Author Note: You readers are simply amazing. I love reading all the kind words of encouragement and opinions of what you think so far. Thank you for making this the highest followed story I have ever written. Onto number fourteen, this chapter was inspired by the song 'Deep End' by Ruelle. Let me know what you think.

A special thanks goes to: zoesheppard, Legolas's Girl 31, Malibu Baybreeze, LightofEvolution, Snowflake Dazzle, moraine9, HarryPGinnyW4eva, KyloRen'sgirl213 and Hanable-13 for the wonderful reviews.

Another special thanks goes to: arsmay, MariaGMorales, turtleoutofwater, Green Eyed Lana Lee, LB2008, Jbrownie, lilianlittleco, cool091688, lotusgranger and KyloRen'sgirl213 for becoming followers to this story.

Chapter 14:

December 12th, Infirmary (Ministry of Magic)

Draco lay in a medical bed, unmoving except for his steady breathing. Burns lingered across his forearms and dozens coated his back. Madam Poppy Pomfrey arrived early that morning to begin treating him better than anyone in the Ministry could. The older woman shifted her gaze from her patient to Hermione sitting at his side. She looked like hadn't slept in those two days since the incident happened.

"You really should rest, Miss Granger."

"How can I? This is my fault. Whoever did this wanted me dead...I'm..."

She pulled her knees up against her chest and buried her face in them. The gentle woman moved to her side and wrapped her arms around the saddened witch. She knew about most of what's been going on inside the Ministry; but she never knew it was this bad. It sounded like the death eaters had reformed to take revenge. Starting with the one they think is the weakest; however, there wasn't any facts to prove that. It was just a theory.

Hermione looked up from her knees and kept her eyes on Draco's prone body. The last thing he told her was that he wanted her. He had been so desperate to keep her safe that she never noticed the Chimaera had been ready to strike for a third time. The tingling sensation on her lips was a reminder that their feelings for each other were indeed real and the longer he lay in that bed it just tore her apart from the inside, knowing that the reason he was in such a condition was because of her.

"Hermione, he will be fine. You should go home and rest. I'll send word if something changes."

Slowly moving from the chair, Hermione leaned down to brush away a couple stray locks of his hair from his eyes and then walked out of the room reluctantly. Weaving around people, she finally made it to the elevator that would take her down to the first floor. She kept her eyes ahead, refusing to meet anyone's gaze.

Her argument with Pansy that night rang harsh through her mind.

"Well, if it isn't the damsel of the night." Pansy's voice crawled over her ears.

"I'm no damsel, Pansy." Hermione reminded, narrowing her eyes.

"Like you aren't enjoying all the attention everyone is giving you, because of this death threat."

"No, I'm not you. I don't crave the attention."

"It should be on me. I should be on Draco's arm, not some mud-blood like yourself."

It had been so hard not to lash out at her for saying what she did. It also didn't help that her new eye candy was someone that Draco didn't like. He wasn't the nicest person to her either, almost like they wanted to make her miserable. Pansy was jealous that she no longer had Draco on her arm and could be the center of attention, that much was obvious to her; but was it enough to want her dead?

The thought that Pansy was the one behind it all also seemed too obvious of an answer. Stewart was also someone that was pretty obvious considering all the nasty things he said that night. It confused her to no end and when she thought about it more, her heart ached for Draco.

"You've done so much for me...that I could never pay back. I wouldn't even know where to start."

"I didn't ask you to. There is only one thing I want."

"And what's that?"

"You..."

No matter how hard she fought against the tears, they fell over her lashes, burning the corners of her eyes. Hermione turned the corner and ran into woman's body. Looking up, her heart broke even further when her eyes came in contact with those of Narcissa Malfoy. Her long blonde and black hair was pulled up into a fancy twist on her head. There was a certain softness behind her eyes that only confused Hermione more. "I am so sorry, Mrs. Malfoy..."

"Please...call me Narcissa." She replied holding her hand up to stop Hermione from babbling more.

"I am sorry...for everything..."

"No need to apologize. I know what's been going on."

Hermione couldn't form any words to answer her. She wondered if Draco spoke of her to his mother and of how much she really knew about things between them? His mother was a lot calmer than she thought she would be coming face to face with the reason her son was laying in a medical bed with dozens of burns on his body. "I've been torn...maybe I should take the job at Hogwarts for a while. It would keep everyone else safe."

Narcissa watched as Hermione sucked in her bottom lip and clench her hands into fists at her sides. The desperation was written all over her face. The motherly instincts rose to the surface as she pulled her into an embrace. "I think no matter where you go, the danger will follow until it is dealt with head on. Draco knew the dangers from the beginning."

"I know; but it doesn't ease the pain of knowing that it was my fault."

"Come with me..."

