A/N: Oh… My… GOD! Don't EVER let me say I'll have a new chapter posted soon! EVER! It never ends well! Anyway, after the last chapter, a series of… things… happened. My grandma came and stayed with me for a few weeks, I went to stay with my sister a couple of times, went to stay with my brother, went through a couple of funerals, had a long bout of writer's block, wasn't sure exactly what to do with this story since I had started writing it before OotP came out, and now there's some things wrong with it, and just… a ton of stuff that I'm sure you don't want to hear about. Anyway, thanks will be at the bottom, and now here's the next chapter!

Chapter two: Injuries and Healing Potions

"Boys! BOYS!" Molly Weasley yelled, jogging (as best she could) out towards the paddock. She looked quite distressed. Harry and Ron rushed to the ground as fast as their brooms would allow, and ran to meet her.

"Mum! What's wrong?" Ron gasped.

"Ron, quick, where's your sister?" Molly rushed, cheeks and ears pink.

"She just went to go find the apple she dropped, it rolled into the trees. She should be back any minute."

Molly waved her hand at him, "No time. Come with me, you two." She began hurrying back to the Burrow, Ron and Harry tagging closely along, "Your sister will come home when she finds you missing."

--

Ginny placed her hand to her mouth, horrified. She watched as Draco's legs started moving about upon their own accord. He looked so surprised, and his upper half was thrashing about, as if he didn't have the strength to keep it held up. She'd never seen the spell work that way before. His legs began pulling him towards the trees, dancing wildly. Ginny watched, too frightened to move, as Draco whipped all about, smashing into trees, bushes, and vines.

Draco's cries of pain snapped Ginny out of her stunned state. She fumbled with her wand, and finally pointed it at Draco, "Finite Incantatum!" she squeaked. Luckily that was enough, and Draco's legs ceased their uncontrollable dance. He shook upon his legs for a second, before crumpling to the ground in a heap. Ginny cried out, rushing towards him.

It took every ounce of willpower in him not to vomit. All the dried scratches he had acquired yesterday were now open again and bleeding. He had just received two large gashes from hitting the trees; one at the back of his head, and one on the side of his head, right near his left eye. Blood now stained his light hair, and he could feel more blood seeping down his face. He groaned lowly as a pair of feet rustled the leaves on the ground beside him.

Ginny dropped to her knees next to Draco, reaching her hand halfway to one of the large cuts on his head before stopping. She had no idea what to do. She was so terrified, she could hardly think straight! What had she done? And yet she wasn't even sure that this man didn't deserve what had happened to him. What exactly was he, Draco Malfoy, doing just beyond her backyard? And so, the only thing that made a bit of sense in her mind at this point was interrogation.

"W-what are you doing here?!" Ginny yelped, unable to control her voice's falter.

Draco cracked one eye open, putting forth the best glare he could muster at the moment, and then rasped out, "Apparently being beaten half to death by a forest."

Ginny flushed, frowning. She reached her hand the rest of the way to Draco's head, gingerly touching two fingers just below one of his new cuts. Draco flinched away at her touch, and Ginny was sure that if he had more strength, he would have instead leapt away. She lowered her hand to her side.

"I have to go get help." Ginny muttered, getting ready to stand.

"What?" Both of Draco's eyes shot open, looking to her.

"You look really bad, I have to go get my brother and Harry." She was just standing when Draco's hand shot out, faster than she would have thought possible for someone barely able to move. Draco gritted his teeth, clenching his eyes shut a moment at the pain the sudden movement had caused. He finally managed a harsh 'no' and kept the firm grasp on her wrist.

"Malfoy, let go!" Ginny cried, once again afraid.

Draco ignored her protest, "You can't let anyone know I'm here." he said quickly, as Ginny was beginning to struggle against him.

"What, are you nutters? I have to! I'm not going to leave you out here like this, Malfoy. You've got to come inside. From there, we can get my mum to contact your father." Ginny shuddered at the thought, but knew it was what needed done.

"NO!" Draco cried out suddenly, latching his other hand around Ginny's wrist.

Ginny was beginning to get very frightened now. Even in Draco's state, he was still so strong! And why didn't he want her to tell anyone he was there? What had he done? She wasn't liking the idea of staying out there alone with Draco any longer, and began trying to pull her wrist away from him. Draco growled, glaring at her, and Ginny got suddenly desperate.

"Let GO!" She screeched, yanking her hands finally away from him and quickly standing. All of the recent events Ginny had just witnessed were really beginning to freak her out, and she was starting to get very jumpy. She backed up a few paces as Draco wriggled about on the ground, trying and failing to stand.

