Savernake Forest was dark and heavily wooded. Hermione stood very still, listening intently for any sounds or signs that her little unicorn foal was near. The area of the forest that she had randomly disapparated to was silent but for the normal sounds of wildlife.

Taking care not to make any noise, Hermione began walking softly toward the middle of the forest, using only the moonlight as her guide. As she picked her way carefully towards the depths of Savernake Forest, thoughts of Draco Malfoy occupied her mind. Anxious worry made her pulse race and her breaths shallow. Would he live? Would she find Skye? Even if Draco did recover, would she be able to even enjoy being with him, seeing as Pansy was working her evil with Skye?

A sizzling sound to Hermione's left drew her attention. She ducked behind a tree and took a deep breath, pulling her wand out. She glanced around the tree slowly, seeing the light of a fire in the distance. As quietly as she could, Hermione crept closer to the clearing where the fire was burning brightly. Crouching low behind a particularly thick bunch of thorns, she peered into the clearing.

Two robed figures stood casually next to a bubbling cauldron, talking casually. A steel cage glistening with the telltale spark of enchantment was placed near the cauldron. Through the bars, a small golden unicorn foal beat his hooves against the bars, letting out soft sounds of distress.

"I can't believe you ended it so soon," Kassia said disappointedly, giving the cauldron a slow stir. "He really is quite the delectable young man."

"True," admitted Pansy, nodding, "but our work is too important to allow anyone to get in the way, no matter how attractive. Once this potion is complete, it will be a simple matter of ordering the unicorn to take us back in time before the Dark Lord was defeated. We'll bring him back to the present—with the Dark Lord and the unicorn at our side, we will triumph!"

"Keep your voice down." Kassia looked around suspiciously. "You never know who could be near."

"Oh, please, Kassia—we're in the middle of Savernake Forest in the middle of the night! Who could be near?"

Hermione began edging around the thicket of thorns, her wand in hand as she prepared to attack. Just as she was about to reveal herself to the two women, a hand thrust over her mouth and she felt herself being forcefully dragged backwards.

Instinct made her try to scream against the restraining force of the person behind her, but no sound was able to escape. She was being pulled backwards through the forest, her feet not touching the ground due to the larger man's strength.

"Be silent, Miss Granger, or everything will be lost," hissed a familiar, cultured voice. "I have not come this far only to fail my son like I failed my wife."

Lucius Malfoy? Hermione thought frantically, relaxing only slightly.

The hands restraining her loosened, and Hermione found herself facing Lucius Malfoy, several hundred yards away from where she had been.

"How did you know—"

"My son is dying, Miss Granger," Lucius interrupted her, his eyes wild. He looked nothing as he had before. His grey eyes, so like his son's, were haunted and seemed to shimmer in the night on his gaunt face. "These vile women are responsible, and I will do my utmost to make certain that they pay for it."

"You should be with him," Hermione whispered, her heart clenching as she realized that her last chance to see Draco alive could be slipping away.

"As should you," hissed Lucius. "As I understand it, he cares greatly for you."

"They have your unicorn foal, and they're going to—"

"I don't care," Lucius stated simply.

"If Voldemort is brought here, you have just as much to fear as the rest of us," Hermione whispered sharply.

"Without my son, I have nothing!" Lucius cried, his voice still hushed. "They will pay dearly. Miss Granger, you may take the unicorn, but the women are mine."

"Lucius, I'll go with you," said Hermione softly, placing her hand on his shoulder, "but you have to let the Ministry deal with them—killing them won't help you save Draco."

Tears were in Lucius's eyes as he spoke quietly. "You sound just like my darling Narcissa—always wanting me to do the right thing." He paused for a long moment. Hermione held her breath, hoping against hope that he would decide to listen to her. "I will help you get the unicorn foal," he finally said heavily.

"Thank you," Hermione breathed, relieved.

Side by side, the tall blonde man and the slender brunette crept towards the clearing where the two women sat idly by the fire. "Go," Hermione whispered to Lucius, who nodded. The two of them charged into the clearing.

"Avada Kedavra!" screamed Lucius, his wand aimed squarely at Pansy Parkinson. She fell to the ground, dead.

"Lucius, no!" yelled Hermione.

Kassia leapt to her feet, wand in hand, but Lucius's next curse had her screaming in pain on the ground.

Hermione ran past the bodies of the women and fell to her knees beside Skye's cage. "I'm right here, baby—it's okay," she murmured to the scared foal. She touched the bars and felt a painful electric shock run through her. "Ouch!" Pulling out her wand, she cried, "Finite Incantatem! Alohomora!" The cage door swung open and Skye trotted out, nuzzling Hermione's hand affectionately. Suddenly, the unicorn foal stiffened, and before Hermione could stop him, he began shimmering out, taking her with him. The last thing Hermione saw was Lucius killing Kassia, a manic look on his face.

