So I wrote this in around half an hour - proud of myself for that. What sitting in a hospital can do to you ;) I've been super ill so I'm sorry this is long overdue, its longer than normal I hope that makes up for it.

Again a massive thank you to Oakmoss the most amazing beta in the world.

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Morning came around far too quickly for my liking, all I wanted was to sleep. I woke up to a soft snoring. Severus's snoring. Severus's snoring in my ear.

Yesterday's events flooded back to me: how Ron had wanted to kill me, how Severus had come for me, and the Malfoys had been there, too. Weird that. How the healers had fixed me up and the aurors had questioned me, blamed me and finally, only after Severus's interference, believed me. And how Severus had comforted me until I fell asleep. And then joined me, apparently. Evidently. Obviously.

I couldn't suppress a soft snigger because mentally I had just pronounced that with that Snape drawl. Ob-vi-ousssssly.

I looked around trying to figure how to move without waking the slumbering potions master whose head was resting on my good arm, my hand in his. Wait. My hand in his? When had this happened? It hardly mattered, he was not Ronald Weasley and for now that was good enough.

I slowly tried to pull my arm from under him, the need to use the bathroom suddenly prominent but my stirring had awoken my bed partner.

"Morning," Severus mumbled sleepily. He slowly lifted his head, blinked and looked at me. There were bags under his eyes and instantly I felt guilty.

"Bathroom," I mumbled and I pulled away properly. I swung my legs from the bed. I couldn't help a small whimper as my bare feet touched the icy cold floor tiles. Oh, the joys of hospitals...

The next thing I knew I was on the floor. The back of my head hurt and those familiar long arms were wrapped around me again and Severus was looking down at me with a deeply furrowed brow. Huh. I'd been sat up a second ago.

"Welcome back," he said.

"Did I-?"

"You fainted, yes. Clearly you are not up to standing yet," he spoke gently.

"Oh. Um. I have to... I need to..." I said and crossed my legs without giving it a second thought.

"Right. I'll um... I'll take you." Severus spoke slightly hesitantly, this situation clearly as awkward for him as it was me.

I didn't have the strength to argue with him and I really did need to go and so I found myself nodding in agreement. The wizard carried me to the toilet, sat me on the seat and then turned his back.

"Um. Are you just going to... stand there?" I asked.

"You might pass out again," he said unapologetically.

"I might at that," I admitted, still feeling very light-headed. "Fine."

I was uncomfortable, but at the same time I felt so thankful that someone was worried for me. My husband- no, my ex husband would have just left me figure it out for myself. And if I wet myself, he would've made sure I cleaned it up too, no matter how I was feeling.

I shifted my hospital robes and closed my eyes so I could pretend that Severus wasn't standing three feet away from me as I let go. Afterwards, he carried me back to bed and sat down at the foot end. One of his hand rested on my left ankle.

"Do you think-" I asked, but I stopped myself.

"Hm?" he prodded.

"Do you think it's true? What Draco said? About me- Am I a Malfoy?"

"You certainly look like a Malfoy. Now," Severus corrected himself. "And the bond that he spoke of... it's plausible. Likely, in fact, given Draco's miraculous recovery."

"How is Draco doing?" I asked, suddenly remembering the pallid shaking shadow of a man, lying at my feet, bleeding from the mouth.

"Better," Severus spoke and a deep wrinkle formed on his forehead. "Magically depleted, and there are after effects of that fit he suffered. They're still trying to figure out what caused that, but he's better. I'm sure he will want to see you. He'll be through before he's discharged, no doubt. Lucius too."

I nodded, not sure how I felt about seeing them, this new family of mine. I wasn't sure how I felt about being a pureblood, let alone being a Malfoy. I couldn't imagine going through life as Aphrodite Malfoy. Not after I'd been Hermione Granger for twenty three years. I had to admit I was a very pretty name though.

"Let's get those memories before those dunderhead aurors return for them," he said and he took his wand out.

