Hermione's weekly reports on her father were getting worse and worse. 'He's not doing that well dear.' 'He's not getting out of the hospital for a few more weeks.' 'He's still not awake.' Hermione had been crying more and more. The feeling of depression overwhelmed her. She couldn't see her father, who obviously wasn't doing well. She hated everything. Draco had tried to comfort her but didn't know what to say or do, really. He was left in a confusing situation; he loved this depressed girl, but didn't know how to deal with it.
Hermione ripped the letter off of Errol's leg viciously. She opened it:
Hermione,
It's Mum. Hope you are well. Daddy has finally awoken, but is being sedated with medication and is rarely awake. The heart attack has caused him a lot of difficulties. He can not talk, or move quite properly and the doctor is saying that along with a heart attack he may have suffered a stroke. We do not know when he will get out of the hospital. As for now, I am with him constantly, along with Mrs. Weasley, who is being such a dear. Now, I know this is distracting, but you must do well in school. Youcan visit when there isa break, perhaps Easter?Your father and I send our love.
Mum.
"A stroke? Oh god, I have to go home! I have to see him." She was telling herself. She looked over to Draco, sleeping on the couch in the commons room. They were studying like mad for a test coming up in potions. Hermione looked at him and felt hot tears burning in her eyes. He had done nothing but try to help and she knew she was being a bitch back to him. It's a wonder he's still stuck with me. She thought.
She went over and kissed him, then pulled out a new piece of parchment and wrote a letter to her mother. She stroked the exhausted Errol a couple of times, conjured him some water and got started.
Mum and Dad,
I know how much you don't want me to, but I must come home. I am going to arrange it with Professor Dumbledore and catch a train ride home. Mum and Dad, I love you both so much and I can not sit here and read how my own father is doing. I have to see him, school can wait. I'm sure I won't get very behind; I'll get the teachers to give me homework for when I'm gone. I miss you guys a lot. I need to come home and visit with Dad.
Lots of Love,
Hermione
She signed her name, tied it to Errol and off he went. Hermione looked once again at Draco, who was still sleeping. She got up and walked to the door, heading for Dumbledore's office. When Hermione got there, she realized she had no idea what the password was. Shit. She thought. Uh, think sweets. Think sweets. She racked her brain and came up empty.
"Can I be of assistance?" Said a familiar voice behind her.
Hermione turned around to see the old, decrepit face of her headmaster and smiled, "Actually, you can. Just the man I was looking for."
"Come inside." He mumbled the password and walked up the stairs that led to his office, once inside he sat down and gestured to Hermione to do the same. "Now, what can I be assistance of?"
"Well, Headmaster, I am sorry, but I need to go home. Just to see my father. See, he is very ill and I keep getting letters from my mother of how he is getting worse day by day—"
"Does your mother ask for you return?" Dumbledore eyed her.
"No, but that is, certainly, my choice. I am almost seventeen almost eighteen, I have the right to go home and see my ill father."
"You do, indeed, have the right. But you do not have parental permission, which will of course not affect my decision to let you go home, but I think it would be better if your mother allowed it…"
"SIR! Please, I just sent an owl home to tell my mother that I am coming. I will ask all my teachers to give me the homework I will miss, for say a week, and do it all. I will come back and return to my Head duties and that is all. But I must see my father, I need to know if he is going to be okay!"
"Miss Granger, I fully understand." He looked at Fawkes, who was chirping loudly, then back at Hermione. "Of course you can visit your father. I cannot make you stay. I will arrange for a train to arrive tomorrow, say 10 o'clock. Please be there on time Miss Granger because that will be the last train to arrive here for awhile."
"Thank you!" She jumped up and, too much of Dumbledore's surprise, hugged him. "Thank you!" She laughed and away she went.
Draco was awake by the time she got back and he looked worried. When he saw her come in he jumped up, "There you are! I thought you had gone home!"
"Sorry darling. Uh, well, you see… I went to go talk to Dumbledore"
"And you're going home? It's all good. I knew that was coming. But I just wanted you to tell me before you went."
