Disclaimer: All characters presented in the fic are the property of J.K. Rowling. I just like to play with them on occasion
Author's Note: Written for elementaldeity for the dmhgficexchange on livejournal.
Special Thanks: Terri, Inell, Zephyr and especially nakhashmekashefah for the wonderful feed back especially in the eleventh hour.
Prologue - The Beginning of the End
Hermione Granger poured out a serving of the potion as she eyed Draco lying in his bed across the room. She sighed, biting her lip as she wracked her brain again to find what could be the cause of his weakened state.
As she crossed back over to his bed, sitting gently beside him, running a dampened cloth across his forehead, she observed the translucence of his skin. His face had thinned over the months to the point where he looked malnourished and nearing…
No, she refused to consider that possibility. Draco was a young man. He had always kept himself up physically, playing Quidditch throughout his years at Hogwarts, and later taking a job with the Ministry. Though they worked as Unspeakables, Draco opted quite often to work on assignments alongside the Aurors, enjoying the opportunity to work outside the warded off section deep in the heart of the Ministry headquarters.
The thought that he might fall victim to some curse or malady that neither she nor Severus could cure was unthinkable. So she continued to do the only thing left in her power. She would spend her days at the Ministry, hurriedly finishing her assigned tasks, before burying herself in the bowels of their library, seeking out every text referencing fatal curses and diseases. Her nights were spent at his bedside, carefully mopping his brow with a damp cloth, gently smoothing the damp hairs that clung to his forehead.
Severus continued to brew new potions in the hope that they might find one that would at least slow the progression of whatever it was that was troubling Draco, but so far none had worked. As Hermione lifted the potion to his lips, urging him to swallow, while her other hand stroked his forehead offering him comfort, a part of her reveled in the intimacy that his weakened state afforded her.
She had watched him transform over the past year, her feelings softening for the wizard that had once been her enemy as his façade fell. "So once again I find myself at the mercy of Nurse Granger," Draco sneered ineffectively. His weakened state had taken the zeal out of his every action.
Hermione simply smiled as she looked down upon him, placing the cup that had held the potion on the nightstand next to the bed. "As I recall, it wasn't so bad last time. I only saved your life, after all," she continued, sitting back in her chair, her hand still stroking his hair.
Author's Note: Written for elementaldeity for the dmhgficexchange on livejournal.
Special Thanks: Terri, Inell, Zephyr and especially nakhashmekashefah for the wonderful feed back especially in the eleventh hour.
Prologue - The Beginning of the End
Hermione Granger poured out a serving of the potion as she eyed Draco lying in his bed across the room. She sighed, biting her lip as she wracked her brain again to find what could be the cause of his weakened state.
As she crossed back over to his bed, sitting gently beside him, running a dampened cloth across his forehead, she observed the translucence of his skin. His face had thinned over the months to the point where he looked malnourished and nearing…
No, she refused to consider that possibility. Draco was a young man. He had always kept himself up physically, playing Quidditch throughout his years at Hogwarts, and later taking a job with the Ministry. Though they worked as Unspeakables, Draco opted quite often to work on assignments alongside the Aurors, enjoying the opportunity to work outside the warded off section deep in the heart of the Ministry headquarters.
The thought that he might fall victim to some curse or malady that neither she nor Severus could cure was unthinkable. So she continued to do the only thing left in her power. She would spend her days at the Ministry, hurriedly finishing her assigned tasks, before burying herself in the bowels of their library, seeking out every text referencing fatal curses and diseases. Her nights were spent at his bedside, carefully mopping his brow with a damp cloth, gently smoothing the damp hairs that clung to his forehead.
Severus continued to brew new potions in the hope that they might find one that would at least slow the progression of whatever it was that was troubling Draco, but so far none had worked. As Hermione lifted the potion to his lips, urging him to swallow, while her other hand stroked his forehead offering him comfort, a part of her reveled in the intimacy that his weakened state afforded her.
She had watched him transform over the past year, her feelings softening for the wizard that had once been her enemy as his façade fell. "So once again I find myself at the mercy of Nurse Granger," Draco sneered ineffectively. His weakened state had taken the zeal out of his every action.
Hermione simply smiled as she looked down upon him, placing the cup that had held the potion on the nightstand next to the bed. "As I recall, it wasn't so bad last time. I only saved your life, after all," she continued, sitting back in her chair, her hand still stroking his hair.