"Listen, Malfoy," Ginny said quickly, nearly starting to stutter, "I'm just going to go and get Ron and Harry, they'll be able to carry you back to my house, and-" But she was cut off by Draco.

"Weasley, please-" He sounded so desperate, so vulnerable. And the way he looked, he was most definitely at least one of those, "Just stop, and listen to me." His eyes were pleading with her, and she could feel her resistance ebbing. Oh, why did she have to bear the curse of empathy? She slowly stopped moving, but was sure to keep a good distance between her and Draco. She looked down at him, biting the inside of her lip.

At first, Draco had been afraid she would just turn-tail and run, and then he would have to think of a means of escape, fast. Her eyes had been, and still were those of a deer caught in the headlights of a car. He would have to choose his words very carefully if he didn't want the whole Weasley family, and Harry-bloody-Potter himself finding out he was there. That would sort of ruin all of his plans of keeping himself hidden.

"I'm sorry I frightened you," he began, trying to keep his voice soft and even. He was pleased to see the look of surprise on her face before her features softened. She definitely hadn't been expecting that! "I… I didn't even know I was behind your house. I've… been running… away." He ended slowly, not exactly sure where he was heading.

"Running away from what?" Her voice was soft and low, barely above a whisper. The sound stirred something in Draco, but he wasn't sure what he was feeling. But he couldn't think about that right now. He had to make up something, fast!

He pressed his face into his palm, then slid his hand up and over his hair. And then something struck him. He tried his best to conjure the most helpless, frightened, and disgustingly insecure voice he could, and finally squeaked out, "I was running away from home."

Ginny gasped quietly, staring down at this creature that couldn't possibly be the Draco Malfoy she knew from school. He looked utterly scared and alone, and not at all like the pompous, egotistical, smirking, sneering git that had always harassed her and her housemates. Her heart almost reached out to him. Almost. She was still rather skeptical, though. She crossed her arms over her chest and tried her best to make a "So prove it" expression, but the hapless being in front of her wasn't making it easy.

"Why were you running away from home? And why can't I tell Harry or Ron about you?" Her mind had tried to tell her voice to sound disbelieving and suspicious, but it came out more frightened than anything else.

"Listen, do you really think Potter or that git brother of yours would be the least bit interested in helping me? The first thing they'd do is curse me from here to Hogwarts and back! And it's already bad enough that I can barely move thanks to a beating I've just received by the wand of Weasley's sister, what makes you believe they wouldn't just finish me off?"

The pity card was definitely working in his favor. At the mention of the little incident Ginny had caused she went green in the face, and looked even more miserable than before. Draco leaned forward, propping himself up on his elbows. He watched her intently, could just see the gears in her head working as she tried to decide what to do, or what else to ask him.

Ginny was so confused about what to do in this situation. It was clear that she couldn't tell Harry or Ron about him, she knew without Draco having to tell her how they would react. For one, they wouldn't believe his story, and would most likely walk Draco back to his father themselves by wand-point. But, then again, how was Ginny to be sure that Draco wasn't lying? It was all too much for her. She needed time to think.

But time was just about the number one thing Ginny didn't have at the moment. Besides, of course, a clue. She would have to hurry up and make a decision.

There was always the choice of just sending Draco back to Lucius without a backwards glance. He would be out of her hair and would certainly get the care his wounds needed from there.

Wait a second… Care? That is, quite possibly, the LAST thing Lucius Malfoy could ever offer a person. Honestly, care… What was she thinking? And she certainly didn't envy the person who had to deal with Lucius… especially after running away from home. No, she definitely couldn't send him back.

Ginny sighed. She was so lost. Her mum would know what to do in this situation… But she was quite doubtful that either of her parents would jump at the chance of helping a Malfoy.

Her nerves were beginning to overwhelm her, and Draco staring at her like that was not helping in the least.

Finally, she plastered a look of determination onto her face and met Draco's eyes. She knew what she was going to do for starters. And from there… Well, from there she would wing it.

"Come on, Draco." Ginny bent and grabbed the crook of Draco's elbow with both of her hands, tugging upward, but Draco wasn't quick to help her help him.

"Wait a second, Weasley, I'd like to know just exactly what you're going to do with me before I let you start hauling me about. If you're going to tell Potter or your brother then I'll thank you to just leave me here to wander off on my own."

Ginny waved him off with a hand, "Now, you and me both know what Ron and Harry would do to you if they knew you were here. Come on!"

