A/N: Thanks for the reviews. As promised here is chapter 17. Thanks to my new beta Silverbirch.

OperionDISxxDracoisStr8: Yup. It was you. For the most part at least.

Chapter XVII

George was sitting against the wall, staring in disbelief at the healer who said the fateful words, which still echoed in his mind.

"Mr. Malfoy... She's dying..."

"... She's dying..."

"... Dying..."

Then everything went black.

"Hermione? Hermione! Where are you?"

He still couldn't see her but he noticed something moving on the very edge of the forest on the other side of the meadow. He decided to run that way. His head was hurting terribly and he had no idea where he actually was but his instincts told him that he had finally found Hermione. And that she was in grave danger. He ran with all his might and then he finally saw it. His Hermione was unconscious and suffocating because of the weeds she was entangled in. He leaped to her side and started fighting with the weeds.

Hermione couldn't breathe. She felt the air leave her slowly. Suddenly she felt that something changed. She sensed some warm presence next to her. It was shouting something. She tried to open her eyes slowly. The sun hit her eyes and she closed them quickly again. She tried looking through her lashes and she sighed with relief. She strained to talk.

"I knew you would come for me Mr. Bear." And then she lost consciousness again.

George swore under his breath. She was so lifeless even though he was sure that she lived still; that he could still save her. He pulled at the weeds harder. They didn't move at all.

"Damn it! Hold on just a moment longer. Please Hermione, please. I love you, you must live. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I love you so damn much it hurts. You can't leave me. Not now! Please damn it! You have to live!" And as if touched by a wand the weeds started to suddenly disentangle the frail girl. George looked at them amazed. He didn't know what was going on but he didn't intend to ponder about it. He took Hermione into his arms as fast as humanly possible and ran to the other end of the meadow. Suddenly he noticed a gold gleam surrounding them. Then everything burst...

George opened his eyes and noticed some ruckus going on near the bed. Malfoy was at his side trying to wake him up. His face looked weird.

"Wha... What happened?"

"You fainted, I think..."

"Oh..." Then George remembered the healers. "What's going on over there?"

"They were losing her when suddenly she started to come back. I think she even opened her eyes once. They're running the charms over her right now. I believe she's going to be okay." He smiled at him reassuringly. George returned the smile and looked visibly relieved.

So you've come back Hermione... I'm so glad...


After Hermione's miraculous wake up it took her almost two days to be able to talk without sounding hoarse, to open her eyes without getting them hurt by the light and to be able to understand what people were saying to her, without straining her ears. After a few days the healers were sure that she is as good as new and ready to go home. During her recovery at St. Mungo's she and George didn't really have any occasion to talk about anything that had happened. Because of that, as soon as they returned to George's flat Hermione showered him with questions about what exactly had happened and what was going on while she was unconscious. George answered all of her questions thoroughly. He really did miss talking to her, her voice, her laugh, her smile... He had a great difficulty with hiding his feelings for her. He was aware that she didn't remember a word of what he had been saying to her while she was out. He felt that it would be very impolite of him to dump his feelings on her right after she came back to the world of the living, especially since he wasn't sure that she felt the same way.

Aaargh! He's doing it again! Come on George! What is going on in that red haired head of yours? Why is he looking at me with that strange look in his eyes? Maybe... Maybe something changed while I wasn't here. Maybe he met someone... Maybe he doesn't want me here anymore...

George was looking at her in silence while she appeared to be thinking about something intensively. He regarded her silhouette and noticed that she was thinner and paler than before. The sickness took a heavy toll on her. He lifted his hand automatically as if to touch her pale skin when he suddenly stopped alarmed. Not YET George! Give her some time damn it! Unfortunately Hermione did notice his sudden movement and gave him a questioning look.

"What is it George? Did something happen?"

"Look... Hermione, I don't really know how to put it for you not to feel offended, but..."

"I knew it..." She sounded sad and resigned.

"Huh? What..."

"You don't want me here anymore, I knew it..."

"What are you talking about? Where did you get such a ridiculous idea from?!" He looked at her with an astonished expression on his face.

"Then what is going on? You are behaving really weirdly recently, you're looking at me with that strange expression and now you were trying to say something that you think may offend me... What was I supposed to think?" She was playing with the trim of her blouse nervously. George burst with laughter. "What are you laughing about?"

"Merlin, I did miss your sense of humour Hermione. Seriously. That was a good one." He took a deep breath. "Eh... What I did want to say is that, well, you look sick. And we do have to get you to eat more. You're pale and thin and we can't have that. So, I thought that maybe we could go to The Burrow tomorrow, you haven't seen my family for over a month and they all miss you. So... What do you think?" He waited for her answer patiently.

"Oh I really like that idea. I miss them too, your mother and Ginny especially. I would really like to go tomorrow."

"It's settled then." George smiled and stood up to make arrangements with his mother. He went to the fireplace and after a few seconds his head disappeared into it. Hermione watched his broad back in appreciation. Now that it was only a matter of few days for her and Ron to be finally divorced, she was regarding George in a way a woman is supposed to regard a handsome man. Oh how she liked what she saw. So this is how it feels to be a free woman. Finally being able to appreciate what's before me.

George finished arranging things with his mother and appeared before her again. He noticed that she looked kind of unsettled; he figured she must have been watching him. He cast his eyes down. Gosh, I'm behaving like an immature child! Get a grip George! He decided to stop behaving childishly and looked Hermione straight into the eyes.

"Hermione..."

"George..." Apparently they both had something to say at the same time. "You first."

George took a deep breath.

"Hermione, while you were unconscious... I don't know how much you know, how much you've hear from Malfoy or Harry but... I spent... I spent every minute of my time by your bedside. At first I didn't really know why I'm doing it but then after time passed and I just couldn't go home, couldn't sleep in my bed and felt better in the uncomfortable chair in your room... I started to understand that..."

"George..."

"No, Hermione, let me finish or I'll never be able to bring myself to say it again." He tried to calm himself by breathing steadily but failed miserably. Finally he started his speech again. "I started to understand that... that... The thing is... I figured I can't live without you anymore. At all. I understood that... I... love you... Madly" He let out a nervous laugh, too afraid to look at her. He was intent on watching the floor so he didn't see what she was doing. He was patiently waiting for her reply.

He didn't hear any.

He couldn't.

Even if she did say something, he wouldn't comprehend it, for his mind was too set on the marvellous feel of her lips against his.

~ End of Chapter XVII ~

A/N: Chapter 18 should be here sometime during the next week. I think.