Title: Hope

Words: 436

Rating: T

They tell her, she's his only visitor. Whenever she visits, once every three days, she asks the same question, hope still harbouring. Each time, their response is the same: A shake of their head, "Sorry Miss Granger, no one. It's just you. Is there someone you would like me to look out for?" And each time, a quirk of her lips, "No, that's alright. I'm just hoping they'll finally come to their senses and visit."

Each time, she brings the same book, now looking well-used. Each time, she sits in the same chair, on his left and watches him, as he breathes—but only with the help of the tube down his throat.

She opens her book and tries to read. She only gets as far as two pages, before she puts it down, barely able to look it at without feeling hopelessness.

She grasps his hand tightly, wishing the hopelessness would be washed away. Every time she visits and Harry and Ron still haven't visited, her heart sinks just a little more. Every time she visits and he still hasn't woken, a little of that hope harboured peels off, leaving guilt and regret, raw and opened.

"Please wake up…please." She whispers, "I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was you and—and I wanted to protect my friends. I'm really sorry. I don't think you were ever bad—"

"Are you quite sure, Granger?" A voice lazily drawls.

"Yes! Your father forced you to join the ranks—Malfoy! You woke up!" Hermione jumps back when she realizes he's awake.

"Why, yes, Granger. Such an astute observation." Draco Malfoy smirks, "But do tell me, how I came to this state. And why you're here."

It's his confident tone that causes her to flush. "You're…in St. Mungo's actually. You were hit by a Stunning spell to your heart and—I'm sorry Malfoy! It…it was me," At this point she swallows hard, the guilt crashing over her. She continues, "Who hit you with the spell. I—I didn't mean to and I thought you wouldn't ever—ever wake up—" Hermione breaks off.

All this time, he's been staring at her with an amused expression on his face. Suddenly and abruptly, he leans forward and seizes her lips in a bruising kiss.

Her undignified squeak is muffled.

By the time they both pull back, they're slightly flushed, pink evident in cheeks.

Another smirk is shown.

"I had to shut you up somehow. If I had known that would work, I would've done that an age ago."

Hermione just continues staring at him, a small smile of hope shining through.