Draco's POV:

I flew shamelessly down the corridors from my last class to the the hospital wing. My robes were billowing out behind me in a flurry and my bag thumped against my right leg with every stride. Students saw me coming and leapt out of my way, knowing I wouldn't stop for anyone.

It was time.

McGonagall told me that Snape had finished the antidote that morning and they would be giving it to Liz after classes. I wanted to be there as quickly as I could, so as soon as the professor had dismissed us, I had jumped up and sprinted away. There was no way I was going to miss Lizzie waking up. Not for the world.

I skidded around corner after corner and skipped up set after set of staircases. One unlucky second year hadn't seen me in time, and had been sent to the floor after I had bumped shoulders rather harshly with him.

When I reached the giant hospital wing doors, I heaved my weight into one and forced it open. McGonagall and Pomfrey stood beside Lizzie's bed and looked at me oddly when they saw me.

"Mr. Malfoy, I figured you would be here in a rush," Madam Pomfrey chuckled with a raised eyebrow. I hurried over to the chair beside them and sat down, a stitch in my side made me double over heaving for air.

"You needn't have run, however," McGonagall remarked.

"Sorry - Professor. I - didn't want - to - miss - her," I croaked between breaths.

"You know we would not have followed through without you, Mr. Malfoy," Pomfrey conceded. I nodded and continued to heave. Quidditch had kept me in shape, but sprinting across the castle had left me weak.

Slowly, my breathing returned to normal. My heart, however, remained pounding. I sat up and looked at the two women in front of me.

"How will this work, Professors?" I asked.

"I'll simply pour this flask into her mouth," Madam Pomfrey dictated, sweeping her hand to a clear bottle glinting in the light on Liz's bed side table. It contained a deep purple potion that reminded me of the night sky. "We're just waiting for Mr. Potter to arrive, and then I'll administer the potion." My gaze snapped up from Lizzie's sleeping form to Madam Pomfrey.

"Potter?" I seethed.

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, Harry requested that he be here when Ms. Samuels wakes up," McGonagall declared.

Of course Potter wanted to be there when she woke up. Saint Potter felt responsible for Liz now that he thought they were friends. He had to live out that bloody hero part he was playing.

I was about to argue when the doors opened and none other than Harry Potter strode into the room. He strut across the floor and stood beside me.

"Malfoy," he greeted me civilly.

"Potter," I answered trying not to show how much I detested that he was standing so close to me.

"Alright, now that everyone is here, let's get this started. Poppy, if you would please," McGonagall requested.

For the first time, I wondered why McGonagall was involved with all of this. Snape was our head of house after all, not McGonagall, and it wasn't like she was the Headmaster.

Madam Pomfrey nodded and picked up the bottle. She gently placed a hand on Lizzie's chin and opened her mouth a bit more than it already was. Very slowly, Pomfrey placed the rim of the bottle on Lizzie's lips and poured the liquid in. She paused every few seconds to allow the liquid to slide completely down Liz's throat.

Once all of the purple solution was inside Lizzie's mouth, Pomfrey closed her mouth. I sat on the edge of my chair and held my breath.

This was it. Lizzie was finally going to wake up. After an agonizing month I was finally going to be able to apologize properly.

I began to count in my head. Praying that Liz would just wake up already.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

"How long will it take?" Potter whispered almost silently. It was so quiet that it could have been mistaken for a sigh or a rush of wind.

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

"Any second now," Madam Pomfrey replied, just as much on edge as me.

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

"Come on, Liz," I muttered.

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-one

"Shouldn't have worked by now?" Potter asked a bit louder.

Twenty-two

"Shh," I hissed.

Twenty-three

Twenty-four

Twenty-five

Twenty-six

Her thumb twitched so slightly that I thought I was mistaken at first. I still jumped in surprise.

Twenty-seven

Twenty-eight

Twenty-nine

"That's it, love," I whispered, gently holding her hand in mine.

Thirty

I felt her finger twitch once again. This time I knew I hadn't imagined it.

Thirty-one

Thirty-two

Thirty-three

Thirty-four

"She's moving her fingers," I choked to the others in the room.

Thirty-five

Thirty-six

"That's wonderful," Pomfrey smiled.

Thirty-seven

Thirty-eight

Thirty-nine

Her hand gently squeezed mine.

