A/N: Thank you so much guys for 1.1k+ views! It means a lot! Probably like my New year's gift! Hope you guys are liking this story so far! I am sorry if it's boring or something like that, I will try my best to improve! I know the last chapter was short so this one's probably way longer than that. Spoiler Alert: This chapter will make someone's (in the story) dream's come true. Read the A/N at the end to find out when the next chapter will be out. On with the chapter!

"Hermione? Hermione stay with me, okay?"

Draco had immediately ran to the corridor where he had left Hermione. His heart was pounding in his chest. He was really scared for her. He had actually ignored that letter and walked a little closer to her throughout their time after dinner, just to piss off that person if he was present.

But clearly, that wasn't the outcome.

He reached that place just to see her lying on the ground. He would have thought she had died if it wasn't for the slight, but fornutaley there, pulse. He immediately picked her up and ran towards the Hospital Wing, shouting McGonagall and Pomfrey's name in the process.

He carefully put her on the bed while he waited for Pomfrey to come. He was holding her hand and squeezing it every now and then to show that he was here. He could feel her pulse becoming weaker and weaker and he shouted, "Madam Pomfrey! Please come fast!"

"I am coming, I am coming!" She shouted as she came back. She immediately went towards Hermione and took out her wand.

"Mr Malfoy, I will need you to step aside so that I can check her. Please go and talk to McGonagall. She is outside the Hospital Wing." Madam Pomfrey said.

"But-" He started but a stern expression from her was enough to make him stop.

"Mr Malfoy, it's my order." She said.

Draco sighed and took one last look at her and went towards the door.

"Headmistress McGonagall?" He said as he came near her.

"Mr Malfoy, how is she?" She asked, concern quite evident in her voice.

"I won't lie, Headmistress. Her pulse is getting weaker and weaker." Draco said.

"And how did this all happened?" She asked him.

"We had almost finished our rounds and I had an important work to do in the Heads' Dormitory so I left her there and went to our dormitory. I was about to go back when I heard her scream and I immediately rushed to the place where I had left her. When I reached there, I saw here lying on the ground and she was unconscious. So I picked her up and immediately brought her here. And now Madam Pomfrey is checking her." Draco explained.

"Do you have any idea why someone must have done it?" McGonagall asked him.

Draco, for a moment, was about to say yes, but then he simply shook his head and said, "No. I don't have any idea, Headmistress McGonagall."

"Well, if you get to know something, then please tell me." Mcgonagall said.

Draco nodded and McGonagall left, leaving him alone, deep into his thoughts.

"Mr Malfoy?" 

He turned around to see Madam Pomfrey standing there. "You can come inside." She said.

He nodded and walked towards Hermione's bed. She looked pale, but he was happy when he saw her breathing properly.

"What happened to her?" He asked Madam Pomfrey.

"She was hit with at least six crucios and some more dark spells, which I think, wouldn't be suitable to mention. She should wake up any minute now. Call me when she wakes up, I will be in my office." Madam Pomfrey told him and went towards her office.

Draco sat on the chair next to her bed and took her hand in his. Rubbing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb, he thought, This is probably done by the person who send that note to me. I shouldn't have taken it lightly, and now because of that, this all happened to her.

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw Hermione slowly opening her eyes. She smiled when she saw him sitting next to her bed.

I have to do what the note says, it's for her safety, he thought. He stood up and called Madam Pomfrey. When she finished making sure that Hermione was alright and left to call Headmistress McGonagall, he too turned to leave.

"Where are you going, Draco?" Hermione asked as she tried to sit up.

"I literally had to spent all my time here, making sure you were alright. I think I deserve some time to myself now." He said coldly.

"Thank you, Draco. For-" Hermione started but he cut her off.

"There is no need to thank me. Did you honestly think that I did all of this for you? Well, sorry to break your little happy thought, no, I did all this for myself. It wouldn't have been good for my reputation if I had just left the Gryffindor Princess, Head Girl and Saint Potter's best friend lying on the floor, right?" He said as he smirked at her.

