Disclaimer: As always these amazing characters all belong to J.K.Rowling.
**Hey guys, even though Im still awaiting reviews for Chapter 22, I decided to start writing Chapter 23, which is a part two to chapter 22.**
**This Chapter consists of the dueling between Harry and Draco, and how Hermione feels about it. And finally Hermione talks to Draco about what she is feeling, Will they stay broken up or will they get back together, read to find out!! And keep reading and reviewing!!**
CHAPTER 23- UNCOMFORTABLE DWELLING FOR ALL Part 2
I watched both Draco and Harry walk in opposing directions, their backs still to each other. I didn't want them to duel, I didn't want either of them to get hurt, and I could feel my stomach inside me dueling with itself into a strong tied knot. Finally Professor Evee spoke as everyone watched them get into positions.
"Very well boys, good luck, you may begin!!"
And for once in my life I did not see Draco cheat, he did not begin before she finished talking, he just waited, and I was so proud of him, and I didn't know why.
They both watched each other and finally Harry went first.
He yelled out pointing his wand at Draco, "Stembin triko!!!" A flash of green leaves like stem went out of his wand nearly hitting Draco.
Draco called out, "Shieldem forte!!" Shielding Harry's flash. He then shout out his own magic.
"Fuegor lien!!" and fire burst out of his wand toward Harry, but unsuccesfully, since Harry dodged it easily.
They went back and forth for awhile, and I kept fiddling my fingers together, hoping nothing would happen, but something did, Harry being knowingly more powerful with magic then Draco hit him with a "Lumbes noshoc!" which sent a dark sort of fist towards Draco knocking him to the floor.
Draco got a hit to his head unfortunately and was unconsious on the floor. I glared at Harry wanting to scream my head off, but I could see in Harry's eyes that he did not mean at all to do what he did, he looked absolutely terrified.
Everyone became quiet, and Draco did not get up. I could hear myself breathing out loud over the complete silence throughout the room. I felt as I was having anxiety, I couldn't bare to see him on the floor like that. In my head I kept shouting "Get up! Get up!" but he did not.
I looked at Professor Evee and Professor Snape who were looking at Harry in shock to see such power out of him.
I couldn't take it anymore, even though people were worried about Draco, they were more worried how Harry could of done such a thing unwillingly. And that made me even more upset. Harry was fine, but Draco wasn't, I wanted them to do something about it now!! Maybe it was because they knew it wasn't anything serious, or they knew Maddam Pomfrey could have him back up in running in a jiffy! But I did not care, I just wanted to see him well and I finally blurted out unconciously,
"Isn't any one going to help him!??" tears welling in my eyes, while my voice echoed throughout the room. Suddenly I felt everyone's eyes on me, all of them curiously raising their eyebrows at me, as if I were insane or on the verge of insanity.
I stood there, everyone glaring at me, until Ron whispered, knowing everyone would hear,
"Hermione, you alright? Can't you see Harry is fine." Harry?However did he think I was worried about Harry when Draco was lieing on the floor unconcious.
And then before I could control myself, I let out exactly what I was thinking mistankinly.
"It's not Harry Im worried about!!" I yelled going red with fury, as everyone watched me.
Thankfully Professor Evee composed herself finally and realized what was going on around her, and with me.
"Ok ok!! That's it for today everyone, all of you, off to dinner!! Professor Snape and I will take Mr. Malfoy down to the hospital wing if anyone would like to know where he would be." She mentioned eyeing me personally. I let out a sigh of relief and she gave me a slight smile.
"All of you get out now, what you lot waiting for?" Professor Snape yelled out, finally rushing out the remaining students.
Ron and Harry seemed as they have forgotten or acted as they have forgotten what I said and what had just happened.
"Are you coming along with us Hermione?" asked Harry as I put my foot down the oposing way.
"Uhh no, Im going to stay for a second and talk to Professor Evee, is that alright?" I asked meekly.
They just both smiled at me and told me they would save me a seat at dinner, even though I didn't tell them, but I was not planning to attend. Not now that Draco was harmed.
