A/N: Sorry about the wait, I had a ton of homework and my karate test. Yes thank you, thank you, I am now a yellow belt! Anyway, back to the usual, I don't own Harry Potter and friends, blah blah blah, I don't intend on stealing J.K. Rowling's work, blah blah blah, don't sue, please! Oh, and before I forget, one more blah, okay so, blah. Well, I guess that was two blahs, but I don't care, it's fun to say, or I guess type, oh well. Please R&R!

Chapter 4

"Heroism"

Draco woke up the next morning to discover he was coated in sweat. He looked at the Muggle contraption next to his bed called a "clock" and it read 9:30 AM, what ever that meant. He must have eventually fallen asleep after all, but he had no idea how that was possible, considering the Dark Lord just invaded his mind with Legimency.

Draco groggily went upstairs and found out that everyone was already awake. Mrs. Granger was cooking breakfast, Mr. Granger was reading the BBC, and Hermione was reading The Daily Prophet in pajamas with pictures of flying books on them. Draco awkwardly said a quiet "Good morning" as he walked in. Mrs. Granger sat him down and gave him some bacon; he thanked her and started eating. Mr. Granger was trying to act as if Draco wasn't there until Hermione asked Draco to talk in private. Mr. Granger narrowed his eyes, but did not object as his daughter led Draco out of the room.

"What's this all about Granger?" asked Draco.

"Well, I think we should start planning how we approach Harry and Ron about this," Hermione replied. As Draco was trying to think of a plan, Hermione was thinking about different matters… "He looks so cute when he's thinking…Wait! Don't think like that Hermione, you're dating Ron! Besides, Harry would never approve!" While Hermione was fighting with herself, Draco had an idea.

"How about me saving you from getting killed?" he said.

"WHAT?!" she yelled.

"We put you in fake danger, then I save you in front of them, that will prove I've changed and I can fight on your side and be accepted. But under no circumstances will I promise to be friends with Potty and Weasel," he explained.

"Good idea, but don't worry, I don't think they'll want to be friends with the Ferret any time soon," she commented. Draco turned a deep red but smiled all the same. Later that day they decided on Hermione trying out a broom in Diagon Alley with Draco standing in the distance. When she fell, Draco was to catch her and help her because Hermione was to "pass out". With their plan in their mind, they went to bed.

The next day Hermione and Draco were up bright and early preparing for their trip to Diagon Alley. They left at around 11:00 AM using the floo network. Draco went first because Hermione was afraid her father would have another little "chat" with him if he was left alone. Draco arrived at Borgin and Blukes and Hermione turned up in Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. They had planned this so it wouldn't seem they left together. Hermione instantly saw Harry and Ron testing out the new and improved Skiving Snack boxes, right now they were eating the Butterscotch Bruisers, which gave them black eyes. Hermione hurried over to say hello. They quickly ate the counter-pill to get rid of their bruises. Hermione eyed them suspiciously but didn't say anything.

"Hullo 'Mione," said her boyfriend Ron Weasley as he kissed her cheek. She backed away a bit, but he didn't notice.

"Hi Ron, hi Harry," she replied. Harry said hello and then they got in a conversation about Quidditch. "This is my chance," thought Hermione, "Say it now!" "I was thinking about learning to fly this year," she started, "How about we go over and I can pick out a broom, nothing too fancy though if you don't mind." Ron and Harry beamed, glad that their friend had finally become interested in their favorite past time, or so they thought…

Hermione bought a cheap broom to "try out" and they proceeded towards a field (that Draco and Hermione had agreed on) to teach Hermione to fly. The trio soared into the air on their brooms, though Hermione acted like she had never done it before (she still remembers Madame Hooch's lessons though). After a bit, she told them that she felt comfortable and that maybe they could get off their brooms and criticize her from a distance, they agreed and descended to the ground. That's when Draco reveled himself.

"Why if it isn't old Potty and Weasel," he exclaimed. Harry completely flipped, which was unexpected.

"YOU LYING LITTLE DEATH EATER!" he screamed, "IT'S YOUR FAULT DUMBLEDOOR DIED! I'M GONNA KILL YOU, MALFOY!" Harry raced towards him and gave him a black eye, but not with the Skiving Snackboxes. Draco just backed off and tried to explain, but Harry was too furious. Finally, while Harry was catching his breath, Draco was able to speak up.

"I deserved that, and I'm sorry," he said, Harry looked stunned but Draco continued, "I was just following my father's orders, if I didn't he would have killed me. You have no idea what it's like to have such an abusive, uncaring father."

