The Answer Pt 1
My heart sank lower than my stomach. There it was as clear as day. The Dark Mark embedded into my arm. But how could it have happened? I wasn't a Death Eater, so how did I get the mark, in my sleep no less? A knock at my door jolted me to my senses. "Hermione, if we don't leave now we won't get anything to eat before class starts." "Coming." I quickly covered up the mark and grabbed my things.
"Hermione Granger, late?" Ginny teased. "Sorry, I woke up late. Couldn't sleep." "You should see Lavender's dress for the Ball." An instant change in subject by Ginny. "It looks absolutely hideous. Serves him right don't you thing?" I couldn't help but smile.
It wasn't until I went to the library after class to do more research in the Dark Arts that my mark started to burn. I felt eyes peering on me and turned to see the Dementors at the window again. What were they even doing here? Weren't they suppose to be in Azkaban? I collapsed onto the ground on top of my arm, the burning growing stranger and stronger. A familiar voice yelled something before a blinding white light shot past me and into the Dementors, sending them away. "Hermione? Hermione!"
My chest felt heavy as I pushed my eyes open in the Hospital Wing. "What happened?" "You were attacked by the Dementors again." Harry answered for me. "Harry and I were in the library studying for our Defense Against the Dark Arts class when it happened." Ginny finished for him. "How are you feeling Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall was at my other bedside. "Exhausted." Harry handed me a piece of chocolate as I sat up in the bed. "Tell me my dear, how long have you had this?" She held my left wrist with the sleeve pushed back. A heavy wave of guilt suddenly made my stomach sink even deeper than it was before. "It was on my arm when I woke up this morning. I swear-" "It's alright Miss Granger, I believe you. You do of course realize that this is why the Dementors keep finding you?" "Yes Professor." Then she went to a subject that I didn't want to talk about even more.
"I imagine that is how you received the scars on your back?" How far could my stomach drop before it finally hit bottom? "What's happening to me, Professor?" I could feel the tears already burning in my eyes. "I don't know. But I assure you we will find out." All I could do was nod in approval. "Get some rest dear. Madam Pomfrey will bring you dinner shortly." "Yes, Professor." Professor McGonagall strode out of the room. The chocolate helped, but I could still feel a huge weight on my chest.
"Where's Draco?" I sat up again, not even thinking about it before I did it. Ginny looked at Harry and back at me before answering. "No one knows. We tried to find him to tell him about what happened, but… no one's been able to find him." "Where do you think you're going?" Madam Pomfrey's shrill voice echoed as the large doors swung open. Ron ran to get to my bed before Draco, who wasn't in his school uniform, but in his everyday suit and tie.
"Hermy, are you alright?" Ronald's voice sounded out of breath. "Hermione, what happened?" Draco came next to me. "The Dementors attacked me at the library again. And don't call me that!" It was then that he noticed the Dark Mark on my arm. "It was there when I woke up this morning; I don't know how I got it." Answering his question for him. "How else? This dirty rat gave it to you! He's contagious I tell you!" Ron bellowed. "Stop it Ron! Draco didn't do anything!" I defended. "Except call you a "Mudblood" for six years and get Dumbledore killed!" "Stop it!" "Where were you when Hermione was being attacked?" Ron turned to Draco. "I had something to do!" "Oh, something to do then? Well I suppose that "something to do" was much more important than Hermione's safety!" Sarcasm bit at Ron's voice. "I didn't know until I got back!" Ronald looked like the cat that ate the canary. "Oh, so you left school grounds then?" "I had permission!" "Permission?" "Ron, just stop it!" Tears poured down my cheeks as I pulled at the roots of my hair, feeling more stressed out than anything since the war.
"I'm afraid I have to ask you to get out, Mister Weasly." Madam Pomfrey stated as kindly as I've ever heard her to talk to a student before. "But, Madam Pomfrey-" "Get out!" Her voice bellowed even louder than Ron's had. "Hermione, I'm sorry-" His apology was cut off by my sobbing and clutching onto him. "I think they should have a moment." I heard Ginny whisper before a set of footsteps left the room.
Draco continued to hold me close after I couldn't cry anymore, but still wanted to. He used his hands to dry the still wet tears off my face and letting me hold them in place, the soft texture made me want to cry more even though it was comforting. Against the tears coating my eyelashes, I opened my eyes to see a guilt stricken Draco looking at me with even more guilt in his eyes. Slowly but surely, I inched closer and closer to him, until our lips met and made my heart skip a beat.
What was it that made kissing him so… intoxicating? Was it the way that he was so gentle with me? Or maybe it was the way he touched me. The only thing that seemed to make sense was how incredible it felt. When we both came back to our senses, Draco was on top of me on my hospital bed, his hands roughly pulling me up to him. I hadn't even realized how far we had gone until Draco stopped snogging me. He forced himself off of me, straightening his coat and clearing his throat before sitting down uncomfortably. "Seems we can't stop doing that, can we?" I tried to lighten the mood.
"I'm sorry. Weasly was right." He literally growled the last part. "I should have been here and I wasn't." "You can't be here to protect me all the time. No one can." A deafening silence invaded the room for a little while. "Why did you leave? If you don't mind me asking." I smiled and he smirked remembering the first decent conversation that we had. "My mother needed me. Professor McGonagall told me that as long I clarified with her first and of course, not abuse the privilege, that I may leave every once in a while to make sure she's alright." "Why wouldn't she be?" "My father still has men under his power through fear; my mother is trying to stay hidden from him, but they keep finding her and making sure she knows it." He sighed. "She never wanted any part of that idiotic war; she was only involved because of my father." His voice sounded disgusted. "Your mother showed great loyalty to you." Draco looked at me confused. "Harry told me that she lied to Voldemort and told him that he was dead when he wasn't, all because he told her you were still alive. And I saw how you reacted when you went back. You left when your mother wanted you to come back, not your father." "Well aren't you observant?" He smirked. "I am the brightest witch of my age." Draco chuckled.
"I see you're feeling better." Professor Alyxander strolled in. "Good evening Professor." "Good evening Miss Granger. Mister Malfoy." She smiled. "I came to talk to you about the resent events." "What events?" She smiled a coy smile, as if she knew I was hiding something. "Mister Malfoy, would you mind if we talk alone for a moment?" Draco left us and I felt an intense nervous tension in my stomach. "I came to teach at this school for a reason. You're a very special girl. I don't think you realize just how special." "What do you mean?" "You've been having strange dreams lately and when you wake up; your body is encased in fear and a cold sweat. You didn't think that you were born with those scars on your back did you?" I sat their speechless. How did she know? "I told you; "I came to this school for a reason.'" "And just what is that reason." I began to feel myself get defensive. "I'm afraid you wouldn't believe me if I told you." "Then why come to talk to me in the first place?" "To give you this." She pulled out a vial from her inside her cloak that was filled to the brim with something silver. It must have been a large memory. "You'll understand better if you can see it yourself. When you are well enough, I'm sure the Room of Requirement will be of some use to you." She stood and began to leave. "Get some rest my dear. You've had a difficult day."
