Chapter 12
****Draco
I stumble out of bed, and when I say stumble I mean fell on my face. My blankets were knotted around my legs in a way you can't imagine. I find my way over to the mirror in my room and a disheveled blonde is staring back. I rub my eyes and yawn. Morning came much too early this morning.
I had one of the worst dreams last night. I guess after talking to Potter a mountain of memories came pouring back into my head. I was reminded of my childhood again. All I can remember from the dream is there were death eaters, and I was tied up. The rest of the details I pray to forget about. These dreams don't occur often, and it kills me inside when they do. These are the times I wish I was more like Weasel or Hermione. They didn't have difficult lives; they don't have to endure the nightmares.
Quickly, I slip into a pair of khaki pants and a sweater. It's absolutely freezing in this castle. I have a quidditch game today, which is all the more reason I need some sleep tonight. A piece of parchment on the desk beckons me closer, and I pick it up. It's a note from Hermione. She is out with her friends, but she still brought me breakfast. It blows my mind that someone actually cares about my well-being. I will never get used to that. I make my way down into the common room where the breakfast awaits consumption on the counter.
I pick up the plate, and realize the food is ice cold. I throw it in the trash, but of course I intend to tell Hermione I ate it all. Maybe I should go to Gryffindor to see her . . . but maybe that's a horrible idea. But it doesn't matter; my feet already seem to be carrying me there against my better judgment.
The corridors are freezing, but I continue on my journey. I can tell I'm in Gryffindor territory already. The décor on the walls is red and gold, and the portraits don't look excited to see a Slytherin in their midst. I pass a few students who give me puzzled looks, but to my immense relief they ask no question as to why I am here.
I continue walking, and I am almost there. I turn one last corner, and groan at the site I am faced with. A certain freckled red head stands before me. Seems he had the idea of going to the hall, and I am in his way. He continues to come ever closer to me with a look of spite and malice on his face.
"Malfoy, what do you think you are doing? This is not your territory" he spits out at me.
"Where's Hermione?" is all he will get out of me at this moment. I simply refuse to stoop to his level. I look him in the eye letting him know that I am not kidding around with him anymore.
"You don't need to know". I open my mouth to respond to this, but he seems eager to express his feelings of hatred. "You know, all you have done is cause problems. We don't want you around Hermione. She doesn't need a ferret like you!" he shouts at me. I can understand his anger. I admit, I know I was a jerk to him. I just wish he didn't make things so damned difficult sometimes.
"Was that supposed to hurt my feelings?" I ask in a mocking tone. "Do you really think she wants someone as poor as you?" The old Draco is resurfacing. "So do yourself a favor and be her friend, not her father. Unlike you, she can take care of herself".
"Watch your back, Malfoy! If you don't stay away we will take some action!"
"Oh, I am so scared. Please don't hurt me" I whine in a child's voice. I pretend to bite my nails in fear and sneer at him. "You are more likely to hurt yourself that to kill me" I scoff at him.
Before I know it his wand is pointed straight at my chest. Pure hatred glows in his eyes. The effect of all my taunting is all too obvious. I have pushing him over the edge.
"Tomoastosis!" he screams at me, but I easily dodge it. Behind me I hear a high pitched scream that is all too familiar to me. As my head whips around my hair hits me in the face. Behind me in a crumpled mess is Hermione.
She lies on the cold stone floor like a fallen angel. Her long hair covers her face and her arms and legs are shot out at different angles. She looks less than graceful.
"Hermione!?!" I yell as I run to her side. "What did you fucking do, you bastard!" I yell at Weasley. His face is ashen and his jaw is on the floor. "Oh, Hermione" I whisper as I brush the hair from her face. Her eyes are closed and her breathing is shallow. Although, I am happy that she is still breathing, she needs medical attention desperately.
Ron runs to her side. "I'll take her to the hospital wing" he tries to convince me. He's trying to push me off to the side, but I will not allow this goon to touch her.