"You're right, Malfoy, I don't. I don't because I never knew my father, I'm sure he wouldn't be abusive, but how would I know! It's your father's fault he died, your father was a supporter of Voldemort. Not only did Voldemort kill my parents, he's been trying to kill me for 16 years now! How do you think that feels? You were a follower of him and you expect me to except that apology? What kind of excuse is that?" Draco started to reply, but he abruptly looked up when Hermione spoke, acting as if she didn't know she was there.

"Hey look at me I can do loops! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" she yelled. On her third loop she purposely, though it looked accidental, fell right off and started plummeting to the ground. Harry and Ron were frozen in terror, but Draco acted fast, right on que. He dashed right to where she was falling and cast "Petrificus Totalus" which froze her in mid-air. Draco then cast a simple "Wingargium Leviosa" and gently brought her down to the ground, he was unable to save the broom however. It flew away somewhere; it may come back eventually, who knows. Draco was cool, calm, and collected until he saw Hermione's face. It was very, very pale, almost paler than his own if that was even possible. Her eyes were closed, but it didn't look like she was sleeping.

"No, no, please, not Hermione, not Hermione," he cried under his breath. Harry and Ron rushed over in a panic for their friend.

"What did you do to her? Get away!" screamed Ron. Draco unwillingly backed off, but with tears in his eyes. Harry looked at him suspiciously, but turned his attention back to Hermione.

"It's okay Ron, she's just fainted, she'll be fine," said Harry.

"No she won't! A stupid Jr. Death Eater just jinxed her! I'm gonna kill you Malfoy!" yelled Ron as he lunged at Draco.

"I didn't do it! I just saved her life, she passed out herself," Draco said, giving a sad glance at Hermione, "Look, I think you two deserve the whole story now, but not until we get Hermione to St. Mungos." So they apparated to St. Mungo's immediately.

The healer took one look at Hermione and sighed. "Honestly, you would think youth would have more sense these days!" she exclaimed.

"Is she okay, doc?" asked Draco.

"Of course she is! She's just passed out, can't you tell?!" she replied, "She'll just have to wake up on her own, for now I guess we can give her a room to stay in, follow me." They followed her up a few flights of stairs, through many halls, and finally reached a room. The healer put Hermione down on the bed (Hermione was being carried with the and started to leave, "Call me when she wakes up, just press that button next to her bed," she said, then walked out. Draco, Harry, and Ron sat in silence, waiting for their friend to wake. Finally, Harry spoke up,

"Malfoy, do you think you could tell us what really happened while we're waiting?" he said. Draco sighed, but proceeded to speak,

"Well, the Dark Lord was about to kill me, but I ran away," he started (deciding not to tell them the real reason why he was sent there, not yet anyway.), "I was looking for help, and I was scared. Hermione found me and I explained what happened, that I was not my father and I never wish to be, and that she could trust me. She led me to her house, where her parents met me. Hermione told them that my parents were abusive so I ran away, which I guess is partly true. I think Hermione didn't want to tell them the whole story because then they probably wouldn't have let me in…Anyway, they let me stay in a guest room in their basement,"

"Hey! Wait a second," interrupted Ron, "You have been living at my girlfriend's house?! I don't even know her parents yet, and you were the enemy!" he would have gone on longer but Harry stopped him and told Draco to continue. Draco blushed, but then went on,

"Well, I stayed there for a few days before Hermione figured we have to go to Diagon Alley to get our books, she wanted you two to accept me, so we devised a plan. Hermione was going to pretend she wanted to fly, she was going to fall, and then I was to save her. She was supposed to pretend to pass out, but she actually did pass out. That's why I was so worried when I saw her face, and now that brings us back to here, sitting in St. Mungos, waiting for her to wake up." Harry and Ron just stared at him in disbelief, like they can't believe they actually fell for the plan, and the fact that Hermione had actually lied to them. That's when a voice spoke up,

"Where am I?" it said groggily.

"Hermione!" said Draco, Harry, and Ron unanimously as they ran to her bedside.

"'Mione, you passed out, and don't worry, Malfoy explained what happened, what really happened," said Ron. Hermione turned to Draco and said,

"I guess I forgot to tell you that I'm afraid of heights."

"Yeah, I guess you did," he replied. And so, they all just sat there, still in shock over what happened. Hermione was released from St. Mungos a few hours later, and they all went back to Diagon Alley for some butterbeer.