Chapter 11

Hermione walked down towards the Great Hall with a smile her face. It was the day of the children's Halloween party and she was so excited. She couldn't wait to dress up Owen and Eleina in their cute little dragon and fairy costumes. She also couldn't wait to show them off like a proud mom. Yup, it would be a fun day and she wasn't going to let anything get her mood down that day, not even the tension between her and Draco.

They haven't spoken much since their fight the other night. They would acknowledge each other in front of the kids, but nothing more. That didn't bother Hermione, though, the less of him in her thoughts the better. Maybe that would help her feelings towards him drop.

She shook the thoughts of him out of her mind and walked inside the Great Hall. There weren't that many students inside. Most of them who were there were those who were currently taking the Family Life class. Dumbledore had allowed them to skip the rest of classes that day to prepare for the party. Hermione scanned the table and found Harry, Ron, Millicent, and Pansy sitting towards the front of the table.

"Hello everyone," Hermione said as she sat down next to Ron and poured herself some pumpkin juice, "Where's Malfoy?" Everyone just stared at her, expressionless "What's wrong with you guys?"

"Hermioine," Harry began, "there's been an accident."

Hermione nearly choked. She froze in place and stared at Harry, waiting for him to tell her he was just kidding. There was no accident. He was lying. But when he didn't say anything more, Hermione knew something was definitely wrong.

"What…kind of accident, Harry?"

"Well, Ron and I were watching the Slytherin team practice…" Harry started.

"Weasley here thought it would be a good idea to distract Draco while a bludger was heading towards him at full speed." Pansy finished for Harry. Ron gaped at her.

"I didn't know the bludger was going towards him!" Ron defended himself.

"Sure…" Millicent said and received a glare from Ron.

"Where is he?" Hermione asked, not wanting to hear more from them. She had to go see him.

"Malfoy's in the hospital wing right now, he…"

Harry didn't finish because before he knew it Hermione had got up and ran out of the Great Hall. She ran as fast as her feet would take her. She didn't care that people were staring at her and she didn't care when a professor told her to slow down. All she wanted was to get to the hospital wing. And as much as she hated and didn't want to admit it, she wanted to make sure that he was okay. Damn you, Malfoy.

She stopped when she reached the doors and stood there for a while to compose herself. After a moment of catching her breath and putting her thoughts together she opened the doors and walked inside. In the corner she could see a bunch of Slytherins dressed in their Quidditch uniform surrounding a bed which she assumed Malfoy was laying on. The all turned to face her and felt quite embarrassed. She turned around and was about to leave when she heard him call her.

"Granger, come here."

Just walk out the door, she told herself, but her feet betrayed her as she felt herself turn back around and walk over to the group of Slytherins. They all stared at her and parted so that she could walk up to Draco. She thought she couldn't get any more red than she currently was. Hermione looked at him, his hair was messy, face smeared with dirt, arm wrapped up. She didn't know what to say.

"Could you guys leave us for a minute?" Draco asked his teammates. They nodded and left. He patted the bed, as a sign for Hermione to take a seat. She hesitated for a second, but complied.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked after a moment of silence. It was a stupid question, but she needed to say something, anything to break the awkwardness.

"I broke my arm, but Madam Pomfrey gave me some potion to drink a few hours ago that should heal it back to perfect. It's almost as good as new. I'm just really sore right now." Draco told her. She responded by nodding. "Who told you I was here?"

"Harry."

"Oh and I assume they told you what exactly happened?"

"Yes, Pansy said Ron distracted you while a bludger ran into you."

"Your little Weasel friend owes me an apology."

"He didn't mean for that bludger to hit you. He didn't even know it was coming toward you at the moment!"

"So? I still got hit didn't I? If it wasn't for him and I wouldn't be here in right now. He owes me an apology."

"Fine. I'll make sure he apologizes."

"Good."

There was another moment of awkward silence. Hermione found her hands quite fascinating at the moment and Draco just watched her. She could feel him staring at her and felt herself grow red as he stared longer. The room suddenly felt really hot. Hermione could not sit there any longer or she felt like she would start to sweat. So she stood up abruptly and startled Draco. It wasn't such a good idea for her to stand up so fast and she realized this as soon as she felt herself go dizzy and sat back down with her hand holding her head.

"What was that, Granger?" Draco asked, with a look of confusion on his face.

"Sorry, it felt really hot all of a sudden and I wanted to get some air, but I think I stood too quickly." Hermione replied, her hand still on her forehead.

"Hot? I don't feel hot and I'm under these covers."

"Oh, well I must be imagining things."

"Are you sure it wasn't me who made you feel hot? It's okay to admit it, Granger. I know you can't help my good looks." Draco said with a smirk.

