Chapter 6

"Again" Hermione instructed. Seven and a half hours. They had been doing this for seven and a half hours, and all he had managed to grasp was how to do lumos and nox.

He groaned in frustration, "I can't get it!!"

"Just try again and stop fearing hurting me. A stun just knocks me unconscious for a few minutes, although strong ones are dangerous. Ok. Try again." She said, making sure the pillows were ready in case he managed to do it right.

"S-stu-pefy!" He stammered, thrusting his wand towards her. All it did was spark.

"Don't stutter. Again."

"ST-Stupefy!!" He said, stronger, but only a spark shot from his wand, sputtering out like a sparkler when it runs out of powder to run off.

"Again. Stronger. Don't stammer. Be powerful."

"Stupefy…" He said once more, and it just went a few feet, hitting the grass. The sun was beating down on his bare back, his hair sticking to his head, as sweat dripped into his eyes. Hermione had ditched her shirt, just wearing a blue sports bra and shorts, her hair pulled up into a messy bun, sunglasses on. She had insisted on the glasses.

"Again." Wiping her face. "It won't reach me unless you feel strongly about it. Think about something that makes you angry."

He stared at her, and let out a heavy breath, and let his mind wander. He hadn't gained back any new memories, but Hermione had really helped him understand the wizarding world. His nostrils flared when he thought about one person. Fenrir Greyback.

His hand tightened on his arm, as his lip curled, his eyes closed, and then he spoke in a voice she hadn't heard in years. Deep, low, aggressive, warning without saying anything 'I will kill you if you don't get out of my way'. Snarling, and angry. Furious.

"I'm gonna fucking kill him…STUPEFY!!!!" His voice roared, and the biggest shot she had seen in ages flew towards her, slamming into her chest, and she lost consciousness. His anger diminished as soon as he saw it slam into her chest and her limp body fly way too far, hitting the grass and rolling. He dropped his wand, rushing towards her, Severus, and Scotch at his side. 

"Shit- Hermione!!" he shouted as he saw it happen. As soon as he got by her, he dropped down onto his knees, scared he had injured her.

"Hermione!?" He rolled her limp form onto her back, tapping her face. "Shit, wake up!!"

He saw her move her head, and slowly open her eyes, staring up at him. "Woah…"

He moved back enough so she could sit up as Severus licked her face, almost in her lap. "Draco, I wasn't expecting that…. Good job. That was awesome!!"

He stared at her, slightly shocked, "Thank Merlin you're ok but- I just did it!!"

"If I may ask…, What was it you thought of…?" Hermione wondered, as Draco helped her up.

"After you told me about the war, I thought about Fenrir Greyback… If what Harry told you was true, he almost killed me at fifteen? That just pisses me off." Draco mused, wiping sweat from his brow again. Hermione looked at his neck.

"Oh goodness, seems you got burnt. Let's head inside for the day. Good job. Oh- do you remember that spell I taught you yesterday?" As she looked at the pillows.

"Uh…Oh. Wingardium Leviosa?" Draco guessed, feeling a flurry of happiness when she smiled and nodded.

"Ok…wingardium levi-o-sa!" The massive pile of pillows elevated into the air, floating towards the open door as Draco guided them inside.

Hermione slowly followed him inside, letting him fix the pillows of the living room, where she then slowly sat down. 

Draco looked at her, wiping his face again and turned around, walking into her kitchen. She glanced at his back and winced.

"You burn so easily…" Hermione noted, "Next time, you are using the one-hundred-factor no questions asked."

"Fine." She heard him answer from near her fridge, "And why didn't you tell me almost a week ago that you have ice cream?"

"Uh, you never asked." She called back, clicking on the teli and flicking through the available channels. Not much interesting shows played during this time of day, but she could always find something on Hulu or Amazon Prime, but God forbid she tried to explain to him how muggle online shopping companies worked. Memories or not, any wizard trying to understand that without growing up with it would have a migraine.

