A/N: Wow, I'm quite impressed with the response I've gotten from this story...sorry I haven't been so quick with my updates, but i usually write on weekends late at night when I'm all alone...that makes me sound so cool. Anyways, thank you SO much for the reviews and I love the suggestions I'm getting. This story could still go any way, so I'd love any suggestions you might have, even if they are mean...I'm a big girl, I can take it. so THANK YOU AND KEEP READING! It's uphill from here...
Hermione's eyes lit up suddenly as she finally exhaled, for what seemed to be the first time in ages. Without hesitation, she collapsed into Harry and broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. The fear she had felt just minutes ago seemed to drift away as she found herself here, protected by Harry's strong arms as he gently rocked her.
"I'll never let him hurt you again," He said softly, almost more of a promise to himself than to Hermione.
"Thank you," Hermione whispered, though she knew he deserved much more. Harry just gave a small smile as his eyes began to tear. She was so helpless and frail as he held her close, and her eyes told a tale of torture. Her bruised lips quiverred as she shut her eyes and let the tears fall.
"Are you cold?" Harry asked, noticing for the first time Hermione's lack of clothes. Hermione seemed to realize this too as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Finding no words, she simply nodded. Harry bent down and reached for her robe. But just as he did, the limp body on the cold ground rolled over groggily and groaned in pain. Harry quickly wrapped Hermione's robe around her chest, lifed her carefully, and carried her back to the castle.
"Where are you taking me?" Hermione asked quietly after a long moment of silence.
"Madame Pomfery. She's going to have to fix you up a bit," Harry replied softly.
"Well what about M--Malfoy?" Hermione questioned, stumbling over his name as though it were now more evil than Voldmort's.
"What about him?" Harry said, a puzzled expression sweeping across his face.
"We have to tell someone he's out there."
Harry smiled to himself. Even when Hermione was at her worst, she was still smarter than anyone Harry had ever met.
"Dumbledore?" Harry suggested. Hermione just nodded wearily, exausted from her struggle.
Oh, how he wanted to kiss the lips he held just inches from his face. How he wanted so desperately to hold the hands that were so tightly wrapped around his neck, look into her beautiful brown eyes and tell her how much he loved her and that he never wanted to let her go. Taking a closer look, Harry once again noticed that her once rosy lips were swollen and bruised, her arms were clamped around his neck in fear, and her usually curious, intellictual eyes were now full of torture and exasperation. Harry suddenly felt rage deep in the pit of the stomach for the one who would be so heartless, so incredibly perverted and sinister, to hurt the one he loved so much.
"Potter, what's going on?"
Harry spun around as he reached the stone corridor, and found himself face to face with Professor McGonnagal.
"I...er...I just have to-" Harry began, but Professor McGonnagal interrupted as her face turned a milky sort of white.
"What did you do to her?" Asked Professor McGonnagal, breathlessly.
"Nothing! I just have to see Professor Dumbledore!" Harry insisted.
"Shouldn't you be taking Miss Granger to Madame Pomfrey first?"
"Well, yes, but I..."
"Forget it, Potter. I'll take Miss Granger directly to Madame Pomfrey, and you can do whatever it is you have to do. I trust it is more important than getting her medical attention," Professor McGonnagal said, though not accusingly. She seemed to understand there was something going on that Harry didn't have time to share. They locked eyes and he nodded, trusting her as she was trusting him.
"Can you walk, dear?" asked Professor McGonnagal. Hermione's legs were still weak from shock as they violently quiverred before Professor McGonagal caught her mid-fall.
Hermione gave Harry a miserable look as she turned to face him.
"Go talk to Dumbledore, Harry," She said, her tearstained cheeks shining in the dim glow. Harry nodded slowly as he backed away from Hermione regretfully. There was nothing else he could do for her except make sure Malfoy got what he deserved.
"I'll be up to visit you soon," He promised as he turned away, rushing down the twisting hall. He didn't stop running until he got to Dumbledore's office where he pounded incessantly on the large, wooden door until Dumbledore's head poked through the doorway.
"What is it, Harry?" Dumbledore asked somewhat alarmed, though his voice still kept its usual calm tone.
"It's Hermione...and she...well Malfoy.....she's in the hospital wing now....and Malfoy's still out there..." Harry tried to retell the events of that night, though he found he was having difficulty forming sentences.
"Why don't you come into my office?" Dumbledore suggested.
"There's no time for that!" Harry cried, growing more and more panicked by the passing second.
"Is Draco hurt?" Dumbledore asked, as if he already knew the answer. Harry simply nodded his head.
"But I don't know how bad it is...I mean, it was dark and all," Harry said.
"Let us go, then," Dumbledore announced, without even asking how he had been hurt, or even why. Harry didn't dare debate, as he lead Dumbledore out of the castle silently.
"Lumos," Harry muttered as they began to walk out to the lake. Dumbledore immediately pulled out his wand and did the same.
"What kind of state is he in?" Dumbledore questioned, breaking the silence.
