Author's Note: Thank you all for the reviews! Now, I hope you won't kill me for having that cliffhanger at the end of Chapter 7... Sorry, but the chapter was getting too long and I was wondering how would I put all the next instances I the other chapters! Anyways, please read and review! And also, sorry for the very late update, my family and I went on this little trip. Thanks!

Chapter 8: Changing of the Tides

As Hermione was rolling up her sleeves, she asked Sir Goyle if she could have clean water and a basin. He had brought it a few moments later. And Hermione washed her hands.

Then, taking a deep breath, she went over to Draco's side and gently unbuttoned his tunic. He did not even growl a protest. Hermione thought that it was the effect of the pain that caused him to do this. After his shirt was unbuttoned, she carefully removed the piece of clothing from his body, exposing his upper body to her.

Hermione winced at the laceration on his left side, starting from the lower part of his ribcage and going down to his abdomen. She was glad that although the cut was deep, it didn't touch any of his internal organs. She had a pretty good background on human anatomy; something she didn't learn from Health classes, but rather from her brother who was a doctor; and she knew for a fact that the laceration was far enough from any internal organs.

She looked back at him. He was watching her with a steady gaze, seeing as to what she would do.

"The cut is deep, my Lord." She paused. "Fortunately, it didn't touch your internal organs. It is the infection I am more concerned about, my Lord. I will have to clean the wound and I would have to sew it."

"Internal what?" Goyle repeated, furrowing his brow.

"Internal organs, Sir Goyle. I would have to explain that later." Hermione said. "Are there going to be any protests, my Lord?" She asked, turning back to Draco.

He shook his head slightly and she smiled at him. "Glad that you're finally cooperating, my Lord." She said kindly.

"How can I not? After all, you have proven to me that you are a veritable opponent." He replied.

"And pay attention my Lord. I have read in many books how often people in this day and age die because of improper and unclean conditions when it comes to treating wounds." Hermione then realized that Goyle was there and he was probably having a hard time digesting all of this. She turned to him and smiled. "I will explain that to you later, Sir Goyle."

Goyle simply nodded.

"Lady Hermione? The cloths and the water are ready." Came Rose's voice from beyond the doorway.

"Come in, Rose." Hermione called. As Rose came in, Hermione asked Goyle to move the little table over to the left side of the bed, where she would be working on cleaning Draco's wound.

When everything was settled, Hermione set to work. As she dropped one cloth in the basin of clean water, she asked Rose to fetch the pot where the needle and the thread were being boiled. Rose quickly went off to get the pot.

After squeezing out the excess water, she cleaned off the wound as gentle and as careful as she could. Draco could feel the soft cloth on his bare skin, he would feel the brush of her hand once in a while; but oddly enough, he could not feel any pain.

During battles, he simply had the wounds sealed using a burned knife. What he recalled of those rare moments was that it hurt like holy hell. And as usual, he refused to acknowledge it.

But now, it seemed that all he could feel was the most caring of touches, being done by a woman who'd overstepped her bounds. Maybe he was wrong in saying that women were worthless...

"Lady Hermione?" Rose called out tentatively and the sound broke Draco's train of thought.

Hermione looked up from her work and nodded to Rose, telling her to set the pot on the table. Getting the needle and thread was going to be tricky, considering that she had to keep it at least cleaner that anything else, but there was no other choice other than to get it out using her hands.

For the tenth time that day, she wished that she could've brought a first aid kit to the past. A load of Hydrogen Peroxide would be good right now.

After she cleaned up most of the dried blood and the wound itself, Hermione dropped the cloths on the basin and washed her hands again. Taking a deep breath, she took the needle and thread (happy that Rose had enough sense to thread the needle before placing it in the water) from the pot. The water was hot still, but she didn't mind.

She knelt down on the rug that was beside the bed and said a silent prayer that she wouldn't make a huge mess on Draco's pale skin. She learned enough from the fashion world on how to sew in an emergency. But sew on flesh?

It just might prove to be harder than she thought. After a quick peek at Draco, who was still watching her closely, she started at the one end of the wound.

As Hermione continued to sew on the wound, Draco watched her. He felt the prick of the needle on his side, but he ignored the pain. Hermione was making her little stitches, and openly admiring Draco's tolerance for pain and needles.

Soon, she was finished and asking him to sit up. When he did, she wrapped the wound in a lightweight and clean cloth.

"All done, my Lord." She said, smiling at him. "You can get up now." She added, stepping back.

And he did. His chest was still bare and it was then that Hermione noticed the wide expanse of him. And she finally came to notice the long scar from the left side of his neck, down until it stopped just right above his heart. She hastily looked away when she realized that she was staring.

"Rose?" Hermione called out.

"Aye, my lady?"

"A tunic for Lord Draco, if you please." Hermione said. Rose hurried to fetch him one as Goyle left the room carrying the basin of water and soiled cloths in it. And then they were alone.

If having to bicker and taunt each other was difficult, then standing in front of each other in a secluded room was much harder. Both were too caught up with their own thoughts that they had nothing else to do but stare at each other.

To break the silence, Hermione reached up and placed the back of her hand on his forehead. "No fever, my Lord." She said after careful consideration. She then slowly drew her hand back. But he caught her hand as it was making its way to her side.

Hermione gave a small gasp, for her had surprised her. His hand was rough and calloused. Hers was small and soft. She stared at their joined hands. His skin was incredibly pale as hers was a creamy white. She liked the sight and she definitely enjoyed the feeling. She looked up at him and smiled.

