Chapter 6: Renewed Hope
Madame Pomfrey came scurrying out of the small curtained office with a shocked expression as she saw Draco drop gently onto the bed. The blood had already found its way through the thick layers of bandages and was spreading quickly over the white of the cloth. Taking a pair of scissors she cut them away and found the many slashes across his pale skin. She cringed at the sight of the Dark Mark, but quickly started to order Hermione to fetch supplies. She ran to the open cupboard and searched for the selected items. Hurrying back she dropped them onto the tray and immediately awaited her next set of orders. Pulling on a pair of clean gloves then sterilizing the needle threaded it quickly knowing that if she faltered now it might become even more fatal. He had become a deathly white and the blood that was now coming sluggishly from the wound was making her feel nauseous adding to the worry she now felt as she watched Madame Pomfrey stitch each of the long gashes.
After a long session of heated disputes with Madame Pomfrey, Hermione had convinced her to let her stay and watch over Draco while he slept and that she would let her know if there were any improvements in his condition. He had lay still for many hours, his breathing became slow and often Hermione would hold her own breath waiting for the rise in Draco's chest before merely taking a breath of relief. Late during the night Hermione jumped as she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. As she turned up she found it was Dumbledore.
"He will survive this Hermione, you will help him to. Even just the thought of the love that you share will give both of you the strength to go on even when you think you will not succeed."
"Thank you Dumbledore, it gives me strength even more-so to hear you say it." She glanced up into his eyes lost in their depth as she said so.
Dumbledore retreated to confer with Madame Pomfrey before giving her a warm smile as he left. Hermione no longer felt the utter despair she once had when she had looked at Draco's pale face. She clasped his hand tightly as if he were about to be pulled away.
"I know you will survive, I just know it. Come on Draco you can fight this." She leaned forward and kissed his cold cheek, keeping his hand in a firm grasp rested on her other arm as sleep washed over her.
Hermione jumped as she felt Draco's hand move slightly in her own, she smiled as tears poured down her cheeks relief, grief, despair, hope and love pounding through her thoughts. Her heart leaped as she saw his eyes flicker slowly open.
"Hermione" he choked sounding as if he were miles away.
"Draco, I knew you could live through this, I knew it." She clasped his hands tightly and brushed the hair back from his forehead, she then leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips.
At that moment Madame Pomfrey came bustling through from her office, a strong smelling potion in her hand.
"You count your lucky stars that Miss Granger found you, a couple more minutes and you'd be dead. Here drink this." As she reached in Hermione took the potion from her hands, glaring viscously at her Madame Pomfrey left them.
Hermione slowly coaxed Draco into a sitting position and helped him to slowly sip the potion. When that was done she fluffed his pillows and lay him comfortably in a slightly upright position. He smiled at her before groggily falling back into a deep slumber. Again she kissed him but this time left him. She walked quickly back to the dorms avoiding any of the eyes that followed her through the corridors before slinking quickly into her dormitory. She ran straight into her room and grabbed her favorite pair of muggle jeans and pink sweater. The ran herself a hot bath. She eased herself into the bathtub and soaking in the leisurely water. All the whilst she held the locket close to her heart.
Hermione emerged dressed fully in her muggle clothes and practically ran back to the hospital wing. She resumed her place beside Draco's bed whilst Madame Pomfrey performed numerous spells to heal and cover the scars that covered his arm.
"Hermione I really think that you should resume your classes."
"No. You cannot make me leave him, I refuse." She said flatly and mumbling to herself Madame Pomfrey resumed her tasks.
"Well if you won't leave I will speed up the healing process and that way both of you can leave. But mark my words you are going to have to watch him constantly and he will get tired easily for a while." She cautioned before performing the last spell which left her tired herself.
"When he wakes, come and see me and I shall let you know if you can leave, them I want you to come back every week until I am satisfied that he is fully healed, understood?"
"Yes, thank you I know you would have done the same if you were in my position." Hermione smiled warmly.
