Note: A HUGE thank you to every single person who has reviewed my story so far; I know I say it often but I really do appreciate it. As you probably already know, this fanfiction is drawing to a close pretty soon and so it won't be much longer before the final chapter, Chapter Twentyeight, has been put up.
All characters, settings and subplots 100% NOT MINE, so please don't be dumb enough to sue a 14 year old girl who gets around £20 a month. It's just not worth it!
"I'm afraid Miss Parkinson was unable to be resuscitated when she was rescued from the pool. We did all we could, but when someone's gone there is nothing we can do. I am very sorry." Madam Pomfrey turned her pale tear-filled eyes on the young woman that stood next to her and bowed her head.
"So Draco's okay?" Hermione whispered, her voice cracking with relief. "What's happened to him? Is he okay?"
"Mr Malfoy is a little water-logged; he was very ill when we managed to get him out but he hadn't completely stopped breathing, so he should be alright. He received slight bruising from underwater obstructions so he might look worse than it actually is. He'll be waking anytime soon."
"Please Madam… may I see him?"
"Absolutely not, there is-" the nurse paused, seeing the look of grief on the teenager's face. "I suppose in the circumstances, you may," she said reluctantly.
"Thank you so much," Hermione said, a lump in her throat. "Pansy… oh, are you positive nothing can be done Professor?" she cried, tears now rolling down her cut cheeks, the ones that had been scratched by the Slytherin girl less than an hour before.
"Nothing," Madam Pomfrey said sadly. "It is a tragedy. I won't push you for details right now, you must be feeling awful, but I must say that later on you will be expected to give full explanations for exactly why you were out so late anyway. Was Miss Parkinson a friend of yours?"
"Not exactly," Hermione said. "But I didn't want her to die!" She sat on the bed nearby, her head in her hands. "Why did it have to happen?" she cried, slightly muffled. "Why did anyone have to die? What's the POINT?"
"I'm afraid things don't always work out the way we want them to, and it can hurt. It can make you feel like your heart's breaking in two, like your very essence of living has gone and there's no point carrying on anymore. But, though this won't mean much now, it makes us stronger. If anything good can come out of the despair and grief of death, it is that. Things always happen for a reason." Madam Pomfrey's voice was soothing and warm to Hermione's raw guilt. Because, what Hermione hadn't said, was that in some way she almost felt responsible for Pansy to go. Like it was Hermione's FAULT. But her sensible side told her to let go; that Madam Pomfrey was right and that it was just tragic circumstances.
"May I see Draco now please?" Hermione asked quietly, getting up and going over to Madam Pomfrey. The nurse nodded and made her way down the aisle until she was at the end bed, where the white curtains were closed. She tugged them open until Hermione could see the young Slytherin.
He lay still, his skin as white as his hair that lay against his pillow, his overly red ruby lips slightly open. His eyelids, slightly bruised, didn't flicker. If it wasn't for the gentle sound of his breathing Hermione would be sure he was dead. Lying on the hospital bed, he no longer looked cruel or teasing, malicious or coldly intelligent; he looked tender, needy, like a newborn baby.
"Draco," Hermione whispered, pulling up a stool to sit next to him. She placed his large, white hand in her own creamy ones and stroked it softly; would he ever awake from his lonely slumber? "When will he wake up?" she hissed to the nurse standing nearby.
"Soon," she assured the girl. "We haven't used any kind of slumber potion yet, though Professor Snape is brewing one as we speak. If you speak loud enough, he will wake up. I wouldn't usually recommend it but if you're in a hurry to speak to him then you'd better, because once the potion's ready he won't be waking for a couple of days."
"Would you, erm, leave us alone? Please?" beseeched Hermione. It wasn't that she didn't like the nurse, far from it, but if this was going to be her last talk with Draco for a while then she wanted to make it special. Madam Pomfrey looked very hurt, but obligingly turned away and stalked off back up the aisle, in a huff.
"Draco." Hermione's voice was louder but it pained her to shout at her beloved. "Draco! Draco please listen, please." Her words descended into cries, and she rested her head on the side of the bed, her body racking with sobs which choked her throat.
"What are you crying for?" came a weak but amused and familiar voice, and Hermione looked up to see Draco was struggling to sit up, a smile stuck on his washed out face. "Not tears for me, are they?"
"Draco," she cried, dissolving into tears again, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Calm down, don't strangle me," he laughed, then immediately became serious. "What happened? Where's that little cow?"
"Pansy," Hermione said. "She's dead, Draco. Don't call her names. You might not have liked her… but she's not here anymore." She looked sadly into his eyes with her own tearstained ones, noticing his shock.
