A/N: purpledarknessvampyr, 27, Sarah Liz, BellasBeingBad, Amusant, BeneHime1124, nature love 95, CheshireCat23, love-them-all10, mali, Jade2099, MLovexo, Epixie

You are all stars, thank you ever so much for your reviews, they make me happy! I know I usually respond, but I've been slow on an update due to other work demands, so I thought I'd publish this now because I've been awful! Most of you are giving your opinions on what you think will happen which I love to read: but can't comment too much on as I'd probably give stuff away. Keep 'em coming! And enjoy!

Chapter 8

"How is she doing?"

Healer Kristen pocketed her wand before glancing back down at the sleeping, but bruised Hermione. Sighing, she looked at Sister Brown sadly. "Well, she's stable. But I still can't believe it."

"Neither can I," Sister Brown sounded almost tearful as she smoothed Hermione's hair off of her face gently. "I warned her before she left, but she's not daft. Poor girl."

"Perhaps you should call in her family?"

"She has no family, but her friends are here. I'll call them in now."

Healer Kristen nodded before turning to greet the visitors, taking a deep breath. Her eyes widened when a burst of people stormed in and she quickly held up her hands to stop them.

"Only two people at a time please." She stated firmly, feeling sympathetic when a mass of redheaded, freckled people looked disappointed. Harry Potter pushed through, with Ron Weasley at his side. "I take it that you two are coming in first?" They nodded, their eyes on Hermione. "Very well. The rest of you: wait outside."

Harry moved forward, looking down at her with a shocked expression on his pale face. "W-What happened to her? Will she be alright? Who did this?"

"Mr Potter," Healer Kristen interrupted in a soothing tone to try and calm him down. "Hermione will be just fine, but she is in a very critical condition. It seems someone beat her-

"-Beat her? They didn't use a wand?" Ron intervened, moving to Hermione's other side.

"No," Healer Kristen admitted carefully. "It's strange. But recent attacks have been found to be traced back to muggles. It's probable that Hermione suffered the same fate."

Harry was too busy stroking Hermione's face gently to listen to her, whilst Ron felt anger surge through him and started to pace the room to control himself. Sensing this, Healer Kristen hesitated.

"I'll… leave you alone with her. Is there anyone else that you think should be contacted?"

Harry said 'yes' whilst Ron said 'no'. Healer Kristen looked up from her clipboard, puzzled. Ron threw a glare at Harry, who looked a little embarrassed but spoke up.

"I think you ought to contact Draco Malfoy," Harry told her quietly. Healer Kristen was surprised but hid it, only nodding.

"Very well."

"What happened to her?" Malfoy stormed down the hallway, spotting Harry and stopping in front of him, panic evident in his shaky voice. "Is she hurt badly?"

"Don't pretend you know nothing of it, Malfoy," Ron spat, rising from his chair. "None of this happened until she got involved with you."

Malfoy spun around, his eyes flashing dangerously. "What the fuck are you implying, Weasley?"

"Exactly what I just said," Ron snarled, ignoring Harry when he swiftly stepped between them to try to restrain Ron from moving any closer to Malfoy. He pushed away Harrys' arm and grabbed Malfoys' robes, shaking him. "Spill it out, Malfoy, what the hell did you do to her?"

With a swift, hard punch, Ron was on the floor with Malfoy looming over him, his fist poised in the air as his nostrils flared with anger. Harry yelped and tried to pull Malfoy away whilst George stood, but stopped when Angelina rested a hand on the small of his back, silently begging him not to intervene.

"Malfoy, that's enough." Harry ordered, noticing the glares and whispers circling them like vultures, picking up quickly on the scandal. He averted his eyes and lowered his arms. "Stop."

"Don't even try it Weasley," Malfoy said in a very quiet, dangerous tone, slowly stepping away from him as he glared down on the spluttering man. "You know I have fuck all to do with this, so stop talking shit and take your head out of your ass. I want to see Hermione," He added to Sister Brown, who was standing next to him, her hand clasped over his mouth in shock. She only nodded slowly, watching him leave as Harry hauled Ron to his feet, the rest of the Weasley family staring after Malfoy as he walked into Hermione's room and to her bedside, taking her hand quietly as he stared down at her.

"Malfoy. We need to talk."

"Fuck off, Potter." Malfoy's hand tightened around Hermiones' own. "We don't need to talk about anything."

"Yes we do," Harry closed the door and walked over to the other side of the bed so he was facing opposite Malfoy. "I think we both know exactly why you punched Ron."

