A/N: Decided two post two chapters in one because I have no self-control. This chapter in a bit of a filler, but I've got some Dramione moments in it. Hope you like it! Thanks for the follows and the reviews.
Disclosure: I don't own Harry Potter.
Hermione groaned as she attempted to open her eyes. She was in a lot of pain. She slowly opened her eyes to find a very obnoxious florescent light blaring down on her.
"Hermione. Can you hear me?" The voice of Ginny Potter had made her shoot out of bed like a bullet.
"Gin! Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Hermione was sitting up staring at the red head with concern.
Ginny shushed her and laid a comforting hand on Hermione's arm. Gently, she pushed her back down into a laying position. "I'm fine. I had an emergency portkey. My husband is the Head of Aurors remember? We always have a plan." Her voice was soft and soothing and Hermione was able to let out a breath. She groaned again. Loudly.
Ginny got up and tapped her wand on a box with a speaker. "Hermione Granger is awake and in a lot of pain. We need a healer quickly." She said urgently into the box.
Hermione finally looked down at her arms to find herself hooked up to a muggle IV. "Ginny. What happened?" She asked her friend, trying to remain calm. Ginny Potter had never sugar coated and for that, Hermione was extremely grateful. Ginny told her what she heard from Harry. Death Eaters showed up at the ball. Greyback cursed her and if it hadn't been for Malfoy taking the blunt of the curse, Hermione would be dead. She had been in a magically induced coma so her body and magic had time to heal. The muggle IV was to help keep her hydrated as the potions they had to administer could make her dehydrated quickly. She had been asleep for almost 4 days. Hermione didn't really hear that last part. She was focused on the fact that Malfoy had saved her life. She snapped back into the conversation. A lot of the Death Eaters were captured. A lot of them were new recruits.
"Is Malfoy okay?" Hermione finally asked, not daring to meet her friend's eyes.
Ginny cleared her throat awkwardly. "Yes. He's well. It only took him two days to recover."
Hermione looked up from her hands at Ginny is disbelief. "Two days?! But Gin, we were both hit with the curse. That's impossible." Hermione bit her bottom lip in deep thought. Something wasn't adding up for her.
"Mione. I don't know. Believe me when I say I tried to find out but the healers won't budge. You know the rules. Patient, Healer confidentiality and all that. However, he's still at the hospital." Ginny said.
"He's here?" She raised a brow and looked towards the door as if he would walk in any moment.
"Actually he hasn't left once. I imagine he feels guilty about the row you two had." Ginny's biting words made Hermione frown.
Their conversation was interrupted by a healer walking in to administer her pain potions.
"Miss Granger needs her rest Mrs. Potter. Come back and see her in a little bit." The healer said kindly.
Ginny looked like she wanted to throttle the healer, but quickly gave her a fake smile. "Of course." she turned back to Hermione and gently hugged her. "I'll be back this evening, I promise."
St. Mungo's- Fifth floor- Visitors' Tearoom and Hospital Shop.
Draco was nursing a steaming cuppa in his hands, trying to calm his nerves and block out the Hospital smells. His best mate set across from him, staring him down. Draco found the cream that was swirling in his cup extremely fascinating.
"You look terrible." Theo finally stated. Draco snorted into his cup. "Well, it's true. And that's really saying something, seeing as I've seen you during you know what." Theo smirked as his words finally caused his friend to look up.
Draco glared back. "I'm not leaving" He said defiantly.
Theo rolled his eyes and shook his head. "No. Of course not." The two Wizard's went back to their awkward silence.
"So..." Draco said expectantly.
Theo rested his elbow on his thigh, and held his chin in his hand. He flashed Draco an unconvincing confused pout. "So...what?"
"Update you idiot! Do you have an update on her!" Draco snapped, his patience obviously hanging on a thread.
Theo chuckled. "I do. Seeing as how I just saw her to drop off her work. She's doing better. No adverse reactions to the potions and they finally have her off the muggle hydration...thing. Her walking is improving, but she has to use a cane for awhile. She absolutely loathes it." He finished speaking and went back to sipping on his tea.
Draco sat back, but didn't relax. He was having his own internal battle. He looked around the Tearoom, seeing families worried faces. He realized he probably wore the same expression and shook his head.
"Well I've got to go back to the office." Theo announced. He stood and saw something fall out of his suitcase. "Bugger!" He exclaimed as he picked up the parchment.
"What is it?" Draco asked in a panicked voice.
"It's Hermione's. It's part of her notes. A very important part." Theo started walking and suddenly turned around, a slow smile creeping on his lips. "Actually. You know what. I really do have to be going. Here!" Theo shoved the parchment into Draco's arms. "You should go take this to her personally." Theo said, before he ran down the hall.
Draco stood in the Tearoom, glaring on the spot where Theo had stood. He took a deep breath before he made his way towards the lifts.
A minute later he heard the lift's voice say, "Fourth Floor, Spell Damage" and he stepped out.
He walked until he reached room 410. Draco hesitated as he reached for the door knob. He paced back and forth in front of the door like a caged animal. He stopped in his tracks when he heard the sound of foot steps and a cane hitting the floor. The door swung open, and Draco was met with Hermione's curious face.
"Are you going to come in at some point or should I just leave you to your pacing. If that's what you intend to keep doing, I should let you know that you'll have a whole team of annoyed Healer's after you. " She finished, looking every bit like the swotty Know-it-all from school.
Draco strode past her, into the hospital room.
She slowly made her way back to her book and parchment covered bed. The quiet was filled with the sounds of the cane hitting the floor.
"Please, sit down." Hermione gestured to the only other seat in the room. Draco accepted the seat without looking at her.
"I have something for you. Theo forgot to give it to you when he was here earlier." Draco smoothed out the parchment that he had held onto a little too tightly. He placed it neatly on the bed and raised his eyes. She was looking him over and it made his palms sweaty.
She absentmindedly took the parchment without glancing at it. "I wanted to say thank you for the other night." She blurted out.
That simple, polite, sentence caught Draco off guard. "Pardon?" He asked dumbly.
"I said I want to say thank you. I imagine I would be much worse off if you hadn't stepped in front of me." She spoke sincerely.
Draco's voice felt thick, but he managed to get out a mumble. He looked out the window to avoid her penetrative gaze. In truth, however awkward this situation might be, he felt completely calm in her presence. It was a thought that frightened him, and one he had spent years concealing.
"Have you recovered alright?" She asked. He could hear the suspicion.
"Yes. I have. Actually, um. I'm feeling tired and the healer's told me to rest. You probably should be as well Granger." He got up and dusted off his robes.
"Oh. right. Well, I'm sure I'll be seeing you around Malfoy." She gave him a small smile and extended her hand out to him. He looked at her hand and swallowed thickly, before stalking out of the room.
Hermione was almost glad he left in such a hurry. He missed the disappointment wash over her features.