"Ah, I see you 2 have no problem in getting along anymore and Ms. Granger has overcome her shyness. Am I correct in my presumptions?" he asked with the ever present twinkle in his eyes standing out.

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore, Draco and I get along perfectly. I don't think, or at least I don't hope, we will be having any problems this years." Said a cheerful looking Hermione.

"Don't worry professors, I promise there won't be any problems between us and I promise to take care of her, as you asked." I said. As I finished the professors looked, amazed, at each other in turns. Sprout at Snape, Snape at McGonagall, so on and so forth. When the "chain" came upon Dumbledore he just looked at me and spoke:

"Let's hope that you are true to your word. We certainly don't want anything to happen to Ms. Granger and she cannot be left alone until she recovers ('finally someone who uses an acceptable phrase with that!') her memory." Hermione blushed at this maybe out of fear, sadness or who knows what,  "Although I fully trust and know that she is well trained by the best tutor she could get." Now it was my turn to blush.

"Don't worry, I won't let her out of my sight." I said as I looked over to a very uncomfortable looking Hermione. As the professors continued their business, I got close to her to ask her what was wrong.

" Mione? (That was the name I used for her, it made me feel like she was mine, all mine) Are you all right? Are you feeling dizzy?" I asked, a hint of concern noticeable in my voice.

"No, it's not that. It's just that… well, it's kind of private so, could we go to the Common Room?" she said, looking down at her hands while speaking.

"Sure, you go ahead I'll excuse us from the professors and ask if they need anything, you know being tomorrow that everyone gets here and all." I said, now fully concerned.

"Ok, I'll wait for you in the Common Room." She said as she left. As soon as she left, Dumbledore looked at me concern etched all over his face.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

(AN:That was just to refresh your mind of the situation. BTW, that was written in Draco's POV. Now on with this!)

Chapter 11: Changes

DRACO'S POV

"What is wrong with her, Mr. Malfoy?"  Dumbledore said, his nervousness noticeable.

"I don't know. She said it was private and to meet her in the Common Room. If it's something serous, I'll inform you right away. Is there anything you would want to tell us concerning tomorrow?" I said, only wanting to go with Hermione.

"Thank you and yes, actually, if you could escort Ms. Granger to the hospital wing after your little chat," his voice had changed after my comment and his face was a bit more relaxed, "we believe to have found the exact combination of potions and charms necessary for her full recovery. You could stay with her until tomorrow night, when you will attend the Welcoming Feast. If she is up and well, she will join us, if not, she will stay in the hospital wing and after the feast, but only after, you may go to the hospital wing. Do you understand?" he finished.

"Of course, sir. I'll see you in the hospital wing." I said as I turned to leave.

To say the least, I was absolutely happy that they had found the cure for Hermione. But, in a way, I was disappointed. If she were to recover her memory, she would remember everything that happened in years before, everything she had been through with Potter and Weasley, and everything that I had done to her.  Maybe, that would even change her attitude towards me, maybe it would change her feelings towards me, maybe she would hate me again. I couldn't bear to even think what I would do without her, what I would do if I didn't have her as a friend, or as more.

When I finally left my train of thoughts, I realized my feet had carried me, mindlessly, to the entrance of the prefect's tower. I noticed that Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were missing in the portrait and Slytherin was sitting in a green chair while Gryffindor was surveying me.

"Good night, Mr. Malfoy. We were expecting you." Said Gryffindor.

"Good night sir. Is Hermione in there already? And, by the way, were are the other 2 founders?"

"Well, they are having a little "girl talk" with her in her room." Said Slytherin in a bored tone. "Could you tell them, if you see them, that we have to go to Dumbledore's office for our meeting, now?" he finished, standing up from his chair as the portrait swung open.

"Of course. Good night." I said, entering the hall, then our Common Room and made my way towards Hermione's room.

As soon as I entered, the smell of roses invaded my nostrils. As I looked around, I saw that this room was bigger than mine. It had a queen size, four-poster bed that had a fluffy-looking silky red bedspread; Hermione was currently sitting in it.  On the headboard, it had about 16 silk heart-shaped pillows, red also, and 4 big pillows that covered about 1 foot of space. On top of it was a portrait that would normally be blank but now was inhabited by Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, who were chatting with Hermione. Also inside the mini-mansion was a desk, a bit bigger than the one in the Common Room; a walk-in closet; a bookshelf; a big mirror that looked like it was for putting up make up and whatever else; a shelf that had a Discman, a stereo, a laptop (charmed to work at Hogwarts) and a potions kit; a TV with a couch in front and a door that led to a balcony, which was next to my balcony, for safety purposes. In short, the only things that were absent to make a house were: a kitchen and a bathroom.

