A month had passed since the attack on Hermione and she was still in a deep coma. Every once in a while she would groan and Ron would flinch while Draco would stand up quickly, grab her hand and ask if she could hear him. He told her to squeeze his hand if possible and when it failed to happen he sat down in disappointment and continued his vigil. He and Weasley sat in silence day in and day out, only talking when it was necessary and never more than was required of them. They had come to an understanding that they both wanted to be there as they both loved her, albeit in different ways. Ron loved her as his sister and Draco loved her as someone would love their girlfriend. They understood that when and if Hermione ever woke up they would need to learn to tolerate each other, that is if Hermione forgave Ron for the awful things he had done and said along with Harry. Draco was pondering the facts that led to his vigil beside Hermione's bed when he suddenly felt a hand grasp his. He looked up and saw Hermione looking intently at him.
"Hey, you're awake. How are you feeling?"
Hermione opened and then closed her mouth several times before actually speaking.
"I feel like I got ran over by the Hogwarts Express several times. What happened and where am I?"
"You are in the hospital ward. You were attacked by Harry. You have been sleeping for a month. Here, let me go get madam Pomfrey."
"No, wait. Don't leave me. Can't you just send her a Patronus?"
"I can't cast the Patronus spell yet so I have to go get her on my own, but it will only take two minutes, I promise."
Draco hurried from the room towards Madam Pomfrey's office. He knocked softly on the open door and poked his head in.
"Madam Pomfrey, Hermione is awake."
"Thank you Mister Malfoy let me alert Professor Snape and I'll be right with you."
Draco walked back to Hermione's room and saw that Ron Weasley was standing in the middle of the room with his head hung in shame while taking a verbal beating from Hermione.
"How dare you show your face here after trying to kill me? I thought I made it clear to you then that I never wanted to speak to you again! You have some nerve Ronald Weasley! I'll bet you were in on this whole thing weren't you? You wanted me dead just as much as Potter did!"
"No Hermione, I honestly didn't want you dead. When I found out Harry was the one who had done this to you I helped corner him and keep him in place. He tried to stupefy me and would have gotten away with it if Dumbledore and Snape hadn't come to the rescue. I even helped Snape brew some of your life support potions. I acted irrationally that night at the club Hermione. The silly thing is I knew you weren't one of those stripper chicks, you were way too overdressed. I just wish you would have told me that you could play the piano so well and that you were working as a lounge singer in between acts at a strip club."
"Ronald, I wanted that part of my life to be separate from this one. I never intended for anyone to find out about that and nobody ever would have if you and Harry hadn't walked into the club that night. Anyways, you aren't known for acting rationally, your motto has always been 'strike first, ask questions later'. That is why I didn't tell you. I don't know if I can forgive you for what you tried to do to me. I will try, but I don't know if our relationship will ever be the same again. I know that I cannot forgive Harry for his actions, but maybe someday you will earn my trust back. Working with Severus to make my potions and corralling Harry may earn you some points, but I'm afraid it just isn't enough. You hurt me badly Ronald, hurt like this just doesn't go away overnight if it ever goes away at all. I didn't choose to be related to Snake Face, and it doesn't change who I am. I am in Slytherin now, but I am still in love with books and I still have the same brain, I'm just in a different house with a different last name. I'm still me. Now please, can I just have some time alone? Thank you."
Ron nodded his head soberly and made to exit the room. Draco clapped his hand on the other boy's back as he left.
"She'll come around, bud."
"I hope so. She was my best friend for 6 years. I really buggered up."
"That you did. Look, just give her some time. Come see her every day and bring her some goodies, you'll be friends again in no time."
"Thanks mate. I'll catch you later; I've got some homework to do."
"See you later Weasley."
Draco walked back into Hermione's cubicle and sat down on her bed.
"I'm glad you're finally awake. Nobody knew if you would ever wake back up. We were afraid that we had lost you for good."
They looked up as Professor Snape walked into the hospital wing.
"Indeed, we were afraid of that Mr. Malfoy. Miss Granger, it is good to see that you are back among the living. How happy I am that you are a part of the noble house of Slytherin. Professor McGonagall was quite upset at the loss of your person in Gryffindor. I'm afraid that your move to Slytherin cost their house almost all of their points. Seeing as you rack up the most points for their house I think it will be quite interesting to see what happens with the house cup this year. By the way, a certain uncle is here to see you. Shall I go and get him?"
Before Hermione could answer he had turned and beckoned the figure that was casting its shadow across the doorway of the hospital wing. Her jaw dropped as a handsome man walked in and she recognized him immediately as Voldemort, only in the form of Tom Riddle.
"Uncle Sna - er- Tom, you look different! What did you do to yourself?"
"I took a potion that would restore me to my normal appearance. I also repented of all my misdeeds. I am no longer the Dark Lord. I am now just Tom Riddle, heir of Salazar Slytherin and Uncle of Miss Hermione Granger, heir of Lucius Slytherin. Once I found out that Harry Potter was locked up and given life in Azkaban I realized that the prophecy from so long ago was being taken too seriously. Obviously he can't destroy me now and thus ends the stupid thing. My rivalry with that little turd was getting old anyways. It was obvious that the only reason he ever survived that long was because you were helping him. He had no brain of his own. You make me proud, Hermione. You do all you can to prove that even though you are related to me that you are different. Don't be like I am. Don't let power go to your head and change who you are. I will write to you often my dear. Farewell, I am going on a well deserved vacation from being evil. If you ever need anything just focus on me and you will apparate to me. By the way, don't think that I don't know you were about to call me Uncle Snake Face when you saw me. I may not be inherently evil anymore but I am not stupid. I know what people called me. You be well. I will see you when I see you."
With that Tom Riddle strode out of the hospital wing, out of Hogwarts and out of the Wizarding community in general. The return of Tom Riddle the man was the end of the terror for the wizarding world. Our story does not end there though…
A/N: Wow, sorry it has been so long since I posted a new chapter, writer's block is horrible. Thanks for being patient while I worked through this block. I will not take as long with the next chapter as I have lots of fresh ideas for the next few in my head.