Author's Notes: Hello! I thought to put this chapter up this weekend but ran out of time. I saw Emma Watson yesterday lighting Oxford street lights in London. It was really cool!

Here's the chapter, enjoy!

..~**~..

Chapter 17

Hermione was beyond anxious. She had spent the past few days worrying over Abigail and her health problems. The professors had not been very informative about her recovery and Malfoy had also been very evasive on the subject. Every day, straight after classes, she went to the infirmary to see Abigail, hoping to finally be let in, but to no avail. A week later, she noticed Malfoy walking out of the double doors. He had been the only one to see Abigail since the incident, but barely spent five minutes each day with her.

"Hey," she greeted, approaching him, "So, how is she?"

"She'll be okay," Malfoy said casually. "She's desperate to get out, but Pomfrey won't let her. She's even tried to use magic to escape."

Hermione smiled at the news. "That somehow doesn't surprise me."

"You can go in now," he said sharply and turned to leave.

Hermione looked at him in disbelief. What was wrong with Malfoy? Why couldn't he act like a normal teenager once in a while? Why was he suddenly being all arrogant again with her? Hadn't they resolved that problem last time? Hadn't he genuinely smiled last time they had met?

"Malfoy, wait," she said, catching up with him. "What's wrong with you? Why are you ignoring me these past few days?"

He shrugged and made to leave, but she held him back.

"Talk to me!" she said exasperated.

She watched as he looked around, making sure no one else was in the corridor before he spoke.

"There's nothing to say, Granger," he began in a whisper. "You helped me realise certain things and that's the end of it."

Hermione was shocked at his words. "That's the end of it?" she repeated in disbelief. "But what about the rest?"

He looked down at her face in confusion.

"What about us?" she continued, looking deep into his eyes and noticing his struggle with his emotions.

"There never was an 'us'."

Although her face didn't show it, his words had cut her deeply. But at the same time, she felt so confused around Malfoy. Why was she even bothering with him after what he had done to her? How could she still have feelings for him when she couldn't even forgive him?

Sensing no reaction from her, Draco smirked.

"Whatever happened, it's over Granger. You will never forgive me for what I did to you," he told her, as if reading her mind.

"But I still need you," she cried out faintly to him.

He looked at her amused and her heart sunk as she realised how lightly he took her feelings. "What could a Gryffindor possibly want from a Slytherin?"

Hermione remained silent. She didn't know what to say, she was so confused that no answer came to her lips.

"We shouldn't be seen together from now on."

Having made his point, Draco turned on his heel, walked down the corridor and finally disappeared out of sight.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione went back to the infirmary and entered through the double doors. She decided that she would deal with Malfoy later. She would deal with him once she had cleared the mess inside her head. Madame Pomfrey came out of her office and greeted Hermione warmly, answering every question she had about Abigail's health. It was a surprise after Madame Pomfrey's long insistence that she was not allowed to see Abigail, but Hermione assumed that Draco must have had something to do with it.

"Yes, my dear, Miss Serpent is quite fine as long as she continues to eat every meal," Madame Pomfrey reassured her. "Oh and I also have a question for you. I've been meaning to ask Malfoy about it, but as you're here – do you have any knowledge of Abigail's parents' whereabouts? I think they should be warned about her state and it is usually my job to contact the family, however every owl I have sent has been unable to deliver my letters."

Hermione froze as she heard Pomfrey's question. She smiled faintly, thinking desperately of an answer.

"No, I know nothing," she finally managed to articulate.

Madame Pomfrey smiled politely and finally showed her to Abigail's bed, but the Slytherin girl scowled as soon as she saw Hermione.

"What are you doing here?" she complained.

Hermione's eyes looked her over and she was pleased to see that Abigail looked fairly well and seemed to have gained a little weight.

"Nice to see you too, Abby," Hermione said coolly. "I'd thought you'd be glad to see someone else apart from Malfoy."

Abigail actually managed to crack a smile. "Yeah well, he's been making sure that I finish all my meals. He's even threatened me a few times to force food down my throat."

Hermione frowned at her words and sat uneasily on the nearby chair. She opened her mouth several times to talk about Abigail's parents, but quickly shut it, pondering about her choice of words.

A long silence followed until she finally blurted out. "Madame Pomfrey asked me where your parents were so she can tell them about your situation."

Abigail's face fell into a stony expression. "Well I'd think you're the best person to ask about the whereabouts of my mother," she answered icily.

"And your father?" Hermione dared to ask.

"Malfoy mansion," she announced darkly.

Hermione's eyes opened wide at the revelation. "What?"

Abigail sighed as she readjusted her pillows. "Yeah, my father had the good idea of spending some time with the beloved Lucius Malfoy. But don't worry, I intend on going to see him soon."