"I'm not quite sure, it was dark. I think he was unconcious when we left," Harry stated truthfully. Dumbledore asked no more questions, and this somewhat akward silence followed them all the way to the tree where Harry had found Hermione in a rather uncomfortable position not even an hour ago.
"Draco?" Dumbedore called out into the darkness. This was quite odd. Using his wand as a flashlight, looked towards the tree. This had to be the right tree, for Hermione's abandoned bra still lay in a heap on the ground. The only thing missing from this picture was Malfoy.
"Where could he have gone? Not fifteen minutes ago he was unconcious on the ground right over there," Harry said, pointing to a spot of flattened grass right next to the tree.
The pair stood silently for a long moment, listening closely for any sound. Harry's heart rate quickened as he breathed in the crisp autumn air. One minute passed...then two...and they still stood silently. If Malfoy was really hiding in the bushes, Harry figured he had more sense than to jump out and attack Dumbledore and himself, who were both known for their amazing skills with a wand.
"Professor, I don't think he -"
"Shhh!"
A sudden noise, a quick movement from nearby bushes. Harry spun around, pointing his wand directly at the now motionless bush. Taking two slow steps forward, Harry drew in one long breath, trying to calm his nerves. Dumbledore stepped cautiously in front of him, and Harry didn't protest. Walking closer, inch by inch....slowly...quietly....and then....
SWOOSH!
With a loud rustle, a cat burst from the bushes, running terrified past a breathless Harry and Dumbledore. They stood for a moment, recovering from the shock. Harry let out a small laugh purely out of relief, but Dumbledore didn't look happy.
"We must return back to the castle," He said, and Harry didn't dare question him.
"Where is he, Professor?" Harry asked, figuring that Dumbeldore knew something he didn't.
"I know just as much as you do, Harry. It's not safe for us...mostly you...to be out here in the dark like this if Draco is out and angry," Dumbledore said.
Harry thought this over. He wasn't afraid of Malfoy. He could take him, even without wands, as he had proven earlier. But he didn't think that was what Dumbledore was worried about. Malfoy wasn't playing games. At this point, he would kill Harry if he had the chance. Harry knew this full well. Quickly, he followed Dumbledore's gliding pace all the way back to the castle.
A/N: Ooookay I will definitely continue this one sometime soon, like this weekend....Sorry I havne't been so great with updating all the time but finals have arrived and school comes before fan fiction (but not in my opinion)...I promise there will be romance in the next chapter as there was a signifigant lack in this one. So stay tuned and I'll update the next JUICY, ROMANTIC, HOT, STEAMY, chapter super soon! JUST REVIEW AND I'LL ADD MORE!!! even a quick review would totally rock....as do all of you crazy mofos. Hokay, Ima outta hurrr!!!
later!!
Hermione's eyes lit up suddenly as she finally exhaled, for what seemed to be the first time in ages. Without hesitation, she collapsed into Harry and broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. The fear she had felt just minutes ago seemed to drift away as she found herself here, protected by Harry's strong arms as he gently rocked her.
"I'll never let him hurt you again," He said softly, almost more of a promise to himself than to Hermione.
"Thank you," Hermione whispered, though she knew he deserved much more. Harry just gave a small smile as his eyes began to tear. She was so helpless and frail as he held her close, and her eyes told a tale of torture. Her bruised lips quiverred as she shut her eyes and let the tears fall.
"Are you cold?" Harry asked, noticing for the first time Hermione's lack of clothes. Hermione seemed to realize this too as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Finding no words, she simply nodded. Harry bent down and reached for her robe. But just as he did, the limp body on the cold ground rolled over groggily and groaned in pain. Harry quickly wrapped Hermione's robe around her chest, lifed her carefully, and carried her back to the castle.
"Where are you taking me?" Hermione asked quietly after a long moment of silence.
"Madame Pomfery. She's going to have to fix you up a bit," Harry replied softly.
"Well what about M--Malfoy?" Hermione questioned, stumbling over his name as though it were now more evil than Voldmort's.
"What about him?" Harry said, a puzzled expression sweeping across his face.
"We have to tell someone he's out there."
Harry smiled to himself. Even when Hermione was at her worst, she was still smarter than anyone Harry had ever met.
"Dumbledore?" Harry suggested. Hermione just nodded wearily, exausted from her struggle.
Oh, how he wanted to kiss the lips he held just inches from his face. How he wanted so desperately to hold the hands that were so tightly wrapped around his neck, look into her beautiful brown eyes and tell her how much he loved her and that he never wanted to let her go. Taking a closer look, Harry once again noticed that her once rosy lips were swollen and bruised, her arms were clamped around his neck in fear, and her usually curious, intellictual eyes were now full of torture and exasperation. Harry suddenly felt rage deep in the pit of the stomach for the one who would be so heartless, so incredibly perverted and sinister, to hurt the one he loved so much.
"Potter, what's going on?"
Harry spun around as he reached the stone corridor, and found himself face to face with Professor McGonnagal.
