Disclaimer: I do NOT own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
Note: I am pretty much aimlessly writing.. hehe so sorry if I get off track, I'm not sure if I want to have Hermione realize how 'sweet' Draco can be or have Ginny realize her attraction and feelings towards Blaise... hmm why the girls have to initiate feelings.. I have no idea
Well, hope you like this chapter, Please read and review. Enjoy.
GO ON THE POLL ON MY PROFILE, IT WILL HELP THE STORY ALONG GREATLY!
Don't Tell Me What I Am
RECAP: ..The stars reminded her of the way his eye's lit up slightly and twinkled just a bit when he had chuckled.. why she noticed this now however-- in reminiscence, was beyond her knowledge.
13. Expect the Unexpected
Enjoying the night sky for a while, a slight breeze made Ginny shiver and let go of the broom to hug herself a bit. Chiding herself for forgetting to bring a cloak, she put a hand back on the broom before she fell.
Ignoring the chill that she was feeling, she felt herself adjust to the cold and become slightly numb from the winds. Her hair was flowing out behind her and she saw the goosebumps on her upper arms.
Ginny mentally sighed and decided she should go in soon before she caught a cold. Then she chided herself again when she realized that she had forgotten about her wand.
Shifting herself to one side, as her wand was in one of the pockets in her pants, she saw that she had searched the wrong pocket. Now shifting to the other side, she crossed her hand over her to dig through her pockets.
This was quite an unwise move as her position was quite unstable. Ginny felt the tip of her wand and fumbled to get it out. Pulling it out of her pocket, she smiled to herself in acknowledgement, when she moved to stradle the broom properly.
The shift in weight caused her hand to fumble and she gasped out a "No!" as her wand slip from in between her fingers. Looking back on this, she would later reprimand herself for being further unwise. It was probably the cold getting to her.
Alas, her natural reaction was to lean forward to try and catch her wand. However, this put her in an even more dangerous position when she felt her butt slide off the broom. Panicking, she squealed in a frightened manner and the one hand on her broom tightened tenfold.
With her legs swinging over the water about 30 feet up, Ginny was afraid to look down. Instead she tried to focus on getting her other hand onto the broom as well. However, her eyes slipped and the one glance she had at the lake made her panick even more so.
Not being able to focus, she mentally chanted for her one hand to keep holding on tightly as she tried to wash the image of the black waters 30 feet below, from her head. Squeezing her eyes shut, she started breathing quickly and unevenly as she felt her hand start getting sweaty and slipping just a bit.
Fumbling to grasp tighter, she thought to herself in a scared tone, I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die.. I'm too young to die! I'm really going to die! I'm going to die...
Besides the fact that her arm was getting extremely sore, Ginny felt the numbness of her body as a result of being in the windy air for so long. She was too weak and numb to pull herself up as she might have if it were Quidditch. And as a particularly chilly breeze brushed passed her, she shivered, and felt her eyes drop slowly.
She knew that the coldness must be taking its toll on her. But with training from the war, she also knew that she must stay conscious as best as she can. Trying to hang on and stay conscious was too hard to do at once.
Ginny couldn't feel anything and she didn't realize it even when her hand slipped from the handle of the broom. She was jolted away by her sudden free falling and was conscious enough to scream, all the while thinking, I'm going to die now, omg Gin, what are you going to do? You're going to bloody die!
The moment she touched the icy water, she felt the negative degrees plunge through her skin to the bone. She thought weakly, this is it Gin.. I'm sorry Mum .. Dad..'Mione..Harry..Ro--
Ginny was sinking and she was barely aware of the fact. Her eyes had closed, her eyelids were simply too heavy for her to keep open. She was struggling to stay conscious, but it was hard with her lungs starting to ache for oxygen.
She barely noted that she was being pulled up and only when the air hit her skin and the sudden chill went through her, did she open her eyes just a slit. Everything was blurry and she couldn't see much.
Ginny registered the roughness of the ground she was put on, it might have been grass, but she was lifted up before she could fully analyze it. She saw the blackness starting to creep in from the corners of her eyes and the tempting call that was willing her to just relax and go to sleep.
She heard incomprehensible mutter and the words, blood traitors..bloody Weasleys...need for..saving..all the bloody time.. Before she could fully register those words, the darkness took over her vision and she gave up fighting to stay conscious, succumbing to the sleep that was calling desperately for her.
Hermione lost track of time in the library while writing up the essay. One of the books she had mentioned a small detail that wasn't explained and Hermione was bugged by the fact that she wouldn't have it in her essay.
She spent the rest of the time looking for books trying to research that little detail some more in order to include it on her parchment that was already 18 inches long. When she finally found the information she was looking for, the sun had already set and Hermione dully noted that she would skip dinner.
She didn't care too much, seeing as she could always go to the kitchens later so instead, she focused on rewriting her essay with all the necessary details this time. When she was on her last paragraph, she flexed her fingers and started writing again.
Hermione didn't get pass a sentence when someone walked up to her. Looking up, a bit annoyed at being interrupted, she saw that it was Malfoy and her irritation increased just a bit.
