A/N: WOW! I received 45 new reviews over night!! Woo Woo! Thank you all so much!

Here are some shout-outs:

popcornx5—I tried updating a bit frequently this past week, but I do have some unfortunate news. I will be leaving for family Thanksgiving vacation on Saturday, the 20th. I will not be able to update for a week. Sorry! I am going to put some smut in here soon...hehe...stay tuned to read! Thanks for your reviews! Sorry for that last cliffhanger!

Hafthand—I'm glad you are enjoying my story! I am also happy that Hermione and Draco are back together...it's so much more entertaining to write about. Keep reading and reviewing! Thanks! I can't believe you did the HP controversial topic too! Tell me if you do remember any sites or anything you think would be useful! Thanks mate! ( oh and yes...the room temp did go up a bit during the snogging session)

JassXOXO—Lucius is there...dah dum...dah dum...dah dum...(Jaws theme music) Thanks for the compliment! I put my characters in Dickensin-like scenarios? Do you mean Dickensin as in Charles Dickens? Just curious, I wasn't sure what you meant. Keep reading and reviewing! Thanks!

Friticatized—Wow! Thanks so much for your encouragement and helpful imput! I totally agree with everything you say...I'm Lutheran so my church also is fine with the Harry Potter books. Most synods at least. Well, thanks for reading and reviewing! (P.S. I like long reviews so that long note was fine! Don't worry!)

Pfft Wanna Danse—Wow...you are agreeing with NYCBallerina? I am better than J.K.? No no no...I REALLY appreciate your compliment, you have no idea what a great feeling that it to hear someone say it, especially more than one! Thank you so much. Keep reading, thanks for all the encouragement!

Fireballazur—I'm sorry bout the cliffie! Lol! Wow, you also say I'm as gifted as J.K.! I'm ecstatic right now, I've been getting such great compliments tonight! I really don't even know what to say when my reviewers tell me I'm a better, or as good as, my favorite author. Thank you all so much. Thanks for the encouragement on my paper! Keep reading and reviewing!

ginny-rules-the-world—Sorry for the cliffie! But you didn't have to call me EVIL! Just kidding! Haha, here's your update Miss Impatient! Lol! Thanks for all your reviews, keep it up!

Sweetblood17—you might have some killing to do in this chappie...

Parcheezie—your review seemed to me that you think I think Christians should not read Harry Potter. Maybe I got your review wrong, but I don't think it's wrong. I think it's just fine and I'm arguing in my paper against those who believe Harry Potter is "evil". You're Catholic I'm assuming (the mass). And the Pope said he's a good influence? Good...those are the things I'm looking for!

NYCBallerina5678—WOW! Thanks again! I'm so happy to see my story is touching people emotionally out there! Keep reading and review! And I'm sorry for putting you through worrying about Draco at the cliffhanger- read this chappie to see what happens! Thanks!!!!!

Lionangel—That's a coincidence! Wow! I would love help from you! My topic, "Should Harry Potter be banned from childrens' book shelves?" was emitted to my school Monday, so I haven't thought of my thesis or topics yet, so any information there?! I'll email you, if I don't forget your name and email, for help later on! Thank you for all your book information and online information!! Thanks so much!

spychick989—I know Harry's time did suck...sorry bout that, mate. Well, here's the next chappie!! Thanks for your reviews and keep it up!

Alanna-- Merci pour vous passent en revue ! En ce chapitre you'll découvrent un peu sur ce que Lucius fera à Draco. Lecture de subsistance et passer en revue, merci !

Lunademonica—I'm sorry for the cliffhanger!! LOL!! You'll have to wait and see what Lucius does to Draco...it comes about in this chapter! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Talium—Sorry about the cliffie! And thanks for the encouragement on my paper! Here's the next update, review please! Thanks! P.S. Why is it that I've been called EVIL a few times b/c of the Lucius/Draco clash cliffhanger? Lol

SuperWoman13—Thanks for all the compliments! Thanks for sharing this story with others, too, I love when readers share it. I'm glad to hear I got emotion from you, with my story! Thanks so much!

Big thanks to compliments from: jesska-14 (Here's your update...just for you lol), xoxobriTtAnyxoxo13, FlameWriter008, jenjen147, draco2chexi4u, Jomai, greengrl, thefutureMrs.JohnnyDepp (here's your update! Oh and btw...I LOVE JOHNNY DEPP!!!), Kara Black, xputteckx, Ciara Scarborough (sorry about the swearing...), CookiMonstr08

ON WITH THE STORY!

