A/N: Okay in chapter three I said Alex was a pureblood and then in chapter nine I said his mother was muggleborn. Sorry, but I messed up there. Sorry for the confusion. We'll just say that his mother was a muggleborn. Thanks to Mydirtylittlesecret08 for pointing that out to me.
JOELSANGEL
Chapter 11
The Curse
HERMIONE--
I woke up and realized that I had slept with Draco that night. Oh my goodness, if I tell anyone that I slept in his bed they'll think we had sex or something. Which is stupid because we didn't I wouldn't do that. Well, the only person I have to tell is Ginny. Thankfully. I thought to myself as I rolled over.
I found Draco still sleeping soundly next to me. He was so peaceful when he slept. I looked at him and smiled as I brushed a piece of hair away from his face. He stirred a little and then stopped moving. He continued to sleep and I continued to stare at him. I didn't want to wake him but I knew I had to, we had classes in forty five minutes and I was sure both of us needed showers. Since I really didn't want to wake him at all I decided to wake him in a nice fashion.
I moved up a little and I leaned down and kissed him on the cheeck, then the neck, and then up to his forehead and when he finally awoke I kissed his lips. He smiled at me and rolled onto his back. I then continued to kiss him and he started kissing back. We kissed for about ten minutes and then I realized that we had to get out of bed.
"Hmm.. time to get up." I said looking into his beautiful eyes.
"I don't want to. I want to stay like this all day." He said holding onto me.
"I know but we have class. We have to get up. People would find it pretty suspicious if both of us were gone from class. Don't you think?" I said looking at him seriously.
"Do I care right now?" He countered.
"Maybe not now but you will." I said kissing him one more time.
"Fine," He said pouting.
"You're so cute when you pout." I joked.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He said as he got out of bed. He went to his closet to get his uniform and I ran to my room, hoping that I would get to the bathroom first.
As I came running out of my room Draco was already halfway to the bathroom. I ran and he started to run, we reached the door at the same time.
"Me first," I said.
"No way, me first." He said grabbing my sides.
"Not uhh," I said turning us so I was inside the bathroom. I smiled at him and he pouted at me. I reached out and grabbed him and kissed him.
"Okay how about this, since I'm a lady, I get to go first." I said smiling at him.
"Fine, hurry up I want a shower too." He said smiling at me. I smiled at him and closed the bathroom door. I walked to the shower and turned the water to the heat i wanted. I got in and of course enjoyed the hot water, after that first encounter of Draco seeing me without a towel I had started putting mytowel on before getting out of the shower, which was a good thing because when I stepped out Draco was sitting on the counter staring at me.
"You know, I could say you were stalking me." I said looking at him.
"Not really, because I was just waiting for you to get out of the shower. You never said where I had to wait." He said smiling at me.
I turned to start putting my make up on when in the mirror I saw Draco getting undressed. I turned around and looked at him.
"Can't you wait until I get done?" I asked.
"No, I want my shower now." He said pulling his pants off, luckily he had boxers underneath. I rolled my eyes and turned back around and went back to my makeup as he reached into the shower and turned the water on. He then pulled his boxers off and I tried not to look at him.
DRACO--
I woke up to Hermione kissing me. I felt her soft lips and felt like everything was good in the world. I rolled onto my back and kissed her. I didn't want to leave that spot but she said we had to get up. Finally she beat me and I got out of bed. I went to my closet to get some clothes and when I came back out Hermione was gone. I started to walk to the bathroom when I saw her running for it. I started to run and we reached the door at the same time. We fought to get into the bathroom first but she beat me again.
I stood outside until I was sure she was in the shower and then I quietly went in and sat on the counter. I sat there listening to the sound of the water hitting her body. It was almost as relaxing as the shower itsself was. I had guessed that after our last encounter with the shower Hermione had started putting her towel on before she got out because she was wrapped in a white towel as she stepped out.
"You know, I could say you were stalking me." She said looking at me.
"Not really, because I was just waiting for you to get out of the shower. You never said where I had to wait." I smiled at her.
She started putting her makeup on and I jumpped off the counter and took my shirt off.
"Can't you wait until I get done?" She asked turning to look at me.
"No, I want my shower now." I said as I pulled my pants off. I reached in and turned the water on and then pulled my boxers off and got in. All the while I could feel she was looking at the shower.
"You know, Ginny is into Alex?" I said over the sound of the water.
"Yeah, I know. I'm the one who told her that he liked her. I figure since she's not with Harry anymore she needs to expand her horizons. You know what I mean?" She said from the other side of the curtain.
