Great Danger

Draco had to go back to work, and so Hermione was left to her own devices over the next few days, save for twice day visits when Toby would bring her breakfast and lunch. The thoughts that had plagued Hermione that first day began to creep back into her mind, and she found herself jumpy again the longer she was here without company.

Just as Toby was about to leave her one day for lunch, Hermione called her back and asked, "Do you know if Narcissa is getting better? I haven't heard from Draco since he went back to work."

The elf's eyes welled up. "Oh, Miss!" she wailed. "We don't know what to do! The Mistress was awake when Master Draco left her this morning, but she fell asleep and-and she won't w-w-wake up!" Now, Toby was wiping great amounts of mixed snot and tears from her face.

"What do you mean, she won't wake up?"

"We tried to get her to take the potions, to eat! She won't wake up, Miss, she won't!"

Hermione stood so quickly that her chair fell behind her, but she paid it no mind. "Where is she, Toby? Lead me to her."

Toby grabbed Hermione's hand and nearly drug her through hallways, rooms, and up stairs that Hermione didn't take the time to look at. Finally, Toby stopped before a room at the end of the second story hall.

"This is her room?" The elf nodded in reply, seemingly now so distraught that she was incapable of speech.

Hermione let herself in, and gasped, a hand flying to her mouth, at what she saw. Narcissa lay motionless on the bed, what little color she had claimed was gone. Hell, she looked almost grey, from head to toe. Her already bony fingers seemed longer and thinner, resting on a book in her lap. Her cheekbones nearly pierced her skin.

As her shock abated, Hermione rushed over to Narcissa's bedside, immediately putting her fingers to the older woman's neck. She let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding when she found a pulse. Weak, but a pulse.

"Toby!" Hermione called, "Toby, come here!"

The house-elf entered the room, still whimpering. Hermione learned the importance of speaking to upset people calmly during the war, so she said, as soothingly as she could, "Toby, I can't side-along apparate her in this state. I might splinch her. Can you?"

"Y-yes, miss."

Hermione took the book from her, pulled back the blankets, and grabbed Narcissa's hand. She pulled it over to the side of the bed, and Toby took it. "Take her to St. Mungo's, and ask for Healer Jordan. I'll be there in just a few minutes."

Toby nodded, and Hermione stepped back quickly as she heard the loud crack. She gathered up a few things in her arms: the book, a family photo, and Narcissa's wedding ring from her bedside. She didn't know why she grabbed them, perhaps just a panic reaction. She rushed downstairs and stuffed the belongings in her bag. She ran out to the gates, where she could finally apparate to St. Mungo's.

She ran up to the desk, breathless. "I sent… an elf a few… a few minutes ago. Narcissa…. Malfoy."

The young blonde at the desk nodded, her eyes wide. She was probably starstruck; Hermione was still all too famous. Hermione waited a beat, then said, a little too loudly, "So, where is she?!"

"Down- down there," the girl pointed down a hall to her left. "Third door on the right, but I don't know-"

Hermione wasn't listening by then, in fact, she was already halfway toward the door. She broke through, and immediately spied her old classmate, Alicia Jordan. "Alicia! Alicia, is she going to be alright?"

The witch spun around. "Hermione, you can't be here! There's a waiting room just across the hall. You have to wait there!"

Hermione stood, motionless, just barely able to see Mrs. Malfoy's bare feet beyond the curtain. "Go!"Alicia yelled. It stunned Hermione out of her stupor, and she retreated to the waiting room, feeling helpless. Toby joined her soon after, to tell her that she needed to return to the Manor. Hermione nodded numbly, telling her to relay to Draco what had happened.

Hours passed, with Hermione staring blankly around the room, before Alicia came in, pulling a chair opposite her. "Hermione, I have a few questions for you."

"Of course." Hermione tried to compose herself, sitting up straighter and putting a stray curl behind her ear.

"How long has she been like this?"

"The uh, the elves said she was awake this morning, when Draco left. I found her like this at around noon."

Alicia nodded thoughtfully, "Has she been acting strange lately? Uncharacteristically withdrawn, lowered appetite, anything like that?"

