CHAPTER 45

October 30th 2001

Hermione Granger had always hated hospitals. The bright lights and overly chemically cleaned floors were both just as horrible in the muggle world as they were in the wizarding one. Her neck craned from sleeping in an unsupportive chair and despite all the turn offs she refused to go home.

It had officially been six days since the battle at the Nott Manor, which meant that it had been six days since Draco was struck. The healers said it would take him a while to wake up, but for some reason Hermione assumed that he'd defy the odds and they'd walk out of St Mungos hand in hand within the week. Every minute that she stared at his torn body, she lost just a tinge of hope.

Crawford had thrown an unknown dark curse with the intent to kill. Draco rolled over just in time for it to miss, and in return the spell skimmed the side of his face to do some uncontrollable damage. He was left completely blind in his right eye with barely a blood soaked bandage to cover the damage.

Not many people had visited since he was admitted. Harry had done them a favour by ensuring that nothing would be released to the papers until they knew for sure that Draco was going to be okay. However, those days were growing thin.

Reading helped. Hermione used it as a tool to fill time and ease her mind from worry. There was something about diving into an imaginative world written with the promise of a happy ending that dulled the cruelty of reality.

"'You have plenty of courage, I am sure.'" Hermione read aloud. "'All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty.'"

Turning to the next page, the sound of an all too familiar husky voice broke her concentration. "I hope you are not reading the Gryffindor pledge book to me while I sleep, Granger."

Hermione jolted at the sensation of Draco's hand subtly squeezing hers. Leaping from the chair, she tried to contain her excitement as she watched his eyes flutter open. One silver, just as beautiful as she remembered, and one white, a new type of beautiful that they'd learn to love.

"Hi." She half sobbed, half laughed, pressing their foreheads together.

"H-hell-o." He groaned in return, lifting an arm to sew his fingers through her hair.

An overwhelming amount of emotions poured out of Hermione as she clung to him. Apologetic tears that were laced with joy and anger fell from the top of her cheeks at an unstoppable stream. They were free and Draco was finally awake to know it.

"He's gone." She cried. "Theo's gone."

"It's over?"

"It's over."

Draco took her face into the palms of his hands and kissed her. Despite the messiness of their cries it was still just as powerful as their first. Hermione pressed into him because he was air and she was struggling to breath. She kissed him because she could, because she wanted a lifetime of him touching her.

A long amount of time passed before they pulled away from one another. Draco swallowed hard, enough for her to know what question was to come next.

"I'm blind, aren't I?" He asked quietly.

Hermione's lips and chin quivered as she stubbornly fought the sadness that boiled over. Not being able to look him in the eyes, she bowed her head and nodded. They were so close to walking away without a price to pay. So so close.

"It's okay." Draco soothed her soul, rubbing her back while not so discreetly weeping on his own. "It's okay."

"I am so sorry." She lifted her head to face him once more, heat rising in her skin. "You fought so valiantly to save me, you don't deserve this."

"I would sacrifice anything to keep you alive. Don't you get that?"

"Yes, but you shouldn't have to. My entire life I have felt as if I am stranded in a burning house and everyone who tries to get in just keeps getting burnt."

Tilting her chin ever so gently, he gave her one of those looks that made her stomach flip. "You will never be alone ever again. Okay?"

Hermione hoped that he was right. They had vowed an eternity together if they had made it out of this battle alive, and now it was time for them to step into that forever. A boring, carefree, loving forever.

"Theo. What happened to him?" Draco asked.

"He was killed."

"Potter?"

"No… Pansy."

It took a second for him to absorb what she had said. Images of the duel so doubt flashing across his mind as a reminder of just how bad things could have been.

"How long have I been asleep?" He changed the subject.

"Six days. Healers have been trying to restore your vision with experimental potions but nothing has worked. They said your scarring will settle though."

Draco hummed, most likely more upset than he was letting off. There is not a single person in this world who could wake up partially blind and not be angry. Hermione assumed he had grown to tame his aggression, and in this case wanted to focus on celebrating their victory.

"Hermione…" He started a nervous sentence.

"Don't." She interrupted. "Don't apologise. You did what I would have done, you led with your heart. Theo knew us too well, he weighed everything on your protective habits."

"That's just it. I should have let you be brave. If I had just listened to you, and not followed then maybe… Maybe you wouldn't have been tortured, or Pansy wouldn't have had to kill Theo or… maybe I wouldn't have lost…"

Confused by his remorse, Hermione tried to reason. "I told you to follow me."

"Yes, but I still fucked it up. I always fuck it up."

"Hey, hey, hey." She kissed him assertively. "You saved me, Draco. That's all that matters."

He wasn't entirely convinced but the small nod he used to reply was enough for now. Hermione planned on spending the rest of her lifetime to prove to him just how grateful she was for his actions. Spending a lifetime of giving him her heart, till forever falls apart.

A clearing of a throat pulled the two's attention away from each other. Snapping their heads, at the doorway stood a broken Pansy. Shattered to the core from the wrongdoings of her fiancé. Draco sat up in his bed with pity and concern painted across his face.

