Chapter 38
The Malfoy's returned to their manor, and prepared to sleep for a few hours before getting up and starting the day. They were all exhausted and could think of nothing but a nice lay in.
Unfortunately a short 2 hours after going to bed they were awoken by Hermione screams. Draco jumps up with his wand drawn and looks at Hermione, he sees that she is asleep but screaming
"Hermione what is wrong, please wake up."
Narcissa knocks and enters, "what is going on?"
"I have no idea I can't get her to wake."
Narcissa walks to the bed and tries to wake Hermione; she then sends a patronus to their healer to meet them at St. Mungo's Hospital. "Draco wrap her in a blanket and lets floo to the hospital our healer will meet us there."
Draco gathers Hermione into his arms and wraps a blanket around her as her screams change to heart wrenching sobs.
Draco continues to try to talk to her as they floo through to the hospital, as they walk out of the floo their family healer motions them to follow him.
Once in the examination room he begins to question them. "Has she ever responded like this before? Has she been under any spell? And many more, all of which Draco can't answer.
Narcissa speaks up, "Call Molly and Hermione's friends they may know something."
Draco walks to the floo and calls for Molly, Harry, Ron and Ginny soon they all step through to the hospital.
Harry and Molly run to Hermione, and the doctor starts questioning them.
Harry speaks up, "I've never seen her this bad, even after the final battle she didn't have this bad of time of it. The Cruciatus Curse is causing this."
The doctor nods and orders several vials from the cupboard. He raises her head and pours the potions down her throat, slowly Hermione starts to relax. Once she begins to relax he talks to all of the people present.
Her body is very sensitive to changes from the curse do you have any idea of how long she was tortured?
Draco nods, "Well over an hour and by Bellatrix it was the worst possible."
The doctor nods, "She may have to live with the pain and rebounds the rest of her life. I'm sure that all of the stress with the new laws and the constant magic and spells that the ministry is placing on all of you along with the strain of the holidays has brought this on. I have given her some dreamless sleep potion along some potions to relax her. She should sleep comfortably tonight, we can either keep her here at the hospital or you can take her home. I'll be by to check on her in the morrow."
Draco sighed, "I would feel better if she was at home where she would be comfortable. If you will stop by tomorrow I would appreciate it."
Draco and Narcissa thanked the rest of the group and flooed home. Hermione slept through the entire floo home and sighed when Draco laid her gently on the bed and covered her up."
Draco laid down beside Hermione and pulled her to him while he settled in to sleep for a few hours.
At noon Hermione woke with a startle. Thinking to herself she realized that she was hurting all over and cramping so badly she wanted to moan.
Draco realized that she was awake and rolled over to see her grimacing, he jumped out of bed and ran to the table to get the potion the doctor had sent home with them. He raised Hermione up and got her to drink the potion then cast a warming spell on the bed to help with the cramps.
Hermione looked at Draco, "What's going on what was that potion?"
"Shhhh you had a spell last night, we took you to St. Mungo's Hospital the potion is a muscle relaxer to help with the cramps. The doctor will be through later today to take a look at you again. You had a relapse from the curse that Bellatrix used on you during the war."
Hermione started to cry, "Why do I have to do this, others have been cursed and not had this type of relapse. I don't even remember this one I have no idea of what happened last night."
"It's ok I am here we will get through this the doctor thinks that ll the spells the ministry are using to keep us from using birth control and the fertility spells are all part of the reason you had such a bad relapse."
Hermione looked at Draco, "I'm sorry you are getting such a broken wife."
"Shhhhhh if you are broken it's no fault of your own it is the fault of my own blood. I swear we will find a way to stop this. I'll talk to Severus as soon as we return to school I'm sure he will know something that will help."
Hermione slowly falls back to sleep as the muscle relaxer works and the warmth of the bed releases the muscles.
Draco decides that he is awake he will shower and get some brunch. In the dining room he finds his mother already awake and having a small meal.
"How is hermione? Has she awoken?"
"She woke up in pain and I gave her another dose of muscle relaxer like the healer suggested. She has fallen back asleep. I hope she sleeps for a while and feels better when she wakes. I need to get some thing to drink and eat in her."
"Draco you know it's not your fault, why are you taking all of this on yourself."
"Mother how can you say that! Your own sister caused this, father and his want of all this power it's all coming back right to our family." Draco storms out and returns to his room to sit and watch Hermione sleep; and he cat naps off and on for several hours.
At 2:30 there is a soft knock on the door and Narcissa enters with the healer behind her.
Draco sits up and Hermione starts to stir.
The healer sits on the edge of the bed and asks Hermione how she is feeling.
"Still some cramping but not nearly as bad as they were this morning or was it afternoon when I woke up."
Draco spoke up, "Hermione woke up around noon and was in pain, I gave her another dose of the muscle relaxer and put a warming spell on the bed."
The doctor nodded, "So you are cramping all over now or just in places? And is this the worst you have ever responded?"
"Mostly it is now in my legs and torso the terrible pain I get in my head and arms is easing off. I think it must be I don't remember anything about last night and the pain I was in at noon was almost as bad as I have had."
The healer told her about his thought that all the spells the Ministry was placing and the fact that she was exhausted had all caused it to be so bad. "I suggest that you try to rest till you return to school and make sure that you take plenty of time for yourself once you return to school. Your body has not healed from all it was put through during the war."
Hermione nods and thens asks, "May I get up and return to normal now?"
Yes you can but please make sure you take either a dreamless sleep potion or a muscle relaxer at least once or twice a week to make sure that your body can sleep well and repair it's self."
Hermione agrees, and tells the healer goodbye. After Narcissa and the Healer leaves Hermione stretches and sits up.
"I'm going to get a shower," she kisses Draco's cheek as she walks by.
Draco calls for Danky and orders Hermione a bowl of soup, fruit and tea.
When she comes out of the shower Draco sits and visits with Hermione as she sips at her soup and nibbles on a little fruit.
"Hermione, I want to apologize to you it's all my fault that you have to deal with this."
Hermione stares at Draco, "What in the world are you talking about, you didn't do this to me!"
"I didn't personally, but my family inflicted the Cruciatus Curse on you."
"Draco I could be much worse if you hadn't taken part of the curse onto yourself. I'm fine it's a just a war scar like many others deal with."
Draco just shakes his head, "You are the most amazing person I know."
He gets up goes over and kisses her and pulls her into his arms.