$$$$$$A/N: OMG you guys, I feel so bad! I seriously thought that I had put up last chapter that I was going to be gone for a week or so with tours and competitions and that I wouldn't be able to update till now. Please don't hate me! (I will cry forever and feel guilty if you do! ;) ) Once again, so sorry, but now that I'm back my updates should be like normal. Thank you for your patience!$$$$$

Ashley: I'm glad you do too! Ron just HAD to find out…I mean c'mon! Lol

SpikesDreamer: :-) I can't see Ron loving anybody but her. It just feels so right!

fredngeorgegirl: Thank you for reviewing! I hope that you continue read it!

Phillyactress: Thank you so much, I'll keep that in the back of my overwhelmed little head when I continue! I will use Herbert with the dearest of respect. Thank you again!

swimminggodess21: la la la…only time will tell :-) Thanks!

druccillamalfoyrox: Aw thanks! I hope your friends enjoy it just as much too! I'm glad you get that excited, it makes me happy!

ilovefireyredheads: Thank you! I hope you come back!

ravioli and chocolate: I won't say anything, just in case, but rest easy for a bit :-)

A/N: I just want to say how sorry I am again that I forgot to post that I wouldn't be here for a week :S Enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I am not J.K.Rowling and everything that you recognize in this story is NOT mine. Herbert is dear Philly's!

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"Draco, you've got to help me! Hermione…she's fainted!" cried Ron. He gently lowered her to the ground so that she wouldn't topple over and hurt herself. Brushing the hair away from her eyes, he then looked up to find Draco running over as fast as he could, shoving aside any branch that got in his way that surrounded the pathway.

"What happened…?" Draco panted, kneeling over to hold his side, "did you say she fainted? Wait…you know that she's Hermione?"

"Of course I know! She told me, but that's not important right now! Help me get her up" said Ron as he grabbed her elbow, "What exactly is wrong with her? I only got the minor details."

Draco grabbed the other elbow and got Hermione to her feet so that Ron could carry her over to a shady circle made by a giant oak tree. Ron laid her down so that she could breathe properly, and Draco moved her hair and fanned her head to keep her cool. "Hermione," he said, "Ron and I are here Hermione…please wake up. You have to…because…because well you have to see the only time Weasel and I will be together in such close proximity." He kidded trying to ease up the tension. He didn't want Ron to know how much he cared for her, and he looked up to make sure. Ron was looking at Draco with the surest uncertainty, for he didn't know what to make of Draco's behavior. He was just about to ask him what he meant by his act when Hermione stirred.

"Mmm…Ron, Draco? What happened, why am I under this tree?"

Ron took charge and grabbed her hand, "You fainted Hermione, Draco and I helped you to a spot where you couldn't hurt yourself. Hermione, what's wrong with you? Please…tell me." Ron looked at Hermione with such a look in his eyes that she immediately felt guilty.

"Oh Ron," she said, "I told you about that potion…well, I've messed up bad. Something of mine must have fallen in the cauldron and now…Ron I might very well be dying." Hermione finished and turned her head, she found a blade of grass that seemed, at the moment far more important than the look she would have to endure on Ron's face.

As important as that blade of green grass was, when she didn't hear Ron say anything, she pushed herself to look up at him. What his face said was as clear as day; he was shocked yet disappointed.

"Bullshit," Draco interrupted. He looked sternly at Hermione and then glanced at Ron, "she's not 'might very well be dying'; she IS dying. Why do you think she fainted, because the sun was too hot? Jesus Hermione," he said looking at her again, "will you just start admitting that you need us to help."

Hermione closed her eyes, praying the tears wouldn't fall in front of Ron. 'Not in front of him,' she thought, 'I must stay strong.'

She looked up to talk to Ron only to find that he had left and was now walking down the stone path, clearly trying to get away. She glared at Draco for a moment before pushing herself up off of the cool shady grass. "Ron!" she yelled, "Ron wait up! Why did you just walk away? Will you answer me!"

Ron spun around so suddenly that Hermione bumped into him, and Ron had to hold her up once more. He pulled her over to another tree where they wouldn't be seen and let go of her. Playing with the bark of the tree, carving a little dog with a cat tail, he sighed.

"Hermione, why didn't you tell me? How could you be dying and not even tell me?" he asked sliding down the trunk.

