Whoo! I'm back! So here's the long awaited seventeenth chapter! Yay! Be prepared for the last few chapters to show up this weekend since I have a five day break from school! Whoo hoo! So I'll try to put this up as soon as I finish all my math assignments since the beginning of the unit and the controversial essay I have to do for English Lit. So here it is...enjoy!
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Chapter 17: Love Conquers Hate
Madam Pomfrey was shocked when Draco brought the unconscious Head Girl into the infirmary. Not because of Hermione's condition, but because of the frantic state the usually cool and arrogant Head Boy was in. The poor boy was practically in tears.
"I don't know what's wrong with her! We were talking and then she screamed and passed out!" Draco cried, panic evident in his voice. Madam Pomfrey would have been amused, but now was not the time. She told Draco to put Hermione down on a bed.
"Do you have any clue as to what could have been the cause of her condition now, Mr. Malfoy?" Malfoy began to chew on his bottom lip. Telling off a fellow Slytherin was one thing...but ratting him out like some sort of...do-gooder Gryffindor? He took one look at Hermione, pale and cold, life quite literally just draining out of her. He closed his eyes and nodded.
"It might have something to do with Nott." Madam Pomfrey raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? What did he do?" Draco felt the anger rush back to his face as he recounted Hermione's story to the school mediwitch. Madam Pomfrey put a hand up to her mouth and immediately checked Hermione's seemingly lifeless body. She shook her head and turned to Draco.
"Go get the Headmaster quick!" she exclaimed, her voice urgent.
"She's not going to die, is she?" Draco asked, panicked again. Madam Pomfrey began pushing him towards the door.
"We don't have time for your questions, Mr. Malfoy! Go get Professor Dumbledore! And hurry!" Draco didn't need to be told again. He noticed the urgent tone and ran out of the infirmary, no longer caring who saw him. All he knew was that he needed to find the Headmaster. He didn't need to look far. Draco had just gone twenty feet from the infirmary door when he ran right into Professor Dumbledore.
"Sorry...Oh! Professor!" Draco looked up at Dumbledore's face. The mysterious smile that Draco often saw on the Headmaster's face was not there. Instead, Dumbledore's face was contorted with worry and concern.
"Where is she?" Dumbledore asked. So he already knew. 'Is there anything that that man doesn't know?' Draco thought as he followed the Headmaster back into the infirmary. Dumbledore took one look at Hermione, then turned to Madam Pomfrey.
"What is it, Poppy?" She shook her head.
"I'm not sure. Her symptoms are like that of a Cruciatus Curse, but judging from Mr. Malfoy's story, no wand had been pointed at her at all. Also, the Cruciatus would not have this sort of effect of life just draining away from her." Dumbledore seemed to understand exactly what was going on, but didn't let on that he knew.
"Very well. Poppy, just treat her as best you can. But I am afraid that all we can do is wait until she wakes. Mr. Malfoy, I supposed that you would want to stay with her? That is, if Madam Pomfrey doesn't object, of course." Madam Pomfrey set her lip into a thin line. Everyone knew that she didn't like people visiting her patients when she knew they needed peace and quiet. But she nodded anyway. She conjured up a pillow and blanket for him, knowing he'll probably fall asleep next to Hermione's bed in the big armchair, just as Hermione had for him on so many occasions during the school year.
Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey left the room, leaving Draco and Hermione quite alone in the infirmary. Draco pulled up the big armchair that Hermione liked to sit in when he was in the infirmary. But this time, it was the other way around. He picked up her hand and held it tightly in his. It felt as cold as ice. He kissed each of her fingertips.
"Hermione, you said that I'd never lose you," he said in a whisper. He felt tears welling up in his eyes. He leaned down and kissed her lips softly. They were as cold as her hands. Finally, the tears came. He held Hermione close to his chest and sobbed quietly.
"Don't leave me, Hermione. Don't you see that I can't live without you?" Draco continued to cry and didn't notice when heat began to slowly return to her body, though she was still unconscious. He lay her back down on the white bed.
"Whoever did this to you is going to pay. I swear, if it's the last thing I ever do." With that, Draco fell into an uneasy sleep.
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The next morning, Draco woke to the sound of Madam Pomfrey checking on Hermione again, while referring to a very thick book. He quietly watched as she cast several charms to see if they'd work. She finally looked up to see that Draco was up.
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy. You're up a bit early. Why don't you freshen up then go get a bit of breakfast. After last night, you could certainly use some." Draco nodded and walked dazedly out of the room. He walked back to the Head Dorms almost without thinking anything of it. Most of his thoughts were on Hermione and how she could have possibly just end up in the situation she was in. He soon found himself in front of Uric the Oddball and was about to say the password to let himself in when the sound of running footsteps stopped him. He turned to see who it was.
