Author Note: Thank you all to making this the best harry potter fic I have ever written. I'm thrilled you readers like it as much as I like writing it for you. It's still the highest followed story I have ever written an in any fandom. Onto number fifteen, let me know what you think.

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Chapter 15:

December 14th, Malfoy Manor

Hermione awoke to a loud commotion outside the library doors. She had fallen asleep reading a book about some of the dark magics of the wizard world. Sitting the old book on the table next to her, she slid off the chair and moved slowly towards the door. Narcissa's voice could be hear loudly as if she was arguing with someone. "You need to leave." Her voice boomed.

"Think about it! Do you really want a half-blood to taint your family line?" Another female voice entered the fray, one Hermione recognized all too well.

Pansy Parkinson. She battled herself with whether or not she should open the door and give the witch a piece of her mind. Thinking back on the Christmas Party for the Ministry, she remembered every single word spoken by the woman outside the door. It made her mind up for her. Reaching her hand out towards the door, she was startling by a loud pecking on the window.

Whirling around, her eyes come in contact with those of a beautiful brown owl. Without thinking about what was going on outside the room, she ran towards the window. Hermione took the parchment attached to his talon. Her stomach knotted almost instantly in hopes that it was news about Draco.

"Miss Granger and Mrs, Malfoy

Draco is awake.

Madame Pomfrey"

Hermione read the words a second time and then a third to make sure she wasn't hallucinating them. When she was satisfied in the fact that they were really there, she ran across the room and opened the door. Narcissa and Pansy both looked at her. "Hermione, what's wrong?" Narcissa asked, her voice full of concern.

"Draco's awake." She replied keeping her voice steady and unwavering; but kept her eyes on Pansy the entire time.

"And he wouldn't have been in the condition he was in if it wasn't for you." Pansy said taking several steps closer to Hermione.

Narrowing her eyes, she could feel the anger swell within her. This time Draco wasn't there to stop her from lashing out. In a matter seconds, her hand connected with Pansy's cheek in a loud crack. The slap echoed the hallway. Narcissa stood slightly dumbfounded by the woman's aggression; but realized that maybe she had just had enough of the former Slytherin girl's harassment. "You think that I don't blame myself for his injuries? How very wrong you are. The difference between you and I is the fact that I can own up to my mistakes and flaws. You just think you are perfect when you are far from it."

"Why you little..."

"That's enough, Pansy!" Narcissa yelled, shutting her up instantly.

"I've told you once to leave and I won't say it again. Leave now. You are no longer welcome in my home. You've done plenty of damage to my son already, no need to upset the newest woman in his life." Narcissa stated lowering her voice down an octave. Hermione was once again stunned by Draco's mother insistence in helping her out when it was everything in her natural to behave just as Pansy was.

"You really have fallen low since Lucius's imprisonment. He would never have allowed such a coupling to happen."

Turning heel, Pansy left with a forming red hand print across her cheek. A hand rested on Hermione's shoulder. She turned to see the soft eyes that resembled those of Draco's. Eyes she missed a great deal. There was so much she wanted to tell the woman; but thought better of it until she figured out where she and Draco stood after their kiss in front the entire ministry.

XxXxXx

December 14th, The Ministry Infirmary

Draco blinked his eyes several times, adjusting to the light that was shining in the room. Madame Pomfrey was busy mixing another batch of ointment to put on his burns. Turning his head, he could see that they were already in the healing process and began to wonder how long he had been unconscious for.

The older woman turned and met his open eyes. With a smile, she sat down on the chair next to the bed and began to dab the burned skin with the cool paste. "You gave everyone quite a scare Mr. Malfoy." She said breaking the silence between them.

"My apologies...how long was I out for?" He asked cringing a little in pain as she continued her work on the burns on his arms.

"Three days. You were in pretty bad shape when they brought you up here. They brought me in a couple hours later."

Draco said nothing, not really knowing what else to say in the matter. He hadn't known that his condition was that bad. The last thing he remembered what the Chimaera attacking a third time and he shoved Hermione from the building at the last second. Thinking about Hermione made him miss her calming presence. "Can you roll to your side for me? I need to get the burns on your back." Madame Pomfrey asked.

He did as he was asked and as he lay there, his eyes kept looking at the closed door. Poppy could see that he was staring at the door and the image made her smile. The young Auror was in love and he didn't even know it yet. She watched at his eyes slid closed again just as she finished putting the ointment on the burns.

The door opened quietly to reveal Narcissa Malfoy and Hermione Granger. Hermione's eyes instantly locked on Draco's sleeping form. "I thought you said he was awake." She asked quietly and then saw him roll back over onto his back.

"He was...he just fell back to sleep. His recovery is moving along nicely. It shouldn't be much longer and he will be able to go home." Poppy answered.

"Wonderful news..." Narcissa said softly, letting out a breath of air she had been holding in.

Hermione mindlessly moved towards the medical bed and sat down in the chair next to it. "Hermione, I have to take care of some things with Lucius's upcoming trial. I'll return shortly." She said before walking out of the room. Pretty soon the room was empty and quiet. Nothing but Draco's steady breathing could be heard, which seemed to calm her down a lot more considering how frustrated she had been only a couple hours earlier.

