Chapter Twenty-Two – Into the Dark

He woke to find a wand pointing to his side, though nothing had changed. The pain was still there, and he found his cloak and shirt stained red. Wincing, he tried to shift to a more comfortable position, but the pain kept him from moving. He yelped as the skin and muscles throbbed, and his eyes watered.

"Shh," a soothing voice whispered. It was Hermione. She was leaning over his body, trying to heal his wound, but was unsuccessful.

"What—" Ron began, but Hermione put her hand over his mouth.

"I said, 'shh'! You were hit by a spear," she told him, caressing his hair slowly. "But, don't you worry now, Draco is getting help."

Ron glared up at her, with all the strength he could. "You call him Draco now?"

She smirked. "Oh, quiet you. You just calm down and relax." She ripped a piece of her cloak off, and soaked up some of his blood. She then used her sleeve to wipe his perspiration off. "You're sweating too much. Just breathe."

"I would," he snarled, "if it didn't hurt so much."

Hermione looked at him in concern, and began stroking his hair again. "Please, Ron, just calm down."

Someone entered the room, and came around the two. It was Draco.

"I'm so stupid. Why on earth would I think someone would help? These are Death Eaters here!" He sighed as he looked at Ron. "Well, at least your conscious. How are you feeling?"

Ron shook his head. "Not too good."

Draco glanced at Hermione, who looked at the floor sadly. He put a hand on her shoulder, and looked back at Ron. "You'll have to stay here, while we move on."

"Move on?!" Hermione shrieked. "We can't leave Ron here, alone…bleeding!"

"Well? We're going to have to. It's either leave me," Ron argued, "or leave Harry."

Hermione grabbed his hand. "Well, I'm not leaving you here alone." She looked up at Malfoy. "Draco, you go on. You know this place; you know how to get around here. Go get Harry."

"No," Ron said. "Harry won't trust him. He doesn't know Malfoy's on our side."

Draco nodded. "Ron's right. Harry would never follow me."

Hermione sighed. "Well, I can't go on alone: I don't know where to go."

"Both of you go!" Ron yelled, gasping for air after he did so. Hermione turned back to him as he winced, and caressed his head. "Aren't you hearing me?" he said, a bit quieter this time. "I said, go."

Hermione shook her head, violently. "No, no. You're not being left alone in this condition." She ripped another shred from her cloak, and pressed down on his side. Her hair dangled into his face, and tickled his cheeks. He couldn't help but slightly smile at her worried face, and determination to let him live.

"Honestly, Herm," he whispered, feeling unconsciousness beginning to creep up upon him. It was luring him to sleep, pulling him closer and closer to ultimate darkness. "I'll be fine. It's Harry I'm worried about. Boy can't keep himself out of trouble."

Forcing a smile, Hermione squeezed his hand. "Okay, I'll go. But you promise you'll hang in there, okay?"

Squeezing her hand back, Ron nodded. "I promise."

Hermione then stood, her lean body towering over the still bleeding Ron. "Keep that cloak on you. Call if you need help. I swear, I'll be right back." She nodded at Draco, who nodded back. He smiled at Ron.

"Good luck, Ron."

Ron smiled back. "Thanks, Draco."

Hermione and Draco gave one last comforting look at Ron, before continuing down the corridor, which led into the dark. Ron watched them leave as long as possible, trying to hold on to consciousness, but the black sleep wrapped around him, and he fell into a coma.