AN: I promised faster updates with this story, and I always keep promises! I will finish the whole story today, hopefully. I am also considering a novel length sequel, and wonder if my readers are interested in reading a sequel, or just want an epilogue, or just let the story end. Let me know which you prefer! Clumsy!

Hermione was sitting in the shade of a tree reading a book while watching Ginny, Harry, Ron and George playing a game of Quidditch in an orchard at the Burrow. She was relaxed and having a wonderful time teasing her "boys" as she affectionately thought of Harry and Ron. So she was smiling when she looked up and noticed an owl flying towards her. It was a beautiful tawny color with white feathers intermingled. Once the beauty had landed in front of her and was holding out his leg, she removed the rolled parchment and gave the bird an affectionate rub.

"Sorry I don't have a treat for you, I wasn't expecting any post when I came out here, Beauty." She spoke to the owl. He just gave her an affectionate nip and flew away.

She was curious as she unrolled the parchment, then confused as she read:

Dear Hermione,

Something has come up that I need to speak with you and Malfoy and McGonagall about. It's urgent. I hope you can meet me at the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade today at noon. I apologize for the short notice, but if I don't receive a return owl, I will assume you will be there. I am sending the same request to the others and will see you soon hopefully.

My Apologies,

Michael

She looked down at her watch and noticed it was already 11:30 a.m. If she was going to make the meeting she had to hurry back to the Burrow to drop off her book and blanket she was sitting on, then apparate straight away. Regrettably she wouldn't have time to change her clothes, and she was dressed quite casually since it was just a fun day at the Burrow. Looking down at her short jeans shorts and pink tank top that had a picture of an American Pit-bull that was her favorite dog, she sighed. Oh well, nothing she could do about it. She pulled her hair into a messy knot at the back of her head as she hurried through the burrow.

Once back out of the protective wards she apparated to Hogsmeade. Once she had steadied herself after her landing, she headed to the Hogs Head which is the other pub in Hogsmeade run by Aberforth Dumbledore. "At least she would get to see the crotchety old bugger," again she thought affectionately. Just before she got to the door she met Malfoy.

He reached for the door and being a gentleman held it for her. "After you," he said.

"Thank you."

"Are my eyes deceiving me, or is the Gryffindor Princess walking through my door?" Came a deep, gravelly voice that warmed Hermione and made her smile.

"Mr. Dumbledore!" Hermione replied excitedly before hugging the old man tightly.

"None of that, its Ab as you already know!" Aberforth Dumbledore replied.

"Ok, well Ab, Malfoy and I are here to meet with Headmistress McGonagall and Michael Corner. Are they here yet by chance?" she asked, still smiling at the man whose eyes twinkled when they looked at her.

"They are sitting in the corner in the back, asked for a bit of privacy"

"Thanks" she said.

Once they reached the table, she noticed that it was booths and McGonagall had sat herself next to Michael which meant that she would have sit next to Malfoy. She was suddenly nervous. When he slid in next to her he was so big that her thigh was touching his. She looked down, then back up and met silver eyes that had an odd look she'd never seen in them before, it made her blush yet again in his presence.

Hermione cleared her throat and asked, "So Michael is everything ok? What's the emergency?" she asked.

Malfoy missed this question as he was still reeling from Granger. She had the most incredible legs! And that pink top of hers was unbelievable. Then that blush when their eyes met, that was so cute. The cute blush and hot body were driving him insane. He found himself picturing things he had never would have thought would be about Hermione Granger! He was pulled away from these thoughts abruptly when Corner started speaking.

"Ok, well first I apologize for the short warning. It's been a very long week for me already and its only Wednesday. Anyway, as you all are aware, I am a half-blood, meaning that like Hermione I can expect to contract both Muggle and Wizard illnesses. Malfoy, as a pureblood I'm sure you know you are immune to Muggle illness and diseases. Well back at the Battle of Hogwarts I received injuries just like everyone else. However, I noticed that not for the first time my bruises were taking a very long time to heal. Then new ones would pop up for no reason." He started the conversation.

"I also suffered from headaches, and was feeling very weak. I figured it was just from the long struggle in the war, and the beatings from the Carrows." He continued, "My mom decided I needed to see a doctor, so we went to the Muggle doctor, and he gave me a physical checkup, and took some blood." He was starting to struggle with his words; this was harder than he thought.

"After the blood tests, a biopsy was done. I was informed this morning that I have Leukemia." he finished.

Hermione's hands flew to her mouth as she gasped. Her stomach hit the floor and tears built up in her eyes as she looked at her friend, heartbroken for what he was going through.

Malfoy just was looking back and forth between the two of them, his chest aching when he noticed Hermione's tears running down her pretty cheeks.

McGonagall had paled, but pulled herself together and asked, "Mr. Corner, what are your treatments going to be, and how often? We will of course make the arrangements for your classes to be held around your appointments, we'll help get you through, and I give you my word."

"Well, I have to begin Chemo therapy next week. In my case, my wizard genetics make me ineligible for bone marrow transplant, and my type of cancer radiation doesn't do a whole lot. So if the chemo doesn't work, my chances for survival are next to none." He explained.

"Hold on, will somebody please tell me what's going on? I don't understand what you're saying, but it sounds like you suggesting that you're going to die," Malfoy said bluntly.

Seemingly without thinking Hermione reached out and grabbed his hand, and Malfoy felt like purring. She looked at him in deep fear and sadness and that confirmed what he was thinking, he had to clear his throat all of a sudden. There was a lump there that he didn't understand.

