Here's Chapter 3! I hope you like it!

JK ROWLING owns everything Harry Potter related!

CHAPTER 3

Hermione walked out of the ladies room to find Ron standing along the rails in the walkway. He glanced up as she neared him, once again plastering her smile in place. He grinned and reached out towards her. She grabbed his outstretched hand and pulled him towards the many gates that led to airplanes.

"Mione? Are you okay?" Ron asked, concern etched across his face.

"Oh yeah, Ron, I am fine. What terminal are we supposed to load on?" she knew she shouldn't put it off, but what is one more hour or day compared to how long she had already suffered. She continued walking, hand in hand with Ron, as he searched the tickets in his hand.

"Uh, this says gate 33. I wish I knew where we were headed. It does say its a 5 hour flight." Ron seemed impressed, like he could imagine getting on a muggle machine and flying for 5 hours. He made her laugh, a welcomed feeling in the midst of her storm.

"That sign says terminal 33 is this way." Hermione said and pulled Ron along, trying to not look back. Would he follow her? Would he do anything rash? But then, why would he if he didn't care. Enough! Hermione, you are headed to your honeymoon, with your husband. Oh, but it felt like a life time ago when Draco was describing his perfect honeymoon to her.

He told her it would be her on his arm as the traveled to his family's summer villa on the otherside of the world, somewhere where no one could ruin their perfect moments. It would be sunny everyday and perfect whether for never wearing coats and trousers. Completely opposite of where they grew up, in the cold. They would lie around all day, in each others arms, making love over and over. They would eat dinner and see nothing but stars. They would maybe go into town, so he could show off the new Lady of Malfoy Manor. They would...

"Hermione?" a voice was calling to her through her day dream. What was it he said again? Oh! Ron!

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" she asked the man before her. He was standing still, his body poised away, as if to continue walking. When did they stop walking? She looked at Ron, who once again, had his hand out stretched.

"The person over the loud thingy just said our flight was boarding. Are you coming?" Oh! An announcement. She had to stop daydreaming, it was only making her worse. Does he know? Why is he looking at her that way?

"I am, lead the way." and she grabbed his over-sized hand to follow him. She saw him grin, always big and goofy. She smiles, she could make this work for Ron's sake. He is one of her best friends, so it couldn't be too hard, could it?

They made it to the gate they were to go through that would take them to their airplane. Ron handed the skinny blonde attendant their tickets and she punched something on each and handed the tickets back to Ron. She simply said, "Enjoy your flight." and Ron led her through to their seats. Harry had already out done himself, letting us sit first class. Oh, nap time!

Hermione leaned her head back on her seat, closed her eyes and was lost in memories, once again.

It was the first time that she and Draco had to patrol together, being Heads. Hermione wasn't really looking forward to the few hours she had to spend with the notorious boy. When he finally arrived at there designed meeting spot, she looked at him haughtily, expecting to be looked down upon, and blasted with words that hurt. Instead, Malfoy continued looking down, and he spoke quietly, "Can we hurry, I need to get to my commons." and he turned around and strode out of the empty classroom on the 7th floor, and left Hermione struggling to catch up.

She could look at him and tell something was wrong. She could tell there was a slight limp to his stride, and an almost gnashing of his teeth. His features perfectly schooled into solemness. She took him in, curiosity becoming overwhelming in the few minutes that she followed him.

"Malfoy? Are you...okay?" she asked, quietly, looking down at her feet. She waited for his rejection, for his unkind words. She waited for him to be harsh and degrading. After a few seconds of mere silence, she chanced a look up at the blonde boy with stormy gray eyes. Eyes that looked like they were holding so many secrets and a whole lot of pain.

His face showed shock and confusion, why would this muggle born witch care about him, someone who he has never been kind to. "Why do you care, Granger?" his voice rough, not unkind.

"Can I help you? I can do healing charms. What hurts most?" she asked, ignoring his inquiry. She didn't likely care, but she wasn't evil. She would help if she could. She watched his face and his slow movements, featured around his midsection. His breathing shallow and labored. If only it wasn't so dark, she could see him better.

"Don't worry about it, Granger. I'll be fine. Let's just finish, please." the words almost said as of a betrayal was being made. Trying not to show any signs of pain or weakness, he turned and began walking again. Hermione continued studying his profile in the dim lighting of the hallways.

