Hermione snuggled deep in the covers of the bed. Draco had pulled the covers up around them, not to ward off any chill as there wasn't any with the fire still crackling, but in deference to Hermione's modesty. A fact she appreciated, even as she felt surprisingly at ease with everything that had just happened. She turned and smiled against his shoulder.
Draco stroked her hair absently as she rested against his chest. This was definitely against all the rules. Turning the Room of Requirement into their own private refuge had been a brilliant idea. But probably not what it had been intended for. She pressed a soft kiss against his skin, wishing she could stay in this quiet cocoon for a bit longer.
"How long can we stay here?" She hated asking the question. But it had to be said. Someone was bound to notice they were missing eventually. His hands stilled for a moment and then resumed their caresses, moving lower to grace her bare back.
"Forever if I had my way," he glanced at her, trying to hide his melancholy behind his trademark smirk. She snuggled closer and didn't say a word. She didn't want to break the magic spell they had woven in these walls. He pressed a fierce kiss to the top of her head.
"We're probably safe until early morning. No one will come looking for me. And since you've already spent one night here…" he smirked more fully this time, pleased that she had taken his advice that long ago night in the Tower.
"Another few hours then." She murmured. She wrapped an arm around his neck to pull him closer to her. She pressed her lips to his, feeling him smile. She liked making him smile. He seemed to do it so infrequently. But not around her. No when they were together it was as if he remembered how.
He gently rolled on top of her, stroking her sides, caressing her flesh. She shivered, then moaned, and then returned the favour. Her touches were bolder now, and less frenzied. This time they took their time. Sweet slow torture. Lingering touches. Hot warm kisses. Deliberate deep strokes.
Hermione lost herself in the ecstasy of it. Draco did the same. It was as if her touch was a drug and he couldn't get enough. Like she was oxygen and he was suffocating. He needed her. And she wasn't willing to give him up.
Days later, Hermione still felt a delicious buzz from their interlude. Everything was heightened. Her feelings. Her desire. Hermione knew that meant she was more invested in this than before, if that was possible. But even in the light of day, Hermione couldn't bring herself to regret that night. Amidst all the danger, all the secrets and lies, it was still one of the most monumental moments of her life. And she wouldn't have wanted it with anyone else.
Not that it truly changed anything. He had left her in the early morning, before the castle began to move with life again, and his eyes full of apology. But he wouldn't voice them. No, because he knew as well as she did that this was how their relationship had to be. And yet, for her, one thing had changed. Now he took a piece of her heart with him wherever he went. And that heart was beating through sudden fear.
It was dark as Hermione hastened through the halls, prompted by an overheard conversation in the girl's lavatory.
"I swear, Goyle is simply desperate for attention. He insisted he saw Draco stumbling up to the castle, blood spurting from his mouth. And of couse I had to just rush to his side." Pansy Parkinson's voice grew louder as she entered the lavatory. Hermione froze in her stall, anxious to hear more.
There was a nondescript grunt from her companion. "Time we got there, no Draco. I don't even think he was there," Pansy whined in a loud whisper. "He's never around anymore." The sound of running water muffled the voices. "But if he thinks I'd settle for him over the Malfoy heir, even with everything, he's even dumber than I thought."
Hermione was making her way to the Astronomy Tower in a frenzied state. It would not be the first time she found him licking his wounds there. But this time, she was more fearful than ever. When he told her he was going home for the Easter holidays, she had begged him, pleaded for him not to go. He had insisted that he had to return to his family and it struck her then how little had changed in the grand scheme of things. It had infuriated her that he would take such risks for no apparent reason. Not all students returned home for the holidays. She didn't. Ron didn't.
And now he was back? Early at that. How had he managed it? Students usually returned by train, as usual, at the end of the week. There were still two days left before everyone was due back. And, unlike Pansy, Hermione somehow didn't think that Goyle was wrong. Knowing Draco's determination, he had most likely dragged himself away from prying eyes.
Anger mixed with the fear. He was so concerned about protecting his mother. But who was protecting him? Every time he went home – every damn time – he came back more damaged than before. He was shattering before her eyes and she didn't know how to stop it.
She apprehensively entered the Astronomy Tower, hoping she was wrong.
"Draco?" she called out softly. It sounded crazy, but she was sure she could feel him here. She moved further into the room just as the moon cast a beam straight onto an unconscious form. Hermione gasped as she took in Draco's crumpled body. Hermione dropped to his side, noting his pasty pallor and the blood which still slowly seeped in a dark river down his jaw.
