DISCLAIMER: The author does not own any recognizable characters, features, or anything regarding the Harry Potter series.

Chapter 4

Hermione's brain couldn't process any of the events right in front of her. A million questions were swarming around in her head, yet no answers presented themselves. How did he get injured? Why had he gone into the muggle world? Was it a coincidence that he had shown up at the hospital she worked at only the day after they had crashed into each other? Why did he look so innocent and cute while he was sleeping (or unconscious)? And had she actually asked herself that last question about the ferret? Unfortunately, Hermione couldn't find the solutions to her problems so quickly. Even though she still hated him as much as she did before, she wouldn't leave him to die at her mercy. That simply wasn't her.

Throwing on her lab coat, she quickly set to work as there was no time to lose. "Check his vitals," she ordered Alice, as she frantically picked out her tools, making sure Malfoy was numb, and in place to be operated on. She told her assistant to call for more surgeons while at the same time clearing up the blood around his head, trying to identify the problem. However, she had a gnawing fear that there was nothing she could do in this instance. Part of the reason she had sent Alice away was because she suspected that this was the work of a wizard. After all, there would always be those radical few that still believed purebloods were not to mingle with muggles. But the effects that were on Malfoy's brain were unlike anything she had seen before.

Whispering multiple healing spells that she had acquired at her time during Hogwarts, she managed to rid all bloody areas, clean up her patient, and place temporary healing spells on his brain. She wasn't exactly sure what she would be able to do, but for now it would have to suffice. Hermione made sure that his pulse was normal, and his vitals in check, before announcing over the speaker that the man in room 356 was stabilized. Not wanting to risk anything, she conjured a chair and placed herself in a comfortable position, wondering how the events of her new year were becoming so disorientated.

In just two days, everything she had ever thought she was in control of had simply vanished. Just as she had been severing ties from everything in her childhood, it had crashed down all upon her without a moment's notice, and now she was concerned with the man that had tormented her since she was 11 years old. And that very man just happened to have almost died the day after they had run into each other when she decided to gain a piece of her childhood back. And that very man also just happened to have collapsed in front of the hospital Hermione was in charge in, and that too on the first day she decided to come into work early. Was it all just a coincidence, or part of something bigger?

Hermione was just about ready to succumb to her tiredness, even though it being only 10 o'clock in the morning, when she noticed the first signs of movement in the so far stiff body of Malfoy. His fingers started to curl, and his knuckles cracked before he fluttered his eyelids open, and gave a weak grunt. Turning his head, he seemed shocked as his gray irises widened at the sight of her, who was staring back intently at him. "What are you doing here?" Malfoy croaked, and coughed violently as the first words came out of his mouth.

She didn't realize it, but Hermione looked like a mess sitting there on the chair in front of Malfoy's bed. Her hair was wild from her odd position on the seat, and since she hadn't done much to her face when she went to work today, there were bags under her eyes. She looked nothing like what she had when Malfoy had run into her – or rather when she had run into him – yesterday at Flourish and Botts. Yet Malfoy thought she looked like an angel, sent to help him from his pain. And boy, had he suffered a lot of pain when they had shot at him.

"I think the better question is what are YOU doing here Malfoy? You show up at 7:00 in the morning in front of a muggle hospital I work, in the muggle world, one day after you see me in a wizarding library in the wizarding world, on the one day I just happen to decide to go to work early almost dead." Hermione retorted, a bit irritated at the fact that he seemed to be blaming her for saving his life.

Malfoy didn't say anything in response; he just turned around to lay on his back once more and closed his eyes. They stayed like that for a few minutes, in an uncomfortable silence, until he spoke. "You couldn't save me, could you?"

What he said momentarily startled her. How did he know? Or more importantly, did he know what had happened to him? Did he know who? Did he know why? And she still had questions about the weird turn of fate she and Malfoy had experienced. Had he told anyone at all that he had seen her yesterday? Did anyone know she had returned to the Wizarding World, albeit for a few minutes. Questions were swarming around in her brain, but she didn't want to burden him with all her thoughts when he had just woken up from almost dying. She knew that would probably drive him over the edge, and she didn't want to risk the civil behavior between the right now. But she had to know one thing, for his sake.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, what happened to you?"

A/N:

I know it has been a long time since I have updated, but I'm moving into a different house, and these past few months have been very hectic. This story is NOT abandoned, I will just keep updating less frequently. Also, if you managed to catch it, the room number Draco is in is 356, because those are his initials DLM, on the phone keypad :). And I think that this entire story will be in Hermione's POV. It makes it easier to convey the romance between them, and it's easier for me to write. Although I will probably have snippets of Draco's thoughts within the chapters, such as this one.

Just know that this story is not considered abandoned until I explicitly say so. So even if I don't update for a year, it is still not abandoned! :) Thanks guys. Please read and review, and remember, this story will keep on continuing.