I Don't Know You

Believe It

The following day in the hospital was uneventful. Neville Longbottom had come and gone, his hand severely wounded from Bubotuber Pus, but no one else. It seemed to be a slow day for Madam Pomfrey.

It was nine o'clock at night when two Gryffindor students who Draco recognized as Dean Thomas and Lavender Brown came bursting through the door supporting a limp body in their hands.

"She's hurt, she's hurt!"

Madam Pomfrey immediately scooped the figure up and dropped her on the bed next to Draco's, and his mind splintered at who it was. Hermione.

His heart dipped into his stomach.

Let her be okay, please, let her be okay.

"Oh, it's not too bad; she seems to have overdosed on love potion," Draco breathed a sigh of relief that he didn't even try to hide from the others. He was done pretending.

Madam Pomfrey examined Hermione's throat, "A desperate young man, I suppose? I swear these teenagers always do this… One drop is enough, for heaven's sake…" She fumbled in her many pockets and removed a dusty bottle with swirling purple liquid inside. Then, she tipped the drink into Hermione's lifeless lips.

At least she was going to be alright. Draco thought he could fancy a guess on who gave her the potion…

"She'll be awake in three or four hours," she assured Lavender and Dean, "I've given her anti-love remedy, so she'll feel a bit drowsy, but no longer affected. I think I'll have to keep her here for the next few days, anyhow. Sometimes these things have unexpected side affects. Give this note to Professor Dumbledore will you? Thank you, children." They scurried off, looking relieved. "And Mr. Malfoy?"

"Yes?"

"Please do try and get some sleep, now."

Madam Pomfrey left for her office that connected with the main room, leaving Draco to his thoughts.

What am I going to do in three hours when she wakes up? He had absolutely no intention of going to sleep. It was foolish to even try.

He considered ignoring her for a moment, but just glancing in her direction… seeing her chest heave slowly up and down, her breath short and distressed... He overflowed with emotion. Draco knew, in that moment, that he would do anything for her. Anything in the world. Ignoring her just couldn't work.

Perhaps let her make the first move, and play along?

Time dragged on, and finally, around three and a half hours later, he heard a small cough to his left. Her eyes opened and widened at the sight of him.

"Draco," she said in that melodic voice he adored, rubbing her eyes. "What's happened?"

"Apparently, someone gave you a love potion and you overdosed," he replied in the calmest voice he could muster.

"Oh. That makes sense," she blinked several times, bringing the room back into focus.

He waited, nervously. It was growing more and more impossible for him not to tear over there and take her in his arms and never let go.

"What happened to you?"

He hadn't anticipated this question. "I uhh… got in a fight."

"With who?"

"Err… Ron."

"Oh, Gods. It's because of… It's…"

"Yeah, they cornered me in the courtyard," he decided that the truth was the best option.

"They? Oh no, not Harry too. I would have expected something like this from Ron, but Harry?"

"Well, Harry didn't curse me, Ron did. Harry just asked me what I did to you."

Her jaw dropped open. How he ached to close it with a kiss…

"And… What did you tell them?" her voice lowered to almost a whisper, afraid of what she was about to hear.

"The truth."

"What truth?"

"That… I love you." It felt so freeing to let it out in the open, finally. A minute passed as she moved to sit on the end of his bed.

"Draco, I need to tell you something-"

"Yes, I know it'll ruin our lives, and I'm being selfish for asking you to do this, but… Maybe it is worth it," Draco decided to take a big risk. "'Mione, I can't live without you… The past few months had been dreadful, to say the least. I don't know if I can bear this lonely agony much longer. Who cares what they say? Who cares what they think? The future can be ours, I want to be together."

She stared deep into his eyes, and he knew that she had been swept away by his insane proposition. He expected her to say anything, do anything, except what she said next.

"You took the words right out of my mouth."

He must not have heard correctly. "What?"

"I don't want to be alone again. We can get through anything, it's worth it. I know it is." she smiled warmly, and placed her delicate hand atop his.

He stared at her blankly, processing the meaning of these words.

"Draco? Are you alright?"

"I thought I would have to convince you. I just can't quite believe what I'm hearing."

"Believe it."

She forcefully hooked her arm around his neck and pulled him in for an intense kiss. It was the first time she had ever done this, and it was more wonderful and powerful than he could have imagined in his wildest dreams.

He was pressing so hard against her that he worried he may have bruised her lips. For all he knew, he was hurting himself more. But one thought pushed all common sense out of his mind: Any moment she may pull away, make the most of it, make the most of it.

