A/N OK, after reading the last chapter over, I noticed that I made Hermione take away Lucius' wand, but he still performed the Cruciatus curse on her. So I'll say now that…he…um…oh I get it, when he was strangling Hermione, he took Draco's wand and kept it. Then when he was knocked out, Draco took it back and "Mobilicorpus"-ed him. There all solved! Sorry if I confused any of you!
Dedicated to: Professor's Cortex and Hullabub for sticking with me throughout this, and still being there after so long; and to Calypso in Love, for booting me off my procrastinating ass and getting me to write again. I owe you a bunch!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, I have nothing for you to take, so don't sue! And please don't take my plot line! It's the only thing I have of slight value!
Chapter 26: Infatuation or Love?
Hermione woke up in a daze her vision was clouded, and slightly red. She tried to move, but her muscles were stiff, and didn't seem to want to listen to her. After squeezing her eyes shut, then opening them again, the fuzziness cleared and she took in her surroundings. She was blinded by the endless amount of white. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw she was only in the hospital wing, and not an insane asylum. "After the stunt I pulled last night, I'm surprised I'm not." She thought cruelly. She jumped when she remembered Lucius, and then tried to remember what happened after she had a mood-attack. "…Evil man…stupefy…searing pain…" she couldn't remember anything else after that, it hurt to try.
Giving up, she closed her eyes again and tried to fall back asleep. This however didn't last long as she heard the soft creak of the ward doors open, and the clicking of heels on the tile flooring. The distinct scraping of the nearby wicker chair being dragged on the floor near her bedside table. A cold, yet comforting hand was smoothing the hair around her face. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw familiar grey ones staring blankly at where the hand was stroking. Upon seeing those eyes, the stiffness from her muscles ceased to exist and she quietly and softly put her own hand upon the stroking one.
At the light pressure, Draco snapped out of his quiet reverie and moved his gaze from her hand to her face, which was smiling up at him. She sat herself up and turned to face him. "Hi. How are you doing?" he asked.
"Fine. What happened last night? It hurts to remember…" she answered quietly.
"Then don't try to." He said forcefully, "Well, you stupefy-ed Lucius, and he got knocked out in his little…dung-hole." He grinned then, "Um, yeah, but when I ran over, you collapsed, and so I carried you here, while I hovered Lucius at the same time. Then Snape brought Lucius to Dumbeldore's office, and I brought you here. The end."
"I see…what did Dumbledore do?" She asked.
At that time the ward door opened and Dumbledore strode in, with Snape and Madam Pomfrey in his wake. "Speak of the devil…" Draco muttered.
"Miss Granger, you've awaken! Excellent! Are you feeling all right? No? Here, have some chocolate." He handed her a bar of Honeydukes chocolate and magicked a chair next to Draco's. Snape remained standing behind him, while Madam Pomfrey un-corked the bottle of black potion that still remained on the bedside table. She handed it to Hermione who looked at it strangely.
"It's Pepper-Up Potion. It'll make you feel good if you drink it before the chocolate. The chocolate won't be too hard or anything when you swallow." She explained before going to her office.
Hermione drank the potion, which scalded her throat on the way to her stomach. Then broke off a piece of the chocolate and chewed on it. "So, Miss Granger, from what Mr. Malfoy has told us this morning, you did a fairly good job at subduing Malfoy Sr. Is that right?" His blue eyes twinkled fatherly.
She swallowed. "I suppose so. It took a lot out of me. All that energy was…scary." She nearly shuddered if it hadn't been for Draco's well-timed arm around her shoulder.
Dumbledore smiled at the two, while Snape glowered. "Those mood charms, Hermione, you're not doing them still are you?" She shook her head. "Good. Those are dangerous, but you know that now. What I came here to tell the two of you, is that we've gotten some answers from Lucius, with the help of some Veritaserum, and we should explain a few things to you. Lucius came onto the grounds last night in an attempt to bring you, Draco, with him to see Voldemort; as to show loyalty to him by bringing the next generation of the Malfoy's to be a Death Eater."
Draco grimaced at the thought. "Me? A death eater? I knew the time that he would come for me would come eventually. Maybe in fourth year I would want to be one, but now? No way in hell."
Dumbledore's voice broke him from his angry thoughts, "Also, he was coming to attack you for sending him to Azkaban a few months ago. I assume that was the alternative if you decided to refuse his death eater offer." A slight scowl formed on Dumbledore's Father-Christmas-ey features.
"What will happen to him now Professor?" Hermione asked, her voice quivering.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Some Ministry officials will be visiting us shortly to take Lucius to Azkaban for a trial. Don't know why though, it's clear that his actions were far from unintentional."
