Love
Chapter Four [Hwhy?]
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Draco shook Hermione's hand.
"Oh, that's romantic."
"You're an invalid."
"Invalids have lips." Draco smiled.
"So they do."
TBC
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"Hey, listen!" Harry said, lifting his head off the table. Ginny and Ron perked their ears.
"That's strange, I don't hear any more yelling…"
"I know, it's worrying me." Ron looked at the door, concerned.
"I mean, what if one of them has strangled the other? That would be no good. Or what if they deafened each other? Or what if Draco smothered Hermione? Or what if Hermione shoved Draco out of a window? Or what if…" Ginny was urging herself to the brink of suicide.
"Stop speculating. Maybe they argued themselves to sleep. That's probably it. It's getting late. We'll just check to make sure," Harry said reasonably. The three crept to the door and opened it a crack, sticking their heads through. As they watched, Draco and Hermione leaned forward and pecked each other lightly on the lips, sealing their deal. They smiled at each other until Ron spoiled the romantic moment by loudly saying:
"Oh, is that all? If you're actually getting back together, you could have a decent snog at least. I mean, when is the last time either of you could've got any action… like," He began counting on his fingers, but Ginny interrupted him.
"Yay! You're back together! Yay!"
She grabbed Harry as the best candidate to jump up and down with (as Ron had gone back to his counting). Harry turned a nice shade of tomato and jumped half-heartedly with her.
"You know, you guys can come in. You look like a bunch of checker pieces with your heads stuck through the door. Red, black, red…" Hermione smiled as they rushed in.
"Actually, we're not back together. That was just a random act of hormones," Draco said pleasantly.
"Freaking…" Ginny stomped her foot in an agitated manner. Ron nodded, smiling as his suppressed suspicions of the two were confirmed. Then he sighed wearily as he realized the implications.
"Draco's just being prattish. We are back together," Hermione reassured them.
"Oh good. I'm too emotionally spent to jump," Ginny said, going so suddenly from standing to lying on the floor that Ron thought she had fainted until he saw that her eyes were open.
"Oh my God, Ginny's dead!" He exclaimed.
"I'm not dead dumb-dumb, I'm just lying down because I'm tired." Ginny rolled her eyes and grabbed a nearby Weasley jumper (conveniently hidden under a chair, where- Ginny checked the letter on the front- Bill was hoping his Mother would never look), then stuffed it under her head and curled up, promptly going to sleep.
"Wow," Draco said, truly astonished. He had known the Weasleys were a bit short on money, but he hadn't thought they slept on the floor.
"We must really have tired her out," Ron said as he nudged his little sister with his toe and then turned to the rest of the group, satisfied she was dead to the world.
"So, what do you guys do in winter?" Draco asked, with interest.
"Pardon?" Ron looked confused.
"Well, isn't the floor cold? Or do you have blankets sometimes?"
"You smarmy ferret-" Ron lunged for Draco's throat, but luckily Draco hopped out of his way and the Avenging Weasley was only able to knock over a chair, which was always a helpful thing to do.
"Ron, I think Draco was serious. You must understand how ignorant he is and be patient with him," Hermione explained, smiling patronizingly at Draco, who struck a protective pose.
"Just because if I don't know if lower-class wizards slept on the floor or not does NOT make me ignorant, Hermione Richardson."
Ron looked slightly murderous at being classed as lower-class, so Harry quickly intervened.
"Anyway, let's not waste time with this while we have other more important things to discuss. Like Hermione. Draco, Ron, shall we commence in the study?" The two he addressed nodded their agreement to his proposal and began to follow him out of the room.
"Excuse me? Am I not to be part of this conversation?" Hermione asked scathingly.
"Well Hermione, you couldn't have expected that we would let you… you see, you're very sick, and weak, and we want you to rest and get better."
"I'm not getting any better, Harry Potter, I'm only getting worse, and my mind is perfectly awake and alert. So I'd thank you kindly if you would show me the consideration of allowing me to participate in a conversation concerned mainly with ME." After this speech was successfully delivered, she sat upright on the couch, swung her legs to the floor and stood up, taking a rather firm step in the direction of the others before she collapsed unconscious on the floor. Harry and Ron scrambled to get her back onto the couch, and Draco rolled his eyes fondly.