"Fuck off!" I yell in his face. I shove him to the floor before yelling again "You did this to her! You have done enough! Fuck off!" I am worried for her safety now. Weasley's hexes have never gone right as a vision of slugs passes through my memory.
I scoop her up in my arms. Her head lolls on my shoulder. She is light and extremely easy to carry. I look down on her, and she looks so sad and helpless. "What have we done?" I whisper as I look down on her pale face.
"It was your fault" Weasley pipes up. "If you hadn't been in Gryffindor territory I wouldn't have been pushed to hex you" he tries to cover up. He is to blame for this. Some best friend he is. He can't even help hexing his friends.
"Don't you get it? Or are you dumber than I ever imagined? Our fighting did this to her!" I yell. He doesn't seem to comprehend at all. Here is his best friend looking more ill than I have ever known her to be in her life, and he is trying to just fight with me again. He really is dumber than I ever imagined.
I carry her through the halls and up to the hospital wing. The weasel follows me the whole way, but I have decided to just ignore him. I need to take care of my girl. I need to protect her.
I open the door to the medical room of the castle. Madam Pomfrey is busying herself with potions and medications, but she soon notices our arrival. The sight of Hermione unconscious sends her over to us in a frenzy.
"What happened?" she asks as she motions for me to lay Hermione down on the bed.
"Weasley here hexed her" I admit to her. There is no way I will be blamed for this. He did this to her, not me. Unfortunately, the odds of anyone believing me are slim to none. "He used the tomomastiosa spell" I finish. I'm not exactly sure what this spell does, but I have seen my father use it many times. Weasley had definitely tried to do me some serious harm today.
Madam Pomfrey furrows her brow and leans over to examine the poor girl on the bed. She pulls out different instruments, but they draw no helpful results.
"Well, I am not sure what you have done to her, but I am sure that you are to go see the headmaster at once. This is a serious circumstance. This spell seems to have put her in a coma, and I am not sure how long it will last, or how to cure it" she barks at us. "Honestly, hexing the Head Girl. It's horrible" she mutters to herself.
I take a long look at the brunette laying in the cold uncomfortable bed. My eyes sting, but I refuse to cry. She will be fine, I know she will. But it breaks my heart to see her look like this. I kiss her forehead and back away slowly. Weasley shoots me a dirty look, but I don't care. He will pay, and pay dearly.
We head out the door. I walk at a brisk pace, as I do not want to be alongside the weasel. We make the trek to the headmaster's office, and soon we are standing at the gargoyle statue. I won't lie, I am nervous. My fighting has never put a student in a coma before. This is serious. We don't talk at all. Only the sound of our echoing footsteps can be heard. I ring the bell and soon we are admitted entrance.
I've been in this office before, but never for such a reason. I stride in to see the old man behind his desk. He looks through his half moon spectacles, but I can still see the anger flashing in his eyes. Weasley looks as though he could wet his pants at any second.
"What can I do for you?" he asks us, but it's quite clear he already knows.
"Sir, it's Hermione" Weasley begins. "We cursed her".
"You cursed her" I emphasized. "I had no intentions of fighting. You drew your wand. You said the spell. End of story".
"Give it a rest Mr. High and Mighty" he shoots back getting worked up. "You are just as guilty".
"Au contraire" speaks up a portrait from behind the desk. "I was there, I saw it happen. Mr. Weasley drew his wand. Mr. Malfoy dodged it, and Miss Granger was in the wrong place at the wrong time".
"Well, that clears things up. The two of you need to learn something. Mr. Malfoy, you are indeed involved with Miss Granger. Mr. Weasley, you are undoubtedly one of her best friends. I think you two need to learn to get along. As you know you will be punished for your actions. You will be working together in the library to find a cure for Miss Granger. You will be researching for us".
This hit me where it hurt. I have to work with the weasel and I have to get along with him. Fine. I can do this. We are told that we will do this for two hours every night . . Indefinitely.
I head out the door and straight up to the hospital wing where I remain for hours. I do nothing but sit on the bed beside the woman I love and hold her hand. I only wish I could do more for her. I whisper goodnight in her ear before a fall asleep in a chair beside her. I can't believe this happened. I can't believe I let this happen.
