AN: Hey, please, you guys! Review!! I beg of you!! Good and bad criticisms are VERY welcome! All that matters is that you review, k?
Anyway, here's chapter six!!
Thanks!
ALL FOR YOU
By Rage
Chapter Six
****
Draco was kept in the Hospital Wing a bit longer—obviously Madam Pomfrey wanted to keep him under observation until she was satisfied that he was well enough to be released.
That was why Hermione kept visiting him whenever she was free. Harry and Ron, who usually were busy because of Quidditch practice, noticed this easily and thought that she was getting insane.
"What?!" Ron exclaimed, looking horrified. "You're visiting HIM again?!"
"This is like, what, the nth time?!" Harry half-shouted.
"Oh, come off it, you guys!" Hermione replied, grabbing her bag. "So what? I'm just going to see if—"
"What? If he's okay and all?!"
"No, RON," she said, annoyed. "I'm just going to see if he was already released, because we've got prefect duties tonight, okay?"
Ron sighed faintly and muttered, "Oi…", while Harry shook his head disapprovingly.
"What?!" Hermione protested.
"Honestly, Hermione," Harry said quietly, "If I didn't know you any better, I would have thought immediately that you were, I dunno, in love with him or something!"
Hermione snorted. "Ha! Good one, Harry!"
Harry scratched his head. "Hermione," he said, "I'm dead serious! It's very possible!"
"What?!" she screeched. She blushed slightly. "What are you talking about? NEVER! IN MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE WILL I DO THAT, EVEN IF—EVEN IF HE WAS THE LAST PERSON ON EARTH!" With that, she hung her bag rapidly on her shoulder and stomped out of the common room.
Harry and Ron glanced at each other. Ron immediately smacked Harry on his head.
"Ouch!" Harry exclaimed, rubbing his head. "What was that for?!"
"Why'd you have to say that?!"
"Well, because it is VERY possible!"
"No, it's not!"
"Oh ho, YES it is, Ron." He said. "Yes it is."
He sat down on the couch and stared at the fire.
"It is very possible."
****
Hermione was still fuming when she reached the Hospital Wing. "What are they saying," she muttered, "I'm in love with Dra-Malfoy…"
She pushed the door and went towards Draco's bed. She fixed her hair absentmindedly and walked over to him. "Hey, Malfoy—"
She saw Pansy Parkinson glaring at her. "Uh, good afternoon, Pansy," Hermione said stiffly.
Pansy continued glaring at her.
Draco, however, greeted her back. "Hello, Hermione."
Pansy gazed at him. "D-Draco…" she stammered angrily. "What are you doing? Y-You're fraternizing with a Gryffindor! Worse is that…" she looked at Hermione with disgust. "She's a Mudblood."
Hermione clenched her fists. Draco saw this and grinned. "You'd better go now, Pansy."
"Me?" Pansy laughed. "Shouldn't it be HER?"
"Just. GO."
She gulped. She muttered a small goodbye and strolled out of the Hospital Wing.
Hermione watched Pansy go. When she was nowhere in sight, she turned to Draco and grinned. "Thanks."
"I didn't do it for you, you know," he said, grabbing a big slab of chocolate. "She was bugging me, that's all."
Hermione smiled and sat down on one of the chairs. "So when are you going to be released?" she asked.
"Later this afternoon."
Hermione nodded and took out pieces of parchment. "Here." She handed them to Draco. "You're homework."
Draco reluctantly took it. "Why are you giving it to me now?" he asked, frowning at her.
"Well, all of that's due next Monday."
"Oh bloody hell!" he cursed, as he put it on his side table. "Well, you're going to have to help me, Hermione!"
"Sure, why not?" She smiled pleasantly and got out a book.
Draco watched her for a few minutes…and he suddenly got a warm and tingly feeling. What the--? What's this?! He thought, disliking the feeling more and more.
He tore his eyes off her and instead stared at his chocolate. Suddenly he remembered something.
"Hermione." He said. "Do you know anything about a Heart of Gryffindor?"
Hermione stared at him. "I think so. Why?"
"N-nothing…" Draco lied.
She stared at him blankly. "Even a six year-old child can fib even better than you."
He smirked. "Fine. But I'll tell you." He signaled her to come closer. Hermione slowly leaned near him. Draco grinned and whispered, "It's here in Hogwarts."
Hermione gasped. "What?"
Draco nodded. "And we've got to find it."
