Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my ideas. Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Ten: Questions

August 26th, 2002

As Hermione awoke once more, she immediately wished she hadn't.

This time she knew exactly where she was and what had happened.

This time she knew that she'd have to answer Harry's questions without avoidance.

"Do you have any idea why Draco Malfoy was here?"

Hermione's eyes widened as she remembered that she was to meet Draco for a drink that night. He must have gotten worried and heard about what had happened.

"Harry, I'm tired. Can we talk about this later?" she asked weakly, practically begging.

After a moment or so, Harry nodded and Hermione closed her eyes, eager for sleep.

"Hey."

Hermione looked to her side to see Harry sitting in the same chair as before. This time, Ginny was sitting in an identical one beside him.

"Hi." Hermione said, shifting herself to sit up.

She wasn't as sore as she had been before, though the pain was still there undoubtedly.

"Hermione! It's so good to see you awake." Ginny said, smiling cautiously at her.

"Thanks." she sighed. "Wait... if both of you are here, where's Meredith? Who has Meredith?"

"Don't worry, Hermione. Bill and Fleur have Meredith. Her and Victoire are playing together. She's been asking for you a lot, so we figured that this would be the best way to distract her." Ginny explained.

Hermione nodded graciously. Her eyes turned to Harry who were staring at her with concern. She noticed Ginny was looking at her the same way. She wondered how she looked. She already guessed that the Healers hadn't been able to heal absolutely everything if the damage was bad enough. It was probably better that Meredith didn't see her like this.

"Okay. Let's get down to it, then." Hermione said, pulling herself so she was completely upright.

"What d'you mean?" Ginny asked.

"Harry said when I fell asleep earlier today or...?"

"Yesterday." Harry filled in.

"Alright, yesterday. That I needed to decide how strongly I want to push these charges against Ron."

Ginny and Harry were both quiet as they nodded.

"Regardless of what he's done to me, he isn't going to Azkaban. I hurt him, too and you don't see me heading there."

"Hermione this is entirely different than what you did to Ron." Harry said.

"I don't care."

Harry only nodded. "Wait. We need to call in an Auror to deal with this. You've got to tell them."

"I'll send a message to the Ministry if you want." Ginny offered.

"Thanks." Hermione called out.

. . .

Draco was pacing around the waiting room, thinking of a way to get into Hermione's room. He needed a reason to go in there.

He'd seen Ginny Weasley rush by him and dash into one of the empty Floo fireplaces a few minutes previous. Gratefully, she hadn't appeared to have seen him. But judging by her being here, Potter was definitely in Hermione's room with her.

How could he get in to see her?

Suddenly, green flames erupted from the same fireplace, revealing Ginny Weasley and Blaise Zabini, his old friend. He was surprised to see Blaise, especially with Ginny Weasley.

Then he realized that Blaise was an Auror and was probably on Weasley and Hermione's case.

"Blaise." Draco called out without even thinking.

Both the She-Weasel and Blaise stopped, surprised at his presence. After the War, him and Blaise had remained friends. While they hadn't remained close, they still managed to get a drink and catch up every once and a while.

"Draco." Blaise said cooly, approaching him with Ginny by his side.

"Weasley, do you mind if I speak to Blaise for a moment?" Draco asked.

Ginny just nodded slowly. "Room 119."

"I'll be there in a minute." Blaise told her.

She rushed off, leaving them standing together.

"So? What's up?" Blaise asked, shrugging his shoulders in question.

Draco bit his lip and swallowed his pride. He'd do anything to get into Hermione's room right now.

Anything.

"I need to get in to see Hermione Granger." he said.

"What? Why?" Blaise asked, clearly surprised as he should be.

"It's... it's a long story. A long story which I promise to fill you in on afterwards."

Blaise looked skeptical, as he should be. There was no reason for him to comply to Draco's request, other than the fact that they were friends.

"I don't know, Draco..." he sighed.

Draco stepped closer to him, his eyes widened. He just imagined how desperate he looked, but he didn't care. All he cared about was seeing Hermione.

"Please, Blaise. I'll do anything."

Blaise seemed to think for a few moments before finally nodding. "We'll tell them that you're helping out with a few Auror cases in the meantime."

Draco would have grinned if he hadn't been so bloody worried about Hermione. For the last three days, all he could think about was seeing her lying so broken in that bed.

"Thank you. I mean it." Draco sighed as they headed towards the room.

"Yeah, yeah. Just, explain it to me later."

"I will. Can you get Potter and Weasley out of the room for a few minutes? I need to talk to her."

"Fine."

