Chapter 6: Choices
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Disclaimer: I disclaim!

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They arrived the next morning at St. Mungo's.

"We're here to see Draco Malfoy."

"Please hold..."

"He was moved from Spell Damage to Creature-Induced Injuries.. Room 1158, First Floor."

Ron gave Hermione a questioning look.. "Why would they move him there??"

"I don't know..."

They arrived in Draco's room and found him lying peacefully on the bed. The Healers, Hermione saw, made the room more homely. The walls were filled with posters and paintings of Quidditch. There was a miniscule snitch buzzing around the room. The windows were drawn and the sun was shining brightly outside, making the room bright and as cozy as a hospital could be.

"Good morning, Draco! Look who I brought with me! Harry and Ron!!" she gave them an urging look and they quickly got the picture and said their hellos.

"Hello, Mal -- DRAco..."

"Yes, hello to you, Draco.."

"He looks like he has more color.. don't you agree?"

"Uh..... Okay then.."

Suddenly, a Healer appeared. "Mornin', Mr.'s and Miss. I am Healer Shawn Jackson. Are you family?"

"NO WE'RE NOT FAMILY!!" Ron said, HARRY HAS JET BLACK HAIR, I HAVE FLAMING RED, AND HERMIONE, HERE, HAS MAPLE BROWN, WHAT DO YOU THINK??"

"I mean with Mr. Malfoy.."

Ears turning beet red, he said, "Ohh... HAHAHA..ha"

"I'm his girlfriend if that counts.."

"Of course it does! It's as close as it's gonna get out of all the vistors for him. Who by the way were all you.. Miss..?

"Granger, but please, call me Hermione, sir."

"Very well, Hermione will you please follow me? I need to speak with you privately." He led her out of the room and down the hall to the Healer's lounge. The walls were a seaweed green color and the tiles were more black than green. There was also an empty snackbar. In the middle of the dimly lit room, two Healers were sitting at a table apparently waiting for Healer Jack.

"Is this her, mate?" asked a handsome young man with short brown hair and greenish eyes.

"It's got to be, Nate.. Why else--"replied the other Healer, a woman in her late twenties, early thirties.

"Yes, it is. Hermione, this is Healers Samantha Weith," he gestures to the woman, "and Nathaniel Paper. They are the other Healers working on your boyfriend's case."

"BOYfriend?! RUBBISH!! This decision is for the family the make only!! You know that as well as I, Jackson!" cried the woman.

"I KNOW that, Sam but there is no time! We must act immediately!"

"What are you talking about??" asked Hermione. "Act immediately on what?"

"Hermione," replied the man called Nate Paper, "we were experimenting with some ingredients and found a potion that might help heal Mr. Malfoy. But we don't know if there are any side effects or what not. If you give us permission, we experiment the new formula on Draco and, if sucessful, will awake him and he could give us information on was happened so we could treat him. But, if not, we don't know what will happen. It could be anything from him dying a horrible death.. or... nothing at all."

"And you're making me decide this??" they nodded. "What will happen if I say no?"

Weith answered, "He is slowly deteriorating. What we don't understand is why over half of his body have shut down and stopped functioning. But, luckily, his heart and brain are doing as fine as ever. Unluckily, we don't think he will wake up, much alone walk and talk. It'd be much like an eternal sleep until one day his heart stops beating."

"We are quite puzzled with this case.Nothing like this has ever happened before." informed Jackson.

"How long do I have to decide?" asked Hermione in a small voice.

"At most, I'd say three weeks."

Hermione was close to tears. She turned away and left the room but not before saying, "I'll have an answer in three weeks then." Mione hurried back to Draco's room and found Ron with his hands on Draco's shoulders, shaking him.

"RONALD WEASLEY!!" Ron and Harry both jumped. "WHAT IN THE NAME OF MERLIN ARE YOU DOING?!!?"

He let his hands loose, ".......er.. bug?"

She ran over to the bed and pushed him away from Draco. To her surprise, his eyes were opened slightly, he had a dazed look on his face. And then he spoke two words very weakly.. "Sssoorrry, Miooonne." And his eyes shut once more.

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Sorrry about the long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long wait!! I'll make it up, I promise. What do you think? Ok? Review please!!!!