They both left leaving me behind with Professor Evee and Professor Snape in the gigantic room. I didn't even bother with both the Professors, once everyone was out, I began to walk and then run as fast as I could to Draco's side.
He was lieing on the floor, head slightly leaning to the right, and his left arm placed across his chest. He had a bruise on his forehead, and his lip was bleeding a bit. I went to my knees at his right and said.
"Draco?" but I got no answer. I placed my hand under his cheek pulling his head softly, and put one finger on his bleeding lip. I looked at my finger, and then caressed his face.
"Oh Merlin, please tell me he will be alright?" I asked forgetting that both Professors were there.
Professor Evee then put her hand on my shoulder and she knelt down beside me, her skirt flowing down on her knees. She saw my tears falling slightly one by one, and she reached her hand to my hair and she tucked it behind my ear.
"There there, Hermione, don't worry, Maddam Pomfrey is an expert, she's done far worse cases then this, he will be fine, really. Just go get yourself some dinner and afterwards, Im sure you will be able to go visit Mr. Malfoy in the hospital wing. Does that sound alright to you?" she asked me silently waiting for my nod.
I surely nodded and began to get up not taking my eyes of Draco. I wipped my eyes before turning around. And when I did, I avoided both the Professor's eyes. What doomed me more then anything was to see Snape seeing me like this, and what sort of eyes of disgust he might have for me. So I did not look at him, or Professor Evee at all, and I just marched right out of the room.
PROFESSOR EVEE'S POV
"Alright now that the girl is done with whinning we should take him to the Hospital Wing." Demanded Professor Snape.
I got up in a hurry and looked at him furiously. "Must you always talk of the children in such a manner. It's as if you despise them. Why should you teach if you hate children so?"
I listened for his answer as I cast a spell on Draco that made him dissapear and reappear in the hospital wing for Maddam Pomfrey's help and look after.
"Mind you, Evee, I have much more experience then yourself in teaching." He reminded me.
I turned up to look at him again.
"Well mind you Severus, though you might have more experience in teaching, you seem to know nothing of children. You see the young girl crying, and you brush her off as if she did not exist." I explained.
"Well I have known Miss. Granger for a quite long time, and she is used to seeing her friends in peril or danger, Im sure she will manage." He threw back at me.
"You are completely impossible Severus, really!" I told him walking.
"Is that what you will do again, walk away?" he asked me knowing how much that would infuriate me.
I whisped around and glared at him through hot red eyes as he smirked back at me wickedly.
Before I could say a thing Professor McGonagall strode in and stopped our bickering.
"Are you two at it again?" she asked defyingly. I don't know what it was about her that made me stop in my tracks and listen.
"It's nothing Minerva. But we do have some interesting new facts about Harry Potter." I told her knowing I would see her perk up to listen.
"Now doesn't everyone?" she asked smiling with her pressed lips together. "Well what is it then?"
I looked to Severus waiting for him to respond since I was still angered by his comment and my eyes were dimming back.
"Well he was dueling against Mr. Malfoy, and sent him reeling to the floor and unconcsious, we sent him to the Hospital Wing." He explained.
"And Mr. Potter?" she asked slyly.
"He is at dinner" I answered.
"Well I don't think it's anything you two have to worry about. Harry Potter is one special and unique boy. I do not want to mention any more of his unique talents, as I do not wish to put Harry in a different place compared to the other students. He is needed not to be treated differently then other students." She said.
Severus responded "Yes I agree."
I responded. "Are you sure? Maybe if he learnt to develop his talent" But she shook her head and began to talk again.
"Evee, you know what it is to feel different and unique, you don't want Harry to feel the same way?" she asked me.
"Your right, sorry Minerva." I responded lying. I knew that if in the future, if my father would come back into the picture, I knew we would need people to fight against him. No matter how deeply that would wound me. I knew we needed to train more children for the sake of all our futures. And that there was no sense in denying the fact that Harry Potter was one to save us all one day. I knew it. I felt it. I believed it..