"I was in love once, and yes I would have too. Now remember to come and see me before you leave." She returned the gesture and pushed the tools tray away with her.
Hermione didn't have to wait long as Draco eyes opened once more and he smiled, the colour had retuned to his cheeks and he felt rejuvenated.
"Hi Hermione, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you like that..." Hermione pushed a finger to his lips before replacing it with her own.
"I know you didn't. I love you too much to care, I'm just glad you're alright."
"Hermione when I fainted I thought I was dead, when I woke I knew it because I saw an angel."
"Draco, sorry to say my dearest but you're not dead which is too bad, cause I'm going to kill you. I nearly died myself when I found you. It scared me so much to think I would never see your eyes again, never kiss your lips, never hear your voice."
"Hermione please don't it scares me too." He said gently and a tear formed in his eye.
"I can't stand it in here anymore, let me just get Madame Pomfrey so we can get out of here."
Madame Pomfrey gave him a throughout inspection before enabling the pair to leave. Hermione provided Draco with support as he became tired and weak from the long walk back to the dorm.
Entering the common room she walked him to his bedroom and placed him lightly onto his bed. She removed his shoes cloak and tie, he had not changed since entering the hospital wing before pulling out a pair of his favorite boxers and leading him gently to the bathroom. He changed slowly and with great effort managed to walk back to his bed where Hermione lay fast asleep.
Hermione woke drowsily and turned to find Draco still fast asleep beside her shivering slightly. She covered him and returned to her room where she changed into a pair of three quarter pajama pants and matching tank top, looking at her bedside clock she found it was 2am. Wrapping herself into her red and gold fleecy dressing gown she donned her fluffy pink bunny slippers and hurried back to Draco's warm bed. Thinking what a waste of time it had been to put on her slippers and dressing gown she peeled them off. Climbing under the silver and green covers she snuggled up to Draco's warmth and he unconsciously placed a protective arm around her. His other arm still obviously sore lay limply beside him.
Neither was sure of the time when they finally woke properly but both were famished.
"Hey Mione what time is it?" Draco mumbled rubbing his eyes and yawning. Hermione pulled her wand from the beside stand where she had placed it .
"I dunno, accio clock. Her pink alarm clock came flying into the room hovering before her outstretched wand. 7:30 pm" She said a satisfied tone in her voice.
"That's my Mione always prepared." Propping himself onto his good arm he kissed her gently on the neck and turning her chin kissed her passionately on the lips. Her wand dropped from her hand as she closed her eyes and the pair jumped apart as Hermione's alarm clock smashed into the ground.
"Damn, that was my favorite alarm clock yet." Hermione mumbled.
"Repairo" Draco whispered taking the wand from beside him on the bed and as if being played on rewind, the shattered clock fitted back together.
"Now it still is." He said with a smile. "I'm so hungry I could eat a house."
"I think you mean horse" Hermione replied giggling.
"Oh, well then a horse. Let's get something to eat please, we might still be able to catch dinner."
Hermione left Draco to change and went back to her room where she put on her red sweater that she had been sent for her birthday last year and a pair of hip hugger jeans. The finishing addition a red ribbon in her hair, since she had lost her last after using it as a tourniquet for Draco. She hurried back after hearing a loud profanity coming from Draco's room. He had accidentally reopened a wound when he bumped into the corner of his desk. Helping him to finish putting his shirt on she wrapped the wound carefully and set out for the Great Hall. He was wearing a sleek black button up shirt and black pants. The bandage wrapped around his arm stood out loudly but neither seemed to mind.
"Hey Draco...why is it that you always seem to wear black?" Hermione asked as she inspected the many different paintings on the walls that she had missed on her way to the common room days beforehand.
"Well I guess I never really thought of it...if you want I could wear more colour if it would make you happy." He answered studying her face.
"No, no I don't want you to change, at least you'll always match my outfit." And with that they stumbled into the dinning room hall, which was now streaming with hungry students.
They walked hand in hand hearing the many audible gasps from the crowd, before Draco joined Hermione at the Gryffindor table. The crowd was not only attracted by the sight of them together, or that they were the only ones not adorned in school robes; It was the fact that Draco was now happily seated at the Gryffindor table.