They knocked quietly on the shut door of Hermione's room and entered immediately. Potter and Female Weasley were standing at the foot of Hermione's bed. What happened next felt like slow motion.

Hermione turned her head to the door with a grim expression on her lips. It seemed like her eyes barely noticed Blaise as they stopped at Draco. When they locked eyes, Draco felt the same intensity as there had always been. He knew just by her eyes that a million thoughts and emotions were passing through her, even though she kept her face expressionless.

He never understood it. How she could remain so strong and calm in even her worst moments.

He watched what little colour she had in her face drain instantly. She looked slightly better than she had when he'd originally seen her. Her cuts and bruises were slightly more healed, although still ever present. He wanted to take her into his arms.

"Malfoy, again?" Potter asked.

Draco managed to tear his eyes away from Hermione for just a moment to look at Blaise.

"He's working on a few cases at the Ministry. This one included." Blaise explained.

Draco was suddenly so grateful for Blaise's presence. It had been perfect timing. Potter just crossed his arms as Draco looked back to Hermione to find that she was still staring at him. She was slightly losing her cool composure. He just wanted to take her in his arms.

"Harry, Ginny... I just need to go over a few more things. Would you mind going for a walk with me?" Blaise asked.

Draco watched as Potter looked reluctant to leave Hermione. After a few lengthy moments, Blaise finally escorted Potter and Weasley out of the room, shutting the door behind them.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione whispered the instant the door was shut.

Draco walked to her side and sat down in a chair. "I... I got worried when you didn't show up for a drink, and then I found out what happened and I came here and snuck in to see you. And... I just wanted to make sure that you were okay."

. . .

Hermione didn't know what to say. She was overcome with emotion due to Draco being there. She didn't know what to do. Meredith's father was right in front of her.

"I take it that you're not really a part of my case." she decided upon.

"Nope."

She was quiet again, but couldn't look away from him. It was so bizarre, sitting with him. Sitting with him when all their history was lingering in front of them.

How had he magically ended up in her life again?

"I can't believe that Weasley did this to you." Draco spat.

Hermione didn't want to talk about Ron. She didn't want to talk about anything. Really, she just wanted to look at him. To take in the handsomeness that was practically radiating off of him.

"Yeah, me neither. Guess this shows never to leave someone at the altar." Hermione sighed, half joking and half speaking her mind.

"Granger... this isn't your fault." he sighed.

"Why do you think I think this is my fault?" she asked defensively, even though she did.

"Because I know how you are. I know you, Granger."

That set Hermione off. She suddenly was livid with Draco Malfoy.

"You do not know me! Not anymore! You knew me, once upon a time! But you stopped knowing me when you failed to contact me once in the last four, almost five years!"

Draco looked astounded by her outburst, and she found that she didn't care.

"It's a two-way street, Granger!" he yelled back.

"Are you fucking joking?! I -"

Hermione pressed her lips together to hold back the anger and pain she had inside. She wanted to scream that she had contacted him. She knew it wouldn't be right to release it all upon him, when a lot of it was meant for Ron.

"You did nothing while I was being attacked in your house by your Aunt! Nothing while she tortured me. I thought I was going to die."

She watched Draco's face go even more pale as an unmistakable look of pain rippled across his face. Hermione immediately regretted saying anything. She remembered, even as she had been in so much pain, seeing him as Bellatrix had held the knife to her throat.

She remembered how broken he looked, collapsed on the floor with silent tears streaming down his cheeks. He looked to be in more pain than she was.

"I..." he said, his voice coming out strangled.

Then, she remembered the hatred and heartbrokenness she had felt for the last five years, and she quickly shook away the thoughts of hurting him.

"You. Left. Me." Hermione growled.

"Hermione, I -"

"Don't!" she shouted at the usage of her first name. It broke her heart into a million pieces. She couldn't handle it.

"I contacted you and you never responded! My owls came back with nothing!"

"What? You didn't send me anything!" he yelled.

"Yes I did!"

They were silent, both clearly with rage. Hermione was longing to kiss him, or hex him into oblivion.

"I'd like if you left." she said quietly.

"Wh- no!" he said, practically pleading.

"Please, Draco. I can't deal with this right now. I'm tired, I'm hurting, I'm beaten... I just can't."

Draco's hurt and astonished face turned into an unreadable mask, one that Hermione often wore herself.

"Fine." he said quietly, standing up and turning away.

Hermione felt the tears trickle down her cheeks and she damned the pain potions for making her so unnecessarily emotional.

"We... we can still have a drink sometime. If you like." she called out.

He turned around to look at her as he approached the door, still wearing the same unreadable expression.

"Okay." he said quietly.