"I haven't actually spoken to her in almost two weeks. The last time we talked, she was fine. Draco, erm, Malfoy, would probably know more. He should be here soon." Hermione dropped her head into her hands. "Wish I could help more."

"No, no, Hermione." Aliccia reached out and patted her old schoolmate on the shoulder. "Go get something to eat; won't do to have you sick as well. I need to get back to her. I'll tell you more later, okay?"

Hermione attempted a smile as Healer Spinnet left. Truth be told, the worry had taken her appetite away from her. She didn't want to eat, she just wanted to know if Narcissa would get better. She hadn't seen anyone in that shape since the war….

She shook those thoughts from her mind, and took out her wand, transfiguring the chair Alicia had left into various household items: an armoire, a nightstand, a vanity, and so on.

Draco finally stormed in at a quarter after five. "What's happened to her? She was fine this morning!" His voice cracked when he said 'morning'.

Hermione looked up at him, the same worry etched over her own face. "I don't know, Draco. The Healer wanted to ask you some questions. I'm sure she'll be here soon."

His gaze rested on Hermione's face, and she could see that his eyes were glistening. "They won't let me see her," he whispered.

Hermione patted the seat beside her, and he followed the unspoken command. Hermione timidly took his hand in her own, offering as well as taking comfort. "She'll be fine, Draco, don't worry," she gave advice she found herself unwilling to take in the hours she'd been here. "They just need time. You know these things always take time."

"Yeah. Yeah, of course." He ran a hand through his hair, making it fall across his forehead. "I just don't understand."

"Shh… I know you don't. That's okay, none of us understand right now, but we will. Come on. Let's go get a coffee." Hermione felt herself falling into her old role; the level-headed voice of reason.

"It's too late for coffee."

"Tea, then." She pulled insistently on his cold and pale hand. Her stomach growled a bit, telling her that even though she didn't feel hungry, she was. "I never got lunch, either. I have to get something to eat."

Draco finally stood, saying, "We can't be long, though."

"I know," Hermione whispered back before she led him out of the hospital and to a random sandwich shop down the street. They ordered everything to go, and were bringing it back to the waiting room when they saw Healer Jordan step out from the other room.

The Healer held the door to the waiting room for them, and then stepped in behind them. She gave a slightly quizzical look at what used to be the standard issue wooden waiting chairs, but was now a plush living chair, before sitting down on the edge of it.

She held a hand out to Draco, who shook it as she said, "I'm Healer Jordan. I don't know if you remember me from school-"

"I do. Alicia Spinnet, gave Warrington a nasty black eye my third year. Married Lee Jordan, I assume?" Hermione gave Draco a sidelong glance as he spoke. He had adopted the proud ways of a Malfoy, probably trying to hide his worry. Show no weakness, Hermione thought.

"Probably not the best memory, but I assure you Mr. Malfoy, I am doing everything I can to help your mother. I'm the head healer on her case."

"I've heard of your work. I know you're a wonderful healer. Any idea what's wrong with her?"

"Actually, I was hoping you could help with that. Has she acted differently lately?"

"No. She's been in bed with a cold, but she hasn't acted strangely. She was uncomfortable, but that's all."

"A cold?" Alicia leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. "How long has she had this cold?"

"About two weeks. It- Well, the cough had gotten worse, and I tried to get her to come here, but she said it was just her age, that she expected to stay down longer with it than she used to."

"Her records show she was healthy before this. No reason for her to have a cold that long," Healer Jordan said absentmindedly. "Did she have anything new?"

"Anything new? No- I-I'm sorry, I just don't see how that could help." Draco was becoming visibly flustered now.

Alicia held up a hand, saying, "Just stay with me for a moment, please. Answer the questions. It's all helping, I promise."

"Well, no. She didn't have anything new that I noticed."

"And you said she got the cold two weeks ago? And it got progressively worse?"

"Yes, it was just a normal cold. She started coughing and running a fever, but nothing extraordinary."

"When was the last time you saw her, Mr. Malfoy?"

"This morning around seven, just before I left for work. She wasn't any worse then. I mean, she hasn't been eating much, but I just put that down to being sick."