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"Yamin… Master, please do not do this… you will regret it…"
"I regret nothing, lying whore." Yamin drew his short blade and polished it on the sleeve of his robe.
"Please, I have done nothing to warrant such a severe reprimand…"
"Navrona, shut your traitorous mouth."
"But Master… Master…" She cringed into the shadows of the dungeon as he strode towards her. She knelt on the floor, her feet and hands chained to the stone wall behind her.
"Navi, do you know, the dungeon is my favorite part of Abhinatha?"
"Master…" Her usually husky and alluring voice was a hoarse whisper. He crouched beside her, smiling as his teeth glinted in the semi-darkness.
"When you told that man of my whereabouts, did you know who he was?"
"No! No! I thought of him only as a drunken fool! I was tricked! It was not my fault!" Yamin edged closer and Navrona's eyes grew large with fear and apprehension.
"So it was only your stupidity, not a traitorous act." A tear streaked down her dirty cheek- Navrona had pride, and she did not like admitting to stupidity.
"Yes Master…"
"Would you have your life spared?" There was a click as he magically released her from the chains. For a moment, one brilliant moment that would be emblazoned on her memory forever, Navrona thought…
"Yes… oh please, oh please Master…"
He grabbed her neck and yanked her roughly to him. She was shaking with fear as she realized what he was going to do. Knocking her so her back was to him, he grabbed her braid roughly.
"No! Please!"
And then it was done.
Her head felt light and dizzy with the loss of her long, thick and heavy hair, which now lay in a braided heap next to her. She sobbed, clutching it to her desperately. There was no greater shame.
"You bastard!" She cried, flinging her shorn hair at him. He caught it easily and tossed it to the floor.
"You can't do this to me!" She screamed as he yanked her to her feet and dragged her up the stairs with a vice like grip on her arm.
"Yamin- you cannot, you would not… any fate but this." She was gasping between her sobs, trying desperately to tear herself away from him. He stopped abruptly as they entered the light filled courtyard after the long ascent from the dungeon, causing her to bang into him.
"You choose Navi. Death, or this?"
"No… please…" Her voice was soft now, between the harsh breathing borne of exertion and fear both.
"Choose!" His voice was like thunder.
"Not death! Not death!" She cried, tears streaming down her face as she realized what she had chosen. His soft smile showed his pleasure at her choice and he paused to relish his victory for a moment before he resumed his quick pace through the courtyard, still dragging Navrona behind him. Her sobbing was hysterical at this point- she had realized that he would not relent in his decision of punishment. They were nearing the door. She dug her heels into the ground, she pulled with all her might, and yet she could still not free herself of him.
Then suddenly, she did. She sprawled across cobblestones, crying out as they dug into her soft flesh. She forgot her pain as she tried desperately to scramble away, only vaguely noting the faces of the servants as they looked out the windows, most scared witless, some taking perverse pleasure in her downfall… Aakav smiled down tauntingly. She felt Yamin grip her wrists again but instead of pulling her to her feet, he simply dragged her toward the door. She struggled only for a moment, not feeling the pain of the sharp stones beneath her, ripping at her clothing and skin, before she slowly slipped from consciousness.
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A face swam into Hermione's vision as she slowly, dazedly opened her eyes. Grey eyes, blonde hair… Draco.
"I'm not a stubborn wench who deserves what I got." She murmured drowsily. He calmly continued sponging her forehead with a cold cloth, a slight smile on his face.
"Of course you are."
"Of course I am," Hermione acquiesced, gathering her strength enough to grab his neck and pull him down on top of her like a huge teddy bear. "Life sucks"
He climbed onto the couch next to her and gathered her into his arms tightly.
"Yep."
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Ron stomped his foot and rolled his eyes. "Honestly Harry, all people do around here is sleep." He said, frustrated, glaring at the slumbering forms of Draco, Hermione and little Ginny on the floor.
"Harry?"
He spun around. Harry was asleep with his head on the table, snoring softly.
"Argh!"
