Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. J.K.Rowling does. L
Hermione lay in bed one morning thinking about Hogwarts. School would be starting tomorrow and her weekly visits from Harry and Ron would end. She allowed a tear to fall down her cheek at the thought. They would be starting school without her. Professor Dumbledore had visited. He told Hermione that she would have been Head Girl had she been able to attend school. Another tear flowed down her cheek. Then her facial expression changed from depressed to determined.
'I'm going to walk again if it's the last thing I do," she declared to herself. The nurse entered, it wasn't Marie but Hermione had become close to this one too. "Hello Sarah. How are you?" Hermione asked.
"I'm lovely, Hermione. Thanks for asking. But it is MY job to ask YOU how YOU are, so let me do it properly. How are you feeling, Hermione? Any better today?"
"Well I've been thinking… do you think the doctor will let someone bring me to the library? I really would like to do some research on the curse and I was thinking that if I could just get my hands on some proper books then maybe… You know, there was never any mystery I couldn't solve by going to the library. It's like home to me and I was just thinking if I could just go… maybe. I don't know. What do you think?"
"I think that sounds like a lovely idea. I'll talk to the doctor and see what he thinks." Sarah replied. At this, Hermione frowned. The doctor didn't like Hermione going anywhere. He wanted to keep her in bed all day long, every day. "Now don't look at me like that. You know I can't let you go without the doctors permission." Hermione tried her best to do a sad little puppy dog face but Sarah wouldn't budge.
"It was worth a try." Hermione said with sadness. "Listen, if the doctor says no, do you think you could do me a favor?"
"I can try. What kind of favor?"
"Do you think you could go to the library for me and pick up books about the dark arts and ancient magic… they'll most likely be hidden in the restricted section."
"Hermione, the restricted section is as it says- RESTRICTED!"
"Come on… please?" she tried her puppy face again but this time, it seemed to work.
"OH all right." Sarah said. "I'll check with the doctor and if he says no, I'll go myself. But Hermione, some of the best doctor's in the world work here. If they weren't able to find anything, what makes you think that you can?"
"I'm Hermione Granger. I've been told that I was the best student to ever attend Hogwarts. If that is true, than I should be able to find a way when others cannot. Just trust me, Sarah. If I didn't think there was a cure, I wouldn't bother. But I have to have hope. I can't just accept the fact that I'll never walk again." tears flowed down her cheeks but she quickly wiped them away. "Listen, just get the books… please?"
"All right. I won't bother asking the doctor. We both know his response."
"What's with him anyway? Why won't he just let me go?"
"He's the doctor, Hermione. The doctor knows best. Just trust him."
"I don't know about that. I get this creepy feeling from him. Like he wants me to be stuck here. I get this queer vibe from him. I just don't like it. Not one bit."
"Okay, well I'll be back tomorrow with those books. Anything you need before I leave?" She looked at Hermione who was now laying comfortably in bed.
"Yes, please. Could you pass me the telephone. I would like to call Harry and Ron before they go off to school so I can wish them luck. With Voldemort dead and Malfoy away, they should have a relatively easy year." Sarah shuddered at the mention of the Dark Lord. "Oh come on. The guy's dead."
"I'd still rather you not mention him so lightly. He was a terrible wizard that killed so many people, muggles and wizards alike. It's just not wise to speak of him in such a casual manner."
"Fine. Anyways… since I've been here, Ron's learned how to use thetelephone. Imagine that? I still remember him telling me about how he yelled into the phone at Harry's uncle." Hermione chuckled to herself at the memory. "So now I would like to call them." Sarah handed her the phone.
"Are they at the Burrow?"
"Yes." Hermione looked down at the floor and whispered so Sarah couldn't hear her, "I wish I was there right now." she didn't want anyone to know how depressed she was. She didn't want pity and being sad always made people pity her even more. She picked up the phone and dialed the number.
"Hello. This is the Burrow. Fred speaking. What can I help you with?"
"Hello Fred. It's Hermione."
"OH Hello Hermione. What a coincidence. We were just talking about you, George and I were. How's St. Mungo's treating you? Mum said it'd be smart to make a trip to the place soon. What do you think about us stopping by, seeing as Ron and Harry won't be able to?"
"That sounds lovely Fred. I'd love some company."
"Must be pretty boring, all alone in that room all day."
"Well I have a room mate."
"Really? Who? Ron didn't tell us."
