October 5th

Every cell in Hermione's body cried out in pain. Though not nearly as sharp as when she was still back in the damned cottage underneath the knives and wands of the two idiots she'd somehow managed to allow to trap her, she wasn't completely healed when she woke up. Bright sunshine shone through an open window straight into her eyes. As much as she wanted to complain about how thoughtless it was to leave the windows uncovered, she couldn't. Whoever was taking care of her obviously saved her life.

The softness of the sheets told her immediately whose flat she was in. If she made it out of the current war alive, she was going to have to get the name of whatever shop Draco bought his bed linens from. She smiled to herself, afraid to chuckle lest she hurt herself. How did Draco even know where to find her? And how was his timing so bloody perfect? Well, she thought. Perhaps not that perfect. She'd almost died. If the enigmatic wizard hadn't found her when he did…

She stopped her line of thinking from traveling too far down a road it shouldn't. It didn't matter what might have happened. It didn't. Draco was somehow able to make to the cottage she was tied up in and save her before Aubin and William Wood were able to kill her. Nothing else mattered. All dwelling on what could have been would do was drive her mad. She didn't need any additional help in that endeavor.

When she felt strong enough to move around, she carefully lifted up the bedcovers. Dressed in one of Draco's soft vests, she couldn't see the wounds that the horrible monsters inflicted on her. She checked underneath the fabric to find the slashes that Aubin made across her torso were covered in thick bandages. After her savior brought her unconscious to his flat, he'd tended all of her wounds and made her drink foul healing potions. The acrid taste of the concoctions still sat on her tongue. More than just getting her out of the cottage, he'd clearly saved her life more than once. She wasn't going to survive long without help. Too much of her blood had been drained.

"Oh, good. You're awake."

There was evident relief in Draco's voice when he entered his bedroom just a few short minutes after she woke up. Tension in his shoulders dissipated when he saw her eyes open. Had he really been worried about her? He held several vials in his hand. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he started uncorking them and pushing them into her hand. Seeing no reason not to trust the wizard at that point thanks to all he'd already done, she swallowed them without question. If he wanted her dead, he'd already had plenty of opportunity.

"I wasn't sure when you would wake up. Or, honestly, if you would wake up. I didn't want to take you to St. Mungo's. There'd be too many questions asked and after what you told me happened the last time you were there, it's clear it's not safe there any longer."

The potions helped to dull some of the pain she was still experiencing. Days would likely pass before she felt like herself again. It had been a long time since she'd been put through so much physical strain. Though she still felt very weak, she was already feeling much better than she had in the cottage. Whatever he'd done for her worked.

"What happened? How did you even know where to find me?"

Draco took the empty potions vials from her hand and set them on the table next to the bed. He took a deep breath before answering her question. It truly was a miracle that he was able to rescue her at the perfect time. How did he always seem to know when she needed him to arrive? He had the same uncanny ability to sense she was at her wit's end when she was staying in the Resistance village. Every time she was ready to walk away permanently, he would approach her and say just the right words to keep her from leaving. When she was being rescued, in those few moments she was able to stay conscious, she assumed that her rescuer was Antonin. Who else would have a reason to be there in the middle of the night?

"I tracked you there. I'd tried to find you a couple of weeks ago after you came to my flat. The spell kept bringing me near there, but I couldn't even see the house or get close to it. Thought I'd give it a try again just in case you were somewhere else. I was able to compile a fairly detailed list like you asked for."

"And you just had to bring it to me in the middle of the night?"

His cheeks flushed the lightest pink and she bit back a smile. There were few reasons to show up unannounced at a person's house in the middle of the night. For being such a talented tracker who was used to being fairly sneaky in his duties, he was being all too transparent. She knew the answer before he even gave it.

"Yes, well, I selfishly hoped that you'd be so grateful for the list that you and I could give it another go."

Laughter bubbled out of her chest at his honesty. Almost immediately she regretted it. Sharp pain in her side proved that she was right about having broken bones. Whether it was due to the repeated bouts of the Cruciatus Curse or the repeated punching and kicking the wizards enjoyed, she knew at least one of her ribs was broken.

"Careful! You're still healing."

Draco tutted after her like an annoyed mother hen. Smoothing down the bedcovers she'd mussed, he did what he could to make her feel comfortable. She knew that the fact that he'd put her inside his own bed, and not in the guest bed as he did the last time he slipped a potion into her tea, was significant. Was he trying to prove to her that he meant what he said about caring for her? She tried to push the thoughts out of her mind. That was hardly the time to think of the inconvenience of a wartime romance. There were other much more important issues to worry about than whether or not a wizard fancied her.

