Chapter 11

Split Decision

Draco had had absolutely no intention of letting Pansy into his rooms but after Lupin's lesson he found that it might not be such a bad idea.

Pansy was always there, whether he wanted her to be or not, and even if that was terribly annoying most of the time, it was an almost comforting thought at others...almost.

So when she came knocking after dinner a battle fueled inside him. He did, obviously, let her in, as that was obvious to Hermione. But let's keep in mind that Pansy practically tackled him when he opened the door.

"Hi Drakie." she cooed.

"Pansy." Draco replied as an acknowledgment, nothing more.

She grabbed him by his school tie after tossing her robes on the floor. Pansy dragged Draco up the stairs to his room, locking the door behind them.

Pansy intentions were obvious but Draco wasn't too keen on letting her "achieve her goal".

Draco emerged an hour and a half later having failed.

Pansy, saying she "needed a moment" had stayed behind in Draco's room.

Draco picked up Pansy's robes, as they were still lying on the floor where she had shed them. He took a seat on the common room couch and grabbed a random book off the table and began reading.

After asking Draco to leave Pansy slid out of his bed and put on her school shirt, skirt and tie. She didn't have much time to waste, after all Blaise was waiting for her in the Slytherin Common Room.

She moved towards the bathroom door but paused as she heard another door open. 'Granger' she thought.

Pansy smiled. Granger was such a goody-goody, maybe it was time to take her down a few notches. Pansy opened the door to the bathroom, her wand out. Granger had her toothbrush and toothpaste in hand. Pansy muttered the first curse that came to her mind, which happened to be stupefy, the stunning spell.

Granger saw it coming but couldn't do a thing. She hit the floor with a thud, but Pansy didn't stick around. She made her way quickly into the common room.

"Where's the fire?" Draco asked stupidly.

"I have to go, Drakie. I'm sorry."

"Whatever, Parkinson. I know Zabini's waiting for you. I heard him talking to some sixth year about his plans for all night tonight. Draco sniggered at this point. "Obviously he hasn't had you before of he'd know you can't keep him busy that long. You get old fast, Parkinson."

Pansy was appalled at Draco's words, how dare he insult her---her performance in that area.

"I guess there is a first time for everything, Pansy "the Pug" Parkinson is at a loss for words."

Boy, Draco was on a roll today, maybe I can get in a few more before she runs out crying. (A/N: evil grin)

"Bastard." was Pansy's only warning before slapping him across the face and running out.

Guess not.

"Bitch." he called after her receding form as the portrait hole closed behind her.

He sighed after she had left; he'd wanted to say all that stuff for a long time now. He knew he'd get shit from Blaise about it later considering that Pansy and Blaise were now 'oh so close'.

Draco laughed at the situation as he made his way into the bathroom to wash the Pansy-ness off him. When he opened the door he was shocked at the sight he found. There was Granger, lying on the floor, unmoving. This, of course, instilled a bit of panic in Draco. She was getting her Mudbloodiness on his bathroom floor! Not to mention that as a result of her obvious stupidity, they'd think it was him who killed her. Stupid Mudblood. Hold on now. Wait, back up...killed her? She can't be dead.

Draco checked just to be sure. She was breathing, that was good. "What'd you do to yourself you stupid Mudblood?" Draco asked her, knowing full and well he wouldn't be receiving an answer.

Draco rushed back into his room and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill off his desk and scribbled a note.

Potter,

Granger in a state. Going to Pomfrey. Come. No Weasel.

-Malfoy

He gave the letter to Salazar, his owl. "Quickly." he managed before running back into the bathroom.

Had he really just written a letter to Potter? He must be going mad.

Oh well, he'd cope with that later. He had to deal with Granger-NOW!

Great. Now I have to touch her Mudblooded-ness.

He picked her up and carried her hurriedly out of the bathroom, through the common room and out the portrait hole. Luckily for both Draco and Hermione the halls were deserted, it was, after all, right before curfew. As they reached the hospital wing Draco became nervous...what was he supposed to tell them? That he found her on the floor of the bathroom?