I walked over to her bed, where she was currently sitting, and sat at the edge of it. As soon as I did, she jumped out of it, covered her face and pointed at me with her wand; probably she didn't realize I had entered the room.

"Get out, whoever you are, get out!" she screamed in a shrill voice. The founders left the portrait as soon as they saw me. I walked over to Hermione, lowered her wand arm and touched her face. She dropped the arm that was covering her face and looked at me. She sighed a sigh of both relief and exhaust.

"Drake, (her nickname for me, cute huh?) You scared me to death! Are you out of your mind?" she said looking at me.

"Ok, number one, you are not dead and number two I am still in it." I said, trying to cheer her up. In vain. She immediately changed her facial expression to one of a serious person as soon as I finished speaking.

"Not funny. Now, I have to tell you something serious and I want a straight and fast answer. I can't wait all night." She said in a tone likely of Prof. McGonagall.

"Ok, shoot, but fast 'cause I have to tell you something afterwards."

"Well, since tomorrow everyone is coming and, well, we won't be seeing each other as much and we'll probably grow apart…" "I won't let that happen. Don't worry." I interrupted, "Yeah, I know you won't but, if what you have told me about Harry and Ronald is true, they won't let me out of their sight and, no offense but, less if I'm with you. I really don't want to lose what I have with you. And, as I told you before, I don't care what people say or think and I forgive you for all you've done to me before. So, I know this will sound weird but, will you be my boyfriend?" she finished looking at her fingers that were playing with the hem of her denim skirt.

I was stunned, amazed, proud, (I don't know why so don't ask) confused, perplexed and EXTREMELY happy all at the same time. Stunned that she asked me, amazed that she had the courage to ask it, proud I don't know why, confused because I didn't know how that would solve our problem with the Golden Boy, perplexed that she would want to be my girlfriend even though she knew my story and happy that she was going to be MY girlfriend.

I didn't know what to say so I just went with my gut instinct: I kissed her. It was the most sweet, passionate, full of love, tender, soft kiss that I had ever had (well duh it wasn't my first, maybe for her but I had a reputation to stand for!). My hands cupped her face while she had her hands entangled in my hair.  It lasted forever yet ended too soon. When it did end, we both gasped for air and looked into each other eyes. Chocolate eyes met blue in a look that seemed to last forever but only lasted seconds due to my stubborn mind. I finally asked her the question that had been eating my head from the moment her mouth uttered those words.

"Why?"

"'Cause you were there for me when I need you most, cause I like you and because in your arms I feel safe. I don't want to be without you, ever." She finished as she rested her head in my chest.

"So, how will this solve our problem with Potter and Weasley?" I asked.

"Well, I'll just say that I'm your girlfriend and they'll leave us alone. They wouldn't want anything to do with me, will they?" she said as she looked up from her resting position.

"No, they won't. And if they have a problem with it, they'll have to deal with me first." I said.

"Plus," I said as we made our way towards the Common Room, "I think the teachers like that I'm with you.", I stopped and looked deep into her eyes, "You've changed me in a way I never thought possible. I would never be what I am today if it weren't for you." Then I pulled her in for another kiss. Not as passionate as the last one, but it was good nonetheless.

We sat down in a couch in front of the TV, in the Common Room and turned it on. Then I remembered what I had to do.

"Mione, we have to go to the hospital wing, the professors think they have found the way to recover your memory. You better change into your comfortable pijamas, it may be a while 'till you get out." I said, standing up to change my clothes to more comfortable ones too since I wasn't going to leave her side until she woke up.

"Really?" she asked, happiness clear in her voice, "you really think I might recover my memory? Tonight? That is so great!" she said, running over to her room.

I changed into my black baggy pants, white v-neck polo shirt and sneakers and grabbed my favorite book, "Hogwarts: A history", just in case I got bored. When I stepped into the Common Room, Hermione was already outside, standing by the door waiting for me.

She was wearing her blue, bunny pijamas, which were long pijama pants and a spaghetti strap blouse that were all blue with white bunnies all over it, and black sandals. She looked extremely cute and her face just brightened up by itself with her smile. She had, in her hands, a bag.

