Disclaimer: Sigh, I don't own Harry Potter….
525,600 Minutes: In Truths That He Learned, or in Times That He Cried-
-Chapter Twenty-Four
Hermione could tell. She could tell, that Harry and Ron didn't get along with Malfoy, and visa versa. That's the way it always had been and always will be. After discovering that Hermione and Malfoy were indeed a couple Harry and Ron would sometimes spend time with the two, but that was rare. And when it happened, the tension was thick, and sometimes unbearable. But they tolerated each other, and for that Hermione was thankful. For she knew that they were doing it on behalf of her.
If Hermione was not with Malfoy, she was with Harry and Ron. And it was very often that she found herself going back and forth between her two friends and her boyfriend that the four had agreed on a meeting day, where they would all meet, spend time together, for Hermione. And only for Hermione.
Hermione was the bridge between Harry and Ron and Malfoy, and if the bridge were to falter so would go the connection.
January quickly passed, and February was the dawning of a new month, a new day, new adventures, and new surprises.
Hermione sat lazily on the hearth rug in the kitchens, on a cold Sunday night in earlier February. She sat as close to Draco as humanly possible, her head resting on his shoulders, while his arm wrapped around her waist, protecting her from the cold.The two sat, staring into the fire, letting the steady breathing of the other fill them.
Hermione couldn't believe it was already February. Only a few more months and her Hogwarts life would be far behind her, with an foggy future ahead of her. Over the past few weeks, Hermione had been wondering what to do with her life, she had come across many ideas. Teaching, working at different departments of the Ministry, but none of them seemed to stick, none gave her the feeling that she would truly be doing something worth while. Save for one.
Ever since her father had passed Hermione began to look at the profession of Healing. Helping those in St. Mungo's with a dark present, to a brighter future. She could help those in need, and she knew that she would get something back. The feeling of helping someone life improve. And maybe, just maybe, she would be able to save someone like her father.
"What do want to do after Hogwarts?" Hermione broke the comfortable silence, voicing her thoughts.
Draco shrugged. "I dunno. I suppose I'll have to think of something soon."
"Oh you are a bright one, aren't you?" retorted Hermione, smirking as she tilted her head to look at Malfoy's face.
"Yes, I do believe I am." he said in mock pride. They both laughed. "What about you. Is there anything you want to do?"
Hermione paused for a moment. She hadn't voiced her thoughts about becoming a Healer to anyone. "Well, yes. There is one thing." she broke off.
"And that would be?" he said, sitting up more, and turning her body towards him so that they were now sitting cross-legged, across from each other.
"Well, ever since, you know." she slightly pointed her hands at Draco, and he nodded, knowing full and well what she was talking about. "Ever since then, Healing has really appealed to me. I figure I can give something so no one has to experience what I lost." she paused and saw Malfoy smirking, a warm and gentle smirk that could have easily been mistaken for a smile. A thoughtful look appeared on Hermione's face.
"Sounds perfect for you."
"You really think so?"
Draco acted as if he were indifferent about the subject by looking towards the ceiling, and shrugging "I suppose so." but he couldn't help the smirk that filled his face.
"So, tomorrow's a Hogsmeade trip."
"Yes, it is." Hermione said to Malfoy as the two walked hand in hand on their patrol.
"And it's Valentine's Day."
"Oh my, isn't my boyfriend the smartest." she said with a laugh.
Malfoy smirked at her. "Ever the sarcastic one aren't you? Then I guess I won't say what I was going to, if all I'm going to get is a sarcastic answer." he said with mock drama.
Hermione rolled her eyes and lightly punched him. "What was it that you were going to say?"
"Will you go with me?"
"Of course, but you're asking me, because?" Hermione asked, slightly taken aback that her boyfriend was asking her to spend the day with him on Valentine's Day.
"Just making it formal."
"And when are you ever formal?" she asked playfully.
"Oh always." he said feigning seriousness. "And besides, I wanted to make sure you weren't spending the day with Potter and Weasley."
"Jealous?"
Just before Malfoy could make a remark the two heard a deafening bang and a groan. The two paused in the steps, they were halfway across the top of the grand staircase in the Entrance Hall, making their way from one side of the school to the next. They looked down the long staircase to find that the enormous oak doors of the school were wide open.
No sooner did they turn their attention to the doors did a groan come from outside followed by someone falling to the floor. Instinctively Hermione and Malfoy pulled their wands out, and letting curiosity get the best of them, they proceeded down the stairs to further investigate the scene.
