Author's Note: This story is dedicated to my friends Lu Mezenga, who encouraged me to write it and Stefanie, who was the inspiration for my OC. I own anything, all rights go to J.K. Rolling. Read it, enjoy it and review it! :)

Chapter 11: As a Friend.

Draco started to cry even more. Hermione got closer to him and gave him a hug. He leaned into her and laid his head on her shoulder. She held him for a long time until he stopped sobbing. Hermione kept thinking how weird that situation was, but she couldn't stop feeling bad and she wanted to help them so she could never see Draco feeling such sadness. Draco calmed down and let her go.

"Where is he?" he whiped his tears away.

"He's in the ICU for now. We're managing some potions, but we can't inject them through needles, he has to drink them. Believe me, I'm doing my best to wake him up and I'll keep trying until I do so."

"Granger, he's the most important thing in my life. I can't lose him!"

"I won't let anything happen to him. Have some faith."

"Can I see him?"

"I'm sorry. Patients in the ICU have limited visiting time and it's already too late today. Malfoy, why don't you go home? Take a shower, eat something, relax, get some sleep," she took his hands on hers.

"I can't leave him," he looked at her with wet eyes.

"Look, if you stay here, you're only going to hurt yourself. You can't help Scorpius right now. You should go home. If anything happens to him, I'll call you, ok?"

"Maybe you're right, but I didn't want to be alone right now."

"I know it's a hard time, but you can't stay here alone," she said.

"I know. I'm sorry, you're the doctor here. You know what's best. I'll go."

"Can't you call anyone to be with you? Your mom? A friend? Anyone?"

"My mom is not in England anymore. She's living in Ireland trying to fix her life, so I don't think she'll want to receive bad news. And I honestly can't think of any friend that would be willing to be by my side today."

"Really? No one at all?"

"I'm usually with my son, but, you know, I can't be with him right now. And all of my so called friends are just business contacts. I'm not close to any of them. I don't want Scorpius near those people," Draco took a deep breath and looked at Hermione. "Are you staying at the hospital?"

"No, I'm leaving in an hour or so, but if you want me to stay to watch your son, I would do it. There is no problem."

"No, I mean, you've been working for almost 24 hours nonstop. You should be tired."

"I am, but I still don't understand what you want."

"Can you stay with me tonight?"

"I…I'm..." she stuttered. "I'm not sure if I should."

"What's the matter? I'm not asking you to marry me, Granger. I would feel much better if I could count on someone. Can you be by my side tonight? As a friend?"

"As a friend?"

"Yes," he replied.

"Fine, I'll go, but don't try anything with me. Otherwise, I'll make you unable to give Scorpius a brother or a sister."

He smiled and hugged her weakly.

"Thank you."

"Did you know that this is the fourth time you say thank you to me?"

"Are you counting?"

"Kind of," she smiled.

Draco went with Hermione to her office, where she got her purse before they apparated to his street. It was already dark, but it wasn't so late, so there weren't any children outside, but the lights inside the houses were on. Hermione followed Draco to his house and she did the best not to look at Harry's, even though the Potters weren't at home. She didn't want to think that they were resting after a sunny Sunday at the Burrow while she was staying with Draco, which didn't seem such a bad idea anymore, now that she knew him a bit better. At least, she wasn't spending the night alone. Draco welcomed her to his house, which was nothing compared to the Malfoy Manor, but the furniture inside was basically the same, only the best and most expensive objects that came from the manor when they moved. There were a few pictures on the wall of Draco and Scorpius only. The rest of the house was pretty simple and the rooms were located on the second floor.

"So, do you like it?" Draco asked.

"It's very different from the manor. Even though I don't have good memories there, I still remember a few details. How are you handling to live in such a small place?"

"I'm getting used to it. It's been only two weeks since we moved here."

"I see, it seems more comfy than the manor."

"It is and the size to me is not being such a big deal. Now I can spend more time with Scorpius. While he plays on the living room, I work at the table, with no walls between us," he said with tears threatening to fall.

"Why don't you take a shower, while I cook something for us to eat?"

Draco nodded and Hermione went to the kitchen. She looked around and decided to make some soup. She would be laughing at her situation if Scorpius wasn't in a coma. Even ten years after the war, Hermione never thought she would become friends with Draco Malfoy, but she never thought she would break up with Ron either, so she was opening her mind to let life surprise her.

Draco finally got to the kitchen, where Hermione had already set the table and the nice smell of the soup was awakening Draco's stomach. They ate in silence and Draco washed the dishes with a spell.

"I know you're worried, but you can talk to me if you want to," Hermione said.

"Talk about what? Talking won't help my son," he replied.