Releasing Hermione from her embrace, she nodded and followed Draco's mother back up towards the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey was dabbing ointment on the burns on his back. Looking up from her patient, her eyes widened upon seeing Narcissa standing with Hermione. "Miss Malfoy...I assure you that your son will make a full recovery."

"He's been asleep for two days. What is the cause of that?" Narcissa asked.

"He hit his head pretty hard. He just needs time to rest."

Squinting her eyes, Hermione didn't want to think about that night. She had seen the sheer determination on his face and the swirl of desire to protect her from harm. Narcissa pulled her over closer to the bed. She had already spent all night by his side and didn't understand what his mother was trying to accomplish by making her stand there once again. "He's written to me several times since the death threats started. He didn't know how to help you when your friend was killed in the fire."

"He did more than enough for me already."

Collapsing back down on the chair, she folded her hands across her lap fumbling with her thumbs. Narcissa could see the despair clearly written on her face and could see that she was genuinely concerned for her son's safety; but it was more than that. Judging from the look on her face, there were emotions that exceeded those of just caring for someone. The war hero could very well be in love with her son.

"Has he mentioned my offer to you?"

"What offer?" Hermione asked, her curiosity peeked.

"I offered for the two of you to stay with me at the manor. It's like a fortress and I have the best guards anyone could ask for."

"No...he never said anything..."

Her offer surprised her for more than one reason. One, she was a muggle-born and two, she was a muggle-born. It didn't fit with everything he was taught to be. Or maybe it had all been his father's words and not hers. She supposed there was only one way to find out and she really didn't want to go back to an empty apartment. "What do you say to staying with me until he is fully healed?" She asked softly, placing her hand upon Draco's.

XxXxXx

December 13th, Ministry of Magic

Harry was working as quickly as possible on some time sensitive material when Hermione opened his office door. He was surprised to see her despite everything that happened over the last couple of days; but knew that she was probably visiting Draco, who still hadn't woken up since the accident. Her long curls were pulled up into a high ponytail and was dressed her traditional jeans and sweater. "What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Just got done seeing how Draco is doing. No change there and I also came to give Kingsley my answer to whether or not I'll take that temp job at Hogwarts." She answered.

"And what did you decide to do?"

"I can't...there is too much going on here for me to leave. I need to face this or it will never go away."

He stood up from his desk chair and circled around until he stood before her. There was a determination in her eyes that he hadn't seen since everything started. Wrapping his arms around her tightly, she smiled accepting the comfort and forgetting about that fact that he kept the death threat a secret from her from the beginning. "There are so many that will protect you." He said against her hear as he let go of her.

"I know. Narcissa has been letting into the library at the manor so I can study different magics. Believe it or not, she's been extremely helpful to me."

"It's only been one night since you decided to stay there...and I just hope you're as safe as she claims you are there." Harry replied expressing his concerns.

Hermione placed a hand on his cheek, "Don't worry. She's been wonderful to me. I just..." She said cutting herself off before saying too much a little too soon. Harry noticed instantly her hesitation in saying what was on her mind to begin with.

"You just what? Talk to me. You can tell me anything, you know that." He encouraged. She gave him a half-smile and took a step back away from him. "I miss him. I've spent every day with him for the last couple of weeks and now...he's not there."

"Understandable, you care a great deal for him and I couldn't be happier for you."

"Thank you."

XxXxXx

"Hermione!" Draco's voice screamed.

She turned her head towards him only for him to see red eyes shimmer behind her defenseless body. Flames scattered across the room, surrounding her within the walls of fire. Her cries were ear piercing and there was nothing he could to help her. The heat was scorching the edges of his clothing just being as close as he was.

He held out his wand in attempts to part the wall. The desperation was rolling across his body in waves along with sweat from the heat. When he finally parted the wall, he raced through. Scooping her into his arms, her eyes were shut. Screaming out of frustration, he pointed his wand back towards the wall of flames and parted it once more.

"Wake up, Hermione." He pleaded.

She remained unmoving. He laid her down on grass once outside and chanted several words as his wand did the rest. The magic caressed her body but did nothing to wake her or start her breathing. A burning sensation formed at the corner of his eyes as tears rolled down his cheeks. "Damnit! Wake up! Please!" He shouted.

There was nothing and deep down he knew that she was gone. He had failed to keep her safe and there was no way he could live with that on his conscious. The bastard who did this had won, succeeded in his goal to end her life. "Hermione..." He cried holding her lifeless body against his chest.

"I love you..."

Draco shot up from the medical bed covered in sweat. He cringed in pain, releasing where he was and what kind of condition he was in. The room was dark and the only light visible was from the moon shining through the window next to his bed. "It was just a dream..." He whispered before drifting back into slumber, hoping he would wake in the morning and see that beautiful face he craved more than anything.