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Chapter 8
Draco steadied himself and stood away from the waste bin he was holding unto for security. He had no idea what was wrong, but he had woken up that morning feeling faint and unbalanced, now he was obviously sick to his stomach but his pride wouldn't lead
/him to the hospital. He knew there had to be a logical explanation for his sickness and wanted to find it and remedy it as soon as possible.
He passed his hand across his face, knowing he must look as terrible as he felt. He stepped away from the bin, and slowly made his way to the dormitories.
He started to walk towards the dungeons, as not to be seen, he wasn't in the mood or condition for a conversation. To his dismay, as he stepped into a brightly lit corridor he heard hurried voices and steps his way, in the distance he saw a bobbing head
/of curly brown hair, he knew could be no one else.
Hermione. He rolled his eyes. Of course she'd be looking for him. Of course she'd be—
Draco stopped abruptly and pushed himself up behind the wall he was about to turn. He scowled in disgust realizing not only was she not alone, she was accompanied by her ex Ron Weasley. Their conversation sounded too pleasant for his liking.
Draco sucked up the desire he had to vomit and stayed silent, hoping the pair would pass so he could walk on unseen. They didn't pass and every time Hermione giggled, Draco grew more agitated.
"Oh Ron! It will be fun, we'll invite Harry and Ginny." Her laugh grew louder as Ron objected to her suggestion.
"Or we could….you know, go alone."
Draco balled his fists as jealously swelled up inside of him. He couldn't understand it but he was overflowing with rage and could no longer contain it.
Hermione had laughed softly at Ron's response. "Ron, I—well I don't see why not actually-
Rolling his eyes and pulling himself forward with all the strength he could muster, Draco marched to where Hermione and Ron were conversing and, dismissing Ron altogether, addressed Hermione hotly.
"You're daft if you think I'm allowing you to go anywhere with this—this Weasley."
Ron scoffed, drawing his wand quickly. "Malfoy what are you—
"Allow me?" Hermione cut Ron off, waving her hand at him to lower his wand. She rolled her eyes, but her expression wasn't angry it was worried.
Draco nodded slowly, he tried to steady himself for balance but swayed and missed it. He stumbled a bit but forced himself to straighten.
Hermione gave him an odd expression, giving Ron another worried look over his shoulder.
"Draco, you don't look well, let me take you—
"I don't need your help…I-I-I'm fine." His words were slurred and unclear. Hermione gasped reaching out to him, he waved his arm at her stumbling backwards.
Hermione's expression turned to one of fear now, stepping towards him as he again lost his balance.
"Draco I don't understand, you're not speaking clearly."
Draco shook his head, stepped over his own foot, balancing and stumbling again. Hermione nodded and embraced him by taking both of his hands attempting to steady him. He swayed and his vision blurred.
He heard Ron's voice, a faint distant noise. "Hermione, what is wrong with him? He looks like death!"
Draco's eyes fluttered shut, he felt Hermione's small frame wrap around him as he collapsed and her small voice yelled for Ron to help, then everything went black.
…..
Hermione paced around Draco's bed in the hospital wing, a million different thoughts going through her mind. She had sent an owl for Narcissa, but knew she wouldn't be allowed on Hogwarts grounds, and she'd sent word for Blaise hours ago and he hadn't
/turned up. She had no idea what was ailing Draco and seeing him unconscious and unresponsive was frightening.
Just my luck, not only am I married to the git, but now I'm his only reliable relative. Hermione frowned looking around the empty hospital wing. A part of her was frustrated with the situation, being unable to figure out what was wrong with Draco,
/another side of her wanted to walk away from the situation and throw her feelings into the fire, another, bigger side of her knew that something odd was going on and this was the beginning.
She had no idea why Blaise hadn't turned up. It had been almost five hours since Draco collapsed in the corridor. Ron had found Ginny immediately and told her the news, but she'd hurried to the hospital wing alone. Hermione's inquiries about Blaise went
/unanswered with a shrug and uninterested tone from Ginny. Hermione had been curious, but silent about Ginny's indifferent attitude at the time, now she knew something must be going on with Blaise. He was Draco's best friend, and his only friend at
/that. Where could he be? Why wouldn't he at least check in on him?
Hermione snapped out of her thoughts, her hand absently lying on Draco's bed. He let out a groan in his sleep that made Hermione sigh in relief. His breathing was growing stronger. When she and Ron had dragged him to the hospital wing, she wasn't sure
/if he would make it out alive his breaths were so faint and his body so pale.
Madame Promfrey had no sure explanation for his state, she was convinced it must have been poison, but with Draco unresponsive there was no way of them knowing what and how much of whatever it was that he ate or drank.