It was hard to see in the dimly lit Entrance Hall, but with the help of the stars and the moon outside, there was no mistaking the person lying helplessly on the ground before them. "RYN!" Hermione yelled as she hurried to Ryn's side.
There, lying on the ground was a badly hurt Ryn. Her robes were torn in places, her hair had remains of twigs and leaves in them, and just by looking at her you could tell that she was weak, it seemed that even lying down was a task.
"Ryn, are you ok?" Hermione had no idea why she was asking the question, for she already knew the answer. Ryn only groaned in pain. "What happened?" Another groan was heard in response.
"We need to get her to the Hospital Wing." Malfoy said, quickly.
Hermione nodded. "Help me lift her, we'll carry her between us." Malfoy nodded, as he knelt on the right side of Ryn, while Hermione did the same but on the left. They gingerly lifter her to her feet, Hermione was about to put Ryn's arm around her shoulder when something caught her eye.
Ryn's left sleeve was carelessly rolled up, revealing an evil looking skull with a snake coming from it's mouth and wrapping around it. Hermione's mouth fell open, and she let out a loud gasp.
"What is it?" Malfoy asked, looking at the shocked look on Hermione face. Hermione said nothing, but pointed at Ryn's arm. Draco looked to where Hermione was pointing and couldn't believe it. He looked from Hermione, to Ryn's arm, to Hermione, and then back to Ryn's arm. Without taking his eyes off the spot on her arm, Draco spoke, "We have to get her to the Hospital Wing."
Hermione, once again, nodded and then rolled down Ryn's sleeve so that it covered her forearm.
They walk to the Hospital Wing was spent in silence, for neither knew what to say. All Hermione was aware of was the image of the Dark Mark glimmering brightly on Ryn's arm that had some how been burned into her mind.
The trek to the infirmary was tiresome, difficult, and long due to the fact that Ryn could hardly walk, let alone stand on her two feet. Therefore, Hermione and Draco had to drag her to the Hospital Wing.
When they got there Malfoy awkwardly knocked on the door; this, of course, proved to be difficult as he had to balance Ryn in the process so she wouldn't fall. After a few knocks quick foot steps were heard on the other side of the door along with a disgruntled voice. "Honestly, at this time of be the matter?" Upon hearing this Hermione checked her watch and found that it was quite late: 11:05.
Suddenly the door was thrown open to reveal a very tired Madame Pomfrey. Her hair was in a long braid that ran down her back. She was wearing a flowered night gown with an off white dressing gown. She looked like she had just been woken up and was not happy about it at all. But upon seeing the three before her she immediately became wide awake. She looked even closer and when she discovered that Ryn was the hurt student she gave a loud gasp. "Bring her in! Quickly!" she exclaimed.
"Over, here. On this bed." Madame Pomfrey said, leading the way to a secluded bed I the corner, once all where inside. Once Hermione and Malfoy reached the bed, they carefully placed Ryn down. Once the task was done, Hermione fell into the chair to relax and let her breathing, which had became quick and uneven, settle itself.
"What happened to her!" the keeper of the Infirmary asked, fussing over her newest patient.
"Well, we where on out patrol…" Hermione began yet another story. "…and then we carried her here." Throughout the story Hermione casually forgotten to mention that she discovered the Dark Mark on Ryn's arm.
"Yes, very well then." Madame Pomfrey's voice said from the small room by her office. "You." she pointed at Malfoy. "Go to Professor Snape's chambers and wake him. Tell him I need to see him immediately. I'm afraid I'm going to need more potions."
"But I don-"
"Know where they are? Of course you don't boy! Now come here so I can tell you." Malfoy rolled his eyes at Hermione, making a nonverbal comment to Hermione about Madame Pomfrey, before he walked to the older woman to get directions. After about thirty seconds he gave a nod to Hermione and left quickly form the room.
"And you." she now pointed to Hermione.
"Go to Professor Dumbledore's office and inform him of the situation. And inform him that I need his assistance also. Quickly now!"
"Yes, Madame." Hermione standing and jogging out of the room.
Once Hermione was out of Madame Pomfrey's presence she broke into a much faster run, her only thought on her mind was getting to Professor Dumbledore's. She was in such a trance that she hardly noticed where she was going.
"Droobles Best Blowing Gum." It was only when she said the pass word to the Headmaster's office that she truly became aware of her surroundings. Once the stone gargoyle guardian of the office stepped aside, Hermione bolted up the stairs.
