Dead Blood

Disclaimer: Once again, I'm not a rich author and I do not own Harry Potter. All credit for character, places, etc. goes to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers.

Chapter 4

Hermione's POV

After I had finally staunched the flow of tears I got up and shakily made my way to the mirror. My pale, tear stained face looked back at me. I took a deep breath and then walked out of the bathroom. I made my way to my small office which still contained all the books that I had feverishly poured over when Ron was sick, each with little notes written in by my quill in scarlet ink the color blood. Dead Blood. I HAD to find a cure. I couldn't let what had happened to Ron happen to a little boy like Scorpius, no matter what the circumstances were. I sat down at my desk and flipped open the first book. It was time to start reviewing.

Sanguine Mortua or Dead Blood Disease is a extremely rare medical case caused when blood cells rebel against the body, disrupting it's natural functions. It usually lies dormant until triggered by potion fumes, bites from various breeds of magical creatures, serious infection in a dragon scratch wound, etc. There is no known cure to date.

Symptoms: Coma, high fever, nausea, vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, weakness, unwillingness to eat, paling of skin, and, in uncommon but existing cases, an unusually blue rash will spread across the afflicted's skin.

Treatments: Although there is no cure for Sanguine Mortua, potions such as the Blood Replenishing Potion and others like it can help slow the disease down. This can prolong the patient's time to live from 3 months to 8 or so months. Also, hellebore can be applied to the rash-affected areas of a victim to partially heal the damaged skin.

Hellebore? Interesting, and highly unusual. Ron never had the rash, but a picture of Scorpius's sad, unconscious face flashed in my head and I filed the information away in my brain.

I rose and started to walk towards Scorpius's room. When I opened the door and found Draco Malfoy crying? His son just stared at him, face pale and lips pressed tightly together. At the noise of my approach, they both turned to look at me.

I cleared my throat. "I see you're awake Scorpius. Has...Has your father told you what is going on?"

He stared at me for a moment and then said weakly"Yes."

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Really weak and headachey."

"Hmm..." I crossed over to his bed and took a potion for the cabinet beside it. I handed it to Scorpius who drank it with a shudder. "To give you a little energy. You're going to need it. Do either of you have any questions?" To my surprise, Draco was the one who answered.

"I think we're still trying to process, Healer Granger. Could you maybe give us a little space for a moment?" He asked quietly.

I was taken aback. The Draco Malfoy admitting to weakness? But then said, "Okay I'll be in my office. If you need me, I'm across the hall."

I walked back to my office, still thinking about how he'd been surprisingly civil. And, unlike during our school years, he looked a bit more mature, handsome and...No!

Bad Hermione, I thought. Stop thinking about that little ferret that way. He's still a much of an arrogant git as he was before, and nothing will ever change that!