Harry was the first one to speak, loudly pronouncing to the table "Hermione exactly why do we have and uninvited visitor seated at the table...are you blind?"
To which she replied tartly, "I'm not blind actually, of course I notice...I invited him." Now the whole table had their eyes glued on the trio. "If you have a problem with that then I'm sure you'd be happy to join your precious Slytherin Mistress Pansy at over there" she said lazily waving an arm in the Slytherin table's direction. Hermione quickly gave Draco a peck on the cheek and looked to down to concentrate on her meal. Harry sat across from them, filled with rage, hatred and jealousy.
The meal ended quickly and they were excused, Hermione immediately took Draco's hand and rushed after various Professors' to catch up on all the missed work. Draco sighed and followed her lead, by the end a rather long list had appeared and an armful of text books lay in the crook of his arm. Draco became weary quickly and Hermione insisted that he return to the dorm and that she would be to follow soon after.
He wandered back and as he entered fell sloppily into the large cushiony Gryffindor couch and within seconds was asleep a bundle of books lying heavily on his chest. When Hermione finally returned, she had to bite her hand to stop from laughing at Draco's sleeping form. She placed the books neatly on the floor and slinging his arm over her shoulder slowly hauled the dead weight to his bed.
"Madame Pomfrey was really right when she said he would tire easily...geez." She removed his shoes and socks before placing him under the covers and rushing off to the bathroom to fulfill her nightly girly cleaning ritual. With that done she retuned to look over him once more then shuffled along to her bedroom.
She sat reading and completing missed work until she climbed into her own bed, but found she couldn't sleep, something seemed to be missing. She knew exactly what as she paced across the common room entering Draco's room and pulling the door shut behind her.
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Thanx to all my reviewers!
Ur thoughts are much appreciated!
Thanx to Draco's Girl...**Tear** they almost made me cry they were so nice!
Thanx to Super Geek ur review is much appreciated...
Madame Pomfrey came scurrying out of the small curtained office with a shocked expression as she saw Draco drop gently onto the bed. The blood had already found its way through the thick layers of bandages and was spreading quickly over the white of the cloth. Taking a pair of scissors she cut them away and found the many slashes across his pale skin. She cringed at the sight of the Dark Mark, but quickly started to order Hermione to fetch supplies. She ran to the open cupboard and searched for the selected items. Hurrying back she dropped them onto the tray and immediately awaited her next set of orders. Pulling on a pair of clean gloves then sterilizing the needle threaded it quickly knowing that if she faltered now it might become even more fatal. He had become a deathly white and the blood that was now coming sluggishly from the wound was making her feel nauseous adding to the worry she now felt as she watched Madame Pomfrey stitch each of the long gashes.
After a long session of heated disputes with Madame Pomfrey, Hermione had convinced her to let her stay and watch over Draco while he slept and that she would let her know if there were any improvements in his condition. He had lay still for many hours, his breathing became slow and often Hermione would hold her own breath waiting for the rise in Draco's chest before merely taking a breath of relief. Late during the night Hermione jumped as she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. As she turned up she found it was Dumbledore.
"He will survive this Hermione, you will help him to. Even just the thought of the love that you share will give both of you the strength to go on even when you think you will not succeed."
"Thank you Dumbledore, it gives me strength even more-so to hear you say it." She glanced up into his eyes lost in their depth as she said so.
Dumbledore retreated to confer with Madame Pomfrey before giving her a warm smile as he left. Hermione no longer felt the utter despair she once had when she had looked at Draco's pale face. She clasped his hand tightly as if he were about to be pulled away.
"I know you will survive, I just know it. Come on Draco you can fight this." She leaned forward and kissed his cold cheek, keeping his hand in a firm grasp rested on her other arm as sleep washed over her.
Hermione jumped as she felt Draco's hand move slightly in her own, she smiled as tears poured down her cheeks relief, grief, despair, hope and love pounding through her thoughts. Her heart leaped as she saw his eyes flicker slowly open.
