A/N: So sorry this is late. Life has been insane with the Torch Awards. (If you haven't heard about those, it's an awards sponsored by my site, Impassionate Magic. Head to my profile for the link.)

Also, major thanks go out to ReniRcx and Thir13enth for betaing this chapter and put up with my insane grammar. I love you , ladies! You're amazing and have helped me grow as an author. You encourage me with every word you say.

Major thanks also go out to all my reviewers. I love you, too. You're words encourage me every week. Also, to those who have put me on alert... Much love.

"Ms. Granger, you're free to go, but you'll need to have someone taking care of you. You're on strict bed rest for three days while your body heals the rest of the way. Do you have somewhere you can go? Someone who can take care of you?" the healer asked as the paperwork was readied for Granger's release.

The short black haired woman that seemed an enigma to me seemed deep in thought for a moment, biting her lip as she stared out the window. Then, as softly as she could, causing me to lean forward to hear, she whispered, "Yes, ma'am. I can stay at my flat and one of my friends will stay with me." She never took her eyes off the world outside as she spoke.

Years of living with Lucius Malfoy had taught me how to recognize when someone was being deceitful. Her lack of eye contact told me as sure as words that she was lying through those not-so-large teeth.

I still remember that time in fourth year when I fought Potter in the hallway of Hogwarts. My Densaugeo spell missed him, but hit Granger, causing her beaver-like teeth to grow even more grotesque. The image of her covering her mouth and running toward the hospital wing of the castle, tears pouring down her face, shock and embarrassment clouding her face, still made a part of me chuckle.

When she had finally emerged later that day, her teeth looked better than ever. For the first time, I was able to see her clearly. She was actually a very beautiful girl. At that time, however, there had been nothing I could do. Her Mudblood status still clouded any feelings that might have developed. How could a Death Eater have anything to do with someone with such dirty blood?

Shaking my head to clear the memories from it, I heard the Healer saying something else to Granger about her release. "Well, as soon as your friend gets here, you can leave."

"No one's coming."

"But, you said you would have someone to help you while you're on bed rest," the Healer asked, confusion easily heard in her voice and seen in her expression as she spoke.

"Someone will be there, but they won't be picking me up," Granger argued.

I decided that if this issue was ever going to be resolved, I would have to step in. "Ma'am, would it be alright if I took her home?" When the Healer smiled and nodded, something occurred to me. "How is that going to work? Is she fit enough to apparate? Or even walk on her own?"

"No, but she can use the floo network. She could use the floo here and come out in her apartment."

Granger was slowly and carefully shaking her head. "No, I have wards up that won't let him in." She paused to look me in the eye for the first time. "You could floo to the bar down the street, but from there I don't know."

An idea came to me, but as I lifted my wand, I wasn't sure what I was doing. Motherfucking... Why am I going to such lengths to help her? My wand seemed to move on its own accord, and before our eyes, the chair beside Granger's bed, transfigured into a wheelchair.

The Healer's eye lit up. "What a wonderful idea, Mr. Malfoy! You could floo to the bar and then wheel her to her flat."

It sounded like a good plan. Everything would work out. In just under an hour, I would be rid of her. I wouldn't have to even think about her after I left her in her home.

We flooed to the bar and began our walk; I wheeled to toward her flat. Walking down that road, I was thrown back to the night I found her laying on the street. Knives seemed to stab in my throat as I remembered thinking she was dead.

It was hard to shake the overwhelming feelings of despair, but I fought them off as we journeyed to her flat door. All of a sudden I wasn't sure why I had agreed to do this. There were so many things coming out of my mouth, so many decisions that I was making that didn't make sense to me anymore.

I was a former Death Eater. The mark still haunted me from its placement on my arm every time I cleansed myself. So, why did I say those things? Why did I do those things, feel those emotions that constantly racked my whole body when I was near her? I mentally banged my head against a wall in frustration with myself. Why did I care if she got home alright? Why did I care if she killed herself? There was a time when I would have celebrated her attempt. For some reason, there was no celebrating, only worry.

"Why are you doing this, Malfoy? Why do you care so much about me? No one cares about me anymore." Her face fell as she spoke. Misery clouded her eyes. She was obviously haunted by something huge and horrifying.

