Chapter 15

Hermione groaned, the pain in her head refused to go away and let her sleep longer. She couldn't open her eyes anyway. The bright sunshine from the obviously open window made them hide behind thier clenched lids.

Seeing her friends facial expression, Ginny sat beside Hermione on the bed. "Hermione? Are you awake?"

"Oh Gin, can you please close those curtains," Hermione pleaded.

She felt the light shift away from her face and let one eye peek from hiding. Seeing that the curtains were indeed closed she opened her other eye and stared at her good friend. "How did you get in here? Not that I mind, but you don't know the password."

"Malfoy let me in, it seems he knows your room password." She said with a raised brow.

Hermione tried to recollect her thoughts about the night before. To her annoyance they stayed locked away in her battered head. "I guess I must have given it to him last night when he brought me back to my room." She nodded,"Yes, that must be it. I will likely have to see about changing it now though."

Ginny took her place beside Hermione on the bed again nodding with compliance."Yes, I believe that would be a good idea. You can't trust that git! Did Dumbledore lose his mind? I mean, how could he make you share a room with ...MALFOY?"

Hermione chuckled," Ginny he didn't MAKE me do anything. Are you sure you might just be a bit jealous? I seem to recall a certain red head remarking how much a hottie Draco had become.

Ginny's eyes grew to the size of saucers," Shhhhh...Hermione, he might hear you!"She clamped her hand over Hermione's mouth."That was suppose to just stay between us!" Hermione pulled her hand down. "It has stayed only between us."

"If you say so, but if anyone EVER accuses me of saying it, I'll plead insanity. I would rather live the rest of my days out in Azkaban then admit that Malfoy is anything but a slimy snake!"

Hermione only laughed," Don't worry I won't say a thing. Remember I agreed with you. Though I still think your jealous that I get to see him roam around here with no shirt on."

Ginny gasped,"Hermione!...Oh Merlin, tell me everything, does he have any hair on his chest? Does he have rock hard abs? Is it a four pack? Six pack? Twelve?"

If the pain in Hermione's head wasn't so terrible, she would have been rolling around the bed in tears from laughing.Ginny shut her mouth in dismay," Why am I even asking? Why would I care what Malfoy looks like without a shirt? I have Jared! Now I think I need MY head examined."

Ginny was shaking her head," Well come on, Malfoy was going to get your lunch, I bet its here now."

Hermione turned to the clock next to her bed," It's lunchtime? How long have I been out!" She swiftly got out of bed and hastily threw on a bedrobe. She went to look in the mirror and looked in horror at how dead she looked. She had bags under her eyes that drooped for days!

"You've been asleep since dinnertime last night."

Hermione's stomach grumbled indicating she was in fact right."I look like shite! Wait here a few minutes and let me clean up a bit, ok?"

"I'll stay right here. I have to help you down the stairs anyways, Madam Pomfrey's orders."

Hermione grabbed a change of clothes and took a quick shower. Emerging from the steam she noticed an unfamiliar vile sitting next to her brush. Lifting the stopper she took a small sniff. She remembered the smell from yesterday, it was the medicine Madam P. made her chug down. Though this was less rancid she concurred with herself.

She took a measuring flask from the cabinet above the sink and poured an inch of fluid into it. She held her nose and swallowed it down. Her face cringed and she stuck out her tongue,"Yech!" The throbbing from earlier stopped completely.

She dressed and put her hair up in a tight bun and went back in her room. "GINNY!" She yelled to the girl snooping through her desk. "Eep! She squealed and dropped the box she was holding. Hermione walked over and picked the box up."You should be ashamed of yourself Ginerva!" She grinned sheepishly," I'm sorry Hermione, I was just curious about the glow I saw coming from it."

Hermione sighed and removed the lid from the box, lifting the chain from inside. "Wow! That is so beautiful Hermione, where ever did you get it?" Hermione put on the crystal, which in fact was glowing bright as ever. She only wished she had some of her muggle sunglasses with her. The light was going to bring her headache back.

