Disclaimer: Nope...still own nothing. Just like playing around with them!
Thanks to my go to pal qnadia7 for the editing!
Chapter 10: The Removal
Draco laid on his bed the night before they planned to do the removal of the curse. He couldn't help but think about what would happen between him and Hermione once he was cured. He sat up, pulled his knees to him and laid his head on them. After a while, he got up and headed to the library. He walked in to see embers still glowing in the fireplace. As he walked further in, he noticed Hermione lying on the couch, asleep, with a book on her chest.
He smiled at the gold letters looking up at him. Dragons: A Guide to Winged Beast. He picked the book up, careful to keep her page, and lifted Hermione into his arms and carried her upstairs to her room. Once there, he laid her on the bed, gently covering her with her blanket. He touched her cheek and kissed her forehead. He left the room to go back to the library. He knew what he wanted to give Hermione, something he knew she would love.
He found what he was looking for and returned to his room. When he got there, he found Blaise's owl perched on his desk chair. Draco took the note and gave the bird a treat. He opened the note and began to read.
Drake,
Letting you know I will be there tomorrow. Hermione has informed me of the details. I know you are nervous, but you don't need to be. So quit your pacing and go to bed. And if you weren't pacing, you were in the library.
Get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow.
Blaise
Draco smiled at his friends note. Blaise knew him too well. He took his friends advice and went to bed.
Hermione awoke the next morning in her bed. She didn't know how she got there. The last thing she remembered was reading a book in the library. She sat up to find the book that she was reading on the nightstand, a note on top of it. She picked it up and read:
Thought you would be more comfortable in your own bed. Don't worry, I kept your place. See you at breakfast.
D
Hermione smiled. She placed the note back on her nightstand and went to shower. She quickly washed and dressed then headed to the dining room. She found Draco already there, Healer Vilance apposite him.
"Healer Vilance, what a surprise. I wasn't expecting you until this evening." Hermione said as she sat at the table.
"Hello, Hermione. Please, call me Alor, outside of work, of course. I came early to ask to look over your personal notes and such that you have kept during this process and to take a peek at the book you found the cure in." Alor replied, taking a sip of his coffee.
Hermione nodded. "Of course, sir. I'll show you where they are after breakfast." She then turned to Draco. "How are you this morning?"
Draco shrugged. "Nervous. Other than that I'm fine."
"It's quite alright to be nervous. All honesty, I am myself, seeing as how this is my first time to do this particular removal." Hermione blushed.
Alor questioned Draco about his experience thus far. "How has everything been affecting you?"
"Well, I've had chills, nausea, vomiting, sweats, seizures, temporary loss use of my legs, and hair falling out. That was all no fun. Thankfully that part is over." Draco chuckled.
"I imagine so. Now, if Hermione is done, I would like to look over her notes now."
"Of course, sir. Right this way." Hermione lead Alor across the grand hall and into the living room. She led him to the mahogany desk and pulled out her files. "Here you go."
"Thank you. I will spend most of the time looking over all of this. If I need anything, I will give you a call." Alor put on his glasses and opened the folders.
Hermione walked to her room to find Draco at the doors. She smiled at him and let him in behind her. She was taken by surprise when he threw his arms around her. She quickly relaxed herself and put her arms around his waist.
Draco held Hermione tight. He loved the feeling of Hermione close to him. He kissed the top of her head before reluctantly letting her go.
"What was that for?" she asked.
"To help ease my nerves. You being close makes me feel better." Draco admitted.
Hermione blushed. She reached up and kissed his lips. "That helps settle my nerves."
Draco smiled. "Well, I'm glad it does."
Hermione and Draco sat together awhile before separating ways. Draco went to the kitchens and Hermione went to check on Healer Vilance.
"Ah, Hermione! I tell you, this is brilliant! With your permission, I would like to take these with me and file them so we can have them as a reference should this occur again."
"Yes, of course. I don't see a problem with that. Sir, would you mind if I steal that book away for awhile? I'd like to read up to make sure I'm prepared."
"Here you go. I'll be back in a bit. Just going to go back to the office and store these away. See you this evening." Alor Apparated away.
Hermione curled herself on the couch and began to read. An hour and a half into re-reading, Hermione quickly jumped up and ran to her room. She ran to her desk and wrote to Blaise.
Blaise,
Come as soon as you can. I found something that I can't believe we overlooked.
Hermione
Hermione sent the letter off with her owl and paced her room, mind whirring furiously. Ten minutes later, Blaise came through her doors.
"What is it? What have you found?" Blaise asked, curiously.
Hermione handed him the book, which he began to read aloud.