"What are you saying, Draco? You-"

"I think you heard me perfectly the first time. And that's Malfoy to you." He again smirked at her and left the Hospital Wing, not looking back even once to see the expression of hurt on her face.

----------

Draco had thought that when he finally pushed her away, everything would be quiet. Oh, how wrong he was.

He thought about everything that happened to her that day as he laid on the bed that night. He thought that person would finally leave her alone.

But he had no idea what was going to happen next.

When he woke up next morning, he was shocked to hear someone knocking on the portrait. He looked at the clock to see it was seven o'clock in the morning. He picked up his shirt and pulled it over himself as he made his way towards the portrait. He opened it to see Blaise and Theo standing there.

"What on earth are you both doing-" He started but Blaise cut him off.

"What are you  doing here, Draco? You should be in the Hospital Wing right now." Blaise said angrily.

"What are you-" Draco started again but this time it was Theo who cut him off.

"It's Hermione." Theo said.

Draco didn't wait any longer to hear something else. He immediately ran towards the Hospital Wing, Blaise and Theo following closely behind. 

He opened the door to see Madam Pomfrey, Saint Potter, Weaselbee, Weaselette, Finnigan and some other people standing there, surrounding a bed. He slowly walked towards that bed, praying that nothing bad would have happened. However, he hadn't imagined what he saw upon reaching in a hundred years.

Hermione Granger lay dead on the bed before him.

----------

"Headmistress? You called me here urgently?"

McGonagall looked up from the paper on her desk to see Professor Slughorn standing in front of her desk.

"Horace, please sit down." She gestured towards the chair in front of her desk.

Professor Slughorn sat down and asked her, "What did you want to talk to me about?"

McGonagall sighed and said, "I am sure you know what recently happened to Miss Granger, right?" When he nodded, she continued, "Mr Malfoy told me that he had no idea of how could have done that to her, but I am sure he is hiding something. The look in his eyes revealed everything to me."

"Did you confront him about it, then?" Professor Slughorn asked her.

"No. After everything that happened, I didn't find the time to ask him." McGonagall replied.

"Is Miss Granger-" 

"Yes. Yes, I know she did. Poppy informed me. But I decided to let everyone see her and then I would go." 

"Are her parents informed of this?" Slughorn asked.

Headmistress McGonagall nodded and said, "Yes. I have sent them a letter. They should be here shortly. Meanwhile, Horace, I wanted you to call some Ministry officials to search that area. It has been left as it is. Nobody has been allowed to go there. Also, I want to make sure what happened mustn't get out. I don't want any student to get to know this. They will be informed when the time is right." McGonagall said.

"Anything else?" Slughorn asked as he stood up.

"Yes. I would like you to call Mr Potter here." 

-------------

Draco could feel his knees buckling. He steadied himself and slowly went towards her.

"Is-is she-? He started but Harry cut him off.

"Yes. An hour or so before." Harry replied as he tried his level best to stop his tears. He was sitting on the other side of her bed and gripping Hermione's hand tightly. 

Draco felt his knees finally give up and dropped himself on his knees as he gingerly took her other hand in his own.

"N-no. She c-couldn't have d-died. She was al-alright a few hours before. She wok-woke up and even smiled at m-me. Madam Pomfrey checked her and told me that she w-was alright-" 

"Draco-" Blaise said as he put his hand on Draco's shoulder but he didn't stop.

"She even talked to me, y-you know. S-she couldn't h-h-have-" 

"Draco, control yourself-" 

"You are l-lying. Sh-she is alive and just playing a p-prank on us. Come on Hermione, it is not f-funny anymore. Ple-please wake up. Look, P-potter is crying. An-and Weaselette t-too. Hell, ev-even I am crying." 

He looked at everyone and then said, "D-don't worry, she will w-wake up now. She is j-just joking-"  

"Draco-"

"A-always had a weird s-sense of humour. S-she will wake-" 

"Draco listen to me-" 

"Come on, w-wake up, Hermione. I-I am s-sorry for y-yesterday. I-I shouldn't have-"

"SHE IS DEAD MALFOY! SHE ISN'T COMING BACK! S-she isn't." Harry shouted but his voice broke at the end as he himself struggled to accept that.

