Chapter 4

The last thing she heard was, "Hermione, are you alright?!"
Before she blanked out.

Harry bent down to check on his friend, with Ron was standing behind him.

"Look what you did, Zabini!" Ron yelled at the Slytherin standing a few steps away from them. "You almost killed Hermione!"

"Well, it wasn't my fault you moved out of the way!"

"Stop it, both of you!" Harry yelled out of frustration. "I'm taking Hermione to the Hospital Wing. Ron, are you coming?"

"Of course!" Ron said as he followed Harry. "You better give her an apology once she wakes up, Zabini."

"Whatever." Blaise said as he walked away towards his next class.

Harry and Ron arrived at the Hospital wing with Harry carrying Hermione. He put her down on one of the beds just as Madam Pomfrey came out of her office.

"Oh dear! What happened to Miss Granger?" She exclaimed while trying to see where Hermione was hurt and grabbing potions for her wounded head.

"It's a long story…"Ron began but was cut off by Harry.

"We'll explain it later, but we have to go to class right now."

"Oh of course! Go now, shoo!" Madam Pomfrey said in a rush since she was still occupied with Hermione.

"Will she be alright?" Ron asked with a concern look on his face.

"Yes she will, just a nasty bump to the head, but with a little rest she will be much better. Now off you two go! I don't want you both to be late for class."

"We'll be back at lunch!" Harry said and ran out of the room with Ron right behind him.

Hermione woke up with a splitting headache. She couldn't remember a thing. And when she tried to sit up her headache worsened so she decided to just lie very still. She looked around and noticed that she was in the Hospital Wing, but she was not alone. When she tried to talk her throat was too dry so nothing came out. The person walked over and poured her a cup of water which she received.

"What are you doing here, Zabini? Actually, why am I here?"

"You don't remember what happened?"

"Obviously not."

"You're here because…" Blaise paused for a moment.

"Because….?" Hermione was beginning to get a bit impatient.

"Because of me"

"What? What did you do to me?

"I didn't mean to hit you really. I was aiming for Weasley."

"What was going on?"

"Well, Weasley started it. He was walking down the corridor with Potter when he tripped and I began to laugh hysterically, but how could you not? He is so damn clumsy. Anyways, he challenged me to duel, what an idiot. I accepted, of course and when he was about to mutter a spell I went to stupefy him, but he moved out of the way causing it to hit you instead. You were walking so close to the wall that the impact of the spell caused you to slam your head against it. And that's why you're here in the Hospital Wing with a headache and a bandage wrapped around your head."

"So, I'm the one that got stuck with the busted head because you and Ron wanted to duel over something as childish as laughing over someone tripping?"

"Yes, basically."

"Ughh, what did I do to deserve this?" Hermione said and put her hands to her head to try to stop her head from hurting even more, which didn't help at all.

"Lighten up, Granger. You're still alive aren't you?" Blaise said and sat down at the end of her bed.

"What are you doing here, anyways?"

"I decided that I should come apologize."

"Yea, right."

"Seriously, I'm sorry for what happened and I only wish that it was Weasley who got hit instead of you."

"Oh thanks, that makes me feel much better."

"Your welcome" Blaise smiled.

"I was being sarcastic."

"I know."

Hermione rolled her eyes and tried to move into a more comfortable position, but closed her eyes tightly as she felt a sharp pain run through her head again.

"Granger, are you alright?"

"I'll be fine. You can leave now." Hermione said with her eyes still closed.

"But I just got here."

Hermione opened her eyes to see Draco standing next to Blaise. He was carrying her book bag with him and she watched as he set it down next to her bed.

"What are you doing here?"

"I heard about what happened earlier and I decided to come check up on you, since you're supposed to be my wife and all. I'm glad you're okay, I mean, I don't want to have to take care of the kids myself."

"I'm still hurt you know."

"So…"

"Wow, you're so clueless."

At that moment Harry and Ron ran inside the Hospital Wing and came face to face with Draco and Blaise.

"What are you two doing to Hermione? She's already hurt, is that not enough for you guys?" Ron said with fists clenched.

"Relax Weasley, I just came to apologize to Granger and Draco here just wanted to see if she's okay. No need to go crazy." Blaise said as he headed for the door. "See ya" And with that he left.

"Hermione, how are you feeling? Do you need anything? A glass of water, food, another pillow.."

"Harry! I'm fine, thank you."

"Well, I'm just glad we came here in time," Ron said, "Zabini and Malfoy, those evil gits, would've probably…"

"Weasley, I'm still here."

All three turned to see Draco still standing at the end of the bed.

"Why are you still here Malfoy?" Harry asked Draco and began to walk over to him.

"Am I not aloud here, Potter?" Draco said, not backing away as Harry got closer.

"Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter, please refrain from fighting in my Hospital Wing." Madam Pomfrey said as she walked over to Hermione.