Hermione clucked her tongue and huffed as she sat down next to him. "How could I tell you that I was dying when you didn't even know up until 5 minutes ago that it was me? How could you EXPECT me to hurt you like that right after you were so happy to see me? I would never do that to you Ron, I CARE to much."

She smiled and reached over to brush away some hair that was stuck to his forehead, but Ron pushed her away. He grabbed her wrist gently, letting her know that he was serious. "Hermione, if it was true how much you cared for me…you would have told me right away and you know what, I would have believed you. Yes it might not have been straight away, but I love you…and I would have known it deep down."

Hermione looked away towards the castle, towards heaven and sighed. She knew Ron was right, that she should have told him right away and maybe if she would have she wouldn't be in this predicament now. Hermione clapped away the dirt from her hands and got up, offering a hand to Ron to do the same, which he accepted.

"Ron, I do care, really, but obviously I was going about it the wrong way. I never once thought that it would have been better to tell you right away and….ooh." Hermione stopped and put a hand to her stomach.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked, "Hermione are you ok?" He looked at her face to see that it was pale as the moon in January. "Oh shit Hermione…I'm such a prat. I've been whining and complaining when I should have taken you to Madam Pomfrey. My god what if you're close to death and I've been here yelling at you? Let's go, now." He grabbed her hand and hurried past the previous tree where they left Draco.

"Draco, c'mon, we're taking Hermione to Madam Pomfrey, her stomach really hurts."

"No, you can't!" Draco yelled, pulling on Ron's arm to stop him, "We can't take her there…Madam Pomfrey can't find out."

"Then what do you expect we do?" asked Ron, "just sit here at let her die? 'Oh sorry Harry I can't practice Quidditch because it'll be just another hour before Hermione croaks.' Get real Malfoy." Ron then started up again towards the castle.

"Wait!" Draco said, "We're taking her to Hagrid. Yeah…that's where we're going." He said with a sense of finality. Ron stopped at looked at Draco for a moment before rolling his eyes, his Weasley temper started to set in.

"And just what is Hagrid going to do, give a dragon egg and a nice tall brandy?"

"Shut up Weasley. Hagrid's friend Herbert is supposed to be here…and he'll know what to do. C'mon."

As the three walked towards the hut, Hermione's stomach began to hurt more and more, and it was three times they had to sit before they reached the hut. Kicking a stone, Draco watched Hermione as Ron knocked on Hagrid's door. "Hagrid, open up something's wrong with Hermione!"

The door opened quickly and Hagrid ushered them in "all right' now, hurry in before someone sees yeh."

"Now," Hagrid said as he offered each a cup of tea, "what's wrong Hermione?"

"Her stomach really hurts Hagrid…yes I know I'm not supposed to know, quit looking at me like that." Ron said as Hagrid looked at him wide-eyed. Getting up quickly, Hagrid whispered something out the back door, and gimping in came Herbert, who looked like he had seen better days.

"Hagrid tells me that you're not feeling well Hermione? Here, let me take a look at you." For an hour Herbert checked Hermione over, mumbling odd words here and there, some in Irish and some even in languages that seemed made up all together. Ron paced back and forth while Draco studied his fingernails, until finally Ron got impatient and just had to know what was going on.

"Is she all right? Well I mean…I know she's not all right…but…well…"

Herbert put up his hand to silence Ron, who looked embarrassed and taken aback, but nonetheless kept quiet. "I know you mean well Mr. Weasley, but babbling to me while I'm trying to work is not going to get us anywhere."

"Anyway," continued Herbert, "I'm done so yes, I can say she's ok. The stomach ache was part of the ending process, but it's nothing more than a reminder for us to hurry up with the potions. Now, Mr. Malfoy," Herbert walked over to the table where he picked up a poke and reached inside it. He pulled out a green vial, which was bubbling ferociously and set it down carefully next to Hagrid's tea cup. Ron eyed the man as he pulled out yet another vial, this containing bits and pieces of who knew what.

"What's that for?" asked Ron as he reached for the green vial with interest on his face. Herbert slapped his hand away, "Never," he said, "NEVER touch things without knowing what they are. I think that must be pet peeve number 713…."mumbling off Herbert turned back towards Draco.

"As I was saying, here are the ingredients to the potion that will help her. The green vial contains the blood of a caladrius. Do not get your skin in contact with it; while the caladrius itself is a beautiful healing animal, its blood is not."

