A/N: Words between these (at the end of the chapter) are Draco's POV
Chapter Eleven: Crash and Burn
Hermione didn't see much of Draco for the next week. They began working alone on their project just because it was easier for them to do things that worked with their individual strengths and leave the rest for later. Draco had asked for some help on his paper for Professor McGonagal though and the two had a meeting in the library the Thursday before Halloween. She agreed to help partly because she had already finished her paper and only had the 6th and 7th redraftings to work on and because they also had to discuss planning for the feast. After eating dinner with Ron and Harry, she said goodbye to the two boys and headed for the library. She checked her watch and saw she was 5 minutes early. Settling herself down at their usual table at the back, Hermione pulled out her books and some quills and parchment to get ready. She read her copy of 'The Evening Prophet' as she waited for Draco to arrive. As she finished the last article about a man in Cornwall who is beleievd to have grown the first ever bubotuber alternative, Hermione folded the paper up and laid it down on the table. It was just about that time that she realized how long she must have been sitting there. She checked her watch again and was shocked to see that she only had 5 minutes until her Head Girl duties. She stuffed everything in her bag and hurried back to the dormitory where she dropped it off. As she rushed back out the portait hole to make her rounds about the school, hardly a thought of where Draco had gotten to came to her mind. The next morning she dressed and met Harry and Ron at the Great Hall. They ate breakfast and headed off for Transfiguration where Professor McGonagal announced she would be collecting their first drafts in next week. Harry grumbled and Ron wore a maddening expression on his face for the rest of the period. After the bell ran Hermione hurried off to Arithmancy. She took her seat at the front oft he classrooom and waited for the teacher to arrive. Though the Professor did bustle in 5 minutes late, Draco never showed up. Hermione began to get nervous. Where was he? Draco was also absent in potions and Hermione had to attempt to brew thier potion single-handedly. Though she was capable of the task, she had to work very hard to get all the ingrediants in at the right times and she became very frustrated when Neville tripped over the hem of his long robe and knocked her potion over. The weirdest part of the day came after lunch. Hermione, Ron and Harry made their way to the DADA classroom talking and laughing. Hermione had put the Draco worry out of her head for the time being. However, when they reached the door they found it closed and with a note scribbled and stuck on the door. Harry pulled it off and read,
Class, I am very sorry to announce that class for today has been cancelled. I have a lot of work to do and Professor Dumbledowr has asked me to take on a new assignment for him as well. I've also developed a minor head cold to top it off. We will meet tomorrow at the normal time and have fun with the time off! Professor Cepelak
Hermione couldn't remember when they had ever had a class canceled before, but she soon pushed that thought aside and enjoyed the break with everyone else.
As Hermione left History of Magic, she had an idea. "Hey guys," she said to Harry and Ron, "wanna come to my common room? We haven't really hung out in ages and I don't have too much work tonight." "Yeah sure, what are we gonna do?" asked Ron. "I just got a new set of gobstones, I can run back to our dorm quickly and get it." replied Harry. "Yeah good idea. I'l go with you to drop off my bag and we'll meet you in like five minutes, k Hermione?" added Ron. "Yeah sounds great. See you in five" she said and set off towards her common room. She reached the portrait and gave the passowrd. The door swung forward and she made her way towards her room. Dropping her bag down on the bed, she changed out of her school clothes and into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Feeling much more comfortable, Hermione closed her door behind her and walked over to the couch to add a log to the fire. After tossing the wood on she picked up her notebook with her Halloween plans in it and dropped onto the couch. But she had never remembered the couch feelings so...alive. Hermione jumped to her feet and turned around. She screamed. There was Draco, laying face down on the couch and apparently not moving. She dropped her notebook and rushed to him. It took alot of effort but she turned him over, only to reveal a bruised face sporting a bloody lip. She felt a tear fall down her cheek. His clothes were ripped and she could see more blood on his arms, chest and back. She gently patted his cheek in and effort to get him to stir but his head was limp in her hands. The tears were pouring out of her eyes now. "Draco" she whispered. When he didn't reply, she broke down completely. She got up on the couch and wrapped her arms around his upper body, rocking him back and forth. She felt his chest for a heartbeat but she couldn't feel the gently pound she had before. As she cried into his neck, she heard the door open and her friends cheery voices floated over to her. "Hermione we brought gobstones and exploding snap what do you-" started ron, but as he and Harry stepped closer into the room, he stopped. "Oh no. Hermione, what happened? What's wrong with him?"Harry asked, in as calm a voice as he could muster. She tried to answer through the sobs. "He-I-blood" but she couldn't connect any of the millions of thoughts floating in her head. Harry seemed to understand her though. "Was he here when you got back? On the couch?" he asked. She nodded her head, still crying and still holding him. "We have to get him to the infirmary or he'll-" Ron began saying but she knew what was coming. She got up and ran towards him. She flung her arms around the startled redhead and sobbed deeply into his shirt. He rubbed her back and tried to make her feel better. Harry left the room and came back moments later with a glass of water, but as she reached for it, her sight began to get hazy. The edges of her vision blurred and soon, all she could see was black. She had fainted.