"It was something I won." She grinned now about her secret. She put the jewel inside her shirt."Come, I'm famished!"

Ginny turned to follow Hermione out the portrait. Hermione took her arm to keep her stable, the other hand resting on the banister. She helped her sit at the small kitchen table as Draco walked in with her tray.

"About time!" Ginny said placing her hands on her hips. Draco meerly curled a lip up in a snear and sat the tray in front of Hermione. "Well speaking of TIME Weaselette, I don't believe your boyfriend is appreciating wasting his time downstairs waiting for you."

"Oh no! I forgot! I was suppose to meet him ten minutes ago!" She turned toward Hermione,"I'll be back later to help you get ready for the banquet tonight. We all decided we would go together." Hermione nodded and continued to chomp on her bacon. Ginny whizzed by Malfoy and out the portrait.

Malfoy sat opposite of Hermione and watched her eat the rest of her meal in silence. She took the last bite of her eggs and then looked at him quizically."Why are you still here Draco?" He loved hearing his name come from her lips."I was told, on threat of malice, that if you didn't eat all of your meal, Madam Pomfrey would come to disfigure my pretty face." He cocked his head to one side," Now I couldn't have that, could I?"

Hermione pretended to think about it for a minute."Hmph!" Draco snorted. She laughed," I was only kidding! Well you don't have to worry of it now, I have finished everything. I guess my body needed to refuel since I didn't eat much yesterday. I mean, being passed out and all."

He simply nodded in agreeance. " Draco how did I come to be here last night? Did you bring me up to my room? I was wondering how Ginny got in."

He had stiffened a bit, rememberance of her lips last night sent a cool chill up his back. 'She doesn't remember.' A hint of sadness touched his eyes." After your potion you becames lightheaded and were not aloud to walk yourself. I brought you back and carried you upstairs. You said your password outloud. That's how I was able to give Ginny your password. I hope you don't mind."

She smiled and his heart beat faster," No, of course not, Ginny is one of my best friends, she's aloud here anytime. Just don't go giving it to Harry or Ron, they'll never leave me alone! Always wanting my homework those two!" He nearly let out an audible sigh of relief.' If they ever went in her room they wouldn't live to see the next day! She's mine now.' He snorted," Ha! Like I even want Potter and Weasel sharing the same air with me let alone come in my common room!"

"OUR common room you mean? They are my friends Draco and I expect them to be aloud to come here to see me without interferance on your part." She said matter of factly raising an eyebrow.

"Yes OUR common room, well I won't 'interfere' with the comings and goings of your friends. Why should I care? Just don't go pointing your wand at me when they say something I don't like and end up hexed a dozen times." He stood up readying to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"Well since your held up in bed, I have a auditorium to finish getting ready."

" Damn it! Let me just go get my list and I'll come with you. I forgot all about the preparations. I need to still fill the balloons, check the lights, add the..." He held his hand up interuppting her. "Uhuh. Nope. Don't think so, Dumbledore and McGonagall's orders. You are to stay here and rest for the day.They said you could still come to the performance as long as you didn't over excert yourself today. I have everything under control."

"But..." Hermione started as he raised his hand again shaking his head."No." He said firmly and started walking to go down the stairs. "Draco? Wait a minute." He turned around,"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For staying with me yesterday. You didn't have to do that you know."

"I know." He smiled and turned away again.

"Draco?" He turned towards her and the look on his face showed impatience. "Yes...?"

" Are you going to come with us tonight?"

He smiled," Of course, someone has got to watch out for you. Those idiot friends of yours get in enough of their own trouble and without you to bail them out, I bet even more tonight.Besides, you've been very clumsy lately and I can't have you falling down stairs or something, now can I?" He shook his head,"Well I guess I can't.Madam Pomfrey's list of diseases and breaks she could deliver me float over my head.So yep, your stuck with me watching out for you, Granger."

"Well I guess that makes you my Guardian Angel then, doesn't it Draco?" She said with an impish grin. His face had gone stark white about a shade lighter than his hair. "Guardian?Angel?" He managed to choke out and started having a coughing fit as Hermione laughed.