She nodded. "Owl me again."

"Okay."

"Okay."

"Granger?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you're alright."

Hermione didn't know whether to smile or cry. The boy she'd been in love with for years standing in front of her, telling her that he was glad she was alright. He was here. He was actually here.

It was all so much for Hermione to take.

"Th-thanks." she mumbled.

. . .

As Draco went to open the door, it opened before him, revealing Blaise, Potter and She-Weasley.

"Brilliant." Blaise said, walking into the room with Potter and Weasley. Draco sighed and decided to lean against the door. He had no choice but to stay now.

His heart was hurting. He wanted to run from the room, screaming. Except, he wanted to take Hermione with him. Seeing her in this state - actually, seeing her at all - was difficult.

Had she really sent him letters? He'd never received anything. Nothing from her.

"Okay, so, Hermione. I need you to go over what happened between you and Ron on the night of the attack." Blaise stated, sitting down at a seat next to her bed.

Draco watched as Hermione tried to subtly wipe away her tears.

"Hermione, were you -" Potter started, obviously noticing her subtle attempt.

"Shut up, Harry." she sighed.

Draco would have laughed if he hadn't been so heartbroken.

"Right. The night. I uh... well..." she started slowly.

Blaise, as cool as ever, just nodded at her. "Don't worry. Take your time."

Blaise had really grown up since school. He had become one of the nicest and most professional people that Draco had ever known.

"Ron... Ron sent me an Owl, asking if we could meet... to talk." she started slowly.

"What did you need to talk about?" Blaise asked.

"We... we were supposed to be married a few weeks ago, and... I left him at our wedding. So naturally, we had some things to sort out." she explained, her voice small.

Draco looked at Potter and Weasley, who were standing at the foot of her bed, their hands tightly clasped in one another's. Potter looked neutral, and Weasley looked torn. Which made sense. Hermione had left her brother, but her brother had beat the shit out of Hermione.

"And, so... he sent me an owl, and I told him that I'd come to the apartment we used to share."

"And why did you choose to meet there?"

"Because, I had hoped to pick up some of my things."

Blaise nodded, motioning for her to continue. Draco wished he could leave. He really didn't want to hear this.

"I went over at six, and... he was drunk when I got there. He had a bottle in his hand, and..." her voice trailed off and Draco had to fight off the urge to run to her and take her fragile, bruised body in his arms.

"And he... he just kept kissing me, and I told him to stop, and... he got really angry and started throw-throwing bottles against the wall and then... he... he slapped me in the face. He threw me to the ground and..."

As Hermione continued, Draco felt sick. Hearing about what had happened made him want to go hex Weasley into oblivion even more. She went into more and more detail, and Draco could tell by her expression that she was detaching herself from the experience. He knew how that felt.

He wasn't sure how much he could hear. He needed to leave. He couldn't stand this. As he clamped his hands into fists, he realized that he was shaking. He was shaking tremendously. He tried to stop listening, to focus on something else, but he couldn't. All he could do was listen to her, because he didn't have a choice.

. . .

As Hermione went into further detail about her attack, she found her eyes wandering to Draco. He looked as though he was going to be sick. He was shaking violently, and his hands were clamped so tightly that Hermione felt as she had to do something. If he had ever cared for her at all, this would pain him to hear.

"Dra -" she stopped, remembering that Harry and Ginny did not refer to him by his first name. "Malfoy, could you go get a drink for me?"

Draco looked startled at this request, as did everybody else. Hermione wasn't surprised, she had stopped in the middle of telling Blaise about the attack to ask Draco for a drink.

Draco said nothing, only nodding at her quickly before leaving the room.

"Wow. If only he had been that obedient at school." Harry snorted.

Hermione just avoided eye contact with them all and launched back into her story. When she was done, everyone was momentarily silent, taking it all in.

"I'm sorry that you've had to go through this." Blaise finally said, sounding entirely truthful, yet professional at the same time.

Hermione shrugged and stared away from them. She was at a loss of what to say. Actually, she was at a loss for everything. What was she to do about Draco now that he had suddenly entered her life again? Would they pick up where they left off? Did he want that? Did she want that?

She wasn't sure she could handle it. She couldn't handle another heartbreak from him. She couldn't handle being left alone for years without him. She didn't know if she could trust him. She definitely couldn't be in a relationship this soon after ending her's and Ron's. Her poor heart couldn't take it. Her heart couldn't take any of it.

Maybe her and Draco could be friends.

She almost laughed out loud at the thought of it. This man had been one of the main reasons she couldn't marry Ron, and she wanted to be just friends with him? The father of her child? The child he had absolutely no idea about?

