[Unedited]
delirium
It was simply put- awful. She trembled from the terrible pain. It shoot right through her arm and paralysed her bones completely. It was the morning after the end of the Second Wizarding War and Hermione Granger had found herself in a ward in St. Mungo's courtesy of one Bellatrix Lestrange. She cried out from the pain and in a span of mere five minutes a nurse, Meridia came beside her to check the bandages on her wounded arm. The wound had opened again and blood was soaking through the white cloth.
Lestrange had attacked and tortured Hermione during the War. A part of this torture had been engraving the word 'Mudblood' on her arm with a knife. But her suffering hadn't ceased there. No, the brutal woman had poisoned the knife too. It was an ancient poison, practically unknown to most of the modern healers. It was spreading through her slowly, spreading its venom in her tired body.
Her healer had assured her that they were working on finding an antidote but her words had conveyed that even she didn't have much hope. She had told her to amputate her arm but she had promptly refused that. But she knew she wouldn't have long to live if the poison crossed her arm and reached her arm. Time was running out. Life was ticking out of her. "There, all set." Meridia said in a quite tone which brought Hermione out of her thoughts.
"Thank you. Could you refill my water jug? It has become empty." she replied feebly. The nurse nodded and went out with the said jug but came back running in seconds. Her breath was heaving. "They are moving in another patient in here!" she said, panting thoroughly. "Who is it?"
"Narcissa Malfoy"
She cringed. A magically levitated stretcher was brought in through the door and she saw a thin woman being deposited on the bed next to her. She was unconscious and her skin was a unnatural white. "What happened to her?" she whispered to her nurse as she watched the healers check her pulse and do the other necessities. Meridia had been about to reply when a masculine drawl she hadn't wanted to hear for the next century or so spoke-
"I'll tell you what happened to her, Granger."
Hermione put her hand, the uninjured one to her forehead and massaged it. No, not him, she thought miserably. But she had to agree that Draco Malfoy was better than his father any day. By all accounts, she had expected to see Lucius Malfoy standing there in front of her, looking out for his wife but her was strangely absent and in place of him, his son had made an appearance. She glared at him. He glared right back but didn't keep it up for a long time and hurriedly moved to his ailing mother's side.
His shoulders were moving up and down rapidly and she knew he was sobbing quietly. Meridia excused herself and went out. "What happened Malfoy?" she asked softly, her voice barely a whisper. He raised his hand to wipe away the unintended tears and turned around. "Why do you care?" he asked viciously. She didn't say anything and quietly watched both of them. She almost felt sorry for him. "He attacked her." he muttered after a while as he sat on a chair, facing away from her.
From her miserable position on the bed, Hermione could tell that he was clutching his mother's hands. "What?" she asked, genuinely not knowing what he had uttered. "My father... he attacked her with Sectusempra and the Cruciatus at the same time."
"Why?" She was horrified.
"You don't want to know. What happened to you?" he asked, wanting to immediately change the subject at hand.
"This is due to your extremely gregarious aunt. The knife she had cut me with had been poisoned with some ancient toxic. I had been fine, but when she died my arm started to pain and burn awfully and the wound opened up." She didn't have to tell him which wound. 'Oh' was all he could say about her plight. "Wait–" he turned around the chair, "I think I know what it is."
"Wouldn't you know, the Death Eater spawn you are?" she said angrily. He glared darkly at her. "Have it as you want Granger. Die for all I care." he snarled. "I am sorry." she murmured after an eternity. "I got carried away." She turned her head away from him.
His gaze softened. Suddenly she began screaming. Unable to think of something he ran outside. "Sister!" he shouted. A nurse hurriedly came over to her only to see that her wound had opened again. It was so bad that even Hermione didn't want to see it. Malfoy gagged at the sight. It was that bad. "This is very bad Granger. If you want to live, either listen to me or lose your arm." he remarked after the nurse had gone. Beside him his mother was stirring and nodding in her unconscious sleep as if agreeing with her son.