DRACO'S POV
Complete darkness. That's all I could see. I could not open my eyes, it felt like something was keeping them closed. I did not know where I was, or who put me here, and I did not know what I was feeling, whether it hurt or not. My eyes kept close but I could still hear my surroundings. I heard the dark night in already by the owl hooting, and the dark trembling of the sinister forest near by. I heard the strange nightly noises, as the creaks in the doors, and shuffling of footsteps far away. But over all these normal noises I heard the soft breathing of someone near by. I wanted to see who it was and why they did not speak, and ask them where I was but I heard nothing but there soft gentle breathing.
I began to try to focus all my strenght on lifting my eyelids open, and finally they began to flicker opening slightly. Everything seemed blurry. As I glarred around the room more and more, everything became more visible, and the throbbing in my head became stronger.
I finally looked to my left to where the soft harmonous breathing came from. I smiled slightly with my lips pressed together. It was Hermoine. She had a chair drawn toward my bed, and her head was lying on her hands which were placed on the bed. I reached out my hand to her, but as I jerked it up she must of felt the move because she bolted upright to look at me. I thought she maybe still be mad at me, but I saw her smiling throughly and tears began to fill her eyes.
"Draco you are alright!" she cried out moving closer to the bed.
"Of course Im alright, you wouldn't think that that Potter would hurt me that bad, did you?" Remembering now that it was Potter who knocked me out.
"Oh so you remember then?" she asked me curiously.
"Yes." I said remembering also of the many things she said the day before, and the way her and Weasley were going about. But she did not seem to notice the anger and dissapointment that flowed through my mind.
She then reached both her hands to my face, caressing it. She placed her hand on my hair and the other under my chin, moving my head from side to side inspecting it, to make sure I was okey.
"I was scared that something terrible might of happened to you." she whispered into my ear.
I looked into her eyes, and they seemed frightened, almost scared. I put my hand on her cheek and sat up in my bed. Coming near to her lips, she did not lean in to kiss me. So I pursued to come in for her. First I kissed her lightly on the lips, hardly pressing my lips to her, and I felt her whole body shiver, and when I went back to deepen it she pulled away from me, standing up from her chair.
I still had my hand in the air where her cheek would have been and asked her, "What's wrong?"
She looked down to her feet and to me again, "I can't do this Draco, not right now."
I got sort of angered by this but I tried not to flinch at her words.
"What do you mean you can't right now? Is it Weasley?"
"Ron? Merlin no! Ron is my best friend!" she told me almost insultingly at that remark.
"Well it sure didn't seem that way, you cozying up to him like you did today!" I threw back at her.
"Oh please Draco, Ron, Harry and I have been acting like that since first year. Were best friends, but you didn't start to notice that until this year." She said back at me angrily.
"Well if nothing is going on with Weasley, then why?" I asked her not understanding her one bit.
"Im sorry. I should of gave you a better explanation and I do take that at fault. I really do care about you soooo sooo much, and like you just as much, but I can't do this right now. Not because I don't want to be with you, so don't even think that for one second. It's because of that one night, what Crabbe did, I just can't forget it. I need to be independent for awhile." She continued while seating herself and clutching my hand to hers "I need to be alone for awhile."
I felt so selfish, but I didn't want her to be indepentant, I wanted her to be with me, and that's all. But I had to comply with what she said or else she would be angry, and I could not bare to see her that way.
"And what exactly am I supposed to do without you in the meantime?" I asked her.
She smiled deeply at me and caressed my hand and said "Well we can be friends for now, can't we?"
I smiled back at her. Even though I knew deep inside that wasn't good enough for me. I had to agree, at least to make things more pleasant for the both of us. We still had to live together and have classes together. I had to make the best out of the situation.
"Of course Hermione, always. But you know you will always be more then a friend to me, always. Ok?" I told her putting my hand on her cheek.
"Thanks for understanding. Well I should really be heading off right now." She said beginning to pull away from awkardness of the situation.
"No wait, please, one last kiss?" I asked her, while I smiled at her devishly.
She leaned in toward my lips, but right when I thought she was going to kiss my lips, she changed to my cheek, and kissed it instead, and whispered into my ear smiling, "Goodnight."
And she slowly walked away, leaving a lingering sweet smell of hers behind. And with that thought in my mind, I slowly drifted off to sleep once again.