"No…" the word came out slowly, drawn out in a whisper. Desperate, Hermione began checking for signs of life, feeling for a pulse.
"Please, please, please" she placed her fingers by his neck. And then cursed herself for her stupidity. Was she a witch or not? She pulled out her wand and ran some of the healing spells she had learned for this purpose, looking for some signs of life.
"Not dead… but what is wrong with you?" She whispered. Closing her eyes, she tried to think, tried to control her emotions and stem the tears that were precariously close to coming. He was alive and she could breathe again. But she couldn't figure out why he was unconscious. And despite her efforts she couldn't revive him.
Hermione began to panic again. She couldn't simply leave him here. They couldn't tell anyone, but if he stayed like this he could die. But what would she say? How could she explain this? There was only one person Hermione could think of to confide in and she prayed that she wasn't making the wrong decision.
"I'm sorry," She whispered as she stroked back the hair on his forehead. Then she leapt up and darted down the tower's stairs. Down, down, down, Hermione traveled through the castle with more speed than she ever had moved before. She didn't pause to think that she should conceal herself or that she should move cautiously. She just knew that Draco needed help now and she knew where to find it.
She entered the dungeons and burst through the door to the Potions classroom. Making her way to what she hoped was the door to the professor's private quarters, she began banging on it in earnest.
"Professor! Professor Snape, please!" she exclaimed, willing that she was in the right place and that she wouldn't have a bunch of Slytherins greeting her instead. She kept banging, not noticing the figure that emerged from behind her.
"Miss Granger, I expect you want a month's detention if you think you can –" Hermione spun around at the sound of Professor Snape's voice and interrupted him instantly.
"Oh not this nonsense now!" She snapped. "Just come. It's Draco." Before hearing his response, Hermione had darted back out the door and ran back up the stairs, praying that he was following her. She hadn't gone to him in vain. He quietly and swiftly moved behind her, keeping up with her frantic pace.
It was only when she went up the steps a second time that she noticed the tell-tale spots of blood on the floor. When she burst back into the tower, Draco was as he had left her. She was by his side in an instant, unsure what to do next, but not wanting to leave him.
It took only a moment for Professor Snape to swoop down next to Draco's form.
"And just what did your stupid friends do to him?" he hissed, his wand sweeping back and forth doing diagnostics.
Hermione stared at him, mortified. "They did nothing! They don't even know I'm here! I came and found him—" Hermione's voice caught as the reality of the situation pressed upon her. They didn't know she was here. But at the moment, it was a secondary concern. Hermione blindly grasped for Draco's hand, and became more worried as he remained unconscious despite Professor Snape's spellwork.
"I thought he was dead…" she whispered, the tears pooling in her eyes. Professor Snape was not oblivious. Her actions, her words... Snape unconsciously lowered his wand and stared at Hermione in horrified wonder. Hermione was so caught up in her own fear that she didn't see that her feelings for Draco were written clearly upon her tear-streaked face. Not willing to let the girl know that what a blow this knowledge was, Snape proceeded to poke and prod at Draco.
"I will take him to the dungeons. I believe I know the cause of his state and should have an antidote in my laboratory. Levicorpus" Draco's body rose into the air and floated in front of Snape as he guided the boy down the stairs. Hermione released his hand, but followed his floating body. Despite her fears and emotional state, she still knew enough to clear any evidence that they had been there. A simple Scurgify removed the blood stains from the floors and steps as they made their way back down.
Somehow they made it back to the dungeons in one piece. Hermione had a suspicion that Snape had done something to ensure that, but her current state wouldn't allow her to ask any questions about that at the moment.
Severus knew that the girl had followed him and wondered if it would be best to send her away. Whatever was going on between the two students was serious indeed, and most likely dangerous for both. He would need to talk to Draco. This was an unexpected development and would need careful handling. After he had lowered Draco to the sofa in his private rooms, he turned to Miss Granger, intending to order her to leave.
"If you think I am going anywhere, Professor, you are sorely mistaken," she said before he had the chance to open his mouth. She had already made herself comfortable in a nearby armchair, and was had her arms wrapped around her middle, as if restraining herself.
"I will stay out of your way, but I will not leave him. So you best get to healing him."
Severus stared at Miss Granger, surprised at her attitude. He could force her to leave, use magic or threaten to reveal their secret. But he wouldn't. For now at least, this was something best kept within these walls. He had no intention of admitting this, but the witch had done something few could. She had surprised him. Perhaps that was why this entire situation made him feel out of sorts. So, in a surprising act of acquiescence, he let her stay.