****Ron
I can't believe I let this happen. I can't believe I let Malfoy get to me so much that I actually tried to hex him. I can't believe I hurt Hermione. It makes me want to cry, but I am stronger than that. After my run in with Dumbledore I head up to my room. Malfoy did nothing but rat me out, but who didn't expect that? Now all I have to look forward to is evenings in the library with him. Great, that's just great.
I make my way back to the common room. Harry is there and he asks what's going on. I am forced to retell the story, and he looks at me with a flash of dangerous anger in his eyes. Harry has always had a bit of a temper.
"What the hell did you do Ron?" he yells at me.
"I was trying to protect her" is my only defense. But my protection got her injured. My protection could have gotten her killed.
"Well you did a real great job of that" he says disgustedly. "Why couldn't you listen to me? Why can't you see that she loves him, and he loves her?" he asks me.
I can't believe this. This can't be true. "Don't bullshit me Harry. They aren't in love. He's fooled her. He must have messed with her head, I don't know. But they aren't in love. They just can't be!" I insist.
"Go to the hospital wing!" he yells back. He's in my face now with his own face glowing red in anger. "I bet you ten galleons he's in there with her right now! Go see for yourself! Maybe someday you will learn to step back and let people live their own lives!" and with that he stomps off to his room. He's wrong. I know he's wrong. As soon as he is asleep I head off to our room too.
After a night of no sleep I am up early. I sit in the common room for what feels like hours in silence. I am there with just me and my thoughts. I honestly felt like I was protecting my Hermione. But then I remind myself, she isn't mine. For years, I have felt she was mine. I have loved her in more ways than one. She is a best friend, but I always wanted her to be more than that. I missed my chance.
I acted rashly. Now I have to go back and fix what I have broken. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done. I refuse to accept Draco, but maybe I don't have to. But I still have to mend this situation.
I walk to the hospital wing. Half of me wants to see my girl, and half of me wants to prove a point. Draco won't be there. I know he won't.
I quickly approach the door and swing it open silently. He is there. And I am shocked. I creep in unnoticed, and stand there looking in on the scene. She is still laying there like a piece of stone. But he continues to hold her hand. He sits attentively as though his presence might wake her up. His eyes never leave her. Every few moments he kisses her forehead or her hand and whispers he loves her. I have never seen a sight like this before in my life. Tears are falling from his eyes, and he begins to speak.
"Hermione, wake up. I need you" he begins softly. "I'm so sorry. I'm just so sorry" he says, and this is where the crying really begins. "Maybe this won't work. Maybe we were stupid to believe people would accept us. If your safety is an issue, then I will stay away".
My heart is breaking. I see the tears fall from his eyes. Hermione is unconscious, so I know he is not putting on a show for her. He is speaking from his heart. I feel a weight on my shoulders. I turn around and Harry was behind me.
"I told you so" was all he said. He turned and walked away. I stand there for only a few more moments before following suit. This doesn't mean that this is right. I am still not sold on the idea.
I follow him to the Great Hall where breakfast is being served. Ginny gives me disapproving looks. Harry is sitting beside her, so I know she has been told the whole story. I seem to be the topic of rumors this week now. That's just great. I get nothing but dirty looks all day long. I know it shouldn't affect me, but it does. I know I have to make this right, and I will. I will fix this by finding the cure for my spell. Where did I learn that spell anyway? I don't even remember. It doesn't matter, I just have to fix this.
I have my chance now. It's time to meet in the library. It's time to face Draco. Wish me luck.
A/N: The last thing I want to do is rush this thing with Ron and Draco. They aren't going to get along anytime soon. So Ron realizes Draco loves Hermione and all, but there will still be some issues and stuff. I hope you all enjoy! REVIEW
PS: How did you like the spell I made up? That one is thanks to my anatomy class. It's not a real word, but after learning mediastinum and atrioventricular and stuff, it's a lot easier to make up crazy words
****Draco
I stumble out of bed, and when I say stumble I mean fell on my face. My blankets were knotted around my legs in a way you can't imagine. I find my way over to the mirror in my room and a disheveled blonde is staring back. I rub my eyes and yawn. Morning came much too early this morning.