Hermione thought back to the morning. Draco had been up and gone before she'd woke, he had to have left before light. Something she hadn't found odd at the time, Draco was for the most part insistent upon being on time for his commitments, his first day
/of class wasn't one she thought he'd dismiss. Still, he'd shown up half an hour late, unprepared for class.
Hermione rubbed her temples. His behavior had been strange today, but she had no real idea what his normal behavior was like, only from a distance. She had very little knowledge of his personal habits, current interests, if he actually had more than one
/friend, distant relatives etc. They had yet to have cozy personal story time.
"How is he?"
Hermione was shaken from her thoughts again by a soft voice behind her. She turned to see Harry in the doorway. Brushing strands of hair behind her ear, she returned her gaze to Draco.
"His breathing has improved."
Harry approached Hermione's chair, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I don't know if I should be happy or worried for you." A small smile formed on his lips, Hermione returned the smile before letting out a long sigh.
"I don't know.." She removed her hand from the bed and clasped her hands. "I said, I do."
Harry nodded slowly. "What did Madame Promfrey tell you?"
"He's most likely been poisoned."
Harry nodded again, looking Draco over. "He looks like hebarely missed death."
Hermione shrugged turning to face Harry. "Harry, whoever did this wanted Draco dead. Blaise hasn't made an appearance, Ginny is acting strange…I-I'm worried something strange is going on."
Harry shifted uncomfortably at Ginny's name. "Has she been here?"
Hermione gave him a questioning look, then understanding nodded. "Briefly…" She looked over Draco and placed her hand on the side of the his bed frame. "She had no information about Blaise's whereabouts."
"That's curious."
Hermione nodded, watching Harry's eyes move around the room nervously.
"Harry do you know anything?"
Harry shook his head quickly. "About this? Of course not. Ron told me and I came as soon as I heard—
"I mean Pansy. I know she's not Draco's biggest fan anymore…but she said nothing to you?"
Harry thought for a moment before continuing slowly. "Well..she was going on about Blaise earlier when Ginny—
Harry was cut off by quick footsteps coming from the hall. Both of their heads flew to the doorway. Blaise appeared marching hastily to Draco's bedside. Another person followed, tall, pale, clean cut, with a smirk planted on his face, Theodore Nott gave
/both Harry and Hermione a look over before addressing them.
"Fancy you being here, Potter." The words came out with agitation written all over them. Blaise didn't look at Hermione or Harry as they inched away from Draco. Theodore continued to stare them down with a look of reproach on his face. "I suspect, congratulations
/are in order. I apologize I could not make it to your…ceremony, Mrs. Malfoy." At this he grinned mischievously, earning a eye roll from Blaise.
Hermione didn't respond to him, her attention was on Blaise who was focused on Draco.
"I sent word for you hours ago." Hermione cleared her throat as Blaise looked up to meet her gaze. "He—he collapsed, he looked awful..worse than this morning, obviously." Blaise' eyes went back to Draco as she spoke. "They think he's been poisoned."
"Poisoned?" Theodore repeated, he exchanged a quick glance with Blaise.
"I only just heard.." Blaise spoke softly but it was clear that he was distracted and had only been able to break away from whatever he was doing recently.
Hermione looked at the two men, they were both immaculately dressed, like they had just returned from a business dinner or show. Theodore looked better than she'd ever seen him and his tone was entirely too relaxed for her comfort.
"Now that you are here…I supposed I can get a bite to eat." Hermione stood slowly, pushing her chair to the side.
"We will be sure to update you, Mrs. Malfoy." Theodore smirked, satisfied with himself. Hermione shot him a glare before turning to Harry and exiting the room.
Theodore Nott was one more strange addition to the already confusing puzzle that now needed to be solved. What the hell was he doing back at Hogwarts?
….
"Theodore Nott? I thought he was expelled!" Ron shouted with a roll stuffed in his mouth and a chicken leg in either hand.
Harry shook his head slowly, giving Ron a disgusted eye roll. "No, clear as day. He's here, at Hogwarts."
Ginny shifted in her seat. "He went to see Draco alone?"
Hermione waved her hand at Ron who was reaching for another roll with food already piled high on his plate. "Goodness Ronald slow down!" Ron stopped to adjust the food's position on his plate before continuing to eat. "No, Ginny..Blaise was with him."
"Oh." Ginny quickly chugged her pumpkin juice and shot a glance over to the Slytherin table. She saw Pansy barking loudly with her friends, Blaise was still missing in action. She hadn't seen him since the morning. The note from his mother was still embedded
/in her mind, it was all she could think of.