"Is she ok?" "I think so, and him, is he breathing?" "I can't tell......." Hermione could hear voices floating somewhere to her left. It was difficult to tell what they were talking about; she was so confused. It was black all around her, she still had her eyes closed. She tried to open them but as soon as she saw the tiny strips of faint light her lids drooped shut agin. They were too heavy for her to lift. She also tried thinking about what she last remembered but her head began to ache. She succumbed to her tiredness and soon drifted back to sleep. When she woke again, Hermione was much more alert. She could feel the heat of someone's skin against her right hand and there was a weight pushing on her shoulder. She slowly opened her eyes. Harry was sitting in a chair next to her and when he saw that she was awake, his smiled grew large but then he moved his finger to his mouth and pointed to her other side. She looked over to see Ron, lying next to her with his head rested on her shoulder. She carefully lifted it and placed it gently back on the pillow. He grunted but continued to sleep. Then the last events she remembered began flooding back to her. Harry...gobstones...Ron...DRACO! "Where is he?!" she asked incredibly suddenly and loudly. Harry was afraid she had woken Ron but he slept on despite the ruckus. Madame Pomfrey had heard her squeak, however, and came bustling into sight a moment later. "Ah Ms. Granger, you're awake, good." she pulled out a piece of chocolate and handed her some, along with a smoking glass of some putrid-smelling medicine. Hermione held the chocolate in her hand but didn't eat. "Where is he?" she repeated, a bit calmer this time. "Who? Oh, Mr. Malfoy. He's at the end of the ward. I won't allow you to see him now but when you have rested up a little you may visit him." she pushed the cup to Hermione's mouth and she reluctanly drank. "Is he, is he awake?" she asked. Whatever glimmer of a smile that had been on Madame Pomfrey's face vanished at this question. Hermione could feel herself tearing again. "Mr. Malfoy hasn't woken up yet. You have been in here two days yourself my dear" the nurse replied solemnly. "Oh no! I must be so behind on my homework" Hermione began but Madame Pomfrey interrupted. "You will be doing no written work while you are in my care. Mr's Potter and Weasley" she threw a sidelong glance at Ron and shook her head before continuing, "have agreed to come every day and teach you any spells you need to know until I let you leave." Hermione's face fell. No work, what would she do. But then she remembered Draco and homework was pushed out of her head. "But, but is he going to...live?" she uttered the last word ina faint, shuddering whisper. Madame Pomfrey frowned. She turned to Harry. "He will, won't he?" she urged. Harry's head drooped. "Hermione, we just don't know. He's still in critical condition, anything could happen...." he looked upset, "Hermione I'm so sorry.." The tears were pouring from her like water. Before she knew what she was doing, Hermione felt herself getting out of her bed and running down the ward. She could hear her name being called after her but she didn't stop. She didn't stop until she came to his bed. There was Draco. He had a bandage around his head with a large dark red spot on the left. He had them all down his arms and his skin was so pale it looked like milk. She ran to his side. She couldn't see his chest moving. Hermione heard the nurse and Harry arrive behind her as she wailed and sobbed. She grabbed his cut and bruised hand and squeezed, as though trying to squeeze herself, her life, into his body. There was a big machine next to the bed, it was beeping and it looked like the machines she had seen when she watched 'ER'. Hermione felt someone behind her. Harry was pulling her up and putting his arms around her. "Shhh, it's ok. There's nothing you can do, he'll be alright. I promise...shhh that's it" she had stopped hyperventalating and she appeared to be calming down. His strong arms were protecting her, holding her safely. Just as she thought she was calm, she fainted again and saw no more.
His eyes were heavy but he forced them open. He could see the tiniest bit of colour and light. The first thing he saw was Hermione. She was lying in Harry's arms, her eyes were shut and he was paniking, calling for the nurse. He was sure she was just unconscious, but fear still spread through him like a poison. He couldn't stay awake any longer. The last thought he had as he watched her tear stained face and her limp body being moved out of his vision was how much he loved her. "God she's beautiful..."