She heard him walk back in, and her eyes flicked to Draco as he lounged out on the other end of the couch, a bowl of ice cream in his lap, "That is way too much."

"Who says?" He asked, starting to eat some.

"Me."

"You're not my mum." He quipped, and she rolled her eyes. He liked that expression. Used it all the time.

"And you are like a twelve-year-old wizard in a twenty-three-year-olds body. Your point is?" Hermione said and saw him flush slightly.

"Your point is?" He asked, as she turned on a show she had found, though she didn't care for it.

"That nobody should eat that many sweets in one day." Feeling very much like a babysitter.

"You don't tell me what to do."

"Do I need to go through another yelling match where I ground you?" Her arms folded to her chest.

He grumbled something, "What was that?" She asked.

He went silent, obviously pouting and ate his ice cream in silence, "No more dessert today then."

"What!? Why!!" He complained but she didn't answer, slightly wondering why she was crushing on this boy.

"Never mind. Just eat it." She said, giving up.

He smirked, and she glared at him, before going back to looking at the teli, although she didn't pay attention to a single thing happening.

About half an hour later, she got up, and walked into the kitchen. Hermione pulled out her wand, starting to clean the dishes as she had been with Draco constantly, so stuff around her usually tidy house had started to pile up. She was surprised to say the least. Everything was so normal, even though so much about her entire life right now was so messed up. Hermione leaned on the counter, glancing out onto her front lawn.

Hermione glanced around, seeing her plants and the green grass, a few trees, the sidewalk-

"Draco. Draco, lock all the doors. Now. Get the pets inside as quickly as you can!!" She yelled, as she saw Ron walking up the street, towards her house.

She heard the chink as he set the bowl down and he ran into the kitchen, "What's wron- "

"JUST DO IT!!!!" She yelled, and he startled slightly, quickly walking to the backyard, calling his dogs in, and making a high-pitched whistle that she had learnt was his signal to call Nox. She heard him lock the back door, and she ran to the front, locking and bolting it, putting up wards.

"Draco, you need to grab your wand. Remember the anger, ok?" Hermione said weakly, shaking. Her rapist. Her sexual harasser. Was walking towards her house, and the man who can protect her, had been reduced to weak and useless.

Draco stood beside her, and grabbed her shoulders, "Can you smell that?"

She was confused as her chest rose and fell, her breathing irregular, "Smell w-what?"

He spoke gently, "You gotta take some deep breaths for me. Can you smell it?"

She took in slow and deep breaths, trying to figure out what he was talking about, as she looked up at him, "What can you smell? Is something burning?"

"No, but you aren't freaking out and hyperventilating anymore." Draco said with a smile. His wand was in his hand, and he spoke in another gentle tone.

"I saw him. It's ok. We'll be fine." He insisted, rubbing her shoulder. Hermione took another deep breath.

"But you don't know what he's done- what he's capable of- "She whispered.

"Nothing that I can't protect you from." He promised, although he didn't know how dangerous it was to say something like that.

"Please- don't make a promise like- "

The door burst off its hinges, clanging to the floor at Draco's feet. He held Hermione behind him, sturdy, a wall of protection.

"Don't set a foot into this house…" Draco warned lowly. Ron emerged out of the dust from the now destroyed doorframe, his wand in his hand.

"Or do. Whatever." Draco muttered.

Ron pointed his wand at Draco, "You took her from me. You hid her away. I guess she's yours now…. If you survive."

Before Draco or Hermione could do anything, a spell hit Draco in the chest, and Ron raised his wand, pulling Draco off the floor. Hermione couldn't see what was wrong, but Draco was kicking, holding his throat. Choking. Suffocating. Another curse hit him, and his body went limp, before it was thrown across the room, slamming into the wall, and he crumpled down, his head leaning forwards onto his chest, a trickle of blood slowly making its way down his forehead.

Hermione's hands shot to her mouth, eyes wide, as she backed up.

