Taking Over Me Chapter 14: That's The Plan, a harry potter fanfic

A/N: Oh lookie here! Chapter Fourteen. I am trying to get back to writing long stories with more then twenty chapters. Thanks for the reviews!

DISCLAIMER: Refer to previous chapter. Thankyou.

Chapter Fourteen: That's The Plan

Hermione entered the Hospital Wing and walked down the small corridor to the second last bed. The night before she had fallen asleep on the lounge with Draco having been in too much pain to move. Today her legs were stiff with ache and her back throbbed if she did sudden turns or movements. The nurses all looked at her injuries in alarm but said nothing.

"Morning," said Hermione pleased to see Sky sitting up and eating her breakfast.

Sky turned to Hermione smiling but dropped her spoon at the site of her cousin, "I heard you were injured but… Hermione how can you walk?"

"With care. They will heal. I actually came to ask you something about Kingsley," said Hermione slowly sitting down wincing just a little, "He was at the castle all day that the attack happened, right?"

"He was at the Quidditch Pitch helping down there," nodded Sky, "Why?"

"Well he came back from the castle unscathed and I just find that odd. How can he be the only one untouched?"

Sky nodded slowly, "I see what you mean. It is odd."

"Did he leave the grounds at all during the day or night?"

"Not that I know of. But I did find it odd that I never saw him anywhere after five o'clock. I sincerely thought he was in his room writing to his family."

Hermione nodded with a frown and gave a sigh followed by a bright smile, "How are you feeling?"

"A lot better. The French doctor should arrive today. Shelly cried when she saw me for the first time but afterwards realised I am still crazy Mummy!"

Hermione giggled, "You sound like a wonderful mother."

"Hmm… what about you and Draco?"

"We are a couple. One day along. Amazing isn't it?"

Sky chuckled, "Ah, soon it will be a year and still feel like one day. I met Gary whilst studying to be an Auror. Year and a half later we married and soon came Shelly."

Hermione nodded smiling before she heard Mrs Weasley walking past talking to Fred and George, "I'll be back."

Sky nodded and Hermione walked out calling to Mrs Weasley completely forgetting her appearance. Mrs Weasley turned around, as did the twins. The three looked at her in horror and rushed towards her.

"Mrs Weasley, I tried to stop them taking Ron," said Hermione honestly, "I did all I could… but if I just hadn't cursed Lucius maybe Ron would still be here."

"Oh my dear," said Mrs Weasley placing her hands on Hermione's shoulders, "You did what you could. I don't blame you one bit. That Malfoy son should be locked up. Then those Death Eater's wouldn't bother us anymore."

"But Draco is innocent. It was proven in his court hearing. Even McGonagall thinks he is."

"Hmm… there is more to him then meets the eye. You'd best stay away from him."

"Hermione, you left without waking me," came Draco's voice as he walked towards her only to be blocked by the Weasley twins, "What is the meaning of this?"

"Mrs Weasley, you have to listen to me," said Hermione earnestly, "Draco is a wonderful person. He is just misunderstood by you all. I won't stay away from him because he is my boyfriend and you all base him on the image of his father."

Mrs Weasley looked at Hermione stunned, as did the twins. Hermione looked at them, before she stumbled back with her bruised, aching legs finally giving way. Draco pushed through the twins worried as Hermione grabbed onto a curtain, managing to pull it down with her as she hit the ground.

"Are you okay?" asked Draco helping her sit up.

"N-no," said Hermione looking down at her legs, "My legs feel numb. I can barely feel them."

Nurses came rushing over at the moment, with Draco being moved away. The Weasley's watched on shocked as Hermione was levitated from the ground and placed onto a bed. The curtain was closed around the bed blocking out Draco and the Weasley's.

"Draco," came Sky's panicked voice, "Draco!"

Draco turned and walked into Sky's curtained off area looking worried, "What?"

"Is Hermione okay?"

Draco shrugged, "She fell… she said she can barely feel her legs."

Hermione spent the next three hours being examined by numerous people. Her back was assessed and leg reflex amongst other areas of her body. Medicine was given to her for her cuts and bruises, which soon faded, but her legs remained numb.

Stress was having its toll on Hermione causing her to be on edge and near tears. She wanted to know what was going on but no one would say anything. She didn't even know if Ron had been found or if Harry knew of the situation. Then she had her second family warning her away from Draco.

Hermione closed her eyes on exhaustion and was soon asleep. But her dreams were not pleasant. She dreamt of finding Ron, but not alive. He was bruised badly with blood streaming from wounds and rats scampering around him. It was when Lucius sprang out at her that Hermione woke with a start.