Fourty

A tear slipped down my cheek.

Forty-one

Forty-two

I didn't bother to wipe it away I was so happy.

Forty-three

Forty-four

Forty-five

Forty-six

Forty-seven

"Come one, Lizzie," Harry spoke, "come back to us now."

Forty-eight

Forty-nine

Fifty

This was beginning to feel like an eternity.

Fifty-one

Fifty-two

Fifty-three

Fifty-four

It was hardly noticeable, but her eyebrows furrowed.

Fifty-five

Fifty-six

Fifty-seven

Fifty-eight

Fifty-nine

Another teardrop fell.

Sixty

Sixty-one

Sixty-two

Her grip on my hand tightened.

Sixty-three

I sharply drew in a breath of air.

Sixty-four

Sixty-five

I squeezed her hand in return to let her know I was there.

Sixty-six

Sixty-seven

Sixty-eight

Sixty-nine

Seventy

Seventy-one

Seventy-two

She took a deep breath and turned her head a little.

Seventy-three

Seventy-four

Seventy-five

This was dragging on too far.

Seventy-six

Why wouldn't she just wake up already?

Seventy-seven

Seventy-eight

Seventy-nine

Her eyes fluttered open and met mine. Several more tears fell from my eyes.

"Lizzie," I croaked.

Her eyes were exactly how I remembered. Her state had changed significantly, but her eyes hadn't changed one little bit. The deepness of them made me shed more tears.

"Hey," she smiled weakly.

"Welcome back, Ms. Samuels," McGonagall lamented. Slowly, Lizzie's head turned to the woman.

"Thank you, Professor," she muttered.

She turned her head to Potter next.

"Hi, Harry," she quavered with a tired, but glowing look on her face. I felt a pang of jealousy at the way she was looking at him.

"Oh, Lizzie, I missed you so much," he said, stepping up to her bed and placing a hand on her leg. I glared daggers at him.

Madam Pomfrey saved Lizzie the grief of replying. "Okay, Ms. Samuels, I'm going to cast a few spells to make sure you are fine, but you should be able to leave before dinner." I smiled at this. I would be able to eat dinner with Lizzie once again. Liz nodded shakily.

Pomfrey pulled out her wand and leaned over the girl. She began to mutter incomprehensible words as her wand tip glowed yellow. She placed a hand on Liz's head and spoke. I caught the word 'salutem' several times.

I waited patiently with my hands grasping Lizzie's tightly. I was afraid that if I let go, she might slip away again. I knew I was being silly, though I didn't loosen my hold. I needed to feel her.

After several minutes of silence save for Pomfrey's muttering, her wand tip ceased to glow.

"Well, Poppy? How is she?" McGonagall asked.

"Wonderful, absolutely wonderful. It looks as if the potions I gave you did their jobs. Let's see if you can sit up." Madam Pomfrey held out a hand and placed it behind Lizzie's back. Slowly, the two worked together to sit up.

"How do you feel?" I asked Liz.

"Excellent. Tired, but excellent," she smiled at me. I felt my stomach explode with butterflies seeing her smile like that at me.

"That is very understandable. While you were unconscious, you were not exactly able to rest your body. I'd say an early bedtime for you tonight should help," Pomfrey interjected. "If you can stand and walk on your own Ms. Samuels, you should be able to leave."

I stood and continued to hold Lizzie's hand as she slowly worked her legs over the edge of the bed. Once her feet were resting on the ground, Pomfrey hurried around the bed and held her forearm, she asked me to help her help Liz up. I happily obliged.

Lizzie leaned forward and placed her weight on her feet. Pomfrey and I helped her with her balance, for she was a bit wobbly. "Alright, now let's try to walk," Pomfrey suggested.

Sluggishly, Lizzie placed one foot in front of the other. She furrowed her eyebrows deeply in concentration as we worked our way around the bed. "Now try it on your own, darling." Lizzie nodded. She dragged her feet around the foot of the bed and sat down in my chair.

"Wonderful," Pomfrey smiled. "Try to stay away from any strenuous activity for a while. I want you to come and see me every night before you go to bed. Mr. Malfoy, if you would please be her uh- guide if you must. Help her get around, carry her books, things like that. If you feel funny at all, I want you to come to me immediately. Otherwise, you're free to go."