A/N: Maybe one of my favorite chapters so far… maybe. My fabulous gorgeous wonderful beta, did a fantastic job editing this chapter. I won't blabber on up here so enjoy…
Hermione pulled her eyes away from the window looking into Harry's private room and sighed, turning back to the conglomeration in the hallway. Taking in the mass of red hair and freckles, she was surprised to see even Bill, Charlie, and Percy made it to the hospital, and even more surprised that all of them were still here.
Hours earlier, after he collapsed, Harry was rushed to St. Mungo's. Nobody had told them anything yet, Healers and nurses went in and out of the room constantly, none of them bothering with the small army waiting for information just outside the door.
Hermione's thoughts drifted back to the slender blonde probably still sitting behind the counter of Dog Eared. After several attempts to get him to come with her, she had given up. The emergency medical staff was ready to go, and Hermione had to go with them to supply necessary information about Harry they needed to know. She knew why he wasn't here and the fact that it had something to do with the large family slumped together across the hall didn't make her feel any better.
She had explained earlier on, when they had all gotten here, what had been going on the past couple of weeks and they were all shocked to say the least. Ron had a few choice swear words to say about it and Hermione had to knock him over the back of the head for saying such horrible things while holding his only child. Ron had the decency to look sheepish and muttered an apology to the sleeping Rosie.
Hermione smiled at them, both asleep, in a corner of the hospital. They had gotten rude looks from several nurses but so far nobody had said anything about them needing to move, even though it was obvious they were in the way.
The nurse Hermione remembered from the reception desk came around the corner, followed by a tall figure dressed in a muggle sweatshirt and jeans that didn't look like they fit him right. The nurse pointed at the Weasley's, Dean, and Hermione and whispered something to the figure. He nodded, even though his steps were quite, all of the Weasley's eyes were on him in an instant, not knowing what to make of the slumped man.
A slender hand reached out and pulled down the hood of the sweatshirt to reveal a pitiful looking Malfoy. Hermione sighed with relief and wrapped him up in a hug, getting a whiff of sent that was distinctly Harry, she smiled to herself. Letting go quickly, aware that the affection might have been alright earlier when they were alone, but Draco would probably not want everyone to see him in a "weak" position, especially when seeing him for the first time in years.
Draco gave a nervous glance at the group of Weasley's , then to Ron and Rosie in the corner, finally settling his red-rimmed eyes on Hermione. "Is he going to be alright?" His voice came out a rough whisper that echoed through the halls.
"I—well—the healer hasn't told us anything yet, but I'm sure he'll be fine Draco. This wasn't your fault, ok? He's going to be fine. Once he wakes up he'll remember you and everything will be ok." She tried to give him a reassuring smile, but all that came out was a grimace.
He nodded, not at all convinced, and someone from the other side of the hall decided it was time to speak up, "Not his fault? Hermione what is wrong with you! Of course it's his fault! We wouldn't be sitting here, in a hospital, if it wasn't for him and what he did to Harry!" Percy said, and for the first time in ages stood up for his family, but at the wrong time.
"Shut up Percy. It wasn't Malfoy's fault, he was trying to protect Harry. The only thing he did wrong was go about the protecting part the wrong way. So stop being such a pompous ass just because you're jealous everyone else knows what love it but you." Hermione was astonished to find that those words came from her own husband.
Draco shot Ron a quick grimace in thanks and turned his attention back to the window Hermione was staring into not too long ago. Silent tears slipped out of the corners of his already red-rimmed eyes, following the faint tear-tracks left from earlier. "This is my fault. I shouldn't even be here. He'll probably never want to see me again after this…"
Before anyone could disagree, a Healer stepped into the middle of the hall and asks if they were all here for Harry Potter. Getting a general sense of confirmation, he puts on what Hermione recognizes as the "this is serious" face that she'd seen Molly use so many times over the years, but never had it looked so grim. The recognition fell over everyone but Draco and Dean, both looking around confused.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this but Mr. Potter…" he trailed off when he caught site of Draco, "Who are you?"
"Draco, Draco Malfoy."
You could see the change in the healer's face, in seconds he had gone from seriously sympathetic to tolerantly irritated. "I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy, but you're going to have to leave immediately. Only family members of the patient are allowed back here and information is only released to them." He didn't sound sorry and all.
"I'm sorry Healer, but I'm pretty sure nobody sitting here is of blood relation to Harry Potter and I'm sure you know why. Now, why don't you tell us what's going on with him. When can he come home?" Hermione ask, upset at the prejudice.
"Well, Mrs. Weasley, it's of common understanding that the Weasley family should be given the rights as if they were blood related to Mr. Potter, but nowhere on his medical file does it say to include Mr. Malfoy. I'm sorry, but I can't tell you anything until it's just family, after that you can tell whomever you like."
"No dice, Healer. You can tell us what's going on in front of Draco, or not at all."
"Hermione! I'll just leave and come back, ok? It's no big deal, I'll just go to the restroom. I don't want to cause any more problems than I already have…" Draco left quickly, disappearing around the corner. Hermione watched him go an then turned her glare on the Healer… She leaned forward to get a look at his badge, Healer Alphonse.
"Now, I'm very sorry to inform you that Mr. Potter is in a coma. Some sort of magic we can't identify is keeping him under. I'm sorry to say that I'm not sure if Mr. Potter will wake up, although we have our best team working on a treatment right now. I have to ask, does anyone know what kind of magic was performed on Mr. Potter? It would be beneficial to us if we knew what spell was used, this isn't something I've ever seen before."