Oh wait...that is where he found her.

Draco waited no longer and rushed into the hospital wing calling for Madam Pomfrey. He set Hermione on one of the beds as a flustered looking Madam Pomfrey came around the curtain.

"Merlin! What is it, Mr. Malfoy? Another Quidditch accident? You come in here yelling like a madman, don't you know any-"

Madam Pomfrey was cut off by the abrupt movement of Draco's hand, a finger pointing towards a person lying in the nearest bed.

"Oh! Miss Granger?" the Medi-witch looked quizzically at Draco.

"I found her in the bathroom like this." he said quickly.

"Very well, Mr. Malfoy. Let me take a look at her." she walked towards the bed and pulled the curtains closed, stepping inside.

Draco sat outside the curtain thinking what had Granger done? Maybe she overdosed on whatever the fuck makes her so goddamned smart and perky. He hadn't seen a wand so she hadn't tried to commit suicide magically (oh boy he'd had his experiences with that). She would have been in the tub if she had wanted to drown. So that meant someone did this to her. Great...now all arrows point towards him. After several minutes of "oo"s and "ah"s (much to Draco's annoyance), the Medi-witch emerged. "She'll be alright in a few days, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco just continued to stare.

"She was hit with a stunning spell. I've performed the counter-curse." Madam Pomfrey explained.

Draco just nodded dumbly. Where the hell was Potter?

"You can see her if you like, but she's in quite a fragile state. Keep that in mind." And with that she was off, tending to a sick looking first year.

Draco was hesitant to open the curtain but did so anyway. He took the chair next to Granger's bed, closing the curtain behind him. "Granger?" he said, no softness to his voice. He'd be damned if he let her see a more sensitive side of him.

"What, Malfoy?" She tried her best to sound harsh but in this state she couldn't pull it off. "Did Harry bring me here?"

"No, Granger....I did."

"Oh, ha fucking ha, Malfoy."

Malfoy's serious expression didn't change.

"Oh well, then....thanks."

"Yeah......."

"It was Pansy." she said out of the blue.

"Pardon?" he asked, slightly perplexed.

"I saw her hex me."

"That's absurd, Granger."

"Is it? I know she was cough visiting."

"I-I.....uhhh....."

"Ahh, Miss Granger." said Dumbledore voice. "I came as soon as I got word from Madam Pomfrey."

Hermione smiled weakly, she really didn't feel like talking to Dumbledore right now...he was bound to ask a million and one questions.

Draco just glared at the Medi-witch; she hadn't told him she'd sent for Dumbledore. But of course, she would send for him considering Hermione had been stunned.

Now, Draco knew, Granger would tell. She'd let Dumbledore know Pansy had been in his rooms, and the old man could draw his own conclusions with that knowledge alone.

Harry Potter had been playing wizard chess with Ron when a letter arrived. It was carried by an unfamiliar owl, which made Harry quite curious as to the sender. Ron looked at Harry quizzically as he cautiously opened the envelope.

Potter, it began. Harry read the letter thrice. Did Malfoy honestly not have time for full sentences? And why couldn't he bring Ron?

It took Harry twenty minutes of convincing to get out of the common room alone. Ron had wanted to read the letter and, of course, Harry couldn't allow that to happen.

As Harry exited the common room he wondered if maybe he should have told Ron at least where he was going. It could be some sort of stupid trick. Harry's pace quickened as he approached the Hospital Wing. He quietly pushed open the doors and looked around. A light was on in the back office and Harry could see the Hogwarts Medi-witch wandering about. His gaze then shifted to the beds, only two were occupied, one contained a Ravenclaw first year, who appeared to be in great pain, Harry noted the bottle of Skele-grow on the nightstand beside the bed and couldn't help but allow himself a smirk...he'd been there.

The other bed had it's curtains drawn and the light on the table inside showed the silhouette of someone sitting next to the ailing patient. Harry presumed that was Hermione's bed and walked around to the other side just to come face to face with the person who had recently sent him a letter.