She stared at him for a while. Finally, she replied, "But don't you think that we should tell the teachers? I mean—"
"No. We can't tell anyone."
"But—"
"Please?"
Hermione blushed slightly when she saw him looking at her straight in the eyes. He's got gorgeous eyes… She found herself looking deeper and deeper in them when she shook her head out of her reverie.
Finally she nodded. Oh, dear. I'm going to get in trouble for helping a Slytherin, she thought as she smiled goofily at Draco.
****
The library was engulfed in silence (except for the scratching of quills and a few coughs) when Draco entered. He nodded to Madam Pince, who nodded back to him rather stiffly.
He scanned the whole library in search of Hermione, and finally, after several seconds, he saw her occupying the table at the end of the room.
Draco smirked and strode off to her.
"Busy?" he asked, sitting himself on the chair across hers.
Hermione looked up and smiled pleasantly at him. "Hello."
O bloody hell! He thought. These blasted feelings again! He felt his cheeks burn up when he replied, "So, I'm ready to work!"
Hermione laughed silently as she handed him his homework. "Now, do that on your own because I'VE got my own!"
He groaned and took out his quill and ink, and stared at the parchment. Who was Hilda the Horrifying and why was she called 'Horrifying'? He raised his eyebrow. Who in the world was Hilda the Horrifying?? And why would anyone care if she was 'Horrifying'?!
He looked up at Hermione, who was diligently scribbling on her parchment.
"Er…Hermio—"
"Open your History Book to pages 345-347. Her history's there, as well as why she was called horrifying."
Draco gaped at her in awe. Wow, he didn't even finish his question and she nevertheless knew what he was going to ask!
"Thanks," he muttered. He opened his bag and took out The History of Magic, and flipped it to the specific pages.
~
Draco leaned back on his chair and yawned. He was in the library for more than four hours doing his homework, and obviously he was tired!
He glanced at Hermione, who was still writing. He smirked. "Aren't you tired already?" he asked.
Hermione looked up. "What—oh, no." she replied. She raised her eyebrow. "Are you?"
"No. NO." he retorted, flipping through his homework. "I just, well… need…er…"
"Help?"
Draco flinched when he felt Hermione going nearer. He didn't even say yes or no! He felt like electricity was running through his body, and there was no way to stop it. However, a part of him felt so gay and happy, but the other mentally punched him.
"Where do you need help with?" she asked, holding his parchment up.
"With—with… Arithmancy." Uh oh… he could smell her perfume already. He tried moving his chair away, but she, however, kept moving closer.
"Hmm…" Hermione scanned his paper. "But, Draco, none of these are incorrect!"
"Oh!" he exclaimed, acting as if he didn't know. "Must be Ancient Runes, then!"
Hermione eyed him suspiciously, but shrugged. "Okaayy…" she sat down and started working.
Draco sighed in relief. Hermione was already busy and the warm & tingly feelings toned down. It gave him time to think.
He glanced at Hermione… and the uncomfortable feelings came back. Draco turned away and stared at his paper instead. Ugh… he thought, When will I BE left in peace?!
Nevertheless, he wondered.
How come he always felt uneasy whenever he was with Hermione? He never really enjoyed it (though at times he did), and truthfully, he hated it. He grew up being taught to be emotionless and indifferent, but somehow… this girl changed his belief.
How can a Mudblood change everything he had learned in his childhood?
Oh, how he wished that he had never met Hermione!
But, he realized that it must have been Fate. Destiny.
Curse you, you Fates! He thought, causing him to crumple his homework.
Hermione obviously saw this because she waved her hand in front of Draco's face.
Draco woke up from the trance and looked at her. "What?"
"You must have fallen asleep," she said quietly, grinning slightly.
"No, I didn't!" he answered.
Hermione giggled and then stretched her arms. "Well, it's already six in the evening," she said, "I have to go now because Harry and Ron might be worrying about me… or, they might be thinking that…"
"What?" Draco asked, leaning over to her.
Hermione's cheeks reddened and she answered curtly, "Nothing. Just forget it."
She grabbed her stuff and shoved it into her bag. "See you." She smiled at him quickly and hurried off out of the library and disappeared in the hallway.
Draco smirked and yawned. "Better just finish this tomorrow." He folded the pieces of parchment and left the library quietly.
~
Draco glanced at his watch. It was already a quarter after six, and it was time for dinner. So, he made his way down the stairs and to the Great Hall.
However, before he could even take two steps down, he heard a scream.