The hallway was completely silent, even though most of the Weasley's still couldn't stand Draco, they wanted to talk to him about it first. After a few seconds the Healer sighed and the look of sympathy returned, "Alright, if any of you remember what happened then I suggest coming to find me immediately. You can go in now, but only a few people at a time. Since every coma is different I suggest to everyone to talk to their loved ones, because he might be able to hear you."
"Healer, friends are allowed in the room as well, correct?"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley, but I strongly caution against it. Friends like Mr. Malfoy only bring trouble to those around them. I would suggest you ask him to leave."
"Thank you Healer, but I think we can decide that for ourselves. We'll be seeing you then." Hermione turned on her heals and stalked into the room, followed by Ron, who had given Rosie to Molly. The rest of the Weasley's waited outside in the hallway.
HPDM
Draco was used to prejudice people. After the war he had changed, but the view on his family name did not. Most people still held the Malfoy family as an evil family, full of dark views and evil intentions. That was one of the reasons why he had left Harry in the first place. This had just reinforced the feeling, he couldn't stay here. He would wait until Harry woke up, apologize, and then leave.
Pushing himself off the wall across from the bathrooms, Draco made his way back through the winding hallways and staircases to the third floor where Harry was. Turning the same corner as before, he was once again met with a shock of Weasley's, but they all looked much more morose than before. His heart stopped, as well as his feet. His hands flew up to his mouth and tears welled up in his eyes, "I killed him… Oh God, I killed Harry…" It didn't come out as more than a whisper but everyone in the hallway heard him.
Mrs. Weasley stood, wrapping Draco up in her arms, she rubbed his back soothingly, "No, dear, he's not dead. Breathe, love, deep breathes. That's it, now, why don't we sit down?"
Draco followed Mrs. Weasley to the floor and was tucked up into her side once more. Draco was shocked at the compassion she was showing someone who had shown her and her family nothing but hatred over the years. He knew she still didn't like him, and he was ok with that. He didn't like himself all that much either.
"I'm sorry to tell you this, but Harry's in a coma." Her voice chocked a little with emotion, "Healer Alphonse isn't sure when or if he'll wake up, but he says there's always a chance that he will." She paused, "I know you probably feel horribly enough, but it was the spell that you cast to get Harry's memories back. Something happened during that and they need to know what kind of spell it was so they can reverse it. He said it was something he's never seen before."
Draco gave a small nod into the crook of her neck, "Can I go in and see him?"
"Of course you can dear, Ron and Hermione are in there now." She gave him a watery smile.
Draco pushed himself off the floor and walked slowly up to the door, his hand paused at the door handle. Taking a deep, steadying breathe, he turned it slowly and stepped into the room.
HPDM
Hermione hated seeing anyone in pain. She wasn't sure if it was her motherly instincts, if it was due to the teasing she went through in primary school, or a muddled combination of both, but she couldn't let someone sit and cry by themselves, but that's exactly what she was doing now.
She never thought she would see the day when Draco Malfoy would be crying at Harry Potter's bedside, but here they were. She knew she should be furious at Malfoy, she should be kicking him out, screaming all kinds of names at him, but really she couldn't. Looking at the broken man in front of her she couldn't find it in herself to turn him out. Of course there were plenty of other Weasley's that could, they would do it in the blink of an eye. Most of the Weasley family still didn't like or trust Draco, and with good reason, but they knew there was a time and place for such confrontation and here at Harry's sickbed wasn't it.
Hermione, Ron, and Draco had sat with Harry for over an hour. Hermione had come out of the room many times and asked if anyone else wanted to sit with Harry, but the answer was always no. Hermione knew why, none of them really wanted to sit in the same room as a comatose loved one and their arch-nemesis turned lover.
Hermione watched as Draco smoothed Harry's hair away from his forehead, and then down his face, resting a cupped hand on his cheek. Draco eyes started to water up again for the first time since entering the room and she turned away, feeling like she was watching something sacredly private. Grabbing ahold of Ron, she muttered a small excuse of running to get coffee. Draco gave no move to indicate he had heard her, but she knew she wouldn't be missed.
Stepping out into the hallway she took a deep breath and took Rosie from Molly, cradling her sleeping daughter against her chest. She needed to get Rosie home, a hospital was no place for a child, but she didn't want to leave. Molly looked at her in understanding, "Why don't I take her home dear? I'll watch her and if you need anything or if there's any knew news on Harry's condition let me know."
Hermione kissed the top of her daughters head and handed her back to Molly. She watched them go, almost all the Weasley's following her, obviously in need of some rest. There were mumbled promises of information and tear stained eyes, each of them giving a nod towards Harry's room, as if saying goodbye.
Ron returned quickly after that with coffee for both of them and Hermione explained where their daughter had gone. Hermione walked back up to the door and turned it open slowly, shocked at what she found inside. Draco Malfoy, the man of no emotion, sat next the Harry's bedside, stroking his hand and singing softly.
The tune was a familiar one, a song that Molly loved to play at Christmas,
"Oh, come and stir my cauldron
And if you do it right
I'll boil you up some hot, strong love
To keep you warm tonight
Oh my poor heart, where has it gone?
It's left me for a spell...
...and now you've torn it quite apart
I'll thank you to give back my heart."
Draco wasn't the best singer, but it was obvious to Hermione that it held some special meaning to them both. Quietly backing out of the room, Hermione and Ron sat outside the window the rest of the night, watching Draco sing to his lover.
A/N: Song is "A Cauldron Full of Hot Strong Love" by Celestina Warbeck (Well, if this were the Potter'verse it would be…) I really enjoyed the last bit of this chapter, writing the beginning was kind of angsty so I thought I might add some fluffy type junk…
QUESTION: Do you want Harry to have memories/flashback sequences while he's comatose?
LotsofLove,
Oli