"Weasley?" It was, indeed, Weasl...er...Ron running towards him. "What is it?" Ron stopped running and paused to catch his breath.
"Prof...Pro..." he began, his breathing still ragged. Draco was growing impatient.
"Hermy," was all Ron could muster, but it was enough for Draco to start sprinting to the hospital wing with Ron at his heels. They burst through the door to find Harry, Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey surrounding Hermione's bed. Draco approached the bed and took a look. The color had returned to Hermione's face and her breathing was less shallow, but she was still unconscious.
"We have found what is wrong with her," Professor Dumbledore stated. Draco snapped his attention to the Headmaster.
"Well, what is it? What is the cure?" Draco asked urgently. Ron scowled at Draco's actions and Harry elbowed him, telling him to not do or say anything stupid. Ron, thankfully, got the message and went back to staring at Hermione's unconscious form.
"The curse used on Ms. Granger is very old Dark Magic. It is called 'Odium Mors'. The spell, when used correctly, kills a person with all the intensity of hate. This particular spell is so powerful that you don't even have to be in the same room as that person is. Hate is such a powerful emotion that you can cast it from thousands of miles away...or from, for example, once area of the castle to another." Everyone was silent as Dumbledore's words sank in.
"You think a student did this, Albus?" McGonagall finally said after a few moments of silence.
"I think that whoever did this knew what he...or she...was doing." Dumbledore snuck a glance at Draco. Draco thought he understood what he meant, but not fully.
"But Professor, if this curse is supposed to kill, then why isn't Hermione...dead?"
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, this spell is quite complicated and only kills when done properly. Hate must be the soul emotion behind the spell and sometimes, another emotion gets mixed with the hate and doesn't give the correct effect. Jealously, for example, can be mixed in unintentionally." Draco's eyes widened. He finally understood. It was Pansy.
"Is there any cure, Professor?" Draco asked. Dumbledore shook his head sadly.
"I'm afraid not, Mr. Malfoy. We're just going to have to wait for her to wake on her own accord. But she does look a bit better, don't you think?" Draco nodded and looked back down at Hermione, taking hold of her hand. Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Well, I think we'd best be off to breakfast now." Dumbledore motioned for McGonagall to follow him.
"Don't be late to class boys," she warned as she left. Draco paid no mind to anyone else as he stared at Hermione, still holding her hand. Ron and Harry studied him for a moment before Ron chose to speak.
"You really love her, don't you?" Draco sighed deeply as he pulled his chair up next to her bed.
"More than you'll ever know, Weasley," he stated, shaking his head. "This is all my fault," he said in barely a whisper.
"Hey, you give yourself a little too much credit, Malfoy," Harry said.
"But it's true!" Draco yelled, spinning around to face Harry. "This wouldn't have happened if she didn't fall in love with me! I never deserved her! She deserves someone better than me: 'Junior Death Eater of the Year', remember?" During his rant, Hermione's hand became cold in Draco's. He panicked and held her face in his hands.
"No! Hermione! You were doing so well! Don't leave me now!" Tears started to run down his face and onto hers. He brushed them away and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.
"Hermione...remember when we used to have those talks about what we'd do if we didn't have to worry about Lucius or...or V-Voldemort ever again? Remember? We said...we said..." Draco was practically sobbing. He could no longer continue as Hermione took one last shuddering breath, then stopped breathing all together.
"NO!" he cried. He held her close and began to rock back and forth, repeating the word "no" over and over again. Harry and Ron stood by as silent tears rolled down their cheeks, all pride gone as the truth sunk in...Hermione was dead. Draco stopped rocking, but he still held her close while he kissed her cold forehead.
"I'm so sorry, Hermione. I love you, and I always will," he whispered into her ear. He continued to hole her close and stroke her hair. Minutes passed by and felt like hours. Draco felt as if his whole world had just crumbled. The only love he had ever known was gone.
But then something miraculous happened. It was as if his earlier statement of love for her registered in her brain, causing her color and the heat to return to her body. Draco stopped crying as he left that familiar heat emanate from the girl in his arms. She inhaled sharply and her eyes shot open. She looked about the room to gather her surroundings and felt Draco's familiar arms holding her close.
"We said we'd live happily ever after," she whispered into his ear. He pulled back slowly to look into his beloved's face. She smiled weakly and cupped his face into her hands.
"Hermione! You're alive!" he exclaimed. She gave a small laugh.
"Yes, I am. Don't sound so surprised." He flashed her a big grin and kissed her softly, as if afraid he'd break her. He pulled her into a loving embrace. She looked over his shoulder to see that Harry and Ron were standing off to the side, shifting uncomfortably. She smiled and let go of Draco. He followed her gaze and stepped away from the bed.