Hermione looked back at her, confused. How could she feel so relaxed about this? But she decided not to question her more.

"Oh, Harry will come by soon," she suddenly remembered to tell Abigail.

Again a smile broke on Abby's face. "Oh, good - and what about Ginny?"

Hermione opened her mouth to answer, but stopped short. She actually hadn't seen Ginny for a few days. Surely, the red head had been spending extra time with her latest boyfriend. But before she could say so, an owl swooped into the infirmary room and landed on Abigail's bed, a letter tied to its leg.

Abigail looked at it expectantly. "Well it's about time Father wrote to me," she muttered to herself.

She gave some bread crust to the bird, tore the letter open and began to read it. Hermione stroked the elegant bird, and then looked up sharply as she heard Abigail gasp.

"Oh Merlin!" she said faintly.

Hermione watched as Abigail's face paled and suddenly broke into a smile and tears. She squealed in joy, scaring the owl away and then hugged Hermione with all her might.

"Hermione! They transferred her!" she exclaimed with difficulty, her voice tight with emotion. "They transferred my mother to St Mungo's hospital. He did it! That arrogant prat actually did it!"

Hermione instantly knew who she was talking about as she took the letter out of Abby's hand and read for herself the official statement from St Mungo's hospital announcing the arrival of their new patient, Selena Serpent. She looked back at the letter, stunned, as Abigail cried some more. She felt so happy for her.

"Hermione!" the Slytherin suddenly blurted out. "Please, please, please ask McGonagall or even Snape for me if I can go visit her this week. You know as Head Girl, I'm sure they'll agree if you ask them. Oh please!"

Hermione immediately agreed to see McGonagall after her Transfiguration class. After all, it was her family that was responsible for Selena's Serpent bad treatment, and now, she owed it to Abigail to help.

..~**~..

Several hours later, Hermione left the infirmary and headed towards McGonagall's office. She had left just as Harry had arrived to see Abigail, leaving the pair alone together. It was a good thing Malfoy had kept Blaise from visiting Abigail, as he would surely have caused trouble otherwise, and this way Harry and Abigail could talk in peace.

Reaching the office, Hermione knocked and walked in. It was a very clean and organised room and several students were sitting silently at desks by the door, probably in detention. McGonagall smiled as she saw her favourite student and summoned her in.

"What can I do for you, Miss Granger?" she asked brightly.

"It's about Abigail Serpent, Professor," Hermione began and noticed McGonagall's smile drop as she spoke. "She received a letter not long ago about her mother being transferred to St Mungo's and-"

"I know," the professor cut her off. "Professor Dumbledore warned me by post this morning. I expect Miss Serpent is eager to see her mother."

By post? Isn't he in school?

But Hermione didn't mention it. "Yes Professor. If you could only let her go a day, maybe this weekend then she would be immensely grateful," she continued to explain.

McGonagall sat back down at her desk and waved her off. "Yes, yes I know. The Headmaster has already agreed."

Hermione smiled brightly at the news.

"On one condition." Her smile faltered a little. McGonagall leaned forward a little, speaking in an undertone.

"Abigail is to go this weekend accompanied by yourself and it must be kept secret. No one must know of this special favour, do you understand?" she asked sternly.

Hermione nodded hurriedly and thanked McGonagall many times.

"Professor, one more thing," she dared to ask. "Why would the Headmaster tell you by post, surely he would have told you in person."

McGonagall smiled faintly at the question. "Professor Dumbledore has been absent for more than ten days now in case you hadn't noticed, but has been informing me of his affairs by post."

Hermione thought about what her teacher had said. Dumbledore was absent? But that couldn't be right... She hadn't seen him for a while at meals, but he didn't eat with the students nowadays anyway.

"But Professor McGonagall," she spoke up again in a whisper. "Abigail came out of the Headmaster's office before she fell into a coma and Harry, himself, was told by the Professor to get her to the infirmary."

McGonagall's face fell as she listened to Hermione. She stood up quickly and brought Hermione aside, away from the students scratching away gloomily at the desks.

"Are you sure of this, Miss Granger?" she asked with a worried expression. "Professor Dumbledore has been away to deal with matters concerning the Order. He couldn't have come back to Hogwarts without notifying me or another member of the staff."

Hermione nodded at her professor's words. "I'm sure," she whispered.

The Headmistress's face suddenly became an anxious one. "I have to warn Albus. Please do not tell a soul about this, as the Headmaster was not officially away due to the circumstances. That will be all, Miss Granger."

Hermione left her office even more bewildered as all sorts of questions shot through her head. Who did Harry and Abigail see that day if it wasn't Dumbledore?

..~**~..

What do you think? Don't worry about Draco and Hermione, next chapter's events will bring them very closely together, hint, hint!

Thank you for reviewing!