"If you are going to stay, you may as well be of some use," he snapped, "Go to that cupboard behind you and dampen some of the towels. Though the antidote will work, he will be fitful and feverish for some time after." Hermione leapt to her feet to do as instructed while Severus went to obtain the necessary potions. He propped Draco up and managed to pour the contents down his throat. Hermione sat by his side, damp towels at the ready. Draco started to toss and murmur agitatedly.
"It's all right Draco, I'm here, you're safe," she murmured as she gently stroked his head. Severus watched her incredulously. How had this happened? Before he could ask, Hermione had questions of her own that needed answering.
"What has happened to him? A curse? A potion? And who did it?" She demanded, her eyes never leaving Draco's face. As if somehow Snape had all the answers that Draco could not give her in his present state.
Snape watched the two of them and wondered why the girl was so open with her feelings in front of him. Did the Headmaster know of this? McGonagall? Her friends most certainly didn't. He pondered a moment, debating how much he should reveal to her.
Considering his position, he decided on something as close to the truth as he could surmise.
"Rodolphus likes to dabble in Potions," he admitted hesitantly. It was quite possible that Miss Granger knew this already, Draco being related to the man through marriage. "Bellatrix prefers the Cruciatus. However, under special circumstances, and after she's had her fun, she will turn to Rodolphus when extreme measures are necessary."
Hermione's head snapped up as a new fear began to unfurl in her stomach. She locked eyes with the Professor.
"What extreme measures? And when—" she swallowed audibly, "when would those measures be needed?"
Snape maintained eye contact, intending on using Legillimency. Hermione was prepared. She knew what he would do once they were facing each other. It was only the slight tick in his jaw that revealed his displeasure and surprise that she had managed to evade him. Satisfaction temporarily bloomed in her chest. Oh, he could probe deeper, harder. But he wouldn't risk it. And, as per Draco's ideas, she had managed to redirect her thoughts instead of banishing him from her mind. He was not expecting that.
Eyes narrowed, Snape sat in the seat across from her. A heavy dose of reality was needed. This entire affair was much too dangerous for a pair of teenagers!
"He may have used his amended Veritaserum." Hermione gave a sharp intake of breath, but Snape gave her no mind. "Unfortunately, I have no way of detecting that at present, with Mister Malfoy's state." Snape turned and wiped the blood from the side of Draco's mouth.
"This though was the first clue that he had used something else. No this," he gestured at Draco's feverish body, "this is a warning." Or a punishment, the Potion's Master thought.
"What is it exactly?" Hermione asked, her mind still as curious as ever. More comfortable with this familiar territory, Snape briefly provided an explanation.
"Something along the lines of a reverse blood-replenishing potion. It is slow-acting and worms its way through the system. The blood is slowly drained from the victim, usually poured out through various orifices." Hermione flinched in horror at the viciousness of such a potion.
"That's, that's disgusting. Appalling," she turned to Draco once more. A quick perusal revealed that blood had only come from his mouth. Snape answered the question before she asked.
"He was not given a full dose. A diluted one, or perhaps another modification," he sneered at the word, "that Rodolphus has made. But my antidote, with the help of a blood-replenishing potion, should work over the next few hours.
And it is meant, Miss Granger, to be appalling. Rodolphus uses it as a form of torture, the promise of the antidote the dangling carrot."
"A few hours?" Hermione whispered. She couldn't stay here a few hours, could she? She quickly drew a mental picture of the Marauder's Map and with relief realized that the Professor's private quarters were never seen on it. She had used the excuse of needing to get away from Lavender and Parvati's late night chats the last time she slept in the Room of Requirement. Such an excuse would work again. She hoped.
"Patience is part of the art of Potions, Miss Granger. He will survive," he added a touch more gently.
They both stared at the unconscious boy in silence. Severus frowned. What he would like to know most of all was who had decided that Draco needed to be punished to such an extent. And for what reason. Not that he would share that with Miss Granger. He had given her enough information to think about for one evening.
"Why?" Hermione whispered, so quietly that Snape might not have needed reply.
"That is a question only Mister Malfoy can answer."
And both conscious figures in the room worried about one thing. That the reason Draco Malfoy lay in this state was because the secret was out.
A/N: Thanks to everyone for reading, following, favoriting, and reviewing! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :)