Chapter seven
Draco didn't leave the slytherin common room for days and Hermione was beginning to panic. Had she been wrong about him? Had she misplaced her faith? She thought Draco would turn on Voldemort and follow his heart but he was so terrified Hermione began to doubt if he would. She was busy thinking about all of this as she walked up to the owlry. She had a letter with no return address or indication from who it was from. She opened it immediately and began to read it.
Dear Hermione,
There is a vanishing cabinet in the room of requirement; two weeks to this day six death eaters will use it to enter Hogwarts. They will surround Dumbledore after he returns from one of his trips in the astronomy tower at midnight. I do not know which one will take on the task of killing him in my place. Call on all the order of the phoenix if you must, make sure they do not succeed. If Dumbledore dies, the dark lord will infiltrate Hogwarts and it will no longer be safe for any muggle born, or anyone with anything to do with the order. You must stop them I'm sorry for not telling you sooner.
Draco.
Hermione's body stiffened, though the note had not said it she had read between the lines. Draco was going to kill himself. She rushing through her bag and pulled out the Marauder's map. She searched for Draco's name it said he was in one of the dungeons. She ran frantically, pushing people out of her way, and when she reached it she felt as though she might collapse. Not from running like mad but from the sight of Draco's body, lifeless body on the floor. She grabbed the wall for support. Then Draco's body started to convulse. Realizing he was not yet dead she ran to him, she had to get him to the infirmary. She looked around and recognized what he had made. The same stuff that he had intended to kill Dumbledore with before Ron had drank it. Her heart lifted with hope, Ron had survived maybe Malfoy would too. Hermione knew she couldn't carry Draco's body back through the castle up to the infirmary, and she didn't have time to go fetch Madame Pomfrey. She was borderline hysterical as she tried to figure out what to do. She remembered how Harry had saved Ron.
"Accio bezoar!" She practically screamed.
After thirty seconds it came zooming into the room. Hermione grabbed it and shoved it down Draco's throat. Draco stopped convulsing then, his breathing was fairly normal and he had a pulse but was still unconscious. Hermione knew she had to get him to the infirmary, she thought for a moment. She then summoned a stretcher and used magic to gently place Draco's body on it. His pulse was weak she realized. She started wheeling the stretcher out of the dungeons but of course soon she realized the issue of the stairs. "Bloody hell!" She cursed. Then she used magic to float the stretcher safely above her head as she hurried along. She finally got him to Madame Pomfrey and she had tears streaming as she explained what had happened. Hermione left the room to try and stop her tears while Draco was being tended to. When she returned Draco was exactly like Ron was stable but unconscious lying in bed. It was so dejavu. Hermione looked at Draco's face peaceful for the first time in months. His eyes still had dark circles but there were no more worry lines. She sat by his side the same as she did with Ron. She felt sad when she realized no one had come to visit him. She was all he had.
When Draco awoke the first thing he saw was Hermione passed out in a chair beside him. He realized he had failed. His stomach twisted in fear.
"Draco" Hermione murmured.
Draco turned to look at her but she was still fast asleep. His heart warmed a bit. Draco stretched his sore muscles and tried to get out of bed. It was difficult but he could manage. He began to limp out of the infirmary not wanting to spend another minute there, and not wanting to confront Hermione after she knew what he had tried to do. He was weak though and stumbled knocking into something as he felt. Hermione woke from the noise. She saw Draco a mess on the ground. She got up and helped him up wordlessly. She pulled him back into bed and he was too weak to refuse. When he was safely tucked under the covers Hermione exploded.
"Draco you are the most inconsiderate, selfish, cowardly, insufferable ass that I've ever met! "She shrieked at him. "How dare you do that to me? I was worried sick you moronic git!" she continued giving his shoulder a good swat.
Draco grimace from the pain.
"Suicide? That was your brilliant answer? I've never met so someone so clever and yet so mind numbingly stupid!" She went on screaming. "I swear I'm so mad I could kill you myself! You self-centred bugger!" She finished by swatting at him some more and she collapsed back into her chair.
"I didn't have a choice." Draco said he voice raspy.
Hermione glared at him. "You could fight." She said.
"Save my mother." He said not much louder than a whisper, "And I will."
Draco seemed ready to go back asleep then so Hermione just nodded and watched Draco drift back asleep.