Draco shook his head as he dropped his head on her hand and started shaking as he cried. "Hermione, please c-come back. I-I love you. T-that's right. I am not j-joking or anything. Please come back, Mia." 

Nobody paid much attention to that, but still there were a few audible gasps. However, Draco didn't mind them.

"I LOVE YOU!" Draco shouted as he looked at her.

Theo too put his hand on Draco's shoulder. Tears were streaming down his face, just like Blaise's. 

"P-please wake up, Hermione. I-I am so sorry f-for e-everything. Please come b-back to me, Mia." Draco cried.

--------------

"Headmistress, Harry is here." Slughorn said as he stood near the door with Harry.

McGonagall looked up and gestured them to come towards her. After they both sat down, she clasped her hands and put them on the desk. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Where were you, Mr Potter?" 

"I was in the Gryffindor common room with Ginny when Professor Slughorn called me." Harry answered.

"Have you gone to see Miss Granger yet?" McGonagall asked him.

"No, I haven't. I was thinking of maybe going before breakfast. I wanted to visit her when she would be awake. I think she must be resting now." He replied.

"Do you have any idea who would have done this, Mr Potter?" McGonagall asked him.

Harry thought for a moment and then said, "No. My suspicion was on those three Slytherins but they have already been expelled from Hogwarts so I don't think they could have done it without anyone seeing them even if they somehow managed to enter in the castle. Besides that, I don't think I know anyone else who would have done that." 

"Professor Slughorn and the Ministry officials found something near the spot where Miss Granger was lying." She opened the drawer and took out something and gave it to Harry to see.

"Do you whose this is, Mr Potter?" She asked.

"It's Andrew Mayfair's watch, Headmistress McGonagall." 

--------------

"HERMIONE!" 

Draco woke up panting. He looked around to see that he was still in his room. He was about to go back to sleep when he noticed someone standing near his bed.

"Who's there?" He asked.

"It's me, Draco." 

Hermione slowly walked towards him and sat on the edge of his bed. "I heard someone shouting, so I came to check if you were okay. You fine, Draco?" 

Draco slowly touched her shoulder with his hand to check if he was again dreaming or not and once his hand touched her shoulder, he pulled her in for a hug.

"Y-you are alive." Came his muffled reply as he buried his face on the crook of her neck while she put her one hand on the back of his head and rubbed circles on his back from the other.

"Yes. I am here, Draco." She said.

"I dream that you were d-dead, Mia. I was so scared." Draco said.

"But I am not, Draco. I am fine and I am here. It was just a dream." Hermione said.

"I am so sorry for yesterday, Hermione. I shouldn't have said all those things." He apologized to her.

"It's fine, Draco. But, will you tell me the reason of you talking like that?" She asked him.

"I don't think now is the right time. But I would probably tell you later." He replied.

Hermione was about to say something when a tap on the window stopped her. Draco pulled away from her to see an owl tapping its foot on his window. He got up from the bed and opened the window to let the owl in. He took the letter from it and the owl flew away, after Draco gave him a few treats.

Draco closed his eyes when he saw who the letter was from. He opened his eyes and took a shaky breath while opening the letter.

He looked away when he finished reading the letter.

"Draco? What happened?" Hermione asked him.

He slowly went back towards her and sat next to her. Handing her the letter, he said, "You can read it." 

Hermione slowly took the letter from him and saw it was from St Mungo's. She looked at him with a confused expression but he only gestured her to read it. Hermione looked back towards the letter and read.

Mr Malfoy,

This is to inform you that you can come and visit your mother now. You can bring anyone with you if you want. We have already informed Headmistress Minerva McGonagall. As for her condition, you can come and see for yourself.

Sincerely

St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries 

Hermione looked up to see Draco staring at the wall in front of them. "What is this, Draco?" She asked him, breaking him out of his trance.