I had one of the worst dreams last night. I guess after talking to Potter a mountain of memories came pouring back into my head. I was reminded of my childhood again. All I can remember from the dream is there were death eaters, and I was tied up. The rest of the details I pray to forget about. These dreams don't occur often, and it kills me inside when they do. These are the times I wish I was more like Weasel or Hermione. They didn't have difficult lives; they don't have to endure the nightmares.
Quickly, I slip into a pair of khaki pants and a sweater. It's absolutely freezing in this castle. I have a quidditch game today, which is all the more reason I need some sleep tonight. A piece of parchment on the desk beckons me closer, and I pick it up. It's a note from Hermione. She is out with her friends, but she still brought me breakfast. It blows my mind that someone actually cares about my well-being. I will never get used to that. I make my way down into the common room where the breakfast awaits consumption on the counter.
I pick up the plate, and realize the food is ice cold. I throw it in the trash, but of course I intend to tell Hermione I ate it all. Maybe I should go to Gryffindor to see her . . . but maybe that's a horrible idea. But it doesn't matter; my feet already seem to be carrying me there against my better judgment.
The corridors are freezing, but I continue on my journey. I can tell I'm in Gryffindor territory already. The décor on the walls is red and gold, and the portraits don't look excited to see a Slytherin in their midst. I pass a few students who give me puzzled looks, but to my immense relief they ask no question as to why I am here.
I continue walking, and I am almost there. I turn one last corner, and groan at the site I am faced with. A certain freckled red head stands before me. Seems he had the idea of going to the hall, and I am in his way. He continues to come ever closer to me with a look of spite and malice on his face.
"Malfoy, what do you think you are doing? This is not your territory" he spits out at me.
"Where's Hermione?" is all he will get out of me at this moment. I simply refuse to stoop to his level. I look him in the eye letting him know that I am not kidding around with him anymore.
"You don't need to know". I open my mouth to respond to this, but he seems eager to express his feelings of hatred. "You know, all you have done is cause problems. We don't want you around Hermione. She doesn't need a ferret like you!" he shouts at me. I can understand his anger. I admit, I know I was a jerk to him. I just wish he didn't make things so damned difficult sometimes.
"Was that supposed to hurt my feelings?" I ask in a mocking tone. "Do you really think she wants someone as poor as you?" The old Draco is resurfacing. "So do yourself a favor and be her friend, not her father. Unlike you, she can take care of herself".
"Watch your back, Malfoy! If you don't stay away we will take some action!"
"Oh, I am so scared. Please don't hurt me" I whine in a child's voice. I pretend to bite my nails in fear and sneer at him. "You are more likely to hurt yourself that to kill me" I scoff at him.
Before I know it his wand is pointed straight at my chest. Pure hatred glows in his eyes. The effect of all my taunting is all too obvious. I have pushing him over the edge.
"Tomoastosis!" he screams at me, but I easily dodge it. Behind me I hear a high pitched scream that is all too familiar to me. As my head whips around my hair hits me in the face. Behind me in a crumpled mess is Hermione.
She lies on the cold stone floor like a fallen angel. Her long hair covers her face and her arms and legs are shot out at different angles. She looks less than graceful.
"Hermione!?!" I yell as I run to her side. "What did you fucking do, you bastard!" I yell at Weasley. His face is ashen and his jaw is on the floor. "Oh, Hermione" I whisper as I brush the hair from her face. Her eyes are closed and her breathing is shallow. Although, I am happy that she is still breathing, she needs medical attention desperately.
Ron runs to her side. "I'll take her to the hospital wing" he tries to convince me. He's trying to push me off to the side, but I will not allow this goon to touch her.