**Hey guys, even though Im still awaiting reviews for Chapter 22, I decided to start writing Chapter 23, which is a part two to chapter 22.**
**This Chapter consists of the dueling between Harry and Draco, and how Hermione feels about it. And finally Hermione talks to Draco about what she is feeling, Will they stay broken up or will they get back together, read to find out!! And keep reading and reviewing!!**
CHAPTER 23- UNCOMFORTABLE DWELLING FOR ALL Part 2
I watched both Draco and Harry walk in opposing directions, their backs still to each other. I didn't want them to duel, I didn't want either of them to get hurt, and I could feel my stomach inside me dueling with itself into a strong tied knot. Finally Professor Evee spoke as everyone watched them get into positions.
"Very well boys, good luck, you may begin!!"
And for once in my life I did not see Draco cheat, he did not begin before she finished talking, he just waited, and I was so proud of him, and I didn't know why.
They both watched each other and finally Harry went first.
He yelled out pointing his wand at Draco, "Stembin triko!!!" A flash of green leaves like stem went out of his wand nearly hitting Draco.
Draco called out, "Shieldem forte!!" Shielding Harry's flash. He then shout out his own magic.
"Fuegor lien!!" and fire burst out of his wand toward Harry, but unsuccesfully, since Harry dodged it easily.
They went back and forth for awhile, and I kept fiddling my fingers together, hoping nothing would happen, but something did, Harry being knowingly more powerful with magic then Draco hit him with a "Lumbes noshoc!" which sent a dark sort of fist towards Draco knocking him to the floor.
Draco got a hit to his head unfortunately and was unconsious on the floor. I glared at Harry wanting to scream my head off, but I could see in Harry's eyes that he did not mean at all to do what he did, he looked absolutely terrified.
Everyone became quiet, and Draco did not get up. I could hear myself breathing out loud over the complete silence throughout the room. I felt as I was having anxiety, I couldn't bare to see him on the floor like that. In my head I kept shouting "Get up! Get up!" but he did not.
I looked at Professor Evee and Professor Snape who were looking at Harry in shock to see such power out of him.
I couldn't take it anymore, even though people were worried about Draco, they were more worried how Harry could of done such a thing unwillingly. And that made me even more upset. Harry was fine, but Draco wasn't, I wanted them to do something about it now!! Maybe it was because they knew it wasn't anything serious, or they knew Maddam Pomfrey could have him back up in running in a jiffy! But I did not care, I just wanted to see him well and I finally blurted out unconciously,
"Isn't any one going to help him!??" tears welling in my eyes, while my voice echoed throughout the room. Suddenly I felt everyone's eyes on me, all of them curiously raising their eyebrows at me, as if I were insane or on the verge of insanity.
I stood there, everyone glaring at me, until Ron whispered, knowing everyone would hear,
"Hermione, you alright? Can't you see Harry is fine." Harry?However did he think I was worried about Harry when Draco was lieing on the floor unconcious.
And then before I could control myself, I let out exactly what I was thinking mistankinly.
"It's not Harry Im worried about!!" I yelled going red with fury, as everyone watched me.
Thankfully Professor Evee composed herself finally and realized what was going on around her, and with me.
"Ok ok!! That's it for today everyone, all of you, off to dinner!! Professor Snape and I will take Mr. Malfoy down to the hospital wing if anyone would like to know where he would be." She mentioned eyeing me personally. I let out a sigh of relief and she gave me a slight smile.
"All of you get out now, what you lot waiting for?" Professor Snape yelled out, finally rushing out the remaining students.
Ron and Harry seemed as they have forgotten or acted as they have forgotten what I said and what had just happened.
"Are you coming along with us Hermione?" asked Harry as I put my foot down the oposing way.
"Uhh no, Im going to stay for a second and talk to Professor Evee, is that alright?" I asked meekly.
They just both smiled at me and told me they would save me a seat at dinner, even though I didn't tell them, but I was not planning to attend. Not now that Draco was harmed.
They both left leaving me behind with Professor Evee and Professor Snape in the gigantic room. I didn't even bother with both the Professors, once everyone was out, I began to walk and then run as fast as I could to Draco's side.
