Chapter 5

Ginny awoke slowly and comfortably. Snuggled in her bed, she smiled, keeping her eyes shut. She did however notice that her back was slightly warmer than her front. She frowned then opened her eyes, blinking rapidly. Looking down she saw an arm draped lazily across her hip. Confused and slightly frightened, she shot up, knocking whoever's arm it was off of her. Ginny wasn't really controlling her own strength and the other individual slipped of the bed and onto the floor, dragging her along. She remembered just as she slid off the bed to land on Draco.

"Bloody hell Weasley! What in Merlin's name was that for?" He cried, glaring at her. Her response was muffled by his chest. His very muscular chest, she noted.

"Sorry." He picked her up by the arms and put her back on the bed, glaring. She was trying to avoid his eyes. But once she caught a glance of his ruffled appearance and his attempted glare she burst into giggles. He continued to stare at her angrily.

"What are you laughing at?" He barked. She tried to stifle her giggles but failed miserably.

"You!" She choked out bursting into a fresh peal of laughter. He scowled at her, turning around and attempting to storm off. In this attempt he dragged Ginny off the bed once more and she landed on the floor with an,

"Oomph!" They looked at each other and Draco had to physically stop his mouth from smiling, he was still cross with her.

"Oh lighten up," She laughed, getting up to get ready. He ignored her and continued to ready himself for the day.

Ginny was picking at her lunch at the Slytherin table. She wasn't hungry and she had a lot on her mind. Like how awful Draco's father had been to him the previous night. Or how Draco had totally defended her even though every other thing he had done to her had been against her. Well maybe that wasn't completely true, but it was somewhat true. Her thoughts were disturbed by a barn owl swooping in and dropping a letter in her lap. It was odd she received it so late in the day but when she noticed it was Errol who delivered it she smiled. He was getting old, so it took him a bit longer to get to places. She offered him some of her food, as she wasn't going to eat it anyways. Ginny didn't know it, but Draco was watching everything she did. He really had no choice, they were attached and she was quite captivating. No, no she wasn't he took back the thought.

"Whatcha got there Weasel?" He asked.

"A letter from my mum," She said, opening the letter carefully. Inside, in her mother's unmistakable handwriting it said;

Ginny, love.

Hope school is going well. I don't have much time right now as your father is taking me out to a muggle restaurant for dinner.

Ginny smiled, picturing her mother flushed and happy at the idea.

I just wanted to let you know that you are more than welcome for Christmas, and that invitation is extended to Mr. Malfoy as he is attached to you. I've let Ron and Harry know the same thing. If Mr. Malfoy is uncomfortable with the idea, let him know I will not be offended but he is welcome nevertheless. I must be off though, owl me back your response. Love you.

Ginny smiled again at the thought of her parents going on a date.

"Whatcha smiling about?" Draco asked, quashing the idea that she looked lovely when she smiled. She looked up at him and just handed him the letter,

"It's partially for you as well I suppose." He scanned it over and before he could respond Ron and Millicent sat down next to them.

"Have you seen Harry at all lately Gin?" Ron asked, piling food onto his plate. She thought for a minute.

"No actually I haven't, he wasn't even at breakfast. Did you get you letter from mum?" She asked him. Ron nodded and looked up past her shoulder. And his mouth dropped.

"Ronald Weasley, you are disgusting, shut your mouth right this instant!" Ginny ordered, sounding suspiciously like her mother. He tried, but continued to gape, pointing to the doorway. She noticed several other heads at turned as she was scolding Ron. Curiously, she turned to look at the entrance to the Great Hall, and her mouth dropped as well. Harry Potter and Pansy Parkinson were heading their way, holding hands. The pair came over, taking their seats and acting as if nothing was different.

"What's up guys?" Harry asked, quelling a goofy smile.

"What the hell is going on in this place?!" Ron shouted, getting completely ignored by everyone else around him. Ginny was the first to pipe up, clearing her throat,

"So, Harry, Pansy, you two..?" She trailed off. Harry and Pansy looked at each other and smiled.

"Yeah, I suppose so." Harry murmured back, still looking at Pansy. Ron looked as if he was going to faint. Draco looked at Pansy catching her eye. He waited a moment, and then nodded, offering a polite smile. The silence was almost awkward in a way, or at least that's how Ron saw it.

"Did you get your note from mum?" Ginny asked Ron, attempting to take some of the heat off of Harry and Pansy.

"Yep," He replied taking the conversation into a new direction. Harry smiled at her gratefully. Ron was his best friend, and with that he knew that it would take a while for him to understand.

"Are you and Millicent going to be going to the Burrow?" She asked. Ron looked at Millicent.

"I don't know, we haven't really talked about it." He said, taking another bite. His head shot up and he looked at Ginny. She smiled innocently,

"Wait, does that mean..." Ron looked horrified. Ginny looked like the cat who ate the canary.

"That's right, there will be a ferret in the burrow." She said laughing.

"I resent that." Draco said, raising an eyebrow,

"And I never agreed to anything." Ginny looked at him.

"I know, I just wanted to freak Ron out." He rolled his eyes at her, barely containing his smile. Ron just sat there sputtering. Draco glanced at Ginny's plate,

"Are you finished then Ginny?" He asked, gesturing to her empty plate.

"Yes I am, let's head out." She answered rising with him. She winked at Harry and Pansy and walked out of the Great Hall with Draco. She waited a moment.

