A/N: I cannot say how sorry I am it took me this long to update. This year in school kicked my ass so hard. You have no idea how busy I was. Let's just say I pulled a few all-nighters, and have learned my lesson about prioritizing. The good thing, though, is that I passed every class, praise God. Only about a chapter or so left! Again, please forgive me for taking this long. Hope you enjoy the chapter. Idk if it's that good.

Chapter 10: Lapse

"Hermione's okay, right," Ron asked, both to Malfoy and Harry.

"She had a complication earlier," Malfoy said, making Harry turn a displeased eye to the blond for not informing him earlier, "but she's stable at the moment. I need the spell that my uncle hit me with in order for me to treat her for the duration of her pregnancy. Judging from work you've done with him that I saw today you have completed the task many have failed at."

With that Malfoy gave a nod of approval and respect.

Ron smirked at the admittance, but was quick to go on with what he found.

"Your uncle used a Stinging Hex. Like the one Hermione used on Harry when you saw him at the Manor. I suppose he just wanted to make sure you couldn't fight when he confronted the two of you," Ron said.

Malfoy stood still for a few seconds. Such a simple spell caused so much damage. It was a bit maddening that an easy hex rendered him in a coma even though it had been mixed with the memory charm.

"I guess the mixture of the two spared you any affects that Stinging Hex would've had on you," Harry chimed in, most likely remembering the pain he was in when the three of them had been caught.

"Yeah," Draco responded, a little uncomfortable that the time where he had to identify the three of them had come up. He hardly remembered talking about that with Hermione and didn't know how the two of them took it. "I would much rather have had that, though, than memory loss."

"How is that, by the way," Ron asked, surprising Draco that the man wanted to know at all.

"Oh, well, it's a lot better than before," Draco responded, feeling a little weird that he and Weasley were actually having a civil conversation. "I have some doses of potion that will help me recover, but now that we know what I was hit with I'll most likely be cured before long."

"That's great," Harry chimed in with sincerity. "Hermione has been worried. She'll be alright now, you think?"

"Yes," Draco said with certainty. "When my memory is restored I'll be able to deal with whatever complications that happen. She's in good hands, I assure you.

Both Ron and Harry looked pleased at the information. Draco, sensing a camaraderie that he didn't think would ever exist between him and the two men he had always fought, forged ahead with an idea that formed in his head.

"Both are more than welcome to come to the Manor to visit Hermione if you wish. I'm sure she'll be very pleased to see the two of you," Draco offered, slightly amused at the surprised expressions on Potter and Weasley.

"That wouldn't be a problem with-" Ron began, making a questioning face.

"My parents adore Hermione," Draco responded. "In fact, I feel they enjoy her company more than mine, to be honest. I don't think the two would mind if you come. But if the two of you aren't comfortable, what with.." Draco paused, unsure of how to finish the sentence.

"I, for one, would like to come," Harry jumped in. "She's been down lately, so I'd be glad to see her in a pleasanter mood after so long."

"So would I," Ron nodded.

After Malfoy sincerely thanked Ron again and shook hand with the two of them, he headed straight to the Manor sitting room where he knew Alden and Thisbe would still be. The whole scene with Hermione's best friends was a bit surreal to him, but it was a good start to a future possible friendship with them himself. As he emerged from the fireplace, all four heads turned to him.

"Good news," he announced, "Ron Weasley has found out what I was hit with."

The mood of the room lightened considerably as Draco explained what had been revealed to him about his uncle's mixed attack.

"A potion can be made and given in a short amount of time," Healer Alden said with a smile. The long months of not having a definite cure was taxing, but now his colleague and friend would be on the mend. "I'll go now and get started."

Draco nodded his thanks as the Healer went his way and then began talking to Healer Thisbe.

"I'm happy for you, my dear," said the older Healer. "Young Hermione will pull through this, I'm sure. I'll be happy to assist you if any complications arise."

"Thank you for all your help," Draco said, his sentiment quickly followed by his parents before the Healer took her leave.

"This is absolutely wonderful news, Draco," Narcissa said, hugging her son, her happiness at his soon memory restoration and Hermione's safety showing bright.

