "The potion drains a person of all their thoughts and feelings; their emotions and desires; their pains and fears." To Ginny that meant it had erased her from his mind, from his memory. "It takes away their will to live. There is no known antidote." It took Harry away from her, possibly for forever. "There have been survivors, but no one was able to determine what brought them back." Hope without reason.

Ginny felt like she was dead on the inside. She had completely closed herself off from everyone. It was the only way she could keep people from asking questions. Hermione tried to talk, but Ginny refused. After awhile, Hermione got the message and only talked to Ron. She wasn't oblivious to the fact that they seemed to be much closer than they had ever been. They had even stopped fighting. Colin was always there, offering her a shoulder to cry on, but never forcing her to talk. She loved him for that. She tossed in her bed, in a place between life and sleep. She wondered if that was where Harry was.

"Ginny? Ginny, wake up." Hermione was gently prodding Ginny's arm.

"Hmm?" Ginny didn't want to wake up. Dreams were the only way she could deal with Harry.

"Dumbledore wants to see us." Ginny sat up so quickly she knocked Hermione off the edge of bed she was sitting on.

"Did he say why? Was there a change with Harry?"

"He's still alive. That's all I could get out of Professor McGonagall." Ginny got out of bed and threw on the first clothes she could get her hands on.

"Let's go." Ginny almost ran out of the room. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs when she saw Professor Dumbledore standing in front of the fire with Ron.

"Good, then you're all here. Shall we go?" Hermione and Ron looked just as confused as Ginny felt. They all reluctantly followed Dumbledore out of the common room and to a part of the castle where Ginny had never been before. It was only then that she realized how early it was. There were no other students up and about the castle at all. She was lost in her thoughts about Harry, worrying about him being worse, hoping he was getting better. She didn't realize that they had stopped walking and ran right into Ron's back. He looked like he didn't even seem to notice. Dumbledore opened the door and led them inside.

"Merlin! It's Harry!" Ron said, stating the obvious. The statement was wasted on Hermione and Ginny who had already run to Harry's side. Hermione threw her arms around him, but Ginny stood frozen at the edge of the bed. He was breathing, but he looked dead.

"He's not woken up yet," Dumbledore said gently. "You should all sit down on the sofa and let me explain some things." Ron and Hermione did as they were told, but Ginny stood frozen in place. Dumbledore walked over to her and gently led her to the couch. "I'm sorry if I got any of your hopes up, but there hasn't been any change in his condition. I'm sure that you've all heard the story that has been passing around the school that Harry's aunt had been seriously injured. I'm sure the people who know him well find the story odd, seeing as how Harry and his aunt didn't get along. But for now it's keeping the questions to a minimum. I've talked it over with the doctors at St. Mungo's and they agree that the best thing for Harry right now is to be with the people who care about him. So he will be staying here. I'd like to request that you all find time to come spend with him. Even if you only come here to sit and do your homework. Not that you shouldn't talk to him. Mrs. Weasley will be coming by three times a week during the afternoons to stay with him. I believe Fred and George will be alternating coming by on the afternoons she doesn't. Other members of the order who knew Harry well will be coming by. I will be informing Mr. Longbottom and Miss Lovegood as well. The six of you share a very special bond after your night at the Ministry last year. Beyond the people I have mentioned, I have to ask you to continue to keep the truth hidden. Find time to spend with Harry, but without making your absences obvious. Now, I think that you should all head back to your bedrooms before all of the other students wake up." Ron and Hermione stood up, overwhelmed by all of the information they had just digested. Ginny was still frozen. Hermione hesitated in front of the door, looking back at Ginny, but Dumbledore silently told her to keep going. He followed her out of the room, allowing Lupin to come inside in his place. Lupin walked over

"He looks dead." Ginny could barely say the words.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, he's not in any pain." Lupin looked at her with concerned eyes. "You however, look like you may fall over at any moment. Have you been eating?"

"Not really."

"My dear, you've got to try harder than anyone to be okay. I know you care about Harry on a deeper level than the others, but am I correct in saying that none of your friends know about your relationship?"

"Only Hermione."

"Well unless you want to let the rest of your friends in..."

"I can't while Harry's like this," Ginny interrupted him.

"Which I completely understand. However, it means that you can't act like a grieving girlfriend."

"I know." Ginny was now sobbing.

"You can't spend any extra time with him by yourself."

"I know." Ginny collapsed into Lupin's body shaking.

"Sweetie, you've got to go back to your dorm." Lupin stood up and gently pulled her up with him. He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her down the empty hallways to the outside of the Gryffindor Common Room. "I know it's hard. But you're going to have to try."

"Thanks, Moony." Ginny managed to force a smile through her tear stained cheeks.

