Sneaking into the head girl dorms wasn't my idea of fun, but with my days being numbered I didn't have much choice. I needed to do this while I still had the strength. She should have been there, but as luck would have it she took her time returning that night.
"What are you doing here Malfoy." Her shoulders slumped and her bushy hair stood even further on end than usual. Suddenly my mouth was dry and my head spun. She perked up, "Malfoy? Are you okay?" Her voice sounded echoey. I tried to speak, but the only thing I heard was my body hitting the floor with a thud. I woke up the next morning in her bed. She paced endlessly, her hair was pulled into a kinky bun at the nape of her neck and her bunny pajamas were wrinkled. I smirked at the sight.
"Granger?" My voice even sounded weak and I cursed myself for the hundredth time.
"Drink this," she ordered, "it's water. You fainted last night." I took my time sipping the water she handed me. I was suddenly exhausted, but I forced myself awake. "What happened to you?"
"You said it yourself. I fainted."
"But why?" She pressed. "Have you been eating?" Not really.
"Enough," I answered evasively. She sat beside me.
"Well then. Out with it. Why were you in my room."
"You have to promise to keep it a secret."
She hopped up, "no chance Malfoy. I'll call Madame Pomfrey, there's nothing here for you."
"This isn't going to negatively affect anyone. No one will be hurt because of it. It's just...a secret. Can you do that?" She nodded slowly, "well...I'm dying." She went to object, but I stopped her, "it isn't hurting anyone. Trust me. I need you to do something for me..."
"What..." She asked warily.
"Take my virginity. I can't die a virgin it's pathetic!"
She nearly choked, "I'm sorry? And why can't Pansy do it? Or Daphne or Astoria?" I closed my eyes, stupid body. Stupid muggle disease.
"Because I know you'll take it to your grave that you got Draco Malfoy's virginity." She was quiet for a long time.
"What is it?"
"Mm?" Sleep was claiming me faster than if liked.
"What's killing you," she nearly snapped. Already she was feeling sorry for me. I yawned.
"Cancer," I mumbled, "stupid muggle disease." Then I went out like a light again.
****Hermione
I left him to rest while I combed through the library. There was an entire sections on muggle diseases and cures. Malfoy had cancer. I shouldn't care, I should have left him for dead. It shouldn't want to hold him and tell him it's okay. I shouldn't consider obliging him. But that wasn't the case. I was reading three books at once, picking through each and every mention of fatal diseases. Finally I came across cancer, but was soon disappointed.
Cancer is an incurable mutation of cells. Patience diagnosed with cancer are given 12-36 months depending on the stage.
From there it explained the types of cancer, but there were no spells no incantations...nothing to save a teenage boys life. I flung the book across the room before slamming the others back into their places. Muggles could do better than that! I stormed into the great hall and filled my satchel with food. I wasn't sure what Malfoy liked, but he'd have to keep up his strength. When I returned to my dorm he was still sleeping.
"Rise and shine Sleeping Beauty." I called. He stirred, "up up up." I continued. Finally he heaved himself up.
"No need to treat me like I'm already incapacitated. I can head to the hall myself." He mumbled. I could see how grateful he was that he didn't have to.
"Whatever, eat up. You'll need to be healthy for this."
"So you're going to do it?" He asked eagerly. I sighed heavily.
"On two conditions." I huffed. He raised an eyebrow, always the perfect gentleman.
"The Weaselys, my family, and Harry have to be in on it. I can't do this alone."
"I'm asking you to sleep with me one not take me in!" He snapped, not caring that his mouth was full of broccoli.
"Second-," I interrupted, "you come with me to muggle London so we can at least try to cure you. I know how you feel about Muggles but-"
"You think they can cure me?" He sounded pained, "honestly?" Yet there was no bitterness in his voice.
"They've done it a couple times. You might get lucky." He nodded slowly.
"How about Mrs. and Mr. Weasley, Ronald, Potter, and your parents? I don't want the entire Weasel clan knowing I'm weak." I nodded.
"Deal?"
"Deal."
***Draco
She let me finish eating before she pounced. I hadn't expected it to be so soon and I found I might not be ready for this, but it was now or never. I wouldn't have the strength to do this any later. I tried to wait for love and for all of the good stuff everyone insisted would come with time, but it wasn't coming. Not for me. So I'd take what I could get. The muggle-born was experienced enough to make this enjoyable so I let my self focus on that. My heart raced under her palm, her other hand wiped away a lock of my hair. Slowly she ran her hands through my hair causing a noise of content to rumble through my chest. She was straddling my waist, but she held her weight in her own. I was leaned against a mountain of pillows. My hands ran along the thin strip of skin along her waist. I wasn't sure how this worked, but I followed her lead. Gentle touches, sweet kisses. The sensation did seem to make my heart stutter a bit. That's when I realized it. She was acting as if she were in love with me, hypnotizing herself with features of mine she found beautiful. I didn't deserve that. I didn't deserve anything else she was doing for me.