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Minerva was engrossed in her book. It was about whatchamacallits. You know the ones. Goblin Rebellions. Binns had left it to her in his will. And she was really, truly grateful to him, because she had been meaning to read up on this particular subject for a very long time. She really had.
"I'm not bored," She said aloud. She was alone in the infirmary, being the one who had sustained the most serious injuries. Poppy was not letting her out until she was completely healed. That was sure to be a while, since she had a good few bandages on and they were all soaked with blood. Minerva had sacrificed the last vial of Wound Closure Potion to Flitwick, seeing as he was smaller and looked more helpless. She tsk-ed under her breath. "Damn me and my morals." She went back to reading.
"This is a really great book," She repeated it under her breath like a mantra as her head began to hurt. Who-gert the Who had invoked the 52nd Rebellion of 18- what?
"Oh for the love of Merlin!" She cried in frustration, flinging the book across the room. Something Minerva McGonagall had never done in all of her superior 42 years, I may firmly assure you.
She took a calming sip of her water and looked out the window, which was boring since it showed nothing but the beautiful Hogwarts grounds anyway, and then scanned the room for something- anything- or interest. Nothing, nothing… ah wait, there. That was interesting, that was…
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF DUMBLEDORE'S BEARD DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING IN THIS INFIRMARY?!" She shrieked.
"Dumbledore's beard has a name? I never would've guessed. I'm here to drop off some medicine for Poppy," Severus said calmly, smiling quasi-pleasantly from where he sat, across the room. Minerva sat up.
"Here," She commanded, and Snape rolled his eyes but obeyed.
"What kind of medicine would that be?" She asked through grit teeth.
"Oh, surely nothing that would be of interest to you, Min-"
"Is it Wound Closure Potion?"
"No, bu-"
"What does it cure? Headaches? Body aches? TMJ? A sore throat? A bad stomach? A sore throat? Fever? Too-"
"Minerva! It's Dreamless Sleep Potion!" Snape said exasperatedly.
"That will do just fine, thank you," she said, snatching he bottle from him and uncorking it. He grabbed it back before the rim touched her lips.
"If I give that to you Poppy will murder me!" Minerva glared at him. "You have TMJ?"
"Yesssssssssssssssss."
"Oh. I didn't know that. Is it very bad?"
"Noooooooooo. But sssstill painful."
"How long have you had it."
"My entire liffffffffffeeeeeeee."
"I invented the cure for that fifteen years ago, you know."
"Reeeeeeeeaaalllyyyy."
"You can stop the menacing hissing now Minerva, I refuse to give you the potion."
"You're mean, Severus Snape."
"Am not."
"Of course you are. How fast can you brew up a batch of that TMJ cure?"
"Gee, I dunno. Maybe 24 hours. But really, I'm too mean to make it for you." Snape sneered before sauntering out of the infirmary, depositing the potion tauntingly on a shelf he knew she couldn't reach. Not that she could get out of bed anyway.
"Evil!" She yelled half-heartedly after him. She could almost hear his smirk. Could he hear her scowl?
Dumbledore smiled in that annoyingly knowledgeable way of his.
"Ah, young love." He said, blue eyes twinkling.
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"Ok, now connect this wire and- I'm done!" Ron gave himself a congratulatory pat on the back as he looked down the contraption he had just finished making. He flicked a switch and the little red light came on. He held it up to his mouth, took a deep breath, and yelled,
"WAKE UPPPPPPPPPPPPP!"
He smiled as his efforts were rewarded by four shrieks and a large bang, then plodded down the stairs, discarding his invention in a closet on the way. Heh heh heh.
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"Stephen, your private Quidditch coach is here, darling!" Narcissa called as she pranced around the kitchen making eggnog. Lucius had liked the first batch so much he had insisted on having another. Stephen ran through the kitchen like lightening, but Narcissa was fast enough to grab him by the back of the shirt as he passed her.
"And please don't terrorize this one?" She smiled, trying to look stern, which she was not very good at.
"Yes Cissa." Stephen nodded obediently, still smiling mischievously, and then pecked her on the cheek before continuing out the door. Narcissa watched him fondly for a moment before she spun back to the tray of eggnog, added a green and silver Christmas napkin, and carried it up to Lucius' office. She knocked quickly on the large imposing door which she had always found sort of cute.
