AN: It's come to my attention that I need to clear a few things up. First, Draco's transformation from bad guy to good guy. The problem is, Draco was never meant to be the bad guy in this story. His change had to be fairly quick, because he has more to teach in the classes about change than either Hermione or Michael. I didn't want to have him teaching the classes until he had accepted that change. The ''bad guy'' so to speak of my story was always not even a person, it is prejudice and cancer. Sorry if this was unclear, and that the timing felt wrong to some people, but the timing is perfect for this story and where it needed to go. Second, I don't like stories that are so full of angst and drama that your depressed while reading it. The subject matter of my story is such that it could have easily become one of those kinds of stories. So Hermione and Draco's pairing is meant to be the happy and light part of this story, to offset the sadness of Michael's story, and the prejudice of some purebloods. I also believe you can pair the two up without all the Ron and Harry bashing. Those two characters were always good in the books, and I chose to keep it that way. They respect her choice and will protect her, but accept him for her. I love the character of Ron Weasley so he would won't be used as evil in this story, which some readers appreciated. Also, I chose to just focus the Diversity classes with the 3rd year class so we can actually see change in a few students, and not just Draco. If jumped to the other years, it would take attention away from certain students, and not end where I needed it to, especially with the lesson plan being the same for each of the years. I do hope that this cleared up the questions, without giving away the end of the story, it's the only way I can answer. Warning, this chapter does contain some very sensitive topics, just a heads up to my readers. Also, as I pointed out last chapter, we do have a time jump in this chapter, but not a major one. Hope you enjoy! Clumsy!
Hermione had been sitting at Michael's bedside for two hours when he started to move. With a sigh of relief, she reached for his hand.
"Michael, come on Michael, it's time to wake up. Please open your eyes and look at me, Michael. I know you can do it," she coaxed.
He slowly opened his eyes and looked around, "where are we?" His throat felt swollen and scratchy.
With a sigh of relief she answered, "The hospital wing, you collapsed last night and we brought you here. Now, I will be right back, I have to get Madame Pomfrey and let her know your awake."
Hermione left for a few minutes and returned with Madame Pomfrey, who checked him over and insisted he rest some more. "Your body is trying to tell you something Mr. Corner; I am going to keep you here for a few days to make sure your resting enough. You have your next treatment tomorrow, but I have arranged for it to take place here so you don't have to be up moving around."
With a groan of frustration Michael asked Hermione, "Will you ask Draco if he'll sit through the treatment with me? If I go to the Muggle hospital for treatments they have movies and video games to distract me while the treatments are taking place, here I won't have any of that. Draco and I could play wizards chess for entertainment."
She agreed to ask Draco and left him to get some more rest, promising to return later. After locating Draco she told him Michael's request and he was fine with it, so he sent McGonagall a note stating he wouldn't make classes tomorrow to be with Michael during his chemo. They spent the rest of the day rather quietly, Hermione wrote for a while in her dating diary that Narcissa had given her back when she and Draco began their relationship, wrote her parents and Narcissa a letter. After that she had to catch up on some homework, and then she spent the evening with Ginny helping her with some wedding details, which was fun but exhausting. She went to bed rather early that night after the emotional weekend, she was very worn-out.
Monday morning at breakfast she and Draco decided how to split up the lesson for their class tonight, to make sure Michael's part in the class was covered, since he wouldn't be there. When it was time for classes to start Hermione gave him a quick kiss and ran off to her Potions class as Draco made his way up to the hospital wing.
Once he got there he noted that the treatments had already begun with a sigh of relief. He would never admit this to anyone, not even Hermione, but watching them insert the needle that delivered the chemotherapy to Michael made him feel a little sick and faint, it seemed barbaric!
He pulled up a small beside tray to the chair by Michael's bedside and took out the wizard chess set he'd brought with him and laid it out, then he a Michael preceded to beat each other soundly for the next five hours. They didn't talk much, because chess took much consideration, but when they did talk it was about meaningless things, nothing emotional which is why Draco thought Michael chose him over Hermione to pass the time, the treatments were hard enough, and he didn't need extra pressure of talking.
After having dinner with Michael in the hospital wing, Draco left to make his way to their Diversity classroom. Hermione was already there, setting books under all the chairs when he arrived, when she saw him she walked up and just gave him a simple hug.
"How was your day?" she asked.
