Madame Pomfrey gave me some medicine and painkillers.

I felt better by the hour, at least physically.

Daisy was still not awake but everyone said that she would take longer than me and that this was completely normal.

That was the only reason why I didn't panic.

The two people I had seen sleeping on the sofa that night turned out to be Daisy's Uncle Jacob and his wife Queenie.

The two of them were not at her bedside that often, obviously taking care of Newton a lot.

The three of them had run errands together for Madame Pomfrey, who had also forced Professor McGonnagal to accompany them.

The two women had argued because the medi witch insisted that the other needed some fresh air but the latter wanted to stay with her goddaughter.

In the end, the professor had lost and disappeared from the hospital wing with the others.

Longbottom and Abbot were also sent away so that Daisy and I could have some peace.

Actually, I didn't want peace. I was glad for the sounds around me, for the people who were there for Daisy and distracted me from my thoughts.

I was already well enough to get up and even walk a few steps.


When Madame Pomfrey was just out of sight I got out of bed, walked slowly over to the other bed and sat down on the chair Newton had occupied tonight.

She looked so peaceful, just like she did on my bed after the avalanche, the moment I fell in love with her.

Fell in love with her sacrifice for someone she should hate, with her courage and strength.

I reached for her hand that lay beside her across the covers.

They were cold, significantly colder than her hands normally were.

What a privilege, I thought, to know how warm her hands were.

That I had the chance to hold them so often.

I wanted to talk to her, hear her voice.

To hear her say that she was fine, that we had all worried far too much.

She was the only person I could talk to openly, even though she might not tell me everything, I did.

She was the one who could see behind the façade and I had thrown that façade off me last night with my book.

I knew she couldn't hear me or even answer me but I had to talk to her, tell her how I felt because she was the only one who really cared.

"All this is scaring me", I began quietly.

"I've always thought of myself as the strong, emotionally cold Slytherin I was raised to be but this is scaring me.

I'm on the verge of a panic attack and the only reason I'm pulling myself together is because of you. Because you need me.

Well, you probably don't need me directly, you just need someone to give you strength, but I'm living in the illusion that you need me right now. Just so I don't go crazy."

"We haven't even been friends for a fortnight and this happens.

It's like a curse, like I'm not allowed to be happy. Why should it?

I'm a bad person.

All my life I've been just like those who are responsible for this.

I don't deserve happiness, I don't deserve your friendship, I don't deserve you.

Longbottom is right when he says he doesn't know why you put up with me, I don't either.

I'm a bad person."

Tears ran down my cheek and dripped onto my hand, which was still holding Daisy's.

I had to pull myself together to keep from sobbing completely.

"I met your grandpa. He was really nice, probably the only one here who doesn't hate me.

Newton Scamander.

I only spoke to him briefly but I think you're very similar.

I don't know why you didn't tell me but I'm sure there was a good reason.

I'm not mad at you, I was just a little confused.

But I'll get over it, but if you want to tell me, I'd be grateful for any explanation."

Again I paused for a moment.

"I'm sorry I wasn't quicker yesterday. I should have been quicker. Maybe then you wouldn't have been hurt so badly.

I know it was my fault and I hope you forgive me someday.

I also hope you'll forgive me for having to leave.

As soon as Madame Pomfrey releases me, I will go.

You need your family, your friends, people who love you and not the guy you thought hated you just because he's too much of a coward to tell you he's fallen in love with you."

"Besides, the others here don't want me.

I can just tell Longbottom and Abbot hate every second we spend in the same room.

I'll come visit you, I promise. I'll bring you books the others don't even know you love and I'll have your music box brought to you and when I steal it from your room."

I laughed myself at this notion.

"Get better quick, okay? I want to be without my dance partner for as short a time as possible. Dance partner and best friend, only friend."

I smiled even though she couldn't see it.

"I miss you, Daisy."

If this was one of those romance novels I hated, this would be the moment when she squeezed my hand, opened her eyes and told me she loved me too.

But it wasn't.

She was still lying there just as before.


I squinted at the table beside her bed and reached for the necklace.

I lifted her head slightly to put it around her neck again.

When my fingers briefly touched her neck it was like little electric shocks going through my fingers.

Salazar, it really didn't have to get any more cliché than that.

It wasn't that I had never touched her, we were quite close when we danced, but this was something else again.

When the necklace was back in place, I stood up, leaned down and gave her a kiss on the hair. Peach and vanilla.