"You look pretty in that, you know?" I asked, throwing a smile her way.

"You don't look so bad yourself." She said, looking me up and down.

"What's in that bag?" I asked, curiosity getting the better if me.

"Well, I figured that if I was going to stay overnight or 2 days, if I woke up in the middle of some class I could just go. I wouldn't want to miss any more classes than necessary!" she said in a reprimanding tone as she walked away, her brown curls swaying behind her.

'She's never going to change is she?'

No. I hope she doesn't.

We walked, hand in hand, all the way to the hospital wing, receiving weird looks from the Head Boy and Head Girl that had arrived earlier that day. When we were in front of the doors that lead into the hospital wing, I turned Hermione around and hugged her, with all my might and she hugged back.

"Don't forget me and what we have in the process of your recovery and don't leave me, ok?" I said, sadly.

"I won't, I promise. Don't leave my side, I don't want to wake up alone, and only leave if you absolutely have to." She said, burying her face in my chest. We stayed like that until the doors opened, revealing an amused looking Prof. Dumbledore.

"Sorry to interrupt but we must start if we want to be done by midnight. Follow me." He said, leading us into the wing and through a door that I had never seen before and, considering I had been in the infirmary a lot, it hadn't been there before. Inside was a hospital bed, a bit bigger than the ones in the wing; a monitor that had a lot of wires; 2 nightstands next to the bed and a comfortable looking chair, right next to the bed.

"Um, excuse me professor but this room wasn't here before, right?" I asked.

"No, Mr. Malfoy, this was created for this occasion. Now, if you would let go of our patient," I immediately let go, blushing madly, "we could begin. Ok, Ms. Granger would you lay down in the bed so we could plug you." He said, motioning towards the bed.

"Plug her? To what?" I interrupted, worrying like hell as to what they were going to do to her.

"Not to worry, Mr. Malfoy. We are just going to put sensor so if anything happens in her subconscious or in her body, we will know immediately. Now, would you step outside for a moment as we realize some spells on her please, Mr. Malfoy?" he said, a reassuring smile in his face.

I looked back at Hermione before turning and flashed her a smile, which she returned and then she laid back and Madame Pomfrey closed the door. I paced for hours in front of the door, so hard that I could have made a hole into the ground. Tired of pacing, I sat down and rested my head on the wall behind me. As soon as I did, I fell asleep.

I woke at the feeling of a tap in my shoulder and opened my eyes to a complete darkness. Someone lit his or her wand and I saw the looming face of Madame Pomfrey inches away from mine.

"Mr. Malfoy," she said in her reprimanding tone, "you should be in your bed! You could crack bones sleeping like that! And it isn't an easy thing to recover from, ask Mr. Potter!" she said, then she bustled out of sight to God knows where before I had the chance to ask her about Hermione. Since she didn't leave me any other choice, I went inside the room to find out for myself.

She was lying, motionless, looking as tense as a board and as pale as a blanket. The only color she had left in her skin was her bruises. What bruises? Did she hide them from me? Cause I hadn't noticed them before. I was scared of what would happen to her, what would be the effect on her. I was rooted to the spot, I couldn't move. I just stayed frozen with my eyes fixed on her pale face. She almost looked………

'No! She isn't! She won't! Don't even think of it!'

Suddenly, weird beeps, sounds, and rings started all around her, coming from the monitor. There was something wrong, something that was endangering her, her consciousness and possibly her life. I couldn't think anything else, I started feeling dizzy and my vision became blurry. I could form the outlines of Madame Pomfrey and Professor Snape rushing to Hermione's side and then I completely blacked out.

I came to my senses who knows when, I only know it was day by the daylight streaming through the windows. I was lying in a comfortable…

'Lying! You didn't go to bed! What happened!'

True, I really don't know and I don't care, I only want to know where Hermione is. So that's tried to do, keyword being TRIED.

I couldn't move anything, in fact, I couldn't FEEL anything, and I could only open my eyes. I tried to speak but that was a no-go. I looked up and I was immediately blinded by the sunlight. So, I decided just to close my eyes until SOMEONE came to my aide. That someone came fast, as I was being released from whatever it was that had me in its grip. When I sat down properly and looked at the face of my saviour, I wanted to strangle and kill its owner. T'was the boy-who-didn't-die, in other words Potter. So, instead of causing chaos I just took my gut instinct. I screamed as hard as my throat could let me.