"I've had better, its hard watching that happen to him. He seemed less tired today though, so that was good. Madame Pomfrey gave him a sleeping potion as I was leaving though, so he is asleep and won't wake up until tomorrow, you won't need to go up there tonight. You need your rest now!" he answered.
That was all the discussion they had time for however because the 3rd year class was arriving, Mr. Flint being the last to arrive, with his attitude unchanged despite the weeks of classes. Hermione had stubbornly decided that if she could change no one else's attitude and outlook in any of the year's, she would break through to Flint. If she could, then her job was well done.
"Good evening class," Draco began. "If you will all look under your seats, Hermione has placed the book we spoke of in the first class there." When they had all picked up the books, a Gryffindor jokester that would have fit in well with the Marauder's and Weasley twins spoke out.
"Yes! We get to read some chick's diary! Cool!" he said.
"Timothy Jones, Anne Frank's Diary is not some chick's diary! It is a classic, true story set during the Muggle war known as World War 2. She died in a concentration camp of the Muggle disease called Typhus. She was just a few years older than you and she had lost her family so she died alone, with no parents to care for her." Hermione sternly put him in line. She looked around the class almost daring any of them to make more jokes, they were smart enough not to say anything.
"Now that we're ready to act our ages, I will start." Hermione said. "Though, thankfully there were no concentration camps during our war, there were similarities that can be drawn from this book, and the time of Hitler who is the Muggle leader in the center of the story of World War 2, and our time of war with Voldemort. We're not going to spend a whole lot of time discussing this tonight, we want you to read this book for homework, and you're to have read the entire book by next Monday, no exceptions. While you're reading, I want you to try thinking of parallels from the story, and your own experiences during the war. It will be difficult, especially for muggleborn's, but we can learn a lot from this."
"With homework for next week out of the way, we can move onto tonight's lesson. By a show of hands, has anyone continued with the effort to get to know people from other houses?" Draco asked. A few hands went up, though not surprisingly none of them were from Slytherin. Draco expected as much.
"Good, because we have something planned for the end of the year with the 6th and 7th years. It's a field trip that is only open to the older students. How many of you know what an amusement park is?" he asked. This time, all the hands went up, even the Slytherin's were participating in this one; he had difficulty containing his smirk. As a Slytherin himself, he knew that to hook them he would need to have bait. "Alright, so here is the deal. Two people in each year level who have made a sincere effort to get to know people will be allowed to come with us. The day will be spent in the park, followed by a concert by the American Muggle music group called Bon Jovi."
Yep, he had them hooked Hermione thought as she looked around. Nobody could resist a fun field trip, even Adam Flint had perked up and was listening intently.
"The two people will be chosen by us, and it won't be about numbers, but sincerity and an honest effort to get to know people whom you've not socialized with before." Draco continued, "You have all year to prove to us why you should be chosen. When we make our choice, we will announce it during class, about a month prior so the winners can get permission from their parents. So pay attention in class, and mingle among the other students, and we will be watching."
When the excitement level had died down, Hermione took over. "Tonight, I would like to open a discussion that will be an open debate. There are rules that you can't forget, you were told during the first class. Respect each opinion, and no insults. Okay, I am going to go around the circle and I want everybody to describe a typical day at home, from the time you get out of bed until the time you go back to bed at night."
Once everybody had their turn Draco spoke, "Alright, now Mr. Flint, I would like you to choose any Muggleborn in this class who just shared their typical day, and verbally compare similarities to your own typical day."
"Well Jones there takes a shower in the morning and before bed, just like I said I did. The reason I chose him though, is because he visits his widowed grandmother and helps her around her house and helps with yard work. I do that once a week during the summer holidays, my grandmother gets lonely now that grandfather has passed." He got a little pink as he admitted something personal like that.
Draco was proud of him, and determined he would take a personal interest in his friend's little brother, and help him learn the way Draco had himself over the long summer. Adam was savable, Draco thought to himself.
"Good, thank you Adam, anybody else?" he asked.
A dark haired Ravenclaw girl raised her hand. "I have similarities with a lot of people in the circle, but can I ask a question about differences?"
Hermione sat up, they had decided this morning that Draco would do similarities, and Hermione would follow with differences, but the question bumped it out of schedule. She held up one finger and had a little aside with Draco. They quickly decided they would handle what each had originally agreed to, but they would let the students lead the way, by discussing whichever point they were interested in.