"If you do need my help again."


On still wobbly legs, I staggered to the bathroom.

I felt terrible and hopefully a shower would help.

I stayed under the hot water for a long time.

The scar from the operation had healed very well thanks to Madame Pomfrey and didn't burn when the shampoo ran over it.

When I came out of the bathroom again, the silence from earlier had disappeared.

McGonnagal and the others were back, talking excitedly as they stood by Daisy's bed.

"We were so worried. Queenie kicked me out of bed in the middle of the night and travelled here with me through the fireplace.

And you know how much I hate that.

Thank goodness you're awake again and everything will be okay", said the short chubby man who was her Uncle Jacob.

She was awake.

Daisy was awake.

And of course I hadn't been there, so she really didn't need me.

No one noticed me, all eyes were on Daisy.

As I passed behind the group I tried to catch a glimpse of Daisy but I couldn't see anything, they were too close for that.

Disgruntled, I sat down on my bed.

There was a tray of food on my table and unlike this morning, I was actually hungry.

While I ate, I listened to what was happening on the bed next to me.

"I'm so glad you're awake.

I should have given you more time.

I'm so sorry."

That was McGonnagal, whose voice was nowhere near as stern as it normally was.

"Give her some rest, please.

The more rest she gets, the quicker she'll be back on her feet.

Go have lunch or get some fresh air again. But give her a little rest and give me air to work."

Collective nods, this time no discussions arose.

There was relief in the faces I could see.


When the door had closed and silence had returned, I ventured a sideways glance.

Daisy was no longer lying down but her headboard was set up like mine, so that she was half sitting.

Just seeing her sitting there, even though she was still very pale, took a huge load off my mind.

Her eyes met mine and she smiled slightly at me.

I had been so afraid that I would never see that smile again that now a tear of joy ran down my cheek.

"Thank you", she said silently and I smiled back.

I would give anything for that smile, a kidney was a small price to pay.

Madame Pomfrey blocked my view of that smile as she stepped in front of Daisy and sat down on the chair.

She explained what had happened yesterday.

Well, actually, she just repeated what I had told her.

Then she told me about her kidney and the operation.

I could hear Daisy sobbing.

I almost wanted to jump up and shout at her to bloody well tell Daisy that she had a new kidney and everything was going to be fine.

Because to Daisy it had to sound like she didn't have one now and would have to stay in hospital from now on.

"Mr Malfoy has donated one of his kidneys to you", she finally relieved her patient and the sobbing stopped.

Madame Pomfrey simply continued without elaborating.

If I were Daisy I would go mad.

Daisy hadn't said a word yet and I wasn't even sure if she could talk yet, I hadn't been able to get a sound out at first either.

"You'll have to stay here for a few more days but if you take it easy I can discharge you at the end of next week."

Wow, that was a long time.

I could leave tonight if I was lucky, after not even 24 hours and she was just going to stay for a week.

I couldn't see if Daisy nodded but I assumed so, as Madame Pomfrey got up, instructed Daisy to drink the potion next to her as soon as she was in pain and to just call for her if anything happened and then left.

Probably just to her office, which was right next to the infirmary but she went and left us alone.


I wasted no time, slid off the bed and dropped into the chair next to my best friend.

She just looked at me, shook her head and then indicated that I should join her on the bed.

Without hesitation I obeyed her almost command.

As soon as I was seated she put her head on my shoulder and I began to gently stroke her back.

Being careful not to get too close to the scar.

We sat like that for a few minutes until she cleared her throat, "I think that ties it now, saving shitty little lives."

Her voice was raspy and low but I could still hear the laughter in it.

"If you can make jokes again, then you can't be in such a bad way.

I'd like my kidney back then."

I learned at that very moment that laughter was not the best medicine when the scar still hurt.

Daisy started to laugh, but immediately held her side in pain.

"Thank you", she said softly, the scratchiness in her voice diminishing.

"If I'd been quicker, it would never have come to this."

Now she took her head off my shoulder and looked at me crossly.

"That probably weren't more than two minutes until you got there.

Only flying would have been quicker.

Just accept the thank you please okay?"

"Okay", I whispered and she leaned back against me.

"Your necklace saved my life."

"I thought it was me."

"Idiot."

Without seeing it I knew she was rolling her eyes and had to grin.


A few moments of peaceful silence passed until I spoke up.

"I met your grandpa."

That was something I would have liked answers to.