Chap. 25 Nursing and THE Words

Draco limped back to the common room very late that night, after his "meeting" with his father. He muttered the password to the portrait. The portrait characters looked at him curiously, but allowed him in. He stopped outside their room door to collect himself. He did not want Hermione to see him like this...in pain...in immense hurt.

Hermione laid in her bed. She was worried about Draco. She had been awake, looking at the wall clock every ten minutes. It was now 1:15 in the morning. She sat up and told herself everything was okay. She told herself this, but she didn't believe it. Something inside of her told her that she must stay up, wait for him to make sure he was alright. She threw on a white robe and went out to their living room to wait.

-

Draco gripped the wall. He felt sick and dizzy. He tried to hold himself and stay strong but he was physically unable to. He collapsed.

-

Hermione heard something outside her door. She got up and went to the door cautiously. She opened the door to see Draco, battered and bruised, lying on the floor.

'Draco!' She cried.

Draco stirred at the sound of her voice, but he did not move much or open his eyes.

Hermione began to whimper and she lifted Draco's shoulders from the ground. She kneeled on the floor, his upper body in her lap.

'Draco, can you hear me?' She asked frightened.

Draco did not respond. Hermione began to kiss his face a few times, trying to see if he would respond.

'Draco,' Hermione said as she cried, 'Stay here I'm going to go get you some help.'

As Hermione set Draco down gently, she felt his hand grip her arm.

She turned back to him quickly. His eyes fluttered open.

'No...' He mouthed.

'But Draco...you're hurt.' She said sadly.

He shook his head. She then looked around in the corridor and then pulled Draco as best as she could, into their living/common room.

Once she got Draco into the room, she closed the door and ran and got pillows. She put a few under his head, and made it as comfortable as she could. She then ran to the bathroom and got a warm, moist wash cloth.

She sat next to Draco, who was trying to speak.

'Oh, Draco, what happened?' She asked, barely audible from crying.

She gently padded the warm cloth on his face. His horribly battered face was black and blue in most spots.

'Draco...please speak to me...'

'You can't tell anyone.' Draco said.

'Draco, you need help.' She said. 'I might be able to help you, if you tell me what happened.'

Draco shook his head as tears of pain formed in the corner of his eyes, remembering what happened.

-FLASHBACK-

'Father, I know it was wrong and I'm sorry. I broke up with the mudblood, you can calm down now!' Draco cried.

'Don't fucking tell me to calm down! You son-of-a-bitch dared defy me and the Dark Lord by having relations with a damn mudblood! You are a pureblood wizard, a Malfoy and should be upstanding and act like it! I don't care how fucking sorry you are!' Lucius yelled pulling out his wand. 'CRUCIO!'

Draco collapsed and began convulsing violently. While Draco was on the ground Lucius threatened Draco some more.

'If you ever think about doing anything shameful to the Malfoy name again I'll personally make sure that you are never happy again. If you speak to anyone or inform any professors about this, I'll make sure you aren't able to speak again. If you ever think about that mudblood affectionately I will make sure there is no mudblood to think of...actually there probably won't be anyway...'

Draco began to cry quietly from pain and from the thoughts of Hermione dying at the hands of his father.

'Why are you crying? Are you weak, Draco? Have you become weak?' Lucius demanded. 'I'll help you to become immune to these curses! CRUCIO!'

Draco screamed as he shook some more.

After a few seconds, Lucius stopped the curse. Draco laid still, breathing heavily, not normal. His chest was concave and laid there, unable to move.

'You think, boy, that just because you have a pretty face you can do whatever you want. You can't. You are shit and that's all you'll ever be until you dedicate your life to the Dark Lord. You will be getting your mark soon and that's when you will feel fulfilled.'

'No...' Draco whispered.

'Excuse me? No? Draco...Draco...Draco...I am disappointed...' Lucius then began to walk away...but quickly pulled a 180 and his cane came crashing down into Draco's side.

'Ahhh!' Draco yelled in anguish.

'No dark mark? I think not. I will put you under the Imperius Curse if I have to...you will join the Dark Lord's side and serve him.'

Draco tried to steady his breathing, but every time he seemed to start to feel a little less pain, he would feel the insufferable hit from his father's black ivory cane.

'Draco, you do know that your mother wants you to do what you want...if you tell your mother you do not want to become a death eater...your mother will have to help me persuade you...your mother won't want to...it will be on your conscience if I must FORCE her to help me.'

Draco took these words in. He loved his mother and couldn't bear knowing she was being hurt. He's had to live 17 years hearing his mother's screams and pleas, he couldn't bear to have those screams of pain be because of him.

Lucius then bent down and his hand spread over Draco's face. He gripped his face hard and pulled Draco's head upwards, so Draco was sitting up.