"HAVE YOU GONE BLOODY MAD? Waking me up like this, at this hour! It just HAD to be you! You couldn't leave me in peace!" I screamed. I screamed so much my throat felt raspy.

"Do you think I like it better than you, ferret? Now, shut up or you'll wake Hermione up!" he said in a threatening tone.

"What are you doing here anyway, Potter? What day is it and…" he went through Hermione's doors before I could even finish. The nerve of that guy! So, I followed suit.

When I entered the room, I only saw her in the same state as before. It was as if she would never wake from her sleep. I was now REALLY worried, as worried as I could get. To top things off, the Weasel was holding her hand while his sister was crying. Now that was infuriating. I wanted to throw them out but like before, I couldn't move. I regained the bit of strenght I had and left the room before I blacked out. I went outside to find the halls packed, like a normal school day, but nothing is normal without Hermione by my side.

I headed towards Dumbledore's office, in hope of finding someone who could answer my never-ending questions. As I walked the familiar path, everything reminded me of her: how she was amazed and impressed at the walls and pictures when she got here in the summer, how we chatted happily in these halls, everything. I just felt emptiness inside of me. Like a part of my soul was missing.

I came upon the stone gargoyle that leads to Dumbledore's office, I was about to say the password when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around to find Dumbledore coming towards me with an expressionless face.

"Mr. Malfoy, could you please hold your questions until we get to your Common Room? I am rather tired of going up to my office and I haven't seen how the Common Room turned out." He said in a monotone. I merely nodded and followed him.

We came up to the portrait of the founders and they let us by without a word. We passed the entrance hall and came upon the 6th year Prefect's Common Room. I immediately threw myself in the grey couch and Dumbledore just looked around.

"Well, I can't delay it any longer, you may start." He said as he conjured a chair and sat down.

"What happened, the day that I blacked out, that the monitor was beeping so much?" I asked.

"Well, we don't know exactly but we assume she was going into a mental arrest with one of her memories. Maybe it disturbed her too much and she was having an inner struggle." He said, still looking around from his position.

"How long has it been since I blacked out? And how long has she been like this?"

"You blacked out 5 days ago and she has been like that 6, we don't exactly know how much longer until she wakes up." He said.

"How did she get those bruises and how has she been hiding them?"

"Her father physically beated her and her mother, and her mother asked for me to put a disilusioment charm on her bruises, so that they weren't visible. Now, Mr. Malfoy, we will inform you on any changes. I suggest you rest for today and go to classes tomorrow. I must bid you good day." He said as he stood up to leave.

"Thanks." And with that I left to my room and slept an uncomfortable sleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*~* 5 DAYS LATER*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I was sitting in the prefect's table in the Great Hall, not eating, as usual. I couldn't find the strength to do anything anymore. Hermione hadn't given any signs of waking up yet and we were begginning to lose hope. My grades were falling because I couldn't find a motive to push me through path. Nothing could cheer me up. Not even the fact that I had won Potter in quidditch could cheer me up. Gryffindor house was straight faced from the day they heard about her. Everyone was feeling her absence. Especially me. Slytherin could care less and the other houses were also sad but not as much as Gryffindor. It was as if they had lost their queen and they were almost mourning her, so was I.

Suddenly, the doors of the Great Hall flew open and in she came. Looking as if nothing had ever happened to her. Everyone just looked at her and she stood there. Then she broke into a run and Potter and Weasley stood up and opened their arms, as if they were going to receive a hug, but they were oh so wrong. She came up to the prefect's table and stood next to me while the whole school had their eyes on her. I merely looked at her, like she had revived or something, then I stood up and husgged her with all I could. Tears streamed freely down my face as I was hugged back.

Even though the whole school was there, it felt as though it was only us, standing there in each other arms, shedding tears if happiness. It felt like forever and then she looked up at me and smiled.

"I told you I wasn't going to leave you."

AN: OK, fluffy, no a lot of fluff and yes I know I may be going to fast but, hey there are a lot of twists and turns in their path… So, how do you like it? Tell me! Review, ideas, likes and dislikes! Thanks to the nice, lovely beautiful people that DID review:

Ashla86 Trapt*ROCKS* My World ProwlingKitKat CherryCharm MysticrystalTigressFaerie

And keep reviewing! Don't stop! Hope you liked this and if you want more, you have to review! Ciao, Alannah