6 January, Thursday, 0930 GMT

Draco didn't remember when he finally fell asleep; only that he had held her hand before doing so. He blinked his eyes as he looked at the woman before him. Had the past twelve hours really happen?

He gulped as he watched her chest rise and fall as the respirator helped her to breathe. He remembered Professor McGonagall walking him into the Intensive Care Unit room where Hermione lay unconscious. Madame Pomfrey and Dr. Masterson were there sitting and watching the young woman. The headmistress had to grip his elbow to keep him from falling. His knees wobbled as he saw her.

When his composure returned he walked slowly towards the woman in the hospital bed. She was smaller than she remembered her to be as he watched her chest rise and fall. He took her hand. Professor McGonagall flicked her wand and a chair was sent across the floor next to the hospital bed. Draco sat down for the rest of the early morning.

o-o-o

He stood up and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back," he whispered to her. He pulled the Hawthorne from the inside pocket of his tuxedo coat. He headed to the bathroom.

Draco closed the door behind him. He looked at himself in the mirror. He looked like crap. He ran the faucet, splashing some water on his face and rinsing his mouth before shutting off the tap.

He ran his fingers through his hair and blew out a breath. He clutched his wand and apparated to the home in Godric's Hollow.

o-o-o

"Merlin, Draco," Ginny had exclaimed in surprise as she was cutting through the foyer.

Harry rushed out of the kitchen carrying a spatula as though that would have been able to fend off any intruders. Harry gave the visitor an exasperated look.

"Well someone had a late night," Ginny said, noting Draco's attire.

"Don't tell me, you were able to win Roxanne's heart back from Kellen," Harry said as he headed back to the kitchen.

Ginny nodded for them to follow her husband. "Have you had breakfast, yet?"

"No," Draco said as he took a seat at the kitchen table. He rolled up his sleeves.

"You look like shit, Draco," Harry said as he plated another serving of scrambled eggs and breakfast sausage. Ginny had poured out three cups of coffee.

The Potters brought the breakfast to the table. The three ate in silence.

"Where are the kids?" Draco asked softly, breaking the silence. He drank some of his coffee.

"They're at the Burrow," Ginny said. "We're heading over there for lunch."

"You're welcomed to come along. You can even bring Roxanne," Harry joked. "I'm sure Mum and Dad wouldn't mind."

"Whatever it is that the Prophet and that gossiper Skeeter are trying to sell now, is rubbish," Draco said as his face contorted. "Roxanne and I aren't an item, guys."

"Are you alright, Draco?" Ginny asked concerned.

He looked up at them. He stifled a sob. Ginny put her arm around his shoulder as she looked up at her husband who carried the dishes to the sink. Harry shrugged.

"Hermione's in the hospital," Draco finally was able to say.

"What?" Harry exclaimed as Draco stood up from his seat and headed to the living room. The two former Gryffindors followed him out of the kitchen.

"I wanted to find out why she stopped writing," the blonde wizard said. "Seeing as you two couldn't give me a straight answer when it came to her.

"I had to find out that she was pregnant from her landlady," he said, his voice escalating. "Did you know she was pregnant?"

Ginny and Harry looked at each other. Ginny answered, "She asked us to promise not to say anything."

"Besides, what would it have mattered to you?" Harry asked.

Draco gulped. "The baby's mine."

Harry had to lean against the back of the sofa to maintain his balance. Ginny's jaw dropped.

"I didn't know until I saw the baby's eyes and then Dr. Masterson confirmed it. Did you know she was a witch? She knows Madame Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall," Draco said, crying. Harry and Ginny looked at each other surprised.

"I followed her to the shelter. We argued. I reverted back to my arrogant Hogwarts self. I called her some things I shouldn't have," Draco said as he looked down at his Dark Mark. "We both turned from each other. Then she collapsed, hemorrhaging."

"She's six weeks early," Ginny said. "How's the baby?"

"Drew's," Draco paused, "In incubation. They had to do a C-Section before they could operate on Hermione. Hermione's unconscious; on life support."

Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. He looked at his former nemesis, before something struck him as odd.

"I didn't know you and Hermione were," Harry said, waving his hands, "Intimate. I mean, she said it was a one time thing. It must have been during the war if my calculations are correct."

Draco looked at the pair. "I seduced her. The night of the rescue, I . . . took advantage of her."

Ginny stood gobsmacked for a moment as she watched Draco land on his backside on the floor, his face bloodied. She shook herself out of the daze as she grabbed onto her husband before he could pounce on the blonde wizard.

"Right," Ginny said loudly at the two of them. She went to Draco's side. She looked directly at her husband. "Now that the pissing contest is over, I think we should clean up before going to see Hermione and the baby."

Draco sat up feeling for his nose, which he knew was already broken as he felt the blood running over his lips. Ginny held his chin in her hands, studying the extent of his injury. She pulled her wand from her robe and waved it mending the blonde's nose.

"Thanks," Draco said, as he wiped his hand on his already bloodied shirtfront.

Harry extended his hand to the fallen wizard. Draco hesitated before allowing the scarred wizard to help him to his feet. Ginny took Harry's hand into hers. She healed his bloodied knuckles as well.

"Now, do I need to separate you two while I go get dressed?" she asked with her arms akimbo.

"No," the two wizards said in unison.

She left the pair. The two wizards leaned against the back of the sofa.

"Here," Harry said, casting Scourgify. Draco's face and white shirt cleaned up nicely. Draco nodded his thanks.

"She had so many opportunities to turn me in, Harry. Why didn't she?" Draco said looking at him. "Our friendship grew over the two months before I left for Hogwarts.

"I'm in love with her," he said, as a tear dropped onto his marked forearm.

Harry looked at him. He studied his pale face. "Are you sure this isn't just guilt talking?"

"It probably appears that way," Draco said, looking at him. He gulped, not knowing why he felt the need to admit this to Hermione's closest friend. "She's smart, funny, cynical, at times.

"She's beautiful. She's the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about when my head hits the pillow at night."

"Okay," Harry had to do a double take, "Are you serious?"

Draco laughed breaking the tension. Harry joined in as Ginny returned.

"Well, I'm glad you two have learned to play nice," she said, holding out her wand. "Shall we?"

The pair nodded. They, too, pulled out their wands and concentrated on the alley near the familiar Muggle hospital.

o-o-o

6 January, Thursday, 1430 GMT

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, James, and Ronda had left the Muggle Hospital half an hour ago. Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey had paid another visit as well. They, too, had left about fifteen minutes ago.

Harry and Draco sat next to each other as they watched Hermione, hoping to catch a fluttering of the eyelids. Draco looked up to the ceiling before shutting his eyes. It was a long day already. Then an idea came to mind.

"Harry," Draco said, looking at his former rival. "I've got a proposition for you."

Harry looked at his friend. He gave him a listen.

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