Author's Note: Home sick today, so I wrote for a distraction.
The first chapter didn't get that much attention, seeing as
how it only got relatively eighty five views and two reviews. But
hey, that's still people who read and quite possibly liked the fic
either way. Hopefully you all like this chapter. Happy reading!

Ginny was disappointed that she hadn't really seen anyone on the train who thought she was magnificently different. She'd changed into her school robes before the line began and even as she walked through the halls back to her own compartment with the trio, no one said anything about how she looked. Of course she'd seen a couple first years who looked up at her with big, wide eyes, but they were too stunned to say a word. Ginny was frustrated when she walked off the train, her arms crossed over her chest as she walked towards the carriage that she'd seen the trio wander off to. However, as she arrived, she noticed Neville Longbottom sitting in the seat that she'd been hoping to take.

"Oh Gin," Neville's eyes popped out of their sockets, at least they would have if they were not connected, "welcome back!" He wanted to say something else, Ginny could tell, but he was repressing his words. Neville was just about to get out of the carriage and offer his seat to the arrival, but it lurched forward and he was suddenly mouthing 'I'm sorry' to the gorgeous redhead. If only he'd realized what hit Ginny when he did that, but he remained oblivious to how hurt she felt that she'd been replaced all of a sudden.

But since there were still a few sitting carriages, Ginny wasn't going to let it get to her just yet. Instead she turned around and headed for the one closest to her. She could see that there was an available seat, but the people in the carriage did not look like those she wanted to associate herself with. Slytherins. But since a few more carriages were departing, she had no choice but to gather up the confidence she'd talked herself into and put it to good use. Ginny plastered on a smile when she reached the carriage, hoping that maybe they'd be good guys on the first day of school. "Do you mind if I ride with you guys?"

The guys looked at each other, the three of them questioning whether the Weasley before them was serious, it was Draco who responded with an answer. "Welcome back," he said icily, "I'm just curious, but where's your little posse?"

"Nevermind, I'll just walk," Ginny huffed as she turned around and began walking.

"Hey, Weaslette," Draco called out as she turned around, "take the seat." Ginny wondered if he was aware of the fact that he was being nice, but she didn't dare impose on what he was thinking. "I'm not always an ass," he mumbled as Ginny climbed into the carriage and took a seat.

Slowly she looked at the men in the carriage, making sure to eye each of them carefully with a passive look. Draco was sitting by Blaise Zabini, someone she was pretty sure he was good friends with, if not best. Beside her sat Theodore Nott, and while she'd never really paid any attention to him, under the moonlight he looked rather dashing. "Thank you," she concluded, unsure of what to do next.

Draco cleared his throat, grabbing the Weasley's attention. "You look different," he stated bluntly, "what happened?"

"I was sick," she declared.

"For a year?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, a year." Ginny crossed her arms again, going back into that self-conscious shell she had been trying to climb out of. "And if you don't mind, I'd rather not talk about it." When would they reach the castle?

Draco resigned himself to silence, glaring at Ginny as she turned to look out the window. He gave her a seat and this was how she repaid him? With hostility? That would teach him to be nice. However, picking up where Draco left off, Blaise Zabini introduced himself to the conversation. "You look stunning," he charmed, reaching for her hand and craftily causing her to unfold her arms. "Blaise Zabini," he brought her hand to his lips, making a grand gesture to kiss it, "at your service."

It had been ages since Ginny had met a real gentleman, especially one as good looking and naturally charming as Blaise, but she had her guard up like always. She was keenly aware that she could not let herself impulsively take control, even if she was trying to convince herself that doing so would make her happy. "Ginny Weasley," she withdrew her hand, wondering if her blush was noticeable in the dark.

"Not that it's any of my business," Blaise cleared his throat, "but would you mind telling me what you were out sick with?" He knew that she'd just closed the subject, but having a more successful attempt at charming the girl than Draco, he hoped he would get an answer out of her.

Ginny, on the other hand, cocked her head with curiosity. Had he not heard the entire 'I'd rather not talk about it' line or was he just stupid? "Adjorate," she looked back out the window, "a rare, magical idea."

Draco perked up at the word, staring carefully at Ginny before he narrowed his eyes at her. "You're the case my mother was telling me about," he announced, not surprised that her eyes shot in his direction and bulged. "My mother had Adjorate three years ago, she was the only person to have ever recovered," he paused, "other than you." Draco had never shared that story with his friends, but finding out that Ginny had gone through what his mother had made him a little more open to conversation with the redhead. "That's why you look different," he didn't dare tell her that she looked better than before.

Her heart was pounding in her chest, she could feel it coming up her throat and threatening to hit the floor with a splat. "I'm sorry, Malfoy," Ginny said softly, disregarding his comment about her looks, "but at least she survived." Which meant that Narcissa Malfoy was a strong person, that's what it took to survive, Ginny knew that.

"It was over three years ago," he looked her in the eyes, "but thank you." It was the first time anyone in the carriage had ever heard those words escape Draco Malfoy's lips, they all showed their shock. "I see Adjorate didn't effect your personality though," he deduced, "my mother kicked my father out after she returned, she was stronger than she ever had been." Personally, Draco would have kicked Lucius Malfoy's ass for never once going to see Narcissa, but that was disrespectful and he was still in school at the time. "You seem like the same, reserved Ginny Weasley everyone knows and loves." He sounded bitter.

"I am not," she countered.

"Prove it," Draco challenged, "so far you've acted like the same Slytherin-hating Gryffindor you always have been. All you're doing is making me believe that you're the same little girl you always have been and always will be." He silently mumbled under his breath, "You didn't deserve to survive."

If Ginny hadn't been offended before, she was now. For a moment she and everyone else seemed to go catatonic, Ginny the worst of them all. "You take that back," she bristled.

"A near death experience and you remain the same, trust me, death would have been a better choice for you." Draco was looking out the window as he spoke, suddenly turning to look back at the redhead who looked as though she was going to cry out in fury. "Unless you change, you have nothing to show for your struggle."

"I have changed, Malfoy," she practically screamed.

"But you don't show it," Draco eyed her carefully, "and that's the only thing that matters." The carriage came to a stop and Draco turned his eyes away from her, sitting as she hmph'ed and stomped towards the castle. Theodore and Blaise turned to look at Draco with eyes that questioned what he'd just done and all he could do was smile ruefully. "She's right, she's changed," he agreed, "let's go boys, we have a new conquest to deal with."

REVIEW, PLEASE