"I thought blood was red," Ron interrupted.

"Well this bird's is green."

Ron looked away, feeling slightly guilty for the lack of trust he had put upon this man at first. He looked at Hermione who scrunched up her eyes to show him that she was disappointed.

Draco broke the awkward silence by clearing his throat and addressing Herbert. "So this is all of it then? We can start soon, I've read up and it should only take overnight for it to be brewed." Draco looked at the man with subtle interest and crossed his arms, a sign of confidence.

"Well Mr. Draco that would be very smart to start right away. However, that is NOT all of the ingredients; I searched everywhere I could for erumpent fluid, but sadly I could not find it. Not even my mam had it, and she had the ancient caladrius blood." Herbert looked sadly towards Hermione, and then glanced over at Draco. "I think you know what that means."

Draco huffed and walked towards the table where the vials were; he leaned his hands down on the hard wood and sighed.

"Draco?" Hermione asked, "What's wrong, what does it mean?"

She looked as Draco never turned around, in fact he hardly moved at all when he answered.

He sighed again, "It means Hermione," he swallowed a little before continuing, "That I have to make a trip to father's house."

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It had been two days since they last visited Hagrid's hut and Draco still hadn't gone home.

"I can't show up when my father is there, it's just not done like that!" Draco huffed off into the classroom after Hermione had confronted him before potions. Everyone around thought that it was just yet another fight between Draco and his cousin Janeia, but Ron knew better; he kept a close eye on them and rolled his eyes whenever Draco said something stupid, well…it was his job.

After class they were walking through the corridors when Draco stopped Ron behind a pillar, and told him to shut up.

"Ok, Weasel, here's the deal, I'm going tonight to the mansion, but I don't want Hermione to know because she'll try and go with me. I need you to keep her here while I make a quick trip, I shouldn't be gone more than 2 hours."

Ron glared at Draco and agreed "However," Ron said, "I want to know what's up with you and Hermione, I know you like her Draco…don't lie to me. You've always been horrible at it."

"There is nothing between Hermione and me; we've just become good friends while she was hiding out. Quit making such a big deal out of it."

Ron rolled his eyes at Draco, "whatever Malfoy, I'm onto you….just don't be making any big mistakes when I'm around." He turned around and started walking away.

"Don't worry Weasel; I'll wait till you're gone!" Draco yelled at Ron before marching away himself, with a huge smirk on his face.

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"Pansy, no!" yelled Hermione, "I don't want to talk about 'perfect Draco' anymore, and it grosses me out sometimes, the things you tell me!"

Pansy clucked her tongue and rolled her eyes. "Janeia, it's not like you haven't thought that about anyone else before."

"Yeah, but it hasn't been about my cousin!" Hermione stormed away and went down into the common room where Draco was walking towards the entrance. He was wearing his cloak and had his broom in his hand, obviously about ready to go out.

"Draco you wouldn't happen to be leaving to go home now would you?" Hermione asked a hint of anger in her voice. Draco sighed and hit his head against the wall, "not NOW Janeia," he whispered, "I don't have time for this."

Hermione walked over towards Draco and crossed her arms. She looked around quickly and then suddenly stole his broom.

"Hey give that back!" He yelled.

"No," said Hermione, "If your going home, I'm going with you. What if something happens to you, then what? No way, I'm not going to let you be an idiot and go alone."

Draco rolled his eyes and rubbed his face, "Hermione," he said, "Listen, it'll be dangerous. Herbert just sent me an owl today saying he has father gone for only an hour or so, this is the only time I can go. I don't want you going in case he returns."

Draco grabbed his broom back and looked her up and down, "What's wrong with you anyway?" Hermione looked at her arms, you could see her bones almost clearly and she got wide-eyed. "I don't know…o god Draco, it's going to happen soon I can feel it. Please let me go with you…I don't know if I'll be here when you get back."

She looked at him with pleading eyes, 'please let me go' she thought, 'I want to be able to tell Harry I'm sorry before anything happens, and I can't lose you…my friend.'

"Hermione," Draco whispered, "why didn't you tell me earlier that your skin was acting all weird, how could you be so stupid!"

"You had been saying you couldn't go home until you father's gone, and I didn't want you to get hurt. I'm not a beast."

