Author Notes: OMG! I soooooooo apologize for the super long wait! I bet you thought I dropped it huh? I almost did but your reviews saved me! I'll get to that later... But I have been SOOO busy! Now you have to listen to my super sad excuses! First I came back from Hawaii and was totally stuck on what to write! And then school started up and I was so fried every night. And then came the weekend. And I started, but got stuck again! And then there was school again! And then there was a weekend where I got halfway done but stuck! And then school again! But now, it's the weekend, and I finished this chapter and it's kinda long, so yeah! But here it is finally you guys! Now, I know you all want this ASAP, so I can't thank each reviewer personally, because I got 48 reviews on this chapter! I LOVE YOU GUYS!

Snowelf12; AmoMagus; Midnight Miseria; blissfulxsin; Bee; Libby; jennyfrmtx; Tuv949; Okane-Tsuki; Pamma Potter; freakshow182; potts; WordSculpter; AnitaBlake/BuffyFan; Princess Alexiel; Y.D.K.W; el chickita joules; Draco and Ginny Forever!; angelsweets; kittycatw; ERSM333

Ginny downed the last of the potion without any of her usual complaints or comments, handing the empty vial back to Madame Pomfrey. Nothing could possibly spoil today; she was finally allowed to leave this forsaken place. She had driven herself crazy over the past two weeks with utter boredom and incurable curiosity. Maybe I can finally get some answers today, she thought darkly. Determined to let those thoughts get her down, she snapped back into reality, spotting a plate of breakfast before her. Ginny looked at it uninterestedly, really too anxious to eat. She wanted to get out of her and see Draco. Madame Pomfrey noticed her lack of eating and immediately directed to her attention to the girl.

"Eat Ms. Weasley," she ordered strictly, motioning towards the food. Ginny let out a small sigh. She had been hoping the nurse wouldn't have noticed; she fighting a losing battle.

"I'm not really hungry," she tried with determination. The nurse simply shook her head.

"I don't care if you are or not," she said, pushing the tray closer to Ginny. "If you want to leave this morning, every last crumb must be gone. Am I clear?"

Ginny glared unhappily at her food, hiding her scowl until the nurse had left. "Bloody control-freak..."

Nevertheless, her release meant more to her than fighting the issue out with the old nurse and she reluctantly tucked into her breakfast.

Madame Pomfrey came back ten minutes later, donning a pleased smile when she saw Ginny's empty plate. The nurse walked over and banished the tray instantly. Ginny sat waiting patiently for the nurse to speak. She could hardly sit still; she wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible.

"Alright. I had planned on keeping you for a little while longer, but I suppose you can leave now," she said exasperated. Ginny smiled happily. "But, no class for the next three days and you are to stay to your rooms for that period. Agreed?"

Ginny nodded quickly, wanting to get this over with. The nurse noticed her excitement and allowed a small smile.

"Alright, Ms. Weasley," she said as Ginny grinned and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She was already dressed, not even having left the bed, thanks to a bit of wand-waving. She let out a breath. It had been almost a month since she had been up and around. She hesitantly touched her feet to the ground, hoisting herself into a standing position. Ginny smiled in relief; other than a little bit weak, she was perfectly normal. She began walking around the room, loving her returned freedom. Madame Pomfrey smiled slightly.

"It looks like everything is fine," she said, giving Ginny one last glance. "You are free to go."

"Thanks, Madame Pomfrey," she said with a small smile to the nurse. Madame Pomfrey nodded and motioned towards the door.

"Go along," she said. "I'm sure Mr. Malfoy is already on his way up here and he disturbs everyone and everything."

Ginny smiled. "That's Draco..."

She waved a last goodbye and opened the door to the hospital wing, stepping out and smiling as she closed the door, leaning back against it contentedly. She was definitely glad to be out of there. She was about to tackle the steps down from the hospital wing when she saw Draco coming onto the landing. He looked up and saw her, immediately dropping his chin.

"Ginny what are you doing up?!" He asked her, running over to her. Ginny playfully grabbed his chin, wiggling it back and forth, causing him to scowl.

