IMPRESSIONS chapter eleven
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, except for stuff you don't recognize.
Summary: An emotionally, physically, and mentally wounded Draco needs someone to help him, whether he wants to admit it or not, after his father lands in Azkaban, his mother is committed to St. Mungo's, and his entire world crumbles. Romance/Angst.
Author's Note: Please review!
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
But it was not to be. Harry and Ron's head snapped in her direction, Ron's furious and Harry's disappointed.
Madam Pomfrey, Snape, and Dumbledore rushed to the pitch, where Malfoy still lay on the ground, unmoving.
Deciding to go onto the field under the pretense of seeing Harry and Ron, Hermione made her way down, off the stands.
"Make way, make way!" shrieked an anxious, white-faced Madam Pomfrey. "Get out of my way!"
Hermione muttered a little speed charm on herself and managed to get there before Draco. He opened his eyes, the silver glinting fearfully. "Get me out before…" he whispered, before blacking out again.
"Miss Granger, return to your seat," said Professor Snape in a clipped tone.
Hermione glanced up at him. "Of course, Professor Snape," she murmured, backing away and turning to see Ron and Harry.
"Hermione, what's going on with you an Malfoy?" Harry seemed sad that she wasn't being truthful with him.
"Hermione, why did you SAVE HIS LIFE?" Ron bellowed. "You'd think – you'd think that you fancy him or something!"
"Because I saved his life? I was the only one to keep her head, Ronald Weasley!" said Hermione hotly. "I don't like Malfoy, but I'm not going to let him die!"
"You helped him win!" continued Ron quickly. "He might have dropped the Snitch!"
"Ron…" Hermione trailed off, placing a hand to her head.
"And you rushed to him when he reached the ground," said Harry slowly. "Hermione, what is going on? Does this have anything to do with – to do with"- he couldn't bring himself to mention the kiss he'd witnessed.
"No!" Hermione snapped. "I just hoped he wasn't dead, is all. I hoped that I helped him," she said, and for effect, "I thought it would look good when I'm considered for Head Girl. I mean, to have saved a life…"
"Harry's saved loads of lives," said Ron angrily. "He didn't betray his friends doing it!"
Harry glanced at him reproachfully. "I didn't save everyone," he muttered darkly.
Ron went pale. "Sorry, mate," he said quietly.
"Forget it. Hermione, you really did it only because it looked good?" he said, peering into her eyes with his own.
"Of course," said Hermione, relieved that they seemed to take her bait. Well, Harry did.
"That doesn't change the fact that she helped Slytherin win," said Ron tightly.
"RON, NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT QUIDDITCH!" Hermione yelled shrilly.
He looked aghast, but didn't have the nerve to say anything for a few moments. "I'm leaving," he spat, stalking off the pitch, dragging his broom behind him.
Harry looked at Hermione. "If there is something, why can't you just tell us?" he asked sullenly. And with that, he followed Ron, making her feel far worse than the redhead had.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Hermione, after casting the speed charm on herself again, went up to Gryffindor Tower and found Harry's Invisibility Cloak. Cursing herself for doing it, she pulled on the quote and hurried down the Boy's Dormitory stairwell, barely making it past the Gryffindor team, all of whom looking extremely angry and disgruntled.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
When she entered the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey was in her storeroom. Malfoy lay on a hospital bed, pale and pretending to sleep.
"Draco!" she hissed.
He opened his eyes warily. "Who's there?" he whispered.
"It's me," said Hermione, taking off the Invisibility Cloak. "Look, you owe me a large amount of – something - for doing this. Ron and Harry are already angry with me and I go and steal his cloak"-
"Right," said Draco, getting up off the bed gingerly. "Thank you," he said quietly.
Hermione smirked. "Never thought I'd hear that."
He glanced at her. "Right," he repeated. "I'll give it back to you in the library."
"No, I'm coming with. I can't be found here, they'd know I've done something," said Hermione urgently.
He glanced at her. "So we're going to sneak under the cloak together?" he asked finally, raising his eyebrows.
"Yes. I've done it loads of time with Harry and Ron, it's not a big deal," said Hermione impatiently. "Come on."
He made no move. "I'm not sure I'll be quiet," he said softly.
"What are you talking about?" said Hermione, annoyed. "I didn't come up here for nothing "-
"I know," said Draco sharply. He looked extremely uncomfortable, and was clutching his stomach tightly. "I just think… the bludger irritated the cut pretty badly, that's all…"
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "How bad, exactly?" she asked quietly.
He winced. "I don't know…" he sounded as though the words were killing him. "I just don't know if I can make it to the Slytherin common room, is all."
Hermione sighed. "Right, then. We'll go to the Room of Requirement."
"The what?" he stared at her blankly.
Hermione snorted. "Never mind. Just follow me."
He swayed a little on his feet and paled. "As you wish," he muttered under his breath, but Hermione ignored him.
They made it out of the Hospital Wing barely in enough time. Outside the room, they could hear Madam Pomfrey's shrill exclamation of annoyance and surprise as she realized her patient was missing. Draco seemed inclined to stay and hear her cursing, but Hermione pulled his arm. "We have to go. She'll look here next," she hissed.
"Fine," Draco muttered, stumbling under the cloak down the hall, following Hermione as she led him into passages he'd never seen before.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Draco was very pale when they finally reached the room. We need a place where we can't be found; where he can rest until we find a cure, Hermione thought over and over.
A door appeared and Hermione dragged him through it, relieved to see everything she required – hence, the name of the room.
There was a rather large bed, an extensive collection of dark magic indexes, and a large sink in one corner, along with a stack of bandages, potions, and ointments.
Draco walked over to the sink and pulled off his Quidditch robes, which had already been stained black by the bleeding cut.
Hermione stared at him. "Merlin," she whispered, horrified.
He turned to her. "Well, it got a little worse," he muttered, the black blood standing out starkly to his pale skin.
She gaped at him. "You don't think?"
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Author's Note: I know, I promised that the detention would occur in this chapter, but I found that my muse wanted it to go in a different direction first… Ah, poor Draco. I really beat him up in these last two chapters, haven't I? And in response to a question… Harry was disappointed that Hermione wasn't being honest with him, and Ron was angry with Hermione because he hates Malfoy in general, hates losing, and hates the fact that Hermione saved Malfoy's life. He's a bit of a prat, I'm afraid. Also, I'm sorry that this is a bit of a cliffhanger. I'm planning on at least two more chapters before the weekend is over.
Many thanks to Remorseful Passion, for constantly helpful, encouraging reviews. I'm planning on reading her story, so you should to. J Thanks to Lucidity, of course, with her help on my latest baby story. Thanks to Strega Brava, for reviewing in general… Like I said before, she's AWESOME, so read her stuff… Thanks to all my other reviewers. I'm too tired to look you all up right now, I'm sorry… I appreciate your reviews SO much. 70 REVIEWS! WOO HOO!
POSTSCRIPT: UCONN WON!