"Oh, right. I suppose that you two want to see her as well." Hermione stretched her arms open and to Draco's disgust, both boys ran into them, engaging her into a group hug and talking excitedly all at the same time. Draco chose this moment to fetch Madam Pomfrey. Moments later, Draco reappeared with the school mediwitch in tow. She proceeded to check Hermione over. As soon as she stepped back, all three boys looked at her eagerly. Madam Pomfrey was smiling, but she still looked perplexed.
"Good news and bad news. The good news is that she's just fine." At this, everyone let out a relieved sigh. "The bad news is she's going to have to stay here for a few more days to recuperate. I trust you three would be so kind as to bring in her homework?"
"Yes, ma'am," all three chirped simultaneously.
"Now, it's off to class with you! Shoo!" Madam Pomfrey pushed the boys toward the door and they left without complaint. As soon as they reached the door, they went their separate ways without so much as a good-bye. Draco checked his watch and saw that he had about half an hour before class began. So he made his way, once again, towards the Head dormitories to get ready.
Draco emerged from the portrait hole feeling refreshed and just very happy. He practically hopped all the way to Herbology, kissing Lavender Brown on the cheek as he passed her. Absolutely nothing could bring him down...until he saw her...Pansy. His eyes danced with rage until he suppressed his anger quickly. He promised himself that he would not let anything get him down today...for Hermione. So he went through his classes being as happy as he could manage and totally at peace with the world. As far as he was concerned, as long as he had Hermione, he WAS at peace with the world.
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Pansy watched Draco all day, trying to devise a plan to make him her. She didn't know that Hermione was awake or that Draco still loved her. McGonagall, during Advanced Transfiguration told Draco that no one knew about Hermione yet, so Draco let Pansy think that Hermione was still unconscious, or worse, dead. He figured that it would help in nailing the crime on her. He was right.
Pansy plopped herself next to him at dinner and immediately began flirting shamelessly. She did all sorts of annoying things like bat her fake eyelashes and flip her thin hair over her shoulder. But Draco endured all her attempts to catch his attention and waited patiently. His patience paid off when Pansy suddenly brought Hermione up.
"So did you hear about the Mudblood?" Pansy asked, while twirling her hair around her finger, trying to look cute. She didn't. Draco held back his defensive words.
"No, what about her?" Draco asked trying to sound disinterested. Pansy blinked, surprised.
"You didn't? But Draco, don't you live in the same dormitories as her?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain as she said the last bit. "And after what Nott told us," she nodded towards Nott, who gave Pansy a murderous look, then looked apprehensively at Draco before returning to his meal. "-we were under the impression that you two were...an item." Draco fought down the heat that was steadily rising to his cheeks and scoffed.
"Oh yes, that. Well, I don't know what came over me then and I do apologize, Nott." Nott gave Draco a nod and Draco continued. "As for Granger, she's in the hospital wing right now. Last I heard, she was unconscious and nearing death, they said." He looked at his nails, still feigning disinterest. "Frankly, I don't give a flaming rat's ass. One less Mudblood," he managed not to flinch as he said it, "to deal with." Pansy gave a smug smile, but did not say anything.
"What puzzles me, though," Draco said, looking at Pansy out of the corner of his eye, "is how she got there. She left shortly after Nott, so I don't know what happened. Do you?" Draco faced Pansy who looked triumphant that she finally knew something that Draco did not. She leaned forward to whisper in what she mistakenly thought was a seductive way into Draco's ear.
"Well, just between you and me, after Nott told us what happened, I cast the Odium Mors on the stupid Mudblood! Isn't that funny?" She pulled away from Draco's ear to let out a mean and evil laugh that gave no trace of remorse or regret, just simply mirth. She truly thought that mortal peril was a laughing matter! "Ooh...I hope she dies. I can't stand her! Think that she's smarter than I am...a pureblood. HAH!" Draco felt sick. He excused himself before he felt the need to hex Pansy into next week or even simply kill her with his bare hands. He caught the Headmaster's eyes, who nodded before excusing himself. Draco walked out of the Great Hall and slid down to sit leaning against a wall, head in his hands.
"I assume that you have enough evidence to convict Ms. Parkinson of the crime?" Professor Dumbledore inquired. Draco nodded as he stood up.
"Yes. Pansy told me everything, Professor," Draco replied confidently, but still having that sick feeling in his stomach. Dumbledore nodded.
"Very well. I'll see to it that Pansy is dealt with." Draco nodded again, but felt uneasy as he thought about what he had just done. He had ratted out a fellow Slytherin. As usual, Dumbledore seemed to know exactly what Draco was thinking.
"Do not worry, Mr. Malfoy. No one will know that it was you. As I understand, Ms. Parkinson had told quite a large number of people about her crime beside you. As far as she'll know, it could have been anybody." Draco gave Dumbledore a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Professor. If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go up to see Hermione now." Draco began to walk towards the hospital wing when he suddenly thought of something and turned back towards Dumbledore.
