A/N: Hello everyone. I hope you are all enjoying your chocolate. Thanks for the reviews and here we go.
DISCLAIMER: Refer to previous chapter.
Chapter Twelve: Grief
"… safe here?"
"Well we can only hope."
"We always thought Hogwarts was safe though."
"I know but times are changing."
"Will you Weasel's shut up! Hermione is resting!" came Draco's annoyed voice through the fog.
Hermione gave a murmur and slowly opened her eyes. She looked around and could see Ron and Ginny standing from the bed they were sitting on and Draco leaning over her looking worried. Slowly Hermione pushed herself up into a sitting position and closed her eyes as she processed the last things she remembered.
"Do you remember everything?" asked Ginny softly.
Hermione nodded and looked up with teary eyes, "Umm… have they done anything?"
"Yeah. Only ten people survived the attack. It was a disaster from what Kingsley said-"
"Kingsley is alive?" asked Hermione looking at Ron with wide eyes, "What about Sky? Have they found her?"
"We don't know. The people are being taken away as they arrive. More are still coming but the last we heard it was ten."
"Where are we?"
"London University of Magic," said Ginny, "It's hidden like Grimmauld Place. We are right behind Buckingham Palace. It's populated so, apparently, that makes us more safe."
Hermione nodded having obviously heard of the place, "What about Bill and Fleur?"
"We don't know," whispered Ron as the room's door opened up.
The four looked over at the wooden door to see Harry walking in. Ginny gave a small scream and ran to him. He held her tightly and set her down before walking over to his two best friends. Hermione crawled out of her single bed glad to see she was fully dressed still minus her shoes.
"Harry," she said hugging him, "What are you doing here?"
"Lupin sent us here as soon as we heard the news. Plus I had to see if you were all alright," said Harry hugging Ron briefly before looking at Draco, "Malfoy."
"Potter," replied Draco coolly sitting on the lounge.
"How long you here for?" asked Ron.
"I don't know. We are close to another one though," said Harry, "If we are and we succeed we only have three to go."
"Have you worked out who R.A.B is yet?" asked Ron.
"Lupin thinks it might have been Snuffles brother. He is constantly looking into it," said Harry looking over at Draco, "I won't say anything else now."
The group looked over at Draco. Hermione knew he wouldn't tell anyone but she knew Harry still didn't trust Draco as far as he could throw him or kick him.
"How long does Lupin think everything will take?" asked Hermione.
"Six months maybe. If we are lucky only four."
"Between December and February," sighed Ginny.
"All Hogwarts students to the Centre Hall," came a posh voice over the speakers, "Thankyou."
Hermione pulled her shoes on and followed her friends out with Draco tagging along behind her. Hermione slowed to walk with him feeling guilty for him being left out.
"You had me scared," admitted Draco as Hermione smiled at him looking much calmer then the out of control person at the school gates, "You were in hysterics."
"I feel guilty and horrible. I didn't protect those students like I swore I would," said Hermione softly bringing tears to her eyes once more, "I… I feel like I have lost everything."
"You haven't lost me or your other friends."
"I know but Hogwarts was my other home," sighed Hermione wondering what she would do without the school anymore, "What time is it?"
"Six in the morning. Once McGonagall put you to sleep we were back to the train station. From there the train took us back to England and the bus took us here. It was a whirl wind trip."
Hermione nodded and looked around, "Where is the Centre Hall?"
"Umm… I am following everyone else," admitted Draco before seeing a sign, "And we are going the right way."
Hermione smiled before leaning up and pecking Draco lightly on the cheek, "Thankyou for looking after me. You are a true best friend."
Draco smiled though his heart was pounding and yet it was hurting slightly. Best friend. He was just a best friend to her. Nothing more, "You're welcome and thanks for being the same to me."
Hermione smiled warmly at him as they entered a large hall. It looked a little like the Great Hall at Hogwarts only the stonewalls were white with huge clear glass oval windows. Seven long tables filled the floor with two long ones up high. The floor was wooden bringing a modern touch to it in its own way.
