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Courage to Find the Strength

Chapter 2

Hermione knew if she really wanted to she was well enough to return to Gryffindor Tower, but she didn't feel quite ready yet. Madam Pomfrey fixed her split lip and put a compress on her bruised cheek earlier that morning, declaring her good as new. But, noting the somewhat distressed look the girl kept giving her other patient, Draco Malfoy, she had wisely let the girl rest before sending her off. Hermione couldn't keep from glancing at the still figure. She could tell by the way his chest peacefully rose and fell that he was only sleeping and no longer unconscious because of his injuries. She recalled the nurse's alarmed face after she and Malfoy were carried in here by none other than Professor Snape and Hagrid. Both had come running after a few students noticed her barreling down at them while desperately trying to keep Malfoy from plummeting to the ground. Miraculously, her strength only failed her when she was finally safe in Hagrid's strong arms. Outside in the hall, she could hear Headmaster Dumbledore say to Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, and a few other voices she couldn't place that whatever conversation they were having they would need to continue in his office.

"But, Headmaster, you really must reconsider. Something awful happened out there. Something to do with that Malfoy boy. Hermione cannot be safe with him around. Surely, you understand that there could be.." Professor McGonagall began. She was very agitated and upset. She was certain the Malfoy boy was trouble just like his father. Whatever horrible ordeal the two had just gone through, she knew he was somehow responsible for it all, especially now that the Dark Lord was on the rise.

"Surely, Professor, you don't think he would be better off out there. You saw his injuries." Professor Snape countered. It was a well-known fact Draco Malfoy was his favorite student, and his concern for the boy shone through his words.

"Severus is right, Minerva. They are both safer at Hogwarts than out there where we can't keep an eye on them. Now, we really must continue this conversation in my office before those other two arrive to check on their friend. Wherever she is, they can't be far behind." Dumbledore sounded very tired and very anxious to move them all away from there. Hermione couldn't hear much more of what was being said, even though she strained, other than Professor McGonagall declaring a need to find out what really happened. It seemed to be a popular thought when a minute or so later, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley burst into the sickroom instantly firing a million questions at her. But before they could get more than five steps in, Madam Pomfrey put a hand on each of their collars.

"Oh, no, you don't! This is a sickroom, and you two boys are going to respect that. Give the lady some room to breathe! And for all our sakes, keep your voices down. Others are trying to get their rest." Madam Pomfrey nodded her head towards the motionless Malfoy. Ron's eyes narrowed dangerously, and his face started to turn red. Hermione sensed a storm about to break and quickly called her friends over.

"Ron! Harry! How nice of you to visit me! But, really, I'm going to be fine." Hermione smiled at them reassuringly while extending a hand to each of them. Both boys gladly took it. Harry looked genuinely glad to see her, and Ron had a huge grin of relief plastered on his now pleasant face.

"'Mione! What happened to you??" Harry whispered. A worried crease formed across his forehead. "We searched everywhere. It's like you just vanished."

Hermione hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath until she let it out. She didn't know how to continue for fear of Ron going into a bezerker rage. At her hesitation, both of the boys squeezed her hands. She leaned in closer to make sure they weren't overheard. "Well, you remember how we found out about Malfoy's father, right? I was going over some of our latest research when somebody hexed me from behind. When I woke up, I was in a dungeon at Malfoy Manor and Lucius Malfoy was there and he.." She started to stumble.

"He what, 'Mione?" Ron continued, his face darkening. Harry just patiently listened.

"He tried to kill me." There, she had said it, the thing that she couldn't tell even Dumbledore. There was more to this plot than any of the professors realized, and this latest turn of events was just another twist in the already long list of strange events the three had been cataloging regarding the older Malfoy and the Deatheaters. As was usually the case, the three wouldn't break their silence until the problem was resolved.

"So, where does Malfoy over there fit in?" Harry gestured to Draco. His voice held loathing and curiosity.

"Well, he.." Hermione started to squirm.

At Hermione's obvious discomfort in finishing her sentence, Ron jumped up and loudly said, "I'll kill him! I'll kill that bastard once and for all!"

Harry grabbed him and tried to pull his much larger friend back, but Ron was too worked up to stop now.

"Wait, Ron! He didn't, I mean, he couldn't.. Ron, he saved me!" Hermione didn't know why she didn't tell him that it had been Draco that put the dagger up to her heart, that he had hit her across the face and caused the purplish bruise. However, hearing her words, Ron froze in his tracks. He slowly turned back to Hermione.

"He.saved you?" He incredulously asked while looking from her face to Malfoy's and back again. He couldn't believe this, especially not of Malfoy who had never been known to do a kind thing in his life, let alone for a person with muddle parents.

"Yes, Ron, he saved me after he defied his father. Lucius wanted him to bow before the Dark Lord and Draco wouldn't. He let me go."

"But then why is he in such bad shape? You didn't do all of this? You couldn't have. We found your wand. That's how we knew you were in trouble." Harry looked at her. He could sense she was hiding something.

"All that," she waved her hand at him, "his father did." Hermione's face softened for a moment. "I got him out of there before his father could finish the job."

All three studied the sleeping form when Madam Pomfrey interrupted that it was time the two visitors headed back to class. With a hand on each of their backs, she escorted both out of the room despite the concerned looks they threw back at Hermione who only smiled reassuringly at them. Madam Pomfrey turned back and gave her a searching look, then smiled and left the room.

"So, you didn't tell those two freaks what really happened." Draco said to her with his eyes still closed. Hermione couldn't tell if that was a question or a statement.

"So you've been listening. How long have you been awake?" Her voice held a note of contempt.

"Long enough." His blinked his gray eyes open and looked over at her. Hermione's expression told him he must look pretty bad, hopefully not as bad as he felt. He groaned slightly as he tried to sit up.

"You better not do that. You've got a couple of cracked ribs." Hermione watched him struggle and was surprised at her cautioning him.

"Hmmm, so it would seem." Malfoy gave up his struggle to raise himself. "How'd I get back here?"

"I brought you."

Draco's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You did?"

"Yeah, after you passed out on me." She sounded irritated.

"Well, couldn't help that much." He closed his eyes tightly, and his next words came out strained. "You should have let him kill me."

Hermione gave him a confused look. "Why? Other than you are the most arrogant selfish brat I've ever had the misfortune to know? But I've always fancied Harry or Ron taking you down, just not your own father."

To her surprise, he barked out a laugh. "Yeah, well, what you don't know could fill volumes. Besides, those two goody-goodies wouldn't have the balls to seriously take me down."

"I don't like you calling them goody-goodies like it's some sort of bad thing."

"Oh come on, Granger, they're Gryffindors for crying out loud!"

"Well, Gryffindors are courageous like Harry or like Ron or even like me!" Hermione angrily threw back at him.

Malfoy opened an eye to look at her for a minute before he spoke. "I may have been wrong about you, Granger. Standing up to my father isn't easy." His voice held a twinge of grudging respect. "I should know." He closed his eyes again.

Hermione waited another minute to see if he would continue. "Malfoy?" she called out hesitantly, but when no reply came she finally realized he had fallen back asleep.