"Well that's because Ron doesn't like him too much. It's Draco Malfoy."
"MALFOY?!?"
"Yes… but he's in a coma so it's not as bad as all that."
"Well the minute he wakes up, you call us. We'll make sure he goes right back to sleep. That's a promise."
"Thanks but I don't think that when he wakes up, the first thing he'll do is start to terrorize me once more. You know how he got here? He fought in the war. I was told that he killed his own father to save Harry's life. Isn't that something."
"Hardly makes up for everything he's done."
"You sound exactly like Ron. Now I know where he gets it from. Honestly you are all so overprotective. Speaking of Ron… is he around?"
"Hold on… RROOOONNNNNNNNNN!!!!" Fred screamed. "IT'S FOR YOU!!!! Hold on Hermione. He'll be right there."
"Thanks Fred."
"Hello?"
"Hey Ron. It's me."
"Oh hey Hermione. How are you?"
"I'm fine thanks. Just thought I would give you two a call before you left for school. Wish you good luck, you know"
"Thanks Hermione. But this is seventh year. You-Know-Who is dead and Malfoy is gone so I don't think we need to worry."
"That's exactly what I thought you would say. But you still have classes… AND N.E.W.T.S.! Don't you forget that you still need good marks. Please Ron. Just because I'm not there doesn't mean you can slack off."
"You sound like my mum. She said the exact thing. 'Just because Hermione will not be there, that gives you no good reason not to do well in your studies.'" Ron mimicked Molly so well that Hermione had to laugh. "She got very annoying afterwards, accusing Harry and I of leaching off of your brains for the past six years."
"Well… think about it. Is there any truth in that?"
"well… maybe. BUT THAT'S ONLY 'CAUSE YOU LET US!"
She giggled. "You're right. I let you. And I would let you again if I could. Listen, please just don't slack off. Do well. For me. Please?"
There was a pause and then Ron replied. "Hermione, every good mark I get I will dedicate to you." Then Harry took the phone.
"And every Quidditch match Gryffindor wins will be in your name. But Hermione, there's no Hogwarts without you. You know that, right? We've been best friends since first years. It won't be the same. You're our best friend Hermione."
She did her best not to cry on the phone but her voice still came out strained. "Stop being so mushy, Harry." She forced a laugh. "I'll see you at Christmas I'm sure. And we can owl each other every day. And I'm very determined to get out of this damned hospital and return to school so don't you worry a second. I'm fine."
"Hermione, guess what."
"What?"
"We talked to Dumbledore and he gave us special permission on Hogsmeade weekends to visit you. Isn't that great?"
"Yes, Harry. Fantastic. But I don't want you to."
"why not?"
"I don't want to hold you back from enjoying everything seventh year has to offer you. You go, have fun. Don't worry about me, Harry."
"But…"
"NO! I have to go now. Promise me you'll have a great year, regardless of whether or not I can join you."
"All right, 'Mione. I still don't understand but I promise I'll try my best."
"Thanks. Bye Harry. Tell Ron I said goodbye as well."
"Okay. Bye 'Mione."
After a while, she became so angry with herself that she threw the phone at the wall, causing everyone around to jump. Everyone except Draco. She placed her head in her hands and cried uncontrollably. "Why didn't I let them come? Why didn't I tell them to come, take me away from here, bring me with them? They would have taken care of me. I know them. They're just so perfect like that." She whimpered to himself. All she wanted to do was leave this place.
But then her mind stumbled across another thought. Draco. Suddenly, leaving St. Mungo's horrified her. If she left, she would be leaving Draco all alone. 'NO.' she said to herself. 'I won't leave unless he wakes up. I can't leave him all on his own. He hasn't even had any visitors this entire time. I'll stay for him. And when he wakes up, if I am no longer paralyzed, I will spend much time with him, trying to understand his reasons for joining our side in the war.' She laid her head on her pillow, dried her eyes, and fell asleep.
A/N Thanks so much to all of you reviewers. Yes I know it was a bit cliché to have Draco change all of a sudden and fight for Hermione because he was in love… but it's my story and I like it. Sorry but I DO appreciate your reviews. Thanks to everyone else who reviewed. I don't want Draco to wake up just yet. It would seem to me like it was rushing the entire story and I don't want to do that. I want to take it slow. But I think he'll wake up in chapter four. What do you guys think? Hope you guys liked this one. Read and Review. The more reviews the quicker I'll update. Thanks you guys.