Ron grinned evilly, "Oh he's not dead…yet…Have fun…"

He walked out the house, and cast a massive ward, so Hermione and nothing could get out as it started shaking, pictures falling off the walls. He was destroying her house.

The walls started cracking, as rafters started to fall, the second floor about to fall in on the first.

Hermione saw the dogs and owl run out the front door, apparently unaffected by the wards. She ran towards Draco, but a beam fell in front of her, and more items fell, as she tried to get through, "WAKE UP!!!" She screamed, terrified, "WAKE UP!!!" but to no avail.

Hermione felt her heart leap into her throat when another rafter fell towards her, and she screamed, but it never hit her. The rest of the house collapsed in on itself, as someone held her tightly, a small circle of safety around her. She buried her face into her rescuer's arms and pressed herself close to their body.

She heard a familiar voice, "It's ok…I came when I felt him enter your wards…."

Hermione heard the rumbling stop, and opened her eyes, to see her entire house destroyed around her. She felt a sob build in her throat, as she looked in the direction his body had been laying. Nowhere in sight. She then turned and started to sob uncontrollably into Harry's arms, as he held her, rubbing her back in the rubble that used to be her childhood home.

He whispered, "Take a breath…Hermione it's ok…You're ok…" Rubbing her back.

"He- he just- he didn't- under the rubble- "She managed, as Harry slowly had her sit down in the clean spot of wood.

"Try and take deep breaths, ok?" He said gently. "Now, where did you last see his body…."

She weakly pointed towards where her back wall had been. "Ok…. I'll try."

He climbed over rubble and knelt near the edge of a destroyed wall. He started pulling back wood and cement and metal, and saw a hand, pale, cut, and cold.

Harry took a deep breath, "Ok Malfoy…. Let's get you through this…"

He marked a rune over where he was and went back to Hermione.

He knelt beside her, "Ok, send a Patronus to ST. Mungo's. Ask for healer Nott. A friend of Malfoy's that I know."

Hermione nodded and got onto her knees, summoning her Patronus with a simple swish of her wand. The otter floated before her as she spoke.

"This is Hermione Granger. We need a team of emergency workers and Healer Nott to come to the address that this otter comes from. Bring the medical supplies with you. An attack was made on me and my friend by Ronald Weasley about 20 minutes ago, and we cannot retrieve my friend from the rubble. Come ASAP!" She instructed, as her otter bounced away and disappeared. Hermione stared at the dusty wooden floor between her knees.

"I don't even know what just happened…." She whispered, "He was just sitting there…J-Just eating ice cream he had found- found in the freezer…." Hermione suddenly looked up at Harry, "Do I like him…?"

Harry seemed very startled by her sudden question, "I- I have no idea, but- but you may…?"

As she went to say something, they heard cracks of apparition, as a medical team rushed towards them through the destroyed house. Hermione instantly recognized Nott, the tall Italian boy who had always been quiet and ambitious.

"Where is he!?" His strong accent stung with concern.

Harry got up, "Trapped under a large ceiling beam and wood. That's why you need a rescue team?" As he led them to where he had found Draco's hand.

The aurors started to work with magic to lift the beam, struggling with the magic, as Harry and Theo managed to pull the unconscious body from the remains.

Harry saw the injuries and felt slightly sickened as Nott laid his friend on the warm grass, pulling out his wand, "Get warm water. And cloth. Lots of cloth."

He started trying to heal the main wound from the beam, which had broken many ribs and fractured his spine. "Don't die…" Harry heard Theo whisper as he walked away to get the items, "Please…"

Harry looked down at Hermione as he walked back over to her, "Mione, Nott has him out on the grass in the backyard…. The aurors and I are going to try and fix the house…. Can you get Draco some warm cloth and warm water? He needs it."

Hermione got up, and nodded solemnly, before summoning the necessary items, and then quickly walking towards where Theo was kneeling beside a very pale figure.

