A/N: Spoiler for DH, though if your a fic. addict you've prob'le read it by now... … so I guess I was right about Snape, huh…. sobs uncontrollably… sigh.

PS: SORRYSORRYSORRYSORRYSORRY!!! x0xjm.

Of course, saying 'I love you' didn't stop me from getting a cold.

The next morning, I was positively red from sniffling all night, and I could not move a muscle.

Or, at least, Draco wouldn't let me move a muscle.

'No.'

'But, Draco - !'

'No! I will not have you running about this castle ill.'

'I won't be running about. I'll be sitting in class.'

'You'll get half the school sick.'

'I won't!'

'You will. You'll get half the school sick, and then I'll have to protect you from angry sniffling students all week.'

'But I can't miss anything! What if I fail my exams because of you, hmm? And it's your fault I'm sick!'

He sighed. 'You won't fail if you miss one day, Hermione. In fact, the pure fact that you're taking a day off – '

'Day off? Even if – and that's a weak if – I let you force me into staying in bed all day, you would not be able to force me into taking a day off.'

'Says who?'

'Says me, you… you… stubborn Slytherin!'

'That's all you can come up with, Miss Smartest-witch-in-the-year? Well, then, you're certainly staying in bed. Since you can't even get out a good insult, I won't let you.'

'But - !'

'No buts. Except yours. In bed.'

'But - !'

'Ah! No, I won't hear of it. How about this – I'll actually take notes for you if you promise to stay in bed all day. And I'll bring you the day's work.'

'… you swear?'

'Only when I'm particularly irked, but that's beside the point.'

Damn. Smartass Slytherin is more like…

'Fine. I'll stay in bed. But only for today. And if the notes you take aren't satisfactory, then – '

'Yes, yes, then you'll release your wrath. Now go to bed.'

Damn him, I thought to myself bitterly. I mean, really. It's barely ten o'clock and I'm bored as anything. I despise being sick. Does he realize that during my entire academic career, I've only ever missed classes when I was changed into a cat and petrified?

Ten thirty. For the past half hour I've tried reading and working, but I keep sneezing all over the pages, and then I lose my place, and then I just get frustrated.

Goodness. Perhaps I'll just try sleeping.

I'm this close from sleep when I hear someone banging on the door of our common room.

'Hermione!' someone calls from the opposite side of the door. 'Hermione, it's us!'

I drag myself out of bed, pull on my robe, and shuffle out to open the door.

'Hermione?' Ron sounds frantic.

'I'm coming!' I squawk out, my voice cracking from lack of use.

I open the door, and Ron blurts out, 'Hermione, are you okay? You look terrible!'

I give him a scathing look and reply coolly, 'Thank you Ron. Next time you have a cold, tell me. I'll grant you the same sentiment.' I turn to return to the common room, but leave the door open for them. 'What's wrong?'

'What do you mean, what's wrong? We came to check on you,' Harry tells me, punching Ron and following me. 'We thought…'

'You thought…?'

'We thought that maybe…' Harry can't seem to get the words out, and I can't hide the confusion on my features.

'WethoughtmaybeMalfoyhityouorsomethingandyoudidn'twanttoorcoudn'tcomeoutofyourroom.' Ron sped through the words in one breath, Harry's face going pale as he spoke.

My sickness- and exhaustion-muddled brain tried to comprehend what he had just said. It only slightly worked.

'What did you just say?'

'Hermione…' Harry began tentatively. 'It's not like you to miss a class.'

The gears slowly clicked into place.

'You WHAT!' My voice cracked again, painfully, but I didn't care. 'You thought that he… that he would… that he could…'

'Hermione, calm down –'

'No! You just accused my… my betrothed of… of…' I couldn't say it. I knew they hated him, but this? 'How could you!'

'Hermione, look, we just don't –'

'Don't what, Harry? Don't what? Trust him? Trust me?'

'He's an evil git who –'

'Stop saying that, Ronald, or else so help me I willhurt you!' Damnit. I could feel tears tickle the back of my eyes as the image of Draco… no. I wouldn't think about it. 'I think you should go.'

'Hermione, we're just trying to help –'

'You heard the woman. If she says leave, I suggest you do so.'

All three of us turned to the door, and who was there but Draco himself, carrying a silver tray laden with what smelt like chicken soup. His eyes were cold and narrow, aimed directly at Ron.

'You–' Ron started angrily, but Harry placed a hand on his chest.

'Don't.' He glanced over at me, and then back to Draco. 'We just wanted to check up on her.'

'Yes, I can see that. And she told you to go. Now go.'

'What did you do to her, eh? Not wanting to even talk to us? Did you… did you Imperious her or something?' Ron was too fast for Harry to stop.

Draco didn't say a word, didn't move, for a full minute. When he did, it was with a controlled calm that he spoke. 'Weasley, I would never. Ever. Use any spell on her. I unlike you do not need spells to keep a woman. Now, I ask that you leave our rooms. She is ill, and presumably would like to get well before tomorrow.'

Ron blanched red, and sputtered slightly while Harry told him, 'Look, Malfoy, she's our friend, too, and –'

'We are more than friends, Potter, thank you. But it was to Weasley I was speaking. She doesn't seem particularly mad at you.'

Harry's eyes went wide with shock.

'Why you greasy little ferret –' Ron started, until I, finding my voice, cut in with, 'Just go Ronald!'

'But he –'

'Out, Weasley, or I will have to call the headmaster. You are trespassing in the Head Dormitories. Now.' Draco had placed the tray on a table and stepped over towards me, to stand in front of me. 'Go.'

After a moment of silence, Harry was the first to move. 'C'mon Ron. Let's go.' He looked over at me. 'Get better, Hermione, ok?'

'Thanks, Harry,' I muttered, leaning on Draco's back, my arms tucked in close to my body. 'See you.'

And with one last glance in Draco's direction, Harry's considering, Ron's of malice, they left.

Draco turned, and wrapped his arms around me as my body shook.

'Shh…' he cooed, kissing the crown of my head. 'What did they say?'

I shook my head until it felt as if I might develop a crick.

'They thought… they thought that you…'

I couldn't finish, but as I said it the image flashed through my mind. Draco used Legilimensy to see what I was thinking.

I could feel his arms tighten around me, and his back straighten slightly.

'Hermione, I –'

'I know. I know.' I spoke in no more than a whisper.

'I'll –'

'Don't say it.' I couldn't stand their fighting. 'Don't say you'll do anything to them. I don't want to hear it.'

'But Hermione…' His voice died, and he sighed. 'Okay. Okay, I won't say it. I'll just think it.'

I chuckled humourlessly and snuggled deeper into his chest. 'Dragon Slayer.'

'Dragon.'

'The irony.'

'Indeed.'

'God, I feel like crap.'

'To bed. Now.'

'You have class.'

'Nope. I'm off until after lunch.' I glanced up, and he smiled slightly. He brushed my warm forhead with his lips, and muttered, 'I'm all yours until one o'clock.'

'Come in bed with me?' I swear, I did not mean that double entendre.

'My pleasure.'

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A/N. So. Ok. Um. No excuses, but... well... hope you enjoyed... and review! x0xJacinta.