"Because he's a stupid, conniving little-

"-Because you knew he was right," Harry interrupted loudly, his eyes narrowing. "You know something of this. So talk."

Malfoy gritted his teeth, looking up sharply at Harry before slowly, he pushed his hand into his pocket and removed the anonymous letter he had received right after her attack. Harry took it and read it, a frown appearing on his face when he finished. Looking up, he looked confusedly at Malfoy.

"You think this is about Hermione?"

"I got it an hour before hearing of her attack, Potter. Of course it's about Hermione."

"Who do you think sent it?"

"Pansy, who else?"

"You have no proof of that, though," Harry sighed, sitting down on the chair as he looked at Hermione's sleeping form. "And now she's in danger."

"Because of me," Malfoy murmured. Harry glanced up at him.

"I know you didn't want this to happen to her, Malfoy."

"Yes, but Pansy threatened me and it includes her. I should of known better."

"Healer Kristen said it could be involved with the muggle attacks."

"Oh come on, Potter," Malfoy snapped, clawing a hand through his brilliant blonde hair and clutching it tightly as he started to think hard. "Hermione's a brilliant witch and you're telling me she got hit by muggles?"

"It's hard to believe as well," Harry admitted quietly as Malfoy cursed and stood up, starting to pace about the room. "But if it was a gang and they caught her off-guard…"

At this, Hermione stirred a bit, groaning softly. Malfoy immediately stopped pacing and hurridely walked over to her side just as Harry stood up and took her hand, squeezing it gently.

"Hermione?" Harry called gently, looking at Malfoy to indicate that he should call for assistance. Malfoy understood and left, yelling for help. "Hermione, can you hear me?"

Healer Kristen and Sister Brown hurried in, to which Harry immediately moved out of the way so they could try to rouse her.

"Hermione?" Sister Brown called loudly as she put a cloth to a forehead whilst Healer Kristen checked her pulse rate. "Hermione, squeeze my hand if you can hear me, my love."

Surely enough, Hermione squeezed her hand weakly and Sister Brown let out a sigh of relief before looking up at Healer Kristen, who smiled.

Hermione's eyes fluttered open slowly before widening when she saw four very worried faces looking down at her. She tried to speak, but her mouth felt heavy and numb. She opened her mouth again but Healer Kristen squeezed her hand.

"Try to relax, dear. You've been through enough."

Her eyes fell upon Malfoy, who was looking down at her with an expression she couldn't quite understand. Swiftly, Healer Kristen and Sister Brown left them and Harry watched the couple carefully as they looked at each other silently. Hermione's hand tried to rise to cup Malfoy's face before his expression softened in comprehension; He took it and leaned down, pressing their foreheads together. Her eyelids closed gently before all they could hear was her steady breathing signifying that she had fallen asleep: and when Malfoy looked up and made eye contact with Harry, Harry noticed that a small tear was rolling down his cheek.

"And then it went black," Hermione finished with a murmur, her eyes closing momentarily in pain. Harry gritted his teeth whilst Malfoy couldn't help but swear under his breath.

"So it wasn't a muggle attack. She heard the sound of someone apparating." Harry informed Healer Kristen, who nodded before finishing her notes.

"Yes, it seems so: Very well. Hermione, you've experienced more than enough for today. I will give you a sleeping draught. You may stay with her, but behave." She added to Harry and Malfoy, who both nodded briefly before she left. Hermione looked up at Malfoy, noticing his eyes had never left hers.

"What?" She mumbled clumsily, her head starting to pound again. As if Malfoy could feel it, he shook his head.

"Nothing," He replied thickly, attempting a small smile. "Sleep."

"We need to talk," She tried to sit up, only to find his hands on her shoulders as he pushed her back down gently.

"Hermione. Please. Just sleep."

"They're giving me a potion to do that soon," Hermione insisted, weakly trying to move his restraining hands away. "Can we talk now?"

"No."

"Hermione, Malfoy's right." Harry intervened quietly. "You need to sleep. Come on, Malfoy. We should wait outside."

Malfoy stood still, looking down at Hermione, frozen in place. Harry called his name again but Malfoy ignored him.

"I'm sorry," He whispered to her, before departing from the room. Hermione watched him go silently, wondering why she felt so cold when she was draped with so many blankets.

"Fabius?"

"Yes. Now wake up, Malfoy. You're drooling over the bed."

Malfoy groaned, rubbing his eyes as he lifted his head wearily. "What are you doing here? How did you-

"-Give me some credit, Malfoy. I am a lawyer."

