AN: Soooooo sorry for the long wait :( I didn't purposely torture you all, but I will have a reason down at the bottom, and any mistakes are my own, but for now, enjoy!

Dedicated to my BFF Miranda :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, if I did, well; you'll just have to wait for that fan fic to come out to find out! :) :)

Thanks to reviewers and anyone who puts this story on fav/alert I really appreciate it :)

Chapter 7 – You Surprise Me

Hermione

When I woke, my vision was somewhat blurry. I blinked, rapidly, trying to see where I was.

Internally, I groaned. The Hospital Wing, of course, they would bring me to the one place I despise more than anything – even though I would like to become a healer after school.

I turned my head and almost jumped when I saw Lynndsey sitting in a chair on my left. She was busy looking at her nails – looking for the dirt that did not exist.

"I heard that."

I jumped, and blushed crimson. "Sorry, Professor, I didn't think I said that out loud."

She looked up, her blue eyes twinkling; they reminded me of Professor Dumbledore so much.

"I never said that you said it out loud. I just said that I heard you." She smirked. "And I also heard the comment about Dumbledore."

I laughed that time. "When do you not hear something?" I rolled my eyes, enjoying our playful banter. I could always talk to Lynndsey. There was nothing I couldn't; she was a mother away from my mother. I would always be grateful for her presence in my life at Hogwarts.

She furrowed her brow in thought. "I've always wanted a daughter." She paused, a smile forming, "I guess you're the next best besides one of my own." I smiled too, "You are a mother, Lynnds, and a good one at that, especially with Harry, and Ron…well I'm amazed at that, to be honest. You two are so alike–"

"If you finish that sentence, I swear, I won't be responsible for my actions," She closed her eyes in frustration and tried to dispel the picture I had painted. I laughed, "I thought you were supposed to be with Harry and Ron for a while? What are you doing back at Hogwarts?" She shrugged, "I needed to get back to sanity for a while. In fact I don't know if I want to go back. Have you any idea what those two are like? I feel like clawing my own eyes out – not to mention Ron tried–" She shuddered. I was confused, but then it dawned on me, "Oh my!" I gagged trying to dispel that image.

"Anyway," Lynndsey eagerly sat up in her chair a sly grin playing around her mouth. "So what was that with Lavender, exactly? Oh, and Malfoy too, I've never seen him so…worried, that just doesn't happen to the Malfoy's, I mean who would they care ab–" she cut off taking in my expression. "Oh my, Hermione–" I cut her off, "You don't have to say it, I know, I knew it was too good to be true. He wants to shag 'the know-it-all,' 'the bookworm,' 'the mudblood.'

"Call yourself that again and I'll physically hurt you myself for that comment." Her face was a stone mask.

I frowned, "Why would Malfoy care?"

Her expression softened, "Hermione, I didn't think that Malfoy would care. But that look on your face says something happened to make you at least think he cares. Tell me what happened." She commanded sitting back in the purple chair. "Wait, the Hospital Wing doesn't have purple chairs," I frowned. "How observant of you; forget the chair for now."

I sighed, "Where to begin?" She smiled, "From the beginning, and don't leave anything out. I love a good story."

And so I told her – everything – right from the beginning when he first seemed strange to me. Lynndsey patiently sat there, smiling and nodding at appropriate times. Turning her index finger in a quick rotation every time I almost stopped, silently telling me to pick up the pace again. After I was done, she sat in silence pondering all I had said. I fidgeted wondering what she was thinking and trying not to ask before she was ready to answer.

"Can you please share?!" I startled her out of her thoughts and she jumped slightly at the tone of my voice. "Sorry, just pondering the possibilities." "Can you share how many you have?" She frowned and furrowed her brows. "About…four." She looked honest and satisfied with her answer and smiled. My face heated up. "Four? Four? You've spent the last half an hour pondering four possibilities!?"

She shrugged, "Four very good possibilities. Ones you wouldn't blush severely at." I blushed realizing what she meant. "You don't honestly believe that do you?" I whispered quietly praying for the answer I wanted. "Yes."