Hermione lay in bed one morning thinking about Hogwarts. School would be starting tomorrow and her weekly visits from Harry and Ron would end. She allowed a tear to fall down her cheek at the thought. They would be starting school without her. Professor Dumbledore had visited. He told Hermione that she would have been Head Girl had she been able to attend school. Another tear flowed down her cheek. Then her facial expression changed from depressed to determined.
'I'm going to walk again if it's the last thing I do," she declared to herself. The nurse entered, it wasn't Marie but Hermione had become close to this one too. "Hello Sarah. How are you?" Hermione asked.
"I'm lovely, Hermione. Thanks for asking. But it is MY job to ask YOU how YOU are, so let me do it properly. How are you feeling, Hermione? Any better today?"
"Well I've been thinking… do you think the doctor will let someone bring me to the library? I really would like to do some research on the curse and I was thinking that if I could just get my hands on some proper books then maybe… You know, there was never any mystery I couldn't solve by going to the library. It's like home to me and I was just thinking if I could just go… maybe. I don't know. What do you think?"
"I think that sounds like a lovely idea. I'll talk to the doctor and see what he thinks." Sarah replied. At this, Hermione frowned. The doctor didn't like Hermione going anywhere. He wanted to keep her in bed all day long, every day. "Now don't look at me like that. You know I can't let you go without the doctors permission." Hermione tried her best to do a sad little puppy dog face but Sarah wouldn't budge.
"It was worth a try." Hermione said with sadness. "Listen, if the doctor says no, do you think you could do me a favor?"
"I can try. What kind of favor?"
"Do you think you could go to the library for me and pick up books about the dark arts and ancient magic… they'll most likely be hidden in the restricted section."
"Hermione, the restricted section is as it says- RESTRICTED!"
"Come on… please?" she tried her puppy face again but this time, it seemed to work.
"OH all right." Sarah said. "I'll check with the doctor and if he says no, I'll go myself. But Hermione, some of the best doctor's in the world work here. If they weren't able to find anything, what makes you think that you can?"
"I'm Hermione Granger. I've been told that I was the best student to ever attend Hogwarts. If that is true, than I should be able to find a way when others cannot. Just trust me, Sarah. If I didn't think there was a cure, I wouldn't bother. But I have to have hope. I can't just accept the fact that I'll never walk again." tears flowed down her cheeks but she quickly wiped them away. "Listen, just get the books… please?"
"All right. I won't bother asking the doctor. We both know his response."
"What's with him anyway? Why won't he just let me go?"
"He's the doctor, Hermione. The doctor knows best. Just trust him."
"I don't know about that. I get this creepy feeling from him. Like he wants me to be stuck here. I get this queer vibe from him. I just don't like it. Not one bit."
"Okay, well I'll be back tomorrow with those books. Anything you need before I leave?" She looked at Hermione who was now laying comfortably in bed.
"Yes, please. Could you pass me the telephone. I would like to call Harry and Ron before they go off to school so I can wish them luck. With Voldemort dead and Malfoy away, they should have a relatively easy year." Sarah shuddered at the mention of the Dark Lord. "Oh come on. The guy's dead."
"I'd still rather you not mention him so lightly. He was a terrible wizard that killed so many people, muggles and wizards alike. It's just not wise to speak of him in such a casual manner."
"Fine. Anyways… since I've been here, Ron's learned how to use thetelephone. Imagine that? I still remember him telling me about how he yelled into the phone at Harry's uncle." Hermione chuckled to herself at the memory. "So now I would like to call them." Sarah handed her the phone.
"Are they at the Burrow?"
"Yes." Hermione looked down at the floor and whispered so Sarah couldn't hear her, "I wish I was there right now." she didn't want anyone to know how depressed she was. She didn't want pity and being sad always made people pity her even more. She picked up the phone and dialed the number.
"Hello. This is the Burrow. Fred speaking. What can I help you with?"
"Hello Fred. It's Hermione."
"OH Hello Hermione. What a coincidence. We were just talking about you, George and I were. How's St. Mungo's treating you? Mum said it'd be smart to make a trip to the place soon. What do you think about us stopping by, seeing as Ron and Harry won't be able to?"
"That sounds lovely Fred. I'd love some company."
"Must be pretty boring, all alone in that room all day."
"Well I have a room mate."
"Really? Who? Ron didn't tell us."
