Chapter 4

This chapter is based on a dream I had one night. It kind of creeped me out but at least I got a fanfic idea out of it! (I was in Hermione's place)

(Flashback)

"Draco! Stop messing around and help me with this potion!" demanded Hermione.

Draco put down the lizard head and walked back to the cauldron him and Hermione were using. It was filled to the brim with a boiling green substance, which was not even close to how the textbook said it should look. "Um, Hermione?" he asked cautiously. "Did you forget a step?"

"I don't know!" Hermione snapped back. "That's why I need your help!" Her face was getting red and tears of frustration poured over.

"Okay, okay," Draco said, trying to calm her down. "Let's take a look at what you've written in your notes," He turned her face towards his own. "We will fix it. There's nothing to cry about," He wiped her cheek then instantly pulled his hand away. Her skin felt as if it was on fire. "Do you feel okay?" Draco asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Sure, other than the fact that this room feels as if it's been filled with ice cubes!"

Draco's eyes widened. "I think we should get you to Madame Pomfrey."

"No! We must finish this potion!" Hermione insisted.

Draco thought she was crazy, but he let her have her way. "Fine. Whatever you say." He picked up her notes and started reading. He frowned as her reached the end of the first sentence. He looked at the name on top of the parchment to make sure they were Hermione's and not someone else's. They were in fact her's, so he tried again. He shook his head in confusion as he got the same results. Something wasn't right. "Hermione, I-" he turned to look at her and froze in horror. Hermione's eyes were rolling into the back of her head.

Draco ran behind behind her and put his arms out just in time. He gently lowered her to the freezing dungeon floor. He couldn't help but feel guilty for not forcing her to go to the hospital wing. But would she have made it? He pushed the image of her tumbling down the stairs to the back of his mind. This wasn't the time for regrets.

He checked her for a pulse. After finding one, Draco shouted for help. "Snape!" Draco watched the office door. When it remained unopened he tried again, but was more demanding. "Damnit Snape! Get in here!"

The office door creaked open as Snape slowly walked out. "Keep your pants on Draco! I'm-" His eyes focused first on the motionless body of Hermione then on Draco's terrified expression. He thought he saw tears forming in the young man's eyes.

"Well? Don't just stand there! Help me!" Draco pleaded. A single tear rolled down his cheek.

Snape shook his head to clear it and focused on the main problem. "Right. I will go fetch Madame Pomfrey. You stay here with Miss Granger."

"But that could take too long!"

Snape rubbed his chin thoughtfully, trying to put some thinking into what they needed to do, but Draco was getting impatient.

"Snape!"

"Hang on, Draco!" he walked over and put a hand on Draco's shoulder. "We have to stay calm. That's the only way to get things done properly." he sighed. He had never seen Draco this upset before. "I'm going to contact Madame Pomfrey using the Floo System."

Draco sniffed. "Okay," he said, his voice quiet and shaky.

Snape came back with Madame Pomfrey in no more than 3 minutes. Draco refused to leave Hermione's side, so she had to work around him. "Can you tell me exactly what happened, Draco?" she asked while examining her patient.

Draco told her everything, hoping he didn't skip over any important details. "And that's when I hollered at Snape," Draco finished.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy," said Madame Pomfrey after fully looking over Hermione. "I'm hoping it's just a bad case of the flu, but-"

"What do you mean 'hoping'?" Draco interrupted.

"Now, Draco-"

Madame Pomfrey put up a hand before Snape could say any more. "No, Severus. It's quite alright." She looked back at Draco. "I want to keep her with me until she wakes up."

"And exactly how long will that be?" It took everything in Draco's power to look her directly in the eye.

She made sure he was truly listening before she replied. "To be honest Draco, I don't have the slightest idea."

Cliffhanger! I'm having a bit of writer's block for the next chapter, but I'll try my best to post it soon. Please read & review!