She knelt in front of him, looking at Draco's face, handing the healer his supplies. Theo then proceeded to apply the soaked cloths along his body, gently patting them against each bruise and wound.

Theo said gently, "Lift his head into your lap, ok? I'm going to attempt to wake him up…"

As he said this, the house behind her flew into motion, walls flying in circles, rubble swirling, flying back into place as the aurors started to repair her house.

Hermione repositioned at his head, and slowly picked it up and laid it into her lap, smiling slightly. She had always wondered what his hair felt like…It was silky. Even with dust and debris in it, silky. She slowly twisted her fingers through it as Theo cast a revival charm.

Draco took a deep and sharp breath in, as he started to heavily pant. Hermione was horrified when she could seehis breath. Not due to heat or cold, but due to how much dust he had inhaled. He started coughing, harsh and deep.

"Ok, turn him onto his side so he doesn't choke." Nott instructed again, the two working to get Draco onto his side, as the boy stopped couching, breathing weakly again.

"Draco…? Can you hear me? If you can, do anything you can to show a simple sign…" Theodore asked quietly.

Nothing happened for a while, as he went still and seemed to calm down again, and then his mouth opened, "Yeah…I copy you, Nott…..." Coughing again, deep and rattling.

Hermione saw relief on his face as Draco slowly opened his eyes, blinking drowsily.

He stared up at the face over him, and mumbled, "Oh…you're pretty…." Blinking a bit, "I…mean…. Hi Hermione…." Coughing again. She bent over, not caring how awkward the position was. She wrapped her arms around him.

"Don't ever scare me like that again, Draco…" As she let him go and sat back up. He chuckled weakly, and closed his eyes again, "Sure hottie…."

Theo smiled slightly, "Don't take him seriously, ok? Think about how much time he wasn't breathing for…."

Hermione sighed deeply, and looked up, at the blue sky, then down at Draco. "You tried to save me…Literally risked your life for someone you don't remember…"

His smile said it all, and she hugged him again. Hermione didn't notice as Theo got up, walking inside to check on how the interior was coming along. She just slowly released Draco again, who just rested his head in her lap.

"Good thing it wasn't a fire…...Now I just got bruises 'stead a' burns…." His voice had a slight slur, not annunciating all the words properly. She stroked a hand through his ruffled hair, watching his face.

"Yea…Good thing…" She murmured distractedly, as she looked up and saw Theo walking towards her.

He knelt and hauled Draco's mostly limp body up and over his shoulder, his blonde friend not even asking what was going on, staying silent as he draped over the ground.

"A'ight" Theo said with a deep sigh, "Let's get you into bed hun." Patting Draco's back, before nodding to Hermione, motioning to walk inside. He followed behind her.

She walked quietly, and heard Treo grunt, suddenly seeming to struggle with Draco's weight, but then heard, "Welp, he passed out…. Maybe it's a good thing. Don't need to deal with him awake right now."

She smiled slightly, but it faded. She didn't know why she felt the way she did, but all the energy coursing through her blood pulsed with worry and concern for the unconscious blonde.

Hermione led Theo up the stairs, hearing him struggle to get up. She turned and watched, ready to help with magic if he needed. Theodore managed well enough and walked into the guest room.

Draco was hanging limp, Theo's arm wrapped around his waist where Draco was laid across his shoulder. The healer walked to the side of the bed, peeling back the sheets, and managed to get his friend into the bed, moving his limbs.

"This boy is way too tall..." Theo muttered, as he pulled Draco's left leg onto the bed, watching his pale face, and then the rise and fall of his chest.

"Alrighty Granger..." He said, finally addressing her formally. "He woke up, was able to talk, knew your name, my name, what happened. No memory loss, but unfortunately it seemed no memory gain either...His vitals rose and are healthy and back to normal. However, expect some trouble breathing out of the blue, sudden exhaustion...uh...Collapsing. If he collapses, don't freak out and call us. Just get him onto his back, maybe some cold water, and let him wake up on his own.... Mmmm If you notice any limping or wincing when he moves, just write me. Oh!! Don't let him have a wand for a few days. If he has any spurts of pain, his magic will react. Got it?"

