Damn Girl: Chapter Eight

Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Summary: See previous chapters.

Chapter Eight: As it changes

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Watching Potter seemed to become second-nature to me as the weeks began to progress. Things weren't getting any better with Hermione, and she was still not cured, but we all had faith.

So everyday would go the same. Wake up, meet Potter and Weasley at the Great Hall. Class, meet Potter again. Lunch, Potter. Class, Potter. Dinner, Potter. Bed. And so on. It was like a routine.

People were beginning to give me weird looks, not only was I dating the Golden Girl, but now I was hanging out with The-Boy-Who-Lived and Ron Weasley. I guess it was a little too hard for people to understand, but I didn't care. I was determined to help Hermione, no matter what it took.

Sitting with Potter and Weasley in the library had to be the least interesting highlight of my day. Potter was pretty smart, but I'm not too sure about Weasley.

I was still struggling to avoid Pansy and Christina, they were everywhere. So the library was no exception. They would hide behind bookshelves and sit at the table next to you, just to make me edgy.

Potter and Weasley seemed to have caught onto their following, and seemed to make a connection between the bludger and Christina. I now knew Hermione was right, I just didn't know how I could prove it to anyone but Potter and Weasley.

We couldn't exactly go around telling people someone was trying to kill Potter, everyone already knows that. They would think us crazy and we would be right where Hermione is.

I was due for another visit to see Hermione, but I didn't know whether or not I could handle seeing her. Madam Pomfrey seemed to detect this the last time we discussed visits. She said she could wait a little longer before we visited; I agreed.

I had considered discussing it with Potter and Weasley, but I had decided not to. I mean, wouldn't it be a little weird?

So now, Potter, Weasley and I were sitting in the library, and again; I was on edge.

The Gruesome Twosome – being Pansy and Christina – were at the next table, pretending to be reading, but I could see Pansy looking over the top of her text book at me. It was driving me crazy!

"I'm gunna get some air," I told Potter, my eyes looking up at the Twosome.

Potter knew exactly what I was looking at, and what I meant. It meant I was getting the hell out of there and to watch his back.

Potter nodded, and Weasley made a grunt of farewell as I left the room with my book bag.

Walking past the Hospital Wing, I suddenly hear my name mentioned.

"I don't understand, Albus. Draco should be allowed to see her. Hermione needs him," came the voice of Pomfrey.

"I know, Poppy. But we can't keep letting him out of school, people are getting suspicious. What if people knew the truth?"

"Albus!"

"I know, they love each other. But we're putting Draco in danger as it is."

"Albus!"

"My hands are tied, Poppy," the Headmaster suddenly appeared in the door way. I jumped back, caught out. "Oh, Draco. I'm sorry…"

"What do you mean I can't see Hermione?" I suddenly burst out. Sure I hadn't intended on seeing her at the moment, but that didn't mean that I wanted to be completely cut off from her.

"Draco, I'm sorry, but…"

"But what!" I burst out angrily. "I don't care about danger, I want to see Hermione!"

"Draco, calm down, please," Pomfrey urged, coming forward.

"Calm down!" I was fuming now. This was wrong, how could Hermione cope without me? How?

"Draco, there's something we haven't told you," Pomfrey said, putting a comforting arm around my shoulder and leading me into the Hospital Wing.

Dumbledore shut the door and turned to look me straight in the eye.

I was sitting at the end of my hospital bed, my medical chart in my hands. I was attempting to decipher what the symbols meant. I had been listening, pretending to be sleeping, to the healers as they had discussed my progress and they began to make notes. From what they had said I had figured out the last entry. Now all I had to do was decipher the rest from what I already knew. And it wasn't easy.

"Hermione?" a voice asked from the door. My head snapped up and I took in the form of an extremely skinny woman, who clutched her handbag to her side.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Hermione Granger, incurable ward B?"

I nodded.

She stepped further into the room, looking at the cheap attempt to make my bed area home-ish. She pulled up a chair and sat down next to my bed.

I looked at her, an eyebrow raised.

"Hello, Hermione. How are you?"

"Who the hell are you?" I asked, moving to the correct end of my bed and as far away from this creepy woman.

She had long curly, red hair, an extremely tight business-looking suit on and a lot of make up on. She reminded me an awful lot of Rita Skeeter.

"My name is Lauren Pembroke; I'm your new therapist. I've been…"

"Wait, what?" I burst out. "New therapist. What happened to Catherine?"

Catherine is my therapist; I would have sessions with her twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, but we hadn't had sessions the last week. I figured she was off sick, not being replaced!

"Catherine has been asked to go on extended leave."

"You fired her?"

"No, she was just asked to take a little vacation for a while. She's been a little stressed."

"Stressed! I… You… What?"

"Hermione you're getting a little worked up, you need to calm down. Please."

A smile broke out over my face. "Stressed…? ABBIE!"

Abbie dashed into the room. "Hermione, what's wrong?"

"Who is this woman?"

"She's your new therapist, honey."

"No, I want Cathy."

"Cathy's not here, only Lauren."

"I do not care!" I raged. "I'm getting a little stressed, I think I need to be alone."

Abbie looked at Lauren, her face filled with her regretful face. "Lauren, I'm sorry, but…"

"Yes, yes. I know the rule with patients," she got up to leave. "I'll see you on Monday, Hermione." She gave me a smile.

I fake a smile back then scowled at Abbie. "I won't see anyone but Cathy."

I know I might be sounding a little brat-ish, but I didn't want to have to explain the last three months and everything to someone new. She'd made progress with Cathy. She wasn't going to start that all over again, she couldn't handle it.

"Hermione, don't be like this," Abbie pleaded.

"I'm sorry, Abbie, but I won't."

Abbie sighed, I'm sorry too, Hermione. I'll have to add this incident to your chart."

My eyes widened and I clutched the chart to my chest. "You can't! I… I'm sorry. I'll try harder to be nice. Please, Abbie…"

Abbie frowned and snatched the chart from my grasp with ease, a sign of how weak the potions were making me.

"Hermione, this is one time too many. It's for the best."

And she scribbled in the chart and left the room, leaving me alone with the memory of my actions to dwell on.

What would Draco say if he knew I was getting worse? But I'm not crazy, right?

Well, I'll leave it there.

Until next chapter.