Hermione and Draco sat next to Hermione's friends at the third table and looked up at McGonagall who was standing next to a man with greying brown hair and bright blue eyes.
Looking around Hermione could see it was only the years that had gone to Diagon Alley in attendance. Many of them looked sober or distraught.
"It has been a tragic time for us all the night just gone," said McGonagall sombrely, "We are lucky that Headmaster Fitzgerald has allowed us to stay here until Hogwarts is fully restored. Rooms are being assigned to you as I speak and a letter will be sent to you here when this happens. Clothing is being organized for you all if you didn't buy any at Diagon Alley. The clothing will be the school uniform as it is easy to attain. Your parents have all been told of this event and can remove you from our care if they wish too, though they are told it would be wiser for you to stay here-"
An owl flying in the window with a letter cut off McGonagall. McGonagall took the letter and opened it before clearing her throat, "Miss Padma and Pavarti Patil… your parents are here to collect you."
The Patil twins stood and left quickly hugging friend's goodbye.
"Now as I was saying. Training for the war is now optional. Again it would be wise too. But for now, eat some food and get some rest. Today is about settling in."
HD
After eating what they could manage and receiving the letter of room placement, Hermione and Draco left to search for their room. They walked in silence along the corridor near the hospital wing section of the University. Hermione peered at the two large doors and wondered who had survived. She stopped walking and looked at the doors with Draco watching her.
"Hermione… we aren't allowed in until we are told who made it," said Draco softly.
"I know," murmured Hermione, "I was just wondering if Sky made it. That's all."
Draco walked over to her and placed an arm around her shoulders before dropping it too his side. Hermione looked at him frowning and saw him eyeing a disguarded paper on the ground. Hermione looked down at it and saw it was today's. On the front was the news about the destruction of Hogwarts and down the side was something Hermione had to blink twice at before really seeing she was reading right.
NARCISSA MALFOY'S BODY FOUND DEAD.
"Oh Draco," whispered Hermione reaching out to him.
"What time is it?" he asked coldly, "What time is it, Hermione!"
"Seven forty," replied Hermione before watching his storm away, taking the paper with him. Hermione went to follow him but decided against it. She looked down at the room number and headed up the staircase leading to the second floor. She walked along it before seeing her room number. On the paper was the password so she could enter.
"Memories forever," sighed Hermione as the door opened. She walked in and closed it behind her. The room she stood in was like a living room with three doors leading off it. To her left was a wall length window with crème coloured curtains and a desk in front of it. To the right was a fireplace and two, two seater lounges with a dark coffee table in between them. To the left of the fireplace was a closed door. Hermione walked across the wooden floor and opened it to enter a normal looking bathroom – toilet, vanity, bath, and shower. Nothing grand. Walking out she walked over to the closet door and opened it. It was a normal bedroom with wooden floors, blue walls, a double bed, desk, dressing table with drawers, and a wardrobe. Hermione exited the room and entered the last door. A yellow walled room with the same set up as the first bedroom. Hermione gathered it was her room seeing her bags from shopping placed on the bed. She walked over and found a package. It was extra clothing including underwear, bras, socks, and another school uniform and shoes. Hermione put them away along with her graduation dress, which had remained in one piece. She looked at the other bags and found Crookshanks feed.
Her cat. She had forgotten all about him. Hermione sat on the bed and let out a sob as a knock came at the entry. She walked over and opened it revealing Kingsley.
"Kingsley," said Hermione stepping back, "Come in."
Kingsley walked in and sat on one of the lounges looking at Hermione, "Hermione… we found Sky."
"Is she okay?" asked Hermione quickly sitting on the other lounge "Is she alive?"
Kingsley nodded before sighing, "But barely. The doctors here are doing everything thing they possibly can. People from St Mungo's have arrived to help. She might be moved to St Mungo's but at this stage it is too dangerous to move her."
"Does her husband know?"
"We have contacted him and he is on his way from America with their daughter Shelly. We also came across a orange fluffy thing."
"Crookshanks," said Hermione smiling.