"I will think about it."
"Well, think soon because you don't have much time to think!"
She paled at that. He didn't say anything further and spent the next two hours by his mother's side.
O
"What's he bloody doing here?" Harry remarked as he first stepped into her ward that afternoon. "Harry please stay quiet. Malfoy's mother here is very ill." Malfoy just gave him a sneer and went back to clutching his mother's hands. "What have you decided on 'Mione? I met your healer downstairs. He says there's no hope for you until and unless you have your arm removed."
"But weren't they working on an antidote? What had they taken the blood samples for?" she asked, aghast.
"It can't be detected." They heard Malfoy's whisper.
"What was that?" Harry asked.
"I told Granger here that I knew the antidote for the poison she has been infected with. But she refuses to believe me."
"And she is right in doing so. Who would believe a death–"
"Don't!" Malfoy's tone was so strong and angry that Harry shut up instantly even though he hadn't wanted to at all.
"–eater like you." he murmured mostly to himself. "So what do you know?" he asked.
"My aunt had taught me the recipe of this poison and its antidote. I clearly remember that the potion requires asphodel leaves, a cat's whiskers, a unicorn's tail hair, a tarantula's legs, phoenix feathers and..."
"And?" Hermione prodded.
He hung down his head. "And your assailant's blood, Bellatrix's blood."
"I am doomed! Her body was destroyed. How will we ever get her blood?" she cried out in anguish. Harry, unable to say anything looked at her nervously. "But–" Malfoy cut in, "–blood of any relative related to the assailant can also do." She gave him a funny look.
"You mean, you?"
"Yep"
Before she could say anything, Harry said "Why should we believe you? For years you made her life miserable and now you suddenly want to save her life."
"I see it as redemption." he replied smoothly.
"I still don't believe you."
"Of course you don't bloody believe me Potter. You're the boy who lived and you despise death eaters like me. Would a Wizard's Oath be enough for you?"
"Well, I guess yes."
"I, Draco Malfoy swear on my powers as a practioner of magic that I will help Hermione Granger get through her illness and would not let her arm be amputated. There, done!" he hissed.
"Merlin! I must be in a delirium... Draco Malfoy is helping me." she mumbled almost incoherently and then slipped into unconsciousness due to the huge amount of blood loss from her body.
O
She woke up to see not only Harry but also Ron and Ginny surrounding her. She was touched. They had come to see her even though they had just lost Fred forever. "Hey, 'Mione. I heard Malfoy's here helping you." Ron said in a low voice. "Yeah, he is. It's unbelievable, isn't it?"
"Sure it is." Ginny spoke from the other side of the bed. They stood there in silence, though it was not an uncomfortable one. There was no tension between them. After their kiss in the Chamber of Slytherin had proved to be extremely anticlimactic they had left the matter entirely. Suddenly, Hermione's healer, a thin and pale young lady of twenty eight, Ms. Thyine burst through the door.
"It's good to see that you have revived, however I must tell you that the antidote will still take lots of time to be made and by that time the poison would have reached your heart. My examinations show that the poison is slowly nearing your shoulder blade and it would take another two hours to cross that barrier. I fear, we must amputate your arm. The antidote is now useless, seeing as to the time constraint." she informed them in a crisp manner.
Two simultaneous no's were heard. One had been uttered by Hermione and the other by Malfoy who had been listening to the whole thing by quietly standing outside. He promptly rushed in. "Something else must be there. Something that does not include cutting off her arm." Hermione cringed at his words.
"I am afraid there is no alternative. But why are you so worried about her arm, Mr. Malfoy?"
"I... I–"
"He took a wizard's oath to save her arm." Harry said quietly.
"I see. That was very rash of you." Malfoy glared at Harry, who in turn looked away. Ginny too glared at Harry since she hadn't been told about this development. "Since nothing can be done, I will notify the surgeons. They will be coming here shortly" she said and turned around to move out. "Wait!"
