I woke up freezing. It was no later than three a.m. yet I watched Draco pace at the bottom of my bed.

"...and what of my mother..." He mumbled, "she'll believe I was kidnapped by death eaters. I have to find a way to get a letter to her before Grangers up."

"Already done. I sent her a letter while you were in the shower. We have full access to your funds and her blessings." He jumped, but said nothing.

"What are you doing up?"

"Your pacing woke me." I lied. He sat beside me.

"Oh really? And why are you trembling then?" He took my hands in his, warming them with his own heat.

"Just go back to bed. You need your strength." I insisted. He magicked the comforter over to me, wrapping it around me tightly.

"You're keeping this comforter if I have to stay up all night long and hold it here." We stared down until I sagged from my own exhaustion.

"Sleep up here with me. Then we can both get a few hours." He reluctantly agreed, settling in beside me. His silk boxers brushed gently against my leg as I cuddled near him. He stiffened for a moment before -muscle by muscle- he relaxed completely. I woke wrapped in his sure embrace. His face buried in my curls. Harry and Ron shook my shoulder.

"We're late 'Mione! The sun is on its way up and if we don't leave now they're going to see us leaving. I groaned, unpeeling Draco's arms from my waist and I did. His grip was almost ironclad and took more than a little coaxing to undo.

"Why didn't you wake me up," I hissed. Ron shrugged sheepishly.

"You're up now! Now let's get moving." Harry insisted. He had our trunks shrunk and in his drawstring bag. I forgot to lay something out for Malfoy so hopefully my uniform isn't too itchy for the prince."

"He'll be fine. Wake him up." I pulled a jumper over my night shirt and a pair of jeans over my knickers. As the grumpy prince dressed I was shoving my feet in trainers. He rubbed his eyes as he tied the tie with sleepy hands. "Two to a broom. Ron help Malfoy onto my broom." Malfoy grunted behind me, going so far as to stick me on the broom himself. His hands lingered on my hips.

"I'm not dead yet."

I nodded and pat the space behind me, "well hop on." He did and helped me steer myself out of the window. We flew for hours past endless rows of trees as the highest speed I could maintain. We didn't stop until the burrow came into view. I could feel Malfoys heart slamming against his ribs.

"Nervous?" He shrugged noncommittally, tightening his grip on my waist.

"What reason do I have to fear Mrs. Weasely? She's a Fierce woman, but that doesn't mean I'll instantly be on the wrong end of her wand. Fierce yes, but very kind and motherly."

"Don't talk like you know my mum," Ron grunted, "you spent six years ridiculing all of us."

"I rather like your mother and I highly doubt she'd be too put out over the arrogant and obnoxious ramblings of a 12 year old." Malfoy grunted back, "the only thing I said about her that I meant was that she had far too many children. She should have stopped after Charlie and Bill. It seems the rest of you are a bunch of nuts." I snickered at that. It's not like it wasn't true. George and Fred were always in trouble and Ron and Ginny were too hot headed for their own good. "She's awful prideful too. The many times my mum offered financial assistance to your mother was refused outright by a very impersonal owl. It wasn't like you lot couldn't use a few extra galleons. I was taken by surprise when Ron rammed the broom into mine. Malfoy barely moved, but I nearly toppled over.

"Ronald!" I screamed. I was clutching Malfoys shirt like it was the only thing holding me together. He was a very unattractive magenta color in the face, "screw you and your temper! Draco didn't do anything worth you killing me!" With anger coursing through me I aimed the broom at the ground.

"I don't think killing yourself will prove the point princess." He jerked on the nose of the broom, causing us to glide to a stop. I fell off the broom and went stomping inside not caring what happened to either of them. I found myself in the kitchen giving Mrs. Weasely a big hug.

"Where are my dear sons and that horribly stuck up cousin of mine?" She asked after she inspected me.

"Probably outside trying to kill each other." I mumbled, sitting beside her, "they're all so full of pride that no one cares that he's dying. No one else seems to realize that he could disappear any day now."

"We realize it just fine," Ron snapped, "we just don't care. Malfoy has been a git to us for years Hermione! How can you find it in yourself to care if it lives or dies!" I rose to my full height and glowered up at him.

"How? By not being a bloody idiot that's how!" I screeched, "I didn't mind hating him before, because I knew that at the end of the year he would graduate with us, he would find someone who loved him for the prat he was, and he'd go on to live an okay life. Now...every day we take for granted could easily be his last. He could very well lose his happily ever after all because his cells mutated! There is a chance that he could be snuffed out completely because of a little thing like that! Imagine how he feels! He's 17 just like we are! This isn't Hogwarts, Ronald. This isn't quidditch. This is a teenage boys life. Grow up." I shoved past him, tears crowding my vision. A pair of arms dragged me off course.

"Moving," I realized his sarcastic drawl anywhere.

"Sod off Malfoy," I mumbled, "you're just as bad. You know you need to be taking it easy yet you're purposefully riling him up."

"I've got get my fights in while I still have the ability." He muttered bitterly. Then he smiled at me, albeit it awkwardly. "I trust you, Hermione." He gently dabbed away the tears falling along my cheeks. "I won't purposefully provoke him." He promised, "scouts honor." I nodded.

"You therapy begins tomorrow." I warned him. They're going to try to fix you." We were quiet for a moment.

"So its potentially now or never?" He mumbled. I nodded. He fell silent, "I'm not ready." I smiled reassuringly at him.

"Well let me know when you are." I squeezed his hand, "now inside you go. I can't have you ticking her off too." He kissed my forehead.

"Whatever you say."

We headed inside. His hand still within mine.