She glanced at the Italian, who had obviously regained his formality, having decided his friend wasn't dying, and nodded.

"Yes. Thank you, Nott." Her voice was tight, and she felt herself grow a bit stiffer when he came close, and awkwardly pulled her into a hug, but then she realized he was doing it to tell her something.

"I don't know how you came into the possession of my best friend...Nor do I care but do one thing...DO him right. That boy had lost more than you could ever grasp.... And he never risks his skin...What ever happened...That was special, whether he has his memories or not...." His thick accent growing stronger, and then he released her, taking a step back, and casting Draco a glance.

"Non moiré stupido." Theo muttered, staring at Draco longer, before looking at Hermione once again.

"Let him rest. Let's go downstairs. You need to have a talk with the rescue team...." And before she could ask him what he said to Draco, he was already leaving. She rushed to follow him down, but hesitated to just gently close the door, so any loud sounds wouldn't wake the blonde.

Hermione walked down the stairs, and towards the group of people in her living room, approaching Harry.

"-swear I don't know." He was saying as she came to his side.

"What's the issue?" She asked, looking at an older man, clearly head of the team.

"We are asking Potter what happened here." The man stated, and she identified a Scottish accent.

"Well-"

"How did you find yourself with Draco Malfoy?" The man cut her off.

She sighed, "He and I ran into each other in the park-"

"That man is dangerous!!!" He said sourly.

"Oh yes, so very dangerous as his best friend carries his unconscious body into a bedroom where he curled up with a pillow, snuggling it. Yes, the most dangerous person ever." The amount of sarcasm dripped from her voice.

"Well...Thank you, for capturing the boy. Now we can get that one into Azkaban, and finally close the death eaters' cases." Laughing. He was laughing.

Harry saw it first, the fury burning in her eyes, as her fingers twitched, "You touch him, I kill you."

The man continued laughing, as Theo growled, "Tu stupido figlio di un-"

Harry cut him off, "Sir, but Mr. Malfoy has been proven innocent, and has done nothing wrong. He was attacked. He saved my best friend."

The auror sneered, "Who cares kid? Money is money."

Theo's eyes narrowed, "Esci da questa casa..."

The auror glared, "What? Speak English you Scott..."

Hermione had gone to school with this boy, and had never seen him lose his cool, but here he was exploding at this man, half in Italian, the other half in understandable English, "GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE YOU NARCISISTA FOLLE!!! COME POTRESTI ENTRARE IN QUESTA HOME, AND THREATEN-"

Harry tried to calm the healer down, as the auror backed up, obviously scared.

"Nott-" Harry tried again.

"DRACO È UNA BRAVA PERSONA E SE GLI METTI UNA DANNATA MANO ADDOSSO-" The auror backed up more, and fled the house with his team, as Theo stood there, panting, furious.

Hermione stared at him, slightly wide eyed, "Are you alright...?"

Nott muttered, "Nessuno gli mette una mano addosso quando io-"

"English please Theo." Harry said, slightly exasperated.

"I- I uh- Sorry- I said nobody lays a hand on him when I am around...." The embarrassment was clear on his face, "I forget to translate sometimes..."

Hermione put a hand to her head, and sighed heavily, not knowing what to think of the day she had gone through. Why had any of it happened? She couldn't answer that. Was Draco, ok? She couldn't answer that. Was her world going upside down, backwards, and all around? She, in fact, could answer that, since standing beside her was infamous Slytherin Theodore Nott, and upstairs, in her guest bedroom, was Draco Malfoy.

Harry came to her side, "Alright, time for you to go lay down as well. You did just survive a category 4 earthquake that Ron cast over your house. Why don't you go lay down with Draco, so he doesn't wake up alone and scared?"

