"Listen, Potter, I don't know what's going on that little head of yours, but I assure you that I do not have a 'thing' for Granger. She IS a mudblood after all." Harry came up to him and slapped him clear across the face.

"Stop it, Malfoy! Just stop lying to yourself and to the rest of the world! You love Hermione but you are afraid of your father-"

"I am NOT afraid of my father!"

"Then why is it, Malfoy, that you are going to meet him right now? I can see the fear in your eyes. You're afraid he will find out that you helped Hermione." Draco shook his head and laughed lightly.

"You've gone mad, Potter." He continued shaking his head. "Give Granger my regards will you?" With this, he turned and walked away. Everything Harry had said was right and he knew it...but knowing it and admitting it was two totally different things. Draco walked back towards the train station, passing many of the dark alleyways.

"Draco." Drawled a very unfriendly, familiar voice. Draco turned as quickly as he could before a blast of the crucius curse came flying his way. But he wasn't quick enough to dodge it. He fell to the ground, convulsing and moaning. "Do you think I'm a idiot? Did you really think I wouldn't find out that you helped that mudblood Granger?" Draco continued moaning and convulsing. "Answer me you stupid boy!" Lucius kicked his son. Draco managed to shake his head and whisper a 'no'. "Glad you agree with me." His father stopped the curse finally and Draco felt like his insides were on fire. He attempted to stand up and grabbed the wall for support. "We're going home." And with that, the two Malfoys apparated home.

Two months passed and Draco had forced himself to stay away from Hermione. He owled her once. The note basically said: Granger, hope you're better. Malfoy

The only thing that worried him, was the fact that she never owled him back. what if she ended up....dying? This thought would run through his head over and over and over. It horrified him to think that...THAT would happen! What if he had stayed, would she have been better?

Much to his misfortune, his father was urging him daily to join the deatheaters, and Draco knew he would soon cave, but only because of constant torture or he would be forced...which was much the same thing.

School was approaching soon. One more week, and Draco would find out if Hermione had survived. He tried desperately to find a way to contact Potter without his father knowing....but there was no way possible.

"Draco!" boomed a voice from outside the door.

"What is it father?" there was a hint of annoyance in Draco's voice and his father most definitely noticed. Lucius burst through the door and grabbed his son by the throat.

"do NOT talk to me like that, you stupid boy!"

"Sorry, father." Draco squeaked as Lucius let him fall to the ground.

"I came to inform you that I will be leaving soon. I have some....business to attend to."

"what does that have to do with me?" sneered Draco which earned him a slap across the face.

"It has everything to do with you! Do not insult me, Draco! When I get back, you must have your decision completed." Draco knew exactly what he meant. "And we both know you WILL make the correct decision, right, son?" Draco hated it when he called him 'son', because frankly, Potter was more of a son than he was! "I'll be getting back in one month. Do you understand? You have one month to decide your future....that is, whether or not you'll HAVE a future." Lucius smirked evily and left his son in wide-eyed shock. one month...that's all I have.... He flopped down onto his bed and closed his eyes. one month till I die.

Hermione opened her eyes slowly and stared into her two best friend's faces. "good morning, Hermione." The boys smiled at her as she closed her eyes again. "I said...MORNING 'MIONE!!" she sat up quickly, causing the boys to fall off her bed, both laughing hysterically. She held her head. "Mione are you alright?" Ron asked, and he quickly stopped laughing.

"Um, yeah, I just...sat up too quickly. I'm fine, really." She gave them a reassuring smile.

"You guys ready for school?"

"Mione I'm so glad you're head girl! Now you can put those Slytherins in their places!" she smiled at them, but deep down she was worried. Ever since she began to get treatment for the cancer, she was always afraid it would come back. She had had a surgery and treatment over the summer. And the doctors said it was all gone...that they had, by the grace of God, been able to get it all out, but they said it would most likely come back within a year or so....this is the part that scared Hermione. And rightly so....she hadn't heard from Draco, which she had hoped to...there had to be something wrong...she had this gut feeling there was something wrong. what's happening to you, Draco?