Hey, this is kind of a short chapter, but I didn't want to draw it out. It's just how the chapter flowed. I apologize in advance to all of you who are going to be mad that they fought and all, but it all works out, so just be patient.

Draco woke slowly, fighting his way out of the fog that seemed to crowd his vision. Blinking his eyes a couple times, he realized he was in the hospital and flashes of the fight with Talbot rushed through his mind. He started to reach up and push his hair out of his face but stopped when his muscles protested. His body seemed stiff and uncoordinated, probably due to the torture the Cruciatus Curse had inflicted. Throwing his head back in frustration, his eye caught the sight of a tangle of curls draped on the hospital bed. Smiling lovingly, he thought how glad he was that she was okay and seemingly no worse for the wear. Reaching over, he picked up a curl and twirled it around his fingering, reveling in the softness of it. Just then Hermione stirred, and Draco dropped his hand. Pushing her hair out of her face, Hermione grinned dreamily at him.

"Hi…"

"Hey," Draco replied, unsure of himself now that she was awake.

Hermione's eyes brightened, "Oh good, you're really awake. I thought I was having another dream. How are you feeling?"

"Like I was trampled on by a hippogriff bent on revenge," Draco replied dryly, hiding how happy he was that she had fallen asleep at his bedside.

Hermione laughed and said, "Well I'm just glad you're alive. I thought for a minute that Talbot had killed you. But it turns how you were just so exhausted and your muscles couldn't stand the strain, so you collapsed."

"Oh, I see…"

"I should go so you can get some more rest, the nurse said it would take a couple more days for you to feel like yourself, but that you should be able to be released tomorrow," Hermione said, getting up to leave. Draco grabbed her hand before she moved away and said.

"Stay…please."

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Hermione stared into Draco's eyes, trying to decipher what he was thinking. Did he feel the same feeling she had for him, or was saving her just a moral obligation to him? Reaching her hand up, she pushed his hair from his eyes and caressed his cheek lightly.

Draco gazed back into her eyes and focused on keeping his true feelings from showing in his gaze. She didn't need someone like him, she deserved better. Someone who would keep her safe and wouldn't ever hurt her like he had. He loved her enough to let her go. He was so focused on his thoughts that he didn't notice Hermione had drawn close to him and their faces were so close that he could feel her breath. As he stared into her eyes, he realized that he was going to hurt her again, but this time it was for her own good. She would get over him quickly, she couldn't really have feelings for him, he reasoned, she just thought she did. Mentally wincing at the pain, Draco reached up and pushed her away gently.

"Stop Hermione," Draco said quietly, "You should know by now I don't have those kinds of feelings for you… "

Hurt flooded her eyes, and Draco had to look away, even if it was necessary to drive her away, he didn't enjoy seeing her in pain.

"So it was all a game to you? Toy with the Mudblood, see if she'll develop feelings for you and then discard her like a piece of trash," Hermione asked furiously, as angry, hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Hermione, don't say you're a Mudbl—"

His words were cut off as Hermione continued to yell, "Well its bloody well okay with me if you don't have those kinds of feeling for me, since I don't feel that way towards you either. I should have known you hadn't changed, you foul git! You better recover soon, because we still need to get divorced!"

Draco winced as she stormed out and slammed the door behind her. As a nurse came rushing in to make sure everything was okay, Draco stared at the celling, replaying the pain in Hermione's eyes. In her mind it probably looked exactly how she had put it. He hadn't put a distance between them, so of course she would assume he had feelings for her. Sighing, he adjusted his position and feel into a troubled sleep.

Who caught the vague reference to Draco getting "attacked" by Buckbeak? Lol, hope you guys enjoyed it. Please review!