Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine.

Chapter 25: Out of Time

"It is my pleasure to stand before you as your headmaster. I am proud to see every one of you grow and mature as time progress..." Dumbledore stood at the podium at Hogwarts' Class of 1998 graduation ceremony. Most students were smiling proud of their accomplishment and being able to finally graduate. A few carried solemn and gloomy faces as they stared up at the stage where the Head Boy sat and the space where the Head Girl's seat would have been. Many were puzzled as why the brightest student of all time was missing.

"...And now the Head Boy will give his speech." Dumbledore finished up his speech and nodded at Blaise as he looked at the elder wizard with a troubled look.

Blaise stepped up to the podium, pointed at his throat with his wand and casted the sonorus spell to amplify his voice. After clearing his throat, he began, "Class of 1988. I know many of you are questioning why, our Head Girl, Hermione Granger is not here with us..." He frowned as he didn't want to be the one to disclose Hermione's condition to the wizarding society. He didn't agree with telling others about her. His thoughts went back to when Hermione brought it up to him several months ago.

Flashback.

"I know this is a tall order for you, but I would appreciate if you could do it for me. As my fellow Head and good friend." Hermione said as she sat across from him in the library.

"Why me? Why not Harry or Ron? They are your best friends." Blaise questioned clearly surprised at her sudden request.

"I trust you to be the most levelheaded. I love Ron, but he and speeches do not blend well. I asked Harry, but he wouldn't listen. He said everything was going to be alright and I shouldn't prepare for things that aren't going to happen." Hermione said sadly. "I know he's trying to think positively, but I have to prepare just in case. I don't want people to make rumors and state baseless gossip about me. I want to set them straight." She said with determination.

Despite his attempts of refusal, Hermione eventually had her way and made him comply to her request.

"You are going to come back to us. I know it. No matter how long we are all going to be here waiting." He said confidently to the Gryffindor.

Hermione smiled and nodded.

End Flashback.

"She was diagnosed with a rare magical parasite found in her brain that feeds on her magical abilities. Once one's magical abilities disappears, their life force goes with it." He explained clearly. He could hear gasps and whispers throughout the crowd. The news reporter than was there was activators writing down all her notes and listened carefully.

Resisting his urge to silence them and tear up the reporter's notes, he reluctantly continued. "She was given only months to live. We were able to find a treatment for her to kill the parasite without harming her. The treatment ends with the patient in a comatose state and because it is such a rare case, we do not know when she will wake up from the treatment."

Then he started to hear more whispers, hints of "will she ever wake up?" and "No way." Angered by the comments of the crowd, he slammed his hand down on the podium. "Her friends and I believe in her! She will wake up! She will!" He said roughly towards the audience.

Blaise was disappointed at himself. Hermione chose him to tell the people because she thought he would be the most level headed but he was nowhere near it. He frustratedly sat back down after saying a short congratulations to the graduating class.

...

"Here's another set." Ginny said as she rolled a cart of flowers, letters, and gifts signed to Hermione Granger in the hospital room Hermione was resting in.

"Another?" Ron said surprised. He helped Ginny by pulling the cart in and moving it to the crowded section of the room that adorned numerous gifts and flowers already.

"They are just doing this so they won't feel bad about badmouthing her during Blaise's speech." Harry commented sourly. "Where are the others? I thought they were with you." He said as he looked behind Ginny and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

"They were until they were bombarded by a mob of reporters looking for a scoop." Ginny huffed. "They-" she started but was interrupted by the door swinging open.

In came, Blaise and Scarlet holding hands and Draco not far behind them. "This is why I hate reporters." Blaise said out loud to no one in particular. "They were trying to get the healers to tell them Hermione's room number. We were able to lose them after then tried to follow us before getting here."

"They are just trying to do their job. Invasive but it provides the food for their family." Scarlet said trying to defend the media even though she didn't have a great opinion of them after seeing what she saw today.

Walking to the side of her bed, Draco held Hermione's hand. "How is she?" Draco asked as he kept his gaze on her.

"William said everything that could go well went well so far. Her vitals are stable. The parasite is in its last stage of death, and they will be able to extract it with no problem in a few days." He said as he glanced around. He saw Ginny nod as she held Scarlet's hand tight in nervousness. Harry then continued as he stared at Draco's back facing him. "They found that she has only a sliver of magical ability left. They were able to stop it in time before it was all gone, but they predict she won't have functioning magic once she wakes. Now, all we do is wait." Harry disclosed to everyone in the room.

...

10 years later.

"Let's go visit Aunt Hermione today." Ginny said as she dressed her children to go out. James, age 5, and Lily, age 4, nodded excitedly.

"Yay! Let's do it." Lily exclaimed. "I'm bringing my drawing today to show Aunt Hermione." She ran to grab her drawing off the table after she pulled on her mittens and coat.