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?" Ms. Thyine was clearly annoyed with the fellow.
"My mother here–" he gestured to the bed beside Hermione, "told me that years ago, the Black matriarch of that time had cursed the whole Black Family because two brothers– her nephews had duelled each other to death over the same girl. According to the curse no Black could kill another Black and it is applicable to all those members who have descended from the main line as well as those who have married in."
"You mean to say that I should marry you? That's hilarious." Hermione said. She was utterly surprised by what he was suggesting.
"You're lying!" Harry cut in before Malfoy had the chance to reply to Hermione. "Bellatrix killed Sirius. Both were Blacks!" Harry all but snarled.
"But Father said Sirius was still alive when he fell into that Veil thing," Malfoy said, shaking his head slightly. "He mentioned it at his trial because he was trying to argue that the Death Eaters hadn't really hurt anyone. He absolutely insisted that Sirius was still alive after Aunt Bella cursed him, but then he stepped back through the arch...that's what killed him."
Hermione thought about it for a moment. It had always struck her as a little strange...the way Sirius had stayed on his feet and seemed to turn toward Harry after being hit by his cousin's curse. Hermione hadn't been in a position where she could see his face, but the long pause before he staggered backwards and disappeared into the arch had seemed like it had lasted a little too long. She hated to agree with Lucius, but in light of this new information, his claim did make sense.
"Wait a second boys." Ms. Thyine's crisp voice broke through her thoughts. "Let's hear what Hermione here has to say." Ron and Ginny just looked at each other nervously.
"I want to think about it." All of them just stood there and nodded. "Without you all present, just him."
The healer was the first to go away followed by her unwilling friends. Malfoy closed the door behind him. "So, what do you think?" he asked nonchalantly.
"First of all, why are you doing this?"
"My magical powers remain intact, Granger. Don't want to become a squib after seventeen years of being a wizard."
"No, I meant why you told me about the antidote in the first place?"
"Didn't I tell you and Potter? Redemption." he said with an expressionless face.
"You're lying." she replied through gritted teeth. "Why would I? I just think it would be good for everyone. You would remain alive, my mother would wake up to find me married and not force me to marry an unknown girl." She knew there was more to the matter but she didn't choose to tip his mental balance.
"You're forgetting one thing Malfoy, we don't like each other."
"Perhaps this arrangement can make us likeable to each other. Perhaps it already has. Look at us, talking civilly, almost amicably."
"You sure about this?"
"Yep. Oh but I forgot one thing." He grinned evilly.
"What?" she asked, sure that she wouldn't like the answer.
"Since it is necessary that the marriage has to be done through traditional vows it has to be...er, consummated in the end." His grin was now a smirk. He caught her frightened gaze. "Look we don't have to even meet after this or be friends. I am ready to do it even if it means keeping abstinence throughout my life. Better an abstinent than a muggle."
"I don't get it. Why can't you...meet other women?"
"I forgot you were unfamiliar with these redundant pureblood customs. After marrying through traditional rites, divorce is not viable and extramarital affairs with or without separation leads to a slow and painful death in which all the tissues rot. It's a kind of curse."
"You're are giving up all your chances to ever seek pleasure, for me?" she asked incredulously.
"No, not you. My powers as a wizard. That's all." She nodded. Something was constantly telling her that what he was telling was not the whole truth but she decided not to push the matter further. "Okay, I have decided."
"You have?"
"Yep. I choose you."
Later they would go through their life and reflect upon those words that she had uttered at that instant, numerous times but they didn't know that then.
"Thank you Gran– Hermione." She smiled.
"No, thank you Draco."
O
" 'Mione are you sure about this?" Ron asked one last time and the priest gave him an annoyed glare.
"Sorry, father." he mumbled.
"Now that all interruptions have ceased, I begin the rites. Draco Lucius Malfoy, do you take Hermione Jean Granger to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do."