Malfoy sighed before looking over at Hermione, smiling a little when he noticed how beautiful she looked as she slept peacefully. Her hair was pushed off of her face, showing her delicate features- the large cuts and navy-blue bruises didn't prevent her skin from radiating. Her dark eyelashes barely touched her cheekbones and she shifted, murmuring softly in her sleep.

"Apparently she was beaten by muggles," Fabius said quietly as he took a seat next to Malfoy, his eyes upon her. "But I don't believe it. Do you?"

Malfoy only shook his head. "'Course not. It's too much of a coincidence she got attacked right after I was threatened by Pansy."

"Exactly my thoughts. Which is why I requested an early trial."

"Good."

After a small phase of silence, Fabius's expression softened when he noticed how Malfoy's eyes never left Hermione's sleeping form.

"This isn't your fault, Malfoy."

"Yes it is," Came his immediately reply. "She's here for being with me."

"Oh, stop feeling sorry for yourself," Fabius nearly snapped, becoming impatient. "It sure as hell isn't your fault and right now she needs you more than ever."

Malfoy's immediate reponse was to snap right back at him- until he realised that Fabius was only telling him what he needed to hear.

"Hermione, are you sure-

"-I've discharged myself, Potter, and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it."

"You can barely walk." Harry tried to help her as she hobbled along but she hit him fiercely, only to feel another strong arm wind around her waist. "Damn it, Malfoy, let go!"

"No," He told her firmly, only gripping her tighter. "If you're going to leave I can't stop that, but don't expect me to not help you."

She swore at him, but relaxed against his embrace, sighing heavily. She was exhausted and Malfoy sensed it; He gently kissed her cheek, ignoring Ron's shooting glares, and pulled her into him to hold onto her tightly.

"Come on. I'll apparate us."

Hermione only nodded, not bothering to complain. At Harry's nod, Malfoy twirled onto his feet, his strong hand clutching the back of her head protectively as they launched into nothing but air.

"Why're we here?"

"Didn't want you to sleep alone."

"I'm a big girl," Hermione grumbled, but allowed him to help her into his large bed, settling against the pillows gladly. "I suppose you want to watch over me?"

"Something like that, yes." He admitted with a small smile, sitting next to her and taking her hand. "Let me bring you something. Water? Food? You hardly ate breakfast."

"Honestly, Malfoy, I don't need you to mother me." But Hermione looked hesitant, which Malfoy picked up on.

"But…?" He continued teasingly, laughing when she glared at him.

"But… well. Water would be nice."

"Uh huh," He stood up to bend down and kiss her forehead. "I'll be right back."

"Aren't you going to summon your servants as you always do?" There was a hint of sarcasm in her tone and he winced slightly, but pushed it away.

"No. I'm your servant now," He bowed mockingly, his eyes lighting up when she finally cracked a smile.

"Since when did water translate as water and everything in your food cupboard?"

"…It's just in case."

"You're really infuriating," Hermione sighed, but was glad of his attention towards her. "Though I'll ignore it if we can talk now."

He hesitated, but he knew this was coming. He'd been preparing himself for this conversation ever since she told him at St Mungo's of her intention to talk about what had happened. Taking a deep breath, he swung his legs onto the bed and crossed them, turning to look at her properly. "Fine. What is it?"

She glanced down before quickly maintaning eye contact with him. "I don't think I was attacked by muggles."

"No. Neither do I."

"I think it was something to do with Pansy."

Malfoy hesitated again before swallowing hard and giving her a swift, short nod. "Yes."

She flared up suddenly. "Damn it, Malfoy, can you stop giving me short answers?"

His fingers were fiddling with the corner of the wrapped chocolate bar. "Look, Granger. I don't know what you're trying to tell me."

"I'm trying to tell you that I don't blame you," She reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly as she forced herself to move forward despite the instant roar of pain from her thighs. "I'm trying to tell you that even though she did this, I don't want it to change anything. I'm trying to tell you that… that with an event like this it's natural for two people to give in and be apart, but. But I don't want that. I want to be with you."

Malfoy's head snapped up as he gazed at her, something warm stirring in the pit of his stomach. It was as if a heavy weight was lifting off of him and he could only crawl closer to her, pushing away the many packets of food he brought as he cupped her face and kissed her fully.

"That was the cheesiest thing I've ever heard you say, Granger. But I'm fucking glad you said it."

A/N: This chapter is rather short, but that's because I'm saving things to be revealed for the next chapters. Please review!