"Oh Draco," she said with a smirk. She leaned forward and whispered in his ear lightly. "Don't worry about me..."

"That's my job..." he said in an amused voice. "Don't pretend like you hate it..."

He wrapped his arms around her waist, giving her a light kiss on the lips. She shook her head slowly, finally content in his arms.

"You sure take your time don't you?" She asked with a smirk as he let go of her.

"What can I say? I don't wake up with this perfect look," He said, smirking in return. She rolled her eyes at his egotistic comment. He raised an eyebrow at this. "You don't believe me?"

"No, it's just that I have trouble picturing you in anything less than perfect composure. It would definitely be interesting to see you like that," she said with a smile. He immediately developed a mischievous look in his eye.

"That could be arranged," he said seductively as he leaned forward, capturing Ginny's lips in a kiss. She eagerly kissed him back, relishing in the unique taste that was only Draco.

"I'm sure you'd find a way," she told him with a smirk as they broke apart, an arrogant smirk plastered on his handsome features. Draco and Ginny started their walk down from the hospital wing, Ginny finally voicing her thoughts.

"I am so glad to be out of there," she said with a smile. "It was unbelievably stressful, believe it or not... Not knowing anything... I hope now I'll get some answers..."

"Well, now's your chance," he said, giving her a look. She looked back at him, confused. "Dumbledore wants us in his office in ten minutes."

"Us? As in me and you?" She asked. He nodded.

"I don't understand it either..." He said quietly, obviously going into thought. She gave his hand a squeeze.

"I'm glad you're going with me though," she said genuinely. Ginny wasn't sure what Dumbledore had to tell her but whatever it was couldn't be good. He gave her a small smile.

"I missed you so much," he said, giving her a gentle kiss. Ginny sighed against his lips.

"Me too," she said with a smile. They arrived in front of Dumbledore's office, pausing in front of the stone gargoyle. Ginny waited patiently, suddenly realizing she didn't know the password. Draco smirked, obviously noticing her anxiousness.

"Skittles," he said, his arrogant smirk in place. Ginny looked over at him, raising an eyebrow.

"Head Boy," he reminded her arrogantly. Ginny rolled her eyes affectionately. They stepped up the revolving staircase until they reached the large wooden door. Ginny looked up at it, not seeing the wooden door for what it was. To her, it was the door the answers she had been seeking for weeks.

"Ready?" Draco asked her, breaking her out of her thoughts. Ginny took a deep breath and nodded. He raised a hand and knocked against the door.

"Come in," came Dumbledore's raspy voice from inside the room. Draco pushed the door open, pulling an anxious Ginny into the room. Dumbledore smiled a little, glad to see Draco and Ginny here. "Do sit down."

He pointed politely at two comfortable chairs in front of his desk. Draco took a seat on the left chair, Ginny on the right. She had butterflies dancing all around her stomach. She wasn't sure what to do with herself. Draco sunk into his chair, his consistent cool demeanor showing through as always.

"Ginny, relax," he whispered softly, causing Ginny to jump a bit and sink into her seat, never letting go of Draco's hand. Dumbledore looked at them with warm blue eyes, though they were slightly troubled.

"Thank you both for coming, Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Weasley. Ms. Weasley, I'm ecstatic to see you out of the hospital wing of course," he said with a small smile towards her.

"I think we're past formalities, Professor. Please, it's Ginny," she said, feeling a bit of her spirit slip back into her. Draco gave her hand a slight squeeze.

"And its Draco, sir," Draco said with an inclination of his head. Dumbledore smiled a small twinkle in his eye.

"Of course," the headmaster simply.

"Professor, what are we doing here?" Draco asked politely, but curiously. The Headmaster inwardly sighed.

"I have something to discuss with you both..." He started. He had been dreading this all week long. He didn't want to do this. "Ginny, what was the last thing you remember?"

Ginny let out a breath and looked over to Draco quickly before turning back to the headmaster. "Well, I was eating breakfast and we were talking about plans for the weekend. And suddenly, I just felt dizzy and the room was spinning and I remember falling somewhere and then nothing..."

