The hospital

Blaise and I stayed by Malfoy's bedside silently waiting for something, anything to happen. The silence between us was not an uncomfortable one at all but rather a patient one. I noticed Zabini would smirk every now and then if he caught me glancing at Malfoy's peaceful form for a moment too long. I could tell he was a good friend to Draco, probably one of the only real friends he had. I couldn't help thinking over his comment. Did I like Malfoy? Was I hiding that fact from myself? I couldn't deny that we were closer than I ever imagined was even possible. I just didn't understand how Zabini had been so sure when even I wasn't. I couldn't deny I had felt my heart drop to the ground when I'd see him fall but I thought that was just out of guilt. So what could Zabini see that I couldn't, was I really being that blind? I tried to think of the things I liked about Malfoy. I liked how intelligent he was, the smartass always had an answer for me. I liked how he always put Scorpius first, not many dads his age would be able to take on the task alone. I liked his confidence now that he'd toned it down from being obnoxious. I guess I could say these sort of things about all of my friends so what made Malfoy so different? Maybe because he'd never been my friend. I looked across at Malfoy's soft blonde locks as they gently graced his face upon this realisation. Malfoy and I had jumped from enemies to whatever this was in months, and I couldn't deny that had been mostly due to how much he had changed during the war but even so it was unusual for me to believe in someone and trust them as quickly as I already knew I trusted him. Yes we fought a lot but looking back most of our fights had been a result of my own frustration that I couldn't get him to open up to me. My head hurt thinking about it all. A part of me knew the Draco I liked was the real Malfoy, not the one I'd grown up with.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by a deep groan as Draco squeezed my hand. Zabini jumped up to get Madame Pomefry as Malfoy blinked a few times wincing.

"Hermione?" He muttered looking at me with a face I couldn't read.

"I'm here." I replied softly trying not to speak too loudly, I couldn't only Imagine his head must hurt after that fall.

"Well, you didn't want me to win." He croaked causing my heart to flip as my guilt flooded back.

"I'm so sorry… I shouldn't have said anything… I was just…" Draco smirked and squeezed my hand once more. Trying, and failing, to lift himself up a little.

"I'm joking, where's Scorp?" He added looking around quickly as my heart stopped racing at last.

"He's with Harry, they'll bring him back in the morning, he's probably fast asleep now." I said referencing how late it was now. Harry and Ginny had been by earlier and offered to take Scorpius back to the common room and stay with him. I was so grateful for them both helping out, it was something I really hadn't expected.

"Good, he likes Potter." Draco said absentmindedly as Madame Pomefry came over and started explaining everything to Draco, how he wouldn't be able to lift anything heavier than a textbook for a few weeks to stop his ribs being damaged any further. She'd managed to fix them but couldn't make them back to normal just yet so he'd have to take it slow. Zabini and I watched as Malfoy listened and nodded along with Pomefry before she hurried off and told us we could stay for tonight only.

"I guess I'll need a bit more help with Scorp, I can't even lift him now." Draco muttered sounding a bit disheartened. If there was one thing I'd learnt about Draco in recent weeks but more than anything I knew that accepting help was hard for him, so having to ask for it probably felt like dragging a child out of a sweet shop.

"I'll help everyway you need." I replied quickly trying to ease him by making sure he wasn't bothering me. Zabini snorted from beside me causing Draco to give him a quizzical look.

"A word?" I snapped grabbing Zabini by his arm and pulling him out of the hospital wing. I made sure we were out of earshot before spinning around and glaring into Zabini's dark eyes as he laughed.

"Oh come on you should've known I'd laugh at that." He said quicky in a feeble attempt to justify himself.

"Look I don't know what this is that I'm feeling. I don't want him finding out because helping him with Scorpius has been the one sign of hope I've really had since the war and I really really don't want to lose that. Telling him will just screw everything up." I blurted, sounding somewhat panicked. Zabini's eyes went wide as he watched my meltdown but I knew he could understand where I was coming from. He reached forward and put a hand on each shoulder. I felt calm wash over me knowing how relaxed he was.

"Hey, I won't say a thing, It's not my place. Just know, you don't have to be afraid of feeling like that towards him." It was remarkable how calm Zabini was, it shocked me that someone like him had ever been friends with Malfoy before the war. They seemed so different but I suppose it didn't change who they were born into.

"Thanks…sorry I just got a bit built up. I'm not afraid. Everything is so confusing." I tried feebly to explain myself. Trying to take a deep breath I knew I had to relax myself. I was blowing this completely out of proportion for no reason.

"How about this, I'll help out with Scorpius too be around if you need someone to talk to, no judgement and full confidentiality?" I stared wide eyed at Zabini for a second. I studied his face to see if he was joking but his face was the picture of sincerity. Why would he do something like that?

"You'd do that?" I asked slowly watching as he smirked. If there was one thing he had in common with Draco it was clearly that stupid smirk, it was almost as if they taught it in young wizards school or something.

"Of course, don't know if you've noticed but I don't exactly have many friends, one more can't hurt. Draco won't guess a thing, we'll call it tutoring. Although we may have to start on a first name basis." I couldn't help but laugh at Zabini's little speech.

"Deal. Let's get back before he has a tantrum. Thanks Zab…Blaise." I nodded quickly before turning and walking back into the hospital room feeling significantly less stressed. Draco gave us both a quizzical look as we strolled back in and I could tell by his face that he had taken note of the smile on my face.

"Anyone want to tell me what's going on?" He asked nonchalantly. It was evident that he was making an effort to sound casual.

"Hermione's agreed to tutor me Draco, finally got the brains of Hogwarts to agree to it." Draco raised his eyebrows as I smirked at the ease with which Blaise handled Draco. I could tell Draco was intrigued by what was going on but equally would never willingly admit his curiosity. Draco sat in silence as Blaise and I joked for a little bit about how much Draco would hate asking for help.

The next morning Harry and Ginny made their way in with little Scorpius who giggled loudly when he saw Draco. Taking Scorpius out of Harry's arms I lifted him gently on the bed and watched as Draco's attention was taken as he smiled at his son.

"Uh Zabini can I have a word?" Harry muttered quickly to which Blaise nodded and left with him as Ginny sat next to me.

"Someone's popular" Draco muttered in what I'm fairly sure he thought was a discrete manner as in the next second he was smiling back at Scorpius once more. Was it possible that Draco was jealous of the attention his best friend had been receiving?

"A smart and fussy son you've got there Draco" Ginny said pulling me from my thoughts once more. Draco glanced across at Ginny for the first time and smiled. Again it definitely felt strange to see Draco Malfoy being pleasant to my friends.

"Personally I think he gets his fussiness from his mother's side but a lot of people seem to have the opinion that it might be me that's fussy." Ginny laughed as Draco smirked once more and Scorpius looked between us all slightly confused.

"I can't possibly imagine where they get that Idea from." I muttered softly, smirking defiantly as Draco glared at me and feigned annoyance and Ginny snorted.

******End****

Sorry for the long wait! Hope you've enjoyed more coming soon! xoxo