"Only to yourself you are."

Hermione glared at Draco, "And what is that exactly supposed to mean?" She was getting aggravated and her breathing started to quicken, she felt something wet hit the tip of her nose and realized it was sweat.

Draco noticed it too. Wide-eyed, he looked at her and then wiped her forehead. He looked at his hand and saw that it was drenched with Hermione's sweat. "Hermione…Jesus, we've got to go now. Get on; there won't be enough time for me to come back with the ingredients. Wait," he stopped, "I almost forgot, go get the rest of the ingredients…hurry!"

Hermione ran back into her room where Pansy glared at her. She decided she wasn't going to be bothered by Pansy and quickly grabbed the poke with the vials she was keeping under her bed.

Slamming the door behind her Hermione practically jumped down the stairs, which wasn't very smart. It seemed that with her sickness, her legs weren't as strong as they used to be and she crashed on the floor.

"Janeia, are you ok!" Draco yelled. He ran over to her and knelt down beside her, "Hermione," he whispered so no one would hear, "are you ok?"

"Mmmmm, yeah, I'm just not as strong as I was before. But c'mon, we need to get going, and I have to tell Ron first."

Draco pulled her to her feet and shoved the poke back into her hands, "That's not possible Hermione," he said, "We don't have time for this. We'll apologize when we get back. Now c'mon, get going."

Hermione pouted and threw her arms up in the air, "But he won't know! If he wants to find me, he'll freak out when he sees I'm not here. I can't do that to him again!"

"Well," Draco said, "It looks like your going to." He grabbed her hand and held on all the way to the castle entrance. When they were outside, he finally let go and made her sit on the broom, climbing on behind her. He made sure the poke was securely fastened to Hermione's waist and kicked off.

Hermione, being deathly afraid of heights, held on tight to the broom handle. She was just about to ask Draco if they could stop and switch spots, so she could hold onto him instead when she felt dizzy again. She felt Draco grab onto her stomach with one hand, as if he knew what was going on.

"Shhh," he whispered into her hair, "We'll be there soon, I won't let go until we land. I promise you."

Hermione barely heard any of it before she went limp in his arms.

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Ron was playing wizard's chess with Harry and as usual, beating him. Harry seemed to be losing by more than his usual amount that night and Ron asked what was wrong.

"I'm worried about Hermione mate," Harry said, "I haven't seen her since she fainted in the common room. She's been missing from the hospital wing for almost a month now and you don't seem to give a damn!" Harry yelled at Ron.

"Whoa, don't take this out of me, I haven't done anything wrong, and I'm sure they'll find Hermione soon. We can't DO anything about it because You-Know-Who being around, he'd kill you for sure if you got outside the Hogwarts area."

Harry slammed his fist down on the table, which caused the pieces to go flying everywhere. "Ron, you've been around Janeia Malfoy, MALFOY-mind you, all this time. I think your cheating on Hermione, and I'll fight you if you are, I swear I will."

Ron looked at Harry with a shocked expression on his face.

"Ok mate, I'm not cheating. Janeia is going through something similar and we talk about it, I can't believe you would think I would EVER do that. I'm going to bed." With that, Ron got up, leaving Harry and the chess set and walked into his room. He grabbed a ball on his dresser and threw it up and down, grumbling to himself.

'Cheating on Hermione…who does he think he is' with an extra hard throw, the ball bounced underneath Harry's bed.

'Dammit,' Ron muttered and got on his hands and knees to get the blasted thing. That's when he saw it, the Marauder's Map. He whispered the chant that Harry had told him, and looked at the piece of wonderful parchment. What he saw shocked him, two tiny dots labeled Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. The dots were hurrying along the page and then all of a sudden flew off the paper.

'Wait a minute…why is Hermione's name on here, it should be Janeia…but that means…oh my god' Ron knew at that moment that Draco and Hermione were off to Draco's mansion, and the fact that the Map said Hermione Granger instead of Janeia Malfoy told Ron that she was close to the end of the spell. 'I've got to get to her,' he thought, 'and I think it's time Harry knew.'

Ron ran into the common room and threw the Map at Harry.

"Harry, I think there's something I should tell you."

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A/N: Oh my god…thank you so much for waiting, I promise the next chapter will be posted on the 11th or 12th of April. Thank you all so much. Much love and kisses!
-doublelily