"Remember when I came back to your house in the holidays, you asked me why I didn't celebrate New Year with my parents?" He continued after Hermione nodded, "And before that, when my father was finally going to be released after that trial, I went to see my mother and you asked me why I returned early and I told you that she was busy?" Again Hermione nodded and he said, "My mother is in St Mungo's, Hermione."

"What?" She asked him, with a confused expression.

Draco nodded and said, "After Voldemort got defeated and the war ended, my father was arrested. My mother started locking herself in her room and wouldn't come out for hours, no matter how much I tried. Sometimes, she didn't even eat anything for days. One day, I was not in the Manor. I had gone to Blaise's house and we were about to go to Theo's when our house elf appeared there and told me that my mother had fainted. I immediately went back to my house and took my mother to St Mungo's. She didn't wake up for six days. When she woke up on the seventh day, she didn't recognise me. The Healers told me that she was suffering from a disease that made her forget things. Sometimes she would remember my name and other things but on most of the days, she didn't remember anything. When the Hogwarts letter came, she remembered me and told me to go even when I declined. I thought everything would be okay, but then..." Draco trailed off.

Hermione took his hand in hers and squeezed it reassuringly. He waited for a moment and then continued, "When I went to visit her after father's trial, she didn't respond to anything I said. She would occasionally nod or say something in between before, but that time she didn't do anything. Healers said that it was normal and she would get better soon. When I went to see my mother in the holidays, the Healers told me of her condition. It was getting worse and worse. I wasn't able to visit her. I told father that I wouldn't be able to and stayed in the Leaky Cauldron before I came to your house. My father requested me to come and see her and even St Mungo's kept sending letters and letters and I ignored each one of them. And they sent a letter today also, just like everyday, but today you saw it." 

Hermione squeezed hand again and said, "I think you should go and see her, Draco." 

He shook his head and said, "I wouldn't be able to, Hermione. I would probably cry on the spot and disturb everyone." 

"It's okay to cry, Draco. Tears are the words heart cannot speak. It's okay to let your emotions out, Draco."  Hermione said soothingly.

"I won't be able to do it alone. Will you come with me, Hermione?" He asked after a few moments.

Hermione was taken aback by this question. "Are you sure about that, Draco?" She asked him.

"Yes. I am sure, Hermione. I need you there with me, if it would be okay for you." Draco said as looked her in the eye.

Hermione nodded without a moment of hesitation and said, "I would like to be there for you, Draco." 

He sighed and stood up. "Let us inform McGonagall then." 

------------

Hermione had just opened the portrait when she was engulfed in a hug. She knew who it was by seeing the mop of raven coloured hair on her shoulder and wrapped her arms around him too.

"You okay, 'Mione?" He asked her.

"I am fine, Harry. Much better now." Hermione said.

Harry pulled away and checked her from head to toe for any injury. Hermione chuckled seeing this and said, "I am fine, Harry." 

"Honestly?" He asked her.

"Honestly." She replied as she nodded.

Harry kissed her forehead in a brotherly way and said, "I am so sorry, Hermione. I wasn't able to prevent this." 

"It's not your fault, Harry." She said as Harry held her hand in his. 

He squeezed it and said, "I swear I am going to kill that person whoever did this to you." 

"Not before I kill him." 

Hermione looked over Harry's shoulder to see Ginny standing there. Harry stepped aside and Ginny immediately wrapped her arms around Hermione. She hugged her back just as tightly.

"I am sorry we couldn't come earlier." Ginny said as she pulled away.

"It's okay, Ginny. I was... a little busy earlier. So it's good that you both came at this time." Hermione smiled at the two of them.

"Shall we go, Hermione?" 

All three of them turned around to see Draco standing there. Hermione nodded at him while Harry asked, "Go where?" 

Hermione gave a quick look to Draco and said, "I will tell you later, Harry. We should probably go now." 

Ginny and Harry nodded and Harry said, "Let us know if you need anything, okay?" 

Hermione nodded and Ginny and Harry gave her another hug before they went away. 

