Disclaimer: obviously not mine. Why would it be on a fan fiction site?

Chapter twenty-two

Hermione and Draco spent the next few days recovering from the car accident… well that's what they told Narcissa, anyway. As a matter of fact they were both too afraid to leave the house. Draco stayed true to his word and he spent every breathing second with Shia. Blaise stayed for a few days before deciding that Draco was better and he left to go home.

They'd been at home for almost four days when they both received letters from Clarisse and Alfred, inviting them to a party they were hosting on the night of their return. Hermione's letter had told her not to worry about preparations because Chaise was handling it all.

"Maybe I should go help," Hermione said, reading over her letter several times. "It is tomorrow night… I'm sure he could use a hand…"

"No way" Draco said, taking the letter from her and tossing it in the fire. "You are not going anywhere!"

"Ok, ok! It was just a suggestion!" Hermione grumbled. No sooner had the words left her mouth then another owl came swooping in the window. It was a quick note from Kelly saying she'd be home the next afternoon.

The next night Hermione, Draco, Shia, Narcissa, Charlie and the three assassins left the manor and apparated to Hermione's castle.

Both Hermione and Draco were wearing simple outfits… neither had bothered going out of their way to get dressed up.

Hermione was wearing a flowing white dress that pooled out around her ankles and tied up around her neck. Draco was wearing a plain white button up shirt. He hadn't even bothered with a tie. They were a bit late so Hermione gave Shia to Kelly at the door so she and Draco could go straight in.

Everyone in the main room turned to stare at them. This was a magical party so pretty much everyone had heard about the car crash and after attack.

Hermione and Draco ignored them and went in opposite directions. Draco went to talk to a few boys, including Frederick and Hermione went and stood by Lilly and listened quietly in on her and Jamie-Lyn's conversation.

Chaise, his parents and Hermione's parents appeared at the door and everyone turned, smiling, to welcome them home.

Hermione felt Lilly stiffen beside her and her heart went out to the girl. She could only imagine the scars on Lilly's back.

Chaise caught Hermione's eye and he winked. Hermione blushed as she felt butterflies fill her stomach. How could Chaise possible be psycho? He seemed so harmless and, not to mention, incredibly cute.

Across the room Malfoy glowered at him.

The night started smoothly. Everything was quite relaxed; everyone was chatting happily or dancing to the music that was being played by an invisible force. Hermione's mother could be heard gushing to Narcissa about Australia.

Draco and Hermione had planned not to talk to each other all night, just for the sake of not provoking Chaise, but, when the conversations got boring, Hermione found her eyes wandering over to Draco. At one stage, in about the middle of the night, she looked up to find Draco watching her. They stared at each other for a moment before both looking hastily around the room for Chaise.

By the shadowy look on his face, Chaise had noticed the exchange. Suddenly the party became hostile and tense. Lilly had been on edge all night and was on the point of cracking while Freddie had spent the whole night cracking his knuckles and growling at Chaise. Now Chaise was heating up and all four of them had noticed it.

Chaise came wandering over to Hermione. They exchanged smiles then he suddenly tried to kiss her. Hermione backed up a little and he frowned.

"Chaise, I cant," she said lightly, hoping not to offend him. He stared at her.

"I'm better. They fixed me, Herm! We can be together!" he pleaded, grabbing her hand.

"I know, but that's not the reason. I just don't feel that way about you anymore…"

Chaise's expression darkened and he looked across the room at Malfoy. Luckily the Blonde boy wasn't looking at them but Hermione still had a guilty look on her face.

"Fine" Chaise said simply. "Just forget it" he turned and walked away.

Before Hermione even had a chance to breathe a sigh of relief, Chaise changed his direction and ran at Malfoy. Malfoy barely had time to turn to face his opponent before Chaise went crashing into him. They both went down and Malfoy's head hit the floor with a sickening thunk.

Everyone in the room turned to watch. Chaise was in such a rage that it was a surprise that his eyes hadn't turned red or that he hadn't started frothing at the mouth. He sent endless, deadly, punches at Draco who had to put all his strength into blocking them. Chaise got one good shot in at Draco's temple and that was when Freddie jumped in. he tackled Chaise off Malfoy. Chaise booted Freddie in the face and resumed his frantic attack on Malfoy. It was now that Hermione noticed the blood splattered thickly across the floor and yet, she seemed unable to move due to shock.

Luckily, others were taking action: spells were being shot around the room and older men were diving into battle, attempting to pull the two apart.

As three men roughly hoisted Chaise up, Draco was able to get to his feet and stagger away, blood flowing freely from an unseen wound on the back of his head. He staggered towards Hermione. Chaise followed with his eyes and when the fell upon the princess he tried to tug away from his captors.

"Hermione!" he yelled shrilly. "HERMIONE!" Freddie stumbled forward, still dazed from the foot in face, and smashed an uneasy fist into Chaise's face. At the same time Charlie grabbed Hermione from behind and dragged her into the empty parlour. Draco and the three assassins stumbled in behind her.

