AN: I am so sorry that it took me so long to update everyone! I feel really bad about it but getting on the internet is really difficult for me at the moment. I do have a question for you all though and I want honest answers in your reviews ok. If I was to get one of my own books published would any of you guys be willing to read it?

Now on with the story...

Chapter 12

A new ally

"Harry," I started awake at the sound of a soft voice and a light hand on my shoulder.

Turning to look over my shoulder I was surprised to find the he3admaster staring back at me. "Professor?"

As his eyes wandered tot he face of the pale boy on the bed, the sparkle disappeared from his eyes. He looked back down at me, his face showing both concern and understanding. "Madame Pomfrey tells me that you have been spending every moment of your free-time here in the Hospital Wing."

When I didn't reply he continued, "Both Madame Pomfrey and myself believe that spending so much time here is not healthy for you." I opened my mouth to protest but was cut off by him continuing, "I know that you find this unfair. You'd like to stay with Draco and make certain that he is all right. However, he has been in a coma for eight days and we have yet to see you leave his side except when you leave for class. I know how you care for Draco, he is indeed a dear friend to you, however, you cannot neglect your other friends. We will send for you if there are any changes in Draco's condition. I can promise you that."

"But Professor..."

"Harry, I must demand that you return to your fellow classmates and return here only if injured or summoned. Dinner will be starting soon..."

The Headmaster said no more--he didn't have to. I knew that he wanted me to leave right now and go to dinner. The problem was, I couldn't really bring myself to move. I hesitated for only a moment before nodding and turning back to Draco.

I heard the soft click of the door shutting as the Headmaster left the room. I stood from my seat and looked down at the blond boy that lay stilly on the bed. "You better wake up soon Draco," I said quietly. "I promised I would be here when you wake up and I won't break that promise."

I turned and walked from the room, glancing back only once before the door shut behind me.

"Harry?" Hermione said as she walked up behind me. "No training tonight?"

"No," I replied, knowing that Hermione had never, fully , believed my story about training sessions.

"Is anything wrong?" she asked, noticing the distant look in my eyes.

"No Hermione," I replied with a sigh, "I'm just tired."

"Harry," she continued, her voice now slightly frustrated, "we know that you haven't been training every day. Face it, you're not a very good liar." She sighed before continuing, "We're not trying to force you to tell us anything its just...we're worried about you. You've been disappearing every day, you don't pay attention in classes and now you don't even seem to have an appetite," she gestured to my plate and my untouched food. I saw her look to Ron for support and, finding his mouth full of food, turn her attention back to me. "are you sure you don't want to tell us anything?"

"Look Hermione, I will tell you eventually just...not yet ok. I need to figure some things out first."

"I understand," she replied. As I looked into her face I felt the first pangs of guilt. Sure, there were a lot of things that I hadn't wanted to tell Ron and Hermione but I usually still had told them. But I couldn't tell them about Draco. They wouldn't understand. Well, Hermione might but Ron...there was a better chance of Snape jumping onto the head table and doing the tango than there was of Ron understanding my relationship with Draco.

Come to think of it, I'm not even certain what my relationship with Draco is. Are we friends? I think so. I hope so.

I still can't believe that Professor Dumbledore kicked me out of the infirmary. What if something happens to Draco while I'm not there? What if his heart stops again? What if he wakes up and there's no one there?

I felt the urge to jump up from the table. Glancing over at the head table, I saw Dumbledore looking back at me. A small shake of his head was enough to stop me from following the urge. I wasn't about to risk not being allowed into the infirmary when Draco woke up.

Shaking my head, I stared silently down at the untouched food on my plate.

My eyes wandered across the room and fell upon the face of a dark-haired boy at the Slytherin table. 'Zambini,' I thought to myse4lf angrily. Dumbledore had questioned him about his whereabouts the night that Draco was hurt. He'd had an excuse that he was with Pansy at the lake. I know that that isn't true. It couldn't be. When Draco woke up, I was going to find out the truth. Zambini better hope he'd been telling the truth.

"I'm going for a walk." I didn't wait for a reply. I simply stood from the table and walked from the Great Hall. Before exiting, I looked back at the Professor's and was met by three pairs of eyes. I sighed and walked from the room.

Draco's condition was, for lack of a better word, unstable. His heart had stopped twice already and the second time Madame Pomfrey had only barely gotten it started again. I'd been by his side through both times and didn't even want to think of it happening while I was stuck out here.

I looked up and saw the lake before me. I stepped forward and walked into the shallow water. The icy cool of the water distracted me from my thoughts momentarily.

'Maybe I could use my invisibility cloak to sneak in and see him while everyone's asleep,' I thought to myself. 'No, Dumbledore would have thought of that; he gave me the cloak.'

I had to find a way to check up on Draco. I knew that, if I didn't, I'd spend most of my time worrying about him. that was the worst part. I knew that Draco was in the best care in the infirmary, and yet, I was terrified that he would never wake up. It didn't matter what I told myself. My mind always thought of the worst possibilities.

I guess that's what happens when you witness so many deaths.

Hermione's POV (I know, it's about time I put these guys back into the story)

I stared after Harry as he walked from the room. He'd been distant lately. More so that usual. I knew that his story about training was a lie. Every Professor had been present at dinner every night. The same was not true for him. The only other people missing were Madame Pomfrey and Draco Malfoy.