She nodded slightly, still shaking, feeling out of touch, very strange all in all. Nothing was making sense, and it felt as if she were watching this all happen but had no reaction to it.

Hermione walked up the stairs, suddenly growing shakier and dizzier, having to stop halfway up, gripping the staircase handle tighter.

"Harry?" She called out, her voice weak. Everything was spinning a bit too much for her liking, but she knew what it was. She was going into shock. "Harry!!" She called more urgently, as her grip started to loosen on the stairwell. 

She heard his footsteps, and he came up behind her, just as her grip went lacking, and her legs turned to jelly. For the first time she was thankful that he played quidditch for so many years, as his strong arms managed to catch her, and pick her up so she didn't fall down the stairs.

He didn't seem worried, as she shook still, having to close her eyes against the spinning and sickening feeling in her stomach. She felt a soft mattress against her back, someone sitting beside her, stroking her head, quietly speaking, as she drifted off, either into unconsciousness or an uneasy sleep. She never knew. All she knew was everything faded to nothing, the light fading to black.

One thing she was aware of was a movement against her side, as an arm slid around her waist, pulling her close, protectively, slim and cool arm. Draco. And then there was nothing.

-___________________________________________________________-

She woke to a gentle rubbing on her back, feeling of three fingers slowly making circles. Her head moved a bit, and the feeling stopped. Hermione made a sound of disapproval in her throat, cuddling closer to the warmth behind her, and the fingers rubbed again. A content sigh left her nostrils as she became more aware. Blankets tossed over her shoulders, bare feet against a soft quilt. As she took another deep breath, she realized the comfortable 'warmth' was a body, holding her close with one arm around her waist. The fingers were cool and thin yet felt strong. She had yet to open her eyes.

Another deep breath in, and she heard a voice, deep and slightly rough from sleep, "Is sleeping beauty awake yet...?"

She breathed out deeply, and turned around, curling closer, and cuddling her face into his chest. "No...." Came her quiet and sleepy response. 

His chuckle vibrated against her cheek, "Ok then..." And he continued to rub her back, allowing her to get as comfortable as she wanted, and she let herself slowly drift between awake and asleep.

Hermione moved her head again, to a colder part of his chest, and then her senses riled up. Cold? Chest!?

Her eyes flew open, as she sucked in a tight breath, suddenly overwhelmed by such a familiar scent, her mind stopped for a moment. Her eyes latched onto the calm and collected face inches from hers, his silver eyes shining with amusement.

"You just realized where you are?" His still rough, yet to wake up voice asked, gentle and kind.

She took a few deeper breaths, her hands pressed against his chest, holding her up. She didn't want to speak in a shaking voice, and just nodded.

"I'm just glad to see you're ok…" He whispered, and she didn't know how he could make a whisper so- so husky- but her stomach twisted at the words.

"Stop…" She said quietly. She saw confusion flash over his face.

"Stop what?"

"Stop that. All-" She signaled to his body and face, "That!!"

Hermione was shocked when he just laughed, "Hermione, I'm doing nothing other than laying here while you have a semi-freak out…" His eyes turned softer, the expression of amusement faded, "Mione, you've been out for two days…."

She slowly processed this, and then made eye contact, and she felt ice run through her blood. The look of adoration and care in his eyes…

She got out the bed, shaky, holding her hands to her chest, as she realized she was in one of her loose crop tops, a sports bra, and some baggy shorts. Her feet were bare. She was surprisingly comfortable. She wrung her hands a few times, muttering 'no'.

She didn't want this. She didn't want a man to care for her, or like her, or try and save her!! He almost died for Merlin's sake, because of her!!

Hermione didn't hear the bed squeak, or the sound of his footsteps growing closer. All she knew was suddenly his arms were around her, protective, strong, blocking out her fears, and she spun around, wrapping hers around him. His hand, she didn't know which one, was slowly rubbing her head, his other spread wide across her back, as his strong arm held her close.

