The next few days seemed to have passed without incident much to Draco and Hermione delight. Draco had been keeping Blaise close to him at all times. He rarely went anywhere alone anymore. He knew the classes he had together with Gryffindor so he would normally be the last to arrive, sit as far away from her, held his breath as long as he could, which was surprisingly long since he wasn't any normal human, even though he would have to take in a few breaths through his mouth once in a while and just as he senses the bell going to ring he'd be the first to leave. He never had any of his meals in the Great Hall, most of his diet was in a case under his bed anyway but once in a while he would ask Blaise to bring a few things back for him to chew on. Draco really didn't know what to do anymore, only a week has passed and his 'wine collection' was running low. He was suppose to have a glass every two to three days but now with the 'Anima Gemina' business going on he was drinking a glass two to three times a day. If things didn't go his way anytime soon he might just go crazy and seriously do what Emil had suggested of him.
Even though Hermione didn't see Malfoy that much because she noticed how he had been avoiding her during their classes together and also that he was not turning up for meals, ever since the incident in the classroom Hermione couldn't stop thinking about Malfoy. She wasn't in love, that's for sure, 'maybe a little lust?' she thought to herself. But even that sounded outrageous. She had gone out a few times, the longest relationship she had been in was with Ron but after the war there wasn't really much in common left for the both of them. They are still the best of friends even though he later got together with another Gryffindor two years his junior. But even with Ron who she thought was 'The One' didn't have even a tenth of the sparks she had felt when Malfoy had whispered into her ear. She always knew she and Malfoy had sparks, but that was from all the hostility towards each other. 'Surely there isn't anything else for there to be sparks right?' Hermione thought as she lightly banged her head on the table as she pushed her lunch away.
"Mione are you feeling okay?" Ginny inquired seeing how stressed she'd look the past few days.
"I'm fine. Just a little headache" She replied as she sat up straight again with a fake smile plastered on her face.
"That's what happens when you do nothing but study, you should relax a little" Ron added while stuffing his face with pastries and pudding.
"You should take your own advice and relax from eating too fast" She answered with a slightly disgusted look. "I'm gonna go get some fresh air" she said before standing up and taking her book bag with her.
As she made her exit from the Great Hall everyone else went back to their own business therefore no one notice as someone who was watching them the whole time stood and made his way to the exit to follow Hermione.
Hermione had thought of going to the library but she really needed a place outside the school walls. The lake was surrounded by students and coupled pairs so she turned around and headed for the quidditch pitch. There wasn't any team practicing or students flying in the pitch so there weren't any audiences around either. As Hermione reached the top of the Gryffindor stands, she sat on the floor with her back to the side walls and her legs stretch out in front of her. She was totally hidden from view except for her brown curls that would wave over the front railings once in a while when the wind would blow. She took out a book from her bag, turned to the page where she had folded a corner and continues reading. It was a romance novel that her mom had slipped into her luggage and she only noticed it when she was unpacking on the first morning of school. She had totally disregarded it and threw it into the deepest part of her trunk only to dig it up again a few hours later. The book had a Romeo and Juliet type of story line whereby the young lovers were forbidden to have feelings for one another. After a few lines into the story her mind had just automatically given the role of the female and male protagonist to her and Malfoy. And since the book had some slightly intense scenes, it made her blushed all over again and again.
A few chapters into the book Hermione was distracted by someone shouting out in the pitch. She folded a corner of the page she was reading and put the book aside, pushed herself up a little with her hands and poke her head over the railings. The Sytherin team had come out to practice and among them Malfoy was screaming his lungs out from pointing out certain moves and mistakes the players were making. He was sitting on his broom floating near the Slytherin benches which was to the Gryffindor right. There were a few groupies mostly from Slytherin but surprisingly one or two groups from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Hermione turned her position into a kneeling one to get a better view of everything or mostly of Malfoy. Looking at him now with the wind blowing his silky smooth hair back and forth was like watching a shampoo commercial on TV where the model flips her hair to show how good it look. His face full of concentration as he watch his teammates move about playing against each other and also to keep a look out for the snitch. He wasn't in his quidditch gear, only in his Slytherin uniform without the robe. His shirt sleeve folded up to his elbow, a few buttons from the top open, tie loose on his neck swaying as swiftly as his hair.