"Well that's because Ron doesn't like him too much. It's Draco Malfoy."
"MALFOY?!?"
"Yes… but he's in a coma so it's not as bad as all that."
"Well the minute he wakes up, you call us. We'll make sure he goes right back to sleep. That's a promise."
"Thanks but I don't think that when he wakes up, the first thing he'll do is start to terrorize me once more. You know how he got here? He fought in the war. I was told that he killed his own father to save Harry's life. Isn't that something."
"Hardly makes up for everything he's done."
"You sound exactly like Ron. Now I know where he gets it from. Honestly you are all so overprotective. Speaking of Ron… is he around?"
"Hold on… RROOOONNNNNNNNNN!!!!" Fred screamed. "IT'S FOR YOU!!!! Hold on Hermione. He'll be right there."
"Thanks Fred."
"Hello?"
"Hey Ron. It's me."
"Oh hey Hermione. How are you?"
"I'm fine thanks. Just thought I would give you two a call before you left for school. Wish you good luck, you know"
"Thanks Hermione. But this is seventh year. You-Know-Who is dead and Malfoy is gone so I don't think we need to worry."
"That's exactly what I thought you would say. But you still have classes… AND N.E.W.T.S.! Don't you forget that you still need good marks. Please Ron. Just because I'm not there doesn't mean you can slack off."
"You sound like my mum. She said the exact thing. 'Just because Hermione will not be there, that gives you no good reason not to do well in your studies.'" Ron mimicked Molly so well that Hermione had to laugh. "She got very annoying afterwards, accusing Harry and I of leaching off of your brains for the past six years."
"Well… think about it. Is there any truth in that?"
"well… maybe. BUT THAT'S ONLY 'CAUSE YOU LET US!"
She giggled. "You're right. I let you. And I would let you again if I could. Listen, please just don't slack off. Do well. For me. Please?"
There was a pause and then Ron replied. "Hermione, every good mark I get I will dedicate to you." Then Harry took the phone.
"And every Quidditch match Gryffindor wins will be in your name. But Hermione, there's no Hogwarts without you. You know that, right? We've been best friends since first years. It won't be the same. You're our best friend Hermione."
She did her best not to cry on the phone but her voice still came out strained. "Stop being so mushy, Harry." She forced a laugh. "I'll see you at Christmas I'm sure. And we can owl each other every day. And I'm very determined to get out of this damned hospital and return to school so don't you worry a second. I'm fine."
"Hermione, guess what."
"What?"
"We talked to Dumbledore and he gave us special permission on Hogsmeade weekends to visit you. Isn't that great?"
"Yes, Harry. Fantastic. But I don't want you to."
"why not?"
"I don't want to hold you back from enjoying everything seventh year has to offer you. You go, have fun. Don't worry about me, Harry."
"But…"
"NO! I have to go now. Promise me you'll have a great year, regardless of whether or not I can join you."
"All right, 'Mione. I still don't understand but I promise I'll try my best."
"Thanks. Bye Harry. Tell Ron I said goodbye as well."
"Okay. Bye 'Mione."
After a while, she became so angry with herself that she threw the phone at the wall, causing everyone around to jump. Everyone except Draco. She placed her head in her hands and cried uncontrollably. "Why didn't I let them come? Why didn't I tell them to come, take me away from here, bring me with them? They would have taken care of me. I know them. They're just so perfect like that." She whimpered to himself. All she wanted to do was leave this place.
But then her mind stumbled across another thought. Draco. Suddenly, leaving St. Mungo's horrified her. If she left, she would be leaving Draco all alone. 'NO.' she said to herself. 'I won't leave unless he wakes up. I can't leave him all on his own. He hasn't even had any visitors this entire time. I'll stay for him. And when he wakes up, if I am no longer paralyzed, I will spend much time with him, trying to understand his reasons for joining our side in the war.' She laid her head on her pillow, dried her eyes, and fell asleep.
A/N Thanks so much to all of you reviewers. Yes I know it was a bit cliché to have Draco change all of a sudden and fight for Hermione because he was in love… but it's my story and I like it. Sorry but I DO appreciate your reviews. Thanks to everyone else who reviewed. I don't want Draco to wake up just yet. It would seem to me like it was rushing the entire story and I don't want to do that. I want to take it slow. But I think he'll wake up in chapter four. What do you guys think? Hope you guys liked this one. Read and Review. The more reviews the quicker I'll update. Thanks you guys.