She knocked on the door, quite loudly, praying that the Headmaster wouldn't be upset. "Professor!" she called. Without warning the door opened, causing Hermione to leap back in surprise.
"Why Ms. Granger." Dumbledore said. He was dressed in a purple dressing robe, and a matching cap, the twinkle in his eyes was there, as it always was. "What do I owe this visit to?"
"Professor, Ryn's been hurt, badly." she breathed out trying to catch her breath. "Madame Pomfrey needs you." Hermione watched as the twinkle in his eyes faded.
Without saying anything, Professor Dumbledore stepped out of his office with a nod and began down the stairs, Hermione unquestioningly followed. "What happened?" the wise man asked Hermione was they swiftly walked to the Hospital Wing. Once again, Hermione told the story.
They reached the Wing just as Hermione finished her story. "Ms. Granger, might I suggest you go and get some rest. There's a Hogsmeade Trip tomorrow, and if I'm not mistaken it's Valentine's Day." the twinkle in the old mans eye returned momentarily. "It would be pity to waste a day like that, especially when we plan on spending it with the ones we love."
Hermione could've sworn that at that moment Dumbledore gave her a smile that meant he knew who her "special someone" was, and it took every ounce of Hermione not question the matter.
Dumbledore turned to open the Hospital Wing door when Hermione remembered something. "P-professor?" she asked meekly.
"Yes, Ms. Granger."
"When," she paused. She had left out the fact that she had seen Ryn branded with the Dark Mark, this time on accident, and even though she felt she should tell him she was just the slightest bit hesitant. "When Malfoy and I were picking up Ryn to take her here, I noticed that," she paused once again and looked at the ground.
"Yes, Ms. Granger?"
"That, Ryn had the-the Dark Mark." she looked up. Dumbledore seemed to think for a moment and then gave her a small wink.
Hermione stood there, dumbfounded. A wink? A wink! What in the world was that supposed to tell her! Did it mean that he knew it was there, or that he didn't know and he was covering his own shock by winking?
"Headmaster? Is it true?" Snape's quick voice interrupted Hermione's thoughts. She saw the Potions Master quickly making his way down the corridor with Draco tailing him.
"I'm afraid so." Dumbledore said. "Now, I suggest you two." he looked at Hermione and Malfoy, "go and get some sleep. After all tomorrow is a big day!" With one last wink, Dumbledore and Snape disappeared into the Hospital Wing.
Hermione hardly slept. How could she when the events of the night kept playing across her eyes? And she couldn't quite determine what Dumbledore meant by the wink he gave her. Perhaps she was just over analyzing the matter. Yes, that was it, she was over analyzing the matter. But the thing that plagued her most was the sight of the Dark Mark, glowing brightly in the moonlight on unconscious Ryn's arm.
Author's Note: Tah dah! Chapter Twenty-Four! So…what did you think?
Melz: That's great to hear! Thanks for the review!
lweb: I was happy to help you. I think your story is coming along quite nicely. Keep it up! Yeah, I know what you mean about signing your name on the review….well, Thanks much for the review!
PurpleXPrincess: I was glad to hear your reaction because I wasn't sure if I quite got everything right….I dunno, just wondering if I over or under did it….you know? So thank you so much for your review!
Kiwi-San: Yeah, I could never break up the "Golden Trio.." lol…Thanks for the review!
LittleMissKnowItAll: lol. Well, I wouldn't exactly call them friends….Thanks for the review!
dark Nothingness: I will definitely continue this story until I feel that there is nothing more to write. Thank you for those compliments, they truly mean a lot. And thanks for the review!
Buinen: Cool! Band! So what section are you in? Yeah, the many people we meet on fan fiction……Thanks for the review!
ashleyradcliffe: Glad to hear you like how the last chapter was written, I didn't know if I quite got it…So thank you very much for your review!
Laura: On all of fan fiction! Wow, that's great to hear! Thank you so much for the review!
Draco's-Ice-Princess666: Have fun where you're going! I await you reviews! And thanks for this one!
Phylicia13: Hiya! Aw, no Idina? That's to bad…I wish she was still doing he show, so then I could go see her in it…but as you said she's been busy filming Rent! Which I can't wait for! 11/11/05! Hope you get to see it in Chicago! I heard it's great! Thanks for the review!
Exploded toilet bowl, tigerlily727, Feltonschick18, Kandygurl14, blue-eyed-poet, and, DMHG 2GETHER 4EVER: Thank you all for your wonderiforous reviews!