Ch.3 Doctor Hermoine

Draco's PoV

"Draco! Draco! Wake up!"

Ugh, what is that horrible squealing? Oh no… it's not…

My eyes opened slowly to a very hideous female's face looming over my face.

"AUUGH!"

"Draco, honey, calm down!" Pansy Parkinson, my supposed "girlfriend," whined. "You poor thing…" Her hand swept away the hair over my eyes, but I slapped it like scorning a little child. She looked hurt as she cradled her pudgy hand.

"That hurt…" she whimpered. Then her voice suddenly dropped the honey-soaked tone she always used towards me. "What the hell was that for?" How frightening… she looks seriously revolting when she's livid.

"N-nothing… I'm still mad about the… ahh, me getting attacked thing," I invented right away. I didn't want to get hurt again, especially if the beatings came from Parkinson, because that girl can seriously injure you if you're careless of what you say.

Her expression softened a bit, and then changed back to her sad, sniveling act. "Awww…" she cooed. I inwardly shuddered.

"Man, that Potter and his friends sure beat you up bad," a voice said. I sat up and saw Blaise Zabini sneering at me. "You're bruised stupendously and you're bleeding from the side..."

Head still dizzy, I looked around.

"Wher're Crabbe an--"
"Out getting your stuff, dear," Parkinson said. I inwardly shuddered again. Why in the world is she my girlfriend? My God, I must've not been thinking when I hooked up with her… or did she hook up with me? Or did someone hook both of us up? Aww, shit… I forgot… and I don't intend to remember. I was about to close my eyes when the compartment door slid open.

"Got your stuff, Malfoy," Goyle grunted. He walked in, carrying my trunk, followed by Crabbe who was holding my owl cage and some pastries. What a pig…

"So then, who's the new Head Girl?" Zabini said, mildly interested. Like you'd care…

"It's that Mudblood bitch, Granger!" Parkinson whined. She reached out to hold my hand but then I pretended to sneeze in it. Her face twitched in disgust and she pulled her hand away. Hah.

"Her?" Zabini said, his face full of resentment.

"I know! Who cares if she's the best bloody witch in our year, Mudbloods shouldn't be allowed to become one of the Head people!"

"Too bad Dumbledore goes too soft on them," Zabini said, and cursed.

All the sudden, my thoughts automatically played the scene with Granger cowering against the wall, her cheeks shining with tears. I remember myself feeling some sort of sympathy towards the girl… Am I going to become like that fool of a wizard Dumbledore and live as a Muggle-lover?

No, a voice inside said, returning to argue with myself, that will never happen. Don't you dare go soft on Mudbloods; remember your reputation.

Right, I thought back. Besides, it was only just one time where I let my guard down.

Yes, but you'll be spending the whole year with that damn Mudblood girl. She could use her pitiful state as an advantage to exploit you, possibly, it said dangerously.

Don't be silly! I thought angrily. That's a stupid thought. She won't get the best of me, dammit! I swear, I will never love a Mudblood!

And with that, the anger and discomfort inside ebbed away and was replaced with self-satisfaction.

"So how're you gonna deal with this year, Malfoy?" Crabbe grunted and stuffed his face with a Cauldron Cake.

I frowned. "I don't know. She and her damn friends can curse me to oblivion if I'm not careful… Actually, this job with Granger is pretty risky."

"Aww, is Drakey-Wakey scared of a wittle Mudblood?" Zabini in a mock-baby voice, and the compartment laughed.

"Hell no!" I roared and shot out of my seat towards Zabini, but there was this piercing pain in my side and I cringed. Looking down at my shirt, I noticed a dark crimson stain on the side that horribly looked like blood. Parkinson got up and ushered me back to my seat, and I didn't reject her help. That arsehole Zabini smirked malevolently. I'd rain curses on him if he weren't so big and menacing.

"Ahhh," I moaned, laying down across two seats. "I think my ribs are broken…" Parkinson looked at me, worriment crossing her face.

"Potter, Weasley and Granger did this to you, right?" she said with a slight tone of anger. "Zabini! Bring Granger here."

Reluctantly, Zabini got up and obeyed her orders. As he slammed the compartment door shut, the four of us left in the carriage waited. Crabbe and Goyle looked relaxed, just pigging out and reading their comic books, and all though Parkinson was still flustering over the state I was in, I'd bet the Weasleys all the money my family has that she didn't have a sinking feeling in her stomach like I did, because I would be facing the Mudblood once again.

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Hermoine's PoV

"Are you sure you guys are fine?" I asked, somewhat timidly. They grunted (like I was supposed to decipher that as a yes or no) and glared at each other.

"I'm sick and tired of him," Harry muttered. Ron nodded in a jerky way and looked out the window. We must be near Hogwarts, because the scenery outside dimmed to a dark, moody hue of black. As I thought these words, the lights in the compartment and the corridors flickered on and buzzed, purging the darkness with its rays of light.