"You won't tell them where we are going, right? Please?" Draco asked once the corridor was empty.

"Don't worry, I won't. I will probably tell them something else." Hermione said.

------------

"She is in this room, Mr Malfoy." The Healer, Mr Kale, said as he led both Hermione and Draco towards Narcissa Malfoy's room.

"Where is my father?" Draco asked him.

"He is in the room only. Call me if you need anything." Mr Kale said and went away.

"You can do this, Draco." Hermione said as she squeezed his hand. Draco nodded and opened the door.

Draco felt tears burning his eye as he saw his mother sitting on the bed, staring at him, but not really. He looked on the couch next to her bed to see his father sleeping, dark circles clearly visible under his eyes.

Hermione squeezed his hand again as Draco slowly walked towards her bed, his hand still in hers. He sat on the edge of the bed and Hermione stood next to him.

"Mother?" Draco said.

"What do you call her at home, Draco?" Hermione asked him.

"Mother. Why?" He asked her.

"No, I mean that what do you call her when you are alone with her?" Hermione asked again.

When Draco didn't say anything, she said, "Call her that, Draco. You don't know the power of love."

"Mum?" Draco said as he took his mother's hand in his other hand. It must have been his imagination, but he saw his mother's eyes flicker towards him for a second.

"Tell her how much you love her, Draco. Tell her about some of your favorite childhood memories with her." She turned to leave to give them some privacy but Draco tightened his grip on her, he needed her right now.

He spent the next hour by telling his mother some of their memories. When he finished telling the last one, he felt tears streaming down his face.

Hermione hadn't noticed that he was crying until a hiccup escaped his mouth. She looked down at him to see him crying.

"Draco..." She said.

He did nothing except resting his head against her stomach and wrapping his arm around her waist. Hermione combed her fingers through his hair, whispering assuring words.

"Dray?" 

Draco looked towards the source of the voice and was shocked to see his mother looking at him. "Dray?" She said again.

"It's me, mum. It's Dray." He said happily as he embraced his mother in a hug. 

Narcissa did nothing except pat her son's back as he cried on her shoulder. 

Hermione was happily watching this scene. She wanted to give them some family time, but couldn't because Draco's one hand was still gripping her hand.

"Mr Malfoy." 

Hermione turned around to see the Healer, Mr Kale, standing there. Draco pulled away from his mother and the Healer checked his mother.

"Looks like your mother is healing well, Mr Malfoy." Mr Kale said as he turned towards them.

"And that is all because of the power of love." Draco said as he smiled down at Hermione.

Mr Kale nodded and said, "I will let you know when you will be able to visit her again. But for now, you will have to go. We can only allow one person to stay here and Mr Lucius Malfoy is already staying here." 

Lucius Malfoy slowly opened his eyes as Hermione followed Mr Kale out from the room as she wanted to ask him something.

Draco and his father talked for a while before Draco decided that he had to go back. He met Hermione outside the door and they made their way back to Hogwarts.

-----------

"Thank you so much, Hermione." Draco said as he picked her up and spinned her around. 

Hermione laughed as he sat her back down. Her hands were still on his chest and his hands were resting on her waist.

He stepped closer to her and Hermione did the same.

She didn't know who made the first step but knew that, it felt right.

She slowly leaned up and Draco leaned down. He moved one his hand and it rested on her cheek. He closed his eyes but not before Hermione did and finally his lips touched hers.

It was like electricity had shot through both of their bodies. Or it was like their lips had a mind of their own. His lips were soft and gentle and tasted of green apples. Hermione's lips perfectly matched with his own and tasted like chocolate, a taste he loved the most. 

And just like that, it was over.

Hermione stepped away quickly, mumbled a sorry, and ran towards her room.

A/N: Well that's it for this chapter! It was 4000+ words. Hope you guys liked it. So they finally kissed! How was it? Random question: Favourite HP character? Answer in the comments below. Vote, comment and please share my story. Reviews are always appreciated. Thank you!

Next chapter on 19/1/20(Sunday) 

Until next time.