But she never did.

Soon, their bodies were against each other, his arms traced her curves, causing her to emit a soft moan from the back of her throat. She parted her lips, and their tongues engaged in a fierce battle. He stroked her in every place, everywhere. He so deeply desired to taste every inch of her… To explore.

Then he flipped them both over, until he was on top of her in his hospital bed. Every second the passion grew.

"Draco, we can't do this here…"

He placed a finger to her lips. "No thoughts like that. This is it, remember? No second thoughts."

"But what if she walks in?"

Then a sinking feeling erupted inside of him. She was right. It wasn't the time, or the place.

Then a wild idea occurred to him. "Let's get out of here," he panted, still on top of her.

"What..?"

"Let's go far away. Leave everything."

"You're out of your mind-"

"Just think of it. You and me… Against all odds. We could go anywhere, travel all over. A life made for the two of us."

"But… What about NEWTs? I need to take them. I have to."

"I know you do. I say we wait until we take exams, they're not that far off, then we get out of here. No one will ever hear of us again."

"I… can't do that."

Draco felt the lump growing in his throat, his eyes getting hot and steamy. Don't do this now, Draco.

"Why not? You could still visit people, but I know I would never want to see my family again." He knew that Hermione was aware of the hatred he harbored towards his family, especially his father.

Then he saw light in her eyes. She looked straight up at him.

"Let's do it," she decided, sitting up, so they faced each other on his bed.

Then the tears erupted, and he felt them streaming down his cheeks, and dropping to match Hermione's. Her face was wet with joyful tears of her own.

"You're right," she cupped his cheek in her hand, stroking it lovingly, "I want to do this. Life has been hell without you. I don't need anything… anyone… else. There's this connection we have that… Without it I feel…"

"Empty," he finished her sentence.

At that moment Madam Pomfrey chose to burst through the doors. Hermione swept her hand away instantly.

"Mr. Malfoy, you are free to go. You've healed long enough."

"Okay." Draco neither knew nor cared about what Madam Pomfrey thought, not in the slightest bit embarrassed about the position she had discovered him in.

He rose from the bed, shooting Hermione a meaningful glance, which she returned. For a moment they both looked at each other. An honest glance filled with love, passion, hope for the future. Trust. In that instant they understood. In those few seconds in time, the world seemed simple. They were meant to be together, and nothing was going to stand in the way.

Nothing.

Then he left the hospital wing, knowing for sure that it wasn't the last time he would see her.

He left before he could hear her gently whisper the three words that were no longer ripping Draco apart.

"I love you."

A/N: That's the end. Thanks so much to all who read and reviewed!

Felicitousmomento- Thank you so much for reviewing me many times from the very beginning. I really appreciate it!

Rizahawkeye21- You were the second reviewer ever! Thanks so much! I loved your constructive critism.

Lilmissgullible- Thank you for reviewing me multiple times!

Rachael Lupin- Thank you for your long reviews. You were right pretty much when you guessed the plot line. )

Cardinal Ximinez- I laughed aloud at your comment. Just wanted to mention that.

If I forgot you, don't murder me, I loved each and every review. It really kept me going. I very much enjoyed writing this story, and I hope that you enjoyed reading it. If you want to hear more from me, be sure to Author Alert me so you know when my next story comes out. It will be called "A Change of Heart." I'm already ten pages into it! It is in Hermione's POV. It is a Draco Hermione story, but it will involve Ron and Harry a lot more than in this fic. Basically, it is a love "Square". You may not get what that means, so you'll have to wait and see. Here is a small preview:

Hermione Granger strolled confidently across the train platform and directly through the magical brick wall as if it was something she did every day. She couldn't hold back the gasp as she beheld the sight on the other side.

Her friends, fellow classmates and professors were all around her… Everything she loved in her life was about to begin again. Sure, the summers were a nice break. No work or worries. But of course, anyone who knew Hermione was well aware that she didn't mind homework anyway. In fact, quite the contrary.

She was going to see her friends again. That castle. That library. And Ron! Her heart swelled with emotion as she pictured her friend's face in her mind. Somewhat unkempt, distinguishing ginger hair and a long freckled nose. She sighed dreamily.

Since fourth year, Hermione had experienced more than just friendly emotions towards Ron Weasley. It had dawned on her quite suddenly when she realized exactly why she was so upset when he had insulted her three years ago at the Yule Ball.

I'm in love with him.