AN: Hello to my loyal readers, please don't hate me for being away from so long! My real life is persisting to give me barriers and writers block when all I want to do is write chapter after chapter for you all, but life keeps holding me back. But I'm here now and I'm going to try to keep update in the near future. Thank you for your support, particularly my reviewers; I was BOTWP, avt1988, and AMBERJANUS, it's so good to read your comments, particularly when I need the motivation to keep going, so thank you very much!

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Chapter Thirty Four: Waking Up.

Despite it being Luna and Percy's night watch, Draco was still working on his latest batch of potions. The sun had long since sunk below the hidden horizon, but he felt no tiredness. He worked on into the night, trying to ignore his curious audience. The quiet crackle of the flames and the occasional shuffling noise of someone shifting uncomfortably in their seat broke the silence. Percy sat poker straight, wand poised in his hand, while Luna flicked through an old copy of the Quibbler. It was almost peaceful in the war bunker.

Draco glanced at his watch and smiled, glancing up at Granger. Over the past couple of days, she had made remarkable progress. With long minutes of lucidity and long periods of restful recuperation under various coma inducing spells, she was recovering much better than anticipated. As the hours passed in the same routine, Draco became more hopeful that soon she would awaken and be ready to begin her rehabilitation. In fact, it was partially the reason why he was remaining awake tonight, to see the results of his potion.

As Granger began to stir, Draco drew closer to her guardians, holding a potion at the ready. Her eyelids scrunched and stretched, as if she was going to open them, and she nuzzled her hair in the pillow sleepily. Luna placed the Quibbler down on the bedside table and touched Hermione's hand gently.

"Hermione?" She said softly, "Are you awake?"

"Mm…" Hermione nodded and rubbed her face idly, "I'm awake."

"How do you feel?"

"Tired." She replied and yawned in demonstration, "I'm so tired."

"You can hardly expect to feel radiant after fighting a Dark curse." Malfoy rolled his eyes. Percy shot him a glare pointedly in response.

"Do you want anything Hermione? A cup of tea?" Percy enquired politely.

"How very British." Draco muttered to himself and moved back to the potions on the desk.

"Um, yes, I think a brew sounds lovely." She smiled, "Just milk please."

"Of course." Percy nodded and left, but not without sending another sharp glare at Malfoy. Honestly, Draco thought Percy believed he could kill just by glaring at him. Shaking off the irritating Weasley, he separated the potion into several pots and set about clearing up.

"Luna, could you ask Percy to bring me a biscuit, please? One of Molly's jam ones?" Hermione requested after a minute of silence, "I really fancy a biscuit."

"Of course, Hermione." Luna smiled and gracefully exited the Infirmary, unconcerned by leaving Granger alone with Malfoy.

"What's your question, Granger?" Malfoy asked from inside the Infirmary's storage cupboard, "Clearly, you want to speak to me alone."

"I do." She replied.

"Well, what is it then?" Malfoy strode over to her bedside when she didn't speak immediately. Leaning against the end corner of her bed, he crossed his arms, "What's preying on that enlarged brain of yours?"

"Thank you for the compliment, Malfoy." Raising one eyebrow, she replied pointedly.

"I'm full of compliments, Granger." He smirked, "What's your question?"

"Am I healed?" She hesitantly asked, "Completely?" Her hand fluttered nervously by her hips.

"Not completely." He sighed, "The heavy feeling will slowly drain from your legs, though it shouldn't be too painful anymore."

"The pain is gone?" The relief on her face was almost too painful to witness.

"Nearly. I'd wager you'll still get pain if you overexert yourself, but it shouldn't be too painful to move."

"I can move? I can get out of bed?" She flung back to covers eagerly.

"Easy, Granger." He quickly flicked her covers back over her to pause her moving, "Let's take it easy tonight, you're too exhausted to be walking yet."

"But I need to begin training. I need to be able to walk to fight!" She argued, "The sooner I get walking, the sooner I can re-join the cause!"

"I'm afraid it's going to be a while before you do much fighting, Granger. You may have recovered quickly from the potion, but it's going to take time to recover completely."

"But the sooner I start-"

"Yes, I get it. You want to fight. But not yet." He sternly insisted, "Tonight you need to sleep. Salazar's wand, you were better when you were in a coma."

"It's a pity you healed me then, isn't it, Malfoy? Because I'm getting out of bed and fighting." She moved to shift from the bed, stifling a yawn.

"Don't be ridiculous." He shook his head, "You need to sleep."

"I do not." She scowled, but the affect was ruined by another yawn.

"Go to sleep, Granger, we can argue in the morning." Draco sighed, "You'll be in better shape tomorrow."

Her lips twitched, as if she would argue her point further, but exhaustion seemed to be stealing her strength finally. Shuffling her shoulder a little, she laid her head to the side and frowned. Apparently, she couldn't argue with her body's needs anymore. Pressing her lips tightly against another yawn, she rubbed her eye absently and sighed through her nose. As her face began to relax, he pulled the blankets higher and moved a stray curl from her face. Night, Granger. He thought, before turning to his potion set once more.

Just as he fired up his cauldron once more, Percy came hurrying in with Luna, who held a tray with four mugs of tea and a full plate of biscuits. Percy looked concerned at the sleeping witch and looked accusingly at Draco.

"Oh, she's asleep." Luna suddenly commented, oblivious to the tension, "Well, she does need her rest. Sugar in your tea, Draco?"

"Just one." He nodded absently, "Thanks." He took the mug and a jam biscuit from the tray and turned to his work.

"You're welcome." She smiled. Out of all of the Order, she was the most accommodating towards him. She always tried to include him in her conversations and made sure he was included in tea runs. He would have thought she would have acted most accusingly towards him, considering she was a prisoner at Malfoy Manor, but being kidnapped didn't seem to break her friendly attitude and inclusion of others. If only all Members could be so welcoming, He thought to himself snidely, cutting a sideways glance at stone faced Percy.