**Author's Note: I do not own any of the characters, just the story/plot.
The next month went by quickly; school, studying, and Head Girl duties occupied most of Hermione's time. Malfoy and she rarely spoke, and when they did it was short and to the point. Hermione did take notice of Malfoy's new demeanor. When they spoke it was polite, no Mudblood or any other insult, and he was very diligent in his work for school and as Head Boy. But on the other side there was something wrong with him; he ate rarely and his skin was a sickly pale gray color and more times than not he sported dark circles under his eyes.
Although he had, supposedly, changed this did not stop the way students reacted to him. They avoided him like the plague. If people would come across him they would take the long route, just to evade him. She had also heard, on numerous occasions, people say vicious things like "traitor" or "bastard" as he passed. The old Draco Malfoy would have come up with something worse to say back or immediately cursed them, but the new Malfoy let it slide. Whether he changed for the better or worse, Hermione still did not know.
Hermione was walking towards the Gryffindor common room to meet up with Ginny when she saw a fairly large crowd of people standing in a circle. She hurried over, wand ready to break up a fight, but when she got towards the center she saw Malfoy lying on the ground unmoving. Everyone around just whispered and stared at him, as he lay on the ground.
"Move it!" Hermione ordered and went to Malfoy's side. She looked up at all of the faces, "What happened?"
"I don't know he was walking then he just collapsed," a first year answered.
"Why are you all just standing here gawking at him? He needs help!" Hermione scolded.
"Why are you helping him?" Blaise Zabini's voice sounded, Hermione stared at him.
"Isn't he your best friend? Why aren't you helping him?"
"He was my best friend," Blaise seethed, "Until my father was sent to Azkaban because of him. Again, why are you helping him after everything he has done? The prick deserves to lay there and rot!"
"Piss off Zabini! Everyone move!" Hermione barked and the crowd parted like the red sea. "Mobilicorpus!" she said and with a flick of her wand she levitated Malfoy's unmoving body and she hurried towards the Hospital Wing.
When she arrived Madam Pomfrey hurried over, "Bring him here!" With her wand she carefully placed him onto one of the beds and Madam Pomfrey began to inspect him. Hermione had told her what had happened and she said, "I can see no magical ailments, I believe it may just be from malnutrition."
She felt his forehead, murmuring, "He's burning up." She hurried away for a second and came back with a wet towel for his head. After Madam Pomfrey turned to Hermione and said, "I am going to go inform the Headmistress. Please wait here Miss Granger." After she left her mind went immediately to the crowd of people who had gathered around him.
I know he has done a lot of bad things, but everyone is treating him so cruelly. I am not even that mean to him when I of all people should be. No one deserves to just be stared at when they need help, not even Malfoy.
Madam Pomfrey returned a few minutes later with McGonagall at her side, "Is he awake?"
Hermione shook her head and looked down at Malfoy's sleeping form. He looked so pale; if it weren't for the rising and falling of his chest she would have sworn he was dead.
"Madam Pomfrey, will you please excuse us for a moment, I must speak to Miss Granger alone." After Pomfrey had left McGonagall turned to Hermione saying, "I have been watching Mr. Malfoy this past month and I am deeply concerned for him. I am afraid if this continues he will destroy himself. I ask you as a favor to me, please befriend Draco."
"But Headmistress I…" Hermione began but McGonagall held up her hand to silence her.
"I know it may be hard for you to befriend Draco after what he has done, but lying there on that bed is a sad broken boy who has experienced things that neither you nor I will ever know. He is alone and scared and more than anything he is in desperate need of a friend. Please get to know Draco and if you can, help him with whatever he is going through."
Hermione sat for a moment, "Yes Headmistress."
"Thank you Miss Granger. I ask you to stay here until he awakes, I don't want him to wake up alone," with that McGonagall left the room.
Hermione sat by Draco's side for a long time, studying both her books and Draco's face while he slept. She had to admit that this past year he really matured physically. His feature sharper, more manly; as if he had shed his child's skin and is now a man; and dare Hermione say it he had become quite attractive.
Hermione had been their nearly three hours when Malfoy finally stirred and slowly opened his eyes. He looked around the room for a second, and then his blue eyes landed on Hermione as she removed the now warm rag from his head, dipping it into cool water again.
"Granger?" he asked tiredly, "What happened?"
She rung out the excess water and placed it back on his head saying, "You collapsed earlier today. Madam Pomfrey said it was because of malnutrition."
He glanced back up to the ceiling then back to her, a small smirk on his lips. "You're the last person I expected to be waiting here, let alone be taking care of me, but thank you. It's nice not waking up alone."
Hermione's stomach flittered as he spoke, the tone of his voice sweet, despite his smirk. She was about to speak when Madam Pomfrey walked over, "Good to see you awake Mr. Malfoy. Miss Granger you may leave now, you have waited here long enough."
"But…" she began to interject.
"No it's almost curfew and I think you have done your job. Besides Mr. Malfoy needs to eat and go back to sleep," she ordered.
Hermione nodded and glanced back down at Malfoy, "Feel better." And without waiting for a response she walked out of the Hospital Wing. She could feel Malfoy's eyes burning into her back as she left.
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