Yes! I am still a wizard. Now what about her? Should I tell her...?
"Hermione Jean Granger, do you take Draco Lucius Malfoy to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do."
Yes! I will be alive. Now what about him? He's been too good...
"Now, please align your index fingers." They did as they were asked. The old man slipped a single gold ring engraved with flowers on their fingers. "Now please pull apart." The ring divided itself into two and then disappeared into thin air. A flowery pattern could be seen where the ring had been seconds ago. She gasped. He looked amused at her reaction. "I now declare you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
He looked at her nervously and then gave her a chaste kiss on the lips. The staff and their friends who had come to attend the ceremony in the ward burst into cheers. Hermione, who had scarcely managed to stand was about to collapse from the sensation of his lips on hers but his arm around her waist steadied her and prevented a nasty fall.
Ginny, who had been standing beside her then prodded her to throw the bouquet of white roses she had been clutching in her hands throughout the ceremony. She threw it and it landed in Penelope Clearwater's arms. She was a trainee at the hospital. "Yes!" she shouted. Hermione and Draco smiled at each other and then at all the others.
Harry and Ron were still acting to be a little bit angry at their best friend for such an 'outrageous' decision but everyone knew they were happy to know that their 'Mione was not dying.
As Draco placed his hand in Hermione's, both were thinking the same thing.
Now what?
O
It was nearly eleven 'o' clock and Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy had been moved to a separate, private room. Narcissa was still unconscious and therefore, blissfully unaware of what had conspired that fateful day. Now, as they laid side by said to...consummate their marriage, both of them couldn't help but feel extremely queasy and nervous. "Why don't we start by talking?" he suggested.
"Uh-okay. May I say that this feels extremely strange, Malfoy."
"You may, Malfoy." He gave a dry laugh.
"Why don't we start by you telling me why your mother is here in the first place?"
"Well, Potter and Weasley must have told you that my father had been rewarded with life imprisonment in Willsturn, which I have been told is even more worse than Azkaban. Unable to cope with it alongwith the loss of the Dark Side he came home and started attacking me, saying that I was not a worthy son and other nonsense. Mother heard the commotion and somehow she ended in the middle of the crossfire.
Since I had been using Protego the whole time it was more than clear that his dark curses had hit her. After she had dropped down, he too had dropped down. The only difference was that he was dead. Another rule reminder to you– if one causes fatal injury or death of his spouse, whether willingly or unwillingly he or she would die."
"You seem to know a lot about these rules." She scoffed.
"Well my father wasn't a fanatic for nothing. It's only obvious I would know these foolish things."
She laughed. It was a real laugh and he thought that he had never heard a more beautiful sound. He wondered why hadn't he ever heard her laugh before. It's because you always made her angry, he thought and then he strengthened his resolve regarding something.
"Hey Hermione–" he clasped her hands with his own, "–I have to tell you something. This afternoon you had asked me why had I had told you about the antidote in the first place. It was because I care for you. I– I have always cared for you since that Quidditch World Cup Final incident." Her eyes widened with shock. She had suspected him to be hiding something but never in a million years had she thought that this would have been secret. Before she could speak anything, he spoke again, "Seeing you there in the nearly same nightgown as the muggle woman being levitated in the air, I couldn't help but see the– the frightening similarity. I had to get you out of there. You were my nemesis and all but you still were a schoolmate, someone I knew and I couldn't let you end up with those monsters. So I had figured out the fastest way to get you out of there which was–"
"Insulting me."
"Well, yeah. Sorry about that. I really am. Can you–"
"Draco Malfoy just shut up and kiss me."
"What?"
"I said–" She was cut off by his lips descending on hers. And then they explored depths which were both beautiful and terrifying. They were not in love but for now, whatever they had was enough for them to finish the task at hand.
Everything after that passionate kiss was a wonderful delirium for them.
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