A/N: I might not add again for a while because I am ficusing on finishing this story on the other site first to upload here but I will add another chapter in like 5 days. Also, did someone ask a while back id Cepelak meant anything? I can't remember but if you were wondering, to my knowledge, it doesn't. Any names that aren't JK's are people from school. The students in the sorting are all members of my class at school. Rachel Cepelak was my old english teacher. Any other question just ask! Btw, Wight T. Nigh is the only name I actually made up because it had to mean something, obviously, lol. Jes
Chapter Eleven: Crash and Burn
Hermione didn't see much of Draco for the next week. They began working alone on their project just because it was easier for them to do things that worked with their individual strengths and leave the rest for later. Draco had asked for some help on his paper for Professor McGonagal though and the two had a meeting in the library the Thursday before Halloween. She agreed to help partly because she had already finished her paper and only had the 6th and 7th redraftings to work on and because they also had to discuss planning for the feast. After eating dinner with Ron and Harry, she said goodbye to the two boys and headed for the library. She checked her watch and saw she was 5 minutes early. Settling herself down at their usual table at the back, Hermione pulled out her books and some quills and parchment to get ready. She read her copy of 'The Evening Prophet' as she waited for Draco to arrive. As she finished the last article about a man in Cornwall who is beleievd to have grown the first ever bubotuber alternative, Hermione folded the paper up and laid it down on the table. It was just about that time that she realized how long she must have been sitting there. She checked her watch again and was shocked to see that she only had 5 minutes until her Head Girl duties. She stuffed everything in her bag and hurried back to the dormitory where she dropped it off. As she rushed back out the portait hole to make her rounds about the school, hardly a thought of where Draco had gotten to came to her mind. The next morning she dressed and met Harry and Ron at the Great Hall. They ate breakfast and headed off for Transfiguration where Professor McGonagal announced she would be collecting their first drafts in next week. Harry grumbled and Ron wore a maddening expression on his face for the rest of the period. After the bell ran Hermione hurried off to Arithmancy. She took her seat at the front oft he classrooom and waited for the teacher to arrive. Though the Professor did bustle in 5 minutes late, Draco never showed up. Hermione began to get nervous. Where was he? Draco was also absent in potions and Hermione had to attempt to brew thier potion single-handedly. Though she was capable of the task, she had to work very hard to get all the ingrediants in at the right times and she became very frustrated when Neville tripped over the hem of his long robe and knocked her potion over. The weirdest part of the day came after lunch. Hermione, Ron and Harry made their way to the DADA classroom talking and laughing. Hermione had put the Draco worry out of her head for the time being. However, when they reached the door they found it closed and with a note scribbled and stuck on the door. Harry pulled it off and read,
Class, I am very sorry to announce that class for today has been cancelled. I have a lot of work to do and Professor Dumbledowr has asked me to take on a new assignment for him as well. I've also developed a minor head cold to top it off. We will meet tomorrow at the normal time and have fun with the time off! Professor Cepelak
Hermione couldn't remember when they had ever had a class canceled before, but she soon pushed that thought aside and enjoyed the break with everyone else.
As Hermione left History of Magic, she had an idea. "Hey guys," she said to Harry and Ron, "wanna come to my common room? We haven't really hung out in ages and I don't have too much work tonight." "Yeah sure, what are we gonna do?" asked Ron. "I just got a new set of gobstones, I can run back to our dorm quickly and get it." replied Harry. "Yeah good idea. I'l go with you to drop off my bag and we'll meet you in like five minutes, k Hermione?" added Ron. "Yeah sounds great. See you in five" she said and set off towards her common room. She reached the portrait and gave the passowrd. The door swung forward and she made her way towards her room. Dropping her bag down on the bed, she changed out of her school clothes and into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Feeling much more comfortable, Hermione closed her door behind her and walked over to the couch to add a log to the fire. After tossing the wood on she picked up her notebook with her Halloween plans in it and dropped onto the couch. But she had never remembered the couch feelings so...alive. Hermione jumped to her feet and turned around. She screamed. There was Draco, laying face down on the couch and apparently not moving. She dropped her notebook and rushed to him. It took alot of effort but she turned him over, only to reveal a bruised face sporting a bloody lip. She felt a tear fall down her cheek. His clothes were ripped and she could see more blood on his arms, chest and back. She gently patted his cheek in and effort to get him to stir but his head was limp in her hands. The tears were pouring out of her eyes now. "Draco" she whispered. When he didn't reply, she broke down completely. She got up on the couch and wrapped her arms around his upper body, rocking him back and forth. She felt his chest for a heartbeat but she couldn't feel the gently pound she had before. As she cried into his neck, she heard the door open and her friends cheery voices floated over to her. "Hermione we brought gobstones and exploding snap what do you-" started ron, but as he and Harry stepped closer into the room, he stopped. "Oh no. Hermione, what happened? What's wrong with him?"Harry asked, in as calm a voice as he could muster. She tried to answer through the sobs. "He-I-blood" but she couldn't connect any of the millions of thoughts floating in her head. Harry seemed to understand her though. "Was he here when you got back? On the couch?" he asked. She nodded her head, still crying and still holding him. "We have to get him to the infirmary or he'll-" Ron began saying but she knew what was coming. She got up and ran towards him. She flung her arms around the startled redhead and sobbed deeply into his shirt. He rubbed her back and tried to make her feel better. Harry left the room and came back moments later with a glass of water, but as she reached for it, her sight began to get hazy. The edges of her vision blurred and soon, all she could see was black. She had fainted.