"You know, you shouldn't have harassed him so," I whispered.

I seemed to have crossed a line, because then Ron jerked his head towards me and snarled, "He deserved every moment of his beating." And with that, he looked back and stared out the window, now with a cross look.

I wrung my hands anxiously. Are we going to punished for this? No… no, of course not, people get beaten up before and at school, and hardly anyone gets penalized, with the exception of the teachers catching their misbehavior. But how would a Head Boy and Head Girl be reprimanded? I suppose our badges will be taken away, and I will not let that happen to me, as I have deserved this reward for my six successful years at Hogwarts. I made a solemn promise to myself to not get involved with any trouble, just for the sake of my status as Head Girl.

The tense silence made me slightly uneasy. Harry and Ron were still fuming over Malfoy. I can understand their fury, because putting up with Malfoy for so many years can be just too much to bear.

Harry finally broke the silence. "Well, we should change now…"

The two boys slowly got up to their trunks, and I followed suit, but then I just remembered with a sick feeling that my trunk was still in the Head compartment. I sighed exasperatedly.

"What?" Harry said, slightly cross. I backed up fearfully. His expression slowly changed to regret.

"I'm sorry, Hermoine, it's just that Malfoy, you know…?"

Ron, who was pulling down his robe, which was raised off the floor by about two inches, said, "I'm sorry, too, Hermoine. It's just that, well, he just makes us so damn angry…" He clenched his fists, but then quickly let go. "Sorry," he muttered. "I won't let him get to me." Harry nodded in agreement.

"Er, okay," I said. I was glad that they weren't that angry anymore. I turned around towards the door. "My robe's in the Head compartment; I'll just go and get it." My hand barely stretched out towards the door when it opened from the outside.

"Huh?" I said as a tall black boy stepped inside.

"Hello, Mudblood," Blaise Zabini said, leering. "Let's go. Miss Pansy Parkinson, ah, would like to see you at the moment." He did a mock-bow and stepped out, slamming the door shut in front of me before I could step my foot out through the door. I shook my head and rushed outside to follow the Slytherin.

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Zabini opened a compartment door and pushed me through. He walked in after me and pulled the door shut.

"Mudblood, you and your pathetic friends hurt my Draco! Now fix him!" a voice shrieked. I quickly looked around to find Pansy Parkinson staring angrily at me. Malfoy's head was on her lap, but he looked like he regretted where he was. He tried pushing himself up and off her, but she quickly shoved him down. The fight continued until he jadedly gave up. A smirked slipped on my face.

"Parkinson, calm down," Zabini shushed. I quickly moved towards Parkinson and Malfoy, because Zabini shot a glaring look at me that read, "You heard the girl. Fix him."

"So, ah, what seems the be the problem?" I said. All eyes were on me. This felt like a hospital scene, where I was the doctor and Malfoy was the sore patient. I really, really don't want to be here, I thought regretfully.

"Malfoy claims his ribs are broken, after such abuse your friends delivered to him," Zabini said, looming over my shoulder. I gave off a frightened squeal, and he chuckled softly in my ear.

"M-move off, I need space," I said, and surprisingly, he obeyed. I watched him sit himself down from across the compartment.

"I, um…" I gulped. This is just so unbearably nerve-wracking. "M-Malfoy" --he suddenly looked at me-- "I need you to… er, t-take off your… shirt…" My heart beat wildly.

Parkinson seemed outraged to my request. "No way is he going to play stripper for you, Mudblood!"

I grimaced. "Please refrain from using that name towards me." Parkinson was about to start again but I quickly cut her off. "Look, Parkinson, do you want me to help Malfoy or not?"

She whined. "Isn't there another way?" After looking at the stony face I gave her, she shut up and lifted Malfoy off of her lap.

"Sit up," I ordered, and he reluctantly obeyed, but with scowls. Then, hesitantly, he peeled off his shirt.

I gasped. His right side was bruised and beaten up badly. Oh, God, why, Harry and Ron? I thought gravely. Parkinson gave off a small sob.

My hand reached out to feel the bruised area, but he quickly slapped my hand away.

"What do you think you're doing?" He shouted.

"Look, I know you don't want any of my 'germs', but I need to see if anything's broken!"

He frowned for such a long time that I thought he was going to refuse, but then he sighed and grumbled an 'okay.'

For the second time, my hand reached out to feel around on the damaged part of his side. Malfoy winced in pain and cursed me. Then I felt around on his ribs. This went around for a few minutes until Parkinson shouted, "Okay, I think you've touched him quite enough!"

I glowered at her. "Well, his ribs aren't broken; I suppose Harry and Ron barely missed his rib cage, but otherwise I can help him." I pulled out my wand and pointed it towards his right side. "Episkey." Malfoy sucked air through his teeth while his side was mended. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Parkinson looking awestruck. I smirked inwardly, satisfied.

