Draco was unconscious in the infirmary when Hermione came running in with Madam Pomfrey following. Professor McGonagall had already settled him on a cot and started cleaning his injuries, but at the sight of Madam Pomfrey, she stepped back to give her the space she needed. Behind them, Hermione hovered anxiously and watched Madam Pomfrey crush dittany leaves while Professor McGonagall stopped the bleeding.

"You said there were three of them?" Madam Pomfrey asked. Professor McGonagall nodded and glanced over Draco. "I only see two bites. Unfortunately, this close to a full moon, there's no way he won't change. Were any other students around?"

"Just Miss Granger," McGonagall said. They both looked back at Hermione who was wringing her hands nervously. "Miss Granger? Were you injured at all?"

Hermione shook her head and took a step forward. Draco groaned as Madam Pomfrey pressed the crushed dittany into one of the bites and Hermione's eyes widened.

"He's going to be a werewolf now, won't he?" she asked. Madam Pomfrey didn't look up but Professor McGonagall smiled sadly at her and nodded.

"Unfortunately, I don't think Headmaster Snape or Professor Carrow are going to be willing to brew him the potions he needs during the school year," McGonagall said. She glanced at Madam Pomfrey who nodded. McGonagall stepped away from Draco and walked over to where Hermione was standing. "You are very skilled at potions, Miss Granger, and the only one who would willingly brew the Wolfsbane potion for Mr. Malfoy."

"I'll do it," Hermione said immediately. She didn't want to think about what would happen if she didn't and if she were honest, she didn't need convincing to help Draco. "I've never brewed it before, but if Headmaster Snape would at least lend me some notes, I'm sure I can do it privately."

"Good," Professor McGonagall said. She glanced back at Draco and Madam Pomfrey and Hermione couldn't help but look over too. Even unconscious, Draco's face was scrunched up in pain.

"Is he going to be alright?" Hermione asked quietly. Professor McGonagall put a hand on Hermione's shoulder, but Hermione didn't look away from Draco.

"He should be," she promised. Hermione nodded numbly and stayed silent until Madam Pomfrey stepped back. She turned to look at both Hermione and Professor McGonagall and smiled grimly.

"It's going to scar and he'll transform at the full moon, but he should wake up by morning," she said. Hermione walked forward and gently rested her hand on Draco's arm. "You're welcome to stay with him, Miss Granger," Madam Pomfrey said, "I'm sure he could use a friend when he wakes up."

Hermione nodded and pulled a chair over to the side of Draco's cot. She could tell he was already healing quickly, but she didn't want to leave just in case something happened while she was gone. Instead, she made herself comfortable in the chair and conjured a blanket to wrap up in.

"I'll be in my office in case he needs anything," Madam Pomfrey promised. Hermione didn't respond, but she listened to Madam Pomfrey's and Professor McGonagall's footsteps fade away. When she was certain they were gone, she grabbed Draco's hand to reassure herself he wasn't dead like he looked.

"You better wake up, Malfoy," she muttered, laying her head on his cot and holding his hand tighter. "You don't get to duck out of this War any earlier than I do."

* * * * *

Hermione woke up in the morning to a crick in her neck and a sore back. She groaned as she sat up, letting go of Draco's hand so she could stretch a bit. She'd barely let go of him and reached upwards when his eyes snapped open and he snatched her hand back quickly. Hermione yelped in surprise, stopping mid-stretch to look down at Draco who was wide awake. His eyes were darting around the room, but he didn't release his hold on her hand even when his gaze finally settled on her.

"You're awake!" Hermione grinned. She paused as she noticed his eyes looked different than usual. Hesitantly, she looked closer and noticed rather than the familiar grey, his eyes were a bright silver and he was looking at her in a way she couldn't quite place. "Draco?" she asked, reaching towards his face with her free hand. "Are you alright?"

Draco didn't answer. He looked away from her and glared at the curtain around his cot. Right when Hermione was going to ask what the problem was, Madam Pomfrey pulled the curtain aside and stepped forward. When she saw Draco was awake, she smiled and moved towards him.

"Good morning, Mr. Malfoy," she said gently. Draco made a low sound as she stepped towards him and his grip on Hermione's hand tightened. Madam Pomfrey looked at him strangely and took another step forward. "How are you feeling? You had quite—"

Draco growled—actually growled—when Madam Pomfrey stepped closer. Both Madam Pomfrey and Hermione froze, staring at him in shock. If Draco cared, he didn't show it. He pulled Hermione closer and she fell beside him on the cot while Madam Pomfrey stayed still.

"Mr. Malfoy, I just need to check your injuries," she said calmly. She slowly held up a roll of bandages and showed him her wand. "You've just been attacked by werewolves and I need to ensure you are healing properly."

Draco glanced at Hermione and she was thrown off by his silver eyes. She glanced at Madam Pomfrey who remained standing where she was, but didn't look worried.