"I'm still feeling pretty bad. Could we wait until I felt a bit better?" She smiled down at me and kissed my forehead.
"Sure. I'll phone my mother and owl Mrs. Weasley after I tell Ron and Harry. We leave at dawn. You can stay here or I can help you back to your dorm if you want."
I heaved myself upward, "I think I'll stick around, but I'll take the couch. Do you mind if I take a shower?"
"Send a red flare if you need anything," she chimed before she danced out of the room. Her shower was better than ours, but only the best for the Gryffindor Princess. The water coming out was near scalding and turned all of my pale skin red. I looked like a platinum haired lobster, but it calmed the anguish within me. I went into this ready to face dead with an empty bedside and a pitying nurse telling me goodbye. Now Granger had given me something more terrifying than death. Hope. How could Muggles, non magical -but not necessarily inferior- creatures, cure a disease that killed millions of great wizards.
"Oi, Malfoy are you trying to drown yourself?"
"No, Weasley, I'm not. I'll be out in a moment." The door opened and I could hear the oaf padding near the sink. He dropped something and left again. I peeped out the curtain and grunted.
"Poor people clothes. Ew." Regardless I dried and dressed in the cheap t shirt and flannel pajama pants I donned my dirty boxers. There was no way in hell I was putting on those crusty things. My hair was still wet from washing it and I smelled like a girl. I couldn't sink much lower. Harry sniffed me.
"You smell like a Romione baby." And here I was...sinking. When I didn't answer he leaned closer.
"You don't look like you're dying,"
"My apologies. Give me a few months and I'm sure I'll look the part." I snapped. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Harry!" Hermione chastised. She fixed him with a glare that made him sink into his seat.
"Sorry Malfoy."
I rolled my eyes in response. From there she spent her time running over the plan when Mrs. Weasley responding and for if she didn't respond. A barn owl came pecking at the window that instant. She scanned the letter and wrote a hasty reply before turning back to us.
"Well woman, what did it say?"
She grinned at me, "exactly?" Weasel and Potty exchanged worried looks. I nodded, "Dear Hermione," she read, "while I can understand why you would want to help the 'great bouncing ferret' I can't imagine he'd survive in the Burrow. As you know there's no silk, no satin, and no luxury meals. If he's fine with such meager accommodations I assure you that my dear bouncing cousin is welcome here. I'll pick up your mother tomorrow morning and we'll have breakfast on by the time you arrive." I crinkled my nose.
"So...you don't have house elves?" I looked at Weasel in shock, idly scratching my chest. He shook his head no.
"But we get along just fine without them I assure you."
"You Weasleys are tougher than I thought." I muttered, scratching my arm. He raised a ginger eyebrow.
"All because we don't have house elves?"
"No. Because you can survive this insufferable fabric!" I nearly shouted, "it's like there are little beetles crawling over my torso. It's quite maddening."
"Are you saying my shirt is cheap?"
"Bingo."
"Guys...let's not start this. If the shirt itches take it off. It won't be the first time I've seen a guys chest and it won't be the last." She continued folding up her response and stuffing things in her trunk. "Do you think you boys will be able to sneak into Draco's room and steal his trunk." The pair of them looked right sore about helping me in anyways, but nodded reluctantly.
"Perfect! Go steal it and deliver it here. We leave at dawn so you'd better get some sleep. Malfoy you can either ride with one of the boys or take your chances with me."
"So... I can ride with a seeker who'd sooner see me dead, a beater with a serious anger issue, or the one person who would at least try not to drop me despite her inability to ride a broom right...I think I'll take the witch for 500. I'll even help you steer." She nodded before shooing the other two out.
"You're too smart Malfoy," Ron sneered, "and I want my clothes back when I get home." I pulled the shirt and pants off.
"Take them now Weaselbee. I'd rather sit naked." I launched them at him with all the force I could muster. Screw him. Hermione giggled.
"So you're going to sit in your underwear like that all night?"
I stuck my nose in the air, "why not? Does it bother you?"
"Nope," she pushed on my shoulders so I'd lay on my back, "but you're going to get cold." She magicked her comforter to the couch, going so far as to tuck me in.
"Granger-,"
"Hermione. My name is Hermione."
"Fine. Hermione. I'm not a child. There's no need to tuck me in." She kissed the bridge of my nose.
"Look love...you're going to go through hell...chemotherapy, radiation, surgery. You're going to need someone to hold your hand. Rivalries and death eaters aside...I won't let you go through any of it alone." Her head rested on my chest.
"I'll do anything to make it easier on you." She mumbled. I put on a brave face.
"No need to get all sentimental Hermione. I'll be fine. Go to sleep. You said it yourself. We have to be up early tomorrow." She nodded.
"Just call me if you need something." She stood and made her way to her bed, "are you warm enough?" She asked once all the lights were off.
"I'm fine. Go to sleep."
After a few more minutes of silence I heard her murmur a good night and that was that.