"Potter and Weasley will be visiting tomorrow," Draco said. "I owe them more than I care to admit, but I'm glad for it, also."

"They're certainly welcome," Narcissa responded.

Lucius' face looked a little pinched, but he nodded his agreement.

Malfoy breathed a sigh of relief, but was ultimately pleased his parents were open to accepting the two into the Manor. Perhaps they realized they would be seeing them more often now that Hermione was going to be his wife. The thought of the marriage, now that he had proper time to think about it, was exhilarating. Life was finally going smoothly.

He checked in on Hermione again before taking a room next to hers so that she could sleep peacefully throughout the night. Tomorrow looked brighter already.

"Hermione, love," Draco said as he slightly shook his fiance's shoulder the next day. It was already noon and she still hadn't awakened. "It's time to get up. Your friends will be here shortly."

He tried to wake her again, being gentle, but she wasn't even stirring. Feeling a slight panic arising in the pit of his stomach, he got out his wand and make a diagnostic. His stomach fell at the results.

Shooting from the room, he ran to the fireplace and into Healer Alden's office. Seeing the room absent and assuming he was with a patient, Draco ran to a room he new the man worked in and barged in. The surprise of the patient and the Healer was lost on Draco and he walked up to Alden.

"She won't wake, Alden. I need you and Healer Thisbe at the Manor as soon as possible."

Malfoy rushed back to the manor and hurriedly sent for his parents to join him in his room where Hermione slept.

Draco impatiently paced up and down his room, waiting for the Healers and his parents to join him. His mind was racing with what could be done for Hermione. The potion she took should have only made her sleep for a maximum of ten hours, but in rare cases it made the taker fall into a coma like status. He damned himself for his lapse of foresight and of the missing pieces of information due to his memory not being fully restored.

"What's happened to Hermione," Ron burst out as he rushed into the room.

Draco was a little surprised at seeing him and Harry enter with his parents and the Healers, but quickly remembered that they were coming today. He cursed himself again. Leave it to fate that another mishap would occur at a time like this.

"She's fallen into a coma," Thisbe responded as she approached Hermione and made a diagnostic.

"Will she wake up soon," Harry asked, concern all over his face, his hands clenched at the realization that he wouldn't know what to do since he wasn't a Healer.

"She could be asleep for days," said Draco, his head in his hand, "or months."

The room was silent for a full minute as the news sunk in.

"What of the babies," his mother finally asked, worry coloring her voice. "Will her condition affect them in any way?"

"Her reaction to the potion for the placental abruption is a rare one," Healer Thisbe informed. "I believe the babies will be okay since we got to the issue in a timely manner yesterday. If she is in the comma for more than a month, however, there is the possibility that she will stay in it for a very long time."

Draco got up and paced again, running his hands through his hair in frustration that he couldn't do anything. He suddenly turned to Alden, making the Healer jumped in surprise.

"How long before my potion is finished for my memory," he asked hurriedly. "The faster I get my memory back, the quicker I can help Hermione and our babies."

"About three weeks," Alden responded, "I started the potion yesterday. Once you take it, though, you'll need a week for all your memories to be fully restored."

"Damn!" Draco cursed aloud, resuming his agitated pacing.

"If this is the only way, Draco," his father responded, his voice seemingly the cold voice of reason, "all we can do is wait."

"The woman I love is in danger," Draco responded vehemently, turning to his father with anger at his coldness, "I cannot wait! My children-your grandchildren-are in danger, too!"

"You think I don't know that," Lucius hissed back. "Do not misunderstand my reasoning for lack of concern. I wish for nothing more than to be a grandfather and father-in-law, and Ms. Granger was the best decision you could have made to make this be true, but right now we need clear heads and patience. It's the only way to get through this now."

Draco paused at the outburst from his father. He'd never heard such reasoning and mixed concern from the man, and it was not lost that he wasn't the only one in the room who cared deeply for Hermione. He couldn't imagine what Harry and Ron were going through at the moment. The two of them had made their way to her and each were holding her limp hands in theirs.

"She'll be alright," he said to the room. "I promise it on my life."