"Yeah, well, maybe if they get together and make it public then you and I could get together and it wouldn't be such a shock to everyone." I said turning the water off. She didn't say anything for a moment.
"Well, I don't know. I mean, Harry doesn't like you, as you well know. Ron would have a complete and total fit. And what about all the Slytherins? What about your family? I mean, you have to think of all that, not just the people around the school who we aren't friends with." She said handing me a towel over the top of the curtain. I then realized that it was her towel, it smelled like her, fresh vanilla. I wrapped the towel around my waist and got out.
"Yeah, well, I don't care what anyone has to say at the moment. Hermione, you know how I feel about you," kind of. I thought.
"I know, I just don't want all the drama. I know you're afraid of your father as well, I don't want you to have to live in total fear that your father is going to kill you because you're going out with me." She said as she placed her hand on the side of my face. I closed my eyes and melted into her hand. I didn't care about what my father had to say anymore. As long as I could be with her nothing else mattered.
"Hermione, I don't care about my father. I want to be with you." I said looking into her eyes and cupping her face in my hands. I hadn't realized it at first but both of us had started to cry. I kissed her where every tear was on her face and then her lips. She wrapped her arms around me and we stood there like that for ten minutes just holding each other.
"Draco, do you think we're moving too fast?" She asked me.
"No, kisses aren't bad when you care about the person you're kissing." I said into her hair.
"Well, we need to get to breakfast, so get dressed." She said as she kissed my cheek one last time. She left the bathroom and I turned to look in the mirror. I dropped my towel off and started to put my clothes on. I then took my clothes to my room and grabbed my bag.
I walked downstairs and out the portrait hole, I saw Hermione a few yards ahead of me. I just watched her walk and followed behind her. Suddenly I felt a hand reach out and grab me. It pulled me into a dark corner where I couldn't see anything.
"Draco, are you interested in that mudblood?" I heard the voice of Lucius Malfoy ask me.
"Why does it matter to you?" I asked getting mad very quickly.
"Because you are a Malfoy, you are not supposed to care for anyone but a pureblood. She is dirty, Draco. She isn't worthy of you. You know that." He sneered at me. I wondered if that's what I sounded like when I said things like that to people. The sound of it made me sick.
"Well, father, I guess that I'm not worthy of the Malfoy name then. I'd gladly give it up if I could have the love that I never got at home from you. Father, you have always treated me and my mother as if we were nothing. You are the one who is nothing, you are a lowly servant for an unworthy master. You both should go to hell." I said glaring at him and walking away.
"Don't walk away from me, Draco." I heard from behind me. I then heard him say 'crucio' and I fell to the ground in unbearable pain. After a few moments I passed out.
THIRD PERSON--
"You just wait, Draco, that's not even the beginning of it." He said as he disappeared from the hallway.
HERMIONE--
I looked all around the Great Hall for Draco all during breakfast but he was nowhere to be seen. I was starting to get worried so I said goodbye to Harry and Ron and left the Hall. I sprinted up the steps and towards our common room. When I turned down the hallway that our common room was on I saw Draco laying on the floor passed out.
"Draco?" I said as I ran to him.
"My goodness, what happened to you?" I asked as I started to cry. I suddenly jumped up and ran to Dumbledore's office entryway. I thought of every candy possible and said them all. Finally, I thought of 'acid pops' and the gargoyle moved. I ran up the stairs and knocked, no pounded, on the door.
"Enter," I heard Dumbledore say from the other side.
"Professor, I found Draco passed out in the hallway, I don't know what happened to him. Help please." I said trying to catch my breath. The professor got out of his seat and swept to the doorway.
I led Dumbledore to where Draco lay on the floor still passed out. Dumbledore looked at him and frowned. He cast a levitating spell on Draco and took him to the hospital wing. I followed behind Dumbledore worrying about Draco. I had started to cry and I just hoped that he would be okay.
"Miss Granger, I have a feeling that you have no idea what has happened to Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said as Madame Pomfrey took care of him.
"No, sir, I don't understand, I only left a few moments before him and I hadn't seen anyone on my way." I said watching him.
"Mr. Malfoy was put under the Cruciatus Curse. Now, I don't believe it was anyone in the school since there are only three students who I feel could have enough power to cast that curse, two of them are in this room right now. The other one however, wouldn't use it. So, the question is, how did this person get into Hogwarts, who are they, and are they still here?" He said looking at me. I could feel my mouth drop open when he said what had caused Draco to be in such a state.
"Well, sir, I don't know who did it. I know I didn't cast it on Draco, I couldn't do that." I said looking at Draco.
