Hello friends. (beware of the long AN. Feel free to skip it and go straight to the chapter)
I know I said I would get you a chapter before Monday, but you'll have to just deal with me being a day late :p
Life is currently insane. I worked 14 hours today, and 10 yesterday. I sorta feel like I'm dying?
Add a decent sized bruise to my cheek...
A dislocated ankle...
And a blow to the heart...
...And that's a little, tiny slice into my offline life. It's just been a rough two days on top of a decently hard couple of weeks on top of a crappy semester. It was actually really hard for me to write what was going on for Hermione and not project my own emotions into it.
Ever feel annoyed because you know you should be happy too? I've got a really cool job (internship actually) and some crazy opportunities opening up. Add that to the fantastic people in my life and you should get a rounded, happy person, right?
BTW..My friend let me know that I have nearly 300 people following this story? Like. What? You guys are incredible and I can't believe so many of you are sticking with me!
I love you all!
Enough rambling/complaining. Here's the chapter. Let me know what you think and if you have any ideas for any part of this fic!
Disclaimer: Do I have to do this anymore?
Part 22
Hermione woke up to hushed voices talking urgently. There was a pale blue glow to the room, a sign of how late it was in the night, and it took Hermione some time before she realized where she was.
Her back ached awkwardly as she sat up properly in her chair, and she had to stretch the crick in her neck slowly or else, she somehow knew, it would hurt even worse. She had been using a mix between the hospital wing's bed and Draco's hand as a pillow.
Her eyes flicked over to the Slytherin, who was sleeping rather peacefully. He looked better now than he did before they both had fallen asleep, but the bruising on his face was still colorful and he was still covered in bandages.
When had they fallen asleep?
'After we kissed,' Hermione thought, a fresh blush setting her cheeks aglow. Of course, they had talked a little more after their kiss, but not about much.
"He should be tried as an adult," a voice whispered, failing to do so quietly. Hermione frowned. So this is what had woken her up? Biting her lip, she inched towards the drawn curtain, wanting to be able to hear better, but also not wanting to get caught.
"He's just a child Minerva," Madame Pomphrey scolded.
"He's seventeen and performing dark magic on students!"
Hermione frowned and leaned closer to the curtain. They were talking about Nott, quite obviously. She wanted nothing more than to vocalize her agreement with the points Professor McGonagall was making.
"Minerva," Dumbledore interjected. Hermione could see the outline of him placing a gentle hand on the Head of Gryffindor's shoulder. "You know the situation is more complicated than that."
Hermione made a small face, her eyebrows tightening and her lips pursing. Maybe the situation was more complicated, but didn't the safety of Hogwart's students matter?
"And you do too, Miss Granger," Dumbledore added, turning towards the curtain. Hermione's eyes widened. She should've expected the wizened old man to be able to catch her snooping, but he had never called her, or any of her friends, out in previous situations that were so similar.
"I supposed I must, Professor," Hermione replied quietly, glancing at Draco to make sure he was still asleep before slipping past the curtain and coming face to face with Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, Sprout, and Madam Pomphrey. So, the whole lot of them were there? Hermione frowned slightly. Why were they gathering here when they had enchanted studies that would keep their conversation more private?
That is—Hermione had to stifle a gasp—unless they wanted someone to hear them?
"I would like to ask you what you think the best course of action is, Miss Granger," Dumbledore spoke, and Hermione glanced up to see his clear-blue eyes twinkling under his half-moon spectacles. The look on his face answered her suspicions: he had directed the conversation here because he knew she would try and listen in.
What a cunning old man.
Hermione took a glance at all of the professors: McGonagall was looking rather indignant. She wasn't going to be changing her mind any time soon. Sprout was frowning, but looked just as concerned as Madam Pomphrey. Snape had his jaw set, but Hermione could tell he was worried too. What he was worried about, she had no clue. Flitwick honestly just looked tired. It had to be far past midnight.
"Well," she started slowly, turning her gaze back to Dumbledore, "from a logical standpoint, he should be expelled and tried as an adult because he is of legal age, despite him still being a student."