Rumors have been going around that Malfoy was in the infirmary after being attacked. I also knew that Harry couldn't have been sneaking off to the infirmary. Surely, Harry worried about others far too much but would he every put so much effort into worrying about Malfoy?

Then again, Draco did seem different at the beginning of the year. Quieter. Perhaps Harry felt he could change him. Or maybe he just wanted to help him. That's not too outrageous for Harry.

Would I be angry about it? No. Disappointed? Maybe a little but that's only because I wouldn't know the story behind it. Harry wouldn't do anything without a reason. That's why I wasn't overly worried about him disappearing all of the time. If there was something that he felt he had to do, I wasn't going to stop him from doing it.

I only wish he'd tell us about what was going on.

Then again, if it is something to do with Malfoy, would he really think we'd understand?

I looked over at the redhead to my left and sighed. Ron wouldn't. Harry could try to explain and Ron wouldn't even listen.

I stood from my seat, "I'm going to go find Harry," I said to Ron before walking from the room. I could hear footsteps behind me and knew that Ron had left shortly after me. I smiled to myself. Sometimes, Ron could be so predictable.

We walked in silence. I could see Harry at the lake but made no move to run toward him. I knew that he needed a little time alone and I was going to give it to him. Even if it was only enough time for us to walk leisurely down to the lake to join him.

I had to let Harry know that I would understand. That's the only reason he would lie to us. He didn't think we'd understand. There had to be a way I could talk to him without Ron finding out.

Shouldn't be too hard.

I stopped and looked at the boy before me. His back was too us though I could tell he was deep in though. He was standing knee deep in the cold water of the lake. I could feel the first drops of rain land on my arms and walked over to him.

"Harry," I said quietly as I placed a hand on his shoulder. I heard Ron walk up beside me. "Harry, what's bothering you?"

He didn't answer. I t was almost like he didn't even know we were there. I walked in front of him, leaning slightly so that I could look into his downcast eyes. "Harry?"

"His eyes widened slightly as he looked down at me, "Herms?" He glanced over at Ron before continuing, "Ron? What are you guys doing here?"

"We're worried about you Harry," I said, Ron nodding in agreement. "We know that something's bothering you and it has nothing to do with training sessions. I know that you don't think you can tell us. Whether you think we wont understand or what, I don't know. But, Harry, you need to know that I will always understand." I stared straight into his eyes and continued. "Even if I don't particularly like it, I will always understand that you don't do anything without a good reason...I'm certain that Ron feels the same way."

I added the last part so that Ron wouldn't feel left out. We had decided before that I would be the one doing the talking. Ron had never been very good at things like this. Of course, I guess he can be forgiven for that.

"Thanks Hermione," Harry said with a slight smile. "Thanks Ron."

"Umm, Ron," I said, turning toward him, "could we meet you inside? I, kind of, have something private to discuss with Harry." I saw that Ron was about to protest and lowered my voice slightly. "Please Ron."

"Bu-alright." I knew that he would have preferred to stay but I needed to see if Harry would tell me what was bothering him. If I was right about it being about Malfoy, Ron would rather not be here anyway.

"Thanks Ron," I called as he started back toward the school.

When I was positive he was out of hearing range, I turned back to Harry and asked, "Is this about Draco?"

"What did you say?" he asked, the shock in his voice almost causing me to laugh.

"It wasn't really that hard to figure out Harry," I started but he cut me off.

"No...you called him Draco."

"Of course I did," I said. I hadn't really realized that I had but maybe saying his name would help Harry tell me. "He does seem different this year. Is it him that you're worried about, though?"

"It's strange isn't it? he asked. I didn't get the chance to ask him what was so strange before he continued, "The rain. How rain is so much like the tears we shed so easily. Maybe, in truth, rain is just the sky crying for those of us who can't."

"Harry, you're not making any sense," I couldn't hide the concern in my voice. Harry never used to talk like that and it had me worried.

"Hermione? I know that you say that you would understand but would you? Would you understand if I told you that I had been spending every moment outside of class in the infirmary worrying about the boy who called you a mudblood and constantly made fun of Ron's family?"

"Not completely," I answered honestly. "But that's only because I don't know your reason behind it. I do know that you have one, though. So, if you were to explain it to me, then I'd understand. But, first, could we get out of the lake? I'm freezing."

I heard him laugh and couldn't help but smile. It wasn't his usual laugh but it was definitely an improvement to him comparing the rain to tears.

He leaned against a large tree on the grounds and I sat opposite him and waited for him to begin.

"He's changed, Herms," Harry said with a sigh. "You almost wouldn't even recognize that he was the same person who was once my school hood rival."

I sat quietly and listened to his story. I saw tears fall from his eyes, disguised by the falling rain, and forced myself to remain seated. I constantly had to fight the urge to comfort him. I knew that talking about all that had happened was something that Harry really had to do. He'd an honest person and keeping something as important as his relationship with Draco a secret was very hard on him.

"I don't know what to do Herms," he said finally. "I told him that I'd be there with him and now I can't be."

I silently stood and walked over to embrace my friend. "Well," I said as I pulled away from him slightly. "There's really only one thing that we can do."

"What's that?"

"Find a way for you to sneak in there to check on him every once in a while."

"You're gonna help me?" he asked, his face lighting slightly.

"Of course I am," I said, matter-of-factly. "What are friends for?"

AN: Voila! There's chapter 12. I love Hermione! Anyway, please review and don't forget the question I asked at the beginning of this fic.

Loves much

Kaydera