"Well then..Theo—
"We don't know." Harry shook his shoulder crumbs falling from his robes. "Honestly Ron, slow down, are you really so nervous?"
Ron nodded, his eyes roaming down the Gryffindor table. Ron had been avoiding Parvati in every possible way, for reasons he made unknown to his friends. Harry knew it probably had something to do with his sleeping arrangements. Parvati stayed out till
/the latest possible hour and Ron did the same.
Harry chuckled at the thought. "You'll have to see her again eventually." He whispered to himself.
Hermione shook her head. "It's very strange, does he have a partner, why would he turn up a monthlater than everyone else?"
Ron washed down a mouthful of food with pumpkin juice and sighed. "Wicked git, probably too much of a risk to marry off."
Hermione frowned. "…but Draco…they're both."
"Draco signed a plea deal Hermione, and Blaise—
"Blaise wasn't involved with the Deatheaters at all." Ginny spoke quickly, pushing her food to the side and gathering her things. "It's possible Nott just made his decision to return, we really know nothing…"
Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged looks as Ginny walked out of the Great Hall. She was in a curiously badmood, and it obviously had something to do with Blaise.
Hermione pushed away her food giving Harry a worried look.
"I think maybe you should find out what Pansy was talking about earlier." Hermione looked after Ginny. "I want to know who poisoned Draco, and what's Blaise got to do with it."
"And where Theodore Nott came from." Ron added, beginning to stuff food in his mouth again.
"Guess you know where I'll start." Hermione grabbed her bag and stood to leave.
"The library." Harry and Ron chimed together.
Hermione nodded before heading out of the Great Hall.
….
Blaise fussed with his suit as he stepped away from Draco's bed to make room for Madame Promfrey. Draco had woken up shortly after Hermione left for dinner. Theodore had taken a seat on the opposite side of the bed and they'd been arguing before Draco
/yelped for water.
"Is it alright then?" Theodore was standing behind Madame Promprey, looking over her shoulder as she checked Draco's vitals.
"Back away, please."
Blaise rolled his eyes as Theodore stepped back slowly.
"I can help him back to his dormitory, I'm his roommate."
Madame Promprey nodded and walked away from Draco, who was silent, looking from one person to the other. "That won't be necessary. He is not well enough to return to his dormitory just yet, he will remain here tonight…I'll fetch him a tonic, he should
/be recovered by morning."
Blaise nodded slowly approaching Draco's bed again.
"Alright then, mate?"
Draco looked at Blaise, nodded slowly, turning to Theodore.
Slowly he whispered the words. "What…. The…heavens…are you doing here Theo?"
Theodore laughed. "I came to join you here, thought it'd be fun."
Blaise glared at him, running a hand across his face. "They say you've been poisoned."
Draco furrowed his brows. "Poison?"
Blaise nodded looking down at his friend. "Do you know what you could've—
"Alright! Both of you, go on, he needs his rest." Madame Promfrey returned with a small bottle of potion in her hand. "Alright then! Be on."
Blaise and Theodore exchanged looks before nodded to Draco. "We'll be back in the morning."
Draco coughed loudly, making them all stop to look at him.
"And….Hermione…?" The room fell silent.
Blaise smirked. "She left not too long ago, stayed here most of the day."
Draco didn't respond, he nodded to Madame Promfrey for his potion as his friends left.
…..
Ginny rolled her eyes impatiently as she paced the old Gryffindor common room. Pansy had assured her she'd be on time when she'd requested to meet with her. She was now almost an hour late and Ginny was ready to throw in the towel all together. Agreeing
/to meet with Pansy was something Ginny did reluctantly, she felt she had no other choice and wanted answers before she blindly questioned Blaise. Forgetting herself she began to make her way back to the dungeons to her dormitory, when she heard
/whispers.
She stopped and hidebehind a wall, peeking slowly, she saw Pansy and Theodore. They were standing close, whispering so low their voices were hardly audible.
"I am telling him nothing!" Pansy hissed. Ginny could see that Theodore was holding unto her robes, he must'vecornered her here when she was leaving. "I want no part in this I told him—
"Since when are you so dismissive? This is serious, you married Potter you of all people—
"Listen Theo, I want nothing to do with this plan of yours, let me go!"
They grew silent as the door to a dorm opened and giggling students ran out. Theodore pushed Pansy closer to wear Ginny was hiding.
"You help me, or you become a casualty."
Pansy snorted. "I am not afraid of you Nott!"
Theodore huffed and shoved Pansy back unto the wall, she lost some of her balance and slipped but didn't fall over. Theodore stormed out off down the corridor, Ginny turned her back so he wouldn't see her.