"—the best we can do is make him comfortable until his relatives have said goodbye," Healer McCallan said to Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, his expression grave.

Hermione reappeared in the room, Skye by her side. All three of the men looked at her in utter shock.

"B-But—no one can apparate into a private room at St. Mungo's!" cried McCallan, sounding faint. "Only disapparation is allowed! It's impossible!"

Harry and Ron were equally puzzled, as they were unable to see Skye.

"Draco," Hermione breathed, rushing to the bed.

Draco lay unconscious, his expression peaceful. A clean white sheet covered him from the neck down.

"As I was telling Misters Potter and Weasley, there's nothing that we can do for him," McCallan said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "He's heavily sedated right now, so he's feeling no pain whatsoever. We're just waiting on his father to give us permission to allow him to move on."

"Can I be alone with him?" Hermione asked, tears restricting her vision.

"Yes."

Ron gave Hermione a quick shoulder squeeze before he left the room with Harry.

Hermione gently held Draco's limp hand and let the tears finally fall. "I'm so sorry I let this happen to you," she whispered, ignoring Skye as he reared up and put his front hooves on the bed.

Skye gripped the blanket covering Draco with his teeth and briskly pulled it off, revealing the gaping wound in his chest.

"Skye, stop it!" cried Hermione, standing up quickly to push Skye away.

Skye whinnied loudly, a sound that Hermione had never heard before from him, and she backed away quickly.

"What are you doing?" she exclaimed.

Skye rested his head on Draco's shoulder and began making a strange clicking sound deep in his throat.

Hermione watched, utterly shocked, as Draco's wound began to slowly close and heal right in front of her. The skin closed together seamlessly, and then slowly the scar faded away. When Draco's chest looked perfectly normal again, Skye looked at Hermione, nickering excitedly.

"You saved him!" she gasped, throwing her arms around the little foal.

When Harry and Ron came to check on Hermione twenty minutes later, they found a smiling girl holding the hand of a peacefully sleeping Draco Malfoy, who looked utterly well—though still heavily sedated.

"What happened here?" cried Healer McCallan, entering the room behind them. "I—but he—how could—what did you do?"

"It must be a miracle," Hermione said, smiling brilliantly.

It took many minutes before various Healers stopped bombarding Hermione with questions. She was told by the Head Healer himself that she had been accepted into the Healers Training Program automatically, should she be interested. An hour later, she was alone with Draco, still holding his hand.

Just as she was dozing off, Draco's eyes flickered open slowly. "Hermione," he said huskily.

"Draco!" she exclaimed delightedly, happily smiling as she kissed Draco softly on the lips. "Skye healed you!"

She leaned down and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

"What happened to—"

Hermione placed a gentle finger over his lips and leaned down to whisper in his ear. "Your father killed them—both of them."

Draco sighed, his grey eyes worried.

"Don't worry; I didn't tell Harry and Ron," Hermione reassured him, holding his hands in hers. "And I won't ever tell them."

"Where is he now?" Draco asked, sighing with relief.

"I don't know…I left too quickly to be with you," Hermione admitted. "But we can find him once you're all better."

A smile graced Draco's exhausted face. "Hermione, listen," he said, seriousness creeping into his tone. "Almost dying has given me a bit of perspective on things. Please, for the love of Merlin, will you go out with me before something else terrible happens to either of us?"

Hermione flushed red and nodded with a grin. "I'd love to."

The two of them kissed passionately in the hospital room for long minutes until Draco slowly drifted back off to sleep.

Hermione sat in a chair by Draco's bed, a smile on her face as she watched him dreamily. This seemed too good to be true; Kassia and Pansy were gone from their lives, Hermione had been accepted into the Healing program, Draco was cleared by the Ministry, and he was going to be completely healthy. Things were finally looking up for her. She couldn't wait to begin her new life with Draco by her side. He was handsome, kind, and would never hurt her. The only thing marring the perfectly happy future ahead was Lucius. He was still wanted by the Ministry, but Hermione was determined to help Draco find him. No matter what else he had done, Lucius Malfoy truly and deeply loved his son, and he needed to know that Draco was okay.

Draco sighed quietly and rolled over, smiling in his sleep.

Hermione watched him tenderly, reflecting on how much things had changed. Her life had been a thunderstorm of terrible events, but the sun had finally come out and begun to shine upon her existence.

The End.

Thanks to everyone for reading, and please review to let me know what you think :)