"Yes, I know. We will just have to wait to see what Draco says when he wakes up. If you want you may stay with him and alert me when he wakes up." Dumbledore said looking at me.
"Yes, sir. I will be sure to let you know." I replied moving to Draco's side. I grabbed his hand and kissed it as Dumbledore left the hospital wing.
"Here dear, for the shock." Madame Pomfrey said handing me a mug full of a chocolatey brown liquid.
"What is it? If I may ask." I said looking to her.
"Hot chocolate, my dear. It always seems to help." She said smiling at me. I returned the smile and took a drink of the brown liquid. I sat there for a while just staring at Draco. Finally, my eyes started to close. I leaned down and laid my head on his hand that was held tightly in mine.
I woke up to someone squeezing my hand. I looked up to be met by Draco's eyes. He smiled at me but looked as though he had been crying. I smiled at him and then I jumped up and wrapped my arms around him. I was so happy he was okay that I forgot he probably didn't feel real strong. I felt his arms wrap weakly around my waist. I kissed him on the cheek and then I put my forehead against his and closed my eyes.
"I'm so glad you're okay. I was scared you were dead. What happened?" I asked sitting on the bed facing him.
"My father, he came here, he asked if I liked you and I asked him why he cared. I told him that I'd gladly give up the Malfoy name to get the love that he never gave me. I told him that he was just a lowly servant to an unworthy lord. I tried to walk away and he hit me with the curse. He held me in the curse for at least five minutes until I passed out. The next thing I knew I woke up here, and I saw you. Thank you for being here." He said looking like he was going to cry again.
"You're welcome. Draco, I was so scared, I have only just gotten to know you and I love spending time with you, I didn't go to any of my classes today, I spent the entire day here with you. I have to go tell Dumbledore that you're awake. He wanted me to get him as soon as you woke up." I said looking him in the eyes.
"Okay, hurry back. I don't want to be alone." He said looking a little scared. I knew that feeling, I hated being alone sometimes, especially when I slept. For some reason I just didn't like sleeping alone, probably because when I was a child I had nightmares a lot so I ended up in my parents bed a lot or with whatever babysitter was there. I ran out of the hospital wing and ran to Dumbledore's gargoyle. I said the password and ran up the stairs.
"Enter," I heard the Professor say before I even knocked.
"Sir, Draco's awake." I said looking at him.
"Ahh, yes, Mr. Malfoy. Shall we go then?" He asked gesturing towards the door. We went back to the hospital wing and I sat back on Draco's bed.
DRACO--
I woke up to find Hermione sitting next to me with her head on my hand, then I realized that not only was her head on my hand, her hand was in my hand. I looked at her and realized how lucky I was to have her. I was so thankful, but I was scared, I didn't know what to do. Automatically, the first thing I did was start to cry. After about fifteen minutes I stopped and I started to squeeze her hand in mine.
She jumped up and wrapped her arms around me, but of course I was feeling pretty weak so I just barely got my arms around her. She kissed my cheek and then placed her forehead against mine and closed her eyes. I closed my eyes as well, taking in her wonderful smell and the thought and feeling of having her there. I was so glad she was there, no one else would have come, except Alex but I was willing to bet he didn't know yet.
Hermione asked what happened and I told her about the confrontation with my father and then the curse. She said she had to go get Dumbledore because he wanted to talk to me. So I watched her go and I sat there actually rather afraid to be alone. I didn't want my father to show up again and actually try to kill me. Luckily enough for me, Madame Pomfrey came out of her office and handed me a goblet full of a silvery potion.
"Here, drink this. It'll make you feel a bit stronger. It also takes the chill off of that curse. I'm so sorry you had to deal with that my boy. I have seen what those things can do. You're actually pretty lucky." She said looking at me sadly.
"Thank you, I'm glad I have such a skilled witch taking care of me. I really appreciate your help." I said looking at her before I drained the goblet.
"Mr. Malfoy, you're actually being nice to me? Did that curse torture you into insanity?" She asked jokingly.
"No, I've just realized what my father really was, and decided I didn't want to be like that. I'm just sad that I didn't see it before." I said smiling at her.
"Well, I'm glad you are finding your own self Mr. Malfoy. It's hard being a teenager, believe it or not I was one once. But Professor Dumbledore should be here in a couple of moments so just lay back and relax for now." She said smiling at me.
"Thank you." I said again as she walked away.
A few minutes later I heard the hospital wing doors open. I didn't open my eyes until I felt someone plop down next to me. I saw Hermione on the bed and Dumbledore standing next to her. Both of them were looking at me with a tiny hint of worry in their eyes.