"Hey. How do you feel?" asked Draco who'd been allowed near her once Mrs Weasley and her sons had left to have lunch and tell Ginny the news.

"I can't feel my legs and I don't know why. No one will tell me anything and I just want to know what is going on with me. Is it curable or am I going to be bound to a wheelchair?"

"A Doctor said he would talk to you once you woke up," said Draco, "I'll find him."

Hermione nodded and Draco left, returning moments later with a tall ginger haired man with brown eyes and a scatter of freckles over his face.

"Hello Miss Granger. My name is Healer Dan Thomson. Now after a series of tests we have found you have swelling at the bottom of your spine putting pressure on your nerves. This explains the reason why you have numbness in the legs," said Dan seriously, "However it is curable with a potion we have given you. The potion will work slowly at lowering the swelling and relieving the pressure on your spine."

Hermione smiled with relief and squeezed Draco's hand happily, "How long will it take?"

"Two days at the most. You are lucky. In some cases this isn't curable. You will need to take it easy for the next month or two. There is a chance the swelling could return."

Hermione nodded and Dan left. Hermione smiled at Draco who grinned back at her, "I'll be fine."

Draco nodded and kissed her hand, "It must be your body telling you to take it easy."

"For now. Once the war begins I won't be able too. I have to help Harry. Plus we have to find Ron. Or have they found him? Is there any news?"

"Not that I have heard. But I have been here all day with you."

"You should go eat, Draco. I don't want you starving yourself for me."

Draco shook his head, "I'm not leaving."

"Draco, you need to eat. When you do, once you have finished, bring me back a chicken roll with no onion or any butter. Mayonnaise is preferred."

Draco sighed, "No point in arguing with you I am gathering?"

Hermione smiled, "You are learning quickly."

Draco stood and kissed Hermione on the forehead before leaving. As he opened the curtain to leave he was met by the Weasley's, including Ginny.

"Hey everyone," greeted Hermione with a smile.

"How are you feeling dear?" asked Mrs Weasley.

"Need any muggle things?" asked Mr Weasley bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"Would you like me to fluff your pillows?" grinned Fred.

"Groom your hair?" added George.

"Maybe Hermione can tell us what the Doctor's have told her," suggested Ginny giving her family an annoyed look.

"I'll be walking in two days hopefully if all goes well. My lower spine has swelling pressing against my nerves affecting my legs. But they have given me some medicine and it will reduce the swelling," smiled Hermione looking at everyone before lowering her eyes.

"What else?" asked Ginny who knew Hermione well enough to know she was hiding something else.

"For the next month or two I have to take things easy. There is a chance the swelling could return if I do a lot of physical movements."

The Weasley's nodded before Mrs Weasley cleared her throat.

"Well, when the war happens you can assist us here at the University in the Hospital Wing," she said with a firm nod.

"No," replied Hermione shaking her head, "I will be fine by then. I have to help Harry. I promised I would help him."

"Harry wouldn't want you to risk re-injuring yourself," said Ginny looking at Hermione in frustration, "Especially if it can lead to being something you could live with for the rest of your life."

"I know. But I have to fight. I have to help beat Voldemort in honour of those children who died!"

"You can't blame your self for their deaths," said Fred looking serious for once, "No one ever suspected something like that could happen."

Hermione didn't say anything and looked away until the curtain opened with Draco arriving with two rolls. The Weasley's looked at him venomously until Ginny cleared her throat.

"Let's go shall we? We should get some news about Ron soon," said Ginny with a happy smile.

"Wait," said Hermione as Draco walked around to her bedside, "There's been no news?"

"None yet," said Mrs Weasley sadly before leaving with her family.

The two days passed slowly with no news on Ron or Harry. Hermione spent the two nights in the hospital with restless sleeps. She woke constantly from the same nightmare and on the Thursday morning, the nightmare got so violent that she woke up screaming, pulling her legs to her body. Beside her, Draco woke in his seat with a start and stood up holding Hermione tightly as she breathed erratically.

Hermione looked down at her legs blinking and began laughing a little, "M-my legs."

Draco looked down and grinned happily before looking at Hermione with concern, "You woke up screaming."

"Bad dream. Nothing more."

Draco nodded though he knew more was too it, "Want me to get Healer Dan?"

Hermione nodded and Draco left in search of the healer. Laying down Hermione looked over at a photo placed on the bedside table. Ron and Harry grinned at her giving each other rabbit ears. Hermione smiled but sucked in a deep breath as the image of a brutally killed Ron flashed through her mind.

