Chapter 13 A letter and A loss

Hermione woke up to find herself on her bed. She didn't recall going up after she and Draco exchanged presents. She panicked thinking if he knew. But then she saw that her clothes from yesterday were still on her, untouched.

She looked around and saw Draco coming out of the bathroom. "Good Morning Sleeping beauty." He smirked.

She glared at him and chuckled. "and who are you? My prince?" she smirked back at him.

He approached her body and took her in his arms. Hermione leaned in the kiss when Draco stopped. "Take a bath, you reek." He said.

She slapped him playfully and went to the bathroom. Before closing the door though, she stuck out her tongue at him. Draco just laughed at the childish gesture.

"I'm going to the Great Hall now." He called out. He heard a small response and left the dungeons.

Draco sat, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. In his hand was a letter from his father stating that his mother was sick. Lucius wanted him to go home and check on her but Draco had his doubts. He was going to ask "Harvey" about it first.

Just on time, Hermione came in the Great Hall and sat next to Draco. She saw his serious look and raised an eyebrow. He handed her the letter and read it quietly.

"Draco,

Your mother is ill. Come home, she wants to see you.

Lucius"

The letter was short but Hermione had doubts about it. She looked at Draco in question but he just stared blankly.

"Don't go." Hermione said. Draco looked at her concerned face and smiled.

"Why not?" he said, amusement in his voice.

Hermione sighed and explained. "Dumbledore would tell you if something happens,"

Draco thought about if for a moment and nodded. Hermione smiled at him and wrote a small note back to Lucius.

Draco and Hermione spent the whole morning talking in the Common Room. It was in the afternoon when Lucius gave Draco another letter. The two eyed it curiously before decided to open it.

"Wait. Let's move far." Hermione said cautiously.

Draco nodded. They took five steps away from it and opened it. They were right about moving far because once it was opened it exploded. Draco held Hermione as they looked away from the letter.

"Good thing you were here." Draco said, not knowing what it meant to Hermione.

Hermione blushed and turned away. Draco noticed it and realized. "You're an angel Harvey." He said smiling. Hermione returned the smiled and they cleaned up the mess.

"I'm hungry." Hermione announced.

So the two left the common room and headed for the kitchens. On their way, they talked about Quidditch and new plans. The laughed at some things and reached the kitchen. Draco tickled the pear and they entered.

Hermione grabbed some pasties and some other stuff. They left when they couldn't carry anything else already.

Heading back, the two discussed about Draco's mother when they noticed a student. Hermione's eyes widened in shock.

In front of them, hung a student. The body was covered in blood and his skin pale. Hermione took time taking in the sight and did what her instincts told her. She screamed.

Draco was surprised by the view but knew that it was Lucius' doing. His expression turned into an angry one. Not long after that though, Dumbledore, McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey came bustling in.

"What's–" McGonagall asked before seeing the body. Her eyes widened in shock. Dumbledore stared at the body hanging and noticed he was from Slytherin.

He and Madam Pomfrey took the boy down while McGonagall calmed Hermione.

Hermione was hysterical. It was the second time she saw a dead body in that state. Memories of her parents started to rush over her like a train. Tears flowed nonstop and she hyperventilated. Draco saw this and tried to calm "Harvey" but he couldn't. Hermione not long after, fainted.

0000

Draco didn't get it why he couldn't stay with "Harvey" yet. He stayed outside the Hospital wing worried at his "friend's" state. He wished he could see him and comfort him.

"Mr. Malfoy, you may come in now." Dumbledore said.

Draco rushed in to see Hermione already awake. She was a mess. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes puffy and red. She still sobbed but no tears were falling anymore. McGonagall was by her side all the time, calming her down.

Hermione saw Draco and her eyes lit up. Without caring about the other people in the room, Draco rushed to hug her.

The two teachers and the nurse didn't look surprised at all. It was like it was just normal to see them. Dumbledore cleared his throat after a few minutes. The two pulled away from each other and Draco sat beside her, not letting go of her hand.

"The student's name is Marco Flint." Dumbledore announced.

The two stared in shock. "He's Flint's?" Hermione asked.

"Cousin." McGonagall explained.

Hermione lowered her head in sadness. She felt pity despite that the boy was related to Flint. Draco saw this and squeezed her hand. She looked at him and smiled sadly.

"What does this mean Professor?" Draco asked.

"It means…that, the Death Eaters have declared war."