"Breathe…. I know that you're scared…." His deep voice thrumming against her head. She didn't know why, but white-hot tears burned her eyes and suddenly spilled down her cheeks, as she took a few shaky breaths, and then started to cry, quietly, overwhelmed sobs into his chest.

He didn't move. He never moved. Not even when the crying turned into ugly sobs, and she lost control. He just held her in his arms and did his best to comfort her.

She just cried and let her emotions spill. Her hands wrapped tightly around his back, latching on, and managed to get out one sentence.

"I was- was s-so scared wh-when everything c-collapsed- I th-thought you h-had been-been cru-crushed-" But he hushed her.

"Hermione…" he murmured quietly, knowing she could hear him. "Hey…. Take a deep breath…." Rubbing her back and trying to calm her down. "Deep breaths…."

He quietly hummed a song, and she tried to calm down, just to hear it. She took slow deep breaths and managed to stop the tears from falling.

The song was soft, wordless, just quiet, calming, soothing. Her eyes slowly opened, and she had a few hiccups from trying to calm down, as he continued to rub soothing circles on the beat of his song.

She took deep breaths, and closed her eyes again, curling her head to his chest, fanning her fingers out across his chest, to feel his heartbeat. He smiled a bit, and felt her grow a little bit weaker, slightly swaying.

Hermione smiled slightly, as her feet were swept up and out from under her, as he held her bridal style. He wasn't walking anywhere, just holding her.

"Draco…" She asked, her voice small.

"Yes, princess?" Draco answered. She was too sleepy to notice.

"Am I ok to be doing this…? Am I doing something wrong…?" Her eyes slowly opened, showing concern and worry.

He said what she needed to hear, the truth, "Honestly? I have no idea. All I know, is that you have come to me, with plenty option to leave me alone, leave me at the hospital, leave at so many other times…. And you haven't. And this?"

He rubbed her head, and felt a small vibration in her chest, which he didn't comment on…Even though he knew it was a weak moan.

"This doesn't feel wrong at all…." Was his quiet response. 

Hermione didn't know how to respond to this, and just turned in his arms, wrapping herself around him, before whispering in his ear, "I don't want you to get hurt…. You also had a bad day…."

He smiled slightly, as he laid her back in bed, tucking her in. "I've healed for the past two days…. You've been asleep…I should tell Potter you woke up…"

He stroked her head, watching as her eyes closed.

Draco then stood and walked out the room, and down the stairs. He pushed his hair back, wiping his face, and stretching. He saw Potter with his red-headed girlfriend sitting in the living room.

He smiled, "Hi Weasley. Potter. She just woke up, had a slight moment of freak out, then cried…."

Harry looked at him, watching him, "So…Did you tell her how much you remembered from such a bad head slam?"

Draco blushed slightly, "No…. I don't think she cares if I remembered 10 years of childhood trauma and her as a bushy haired know-it-all…."

Ginny, a girl he recognized but didn't really remember, smiled, "I for one think it would be very funny to see her reaction-"

"No. I don't want to embarrass her…..." Draco said sheepishly, as he looked away, picturing the little 11-year-old he remembered, unaware of more blush spreading over his face, as he remembered how crazy he was to try and beat her in class….

"Malfoy?" Ginny asked, seemingly have been trying to get his attention.

He looked towards her, "Hmm?"

She was smiling slightly, and the way she looked made his skin crawl. She always knew how to make him lose every inch of confidence, and he despised her for it.

"You like her..." The ginger muttered, eyes widening as she figured out his thoughts. "You like her and feel bad about it!!!"

She had, at this point, jumped up, looking overly excited, "Oh my Merlin you DO!! It's so obvious!!"

Harry was sitting silently, watching Draco and Ginny, before he spoke, "Theo Nott did tell me something..."