"Come in." She grinned as she felt her stomach flutter slightly with nervousness. She adjusted her knee-length green skirt which swirled around her in a 50's style and tugged on the sleeve of her white blouse. Missing something…Aha! Narcissa thought as she pulled her wand out waved it around before opening the door slowly. She poked her head in.
"Luscious darling?" Her secret nickname for her husband. She still giggled slightly every time she said it, despite the many years she had done. She wiggled in through the door, which was to heavy for her to open past a certain point, before Lucius could do it for her. It slammed behind her. She watched as Lucius' lips curved into his slow smile.
"My dear Amicula, you surprise me so often." Lucius loved speaking in Latin- Amicula was his endearment for her, it meant Little Mistress. He occasionally used the French- Petite Maîtresse. He skimmed over her outfit, which was topped off with an endearing green-and-silver Santa hat. She lay the tray on the desk before him.
"See, I brought you more eggnog," She said eagerly.
"Thank-you darling." Lucius smiled gratefully and took a sip. He fought valiantly to hide his grimace. Oh dear- Narcissa had forgotten the sugar… again. He lay it down with a strained look.
"Oh look, you forgot the garnishings!" He said brightly, pointing his wand at the tray. Instantly little holly garnishes appeared on the two glasses. He and Narcissa clinked glasses lightly.
"To Christmas." Narcissa said brightly, as they both took sips.
"Mmm, delicious! Thank-you for this wonderful eggnog, Amicula sweet." Lucius said. Thank God that spell worked! Narcissa leaned forward for a Christmas kiss.
Giggling against her husband's lips, she plucked off her Santa hat and plopped it on his head. "Merry Christmas, Luscious."
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Sigh. So Who-bert the Something travelled across the something Ranges to meet with Who-vis the King of Wherever, and they made a deal which spurred the Goblin Rebellion of 19- some-year-or-other.
Minerva closed the book and rubbed the hinge of her jaw. I hate TMJ, and I hate Severus Snape! She thought resolutely, closing her eyes. Her body was aching not only from her wounds, but from inaction. Damn that insufferable Pomfrey! And that evil, evil-
"Minerva?" Her eyes flew open and looked straight into the black ones of Severus, who was leaning over her, his face mere inches from hers.
"Get AWAY!" She cried, startled. She clutched at her racing heart. Those damned black eyes always unnerved her. Snape jumped backwards, then smiled sheepishly. Have I startled him out of his sneer? Minerva thought wryly.
"Sorry. I was just trying to see if you were awake." He said by way of explanation.
"Why?" Her Scottish accent made her pronounce why 'hwhy', which up until now Severus had found abhorrent. But currently…"Sorry, I forgot you hate the way I say why," She added snidely.
"Actually, it's very endearing," Snape said, then flinched as two crimson spots appeared on his high, normally pale, cheekbones.
Nobody had ever, ever, ever, in the entirety of her life, called anything Minerva McGonagall did or said endearing. Her one single suitor, who she had when she was 18, had never complimented her. All he wanted to do was make out at the movies. Minerva had always been a pretty girl- she still was- but she was intimidating, and too busy to think about boys and men.
"Hwhy… Th-thank-you, Se-Severus…" She stuttered, her entire face engulfed in flames. They both smiled tentatively. There was an awkward silence as they both struggled to stop smiling, revert to their usual selves, and their comforting and constant disgust with each other. Unfortunately, this was impossible in such a short time. The best they could promise themselves was to work on it as soon as they were alone. For now, they would just…
"I ah… I came, you see, to help you. To get in your bed…"
"Excuse me?"
Snape turned redder than anybody had every seen him.
"I mean, not like that! P-Pomfrey sent me to get in your bed…"
"She WHAT?"
"No! No not like that! I have to get in your bed so you can get off…"
"SEVERUS!"
"GetoffthebedandmovetotheonewithmassagenodulesandIcanhavethisonebecauseIhaveatoothacheandthisisthebedPoppyusesforpatientswhoneedworkdoneonthemandyoudon't!" He finished hurriedly, cringing in fear from the look on Minerva's face.