In order to complete the Danorma Curse, someone with a strong magical bond with the victim must seal the spell with a kiss of true, strong love. If the spell is not complete, the victim will die. If anything should occur during the process, no potions or other spell of any kind can be used, for they will also kill.
Blaise looked up to see Hermione staring out her window, arms folded lazily in front of her. "You okay?" he asked as he walked to her.
She nodded. "I hope I can do this, Blaise."
"You can. I know it. I see how you feel. Harry and Ginny do as well. We all see it in your eyes that you love him."
Hermione looked at Blaise with a surprised look. She couldn't deny it inside that she did. If her friends could see it so plainly, it must be true. She simply nodded to him. "Well, I guess I will prepare myself before I get everything ready. Excuse me."
Blaise nodded and left Hermione's room to find Draco. Hermione turned on her music and began to clear her head. She had to be completely focused in order to perform the removal spell correctly. She sat on her bed, eyes closed, just listening to the words of the songs coming out of her radio. She gave herself a prep talk in her head before taking deep breaths and leaving her room.
She walked downstairs to get some food before starting her most difficult task. In the kitchen, she found Draco and Blaise at the bar, talking amongst themselves, not noticing her come in until Goria addressed her.
"Hello, Miss. Can Goria get you anything?"
"Yes, please. Some food and a drink. I need my strength for later." Hermione smiled.
"Yes, miss. Have a seat next to Master Draco. Goria will return shortly."
Hermione sat next to Draco, who gave her a smile. "Everything okay?"
"Yes. Just clearing my head. How about you?"
"Good. Blaise and I have been talking. As soon as I'm healed, I'm going to a Harpies game in Scotland. Somewhere I've always wanted to go."
"That sounds nice. I'd love to go there." Hermione sighed.
Blaise gave Draco a look that caused Draco to shoot him a look back, telling Blaise to keep his mouth shut.
Hermione got her food and began to eat, listening to the conversation between the two friends. She couldn't help but laugh at their school boy banter. She finally tore herself away to go prepare the living room.
She cast the machines away and transfigured the couch into a bed. She placed mild sedative and pain potions on the table beside the make shift bed. She looked up when she heard someone Apparate into the room.
"Hello, Alor. Now, who would this be?" Hermione asked Alor when she saw that he had brought a young man, whom she had never met before, along with him.
"I'm sorry; I must have forgotten to mention him to you. James is here to take a few notes on what we are about to do. I hope you don't mind," Alor explained as James shook hands with Hermione.
"Of course not, sir. This is an important step in curse treatment and records are important," Hermione said graciously.
"Very well then. Are we ready?" Alor questioned as James set up his equipment.
"Yes, sir. Just waiting on the patient and we can begin."
"I'm here." Draco said, walking through the doors.
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy. Who is this you have with you?" Alor greeted.
"Blaise Zabini, my close friend." Draco replied.
Alor nodded. "Alright. James here will be recording the session with a voice recorder as well as taking notes. Are we ready to begin?" Everyone nodded. "Good. James, if you will."
James clicked on the recorder and began to take notes.
"Head Healer Alor Vilance, St. Mungo's Hospital, here with Healer Hermione Granger on this 12th day of January at Malfoy Manor. Those present are myself, Healer Granger, James Talon, my assistant, the patient, Draco Malfoy, and his close friend, Blaise Zabini. Healer Granger, when you are ready."
Hermione nodded. "Healer Hermione J. Granger, Head Healer of the Dark Magical Disease Division of St. Mungo's Hospital, with my patient of over seven months, Draco Malfoy. The patient has suffered from The Danorma curse, also known as Danorma Metuculo Dermosis. I will be performing the reversal process with the counter spell and a mild sedative to relax the patient. Draco, would you take this and lie on the bed for me please?"
Hermione handed him a small vial. He took it and shot it back. He laid on the bed and immediately felt his body going numb and relaxed. He watched Hermione as she readied herself.
"I will now begin the removal." Hermione placed her wand over Draco's head. "Danorma Reversalous Infinite!"
Draco's body began to glow a bright red. He lifted a few inches off the bed. Suddenly, his body fell back to the bed and began violently convulsing in a seizure. Hermione jumped back in surprise. She could hear Blaise behind her gasp.
"What's happening?" Alor asked alarmed.
"His body is reacting to the spell. He is having a seizure." Hermione quickly said.
"Quick! A seizure potion!" Alor went to move but was quickly stopped by Hermione.
"No! Any potions or spells can cause him to die! The spell must be sealed immediately!" Hermione turned back to Draco. She knew what she had to do and her body was not giving her time to think.
