Chapter 10
"Healer Granger, you have no authorisation to be here!"
"This is my ward," Hermione snapped as Draco lowered an unconscious Blaise into the wheelie bed, the nurses hurrying to help him. She turned to her colleague, irritated. "I have every right to be here, Cole. Now shut up and help me."
Sister Brown glared at Healer Cole to reinforce Hermione's point, causing him to sigh in acceptance.
"Fill me in, Hermione?" He asked as they began to wheel Blaise along, walking quickly beside him.
"Blaise Zabini. Unconscious, middle aged male, took a curse to his head. We think there could be some internal bleeding too. We found a pulse but he's losing a lot of blood."
"Alright: take him in!" Healer Cole called to the nurses, whom all nodded and opened the doors to the emergency operation room. He turned to Hermione. "I'll make allowances, but that's because I know you'll keep a clear head, Hermione. Come on."
"Hermione, tell me he's going to be okay," Malfoy grabbed her hand and pulled her back as she walked past to follow Cole, biting his lip hard as she turned to him with sympathetic eyes. She cupped his cheek gently.
"I'm sorry, Draco. We just don't know at this stage. But I promise I won't stop trying."
He felt her lips press hard into his before she left him to hurry into the room and he was standing there, alone.
"Draco."
Malfoy raised his head from his hands and stood up when he saw Hermione, but immediately felt sick and light-headed. Hermione swiftly forced him back down in the chair and summoned a glass of water, which levitated towards her. Taking it, she thrust it into Malfoy's hand. "Drink." She commanded.
He obeyed her and quickly gulped down the water, screwing the paper cup in his hand and throwing it to the floor before looking up at her. "Blaise-
"-Is fine," She rubbed his back soothingly, but he wasn't convinced by the tone of her voice. Something wasn't right.
"But?"
"But he's in a critical condition." Hermione noticed people looking in their direction and removed her hand, still kneeling in front of him. "Draco, I know you want to see him. So let's go and I'll explain everything. Can you get up?"
He nodded immediately and got up, glad of Hermione to be standing next to him. She opened the door for him and when his eyes fell upon Blaise, he felt the blood rush from his face.
"He looks pale." Malfoy whispered. Hermione looked over at Healer Cole who nodded at her.
"Mr Malfoy, we managed to stop the bleeding and Mr Zabini should recover well. He's healthy and young, there's no reason why he shouldn't. But he's still very sensitive and will need to be monitored for the next month. I have talked to the Law Enforcement Department in the Ministry and they'll be asking you and Hermione some questions. Hermione told me that you two were together when he appeared?" Malfoy nodded, and Healer Cole continued. "Very well. I'll leave you two alone. Hermione, I was wondering if I could have a word."
If Hermione was surprised, she hid it very well, only nodding and following Healer Cole outside. When the door closed, he turned on her.
"You realise your story is weak?"
"It's not a story," Hermione almost spat, feeling immediately angry. "It happened. Whoever did this to him must've apparated in and left before we saw."
"Before you saw? Why? What were you doing?"
Hermione only looked at him, causing Cole to clear his throat before nodding. "Er... right. So. Any ideas who?"
"Not really."
"You saw nothing?"
"What, are you an Auror now Cole? I thought these questions are reserved for the department?"
He sighed. "Hermione, I'm only trying to help."
She looked at him, starting to soften. "You're right…I'm sorry. I'm just a little on edge."
"Want to talk about it?"
She shook her head. "It's nothing. I just think it's clear now, that Draco's been threatened. And Blaise could have…" She broke off, choking back a sob.
He only held out his arms, which she felt glad to step into, and hugged her tightly. Neither realised that Malfoy had left the room and freeze when he saw the couple. He felt anger bubbling within him and his head scream with rage: Marching up to them, Malfoy pushed Cole from Hermione before seizing him by the neck of his shirt and punching him hard.
"Bloody idiot." Hermione glared at Malfoy, who clenched his teeth as Hermione waved her wand over Healer Cole's bruise, watching as the ugly yellow colour slowly faded away.
"He deserved it." Malfoy threw back at her sulkily, glaring at Cole, who rolled his eyes and a murmured a 'thank you' to Hermione. "He put his fucking hands on you."
"I'm not property, Malfoy. And it was a fucking hug."
"Hermione," Cole tried to calm her quietly. "It's alright."
"No it's not," She swung round to Malfoy and narrowed her eyes at him. "I get your angry, but you had no right to hit Cole. The least you could do is apologise."
"Whatever, Granger."
"Jerk."
"You know it."
"Oh, grow up, Malfoy, or get out."
"Fine," He swiftly turned around to leave, slamming the door shut behind him loudly as he did so.
"Draco, you can't just walk in here and-DRACO!"
Malfoy ignored her and carried on waving his wand so glasses were thrown around and smashing into the walls, shards scattering over the cold marble floor. Pansy ran over and tried to haul back his arm but he pushed her away, screaming with frustration as he did so before stalking up the stairs.