And just like Harry, she could see realization on his face show when his head swiftly turned to where the snitch might have been floating around. Like a racing car on full speed he zoomed from his spot and took chase. Even though Hermione wasn't much of a quidditch fan she did know the rules of the game and she was always interested in it as long as the Gryffindors were playing. But watching how Malfoy swerved all over the place and dodging bludgers and players alike felt a little more exciting somehow, and it was just a practice run. Without her own knowledge she had stood from her spot with both hands holding on tight to the railing, doing little skips and left right movements in sync actions with Malfoy. She could see him stretch his arm out as the snitch swerve in front of him. And as if she was also trying to reach for the snitch she bent her upper body forward ever so slightly.
'This is my chance' he thought as his arm pushed forward, wand in hand, from inside the red curtains hanging on the exit of the Gryffindor stands. A spell whispered directly towards Hermione without her knowing and before she could realize what had happen, her footing slipped and she fell forwards over the railings.
A loud cry from the other end of the field pulled Draco from his concentration on catching the tiny golden ball that was just a few centimeters reach from his hand. He didn't have to see to know that it was Granger and that she was going to fall to her death if he didn't do something about it. He did a 180 spin and sped towards the falling girl. He bent low on his broom to get as much speed to try and reach her as close as he could. Without a single thought left in his mind but to save her he leaped from his broom when he felt he had gotten close enough to reach her. Like a flying squirrel Draco dived over and grabbed Hermione's body and hugged her close to his. The impact made them both spin around where they crashed with Draco's back slamming onto the Gryffindor stands and sliding down the rest of the way with his bottom hitting the ground and Hermione curled up in his arms. Draco was strong but even a blow to the body like that could push all the air out his lungs.
Hermione had screamed her lungs out the whole drop down and only when she was firmly still did she dare open her eyes to look up and see Malfoy's scrunched up face and realize that he had somehow caught her somewhere between when she had slipped and when they both landed. Which made her gasp when she realize he must have taken a lot of weight from falling and landing with her on top.
"Malfoy are you okay, speak to me, Malfoy" She asked anxiously as she got off of him and moved to his side and shook his face between her hands. If he was somehow hurt really badly she wouldn't know how to forgive herself.
"Damn it Granger I told you to stop crashing into me" he joked but in a soft hurting kind of way.
"Oh thank Merlin your okay" she shouted in relief as she hugged him tightly. If he could still utter something ridiculous like that then nothing serious could have happened to him.
Draco however, upon realizing that she had suddenly hugged him clamped a hand over him nose and mouth. He pushed her away with his other hand and stood up swiftly. Without turning around to look at her or check whether she was fine he strode off towards the castle. Some of the spectators who had came to watch the practice rushed over to where Hermione was still sitting on the ground with a bewildered yet sad look on her face. As Draco was walking back towards the school Blaise had met him half way through the field.
"Draco are you okay?" He asked even though he already knew such a fall wouldn't affect him. He was asking more to the Granger effect.
Once he felt he was far enough to not rush back to her side and lose control he dropped his hand. "I don't think I can do this anymore, please tell her on my behalf Blaise." He continued on as Blaise stopped in his tracks knowing exactly what Draco was asking for.
Everyone that had reached Hermione's side after Malfoy left had ask whether she was okay and to help her to the Hospital wing. She was still a little upset at Malfoy's reaction after she had hugged him and also still in shock at almost losing her life, but before she could answer to any of their queries Blaise Zabini had push through the crowd and lifted her up into his arm before turning and walking towards the castle.
"Zabini what are you doing? Please let me down, I can walk on my own and people are staring." Hermione demanded and struggled as he was carrying her through the castle.
He had dropped her feet and just as she touched the ground her legs gave way. "Stand by yourself then, go ahead." He insisted. But as if she were paralyzed, she couldn't control her legs to stand on their own. Embarrassed at being proved wrong she looked up and lifted her arm to imply that she wouldn't mind being carried. He lifter her off the floor again and continued on towards the Hospital wing.
"Why are you doing this anyway?" She asked after a few minutes of silence.
"I have a message to pass to you" He answered.
"Well?" She asked after he didn't continue with his statement.
"Draco would like me to tell you something but we need to talk in private. It's a pretty long story so would you happen to have any free time tonight or something?" He requested
"Why doesn't he just tell me on his own?"
"Like I said, it's a long story. You can talk to him all you want once I've pass the message" He continued as he entered the Hospital wing. He placed her on a bed and turned to leave.
