A/N: Phew! I wasn't sure if I'd ever finish this chapter! I started in one direction but ended up changing it to what it is now. Thank you so much for those of you waiting so patiently for this update! I'll make no promises on when the next chapter will post, just know that I am working on it as much as my schedule allows. I wish I had endless time to write!

RECAP: Hermione was attacked and has been in the hospital. Draco has turned his life upside down to stay with her and wait for her to wake up. While she is in a coma, she can hear snippets of him reading to her, talking to her, and some other visitors as well.

Chapter 11: New World

November 24, 2003

Any moment now, Hermione would awaken. Draco could feel it. He'd hardly taken his eyes off of her since the moment he saw her finger twitch. Aside from Harry stopping by to tell him all about Theo and Ginny's wedding, hardly anyone had bothered to engage him in conversation while he concentrated on her so intently. As she had since the start, Blinky would bring Kuma for a daily visit, and the little kitten would curl her tiny body between Draco and Hermione until Blinky brought her back to their new home. Hospital workers and friends came and went without a bother, each coming and going quietly, allowing Draco to keep his vigil over his fiancée.

It was only because of the past two days spent in near-silence that Draco was able to take notice of the clumsy visitor stumbling into the room. He didn't have to turn to recognize the hesitant steps of Neville Longbottom.

"Sorry, mate…-er, Malfoy?" the tall wizard mumbled as he accidentally slammed the door behind him. Draco had half a mind to scold him until he turned to see the distraught look on Neville's face. There was something broken there.

"S'alright, the Healers say she'll wake any time now," Draco offered a friendly smile, which actually caused the Gryffindor to jump back in surprise.

"Oh, right. That's great," he replied offhandedly.

"Everything alright, Longbottom?" Draco wondered, hoping Neville realized he meant no harm.

"I was hoping to find Harry here…something awful happened…-er, not awful really, just…actually, it's kind of grand," a small smile graced his lips before morphing into a determined frown. When his eyes landed back on Draco, they grew large as if he'd just been caught breaking into Gringotts.

"Would you like to share with the class?" Draco drawled, hating himself for so easily slipping back to the snooty boy of his youth when interacting with this particular wizard. "I could use some good news right now," he said more kindly. With his mouth agape, Longbottom stared at him for a long moment.

"There's something I've done!" he blurted loudly into the quiet space, tightly grabbing tufts of his hair with his fists. "Have you ever… well, have you ever done something so horrible that you've ruined people's lives while simultaneously saving your own and someone you love?"

"Considering my actions to save my parents were the catalyst to the death of our beloved headmaster and handing over the keys of Hogwarts to the Dark Lord, I'd say I can absolutely relate," Draco responded coldly.

"Right. Sorry," Longbottom answered, ducking his head in embarrassment. "Was it worth it?" he asked suddenly, desperate for an answer. "What I mean to say is that it's all sorted now, and your life is back on track. You still have your mum, and from what I hear," he nodded toward Hermione, "you're, -er…happy. Do you think all that was worth it?" his eyes pleaded with Draco for reassurance.

"What could you have possibly done that equates to that? Did you murder the Minister or something?"

"Just answer the question, Malfoy! Was it worth it?" Longbottom demanded forcefully; all shades of the bumbling, awkward child he used to be were replaced with confidence and maturity. Draco eyed him warily.

"If in the end, I get to love her for the rest of my life," he squeezed Hermione's hand, "then yes, it is all worth it, even the…unsavory things I still put up with from the public all these years later," he kissed her forehead. Draco could feel Neville's gaze on him, but neither of them spoke for a few minutes.

"Hannah Abbott and I were married in secret last night," Longbottom whispered, testing the weight of his confession on what he perceived as an impartial party. "I've betrayed a friend… but he…he wouldn't be able to make her happy as I can." His eyes were begging for forgiveness, even if it came from his childhood bully. Draco studied him.

"You love her?"

"I always have," he smiled dreamily, sitting up a little straighter.

"Then you don't need me to tell you that it'll be worth it," Draco assured him. Neville nodded in response.

