Aftermath

Draco's POV

:He closed the letter and walked back inside. He decided to give Hermione that wish.:

I begin to approach Hermione and Madam Pomfrey with nervousness filling my heart. Madam Pomfrey looks toward me giving me a nod of "ok" to come over. As I get closer I see the damage that has been done. If only I had gone after Crabbe and Goyle... but so many more important thoughts were running though my mind that I hardly gave going after them a second thought. Many days before it happened my heart had been heavy with regret for writing that letter to Hermione. I had started to believe that she would never write me back and then seeing in her there in the hallway I forgot everything else but her. The only thing I could do was to deal with Crabbe and Goyle later. Though I must keep my mouth shut about Hermione, for if anything gets out to my father of her I will most certainly be doomed.

I see Hermione begin to sit up noticing a piece of cloth wrapped around her wrist. She looks down upon it bringing a tear to her face; remembering what had happened earlier. She then looks up to me in wonder, watching as I approach her. As I grow near she looks away. I guess she didnt know what to say. Though I was looking for more a 'thank you' rather than a glance away.

She watches me as I take a sit in the chair next to the bed she's laying on. She looks at me again and begins to say something, but again she says nothing. I soon start the conversation by asking if she was ok.

"Yeah, I think so." She replied, still looking away. I began to think she liked the floor better than she did me. Things were starting to get awkward between us and I sat in wonder of what to say. Maybe saying nothing about the letter was better than saying nothing at the moment.

Madam Pomfrey walked by that moment saying that Hermione was free to go and to come back when needed. Hermione smiled and nodded towards her and then got of the bed and walked toward the door, glancing at me for only a moment. If she liked me as I liked her why was she avoiding me so much? As she walked out the door, I ran behind her. I walked a few feet back and followed until she stopped dead in her tracks as if something important had just entered her mind.

She turned around and looked me straight in the eye, "Malfoy, would you mind walking me back to my dorms?"

I, of course was taking back by this and swiftly replied with the words that entered my mind first, "Sure that would be fine." After saying this she walked toward me and grabbed my arm as a way to get me to come in the direction she was going in. We walked together in silence for a few minutes until she brought up the letters.

"Things are so different now... I almost didn't think you would come back. That I might just end up walking back alone with the risk that I might run into Crabbe and Goyle one more time tonight. And it frigtens me how things have become and of how things will become in the future..." Hermione said she voice almost inaudible to others not near her. "But I've grown so lonesome from just being around Harry and Ron all the time. Sometimes I wonder if they really care...," Her voice cracked at this and tears silently rolled down her face. "Yet I find so much potential in you. Potential that you might just fit that place in my heart that no one else can and I wonder if your willing to take the risk of being near me as have begun to ask myself that same question." Hermione stopped for a few seconds looking up into Draco's eyes searching for the same emotion in his eyes as the emotion in her heart.

"I would have never just left you there... I don't see how you thought that I might just not come back to you after reading your letter. You must have no idea of how I have waited and waited for you to say the same thing I have longed for. I'm willing to take that risk if you are Hermione," I paused for a second noticing how her name had rolled out of my mouth as if we were great friends. "And if you are I'm right behind you every step of the way."

"Then if you are, I am too." Hermione whispered. She turned to Draco as she reached the Gryffindor's portrait.

More tears rolled down her face as she thought of how it would be tomorrow...like just another fly on the wall. Ginny would be too busy chatting with Luna and the others then to speak a full conversation with her. Harry and Ron would speak to her, but not really care that she was there for they would be too busy talking about Quidditch. Crabbe and Goyle would probably look at her laughing and then talk of what happenned the night before. They were all so predictable and she just wanted to get away from it.

"What's wrong?" I asked noticing the tears rolling down yet again. It seemed the night would never get better for either of us.

"I can already begin to imagine tomorrow...I'll hear about the lastest Quidditch game or the gossip that goes between Ginny and Luna and then the most important part of my day will be seeing that smug look Crabbe and Goyle will have on their faces tomorrow. Its as if you can't escape...from this life of dreed and misery because everything you do somehow ends up falling back on you like a ton of bricks especially if you did something wrong. I just wish I could be able to get away from it even for just a day, it would make the better part of my life."

I reached out to her; to take her into my arms just to hold her until the moment past and the pain faded away. But as I did she backed away like it was instinct and then crashed into my arms. She clung to me as if I was her last hope and I guess I pretty much was at this time of night. Moments later her breathing calmed and she settled down; slowly backing up from me seconds after.

"I've got to get back. I have things to do and I shouldn't be bother you with all of my troubles. You have been aftter all my swore enemy for quite some time whilst I find myself talking to you like you were my old friend," She then let go and took a deep breathe. "Its funny how things work sometimes...goodnight Draco. I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow though I doubt we'll do any talking." She said it as if she was lost in thought and not really there. I said my goodnight also and she walked in past the portrait.

Draco walked back toward the dungeons and thought of what he was going to plan for Hermione. If she wanted a break he was going to give her a break, the break of her life. He decided that maybe this year he would stay during Christmas...

A/N: Hello everyone! I have returned and decided to make my comeback appearance by writing another chapter to I'd Give Anything. This was after all a story that I did not believe would go any further, but I've decided to give writing a chapter to this story a shot after so many of you saying that I should continue. I hope you enjoyed it and I will hopefully be making time to work on my other story A Different View. Its a little different from how Hermione should be protrayed, but I think you should definetly check it out and tell me what you think. Oh and don't forget:

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