Hermione walked through the corridor of Hogwarts, miserable and cold. Why exactly had she gone out in the rain for so long again? Oh, right. Ron and Lavender. She cursed herself inwardly for being so sensitive, but she couldn't help it. She coughed hard into her elbow, groaning. Just what I need, a blasted cold. She kept walking, head down. She accidentally bumped into someone, staggering back. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"Merlin's beard! Watch where you're going, you filthy mudblood!"

Hermione groaned, closing her eyes. "Not now, Malfoy." She coughed again, putting a hand on the wall to keep from falling.

Draco's glare suddenly changed to a look of concern, if only for a moment. He scoffed. "You should be in the Hospital Wing with that. I'd hate for the school to die from some filthy muggle disease."

Hermione glared at him. "You're hardly going to die from a cold, Malfoy." She stifled a sneeze, ears popping. "So just drop the insults for one bloody minute, will you?" She went to walk past him, but found her path blocked.

Draco put a cool hand on Hermione's forehead. "You're hot." He closed his eyes. "I mean, you have a fever." He looked at her. "Why are you so wet? Aren't you smart enough to stay out of the rain when you're sick?"

Hermione smacked his hand away. "Bug off, Malfoy." She stumbled as she started walking again.

Draco grunted. "At least get to a bed." He put a hand on her arm to steady her without realizing.

Hermione nodded, eyes closed. Her breath quickened and her body suddenly jerked as she stifled a sneeze. She swayed, steadied by Draco's arm suddenly around her back. She shook her head, rubbing her nose. "I can ged there on by own..." her words were twisted by congestion.

Draco laughed wryly. "Hardly." He guided her forward. "Come on, let's go."

Hermione nodded and let him guide her to the Gryffindor common room entrance. She looked up at the Fat Lady. "Baltese Bubbies."

The Fat Lady looked down at her disdainfully. Draco sighed. "Maltese Puppies." The portrait swung open. He looked at Hermione. "Wow." He guided her into the common room, thankful no one was there.

Hermione plopped down on the couch, not moving. Draco raised an eyebrow. Hermione noticed his gaze and sighed. "Just let me catch my breath. I can get to the dorm alone."

Draco shrugged. "I still say Madam Pomphrey would help." With that, he left.

Hermione shook her head, thinking. Was she imagining things, or was he actually being nice to her? She coughed as she stood up, making her way to the stairs leading to the girls' dormitories. She found her bed with ease and crashed down onto it, falling asleep without even changing.

The next day, Hermione woke up feeling much better, if not fully cured. She got up and dressed, thankful it was Saturday. She brushed her hair quickly and went into the Great Hall, sipping on her pumpkin juice. She didn't have an appetite at all, but had an unquenchable thirst. After hearing the name "Lavender" come out of Ron's mouth for the fifth time in three minutes, she stood up and left. On her way out, she bumped into someone. "Really, you make a habit of running into me." Hermione looked up at Draco, groaning inwardly. The white haired boy smirked. "But since you seem to be feeling better, get out of the way mudblood." The insult was halfhearted, and Hermione could sense it.

Hermione grunted. "Bug off Malfoy." She stifled a sneeze, ears popping again. She sighed, walking past. She barely realized where her feet were taking her until she saw Lavender. She groaned.

"Hi, Hermione. Have you seen Ronnie around?"

Hermione clenched her fists. "Bug off."

"Gee, what's wrong with you?" She scoffed. "I'll find him." She walked off hautily.

Hermione groaned, putting a hand to her head. "Merlin's beard..." She coughed hard into her elbow, sniffing.

"Well, what have we here?" Draco stood over her, arms crossed.

Hermione sank down to the floor, leaning against the wall. "Bug. Off." She sniffed.

"Oh, the mudblood has an attitude, I see." He laughed, though it was clearly halfhearted.

Hermione groaned, coughing. "Leave me alone, Malfoy." She thought a moment. "Please?"

Draco was taken aback before kneeling down beside her, laying a gentle hand over her forehead. "Bloody hell...do you have any idea how warm you are?"

Hermione opened one eye to glare at him. "Do you have any idea how annoying you are?" Her breath caught and she jerked forward, stifling a sneeze. She nearly bumped heads with Draco.

"Hey watch it!" Draco's eyes softened as he looked at the pale Gryffindor. He noticed how truly pale she was, how flushed her cheeks were. "You really are sick."

Hermione scoffed. "Don't worry; you're not going to become a muggle or anything." She laughed, then realized her mistake as she broke into a coughing fit, holding her elbow up.

Draco nearly winced as he heard her, realizing how painful it sounded. He rubbed her back gently without thinking.

When the fit passed, Hermione was breathless. She eventually noticed Draco rubbing her back and raised an eyebrow at him. "And you're not worried about catching the plague?"

Draco noticed what he was doing and quickly retracted his arm, examining his hand. "Seriously, go see Madam Pomphrey."

Hermione groaned. "For the last time, Malfoy, it's just a bloody cold. Besides, I have an essay and a test and-" She suddenly sneezed, barely able to cover it.

Draco sighed. "Fine, but here," he stood up and offered a hand down to her, "you should at least get some rest."

Hermione looked at his hand and took it, standing up. She swayed slightly and felt the oddly comforting feeling of Draco's arm around her back. She allowed him to guide her, not noticing where they were going. She raised an eyebrow as Draco opened the door to the Room of Requirement. "What in-"

"Oh hush. I don't want to take you all the way to Gryffindor again and try to translate your bloody passwords." He took her inside and gestured to a black leather couch with silver embroidery.

Hermione looked around. The room was decked out in what must have been Draco's own style. She sat on the couch, surprised by how relaxing it was to sit down. She sighed.

"Sleep. You look like hell."

Hermione glared at him but knew he was probably right. "Five minutes. That's it."

Draco smirked and shrugged.