I put my hand on her shoulder and she stiffened, shrinking away from me. Slowly, I lowered my hand to my side once again. Curiosity clenched my stomach and sorrow for her dampened my eyes. "What happened to you? One day you're a happy-go-lucky girl, who loved the world, especially her friends. Now, you hate yourself. You look like death warmed over and act like nothing matters. I can see whatever it was had an immeasurable effect on you, but I do think you'd feel better if you talked about it."

Tears overflowed her eyes as she shook her head. She turned, checking the protective and locking wards before unlocking her door. "Oh no. No, no, no, no, no. This can't be," she whispered frantically.

I began to worry. "What's going on, Granger?"

"The wards are gone. Someone's broken in. I knew this would happen. Why didn't I move after it hap-" She stopped talking abruptly. Tears made their way quickly down her face.

Once her door was open, we made our way inside in shock. Her flat was completely torn apart. Chairs were upended, and the tables her standing against the wall, or overturned. Papers were strewn everywhere, as were boxes of food.

Leaving her in the wheelchair in the family room, I made my way to the bedroom down the hall. The door was open, so I went inside. What I saw made me stop in my tracks. Clothes, jewelry, blankets, and underwear were all thrown about. There wasn't an inch of floor space to walk on. I was blown away.

The mess was nothing compared to what caught my eye next. There on the wall someone had written, "You should be dead." It appeared to have been etched by magic. Who would do this? Why would they do something like this?

Quickly, I shut the door and walked back down the hall. No one should have to see their bedroom like that. No one should have to stay in their flat when someone is clearly out to get them.

I found Granger standing in the middle of the family room, hands on her hips, looking very upset. "Who do you think could have done this?" I quietly asked her, not wanting to scare her any more than she already was.

She didn't turn toward me, only continued to stare at the mess she had once called her home in a daze for a moment. Finally, she threw her hands up in frustration. "I don't know. Why do you think I would know? Who do I know who could even conceive to do something like this? My friends are not criminals like yours!"

I tried not to take offense. She was upset right then, and more than likely, didn't even know what she was saying. So, I decided to just blow off her little...episode. "Why don't you floo Weasley or Potter, and ask if you can stay with them for a few days so I can leave?"

She looked fearful for a moment, but quickly recovered. "No. I can't impose on them." Beginning to pick up her belongings from the floor to put them back in place, she mumbled something to herself. I couldn't hear it but I knew it wasn't good from her tone of voice.

"If you won't stay with them, why don't you come stay with me?"

What? What was I saying? A Mudblood staying at my house? What the hell? What if Mum and Father pop in for a visit? How am I going to hide Dirt Blood over there? I'm officially insane. Lock me up in the psych ward!

She must have thought I was insane, too. Her eyes and mouth flew open at my suggestion. "You're crazy! I can't stay at your house!"

"Why?" I folded my arms over my chest in challenge. She obviously wouldn't have any reason not to. What was she going to do – stay here, where whoever trashed her place could come back and kill her? Not bloody likely.

"Because... Well, because..." she stammered.

If she kept flapping her lips like that, I was going to start thinking she might be part fish! "Come on, Granger. Tell me why you want to stay here. Why would you ever want to stay in a place that looks like this?"

"It's still my home even if it does look like shite." She looked indignant for a moment. "You hate me, Malfoy. Why would you want me to stay at your place?"

"I don't, but you need a place to stay. I don't know why you won't stay with your friends, but you can't stay here. Seems to me it's not safe anymore."

She finally conceded after a bit more convincing. Really, what argument did she have?

Not long after, we walked to my house down the street. I showed her around a bit, ending with the guest room; in which she would be sleeping. Leaving her to get settled and lay down, I walked down the stairs to sit in front of the fire. I whistled and immediately my house elf, Nela, appeared before me.

Bowing low, she said, "What may I do for you, Master Draco?"

"Make dinner. We have a guest in the spare bedroom. She will need her food taken to her as she is on bed rest. Make sure she stays there. Also, get me a drink," I responded, using a formal tone with her.

"Yes, sir," she said, bowing low again, and disappeared. Seconds later, she reappeared with my drink. After delivering it, Nela vanished.

Once she was gone, I stared into the fire. Sighing, I took a sip of my drink. What have I done? What kind of Death Eater houses a Mudblood? A bad one. At least I won't have to deal with her. Nela would take care of that. She'd keep Granger in bed and I could forget she was even there. Life could be back to normal again, back to before Granger came back into my life.

Unfortunately, no one had ever told me once things change, they're never the same again.

A/N: don't forget to click the link below and let me know what you thought.