"I didn't have any Skele-Gro, but I'll make sure to get some today. I thought you might have broken bones, but I wasn't sure. Diagnostic spells aren't my strength and I was mostly worried about getting the bleeding to stop. I must've poured three blood replenishing potions down you when you first got here. I should probably get some more, but I don't want the apothecary to be too suspicious."

Rambling because he was nervous, Hermione found him endearing. She could only imagine what he'd gone through in the time from taking her out of the cottage to getting her to his flat. It must have been terribly frightening for him to be all alone. Though it took much of her remaining strength to do so, she lifted her hand to rest her palm against his cheek. He calmed at the simple touch.

"Thank you for saving my life, Draco. I… I don't know how or why you found me, but I'm very glad that you did."

"You were all alone. Somebody had to do it. Your husband certainly…"

He stopped himself before he said more than he should. There wasn't any need for him to continue. She knew what he wanted to say. Antonin should have been there with her. She shouldn't have been left alone when she'd only just been almost murdered. As angry as she knew she could've been at Antonin, she just couldn't summon up the emotion. She was the one who told him to go, who practically threw him out of the house that wasn't even hers. If she hadn't insisted that he leave, he would've been there and there was no way that his brother and William Wood could've gotten close enough to her to give her so much as a paper cut. She would have to take the responsibility for that.

"So you tried to track me again?"

"Yes, and that time I was able to see the cottage. Couldn't see it when I tried before."

A sadness settled over Hermione that she was sure he didn't miss. He was too perceptive to not notice any change in here. Staring at her for a few beats, he sighed.

"Abbott was your Secret-Keeper, wasn't she?"

She could only nod. Talking about Hannah was too hard. Maybe one day she would be able to do so freely, but not yet. She still felt a tremendous guilt about her part in the woman's murder. Thorfinn was right. She was cursed. Everyone that was foolish or unlucky enough to be in her life suffered. Draco gently squeezed her hand.

"Shame about her. I always liked her… even in school."

Seeing an opportunity for levity and a chance to lighten the mood ever so slightly, Hermione smiled.

"You fancied a Hufflepuff?"

"Shh, don't tell anyone. Wouldn't want to damage my reputation."

His cheeky wink made her laugh again. Aware of the damage to her ribs, she was able to keep from injuring herself further. Whether he realized it or not, he was actually helping to keep her calm. She appreciated his efforts. Somehow she didn't feel nearly as frightened as she did.

"I'm glad I entered when I did. You weren't going to last much longer. They were out of their element. Didn't know what they were doing. Neither one of them knew how dumb it was to turn their backs to the door. I was able to stun them both thanks to the element of surprise. They didn't even see me coming. Fools."

"And I'm glad they were amateurs and I'm glad that you were randy."

He chuckled as he gently kissed her forehead.

"You're staying here until you're completely healed, even if I have to tie you to the bed."

She couldn't resist the urge to tease him again.

"That could be fun."

"I should've tied you to my bed months ago and never let you leave."

The air in the room grew thick with tension. It wasn't the first time he made a comment about wishing he'd been able to keep her tucked away in his flat. She didn't regret leaving. Not only was she able to save Aberforth Dumbledore from an early death, she was able to discover a side to her husband that she didn't know existed. She'd also uncovered the memory charms and spells that Rodolphus implanted in her mind. As much as part of her would've liked to have been able to stay in his flat longer, she was glad she left.

"I meant what I said earlier, Draco. Thank you. I owe you my life."

He cleared his throat, uncomfortable with how the conversation turned. Would he always feel that way about her gratitude? She thought it likely. Malfoys were a strange breed and he was no exception.

"Rest. You've been through quite an ordeal. I'm going to leave to get some more potions."

Hermione watched him leave the room, convinced that she would never understand the man. She owed him so much. Turning on her side to do as he suggested and rest, her eyes landed on the table next to the bed where he'd placed the empty potions vials. On prominent display where it would've been impossible for her to miss it, she saw her beaded bag with her wand lying on top of it. Not only did he put himself at further risk the night he saved her by retrieving the bag he knew she always carried, but by leaving them next to her, he was letting it be known that she wasn't his prisoner. She could leave any time she wished. Unable to keep her eyes open any longer as the potions she imbibed began to take effect, she was comforted by that reminder. She was there because he wanted her there and no other reason.