"Is Alec going to be there?" James asked his mom as he help his sister put on her scarf after putting on his.

"Of course." Ginny said as she tidied the two children up. After she was satisfied with their appearance, she grabbed their hands and led them to the fireplace.

A few moments later

"I can never get used to Floo Powder." Rose coughed as she accidentally inhaled some powder during the process. She swatted at the air to clean the breathing air around her.

"Don't worry, you will." Ginny said as she grabbed both her children's hands to led them down the familiar corridor to the designated room.

"There you guys are." Ginny heard a male voice say.

"Dad!" Both children exclaimed and ran to Harry. He just got off work as an Auror alongside Ron and arrived a few minutes before his family.

"I missed you guys." He said as he bent down to kiss and hug them.

"We missed you-" Lily started and saw Alec and his parents enter the room. "Alec!" She called out and waved. She heard her dad clear his throat.

"Sorry, Dad-" After realizing what she had done, she apologized sheepishly. Harry smiled and ruffled her hair. "Get going." He said. She then kissed Harry's cheek and ran to meet her friend.

"Missed you, dad." James said as he wrapped his arms around his father as much as he could.

"How was the man of house when I was gone?" Harry asked as he hugged James and picked him up.

"Great, I was a good big brother to Lily and I did all my chores." James said proudly as he beamed.

"That's my boy." Harry chuckled.

"Sorry, we were a bit late. Took me a while to hunt down this kid when we were playing hide and go seek. Tip: If you ever want to play hide and go seek with a child in a huge estate, DON'T." Blaise said as he pointed to his son who was occupied in telling Lily about his hiding place.

"We had everyone searching for him. Eventually, he was just ten feet away from the starting point." Scarlet said as she walked up to stand next to Blaise.

"Don't forget me." Draco said as he stepped into the room. Everyone greeted him with enthusiasm. The children ran towards him and hugged him excitedly as he hugged them back just as happily.

The adults caught up with each other as did the children. After a while, Ginny gathered everyone around.

"Alright kids, greet Aunt Hermione." Ginny told the children as they walked up to the bed where Hermione rested.

James was the first one to walk up next to her. He started as he looked at her sleeping face. "Hi Aunt Hermione, it's James again. This week, dad wasn't home for three days for his work so I was the man of house. Mum says I'm like of like you in many ways...I just finished reading your favorite book for the third time. Lily says I'm boring when I don't play with her, but it's okay. She's doesn't mean it. She's a good kid. I hope you wake up soon." James walked away giving room to his sister.

Since she was smaller than James, Lily pulled a stool over to the bed. After settling on the stool, she pulled it close to the where Hermione's head lay. She pulled out her drawing. "Aunt Hermione, I drew this for you. Since you are sleeping, I will tell you what I drew. This is you in the middle with everyone all around you holding hands. We are all smiling because we are so happy to be together. This is me." She said as she pointed at a figure on her drawing. "James." She pointed to another figure on her drawing. She continued this until she went through every figure she drew. "See you next time, Aunt Hermione." She hopped off her stool, kissed Hermione's cheek, and walked to the drawer that kept their drawings and gifts they gave Hermione in the past.

"Aunt Hermione? It's me, Alec. I hope you wake up soon so we can play together. Dad and Mum are sad that you keep sleeping. I hear them talk to each other when I'm hiding so they don't know I'm there." Blaise and Scarlet's eyes widened when they heard what Alec said. "I know you are resting, but can you play? Please just wake up once so we can play and talk. You can rest afterwards. Let me tell you a secret," he leaned in and cupped his hands to his mouth. "The library has the best hiding spots." He whispered and said "bye" to Hermione with a smile.

...

"Welcome back, Young Master." A house elf greeted as he entered the large manor. He nodded to the house elf. The house elf walked somewhere into the manor to continue his duties.

As he was removing his outer wear, he heard footsteps strolling through the halls. "There you are, Draco." Mrs. Malloy said as she walked up to him.

"Hello, mother." He greeted as Narcissa fixed his collar.

"Were you with the others? How is she doing?" She asked.

He nodded. "Everything is stable. Still no changes." He said solemnly.

Narcissa looked at her son. He looked so tired and ragged despite his attempts to smile and reassure people he was fine. "Dear, it's been ten years-" Placing a hand on his arm, Narcissa started to say as she looked up at her son. Although it has been ten years, Draco looked like he aged twenty. Even though he still adorned his handsome features he had inherited from his parents, he looked like he went through a lot of stress and turmoil.

"Mother, we have talked about this. I don't want to find someone else. I'm waiting for her, no matter what." Draco said exasperatedly.

"I know, dear. Please, just this once. She is a very nice lady. Ms. Granger wished for you to move on and find happiness." Narcissa said gently trying to persuade him.

