Hours later Hermione found herself in the waiting room of St. Mungo's. Draco had apparated Ginny to the hospital leaving Hermione surrounded by very worried people. Neville had accompanied her soon after. One of the nurses said that she was in the emergency ward and that she would inform Mrs. Malfoy as they got word of Virginia's condition.

So there she was, sitting on the small couch with her head resting on her husbands shoulder. Is she going to be all right? she thought over and over to herself. What about the babies… Oh Merlin… the babies. A gentle hand came up to stop her from biting her nails. She hadn't even realized that she was doing it, but her hand dropped to her lap.

"It will be ok, Hermione. Ginny is a strong woman." He held her close to him trying to comfort her. At least I hope so.

"This is all my fault though, Malfoy-" she started, her voice trembling as she was on the verge of tears.

"Draco… or anything but Malfoy…" his eyes pleaded with her.

"Ok, Draco… This is still all my fault. She didn't even want to go to the ball. I made her go, for me. I-" she paused a moment before collecting herself. "I didn't want to be left alone with you." Her cheeks flushed a little bit.

"I understand."

"No, you don't understand!" tears ran down her cheeks again. "If I hadn't made her go to that ball then this never would have happened!" She broke down and cried into his shoulder.

"Shh… shh… It's ok Hermione. It's ok love." He kissed the top of her head. "This is the best wizarding hospital this side of the Atlantic. She will be ok."

"Promise?" She sniffed.

"I promise." he smiled down at her. "Why don't you take a small nap. It may be a while and it has been a long night for all of us." Without further word Hermione laid her head on his shoulder and almost immediately her breathing became regular and soft.

Neville proceeded up in front of him. "Is she… er… all right?"

"Yes, of course. Why would you think otherwise?" Draco had to hide the fact that she didn't remember anything of the past few years. It would only cause more problems, and that is precisely what he didn't need. But was it possible to hide this from Neville.

"Just because, I asked Hermione if this ball was more decorous than the last one and she said she had never been to a Longbottom Ball before." Neville raised his eyebrow. "We both know that not to be right."

"I assure you, my friend, nothing is amiss with my wife," Draco lied.

"I saw the way that she flinched when you put your arm around her this evening. Something is wrong, and I would appreciate if you would keep your forked tongue in line, oh Slytherin Prince." The corner of his mouth twitched as if to smile but he kept his expression serious.

"You are much smarter than you look, my friend. Indeed Hermione has not been well lately."

"A baby at last?"

"I wish it were that simple." Draco smiled. "Actually, when she was told her best friends were dead she wouldn't believe it because the bodies were damaged beyond recognition. She believed that they had gotten away and were just in hiding in case there were any more straggling death eaters. She held on with hope that they would send word. But when the caskets were lowered into the ground, she broke down and cried. She remained in her private room with the door locked crying for several days."

"But you could have opened the door easily with a simple spell," Neville interjected.

"I wished to have respect for my wife and let her mourn in her own way. Besides, this is Hermione and she can work a good charm better than anyone." Draco smiled before setting his face back into the serious one. "Then, about 3 days later I found her on the bed and sound asleep. I thought everything was better since she had finally come out of solitude. But when she woke up she could remember nothing of the last four years. Her last memory in fact was the duel we had in our 6th year. "

Neville nodded. "I remember that you. Not a fun time. And I understand that traumatic shock can be more powerful than a memory charm. So I take it you to haven't…"

"Not since our wedding night."

"Bugger…" Neville shook his head sadly. "That long. Least the marriage is legal and binding."

"I am thinking that it isn't a marriage anymore. We decided to start over though." Draco kissed the top of her head again. "I'd do anything for her you know. If starting over is what she needs, then I'll do it for her."

"You, Draco, are more of a man than I could ever be." He winked. "Bid Hermione farewell for me. I have to return to my party and clean up."

Draco nodded. "I will. Oh, and if I may ask, please don't tell anyone about this. It would only cause more stress than it's worth."

Neville acknowledged Draco and proceeded to apparate home. Draco could only stare down at his wife. Will we ever have what we had before? He leaned his head on hers and proceeded to doze off.

