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Chapter TwoHermione woke up and the first thing that registered was that she wasn't in the Head Girl dormitory. Then the events from the previous night came streaming through her head at lightening fast speed. Her mind's eye could still see the pair of demonic, red, eyes floating in the corridor in mid-air. Then she remembered how that heroic young man had somehow caught and carried her after she slipped on what she assumed to be water. It was kind of romantic though…a strong, man coming to her rescue and then carrying her in his arms, so close to him. Close enough to have felt his heartbeat…Making her feel so safe and secure. Hermione sighed. She was always being the hopeless romantic that she truly was. It was a side of her no one else knew about, of course, but still, it was part of her.
Hermione did wonder though, how he had been there to catch her. Only someone who had been right behind her would have been able to do that, but then did that mean that there was…someone following her? No, no of course there was no one following me. What an absurd idea!
Hermione sat up slightly, leaning up onto her elbows. She was in the hospital. That wasn't too hard to figure out though considering how many times she'd seen this place. And plus it had a mess of clean, white beds in a long row along the wall so it kind of took one to the conclusion that they were in some sort of medical facility no matter how many times you'd seen it. I guess he brought me here after I fainted. That was so sweet and thoughtful of him!
Hermione looked up at the big sky blue framed clock that was hanging on the wall. It said 3:27 in the morning. It figures. I wake up in the middle of the night not tired anymore. If I'd leave, Madam Pomfrey would have a conniption fit so my only option is to stay here all night. Damn it. I so wanted to go back to the commonroom and read my book.
Looking to the right side her bed, she saw something that she rightfully deemed as 'more than peculiar'. There, beside her, sleeping in one of the hard, wooden chairs, was Draco Malfoy.
His head was tilted slightly to the side, causing some of his pale hair to fall over his eyes. Lying open on his chest was a book, to which one hand was still hanging on to. The other was dangling loosely at his side. The top few buttons of his robe were undone, undoubtedly to assure that he wouldn't wake up in the middle of the night being choked to death by it if he moved a funny way and the collar was drawn upwards.
Wow. I've never seen him asleep before. He looks so innocent and almost…seraphic when he doesn't have that damn sneer plastered on his face. You wouldn't think that someone who looks like this when they sleep could be such a rude and ill-mannered prat when they're awake. If I didn't know better, I would think he was relatively charming, of course, going purely by appearance. Once you get to know him though, you'd realize that he's…not. If I'd be totally unbiased, I'd be forced to say that he is, indeed, quite attractive.
But what, exactly, is he doing here at my bedside, though. Dear Merlin is he the guy that caught me? Why would he have though? I mean, he hates me. He wished me dead in second year! And anyway, what would he have been doing in that corridor at midnight? I wonder what Madam Pomfrey said when she saw him, if it even was him, I mean, carrying me in here like that and with me unconscious.
Hermione laid down and closed her eyes, trying to go to sleep, even though she felt thoroughly well rested at that moment. After all, what else was there to do at that moment other than sleep? Suddenly, Hermione bolted upright into a sitting position again. She had wholly forgotten telling Dumbledore about the 'interesting light show' that she had seen. She had to do that immediately! Wait…wait…think a minute here, Dumbledore isn't going to be up at 3:40 in the morning. Maybe it could and should wait till daybreak. He'll be more alert and awake if I tell him later. That way he will be better able to come up with a suitable solution to the matter. Yes, that's a good thing. Although I think this news would wake him up straight away. Heh, heh. Morning, I will tell him in the morning.
With that plan of action planted firmly in her head, she went to lay down again but caught sight of Draco. He looked rather cold. Without covers, it probably would be somewhat chilly. Casting her own blanket aside, Hermione put her legs over the side of the bed. Gently setting one foot down and then the other, she got up and out of bed.
Silently walking down to the very end of her mattress and getting the spare sheet, she gathered it into her arms and tiptoed back over to where Draco was. Unfolding it, she, being very careful so as not to disturb him, leaned over and gently draped the cloth over his still, sleeping figure.
Doing it so very softly, but still feeling compelled to do it, she said in just below a whisper, "Goodnight Draco."
Hermione crawled back into her bed and slumped down till she was lying flat on the mattress again, her head in the neat pillow that was unusually comfortable for one in the hospital wing.
Rolling on her side and facing Draco, Hermione snuggled up with her blanket, closed her eyes, and fell into a contented slumber complete with a small smile gracing her full lips.
- - - - -
Running. He was off again. He couldn't even stand and rest near a friggin' banister for five minutes without something going on tonight. Sometimes it felt like being Head Boy wasn't worth all the hassle that the scrawny, younger students put him through. Now there was someone running around the hallways with a light of some sort.
"Bloody hell! What in Merlin's name is that!" Draco said when he stumbled upon the red lights.
