IMPRESSIONS chapter thirty
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!
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"How is he?" Hermione asked nervously, clutching her schoolbag to her chest.
Madam Pomfrey sighed. "It's a good day. He's been pressuring me to let him leave and have meals in the Great Hall."
"Oh?"
"Yes. I might as well let him, there's nothing I can do for him anymore," said Pomfrey in a defeated tone. "Take him down after you visit, will you, dear?"
Hermione nodded. "I will," she assented, walking past the mediwitch to Draco's separate room. She bit her lip when she saw him, as usual. The gash had been bleeding terribly lately, and the result was even paler skin on Draco's part. So pale, in fact, it seemed translucent in places, and Draco's veins could be seen. "How are you?" she asked warmly, conjuring a chair to sit by his bed.
He shrugged. "Fine. I'm going to dinner downstairs?" he inquired mildly.
"Yes. I brought you a book," said Hermione eagerly, reaching inside her bag to bring out the wrapped package. "I got special permission from Dumbledore to go to Diagon Alley."
"You did?" Draco asked, accepting the book. He unwrapped it easily and laughed out loud when he saw the title. "Il Cuore e lo Spirito by Giovanni Scoccari," he read. "Do you know what this is?" he asked, smirking.
Hermione flushed. "They had a big selection… And I don't know Italian… I just remembered that you were reading that other book by the same man."
"Right. La Missione di uno Sciocco," Draco recalled. "Well, this is a mystery romance, judging from the title," he said, laughing at her horrified expression. "It translates as 'the heart and the spirit.'"
"Oh… I'm sorry," said Hermione, bright red.
"It's not a big deal. Thanks for the thought, though," he said, yawning and setting the book down on his bedside table.
"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked tentatively.
"Peachy. How've the Weasel and Scarhead been treating you?" Draco asked, raising his eyebrows.
Hermione sighed. "I can't stand them. Ron's acting like a jealous boyfriend and Harry is the loyal friend, of course."
"Don't they know I'm dying?" he asked matter-of-factly. "Weasley doesn't have much to worry about unless you've got a thing for dead guys."
Hermione glared at him. "You are not going to die, Draco Malfoy," she said tightly.
He winced. "Is it time to go to dinner?"
Hermione glanced at her watch. "Yes. I'll leave the room so you can get changed."
"You don't have to leave…" he said suggestively. "I want to get laid one more time before I die, at least…"
She wrinkled her nose at him. "You're a prick, Draco," she said lightly, well used to his jokes.
He smirked. "Thank you."
He walked out of the room in the regular school uniform a few minutes later, the only signs of his malady his hollowed cheeks and pale complexion. "Ready to go, then?" he asked, running his hands through his hair.
"Now, Mr. Malfoy, don't even think about leaving just yet," said Madam Pomfrey, bustling in the room, wand drawn. "Now, you're not to be doing any strenuous activity, just eating, and stay with Miss Granger, she knows what do to if you faint"—
"Madam Pomfrey, have I fainted once yet?" asked Draco, his eyes narrowed.
"No, but that doesn't mean you won't," said Pomfrey severely. "I expect you back in no less than an hour, understand?"
"Right, got it," Draco sighed. "Can I go?"
She pursed her lips at him for a minute before responding. "Fine. You may leave."
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"Are you going to sit at the Slytherin table?" Hermione inquired as they neared the Great Hall.
He shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
"Well, you could come sit with"—Hermione stopped abruptly as they turned a corner and found Harry and Ron coming straight towards them.
Ron paled. "Get away from her, Malfoy," he spat, gritting his teeth.
"Ron, I can walk with whomever I please"—
"What are you going to do if I don't, Weasel?" Draco taunted, his eyes glittering with malice.
"Draco, Ron, stop this"—Hermione begged.
"No. It's time we get rid of him forever. Maybe you'll be more inclined to kiss me, rather than him," said Ron maliciously.
Draco's eyes narrowed. "She will not be kissing you, Weasley."
"Oh? And you have a claim over her? All she likes about you, Malfoy, is your money!" Ron shouted, drawing his wand.