There was a tapping on his shoulder some time later. Draco had no idea how much time had passed but he was sure it had been a while. "Yes?" he asked somewhat groggily.

"Mrs. Potter will have visitors now, sir." A little elf replied with a smile.

Draco did a double take. It had been ages since he had seen an elf without a home made dress. This one was in a burlap sac. She probably worked for one of the nurses or doctors. Hermione had done a good job of getting the house elves their freedom, but it wasn't illegal to own them as slaves just yet. Hopefully all would be better with her soon so she could pursue her goal some more. But for now it was only important to wake her so she could go see her friend.

Hermione's soft breathing let him know that she was still deep in sleep. She was so calm and peaceful that he almost didn't want to wake her. Her head rest innocently on his shoulder. Her makeup was a mess from her tears, but he still thought she was beautiful in his eyes all the same. He had the urge to kiss her, but he knew that would only upset her. Instead he gently shook her shoulders. "Hermione," he said softly so as not to startle her. "Hermione we can go in and see Virginia now."

"Ginny? Is she all right?" She woke up almost immediately and sat straight up.

Draco had to suppress a grin that threatened to cross his face. "We had better go and check for ourselves since nothing else will ease your nerves."

Hermione didn't even wait. She followed the elf and was gone before Draco had collected himself. HE shook his head and followed them. When he walked into the room Hermione was laying on Ginny's bed with her crying her eyes out. In fact Ginny was crying as well. Women sure do cry a lot. Sine the death o f Harry and Ron I have seen Hermione cry more often than it has rained.

"Are the babies all right?" Hermione asked through her tears. Her eyes were red and puffy from all of the crying she had been doing.

"I think so. The babies are in being examined right now. They said as soon as they make sure they are ok, the nurse will bring the babies in."

Hermione burst into tears again. "I am so sorry Ginny. This is all my fault."

"Do you really think that 'Mione?" Ginny stroked her best friends hair. "Hermione, I was 9 months pregnant. This is what happens when the time comes. It would have happened anyway, and I am just glad that I had friends to get me here." She smiled her perfect smile.

"I know but still…"

"No 'buts' Hermione. I'm fine and so are the babies, I'm sure. No worries, ok?"

Hermione gave up on that and just lay there with her head on Ginny's shoulder. Minutes passed in silence. Draco just stood in the corner of the room letting the women have their time.

The nurse came in carrying one of the babies wrapped in a pink blanket. The bundle was waving its little arms and screaming its little head off. Ginny smiled and Hermione wrinkled her nose. A sight much to cute for Malfoy not to smile himself.

Taking the child from the nurse, Ginny began to cry again. "She's beautiful, isn't she Hermione?" The child calmed down at this point.

"She is." The child opened its eyes and looked up at the women watching her closely. She cooed softly.

"Hermione?" Ginny looked at her best friend. "Can she have that name? You know, to share with her godmother?"

"Oh," Hermione said taking in a breath. "Of course Virginia. But only if she's smart like me," she winked.

Ginny stopped and looked up at the nurse. "Where's the boy?" The nurse looked away. "Oh my God! Is he ok?"

"There was a bump to his head Mrs. Potter. They are curing him now, but they aren't sure if they can fix all the damage that he received in the fall ma'am."

The red headed potter widow began to cry again holding her baby girl close to her chest. Hermione rubbed her back and threw a worried look at Draco. She didn't love him but he would be there to support her.

It was hours later when the baby boy was brought into the room. Ginny's eyes had a spark, but as soon as she saw the look on the woman's face she had tears streaming down her face again. "Is he…?"

"Mrs. Potter, Your son is alive and almost in almost perfect condition."

"Almost?" Hermione asked. She knew that Virginia wouldn't be able to ask right now.

"He has had a severe brain injury, and it could only partially be healed." the nurse frowned. "He may be mentally slow but he is otherwise very healthy." She handed him over to the mother. Hermione was now holding the sleeping baby girl.

"Harry James, I am so sorry about all this…" She cried again.