"Good to see your ego didn't break along with your arm during the fall." Hermione said sarcastically. Draco snorted at the comment, but didn't say anything else. "So are you going to be stuck here all day? Will you be able to attend the Halloween party tonight?"

"I think so. I'm just sore all over, so I'll mostly be sitting down."

"That's fine, as long as you'll be there."

"Would you miss me if I wasn't there?"

"No. I'm only asking because I know Owen and Eleina would want you to be there."

"Speaking of those two, when are you picking them up?"

"I should probably go right now. I'll be back later." Hermione said and stood up ready to leave.

"No need to come back. I'm going to ask Madam Pomfrey if I could leave with you now."

Hermione went to help him up, but Draco stopped her. "It's fine, I don't need your help," he said.

"If you say so" Hermione stood back and watched as Draco attempted to stand up. She tried not to laugh, but couldn't help the smile that was forming on her face. This was going to be a classic Draco Malfoy moment. Almost as good as the time he turned into a ferret, almost. Nothing would ever beat that.

Draco slowly lifted his left arm and removed the covers. The easy part was over. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he tried to lift himself off the bed. The pain that soared through his body was almost unbearable. He tried not to show it, but Hermione could see it in his face. Draco finally got himself sitting in an upright position with his feet off of the bed. He sat there for a moment, eyes still closed, waiting for the soreness to pass so that he could stand up without doubling the pain.

Once the pain subsided, Draco once again took a deep breath. He held onto the side of the table that was next to the bed and slowly lifted his body to stand. That did it for him. He fell back down on to the bed and cried out in pain as his body hit the mattress. Hermione took one look at him and couldn't hold it in any longer. The way he fell and was laying there, body twisted, arms and legs in all directions. She burst out laughing and had to hold onto the side of the bed for support. Draco straightened himself and turned to her.

"This is not funny!" He yelled. But Hermione continued to laugh as Draco just sat there. If looks could kill, Hermione would definitely need a miracle to save her life. Finally, she stopped and wiped the tears from her eyes. Draco rolled his eyes. "Are you done?"

"Maybe" Hermione smiled.

"What's all the fuss about?" Madam Pomfrey asked as she came out of her office. "Mr. Malfoy, are you alright? I heard your yelling."

"Yes, I'm fine. Could I leave now?"

"Well, I still think you need to stay in here a little longer since you are still very sore, but if you think you can handle it then you may go."

"I can handle it."

"Yea, right." Hermione mumbled.

"What was that, dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"Oh, nothing!" Hermione said, looking away innocently, as Draco glared at her.

"Now, Mr. Malfoy, are you sure you can walk? You may borrow a wheelchair if you wish."

"Actually, a wheelchair sounds perfect! Miss Granger, here, would gladly be my escort. Right, Hermione?" Draco asked, with a smile on his face.

"Wait a mi…" Hermione began, but was cut off by Madam Pomfrey.

"Wonderful! That's very kind of you, Miss Granger. Give me a moment, dears."

Madam Pomfrey left and came back a minute later with the wheelchair. She wheeled it over to the side of the bed and carefully helped Draco get on. She then wheeled him over to Hermione and let her take over. She bid them goodbye and went back to her office. Hermione sighed, but proceeded to wheel Draco out of the Hospital Wing and towards the children center. When they arrived Hermione wheeled him inside. The moment the two of them entered Owen and Eleina came running towards them.

"Mommy! Daddy!" They both exclaimed when they reached their parents.

"Mommy, why is daddy in a wheelchair?" Eleina asked.

"Daddy, did you get a booboo?" Owen asked.

"Your father fell and got a booboo. A really big booboo and it hurts a lot. So make sure you two are careful when you play, okay? You don't want to end up like your daddy." Hermione said to them. They both nodded. She smiled and left to go talk to one of the volunteers.

"Can I ride on the wheelchair with you?" Eleina asked.

"Me too!" Owen added.

"Yes, but wait until your mother comes back because I can't lift you up right now."

Hermione returned a few seconds later. She picked up Owen first and set him gently down onto Draco's lap, then Eleina, and then began to wheel them back to their room.

"Weeee!" Owen laughed.

"Faster, mommy!" Eleina giggled.

"Mommy can't go any faster. Maybe if your dad didn't weigh so much…" Hermione said.

"Hey!" Draco said and looked back at her. She just laughed at him.

Finally, they reached their destination. Hermione gave the portrait their password and wheeled them in. Once inside Owen and Eleina both jumped off of Draco's lap and ran upstairs. Hermione began to follow them.

"Granger, you need to help me get up there."

"Are you kidding me? I can't carry you!"

"I'm not asking you to carry me. That's just ridiculous. Just help me up. How am I supposed to change if I can't get to my room?"

"Figure that out yourself." Hermione said and began to walk up the steps again.

"Granger…" Draco said through gritted teeth.