"Ron, stop it!" Hermione cried. She turned to Harry, who was watching the encounter silently. "Harry, do something," she implored, eyes shining with tears.
Harry ignored her.
"Can't stand to see your precious ferret in the way of harm, Hermione?" asked Ron nastily.
"Ron, stop it!" said Hermione shrilly. "You're both being childish!"
"Well, maybe you should have thought of this before you snogged the bastard, Hermione!" Ron bellowed. He turned to Malfoy, who was standing as though completely disinterested, with hands in his pockets. "Draco Malfoy, I challenge you to a wizard's duel!"
Hermione paled and grabbed Draco's arm, hissing in his ear: "Draco, you can't, your stomach, if he hits you, you could get really injured, it's against the rules"—
Draco shrugged her off, his expression unfathomable. "I accept. Though I didn't know Weasels were capable of magic," he spat, smirking.
"Ron, Draco, you can't do this!" Hermione cried, tears flowing freely.
"I'm not letting him have you, Hermione," Ron roared. "He's not good enough!"
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked, aghast.
"Shut up! Stop lying, Hermione," Ron said, his voice hard. "Just step away. Malfoy, if I win, you will never talk to Hermione again."
"RONALD WEASLEY, YOU CANNOT DO THAT!" Hermione shrieked.
"Accepted," said Draco coolly.
Hermione pulled him aside. "What are you doing?" she whispered, her eyes filled with tears.
"I'm going to die anyway, so it doesn't matter," said Draco matter-of-factly. "Might as well give him something to fight for." He pulled away from her. "When I win, you will allow Hermione to make her own decisions," he called out to his red haired opponent.
Ron looked mildly disconcerted. "Accepted," he agreed.
"You can't do this!" Hermione said desperately.
Ron glared at her. "We can do whatever we please, Hermione," he said coldly, marching to the center of the hallway. Draco followed suit.
Ron inclined his head sharply; Draco did so mockingly, which made Ron go quite pink.
"Do you really think you can win, Weasley?" Draco drawled softly.
"Do you?" Ron countered.
"I know I can win."
"How are you so sure?" Ron spat.
Draco smirked. "Because I already know I'm going to die."
Ron stared at Draco as the blond turned and walked down the hallway. He turned his back and did the same, furrowing his eyebrows.
Harry pulled Hermione over to the side of the hall. "Come on," he muttered. "On the count of three, then," said Harry. "One."
Draco drew his wand languidly; Ron had his out already, his knuckles were white and his hand trembled. "Let's get the show on the road, Weasel," he hissed.
"Two."
Ron bit his lip. "You'll never get her, Malfoy. You're nothing to her," he replied with equal malice.
"Is that so?" asked Draco, raising an eyebrow elegantly.
"THREE!"
Draco flicked his wand and whispered, "Brucia Cordus," whipping his wand in a slashing movement. A red-hot rope burst from the tip of his wand and sped towards Ron, who seemed frozen.
"RON!" Harry shouted, eyes wide. He'd never heard of that curse before.
Ron jumped, startled, and sidestepped the rope as it flew past him. "GLACIA!"
The rope frozen in mid-air and fell to the ground, shattering into thousands of pieces.
"Well done, Weasley. But that was a mild curse… Let's try something more painful, shall we?" Draco hissed, drawing his wand to his face and twisting it into a strange pattern. A beam of brilliant white light burst from his wand.
"PROTECTUS!" Ron bellowed, and a green, transparent gas burst erupted from his wand and wrapped around his body. The white beam hit it and shattered.
"Again, well played…" said Draco, smirking. He raised his wand. "LEVIAS CEVEM!"
Ron was lifted into the air by invisible hands pulling on his hair and he yelled in pain, whipping his wand desperately and shouting, "ESTOMAS MALUM!" He dropped to the ground abruptly as Draco's spell lifted.
Draco himself had collapsed to the ground, clutching his stomach and breathing raggedly. "Can't handle pain, can you, Malfoy?" Ron said hoarsely.
Hermione made to run to the action but Harry grabbed her arm. "Don't interrupt," he whispered.
Draco raised his wand and whispered, "Suffocatus," just as black blood dribbled down his lip.