Huffing, she asked impatiently, "What do you want ferret?"
He eyed her a bit before saying neutrally, "Little Weasley's unconscious in the hospital wing."
Hermione's heart skipped a beat at his words, but part of her was suspicious. "Is this your idea of some kind of sick joke Malfoy?" she asked almost desperate that the answer would be yes. Noticing his disbelieving eyes on her, she continued.
"I swear to Merlin, if it is, it is not funny!" Hermione ranted a bit annoyed now that she was more sure of herself, "Just because you can't come up with anything does NOT mean you could just come up and scare me into believing my friends are hurt!"
Malfoy fixed her with a steely glaze and a slightly... hurt? no.. angry stare and looked at her seriously. The rational part of her mind was taking in his stoic gaze and serious expression. Part of her became panicky and she was starting to breathe quickly.
"Little Weasley's unconsious in the hospital wing," he repeated in a tone that showed no expression. Her eyes searched him for any hint of a joke and she was partially wondering why he was telling her.
But her focus wasn't on his intentions, instead, she breathed out in a hurry and scared tone, "You better not be playing me," before almost tripping over her chair and rushing out of the library to get to the hospital wing.
Her heart was racing and a thousand thoughts were going through her head as she tried to force herself to be calm. Her breathing hitched as she sprinted faster and she slowed to a stop when she was a few metres from the doors of her destination.
Taking a few moments to compose herself and catch her breathe, Hermione pushed the doors of the hospital wing, still breathing slightly heavily.
She froze and felt her heart stop as her eyes caught sight of a limp, very pale figure with auburn red fair that contrasted greatly against her skin, fanning around her face and on the pillow, laying with her eyes closed, unmoving on one of the cots near the window.
Hermione had no idea how long she stood there in the doorway, with her breathe stuck in her throat, as she stared in a non believing manner at the cot. She felt weak and couldn't bring herself to go over to Ginny.
Knowing it was foolish, she chided herself, maybe she just fell and got knocked out, but for some reason, even though that was a possiblity, she couldn't help but doubt it, confident that Ginny was more careful than that.
Swallowing, Hermione told herself to take deep breathes-- which at first came in sharp inhales and exhales-- before she calmed down enough to go to Madam Pomfrey. She could not yet go over to Ginny without finding out what happened exactly.
Seeing her figure, Hermione hesitantly walked over before finding her voice and stumbling over her words, "M-madam P-p-pomfrey? What happened?"
Madam Pomfrey turned and looked at her sadly, "the poor dear fell into the lake.. she was already unconscious, experiencing hypothermia and slight asphyxia when she was brought in."
Hermione paled and swallowed a few times, before asking a question she was not sure if she wanted the answer to, "I-is her condition s-stable?"
Looking at her a sullenly, the older woman sighed and said, "Her body temperature is still abnormally low, but it is stable. Her intake of lake water was pumped out, so she should be fine. But her unconscious state doesn't help. There's no way of knowing for sure, these next 48 hours are the critical period, her body needs to generate enough heat on its own or she may not wake up."
Not knowing what to think, Hermione stumbled back a bit and barely heard the next words, "If she wakes up, chances of her recovery will be much higher, but right now, there's no way to know if her mind will become alert."
Hermione stepped back, falling onto a cot and sat, gazing off in thought and worry as she watched Madam Pomfrey, almost unseeingly as she bustled around performing charms on Ginny's body.
Unable to watch the sad sight, yet not being able to bring herself to leave for loyalty to her friend, she walked in a dead manner over to a small chair and slumped into it. Ginny will be fine, she told herself but the rational part was nagging at the back of her mind, she's comatose pretty much.. real fine.
Sighing, her daze broke and she wondered if Harry and Ron knew. She doubted it though as they would be here with her if they did indeed know. Not wanting to leave, yet feeling the obligation to tell her best friends, Hermione was slightly lost as to what she could do.
Feeling a presence next to her, Hermione didn't look at first. Having no idea who it was, she wasn't really caring until the person silently took the seat next to her. It was then that she glanced at him or her from the corner of her eye.
It was.. Zabini. He caught her gaze and gave her a slight nod in which she returned. They sat in understanding silence for a bit, with Hermione curious as to why the Slytherin was here-- there were no other occupied cots.
She noticed his hand was toying with something inside his cloak as if unsure.. before he felt her stare, looked up and sighed. Pulling out two objects, Hermione's eyes widened when she noticed they both belonged to Ginny-- it was her wand and shrunk broom.
He must have saw her alarmed and questioning eyes, because he sighed again and stood up. Hermione watched as he strode over to the table next to Ginny's cot and placed the two things... gently? down.
She waited patiently as he walked over again and sat next to her. He was silent and she rush him as he gathered his thoughts. After a few moments, he shifted his gaze to her, not really making eye contact, and muttered, "I don't know where to start."
The slight suspicion in her thoughts simmered down as she said with slight understanding, "How did you come upon her things?"
"I went and got them." His voice was soft and void of emotion, and Hermione was almost sure he knew that his response didn't really answer her question. However, she waited for him to go on.
"I.." He began before pausing to think over his words, "I saw her drop her wand.. and.. fall into the lake... I was out flying.. I brought her here."