"Fuck off!" I yell in his face. I shove him to the floor before yelling again "You did this to her! You have done enough! Fuck off!" I am worried for her safety now. Weasley's hexes have never gone right as a vision of slugs passes through my memory.
I scoop her up in my arms. Her head lolls on my shoulder. She is light and extremely easy to carry. I look down on her, and she looks so sad and helpless. "What have we done?" I whisper as I look down on her pale face.
"It was your fault" Weasley pipes up. "If you hadn't been in Gryffindor territory I wouldn't have been pushed to hex you" he tries to cover up. He is to blame for this. Some best friend he is. He can't even help hexing his friends.
"Don't you get it? Or are you dumber than I ever imagined? Our fighting did this to her!" I yell. He doesn't seem to comprehend at all. Here is his best friend looking more ill than I have ever known her to be in her life, and he is trying to just fight with me again. He really is dumber than I ever imagined.
I carry her through the halls and up to the hospital wing. The weasel follows me the whole way, but I have decided to just ignore him. I need to take care of my girl. I need to protect her.
I open the door to the medical room of the castle. Madam Pomfrey is busying herself with potions and medications, but she soon notices our arrival. The sight of Hermione unconscious sends her over to us in a frenzy.
"What happened?" she asks as she motions for me to lay Hermione down on the bed.
"Weasley here hexed her" I admit to her. There is no way I will be blamed for this. He did this to her, not me. Unfortunately, the odds of anyone believing me are slim to none. "He used the tomomastiosa spell" I finish. I'm not exactly sure what this spell does, but I have seen my father use it many times. Weasley had definitely tried to do me some serious harm today.
Madam Pomfrey furrows her brow and leans over to examine the poor girl on the bed. She pulls out different instruments, but they draw no helpful results.
"Well, I am not sure what you have done to her, but I am sure that you are to go see the headmaster at once. This is a serious circumstance. This spell seems to have put her in a coma, and I am not sure how long it will last, or how to cure it" she barks at us. "Honestly, hexing the Head Girl. It's horrible" she mutters to herself.
I take a long look at the brunette laying in the cold uncomfortable bed. My eyes sting, but I refuse to cry. She will be fine, I know she will. But it breaks my heart to see her look like this. I kiss her forehead and back away slowly. Weasley shoots me a dirty look, but I don't care. He will pay, and pay dearly.
We head out the door. I walk at a brisk pace, as I do not want to be alongside the weasel. We make the trek to the headmaster's office, and soon we are standing at the gargoyle statue. I won't lie, I am nervous. My fighting has never put a student in a coma before. This is serious. We don't talk at all. Only the sound of our echoing footsteps can be heard. I ring the bell and soon we are admitted entrance.
I've been in this office before, but never for such a reason. I stride in to see the old man behind his desk. He looks through his half moon spectacles, but I can still see the anger flashing in his eyes. Weasley looks as though he could wet his pants at any second.
"What can I do for you?" he asks us, but it's quite clear he already knows.
"Sir, it's Hermione" Weasley begins. "We cursed her".
"You cursed her" I emphasized. "I had no intentions of fighting. You drew your wand. You said the spell. End of story".
"Give it a rest Mr. High and Mighty" he shoots back getting worked up. "You are just as guilty".
"Au contraire" speaks up a portrait from behind the desk. "I was there, I saw it happen. Mr. Weasley drew his wand. Mr. Malfoy dodged it, and Miss Granger was in the wrong place at the wrong time".
"Well, that clears things up. The two of you need to learn something. Mr. Malfoy, you are indeed involved with Miss Granger. Mr. Weasley, you are undoubtedly one of her best friends. I think you two need to learn to get along. As you know you will be punished for your actions. You will be working together in the library to find a cure for Miss Granger. You will be researching for us".
This hit me where it hurt. I have to work with the weasel and I have to get along with him. Fine. I can do this. We are told that we will do this for two hours every night . . Indefinitely.
I head out the door and straight up to the hospital wing where I remain for hours. I do nothing but sit on the bed beside the woman I love and hold her hand. I only wish I could do more for her. I whisper goodnight in her ear before a fall asleep in a chair beside her. I can't believe this happened. I can't believe I let this happen.