A quick rapping on the office door interrupted him. Before Dumbledore could welcome whomever it was inside the room, the door opened and two men strode into the room. They were both tall, with black hair, and from the looks of them, in their mid thirties. "Albus." They greeted shortly, with a nod of their black-haired heads. The one on the left extended a hand, but it was not in a sign of greeting. He was holding a roll of parchment, which he then dropped in front of Dumbledore. The professor's blue eyes scanned the parchment through his half-moon spectacles and then stood up. "Yes, he's right here."
He led the officials to a part of the offices' circular walls that was a few feet to the right of the large cabinet behind Dumbledore's desk. With a quick tap with his wand, that section of the wall dissolved outward and an opening appeared. Draco and Hermione strained their necks to peer into the concealed room. It was fairly well lit, with a few torches in brackets lining the soft yellow wallpapered walls. There was a single, dark blue leather armchair facing a roaring fireplace. A figure rose from the armchair, silhouetted by the fireplace. "What Albus? Do I have an audience?" The man who was obviously Lucius slowly turned around to face the wall opening. As he walked to the opening with his calculated steps, he said with false amusement, "I never thought you had such a well-furnished room for convicts. I suppose the old heart does extend to the evil." He sneered.
Once in the light of the office Lucius noted the other people in the room. 'Ahh, so Draco's here with the little brat! Have to note the power, the immense power in that one…' Lucius thought. When his gaze fell upon the two Ministry officials a certain light flashed through his eyes. A flash that only Draco caught. When he saw that unknown emotion, Draco's muscles stiffened.
'Something's wrong here, but what is it?' the thought was gnawing at the back of his mind, although his face did not show it. His passive-ness continued to show when the officials stunned, tied and hovered Lucius out of the room and until the door closed.
Hermione broke the silence, "Excuse me professor, do you think we could leave now?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes, go right ahead. Have a good weekend!" he smiled and they left his office.
Once the gargoyle sprung back into place, Hermione and Draco were on their way to the common room. A peaceful silence surrounded them and they kept to their thoughts. 'There was something definitely strange with him…There's something that he knows, but what…' Draco thought and instinctively snaked his arm around Hermione's waist protectively. The gesture surprised Hermione and she looked at him. His eyes held a blank look, as if seeing beyond what was really in front of him. "What will happen to Lucius?" she asked,
He still held his passive face with his glassy eyes as he answered, "I don't know. I'd like to imagine him getting the Dementor's Kiss, but that wouldn't work."
"Why not?"
"He has no soul for them to take away. There are no happy thoughts that course his vile mind. I hope they'll just 'Avada' him as soon as he sets foot in Azkaban, it's only what he deserves." He said cruelly.
"You don't mean that. Nobody deserves that fate." She said firmly.
"Ha! Like hell I mean it! Nobody may not deserve that fate, but it sure as hell doesn't mean I still don't mean it!" he nearly laughed out loud.
"Oh well. Those officials were rather peculiar; don't you think? They didn't even say their names."
"I suppose they were a tad off their rocker, but they might've just forgot or something." 'Or they're just hiding something like Lucius was.'
"Very well." She shrugged that particularly depressing subject to the side. "Can you believe that seventh year is almost over? I can't! Oh my gosh! NEWT's are coming up soon! I haven't studied! With all this blasted worrying about whether Lucius was going to blast you to smithereens has totally sidetracked my studying schedule!"
"It's amazing how you can turn a common subject about the school year being over into some serious studying rant. You're talents never cease to amaze me Hermione." He joked.
"That may be a 'talent' but I'm serious!"
"When aren't you?" he grinned.
She couldn't think of a quick enough comeback so said defeated, "Shut up."
It was always a feat in life when you were able to make the sharp-tongued Hermione Granger speechless. "Do you know what you want to do when you get out of Hogwarts?"
Of course she knew what she wanted to do, but that didn't mean she knew what to do. "If a teaching position opens up maybe that. Perhaps I'll work in Diagon Alley, or Hogsmeade, maybe even the Ministry."
"Why should you waste your talents and knowledge working in some run-down pit like Diagon Alley when you could be an important Ministry member? That's what I want to do. Work in the ministry. Maybe an Auror, or an Unspeakable, even though I don't know what they do, don't have any Unspeakable connections…Hell, I could be the Minister of Magic, and kick the old loon Fudge out of office."
"Yeah, you could; doesn't mean you are going to be." She grinned, "But you're right. I shouldn't waste my knowledge working in Diagon Alley when it could be put to good use in the ministry! I'll most likely be an Auror, with Harry and Ron perhaps. Wait…they've never had a female Minister have they? I could get the top spot!" her eyes gleamed with eagerness at the possibility of being the first female Minister of Magic.
"Oh no. I've created an opportunistic monster. God save us." Draco said blandly.
Hermione was going to tell Draco to 'Shut up' but was bowled over by a large red thing. "'Mione!!! You're OK!"
Once she had regained a steady breathing level she laughed heartily, "Ginny! Aren't you getting a bit old to be knocking people over?"