He was lieing on the floor, head slightly leaning to the right, and his left arm placed across his chest. He had a bruise on his forehead, and his lip was bleeding a bit. I went to my knees at his right and said.
"Draco?" but I got no answer. I placed my hand under his cheek pulling his head softly, and put one finger on his bleeding lip. I looked at my finger, and then caressed his face.
"Oh Merlin, please tell me he will be alright?" I asked forgetting that both Professors were there.
Professor Evee then put her hand on my shoulder and she knelt down beside me, her skirt flowing down on her knees. She saw my tears falling slightly one by one, and she reached her hand to my hair and she tucked it behind my ear.
"There there, Hermione, don't worry, Maddam Pomfrey is an expert, she's done far worse cases then this, he will be fine, really. Just go get yourself some dinner and afterwards, Im sure you will be able to go visit Mr. Malfoy in the hospital wing. Does that sound alright to you?" she asked me silently waiting for my nod.
I surely nodded and began to get up not taking my eyes of Draco. I wipped my eyes before turning around. And when I did, I avoided both the Professor's eyes. What doomed me more then anything was to see Snape seeing me like this, and what sort of eyes of disgust he might have for me. So I did not look at him, or Professor Evee at all, and I just marched right out of the room.
PROFESSOR EVEE'S POV
"Alright now that the girl is done with whinning we should take him to the Hospital Wing." Demanded Professor Snape.
I got up in a hurry and looked at him furiously. "Must you always talk of the children in such a manner. It's as if you despise them. Why should you teach if you hate children so?"
I listened for his answer as I cast a spell on Draco that made him dissapear and reappear in the hospital wing for Maddam Pomfrey's help and look after.
"Mind you, Evee, I have much more experience then yourself in teaching." He reminded me.
I turned up to look at him again.
"Well mind you Severus, though you might have more experience in teaching, you seem to know nothing of children. You see the young girl crying, and you brush her off as if she did not exist." I explained.
"Well I have known Miss. Granger for a quite long time, and she is used to seeing her friends in peril or danger, Im sure she will manage." He threw back at me.
"You are completely impossible Severus, really!" I told him walking.
"Is that what you will do again, walk away?" he asked me knowing how much that would infuriate me.
I whisped around and glared at him through hot red eyes as he smirked back at me wickedly.
Before I could say a thing Professor McGonagall strode in and stopped our bickering.
"Are you two at it again?" she asked defyingly. I don't know what it was about her that made me stop in my tracks and listen.
"It's nothing Minerva. But we do have some interesting new facts about Harry Potter." I told her knowing I would see her perk up to listen.
"Now doesn't everyone?" she asked smiling with her pressed lips together. "Well what is it then?"
I looked to Severus waiting for him to respond since I was still angered by his comment and my eyes were dimming back.
"Well he was dueling against Mr. Malfoy, and sent him reeling to the floor and unconcsious, we sent him to the Hospital Wing." He explained.
"And Mr. Potter?" she asked slyly.
"He is at dinner" I answered.
"Well I don't think it's anything you two have to worry about. Harry Potter is one special and unique boy. I do not want to mention any more of his unique talents, as I do not wish to put Harry in a different place compared to the other students. He is needed not to be treated differently then other students." She said.
Severus responded "Yes I agree."
I responded. "Are you sure? Maybe if he learnt to develop his talent" But she shook her head and began to talk again.
"Evee, you know what it is to feel different and unique, you don't want Harry to feel the same way?" she asked me.
"Your right, sorry Minerva." I responded lying. I knew that if in the future, if my father would come back into the picture, I knew we would need people to fight against him. No matter how deeply that would wound me. I knew we needed to train more children for the sake of all our futures. And that there was no sense in denying the fact that Harry Potter was one to save us all one day. I knew it. I felt it. I believed it..