"Drink this, Miss Granger. It will help you with your headaches." Hermione drank the potion and instantly felt her headache go away, but she began to feel very sleepy and after a few seconds, she fell into a deep sleep. Madam Pomfrey smiled, but it quickly faded when she turned around to look at Ron, Harry, and Draco.

"Miss Granger needs more rest and she won't be able to have that with you three in here. You may come back later, but for now, out!"

All three boys slowly exited the room. They stared at each other for a moment before Draco walked off towards the Great Hall for lunch while Harry and Ron walked to their dorms.

Hermione woke up for the second time that day in the Hospital Wing when she felt something crawl over her. She opened her eyes and saw a small figure sitting on her legs. She smiled when she realized that it was Eleina. She looked over and saw that Draco was asleep on the bed next to her with a sleeping Owen in his arms. She sat up and picked up Eleina.

"Hello, my darling. I'm glad your father remembered to pick you and your brother up from the children center. I thought he would've forgotten about you two."

"Why would you think that?" A sleepy Draco said as he slowly got up so he wouldn't wake up Owen.

"Well, you aren't a very responsible person."

"What do you mean? I'm very responsible."

"Oh yea, coming from someone who left a one year old baby on a bed where she could easily fall off while he goes to sleep."

"Hey, she was asleep when I brought her in here, I didn't know she would wake up so fast."

"Okay fine. Let's not argue again."

There was an awkward silence as they sat in the Hospital Wing, both not knowing what to say.

"So…How are you feeling?" Draco broke the silence.

"Much better, actually. Do you mind asking Madam Pomfrey if I'm alright to leave?"

Draco nodded and was about to get up when Madam Pomfrey came out of her office. Draco went over and picked up Eleina from Hermione so that Madam Pomfrey could check on Hermione. She removed the bandage from Hermione's head which revealed a small pink bump on the side of her forehead.

"Good news, Miss Granger, you may leave, but you still need a little more rest. I'm sure you'll be as good as new tomorrow morning." Madam Pomfrey said and helped Hermione get up.

"Thank you." Hermione replied. She walked over to Draco who handed Eleina to her as he picked up Owen, who was still asleep. They left the Hospital Wing and walked to their dorm.

Once inside, Hermione placed Eleina on the floor to crawl around and play with her toys while she laid on the couch. Draco put Owen in the extra crib that was next to the couch instead of upstairs just incase he woke up. He sat on the other couch and looked at Hermione.

"What?" Hermione asked, feeling a bit nervous from Draco's stare.

"Nothing." Draco said and quickly looked away. He stared into the fireplace wondering if it was a good time to talk to Hermione about his tragedy. Talking to her might be helpful, he thought, but I don't want her to see the weaker side of me. He knew that once he starts talking about his mother, he would break. She was one of the few people that he really cared about. Draco sighed and closed his eyes.

It was Hermione's turn to stare at Draco. She knew he was hiding something and being the person that she was, she wanted to know what he was keeping from her. She watched as he stared into the fireplace. He looked so deep in thought and Hermione wished that he would just let her help him in whatever he was struggling through. She watched as Draco closed his eyes.

"Malfoy…" Hermione said quietly, unsure if she was supposed to address him while he was in thought. Draco slowly opened his eyes and looked at Hermione.

"What is it?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"You're lying."

"…"

"Look, whatever is bothering you just say it. I promise I won't get mad, did you do something to Harry? Ron?"

"This has nothing to do with them."

"Then what is it? You can tell me. I won't say a thing to anyone if you don't want me to and honestly, I can't stand you being like this."

He looked in her eyes and surprised himself when he felt that he could trust her. There was something about Hermione Granger that he's never noticed before or never got the chance to anyway. Draco took a moment to gather his thoughts, but he finally let everything out. He told Hermione about what Dumbledore had said to him the other night. He told her how he was so shocked he couldn't even speak and he didn't know what to do with himself. He just needed time to think.

"Oh Draco…I…I'm so sorry." Hermione wanted to cry, she couldn't believe that Draco was going through this. She couldn't even begin to imagine how it would feel to be in Draco's position.

Hermione walked over to Draco and to his surprise, she sat down beside him and wrapped her arms around him. Draco didn't know what to do. He sat there for a moment still a bit in shock. Should he hug back or just let her hug him, but before he could do anything else, Owen began to cry. They both got up, Hermione let go of Draco and rushed towards the crib to care for the crying baby. Draco watched as Hermione rocked the baby in her arms. He watched as Hermione began to smile when Owen stopped crying and she kissed him on the nose. And from the moment Hermione hugged him to her now caring for the baby boy, he knew that Hermione was a genuine person. Even if it was something as simple as a hug, it helped comfort him and he was thankful for that.

Hermione looked up from Owen to Draco, but her smiling faded and turned into shock when she saw something behind him.

"Draco…look…" Hermione pointed towards the coffee table on the opposite end. He turned around to see Eleina slowly stand up by herself, getting help balancing from the table, and take a few steps forward before falling down again. Draco walked over and picked her up. He smiled.

"That's my girl."