Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or ideas in the Harry Potter books, written by J.K. Rowling. I only own this small plot.
Summary: Things at Hogwarts tend to have a certain pattern. Malfoy hates them. They hate Malfoy. But what happens when a certain spell reveals that the last thing Hermione Granger wants to hear is "He doesn't love you." Who could it be about? Draco is sure curious...(A Draco/Hermione and Harry/Ginny piece.) A friend and I originally co-wrote this as a role-play. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 7: The Stain
"Oh my god" said Ginny Weasley.
She dropped her potions scroll and her ink bottle fell from her hand, spilling all over the floor. Draco looked up wide eyed, releasing his embrace on Hermione.
"I'm...so...so...sorry. I'll leave, um, Harry just wanted me to...but...I fell in a tree, so I left...err...quidditch, early that is, and I'd better get going anyway, Madame Pomfrey wants me to come back so she can, you know...make sure nothing's broken. Bye Hermione, I'll see you in class." Ginny rushed out the door, leaving the ink to seep into the carpet.
Later on, Filch would be sent to clean up the mess only to find that he was out of magical stain remover. Eventually the mark would be forgotten, and only noticed by those three who saw the spill. The door slowly slid closed as Ginny made her exit. Hermione and Draco looked from the door, to each other, and back to the door.
"Shit." They said simultaneously.
Hermione suddenly began to breathe in and out very deeply. Draco took a chair and was staring blankly into space, wide eyed, still realizing what had just happened. He was pulled out of his daze, however, when he realized that Hermione was beginning to hyperventilate. "Oh my god, Hermione?"
She looked up panic stricken. Then her breathing seemed to slow and then...she fainted.
Draco stood there, bewildered. He'd never helped anyone in his life as far as he could remember. He paced the isle, and finally decided to brave the awkward stares from Gryffindors and Slytherins alike and carry Hermione to the hospital wing. He grabbed her arm and strained. "God, people are heavy" he groaned.
He'd never lifted anyone either. He kicked the door open and headed as fast as he could to Madame Pomfreys. Students stopped in the halls to stare, taking no care to hide their shock. Malfoy carrying Granger? This was something no one, least of all Malfoy, expected to happen.
Draco finally reached the stairs to the Infirmary. On the way up, he passed Professor Dumbledore. "Good Afternoon, professor!" he said running past him quickly with Hermione unconscious in his arms. 'That should give them something to talk about in the faculty room,' he thought and laughed a bit to himself.
When he finally reached the Infirmary doors, he kicked them open and walked in quickly, placing Hermione on one of the near by beds. "Merlin's Beard!" screamed Madame Pomfrey.
"She fainted. Oh and there's and ink stain in the library carpet, you might want to get Filch to clean that up." Malfoy stated. Madame Pomfrey ran to Hermione's side, quickly damping a cloth and putting it on her forehead. She looked up at Draco, "Why did she faint?"
"She was hyperventilating" he replied, smoothly.
Just then, Harry came walking through the doors with Ginny's broom saying, "Is Ginny still here? I just wanted to - Hermione!" He ran to the bed and looked down at her worried. Only then did he notice Draco's presence standing by the window.
"What did you do!" he yelled, furious.
"Calm down Potter, for heavens sakes, the lady needs rest." Draco drawled.
"I said, what did you do to her Malfoy!" Harry ran over to him and grabbed him by the collar.
"Relax, it wasn't me, Potter...Ginny startled her and she fainted."
"Then why are you here?" Harry loosened up slightly on his grip of Malfoy's collar. Malfoy freed himself smoothly from Harry's grasp and sat down on the end of Hermione's bed. "I carried her." There was no use in hiding it now, the entire school had seen him in the halls.
"You what!"
All the while, Madame Pomfrey was mixing a potion to revive Hermione. Malfoy ignored Harry and turned his gaze to Hermione. "Do you think she'll be alright?" he asked Madame Pomfrey, never taking his eyes off Hermione's face.
Harry looked bewildered from Draco to Hermione and back. "What the bloody hell is going on!" He finally yelled. "Where is Ginny? Why didn't she come - no never mind that, why did you carry Hermione!"
"Because," Draco said matter-of-factly, "I care about her." he kept his eyes from meeting Harry's harsh glance.
"What? Excuse me, I-I, Malfoy, you..." Harry was shocked. "Um, Madame Pomfrey, you might want to take a look at him, I think he's ill."
Madame Pomfrey rushed over and began to fuss over Malfoy. "I'm fine, really." He glowered. "Potter, you are very stubborn so I do not expect you to take this well, but I've...well I've changed quite a bit over the past few days. And what's more, I am taking Hermione to the Ball." He now made eye contact with Harry, staring him down, daring him to come up with a reasonable response.
Just then, Hermione woke up...
Things were very blurry. When it finally came into focus, Hermione awoke to see Draco sitting at the end of her bed, and Harry standing next to him, eyes filled with confusion and rage.
"You lie." he said.
But inside, Harry knew this went back to the note Malfoy had pinned on the wall that day in potions. Hermione spoke up, "Where am I? What's going on?"
Just then she remembered everything.
"Oh. My. God." She hid under the sheets.
"Hermione? Is it true?" Harry through back the covers and stared at her with a confused, hopeful and worried look on his face. Draco put his hand gently on Hermione's leg and nodded at her encouragingly.
Harry quickly threw it off. "Get your filthy hands off of her!" he screamed. Hermione looked back and forth at them. "I don't know what you mean Harry?"
"Are you going to the ball with him!" he yelled.
Hermione's mouth was open but she wasn't speaking. This was the moment. This was when she changed the path, for better or worse. Hermione hated to lie. "Yes. Yes, Harry, I am." She said very quietly.
All of Harry's hope vanished. Hermione expected hate and rage in his eyes, but instead, it was hurt. Without a word, he stormed out the doors.
AN: Hey guys, I know it probably wasn't what you expected for this chapter, but don't worry, much more to come that will fill in the gaps. Please review if you want more.