"She died?" he said. "Why aren't I dead, then?"
"I don't know. Maybe it's because she went in first, maybe it's just luck. Who knows? All I know is that you're alive, and I'm so glad." Hermione burrowed herself into his chest as he stroked her face.
"I'm here alright. And I'm here to stay, so don't you go crying anymore. Okay so that little snotbag's dead but it still doesn't alter my opinion about her. She was a nasty, stupid little bitch and she deserved to die," he said calmly.
"Draco!" Hermione cried, horrified. "You should NEVER speak ill of the dead."
"You haven't realised yet, have you? You haven't realised I'm never going to become like Potter. And if you keep on thinking I will, all I'm ever going to do is disappoint you." His voice was gentle but firm at the same time. "Just because she's not here anymore doesn't make her a better person. I care for you Hermione, more than life itself, but I can't change for anyone, no matter how much I want to. There's only ever one person I'll speak civilly to, and that's you," he chuckled, as she nuzzled her soft head of wild hair into him. "I do love you, you know."
"And I love you too," Hermione smiled, sitting up and reaching over so their lips met each others. It was only for a fraction of a second, but it was all they needed. His heart swelled; so far she had never said the words, and to hear them healed him more than Madam Pomfrey's potions ever could.
"Alright that's ENOUGH Miss Granger, I don't care how much you love each other. It really is time for you to go!" And with that, Madam Pomfrey bustled Hermione out of the room.
********
Draco awoke suddenly to the sound of voices, coming to as if he had just come out of a coma. He kept ever so still, listening to what they were saying.
"…I myself was very shocked and between you and I, I still cannot believe Miss Granger is still allowed in the school. I trust you heard all about the pregnancy business?" The voice was oily and deep; Draco recognised it as that of his Head of House, Snape. Draco had always looked up to him. He knew how much Hermione hated Snape, but she didn't know him like he did; true he showed favouritism, was overly strict and sharp, but he was also strong. Strong to leave the Dark Lord when fate depended on him.
"I didn't, Severus. What was it all about?" The cold voice was that of Lucius, Draco's father, and the mere sound sent shivers down the boy's spine.
"Miss Granger got herself pregnant, no doubt to Potter or someone of that type. I put my opinion forward she should be expelled immediately, but after she lost the baby, Dumbledore insisted she stayed on here. I hate to disapprove of the Headmaster's views but… well, he is too soft with her. And Potter."
"Really?" Lucius spoke quietly. "Between old friends, I have a fairly good idea of who the father of that baby might have been. Not that it matters. Tell me… how is it that my son is lying in a hospital bed?"
"The circumstances are strange, Lucius. All we know is that him and Miss Granger met at midnight, for reasons still unknown, whereupon Miss Parkinson attacked them and fell into the Lake taking your son with her. The girl tells all of this, so no doubt it is all a pack of lies. The tragedy of Miss Parkinson's death… for all we know, it could have been murder. I am sure the Daily Prophet will only be too pleased to write about it. I wouldn't be surprised, Lucius, if Granger DID kill the girl purposely. Pansy Parkinson was a Slytherin, and it is well known just how much she dislikes them. It is probable that Granger herself pushed them both in… well, who knows what she's capable of…"
"SHUT UP!" Draco shouted, unable to resist himself. He sat up in his hospital bed a little clumsily and glared at them both.
"Draco." Lucius's eyes glittered with hidden vindictiveness. "How lovely it is to see you awake with last. A talk with you is long overdue, I think. Professor Snape, if you would be so kind…" Snape bowed and turned on his heel, leaving the two Malfoy's alone together.
"You got my letter then," Draco muttered.
"Apparently," Lucius answered, steely gray eyes fixed upon his son. "Explain."
"I love her. And I can't stand having to follow your shitty orders anymore. Kill me if you want, I don't care. You're just weak. All you can do is follow another person's orders. The Dark Lord can rot in hell for all I care!"
"Be quiet if you know what is good for you," Lucius hissed, all trace of forced calm lost. "How dare you speak to me like that? How dare you? If it weren't for the situation I would take a belt to you right here. And you ever discuss what goes on in our private lives in public again and I'll make sure you are written out of the family will. Is that clear, boy?"
Draco didn't answer. He was shaking.
"I said is that clear?" the voice was a little louder, filled with suppressed rage. Each word seemed to bore into Draco's mind, like splinters that wouldn't go away.
"Yes. It's clear I'm going to have to be cut of my inheritance, doesn't it?" Draco said bitterly. "I'm marrying her, Father, with your approval or not. We'll go away, we'll leave the family name forever."