"I...er...I just have to-" Harry began, but Professor McGonnagal interrupted as her face turned a milky sort of white.
"What did you do to her?" Asked Professor McGonnagal, breathlessly.
"Nothing! I just have to see Professor Dumbledore!" Harry insisted.
"Shouldn't you be taking Miss Granger to Madame Pomfrey first?"
"Well, yes, but I..."
"Forget it, Potter. I'll take Miss Granger directly to Madame Pomfrey, and you can do whatever it is you have to do. I trust it is more important than getting her medical attention," Professor McGonnagal said, though not accusingly. She seemed to understand there was something going on that Harry didn't have time to share. They locked eyes and he nodded, trusting her as she was trusting him.
"Can you walk, dear?" asked Professor McGonnagal. Hermione's legs were still weak from shock as they violently quiverred before Professor McGonagal caught her mid-fall.
Hermione gave Harry a miserable look as she turned to face him.
"Go talk to Dumbledore, Harry," She said, her tearstained cheeks shining in the dim glow. Harry nodded slowly as he backed away from Hermione regretfully. There was nothing else he could do for her except make sure Malfoy got what he deserved.
"I'll be up to visit you soon," He promised as he turned away, rushing down the twisting hall. He didn't stop running until he got to Dumbledore's office where he pounded incessantly on the large, wooden door until Dumbledore's head poked through the doorway.
"What is it, Harry?" Dumbledore asked somewhat alarmed, though his voice still kept its usual calm tone.
"It's Hermione...and she...well Malfoy.....she's in the hospital wing now....and Malfoy's still out there..." Harry tried to retell the events of that night, though he found he was having difficulty forming sentences.
"Why don't you come into my office?" Dumbledore suggested.
"There's no time for that!" Harry cried, growing more and more panicked by the passing second.
"Is Draco hurt?" Dumbledore asked, as if he already knew the answer. Harry simply nodded his head.
"But I don't know how bad it is...I mean, it was dark and all," Harry said.
"Let us go, then," Dumbledore announced, without even asking how he had been hurt, or even why. Harry didn't dare debate, as he lead Dumbledore out of the castle silently.
"Lumos," Harry muttered as they began to walk out to the lake. Dumbledore immediately pulled out his wand and did the same.
"What kind of state is he in?" Dumbledore questioned, breaking the silence.
"I'm not quite sure, it was dark. I think he was unconcious when we left," Harry stated truthfully. Dumbledore asked no more questions, and this somewhat akward silence followed them all the way to the tree where Harry had found Hermione in a rather uncomfortable position not even an hour ago.
"Draco?" Dumbedore called out into the darkness. This was quite odd. Using his wand as a flashlight, looked towards the tree. This had to be the right tree, for Hermione's abandoned bra still lay in a heap on the ground. The only thing missing from this picture was Malfoy.
"Where could he have gone? Not fifteen minutes ago he was unconcious on the ground right over there," Harry said, pointing to a spot of flattened grass right next to the tree.
The pair stood silently for a long moment, listening closely for any sound. Harry's heart rate quickened as he breathed in the crisp autumn air. One minute passed...then two...and they still stood silently. If Malfoy was really hiding in the bushes, Harry figured he had more sense than to jump out and attack Dumbledore and himself, who were both known for their amazing skills with a wand.
"Professor, I don't think he -"
"Shhh!"
A sudden noise, a quick movement from nearby bushes. Harry spun around, pointing his wand directly at the now motionless bush. Taking two slow steps forward, Harry drew in one long breath, trying to calm his nerves. Dumbledore stepped cautiously in front of him, and Harry didn't protest. Walking closer, inch by inch....slowly...quietly....and then....
SWOOSH!
With a loud rustle, a cat burst from the bushes, running terrified past a breathless Harry and Dumbledore. They stood for a moment, recovering from the shock. Harry let out a small laugh purely out of relief, but Dumbledore didn't look happy.
"We must return back to the castle," He said, and Harry didn't dare question him.
"Where is he, Professor?" Harry asked, figuring that Dumbeldore knew something he didn't.
"I know just as much as you do, Harry. It's not safe for us...mostly you...to be out here in the dark like this if Draco is out and angry," Dumbledore said.
Harry thought this over. He wasn't afraid of Malfoy. He could take him, even without wands, as he had proven earlier. But he didn't think that was what Dumbledore was worried about. Malfoy wasn't playing games. At this point, he would kill Harry if he had the chance. Harry knew this full well. Quickly, he followed Dumbledore's gliding pace all the way back to the castle.
A/N: Ooookay I will definitely continue this one sometime soon, like this weekend....Sorry I havne't been so great with updating all the time but finals have arrived and school comes before fan fiction (but not in my opinion)...I promise there will be romance in the next chapter as there was a signifigant lack in this one. So stay tuned and I'll update the next JUICY, ROMANTIC, HOT, STEAMY, chapter super soon! JUST REVIEW AND I'LL ADD MORE!!! even a quick review would totally rock....as do all of you crazy mofos. Hokay, Ima outta hurrr!!!
later!!