Kingsley stood and walked over to the door. He opened the door and in walked an untouched Crookshanks. Hermione gave a squeal of delight and knelt to the ground hugging her cat, "Oh Crookshanks! You are alright!"
Kingsley smiled and left silently as Hermione fretted over her cat like a mother fretting over its sick child.
HD
Draco sat staring out at the small pond holding the paper detailing the discovery of his mother. She had been beaten to bloody bruises and from her autopsy she had been magically tortured to death. Though Draco had always suspected she was dead finally seeing it was true didn't make the pain and devastation any easier to bear.
In his hand he held a half empty bottle of fire whiskey, which he had conned from a student on the campus. He took a long swig and stood up swaying. Turning he saw Hermione walking across the grounds towards him looking worried. He gave her a huge grin and waved like a complete fool.
"Hermione! Join my party – a party for two. You and me, baby!" he said before laughing.
"Draco!" hissed Hermione snatching the bottle from him, "You are drunk!"
"What a guess. You really are smart... and pretty."
Hermione blushed slightly before shaking her head, "Draco you are completely drunk," she poured the remaining contents onto the grass and threw the bottle into a nearby bin, "Come on. You need a shower and sleep."
Hermione stepped forward to take his hand but Draco stumbled backwards shaking his head.
"Nope. I want to stay here. You see this?" he said holding out the paper, "My mother is dead! Completely dead. Murdered. Left this world. Turning into dust!"
"I know. And I am so, so sorry to hear that. But getting drunk won't help."
"How would you know? Have you ever drunk alcohol before?"
Hermione sighed, "Wine a few times, but that doesn't matter."
"Ohh, not so innocent!"
Hermione frowned and crossed her arms over her chest glaring at Draco. He gave her a bashful smile and walked forward before placing a hand on her cheek. Hermione looked at him strangely, her brown eyes wide.
"What are you do-" she started before being cut off by Draco's lips covering her own in a soft kiss. But all Hermione could taste was the fire whiskey. She was about to push him off her when someone yanked him away, "Ron!"
"You filthy bastard!" he roared at Draco pushing him backwards, "How dare you kiss her!"
"Ron!" cried Hermione trying to stop him before crying out in shock as Ron punched Draco in the jaw, "Ron he is drunk!"
But Ron didn't listen as him and Draco rolled across the ground punching, kicking, and hitting each other. Hermione yanked her wand out and shouted the body shock charm sending Ron flying off Draco and landing on the ground a meter away. Hermione ran over to the two and stood between them as Ron stood up with Draco just sitting up grass covering his clothes.
"Ronald Weasley!" snapped Hermione glaring at him, "Draco is drunk! He doesn't know what he is doing and he isn't in the right state of mind because he just found out his mother is dead!"
Ron looked at Hermione angrily before a look of guilt came over his face, "Oh… I didn't know."
"Obviously because you were acting crazy," muttered Hermione turning to Draco and kneeling down in front of him, "I can fix those. Come on. You need to get sober."
Draco just nodded dumbly and let Hermione help him up and walk back to their room. Ron just watched the two walk away before turning and kicking the bin. When he had seen Draco kissing Hermione he just flew into a rage. He knew he had feelings for Hermione but he never knew they were that strong. Yet she had been more worried about Draco then him and it wasn't because he was drunk and his mother dead. She liked him and didn't even know it. Yet.
HD
"This might hurt a bit," murmured Hermione dabbing the healing cream on Draco's small cuts and bruises.
Draco sucked in a deep breath and let it out, blasting Hermione with the stench of drink. She leant back with a disgusted look on her face and lowered her cloth.
"I might go shower," mumbled Draco standing and stumbling over to the bathroom door.
Hermione quickly stood and grabbed his arm. She led him to the door and walked in with him. Closing the toilet lid, she sat him down on it and turned the shower on.
Draco stood and without warning yanked his clothes off. Horrified, Hermione closed her eyes and left the bathroom shutting the door behind her. She could feel her cheeks burning bright red and her heart racing like crazy.
"Oh my gosh," whispered Hermione walking over to the lounge and sitting down, "What a day."
