Chapter 14

Madam Pomfrey looked from one of her patients to the comotion coming through the doors. She was about to give a stern lecture on quietness for the sick when she saw Hermione's body floating next to Draco and a crowd behind them.

She ran at them in full nurse mode."What happened? Is she breathing? Nevermind! Bring her over here!" She turned to the crowd trying to follow," The rest of you out! This is an infirmary not a circus!

Ginny, Katie and the rest of the students groaned in protest. Madam Pomfrey withdrew her wand from her lab coat pointing it in their direction."Out now or be ready for a reason to stay!" They all jumped at her command and ran down the hall. She flipped her wand and the doors closed silently.

She walked back to the bed Draco had placed Hermione on. Draco started to babble about what happened. "It's all my fault mam, I distracted her and she fell. I should have been holding the ladder! If I had been I would have been there to catch her, I..."

"Young man be quiet!" She said sternly and passed her wand over Hermione's lifeless body." You did nothing wrong, it was a simple accident!" Draco's eyes enlarged, he could see Hermione's bones!"What are you doing to her?" He demanded from Madam Pomfrey.

"I am checking her skeletal structure for any broken bones." She took her wand away and turned Hermione's head to the side as she felt the back of her head. She lay her back again and looked up at Draco." Nothing's broken thank Merlin but she has a nasty bump on the back of the noggin'. She should wake up eventually, but with much pain. She needs to rest now so out with you."

She tried to pull him up from his seat but he just grabbed Hermione's hand and looked into Madam Pomfrey's eyes."I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here until she wakes!" She looked at him suspiciously. She was remembering how much of a whiny brat he had been the last time he was there to be mended. Theatrical that one was. The look in his eyes made her angst for him soften. They were searching hers, pleading for her to let him stay.

She shook her head in defeat," Alright Mr.Malfoy but you had better come get me when she wakes! I have to go and let Dumbledore know of this." She closed the curtain and stormed off in direction of Dumbledore's office.

Hermione woke about an hour later, she opened her eyes and tried to focus. She turned her neck to the side only to jerk it back as her head screamed for mercy. She felt someone holding her hand and she endured the pain long enough to see Draco lightly snoozing next to her.

'He's been watching over me.'She thought with a smile and then frowned. Her brain was searching for an answer as to why. She closed her eyes and groaned as excrutiating pain shot through the back of her head.

Draco awoke instantly and called out for Madam Pomfrey. She threw open the curtains and came in holding a small vile of dark liquid. She brought it to Hermione's lips telling her to drink all of its contents.

As Hermione drank the substance the pain seemed to subside and dull to just a nagging feeling in her neck."Now your going to feel as if a train has hit you. I would say for a few days, but if you keep taking the potion I gave you, you will be fine. The potions sideeffects are going to make you feel lightheaded and a bit out of sorts so lots of rest."

She turned to Draco handing him three small viles. "She is to take half of one every 4-6 hours to chase away the pain. Now get her to her room so she may rest. I will send Tandy the house elf to supply dinner plates for you.

Hermione'e eyebrow arched as she realized he had skipped lunch to be with her. Draco was helping her out of bed now. She was already dizzy and had trouble focusing her eyes. Draco came to a stop in front of their dorm portrait, said the password, and proceeded to levitate the chair up the stairs. Once in the commons he gingerly withdrew her body from the chair to carry her up to her room.

"Muggle Born." Hermione mumbled barely able to stay awake.He found it funny her password was almost the same as his. The portrait swung open looking worridly at her occupant.Draco wondered if it was worry for Hermione's well being or the fact he was the one taking her in the room.

He laid her on the bed softly and pulled the covers over her. He turned to go when something tugged on his jacket sleeve. "Wait Draco, don't go." She opened her eyes halfway trying not to drift back to sleep. He sat on the bed next to her as she continued," I want to thank you for staying with me. You didn't have to do that."

He stroked her cheek with his hand," Yes I did, I feel responsible for what happened." He looked angry at himself she noted. She rubbed his arm," Nonsense Draco, your not a seer, you couldn't have known that I was to fall."

"Well I'm just glad your okay, you gave everyone quite a scare back there. Now you need your rest." He made the effort to get up and leave when she grabbed his arm and kept hold. "Hermione I really should go." She sat up in bed. "What are you doing? Lay back down." He sat on the bed again and slowly pushed her back towards the pillow.

He waited for her to settle and let go of her shoulders. That's when she shot up from the pillow again," Draco, I want to thank you properly." She moved to bring her face to his. He pulled her back, astonished at her attentions. He stared into her eyes only to realize her pupils had dialated to the size of golfballs.

"Hermione you don't know what your doing. The pain meds are screwing with your mind. Please lay back and sleep now." This time she didn't lay back down she just stared at him with a sly smile and caught his lips with her.

The softness of her lips had him drawn in. He had fallen under her spell as they sat there for a few minutes just kissing and holding each other. Hermione broke from the kiss and lay her head down on his shoulder. He rubbed circles along her lower back and she sighed.

He listened as her breathing slowed and she fell asleep in his arms. 'Oh how nice this feels, I don't want to move'. He thought as he squeezed her in a hug. He gently lay her back on the pillow and raised the covers to her chin.

She stirred a bit and then settled back into the bed."Goodnight Hermione, sweet dreams." He got up and excused himself to the common room. Realization wafed over him as he new that she would not remember anything in the morning.

He sighed," I wish you hadn't been on that potion, I would have loved for it to be real."