Yay! Chapter 17! I'm on a roll. Now, instead of babbling here, I'm going to wait til the end. Enjoy!

Chapter 17

Compromises

Madame Pomfrey's POV

I was very shocked to find Draco Malfoy in Hermione Granger's bed the next morning. I always thought he was so against non purebloods. I mixed up Miss Granger's potion and walked over to the bed. Mister Malfoy was awake and looking at me.

"What are you doing here, Mister Malfoy? You know that no student is to visit another student in the night, especially not one of the opposite gender. I have to ask you to go to your dormitory now so I can give Miss Granger her potion."

"You can't give her that potion."

"And why not?"

"Because when she takes it, she doesn't even know who she is, and that terrifies her. You can do whatever else you want, but you can't give her that potion." He was very serious and it registered on his face, the most emotion I had ever seen on him, even after he broke his arm in his 6th year.

"The headmaster requested that I give this potion to her, so you may take your problems to him. Now I need you to leave so she can take it. She doesn't take kindly to males when she wakes up after the potion has worn off."

"Please, don't give her that potion." He was actually pleading with me.

"Mister Malfoy, there is no other option."

"Then dilute it so she can know who she is, please."

"I'm sorry, Mister Malfoy. I cannot do that. Now go to breakfast or your dormitory, you can't stay here." He disentangled himself from Hermione gently, then stood up and left the room. I shook Hermione awake and gave her the potion. She quickly fell back to sleep. I went into my office and started on the days work.

Draco's POV

I left the infirmary in a bad mood. Walking down the hall, I automatically made the correct turns that led me to the stone gargoyle. Being a Head, I knew the password and didn't have to play 'Guess the Candy' to get in.

"Candy Cane" the gargoyle leapt aside and I stepped onto the revolving staircase. At the top, I knocked on the door.

"Come in." Dumbledore's voice called from within. I opened the door and stepped inside. "Ahh, Mister Malfoy. Good to see you. How is Miss Granger doing?" He smiled at me. I was always amazed at how he always knew what was going on here.

"Actually Professor, she's why I'm here. Madame Pomfrey told me that you requested a certain potion for Hermione. After she takes it, she doesn't even know who she is, and that scares her. Do you think you could reduce the dosage so she can at least know what her name is?" My voice was even, and my face a blank, but I knew my eyes were saying everything.

"Mister Malfoy, Miss Granger went through something very traumatic the day before term started. Anything that goes on around her could set off a harmful memory, as you know from the other day. If she has another nervous breakdown like the last one, Madam Pomfrey doesn't think she will live through it. A single miss-thought could kill her. The Dimentichisi Potion is very strong, to keep those memories away."

"Dimentichisi? Isn't that Italian for 'forget'?"

"Yes it is."

"Professor, what happened to Hermione?"

"I'm sorry, only Miss Granger is at liberty to tell you. I feel that she will when she is ready to talk about it. It is not my secret to share. Now, I will as Poppy to change the dosage under one circumstance."

"And that is?" I was ready for anything.

"Only if you are there whenever she wakes up and whenever the potion is administered and when she sleeps."

"Agreed. Can she stop taking the potion now?"

"Yes, I will inform your teachers that both of you will return to classes after the Christmas holidays. Why don't you go eat, then head back to the infirmary."

"I thought I was supposed to stay with her."

"Ah, yes. But now, she is asleep and won't know if you are there or not."

"Thank you, Professor."

"You're very welcome Mister Malfoy." I nodded respectfully to him, and left the room. I headed for the Great Hall for the first time since Hermione slipped into her coma. I sat in my usual seat and put some pancakes on my plate. Pansy walked into the room and headed for the seat next to me.

"Drakey!! Where have you been? You haven't been to see me in ages!" She half shrieked, and half attempted purred this into my ear.

"Busy." Was all I muttered before I went back to my food. She didn't get the hint.

"Drakey, didn't you miss me?" she tried to climb onto my lap, but I pushed her off. She settled for throwing her arms around me.

"Pansy, I am not in the best mood. I would advise leaving me alone before something happens to your family." My voice was even and ice cold.

"Drakey, don't you love me anymore?"

 "No. Now go away." She started blubbering and ran out of the Hall, Millicent Bulstrode behind her. I finished my meal in silence, glaring at anyone who tried to talk to me. I wasn't in the mood for their usual bull. When I finished, I left the Hall and headed for my room. I looked around, and realized all my stuff was gone. Dumbledore must have had it moved to a new room. I stepped into Hermione's room to see the same, except there were a few slips of paper and an empty vial on her dresser. I smiled at the memory of that night. She had looked so wonderful. Better than the Yule ball in fourth year. I closed the door and left the common room, wanting to get back to Hermione quickly. I couldn't explain it, but I felt attached to her somehow, and it made me feel great.

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

Ok, so that was a little cheesy. Deal. Anyway, thanks to:

Girl-Named-Belle, *~guitar gurl~* (I agree. Sometimes, I get jealous of Hermione, and I'm the one writing the story.), Xaein, DustieBunny, Nunashi's Dream Berry, Gwen, Bottle*of*Sunshine (Thankz for being a faithful reviewer. It means a lot.) Sailor Heart (x2 lol) and Spork Tee (Hey Tracie!).

Your guys mean a lot to me. Thanks for all the support.

~WF~