The kiss still burned on Hermione's lips bringing her to touch them. He was drunk. He didn't know what on earth he was doing. Yet he'd called her pretty. Again he was drunk.
'The drunk always speak the truth,' thought Hermione remembering something her mother once told her.
It wasn't the nicest tasting kiss, but it had still been… well nice.
Hermione frowned and shook her head looking down at the cloth she'd been using. No… couldn't be. Could it? No! He'd just lost his mother. She was feeling sorry for him, surely. But he could make her smile and he took care of her. But he was a bestfriend. All bestfriend's do that, don't they?
'They don't kiss you like that,' thought Hermione falling back against her seat before saying aloud, "He is drunk Hermione! Get over it!"
"And I am sorry about that."
Hermione sat up and turned around seeing Draco standing with a towel around his waist. Water dripped down his chest and toned stomach. Hermione nodded and turned away.
"And I'm sorry about that… that err… kiss," he added guiltily.
"It doesn't matter," replied Hermione before saying to him and her self, "You were drunk."
Draco gave a nod and entered his room. When the door closed Hermione turned around looking at her cat asleep on the other lounge.
"Oh Crookshanks," she said shaking her head, "What am I going to do now?"
HD
A week passed with training starting in full swing. Hermione still couldn't see her cousin yet as her condition was still bad. She got to meet Sky's husband and daughter and chatted to them for an hour or so. Sky's husband, Gary, was a pureblood and Shelly was adorable with her brown curly hair and father's green eyes.
As for Hermione and Draco, both were acting like nothing had happened and it was awkward at first but soon seemed normal. Ron avoided Draco at all costs and tried to keep Hermione with him at all times, which was frustrating for Hermione.
On the Monday morning following the past week McGonagall posted a letter of the twenty people who had survived the attack at Hogwarts.
Hermione walked over to the list with Ron and an annoyed Draco, who was annoyed at Ron's constant presence.
The list read:
Sky LeCompt – critical condition
Dennis Creevy – Gryffindor 4th year – coma
Mary Collingsworth – Ravenclaw 2nd year – serious injuries, burns
Fleur Weasley – stable condition
Poppy Pompfrey – stable condition
Tara West – Slytherin 1st year – critical condition
Sybil Trelawney – stable condition
Filius Flitwick – bad burns
Rubeus Hagrid – stable condition
Bill Weasley – bad near stable condition
Henry Cocleworth – Hufflepuff 3rd year – coma
Molly Jenkins – Gryffindor 2nd year – coma
Victor Krum – serious condition
Marlene Maple – Slytherin 4th year – stable condition
Wesley Harrison – Hufflepuff 3rd year – critical condition
Sara Western – Gryffindor 1st year – stable condition
James Western – Gryffindor 1st year – coma
Lisa Harding – Slytherin 4th year – critical condition
Michael Jenkins – Ravenclaw 4th year – stable condition, just out of coma
Horace Slughorn – stable condition
"Bill and Fleur are alive," sighed Ron rushing off to find Ginny and finally leaving Hermione alone with Draco.
"Tara is alive," smiled Hermione, "But no Troy… Hagrid is alive and Victor. So many dead still. These people are so lucky."
Suddenly McGonagall strode over and gave Hermione a sympathetic smile, "Miss Granger. I need to speak with you alone."
Hermione nodded and followed the Professor out of the centre hall and into the relatively empty corridor.
"Miss Granger, I understand you were good friends with Victor Krum?"
Hermione nodded before frowning, "Why? What has happened to him?"
"I'm sorry Miss Granger but Victor has just passed away. He had internal wounds that were thought to be healing when the opposite happened. A massive bleed occurred and he couldn't be saved."
"Oh my gosh," whispered Hermione placing a hand over her mouth as tears welled in her eyes, "No… surely not Victor."
McGonagall led Hermione to a seat before she fell to the ground in the corridor. Draco ran out of the Hall and McGonagall nodded before having to leave. Draco sat beside Hermione as she cried into her hands rocking back and forth. Slowly he reached out and placed a hand on her back. Hermione looked up at him with tears falling down her cheeks.