"Mr. Malfoy, do you know who did this to you?" Dumbledore asked sitting down in the chair that Hermione had previously occupied.
"Yes, it was my father. He was here in the castle. He's the one who cursed me." I said.
"Why would he curse you, if you don't mind me asking?" The old Professor asked looking at me over his half moon spectacles.
"Because I care about Hermione. As you know my father is a follower of Voldemort, he feels that anyone who isn't a pureblood doesn't deserve to live. He has treated me and my mother like we were nothing for my entire life. I hate to say this, sir, but I have known since my father escaped where he has been." I said feeling really scared that I was going to get thrown in Azkaban.
"Where is he hiding?" He asked.
"He's back at the manor. Sir, I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but my mother and I have been scared of what would happen if we told someone. Obviously my father knows how to get into Hogwarts and to get to me. It's only a matter of time before he tries to kill me. I'm afraid of him. I have been most of my life." I said looking towards the floor.
"Well, don't worry, Draco. We will get your father. He will not escape from Azkaban twice, I promise you that. As for you and Miss Granger, the only person who is allowed to object to your relationship is you two. Never let anyone else step in between you." He said looking to both of us. We both nodded as the old man left the room.
About ten minutes later Madame Pomfrey came out of her office and walked to us. She handed me some more potion and asked me to drink it. Hermione also thanked her for everything she had done and the two hugged. She then told me that I may go but I needed some rest. I thanked her again and got out of the bed.
"I'm glad that I can go back to my bed. Those hospital beds aren't very comfortable." I said looking at Hermione.
"I know, but it's better then sleeping on the marble floor isn't it?" She asked smiling at me.
"Yeah I guess it is. Thank you again. I'm glad you're here with me." I said putting my arm around her and pulling her close to me.
"You're more then welcome, Draco. I was afraid that you were going to die and I wasn't going to tell you something important." She said as she put her arm around my waist.
"What might that be?" I asked.
"That I really care about you. I really want to be with you. I don't care what people say anymore. Harry and Ron will have to get used to it. Ginny and Alex don't care, all that matters to me right now is you, and my classes of course." She said smiling a me.
"Thanks, Hermione. I really want to be with you too." I said as we continued down the hallway.
We finally reached the portrait that led to our common room, Hermione said the password and we entered. We walked up the stairs and into my room. I decided to put on a pair of comfortable pajama pants and then I climbed into bed. Hermione had left the room and I wondered where she went. Within moments she returned wearing her pajamas and climbed into the bed next to me.
She laid on her back and I put my arm around her stomach and my head over her heart. I loved the pounding sound it made in my ears. It was soothing to know she was there and that I wasn't alone. I was no longer afraid of my father. I knew that whatever came our way, we could handle it. I slowly drifted off to sleep to the sound of her heartbeat and the rhythm of her breathing.
HERMIONE--
Draco and I made our way back to the common room and up to his bedroom. I left him alone while he changed his clothes and I went back to my room to change my clothes as well. I put my pajamas back on and I returned to Draco's room. He had said the password when I helped him in so I already knew it was 'licorice wands.' I walked in and laid down in the bed next to Draco. He put his arm around me and laid his head on my chest. I could feel his breath running over my chest, since I had a tank top on most of my chest was bare. I felt his breathing slowly become deeper and more steady and I knew he had fallen asleep.
I started to drift off to sleep when I heard a slight tapping on the window. I slowly moved out from under Draco and let the owl in the room. I pulled the parchment off the owl's leg and looked at it. It was from Ginny.
Hermione,
Guess what? Alex and I are a couple. We were going to meet before we left for Hogsmeade but we decided to get some food from the kitchen and have our own little dinner in a deserted class room. It was so romantic Hermione. We are going to walk down the halls together tomorrow to see what people say. I'm actually happy that I'm with him. He's really nice. I hope Draco is feeling better, tell him Alex and I send our best wishes, and I hope you guys let everyone know that you care about each other soon, cause if you don't I will. I hope to see you soon! Love ya!
Ginny
I read the note from my friend and I was happy for them. I just felt bad that Harry wasn't with Ginny anymore. I knew that he liked her. Then again she had said that he was a little overprotective. I hoped he would find a girl that he liked soon. I really hoped Ron found someone before Draco and I went public. I knew that Ron would go crazy when he found out about us. I just hoped it wasn't too bad.
I laid back down after giving the owl a treat that was sitting on Draco's dresser. I got comfortable and I slowly drifted off to sleep holding Draco in my arms. He had woken up a little and readjusted the way he was laying. We slept for the rest of the night in total peace.