****Ron
I can't believe I let this happen. I can't believe I let Malfoy get to me so much that I actually tried to hex him. I can't believe I hurt Hermione. It makes me want to cry, but I am stronger than that. After my run in with Dumbledore I head up to my room. Malfoy did nothing but rat me out, but who didn't expect that? Now all I have to look forward to is evenings in the library with him. Great, that's just great.
I make my way back to the common room. Harry is there and he asks what's going on. I am forced to retell the story, and he looks at me with a flash of dangerous anger in his eyes. Harry has always had a bit of a temper.
"What the hell did you do Ron?" he yells at me.
"I was trying to protect her" is my only defense. But my protection got her injured. My protection could have gotten her killed.
"Well you did a real great job of that" he says disgustedly. "Why couldn't you listen to me? Why can't you see that she loves him, and he loves her?" he asks me.
I can't believe this. This can't be true. "Don't bullshit me Harry. They aren't in love. He's fooled her. He must have messed with her head, I don't know. But they aren't in love. They just can't be!" I insist.
"Go to the hospital wing!" he yells back. He's in my face now with his own face glowing red in anger. "I bet you ten galleons he's in there with her right now! Go see for yourself! Maybe someday you will learn to step back and let people live their own lives!" and with that he stomps off to his room. He's wrong. I know he's wrong. As soon as he is asleep I head off to our room too.
After a night of no sleep I am up early. I sit in the common room for what feels like hours in silence. I am there with just me and my thoughts. I honestly felt like I was protecting my Hermione. But then I remind myself, she isn't mine. For years, I have felt she was mine. I have loved her in more ways than one. She is a best friend, but I always wanted her to be more than that. I missed my chance.
I acted rashly. Now I have to go back and fix what I have broken. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done. I refuse to accept Draco, but maybe I don't have to. But I still have to mend this situation.
I walk to the hospital wing. Half of me wants to see my girl, and half of me wants to prove a point. Draco won't be there. I know he won't.
I quickly approach the door and swing it open silently. He is there. And I am shocked. I creep in unnoticed, and stand there looking in on the scene. She is still laying there like a piece of stone. But he continues to hold her hand. He sits attentively as though his presence might wake her up. His eyes never leave her. Every few moments he kisses her forehead or her hand and whispers he loves her. I have never seen a sight like this before in my life. Tears are falling from his eyes, and he begins to speak.
"Hermione, wake up. I need you" he begins softly. "I'm so sorry. I'm just so sorry" he says, and this is where the crying really begins. "Maybe this won't work. Maybe we were stupid to believe people would accept us. If your safety is an issue, then I will stay away".
My heart is breaking. I see the tears fall from his eyes. Hermione is unconscious, so I know he is not putting on a show for her. He is speaking from his heart. I feel a weight on my shoulders. I turn around and Harry was behind me.
"I told you so" was all he said. He turned and walked away. I stand there for only a few more moments before following suit. This doesn't mean that this is right. I am still not sold on the idea.
I follow him to the Great Hall where breakfast is being served. Ginny gives me disapproving looks. Harry is sitting beside her, so I know she has been told the whole story. I seem to be the topic of rumors this week now. That's just great. I get nothing but dirty looks all day long. I know it shouldn't affect me, but it does. I know I have to make this right, and I will. I will fix this by finding the cure for my spell. Where did I learn that spell anyway? I don't even remember. It doesn't matter, I just have to fix this.
I have my chance now. It's time to meet in the library. It's time to face Draco. Wish me luck.
A/N: The last thing I want to do is rush this thing with Ron and Draco. They aren't going to get along anytime soon. So Ron realizes Draco loves Hermione and all, but there will still be some issues and stuff. I hope you all enjoy! REVIEW
PS: How did you like the spell I made up? That one is thanks to my anatomy class. It's not a real word, but after learning mediastinum and atrioventricular and stuff, it's a lot easier to make up crazy words