Pansy gathered herself and began to make her way down the hall. Ginny stepped out in front of her.
"What the hell was that about Pansy?"
Pansy stopped short. She blushed deeply. "Well aren't you the detective, I thought I was meeting you?"
"An hour ago."
"Oh." Pansy looked up as the clock chimed. "I must've lost track of time…old friends in town." She began to walk next to Ginny down the corridor.
"Pansy! What was that about, I saw it, I heard you—
"You heard what exactly." She stopped giving Ginny a menacing look.
"He threatened you. Why?"
Pansy looked around, rolling her eyes she pulled Ginny back towards the darker end of the corridor.
"Look." Pansy shoved Ginny closer to the darkness and lowered her voice. "What I told you earlier…I wasn'tserious."
Ginny nodded slowly.
"I was only trying to upset you...about Blaise." Pansy shuffled uncomfortably as students passed them. "..but Theo, he's a different story all together. Blaise won't have—"
"What is he doing back here? What is his plan?"
Pansy shrugged. "I have no idea."
"Does Blaise know? Does this have something to do with Draco—
"I have no idea."
Ginny frowned. "Pansy, if you know something you have to—
"I don't know anything, I swear…I wouldn't lieabout it…" Pansy brushed strands of her hair away nervously. "They're like my brothers, the last thing I want is Draco hurt, my god."
Ginny shook her head. "Then I don't understand, what is Theo going on about? How did he get back into Hogwarts? Isn't he—
"Yes, he's still very much involved and in contact with death eaters." Pansy sighed. "I hardly know anything myself, honestly." She stepped back from Ginny slowly, whispering now. "I only agreed to meet you to clear up my foolishness from before. Blaise
/isn't involved in anything suspect. He's never been… but this is different….I know for a fact that Blaise is going to do something rash if it means Theo will be staying at Hogwarts…he simply won't have it."
"Why not? I thought they were friends…."
Pansy rolled her eyes, letting out a light, quiet giggle. Looking over her shoulder. "Of course you did." She giggled again and turned on her heel, moving quickly down the hall.
Ginny stood confused taking in the brief conversation.
…..
Blaise stepped out of the bath feeling far less settled than he usually did. He had just read the letter from his mother and as he had many other times today, felt tormented by stress.
He sighed as he dressed. There were far too many things happening for him to address at once. How had Draco been poisoned? How did his mother know of Theodore's coming before he did and before he arrived? Why the hell was Theodore here?
Blaise groaned, he knew exactly why Theodore was here, he just didn't want to believe it. He had hoped this would be something he'd have to deal with later in the year, maybe two or three years down the line. Not so soon after the war had ended.
From what Theodore had told him, he had been allowed to return to Hogwarts under strict supervision and upon completing all of his classes with perfect marks, he would be given a second hearing at the end of the year to determine whether or not he'd return
/to Azkaban. Blaise highly doubted there would be an end of the year for Theodore.
The deed his mother spoke of had long been simmering in his mind, again, he didn't think he'd have to perform such a deed so soon into the year…or his marriage. He knew that keeping Ginny in the dark about all of this was probably going to cause friction
/between them, but he had no choice.
Theodore Nott had returned to Hogwart's to seduce students into breaking the Marriage Act and to recruit new death eaters. While the ministry had it's doubts, Blaise had none. Theodore was as wicked and cruel as they came, any plea of redemption he came
/up with was a lie.
Blaise and his mother knew exactly how his relationship with Theodore would and had to end. It was no coincidence that Draco had fallen mysteriously gravely ill upon Theodore's arrival.
Blaise rolled his eyes lying back on his bed, he closed his eyes. Could he be any more obvious and childish?
Blaise sat up quickly when his bedroom door opened slowly. He forced a smile as Ginny entered the room.
"Blaise, we need to talk."
Blaise nodded quickly. "We should."
Ginny sat next to him, studying his empty expression. "What are you going to do about Theodore being back? I—I think he's trouble."
Blaise listened to her, nodding his head in agreement. He gave her a comforting smile. "Ginny, I wouldn't worry about Theodore, he's no trouble."
Ginny frowned before bursting into a million questions. Blaise listened intently, trying to be reassuring.
"You really have nothing to worry about, leave this to me."
He frowned at the account of her conversation with Pansy. He now had confirmation that Theo was here to recruit and he was wasting no time. That only made what he had to do easier.
A/N: No note this chapter, review let me know where you think the story should go next. Updates will be extremely slow. Working on my other story as well, kind of bored with FF at the moment so…I have no idea when my next update will be.
