Chapter 8 - Loyalty

Hermione ran to the school as fast as her legs would carry her. She stayed only long enough to get dressed and wake Draco to tell him what had happened. It was a blur, nothing seemed to make sense. All she could do was run to get to Ronald. She couldent bear the thought of something happeneing to him. Guilt began to build up in her with each step she took. She wasnet officially with Ron but it didnt change the fact that for years there was something there. She felt ashamed of herself. She didnt know what to do about Draco, and right now she didnt care, she had a friend who needed her and she was going to get there, everything else could be dealt with later.

She ran into the school and up the stairs, trying to get to the hospital wing as quickly as possible. When she reached the door she halted, unsure of what to expect. Slowly she opened it and stepped inside. It was empty, of course, excpet for one bed where Ron laid with Harry, McGonnagall and Hagrid standing over him. Madam Pomfrey was adjusting a bandage on his head when she heard the door open. "gently dear, gently" she said, motioning for Hermione to come over with the rest. Hagrid had tears in his beard, and McGonagall looked stressed and worried. Harry just looked angry. Hermione smiled coyly at the group, unsure of what they knew, and looked at Ron.

He had a head injury that Madam Pomfrey was taking care of, but over the rest of his body were more cuts and scrapes. His arm and leg were in a sling and his face was pale, except for the top of his now and his cheeks which were a bright red. His shirt had been taken off, and several of his cuts had a blue ooze on them, others were dressed more traditionally. She cursed herself for being so selfish and not realizing just how much danger her two best friends were. She had done nothing to aid them, and hadent tried to contact them in a week. She was a bad friend and she vowed to herself to make it up to them. She risked glancing in Harrys direction and found him glaring right at her, his face was blank but his eyes were fuming. She had to look away under the pressure of his stare.

"This is just aweful" said McGonagall, leaning into hagrid for support. It was an awkward sight, as she only came up to his elboe, but he put a hand on her shoulder and did the best he could to look brave, wiping his tears off his cheeks. "What will Scrimgeour make us do now? Another student injured at Hogwarts...we might as well call the train and have it cancelled" she weeped into hagrids chest.

Hermione jumped to her feet. Hogwarts couldent close. She had nowhere else to go, besides Ron wasent hurt AT Hogwarts. "Professor McGonagall, he wasent hurt here, he came her because Madam Pomfrey is such a well experienced healer. You cant shut down Hogwarts for being well staffed." Madam Pomfrey looked at her and blushed, and McGonagall sniffled and turned from Hagrid.

"You may be right dear" she said between sniffs. "But, it will have to be reported. I'll go now" she turned to Madam Pomfrey "Let me know if his condition changes" and she left the room.

"Aie, me too" said Hagrid, stepping around Harry and walking to the door. "Ive got alot to do to get ready for tonight, but if you need anything, or if he get better, let me know." He smiled warmly to Hermione before he left the room.

Hermione turned back to Ron. She could feel hot tears roll down her cheeks. She was beyond unworthy of a friend like him. She cried for him and how things had changed. Harry kept his eyes on her, but she didnt bother to return the stare. Harry didnt matter now, Ron did. She reached out her hand to take Rons uninjured on. She wrapped her fingers in his and sighed. She would wait for him to recover, and then she would appologize for how she had been so neglectful of their situation. The day passed and together they sat.

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Draco paced his room for what seemed like hours. Back and foth he went, both in his mind and in his room. So much had happened last night, emotionally and physically. He felt ashamed of himself for letting things get so out of control. He didnt want to seem like he was using Hermione. He truely loved her and wanted to treat her properly, but he feared he had let things slip too far and she would forever hate him. She had said something about Potter, Weasley, and the hospital wing before she left. He considered going up there to make sure it was all ok, but thought better of it, assuming anywhere with Potter and Weasley were probably places he was unwelcome. He had hoped she would send some sort of word that she was ok though. 'Maybe shes angry and will never speak to me again' he thought, trying to figure out why she wouldent message him. 'Maybe shes up there snogging that Weasley right now' he thought, missery filled his chest. He shook it off, thinking of more ifs and more whats, all seeming to get wilder and more depressing as he went.

