Thank you EVERYONE for their reviews as well. I really do appreciate them. It's good to hear if a story is well liked and enjoyed. Now, onto the next chapter.

Chapter Ten: Help

…

"Besides the obvious, what's wrong?"

Hermione looked up from where she sat on Harry's couch. She had been looking down at her hands, looking upset and tired. She remained quiet for awhile before she carefully repositioned herself on the couch so her legs were on it now behind her.

"I miss him," Hermione spoke in a near whisper, feeling empty and cracked. "I know it's stupid and dumb but… I can't stop thinking about Draco. He needs help."

Harry ran a hand through his hair and then sat down beside her, resting his hand on her leg casually. "You're right. He does need help and I'm here for him if he needs me. That reminds me, I need to see him again. I have to talk to Draco about something."

She looked over at him. "About what?"

"He can't keep working as a Potions professor if he only shows up once a week. He needs to decide what he wants to do. If he can't keep a grip on his drinking, he's going to have to resign before the school fires him. There's no way he can work two jobs with his history of alcoholism."

Hermione bit her lip nervously and searched his face. "What if his drinking gets worse now because he feels bad that he hurt me?"

Harry stood up now and walked into his kitchen before he put the kettle on and turned the fire on underneath it. "That's another reason why I need to talk to him."

"Are you going to call him and tell him to come here to talk?"

To her disappointment, he shook his head before taking out two mugs. "I don't think it's a good idea for him to see you yet, especially if he's been drinking. I'll probably go to his house or if he's at the Ministry, I'll have to talk to him there. It shouldn't take too long though."

Hermione stood up and walked into the kitchen too before she sat down at the table, her arm still in a brace. She wasn't supposed to miss the man who hurt her. She wasn't supposed to like him, even after what he did. Hermione couldn't help her feelings for him though and she was just grateful that Harry wasn't questioning her about them.

"Alright, I'll be here when you get back."

"I know you will. I'm going to have Ron come over and watch over you until I get back," Harry said, pouring the boiling water into the mug over the tea bags.

This surprised and just about put fear into Hermione. "N-No… are you kidding me, Harry? After he hurt me in my apartment?"

Harry's eyebrows lifted now and searched her eyes. "He what?"

"You… didn't know? Draco didn't tell you? Ron came into my house when Draco was working and he broke my lamp before he proceeded to slap me and then tell me how no one would ever want me."

Harry sighed in frustration and shook his head. "I can't believe he did that. I mean, I believe you, but… he's my friend. I guess I'm not going to call him to watch you."

She took her mug and set it down on the table. "Why do I need watching over at all?"

"What if Draco beat me here before I could go see him because he wanted to see you so badly, and what if he was drunk? I know he has a good side to him but he could seriously hurt you worse than you already are if he resents you for coming here with me. Or… what if Ron stopped by to talk to me, not knowing you were here and if he got angry all over again at you?"

Hermione could see his point now and just nodded in understanding. "So… can I come with you?"

Harry took a sip of his tea before he thought about this. It might just torture Draco more at the thought of seeing her but not being able to see her for long, but if Hermione was left alone at Harry's, Ron might come or she might accidentally fall and hurt her arm more, and no one would be there. He didn't really want Ginny to come in case Ron used that excuse to come as well.

"Alright, you can come with me. I don't really want you to be in the same room with Draco without me though. I don't know how he's going to be."

Hermione agreed and drank some of her own tea. She felt content again. She just hoped that he was sober and in a good state of mind. She waited until they had both finished their tea before she changed and met Harry by the door.

He apparated them to Draco's house and knocked tentatively before stepping back and waiting for Draco.

Hermione heard noises coming from inside and felt nervous again. She instinctively stepped behind Harry in case Draco had been drinking. Harry held out his hand for her to take to help relax her just as Draco opened the door.

Harry saw his eyes were red, almost as if he had been crying, but they also looked a bit bloodshot. He searched his face knowingly but he could tell that he wasn't as drunk anymore.

"Can we come in? I need to talk to you about something."

Draco was hesitant to let him in until he saw Hermione and then remembered Harry had said 'we.' He opened the door wider now and stepped back, closing it when the two had walked inside. Harry looked around and saw the house was in a slight disarray, and saw an opened bottle of firewhiskey on the counter in the kitchen.

"What do you want to talk about?"

Harry sighed at the sight of Draco, having a feeling that he would be drunk. "About the jobs you're not going to, mostly. I know that you spent most of your dad's money on this house so I know that you need more than one job to pay the bills."

Draco stumbled slightly and sat on the stool in front of his bottle, glancing at Hermione once in awhile. "Yeah, your point is what?"

Harry protectively stood in front of Hermione still, afraid that Draco might fly off the handle. "My point is that you can't teach a class at the school if you keep drinking. Look at yourself, Draco. You may be able to get away with working at the Ministry but you can't be around the students like this. You're a danger to yourself and them!"