"While I am having my treatments and am ill from them, most of the responsibilities for our class will rest on the two of you. I am so sorry for that. I wish to remain, and carry out my share when I can, if the two of you don't mind. But if you would rather have another person who can be more available, I will understand," he said in a sad voice.

"NO EFFING WAY! We're partners in this together Michael, and that's the way it will remain. We started this together, and we're finishing together, do you understand me?"

That clear statement, in a very strong voice caused three mouths at the table to drop and Hermione still unaware of holding Malfoy's hand squeezed it. The shock was not from the statement, but that it came from Draco Malfoy, not Hermione Granger!

Hermione seemed to have realized where her hand was and flushed and pulled away just as Michael answered Malfoy.

"Thanks, Draco. It really means a lot to me. If Hermione agrees, then I would like to reschedule tomorrow's meeting to Saturday. I have medical arrangements to make and the week will be very full." Michael said.

Once all the arrangements were made to meet Saturday, the foursome split up and left the pub. Hermione wasn't ready to go back to the Burrow where everyone was happy and carefree. She would be bringing news that would sadden her friends, as they were in the DA with Michael as well as being his friend. Ginny had even dated him in her 5th year. So she turned and walked down the street, wandering in an aimless way in the direction of the shrieking shack.

When she reached a meadow, and felt she could go no further, she sat in the grass and let her tears fall freely as she ripped up handfuls of grass and threw them away from her. She lay down on her back and just let the sobs have her.

Draco was walking up and down the main street of Hogsmeade, trying to come to terms with the idea that someone his age was so sick that he might die. Unfairly, it was also someone who fought during the war with honor. Draco understood and appreciated honor, it was a rare trait these days. While walking along High street, none of the shops held their usual appeal today. He continued walking, not really paying attention to where he was, until he heard an unusual sound up ahead of him. The sound seemed to be drawing him in, as if he was answering the sorrow of a long lost friend. As he rounded a gentle bend in the road, he looked to the meadow on the right side, and there in a heap on the ground was Granger.

Once Draco reached her, he gently pulled her up and tucked her into his lap like a small child and held her as she sobbed into his chest. He never made a sound as she cried out her heartbreak; he just held her and ran his fingers comfortingly through her hair. He didn't know what to say, he couldn't say everything would be alright, because they both knew it might not be alright. They both lost friends during that last battle, lost family and friends. They both understood where this could end with Michael. So he didn't say a word. He did however think about how she felt right in his arms. Like an extended piece of himself, and while she was there he was whole again, for the first time in forever.

While she was lost in her sorrow, Draco seemed to be coming to terms with the fact that he had feelings for this girl, the last girl he ever thought he would care about. He desperately wanted her to feel happy again, not crying. He wanted to heal her tears. He tried hard not to think about the way his body was responding to the fact that a girl it desired was tucked nicely into it. Almost without knowing it, he cupped her cheek and raised her face up. As she looked up, he looked at her mouth and lowered his face to hers, and very softly kissed her. Not a deep passionate kiss, just a gentle rubbing of lips on lips, and he liked it. He liked it a lot! When she responded to his kiss he tightened his hold on her, and moved his lips up her cheeks to kiss each of her eyes, as if to heal the hurt coming from them.

She was looking at him in a new way and blushing yet again as she asked, "What was that? Malf…Draco, this is rather confusing."

"Trust me, I know!" he answered. "I'm not even sure where it's coming from. I do have an idea though. Why don't we just try to get to know each other? On a real level, without insults. Maybe, Hermione, we will learn what this is between us, because I know your feeling that way too, at least to a certain extent, because you participated in that kiss as well."

Liking the way her name sounded on his lips she spoke, "On one condition Draco."

When he just looked in her eyes she said, "You must swear to never call me a mudblood again. Every time someone calls me that name it feels like a knife rubbed blade down across my heart. It really hurts." Once she finished that statement she looked down at her hands, nervous about what his response would be.

He lifted her chin with his forefinger and looked her in the eye and said with complete sincerity, "I can swear to try, Hermione. I don't fully understand what's going on with me right now. It feels like I'm accepting things more and I am trying to change. But habits of a lifetime don't go away overnight. I can promise you right now, that if it slips out, I will always apologize, and it's not meant to hurt you, just a word that got away before my brain catches it."

She just stared at him, directly in his eyes looking for even the slightest hint that he was lying. Finally something seemed to shift in her eyes, and she said, "You have a deal." Then she reached up and wrapped him in her arms and hugged him tightly, just as she had done to Michael and her other friends, and he thought it felt like he was where he was meant to be. And he answered her hug, wrapping both arms around her waist, and smiling.

Once she had recovered from Michael's news, and the new whatever it was with Draco, she went back to the Burrow to share some things with her friends. She called them all together and asked them to come outside and sit with her in the garden as she explained. As they all sat there and looked at her questioningly she began to tell them what Michael had said. Ginny started crying and leaned into Harry for support, while Harry and Ron had both their arms wrapped around the girl's backs. From the outside, it looked like a big group hug.

When she had finished and they fully understood and seemed to have no more questions about his health she gathered every bit of Gryffindor courage she possessed and looked up at her three best friends and said something she must get said, they had to know from the beginning. It was the only way the situation would be acceptable for her. She opened her mouth and released the words she was afraid would cause chaos in her world….

"You should all know something else that happened today. I kissed Draco Malfoy today."

To Be Continued!