"Lock the door" Charlie ordered as Draco tripped and fell. Hermione caught him but unable to hold his weight, sank to the floor with the boy clutched to her chest. Mark locked the parlour door as several nobles, including Narcissa and Clarisse, tried to force entry.

"We have to get him to hospital" Hermione gasped as Draco's crimson blood soaked into her pretty white dress.

"No" Draco choked as Mark and Bruce both reached out for him. "I don't want to go
his shaking hand closed over a clump of Hermione's dress and refused to let it go.

"Draco" Hermione said gently, hoping to coax him off, like you would a small child. "You have to go to hospital. You'll bleed to death if you don't"

"I don't care" Draco attempted a shrug but it came out as more of a wince. "I'm not afraid of dying"

"I care" Hermione said, still with the gentle tone. "And I will be afraid if you die"

Their eyes met; Draco's glazed and unfocused, Hermione's wide with worry.

"I want to go to California" Draco said, very suddenly changing the subject.

"Well you can if you go to hospital first"

"I want you to come with me"

"I'll come, I'll come… just… just go to hospital, please" Hermione was becoming anxious and panicky as she watched Draco begin to slip in and out of consciousness and his breathing becoming laboured and heavy.

"I…I love you… Herm" he murmured before passing out completely. Hermione stared down at him, her mouth slightly open with shock and hot tears spilling down her cheeks.

Bruce sprang into action, pulling the limp and bloody body of Malfoy off Hermione and Apparating with it. Anik and Mark apparated out a few seconds later.

Hermione looked down at her shaky, blood-soaked hands.

He loved her. He actually loved her.

"Hermione?"

Charlie's voice jerked her out of her stupor.

"I have to go see him" she said, standing up abruptly.

"wearing that?" Charlie gestured to her once white dress.

"Right… I'll change" Hermione dashed for the door and flung it open.

"WHERE'S DRACO!" Narcissa screamed. Alfred was restraining her. Frederick was sitting alone on the stairs, blood pouring from his nose and a gash below his eye. Chaise was nowhere to be seen. Everyone else was staring at Hermione's bloodstained dress in horror.

Hermione ignored them all and ran, as fast as her heels would allow, up to her room where Shia and Kelly were.

"Hermione!" Kelly screamed, covering her mouth and staring at Hermione.

"Kelly, look after Shia. I shouldn't be long" Hermione tore off the ruined dress and tossed it aside before replacing it with a pair of jeans and a tank top. As she was grabbing her purse Frederick appeared at her door.

"Will he be ok?"

"I don't know"

"Where are you going?"

"To see him"

"Can I come?"

"Sure" Hermione had no time for arguments and letting Freddie come seemed easiest. They ran back downstairs and met Charlie at the front doors.

A few minutes later they were hurrying along a white corridor on the first floor of saint Mungos,

"In here" Charlie said, steering the prince and princess into a ward right at the end.

Standing around a bed by the door was the three assassins, two healers and Narcissa.

Draco was in bed, wide-awake, yet still pale and covered in blood.

"Hermione!" he said joyously when he saw her enter.

"How are you?" she asked meekly, pushing through the crowd to stand close to him.

"Doped up on potions-"

"But will make a full recovery" one of the healers finished for him.

"Right" Malfoy said, not taking his eyes off Hermione… it was starting to scare her. "Listen, can me and Hermione talk privately for a while, please?"

Narcissa looked peeved but followed the rest of the group out of the ward all the same.

"I told you he was dangerous," he said as soon as the door had closed.

"No need to rub it in," Hermione grumbled, smoothing a hand over the bed sheets. Draco's hand shot out and he took hers in his, rubbing his thumb over her palm softly.

"I'm so glad your ok," She said, trying to keep conversation going.

"Were you scared?"

"Very"

Draco grinned and pulled her a bit closer.

"I love you"

"What was that?" Hermione said mockingly, though her heart was hammering painfully against her ribcage.

"I love you"

Hermione looked down at his eager and alert face, his grey eyes dancing playfully as he waited for a reaction.

"I love you too"

Show me what it's like
To be the last one standing
And teach me wrong from right
And I'll show you what I can be
Say it for me
Say it to me
And I'll leave this life behind me
Say it if it's worth saving me

Sorry it took so long to update but I am seriously out of ideas… I know this will upset you but I'm gonna have to let this story rest for a bit while I have writers block. I am actually going to continue one of my other stories until then and if I get enough reviews for the other story then I'll feel content to come back to this one.

Now, if you didn't pick up the hint above…my other story is called 'NOTHINGS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE SANDMAN' it's the sequel to my other story 'I WAS ALMOST KILLED THEN THEY CAME' if you like dramatic Hermione/ Draco fics like this one then you'll like my other ones… though they're twice as dramatic.

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