I nodded and hesitantly bought the memories to the forefront of my mind. Before I knew it they were gone. I Good riddance. While I knew what happened, I no longer felt emotionally attached to them. They were now cold facts and I wouldn't have to constantly relive the experience. I watched as Severus bottled my memories in a small vial. Next he did the same with his own.

I wondered if there was more Severus wanted to say, I imagined I could see the questions bubbling through his mind, but he just stroked from my ankle up my shin, wrinkling the sheets in his trail. We stayed in this awkward silence for a long time. I was scared to say the wrong thing. I had already hurt his man so much. I stared up at the ceiling. When I finally stole a glance at the Potions Master, our eyes met and a weak smile warmed his stern face.

My stomach disturbed the silence with an growled command for food. The last time I'd eaten was... It was with Severus, I was sure of it, but when I couldn't think of. I winced at the angry sound and cowered under the blankets.

"Sorry," I whispered.

Severus released my leg. I felt deprived. It had been so comforting; that simple stroking, rubbing, patting touch.

"Hermione, why are you hiding from me?"

I said nothing and held tight to the blanket even when Severus tugged at it. It was instinct; putting a soft layer between myself and the hand that beat me. Blankets softened the blows considerably, experience had taught me.

"Hermione? There's no need. I'm- I'm not going to hit you."

I waited to see if it was a trick, staying under the blanket a little longer before I slowly poked my head out. Severus had gone. I was alone, and in more ways than one. I wasn't just alone in this drab hospital room. I was alone in life, too. Gods, was I ever going to stop crying?

The door to my room opened and closed again.

"I got you some porridge," came Severus voice. It was gentle and soothing and something smelled good. I turned around and looked at him. He held a white ceramic bowl out to me.

"Were you crying?" he asked, looking me over sceptically. I wiped my sleeve across my face and shook my head in denial.

"Hermione..." he sighed and I bit my lip. He sat down and patted my leg again. The bowl of porridge found a spot on the blankets as well, next to my thigh. I could feel warmth radiating from it.

"Hermione, I am never going to hit you," said Severus.

"I know," I said, and I desperately wanted to believe it.

"Then why were you crying?" he asked.

I shrugged and reached for the porridge.

"You were hungry, then?"

"Hm-hm," I confirmed, scooping the warm slop up. It was so good. There was honey in it, but it could just as well have been unsweetened and I wouldn't have cared, I was that ravenous.

A knock at the door and Severus and I both looked towards it. It turned on its hinges and there stood Lucius and Draco Malfoy I hadn't expected them to come so soon. I wasn't ready for this. My head pounded.

"May we come in?" asked Malfoy senior. Severus squeezed my ankle and I took a deep breath.

"Draco. Draco's alright. I... I'm not sure about..." I mumbled, voicing my fear of Lucius, a remnant of my visit to the manor back when Ron, Harry and I were hunting horcruxes.

"Oh," said Lucius and his face fell. "I- Right. I suppose it's... Well then," he stammered.

"I'll stay right here," said Severus. "I won't let anything happen to you."

"I- yes, alright then," I conceded.

Lucius's face became once again inscrutable and he guided Draco to a chair. He helped his son sit down, then leaned his cane against the back of that same chair and stepped to my bedside, wringing his hands as he searched for the right words.

"It's good to see you," he spoke and I lifted an eyebrow.

"I mean... I didn't know it was you."

"Right," I said and I felt tense and angry and sad and... I didn't even know where to start.

"Aphrodite," he said and I frowned deeper.

"You should know I never wanted to let you go but it were dark times. I was already branded a death eater. We didn't know. One boy, we thought. And there were two babies, well, that was a surprise. In hindsight, maybe Narcissa was as bit large for having just one child but we never questioned it at the time." Lucius chuckled as he said that.

"The day you were born, Draco came first. We didn't think he would make it, he wasn't crying or moving much. And his breathing... it was so... shallow. Irregular." The elder Malfoy hesitated and there was a definite tremor in his voice as he recalled the events. It was clearly hard for him to tell me this. I looked to Draco and he shrugged at me and smiled. Draco Malfoy smiled at me.