She leaned down close to him and whispered in his ear. "I love you." She placed her lips on his and kissed him with all the love her body could muster. She felt a warming sensation fill her body and a gust of wind surrounded them. She pulled away at the sign of everything stopping.
She looked around her at the three faces that had looks of shock and surprise written on them. She quickly cleared her throat. Her cheeks heated up when she realized that she had just kissed Draco Malfoy in front of her supervisor, his assistant, and Blaise Zabini.
"I will now do a quick scan to see if I have been successful." She waved her wand over Draco then pointed at the wall. She let out the breath she had been holding. "It is done. Draco Malfoy is cured from his disease. A very successful removal, if I do say so myself."
"Well done, Hermione. I will be seeing you. I have to go help James analyze all of this. Make proper reports. Congratulations." Alor gave her a wink before disappearing.
Hermione turned to Blaise. "Can you write Harry and Ginny and let them know please?"
"Sure." Blaise nodded and left.
Hermione sat on the bed beside Draco and caressed his face. Without realizing it, tears slowly ran down her cheeks. She had successfully cured him. She was also crying for the reason of saying the three words she never thought she would say to someone, let alone her old enemy. She had never even said them to Ron. She laid her head on Draco's pillow and began to softly sing.
Draco felt nothing but his body numbing. He could still hear Hermione's voice. She was explaining what she was doing for the records. He heard her say the reversal spell and felt his body warming slightly. As he felt himself lift, he also felt something not right. He began to shake and tremble all over. Before he knew it, he was having convulsions. He couldn't scream out in pain. He suddenly felt himself leave his body.
I must be dead. I wouldn't be seeing this if I was alive. Draco looked down to see Hermione yelling at her superior. He could faintly hear her words. Everything went quiet when Hermione leaned down to his body. He heard the three words that he thought he would never hear from anyone.
I love you.
He watched as Hermione placed her lips on his. He watched as the blinding whitish yellow light surrounded them and a gust of wind shot through the air. It lasted only seconds, but seemed like minutes. He began to feel himself float back to his body. He felt the feel of a soft surface under him. He then fell into a deep slumber.
Draco woke in a bright white place, faint lights surrounding him. He was confused as to where he was. "Where am I?' he whispered.
"You are in a dream state."
Draco turned to where the voice came from. His eyes widened in shock at the person in front of him. "Severus?"
"Yes. It is I." Severus replied.
"What am I doing here?"
"You are in a deep slumber. The removal spell caused your body to relax tremendously. You are merely in your own mind. I am someone your mind picked to guide you."
"Guide me where?" Draco asked confused. His old Potions master looked younger, yet wiser. And he was speaking gently and softly, something he had never done in his existence.
"Back to your true love, Draco." Draco looked at him confusingly. "Yes, Miss Granger is your true love. Only someone who had a strong bond of love for you could have sealed the spell. I am here to guide you back to her."
"How?"
"All you must do is admit that you love her in return."
Draco thought for a moment. He couldn't deny it. "I love her. Have all this time."
"Very good. Don't let her go, boy. I let my love go a long time ago to someone else. I regret that every day. Don't let this slip away."
Draco could see the hurt etched into his Godfather's face. He looked at him. "I won't. How do I get back to her?"
"Follow this singing." Severus began to slowly fade away.
Draco turned to the direction he heard the faint song coming from. He began to hear the words as he walked.
I'll be your strength…I'll give you hope….keeping your faith when it's gone….
Draco began to feel a pull in his chest before he was shot away, all the while still hearing the singing.
I promise you never will you hurt anymore…..
Draco could feel someone beside him. Soft hair on his face.
This is a battle we've won….and with this I vow…forever has now begun….
Draco opened his eyes to see Hermione next to him, her eyes sparkling with tears.
"Draco, can you hear me?" she whispered.
"Beautiful."
"What's beautiful?"
"Your voice. And you." Draco gave a smile.
Hermione blushed. "Thank you."
Draco leaned over and kissed her. "I love you." He whispered.
"I love you, too." Hermione whispered back.
They kissed each other with a kiss full of need and longing. The two were so caught up in each other that they never noticed the three figures in the doorway.
Blaise shut the door and turned to Harry and Ginny, smiling. "I guess you really find out how much you love someone when you're dying."
"I agree." Harry replied.
"It's about time. Let's go fix some food." Ginny said as the three headed to the kitchen.
A/N: I'm baaaaccckkkk! Finally! sorry to keep you al waiting! i had prior engagements the last 2 weeks...as ido every other 2 weeks, my hubster is home. :) anywho...so...what do you think? are you siting in edge yet? haha! i am in the process of writing the next chapter, which will bring some nex characters to light...and maybe a old one...duh duh duh...please review and let me know what you think! huggs!