Disclaimer: Not only do I own Harry Potter but I also own the boys of Placebo...and yes kids, I can have them do ANYTHING I want. ;-) .........Or at least that's how it is when I'm dreaming.

Stranger at my Door

Chapter 23

Real Feelings

Hermione lay in the hospital bed thinking about the night that she got hit by that car. She realized now that her whole point of view on everything seemed to have changed since then. That car had knocked the need for revenge out of her body, restoring her normal cool, clear mind. It seemed kind of ironic that the same car would be the one to take her life in return.

Hermione sighed, thinking about Harry and Ron and then drifting to Brandee and Lamar. Now they all hated her. All she had now was her mom and Draco. She couldn't help but smile bitterly at the thought. Who would have thought Draco would be the one to stick with her? But he was still here when Harry and Ron weren't.

Draco rushed through the door to Hermione's hospital room just as Dumbledore was leaving. He started for Hermione's side, needing to hold her just to prove to himself that she really was okay and it was just a dream.

"Mr. Malfoy, may I speak to you for a moment?" Dumbledore asked Draco, gesturing toward to hallway. Draco glanced at Hermione, who smiled at him, and went to speak with Dumbledore.

"Yes professor?" Draco stuffed his hands inside his pockets and shifted from foot to foot.

"She's going to be just fine Draco," he told him with a sparkle in his eyes. Draco relaxed visibly but still wanted terribly to run to Hermione.

"Thank you for coming professor," Draco didn't know what else to say. The guy had saved his love's life, what did you say to that? What could you say? Dumbledore nodded in understanding and disappeared. Draco wasted no time before darting into Hermione's room.

"How are you, baby?" he asked softly, taking her hand in his.

Hermione smiled at him, "Good. I feel a lot better."

Draco smiled nervously, still not believing how easy that could have been. What if she wasn't really okay yet? "I'm fine, Draco. Don't worry," she reassured him. "Calm down." She stroked his cheek and he felt himself relaxing and leaning into her touch.

Suddenly a thought struck Draco. "Hermione," he said, a trace of urgency in his voice. "Hermione, where are your parents?"

Hermione shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe they went home," she suggested.

Draco shook his head. "I was just at your house. They weren't there."

Despite Draco's mounting sense of dread, Hermione appeared unafraid. "They probably just went out or something," she said then yawned. "Come sleep," she pulled him onto the bed with her and snuggled up, falling asleep instantly. Draco on the other hand stayed up not able to shake the feeling of danger building inside of him.

a/n- I know, the chapters have been short but that's just how its working. Sorry. I'll try to write a longer one next time!