"Nope, never have, never will! So tell me what happened! Harry said that you were in the Hospital Wing sick."
"I was in the Hospital Wing, but I wasn't sick. I got…hurt."
Ginny gasped and leapt off of Hermione. Instead of helping her up like she normally would, she turned to Draco who was trying to hold in a few sniggers. She pointed a finger to his chest and said, with that famous Weasley fire burning in her eyes, "You're supposed to watch out for her you know! She's not supposed to get hurt you know!"
He was taken aback by the 16-year old Weasley but snuffed the surprise and said hautily, "Well Weasley, it's not my fault that a crazed lunatic was roaming the grounds last night. And it's not my fault that Hermione had to save me before I could save her. So watch where you point your fingers!" he backed out of range from her pointed finger and wiped off the invisible dust that he saw there.
Ginny gasped again, and turned again to Hermione, who was now standing and wiping the dirt from her robes. "You saved him! F-from what—who?" her voice quivering at the thought of a crazy ax-man on the school grounds.
"Malfoy. Senior." She added after seeing Ginny look confused when she said just 'Malfoy'. "Long story."
"I have time." Ginny said grinning.
"Then you'd better sit down with us." Hermione led Ginny to hers and Draco's common room.
Ginny marveled at the sight of the well-furnished and lovely room. "Why haven't you shown me here before?" she said with a mix of wonderment and surprise.
Hermione shrugged, "Didn't think it was of much interest."
The three of them sat together on the couch and they retold the whole incident of last night, of course, leaving out their more intimate moments. "…And then I mustered all of my remaining strength and heroically carried Hermione and floated Lucius back to the castle." Draco finished proudly and pompously.
"I don't think so. You may have carried me back, but that was after I saved your arse from becoming 'Avada'd'." Hermione said with the air that she usually had when answering a question in class.
"Yeah, whatever." Draco muttered.
Ginny simply laughed. When Hermione and Draco sent her questioning looks she giggled, "You two fight like an old married couple!" Draco gave her a dark glare, which she took as her cue to leave. "I'll see you later Herm!" and she skipped like a young schoolgirl, out of the room.
There was a still silence, which was broken by Draco coughing. Hermione, who was gazing into the glowing depths of the fire looked towards Draco. She looked into the shining depths of his grey-blue eyes and he said to her, "Hermione, I have a question that I can't answer myself."
Inquisitive, she nodded for him to go on. He took a deep breath, and said softly, "What's the difference between love and infatuation?"
Hermione looked away, back into the fire and pursed her lips in thought. "If you can't answer it, then it's OK." He reassured her. "I never leave a question unanswered." She replied back.
After a few moments of thought, she said proverbially, her gaze still locked on the fire, "Mere infatuation is message from the brain to soothe an aching heart; while love naturally makes your heart flutter like the butterfly it is."
"Thanks." He said.
"Only speaking the truth. But why?" she finally looked at him.
"Why what?"
"Why do you want to know the answer to that question?"
"Just wondering if I'm infatuated or in love."
"Which are you?" she asked, not knowing if she wanted to hear his answer.
"I'm not sure yet."
~ End of Chapter 26 ~
A/N: Don't you hate me? After waiting absolutely ages to update, I end the chapter with a cliffhanger? Well, I'm not sure if that's a cliffhanger, so I could be wrong. Ultimate sorry's for not updating fast enough. My reliable excuse is all the damn homework that we've been getting! With about a month left of school the teachers decide to pile us up to our necks with work!
And FYI, the Hermione proverbial saying "Mere infatuation is message from the brain to soothe an aching heart; while love naturally makes your heart flutter like the butterfly it is." Was made by me, so it's mine, MINE, it's all mine! {evil cackling}. Right, so if you want to use it, just ask. J
Thanks to: Colibi, vicci, Lizzie A, Mione G, TFG, Dancer in the Dark, lion1990, dunghead, Star Magic, Magic Bunny, Evenstar Princess, Chibifuu Malfoy, Death Eater.
Also to…
Mediterranean Queen: Hmm…Lucius crying would be cool, but way too OOC for me, but good idea!
Calypso in Love: HA! I've updated! Take that! Told you I would! And this chap was just for you, and your heavy persuasion. Thanks CiL!
Waiting: This fic's gotta end sometime or another! But I'm doing a sequel! You can keep reading! Yay! I'll always do Draco/Hermione! Thanks for the review!
Sila-chan: Did I answer your question? I realized that after I read the previous chapter over. Thanks for seeing that though!
BluegrEeN: Writer's block will go away eventually, if it already hasn't, J . Thanks!
Porkypop: I was hoping somebody would find the pirate things funny, 'cause I did. Hehe. Thanks!
Now I'm not sure how many more chapter's there'll be. I know I told you all 2 more since the last chapter, but now I'm thinking that now there'll be about 2 left. You've already read, now review!