But Draco was keen to notice that she didn't exactly say she wasn't going to tell them. However, relying on the fact that she was a goody-goody little Gryffindor who wouldn't want to see anyone get hurt, he slowly began to stand. With the two of them working together Draco was on his feet in no time, though wearing a hardened face obviously trying to mask his pain. Ginny smiled sadly at him as they began to head toward the Burrow.

Ginny hadn't heard the boys call for her in a long time. Perhaps they had given up and went back to the Burrow? Or maybe went looking for her. She doubted the latter, though, as she was sure they would have met each other by now. They were most likely still playing their game, as she knew that Quidditch was just about all those two ever thought about. She did not, however, hear either of them talking at all as her and Draco neared the edge of the tree line.

She stopped before entering the clearing, gently pushing Draco to lean against the tree he was nearest, "Hold on a moment, I'd better see if those two are still out here." He didn't bother giving her any sign that he had took that message in and she ventured out into the paddock to look for them. They weren't on the ground, nor were they in the sky. At least, from what she could see. She wouldn't put it past them to be hiding from her, playing some sort of trick. The Firebolt and apple were still where she left them, and she would think Harry to bring his broom back with him if they were leaving. Making a quick decision, she hopped on the broom and soared into the air, making a lap around the tree line before swooping back down to just outside where she left Draco. Well, she did what she could. If Harry and Ron actually were hiding out there, somewhere, at least she had tried to help Draco. She slipped off the broom and carried it to the waiting Draco, whom was now glaring at her.

"Have fun on your little joy ride? I'm not exactly in the best of situations at the moment, if you haven't noticed." Draco ground out.

"You think this is a lovely bed of roses for myself?"

"Why, yes. Just being in my presence should be a treat for you, Weasley." Draco glared, grabbing for the broom.

"Hah!" Ginny scoffed bitterly. "I'll have you know that I was only trying to help you, anyway."

Draco contemplated hopping on the broom and just flying off, as far as it would take him away from this girl. But somehow he knew that was a bad idea. Especially if he passed out while he was airborne. He grumbled to himself and swung a leg over the broom; a Firebolt, he realized. A Weasley with a Firebolt? Impossible, they were far too poor. And then he realized, with sickening clarity, that this must be Potter's broom. Grudgingly shoving hatred aside, he very gently kicked off from the ground, just enough to get the broom in the air. Then he hovered alongside Ginny as she led the way to her house.

Ginny began to get very edgy when they came into view of the Burrow, she tried her best to keep her and Draco on a path that wouldn't allow them to be seen. But, living in a house with so very many windows, it was kind of difficult. She led Draco to the small shed where her and the boys had retrieved the brooms. She instructed Draco to stay behind the shed, where he could not be seen, as she opened it and began rifling through it.

"Aha!" She exclaimed triumphantly, arriving back at Draco with a wizarding first aid kit in her hands. She wiggled it at him with a grin on her face. Draco was not exactly as thrilled as Ginny was. Healing without spells tended to be a painful, or nasty tasting experience.

"Why would you people keep a healing kit in the shed?" Draco asked, though more out of incredulity than curiosity.

"Well, think about it. Seven kids, all of us playing outside most of the time, and six brothers almost constantly fighting. Makes a load of sense, really."

"Yeah, you're right. I suppose your parents wouldn't want all of those kids inside and wrecking the house… It looks like it's barely standing as it is."

Ginny sighed, but chose to ignore that, "Alright, now, you just fly up to my room window and I'll come in in a bit. I think there's another good healing potion in the kitchen…" Ginny instructed, handing him the kit and turning to go in through the kitchen door.

"It would be a bit helpful to know exactly which window that was." Draco sneered.

Ginny blushed slightly, having nearly forgot that she was speaking to a Malfoy, and not a friend. She recovered quickly, though, trying not to let him know what she had done, "Oh? And here I thought Draco Malfoy knew everything there was to know."

"I don't delight myself in learning about Weasleys." Draco spat back quickly. Ginny bristled. What was it about him that got her so wound up?

Ginny tried to calm herself, however, and jerked a finger at her window, "That one! There! Now get up there and out of my sight!" She said furiously. She obviously hadn't tried to calm herself good enough.

"Need a bit more help than that, Weasley. Your house has got a few too many windows…" Draco noted disdainfully, sneering in distaste.

"It's the one with light blue curtains." She grumbled, again turning to leave.

"There's about four windows up there with blue curtains!" Draco growled.