Dumbledore's eyes were still twinkling. He knew she wasn't done.
"However," she continued, sighing as she glanced behind her at Draco's curtained bed, "He is only seventeen with his full life ahead of him. Also, we have to take into account what sort of family he grew up in. I feel like it is safe to assume that he grew up under the influence of the death eaters and dark arts, and to some people that can be very overwhelming and controlling."
She winced and adjusted her robes, still feeling relatively tired, but also knowing she had to say what was in her head.
"What would be best for Nott, and the school alike if things go well, is reformation. Restricting magic, possibly, when he is not in class or is not near a mentor, might be useful. Most importantly, we need to show Nott what our side has to offer. We are forgiving. We want everyone to be able to live together."
She took a deep breath as she stopped talking and, by the way Dumbledore was smiling at her, she seemed to have done a good job. But she wasn't finished yet.
"It is necessary to note that any more repeat offenses will not be tolerated. If he continues on in this fashion, endangering the students, then a proper trial may be a requirement," she finished, seeing McGonagall nod out of the corner of her eye. Dumbledore seemed slightly hesitant at first, and Hermione knew that he would have a hard time giving up on a brilliant young mind like that, but she could also see that he knew it would be necessary.
"If no one has objections," Dumbledore said, turning to the group of professors, none of which seemed too be having any objections, "then I believe this matter is settled. Severus, perhaps you and I can work out the details of this arrangement in the morning?"
Snape nodded, glancing at Nott's bed before turning to Dumbledore. "Of course," he stated simply.
The Headmaster smiled before reaching into his robe, carefully pulling out a handful of yellow candies. "Lemon drop?" he offered Hermione, giving the Gryffindor a wink as if to tell her that she answered well.
/-|-/-|-\-|-\
"You look exhausted," Ginny stated from the couch in front of the fire as Hermione slipped into the Gryffindor common room.
Hermione rolled her eyes and flopped down beside the redhead. "Why are you still up?" she asked, ignoring the younger girl's comment.
"Everyone was worried, so I offered to stay up just in case you needed someone."
Hermione's eyes softened, and she looked to the flames. Had everyone truly been worried? It wasn't like she had been going anywhere unsafe, so they must have realized it would be her emotions that were hit the hardest.
"How did the rest of the meeting go?" she asked, changing the subject again. She started to chew on the inside of her cheek.
"Everyone was pretty tense, but they are all good people, so the time spent there wasn't deconstructive," Ginny explained with a shrug. "Is Malfoy okay?"
Hermione was unable to stop the blush that ghosted her cheeks. "There was an altercation between him and Nott, and he took a few, nasty curses, but he will be ok."
She tried to keep her story short and report like, but Ginny knew her to well.
"What happened?" the redhead asked, shifting on the sofa so she was hugging her knees and looking expectantly at Hermione, who gave a small sigh.
"Nott attacked some first year Slytherin who wanted to be a part of-"
"Not with Nott," Ginny interrupted quickly, her voice tinged with excitement. "What happened between you and Draco?"
Hermione felt her blush deepen. "Oh."
"Oh what?" Ginny was leaning into Hermione now. "Come on. Spill."
Giving a slightly nervous laugh, she looked at Ginny, her eyes shining and a smile dancing on her lips.
"We kissed."
The squeal that Ginny gave must have woken someone up, but she didn't seem to care. "About time!" she said with a triumphant laugh. "Now, tell me everything."
AN 2.0: I'm going to give you guys a mission.
PM me with a prompt. It can be anywhere from 1 to 100 words (I guess it could be more, but at that point you are practically writing a fic XD) and over the next couple of weeks I'll be including those prompts in my writing, most likely as a one-shot. Please indicate in your PM if you would like to be mentioned when I post the writing that goes to your prompt!
Please take on this mission. I'm going to start writing after work (in this really nice place to write downtown) and I'm a little rusty so I could use some help getting some things, even if they are just little, off the ground.
Thanks!