"Professor, if I may ask, how did Hermione come back? I mean, she was dead for more than four minutes. How is she still alive?" Dumbledore looked at Draco knowingly, with that annoying twinkle back in his eye.
"I think you should ask Ms. Granger yourself, Draco." And with that and a slight nod, Dumbledore went back to dinner. Draco watched the Headmaster leave, perplexed, before heading back towards the hospital wind. Upon entering, he was greeted by the sight of Hermione having a check-up, looking much, much better. He supposed that she'll never fully heal, but that was better than not having her at all.
"Hello, Draco," Hermione greeted cheerfully. Draco smiled and strode over to her, greeting her with a small kiss. Madam Pomfrey finished her check-up and ministered the correct medicine to Hermione before making her announcement.
"Well, Ms. Granger, I must say, you've recovered rather nicely and I think you can leave now. I trust you, Mr. Malfoy, to keep a good eye on her." Both Draco and Hermione wore huge smiled and could barely contain their joy. Draco nodded.
"Will do, Madam Pomfrey. You can count on me," he replied with much enthusiasm. Madam Pomfrey left the young couple alone to talk and gather her things. As Draco was putting Hermione's books and homework into her knapsack, he remembered the question that had been nagging at him the whole day.
"Hermione, can I ask you something?" he asked, somewhat hesitantly. Hermione was changing out of her hospital pajamas behind a curtain.
"Yes, what?" she asked as she struggled to pull on her jeans. But for some reason, her hands shook weakly as she tried to button and zip them. "Draco, could you help her here for a second?" Draco came behind the curtain and finished buttoning her jeans for her, smiling sadly. He somehow knew that it had something to do with the curse. He waited as Hermione pulled her blouse over her head before asking.
"How did you come back?" he finally asked, looking deeply into her eyes. She thought about it.
"I'm not really sure, Draco. But I knew that I felt something. I felt..." Hermione trailed off as she tried to figure out what it was. She continued to gaze into Draco's eyes as he looked upon her with love and concern. Seeing that in his eyes gave her a warm sort of feeling that went all the way to the tips of her toes, making her feel stronger and more alive. Then, with a gasp, she realized what it was.
"Draco," she breathed, grabbing his hand. "I felt YOU." Draco looked confused.
"What do you mean?" Hermione pulled away and got that look as if she was going to begin ranting on about something she read in a book.
"The Odium Mors in a killing curse that is fueled by a very powerful emotion: hate. When that hate is mixed with another emotion while it is cast, the spell is weakened, or diluted in a sense. Usually, the spell is irreversible, but when weakened, it gives the person a chance of living, but only if another emotion as strong as hate is applies: love." Draco's eyes widened in realization and Hermione nodded tears of joy pricking at her eyes. "Draco, you saved me." Hermione's tears began to fall and Draco easily wiped them away and kissed her tenderly.
"Hopefully my love for you can save us both," he whispered. Hermione sighed, understanding that Draco meant from Lucius and Voldemort. She pulled away to finish changing. She bent down to fetch her shoes near the foot of the bed, causing her shirt to raise up a bit, showing off a little of the creamy skin that was her back. But something caught Draco's eye and he raised her shirt a bit more to reveal what looked like a tattoo of a dragon. He smirked.
"Draco, what in the world are you doing?" Hermione cried, pulled back her shirt and spinning around to face him.
"You didn't tell me that you got a tattoo," he replied. Hermione looked at him oddly.
"I didn't. What are you talking about?" Draco rolled his eyes.
"You don't have to lie. I see it right here, Hermione." He picked a small mirror off of the bedside table and held it in front of the dragon. She gasped as she saw it.
"How did that get there?" she asked more to herself. Draco smiled amusedly.
"Dragon? Draco? I see the symbolism, love." He bent down to take a closer look at it. Wrapped around the dragon was a small banner with the phrase, "Amor Vincit Odium" inscribed on it. Draco smiled as realization dawned on him.
"I did this," he said softly. Hermione spun around to face him.
"What do you mean, you did this?" she said, her eyes beginning to flash with anger. Draco remained kneeling in front of her and put his hands on her hips, pulling her close, his head nuzzling her stomach.
"I mean, when I broke that spell, I must have left a mark on you. I guess when you break a spell as powerful as that particular one, you get a mark, like Potter's scar." Hermione took the mirror and looked at the dragon again before smiling at last.
"I like it," she finally stated before pulled Draco up and giving up a kiss. "I was thinking about getting a tattoo anyway. Now I don't have to go through all that pain." Draco gave a small laugh before pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Have I ever told you how much I love you, Hermione?"
"You might need to tell me once more to remind me."