She had to find him before what she was fearing happened. She knew Lucius was locked away in a highly guarded prison, but that still didn't mean he wouldn't get out.

"How are we feeling today Miss Granger?" asked Dan cheerfully as he walked in grinning with Draco following him.

"Well my legs are working and I can feel them properly," said Hermione with a grin pushing her thoughts away, "So can I go?"

"We will need to run a few tests first."

Hermione nodded and Dan pulled the blankets back. He made Hermione squeeze her toes and turn her feet in circles. Then he made her sit up and hang her legs over the side of the bed and checked her knee reflexes. The big challenge was standing and walking. Hermione did it slowly, feeling stiff from being in the bed for two days straight. Slowly Hermione walked over to Draco and back to Dan.

"Excellent," praised Dan looking pleased with a nod, "Wonderfully excellent. But remember – take it easy. I will want to see you for checkups once a week until I decide I don't need to see you any longer. For now you are free to go."

Hermione nodded and Draco handed her a fresh uniform. After she changed she left with Draco for the Centre Hall.

"So… I have come to notice that the Weasley's don't exactly approve of us," said Draco taking hold of Hermione's hand, "They try to keep me away from you despite what you say."

"It will take time Draco," said Hermione, "Not everyone is going to be jumping for joy that we are together."

"Does that bother you?"

Hermione shook her head, "Why should it? It is my life, my feelings. If people don't like who I am with then that is their problem. Not mine."

Draco moved his hand to around Hermione's waist smiling, "I feel exactly the same."

"Hermione!" cried Ginny later that day, in the afternoon, finding Hermione in the library that was bigger then Hogwarts' library, "Hermione, they have information on Ron."

Hermione looked up from her book at Ginny with wide eyes, "Are you sure?"

Ginny nodded, "The Riddle Mansion. A group of people in cloaks were seen leaving it yesterday afternoon. With them was someone protesting about being captive. We are sure it's Ron."

"The Riddle Mansion," murmured Hermione closing her book and standing.

She walked to a huge filing cabinet and opened a draw with the bold letter R on it. Ginny watched as Hermione rifled through it murmuring to herself. She pulled a rectangle card out and scanned it before putting it back and selecting another.

"Here… a book on the Riddles," said Hermione reading the location and heading towards it.

"What are you planning?" asked Ginny curiously following Hermione closely, "You have to rest."

"I spent two days resting," replied Hermione turning up an aisle, "I have rested enough."

"Hermione, you could hurt your spine again and this time the outcome may be worse then what you just went through."

"Uh huh," murmured Hermione selecting a thick book and slamming it down on a table, "Riddle Mansion. This is sure to have the location."

"Wait… your planning on going to find him."

"Perfect guess."

"Hermione, you can't! This is insane!" cried Ginny as Draco strolled up having overheard their voices.

"What is insane?" he asked curiously before greeting his girl with a kiss on the cheek and she looked up to smile at him.

"Malfoy, tell Hermione she can't go searching for Ron! She needs to rest!"

"You plan on going to find Weasley?"

"That's the plan alright. The Riddle Mansion is located at Little Hangleton. I know where that is. My family have to drive through it to visit my mother's sister. I never noticed the mansion before."

"You can't do this!" cried Ginny.

"It is dangerous, Hermione," added Draco.

Hermione turned to them; "I am going to find people willing to help me do this. Then I am going to find a way out of this place without being noticed. You two can stay here and keep saying how crazy it is alone."

Hermione left the library and headed to the hall to find some old D.A members she was sure would be willing to help her find Ron and bring him back alive so Harry could finish his journey.

"So what do you all think?" asked Hermione quietly to Luna, Neville, Seamus, Dean and Lavender, "I will find a way out of here and send you all the time and meeting place."

"Anything for Ron," said Lavender sincerely, "And Harry."

"I'm in," nodded Dean.

"Same," agreed Seamus.

"It's like having friend's again," sighed Luna showing she agreed.

"I am in," Neville nodded firmly.

"Excellent," grinned Hermione sitting up right and seeing Draco walking in followed by an anxious Ginny.

"You can't go ahead with this," hissed Draco walking beside Hermione as she left for the library to find a map of the school, "It's crazy!"

"Too late. I already have five people willing to help me," snapped Hermione at Draco and ignoring Ginny, "Either you both are with us, or against us. Trying to stop us will be a waste of time as well."

Draco gave an angry sigh and ran a hand through his hair as Pansy walked up to him with a fake look of pity.

"Trouble in paradise already, Draco?" she asked quietly, "I told you she didn't deserve you."