And for what seemed the tenth time that day, Draco's breath caught.

But the moment was soon gone as they both heard footsteps echoing throughout the corridor. He instantly dropped her hand as she turned away from him, and busied herself with tidying up the room. Rose walked into the room a few moments later.

"My lord..." She said tentatively. Draco nodded and took the tunic from her and sent her on her way.

"Do I have your permission to go now?" Draco said to Hermione as he put the tunic on.

She looked at him and tilted her head to the side, debating with herself. "Well, you have a high threshold for pain and you're seemingly fine, so... I guess you may."

He nodded and started to go out from the room. But then, Hermione called him back.

"Oh and Draco?" She called and he turned back to look at her. "No training first..." He nodded then resumed walking out. "Oh and Draco?" Hermione called out once again. He turned and looked at her, an annoyed expression on his face. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"What?"

"You know, when someone helps another person, it would be nice and polite to thank the person who gave aid." She replied.

Draco took a deep breath, as if saying that couple of words was so taxing to the body. "Thank you."

Hermione smiled at him. "You're welcome, my Lord."

He nodded and walked out, leaving Hermione still smiling about the whole encounter.

* * *

"And now he walks... and he did a bit of training as well, despite what Lady Hermione bade him not to do." Goyle said pleasantly. He and Draco were sitting at the dinner table, waiting for Hermione to arrive.

Despite what she'd announced a few days ago, she'd been personally invited to eat with them for the rest of the time she would be staying there. It had been Draco, after thinking about it for quite a long time, who had come up to Hermione, who, after the ordeal, went back to her gardening, and asked her to join dinner... and breakfast and lunch as well.

Hermione had accepted and Draco was incredibly relieved. She'd finally shown him her (and all of women's as well) importance. But he did not openly say or apologize that he learned that women were not worthless, he still was too stubborn and too proud. Nevertheless, Hermione felt it. And she did not press him either.

But, as all women would do at that moment, she reveled in the fact that she'd changed him somehow.

And now, Lord Draco and Sir Goyle were waiting for her to arrive for dinner. And Draco ignored Goyle's comment, but as ever the relentless (when it came to teasing Draco, of course) man that he was, Goyle continued to talk cajolingly to his friend.

"How are you feeling, my Lord?" Goyle asked.

"Fine."

"Ah, no feeling out of the ordinary for you then? Very good." Goyle had to keep a straight face for the next part. "How is your side?"

"Fine." Draco said in a flat tone.

"Then she must be a good healer."

"Aye, she is..."

"Never saw anyone work like that, even Mathilde would be proud."

"I guess."

"And," Goyle added. "Not only does she cure cuts and wounds so efficiently, she also manages to do a bit of patching up matters of the heart."

Draco sharply turned his head to where Goyle sat and gave him a venomous glare. But Goyle was not at all fazed. "What are you saying?"

"Well, after this morning's incident, you've seem to have taken a liking to the gardens."

"I was inviting her to dinner." Draco retorted.

"Oh, inviting is one thing, I know that." Goyle replied in a light tone. "But watching her from a distance as she tends your garden is quite another."

Draco's jaw almost dropped in shock, but he was never a man to show emotion. "And you know of this, how?"

"My lord, you wound me." Goyle replied mockingly. "Many men pride themselves on being observant, but it did not take much observance when I stumbled upon you in the inner bailey looking at her."

Draco was silent. He had not expected to be seen watching Hermione as she continued with her gardening. But she couldn't leave his mind in peace, especially after what she did for him.

Goyle smiled knowingly. "Accept it, my lord. She fascinates you. She fascinates you a great deal. It is good, my lord. She is good for you... And we will talk or argue about how it will all turn out, but that will be later, for the woman of the hour is making her entrance."

And Goyle stood up as Hermione walked towards them. "Lady Hermione, how nice it is for you to join us." She was wearing a simple white gown with bell sleeves. It was one of the dresses that she and Rose made with the cloth Mathilde had provided them. Draco stood up as quickly as Goyle did and went to her chair and pulled it out for her as Hermione neared them. He could do anything more other than stare at her.

"My Lady." Draco said and she smiled up at him.

"My Lord, Sir Goyle." She acknowledged and sat down. Draco went over to his chair and sat down. After a few moments, a servant brought in the food and they began to eat.

"Now, my lady." Goyle said as they continued to eat. "I think now is the time for you to explain the..." Goyle trailed off as he tried to remember the words.

"Internal organs?" Hermione supplied.

"Ah yes, that." Goyle said and looked at her expectantly.

"Lord Draco had not divulged anything as of yet? Any information at all?" Hermione asked, glancing at Draco who was quietly eating.

"No." Goyle replied. "Believe me, I asked him many times but he has kept your confidences."

"Would you two please stop talking as if I am not here?" Draco spoke up.

"I am sorry, my lord." Hermione said, she turned to Draco who looked at her as well. "Thank you, my lord. I know I should have known that you had not said anything when poor Sir Goyle was wondering what in the world I was saying this morning, but I was too concerned with your welfare."

"It's nothing. You're welcome." Draco replied. Hermione smiled at him.

"Now, Sir Goyle, what was your question again?" Hermione asked.

And as Goyle repeated his query and as Hermione answered him in all truthfulness, Draco contented himself with watching the exchange... and relishing the smiles Hermione gave him every so often.