Chapter 16: Murderer!

Sorry for taking so long! I actually wrote this and never posted. Thanks for all the reviews, as always

Harry sat by Hermione's bedside in the hospital wing in their kingdom. She had been through hell, had been tortured; beaten and burned, but according to the nurse, she was going to make a full recovery. Harry's hand was clamped to Hermione's clammy one. His right arm was in a sling, and he had to force down three different potions a day.

There was the sound of rapid footsteps. Harry turned, and found a panting Ron in the doorway.

            "How is she?" he gasped.

            "Sleeping," Harry replied.

Ron slowly nodded, avoiding Harry's eyes.

            "What's wrong?" Harry asked him.

            "Harry, I had no idea about what Ginny…"

            "I know," Harry said, and kissed Hermione's hand. "I don't blame you."

            "Have you been here all night?"

Harry nodded. "Now that I've got her back, the thought of losing her again is…" He paused, a lump forming in his throat.

Hermione blinked, and slowly opened her eyes.

Harry and Ron grinned.

She looked around the room, and smiled when her eyes found Harry. "I thought it was a dream that you rescued me."

            "No dream," he whispered, smoothing her hair back.

            "I'm so sorry about the wedding," she said, tears forming in her eyes.

            "No, don't be, it's not your fault." Harry reassured her.

Ron pulled out a bouquet of roses from behind his back. "How're you feeling?" he asked.

            "Hi," Hermione smiled. "Better."

Ron cleared his throat. "These--- these are for you." He said, and handed her the flowers.

Hermione beamed, and took them. "Thank you."

            "You're welcome," Ron said. "I hope you get better soon, but if you'll excuse me, I have to go find Lavender before she buys you half of Hogsmeade."

Hermione and Harry laughed, and bid Ron goodbye.

Now it was just the two of them.

Hermione smiled, and scooted over to make room for him on her bed. Harry took the hint, and curled his good arm around her.

            "I love you so much," He whispered into her ear.

            "I love you too," She said, and tears leaked out of her eyes.

            "Hey," He said softly, lifting her chin to him. "You're safe now."

            "When… when I was in the dungeon," she said, pausing to dry her eyes, "I kept thinking that one day they'd just get tired of hurting me, and just kill me." Her shoulders trembled. "And that I would die at the hand of Draco Malfoy, and you'd never know how much I loved you. I thought you'd think I abandoned you, and I'd never do that. Never. All that kept me going was to get back to you, I knew in my heart that you'd come, and you did. Oh God, you did."

Harry was silent a moment, and then, "I'm so sorry for what happened."

            "It's not your fault," she said, and kissed him. "You made it right." She paused for a moment. "Harry, before I went blacked out, I remember seeing Malfoy hanging off the ledge…"

Harry let out a growl, and raked both hands through his hair. "I couldn't kill him. After all that he did, after what he did to you, I couldn't--- I couldn't do it. What the hell kind of a person am I?"

            "Listen to me," She said sternly, clasping his hands in her own. "Anyone can say a spell. But it takes a man to save a life."

Harry shook his head, "He let go. I wasn't quick enough. I tried to save him!"

            "I know," She whispered, pulling him close. "It's one of the reasons I love you." She rested her head against his. "We'll get through this."

(nurse fixes harry's arm)

The three kingdoms rejoiced at Hermione's return. But Malfoy's absence in the Slytherin kingdom spread like wildfire. Harry and Hermione were peacefully eating breakfast when Ron ran in with the morning's Daily Prophet.

            "Harry!" He panted, clutching a stitch in his side. "Harry, we got trouble!"

Bewildered, Harry took the paper from him as Hermione squeezed his hand.

Harry slowly unrolled the parchment, read, and went pale.

            "What is it?" Hermione asked, her voice trembling.

Harry gulped, and handed it to her.

Hermione, shaking, read aloud:

            Draco Malfoy Murdered!

Head of Slytherin Kingdom; Malfoy was found dead in his castle's dungeon early this morning. Suspicions of the youth's death are mounting, and wands point to Harry Potter, head of Gryffindor kingdom who was seen departing from there late last night. If convicted, Potter would face his own execution. Stay tuned to the Daily Prophet as we cover more of this tragic event.

Hermione turned to Harry, at a loss for words.

            "I didn't," He told Hermione and Ron, "You know I didn't."

            "I know," Ron said nervously. "But this is bad, Harry--- if they think you've killed Malfoy---" He was cut short as the mail arrived, and various owls delivered the morning Prophet to the Gryffindors.

Slowly, one by one they read their paper, and one by one, they turned to Harry.

End chap