"DON'T-
"-Why not, WIFE?" He turned around; his eyes ablaze as he roared back at her. "Don't want me to find your little toyboy? Do you really think I care? Do you really think I'm here to beat him up? I'm just here to teach you a fucking lesson." And with that, he stalked down the hallway, flicking his wand so the bedroom door burst open, Pansy hot on his heels. A naked man immediately stood up from the large bed, yelling at Malfoy to stop.
"Teach me a lesson? What did I do?" She demanded, almost crying at this violent display she had never seen before. Her hand instinctively covered her belly and she winced as Malfoy flung himself around to look at her scathingly.
"You know what you did," He almost laughed at her manically before waving his wand so the drawers were thrust out and papers scattered over the floor. Pointing his wand, he narrowed his eyes at the messy pile. "ACCIO DIVORCE PAPERS."
The papers immediately flew into his hand. Satisfied, he turned around and walked over to her, thrusting it into her hand. "Leave," He told the man sharply, who looked at Pansy before swiftly running out of the door eagerly. Pansy looked up at Malfoy, starting to shake her head as she realised what he wanted. "Pansy, sign the fucking dotted line."
"I've done nothing and I'm not going to sign anything under threat," She spat at him, letting go of the papers so they fell delicately to the floor. He merely looked at her, which caused her to regret what she had just done. When he had an unreadable expression in his eyes, it usually meant hell was about to hurl its way towards her. He crossed his arms and spoke in a calm, simple voice as if he was merely discussing the weather.
"You hurt Hermione and Blaise and I'm going to make sure you go to Azkaban for it, wife. Now sign the paper."
"Blaise? He's hurt?" She was immediately surprised, raising a hand to cover her mouth in shock. He only looked coldly at her.
"Don't you pretend you don't know anything about it," Malfoy hissed, instantly lifting his wand to raise it to her neck and satisfied when her eyes widened in terror. "You're lucky I haven't given you the same treatment you gave him and Hermione."
"I didn't touch either of them," Pansy jumped when he pressed the tip of the wand into her neck a little harder. "I swear."
"Then do me a favour- sign the dotted line and I'll consider not blowing you to pieces."
And with that, he apparated.
"Where the hell did you go?" Hermione demanded as soon as she spotted Malfoy, stalking over to him and bracing herself for a heated argument. "Do you realise how worried I was? The Aurors came here and I had to answer their questions alone! So now we have to see them tomorrow because your idiotic self left!"
He only shrugged, too stubborn to apologize. Unfortunately, it was in her character to be exactly the same, preferring to carry on at him like a scolding mother.
"Is that all you can do? Just pretend you're not bothered? Your best friend is lying in there, alone, and you just decide to take off-
"-For fuck's sake, shut up, Granger. It's none of your business where I went. Why don't you just go back to your precious Cole?"
She swore at him before turning on her heel to leave, just as Malfoy realised he had taken it too far and swiftly grabbed her arm to haul her back. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean to say that."
She pulled her arm from his grip and glared at him. "I have to go and check on Ethan."
"Let me come with you-
"-No. Stay here with Blaise. He's woken up."
"Fine," He snapped at her, flaring up again.
"Fine." She mimicked him childishly before swinging around to leave, but not before he grabbed her and hauled her back to him, forcing her to arch her back before he plunged his mouth over hers, swallowing her squeal of protest. When he let go of her, she was too stunned to speak- but he walked past her before she could even try.
"Mate, I keep telling you," Blaise turned his head as he murmured sleepily, trying to peer up at Malfoy through his nearly closed eyelids. "I really don't know what happened. I was walking out of the restaurant and was about to apparate… then I heard something and turned around and there was a flash of a red light...then I was on the floor and... everything went dark."
"You turned up at mine."
Blaise closed his eyes momentarily before looking up at Malfoy. "Yeah. Hermione told me. Draco…"
"I know: Someone's sending me a message."
"You're convinced it's Pansy, aren't you?"
"Who else could it be?"
"It's one thing for her to hurt Hermione, it's another for her to hurt me. She cared for me."
Malfoy nodded bluntly. This was true. It was quicker to say that Pansy had a talent to declare passionate love for more than one man at the same time- it also happened that Blaise and Malfoy were too close to let it drive them apart. "Yes, well. I saw her. She said she had nothing to do with either of the attacks. But then she was always a good liar."
"Malfoy…"
"Look, Blaise, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you're alright now. And I'm going to make sure Pansy pays for this."
"Mate-
"-Fabius is already on it, I sent him a message after I left Pansy's, he's totally going to bring her down-
"-Draco, shut the fuck up." Blaise groaned as he started to cough hard, his sides pounding with pain. "Fucking hell."
"…Sorry."