I awaited an expression of gratitude from my patient, but he just hastily pulled his shirt over his chest. He put it on inside out and backwards, but he didn't seem to care; he just wanted me out of here as quickly as possible.

"Right," I said, a little teed off for a neglected show of thanks. Avoiding everyone's gaze, especially Malfoy's, I hurriedly made for the exit. I rushed towards my own compartment, but then I remembered again that my trunk was in the Head compartment. Cursing, I wheeled around and ran off for my trunk.

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"So what was that all about?" Ron finally asked thickly through a mouth full of Yorkshire pudding as he watched Malfoy being babied by Parkinson. Wow, does that girl love Malfoy…

Since everyone was boarding off the Hogwarts Express barely after I pinned the Head Girl badge onto my robe, I didn't get a chance to speak to Harry or Ron. And since I had to assist the younger students into Hogwarts and stop Malfoy from jinxing them, I didn't get to see my friends at all until the feast.

"I had to play doctor for Malfoy," I grumbled. Suddenly, Ron sputtered and flecks of pudding were sprayed everywhere. I screamed in disgust; he muttered a sorry and pulled out his wand.

"Scourgify," he said, and the pudding on my robes disappeared. I looked at my plate; my ham was spotted with pudding. I pushed it away, having lost my appetite.

"Right, so you played doctor for Malfoy?"

I stared at him. "Well, he was bruised up because of you two..." I shot a look at Harry, who dropped his gaze and bit into his treacle tart, his eyes fixed on his food. "You shouldn't resort to violence, you know."

"Oh, yeah, and if we don't, he won't," Harry said, suddenly looking at me.

"Well, maybe he can change… who knows?" I mumbled. But even I doubted that notion.

"Malfoy? Change?" Harry said, looking at Ron. They both laughed. "Hermoine, since when have you seen Malfoy show an act of kindness, especially towards us? That idea is just so… um…" He stopped and looked lost in thought.

"Preposterous?" I pitched in, smiling.

All of a sudden, the dishes holding the food were wiped clean. Ron moaned sadly. His hand was reached out to where the pumpkin pie used to be. We all looked expectantly at the staff table, and Dumbledore rose with elegance. We were all staring at the greatest wizard of all time… but he made the mistake of assigning the Head duties with Draco Malfoy…

Beaming at his students, he opened his mouth to recite the start-of-term notices.

"So, as all your stomachs are happy and full," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling, "I would like to start of with some notices.

"Younger students must be advised that the forest on the grounds is strictly forbidden…"

I tuned in and out of his speech. I heard this many times; I can easily rehearse it, almost word from word. I watched Malfoy straighten his Head Boy badge with a conceited look. He doesn't deserve it, I thought. Dumbledore must have an excuse…

MY thoughts were disturbed by a roaring applause, especially coming from Harry and Ron. I scanned down the table and saw Ginny, Luna and Neville clapping and whistling. There they are! Where were they on the train?

"Hermoine, why aren't you clapping?" Ron said, looking slightly bemused.

"Huh?"

"Look at the staff table! Look who's the new Defense-Against-the-Dark-Arts teacher!" Harry shouted. I barely heard him over the tumultuous applause.

Examining the staff table, I looked for a new face…. Oh my! My face split into a grin.

"Alright, Tonks!" I screamed and clapped. Tonks, whose hair was still spiky and bubble gum pink, looked in our direction and winked.

Once the applause had subsided (the members who knew the Order were the last to finish), Dumbledore cleared his throat and said, "And now off you go to your beds to rest up for a wonderful day tomorrow! And while you do so, may I please see the Head Boy and Head Girl?"

Harry and Ron looked at me, almost apologetically.

"Well, I guess we'll see you later then, huh?" Harry said. "We'll meet you up in the common room."

I blushed a little. "Oh, well, the thing is… they have Head Boy and Head Girl dormitories, and so… I won't be able to hang out with you guys that much…" Hot tears poured out of my eyes.

"Oh…" Harry said and looked and Ron. "Alright, well, we'll see you tomorrow, then." And the two left, shaking their heads.

I didn't think that I was going to see a school year where I was separated from Harry and Ron… I'll still see them during classes and feasts, but it's going to be hard to visit them when I have my Head Girl duties to attend to… A small part of me wanted to rip the badge off my robe and run after my friends, but Dumbledore was waiting for me and Malfoy… I clenched my teeth as I walked towards Dumbledore, wondering how I was going to cope with this year without Harry and Ron.

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(a/n) Yes, so chapter three is finished, folks... and regarding to that comment from a reviewer, yes, I admit that the trio and Malfoy did get a little too violent... okay very violent... umm... yeah. But they're tired of each other... And I just thought they would naturally act like that. (winces) Sick, though. Yep so (stretches) on to chapter four! Please review, my dear readers! K ! M !

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