Not wanting to go in the same vicinity as the monstrous eyes, Draco went in a different direction. That didn't look like something that a student could fight off easily and win against. Sure, they were lights, but these weren't ordinary lights. They weren't even remotely close to ordinary. He could feel it. Hell, someone with the magical ability of a peanut could have felt it. Where the hell was a teacher when you needed one? They were constantly buzzing around when you wanted to goof off but when you actually would have been glad to see one, where were they? Nowhere to be found. 'They probably enjoy doing this to me.'
Draco started down another corridor when he heard someone else, and from the sound of it, the person was in front of him but not too far away. Maybe this kid had somehow summoned the lights and couldn't get rid of them, then doing the only logical thing in that situation –they bolted. Well, whoever it was, he was going to find out exactly why they were out at this time of night and what happened. He was going to give them such a sever punishment for making him do all this, when you compared the two, Snape would have the intimidation factor of a daisy.
Picking up speed, but remaining just as stealthy as a cat, he didn't make a sound. Draco was closing in on his prey, and fast. He wasn't about to let them get away from him when he had questions that he demanded answers to. In no time at all, he was just a few, short yards away from the person, he made it out to be a slender female, in front of him.
All at once, the girl's feet slipped on some water that had dripped onto the hallway floor. She fell backwards and he dove forward to catch her. Just as she fell into his grasp, a strong gust of wind came down the corridor extinguishing the majority of the torches that lined the stone walls. 'That's just great. Real great. Now it's dark.'
The girl landed right into his awaiting arms and he gently picked her up. Her eyes still closed, he looked down at the young woman whom he had just saved from landing painfully on the hard floor and he almost dropped her in shock. 'Granger!'
Now, he was thankful that the hall was shrouded in darkness. She wouldn't be able to tell that it was he who was holding her presently in his arms. Draco just barely noticed her opening her eyes, she didn't say anything though so he safely assumed that she couldn't make out who it was. He was half expecting her to try to struggle out of his grasp and was even more surprised when he felt her go limp against him. 'Bloody hell! She fainted! I guess I should take her to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey will probably be angry at me for coming in so late like this but once she notices it's Granger, I bet there won't be a problem.'
'Granger's pretty light. I expected her to be heavier. She's certainly not fat, but still, people do have weight. She needs to eat more is what she needs to do. Whenever she's in the Great Hall for meals, I never see her eat anything more than half a plateful. The few things she eats in a day doesn't even constitute the word 'meal' but it's no surprise considering she's got her nose stuck in a book most of the time. But then again, she has to sit near Weasel at meal times and with the way he eats, I think I'd lose my appetite too. Ugh.'
Draco kept thinking to himself as he carried Hermione to the infirmary. The trip didn't take very long and it wasn't hard even though he was carrying a good bit of extra weight in his arms. 'Quidditch soooo pays off. I might have to start scheduling some extra practices here and there.'
"Madam Pomfrey!"
"Oh, goodness…who is it? What's wrong?" she called from her room sounding in a bad temper already.
"It's the Head Boy, Draco Malfoy. Umm...I have Granger with me but she kind of fainted and I didn't really know what to do."
"Oh my!" Not half a minute after Draco had supplied that small explanation, the nurse came out in her pajamas and a robe wrapped around herself. "Set her down on the bed. Gently now, gently."
Draco did as he was told and stepped back out of the way so the Mediwitch could have a better look at the Head Girl.
"Merlin, how did this happen?" she said expectantly as she was checking Hermione over for any bumps, bruises, and anything else of the sorts.
"Uh…she and I were walking down the corridor patrolling and all of a sudden she slipped on, I'm assuming, water."
"Ooh, ok, she hit her head! Well that explains why she's out cold."
"Oh, no, she didn't hit her head. I…umm...caught her before she hit the ground."
"My dear boy! How fast are your reflexes?"
"Well, pretty quick, I'd guess."
"That was very good of you Mister Malfoy. I believe she could have had quite a bit of trouble if she'd have hit her head on that hard, concrete floor. I'm sure she'll appreciate it. But still, how did she pass out?"
"That, I do not know." Draco said truthfully.
"Alright then…but anyway," she said while walking over to one of the many potion-filled cabinets, "I think I can have her all fixed up. Thank you for bringing her in and you can go back to your commonroom now. Goodnight!"
"No, that's alright, I think I'll stay to see that she's ok."
"Wha- excuse me?"
"I said, Madam, that I will be staying here for tonight."
"I told you to go back to your commonroom."
"And I considerately stated that I will enjoy spending the night here in the infirmary." Draco replied with politeness spilling over his words, so much so that it seemed almost unauthentic.
The two argued back and forth a little while longer until finally Madam Pomfrey threw her hands up in a frustrated surrender and sighed heavily.
"Fine Mister Malfoy! Fine! You may stay here with Miss Granger tonight. But if you cause a pinch of trouble or disturb anyone, you will be thrown right out. Now, good night!" And with that, the older Mediwitch turned on her heel, walked into her office, and shut the door a little bit harder than necessary.
