disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does

Chapter 28: No Matter What

"Where is she?" Draco asked, anxious and apprehensive.

"Hospital wing," Hermione told him. "Selena said she collapsed. She and Oliver got her here as fast as they could," She barely finished before Draco was out of the room, running down the hallways. He made a quick turn and almost collided with his classmate, Blaise Zabini.

"Sorry mate, I have to go-" Draco began to run but Blaise held his arm up.

"Hold on, I have something to tell you-"

"Can it wait? Alina' s in the hopsital wing,"

"Just hold on for one second Draco," he said quietly, with force. Draco gave him a weird look, curious as to what was up with him. "I've been watching you lately- we all have. Something's different."

"Really," Draco drawled sarcastically.

"Look Draco- it's not wise to be showing weakness- any weakness," Blaise said, full of meaning. "Especially right now. You're making it too clear to the Slytherins whose side you're on. It woudln't matter if it weren't for the fact that you and I both know there are plenty of future Death Eaters here, who wouldn't think twice about exaggerating your alliances. I don't really care what side you choose, but whatever you decide you better know what you're doing." Draco was about to leave when Blaise held him back again.

"I'm being serious mate," Blaise stared directly at him.

"Never said you weren't," Draco said, pretending indifference.

"Whoever this Alina girl is, she had better be worth it. Don't let down your guard," he said finally, and let Draco go.

"You know I won't," Draco said, quickening his walk into a run. By the time he reached the hospital wing he was slightly out of breath. Selena looked up as he walked in. Squeezing her sister's hand she got up from the chair beside her bed and walked towards Draco. Before she left she paused in front of him.

"Be careful. You do anything, ever, to hurt her I swear you'll regret it for the rest of your life" Draco looked as if he were about to respond but she cut him off. "She hasn't been eating all day, or yesterday according to her; that's why she fainted. Don't ever hurt her," she said, and stopped, staring at him directly. "I'm not saying that I blame you for her not eating- it's far from your fault, but all the same. Tell her I'll be back after I go thank Oliver," She looked behind her at the pale form sleeping on the plain, small hospital bed. She strode out of the room, but not before giving him a warning look.

Sighing with frustration Draco walked over to Alina, moving the stray strands of hair out of her soft-featured face. Sitting down in the chair he leaned over to her and held her hand, kissing it, rubbing his thumb against her cold hand as he held it. "You think that they would know I'd be careful, not simply falling head over heels like some idiot," he said, somewhat angered by the continuous warnings. Thinking it over, he chuckled and said "Or maybe I am," Shaking his head he sat back in his chair. "Guess they do have a legitimate reason to be worried then." He stayed there the whole night, sleeping as comfortably as he could for someone in a chair. Madam Pomfrey was about to wake him and tell him to return to his room, but upon seeing how peaceful and beautiful the two seemed together when sleeping she smiled a bit and left them alone.

Alina rubbed her eyes, observing her surroundings. "Did I really just faint?" Alina thought to herself. "Jeez," she said aloud. She looked to her side, noticing that someone was holding her hand and a platinum blonde head was resting on the bed. "Aw. He seems so- vulnerable- no, content, when he's sleeping," she thought. She reached with her other hand and ran it softly through his hair, taking in all of his features as he had once did to her.

Being in a comfortable position, Draco slept lightly and quickly noticed Alina's voice and her hand on his head. He sat up rapidly and after rubbing his eyes once he looked at her. He smiled widely at the sight of her. Despite the fact that her hair was tousled and the fact that she hadn't had time to wash her face she was adorable. Beautiful. The light streaming in through the windows made her hair seem even lighter than it normally was, tinted reddish brown in the sunlight. Her eyes were bright and happy, but she looked so thin.

"Hey," she said softly, smiling weakly.

"Shh," he said and made her rest on the pillows wich he propped up so she coudl sit comfortably. "Eat," he said, taking the tray from the table nearest them. Madam Pomfrey must've left it there earlier. As he watched her eat, hunger clutched his stomach as well and he was tempted to eat a bit, but Alina needed all the food she could eat.

"That's all I can eat," Alina said. Setting her fork down. Looking at her tray, he looked back up at her incredulously.

"You've only had a couple of bites- you need more than that," he said, worried.

"It's too tiring to eat anything," she muttered in response, closing her eyes as exhaustion overwhelmed her. He took the glass of water and held the back of her head gently as he made her gulp down a couple of sips. Her eyes opened. He broke off a piece of soft bread and held it to her mouth, and she took it with her mouth, chewing and swallowing slowly. For thirty minutes they continued this way until she had eaten a whole slice of bread and a couple strawberries. "Good girl," he smiled as she drank down the last of the water.

Alina smiled and as he set the tray back on the table she kept on staring at him.

"What's wrong?" he asked, resolving to sit on her bed instead of on the chair which hurt his arse quite a bit.

"Nothing- I just wonder what if I'm really that weak,"

"You're not weak at all Alina," he said, taking her hand. "You're not,"

"I can hardly survive one Valentine's Day without you," she said, looking down at her lap.

"It was two weeks, not just one day. I should've come sooner," Alina shook her head.

"No, you were in potential danger. You couldn't have risked coming here. And who's to blame for not eating but myself?" she said critically.

"You're going to have to eat much more, Alina," he said seriously, looking at her. "You're going to eat more, right?" he said sternly.

"Yes, yes, I'll eat more. If you don't trust me have Selena watch my eating habits."

"You're not just going to throw it all up after you eat?"

"Now there's an idea," Alina chuckled. "Alright, alright, I'll eat," she said quickly as she saw his face. "I'll eat," she said again to reassure him.

"Good," he said and let her rest her head upon his shoulder and they sat in a comfortable, peaceful silence.

Harry and Ginny were chatting quietly as they walked up to the hopsital wing, talking about Voldemort and Harry's plans for after school. They were on their way to get a potion for Neville, who was currently unable to reverse the effects of one of the Weasley's newest products which was not for sale yet. As they reached the room their voices grew quieter as they heard Draco talking to Alina. Peeking in Ginny and Harry were able to get a glimpse of him and a sleeping Alina.

"I can never live without you, Alina. You know that?" he kissed the top of her head. "Your sister and even my friend think its necessary to warn me- they're concerned that I'll do something to hurt you," he said mockingly, scoffing as he said it. "As if I ever could," he said, looking back down at her. "I really don't think it would be possible Alina, to live without you in my life. But no matter what, I-" he paused, and looked at her again. She was still asleep. "I love you," he said it so quietly that Harry and Ginny barely caught what he was saying.

Closing the door and backing away, Ginny and Harry stood in silence. They walked back down the stairs, seeing as Madam Pomfrey wasn't with them.

"Wow," Harry said finally as soon as they were far enough from the hospital wing. Ginny nodded her head in agreement.

"It's almost as if he's...normal," she shuddered.

"As if that wasn't disturbing enough he seems... nice," he said, shaking his head at the thought. "What has the world come to?" he said, slightly smiling. At least it wasn't something bad- it was just weird. They walked back to their dormitories, discussing the subject as far as they could without going into detail.