Hermione could hear the headmaster, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't open her eyes. It was almost as if they were glued shut. Her entire body felt as if it were stuck to itself. She attempted to move a finger, but her attempt failed.
"What do you think it is, Albus?" McGonagall's voice was full of concern.
She was aware of movement all around her and estimated that at least five people were in the room.
There was a deep sigh that could only belong to Dumbledore.
"It would seem Minerva, that she has fallen into a depression so deep, that it has overwhelmed her body..."
Hermione could detect a small "oh my goodness" that sounded very much like Madame Pomfrey. She began making a list mentally of all the people around her. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Pomfrey...
"Is there anything we can do? There must be some way to cure her..."
"Unfortunately, depression is something that not even we here in the wizarding world have mastered. There are temporary things that can be done, but they ultimately only make things worse. No, I'm afraid that this is something Ms. Granger has to overcome on her own. Let's just hope that she is as strong as we all hope and that she'll be able to pull herself from the terrifying thresholds that have encased her at this time."
Hermione's brain was whirling. She was doing this to herself? What about what had happened only a short while ago. It had to still be night right? Malfoy must have run and gotten everyone when she'd fainted because he was scared. That had to be it. He had to be the same evil git that he'd been for the past six years...
"Poppy?" Dumbledore's voice had that knowing air about it.
What does he know that I don't?
"Sir?" Madame Pomfrey's voice sounded sad and lost, almost as if she too were undergoing a serious depression.
"I trust you will help Mr. Malfoy look after Ms. Granger?"
"Me?" The disgust in Malfoy's voice practically dripped from his mouth. "Why should I have to look after her? I didn't do this to her, and I have my own things that need to be tended to."
"Ah, yes Mr. Malfoy, indeed you do. But you see, being as you are head boy and you live in the same vicinity as the head girl, I trust you can spare a moment's time looking after Ms. Granger, seeing to her needs."
"And what could she possibly need that I could give her? She's like a vegetable!"
"Comfort, Mr. Malfoy. As all people need, she needs comfort."
He was outraged. Why should he have to look after a vegetable! She could do absolutely fine by herself. He didn't have time to babysit a know-it-all vegetated mudblood. Sure, she had tried to make amends, but that didn't mean that by requesting tolerence that he had to look after her. Comfort. Fie on comfort. He'd never truly had comfort, only material items. Why should she get anything different? Perhaps she'd be delighted with a very large pillow...
Hermione was troubled. She inhaled deeply and tried to open her mouth but only managed to let out an angry moan.
"It would seem that Mr. Malfoy isn't the only one outraged by that request, sir." McGonagall's voice sounded very close to Hermione this time, as if she were leaning over her. Amusement danced on her every word.
"Yes well, it is completely out of my hands." Though she couldn't see him, she knew that Dumbledore had a clever glint in his eye as he said this, and the slight plith noise she heard was him clasping his hands together.
What shall I do about classes? Oh no! Hermione attempted to move once more, willing her brain to work for her just once, like she really wanted it to.
"Now, now, Ms. Granger, don't distress yourself anymore." Dumbledore seemed telepathic at times. "Never you mind about your classes, Mr. Malfoy will be sure to read over notes to you every night and you may make up everything in an examination once you have... joined us all again."
Hermione's lips curled into a smirk.
"Albus, I do believe that's a smirk playing on her face." McGonagall spoke in an awed voice.
"Of course, who wouldn't find comfort in knowing that they would be able to catch up in all of their classes without actually having to go to them."
At that, Malfoy turned and fumed out of the room. Never in his life had he thought he'd have to put up with such things as this. He stalked across the common room and into his own room, picked up his satchel and headed off for his potions class. He'd be late, but he'd rather be in the comforts of Snape's room than in this newly found hell.
He didn't have to say a word for the news to spread like wild fire. It was an hour before lunch when the golden trio (minus one of course) and a few other Gryffindorks had crossed his path, determined to push the blame onto him. He'd shot them down, desiring very much to give Potty another scar.
It was like he was cursed. The year had just started off badly. From the train to now every event that Hermione seemed to have happen to her he had just about been in. Except for the Peeves encounter. How he wished he'd have been there when she'd been smacked in the noggin with a vase though, he'd have delighted in that.
"Mr. Malfoy..." Snape's voice drawled from behind him in the Great Hall.
He hunched his shoulders in defeat, awaiting the sharp blow that he knew was going to ooze from his mouth.
"Shouldn't you be checking on Ms. Granger?"
The Slytherin table had quieted upon Snape's arrival at the table, and after he'd delivered his enquirey, the table burst into fits of laughter and sneering. He was a joke, a huge joke, and it was all Granger's fault. She'd pay.. oh yes, she'd pay.
He excused himself from the table and walked as slowly as he possibly could. He was determined to delay himself from getting to the common room until night. However, it seemed as if everything were working against him as Potty and his friend Weasel decided to tag along behind him.
"Feeling sorry for what you've done yet, Malfoy?" Ron hated the blond that lurked before him.
"Feeling sorry? Feeling sorry? Don't confuse me with your family, Weasel."
Ron's temper flared, he made to lunge at Draco, but was stopped by Harry almost immediately.
"Sneer all you like, Ferret. At least my father isn't in Azkaban."
Draco flinched slightly. My father... they always associate me with my father...
"Laugh all you like Weasel, but even with my father in Azkaban for the past two years, my family still has more money than your family will ever have, even after your father retires from the ministry. Face it. You're nothing, you're family is noth-"
Harry had shoved Draco, sending him to the floor in a sprawl. He pinned him there and held his wand to the back of Draco's head, his face distorted in pure anger and hatred.
"Money isn't everything Malfoy. Like it or not, you're the scum of the earth. We know that you have something to do with what's going on with Hermione an-"
Draco had positioned his hand underneath himself and he pushed up with all of his might, causing Harry to fly off his back and onto his own back. His wand rolled on the floor.
Draco pulled out his own wand and pointed it at Harry.
"I told you that none of this is my fault. Believe what you will, I don't have to explain myself to you, but don't you ever take it upon yourself to call me the scum of the earth. You're a mistake, Potter. The only reason why you're so great is all due to a mistake. Don't you ever forget that."
Harry glared at Draco and stood up.
"If I meet Voldemort again this year and you're on his side, Malfoy, I will not hesitate to kill you."
Ron, who had picked up Harry's wand when it rolled, handed the wand back to it's owner. Harry tucked his wand into his robes, swiveled on his left foot and stormed off in the opposite direction, Ron following close behind.
Draco rolled his shoulders, then dusted himself off. He turned and headed a little faster and pointedly towards the head tower.
End of Chapter Seven and Comments- - -
A/N: I'm not J. K. Rowling. I don't own any of the characters, if I did, I'd have twenty computers.
Please, please don't hate me. I had a golf field trip last Friday, was busy all weekend long with school work and just yesterday was my eighteenth birthday. I realize that this chapter is a bit short, but I hope it at least makes you guys a bit happy. I shall have another chapter up Friday night.
In other news, an interesting turn of events, no? Hope I haven't made anyone angry with yet another big event and that neverending questioning that hangs in your head. I'd be angry if I were you though. Yep, sure would. I'd probably throw an apple at me or something. Malfoy doesn't seem to be softening up, but appearances aren't always what they seem are they? Hope you guys also catch the humor I tried to throw in. I'll write a one shot challenge fic for the person who catches my humor and points it out first.
As for my reviews, you guys make me a squealing girl. You have no idea how happy it makes me to open my e-mail and see all of the reviews sitting in it. I love you guys for being so supportive and I love that you like what I'm writing.
Well, so long until Friday night!