The day began to grow long and he really started to worry. He left his room on a mission to find out what was going on in the hospital wing without actually going to the hospital wing. He climbed the stairs out of the dungeons and into the main hall. Teachers and staff were scrambling for the arrival of the students. Houseelves were running around in full sight of everyone, polishing floors, and dusting suits of armor. They were running in and out of the great hall, decorating the tables with their appropriate colors. Draco had almost forgotten about the feast, and seached doubly hard to figure out what was going on before then. Once in awhile he would hear the name Weasley, but when he would turn around there would be several groups of ppl, and he couldnet get more than glimpses of the story. He watched a house elf piled high with books following a teacher from one end of the hallway to the other, and that gave him an idea. He sprinted back to his room and quickly grabbed some paper and a quill and wrote a letter.

Hermione, if you need anything, just let me know.
I want to talk with you.
Draco

He quickly scanned the note, looking if anyone would be able to tell what had happened just by looking at it, and satisfied went back to the main hallway to look for a house elf. He reached the top of the stairs again and noticed an elf just finishing up some hemming on a hanging tapistry. He walked over to the elf and tapped him on the shoulder. The elf turned, it was Dobby.

"Yes sir?" asked Dobby, a slight hint of fear in his voice. Draco cursed himself for being so terrible to the elf in the past, and vowed to make it up to him somehow, but for now he just needed a favor.

"Could you please deliver this note for me Dobby. Its for Hermione, and i believe she is in the hospital wing, could you do that for me?" Draco tried to sound as polite as possible.

Dobby blinked and looked up at Draco, relaxing slightly. "Id be honoered sir" he said, turned, and ran up the stairs. Satisfied Draco retreated back to his room to mull over more of what had happened and what it would mean.

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Back in the hospital wing Hermione and Harry sat in silence, waiting for any sign from Ron that he would come to. Harry glanced at his watch and sighed. Several hours had passed without so much as a sneeze from Ron and everyone was starting to get a little worried. He sat up and started pacing along the windows, just trying to pass the time. Hermione looked up at him, then looked around the room. Madam Pomfrey had left to grab some herbs from Professor Sprout leaving them all alone. Hermione cleared her thought, getting Harrys attention. She looked at him and half smiled, unsure of how he would react. He sighed and sat across from her, looking only at his hands.

"Im sorry Harry." she began, biting her lip with unease. "I really am, for everything" she too looked down at her hands. It was all so complicated now. It had been so much easier when they were younger, nothing like this would have happened back then. "What happened?" she asked. She had still been left in the dark on how and why Ron had gotten into such a state. Harry looked to his feet, and answered gruffly.

"Voldemort attacked me, and Ron stood in his way." He looked up at her, his eyes meeting hers. "Rons a real loyal friend." Harry got up and continued pacing.

Fresh tears developed at the corner of Hermiones eyes. She wanted to leave and get away but she knew she couldent. She knew she couldent live with herself if something happened. She squeezed Rons hand, trying to urge herself that she was strong enough to handle this, but was surprised when he squeezed her hand back. Hermiones eyes flew up to Rons. "Harry, I think hes waking." she said, not bothering to take her eyes off Rons fluttering eye lids. Harry strode over and stood at the opposite side of the bed, his eyes filled with worry the miniute they fell on Ron.

"Ronald, Ron" he said, trying to jar him back into reality. Hermiones tears fell down her face and she brought her and Rons entwinded hands to her lips, kissing them softly as she waited, hoping for him to stir.

Rons groad broke the silence. Harry and Hermione both released a breath they had been holding. Relief swam into her heart as Ron started to slowly open his eyes. "Mione?" he asked groggily.

"Im right here Ron, Ive got you" she smiled, her tears of worry turning into tears of happiness. "Harrys here too Ron, your both OK" she smiled up at Harry, who was smiling, dispite his anger towards her.