"So what do you think?" She asked. They were walking at a normal pace, they were in no rush to get to Transfiguration.

"Think about what." He responded distractedly. He was still lost as to how Harry and Pansy wound up together.

"About coming to the Burrow for Christmas?" Ginny felt shy asking him about it. She didn't know why, but she did, and she suddenly found the floor very interesting. He looked up at her. His father certainly didn't want the two of them at the Manor for Christmas, and she seemed to be pretty close with her family. She looked so shy, and he could see the blush creeping up to her cheeks.

"Do you want me to go?" He asked slowly. She looked up, locking eyes with him.

"Well, I don't know, it's up to you. I mean I'm not you. Of course I'm not, you knew that. Cause you're you. I'm going to stop rambling now." She stopped herself and could feel her face glowing. He smiled slightly to himself.

"I suppose it wouldn't be that awful, I mean what could possibly happen?" He said, trying to laugh it off. Her face absolutely lit up.

"Really?!" She squeaked. He nodded. What could possibly happen, right?

Classes ended up flying by rather quickly as soon as everyone got used to being bound together. Draco and Ginny actually started to get along, and not just because they had to. Draco found himself finding ways to make her smile, he didn't really know why, but he did. They had just finished Potions and Ginny was shivering. They had gotten hit by a tremendous cold spell.

"Do you want my cloak?" Draco asked, looking at her shivering form under her tattered robes.

"No, I'm fine," She said offering him a smile,

"Let's just get out of these dungeons." He couldn't agree more, even under his richly warm robes, he could feel the cold. They could feel the heat as they rose from the dungeon level. Not like it was that warm up there to begin with, but it was certainly warmer than the dungeons.

"You feel like taking a trip to the Hospital Wing?" Ginny asked, feeling much warmer now.

"Sure." He had gotten used to going to the Hospital Wing so often. They reached the entrance and walked in quietly, as they usually did. They walked over to Hermione's bed. Madam Pomfrey had started keeping two chairs beside her bed because most of the students were bound. Ginny began her regular one-sided conversation, informing Hermione on what was new. Madam Pomfrey caught sight of them and walked over.

"Hello Miss. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy." She nodded to both of them, and started casting some spells over Hermione, probably for nourishment.

"I'm sure that you will both be pleased to know that I have figured out what she was poisoned by. I'm having Professor Snape help me with the antidote. However, Miss. Granger and Mr. Crabbe should be up and about soon enough." Ginny looked up at her and smiled widely.

"That's great! Maybe we should go help Professor Snape with it." Ginny suggested, turning to Draco. He let out a large sigh, but he was rather curious to see what type of antidote they had discovered. Before he could answer however, Madam Pomfrey spoke up,

"That sounds like an excellent idea my dear, it's quite a difficult potion and I'm sure even he could use help." Ginny didn't need any further confirmation. She jumped up, and pulled Draco to his feet. Turning around she smiled at Hermione,

"We'll have you up soon Mione', I promise!" And with that she whipped around and headed out of the Infirmary, dragging Draco along behind her.

"What's the rush Weasley?" Draco said, smirking slightly. She just rolled her eyes and ignored him, barreling forward. She was walking so quickly that the cold was not affecting her this time around. They arrived at Snape's office and Ginny knocked loudly. There was a grumble from within and Ginny took it as an invitation to enter. They opened the door to fine Snape over a cauldron, muttering to himself and adding ingredients. He looked up at them briefly, and then turned his attention back to his cauldron.

"Yes?" He said with a snarl.

"Hi Professor." Ginny started happily.

"Madam Pomfrey told us that she figured out what poisoned Hermione and that you were working on the antidote and we were wondering if you wanted some help?" She said in one breath. He looked up at them again and raised an eyebrow at Draco.

"I really had no choice in the matter." Draco responded, as if to some unasked question. Snape stopped muttering to the cauldron and stood up.

"I suppose." He said briefly. Ginny and Draco walked over to him, waiting for him to explain.

"Miss. Granger and Mr. Crabbe were poisoned with the Draught of Living Death, I'm sure you remember it from our lesson earlier on." They both nodded.

"It had been altered in a way though. So it took a while longer to actually detect it. Some very Dark Magic was used to make it a more permanent and undetectable draught." He glanced briefly at Draco before continuing.

"The normal antidote is just to wait it out; however in this case, that is doing no good. We will be combining parts of two draughts and adding some extra ingredients to tailor the potion. The Mandrake Draught which I'm sure you are also both familiar with, we will use. It revives people from Petrification." Ginny shuddered slightly. It went unnoticed by Snape, but Draco certainly noticed it.

"We will also be using a few drops of the Elixir of Life." Ginny looked confused.

"It is and elixir which extends life. Too much of it would be dangerous but a small amount will counteract the Dark Magic in the Draught of the Living Death." She nodded, understanding.

"Lastly we will be adding bezoar, which I know you both understand. It protects from most poisons. These three main ingredients will hopefully make a proper antidote." He finished and the teens looked at him.

"Well? Are you here to help or just gawk at me?" He snapped, glaring at them. Draco and Ginny jumped up and started to prepare the ingredients.

Author's Note

So I said I was on writing strike and I am now officially. I just wanted to get this one up cause I was halfway through. Please review, I would like to continue this story. Thank you oodles and oodles to my fab beta LOTRRanger. Now for the rest of you REWIEW! Please and thanks,

aos