"Zabini.." Hermione called out before he disappeared out the door. "7th floor tonight at 10pm" she added when he had turned to look at her. He nodded in consent before turning back out the door and closing it behind him.
Mdm Pomfrey had given her some potion to relax and calm her down. After an hours or so in the hospital wing she was release. She had returned to the Quidditch pitch to retrieve her book bag and then to the library to do her homework.
At fifteen to 10pm that night Hermione secretly made her way out the Gryffindor Common room and up to the 7th floor. She met Blaise at the top of the stairs where she then led him to the Room of Requirement. After walking pass a blank wall three times, the door appeared and both of them entered. It was a simple carpeted floor room, fireplace on one side coffee table in the middle surrounded by two arm chairs on each side and a couch in the middle. Hermione sat on the couch while Blaise took the armchair to her left.
"So what's the message?"Hermione started getting straight to the point.
"Well, it's not as easy telling you what I'm going to tell you so please keep an open mind here." He began and Hermione gave a slight nod of acknowledgment to the seriousness of what they were to discuss.
After an hour of Blaise explaining the details of Draco's predicament and Hermione chipping in a question or two in between once in a while he finally ended with the most important message, "So will you give him your blood?"
"Okay so just to get things straight, Malfoy is a vampire, I'm his so called soul mate and he needs my blood?" Hermione was still stunned by the whole situation.
"Long story short yes, if you want to put it that way." He answered back.
"Does he need anything else besides my blood? How long do I have to 'support' his appetite? I mean I might have to think about it a while." Hermione just kept blabbering.
"For now it's just your blood, if you agree then it's for eternity and lastly of course he's not asking you to give me an answer now, you can think about it for a few days. You can look for me whenever it is convenient to pass me your answer. I suggest though while you are thinking through it these few days to try and stay away from Draco. As I've told you, he loses control and feels extreme pain due to the burning that is slowly spreading whenever you get too close." He said before standing up and leaving the room to head back down to the Slytherin Room and informs Draco on the recent events.
Hermione was left flabbergast with the amount of information that would totally change her life. First thing first, Malfoy as a vampire was already something unbelievable, but remembering the minor differences in his appearance and character would have explained it if anyone intently notices. His need for her blood, well no surprise there since his a vampire but the fact that he needed her blood because she was his soul mate? Now that was just absurd. How could anyone in their right mind put two totally opposite people together in this kind of relationship, if she hadn't believed it before, she would definitely admit now that fate is 110% twisted.
But to think this through properly was something she seriously had to put her all into. It's not something she can just head to the library and find the answer to. She couldn't just say no straight out because it's someone else's life on the line, even though it's Malfoy. 'It's just blood right? But its forever, do I want to be with Malfoy forever? How long is forever anyway, he's a vampire, don't they live for hundreds of years? What happens when I'm 90 and on my death bed?' questions upon questions just kept piling one on top of the other. She was suppose to be answering just one but the equation just keeps getting longer and longer.
But one thing she was quite sure about. What happened in the classroom earlier this week had nothing to do with Malfoy's feelings nor was it his choice, the fact that it was the vampire in him doing it somehow made Hermione's chest hurt. And it surprised her that she had actually felt this much for him already in such a short time with so little interaction to begin with. It's funny that she would even start falling for her rival, was she that lonely that even the tiny attention given to her by the most unexpected person could cause her to not only start having serious feelings but also to misunderstand his approach for something he would do of his own accord. Without her knowledge, her eyes pooled and a tear rolled down her cheeks. Would there ever be someone for her out there? If she was Malfoy's soul mate, did it also mean that he was hers? Was he her fated one that people talk about when they fall in love? Knowing Malfoy, he would rather die than be with her, he tried to repress the need for her blood a whole week even though it tortured him so much just being in the same room as her. Does that mean she had to be with someone who would never reciprocate her feelings for the rest of her life if she were to agree to Malfoy's request? That even if there was any intimate feelings it would be because he was a vampire and not because he truly felt the way she would.
Hermione fell into a lying position and the room automatically changed with regards to her feelings. The couch she was on became a soft spring mattress on a big king size poster bed in the middle of a dark room where all the walls were covered in dark burgundy curtains. The once blazing fireplace had gone leaving a few lamps that were dimly lit. Very soft classical music was being played somewhere in a corner and throughout that night Hermione cried so much due to the mental pressure on her mind and a heart break that hurt more than any other curse or torture she had received during the War.