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Yay! Ok...I'm going to go type up the last few chapters now. Only six more chapters guys! Whoo! Ok...later days! (Are you happy now Jessi?)
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Chapter 17: Love Conquers Hate
Madam Pomfrey was shocked when Draco brought the unconscious Head Girl into the infirmary. Not because of Hermione's condition, but because of the frantic state the usually cool and arrogant Head Boy was in. The poor boy was practically in tears.
"I don't know what's wrong with her! We were talking and then she screamed and passed out!" Draco cried, panic evident in his voice. Madam Pomfrey would have been amused, but now was not the time. She told Draco to put Hermione down on a bed.
"Do you have any clue as to what could have been the cause of her condition now, Mr. Malfoy?" Malfoy began to chew on his bottom lip. Telling off a fellow Slytherin was one thing...but ratting him out like some sort of...do-gooder Gryffindor? He took one look at Hermione, pale and cold, life quite literally just draining out of her. He closed his eyes and nodded.
"It might have something to do with Nott." Madam Pomfrey raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? What did he do?" Draco felt the anger rush back to his face as he recounted Hermione's story to the school mediwitch. Madam Pomfrey put a hand up to her mouth and immediately checked Hermione's seemingly lifeless body. She shook her head and turned to Draco.
"Go get the Headmaster quick!" she exclaimed, her voice urgent.
"She's not going to die, is she?" Draco asked, panicked again. Madam Pomfrey began pushing him towards the door.
"We don't have time for your questions, Mr. Malfoy! Go get Professor Dumbledore! And hurry!" Draco didn't need to be told again. He noticed the urgent tone and ran out of the infirmary, no longer caring who saw him. All he knew was that he needed to find the Headmaster. He didn't need to look far. Draco had just gone twenty feet from the infirmary door when he ran right into Professor Dumbledore.
"Sorry...Oh! Professor!" Draco looked up at Dumbledore's face. The mysterious smile that Draco often saw on the Headmaster's face was not there. Instead, Dumbledore's face was contorted with worry and concern.
"Where is she?" Dumbledore asked. So he already knew. 'Is there anything that that man doesn't know?' Draco thought as he followed the Headmaster back into the infirmary. Dumbledore took one look at Hermione, then turned to Madam Pomfrey.
"What is it, Poppy?" She shook her head.
"I'm not sure. Her symptoms are like that of a Cruciatus Curse, but judging from Mr. Malfoy's story, no wand had been pointed at her at all. Also, the Cruciatus would not have this sort of effect of life just draining away from her." Dumbledore seemed to understand exactly what was going on, but didn't let on that he knew.
"Very well. Poppy, just treat her as best you can. But I am afraid that all we can do is wait until she wakes. Mr. Malfoy, I supposed that you would want to stay with her? That is, if Madam Pomfrey doesn't object, of course." Madam Pomfrey set her lip into a thin line. Everyone knew that she didn't like people visiting her patients when she knew they needed peace and quiet. But she nodded anyway. She conjured up a pillow and blanket for him, knowing he'll probably fall asleep next to Hermione's bed in the big armchair, just as Hermione had for him on so many occasions during the school year.
Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey left the room, leaving Draco and Hermione quite alone in the infirmary. Draco pulled up the big armchair that Hermione liked to sit in when he was in the infirmary. But this time, it was the other way around. He picked up her hand and held it tightly in his. It felt as cold as ice. He kissed each of her fingertips.
"Hermione, you said that I'd never lose you," he said in a whisper. He felt tears welling up in his eyes. He leaned down and kissed her lips softly. They were as cold as her hands. Finally, the tears came. He held Hermione close to his chest and sobbed quietly.
"Don't leave me, Hermione. Don't you see that I can't live without you?" Draco continued to cry and didn't notice when heat began to slowly return to her body, though she was still unconscious. He lay her back down on the white bed.
"Whoever did this to you is going to pay. I swear, if it's the last thing I ever do." With that, Draco fell into an uneasy sleep.
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The next morning, Draco woke to the sound of Madam Pomfrey checking on Hermione again, while referring to a very thick book. He quietly watched as she cast several charms to see if they'd work. She finally looked up to see that Draco was up.
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy. You're up a bit early. Why don't you freshen up then go get a bit of breakfast. After last night, you could certainly use some." Draco nodded and walked dazedly out of the room. He walked back to the Head Dorms almost without thinking anything of it. Most of his thoughts were on Hermione and how she could have possibly just end up in the situation she was in. He soon found himself in front of Uric the Oddball and was about to say the password to let himself in when the sound of running footsteps stopped him. He turned to see who it was.
"Weasley?" It was, indeed, Weasl...er...Ron running towards him. "What is it?" Ron stopped running and paused to catch his breath.