"I will wait for her no matter what." He said sternly with no waver in his voice. He started to get agitated at his mother. At himself. At this situation. At the slipping belief from others that Hermione with wake up soon.

Narcissa gave up trying to convince him and sighed. "It's been ten years. Ten..."

"And I will wait ten more if needed." He retorted. He stormed away up the stairs to his quarters leaving his mother staring up at his retreating back.

...

Draco sat waiting at his usual cafe to have lunch with his mother. She said she wanted to apologize about the other day and wanted to have a nice lunch with him. As he sat reading the menu for the daily special, he heard the seat across from him drag across the floor and felt the presence of someone joining him.

"There is a nice soup special today, mother. What do you think?" He asked not looking away from the menu.

Not hearing his mother voice, Draco furrowed his brows and set the menu down. In front of him sat a petite but elegant brunette, she looked at him kindly and smiled.

"Hello, my name is Ezra Rashel. Your mother scheduled for us to meet." She said as she raised her hand for a handshake.

"Draco Malfoy." He said as he shook her hand briefly with his furrowed eyebrows. "I'm sorry? My mother told you to come here?" He asked to clarify her statement. He was bewildered and furious. How could she? Trick him into a blind date after he refused many times before.

He heard her speaking and realized she was talking to him. "I'm sorry, Miss Rashel. I know my mother set us up to meet here but I'm leaving. Feel free to stay if you would like." He said as he placed some Galleons on the table.

She looked at him baffled as she watched him walk out the door.

Fury with rage, he apparated himself to Malfoy Manor. He slammed the front door open causing the House elf that was near the entrance to jump from the sudden loud movement and sound.

"Draco? What are you doing home?" He heard his mother's voice question him.

"You should know, mother! How could you? Without my permission, you just-" He started to say.

"How dare you raise your voice against your own mother, Draco. Lucius. Malfoy." She said coldly and calmly.

"You can't just do that, mother." He said again with firmness as he lowered his voice.

"It's what Miss Granger would have wanted." Mrs. Malfoy said softly as she matched his tone.

"How would you know?" He asked frustratedly as he looked at his mother and noticed her expression was grim. "D-do you know something I don't?" She nodded solemnly.

"Mr. and Mrs. Granger spoke with me and told me that Hermione has already signed the "Do Not Resuscitate" form. The treatment period is almost over. We don't know how much longer is left." His mother said grimly.

"Why was I not informed of this sooner?" He said slowly as he stared in his mother's sad eyes.

"We thought she would have woken up by now. If we told you before, I-" She began to say as Draco ran straight out the door and disappear immediately into a whip of grey smoke once he reached the apparition area.

...

Gripping onto a copy of the parchment that held Hermione's Magical Signature, Draco slowly opened the door to her dark hospital room. As a source of dim light in the room, the metronome sat on one side of her bed and steadily swung to and fro as it matched her beating heart. She appeared so peaceful as if she was just resting for the moment. He walked to her side slowly as he pulled a chair close to the bed. As he sat, he reached for her hand and grasped it as if it he let go, she would disappear.

"Hermione. It's time to wake up." He said calmly but forlornly as he kissed the back of her hand and placed it against his cheek. He could feel her warm hand but he didn't feel the usual warmth he was used to when they normally embrace.

"It's time. It's time. Please. You are running out of time." He begged as he held her hand against his cheek. He placed the parchment that read with large letters on top "Do Not Resuscitate" on the night stand next to her bed. One side of the parchment apparent with creases of where he gripped it tightly. Draco brought his hand over and brushed a stray hair out of her face.

After studying her face and the parchment next to her for what seemed like hours, he stood up and shook her shoulders. "Wake up! It's time to wake up! Everyone is waiting for you! We need you!" He yelled desperately. He felt hopeless and beside himself. He didn't know what to do. With this new information, he was even more desperate. She was running out of time. What can he do now?

As the pendulum started to swing faster, the metronome next to the bed began to turn red in urgency as he continued to shake her. Bells coming from the device signaled the staff of the need of the patient for their presence.

Running in as soon as they could with their cloaks flowing behind them, they saw the scene before them. "Drake! Let go of her right now!" William shouted as he signaled the other healers to grab Draco away from Hermione.

"She's running out of time!" He said as he tried to break free to go back to her.

"I know, but we can't stress her body. All we can do is wait." William explained to him as Draco stared helplessly at the bed that Hermione laid.

"She's running out of time..." Draco said once more. He hung his head as he bit his lips to prevent himself from sobbing. A lone tear fell his cheek and quietly dripped to the ground of the hospital room.

A/n: Happy New Year, all! I know I said one last chapter but I split it up to two. So next one is surely my last. Sorry if this chapter isn't as good as the others. But I still hope you liked it.

One Punch!

Cheers to the new year,

DiagonAlleyorBust