Ginny made some kind of strangled, angry screaming noise before whipping around, stomping back over to Draco, hopping onto the front of the broom (much to Draco's horror), and kicking off toward her window. Draco, despite himself, clung to Ginny quickly as the broom burst through the air. The broom's back end bounced up as they stopped outside Ginny's window. She yanked the window open and crawled in, and stomped off downstairs, grumbling about Malfoys always bothering people with questions about windows.

Draco grinned devilishly as he hauled himself very carefully through the window, then drug the broom in as well (which he quickly remembered to whom it belonged and hurled it across the room). He looked around himself, around the dimly lit room he was now standing in. And suddenly he wished he hadn't. The room was quite sparse, with a low standing bed (thereon lay a few homemade quilts and some kind of stuffed animal resting on the pillow), a desk pushed into the corner with a few tall candles melted onto it and a wooden chair sitting in front, a disgusting looking armchair… some kind of… green… brown… And it's stuffing was spilling out in several places. What a… delightfully fitting room for a Weasley. Vacant and plain. Draco frowned deeply, hoping Ginny would let him stay in a broom closet instead of this room.

Not sure how much a girl would fancy having one of her enemies sitting on her very personal bed, and not quick to remove the large stack of books residing in the wooden chair, Draco opted for the armchair. He normally would just stand in the middle of the room, but his body was killing him and he knew he needed rest. He ambled over to the armchair, removing the inkwell and quill, and eased into it slowly.

--

Ginny hurried down the staircase quietly, darting glances around the living room as she reached the bottom. No one. She crept into the kitchen, again looking around shiftily. Again, no one. She breathed a thank you to absolutely nothing and dashed to one of the cabinets lining the wall. She dug through it, knowing basically what she was looking for. After knocking through most of the items in the cabinet she pulled out a bright blue bottle with a faded label around it. She read the bold, dim letters across the top: "Aunt Aggie's Quick Clean and Heal Potion, this time with 20 percent more BLUE!" Ginny closed the cabinet and jogged back towards the stairs, wondering exactly what "more blue" could possibly mean. She jerked quickly to a stop as a voice called to her from below.

"Ginny!" It was Ron, of course. "Where have you been?" Ginny turned her head to Ron, keeping the bottle of potion out of his sight.

"Err…"

"Oh, never mind that! We've got some news, Gin'."

--

The armchair was actually pretty comfortable, Draco noted almost begrudgingly. Very comfortable… except for one hard lump at his side that just wouldn't go away, no matter how much he shifted. Draco glared down at the side, and then noticed a small, beat up book wedged into the crack of the chair. He pulled it out by its spine, laying it face-up in his palms. And then a smirk spread over his face.

There on the front, in thin, fading gold letters read "Journal".

--

A/N: Well, there you have it! Slimy ol' Draco is sticking his pointy noise where it doesn't belong! Psh, like that hasn't happened before. I hope I'm getting all the characters acting pretty much like they should… I'm always worried about that sort of thing.

And can anyone answer why a healing potion needs extra blue? I mean, what the heck? Hmm… maybe it's colored for the kiddies. Makes the healing a bit more tolerable? Beats me…

This will probably end up slightly AU from the normal books (well, kind of obvious, what with the D/G pairing) because it probably won't have mention of events from Order of the Phoenix… And, come on, Harry is way too happy here. Ah, well… I'll really have to decide on what I'm going to do.

ANYWAY… On with the thank you's!

yuiyui: Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed :3 Wonderful review.

morrigan79: Thank you! Yeah, I'm sorry it was a bit confusing. I try not to let that happen. And it takes place during their Hogwarts years :) Ginny 6th, Harry and co. 7th.

aurienna: Heh, thanks for the review! Sorry I kept you waiting :( Yes, I'm pretty partial to D/G/H triangles… They're so crazy.

Weasley Heart: -BLUSH!- Thank you so much! You've no idea how much your words mean to me :D Thank you!!

Pam: Thank you for your kind words and review I hadn't intended for Harry to be quite so… uh… flirty with Ginny in the beginning. He was supposed to just be trying to get her into their little group a bit more. And now he's doing both… a lot. That boy is so uncontrollable… Anyway, thank you again :D

FeildOfPaperFlowers: This really means a lot to me! I'm really glad you decided to review :) Even the briefest notes of approval can make someone feel really good :D Thank you.

l3roken5oul: I'm so glad you liked it! Sorry if I kept you waiting, though! Hope you enjoyed this chapter as well :) Thanks for your review!!