Retaking their seats, Hermione asked, "Sorry Lisa, what was your question?"
"I'm a half blood, my mum was a witch, but she died when I was only a year old, so I never knew her. My dad raised me in a Muggle neighborhood and sent me to Muggle primary school. So I have been raised just like the Muggleborn witches and wizards. What I don't understand is why didn't any of the Slytherin's talk about the shows they watch on the telly like most of us shared?" Lisa pondered.
Hermione smiled at the girl, "Okay Lisa, I can explain but let me show you first. By a show of hands, how many Slytherin's in this room know what a telly is?"
Only two hands were raised, shocking Lisa along with quite a few of her classmates.
"Holy Cow! That's it, by Godric himself, I'm gonna have to have a party at my house over Christmas break and show you guys what your missing. Who'd have thunk it! Timothy Jones openly inviting some of the snake's home!" Timothy hollered out to amused laughter.
Hermione stood, "Timothy, I believe that's a good idea and I encourage you to extend the invitation and accept those that agree to attend. However, that snake comment at the end earned you a detention. Insults such as those will not be tolerated in this class, you were warned. See us after class Mr. Jones."
There were a few jaws dropping, and not just Slytherin's. Gryffindor's were a little stunned that their golden girl princess had just given one of them detention! After that the discussion went on for last half hour of the class, with quite a few people looking thoughtful as they understood the point of the discussion finally. There were more similarities than differences, which was really the point that the teachers were probably trying to show them. After class Timothy took his detention proudly making Hermione hide a smile, George would like this boy.
"Timothy, have you ever been to Weasley's Wizard Wheeze's in Diagon Alley?" She asked as they walked out of the classroom.
"Duh, who hasn't!" was his intelligent reply. Hermione laughed freely.
"Okay, here's the deal. If you get a chance to visit over the break, you tell George Weasley that I specifically sent you to meet him. He'll probably give you some free items, and I think the two of you would really hit it off as friends." She offered, and his jaw dropped.
"Thanks Hermione! I will definitely do that!" he said, then headed back to Gryffindor Tower excitedly.
Laughing Draco stated, "You're an insane glutton for punishment. You know as well as I do that George Weasley will plant all kinds of ideas for pranks in his head, not to mention all the joke items he'll walk away with."
"Well A) I'm not a prefect or professor this year, so troublemaking outside of class isn't my responsibility to handle. B) I think that Timothy would be good for George. He's been so down and lonely without Fred. C) Don't you remember how fun the swamp was?" she answered.
"Fun for you maybe, but I was part of the damned Inquisitorial Squad, I had to help Filch punt people across it," he said with an exaggerated shudder and she giggled.
They went to their own quarters because Hermione said she had homework to do, since she had let some slide while Michael was sick and she needed to catch up. After she was done she had a cup of hot chocolate as she wrote letters to George telling him about Timothy Jones, Harry telling how school was going, and Narcissa, her mum and dad, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
She got in the shower before bed and just let the hot water ease her sore and tired body. When the water started to cool she accio'd her wand and tapped the shower head and rejoiced when the water got hot again. She was leaning her head against the tile letting the water run over her when she felt two hands wrap around her. Draco's hands moved over her body heating it wherever they touched like he was drawing a line of fire across her body. When he cupped both breasts she arched into him and reached both arms to wrap around his neck with her back still up against his chest. She moaned as he started kissing her neck and down her shoulder. He bent her forward and entered her from behind, finding home again. When they were finished in the shower, she climbed into bed and yawned. He pulled her to him, and they both fell asleep feeling well sated, and relaxed. Hermione decided she really liked showering with Draco and she smiled even in sleep.
Before they knew it the Christmas holidays were quickly approaching. It was the third week in November, and it was time for their Monday 3rd year class. Michael had decided that even though he felt wretched he wanted to be in the classroom with the other two. They were leaned over the desk at the back of the class going over the lesson plan when a calm, deep voice said, "What are my three favorite Hogwarts students up to?"
"Kingsley!" Hermione said running into a hug from him.
"Minister." From Draco and Michael.
Releasing Hermione, "I'm here for my turn to watch you in action." He explained to them. "Then I planned to sit in on the meeting with the Headmistress afterward."
Instead of taking a seat in the circle, Kingsley stayed in the back corner of the room at the desk, hoping it would be less distracting for the class.