"It was then the nurse told us there was at second child, you came screaming into the world then, healthy lungs and everything. We knew we couldn't keep you. The Dark Lord wanted to... Um, he wanted a pureblood girl for some... ugly ritual. Dark magic, you understand," he said and waved a hand as he told me.

I didn't understand. I had no idea what he was talking about.

"If he didn't get me then...?" I asked.

"Clara Lestrange. Bella's girl," said Draco.

"Oh."

Suddenly I didn't think it was so bizarre for Bellatrix Lestrange to have been certifiably insane. It wasn't that unthinkable for a mother to have lost her mind when her child was taken from her.

"Is she d-dead?"

"Yes," answered Lucius. "And the ritual didn't work. Another wasted life," he sighed. "So you see why we had to keep you safe?" he questioned. I didn't respond.

"Anyway, the chances of Draco's survival were slim, so Narcissa asked to hold both of you just the once, so we could remember. It was then your feet touched and this red glow came over you two, you formed the blood bond and it saved Draco's life," he finished knowing the rest should be self explanatory.

"How do you know I'm her? How can you be certain?" I asked.

"The bond," said Lucius. "The red glow, exactly like what happened that first time. And Draco is feeling much better, aren't you, son?"

Draco nodded.

"So it worked again. Draco says he can feel it. Maybe you can too?"

I shook my head.

"Like a thrumming," explained Draco. "In your head, behind your eyes. A bit like... like a headache. But it doesn't hurt. Not really."

"Oh," I said, "Then yes, I can feel it."

"Right. I always thought-" Draco stopped himself but I coaxed him to continue.

"You thought?"

"I... Ithoughtitwasyourmuddybloodgivingmeaheadache," he blurted and his cheeks flushed crimson.

"Draco!" chided Severus and Lucius at the same time.

"I'm sorry!" he whined. "It's what I thought! I know it's stupid, now."

"Indeed," confirmed Lucius. "Aphrodite is not a mudblood."

"LUCIUS!" snapped Severus.

"Sorry. Muggleborn," he corrected.

I groaned.

"But you thought I was. You thought I was and you terrorised me for it. Both of you. Sorry isn't... It's not enough," I managed to croak. "The only people I have left in life, are a professor who hates me, a brother who tried to make my life hell and a father whose sister-in-law tortured me in his own home."

"I thought you were close with the Weasleys? You used to be inseparable from the Weaslette." Draco looked lost as he spoke.

"Yes well, that was before we found out I can't have children. I mean I never got it looked into but I knew what Cruciatus does and I was under it a lot between the war and Ronald..." I spoke before I gasped, realising what I had revealed.

It was that moment Auror Mayfair and Kingsley chose to make their presence known by clearing their throats.

"Hermione, I am here for those memories but with your testimony and the tests we're running on Mr. Weasley's wand, you should be fine. I would also like you to come in once you are ready just for a final test and see how compatible you are with his wand," Kingsley said and he looked full of pity. I wasn't sure I liked that look much. Then again, it spoke of genuine concern and it was nice to know that someone was on my side.

"I have the memories here," Severus spoke up and he offered the vials. "Both mine and hers. Mine show the full extent of her injuries throughout the last few weeks."

Kingsley nodded, took the vials and thanked Severus as he passed them to the Auror beside him.

"I'm sorry I didn't see the signs sooner," he apologised to me. I gave him a weak smile.

"Don't worry. I'm safe now."

Kingsley left and then a healer came in asking Draco and Lucius to leave as well. Apparently I needed my rest. Draco asked if he could floo call me some time. He said please and I could not refuse, despite my reservations. The healer shooed both Malfoys from the room after I'd promised to stay in touch and checked me over. I could leave in a couple of days, provided I wasn't alone. I was going back to Severus's quarters then, I guessed and his gentle patting of my foot confirmed my assumption.