"Draco, let Madam Pomfrey check you over, alright?" Hermione said softly. She brushed his hair back from his face and his eyes flickered back to normal. "I'll stay right here, but you need to relax and let her help you."

Hermione stared at him until his eyes returned to their usual grey and he blinked in surprise at her. He looked around the room again, apologising when he realised he was holding onto her tightly.

"It's alright," Hermione reassured him. She stayed at his side while Madam Pomfrey moved closer slowly and unwrapped his old bandages.

Draco watched her very carefully as she inspected under each bandage and stepped back in surprise when all of his injuries had healed.

"It appears the werewolf blood acted quickly in healing your injuries," she said. She set the bandage roll on the cot beside him and gently massaged his shoulder that had been bitten.

Draco's eyes flashed silver and he growled at her. Madam Pomfrey gave him a sharp look and Hermione grabbed his hand. His eyes returned to normal a second later and he sheepishly looked away.

Madam Pomfrey released him once she was certain there was no permanent damage to his shoulder. As she stepped back, she glanced from Draco to Hermione.

"Miss Granger, if I may speak with you for a moment," she said. Hermione nodded and got up from Draco's cot. She looked at him to make sure he was okay and when she saw his eyes were grey and not silver, she followed Madam Pomfrey out of the curtained area and into her office.

Madam Pomfrey motioned for Hermione to have a seat so she did, glancing behind her where Draco's cot was shielded off.

"Mr. Malfoy seems to already present very strong lycanthropy traits," she said, something that Hermione had noticed as well. "This could be a problem for you in your shared dormitory as the year progresses and he is forced to adjust to his new body. I would suggest talking to the Headmaster about separating for your own safety."

"Absolutely not," Hermione said immediately. Whatever was happening with Draco, he clearly needed someone around. The last thing she wanted to do was move out of their dorm when he was unstable. "Draco and I are friends, he would never hurt me."

"Perhaps not," Madam Pomfrey ceded, "But Mr. Malfoy is no longer himself. He's now suffering from lycanthropy and as I'm sure you know, this can make him very dangerous."

Hermione nodded, but she wasn't about to be swayed. She'd always felt very strongly about magical creatures and werewolves did not terrify her as much as they did other wizards. Draco was not a monster just because he'd been bit; he was still her friend and he needed her around.

"I understand, but I'm not going to move dorms," she said. Madam Pomfrey sighed but nodded.

"I just thought I'd suggest it," she said. She stood back up and Hermione did as well. "It looks like the Headmaster and Minerva are back. Come with me and we'll discuss Mr. Malfoy's condition further."

Hermione frowned, but followed Madam Pomfrey out of her office and over to where Snape and McGonagall were. Something outside the window caught her attention and she moved closer to see what it was, leaving Madam Pomfrey to talk with McGonagall and Snape alone. She didn't see anything right away, so she stayed for a moment longer just to get a better look, but was pulled away from the window at a loud yell.

"What did you do to Hermione?"

Draco. She jumped away from the window and burst through the curtain around his cot to see Draco frozen mid-lunge. McGonagall had her wand out and Madam Pomfrey looked a little shaken even though Draco was no longer moving towards her. What really caught Hermione's attention, however, was his silver eyes.

"Draco!" she exclaimed, moving directly in front of him. He was glaring at McGonagall but she made no move to remove the spell. "Let him go," Hermione said, putting her hands on his shoulders to keep him back. McGonagall refused.

"Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy is in no condition to be—"

"Let him go!" Hermione said again, louder and more irritated this time.

Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes at her but removed the spell. The second Draco could move, he pulled Hermione to his chest and took two large steps away from the three adults. Hermione strained to look behind her where all three professors now had their wands trained on Draco.

"Draco, let Miss Granger go," Snape ordered. Draco's silver eyes narrowed and his hold on her tightened. "Draco, do not make me ask again."

"I'm okay," Hermione told them. She struggled to get a hand free so she could reach Draco's face. At her touch, his eyes immediately left the professors and he looked down at her. "Draco, you have to let me go. I'll stay right here, but you have to talk to the Headmaster and McGonagall."

"Miss Granger, you cannot stay, you must return to classes," Snape drawled. Hermione twisted around and sent him a fierce glare while Draco snarled at him.

"He won't listen to you if I don't stay," Hermione said. How she knew this, she wasn't sure. However, she knew for certain that Draco would not behave if she were forced to leave. "He'll let me go and listen if I can stay."

"No," Draco argued. Hermione turned back to him and glared. Draco's upper lip curled back, but he stopped himself before snapping at her. "Fine," he agreed unhappily. He gave Snape a nasty look and slowly released Hermione.

As soon as she was free enough to turn and look at her professors, she stepped between them and Draco whose eyes were flickering between grey and silver.

"Let's talk," she said, grabbing hold of Draco's hand and watching his eyes slowly return to normal.