She arrived early the next day as instructed, thoroughly begrudging getting up and ready so early just to help him. When she got to the infirmary she did change her mind a little as he was lying down again looking unwell. Hermione wondered why Draco was so much more ill than everyone else.
Madam Pomfrey hurried over. "Aaah, glad you are here, Mr Malfoy needs you so let's get started."
"You could have sent for me earlier if you needed to." Hermione volunteered and saw Draco glance at her from the bed.
"Yes, thank you Hermione." Madam Pomfrey smiled kindly at her.
Madam Pomfrey helped Draco to sitting position, cast the spell and left them alone again. Hermione sighed. So this was going to be her life for the next god knows how long! She wished she had remembered to bring a book. As she thought this Neville appeared, looking well and dressed ready to leave.
"Hey, Hermione," he said cheerfully and Hermione could have kissed him.
"You're a match for Draco then?" he cast a quick look in Draco's direction but Draco, who hadn't spoken a word since she had arrived, just ignored him.
"Neville, you look well now! I'm so glad." Hermione grinned at him.
"Yes, thanks to Harry. We've got to do some extra exchanges because he's only a Muggle descendent but is seems to be working OK so far." He glanced over at Draco again "Have you got to do extra as well?"
"Yes, we have." Hermione kept her answer short, not wanting to go into details.
"I can answer for myself you know!" Draco spoke for the first time and glared at her. He turned his gaze onto Neville. "Yes Longbottom, unfortunately I have got to go through this ordeal every three hours."
"Don't you mean WE have to go through this every three hours?" Hermione felt her anger rising again and Neville hurried off, obviously sensing a fight. Just then Madame Pomfrey arrived to announce that Hermione could go. She asked her to return in three hours as usual and she would decide then if Draco was fit enough to leave. Hermione didn't hold out much hope as Draco didn't seem to be recovering particularly quickly. She jumped off the bed and headed for the door, not wishing to stay for a minute longer than necessary when Draco's voice stopped her.
"Granger?"
She turned round reluctantly, anticipating another argument.
"What do you want, Malfoy?"
"When you come back later would you bring me some books?"
Hermione took a step backwards in surprise. Had he just asked her a civil question? Her logic told her it was primarily because he wanted something but nevertheless it was surprising.
"What sort of books?" she asked.
"The one's with words in!" Draco's reply was dripping with sarcasm. "As you spend the majority of your sad little life with your nose buried in one I would have thought you would have known that!"
"Well if that's how you feel then get one of your cronies to fetch and carry for you. I'm sure they'll be glad to serve their Master." She turned on her heel and walked to the doors before turning one last time to add, "oh and if you can't sort that out I don't really care! After all I'm not the helpless one stuck in the hospital bed am I?"
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
So, three hours later it surprised Hermione to find herself on the way back to the Infirmary carrying not only her own book but also a small selection for Draco. She couldn't really explain why because he most certainly did not deserve them. Somehow, despite his awful attitude to her she couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. Maybe she was just a bloody fool!
All the books she'd chosen for him were about Quidditch as she had no idea what he would like to read about. All except one as she had put a copy of her favourite book, Pride and Prejudice, into the middle of the pile. It was not only a love story but also written by a Muggle both of which would annoy Malfoy immensely.
She entered the infirmary and saw Draco sitting in a chair alongside his bed, looking much better again. She walked straight over to him and placed the small pile of books on his bed. He glanced at them and then back at her but said nothing. Madam Pomfrey arrived and pushed two chairs together. Hermione lent her arm against Draco's ready for the spell and suddenly noticed he was out of his nightclothes, wearing a short sleeved T shirt. Great! Now it was skin against skin, even more awkward!
Hermione reached for her book and began reading without a word to Draco. It was an awkward position though, with her knees sloping and only one free hand to hold the book with. She managed until she had to turn the page which was almost impossible because every time she let go the book threatened to slide off her lap. She was about to drop it when another hand, besides her own, reached across, pulled it back onto her lap and turned the page for her.
She looked straight at Draco, shocked.
He stared back at her. "You're clumsy! I couldn't stand watching you fumble any longer," he offered as an explanation to her stare.
Hermione sighed loudly and went back to her book. Why couldn't he be nice or even just normal! She wasn't asking for much! She tried to read the next two pages but was finding it hard to concentrate. She was still surprised by him helping her and then there was the distraction of how they were sitting. Sitting like this would have been uncomfortable with a close friend but with Malfoy it just felt strange, unnatural and far, far too intimate.
She came to the end of the page again and tried to turn over without attracting his attention. She couldn't do it and as before his hand came over and held the book for her.
Turning to look at him she mumbled, "Thanks."
He attempted to shrug his shoulders indifferently but the gesture moved their joined arms too much sending a jolt of excruciating pain through their limbs.
"I'm sorry! I forgot." Draco said looking at her as she cried out, unintentionally moving again and making the pain worse. Draco lent against her more forcefully to prevent her moving "Stop, Hermione. You're making it worse, just keep still."
Hermione took a deep breath and did as he said and suddenly the pain stopped.
"OK now?" Draco asked.
"Yes, it's stopped. I made that worse, sorry." Hermione couldn't believe how painful it was when they moved too much.
"It was my fault." Draco said and lent his head back on the chair, closing his eyes.
Hermione stared at him in amazement. Not only had he apologised, twice! He had then asked if she was OK and most surprisingly called her 'Hermione'! Not Mudblood or Granger but Hermione! She looked up and saw Madam Pomfrey approaching.
"I'm afraid I can't let you go yet," she told Draco and nodded for Hermione to leave. Hermione was almost out the doors when, like yesterday, his voice stopped her.
"Granger?"
She turned round warily.
"Thanks for the books."
Hope it was OK, review, review, review, review, review...please xx