"I am so sorry, Draco..." She whispered, closing her eyes tightly.

Blinking his eyes open, Draco could hear her soft apology. A smile tugged at his lips as he finally got to see her beautiful face. Reaching out his hand, he placed it upon hers. She snapped open her eyes to meet his. His coy smile melted her defenses almost instantly. "Do not apologize..." He stated struggling to sit up.

"You know this is my fault..." She countered helping him to a sitting position.

"It's not. No one knew that a Chimaera was going to attack, let alone try to kill every single person in that room. Maybe it was after you; but it didn't matter, I was going to keep you safe no matter what."

"Draco...you could have died...and I..."

Draco cupped the side of her face, drawing her in. "But I didn't...I'm right here. Living and breathing. I promise we will find who is doing this and bring them to justice." He said right before capturing her lips in a desperate kiss. Tangling his fingers through the soft curls of her hair, he held onto her for fear of losing her.

Hermione didn't want the moment to end; but the sound of someone clearing their throat separated them to see that Narcissa was standing in the doorway. Draco was seeing his mother for the first time in several months. Her motherly smile was comforting as she approached them. Hermione sat back down in the chair, keeping her mouth shut so as to give them time to catch up after lost time. She was sure there was some new information concerning his father's upcoming trial as well.

"So good to see you my son." She greeted.

"How are you fairing?" He asked.

"Pretty well, I've had company the past couple of days."

Draco looked from his mother to Hermione and realized that the company she spoke of her was indeed her. It was weird to think about the conversations they had while he was unconscious in the medical bed he was currently occupying. Did they speak of him? Did they speak of the current situations when it came to Hermione's safety? "Any word on father?" He asked softly.

"Only that the trial will begin Monday and it will take three days to complete. Prison is changing him from the inside out. I saw him yesterday...hes nothing but skin and bones."

"He's guilty...you know that. He deserves to pay for everything he's done over the last ten years."

"Draco..." Hermione called, unsure if she had heard him correctly.

Narcissa held out her hand to stop Hermione for saying another word. "It's okay, he's entitled to his opinion. Draco has had it rough and no child should have gone through the things he did growing up, which is why I took you in Hermione. I've read the words he's spoken of you and his desire to keep you safe from this threat. It reminds me so much of myself as a teenager, before I met your father and everything went astray; but I never once regretted having you. You are what kept me going through all the dark times."

"Mother..."

"I will wait for you outside, Hermione."

They watched Narcissa leave the room and allow them time alone once more. Hermione felt a weight fall onto her chest. She never realized just how misunderstood Draco had been in school. Or the fact his mother had been such a different person before marrying Lucius. It made her wonder if it had been an arranged marriage. "When did she change her views?"

"She didn't. She's just not as aggressive with it as she once was. She still wants me to marry a pure-blood witch; but I don't think she'd disown me if I didn't."

Hermione thought about what he said for a moment. Did she really want to put him in anymore danger or risk his family never speaking to him again all because of her? Swallowing hard, she clenched her hands together over her lap. "Maybe you should..."

"What?"

"Look, I'm a walking time bomb. There is someone or group of someones that want me dead and you already got hurt once because of it. Do you really want your mother to have to bury her only son? I'm not good for anyone and I'd rather face this alone."

"Hermione...don't..."

He could see the tears forming in her eyes and the heartbreak she was putting on herself. She didn't want to sever the ties; but she felt like she had to in order to keep him from getting hurt again. He watched her stand up from the chair and tears fall from her lashes to roll down her pale cheeks. Cringing in pain, he knew there was no way he could chase after her when she inevitably was going to leave. "It's the only way to keep you from getting hurt again. I'm sorry."

"Hermione..."

She walked away, ignoring his calls of her name. Opening the door, Narcissa stood there waiting; but noticed the tears rolling down her face. She wasn't oblivious to emotion and there was clearly a lot running through the muggle-born witch in that moment. "Where are you going?" Narcissa asked giving chase.

"I'm leaving. I appreciate you trying to tolerate me; but it won't be needed anymore. You don't like me and that's okay. I'm not the woman you want your son to be with and that's okay. I'm not going to be and by me leaving...it will keep him safe."

"I..."

"You don't need to make things up to make me feel better. Pansy was right. I am at fault for this and I'll never forgive myself for it; but I do want you to know...I do love him and that is why I'm willing to let him go in order to keep him safe."

With that said, Hermione turned heel and walked away. Words left Narcissa's mouth upon hearing her declaration of love for her son; but her selfless cause made her realize that maybe the pure-blood standard wasn't necessary anymore. He turned to look inside the room at Draco staring at the wall in a blank emotionless state. Had she caused this?

The look of despair on her son's face was tearing her apart. Hearing Hermione admit that she loved her son, it made even more sense to see that Draco was struggling with coming to tears in the fact that he to was in love. Leaving was breaking his heart and there was only one thing that was going to mend it. That was Hermione Granger herself.