Lucius scowled, losing his usual coolly exterior. "You have always been a disappointment to me, Draco. Never good enough, because you've never been a proper Malfoy. You're a disgrace!" Lucius was now shouting, his face flushing with fury. All sense of propriety had gone. "You marry that girl and I assure you, you'll die! That is no empty threat; the Dark Lord does not look kindly on traitors!"
"I DON'T CARE!" Draco bellowed, his body racking with the force.
"And you got her pregnant did you? Well, you couldn't even get that right," Lucius sneered. "Never mind getting a pureblood heir- you couldn't even keep a halfblood one! She lost it didn't she?"
Draco couldn't stand the cruel, tormenting words; he launched himself at his father but missed, smacking himself on the cold, hard tiles.
"Really!" came an appalled voice, and Madam Pomfrey hurried up the aisle to assist Draco back into his bed, sporting a bruised shoulder. "I don't know what is wrong Mr Malfoy, but your son has just come through a traumatising experience. Whatever disagreement you have, it can wait! If you carry on to goad my patient, you really will have to leave!"
"I assure you Madam, I am going," Lucius smiled, the usual indeterminable exterior back in place. The kind words he spoke were said so sneeringly that they couldn't be compliments. "You are caring for him so…. Well. I shall definitely pass on my most flattering thoughts to the Headmaster. And Draco dear boy, good luck in the upcoming marriage. I look forward to receiving my invite through post." And with that he left, chuckling cruelly to himself.
And for the first time, Draco truly realised just how risky it was going to be.
Celebrating the fact that the last chapter is coming up soon, I've decided that everyone who makes a review will get a reply, as long as they say something more than "Update soon"! Please keep sending them in because it really helps; I often alter the story a little to suit your ideas and thoughts.
GrooveyGal~ Your wish came true, it wasn't Draco! I hope you carry on reading.
Kim~ Yep I am cruel, muhahaha! So here's an update for you… enjoy and thanks.
Danihell~ He didn't die! And thanks- you really think my writing gets better every time? That was nice of you to say so, thank you very much!
SweetNightmares~ My cliffies are evil? Nooooo!
Aquaprincess1~ if this is too good…. Hmm…. Should I make it better?
Paprika90~ thanks! It's really good I kept you hanging on. And I think you'll be pleased to find out Draco's okay! Please keep reviewing, I hope to hear from you in the future ;)
Gazy~ DRACO'S NOT DEAD! *dances* I bet you're pleased too, huh? It's sort of good that Pansy's dead and sort of not, if you know what I mean. But I think if it was out of her and Draco dying, she's definitely dead no question! And yep, that's right, he hasn't proposed yet… that's coming soon though! :) I also hated Pansy, and when I was writing the fight I was literally shaking with fury for poor Drakie… And thank you so much for your lovely words, is it really one of your favourites? I mean, WOW :) I would love to be a professional writer when I'm older but I have other aspirations so I'll just have to see where life takes me. As for the months, there has been a lot of confusion… all is explained at the bottom.
Oooo~ Pansy's DEAD! Uh-oh… lol
CozzaGirl16~ Yay Draco's alright! Thank you for reviewing!
Stepha-Lah~ Chapter 26 is here, and it won't be long for chappie 27! I hope you're enjoying, and thanks for the review.
Lita~ Pansy's dead. Yay!
Starshine~ You're probably write about not being true to the book, and I apologise for that. Sorry if it's been a little unrealistic about the whole magic thing… it's just the whole thing was so kerfuffled, and Hermione didn't actually have her wand with her… yet still, I could have made it much more real and I'm sorry. Thanks for reviewing anyway.
Lgobgirlie15~ Hey, we've all been too lazy to login before, hehe… trust me, I've been there.
Smokeline~ Thanks very much, it's good to know you like it and it keeps your interest.
Natyslacks~ another bootiful long review, hehe :D thanks Nat, you're one of my bestest most regular reviewers! And I'm glad you don't hate me because you've found out now right? Only problem is that I've left such a worry about what Lucius is going to do. Thank you for the review darl, please review this chappie soon!
c-h-l-o-e-06~ hehe, thanks :) please keep reviewing!
Slytherin-Gryffindor gal~ Thanks, hope you had a lovely Friday the 13th too! So you're liking the story? Great!
NSR~ *laughs* Your reviews are freakin hilarious! And yes, you have full permission to die if you want to Rose. Just keep on reviewing! Hehe, thanks and please review.
Evilbunnys-playmate~ Umm… are you going to kill me? I'm scared! I know I'm fast but this was a little bit slower, wasn't it? Yes? No?
