Chapter 9

Hermione woke up in the hospital wing at the school. It took her a couple moments to realize where she was and what had happened. When she remembered the recent events, she wished that she hadn't woken up. Lavender and Ron entered the room. "Hi," said Lavender. "Feeling any better? We heard what had happened." She looked over to three beds on the far wall. There laid Draco and his goons. Lavender told her that Harry hadn't talked to anyone since the incident, not even Ron. Ron hadn't spoken to Hermione yet. He was standing behind Lavender, not looking at Hermione. She expected he would be angry. Harry was his best friend.

"Ron," said Hermione. "Are you angry at me?" Ron looked up at her. He looked lie he hadn't slept for days and his clothes were all dirty and wrinkled. He walked over to Hermione and looked over her. Hermione looked at herself as well. She had bruises everywhere and her back was in lots of pain. Ron all of a sudden put his arms around her and hugged her for a long time. "Malfoy told Dumbledore what was going on. Malfoy was hypnotizing you, even though you had a small wanting for him. He made the wanting more and more until he got you hooked, that bloody jerk." When he got back up, tears were on the rim of his eyes. "Does Harry know?," she asked. Ron looked at her and said, "Yea, but he doesn't want to talk about it."

Before Hermione could reply, Harry walked in. He looked just as bad as Ron did. Ron and Lavender walked out leaving the two to talk. Harry grabbed a chair and sat next to Hermione. He was silent for a while, looking at his hands and the floor. "Harry?" Hermione asked. He looked up at her, eyes blood-shot and large. "Are you ok," she asked. "Just a couple of scratches and bruises, nothing major," he replied. "How about you?" "I'll live," she said. "Do you forgive me?" Harry looked at her and smiled. "Of course I do." He lightly lifted her chin and kissed her gently. After a while, Nurse Pomfrey shooed Harry out and he left. Hermione was so glad that he forgave her and still loved her. She didn't know what she would do without him.

When Madame Pomfrey left, Hermione sat up and began to stretch. She was sore all over and aching. She heard a groan from her left and saw Draco awake. He looked over at her. "I'm sorry," he said. "I just loved you so much and was angry that Potter had you and I couldn't." He looked away not wanting to see Hermione's look. Hermione wasn't sure what to think.