Chapter 1

She awoke. She wouldn't know at first where she was. It wasn't her home. There was a peculiar smell in the air like – disinfectants. The smell reminded her of a hospital. Then it came to her, she was in a hospital. With that realization, her memory came back

*Flashback*

"Ron, I am serious. You took my car … without even asking me. So get here and pick me up, now!" 'Here' meant from her work at the ministry. Her colleagues were quite surprised when they saw Hermione use that strange muggle device – her mobile, she called it. They were not surprised that she used it – she did that quite often – but that she was nearly screaming into it. Hermione Granger always stayed calm – no matter how annoyed she actually might be … but at this moment she was fuming. Not that she did not have every right to be. Her boyfriend had 'borrowed' her car earlier that day. Only that he conveniently forgot to tell her. Thus, she was late for work. Now, that she was done, he apparently already sat comfortably on the couch in their flat. Too comfortable to get up and collect her.

"Come on, 'Mione. There is a bus station right in front of the ministry. And it is not that far, is it? Please, I am tired."

"I don't care, Ronald. I was late for work this morning because of you. And right now, I am tired, too. I mean it, Ron. You better collect me, NOW!"

"I already told you that I won't . I'll see you when your bus arrives!" And with that he hung up.

*End Flashback*

She had drifted back to sleep again. Now, she awoke to a male voice. Ron's voice. She got angry again but then she heard the sadness in his voice. "I am sorry Hermione. It's all my fault. I came to say goodbye. I can't stand looking at you anymore. Even if you were awake that scar would always remind me that I did this to you." A scar? What did he mean? And what should saying goodbye mean? Did he want to break up with her? She wanted to yell at him. She wanted to send him a glare. But she couldn't. She just sank back into unknowingness again.

Next time she awoke, she felt a soft hand stroking her cheek. So, she dreamt this. Ron was still here as he should be and they would go down to the kitchen to have breakfast, soon. Apparently, Ron already got up and started cleaning. That thought made her uncomfortable. Ron never did housework voluntarily. She always had to force him but there was that smell in the air – the smell of disinfectants and other cleaning agents.

Someone pushed her hair from her face. She heard a well-known voice again. Only it was not Ron's voice. "My, my, my, Granger. You really grew into a beautiful woman. The Weasel is an idiot. He shouldn't have quit visiting you. As if he could ever get himself a girl like you again. Stupid Weasel!"

"Says the ferret!" she managed to croak.

She could hear him jump. Then he buzzed around the room, clearly out of his mind. Finally, he seemed to calm down and she heard him whisper near her ear: "Granger? Are you awake?"

Draco watched as her face twitched. At last, she opened her eyes. She looked at him and he knew that what she saw must be a look of utter surprise in his face. He felt his eyes widen even more. "What's wrong with me being awake?"

"Ha … you were … I mean … Merlin, Granger, you haven't been awake for the last one and a half years." There was a pause, then he said: "I'll just inform the nurse so she can call your parents and … well, I suppose you'll want the Potters as well?"

"Yes, and Ron. I want Ron, too. Please?" she managed to whisper though she already feared that this last wish was not to be fulfilled anytime soon. "Well, yes, we'll see," Malfoy said hesitantly. With that he left the room.

Hermione tried to work things out. Had he said one and a half years? Then, suddenly, she remembered the crash. But that was the point, wasn't it? She remembered it. She remembered pulling herself out of that unfortunate wrack of a bus. She remembered stopping a car in order to call for help. She remembered the driver – eyes wide with shock. He forced her into the passenger seat and then called an ambulance. She remembered the policemen asking her what had happened and then, as the last thing in her memory, she remembered being transported to St. Mungo's. Only then had she fainted … and apparently not woken again until now.

She heard the door to her room open again. Malfoy entered. "Your parents were unavailable but Harry and Ginny will arrive soon. However, you should not talk too much right now. Your vocal chords are not used to it any more. I'll get you parchment and a quill so you can write down your questions for them." He lazily flicked his wand and parchment and quill as well as ink appeared. "Do you need anything else?" She nodded. He handed her over the tools and she wrote:

Why are you here?

"I take it you don't enjoy my company too much?" he chuckled. "Well, I am a healer here and you are my patient, Miss Granger."

Why do you call Harry and Ginny 'Harry and Ginny'?

"You know, people tend to call other people by their given names. I am sure they'll explain it to you. I am sorry, Granger, but I have to go. It's time for my ward round." That moment, however, the door opened again and Harry and Ginny came in.

"Draco, is it true? Oh, please, don't say it was false alarm?" Ginny flung herself at Malfoy and hugged him. Hermione's eyes widened with shock at this behaviour. Harry followed Ginny and shook hands with Draco as though were old friends. "Well?"

"Honestly, just look! She's with us, isn't she?" Ginny and Harry seemed to be afraid to look at her. Hermione, however, smiled at them. She was so happy, they were here.

"'Mione, I don't believe it. I nearly lost all hope and now there you are." Ginny sat on her bedside and hugged Hermione. "How are you? Do you remember anything?"

Malfoy intervened at this moment "Ginny, please, don't drown her in questions right now. She's not supposed to speak, anyways. All the information you can get from her have to be written down. She's not to strain her vocal chords just yet, you hear me?"

"Yes, Dray, of course, I'm sorry. Do we have to consider anything else?"

"Well, no, I guess not. Just be sensitive, okay? I'll go now, I fear Hermione still is not too comfortable in my presence."

"We'll see you at dinner?"

"Yes, see you then." He left and Hermione was drowning in question of her own, now.

What the bloody hell is going on? DRAY? You'll meet him at dinner? I want an explanation!