"Hermione" he choked sounding as if he were miles away.
"Draco, I knew you could live through this, I knew it." She clasped his hands tightly and brushed the hair back from his forehead, she then leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips.
At that moment Madame Pomfrey came bustling through from her office, a strong smelling potion in her hand.
"You count your lucky stars that Miss Granger found you, a couple more minutes and you'd be dead. Here drink this." As she reached in Hermione took the potion from her hands, glaring viscously at her Madame Pomfrey left them.
Hermione slowly coaxed Draco into a sitting position and helped him to slowly sip the potion. When that was done she fluffed his pillows and lay him comfortably in a slightly upright position. He smiled at her before groggily falling back into a deep slumber. Again she kissed him but this time left him. She walked quickly back to the dorms avoiding any of the eyes that followed her through the corridors before slinking quickly into her dormitory. She ran straight into her room and grabbed her favorite pair of muggle jeans and pink sweater. The ran herself a hot bath. She eased herself into the bathtub and soaking in the leisurely water. All the whilst she held the locket close to her heart.
Hermione emerged dressed fully in her muggle clothes and practically ran back to the hospital wing. She resumed her place beside Draco's bed whilst Madame Pomfrey performed numerous spells to heal and cover the scars that covered his arm.
"Hermione I really think that you should resume your classes."
"No. You cannot make me leave him, I refuse." She said flatly and mumbling to herself Madame Pomfrey resumed her tasks.
"Well if you won't leave I will speed up the healing process and that way both of you can leave. But mark my words you are going to have to watch him constantly and he will get tired easily for a while." She cautioned before performing the last spell which left her tired herself.
"When he wakes, come and see me and I shall let you know if you can leave, them I want you to come back every week until I am satisfied that he is fully healed, understood?"
"Yes, thank you I know you would have done the same if you were in my position." Hermione smiled warmly.
"I was in love once, and yes I would have too. Now remember to come and see me before you leave." She returned the gesture and pushed the tools tray away with her.
Hermione didn't have to wait long as Draco eyes opened once more and he smiled, the colour had retuned to his cheeks and he felt rejuvenated.
"Hi Hermione, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you like that..." Hermione pushed a finger to his lips before replacing it with her own.
"I know you didn't. I love you too much to care, I'm just glad you're alright."
"Hermione when I fainted I thought I was dead, when I woke I knew it because I saw an angel."
"Draco, sorry to say my dearest but you're not dead which is too bad, cause I'm going to kill you. I nearly died myself when I found you. It scared me so much to think I would never see your eyes again, never kiss your lips, never hear your voice."
"Hermione please don't it scares me too." He said gently and a tear formed in his eye.
"I can't stand it in here anymore, let me just get Madame Pomfrey so we can get out of here."
Madame Pomfrey gave him a throughout inspection before enabling the pair to leave. Hermione provided Draco with support as he became tired and weak from the long walk back to the dorm.
Entering the common room she walked him to his bedroom and placed him lightly onto his bed. She removed his shoes cloak and tie, he had not changed since entering the hospital wing before pulling out a pair of his favorite boxers and leading him gently to the bathroom. He changed slowly and with great effort managed to walk back to his bed where Hermione lay fast asleep.
Hermione woke drowsily and turned to find Draco still fast asleep beside her shivering slightly. She covered him and returned to her room where she changed into a pair of three quarter pajama pants and matching tank top, looking at her bedside clock she found it was 2am. Wrapping herself into her red and gold fleecy dressing gown she donned her fluffy pink bunny slippers and hurried back to Draco's warm bed. Thinking what a waste of time it had been to put on her slippers and dressing gown she peeled them off. Climbing under the silver and green covers she snuggled up to Draco's warmth and he unconsciously placed a protective arm around her. His other arm still obviously sore lay limply beside him.
Neither was sure of the time when they finally woke properly but both were famished.
"Hey Mione what time is it?" Draco mumbled rubbing his eyes and yawning. Hermione pulled her wand from the beside stand where she had placed it .