Yeah, right.

"Now, you'll need to speak at Ron's hearing." Blaise started before Hermione could cut him off.

"Speak at his - no. I'm not doing that." Hermione said firmly.

Blaise took a minute to compose himself as Hermione shook her head at him with finality. Before anyone could say anything, Draco walked back in, carrying a cup of coffee.

"Two creams." he said quietly as he placed it into her eager hands.

She was almost touched that he remembered. "Th-thanks."

His hands grazed against hers as she took the cup and Hermione tried desperately to ignore the tingles that it sent up her spine. She had to stop herself from shaking her head to get the feelings away.

"Hermione, Harry is the only other person that we can put on the stand. But with you being the -" Blaise started.

"Don't call me the victim." Hermione snarled, shutting Blaise up instantly.

She looked around the room at the rest of her visitors. Harry and Ginny were holding hands and standing close together. Draco's arms were crossed and he looked as though he was battling something in his mind.

"I didn't mean -" Blaise started again, but Hermione was too defensive and quick.

"I don't care. I'm not speaking at his hearing." Hermione said loudly.

She couldn't do it. She wouldn't do it. The attack was her fault. If she hadn't left him at the altar, none of this would have happened. It was all her fault.

Everything was her fault.

"Hermione, I really think you -" Blaise started.

"Hermione, he did this -" Harry started.

"Hermione, really just -" Ginny started.

"Stop it!" Hermione shouted, silencing the three who had spoken. "I'm not speaking against him. Give him his wand back, send him off."

"Granger, don't be an idiot." Draco said suddenly.

Hermione's gaze shot to Draco who had finally uncrossed his arms and taken a few steps towards her. She knew that everyone else was suddenly looking at him as well, but she couldn't look away.

"Don't you -" Hermione started.

"No, shut up. Listen to us for a second. He beat the shit out of you. You look... you just... you have to speak against him. He has to pay for what he did to you, Granger. Don't be an idiot." Draco insisted.

"I'm not being an idiot! You're an idiot! You are such an idiot!" she yelled.

The whole room looked at her, shocked by her outburst. Hermione opened her mouth to speak again, but was stopped as Draco walked right up to her bedside.

"Hermione, stop thinking this is your fault." he said, his voice much softer, making her insides turn at the usage of her first name.

Their eyes met and Hermione was rendered momentarily speechless.

"I'm no -"

"Hermione."

His hardened expression had softened suddenly at their eye contact and Hermione had to stop her lips from quivering. She wanted to cry. She wanted to cry out all her tears for Ron, Draco, Meredith and everything that had happened in her life.

She wished that her mom were here to help her.

She wished that her dad could deal with all the legal matters.

She wished that she were a little kid again before she knew of pain, heartbreak and disappointment.

"Can I please just have some time alone? I'm tired." Hermione begged weakly, speaking to the whole room, but not being able to tear her eyes away from Draco.

Draco nodded slowly at her and she blinked away her tears to look down at the pale blue of her hospital bed blankets.

"Do you think you can come by my office at the MInistry and we can discuss this more?" Blaise asked.

Hermione only nodded, still staring down. "Harry, can you please find a Healer and ask how much longer I have to stay here for?"

"Of course."

"Thank you."

Hermione laid down, closing her eyes immediately, hoping that everyone would take the hint to leave.

. . .

Draco looked at Hermione lying in her hospital bed with her eyes closed. Despite her looking battered and bruised, she looked so beautiful.

What the hell had he become?

He was a Malfoy! Hermione Granger had infected his brain at the age of sixteen, and now he would never be rid of her. He would forever want her until she was his again. She was what made him happy, she was what made him him. Or at least the him he wanted to be. The person he wanted to be again.

He balled his fists and forced himself to walk out of the room, feeling the three others trail behind him.

"Harry, see if you can convince her to speak." Draco heard Blaise say.

He turned around to see the Weasley looking quite sniffly and Potter looking concerned.

"I'll try." Potter sighed.

"This is such a mess! How could my b-b-brother do this?" Weasley wailed.

Potter wrapped an arm around her, and she turned to rest her face into his chest.

"Look, I'll do what I can, but I can't make any promises. Hermione is stubborn." Potter explained to Blaise with another sigh.

"As long as you try." Blaise said. "I'll be in touch. Draco... let's go get some lunch before we head back to the Ministry."

Draco only nodded, turning away and avoiding any questioning looks from Potter. He knew what was coming. He was about to finally tell someone about him and Hermione.

And he didn't have a choice.

Author's Note: thank you so much for all the reviews! your feedback means everything to me. PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING! 333