"Prof...Pro..." he began, his breathing still ragged. Draco was growing impatient.
"Hermy," was all Ron could muster, but it was enough for Draco to start sprinting to the hospital wing with Ron at his heels. They burst through the door to find Harry, Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey surrounding Hermione's bed. Draco approached the bed and took a look. The color had returned to Hermione's face and her breathing was less shallow, but she was still unconscious.
"We have found what is wrong with her," Professor Dumbledore stated. Draco snapped his attention to the Headmaster.
"Well, what is it? What is the cure?" Draco asked urgently. Ron scowled at Draco's actions and Harry elbowed him, telling him to not do or say anything stupid. Ron, thankfully, got the message and went back to staring at Hermione's unconscious form.
"The curse used on Ms. Granger is very old Dark Magic. It is called 'Odium Mors'. The spell, when used correctly, kills a person with all the intensity of hate. This particular spell is so powerful that you don't even have to be in the same room as that person is. Hate is such a powerful emotion that you can cast it from thousands of miles away...or from, for example, once area of the castle to another." Everyone was silent as Dumbledore's words sank in.
"You think a student did this, Albus?" McGonagall finally said after a few moments of silence.
"I think that whoever did this knew what he...or she...was doing." Dumbledore snuck a glance at Draco. Draco thought he understood what he meant, but not fully.
"But Professor, if this curse is supposed to kill, then why isn't Hermione...dead?"
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, this spell is quite complicated and only kills when done properly. Hate must be the soul emotion behind the spell and sometimes, another emotion gets mixed with the hate and doesn't give the correct effect. Jealously, for example, can be mixed in unintentionally." Draco's eyes widened. He finally understood. It was Pansy.
"Is there any cure, Professor?" Draco asked. Dumbledore shook his head sadly.
"I'm afraid not, Mr. Malfoy. We're just going to have to wait for her to wake on her own accord. But she does look a bit better, don't you think?" Draco nodded and looked back down at Hermione, taking hold of her hand. Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Well, I think we'd best be off to breakfast now." Dumbledore motioned for McGonagall to follow him.
"Don't be late to class boys," she warned as she left. Draco paid no mind to anyone else as he stared at Hermione, still holding her hand. Ron and Harry studied him for a moment before Ron chose to speak.
"You really love her, don't you?" Draco sighed deeply as he pulled his chair up next to her bed.
"More than you'll ever know, Weasley," he stated, shaking his head. "This is all my fault," he said in barely a whisper.
"Hey, you give yourself a little too much credit, Malfoy," Harry said.
"But it's true!" Draco yelled, spinning around to face Harry. "This wouldn't have happened if she didn't fall in love with me! I never deserved her! She deserves someone better than me: 'Junior Death Eater of the Year', remember?" During his rant, Hermione's hand became cold in Draco's. He panicked and held her face in his hands.
"No! Hermione! You were doing so well! Don't leave me now!" Tears started to run down his face and onto hers. He brushed them away and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.
"Hermione...remember when we used to have those talks about what we'd do if we didn't have to worry about Lucius or...or V-Voldemort ever again? Remember? We said...we said..." Draco was practically sobbing. He could no longer continue as Hermione took one last shuddering breath, then stopped breathing all together.
"NO!" he cried. He held her close and began to rock back and forth, repeating the word "no" over and over again. Harry and Ron stood by as silent tears rolled down their cheeks, all pride gone as the truth sunk in...Hermione was dead. Draco stopped rocking, but he still held her close while he kissed her cold forehead.
"I'm so sorry, Hermione. I love you, and I always will," he whispered into her ear. He continued to hole her close and stroke her hair. Minutes passed by and felt like hours. Draco felt as if his whole world had just crumbled. The only love he had ever known was gone.
But then something miraculous happened. It was as if his earlier statement of love for her registered in her brain, causing her color and the heat to return to her body. Draco stopped crying as he left that familiar heat emanate from the girl in his arms. She inhaled sharply and her eyes shot open. She looked about the room to gather her surroundings and felt Draco's familiar arms holding her close.
"We said we'd live happily ever after," she whispered into his ear. He pulled back slowly to look into his beloved's face. She smiled weakly and cupped his face into her hands.
"Hermione! You're alive!" he exclaimed. She gave a small laugh.
"Yes, I am. Don't sound so surprised." He flashed her a big grin and kissed her softly, as if afraid he'd break her. He pulled her into a loving embrace. She looked over his shoulder to see that Harry and Ron were standing off to the side, shifting uncomfortably. She smiled and let go of Draco. He followed her gaze and stepped away from the bed.