"Victor's dead," she said before pausing, "But you lost your mother… that's worse."
"It doesn't make your loss any insignificant," whispered Draco before hugging her as she cried into his chest for her lost friend.
HD
Though Ron and Ginny were elated to know their family members were alive they managed to act appropriately around Hermione over the next week. Draco on the other hand was busily finding out details about his mother's funeral service with the assistance of Kingsley. Hermione spent most of her time in her room reading and keeping to herself. Victor's burial was two days after his death and Hermione attended with Draco by her side throughout it.
At night Draco would become quiet himself and sit silently in the lounge room going through his own books and details sent to him. Hermione sometimes sat with him when he asked her too but mostly he liked to sit alone and deal with the grief his own way.
"Morning," said Hermione as she pulled on her school shoes to go to class but stopped as she saw Draco dressed in black pants, shirt and robe, "Where are you going?"
"My mother's funeral. It's being held near Hogsmeade by the Ministry," said Draco quietly.
"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Hermione walking over to him, "I want to come. You stood by me for Victor's and I will stand by you through your mother's."
"Hermione I can't ask that of you."
"Your not. I am doing this because you are my friend."
"Just the friend," muttered Draco softly causing Hermione to frown.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing. Look… I don't want to put you through another funeral."
Hermione walked into her room and found the clothes her parents sent her. She found black dress pants and pulled them on with a black ¾ sleeve shirt. She slipped on different shoes and walked out with her wand going into her side pocket.
"Now, I am coming whether you like it or not," said Hermione looking at Draco seriously.
"No point in arguing?"
"No point at all."
"I thought as much," said Draco with a small smile as he walked out with Hermione.
Kingsley and other Order members met the two in the main garden. Kingsley understood Hermione's coming and didn't argue as they took a portkey to the cemetery near Hogsmeade. A few people who knew Narcissa had turned up and greeted Draco warmly. Hermione stood back as he did the greetings but was by his side once the service began.
Hermione kept looking at Draco throughout it and once she saw silent tears falling down his cheeks she slipped her hand into his, entwining their fingers. Draco squeezed it gratefully and Hermione stepped closer showing she was by his side no matter what happened.
Once finished Draco thanked everyone for coming leaving Hermione standing with Kingsley.
"Do you know how Sky is?" asked Hermione quietly, "I haven't seen Gary or Shelly."
"Shelly is staying with Sky's parents and Gary never leaves Sky's side. She is slowly getting better. It will take time as I am sure you are aware of."
Hermione nodded and looked over at Draco talking quietly to a family friend of his mother's, "Thankyou for helping him. He wouldn't have been able to do this without any help."
"He is a good person," admitted Kingsley, "And is lucky to have you as a girlfriend."
"Oh we aren't a couple," corrected Hermione, "Just good friends."
Kingsley gave a nod looking surprised, "You sure look like a couple when you both are together."
Hermione gave a small single laugh and knew she was blushing. Draco turned and looked at her giving a small smile that for once, in two long weeks, lit his eyes up. This was just what he needed – closure on his mother's death. Hermione smiled back as he walked over to her.
"Hermione," he said as Kingsley walked over to one of the Order members, "I… I… Thankyou. Thanks for coming to support me."
Hermione smiled back and hugged him, "What a good friends for?"
She pulled away and smiled as he did before pecking her lightly on the cheek.
"Everything," he answered.
A/N: Awww… Kingsley thought they were a couple! And Ron… ohhh… won't things get interesting with that?! Anyway please review! But before I go a sneak peak at Chapter Thirteen: Possible Consequences:
"Well of course he does. He's one of my bestfriend's."
"No I mean he really likes you. In a crush sort of way. He hates seeing you around other guys… hence him always clinging to you around me."
and
"What's wrong with it?"
"Cracked knee cap and ligament damage."
"Surely they can heal that."
"The knee cap is pinching a nerve. I have to be careful until some Doctor from France arrives to have a look."
and
Draco nodded.
"You're angry with me."
Draco shook his head.
Until next time…
Love yas…
Love Coz…