Ron drew a strangled breath before falling to his knees. He dropped his wand and grabbed his throat, his lips turning blue as Draco's curse sped the process of suffocation.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Harry bellowed, running to Ron.
"Dueling, Potter," Malfoy drawled, standing up with some effort. "Back away."
"What is that spell?" Harry shouted.
Draco flicked his wand and the curse lifted; Ron drew a shuddering breath and snatched his wand, screaming, "SEVERO FIBRUS!"
Draco's shirt ripped and Ron performed a slashing movement with his wand. A bright red cut streaked across Draco's chest, right above the bandage. The blond Slytherin fell back, the air forced from his lungs.
"DRACO!" Hermione screamed. Immediately, black blood began to seep through the bandage and stain his white shirt and the floor around him. Fear struck her heart and she rushed to him.
His face was slack and his chest rose and fell rapidly. "MOVE, HERMIONE!" Ron shouted, standing and striding towards the prostrate Slytherin purposefully.
"No, Ron, are you crazy?" Harry shouted, pale. "You didn't do that, something wrong with him…"
"I don't care, the prick has made my life miserable for five years, it's time he gets what he deserves," said Ron, breathing hard and fast.
"Ron, calm down!" Harry said, grabbing the taller boy's arms and forcibly pulling him back.
"Draco, stay awake okay? Stay awake!" Hermione begged.
Draco blinked slowly, his eyes unfocused. "Getting ready to go now…" he whispered, taking in a breath. He forced out a harsh laugh. "Hoped to finish the duel first…"
"Draco, stop it!" Hermione shouted at him.
He winced. "Calm down."
"No, it's all my fault, I could have saved you," Hermione cried, the tears cascading down her cheeks.
"Don't blame you…" he whispered.
"STOP!" Hermione suddenly shouted, pale. She reached deep into her schoolbag and removed a worn, crinkled piece of parchment. Taking out her wand with trembling fingers, she read the words on the parchment silently, her lips moving.
Ron and Harry observed the exchange in disbelief. "Hermione… What are you doing?" Harry managed finally.
Hermione's head snapped towards Ron. "Go get Madam Pomfrey."
Ron's jaw dropped. "What?"
"GET MADAM POMFREY!" she shrieked. "DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND, HE'S DYING!"
Ron and Harry paled and tore off for the Great Hall, leaving just Hermione and Draco on the black, bloodstained floor.
"What are you doing?" he said weakly.
"You would have been fine, but that stupid duel…" Hermione muttered, practicing wand movements without saying the words.
"What?"
"Shh. Calm down," said Hermione soothingly.
He drew a ragged breath and choked; blood dripped down his chin. "Not long now…" he whispered distantly.
"Draco?" Hermione asked, eyes wide. He suddenly went quite limp and she felt ice clutch her heart. "Vitalum,' she whispered, flicking her wand at his chest.
She could have cried in relief when green letters and numbers materialized over his head, showing her his vital signs. Still alive.
Her hands began to tremble. "Merlin…" she whispered as she reread the correct words over and over again. Could she do this? She had to; he would die if she didn't try it. She poised her wand and began the incantation.
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"May I see him?" Hermione asked, unable to still her trembling hands.
Madam Pomfrey glanced at her. "Yes, yes, go in," she said irritably. "Don't be long. He needs his rest."
Hermione nodded and entered the room, her heart beating furiously.
He was still pale, but not in the sickly way he had been for the past few weeks. A sigh of relief swept through her and she rushed to his bed. "Draco…" she whispered, tears springing to her eyes.
He opened his eyes and stared at her. "It doesn't hurt…" he breathed, astonishment apparent on his face.
Hermione drew a shuddering breath. "Draco, I"—
"You did the spell?" he whispered.
She nodded mutely.
"Then…" he seemed to be having difficulty putting two and two together. Surprising both of them, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her down to meet his lips.
She sighed into the kiss and slid to her knees. He broke the kiss and whispered in her ear, "Me too."
FIN
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Author's Note: Thank you all for sticking with me… I appreciate all my reviews and the encouragement. This story would not have been completed without my awesome friends MONICA and ELLE. Thanks, so much.
For the last time,
Ar-Zimraphel