Hermione gently held onto Harry's shirt, no longer wanting to be around Draco when he's been drinking. She couldn't believe how he was a different person when he was sober. This wasn't him. This was a monster in Draco's clothes.

"I need to work! I need the money so I can keep living here! In case you haven't noticed, the bills cost a lot."

Harry shook his head in disgust at his friend. "If you don't resign from your position, I'm going to tell the rest of the staff that you are unfit to teach and they'll fire you."

Draco's eyes became soft and weak now, the anger flushing out of them and being replaced by fear. He set the bottle down and ran his hands through his hair. "No… no, please no… I want to teach still! Don't tell them…"

"If you don't stop drinking, I'm going to have to, Draco. I'm sorry, but you need to realize that you need help. You can't keep digging at the bottom of a bottle every time things don't go your way or you have a bad day. You have to pull yourself together. Now, are you going to be at the castle tomorrow to teach your Potions class?"

Draco's chest felt tight at the possibility that he might lose his job if he didn't stop drinking. He loved this house and he didn't want to suddenly become homeless because he spent more money on his booze than on his bills. He wanted to teach and be around Harry at the school, but he couldn't just stop at the drop of a dime either. He would have urges to drink as soon as he stopped. He knew the withdrawal symptoms of becoming clean again. Draco found that he was scared of these symptoms and he remembered them from months ago when he became clean for the first time.

"Y-Yes… yeah, I'll… I'll be there."

Harry took Draco's bottle of whiskey and, while motioning for Hermione to follow him, walked into the kitchen and poured the copper colored whiskey down the sink drain. "That didn't sound very sure."

Draco took a deep breath and put is face in his hands. "I just don't know if I can do this… not drink all day at the school tomorrow. I mean, it's only for a couple hours, right? What if I can't do it, Harry?"

He walked back over to Draco and put a hand on his shoulder. "You can do it, I'll help you. It'll be okay. I'm your friend and I'll help you through this."

Draco let out a soft sigh and rubbed the back of his neck, fearing the potential loss of a good paying job at the school. He wanted to change; he knew he had to, for Hermione. When he looked up at her finally, he saw the tinge of fear in her eyes and this alone was enough for him to decide to change himself.

"Okay, thank you… I-I know I don't deserve your help but thank you," he said in a weak voice now.

Harry finished draining the whiskey bottle and then looked at him. "It's fine, Draco. Now, if I don't see you tomorrow at nine, I'm going to call and check on you. If you don't come in tomorrow at all, I'm not going to help you keep your teaching position," Harry said, putting his hand up when he saw Draco's face drop and succumb to fear. "I'm giving you one chance to fight against the urges to drink tonight. If you can make it through the whole night and morning with any alcohol, I'll help you keep your job as long as you still come to the school and teach."

Draco waited until his friend was done explaining himself before he finally nodded, knowing that he couldn't argue against him. He didn't know anyone who would help him like Harry was going to. Unable to find his words now, he just nodded in agreement and understanding.

"Good. Now, I'm going to take Hermione back to my place and if you need me, if you're feeling tempted to go to a bar, call me. I can be where you are in a second, okay?"

When Harry saw Draco nod again, he gave him a soft smile and placed his hand on Hermione's back. "Okay, I hope to see you at the school tomorrow, Draco."

He bit his lip and ran a hand through his blonde hair but looked into Harry's emerald eyes. "You will. I-I promise…"

Harry didn't plan to hold him to his promise and just gave him a nod before he lead Hermione out of the large house and then apparating her back to his apartment. Once they had entered, Harry was about to walk into the kitchen when he felt Hermione grab his arm gently.

"What's up?"

Hermione was quiet for what felt like ages before she finally spoke, the wheels turning in her head as she seemed to contemplate everything imaginable all at once. Harry saw how conflicted her eyes looked and he began to get worried.

"W-What do you think I should… do with the… t-the baby?"

Harry was taken aback by this question and he placed a hand on her good arm as they stood in front of each other. "You know, Hermione, this is your baby. This is your child, and it's your body. I don't have the right to tell you what you should do with it but… I am going to say that you should really think about it when you do decide. Think about it long and hard because… this is going to be a permanent decision that may affect you for the rest of your life."

She seemed to relax slightly and took a deep breath before letting it out again. She looked up at him and smiled weakly. "Thank you, Harry. I really needed to hear that right now."

Harry gave her a gentle hug, being careful of her bad shoulder and arm before he kissed her forehead in a friendly matter and then pulled away. "I'm always here for you, Mia."

She smiled a bit more at the nickname he had for her and nodded. "I know, thank you so much. I just wish that… there was something I could do for you."

Harry turned around as he had started walking towards his room and looked at her, a slight smirk on his face. "Help me get Draco clean again."

Hermione could tell that he was serious but she knew this was going to be a challenge and that Harry might not be able to do it alone. She had seen Draco clean and how he had seemed like a completely different person. She wanted that person back.

"I will. I'll help you with Draco."