"Out of respect, I spoke to the Minister about it, and he told me Hannah and I had a higher match percentage than she and Ron did, but they thought he wouldn't cooperate with the marriage law if they assigned him to Greengrass instead," Longbottom scoffed. "It's even more ridiculous because the two of them had a higher percentage than most."

"You're telling me that Weasley is somehow an ideal match for one of the Greengrass girls?" Draco asked incredulously. It was hard to imagine the sloppy wizard with one of the polished, high society sisters he'd gone to school with. Neville nodded in response. "And the Minister approved your request just like that?"

"Well, I may not be part of the 'Golden Trio', but I did cut the head off of Voldemort's bloody pet snake, didn't I?" he replied with conviction. "Mind you, I didn't do any of it to be a hero, but it was the only leverage I had with this law. Why should Hannah and I both be miserable? Anyhow, I would have married her with or without his blessing."

The sort of bravery Neville Longbottom possessed was subtle. Draco had always wondered why the insecure wizard was sorted into Gryffindor, but he could see it now. When there was no hope left, Longbottom was the man to step up and give purpose to a seemingly dead cause. Joining Dumbledore's Army, accompanying Potter to the Department of Mysteries during their fifth year, completely disregarding the rules during their seventh year when Death Eaters were running the school, killing Nagini, and now this. All of it made sense.

"I must say, I am completely impressed," Draco admitted with a grin. "Not that it matters much, but you certainly have my respect."

"It means a lot, actually," he crossed the space between them and clapped Draco on the back. "You're alright, Malfoy. I can only hope the rest of my friends feel the same way."

"In time, I'm sure they'll come to understand. It isn't as if Weasley was really with Abbott, and from what I understand, he didn't do much to win her over from the start. You are a good man, Longbottom, and when it all comes down to it, you'll get to wake up each day next to the woman you love," Draco said thoughtfully.

"-Er, thanks," he stammered in surprise, dropping into the chair Draco had come to think of as Potter's since he'd begun staying in the hospital. In fact, he was quite sure that the two of them had truly become friends over these past couple of weeks. It was strange how this tragedy had brought them closer, well beyond the point where they started by simply tolerating one another. "I tried to tell Ron once, you know," Longbottom said. "It didn't go over too well. Everything spilled out like a drunken rant, and I'm pretty sure he was too pissed to understand what I was trying to say."

"I'm sure Potter will be able to help you once he—"

Suddenly, Hermione's hand tightened around Draco's and he turned just in time to catch her wide-eyed stare, a small gasp escaping her lips.

"You're not going to yell at me, are you Hermione?" Longbottom asked, ready to be chastised as if she hadn't been on the brink of death a mere fortnight ago.

"You've come back to me!" Draco rejoiced, embracing her and placing a chaste kiss on her forehead. The sting of fresh tears pricked at his eyes as relief washed through him. When he pulled back with a watery grin, he noticed the fear clear on her face. "It's alright, love," he assured Hermione as her eyes widened, "Potter caught the wizard that did this to you almost immediately. Of course, he did. How can you doubt Saint Potter?" he laughed, hoping to calm her.

"If you're angry with me, I understand," Longbottom was babbling, but Hermione and Draco ignored him.

"Is it the scruff that is throwing you off?" Draco rubbed the overgrown stubble on his face. "It was Gin's idea. She swore you'd like it, but I can shave it off," he replied, watching as she took in his face yet remained silent. "You've got to be kidding me," Draco chuckled. "You're worried about your case, aren't you?" he tickled her ribs, but she seemed too stunned to notice. "As soon as I had my wits about me, I owled the Wizengamot on your behalf, and they said they'd push back the hearing for now," he explained. "The slimy bastards weren't specific about when, but we'll deal with it as it comes. We're a team, you and I." It seemed as if the more he spoke, the more confused she became.

"Why—," she hesitated, closing her eyes tightly and opening them again slowly. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Hermione finally asked. It hadn't been long that she'd been calling him Draco, but hearing his surname on her lips felt like an unexpected blow.

"Where else would I be but here waiting for you to come back to me?" he could hear the defeat in his own voice.

"It was you all this time? You were the one reading to me, holding me," she looked down at their clasped hands, "talking to me." It wasn't a question, yet her brow was furrowed in confusion.

"Of course! I love you, Hermione," he declared. "There was no other place I'd be but by your side."