"But it will help you. I know you won't stop worrying, but it may bring some relief."

Draco didn't answer for a while, but Hermione knew he would open up soon and she was right.

"It's my fault," he finally said.

"What exactly is your fault?"

"I've not taken care of my son."

"You do take care of your son. You can't blame yourself for this. It just happened. You didn't do anything to cause this. Everyone gets sick sometimes. But let's be reasonable. You said you just moved here. Have you cleaned the basement? Or any dirty room? Maybe he opened an old box or closet that might have been closed for a while."

"He was helping me to clean the basement when we moved. The former owner left some stuff there. Do you think Scorpius got sick because of this?"

"Most likely."

"Does it mean that I'm infected too?"

"You don't show any symptoms. Did he open something you didn't? Something that only he opened?"

"Well, yes, there was a box he asked if he could keep it. It was just some papers. I thought it would do no harm."

"Where's this box now?"

"In his room, I guess."

"Do you mind if I take a look? If this box was what caused infection, we have to get it out of the house and disinfect his room, before the funguses spread to the rest of the house."

"How do you intend to do it?"

"We're wizards, right? We can make magic."

"Do you know the right spell?"

"Did you forget who you're talking to?"

"You're right. Let's do it before it's too late."

Hermione agreed and they went to Scorpius's room. Hermione put a protection spell on both of them and they entered the room. It looked like a normal boy's room and on the top of the bedside table, there was the picture of the golden trio. Hermione opened the closet and near the shoes, there was the box. Hermione casted a spell on it and a cloud of dust raised from the box and with a "puf" it disappeared. Hermione took the box and started to look through the papers.

"What is it?" Draco asked.

"These are some parts of the Daily Prophet. Look, it's from the years of the war."

Draco took one of the papers and examined it.

"Here's when Umbrigde became Hogwarts's Headmistress. Look at her face..." he laughed. "What do you got there?"

"Just news about Harry and the war. Here's when Fugde believed Voldemort had returned."

"I didn't know Scorpius was so interested in the war."

"He was not interested in the war. I think he was interested in something more specific."

"Like what?"

"Like what was going on with his family during that time," Hermione showed Draco a photo of the Malfoys during the war and the picture was circled with ink.

"But, how would Scorpius know how to look for so many information? He barely knows how to read."

"True, but a picture is worth more than a thousand words."

"Damn," Draco sat on the bed. "Do you think he is mad to know that his family chose the wrong side of the war?"

"Scorpius doesn't seem to be the type of kid that would suffer in silence. If he had any doubts, I think he would've asked."

"Do you think he's ashamed of me?"

"You're not the same Draco you were and it doesn't matter anymore who you were. Scorpius knows you and that's all that matters. We all made mistakes back then. We were only teenagers when it happened."

"I thought my father was the worst parent ever, but this is not true. I am the worst parent ever!" Draco said with tears rolling down his cheeks.

"What are you talking about? Don't compare yourself with your father. I know he was important to you even though he treated you badly, but you are two different people. You recognized your mistakes and you're trying to do your best to be better, to give your kid a better childhood. You need to let go of this feeling and live your life without caring about what your father would say."

"He would be ashamed of me."

" I don't think so. You took care of the Malfoy's business. You're making even more money now. You got married and you even managed to give the Malfoys an heir to continue the family's name. Why would he be ashamed of you if you accomplished many things he wanted you to?"

"Granger, my son is at the hospital. He might never wake up. My father would never let that happen too."

"Malfoy, you couldn't help it. Bad things happen, we can't avoid it. Don't blame yourself and trust me, I'll make him better."

"I trust you, Granger. I just wish this nightmare to end."

"It will, I promise. Why don't you go to bed now? I'll finish cleaning here ok?"

"Are you going home or would you rather sleep here?"

"What do you want me to do?"

"Are you taking orders from me now?"

"No, but I'm here as a friend remember? If you think you'll be better alone, I'll go home."

"No... I mean, can you stay?"

"Yes, Malfoy, I can stay."

"Then, I'll help you clean up here and after that you can take the guest's room."

"Sure."

Draco and Hermione continued cleaning the room and it didn't take much longer to finish it. Hermione borrowed a pajama from Draco, which was too big for her, but she didn't mind it, and he showed her the guest's room. Lying in bed Hermione couldn't stop thinking about her situation. Maybe life was trying to show her something, but before she could come to a conclusion, tiredness spoke louder and she fell asleep.

A/N: Hey guys! I'm sorry it took so long to post this chapter. I really wish I could've done double update this week, but things has been busy to me... I hope you like the chapter and if you want to blame someone for the delay, you can blame my BETA, she was the one who didn't do her job in time :)