It was a very undetailed account of what had happened, but Hermione was satisfied with the brief over.. for now anyways. He wasn't a bad person, she had learned that much, but she was more curious as to why he went to fetch her things, rather than why he saved her.
She was startled when she heard his voice again, "I.. don't think she should know.. Can you not tell her Granger?"
At this request, she frowned and upon seeing this, he sighed yet again and said defeated, "I'll let her know.. but I don't need her knowing.. not now anyways."
His cryptic answered sparked her curiosity, but she didn't comment and exhaled, before saying softly, "Alright, you have my word. I won't tell her."
Then, she added as an after thought, "if.. you tell me why you fetched her things." It appeared that he had not expected this, but he recovered and raised an eyebrow lazily at her before smirking halfheartedly.
"How.. Slytherin of you, Granger," he nodded in a slight amused acknowledgement before turning stoic, and saying, "To answer your question, I really don't know."
He leaned back into the chair and closed his eyes for a few seconds before concluding, "A wizard is nothing without his wand and as a flyer, a connection with a broom is something I can understand."
Nodding in understanding, Hermione hid her confused thoughts as she really didn't understand at all, but she let it go. It was another few moments when Zabini got up and left before Harry and Ron came in, worried expressions adorning their faces.
Hermione recounted the things Madam Pomfrey told her, leaving out what she had learned from Zabini. The trio stayed in the hospital wing for the next few hours and Hermione couldn't help the gratitude she felt at having them to go through the situation with.
They left extremely reluctantly when Madam Pomfrey threatened to not let them come back and headed back to the common room in an exhausted fashion. Telling the two that she felt she needed sleep, the two looked at her in understanding before bidding her a goodnight.
Showering briefly, and getting ready for bed, Hermione noticed that it was almost 11 when she climbed into her four poster. Though she was tired, Hermione laid there surrounded by her thoughts for a long while.
Thinking about her conversation with Zabini, she couldn't help the part of her that was intrigued at how things would turn out. But before she could dwell long on the thought of Ginny and Zabini, she wondered briefly if that was how Malfoy found out.
Malfoy..She thought, instantly alert. She felt like she owed him, but instead of feeling sour.. she felt slightly regretful at her accusations. However, he seemed... understanding? Sighing, Hermione prepared herself for a sleepless night and allowed herself to endulge in her thoughts.. about Malfoy, she added dryly in her head.
It was ironic at the direction her thoughts were headed. She had brief images of him being continuingly sweet towards her, before she shut them out. Malfoy? sweet? They don't go together, she mused.
But, he was civil.. on certain times... that meant he could be sweet--if he tried. Well, she thought, he is good looking. She rolled her eyes at her girl senses, but who was she to deny the obvious. It wasn't like she was going to announce her undying love for him or anything.
For the next hour, Hermione debated with herself about her loathing towards the blonde Slytherin before finally admitting to herself defeatedly, that he was indeed a likeable guy. Not that she would ever like him, but times when he were .. sweet, she shuddered at the adjective, it gave him too much credit-- but she couldn't find another word, made him.. almost tolerable.
There was the whole, bad, arrogant boy thing going on that girls liked for some reason. Hermione didn't but she found that the fact that he actually carried a heart was... cute. It made him a sensible guy that was trying to.. hide. Snickering to herself, Hermione thought wryly, right, Malfoy trying to hide, he'd probably be jumping out everywhere vying for the attention!
Having worn herself out, she glanced at the clock and saw that it read 2:27am, and decided that she needed to sleep. She was surprised at the sudden flash of a memory, however, and smiled despite its contents.
"Watch where you're going Mudblood," He smirked.
"Get out of my way, Malfoy." She had snapped.
"No, I don't think I will," he said, with that stupid smirk of his. At this Hermione felt her lips tug upwards a bit.
Hermione had an obvious fake smile and talked in a sweet voice, "Now IF you'll just excuse me…"
She had the doorway already, and finished her sentence while descending down the steps. "I for one, want to see my mum and d--" For some reason, Hermione didn't sadden at this part, but rather reminisce at what she knew was coming up.
She had stiffened and quickly said, "--my mum."
She remembered hurrying down the last of the steps and scolding herself. She had walked about 4 yards when she heard a voice calling at her.
"Granger!"
Stopping in mid-step she turned and remembered the surprise when she saw Malfoy looking at her. To further her surprise, he nodded ever so slightly as if to… silently acknowledge the fact that he… had understood?
Confused, she had nodded in return and… he smirked as if announcing his departure… in a form of goodbye? Smiling slightly, Hermione left to find her mum before saying good bye to Harry, Ron, and Ginny.
Shaking her head lightly to herself, Hermione wondered briefly why her mind brought up the memory at such a time, but couldn't help but see how her earlier thoughts tied in perfectly. Laughing to herself, she allowed sleep to consume her.
A/N: GO TO THE POLL ON MY PROFILE! lol XD and I hope you enjoyed this. Please review as always and give me any form of feedback. It would be very much appreciated, suggestions, criticism, advise, ideas, etc. ^_^