"I dunno, accio clock. Her pink alarm clock came flying into the room hovering before her outstretched wand. 7:30 pm" She said a satisfied tone in her voice.
"That's my Mione always prepared." Propping himself onto his good arm he kissed her gently on the neck and turning her chin kissed her passionately on the lips. Her wand dropped from her hand as she closed her eyes and the pair jumped apart as Hermione's alarm clock smashed into the ground.
"Damn, that was my favorite alarm clock yet." Hermione mumbled.
"Repairo" Draco whispered taking the wand from beside him on the bed and as if being played on rewind, the shattered clock fitted back together.
"Now it still is." He said with a smile. "I'm so hungry I could eat a house."
"I think you mean horse" Hermione replied giggling.
"Oh, well then a horse. Let's get something to eat please, we might still be able to catch dinner."
Hermione left Draco to change and went back to her room where she put on her red sweater that she had been sent for her birthday last year and a pair of hip hugger jeans. The finishing addition a red ribbon in her hair, since she had lost her last after using it as a tourniquet for Draco. She hurried back after hearing a loud profanity coming from Draco's room. He had accidentally reopened a wound when he bumped into the corner of his desk. Helping him to finish putting his shirt on she wrapped the wound carefully and set out for the Great Hall. He was wearing a sleek black button up shirt and black pants. The bandage wrapped around his arm stood out loudly but neither seemed to mind.
"Hey Draco...why is it that you always seem to wear black?" Hermione asked as she inspected the many different paintings on the walls that she had missed on her way to the common room days beforehand.
"Well I guess I never really thought of it...if you want I could wear more colour if it would make you happy." He answered studying her face.
"No, no I don't want you to change, at least you'll always match my outfit." And with that they stumbled into the dinning room hall, which was now streaming with hungry students.
They walked hand in hand hearing the many audible gasps from the crowd, before Draco joined Hermione at the Gryffindor table. The crowd was not only attracted by the sight of them together, or that they were the only ones not adorned in school robes; It was the fact that Draco was now happily seated at the Gryffindor table.
Harry was the first one to speak, loudly pronouncing to the table "Hermione exactly why do we have and uninvited visitor seated at the table...are you blind?"
To which she replied tartly, "I'm not blind actually, of course I notice...I invited him." Now the whole table had their eyes glued on the trio. "If you have a problem with that then I'm sure you'd be happy to join your precious Slytherin Mistress Pansy at over there" she said lazily waving an arm in the Slytherin table's direction. Hermione quickly gave Draco a peck on the cheek and looked to down to concentrate on her meal. Harry sat across from them, filled with rage, hatred and jealousy.
The meal ended quickly and they were excused, Hermione immediately took Draco's hand and rushed after various Professors' to catch up on all the missed work. Draco sighed and followed her lead, by the end a rather long list had appeared and an armful of text books lay in the crook of his arm. Draco became weary quickly and Hermione insisted that he return to the dorm and that she would be to follow soon after.
He wandered back and as he entered fell sloppily into the large cushiony Gryffindor couch and within seconds was asleep a bundle of books lying heavily on his chest. When Hermione finally returned, she had to bite her hand to stop from laughing at Draco's sleeping form. She placed the books neatly on the floor and slinging his arm over her shoulder slowly hauled the dead weight to his bed.
"Madame Pomfrey was really right when she said he would tire easily...geez." She removed his shoes and socks before placing him under the covers and rushing off to the bathroom to fulfill her nightly girly cleaning ritual. With that done she retuned to look over him once more then shuffled along to her bedroom.
She sat reading and completing missed work until she climbed into her own bed, but found she couldn't sleep, something seemed to be missing. She knew exactly what as she paced across the common room entering Draco's room and pulling the door shut behind her.
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Thanx to all my reviewers!
Ur thoughts are much appreciated!
Thanx to Draco's Girl...**Tear** they almost made me cry they were so nice!
Thanx to Super Geek ur review is much appreciated...