Professor Dumbledore nodded his head. He took a deep breath and looked over to the two students in front of him. "We think we might know what happened Ms. Weasley..."

At this, both Draco and Ginny became alert, Ginny leaning forward in her seat anxiously. She looked at the man sitting before her, waiting as patiently as could be for the answer she had seeked for weeks. Professor Dumbledore looked down at his desk and spoke softly into the silence of the room.

"We think you were poisoned..."

Not a sound was made as his words echoed in the room. Ginny sat frozen in her chair, a look of complete shock and confusion on her face. She slowly raised her eyes to meet her headmaster's, an unreadable expression on her face. Draco looked over to Ginny, worry immediately setting into his handsome features. He looked over to Professor Dumbledore, asking the questions that Ginny was currently not able to ask.

"Poisoned sir?" He asked softly, glancing at Ginny quickly again before returning his gaze back to the old wizard.

"By the Draught of Living Death," he said quietly, looking over his two students in concern. Draco sat patiently, obviously waiting for more details. "It's a potion that puts the drinker into a sate of irreversible coma. In time, the potion will shut down the drinker's vital organs. It is very rare."

"Sir, why did Ginny wake up if it was irreversible?" Draco asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Dumbledore sighed. He should've known this was coming.

"Professor Snape, being the fine Potions Master he is knew the antidote," Professor Dumbledore said. Draco eyes immediately narrowed in suspicion. If all it took was an antidote to wake a person up, why was it so rare? Then it dawned on him. Professor Snape was a Death Eater, a spy on Dumbledore's side. If only he was able to make the antidote, then it must've been a dark potion...

Professor Dumbledore saw the look on Draco's face. He knew the boy would figure it out.

"Who did it Professor?" Draco asked with hesitation.

Albus looked up the two students sitting in front of him. HE knew the truth, but could he tell them? He knew they should know, but could he put them through the terror that came along with the knowledge? He sighed and looked over to Ginny who still hadn't spoken or moved. He looked down at his desk, his conscience already plagued with inner defeat.

"We don't know," he said with finality. He didn't do it. He couldn't tell them. HE couldn't even look them in the eye; he was ashamed for lying. He stole a glance at Draco, who had his jaw set in anger.

"What do you mean you don't know?" He asked bitterly. Draco looked over at the shocked Ginny, who hadn't even shone any response to this remark. This only made him surge with more anger. "How could you not know who did this to her?!?"

Albus looked back down at his desk. It's for the best, he thought to himself. He looked over at Ginny again, addressing her finally.

"Ginny, are you alright?" He asked softly. HE was concerned for her; she hadn't moved or spoken the entire time. Ginny slowly lifted her head up. She looked to Draco first, managing a weak smile and looked to Professor Dumbledore.

"Me? Of course," she said faintly. She stood up slowly, Draco following suit. Both men looked doubtful. She smiled weakly again and started walking toward the door. "Don't worry, I'm..."

At this, she dropped to a dead faint. Draco rushed over and caught her in his arms easily, lifting her up gently. Albus looked at this with great concern.

"Oh dear," he said, his blue eyes no longer twinkling. "It seems she was in a state of shock."

"Do you really blame her Professor?" Draco asked, a little coldly. He looked down at Ginny affectionately. "She found out she was poisoned and you have no idea who did it?"

"Well, I..." Professor Dumbledore started. But Draco cut him off.

"And you want to know the worst part? I know you're keeping something from us. I guess it's not as important that we know what's going on in our lives," he said icily as he turned and slowly made his way out of the common room with an unconscious Ginny.

Albus sat down at his desk, sighing sadly. Why couldn't he tell them? Because you know it would ruin them, he thought sadly. The truth is too much for them to handle right now. But the look on Draco's face. He knew Draco would eventually figure it out. It was only a matter of time. But it was only the beginning of their year. HE couldn't ruin it for them. I'll tell him after the Yule Ball, he thought. He'll keep her safe, I'm sure. But for now, some staff need to know. He sighed again and walked over to the fireplace, pulling down the bag of floo powder. He threw some in and watched the flames turn green.

"Severus Snape," he replied wearily.