"You know, you really remind me a lot of Lily. That is when you don't look so bloody awful." Ginny let out a single sincere chuckle. "That's much better."

......

...

Another week passed. Ginny found it hard to find time to spend with Harry. She knew that he wouldn't want her to do poorly on her school work; especially not because of him. She spent most of her free time in the library doing homework. She, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna all took turns spending time with Harry, but never anyone by themselves. Sometimes they sat and worked on homework, other days they played chess, and some days they simply talked to Harry about what was going on around school. Things almost felt normal, especially since Ron and Hermione were back to fighting.

"You're daft Ron!" Hermione exclaimed after Ron had made a comment Ginny could only assume was stupid. She honestly wasn't listening. The three of them were sitting in Harry's room after dinner. Ginny was curled up in an arm chair like a cat working on a Potions essay, while Ron and Hermione bickered on the couch about something stupid, as usual.

"Honestly, Hermione! Do you really think Professor Trounce has ulterior motives for liking me?"

"Yes!" Ginny looked up from her homework only long enough to make sure Hermione wasn't going to clobber Ron. "I mean, come on! Have you not been listening when Professor Dumbledore keeps telling us that there are spies everywhere?"

"You think Dumbledore would hire a spy?"

"Well I'm sure he didn't know it at the time! And now he can't fire her without proof! I mean did you ever wonder why almost none of the professors know Harry is here?"

"I really don't think she's a spy."

"You're just saying that because you fancy her!" Hermione looked at Ron with a look that could kill.

"I do not!" Ron's face matched his hair.

"No think about it. She's been pumping you for information about Harry. Remember when she asked you to dance at the Halloween Ball? What'd you talk about? Harry?"

"Only for a minute. She was really asking me about me family!" Ron's anger was only matched by his embarrassment.

"And you notice how we always see her around Malfoy? I bet she's giving him the information and he's taking it straight to V-V-Voldemort!"

"You're just jealous."

"What a brilliant and well thought out come back," Hermione replied sarcastically.

"WILL YOU TWO JUST SHUT UP?" Ron and Hermione looked at Ginny startled. "I'm trying to do my homework, and I don't think this is good for Harry. Merlin knows if this was what I had to come back to I don't think I'd want to either!"

"I'm sorry Gin," Ron replied sheepishly.

"Really Ginny, I hope you don't think Harry isn't coming back because he hasn't got anything to live for so he doesn't want to. The potion took that away from him, but it doesn't mean it wasn't there or that it can't come back." Hermione sounded as if she had been spending all of her free time reading up on Harry's illness, and knowing her, she probably had.

"Let's just go back. I can't concentrate on anymore school work." Ron and Hermione followed Ginny out of the room, afraid to say anything else to her.

"What was that about?" Ron whispered to Hermione, making sure to stay at least 10 feet behind Ginny.

"Don't worry about it." Ron shot her a pleading look. "I really can't tell you. Just know that she and Harry had gotten to be good friends, between the classes with Lupin and Quidditch."

Ginny didn't go back to see Harry for another week. It was just too hard for her; especially with Ron and Hermione fighting. One night before dinner Ginny was sitting in the library doing homework, when Hermione sat down at the table with her.

"Ginny?"

"I've really got a lot of work to do Hermione."

"I'm sorry about Ron and me fighting the other day. You really should go back to see Harry. I really believe that if anyone is going to bring him back it'll be you."

"I just can't. It's too hard to be in there, to see him like that, and have to pretend I don't care anymore than you or Ron. In fact that I care less than you and Ron."

"You could tell everyone," Hermione suggested.

"I can't, not without Harry. You and Ron fighting makes it so much worse. What happened? You were getting along so well."

Hermione blushed. "Well, it's just that, Ron kissed me. We were spending so much time alone together, and then when Harry, when Harry, well you know what happened to Harry, I thought I really liked him. And one night he kissed me. But then he started apologizing and saying it was a mistake and he ran off."

"I'm so sorry Hermione. Ron really is a twit."

"I'm sorry for telling you this while Harry's not here. But I really like him, Merlin help me, I do! I can't help myself. But he doesn't fancy me, he fancies that bloody professor."

"Hermione I'm sure that he doesn't really like her. It's just that Ron is always in everyone else's shadow and now he's getting attention. I mean the boy-who-lived is his best friend; he's the youngest of six brothers; you're the top student in your class. See what I mean? And you've got to admit, she's absolutely beautiful."

"Yeah, I see your point. But still, he didn't have to act like that. It's torturing me, because after he kissed me I realized how much I like him. But that's enough of my love life. I've got good news for you. I happen to know that no one is going to see Harry tonight. Ron and I were supposed to go, but he got detention with Snape."

