Hey guys, I wasn't very sure about this chapter... it's a bit iffy to me, but here it is anyway. And yes, i also think it was moving a bit fast, but this is a chapter full of revelations.

Chapter fourteen

Hermione hugged Maria and Pansy tightly. She resisted the urge to cry. "I'll write, I promise." She said. She turned to Blaise, who was standing there smiling grimly at her. She hugged him awkwardly, still not used to the male touch. "See you, Blaise. Thank you." She whispered.

He rubbed her back. "I'll be in to check up on you. Or I'll send Potter." She looked around for Draco, but he wasn't there. Blaise saw her face and gave her a squeeze on the shoulder. "He'll be here soon." Or so he hoped.

"I just thought I might say goodbye, is all." Hermione said quickly, not entirely sure why she wanted Draco to be there. It was most likely due to the fact that they had become friends of a sort.

The fireplace flashed and the blonde stepped out. "Sorry I'm late." He said. He had one hand in his pocket, enclosed around a letter for Hermione, which he had spent all night poring over, which resulted in him sleeping in. He walked up to her and stared at her intently.

She stared back, a hint of friendliness in her voice as she held out her hand ready for shaking. "Friends?" She asked.

Draco stopped. Friends? Had they been only friends? That was when it hit him; he had spent time falling in love with her, while she – so fragile and damaged – had spent her time healing and making friends. He wanted to scowl at her, but resisted and took her hand with a forced smile, drawing an empty hand out of his pocket.

"Friends." He agreed. "Goodbye, Granger."

She nodded, emotion suddenly overwhelming her. Was she going to be okay? Was she going to look after herself without the help of Maria, Pansy, Blaise and Draco? She forced a smile. "See you around, Malfoy." She paused. "And thanks for everything. I mean it; you're a good man, Malfoy." She said, forcing herself to smile.

"I'm going to miss you, Hermione!" Maria cried, flinging herself at Hermione. "Please, do write and don't be afraid to stop by every once in a while. Stay healthy, keep eating and you'll be fine." She said in a motherly way, though she was reassuring herself by ordering Hermione around.

Hermione hugged her back and pulled away, smiling. "Thank you, Maria, all of you." She said gratefully. She gave her pocket a pat, feeling her shrunken luggage inside of it. (She had been given back her wand by the Aurors who had searched Viktor's house.)

She stepped over to the fireplace, looking at each and every one of them, her eyes lingering for a moment more on the tall blonde with a frown on his face. She smiled and threw a bit of floo powder into the fireplace. "Hermione Granger's flat." She announced and stepped into the green flames.

Draco looked at the ground, feeling lousy. Friends. What a joke.

"You alright, mate?" Blaise asked. Draco shook his head, a cold look on his face. Pansy gave him a sympathetic look and he smiled grimly.

He nodded again and left to burn a certain letter that held a lot of weight in his pocket.

Hermione stepped out of her fireplace and stood in her living room, looking around her. It was exactly as she had left it. Her book still lay open on the arm of the couch and her shirt was still hanging from the cupboard in her kitchen, drying.

She sighed and pulled out her wand and emptied her pockets. She muttered the spell for enlarging them and smiled as they seemed to pop out of existence. Her clothes were put away and she lay down on her bad, looking up at the canopy.

Hermione's head fell to the side, where something caught her eye. She sat up and pulled it off the bedside table. It was a photo. Of her and Viktor. She dropped it and it shattered, just like her heart.

RESCUED RESCUED RESCUED RESCUED

The days flew past, and Maria began to worry when she had no word of Hermione. She waited for a letter, a short call or even a visit from the girl she had grown attached to, but she got nothing. So, when the ninth day passed, she asked Blaise to call Harry Potter.

He arrived shortly by floo and greeted her warmly. "What can I do for you?" He asked, concerned, his auror badge gleaming.

"I haven't heard from Hermione at all." She said to him. He nodded, a frown appearing on his face. "Have you?"

He shook his head. "No, I haven't. But I assumed she was busy. And I haven't taken the time to see her, because of this case."

She nodded understandingly. "I want you to go around there with Blaise and Draco. Please, and make sure she's alright." Maria ordered. He nodded. "Maybe I'm just worrying too much…" She muttered.

"No," Harry said. "You can never worry too much about those you care about." She smiled at him and summoned Draco and Blaise from the quidditch field.

Draco seemed a lot paler of late, and he was quiet, too. It seemed that having Hermione gone had made him withdrawn. Everyone had noticed, and everyone knew why. Except for Hermione, of course.

Harry greeted them with a forced politeness and the three of them were soon standing outside Hermione's flat, knocking on the door. Silence greeted them and they all frowned.

"Should we go in?" Blaise asked. Harry and Draco both nodded, pointing their wands at the door. They muttered a spell and the door swung open.

"Hermione?" Harry called. "Hermione, are you here?" They stepped in cautiously and noticed that her book had fallen to the floor and the house was eerily empty. There was no noise.

Harry led the way to the bedroom and opened the door, relieved to see a sleeping form on the bed. "She's in there." He told them. Draco pushed him out of the way and walked in, going straight to her bed.

He looked down at her as she slept. She was in her pyjamas and looked a few shades below pale. He gulped. Her cheeks were hollowed and on the ground next to the nightstand was a shattered frame. Her face was tear streaked and she looked exhausted.

He touched her cheek and withdrew his hand. Her skin was cold. "Granger," He whispered. "Hermione, wake up." Draco pushed stray hair out of her face and her eyes slowly opened.

"Draco?" she muttered. "What are you doing here?" She croaked, barely managing to open her eyes.

"Shh. You're coming with me. You can't stay here." He whispered.

She shot up, gripping at her head. "No! I can stay here! I'm fine." She collapsed back on her bed again, her head spinning wildly. She sighed.

"How long have you been like this?" He asked gently.

"I don't know." She whispered back, before closing her eyes, sleep over taking her.

Harry watched this from the doorway, Blaise having restrained him. He looked at Draco curiously as he lifted Hermione's sleeping form from the bed. The blonde held her close to his chest and Harry found his head clearing and the reasons becoming prominent. The reason Draco Malfoy was being so… caring and gentle with Hermione was because… well, because he was in love with her.

Harry's eyes widened as they passed him and went for the door. Could it be possible? Had Draco Malfoy fallen in love with Hermione Granger, muggleborn Gryffindor? No, it couldn't be. No way. Besides, she'd never have him, right? Right?

He sighed. He needed Ginny's help for this one. No doubt he was having a Ron moment. He shook his head followed the two ex-Slytherins out and locked the door behind him.