Smirking to himself, Draco pulled over a chair and sat down. 'Why on earth did I argue to stay here with Granger? I don't even like her.'
Realizing how late it was, Draco thought he had best go to sleep. If he got out of there early enough, Granger would never know it was him who helped her. She'd automatically assume it was one of her wonderful idiotic friends. So closing his eyes and concentrating on sleep, he fell into a peaceful slumber, all the while listening to the deep, rhythmic breaths of the girl lying in the bed beside him.
- - - - -
When Draco woke up the following morning he had such a stiff neck he thought he'd never be able to look behind him again. Looking up, the first thing he noticed was that he had a blanket on top of him, pulled all the way up to he neck. 'I didn't put a blanket over myself. How did I wake up with it? I know Pomfrey wouldn't have, and Granger, Granger couldn't have. She's been asleep the whole night. I'd have noticed if she was up and moving around. I'm too light a sleeper to not notice if my surroundings are moving. Maybe it's a spell of some sort?' Draco thought as he curiously looked around as if half expecting a sign to be posted up explaining that there was indeed a spell to graciously warm up those whom are staying in the infirmary with a friend.
That's when he noticed her. She was lying on her side, facing him, looking perfectly contented, as if she was having a good dream. Her eyes lightly closed and her soft, wavy, chestnut-colored hair spread around her head with a few strands hanging in front of her beautiful face. The now untidy white sheets were around her hips and both hands, with their long, perfect nails were clasped together up near the pillow. 'Merlin…she looks so pretty…what has come over me?'
At that moment, the girl in question's eyes fluttered open. She was looking directly into Draco's scintillating eyes. Catching him completely off guard, he jumped back a little and momentarily lost his detached and impartial façade.
Hermione saw it, only for a second, but nonetheless, she saw it. It pleased her awfully. She had caught him with his protective shields entirely down. She mentally smiled to herself.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you." She said, sitting up.
"Well, I guess I'll be going then…" He replied turning towards the door.
He walked a few steps when all of a sudden he heard her.
"Malfoy, wait!"
Both shocked that she had called for him, he turning back around.
"Yes?"
"I just wanted to say…I just wanted to say thank you."
"Whatever for?" He asked, hoping that if he played dumb, she'd fall for it and then wouldn't tell the other 2/3 of the Golden Trio or her other little companions that the high-and-mighty Slytherin Prince had actually helped her. He had a reputation, after all.
"You know what I mean." She stated with a small, yet genuinely appreciative smile.
"You're welc-crazy. I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about."
"The faintest idea, huh? Well, anyway, thank you again."
"Whatever." He replied with less attitude and venom than he has intended. And with that, he turned around and walked smoothly out of the hospital, leaving her there staring after him.
- - - - -
After getting dressed into her robes, Hermione went to see Madam Pomfrey about exactly how she had come to arrive at the hospital wing. The nurse gave a full recount of everything that happened the previous night, complete with frustrated faces, angry sighs, and hand motions. The Head Girl thanked her and left to go down to the Great Hall for a spot of breakfast. It was only 7:00 in the morning and since it was a Sunday, there were hardly any people in the Hall. They were all taking full advantage of the second of the two class-free days. You wouldn't get an argument about it though. That was all fine by her. She liked it better when there weren't so many people around. It was so much more peaceful and relaxing.
She sat down at the nearly empty Gryffindor table and picked out a big raspberry muffin and buttered it. Hermione savored the flavor as she chewed. It was like a little piece of heaven. Once it was gone, she downed half a glass of chilled orange juice, got up, and left the table, destination: her room.
She had to owl Dumbledore. Hermione had once heard that every morning, Dumbledore went up to Hogsmeade to visit the pet shop because he loved to watch the performing mice whom, coincidentally, loved being watched. So seeing as how she didn't know when he'd return, she figured she'd write an owl explaining the freaky lights that she saw in the corridor that just happened to scare the wits out of her. Then if he wanted to talk more about it, she could go to him office. That way, all would work out. He'd be able to fix this, no problem, right?
A/N: Hey guys! I LOVED the reviews. They totally made my day. Reviews build my confidence, therefore getting the chappie out faster! See? It all works out wonderful! But this chapter is pretty much unedited so if you see any mistakes, please let me know and I'll fix them straight away. But we're redoing my bathroom and my parents did wallpaper today and the smell of the paste from it really got to me and gave a really sore throat. But I didn't have much left to type by the time it got really bad so I shoved through because I desperately wanted to get it up tonight even though it's going on 11:00 at night and I'm really not supposed to be on the computer this late. You can tell I'm tired because I'm starting to ramble. Sorry. Heh… Thanks for reading! And I just wanted to say thank you to spider-man-fan, Femke, and marajade64. This chapter is dedicated to you guys for giving me much happiness. :) Cya all. Blessed Be.
Stars Around the Moon