"Why?"

"Malfoy was talking about Harry, saying that he was dead. So Ron hexed him." Hermione and Ginny both giggled. "But now you can come with me and I'll work on some homework, and you can really spend some time with Harry."

"I don't know."

"I think it'll make you feel better."

Ginny quickly gathered her things and stood up. "Well then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Ginny almost ran the entire way to Harry's room, leaving Hermione struggling to catch up. When Ginny entered the room, she froze. She could barely stand to look at him lying motionless in his bed.

"Go on," Hermione said, gently pushing her forward. Ginny slowly walked over to Harry's bed, and sat down in the chair beside it.

"Hey...," Ginny began awkwardly. She reached out for his hand and clasped his between hers. "I've missed you." She could barely find the words and tears began to stream down her cheeks. "Everyone is so worried about you. Mum's miserable. Even Fred and George are in somber moods. I haven't told anyone about us. I honestly don't think my brothers would believe me right now. Colin and I have gotten our friendship back to normal, kinda. He's really been great for me right now. He knows I'm going through something, but he knows I can't tell him what. I don't know how many nights he's just held me and let me cry. I know he misses you too. But no one misses you as much as I do. No one." Ginny's head fell forward on the bed as her tears became uncontrollable.

"Do you need anything?" Hermione asked for her place in front o the fire.

"No I'm okay." Ginny pulled her head up from the bed and tightened her grip on Harry's hand. "You've got to come back to me. I lived for five years, loving you from a distance. I don't think I could do it again. My life is empty without you in it. You mean more to me than anything. I'd give anything if it means that I can have you back. I'd give my life a thousand times before I'd let anything happen to you. Remember our first kiss? I knew, right then, that this was love. I love you Harry, I do." Ginny stopped speaking abruptly. She felt a strange burning sensation in her hands. She tried to release Harry's hand, but found it was impossible. She was stuck to him, and she was in a great deal of pain as the burning increased. "Hermione!" she screamed. "My hands, they're on fire! And stuck!" Hermione ran over to the bed and tried to pull Ginny's hands away from Harry's to no avail. "It's useless!" Ginny cried, grimacing in pain. "Go for help!" Hermione ran out of the room and into the hall where Professor Lupin was standing by a window, talking to himself.

"Professor Lupin! Harry!" As soon as the words had left Hermione's lips, Tonks appeared beside Lupin.

'Go get Dumbledore," Lupin whispered as he quickly followed Hermione back into Harry's room where Ginny sat squirming, still without the use of her hands.

"It's cold now. I think my hands have frostbite." Ginny was beginning to sound annoyed.

"What were you doing when this happened?" Lupin asked, concerned.

"Err- I was telling him how much I loved him, remembering our first kiss. And then my hands felt like they were on fire." Ginny blushed at sharing this intimate information.

"Well, what's going on in here?" Dumbledore asked, walking into the room followed by Madam Pomfrey.

"Ginny's stuck to Harry," Hermione said impatiently.

"Well why don't you all look more enthusiastic?" Dumbledore asked with a grin. Everyone in the room looked at him very confused. "Harry appears to have found his reason to live, and it looks like he doesn't want to let go." Ginny turned a deep shade of scarlet. "The sensations you're feeling are Harry's emotions, hopes, desires, fears, etc. all returning to his body."

"How-," Ginny started but Dumbledore interrupted her.

"Long? I won't even pretend to know. I suggest you make yourself comfortable. Now, let's all get some sleep. We'll come back in the morning to check the progress." When the commotion had settled and the room had cleared, Ginny realized how uncomfortable she was. She gently pushed Harry over and got in bed next to him. It felt good to be so close to him. She giggled as the sensation in her hands went to tickling.

"AHHHHH!" Ginny screamed in pain waking up from sleep. The pain in her hands was so sharp she looked at them expecting to see blood. "Owww!"

"Please stop screaming," Harry whispered in a hoarse voice.

"Oh Merlin! Harry! You're awake! Oh we've all been so worried about you!"

"Please, quiet." Ginny suddenly realized her hands were free. She grabbed Harry in an embrace and kissed his cheek. "Gently," Harry whimpered. Ginny looked at Harry and saw a look of pain on his face. Worried that she would continue to hurt him, Ginny moved to get out of his bed. "No, don't do that. I need you here. You give me strength." Ginny resituated herself cautiously next to Harry and he slid his arm around her. Ginny looked at Harry, but he was already asleep again.

A/N Tomorrow will probably be the first day I go without updating. I'm going out of town for the day. I'm getting closer to the point in the story I haven't actually written yet, so updates may be getting a little farther apart. Maybe if enough of you ask nicely I'll find a way to get another chapter started tonight to update tomorrow!