Michael opened the discussion, "Tonight, I wanted to go over the Diary of Anne Frank with you all again, since I haven't been in the class for a few weeks." At his words a few of the students reached into their bags and pulled out their copy, reminding Draco of Hermione in all their years at school. He smiled at her.
"I want to try something different. I want everybody to stand." At this cue Hermione walked over to the wall on the left side. Draco walked to the wall by the doorway. Michael walked to the right side wall.
"Now, I want you to walk to whichever one of the three of us shares your blood status." At this, the minister sat up and raptly paid attention. Something interesting was about to happen, he could just feel it.
When the class had separated, nobody was shocked to find that the whole lot of Slytherin's were standing with Draco, along with a few others from the other three houses. Hermione and Michael had pretty even groups.
Michael spoke, " Now, it's my understanding that during my absence you have all discussed the book, and what the Holocaust was about. You have also been able to compare the similarities of Hitler to Voldemort and what the Death Eaters did to Muggles and muggleborns."
He continued, "For the purpose of this lesson, Draco's group of purebloods is going to be the Jews in the concentration camps. Some of which will be led straight to the buildings where you are automatically killed, and the ones who look strong enough will be spared. If your part of the group that is killed, you may move off to the side and watch, or return to your seats.
The class gasped, they didn't understand why it was purebloods put in the camps and not the Muggleborn's. Surely the teachers were confused and mistaken. The students followed the direction though. The Muggleborn's lead group since they were the governing power. The halfblood's became the soldiers, or in Voldemort's world, the Death Eaters.
They were given a meal consisting of a piece of molded bread, and a glass of dirty water. Hermione had been able to conjure a fence like those used in the camps. When this extended class was over, the students all left silently.
Kingsley smiled at the three. "When are you going to point out the reason behind who was who? They all looked so confused by that."
"We will talk about how they all felt next class. I have a Muggleborn friend who is going to come talk about a hidden camp he lived in while hiding from Voldemort and Death Eaters. The class is smart, I believe the Purebloods will understand what it felt like during our war from the other side." Michael said.
"It's ingenious! The three of you should be very proud of yourselves. I am deeply proud of you." He told them.
They all left then for the meeting with McGonagall. They kept the meeting short for Michael's sake, and when almost everything had been covered, he excused himself.
"How is he holding up?" McGonagall asked Hermione and Draco.
"Well physically you already know he continues to lose weight." Hermione started. "I don't see any improvement whatsoever personally. It seems to me to only get worse."
Draco nodded his head in agreement.
McGonagall looked very serious and for all the world like she wished she didn't have to tell them what she had found out today. "Madame Pomfrey had a meeting with Michael's team of doctors today."
Draco seemed to automatically understand. He had to get out of here; no way did he want to hear what he couldn't stop her from saying. But with Hermione here, he had no escape, he could not let her hear this alone, without his support.
"Michael's Leukemia isn't responding to the treatment. The doctors have discussed this with his parents, and they are going to tell him over the break. If his condition hasn't improved by the New Year, they are recommending that he stop treatment, because it would be kinder to let him go peacefully, than to let him go while doing the treatments that are destroying his quality of life." She had one tear that slid down her face as she said this.
"I was granted permission from his parents to tell you, which is why the charm did not stop the telling. You won't be able to speak about this to anyone whose name isn't on the parchment we signed due to the charm. You absolutely cannot let Michael know or sense that anything is happening. But you needed to be aware, because he will need both of you once he's given the news." She finished helplessly.
Hermione looked at Kingsley as he put an arm around his dear friend to comfort her. "How about the two of you give us some time alone." They nodded and left the office.
When they reached Draco's room they went straight to his bed, not even bothering to change clothes. He wished he could make it better, but he couldn't so he just held her. "I'm so tired of losing people I love Draco." Hermione cried. "It's not fair! He's only seventeen years old!"
Sadly, there was nothing Draco or anybody else could say to that. It's true, it's unfair. Life could be a real bitch sometimes. His eyes watered as well as he pulled her to him and they each fell silently asleep.
AN 2: Now, I'm not trying to offend anyone. The diversity class is discussing Hitler because one can argue that there are similarities between he and Voldemort and his journey to power. If this part of the story is offensive, I sincerely apologize. The line will be drawn though, and the purpose behind the lesson explained, so please hang in there with me. Are ya'll hating or liking Michaels story? Clumsy!