Draco stopped in his tracks and dropped his bag. He knew that voice all too well.
"Hermione…" he whispered, his eyes wide with fear and anger.
Did he already disobey Lucius? Did his father already attack Hermione?
Draco was losing his breath. He was getting light-headed with panic and he didn't know what to do. Luckily, his body moved automatically. He made a dash up the stairs once again and turned around the corner. There he found Hermione, sprawled on the floor, her robes torn and she unconscious.
But it wasn't only Hermione who was present in the hallway… Draco looked up and there, a few meters away from him, was the very same creature that attacked them a few weeks ago.
The monster howled. Immediately, the howling stopped. The monster went rigid and fell to the ground. However, the second it touched the stone floor, it had disappeared. Draco didn't see this though, because he was desperately trying to revive Hermione.
"Hermione! Hermione!" He said, as he shook her gently. He grabbed her hand and tried feeling her pulse. Fortunately, he felt a slight beat. He smiled widely, relieved that she was still alive. He was about to carry her, but was disturbed by a person.
"Malfoy!!" Draco groaned and looked behind his shoulder.
"What are you doing to Hermione?!"
Harry and Ron both had their wands out, as they glared at Draco. Draco put Hermione in his arms and faced them. "That doesn't matter now, I think," he said, gazing at them. "I need to get Hermione to the Hospital Wing."
Harry and Ron stared at him. "You called Hermione by her first name…" Harry said slowly, looking at him weirdly.
Draco turned red. "I don't think that's important at the moment, Potter. I need to get her to Madam Pomfrey!"
The two Gryffindors nodded stiffly and followed Draco as he started brisk walking to the Hospital Wing.
Draco looked at Hermione's face and smiled. You're safe for now. He thought, holding her more tightly.
He started walking faster, making Harry and Ron run behind him. Finally, they reached the door to the Hospital Wing. Harry pushed the door for Draco a bit reluctantly. Draco nodded in gratitude and entered hurriedly.
"Madam Pomfrey! Madam Pomfrey!" they called, looking around the room.
After five seconds, an elderly nurse came to view. "What are you doing here?" she asked in an annoyed and sleepy tone. She averted her attention to the person in Draco's arms. "What in the world?! Who is that?! What happened to her??"
She asked Draco to place her on the bed and explain. "It's Hermione, ma'am," he replied, running his fingers through his gelled hair. "She's been—" He glanced at Harry and Ron. Bloody hell, they can't know what really happened, or else…or else they'll keep her away from me… He cleared his throat. "She—she fainted in the hall. I just found her there."
He side-glanced at Harry and Ron, who were both looking worried. Madam Pomfrey put her hand on Hermione's forehead. "Well, she doesn't seem to have any fever," she said slowly. "But how come she fainted?"
She made her way to her office and disappeared. The three boys surrounded Hermione's bed and looked down at her. No one said a thing at first. Draco stared at her face and wished that she would wake up.
After three minutes, his prayer was answered. Hermione slowly opened her eyes and looked around. "Harry…Ron…" she said softly. She turned her head and saw him. "Draco…"
"Goodness!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed from behind them. She scurried to Hermione's side, carrying a big chocolate bar. "Thank God you're awake!"
She broke off a part of it and shoved it into Hermione's hands. "Eat. It'll give you energy."
Draco smiled a bit. He was thankful that she was well and alive. His father hadn't got her yet. He broke the silence. "Well, I'll be going now."
"Er…Malfoy," Harry said quietly. "Thanks for bringing her here." Ron nodded in agreement and extended his hand out to him.
Draco, though surprised, took it and shook it vigorously. "You're welcome." He turned to Hermione and smiled. "Take care of yourself, and I'll see you tomorrow."
Hermione smiled back and waved. "See you."
Draco nodded to all of them and left the Hospital Wing.
****
Now he knew the answer.
Now he knew why he was always so worried when Hermione got hurt.
Now he knew what those uncomfortable feelings were.
Why did he always smile back whenever she smiled at him?
Why did he feel happy whenever he was with her?
Now he knew why.
Because he loved her.
****
AN: Thank goodness I'm done with this chapter! I apologize for taking so long! Anyway, thank you for all of my reviewers, especially my friends who have given me so much support because they REVIEW. I will consider those who review my very good friends, so if you wanna be my friend, go and CLICK that icon now and tell me what you think, okay? As I've said, good and bad criticisms are welcome, k?