The Healer nodded, and then sat back. "Alright, Mr. Malfoy. Your mother has been cursed. It has to be some sort of object that only she has touched, since she's the only one affected. Mr. Malfoy…" Malfoy tensed, knowing from Alicia's change of tone that even worse news was coming. "This is old, almost ancient magic. I'm not sure, but I think I read that the last time this happened was in thirteen-forty-something. You should know…. Well, they never reversed it."

Hermione could tell that giving this kind of news was difficult for Alicia; obviously, even more difficult for Draco to hear. Hermione felt even her own chest constrict with emotion.

Hermione spoke up, "How does it work? How can we tell what it is so we can stay away from it?"

The healer sighed, "Look, the records aren't totally clear. It starts with something innocuous, like a cold. It gets progressively worse, then finally they end up in this sort of comatose state. Thankfully, healing magic has progressed far enough that we can keep her alive, but we have to find whatever it is that cursed her. Are you living in the house now?"

"I am."

"You need to find somewhere else to stay. Until we know what it is, no one should be there without proper training. I'm sending aurors in, but they won't go until the day after tomorrow. That will give you time to go and collect clothes and such, but please, please, don't touch your mother's things. Any of them."

Draco nodded, taking a moment to absorb everything. "Thank you," he finally said.

"Your mother's in good hands, Mr. Malfoy."

"I know. Can I see her before I leave?"

"Absolutely. But, again, you can stay in the house tonight, but I would advise against it. Minimize any chance of danger, you know."

Draco nodded, and Healer Jordan stood, "Follow me, then."

He followed her out, and Hermione transfigured the chair back to its original state. She waited for him, and when he returned just a few minutes later, his eyes were red-rimmed.

"Hermione…" he started.

"You don't have to say anything, Draco. It's alright." He stood awkwardly just inside the door, and she sat just as awkwardly in the same chair she'd been in for what seemed like ages.

"You didn't have to stay."

"I consider your mother a friend, Draco. And you needed someone here."

He gave her a weak smile, all of his normal bravado gone. "I don't deserve that from you."

She returned with a weak smile of her own, before putting her back on her shoulder and walking over to him. She laid a hand gently on his shoulder, and that's when he broke. Slowly, tears rolled down his cheeks, and he wiped them off his chin with his sleeve. He turned away from her, and she let him, not knowing what else to do. A minute or two passed, and he had collected himself enough to say, "I don't know where to go."

"Can you stay with Astoria? A friend, maybe?"

"She's moved Thomas in, and it's almost ten. I don't know who I could call on this late." Hermione assumed Thomas was Astoria's new lover, but didn't ask. She thought a moment, and then steeled herself.

"Stay with me, then. I have two extra bedrooms, with the children at school. It's not much, but you'll have a place to sleep tonight."

"I can't- No. It's fine. She said I could stay in the house tonight. Don't know why I'm worrying myself over it." He had made himself sound sure, but Hermione knew he didn't want to stay there with the Healer's warnings fresh on his mind.

"Don't be silly, Malfoy. It's fine. Come on. We'll stop by your house so you can get some clothes to sleep in."

"I'll find somewhere else to stay tomorrow. I promise."

Hermione side-along apparated them to the top of her building, where she could be sure none of her muggle neighbors would see them. She showed him around, then to Hugo's room, where he would be sleeping. Hermione was exhausted by now, and she just wanted to lay down, have a good cry, and sleep.

As she turned to go to her room, Draco softly said, "Hermione, wait."

She turned back around to him, automatically reassuring, "It will be fine. Everything's going to be fine. Just-"

"No," he stopped her and sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as he exhaled. "I just-I just wanted to thank you. For everything. You're a better person than I ever gave you credit for."

"You don't have to thank me. Good night, Malfoy."

"Good night, Granger. Sleep well."

She got to her room, changed, and set up silencing wards around her room before she laid down. It was a good thing she had too, because she woke screaming, other people's screams still echoing in her ears.

Author's Note: Well, this one was difficult to write. Longest chapter we've had. Getting a little heavy here, guys, but I hope you all still liked it. I know so many of you have followed, or favorited, and I am so grateful for that, but can I ask a favor? Please review. I know it seems silly to ask, but I love to hear in your own words what I'm doing right, wrong, or if anything's unclear. I'm here to serve!

Beaflower114- I hope this chapter met your expectations! Thank you for reviewing!