Disclaimer: Weh. Why am I still putting this part up anyway?

A/n: Lol. I love how you people react. It just regenerates me.ü LOL! Anyways, I want to thank you all guys for sticking with me in this whole insanity. Please, forgive me too for my evilness. LOL! Yeah, I know some of you hate me because of that.

Damn, I can't even remember if I was able to post last week or not. I think I am having memory gaps already.

And I apologize in advance now because I won't be able to post personalized messages right now... SORRY!

I MEAN IT.

I AM DAMNLY SORRY! It's our exams, you see. And my mom would really kill me if she sees me doing this stuff. Anyways... I am still sorry... Sorry sorry sorry. And sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry... more sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry...

And concerning about this next chapter... Please have mercy and don't kill me...

I was actually impressed by Liz. She's the onlyone who got the wind of it! You're so smart! I like your analytical skills.ü

Anyways, on with the story. And again, don't hate me... please? This is the last time I'll be doing this kind of thing.

PROMISE.

By: Aningme

Chapter 37

Dilemma

Hermione… Hermione… I can't lose you again… Please… I need you to be with me… Please… Stay…

Draco gasped for air as he shot up from his bed. He was covered in sweat and his body was shaking cold. He felt the sudden shot of pain on his head and on his arm, slowly regaining his senses. His eyes were clearing up a little bit, only to be blinded by the abrupt shower of light in the room he was in.

There was a silhouette beside the door across his bed. He tried to shield his eyes with his hands, as he watched the silhouette run towards him.

"Oh Merlin! You're finally awake!" A woman's voice shrieked. Draco strained his eyes to see. His head suddenly throbbed as he thought.

"Weasley?" He was suddenly confused. "Where am I?"

Ginny smiled at him, almost teary eyed, sighing as she spoke. "You're in a hospital. You were hit pretty badly awhile ago."

"What?" He asked. He was trying to recall everything. "Her…" His head made a spin again. "Her… Hermione… Where is she?"

Ginny almost swallowed her tongue. Yes, she had told him what she knew. She just doesn't know if he understood. "She's…" She furrowed her brows. She swore he was sober enough to understand what she had said. She feared he might have amnesia or something, with a hit as hard as that. Hopefully not. "She's in Canada already. She took off five hours ago."

His eyes never blinked. "What?"

She suddenly felt the ugly guilt again. She felt as if it was her fault he wasn't able to catch up with her. "You were about to run to her when you collapsed. Your head was bleeding pretty badly.

He kept on staring. "No." He shook his head. "I went to the airport. I went there on a cab with that Asian guy, and… no… yeah… I was in a cab… and there was a terrible traffic… I was in the airport…" He insisted. It couldn't be…

"You were dreaming, dear." Ginny explained. "You were in the emergency room with my daughter for the past few hours. I watched you for the whole time. You can't be in the airport."

He still shook his head. She couldn't be gone. "She's here. I saw her. I met with her. She is here."

Ginny just watched him pitifully. It pained her to see him here, while her friend Hermione roams around a foreign country just to find him. I have to do something. This is partly my fault. She wondered if Ron knew about this. "I'm sorry…" That was all she could say.

A moment later, the door creaked again, revealing a little girl, her face wet with tears, her eyes red from rubbing. And beside her stood a red haired man in suit: Ron.

Draco looked up at him and just stared at him.

Ron stared back.

"Baby, why are you still crying?" Ginny giggled as she caught her daughter in her arms.

Ron just watched them with a straight face. "I see that you are awake." He finally spoke, staring at the helpless man on the hospital bed.

Draco just stared at him, his blood suddenly rising on his pale face. He understood now.

Ron opened his mouth to speak. "Sis, could we have a moment alone? I just need some time to talk with him."

Ginny just stared back at her brother, trying to read his eyes. But he was serious now, his eyes blank, and his face straight. She suddenly felt something was going on. Ron never uses his straight face unless it was a really serious matter. He was, anyway, her brother. She just knows these things. She took a few steps towards the door and to her brother, her daughter tailing behind her.

She halted, and leaned over to whisper, "Whatever you are doing, go easy on him. He's not the old Malfoy we knew before…" She reminded. "Hermione loves him. Remember that."She stepped back and gently closed the door.

They were alone together again.

"You asshole." Draco hissed, his breath draining out between his teeth.

Ron just smirked. "So you knew then?" He answered, walking a few steps to the counter to get an apple.

Draco couldn't help it but glare at him. He tried to stand, but his head brought him down, throwing a sudden surge of pain, permeating in his head. He managed to sit down on the corner of his bed, his fists clenched, a bead of sweat rolling down his brow. "You knew she was finding me. You knew everything and yet, you let her go."

"I know lots of things, Malfoy. Like you do." Ron answered. He took a few steps towards him. "And like I swore before, I won't let you hurt her ever again."

In reflex and in temper, Draco suddenly clutched Ron's lapels and shoved him to the far wall, exerting his remaining strength. "Damn you…" He bellowed. "Take everything away from me. Take my damn money, company, everything…" His breath was getting heavier. "Just… not her…" His voice seemed to quiver.

Ron just stared back at him. "I don't trust you."

"Neither do I trust you." He snapped. "I can accept that you hate me. I can live with that. But I can't stand it anymore. I need her…"

Ron screamed in is head. He didn't know if he was actually screaming out loud, or was it just in his head. He was growing confused already. He just couldn't let Malfoy hurt her.

"You hurt her millions of times. Ever since we've seen your face, you did nothing but—"

"I know!" Draco screamed. His breath was hitching already, his arms were weakening. "I know thebloody things I've done…" He couldn't believe what he was saying. "I love her Weasley. And I would do everything; I mean everything, to change into anything for her. Whether she loves me or not, I will love her. She's worth it. And you can't change that."

Ron couldn't handle it anymore. It was too much. What if he was telling the truth? What if he, himself, was the one who was hurting Hermione, not the man pleading before him just now? What ifMalfoy really loves her?

Ron swallowed hard. He wanted to end this stupidity. "I hate every damn thing about you. I hate you for being you, for always ruining our lives. I hate you for killing Harry… I hate you for your being…" He lowered his head. "In fact I would kill you if I could." He added, clearing up his throat. He couldn't believe what he was doing. "But, since you love Hermione..." He sighed tiredly. "Just go. Get a damn ticket and go. You could pay your own ticket anyway. I'll just send in a chaperone for you to show you where she—"

Ron was suddenly cut off, bewildered.

He was just standing there, wrapped in Draco Malfoy's arms.

"Thank you." Draco whispered and ran off to the door.

Ron just stood where he was, paralyzed.

Draco Malfoy never hugged him like that before.

It kind of felt good.

A/n: Ron and Draco as friends? It still shocks me… lol.

Okay... now... and again... I will ask. Please don't hate me?

lol. I know JinxTwix might kill me with this. And Liz might be pissed of at me for doing this. And lots of you guys will curse me. But I promise.

THIS IS THE LAST TIME.

And since my mom is coming... I HAVE TO SHUT THIS COMPUTER DOWN! I'll see you guys later!

Begging for mercy,

Aningme