"Oh, right. I suppose that you two want to see her as well." Hermione stretched her arms open and to Draco's disgust, both boys ran into them, engaging her into a group hug and talking excitedly all at the same time. Draco chose this moment to fetch Madam Pomfrey. Moments later, Draco reappeared with the school mediwitch in tow. She proceeded to check Hermione over. As soon as she stepped back, all three boys looked at her eagerly. Madam Pomfrey was smiling, but she still looked perplexed.
"Good news and bad news. The good news is that she's just fine." At this, everyone let out a relieved sigh. "The bad news is she's going to have to stay here for a few more days to recuperate. I trust you three would be so kind as to bring in her homework?"
"Yes, ma'am," all three chirped simultaneously.
"Now, it's off to class with you! Shoo!" Madam Pomfrey pushed the boys toward the door and they left without complaint. As soon as they reached the door, they went their separate ways without so much as a good-bye. Draco checked his watch and saw that he had about half an hour before class began. So he made his way, once again, towards the Head dormitories to get ready.
Draco emerged from the portrait hole feeling refreshed and just very happy. He practically hopped all the way to Herbology, kissing Lavender Brown on the cheek as he passed her. Absolutely nothing could bring him down...until he saw her...Pansy. His eyes danced with rage until he suppressed his anger quickly. He promised himself that he would not let anything get him down today...for Hermione. So he went through his classes being as happy as he could manage and totally at peace with the world. As far as he was concerned, as long as he had Hermione, he WAS at peace with the world.
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Pansy watched Draco all day, trying to devise a plan to make him her. She didn't know that Hermione was awake or that Draco still loved her. McGonagall, during Advanced Transfiguration told Draco that no one knew about Hermione yet, so Draco let Pansy think that Hermione was still unconscious, or worse, dead. He figured that it would help in nailing the crime on her. He was right.
Pansy plopped herself next to him at dinner and immediately began flirting shamelessly. She did all sorts of annoying things like bat her fake eyelashes and flip her thin hair over her shoulder. But Draco endured all her attempts to catch his attention and waited patiently. His patience paid off when Pansy suddenly brought Hermione up.
"So did you hear about the Mudblood?" Pansy asked, while twirling her hair around her finger, trying to look cute. She didn't. Draco held back his defensive words.
"No, what about her?" Draco asked trying to sound disinterested. Pansy blinked, surprised.
"You didn't? But Draco, don't you live in the same dormitories as her?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain as she said the last bit. "And after what Nott told us," she nodded towards Nott, who gave Pansy a murderous look, then looked apprehensively at Draco before returning to his meal. "-we were under the impression that you two were...an item." Draco fought down the heat that was steadily rising to his cheeks and scoffed.
"Oh yes, that. Well, I don't know what came over me then and I do apologize, Nott." Nott gave Draco a nod and Draco continued. "As for Granger, she's in the hospital wing right now. Last I heard, she was unconscious and nearing death, they said." He looked at his nails, still feigning disinterest. "Frankly, I don't give a flaming rat's ass. One less Mudblood," he managed not to flinch as he said it, "to deal with." Pansy gave a smug smile, but did not say anything.
"What puzzles me, though," Draco said, looking at Pansy out of the corner of his eye, "is how she got there. She left shortly after Nott, so I don't know what happened. Do you?" Draco faced Pansy who looked triumphant that she finally knew something that Draco did not. She leaned forward to whisper in what she mistakenly thought was a seductive way into Draco's ear.
"Well, just between you and me, after Nott told us what happened, I cast the Odium Mors on the stupid Mudblood! Isn't that funny?" She pulled away from Draco's ear to let out a mean and evil laugh that gave no trace of remorse or regret, just simply mirth. She truly thought that mortal peril was a laughing matter! "Ooh...I hope she dies. I can't stand her! Think that she's smarter than I am...a pureblood. HAH!" Draco felt sick. He excused himself before he felt the need to hex Pansy into next week or even simply kill her with his bare hands. He caught the Headmaster's eyes, who nodded before excusing himself. Draco walked out of the Great Hall and slid down to sit leaning against a wall, head in his hands.
"I assume that you have enough evidence to convict Ms. Parkinson of the crime?" Professor Dumbledore inquired. Draco nodded as he stood up.
"Yes. Pansy told me everything, Professor," Draco replied confidently, but still having that sick feeling in his stomach. Dumbledore nodded.
"Very well. I'll see to it that Pansy is dealt with." Draco nodded again, but felt uneasy as he thought about what he had just done. He had ratted out a fellow Slytherin. As usual, Dumbledore seemed to know exactly what Draco was thinking.
"Do not worry, Mr. Malfoy. No one will know that it was you. As I understand, Ms. Parkinson had told quite a large number of people about her crime beside you. As far as she'll know, it could have been anybody." Draco gave Dumbledore a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Professor. If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go up to see Hermione now." Draco began to walk towards the hospital wing when he suddenly thought of something and turned back towards Dumbledore.