"You're awake." Pansy mumbled, taking slow steps to stand at the foot of the hospital cot.

"Barely." Draco played cool. "How- how are you?"

"Confused… mainly."

Hermione should have felt awkward watching their interaction, but she figured that these two had a connection in the same way that she did with Ron. Indescribable and understanding all at the same time. If that was even possible.

"We both owe you a thank you." Hermione gave a tight smile. "Neither of us would be here if you didn't do what you did."

"Should I really be thanked for doing something evil? You of all people are an advocate for justice, Granger. I killed the person I was going to marry without hesitation, that does not deserve praise."

"If it's any consolation, I wanted to kill him. Before anyone else got there I was ready to end his life. It didn't cross my mind even once that anyone else, including you, would be hurt if I did."

It was a confession that was brutal to lay down, and yet Hermione could see it wasn't putting Pansy's heart to rest. Her face was ruined with burdened responsibility.

"Pansy… We grew up in a world thinking that there was a structure of good and evil because it was easier that way. But it's not as organised as divinely as we want. You did what you had to because Theo deserved to die. Nothing less, nothing more."

"I just- I just don't know how I'm going to live with all this gui-"

"No one blames you for this." Draco interrupted forcefully. His frown striking confidence.

Pansy turned to Hermione for reassurance in her doubt. Apologies just ready to spill. Before the words could even leave, Hermione embraced her in a hug. The two witches knew it was not what either of them wanted but rather what they needed.

"I don't even know who he was." Pansy sighed. "Was it all a lie?"

"Yes." Hermione confirmed, still holding her loosely. "But he loved you, and that is how you should remember him."

Letting each other go, Pansy tucked strands of hair behind her ear and cleared her throat. Draco looked as if he was holding back a sarcastic comment for the sake of the preciousness of it all. Hermione squeezed his leg with as much pressure as she could fathom, warning him to keep his mouth shut.

"That eye of yours better not get more attention than me." Pansy gave a sly grin for a change of subject.

"I've always had more attention than you, Parkinson." Draco quipped. "I don't plan on stopping anytime soon."

"Well, the Prophet is going to have a feeding frenzy when Granger announces her failed engagement so you had best find a patch to suit your best robes."

Hermione inhaled and exhaled slowly. She had almost forgotten that her and Ron had yet to release a statement. That piled with the Nott chaos had practically cemented a few years worth of unwanted popularity.

"We'll have to face the music soon." Draco replied. "But not just yet."

Pansy left looking less broken than she had when she entered. Somewhat glued back together by the assurance that there was no blame.

The healers filtered in and out of the room for the remainder of the day. They were pleased with Draco's recovery but still insisted that he stay for a few more days so they could keep monitoring his vision. Not that there was much left to monitor.

Hermione laid on the bed with him as they tried to get an early sleep, curled together on the single sized mattress.

"You know Pansy was here to visit you and not me, right?" Draco said sweetly, tracing circles her upper arm.

"What makes you say that?"

"Because no one knew I was awake. She was coming to apologise. You should take it as a compliment, Pansy was never really known for penitence. She must like you."

"Considering her fiance had been scheming against us for several years, I truly doubt her apology had any other intention other than an actual sorry."

"Still… Pansy likes you. It is very obvious."

As sarcastic as his comment was, Hermione got ever so excited at the gaining of a new friend. Perhaps tragedy was all it took for them to come together. That seemed like an ongoing theme in her life, so it seemed fit.

The room grew dark as the hours went on and the witch and wizard fell asleep in each other's arms until a soft knock tapped on the room's door. So quiet it could have been missed. Hermione squinted to try and see through the small glass window who was on the other side, only a dark outline of messy hair.

"Draco." She whispered, nudging him awake. "Someone is here."

The blond groaned, hating that his peaceful slumber was being broken. "Tell them to bugger off."

Ignoring his ignorance, Hermione slipped off the bed and opened the door an inch. She was met with the comforting green eyes of a friend, and the glasses that surrounded them.

"Harry, what are you doing here?" She asked, confused.

His towering frame tried to peek through the door to see into the room. "I have something for Malfoy."

"Can it not wait until morning? He needs to rest."

"Not really. I may lose my job if I do this during the day."

Trusting her friend, Hermione opened the door entirely so that Harry could walk in. Her wand brightened the room by lighting just a few candles, waking Draco up forcefully. His scarred brow furrowed in frustration at the inconvenience of it all.

"You just love to test your limits, don't you, Potter?" He seethed, sitting up in his bed.

"Just as much as I love seeing you in a hospital bed." Harry stood with his arms crossed. "There is someone who I think you should see, but I need you to keep quiet. Bringing them here is quite illegal and the less people know the better."

Hermione and Draco looked at each other worryingly. So much for a good night's sleep.

Walking through the door with the heads hung low was Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, fingers intertwined as they gazed upon their injured son. Husband and wife reunited at last.

"Oh my son…" Narcissa let go and rushed to Draco. "Look at what they did to you." Her hands hovered over his bandages, shaking to touch.

