Fifteen minutes past and Madam Pomfrey came back into the room.

"Alright, Granger, it's time for you to leave. Go on, now!"

Hermione rolled her eyes impatiently. "Alright, I'm going..."

She kissed Draco on the cheek and let go of his hand. "I'll be back tomorrow," she whispered.

Draco sat up and smiled as he watched her leave. "Don't worry, everything will be fine. I promise."

Hermione looked back at him as he said that and nodded as a response. She turned around and kept walking, heading out the door and up to Gryffindor Tower.

It was 9:00 p.m. and was time for students to head to their dormitories. As Hermione was sitting down on the couch writing in her journal, Ron and Harry walked in. She looked at Harry with disgrace and didn't seemed too concerned with Ron.

Harry turned to look at Hermione, thinking about what he should say to apologize. "Hermione..."

"Stay out of my life. For good," she told Harry sharply, "I hate you."

Harry's voice got lower and his eyes filled with sorrow. "You don't mean that, Hermione..."

"Oh, but I do. Leave me alone."

Over the years, Harry has learned to not argue with an angry Hermione, so he didn't give a response. Instead, he looked at her apologetically and slowly dragged his feet up the stairs with his hands in his pockets.

Ron watched him leave and then sat down next to Hermione. "I'm sorry... about what happened." He put his hand on her shoulder as she stared at him, coldly.

Hermione sighed. "I appreciate your sympathy, Ronald, but I know you hate Draco just as much as he does... " she said, frowning, "so there's no use in apologizing."

Ron shook his head. "Hermione, listen... Harry and I have hated Malfoy for the past six years, and you've hated him, too." He paused for a moment and took a breath. "... Or so we thought. I know you, and I know him... and I know he hasn't changed."

"No, you're wrong, he has changed... and I'm not breaking up with him just because you and Harry don't like him. I'm in love with him, Ron."

Ron stood up. "One day, you'll realize that you're not in love with him, and that you're making a huge mistake."
He then took a few steps towards the stairs and said, "And when you realize you've made a mistake, it'll be too late."

Hermione blinked and tilted her head in confusion as Ron continued to walk away. She brought her knees up to the couch and put her arms around them, staring at the floor.

The next day came, and not a moment too soon. It was 9:30 a.m. on Sunday and Hermione was just making her way into the Hospital Wing. She opened the heavy doors and walked inside, immediately noticing Draco still sitting in the same bed. She walked over to him.

"I see you got another shirt," she chuckled, smiling for the first time since before the accident happened.

Draco grinned and scratched his nose. "It's nice to see you smiling again."

"It's nice to be smiling again. I had a rough night," she complained, thinking about all the negative things that have happened within the last couple of days.

Madam Pomfrey walked into the room with a pleasant look on her face. She noticed Hermione standing next to Draco's bed. "Good morning, Granger," she said, smiling. Her face was glowing from the sunlight beaming in through the windows. "Mister Malfoy, you're free to go now. Come back once a week so I can change the bandage and your cast."

"Will do," he replied, still grinning. "Thank you, Madam Pomfrey."

He arose from the bed as he clutched his cast with his left hand. He let go and took Hermione's hand, walking out the door.