"Professor, if I may ask, how did Hermione come back? I mean, she was dead for more than four minutes. How is she still alive?" Dumbledore looked at Draco knowingly, with that annoying twinkle back in his eye.
"I think you should ask Ms. Granger yourself, Draco." And with that and a slight nod, Dumbledore went back to dinner. Draco watched the Headmaster leave, perplexed, before heading back towards the hospital wind. Upon entering, he was greeted by the sight of Hermione having a check-up, looking much, much better. He supposed that she'll never fully heal, but that was better than not having her at all.
"Hello, Draco," Hermione greeted cheerfully. Draco smiled and strode over to her, greeting her with a small kiss. Madam Pomfrey finished her check-up and ministered the correct medicine to Hermione before making her announcement.
"Well, Ms. Granger, I must say, you've recovered rather nicely and I think you can leave now. I trust you, Mr. Malfoy, to keep a good eye on her." Both Draco and Hermione wore huge smiled and could barely contain their joy. Draco nodded.
"Will do, Madam Pomfrey. You can count on me," he replied with much enthusiasm. Madam Pomfrey left the young couple alone to talk and gather her things. As Draco was putting Hermione's books and homework into her knapsack, he remembered the question that had been nagging at him the whole day.
"Hermione, can I ask you something?" he asked, somewhat hesitantly. Hermione was changing out of her hospital pajamas behind a curtain.
"Yes, what?" she asked as she struggled to pull on her jeans. But for some reason, her hands shook weakly as she tried to button and zip them. "Draco, could you help her here for a second?" Draco came behind the curtain and finished buttoning her jeans for her, smiling sadly. He somehow knew that it had something to do with the curse. He waited as Hermione pulled her blouse over her head before asking.
"How did you come back?" he finally asked, looking deeply into her eyes. She thought about it.
"I'm not really sure, Draco. But I knew that I felt something. I felt..." Hermione trailed off as she tried to figure out what it was. She continued to gaze into Draco's eyes as he looked upon her with love and concern. Seeing that in his eyes gave her a warm sort of feeling that went all the way to the tips of her toes, making her feel stronger and more alive. Then, with a gasp, she realized what it was.
"Draco," she breathed, grabbing his hand. "I felt YOU." Draco looked confused.
"What do you mean?" Hermione pulled away and got that look as if she was going to begin ranting on about something she read in a book.
"The Odium Mors in a killing curse that is fueled by a very powerful emotion: hate. When that hate is mixed with another emotion while it is cast, the spell is weakened, or diluted in a sense. Usually, the spell is irreversible, but when weakened, it gives the person a chance of living, but only if another emotion as strong as hate is applies: love." Draco's eyes widened in realization and Hermione nodded tears of joy pricking at her eyes. "Draco, you saved me." Hermione's tears began to fall and Draco easily wiped them away and kissed her tenderly.
"Hopefully my love for you can save us both," he whispered. Hermione sighed, understanding that Draco meant from Lucius and Voldemort. She pulled away to finish changing. She bent down to fetch her shoes near the foot of the bed, causing her shirt to raise up a bit, showing off a little of the creamy skin that was her back. But something caught Draco's eye and he raised her shirt a bit more to reveal what looked like a tattoo of a dragon. He smirked.
"Draco, what in the world are you doing?" Hermione cried, pulled back her shirt and spinning around to face him.
"You didn't tell me that you got a tattoo," he replied. Hermione looked at him oddly.
"I didn't. What are you talking about?" Draco rolled his eyes.
"You don't have to lie. I see it right here, Hermione." He picked a small mirror off of the bedside table and held it in front of the dragon. She gasped as she saw it.
"How did that get there?" she asked more to herself. Draco smiled amusedly.
"Dragon? Draco? I see the symbolism, love." He bent down to take a closer look at it. Wrapped around the dragon was a small banner with the phrase, "Amor Vincit Odium" inscribed on it. Draco smiled as realization dawned on him.
"I did this," he said softly. Hermione spun around to face him.
"What do you mean, you did this?" she said, her eyes beginning to flash with anger. Draco remained kneeling in front of her and put his hands on her hips, pulling her close, his head nuzzling her stomach.
"I mean, when I broke that spell, I must have left a mark on you. I guess when you break a spell as powerful as that particular one, you get a mark, like Potter's scar." Hermione took the mirror and looked at the dragon again before smiling at last.
"I like it," she finally stated before pulled Draco up and giving up a kiss. "I was thinking about getting a tattoo anyway. Now I don't have to go through all that pain." Draco gave a small laugh before pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Have I ever told you how much I love you, Hermione?"
"You might need to tell me once more to remind me."
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Yay! Ok...I'm going to go type up the last few chapters now. Only six more chapters guys! Whoo! Ok...later days! (Are you happy now Jessi?)