January 2 1995

Hermione was worried. It's been a week and two days since she saw Draco last. He promised he would be back in a week. Hermione pushed all negative thoughts from her mind and went to breakfast. Once she sat down at Gryffindor table she snuck a quick glance toward the slytherin table, hoping she would catch a glimpse of blond hair. She looked where he usually sat, but he wasn't there. However, she did see Pansy looking back at her, an evil smirk spread across her pugface. Hermione quickly looked down at her breakfast and made a disgusted face. She pushed her plate of food to the center of the table and suddenly an envelope landed in front of her. Her name was neatly written across the front. She opened the letter. 'Hermione, I know you must be wondering where on earth Draco must be. He didn't quite have a nice welcoming home. He is currently in critical condition at St. Mungos. The doctors are doing whatever they can. Will be sure to keep you updated. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. - Mrs. Malfoy'. Hermiones heart sank to her stomach and she slowly got up from the table and headed to an empty corridor. She exhaled heavily and touched the ring Draco gave her, hoping it would still work.

Once Hermione landed in St Mungos, she looked around the room she was in and her eyes found Draco. He appeared to be sleeping in the hospital bed, his entire torso wrapped in bandages. Hermione went to approach him but decided to sit down in a chair. Narcissa came into the room and nearly jumped when she saw Hermione.

"Ms Gra-Hermione! How did you get here?"

"Hi Mrs Malfoy..um, Draco gave me a ring for my birthday that apparates me to his location. I'm sorry, I just had to see him."

"It's alright. The doctors gave him a sleeping draft so the pain isn't so bad. Does anyone at the school know you're here?"

Hermione shook her head. "No ma'am."

"Alright then.."

"Mrs Malfoy?"

"Yes dear?"

"Did Draco ever tell you about the wound on his chest? Of..that um, word?"

Narcissa sighed. "Yes, his father is behind it."

"Is he the reason Draco's here now?"

Narcissa nodded slightly and sighed again. "Lucius isn't very, open to Draco interacting with people who aren't purebloods. Someone from the school owled him about the night of the Yule Ball."

Hermione grew quiet, trying to think. "That's awful.." Narcissa sighed once again and shook her head in dismay.

Draco awoke several hours later. When he came to Hermione rushed to his side. "Draco.. how're you feeling?"

Draco abruptly yanked his arm away from her. "Get away from me! You filthy mudblood!"

Hermione's face instantly formed a frown and sad eyes. "W..What?"

"You heard me! What the fuck are you doing here?!"

Hermione rushed out of the room to an empty hallway before the first tear fell from her eye.

Back in the room, Narcissa tried to calm Draco down. "Draco! What is the matter with you?!"

"Why was she in here?!" Draco exclaimed. Narcissa looked into his eyes and sighed.

"I'll be right back.." She went down several hallways and found Hermione sitting in an empty waiting room. "Hermione..I have bad news.."

Hermione looked up, eyes bloodshot and swollen. "Is he alright?"

Narcissa sighed and sat next to Hermione. "Lucius must have erased his memories of you and him.."

"Can the doctors replace it?"

"Well, first we would have to get it back from Lucius, which won't be easy." Hermioned pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her forehead on them, sighing sadly. "Or, we could simply show him yours.." Narcissa added.

Hermione looked up with hopeful eyes. "Really? And it'd work?"

"As far as I know." Narcissa smiled. "We can do it tonight. Then we have to get you back to school."

Hermione smiled as well. "Thank you so much Mrs Malfoy. I don't know how to repay you."

"That's alright. You make Draco less cold and bitter. I should thank you for being so good to my son."

A few more hours pass and Draco is once again asleep. "You ready?" Narcissa asked Hermione. The young witch nodded and stood next to Draco's bed. Narcissa extracted a few memories of them from Hermione and put it back into Draco. Draco's sleeping position became less stiff and more relaxed, now smiling in his sleep.

Hermione whispered. "Now what?"

"Now we just wait for him to wake up. His dinner should be here soon."

Half an hour later Draco slowly opened his eyes, smelling his food as it came through the doorway. Draco stretched slightly, wincing from the wounds still on his torso. As Draco looked toward the door he caught glimpse of Hermione. His face immediately lit up and he grinned ear to ear. "Granger." Draco opened his arms, gesturing he wanted a hug. Hermione went over and hugged him, being careful not to hurt him, although he hugged her tight.

She ruffled his hair and kissed his cheek. "I've missed you Malfoy."

Draco smiled. "I missed you too." Draco began eating as him, his mother and Hernione talked about the Triwizard Tournament and the Yule Ball.

Narcissa looked at the clock and smiled. "Well Draco, I have to get Hermione back to the school."

"How'd she get here?" Draco looked at Hermione, who smiled and held up her hand, showing the ring on her finger. He smiled and they all laughed. "So when can I go back to school?" Draco asked.

"The doctors say by the end of the week." He slightly frowned and looked at Hermione.

"It'll be okay. I'll write you every chance I get." Hermione reassured him. "Just focus on getting plenty of rest."

After Narcissa returned, Draco asked her a few questions. "How can we get father to warm up to her?"

His mother sighed. "The only possible way would be to replace his memory so that he thinks she isn't that bad."

Draco looked at his mother. "Please mother.. I need you to do it. I love her. Merlin, I want to marry her. And I can't if father wants to murder her due to her blood status."

Narcissa sighed and held Draco's hand lightly. "I will try. Promise."