I didn't think it was a bad thing but I would still like an answer to the why.

"I thought so."

She fell silent again.

"He was really very nice."

"He introduced himself to you by full name."

I nodded, knowing she would notice.

"It was predictable, sooner or later I would have told you.

I just wasn't ready yet."

"It's okay, if you don't want to, don't."

I stroked her back again.

"I owe you all an explanation."

You all, since meant I wasn't the only one who didn't know.

"Will you give me until tomorrow?", she asked softly.

Of course I was curious and of course I wanted to know now but tomorrow was foreseeable, I would endure.

"Take all the time you need."

"Thank you", she whispered softly and yawned.


Less than two minutes later she was asleep.

Half sitting up with her head on my shoulder.

That would give a neck ache.

So as carefully as I could, I slid down a little further and moved her slowly so that at some point she was almost lying but with her head on my torso.

It was probably the closeness she needed and I would certainly savour every moment of it.

I fell into a half-sleep, which was good, because that way I was aware of the door to the infirmary opening again.

Otherwise I would certainly have flinched and woken Daisy with it.


Longbottom was standing in the doorway and when he saw us lying in bed he came over with a frown.

"Oh yes, there's nothing going on."

He spoke rather loudly, drawing inverted commas in the air.

I raised a finger to my lips to tell him to keep it down.

"Oh yeah, there's nothing going on", he repeated softer but still with a snide tone.

"It doesn't. But is that really something you want to get upset about now?

Just be happy she's awake and doing well", I whispered.

"I'd be happier if you weren't in bed with her."

"What's going on?"

The door had opened again and Professor McGonnagal was now standing next to Longbottom.

Again I pointed at the sleeping Daisy.

That this was a hospital wing and perhaps one should be quieter per se, no one seemed to consider.

Where was Madame Pomfrey anyway, if you ever needed her?

"Mr Malfoy what are you doing in bed with her?"

She spoke more softly but the reproach was still clearly audible.

"We were talking, nothing more and then she fell asleep.

She's had an operation, it happens and so I didn't wake her I stayed."

They both stared at me as if I had done something wrong but for once in my life I had done nothing wrong.

"You should go Mr Malfoy.

Poppy will agree with me that you are fit enough to leave the hospital wing."

She was right, I was fit enough to leave.

I wanted to go but not if it meant waking Daisy.

"Now", she repeated sternly and as she was still the headmistress and I would like to continue to have the chance to graduate, I decided not to start a discussion.

"You stay here", Daisy murmured into my shirt and put an arm around my stomach.

Her arm was at the level of my belly button and I should just not think about it more carefully or it might be uncomfortable for me.

"He stays here", she repeated louder.

I just sat there and tried to breathe calmly.

"Daisy", Professor McGonnagal said kindly, as if my expulsion hadn't just happened.

Daisy pulled her arm from my stomach.

Thank Salazar, I wouldn't have lasted long.

She sat up straight and reached for my arm.

As she did so, she inadvertently pushed the sleeve up further so that the mark could be seen.

"Draco stays here!"

There was no sound of the scratching at all, her voice was strong and piercing like every time she was angry with me.

Longbottom, who had been standing quietly by all this time, now looked from Daisy to me, to my arm and then back to Daisy.

"But", came meekly from McGonnagal.

I had never heard her like that before.

"He saved my fucking life! You could at least fucking pretend to be grateful to him!

If it wasn't for him, I'd be dead.

Face it, a person you thought was so bad saved my life and I want him to stay."

There was a tense silence for a moment and I was sure they could hear my heartbeat.

Madame Pomfrey joined us, she must have heard the argument.

"I want these two to leave.

Grandpa, Jacob and Queenie are welcome to come in but I don't want to see them or Hannah again until tomorrow morning."

That was harsh, that was really harsh.

I was as shocked as McGonnagal and Longbottom when Madame Pomfrey escorted them out of here.


"I'm sorry", came quietly from Daisy again now.

"I'm just fed up with it. All I ever get from everyone is what a bad person you are and now that you've saved my life they still can't see that they were wrong."

Like I said, she hated being patronised.

"I know you said you wanted to leave but are you staying, at least tonight?"

I didn't know when I'd told her, but how could I say no?

"Okay. But I'll be gone by breakfast tomorrow morning.

Your dear godmother will kill me if I don't show up at her class on time tomorrow. Life saver or not."

She giggled lightly and snuggled back in.

I loved everything about her.

I loved her.