"I would have assumed you would be in Azkaban by now." Draco spoke monotonously towards his father, who remained by the exit. Face shattered at the sight of his transgressions.

"He should be." Harry answered. "But I figured you would want some answers now that you're awake."

Hermione reached to grab Harry's hand, thanking him for the dangerously good deed. He was right, everyone needed answers. It was the only way for them to make amends and move on.

Lucius opened his mouth to speak but the moment his eyes met with Draco he shut it again. It would be hard to come out of a two year long mind control, and even worse seeing how far it pushed his family apart. If there was one thing that kept the Malfoys together it was their ability to stand by one another, and now, they had nothing.

"Your father has been struggling to come to terms with everything that has happened. He is very confused, dear." Narcissa explained, tears welling as she sat with her wounded son.

Draco glared at Lucius like daggers piercing the skin. "Tell me, father. What do you remember? How much of my life do you recall destroying?"

"All of it." Lucius replied hoarsely. "I remember all of it."

Feeling the sudden need to fill the void of answers, Hermione did what she only knew what to do. Recalled facts. "People who go under the Imperius curse are aware of everything that is happening, yet struggle to find the will to defy its power. It seems as if your father was consciously awake for the past few years but his illness has made him weak. He did not have the strength to fight anymore."

Everyone in the room refused to look at one another, except for Draco, he did not let his eyes wander from where Lucius stood. Hermione could almost feel the fiery anger that was radiating between them. Anger from a son to his father, anger from a father to himself and anger from a family to another. Regret had crept up to all of them, and the consequences were fatal.

Lucius looked tired. Withered from heartache. "I understand if you no longer wish to speak with me, Draco." He spoke firmly. "But your mother deserves to see her son. She is not one to blame nor should she suffer otherwise."

"Suffer? What would you know about suffering?" Draco's anger was taking over.

"That's enough." Narcissa spat. "Your father is trying to heal this family. You should accept his apology so that we can move forward."

"I have yet to hear an actual apology come from his mouth, mother. Two years pass and yet neither of you have learnt to strip your pride. It is pathetic."

Lucius clenched his jaw tight as he looked at Hermione. She could see why he would blame her for the punishment he endured. But that did not mean he was right.

"I do not approve of your affair with Miss Granger." He warned Draco.

"Approval or not I do not care. I should not have to make a decision between my parents and the woman I love, and even if I do have to, I will choose her. I will always choose her."

"You are ruining generations worth of pure blood for the sake of a girl."

"That girl… Saved all of our lives, more than once. You are a fool if you do not see that she is far more worthy of her magic than anyone else in this room."

Lucius held a downward frown. His mind was not going to be changed anytime soon, and it was tiring for them to argue anymore. But Hermione felt loved. Not in a classical fairytale kind of way, in a real world struggle kind of way. She was worth something, worth fighting for even if it meant losing everything that Draco knew.

There was sadness written in Narcissa's face as she watched the two most important people in her life fight. She had probably come here tonight with the hope that they would be able to resolve their issues and go back to being a family. A mother and wife torn between two sides.

"Whilst we are grateful for the courage that Miss Granger has poured out to us, you must understand the reluctance we have. This is all we have known, Draco. Who are we if we are not loyal to our ancestors' beliefs?"

"You should love me, mother. Unconditionally."

Hermione gave Draco a heartfelt smile. She felt guilty for doubting his love, thinking that he would run back to his parents the instant they gave him the option to come home.

"We have to go." Harry suddenly spoke, probably sensing the tension that needed to be broken. "You can say your goodbyes, but after this Lucius is looking at a very severe trial. Make it memorable."

The tired hands of a mother caressed her son's cold face one last time. Lips kissing his cheek like she was merely tucking him in bed after reading a bedtime story. Unknown whether she'd be able to do it ever again.

Draco accepted the kindness silently, keeping his chin low as she hopped off the bed to join her husband once more. Their hands laced less tightly this time. One more betrayed than the other.

A wave of urgency came over Hermione as she watched the couple leave. "For what it is worth Mr and Mrs Malfoy… Your son…. He loves you both very deerly. You can choose him in spite of me. No one is holding you back from doing so."

Her admission appeared to hit Narcissa and miss Lucius. Their expressions both vastly different, revealing their true feelings towards her. It may be that someday Draco would at least be able to keep one of his parents.

Harry ushered the two out of the room with a flush of sorrow. His act of kindness had just bursted their hopeful bubble.

"Fair warning." He said while on his way out. "Ron told his mum that he got another girl pregnant, so be ready to deal with that one tomorrow. Ginny coerced me into telling her everything. She'll be over tomorrow morning to jinx you both."

Hermione crawled back into Draco's bed with a huff. "Just a few more days until forever, right?" She whispered in his chest.

"We have survived worse." He echoed her words. "Thank you for saying what you said to my parents. They'll hate you for addressing them like that but they'll respect you eventually."

"They'll come around, Draco. Parental love is far deeper than either of us will ever know. Trust me."

He kissed the top of her head as she blew all of the candles out with her wand. "I do trust you."