Author's note: Does anyone know how to make it so a certain person cannot read a story? D Darn my ugly boyfriend ; he keeps reading my stories 3
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Last Chapter or in this case, from the Prologue: Her eyes seemed to pop out from her skinny frame, and it seemed as though she hadn't eaten in days. But yes. Nonetheless, it was Hermione Granger. And though Draco Malfoy was no Mediwizard, it didn't take him much to know that something was wrong with her. Very wrong indeed
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Chapter 1 – What's Wrong?
Hermione stared up at the strong and muscular person she'd just crashed into. Silver blue piercing eyes stared back at her. Could he tell? She wondered. She'd managed to get through the Weasley clan as well as Harry. But… well. To not sound so mean, Draco Malfoy had a more… enriched mind than they. She had to admit it, or admit that she was in denial.
Draco Malfoy let her eyes travel down her body, acknowledging that her hands were tightly gripping onto a book, her knuckles turning white. He could barely make out the faint title, as the book was very, very old indeed. "Enchondromatosis" it read. Malfoy knew he'd heard of it somewhere…
"Sorry, Malfoy," Hermione whispered in such a sickly low voice that Malfoy almost missed it.
"I--" he began. But his words never did get out, because he suddenly realized where he'd heard the word "Enchondromatosis".
Flashback:
"Don't mingle with mudbloods in your school, Draco. For all you know, they may have Enchondromatosis," Lucius said with hatred burning in his eyes. "Though it isn't contagious, you may be dragged into unwanted positions. And anyways, their blood isn't worth a Malfoy's care."
End flashback"Granger. Are you ill?" Malfoy asked in a bored tone, as if he always cared about her health.
Hermione felt her heart skip a beat. Did he just… acknowledge me in a way that Harry, Ron, and Ginny haven't? How can it be? It must be some kind of retort for the fact that I apologized to him. Illicit prat, he is! "No, I am just fine, Malfoy. Now if you would just leave me be, I will feel great!" she voiced with sarcastic sweetness.
Malfoy felt his rage taking over. How dare she say such things? And to her superior! Have she no manners? Those bloody muggles get more and more impolite towards the magical. It's no wonder why her hair is so…He suddenly realized how much she had grown up. Sure, her hair was still an unruly mess, but they glowed with a power. And those lifeless orbs she called her eyes, they had so many shades of colors. Malfoy felt the fire of rage dissipate to pity. It was so obvious how sick she was, how ill she'd become over the course of the summer. "Well, I don't feel like moving. And you know what? I believe I will follow you until you learn to speak the truth to your superiors!" Malfoy drawled.
Hermione knew that he knew. She wasn't stupid. This was no game. Masking her emotions, she pretended to brush off his stalking-mode and said without care, "Fine, whatever suits you." She watched with great curiosity as Draco Malfoy wrinkled his brow, as if he were actually concerned about her.
She knew he could see right through her façade, but as long as she didn't give in… Why on earth would he suddenly care? Has he finally come to his senses that muggle-born people are just the same from the inside out? I highly doubt it. Maybe he hates me so much that he needs me to be there to tease. Perhaps he's concerned because of that? I know that I would be upset if I knew he were to die. I mean… I can only stand talking to Harry and Ron for so long. Neither of them have the wit that Malfoy has.
Draco saw right through her lie. Though her face expressed no emotions at all, her eyes showed the panic in her eyes. Have we known each other for so long that my emotionless facades have rubbed off on her? What is the Enchondromatosis? I will… not look in the library for information, he concluded.
This was hard for him. Whatever has he done to deserve this? An emotion he's never felt. Care. Hecared for Hermione Granger. And why? Of all the stupid reasons: because she was a challenge. She made him try she made him question she made him live. No, this was not love. It was the hatred between them. Without her, Malfoy knew he would have nobody to argue with, nobody to stand up to him. His power, without obstacles, would be… worthless. And that was the least he wanted to be. Thoughts running through his empty mind, he chose to not answer, but followed her every step, trying to understand just what Enchondromatosis is.