Minutes later, Hermione heard his breathing become laborious, and his breath seemed to catch in his throat. A strangled cry came from deep inside of him, and he bent over in pain. Hermione ran to him, "Draco! Please let me help you, or take you to the infirmary. Something." Hermione was frantic, searching his body for any signs of what was causing him pain. Careful to not actually touch him, she helped him lay down on the cold stone floor. "What do you want me to do Draco?"

"My ribs..." his breathing laborious and slow, "Can't breathe." Hermione jerked his robes open and pulled up his school uniform. The bruises and the swelling, the odd points sticking out in a few spots, but oh, the bruising. Fresh bruises that seemed to be growing rapidly as she sat there looking. Something was wrong, something was very wrong. She looked at his face and saw that he was staring intently at her, his eyes stormy and the depths unknown. His face tight and taunt, showing pain. "I don't know a simple healing spell that will work, Draco. I will try, but you have to promise not to scream. Hold my arm, squeeze of you have to. Those ribs are going to hurt, I guarantee." she helped him grab her arm, and with the other one, lifted her wand up and said the incantation that would help heal. She saw instantaneous changes, ribs moving and bruises fading. She saw Draco clench his teeth and draw his lips into a tight line.

She said it one more time, hoping it would heal just a bit more. "That's all I can do. Are you hurting still?" she looked upon his face, and saw thy the sheer exhaustion and pain of the setting ribs made Malfoy pass out. He snored very lightly.

What could she do? They were currently in the middle of the hallway, anybody could show up. Hermione sat there, thinking about what she should do when it hit her, what about the room of requirement? It was the closest room she could get to, levitating a body. She pulled his shirt and sweater down, closed his robes, and stood up.

Speaking the spell to levitate his body, she walked back down the hallway to the place they had passed earlier, pacing a few times, when a door appeared. Opening it up, she passed Draco's body through it, and following close behind, closing and locking the door behind her. She turned around, wand still trained on Draco's limp body, and found exactly what she had been wishing for-a hospital room. A bed and bath, along with potions and healing salts. She laid his body on the bed and charmed his clothes, all but his boxers, Onto the floor. She walked over to the bath and ran some hot water, pouring in some healing salts and soothing potions.

Hermione levitated his body down into the water, making sure his head stayed above water. As she poured some soap into the water to cleanse his body, Malfoy came to and looked at her. "Thank You." he whispered in such honesty that it took her by surprise. She didn't say anything and in the next few seconds, he was back out. She let him sit there for a little bit longer, anticipating her next step. Should she stay with him through the night, what about classes tomorrow? What will happen if they both miss? Should she tell someone? Should she go get help? What happened to him to cause this to him, and why was he being so...nice?

Draco came to a little while later while Hermione was ranting to herself over the situation which presented itself before her. She caught him watching her, smiling, as if amused. She stopped pacing and faced him, about to speak, but he interrupted her, "You ruined a pair of my silk boxers." he stated, with definite amusement in his voice.

"Oh, well, you see Malfoy..." Hermione was flustered, did he expect her to ogle him? She looked away as he stood up and grabbed for the towel lying beside the tub. He groaned once, but laughed to try to cover the pain. His torso was still covered in bruises, but now they looked days old instead of a few hours.

"I wouldn't expect anything else, Granger." he stepped out of the tub and walked over to the bed, where a pair of silk pajamas and boxers were laid out for him. "I am going to change, now." he said, and began stripping out of the wet boxers. Hermione whipped her head around quickly and she heard Draco give another big chuckle. Once he was finished, and it did take a few minutes, he said, "I am dressed."

Hermione turned back around to face this boy who had made her life hell since she came into this world. He looked gentle and caring, the hard ridges of his face wee smooth and relaxed. He looked completely at ease, for the first time in Hermione's memory, he was unguarded and nice.

"I know, you want to know what happened? You want to know who did this to me, and you are probably dying to know why I am not being harsh. Right?" he sounded a lot better.

Hermione started shaking, her body holding back sobs as the memory racked through her brain. "Mione, are you okay? We're ready for take off." Ron told her in her ear. Take off!

"Ok, I am buckled. Ready to fly!" she said. She calmed her nerves and noticed that Ron hadn't seemed to notice any of her discomfort. He must just not pay attention, she thought as the airplane started ascending. Only five more hour to go!

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