"Is she ok?" "I think so, and him, is he breathing?" "I can't tell......." Hermione could hear voices floating somewhere to her left. It was difficult to tell what they were talking about; she was so confused. It was black all around her, she still had her eyes closed. She tried to open them but as soon as she saw the tiny strips of faint light her lids drooped shut agin. They were too heavy for her to lift. She also tried thinking about what she last remembered but her head began to ache. She succumbed to her tiredness and soon drifted back to sleep. When she woke again, Hermione was much more alert. She could feel the heat of someone's skin against her right hand and there was a weight pushing on her shoulder. She slowly opened her eyes. Harry was sitting in a chair next to her and when he saw that she was awake, his smiled grew large but then he moved his finger to his mouth and pointed to her other side. She looked over to see Ron, lying next to her with his head rested on her shoulder. She carefully lifted it and placed it gently back on the pillow. He grunted but continued to sleep. Then the last events she remembered began flooding back to her. Harry...gobstones...Ron...DRACO! "Where is he?!" she asked incredibly suddenly and loudly. Harry was afraid she had woken Ron but he slept on despite the ruckus. Madame Pomfrey had heard her squeak, however, and came bustling into sight a moment later. "Ah Ms. Granger, you're awake, good." she pulled out a piece of chocolate and handed her some, along with a smoking glass of some putrid-smelling medicine. Hermione held the chocolate in her hand but didn't eat. "Where is he?" she repeated, a bit calmer this time. "Who? Oh, Mr. Malfoy. He's at the end of the ward. I won't allow you to see him now but when you have rested up a little you may visit him." she pushed the cup to Hermione's mouth and she reluctanly drank. "Is he, is he awake?" she asked. Whatever glimmer of a smile that had been on Madame Pomfrey's face vanished at this question. Hermione could feel herself tearing again. "Mr. Malfoy hasn't woken up yet. You have been in here two days yourself my dear" the nurse replied solemnly. "Oh no! I must be so behind on my homework" Hermione began but Madame Pomfrey interrupted. "You will be doing no written work while you are in my care. Mr's Potter and Weasley" she threw a sidelong glance at Ron and shook her head before continuing, "have agreed to come every day and teach you any spells you need to know until I let you leave." Hermione's face fell. No work, what would she do. But then she remembered Draco and homework was pushed out of her head. "But, but is he going to...live?" she uttered the last word ina faint, shuddering whisper. Madame Pomfrey frowned. She turned to Harry. "He will, won't he?" she urged. Harry's head drooped. "Hermione, we just don't know. He's still in critical condition, anything could happen...." he looked upset, "Hermione I'm so sorry.." The tears were pouring from her like water. Before she knew what she was doing, Hermione felt herself getting out of her bed and running down the ward. She could hear her name being called after her but she didn't stop. She didn't stop until she came to his bed. There was Draco. He had a bandage around his head with a large dark red spot on the left. He had them all down his arms and his skin was so pale it looked like milk. She ran to his side. She couldn't see his chest moving. Hermione heard the nurse and Harry arrive behind her as she wailed and sobbed. She grabbed his cut and bruised hand and squeezed, as though trying to squeeze herself, her life, into his body. There was a big machine next to the bed, it was beeping and it looked like the machines she had seen when she watched 'ER'. Hermione felt someone behind her. Harry was pulling her up and putting his arms around her. "Shhh, it's ok. There's nothing you can do, he'll be alright. I promise...shhh that's it" she had stopped hyperventalating and she appeared to be calming down. His strong arms were protecting her, holding her safely. Just as she thought she was calm, she fainted again and saw no more.
His eyes were heavy but he forced them open. He could see the tiniest bit of colour and light. The first thing he saw was Hermione. She was lying in Harry's arms, her eyes were shut and he was paniking, calling for the nurse. He was sure she was just unconscious, but fear still spread through him like a poison. He couldn't stay awake any longer. The last thought he had as he watched her tear stained face and her limp body being moved out of his vision was how much he loved her. "God she's beautiful..."
A/N: I might not add again for a while because I am ficusing on finishing this story on the other site first to upload here but I will add another chapter in like 5 days. Also, did someone ask a while back id Cepelak meant anything? I can't remember but if you were wondering, to my knowledge, it doesn't. Any names that aren't JK's are people from school. The students in the sorting are all members of my class at school. Rachel Cepelak was my old english teacher. Any other question just ask! Btw, Wight T. Nigh is the only name I actually made up because it had to mean something, obviously, lol. Jes