Chapter VIII - A Temporary Solution

Draco glanced down at his schedule and cursed inwardly. Arithmancy. Not only was it the only class he shared with Granger, it was his hardest and his best subject at the same time.

He hurried through the halls to get to the Arithmancy classroom. This would be his first class in Arithmancy since he took the Biandrinum.

Draco knew that his concentration would not be shot, but he would not be at his best, what he had read in 'The Subtle Art' had assured him that he could be at his peak again, but what he would have to do to get there was, well, not something he looked forward to doing.

"Good morning, class" Professor Vector said. "Please take your seats so that we can begin."

Granger,I need to speak with you

Up front, the Gryffindor prefect's head bobbed up and she looked back to him, he nearly cringed. She looked horrible, she was pale or rather, sallow, there were dark circles under her eyes her hair was even bushier than usual she looked like she hadn't slept in a year.

No need to remind me, Malfoy.I am not in the mood.

Granger,I found something-

Were you listening whenI told you thatI was not in the mood? Her head turned forward. Well, obviously not because you NEVER listen.

She was doing her very best to concentrate on her homework, glad that she had done it the week before, now all she could make out even for the barest of moments were little black spothches on the parchment.

Get out of my head, malfoy.

Granger, you don't understand-

"OUT!" She roared unaware that she had said it out loud.

Everyone froze and stared at her, even Professor Vector.

"Miss Granger?" he asked "Is something wrong?"

Shrinking back in her seat, she shook her head.

"No, Proffessor Vector."

"Very well, then," The professor conceded. "Then could you please answer number six from the assignmentI gave you last week?"

Shakily Hermione nodded her head and got up from her seat.

Oh god,I can't even read my homework.

As she stood a wave of nausea hit her.

Oh god,I can't even sit up straight.

Professor Vector suddenly turned into a giant bear, standing on a rubber beach ball. all her class mates turned into goblins laughing and tearing at her, the blackboard began to drip of the wall and puddle on the floor. Everything was spinning around her.

As the symtoms of the Biandrinum began to over come her, Draco could feel the desperation and exhaustion come off her in waves, waves no one else seemed to notice.

Just write the number twelve, Granger.

What did-didI tell you about staying out of my head, Malfoy.

Write it and go to the hospital wing.

And just like that everything stopped, he couldn't hear her thoughts but he could feel what she felt and she was building a brick wall around herself, fighting the connection. If she kept that up she could die.

No, Granger, don't do that! You don't under-

And he remembered no more.

Everyone was so concerned with the gryffindor prefect that had fainted that no one noticed Draco Malfoy slumped in his seat at the back of the class room.

Iam going to kill you.

Hermione groaned.

Uhhhhh... someone beat you to it.

Draco rolled his eyes. He was sitting in the library.

Iintended to warn you, Granger, but aparently you forgot about the foot notes of the potion. Dementia, nausea, fatigue, insomnia, amI ringing any bells here?

Hermione groaned, she leaned back against the crisp white sheets of the hospital wing. Her head was throbbing, but for some reason hearing Draco Malfoy's voice made her feel slightly better.

Well, that was something she never EVER thought possible.

Malfoy, if you are just going to-nevermind.I don't want to hear it.

He sensed her trying to bar him from her thoughts, trying to break the connection.

Granger. he frowned. Do that and you are practically killing yourself.

And this isn't killing me? She demanded. Since when are you so keen of my survival? ifI die you're free.

Or i could be stuck to you forever pinning away for you putrid corpse. He wrinkled his nose delicately. AndI would rather that did not happen.

Hermione sighed.

Don't shut me out, Granger, doing so is only going to hurt you more.

What did you read? She asked him. Please tell me its good news. Is there a cure? An expiration date?A way to counter act its effects?

Unfortunately no.I could only wish that we were that fortunate. In reality, whatI have found, He paused.Is justmore bad news.

Bloody wonderful.

Did I just hear profanity emitted from the mouth of Hermione Granger, Prefect extraordinaire?

Malfoy-

Draco mentally snickered, he had heard her say words such as those before, but she still bristled whenever he mentioned it, and he really would say almost anything to get a rise out of Hermione Granger, it was just way too much fun.

You've obviously felt its effects, as have i.

Get on with it.

You can hear my thoughts. Feel my feelings

Hermione snorted.

Or lack thereof.

You can feel my physically though I touch you mentally.

Hermione felt his hands clutch her arms and then fade away.

And even when he block out each other's thoughts, we can still feel each other, enter the room leave the room, fear, revusion

Trust you to mention the negative emotions. Are those the only ones you know?

Yes.

Hermione was surprised at the blatant honesty.

Draco mentally chuckled.

You're going to be in my head a while, you might as well get used to it.

Yeah? Don't remind me.

ThenI shan't. The problem is, however-

Iwas wondering when you were going to get to that.

Well, with all of these interruptions this may take a while.

Fine. Just say it. Drawing me out is exhausting me.

You liar. You feel better becauseI am here. You feel better because you no longer fight the connection. Its gotten stronger, Granger, after a while talking to each other mind to mind is not going to be enough. We need to succumb to the conection between us.

There was pause as Hermione processed this.

WHAT? What are you saying?

Simmer down, Granger, no need to shout.I mean physical touch, touching hands, poking, the like. The potion is magical glue. Its all about connection. The more we fight it, the stronger the bond gets, and the stronger it is, the more we have to fight the urge to be closer and the more we fight the worse our symtoms become. Soon we'll be able to take things from each other.

Okay. i'm now confused.

He sighed.

Right now,I can feel that you are tired, but i'm not. Soon, if you feel tired andI don't,I can take some fatigue away from you. ShouldI do that, I'll be tired and you won't.

Please tell me there is a cure. That is way too disturbing.

Iwish. Unfortunately no. No cure.I thinkI might have found a name, though. People caught in our predicament, perhaps one of them left a journal of their experiences.

If only we should be so lucky.

Well, Granger, so far luck hasn't gotten us anywhere.

Yeah, yeah don't remind me.

Don't worry.

Suddenly the door open and Draco strode in. Hermione had no time to react as he crossed the room in four strides and swooped down taking her face in his hands and kissing her deeply. Hermione could not help but respond in kind until, not a minute later, he pulled away.

"There." He said brusquely. "That should keep up sane for a while."

Hermione was breathless, she watched as he turned and strode out of the hospital wing as quickly as he came.

"I thought you said we had a while before we had to resort to physical touch." Hermione called after him.

Draco did not even break stride.

"I lied."