Hermione stood there stunned. What was he trying to say? Why should he be so bothered, she knew Ginny had fallen from the broom, she had been there for heavens' sake. She wanted to come here and ask Professor Binns about brooms, she was very suspicious about the broom that Ginny had been using. She stared at his still disappearing figure down the long corridor and her stomach knotted. When he was talking, she felt overwhelmed that he cared about her so much that she had the sudden urge to kiss him maybe well hug him too but she didn't. It was for the sanity of mankind- or at least for the sanity of Harry and Ron, maybe herself too. Somehow, she managed to walk to the Hospital Wing, distracted by thoughts of him. She pushed the door open only to find Ginny sleeping on a bed with Harry by her side. Mdm Promfrey had cleaned up her wounds and had her wear the hospital gown most probably transfigured her older clothing into this. Ron stood away from them, leaning against a wall. Surprisingly, she saw Ernie and Draco there too. She couldn't decide which she was more glad to see, Ernie or Draco! Emphasize on the glad part with heavy sarcasm if you want to say it Hermione! She thought to herself. She walked to Harry feeling the eyes of all three boys near the wall on her.

"What's the verdict?" she asked softly

"She should be fine right?" he asked more than told. Hermione could understand his dilemma. Harry looked positively like those loving husbands in TV shows whose love was being taken away. She felt her heart breaking for him. Madam Promfrey came bustling down the corridor with a potion at hand. She handed it to Harry whose hands trembled. Hermione gently put her own hands on the goblet and pulled it to herself.

"Do you mind Harry?"

"Please…" was all he managed to say.

Hermione poured the potion into Ginny's mouth and then backed away. She saw Harry look very hopeful but there was no reaction. That was curious.

She would most definitely take this matter to Professor McGonnagall no doubt about that, but for now Harry mattered a little more. She sat herself down next to him. She would have asked for a little more privacy but she couldn't bring herself to take Harry or Ron away from Ginny at the moment.

" Harry…" she whispered, reaching for his hand. She held it with her own surprised at how fast his hand had grown so much bigger than hers. She could swear when they were 11 they were the same size as hers.

"Why?" he managed to croak out and she knew exactly the meaning of his sentence. She knew how he felt. He was always having people he loved being taken away from him, even after the war. They had had this talk before when Sirius had moved on. He felt so horribly responsible for everyone he had taken away from this world. Everyone fighting for him, his parents, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, MadEye, Fred, the list was endless. Now, adding another name to it, the name of the girl he loved from the bottom of his heart. She didn't know what might happen. She hugged him hard trying to put all her love and care for him as a brother into it. She knew he had closed his eyes and tried hard to blink back the tears. She knew him too well for that. His breathing became shallow when he did that. She didn't know how long she sat there hugging him. She thought he had finally let a few tears leak down. She pecked his cheek once and rubbed his shoulder.

"That better have been a sisterly peck or Harry James Potter is screwed," mumbled a strained voice. Harry had suddenly let go of her and she was pushed aside. She fell back as an elbow caught her.

"Pot-" Draco began. Hermione put her hand on his mouth.

"Sshh…" He looked at her with those intense and weird eyes that she couldn't read and she let her arm drop.

"Sorry," she mumbled. Ernie began to lead Ron out after he had hugged his sister in the weirdest way possible with her lying down. He had a long letter to write to his mom this time. She led the way out for Draco and was surprised to see Ernie waiting.

"Hey Hermione," he greeted as he reached his hand out. Hermione was suddenly hyper aware of the fact that Draco had fallen into place beside her.

"Hey," she didn't shake his hand though. He let it drop awkwardly.

"Listen, I'm really sorry I know I've been bugging you a lot but really, I want to apologise for it, Friends?" Hermione could tell he was putting in effort into the whole friend thing. Maybe they could be friends right? She nodded and gave him a small smile. He started talking to her about herself, and she diverted the topic away after a while because she felt too self-conscious. She found that he was very easy and friendly to talk to once you got over the fact that he always kept eye contact! She finally found someone who didn't ask too many questions when she didn't want to answer one particular one. Maybe she wasn't to nice when she kept running. Ernie walked her back to the common room, both chattering away not realizing that the boy they had been walking with had fallen behind them glaring at their forms. Well mainly just one male form with clenched fists everytime his hand brushed Hermiones.