DRACO'S POV
Complete darkness. That's all I could see. I could not open my eyes, it felt like something was keeping them closed. I did not know where I was, or who put me here, and I did not know what I was feeling, whether it hurt or not. My eyes kept close but I could still hear my surroundings. I heard the dark night in already by the owl hooting, and the dark trembling of the sinister forest near by. I heard the strange nightly noises, as the creaks in the doors, and shuffling of footsteps far away. But over all these normal noises I heard the soft breathing of someone near by. I wanted to see who it was and why they did not speak, and ask them where I was but I heard nothing but there soft gentle breathing.
I began to try to focus all my strenght on lifting my eyelids open, and finally they began to flicker opening slightly. Everything seemed blurry. As I glarred around the room more and more, everything became more visible, and the throbbing in my head became stronger.
I finally looked to my left to where the soft harmonous breathing came from. I smiled slightly with my lips pressed together. It was Hermoine. She had a chair drawn toward my bed, and her head was lying on her hands which were placed on the bed. I reached out my hand to her, but as I jerked it up she must of felt the move because she bolted upright to look at me. I thought she maybe still be mad at me, but I saw her smiling throughly and tears began to fill her eyes.
"Draco you are alright!" she cried out moving closer to the bed.
"Of course Im alright, you wouldn't think that that Potter would hurt me that bad, did you?" Remembering now that it was Potter who knocked me out.
"Oh so you remember then?" she asked me curiously.
"Yes." I said remembering also of the many things she said the day before, and the way her and Weasley were going about. But she did not seem to notice the anger and dissapointment that flowed through my mind.
She then reached both her hands to my face, caressing it. She placed her hand on my hair and the other under my chin, moving my head from side to side inspecting it, to make sure I was okey.
"I was scared that something terrible might of happened to you." she whispered into my ear.
I looked into her eyes, and they seemed frightened, almost scared. I put my hand on her cheek and sat up in my bed. Coming near to her lips, she did not lean in to kiss me. So I pursued to come in for her. First I kissed her lightly on the lips, hardly pressing my lips to her, and I felt her whole body shiver, and when I went back to deepen it she pulled away from me, standing up from her chair.
I still had my hand in the air where her cheek would have been and asked her, "What's wrong?"
She looked down to her feet and to me again, "I can't do this Draco, not right now."
I got sort of angered by this but I tried not to flinch at her words.
"What do you mean you can't right now? Is it Weasley?"
"Ron? Merlin no! Ron is my best friend!" she told me almost insultingly at that remark.
"Well it sure didn't seem that way, you cozying up to him like you did today!" I threw back at her.
"Oh please Draco, Ron, Harry and I have been acting like that since first year. Were best friends, but you didn't start to notice that until this year." She said back at me angrily.
"Well if nothing is going on with Weasley, then why?" I asked her not understanding her one bit.
"Im sorry. I should of gave you a better explanation and I do take that at fault. I really do care about you soooo sooo much, and like you just as much, but I can't do this right now. Not because I don't want to be with you, so don't even think that for one second. It's because of that one night, what Crabbe did, I just can't forget it. I need to be independent for awhile." She continued while seating herself and clutching my hand to hers "I need to be alone for awhile."
I felt so selfish, but I didn't want her to be indepentant, I wanted her to be with me, and that's all. But I had to comply with what she said or else she would be angry, and I could not bare to see her that way.
"And what exactly am I supposed to do without you in the meantime?" I asked her.
She smiled deeply at me and caressed my hand and said "Well we can be friends for now, can't we?"
I smiled back at her. Even though I knew deep inside that wasn't good enough for me. I had to agree, at least to make things more pleasant for the both of us. We still had to live together and have classes together. I had to make the best out of the situation.
"Of course Hermione, always. But you know you will always be more then a friend to me, always. Ok?" I told her putting my hand on her cheek.
"Thanks for understanding. Well I should really be heading off right now." She said beginning to pull away from awkardness of the situation.
"No wait, please, one last kiss?" I asked her, while I smiled at her devishly.
She leaned in toward my lips, but right when I thought she was going to kiss my lips, she changed to my cheek, and kissed it instead, and whispered into my ear smiling, "Goodnight."
And she slowly walked away, leaving a lingering sweet smell of hers behind. And with that thought in my mind, I slowly drifted off to sleep once again.