"What did you say?"
He repeated what he said at a painstakingly slow pace.
"Oh right," Minerva said, nodding brusquely.
"Sorry," They both said at the same time.
"Really sorry." Snape added, staring at the floor, which was incredibly interesting.
"Ok. Well, I'll just move then," Minerva said, standing up and walking towards the other bed. She had taken approximately 3 baby shuffles when her knees gave out. Unluckily for him, Snape caught her.
"Unhand me, Snape!" Minerva said indignantly from her position. Near the floor.
"But Minerva!"
"Snape! I do NOT need YOUR help."
Severus scowled and let go of her arms. She fell to the floor with a satisfying crash. She glared at him for only a moment before she turned and crawled the rest of the way to the bed, which was next to the old one, approximately 4 feet away. Severus glowered at her from his own bed, which he sat sideways on, drumming his fingers aggravatingly on the headboard.
She was struggling to get into the elevated hospital bed. She couldn't quite pull herself up. Still, she made a valiant effort before she gave up and sat sullenly on the floor. Which was very interesting.
"Will you stop your incessant drumming, Severus?" She asked sharply, still not looking up. The drumming continued.
Minerva sighed loudly.
"Will you help me then?" Severus made a face, got off his bed, picked her up, and placed her on the bed. "I would've been fine on the floor." She muttered, half to herself.
"Sure. You're welcome," Snape said, slamming a vial of dark purple liquid down onto her bedside table. It was labeled, in clear, Snape-ish printing, TMJ Cure for Minerva
"Hwhy Severus! How kind of you!" Minerva said, shocked out of her hostility.
"The way you say 'hwhy' is abhorrent, Professor McGonagall."
TBC
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AN: I was planning to make this longer but I figured it was long enough as it was. Two chappies in one day! Ok. I'm ready for the praise now, guys. I loved that chapter so much! The part with Yamin and Navrona was one of the most enjoyable things I've ever written, and the parts with Sev and Min were a laugh to concoct. Who would ever picture the two in such situations but me? Am starting work on next chapter immediately.
God, am having giant heat wave here. Am so hot and humid! Blech! Who ever heard of a freakin heat wave in Newfoundland, for the love of Merlin! Hoooooooooottttttttttt. *pants*
Thanks to Reviewers:
Icy Stormz- I missed you! Shoooppppppping…. Ahh. Therapy that's free… well, sort of.
Shadia A.K.A. (snow_queen)- Yay! I love when people tell me specific things about what they like about my stories! Am so happy you like my hot Draco!
PoPs- The way I wrote in the end, without naming who said everything, was purposeful. Since there are only two people in the scene, it just goes back and forth. Draco, Hermione, Draco, Hermione. The poem at the end of Love is Pain was not a poem, it was a song, a favorite of mine actually. It's called 'Letting Go' by Sozzi. I think I mentioned that a few times in the author's notes, but ah well. Love ya.
Hollyh19- Thank-you. I love hamsters. *strokes Voldielocks* Mwahahahahahaha! *evil laughter reverberates and hamster squeaks*
EvenstarPrincess- Thank-you. It's hot down here.
Aviria Faerytiger- I just broke up with my boyfriend and my sole crush lives a good 4 hour flight away from me. *sticks tongue out*
Dracolover- Thank-you dahling.
Give Me Stitchez- Did I update fast enough for y'all? Heh heh heh.
AN: Guys, this is so funny. I went downstairs to get a glass of water, and there was like seven cats sitting on the couch! I'm home alone, and we're having a heat wave, so I had left the downstairs door open (stupid, I know, especially since I live in the middle of the 'hood, if St. John's HAS a 'hood… but it's ho-ot! And it's not really the hood, just the starving artist part of town.), and some of the neighbourhood cats came in! There are about 15 on my street alone, 12 of which are owned by my cat-crazy next door neighbour. I had to carry each one out individually, because they know me and wouldn't budge. Chrissycat was so heavy that I had to shove her out, since I couldn't lift her. And then there were two kittens who I had to chase through the whole house before I threw them out the (downstairs) window to their mother, Elmira. Eep!