With a nod to Draco, Dumbledore stepped inside the curtains and closed them behind him. He drew his wand and muttered an incantation. "A silencing spell." he said to Hermione. She just nodded, she'd known that. "I don't need nosy students, Miss Granger."

Hermione nodded again. What exactly did Dumbledore want? She wanted sleep for god's sake.

"What I mean is that I'm sure you don't want Mr. Malfoy hearing what you have to say."

"Oh yes...that." she smiled.

"Now, I think I'm right in assuming you didn't perform a stunning spell on yourself, either by accident or on purpose. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Well, now that we've established that, did you happen to see who did?"

Upon seeing Malfoy Harry lost it. He sprung forward, hands on the blonde's throat.

"What did you do to her?"

Hermione hesitated. "No sir. I didn't, I'm sorry."

Dumbledore gave her a questioning look but his attention was soon drawn to a disturbance beyond the curtains. Throwing them open, the spell broken, he found Harry with Malfoy against a wall, hands round his neck.

"Mr. Potter!"

But Harry didn't seem to hear.

"Petrificus Totalus."

Harry froze, dropping to the ground, unable to move as Malfoy stepped aside, apparently trying to avoid Harry at all costs.

"Poppy!" Dumbledore called.

Madam Pomfrey scurried from her office, and upon seeing the circumstances, looked shocked and cried "Oh dear! What happened?"

Dumbledore explained quickly as she escorted Draco to a bed, "just to check".

Madam Pomfrey disappeared into her office for several minutes. At this time Dumbledore turned to Hermione. "Are you quite sure you didn't see your attacker?"

This caught Draco's attention. He was suddenly quite curious.

"No, Professor. I didn't."

"Very well."

Dumbledore pondered this in silence until Madam Pomfrey returned and checked Draco. "Will he be alright, Poppy?"

"Yes, yes. Just fine. I just need a few more minutes, that's all."

"What about Miss Granger?"

"I'd say three days. It's usually more, but she's a strong girl. Lord knows she has been in this place enough. But I suppose trouble just follows Harry Potter." she looked at the boy on the floor. "But 3 days, Albus. No less. I don't care about the order, a stunning spell makes one weak."

The Order...now that's interesting. Draco thought.

"Very well."

At this Dumbledore drew his wand and muttered a spell releasing Harry who jumped up looking very angry.

"Ah, hold your tongue, Mr. Potter. For if you say I had no right to perform a binding charm then I will be forced to remind you that you had no right to attack Mr. Malfoy. Who, I might add, helped Miss Granger and didn't provoke you." Dumbledore said this with a bit of humor, possibly indicating that this was one of the rare times Draco wasn't provoking him.

"But, Professor-"

A glare from Dumbledore shut him up quickly.

"Poppy, please see to it that Miss Granger ad Mr. Malfoy get the appropriate care-"

"Well, yes. That is my job, Albus." she cut in, apparently annoyed, thinking Dumbledore had felt she needed direction.

"Yes, terribly sorry. Forgive me, but I need to deal with Mr. Potter. Goodnight Poppy, Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy."

"'Night, Professor."

Dumbledore escorted Harry back to the Gryffindor Common Room without a word.

"Sleep well, Mr. Potter. I expect you in my office before breakfast tomorrow."

Harry only nodded as he retired to his room.

After several minute of assuring Madam Pomfrey that he was fine Draco took his leave, but not before trying to talk to Granger, but he found her asleep in her bed and thought a well-rested Granger would be easier to talk to than a tired, injured, bitchy one. As Draco made his way to the Heads Tower all he could think was ' i she didn't tell /i '. And this is what Dumbledore heard as he rounded the corner after dropping off Harry. The old man allowed himself a smile and a nod as he watched a dumbfounded Draco muttered the password and enter his rooms.

Thanks to

ayamme13: I know I hit you with all those chapters at once but I already had the story up on another site and I wanted to keep them even. Sorry. It'll be on at a time from now on.

kris008: Thanks. I plan on continuing the story. I've got it planned up to 20 chapters but it doesn't end there. I cant even guess how many it'll be.