The next time Draco woke up, the first thing he saw was a pale hand over his face and the voice of Ronald Weasley.

'U sure he is alive?' Ron asked.

'Yeah, he's breathing' Harry said 'Stop trying to kid me. I can see his torso moving'

'I still can't see how Hermione can like the idiot' Ron said 'He bullied us for seven years'

'I don't see why you can't at least try and be sorry for Hermione' Harry said reproachfully 'She really does like Draco and anyway, he's changed' Draco was surprised. Who thought that Harry thought so highly of him?

'Draco?' Ron asked with disgust 'When did you start to be on first name basis with him?'

'It has been a while' Harry replied curtly 'We were living in the same house for more than a month and we dealt with it like adults unlike you'

'Oh alright' Ron sighed ' I will put in an effort but this is just for Hermione'

Harry smiled gratefully at Ron and Draco groaned internally. It was obvious that Weasley was putting up a facade. The moment he woke up Weasel would probably start joining him again.

'The press is going to have a field day' Ron said on a lighter note 'The day that Harry Potter comes out of hiding, Voldemort dies and he is seen fraternizing with one of the enemy'

Harry laughed.

'Yes, I wonder what story they are going to cook up this time'

Draco zoned out from the conversation and fell into a stupor.

'Draco...Draco...wake up...please...for me...or...for your mother' Those were the first words Draco heard when woke up for a third time. Those words and a minuscule hand squeezing his own. He didn't open his eyes immediately but noticed that he could move again. 'The healers have said that if you don't wake up in the next hour or so there is a large chance that you...you won't' Hermione ended her sentence in a whisper. Draco turned on his side and snuggled up towards Hermione.

Hermione ,shocked, exclaimed 'You're awake!'

'I'm sorry ,Miss Granger, but you will have to leave the room while we do some checks on Mr Malfoy.' a female Healer told Hermione.

'Can't I stay?' Hermione asked the Healer but she shook her head and Ginny eventually lead Hermione out.

'Is my son alright? Is he awake? Did something happen?' Mrs Malfoy ambushed Ginny and Hermione the moment they reached the waiting room. Hermione looked up at Mrs Malfoy and smiled faintly.

'He moved' she said.

'Yeah, but didn't say anything or open his eyes' Ginny said ,to confirm things.

'So he is well?' Harry asked.

'Yes, I think so' Hermione said 'They are just doing checks on him'

At that precise moment, the Healer stepped out into the waiting room.

'Party of Mr Draco Malfoy' she called. Hermione smiled hopefully and walked aside Mrs Malfoy as they followed the healer to the recovery ward.

'So he is alright?' Mrs Malfoy asked the healer.

'Yes. yes, we will just need to keep him here for about two more days to make sure that there are no aftereffects of the advanced potions we have given him'

When they reached the hospital curtained room, Draco was sitting up propped up by his cushions.

'Hey. How long have I been out? These healers are telling me nothing'

'About two days. The newspapers are having a field day.' Hermione said.

'A bit of Voldemort's soul attacked you after he died and it was fighting with your own for control over your body.'

'So I won against Voldy ,again?' Draco joked.

'Yeah you did ,Draco' Harry said ,clapping his friend on the back. 'We were so worried for you ... and we brought your mum back from Malfoy Manor. She is alright now with only a few physical scars, the healers said'

'Mum?' Draco asked 'Are you alright? The cruciatus...'

'Don't stress your mind over it' Mrs Malfoy said but Draco still looked expectantly at her so she carried on 'As you didn't send your latest letter which was due an hour ago, the Dark Lord started doubting your loyalties and asked for me during the meeting to interrogate me on your whereabouts'

'But you didn't know?'

'I didn't...so I think that he just got angry and went to extreme lengths to get any information from me about you. He got a bit carried away'

'He was really losing his mind. What happened to the other Death Eaters?'

'In jail. Azkaban' Ron said. This was the first time he had spoken and he held his hand out to Malfoy. 'And good job on your mission. You defeated Voldy twice.' There was a slight and almost imperceptible chill in Ron's voice. Draco noticed it but decided to act dumb.

'Thanks ,Weasley. I know you must have felt left out from the fun ,but I only had two other bedrooms at my place and I didn't want to tell too many' Draco smiled as warmly as he could to the Weasley. 'As happy as I am at being back, I am feeling very tired and would like to sleep. You can go if you want.'

Draco heaved himself back under the covers and attempted to fall asleep ,but he couldn't so he just lay there. Soon, he noticed that not everyone had left.

'Hermione, are you alright?' Draco asked. She was hovering around the door frame and only approached him when he talked to her.

'Yes, I'm fine it is you we have to worry about'

'Not me. I am all better. Just a bit tired.' Draco noticed the dark circles under her eyes at that point and the unkemptness of her hair. 'You look worse than me. Have you slept at all?'

Hermione shook her head slowly as if scared how he would react but all he did was smile at her. 'You know ,at school, I always envied you, Potter and the Weasel. Your friendship more than anything else. You always had each other's backs and I wanted that. Someone who I could tell all my secrets to without being afraid of them using it as blackmail or telling the whole house' Draco didn't know why he was telling her this but it felt apt. 'One of the reasons I felt inclined to choose you ,even if I could've bribed or asked any other ,less brave, muggleborn was beacuse I knew that you and Potter would work well together and wouldn't go against each other. I think I almost hoped that by the end of it I could have some friends like you did, be what you guys were'

'Oh Draco, you do have friends. Me and Harry have considered you as a friend for at least two weeks now and yes ,I was scared about what would happen at the end of this all, I didn't want to loose you but neither do I want to sever ties with the Weaselys. But now I know that I don't have to choose. Ron will grow to like you and Ginny already has ,apparently Harry was sending her frequent letters for the last two weeks of our escapade. I am sure that the others will like you and if they don't well it isn't my fault. You are very special to me Draco. I wouldn't loose you. Not now...'

Hermione's breath hitched. She wanted to say 'not now I know I love you' but she couldn't get the words out. Draco understood though. As if he could read her mind. Leaning in towards her, he sealed it with a light and innocent though passionate and loving kiss. Hermione got the message and when they pulled away, Hermione snuggled up next to him in his hospital bed. Soon enough, they were both asleep in each others arms. The best sleep they had both had in a long time...

A/N: Well, now only for the epilogue. How did you like the story? Please review. I shall be giving a special thanks to any especially detailed and amazing reviews and reviewers. Any extra chapters you hoped would have happened, could you please send to me. If there are any mistakes could you please tell me so I can rectify them ASAP for other readers. Thankyou for reading my fanfiction!