This registered with Draco as odd, "Wait when did you talk to Theo-"

He got cut off. "he told me, that you would never risk your neck for anybody, unless they mattered to you. Always subdued and quiet, until someone you care for is threatened... Then you would die for them.... Malfoy, you nearly died three days ago.... For Hermione."

He felt heat flush his face, instantly becoming defensive, "I- No-"

His cheeks flushed more, as Harry said, "Your face is betraying every word you say."

In a fit of embarrassment, he grabbed a pillow, hiding his face, "Is not..." came his muffled response. Harry had to take a moment to remember this was Draco Malfoy. This was how he really acted, not the fake person he was molded into at school. This was him without his memories, his raw self. He smiled slightly.

"Don't be so embarrassed. It been bound to happen. Living with a girl you can't remember." Ginny said, though she was trying not to laugh at the way he was acting.

Harry decided to change the subject, and spoke again, "Draco, you said she woke up?"

He nodded and slowly pulled the pillow down, hugging it to his chest, "Yeah...She wasn't really awake for a while, and then realized where she was, who I was, and freaked out...I..I don't know why, but she then hugged me when I tried to make sure she was ok, and started crying...."

Ginny swallowed, not looking at Draco, but made eye contact with Harry, who nodded slightly.

"What?" Draco asked, having noticed.

"Well...Hermione isn't really a crier...She refuses to let anyone see her in a bad place...." Harry answered slowly. "I uh... Maybe you should go back up, just so when she wakes up, she isn't alone, you know?"

Draco held the pillow tighter, "But I don't have a shirt on-"

"You are the biggest idiot I know," Ginny said harshly, and got up, shoving him towards the stairs, "Get up there. Get in the bed. Hold her. I don't care, stay shirtless. Hug her. Be nice. You like her. Go." As she shoved him through the doorway into the room and walked back downstairs.

"Did you have to scare him?" Harry asked as she sat back down.

"No... It was just a bonus." She responded, and kicked her feet up, turning the Teli back on. Harry rolled his eyes, and didn't give a response, leaving the matter alone.

Draco stood in the room, pathetically clutching the pillow as he stared with wide eyes at her sleeping form. He inched closer, his emotions skyrocketing as he sat on the edge of the bed, watching her face. He could see cuts and a few bruises but noting bad. He had been too scared to look at himself since he woke up, but the horrid pain in his torso told him he wasn't ok.

Draco watched for a few minutes, before slowly laying down beside her, taking a deep breath. Butterflies flooded his stomach as her breath slowly blew across his neck and upper chest, and he closed his eyes tight.

"Don't be a dumbass...." He whispered to himself, as he turned onto his side, so he was facing her, pulling the red pillow closer, and he slowly allowed his body to relax.

Deep breaths, and relaxation went a long way, as he finally felt his tense body release, and he pressed his face into the bed pillows, and before he knew it, he was out like a light.

-_______________________________________________________________-

Hermione woke up in the afternoon, stretching out on the bed. Her left hand thudded against the wall, while her right was tightly curled into something soft. She felt warmth again, but this time knew exactly what and who it was. She rolled over, and opened her eyes, studying him. His face was relaxed, a bit of drool on his lower lip from the way he was laying. Her hand was tightly curled into his usually well-groomed hair that was now a mess of curls and tangles. She looked down and couldn't help but smile when she saw him hugging a pillow tightly, like he was holding a puppy.

"Draco..." She said softly, but only got a weak grunt in reply. "Dracooo...." She said again, a bit sing Songy, and he grunted once more. She chuckled quietly, rubbing his head.

He leaned into her hand, closing his mouth, and then opening it, nonsense sound coming out as he seemingly talked in his sleep. Hermione took a moment to just relish being with him. This boy. This stupid, attractive boy.

"Are you awake at all...?" She asked, and he grunted. Lordy he grunted a lot in his sleep. "Ok then." 

Hermione didn't leave his side, rubbing his head. She didn't leave his side all night.