"How can you…love me? I don't understand…you hate me, my kind," she pulled her hand from his, and he felt his heart break. How could she still think he felt that way?

"Hermione, what year do you think it is?" Longbottom interrupted, grasping the situation before Draco could even begin to comprehend what was happening. Her gaze landed on the Gryffindor wizard for the first time since her eyes opened.

"Neville? You look different."

"I've grown up. We all have," he whipped his finger in a circle between the three of them. "What year is it, Hermione?" he asked again gently.

"I want to say 1999, but I'm guessing that can't be right," she hesitated as she shifted her gaze between Draco and Longbottom, both shaking their heads with concern. Before either one of them could respond, a team of Healers entered the room, shooing the wizards from the room as they cast diagnostics and attended to the confused witch.

November 25, 2003

As she pushed her breakfast around her plate, Hermione reflected on her present circumstance. Luckily, the St. Mungo's staff expected a full recovery within the next few weeks or months, but in the meantime, she felt completely lost. At the time the Healers had cleared her room the previous evening, it had felt like a bit of relief even if it left her with a plethora of burning questions. By the time the Medi-witches had explained to her what had happened, she was more confused than ever. Nearly four years of her life were simply gone. More curious still was how she had awoken in a world where Draco Malfoy was in love with her.

Suddenly, the door to her room opened, and a Healer happily marched in followed by a disheveled Malfoy, who appeared as if he hadn't slept at all, and Harry wearing a bright grin. As if things weren't confusing enough, she suddenly noticed her best friend wasn't alone. He was hand-in-hand with none other than Pansy Parkinson.

"What did I turn myself into when we used Polyjuice during second year?" Hermione demanded, her wand pointed at Harry when she spotted the impossible couple.

"Are you sure you want me to share that information in front of everyone here?" he'd chuckled, unaware of how misplaced Hermione truly felt. She glared at him. Something in her appearance must have alerted him that something wasn't right, and his eyes softened a bit before he responded, "Millicent Bulstrode's cat…at least the hair came off of her robes."

No one would know that except for Harry and Ron. That night she'd threatened them both within an inch of their lives, so she knew neither of her boys had ever shared her embarrassing blunder with anyone else.

Hermione had to get a grip. She reminded herself that it was 2003 and looked around at Harry, Malfoy, and Parkinson; they all did seem a little older than she remembered. No matter how logical this explanation might be, she couldn't reconcile the way things had changed. What had happened in the past few years that made Malfoy look at her as if she hung the moon?

"What happened to Ginny and Ron? Did they…are they well?" Hermione wondered, directing her attention toward Harry, the only person she trusted among this group. The last thing she remembered, she and Ron were back to being friends after their awkward breakup, and Ginny and Harry were starting their careers.

"They're fine, Hermione," Harry smiled. "Gin married Theo Nott just a couple of days ago actually, and Ron is probably almost exactly the same as you remember him. We are all well," he kissed Parkinson on the cheek, and she melted into him. If she hadn't hated the girl so much while they were growing up, she'd think it was quite sweet. They both appeared to be very happy together

"Please tell me that you remember us becoming friends!" Parkinson exclaimed, with a hopeful expression on her face. "If I remember correctly, it was in November of 1999, just after your firm had you start at the Ministry."

"We're…friends?"Hermione asked incredulously. She hadn't meant it to come out so harshly, but she couldn't imagine the two of them becoming actual friends.

"Yes, we are!" Parkinson snapped, immediately affronted by the question.

"Don't yell at her, Pans," Malfoy scolded the Slytherin witch in a low, menacing tone. "It's not Hermione's fault she can't remember," he added, shaking his head as if he was reminding himself as well. For the first time, Hermione allowed herself to truly look at him. His eyes were rimmed red, and his clothes seemed rumpled as if he'd slept in them the night before. Had he slept in the waiting room? When he noticed her staring at him, he offered her a half-smile. It made his face handsome, and she wanted to catalog all his features she'd never seen before, at least that she could recall.