"So that can't be good," I slumped back onto my pillows, realizing for the first time how many I had. "Who gave me all these pillows?" I grabbed one and noticed the strong scent attached to it. Not hospital pillow, I thought.

"Oh, Mr. Malfoy brought you those dear," I turned to see Madam Pomfrey bustling towards us. "He didn't think mine were good enough for you." She scowled and handed Lynndsey a vial. "Professor if you could be so kind, I'll go let Mr. Malfoy know Miss. Granger is awake." She hurried to the doors.

"Malfoy!" I squeaked suddenly terrified. Lynndsey smirked, and uncorked the vial, "Open wide Hermione, you heard Madam Pomfrey, Mr. Malfoy is waiting." She rose from her chair and handed me the vial. "It's going to taste horrible, right?" I asked dreading the answer she would give me. "Aw, medicine always tastes horrible." She shrugged and winked, her chair dissolving into nothing behind her. "It's chocolate, the only medicine for the heart and soul that tastes like heaven." She walked towards the double doors and opened them, allowing Madam Pomfrey and Malfoy admittance before she winked one final time before disappearing out of the infirmary.

My eyes shifted from the closed doors to Madam Pomfrey bustling away to her office.

Now alone with Malfoy, I had little choice in looking at him or not. I chose not.

I stared at the sheet twisted around my legs and the pillow on the floor where Lynndsey's chair had been moments before.

I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, but I kept my focus on the pillow. Only when I felt the bed give under added weight did my head snap towards Malfoy sitting on the edge of my bed by my knees.

A smirk played around his mouth, as he analyzed me carefully with his cool grey eyes.

I shivered under his gaze, feeling even more self conscious, than ever before.

"How have you been?" His voice was husky with emotion that I could not – would not decipher. I shrugged rubbing my hands on my upper arms trying to stop them from shaking, "I've been better, I guess, but I've also been worse."

I hadn't actually thought about the spell Lavender had cast. Thinking about it now, I noticed an ache around my lower middle. "What spell did she use?" I asked. A soft pink blush covered his cheeks as he fumbled for words.

"Well, you see, she…um…she," He looked around. "I don't think–" I giggled. I couldn't help it, the blush crept lower down to his neck and he fidgeted more and more. Before he could continue mumbling, Madam Pomfrey came bustling back out of her office.

"Mr. Malfoy, visiting hours are almost over." She stood a few feet from my bed, her hands on her hips.

"Madam Pomfrey," She turned her attention towards me with a raised eyebrow. "I was wondering what spell Lavender used on me, and Draco seems incapable of sharing." I smiled at Malfoy who glared back half-heartedly.

She softened a light blush of her own dusting her cheeks. "Well, Ms. Granger, Ms. Brown appeared to use a monthly starter spell, so I'm afraid to say you will be a little…different, in your monthly."

My mouth widened in an 'O' of comprehension; a blush furiously rising on my own cheeks. "Thank you, Madam."

She smiled kindly, giving Malfoy a pointed look before heading back to her office. Malfoy sighed and stood, hesitating slightly.

"'Night, Hermione," He whispered.

My eyes widened and my head shot up to look at him, only to see his cloak disappear out the infirmary door.

I couldn't help the disappointment that washed through my body, followed by a dull ache that made me grimace.

"Good night…Draco," I whispered to the empty infirmary before sighing heavily, falling into the pillows Malfoy had brought me.

AN: And cut! Thank you folks, you've been a wonderful audience, I can't wait to have you back for more! ;) *hint, hint*

Again I apologize for the long wait, I had had it all planned out, but it didn't turn out that way, like I said any mistakes are mine and mine alone, my beta has currently not sent me back this chapter, and I have no idea what has become of her, for she has not done updates for her stories either. So until further notice you will have to bear with me on this one. You may not hear from me, so don't get your hopes up, for sometime, school is starting in one week and I have yet to get my schedule, it's going to be total pandemonium on the first day, with everyone getting their schedules at the same time =/ so I'm in limbo, with that and AP US History homework I must wrap up and be ready for testing! :( But reviews do make me very happy and encourage me to write when I feel very down, I'm hoping for things to pick up soon with this story, until then hang tight, it could be next chapter…it could be two from now ;) no way to know for sure! ;)

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