Why the bloody hell is he following me? This is the least I need. I want privacy. I want to be alone. I need to be alone. I want someone to hold on to, someone who I know won't let go. And I have nobody…Hermione thought, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She was glad that Draco was behind her, and could not see her tears. She would never cry. At least, not in front of him.
The definition of Draco Malfoy? An arrogant boy, excuse me: young man, with an overly protective mother and a lunatic of a father who was really obsessed with the pureblood lines. Also, his father beat him and his mother just to show how power-hungry he was. Though Draco Malfoy would never admit, he knew that his father was afraid of losing power, in short: his father was a coward. Draco Malfoy can be described with many different negative words. However, coward would never be one of them. At least, that was the case until he saw Hermione Granger cry.
He supposed she didn't know that he saw, but all the same, he saw her tears glisten in her eyes. She was fighting them back, and all Draco Malfoy could think of then was to ask her what was wrong. Of course, he knew, she wouldn't answer. But for the hell of it. He asked. "Granger, will you please tell me what is wrong?"
To say that Hermione Granger was shocked was an understatement. She was astonished. Flabbergasted, even. And it was all the doings of Draco Malfoy and the way he cared to even question her well-being. It was very… out of character for him. Should I tell him, or not? I am Hermione Granger, Gryffindor bookworm. And for once. I will not think. And with that thought in her mind she threw herself into his arms, tears cascading down her face.
Malfoy held onto the girl in his arms. She was so frail, as if she were to fall apart if he held on to her with any more strength. He knew. And she knew, that her disease was fatal. In the back of his mind, he unconsciously registered how sweet she smelled. But right now, it wasn't important. "Hermione, just tell me, what's wrong," he whispered into her ear. He knew this was uncharacteristic of him, but, as you all know, Draco Malfoy has had his share of women, and knows what to say when it comes to them.
He could almost see the battle in her eyes, telling her whether or not to tell him. But finally, she whispered to him, "I am going to die, most likely before this semester ends."
Draco stared at the girl with tears threatening to fall. No. He hasn't gone soft. It was just that… an emotion he'd never felt before suddenly burst into action. Malfoys don't love. They don't hate. They merely… exist, with lots of money. In fact, Draco Malfoy always got what he wanted. Whether it is a girl (who swooned at the amount of money he had), or a useless utensil. Money was no object… but emotions were. Somehow, he knew that money wouldn't get Hermione out of trouble, nor can it save her.
For once, Hermione didn't regret opening up. When she was with everyone else, she hid behind her smile, reassuring everyone that she was alright. But now… she knew better. Quite the oxymoron it was she was trusting Draco Malfoy, the one person who caused her to not trust in the first place.
Flashback:
"No! Draco! Please! I beg you!"
"Do you really think I would stop to think about you, Mudblood?"
"I thought… you loved me!"
"And they call you smart," Draco sneered. Hermione, eyes filled with tears, ran out of the room.
As far as Hermione was concerned, Draco Malfoy was cold-hearted for playing her like that. She'd really believed… but perhaps, she really wasn't that smart. She'd gone against her best friends' wishes to be with him. Not to mention the lies she'd said just to see him for that two month fling. But at least it was over now.
End Flashback.
Hermione shuddered at the memory. Why was he holding her now? Was it a fluke again? She honestly didn't know didn't want to know. For all she cared, she wanted this moment to last forever. Whether she chose to admit it or not… she still had feelings for him. And the worst of all? She never did give up on him.
Draco felt a stab of regret, remembering what took place just last year, how he'd toyed with her feelings, just to prove his superiority. It seems so childish now, and he knew, first hand, that hearts can break. He'd witnessed his mother's breakdown, how Lucius wore her down to the final drops of tears, and how she was now under institutional care. Granger was strong. But now… she's weak. And guilt drove Malfoy insane… as if he had anything to do with it.
However, from the Great Hall, many filed out, starting to go to their respective classes, marking the beginning of the day, thus saving both teenagers from too long of an awkward silence. And so it began Draco Malfoy has discovered he has a conscience after all, and he had a mission saving Hermione Granger.