A/N - Hope everyone is having a good weekend. I actually was able to get back online this week and so here is another chapter! Please leave reviews letting me know your thoughts! Enjoy this chapter!

Starting next weekend, I will continue on with my 2 chapter uploads again. Next update: 12/19!

Chapter 11

"Rennervate"

Hermione woke up on a bed she didn't recognize. It was bright outside, sun rays streaming into the room. She could feel someone sitting at the bottom of the bed. She rose to a seated position.

Looking around, she saw Harry was on a chair beside her bed. His face was grim, ashen and his lips were pressed to a thin line. Ron was further away, leaning against a wall, his eyebrows were tense and there was a small frown on his pale face. Theo was on the bed near her feet, staring ahead at the wall in front of him. She was surprised to see Harry and Ron.

Her throat felt dry. Memories of Malfoy's torture flashed in her mind. They felt disconnected, like it had been someone else tormenting and destroying his body. But it was her – she was the one that had hurt him. The image of his crumpled form with blood oozing out stayed in the forefront of her mind.

"Malfoy. Is he okay?" she asked tentatively

Silence. A few minutes passed and none of them looked at her.

Panic began to build up against her chest.

"Is he okay?" she asked again voice trembling

Theo spoke his voice soft but chilly. She had never heard him use that tone with her.

"Blaise was forced to put him in an induced coma last night - to stop the brain bleed. The barb charm has been completely withdrawn but he hasn't regained consciousness." He cleared his throat. "He should have woken up last night. We're not sure what to do. Blaise is concerned that he might have slipped into a permanent coma or there might be severe cognitive impairment if he does eventually wake." He paused. "They want to take him to St. Mungos."

"We need to take him! He needs healers. Why haven't you taken him yet?" her voice was hoarse

"The blood wards up. They can't leave. No one can leave the manor." His voice was soft

"Why?" she desperately asked. He didn't reply. The words from one of the books she read floated up to the surface of her mind.

….most known maledictus causes the victim constant debilitating pain with no possible form of relief via magical healing charms or potions. There are few recorded instances of blood curses that permanently alter the victim's physiology into animals. The rarest imprecation affects and addles with the receiver's mind. The mind is contaminated until all that remains of the witch is a desire to create evil in the world. One of the two documented cases occurred in 14th Century, France. Baroness Valerie von Treusau, a receiver of the malediction, developed the Cruciatus curse – a conjuration that inflicted intense, excruciating pain to her victims. She is recorded to have tortured and massacred every civilian in her town and three neighboring villages before she was slain by her lover Léopold d'Astier in her sleep. The second recorded case occurred in the 17th Century, 1692 in Salem Village, Massachusetts. Amelia Jones, a 13-year old witch, had butchered every child in the town under the age of 5. The fear of her insurmountable powers seeped and created hatred in non-magical beings. The MACUSA was established in 1693, and Amelia Jones was captured, tried and hanged for her horrific crimes. It is said that the maledictus unlocks the affected witch's core magic and provides them with insurmountable power. Once activated, the magic accessed is said to be impossible to overpower without the witch choosing to stop the heinous acts themselves. Several sorcerers have explored a combination of experimental dark and white magic in pursuit of breaking the curse. There is no known cure for any form of maledictus. The international magical community decreed on December 19, 1693 that any witch that displays symptoms of a blood curse that is not aligned with a physiological transformation or incapacitating pain will be executed to prevent horrors for the wizarding population. In 1927, Aalia Dravin in Hyderabad, India was arrested and sentenced to death after her maledictus triggered an attack causing her to slaughter her parents and younger sister. She went to authorities willing and confessed to her crime. All known families with blood curses are required by law to report it to authorities so as to provide governmental agencies access to pursue appropriate actions based on the form of the curse.

Theo had his face buried in his hands.

"The type of blood curse you have is not accepted in the wizarding community; you'll be executed the moment you turn yourself in, Hermione." His voice trembled slightly.

Hermione looked at her hands and noticed a large gash on her right palm.

"How did you get the blood wards up Theo?" she asked already knowing the answer

"Father was murdered in his cell two days ago. The manor transferred inheritance. It's your home now. You and I are the last of the Notts." He looked down at the cut on her hand. "I can't lose you too. You are the only family I have left."

Hermione went to get up out of the bed. She was going to take the wards down, let Blaise take Malfoy to the hospital and turn herself in. She deserved her fate after what she had done. She would rather end her life now than commit any more atrocities against innocent people. She knew without a doubt in her mind that the curse would push her towards terrible acts of evil. Before she could even fully move out of the bed, Harry's arm shot out and held her shoulder down restraining her. She felt Theo's forcefully grip her feet and Ron stepped away from the wall and blocked the path to the door with his wand out. Her face blanched in horror. She saw Theo raise his wand squarely against her chest.

"You are not leaving. You are not turning yourself in. We will find a way to break this curse. You are staying here, and it is your choice whether you remain conscious for it or not. I will not hesitate to stupefy you to protect you Hermione." Theo said determinedly

A sharp stab of pain pierced against her skull. She felt betrayed by her best-friends and anger began to build up in her. Hermione brought her hands up to her temples.

"Please calm down. Your anger activates the maledictus." Theo urgently said

"Hermione. Breathe." Harry's gently called out. "It's okay. In. and Out. That's it. Just Breathe."

She forced herself to calm down knowing that she would accidentally hurt them if she didn't. The pain reduced to a dull throb and she opened her eyes. Two hours passed and they all stayed in the room completely silent, immobile. Hermione watched the grand-father clock across the room and seconds continued to tick by, sunlight continued to stream into the room.

CRACK!

Vippy appeared in the room.

"Master! Come quick. Mister Draco is awake!"

Theo and Harry shot up and sprinted out of the room. Hermione heard thunderous steps as almost every occupant in the manor ran down the hallway towards Malfoy.

Hermione sat frozen in bed. She saw Ron step away from the wall he was leaning against. He walked up to a beautiful mahogany dresser and picked up a decorative glass bowl, emptying its contents. He sat down beside her on the bed and pointed his wand at the bowl.

"Aguamenti" he whispered

A stream of clear water filled the bowl. He then conjured a towel, dipped it in the water and gently wiped her face. When he brought the towel back to the bowl, the water turned scarlet as Malfoy's blood seeped out of the cloth.

His blue eyes were full of worry and concern. He reached out and held her hand and their fingers intertwined.

"Ron…I almost killed Draco Malfoy." she said hoarsely. "and I liked it."

Ron reached out and held her in a tight embrace. She burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.