Right at that moment, the door opened and Hermione poked her head through the gap. "Got room for one more?"
"Always," Malfoy told her quietly whilst Blaise smiled at her assuringly. She walked over and kissed Malfoy's cheek, which he immediately comprehended as her side of the apology. His arm wove around her waist and he squeezed her gently. "You look knackered."
"You saved my life," Blaise added. "I never got to say thank you."
"Don't be ridiculous. It's my job. And you're my friend." Hermione finished with a little blush, but her gaze didn't waver. Malfoy hid a smile but Blaise managed to wink at her.
"Friends can get friendlier, Granger-
"-Even in this state, you still manage to flirt with her?" Malfoy rolled his eyes before looking down at Hermione. "Look, Blaise, I think I should take Hermione home. But I'll be back-
"-Don't you dare. Both of you go home. Just visit in the morning."
"Blaise, I don't want to leave you alone-
"-I'm not a baby, Malfoy. Beat it. Plus you talk in your sleep, how the fuck am I going to be able to get any shut eye?"
Hermione giggled whilst Malfoy glared at Blaise. "I can't help that."
"Whatever. Bye mate." He looked over at Hermione and winked at her again seductively. "Do I get a kiss? I am injured after all."
Hermione laughed before leaning down to kiss his forehead whilst Malfoy threw a dirty look at Blaise. Blaise only stuck his tongue out at him, biting back a laugh.
Malfoy was clearly too besotted for his own good.
"Is there a particular reason you're not dropping me off at my house?"
"Because you're sleeping with me tonight, Granger." He told her simply.
Hermione said nothing, but was secretly glad of it. She felt she needed comfort and only Malfoy could really provide that for her. She returned his small smile and they silently walked together to the bedroom before Malfoy shut the door.
The pool of blood that Blaise had left behind had vanished: the house elves had clearly been in here to remove it, to which both of them were glad of. Hermione slowly started to unbutton her blouse and Malfoy his shirt, both of them still not speaking to each other, too exhausted to do so. She looked over at him to try to start a conversation but found he was staring at her whilst he undid his trousers, letting them pool to the floor and not bothering to bend down and pick them up. His grey eyes melted into hers, causing her insides to hiccup and before she knew it, his hands were slowly unzipping her skirt.
When they were both in their underwear, Malfoy held out his hand to her, which she took gratefully, and allowed him to lead her to the bed. They climbed in together and immediately Hermione rolled onto her side so his chest was her pillow and his arm that was around her shoulders held her up tightly. He suddenly froze a little, but took a deep breath.
"'Mione."
"Mm?"
"Pansy wasn't the one who hurt you or Blaise."
She sucked in her breath a little just as his fingers gently lifted her chin up so she was looking at him properly, her toffee brown eyes locked onto his. She immediately knew something was wrong and sat up properly, frowning at him. "Draco, how do you know this?"
He sat up too and lifted her so she was comfortably seated in his lap as he took her lips between his teeth. He turned his head and his lips travelled gently up her jaw line, leaving hot and wet kisses along it. Slowly, he took the lobe of her ear in his mouth and sucked on it gently before moving his lips upwards so he could whisper in her ear.
"Because the culprit is standing right behind you."
Hermione froze. She turned around slowly before her forehead felt the tip of a wand. Malfoy's arm was tight around her waist as he murmured to her to not move quietly. She looked at the figure in disbelief.
"No," She breathed.
"Hello son," Narcissa said quietly, her eyes upon Hermione.
A/N: Reviews are always appreciated!
Sorry this was late: I have the most faithful reviewers that I meant to reply to in this chapter, but looking over I knew instantly that my replies would be repeated, tedious and probably annoying. Most of you wanted to know what happened next, which is delivered in this chapter so it's answered really! A few points though, overall:
-I hope you are all satisfied I did not kill Blaise off: he is my favorite character too!
-I apologise for my cliff hangers, I agree I am evil.
-Orange-Coyote raised an interesting point of Ethan, whom I glad you've warmed to. I think they'd be a great little family too, but we'll see that Ethan is quite a complicated character. We never know!
-Pansy is so annoying, but let's admit we all love to hate her. Mua ha!
-I'm thrilled you are enjoying my story so far. Really, I'm so happy!
THANK YOU to the following people for reviewing for chapter 9: I was ecstatic with the amazing response, you are all stars. The reviews mean everything and keep me going and to have people bothering to give me the feedback I get is the best feeling ever. So thank you:
(A reviewer I am apparantly not allowed to mention so I will try spacing the name:) W S P C F G. M M M, HotWolfGirl, ebm56, Atasuki'sBloodyNekoNinja, BeneHime1124, Keke Koorime, BellasBeingBad, Sarah Liz, nature love 95, Orange-Coyote, stellacaerula, AuthorAnonymous45, bbspoke1017, Erica, CheshireCat23, haileydelacour101, IAmUndead.