"Draco! I just got the most wonderful idea. What do you think the school would be like for a week without two Head people?"
"Bad?" He responded.
"A little chaotic, but worth it. Will you come home with me, Draco?"
"Uh, I would love too. But I don't think Dumbledore will let me. And wouldn't he get suspicious about us?"
"Who cares?" Hermione felt happy. She would get to see her parents and spend that time with Draco. Plus, Draco would meet her parents. Or parent, seeing as her father wasn't really 'talking' at the moment.
"Hermione Granger, I would love to come home with you. Let's go talk to Dumbledore." They practically ran out of the room. Hermione wasn't certain that Dumbledore would say yes. But, in the end, he did and decided that it would be best to put up replacement Head Girl & Boy until they got back. Draco said that Harry could take over his job and that Lavender could take over Hermione's. Perfect. Hermione thought. She was in a good mood.
The next morning, after a long night of packing and making out, Hermione and Draco were ready to go. Hermione was just saying goodbye to Harry, Ron and Ginny in the Gryffindor common room and was getting Harry prepared for his Head duties. She was wearing Ron's earrings again and Ron noticed. He and Hermione were at a good stage, they were once again friends and Ron was a little sad that she would be gone for a week, especially going with Malfoy.
"Have fun with him, okay Hermione? But be careful." Ginny said and hugged her. "We're gonna miss you! Give your Dad a hug from me okay?"
"I will." She promised. "I gotta go, or I might miss the train." She grabbed her stuff and walked outside, where Draco waited.
"Took you long enough." He teased. He kissed her, "Ready?"
"Yes! Are you ready? You are going into a muggle city. Beware." She giggled. He was wearing nice muggle clothes, a blue button-up shirt, with a few buttons undone at the top and some black dress pants. "Nice outfit." She said, noticing it.
"You too." Draco responded, Hermione usually wore her muggle clothes and didn't look that different. But she had worn something a little more special, seeing her parents and all. She wore a low cut green shirt and a short black miniskirt. "I must say, you're looking good." He kissed her again and she once again giggled. "Let's go."
They got on the train and slept most of the way. When the train stopped, both Hermione and Draco felt their stomachs turn. They were nervous. Hermione mostly about Draco being there and seeing her father hooked up to machines and everything. Draco about meeting Hermione's parents when they weren't officially 'going out.' He took her hand as they pulled their suitcases behind them. She had called a taxi from a pay phone near by and saw it waiting as they were walking. Draco and Hermione got in the taxi and the driver put their stuff in the trunk. They kissed until the guy came and got in. "Where ya going?" He asked. Hermione told him her address and away the went. Silently.
Hermione's house was nice, smaller than Draco's, but very nice. It was fairly new and was a light pink colour. They walked into it and came into a small hallway, painted a dark blue, the house was all hardwood, except for they bedrooms. Hermione walked into the kitchen and went into their fridge, grabbed water and then went up to her room, dragging Draco around the whole time. No one was home, just like Hermione had figured. Hermione's room was a dark red with beige carpeting, her room was fairly big and she had a big four poster bed against one of the walls. On one of her bedside tables was her cell phone, just what she was looking for. She grabbed it and walked out, without saying anything. Draco just stood there, a little dumbfounded.
"Hermione." He called and she came back into her room.
"Yes?" She asked and looked at him.
"Come here." She walked towards him and he leaned in for a kiss. She just let herself go, again, needing this more than she realized. She led him to the bed and away she went, losing herself in the passion.
Draco knew that what he was doing was wrong, he was basically taking advantage of a very weak Hermione right now but he couldn't stop now. It just felt so right, even if it was wrong.
Her phone rang suddenly and she snapped out of it. "Hello?" She answered.
"Oh, sorry, I think I have the wrong number." And the person on the other end hung up. Hermione got off of Draco and walked away. "We gotta go." She called back and walked out of the room.
Damn. Draco thought but followed her. Time to meet the parents.