"Have you any idea how much work it took just to teach her to walk in heels properly? I can't go back to that," Pansy whined dramatically, pulling Hermione's attention away from Malfoy. The notion that she would ever wear such impractical shoes to work was laughable. "I know that look, Hermione Granger!" Parkinson pointed at her. "You will not wear those horrid non-slip boats you used to wear before I got to you. You have no fashion sense at all. You know it, and I know it!" she crossed her arms over her chest, daring Hermione to argue. The two witches stared at one another in a battle of wills.

"Let it be, for now, Pans," Draco warned calmly. "You can play dress-up later," he smirked at his friend, and she stuck her tongue out at him. "Right now, let's focus on the next step," he turned to Hermione. "St. Mungo's is releasing you today, so you can go home with Potter and—"

"That's a bit of a problem," Harry interrupted with a guilty expression. "You see, we, -er…we thought it would be nice to move her things to your new home, so she could settle in once she was out of the hospital..." he trailed off with a shrug.

Up until this point, Hermione hadn't even considered her current living situation. Judging by the beautiful ring on her finger, she and Malfoy were engaged though she was almost positive that wizards didn't use engagement rings. Her train of thought began steering off the tracks, and she could no longer hear the other three speaking around her. If they were to be married, that probably meant that they'd been intimate. As far as she knew, Ron was the only man to ever have seen her naked. Images of having sex with Malfoy sent a wave of heat straight through her, embarrassment mixed with a bit of curiosity. She nearly yelped when she felt the warmth of his hand on her own.

"Hermione, I understand how coming home with me probably makes you feel uncomfortable," Malfoy said gently. "You can stay in our bedroom with Kuma, and I'll stay in one of the guest suites," he assured her. "Though it may mean little to you now, I promise that you won't be in any danger except for possibly getting lost in our library," he grinned at her knowingly.

"Kuma?"

"Ah, yes. She is our little half-Kneazle kitten," his smile widened fondly. "You might not remember her, but she certainly misses you."

"What about Crooks?" Hermione asked, suddenly aware that he'd made no mention of her longtime companion. With a heavy sigh, Malfoy turned his gaze, pleading with Harry for help.

"I'm so sorry," her best friend apologized, quickly moving to stand beside her. "He passed in his sleep a couple of years ago," Harry admitted, moving to hug her tightly while Malfoy squeezed her hand. There was no way to stop the wave of emotion that came flooding over her as she mourned the loss of her pet along with her lost memories. Everything had changed, and she wasn't ready to learn about the world she'd forgotten.

November 26, 2003

"A marriage law!" Hermione screeched as Draco explained to her how they'd become a couple. Though she looked small sitting across from him on their plush sofa, surrounded by decorative pillows and a hideous red and gold quilt, her sharp posture and wit made her larger than life. He'd been worried when they'd first arrived the previous evening, and she'd been hesitant to speak to him. She'd opted to go straight to bed, so it was a welcome surprise to find her waiting for him in the sitting room when he woke up. For the better part of the morning, he'd answered her questions about their life. "We've just come through a bloody war, and they expect us to repopulate the numbers we lost? It isn't right! How could I have agreed to this?" she demanded, working herself into a justified rage. Out of nowhere, Kuma sprung from the nest of pillows and quilt, startled by the harsh tone. Hermione's face softened, and the little kitten took her time settling back into the witch's lap.

Draco nodded in response, wishing he could cross the room to comfort her. At least before she was attacked, she'd had time to adjust to the marriage law. He couldn't imagine how difficult it must be for her to wake up into a completely different life and everything being sprung on her without any memory of how she had gotten to this point.

"Weren't you angry when you found out you were being forced to marry someone…, especially, someone you hate?" Hermione asked, searching his face for answers while unconsciously twisting her engagement ring. Much to his relief, she hadn't immediately ripped it off when she'd first noticed it on her finger. It felt significant that she continued to wear it despite everything and provided him with some hope that they would make it through this difficult time.

"At first, I was upset by our match simply because I didn't think it would ever be possible for you to forgive me,…but I don't think I ever really hated you," he said as he contemplated his next words. "…jealous, perhaps, but never hate…especially, once I learned the true meaning of the word," he admitted reluctantly, dropping his gaze to the floor. His confession was met with silence. All those years ago, the Dark Lord taught him exactly what it was to hate, and Draco decided too late that he wanted no part of it. When he peeked back at Hermione, her head was tilted to the side, gazing at him thoughtfully as if she'd caught a glimpse of the man he was now. "You know, the months leading up to when we were assigned, I'd seen you around a few times and found myself drawn to you," he grinned, scratching the back of his neck nervously.