"Buzz off Pansy," retorted Draco storming after his girlfriend who Ginny was already racing after.

Hermione looked at the map taking in unguarded areas before frowning at something in between a group of trees. Hermione pulled her wand out and tapped the words. They darkened and came up saying 'Royal Grounds'. It was a well-hidden exit that obviously would be rarely noticed on this map unless studied carefully. The trees were past the lake… the direction in which the Death Eaters took.

They must have had a map of the University, but the head librarian said there was only one original. That meant… they had an insider.

Hermione leant back in her seat and closed her eyes because of the discovery and the arrival of Ginny and Draco.

"I don't want to hear it anymore," said Hermione before they started, "So just get lost now before you both think of beginning."

"I'm coming," said Draco reluctantly, "Despite how disastrous tonight could get."

"Same," added Ginny with a nod.

"Good. We leave at midnight."

"Have you organised everything?" asked Draco, "Food, water?"

"I plan on having us back by morning so no one notices, unless we get Ron back," replied Hermione, "Everyone will know to bring water. I will put it in their letter just in case they forget."

"So who is coming with us?" asked Ginny curiously.

"Neville, Luna, Dean, Seamus and Lavender."

"Longbottom?" asked Draco with raised eyebrows, "He is a klutz."

"He was with us at the Department of Mysteries for your information," said Ginny coldly glaring at him, "He knows more then you think. It's Lavender coming along that I would worry about. She is most likely to complain."

"She does and I will silence her," murmured Hermione writing the notes out for the five people coming.

"Leaving her vulnerable to being attacked?"

"I was being sarcastic Ginny. Lavender wanted to come. She likes Ron a lot… maybe even loves him."

Ginny just nodded and sat in silence before standing with Hermione and Draco.

"I'll go send these then we can find a map of Little Hangleton. We need to devise a plan in case of an attack," said Hermione as the three walked through the University. They fell silent as a group of teachers passed them in the corridor, "But lets discuss it elsewhere. Anyone could be listening. Even the insider."

"Insider?" asked Draco with a look of surprise from Ginny.

"Like I said. We will discuss it elsewhere. Draco can you go to the library and get a map of Little Hangleton?" asked Hermione giving Draco her puppy eyes.

Draco sighed and nodded. He kissed her affectionately on the lips and left shaking his head with a grin on his face.

"Strangely I just thought of Malfoy sweet then," said Ginny with a grossed out look on her face.

Hermione laughed, "Thankyou for not hating me for being with him."

"Hey. Like I said. It's your love life. Not mine. You see something in him no one else does… though I am trying."

"I know."

Draco unrolled the map and Hermione leaned over it frowning as she studied it. She trailed her fingers along the streets and nodded.

"If we take a portkey to the end of the main road that heads out of Little Hangleton we can walk back in and walk through the park. Then we should be in the street the Mansion is in," said Hermione, "We need to create a portkey."

"I'll do it," said Ginny who was best at creating them for groups of people thanks to her large family, "We can use an old broom stick."

Hermione nodded and Ginny rushed out to set the portkey up. Hermione studied the map a little longer before sitting down on the lounge behind her. Draco flopped down beside her and placed an arm around her. Hermione rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.

"I know what I am doing is crazy," admitted Hermione, "But I have to do it. I know it is a huge risk to my wellbeing but if I don't… I'll go crazy and keep having nightmares of seeing Ron dead and yo- a death eater attacking me."

"So your mind is telling you to need to do this?"

"I guess so. Do you understand my reason now?"

Draco nodded and kissed Hermione on the forehead, "But the minute you fel any sort of pain or numbness we come directly back here whether we have found Weasley or not."

Hermione nodded and turned to Draco smiling, "To tell the truth I am surprised at how supportive you are being about this. Even if you didn't agree at first."

"I know… I don't agree, but you are my girlfriend and I will always be by your side, like you are always by mine."

Hermione smiled and kissed Draco tenderly before pulling back feeling content. Even if it was just for a short time.

A/N: So… what do you all think? Oh... I almost forgot... a preview to Chapter Fifteen: Hideaway:

"You know," said Ginny calmly, "We can still pull out."

"No. No I have it all planed. We can't pull out. Ron needs us and if we sort this mess out Harry can keep focused on his task."

and

"This is ridiculous," said Sky throwing down her hash brown.

"My cooking?"

and

"Nothing," snapped Sky glaring at Kingsley silently, "I want real proof. You know exactly what proof I want Kingsley. If you will excuse me, I am feeling rather tired and need a sleep."

Until next time…

Love yas!

Love Coz!