"Ive got a raging headache" he said, it the most Ronlike way. They both laughed inspite of themselves as Madam Pomfrey returned with the herbs, followed by Dobby. She immediately noticed Ron and ran to shoo Harrry and Hermione away, insisting that now that he had come to he needed his rest. Hermione backed off reluctantly, and gave ron a kiss on his cheek goodbye. Harry and Ron echanged nods and followed Hermione out the door. Hermione felt a tug on her sleeve and looked down to see Dobby holding up a letter for her.

"For you" he said. She took the letter and he smiled, then went to Harry to say hello. They walked down the hall together, Hermione reading her letter and Harry talking to Dobby about his summer. Hermiones stopped in her tracks. Harry noticed and stopped a few paces ahead of her, turned, and looked back. Hermione looked up from the letter at him. "Im sorry Harry, i have to go. Can we talk later?" she asked, feeling guilty for even asking. Harry grunted and walked away. Hermione frowned and went in the opposite direction, twords the dungeons.

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She reached Dracos door and knocked. Heat flew to her face as she realized that she hadent spoken to him sience the morning, and even then it was very quick. She quickly glanced down at her clothes and tried to fix her hair. The door opened and Draco peered at her. She walked forward and Hugged him. Warmth filled her body as they touched. Worry and Doubt melted away and they hugged each other. "Hes ok" she whispered into his ear. He sighed and released her from the hug.

"Ive got to go, i have to get ready for the feast" she frowned. "I just wanted to see you, i wanted to tell you, its all ok"

"Whats ok?" he asked, emotion lingering just behind his voice. "The way I see it, nothings ok" he turned his back to her.

"Draco, i dont know alright? But the students will be here soon, and the feast will begain right after they arrive. I have to go."

"I love you Hermione, i wasent kidding when i said that" He turned to face her again, this time the emotion was very present. He didnt want to fight with her, he was just worried. But now that she was there he didnt know how to feel. He was angry, he was happy, he was sad. He didnt know which emotion fit best, and so he seemed to feel them all at once.

"Draco, there my friends, i have to be there for them, this cant happen, not right now" she felt so small, he voice was just above a whisper, her eyes pinned to the floor, not daring to face the man in front of her.

Draco laughed bitterly, it was all so ironic to him. All he hated he now began to love, and now he was being thrown aside, like he had done to so many girls in the past. He had never let himself get attached to anyone for fear of being hurt, and now here he was, hopelessly in love with the only creature in any sort of close proximity who would give him the time of day, and she was telling him it couldent happen, not right now. "It already did happen Hermione" he scoffed, letting the bitterness drip off his words. She winced but kept her eyes pinned to the floor. He could tell she was crying and for the first time in days didnt care. For the first time in weeks he wanted her to feel pain, to somehow match what he was feeling now. He wanted to anger her more, he wanted to get her to react, to stop staring at the fucking floor. "I got what i wanted anyway" he spat, but regretted it the moment it left his mouth.

Hermione looked up at Draco in disbelief. All that had happened, all they had done together, it was all a ruse. Her face got red. She was so embarrassed, so stupid, so angry. She wanted to run and hide. She wanted to never see the light of day again. She had turned her back on her friends for a man who had used her. She slapped Draco across the face, stinging her hand, and leaving a red mark on his cheek. She turned on her heels and walked up the stairs and back to her room. Draco felt remourse and regret flood into him. He hadent meant what he said. The words stung him as well. He wasent that person anymore, and he never wanted to be again, but it was better to have her hate him than to have her love him, but not be able to be with her.

Draco turned to his room and closed the door. He was not going to go to the feast. If he had it his way he would never leave his room again. He went into his bed and pulled the covers over his head.

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Hermione walked zombie like back up to the towers. The fat lady opened up the door, without even waiting for the password. Hermione stepped inside to find Harry sitting in his usual chair by the fire scratching Crookshanks behind the ear. Hermione sat across from him, tears still spilling down her cheeks. She felt so stupid, how had she not seen it comming. She looked at Harry. Their eyes meet for a few seconds. His eyes were so cold gazing back at her. Without a word he stood up and left the room, headed for his Dormitory. Hermione felt her world completely crumble and she let the days emotions take over her. Leaving her sobbing on the floor.