'I suggest getting back to your room...before someone notices your gone.' Lucius spat.

'Oh wait...you have no one. No one will bother to look for you.'

Lucius then threw Draco's head back to the floor and disappeared with a POP.

End of Flashback

Draco's eyes opened and saw Hermione's eyes closed. She was crying. She didn't know what to do. Draco was obviously in a great amount of pain.

Draco reached up to Hermione's face.

Hermione opened her eyes.

'Let me help you.' She said.

Draco nodded.

Hermione then unbuttoned Draco's shirt, to see if he was bruised or anything there.

Hermione gasped when she removed his shirt. His chest was blue and black, a few ribs were visibly seen as broken. His collar bone was also raised, noticeably broken.

'Oh my god...what did he do to you?' Hermione asked, sobbing.

She then took her wand and magically bound Draco's thoracic region.

'I'll be right back, Draco.' She said as she stood up.

'Hermione,' Draco breathed, 'You can't tell.'

'I won't. I'll be back in a minute I promise you.'

Hermione then ran out of the room and down the hall, down a set of staircase and to infirmary. She stopped outside the door to make sure no one was there. It was nearly 2 in the morning, she assumed no one would be here and she was right. She walked in cautiously and ran to the medicine cabinet. She grabbed the bottle of "Skele-Gro". She then ran back to her and Draco's room.

She flew back to Draco's side and forced the liquid down Draco's throat. He winced from the burning liquid.

'You're going to be okay, Draco...' Hermione said hesitantly, not sure if she should believe herself.

Hermione began to gently wipe away blood from Draco's face. He winced whenever she touched him. It hurt everywhere.

She then used a wound-cleaning spell on his face. His face was a pale blue. He began to breathe regularly.

'Draco...please tell me what happened.'

'I can't.' He said looking into her eyes. 'I didn't want you to see me like this.'

'I don't care what you look like, all I care about is how you feel, what happened to you, I need to know you are okay. I don't know all that's wrong with you...I can't see.' She said crying again, 'I don't know what else I can do...I can't tell what's wrong...'

Draco squeezed his side, the bone repairing potion was very painful he found out. He took deep breaths, trying to forget the pain.

'Check me...' Draco whispered.

'What?'

'Check to see if anything else is broken.' He said.

She looked into his eyes and nodded. She stood up and softly pulled him, by his arms to the couch. He used the strength in his legs to boost himself onto the couch. She carefully removed his pants and any clothing he had on except his boxers. She placed her hands gently on his chest, feeling down to his stomach, making sure she didn't miss any broken bones. She then moved down each arm, and down each leg. She then moved to his shoulders. She remembered his collar bone. She magically wrapped it up and forced more liquid down his throat.

'I have to move you to your stomach,' She said softly.

He nodded as she helped him onto his stomach. He groaned from the pain of lying on broken bones, but she had to make sure no back bones were broken. She moved her soft fingers down his pallid back.

'Your back is bruised, but nothing's broken.' Hermione stated, helping him to a sitting position.

'Thank you.' Draco said quietly.

Hermione nodded, still frowning and had a solemn look on her face.

'Please don't look at me like that.' Draco pleaded.

'I can't look at you any other way right now...you're hurt and I don't know what happened...you won't tell me.'

'I don't want you to worry. My father punished me for what I did, he doesn't think I am with you anymore so he won't do it again...' He said, lying to her, 'Don't worry.'

'Don't tell me not to worry, Draco! I find you collapsed outside our door! Broken bones! Bruised body and you won't tell me what happened! How do I not worry?!' She cried.

'I don't want you to be in pain for me.' Draco stated.

'I have to be. I am the reason you are hurt.'

'No.' Draco said. 'Don't say that, it's not your fault. I'm in this relationship, too. You aren't forcing me.'

'Maybe it was a bad idea to get back together.' Hermione said reluctantly.

Draco took Hermione's hand and used all his strength to lean near her.

'Hermione, I took that beating from my father because I want to be with you. I took it, not fighting back or giving up because I knew I had someone to come back to, you. I don't want to hear words of break up come from your mouth out of fear, Hermione. I know you are strong and I know you only say that because you fear for me. Don't. Let me fear for you, let me fear, let me take care of it. It's my father, he's my problem, not yours.'

'But Draco, I can't keep being with you knowing that you are constantly getting hurt because of me. It's on my conscience.'

'No longer, Hermione. He doesn't know about us now.'

'What about later...we can't go on forever like this.' Hermione said crying again.

'We can try. Please try, Hermione.' Draco implored. He then spoke three words that would forever change their relationship. 'I love you.'