"Oh alright, don't get your knickers all up in a bunch."

Hermione walked over to him and he put his arm around her so that most of the support came from her. He was surprising not as heavy as Hermione thought he would be. Maybe she's just stronger than she thought she was. They walked over to the stairs and Draco held onto the railing with his other hand. Eventually, they got up to the final step and into their bedroom. Draco removed his arm around Hermione.

"Thanks, Granger. I think I got it from here."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Unless you want to help me undress…"

"In your dreams, Malfoy!" Hermione said and left the room. She walked into the kid's room and found Owen and Eleina playing with their toys. She smiled at them and went over to their closet to get the costumes. She laid both of them out on the couch.

"Wow, mommy! What is that?" Eleina said already reaching for the costume. Hermione bent down next to her.

"It's your Halloween costume, sweetie. You're going to be a fairy."

"What about me, mommy?" Owen asked.

"You get to be a dragon!"

"Why are we wearing these?"

"We're going to a Halloween party."

"When?"

"Tonight."

"What's Halloween?"

"It's a holiday where people can dress up anyway they want."

"Oh…what's a holiday?"

"A holiday is something that people celebrate."

"What does celebra…"

"Owen, honey, let's not worry about what that means right now, okay? Now let's get you two into these costumes."

She put on Owen's costume first since his was the easiest. She slipped his little legs into the costume and then pulled it up to cover his whole body. The hood of the costume was the face of the dragon. She pulled it over his head and he was complete. Owen looked into the mirror and giggled. Hermione laughed as Owen ran around the room with his dragon suit on.

"Grrr…Mommy am I scary?" Owen asked as Hermione began to dress Eleina in her costume.

"Yes you are! Don't eat me, scary dragon!"

"Roar!"

Owen grabbed Hermione by the hand and bit her.

"Ow!" Hermione played along. The bite didn't actually hurt her, but it fooled Owen.

"I'm sorry, mommy! Does it hurt? I didn't mean to give you a booboo." Owen said, tears forming in his eyes.

"Oh, sweetie, you didn't hurt me. See, no booboo."

"Daddy, I hurt mommy! Look, she has a booboo."

Hermione turned and saw Draco, who was fully changed, walk in and slowly sit down with them. He's such a slug when he's sore. Take it like a man, Malfoy.

"What did you do, Owen?" Draco asked and reached for the boy who walked over to him.

"I was being a scary dragon and I bit mommy and now she has a booboo. You need to kiss it to make it better."

Hermione who had continued dressing Eleina in her fairy costume stopped. Draco looked over at her hand and sure enough there was a faint bite mark.

"It's okay, Owen. I'm fine." Hermione said.

"But I want daddy to kiss it to make you feel better."

"That won't be necessar…" Hermione began to say, but was cut off by Draco suddenly grabbing her hand and planting a small kiss on it. She stared at him in disbelief, but quickly got over it before she could let herself blush. She returned her attention back to Eleina.

"Is that okay, Owen?" Draco asked.

"Good job, daddy! Now mommy won't hurt anymore." Owen said. Draco smiled down at the little boy.

Hermione finished off Eleina's costume by putting on the tiny fairy wings and adding a little sparkle to her hair. Now it was Eleina's turn to walk over to the mirror and look at herself. Hermione and Draco both smiled as they saw the biggest grin they've ever seen appear on Eleina's face. The little girl turned around to face her parents and danced over to them.

"Am I pretty, daddy?"

"You are absolutely beautiful, darling." Draco replied and gave her kiss on the cheek. She giggled. "Am I beautiful like mommy?"

Again, Hermione stopped and looked at Draco. Poor guy, always put on the spot. At least he handled it well.

"Yes, beautiful just like your mommy." Draco said and this time Hermione couldn't hide her blush.

"Alright, now that we're all dressed up, shall we go to the party?" Hermione said, getting up quickly.

"Yay!" both the kids shouted and ran out the door. Hermione stayed behind and helped Draco get back downstairs. When they reached the bottom she turned to him.

"I know it was hard for you to say what you said up there since you don't think it's true, but thanks for saying it anyways." Hermione said to him and turned to walk away, but Draco grabbed her arm gently and pulled her back to face him.

"Just to let you know, I wasn't lying when I said it." He told her.

Hermione didn't know what to say. She was speechless! Never in a million years would she have thought that Draco Malfoy thought she, Hermione Granger, was beautiful. Was he lying? He didn't look like he was lying. He wouldn't lie about lying right? She was still staring at him as he walked over and sat back down on the wheelchair.

"Come on, Granger, we don't have all day." Draco said with a smirk. Hermione shook her head to clear her mind and walked over to him. She picked up Owen and Eleina and set them on Draco's lap again before wheeling the three of the out to the Great Hall where the Halloween party was held.