Not That Different: Chapter 3
My Rock
Soon after Harry and Ron left from breakfast, Hermione was ready to head back to her house in order to get into her clothes for work that day. Hermione leaned in to kiss Draco, "Meet me in the leaky cauldron for lunch at noon ok?" she asked as she pulled back, he plainly nodded looking at her with his sad "puppy dog" eyes. "Oh don't give me that!" she giggled, "I'll see you before you know it. Bye Draco." "Bye Hermione," he said as she let herself out of the door and apparated to her house.
"Sorry I'm late," Hermione explained as she walked into work adjusting her name tag, "It's alright 'Mio don't worry, Frank isn't even here yet," her partner and co-head healer, Elizabeth told her. She had just been promoted to work alongside Elizabeth as head healer of the spells and jinxes section of St. Mungo's and couldn't be happier. Elizabeth was a great person to work along side of especially because she was Hermione's age and understood so much of what she was going through. "I went to him yesterday," and with those few words Elizabeth knew exactly what she was talking about. "So," Elizabeth started, "how did it go?" "Awesome!" exclaimed Hermione with a huge smile; "he still loves me!" "That's so great 'Mio!" Elizabeth hugged her, "but lets get to work, our dearest Frankie is here." Hermione laughed and followed Elizabeth to their office for their daily assignments from their boss Frank Arnold. "Hermione and Elizabeth, I have a bad situation I need you to handle," he paused a minute before continuing, "last night the ministry finally got what they needed to condemn Lucius Malfoy to the kiss. It seems that Narcissa has had a tough time with out him since he was put in Azkaban so she went to visit him in his cell, somehow he got a hold of her wand and blamed her completely for him being in Azkaban. She was hit with the Crucio curse many times and is now completely unconscious. If she wakes up sane it will be a miracle, we need you to see if you can give her the right antidotes into her blood stream while she is still unconscious and see if you can keep her from going insane. A letter was sent to Mr. Draco Malfoy this morning informing him of his mother's state, I assume you know him Hermione seeing as he was at Hogwarts with you. He will probably want to see her, keep him as calm as possible, I want Narcissa to be your primary and only patient until she wakes up is this clear to both of you?" Hermione and Elizabeth nodded grimly, "Good, now please get up there and work the miracles I know you two are capable of," and with that he turned on his heal and walked out of the room leaving Elizabeth and Hermione speechless, and for Hermione near tears.
As Hermione approached Narcissa's room she took a huge, deep breath. Elizabeth rubbed her back, "Its going to be alright 'Mio, we've done this before remember, just stay calm." Hermione nodded, walked through the door and gasped, there on the bed was Narcissa Malfoy but with about 15 different tubes coming in and out of her in various places. "Ok Liz," Hermione stated determinably, "lets do this."
After about 2 hours of hard work and constant watch the girls heard a slight rap on the door. Elizabeth went over to the door and opened it, giving whomever it was a hug and leading the person into the room. Draco Malfoy stood and watched as Hermione did her round of checks using the utmost care with his mother, it took all he had to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall at the sight of his mother like this. He simply whispered, "Hermione," who then looked up from her work saw the look of sadness in his eyes and immediately rushed over to him enveloping him in her arms. Tears fell from his eyes and he clung tighter to her, he then knew that he never wanted to be with out her in his life. She was his rock that he could cling to no matter what happened and he knew that they could get through anything because they had each other. He heard her start whispering comforting words into his ear as she then started to kiss his tears away. He reluctantly pulled away and looked at his mother again, pulled a chair to her bedside and took her hand. Hermione looked at Draco and whispered, "I'll leave you alone for a while, just hit the button on the wall over there if you need anything or if something happens with her." Draco nodded telling her with his eyes that he was very thankful that she was there for him. She silently let herself out of the room to get a coffee in her office with Liz.
After about 20 minutes of a break she decided to go check on Narcissa again. She quietly approached the open doorway and heard Draco talking to his mother. "Mom, I never got a chance to tell you this because dad hurt you before I had the chance. Mum, I'm in love, I am mum and she's so great, you'd love her, she has your sense of style mum she really does. She's beautiful, you two would get along so well, I can't imagine life with out her mom, I really can't. She walked back into my life yesterday and I am never going to let her walk out of it mum. Guess who it is? Hermione Granger mum, remember the one dad and I gave such a hard time in school? Well I fell in love with her and now she loves me too, I just can't believe how much life has changed. I can't wait until you wake up so you can meet her mum, I know you love her and think she's just as beautiful as I do. She's the best thing that ever happened to me. Please wake up soon mum, I love you so much, and I miss you too." Hermione stepped through the door; "did you mean that?"she asked "Mean what?" "What you just told you mother?" realization that she must have heard him spread over his face along with some embarrassment, "yeah I did, Hermione, I meant every single word, I love you." She gave him a slight smile, "I love you too Draco." " Hermione, I know she's unconscious, but part of me says she can hear me, I know its stupid talking to her and ever…" he was cut off by Hermione, "Draco, its not stupid, I know exactly what you mean, and it really does help, I think she can hear you too. Keep talking to her it may be the difference between her waking up sane or insane. It can only help, never ever think that talking to someone you care about is stupid." He nodded, stood up and kissed her, "What would I do with out you 'Mione?" he asked looking at her, she merely shrugged as he kissed her again, "I'd be short on kisses for one and without a best friend for two." She smiled and kissed him again as they said good-bye to Narcissa for the day as Liz came in for her night shift with her and Draco and Hermione headed for home, hand in hand.
A/N: Please Review!! Next Chapter hopefully up soon!!! No Flames please! I also want you to email your comments or suggestions to me, if you have an idea for part of the plot. I'm having some writers' block and could use the help! Thanks!