Chapter 11

[Hermione's POV

"Hmm… Holly's been in there for a while…" I said waiting for Madame Pomfrey to finish checking Holly.

"Does it make a difference?" Draco had the usual angry look on his face.

Knock! Knock!

"Come on in," I called out as a figure came through the door and into the light. "Who are you?"

"Um… I'm Chris. Dumbledore said something's wrong with Holly..." he stuck his hands in his pockets.

Draco and I had been out of the hospital wing for two days and Holly had been in another room for four days…

Draco stood. "You mean you're the dude she had been talking to?"

"Probably."

"Draco chill," I stepped between them.

Madame Pomfrey came through a door. "She has something serious. We don't know what it is. But she is vomiting every few minutes and has a very high fever that not even magic can lower."

"Can we see her?" I piped up.

"Yes," she unlocked the door.

Holly was hunched over the side of the bed with a bucket on her lap. The room reeked of vomit.

"Holly," I said quietly.

She turned to see who called, but quickly turned back to puke into the bucket.

"Hey guys," she said from inside the bucket.

"How are you feeling?" I asked and Draco moved to the back of the room.

"Draco, I can still see you with my peripheral vision.

"Holly, I'm here too," Chris spoke up.

"Chris?" her head lowered to puke before she looked up at him. Her eyes were sunken in and her face was pale. Her lips were almost blue.

"Holly, the moment I heard about you I apparparated [sp? here."

She lowered her head to puke again.

"I'm happy you came. I knew this day would come. It happens in just about all of the books I've read."

"What do you mean?" he questioned.

"I mean you and Draco meeting. I knew the day would come."

"Huh?" Chris just stood there.

"Draco, come here." She lowered her head again and puked as he walked in front of her.

"I'm not sorry but I don't like you like you like me. And Chris?"

"Uh-huh?" he moved up.

"I don't entirely like you either. You gotta give us, and that goes for you too, Draco, sometime to get to know each other. I know I just seem like the girl that's easy because she doesn't know what she's doing… but you're wrong; I know a lot. Staying in a bookstore my entire life has given me a lot of knowledge with books but also with people. A lot of people have come through. A lot of situations, too. And new people including boys that have come my way. I may be shy but I've grown out of my shell and have experienced new things."

They had looks of shock on their faces.

Bam!

The door swung open.

"Hey, Holly; hope you're feeling better. I brought you some flowers," Paul bursted through the door.

"Who's this dude?" Draco shouted.

"That's Paul."

"Who's Paul?" he asked again.

Holly was about to answer but she threw up instead.

"He's my co-worker," Chris answered for her.

"What is her in love with her too?" Draco turned.

"No, he's got a girl friend."

"Then why is he here?" Draco looked incredibly puzzled.

"To see how she's doing of course…. And to get Chris since we have a job to get back to!" Paul shot daggers at Chris.

"Dude, she's already told me she doesn't like me; can you tone in down a bit?" Chris had a whatever look on his face.

"Oh, dude, I'm sorry…" Paul was kind a sympathetic.

"Look Holly, I'm happy to see you but both me and Draco have to get to class. I hope they find out what's wrong with you and I hope you feel better," I interrupted.

I pointed to the door and Draco surprisingly went through it without complaint. "Bye Holly."

"Bye Hermione."