"I can't imagine that to be true," she looked away, her face flushed.

"It is true. You're beautiful, Hermione," Draco said earnestly once her eyes landed back on him. "And I know you're rather pleased with how I turned out as well," he smirked, easily dodging the pillow she tossed toward his face.

"Well, that's hardly something to build on, you prat," she scoffed as she pursed her lips in an attempt to suppress her smile.

"Funny enough, that's what you thought the last time you found out we were to be married…that is until you went and fell in love with me," Draco shrugged playfully as she threw another decorative pillow his way. Her arms folded across her chest with a huff when he'd caught it and made a show of fluffing it and shoving it behind his head.

"You're insufferable," she rolled her eyes even though she was smiling.

"At any rate, Potter informed me that you didn't like the idea of a marriage law but saw the need for it based on the statistics of the declining magical population Minister Shacklbolt provided you," Draco explained. "He said you appreciated the way the Ministry was offering an actual shot at love," he cleared his throat, turning away a bit ashamed of what she was probably thinking of their match. It felt strange describing the process to her, but she listened intently as he told her about all the tests those subjected to the marriage law had to go through.

Just when he thought he'd started to gain her trust, Blinky entered the room, and Hermione's face fell as if she was completely appalled. Knowing her feelings about House-elves, he probably should have informed her about Blinky before taking her home, but he hadn't thought of it until now.

"Blinky will make Mistress as comfortable as possible," the little House-elf chirped bouncing up and down excitedly as the witch gaped at her.

"Are you hungry?" Malfoy asked Hermione. "You may not remember our discussion about Blinky being part of our family and living in our flat with us, but I'm sure she'll get you anything you might desire," he said, turning to wink at her to convey how upset Blinky would become if she were rejected.

"Mistress is worried about Master's treatment of Blinky, but Master Draco is a most caring boss. Mistress will want to know that Blinky is a free elf and works for wages," Blinky stepped closer, reaching out to hold Hermione's hand as if sensing her discomfort. "Mistress and Blinky are friends," she sniffled, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"I suppose I am a little hungry," Hermione finally said, obviously trying to hide her reluctance. Before she could say another word, the elf Disapparated with a pop.

"Your morals are slipping, Granger," Draco smirked. "It took you nearly two weeks to allow Blinky to serve you when you met her the first time," he chuckled lightly. A wave of indignation passed over her before she realized he was joking with her.

"I don't recall you being so clever, Malfoy," she replied as she softly stroked Kuma's ears.

"Don't forget charming and handsome," he added, resting his feet on the coffee table that separated them. His movement seemed to shock her, and her eyes traveled curiously from his bare feet to his flannel pajama pants, up to his long sleeve t-shirt, and stopped on his disheveled hair.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing you like this," Hermione mused, shaking her head in disbelief. "I've never seen you so relaxed."

"Did you think I slept in a suit?" Draco laughed, running his fingers through his blond locks out of habit. Suddenly, a tinge of pink crept up her cheeks, but before he could analyze her strange reaction further, Blinky reappeared to serve them breakfast.

November 27, 2003

Ms. Granger,

Regarding your request to move the hearing date of the Werewolf Reformation Legislation Act 1738 due to your recent personal injury, the Wizengamot has rescheduled to hear your proposal for the reformation of current werewolf legislation in Courtroom 3 at 9 a.m. on December 17, 2003.

Sincerely,

Lionel Porter, Order of Merlin, First Class

Chief Warlock, Wizengamot, Department of Magical Law Enforcement

Ministry of Magic, Floor 2

A/N - I hope you enjoyed this chapter of the story. I originally planned on making her go home with Harry and leaving Draco to sulk by himself, but ultimately, I decided she would learn to trust him in a different way. Even though she is confused, she trusts Harry, and I'm sure the way Draco acts toward Hermione helps her see how he's changed even if she's not completely sure about him yet.

As always, let me know what you think in the comments!