Author's Note: Thank you for all the reviews! Well, it seems that many
people have asked questions, and I intend to keep them in mind and answer
them. The answers will come in due time, so please be patient. I did have a
bit of a problem with this chapter, so if it does not fit up to the
standards of a good chapter, then I apologize. Any suggestions would be
welcome for later chapters would be welcome. And now, on with the next!
Chapter 7: Some Adjustments
Over the next week, Hermione was settling into medieval life. She was learning how to live in the conditions it presented to her. The using of the garderobe, (which took a little getting used to) the puttering in the kitchens from time to time and watching Cook, cook. She also learned her way around the huge castle - and made little touches to adorn her room.
She took some flowers from the garden, after asking Draco's permission of course, and placed them in a vase and set it on the small table on her bedroom which she had appropriated as a desk. She continued to write, however. The quills and parchment took a little getting used to and sometimes, when she came down to eat; both Goyle and Draco would look in wonder why she had ink stains on her fingers and some on her dress.
Clothing was still being lent to her by Rose and Mathilde. Although, Mathilde had come up with a few yards of cloth and was set on making new gowns for Hermione to wear.
Hermione never spent more than a few minutes with Draco, except during mealtimes. He was always too busy with the training in the lists. She knew that it shouldn't bother her, but it did. Understandably, most of the times, she was in the house. Draco simply refused to let her out into the inner bailey without Rose, Mathilde, Goyle or himself by her side.
A handful of broken bones, cuts and bruises from the men in training was enough to let Draco know that Hermione alone outside would be a complete disaster. She was too distracting. And that in itself was dangerous.
And so, she contented herself with simply staring out the window of her bedroom and look at the garden.
"My Lady?" Came a tentative and small voice from the entrance to her room. Hermione turned to look and saw that Rose was standing at the doorway, her eyes downcast.
"What is it, Rose?"
"Lord Draco has asked you to come down, my lady. It seems that he would want to speak with you about something". Rose supplied.
"Oh..." Hermione said, nodding and following Rose out of the room. As they walked down the stairs, Hermione wondered why he would want to speak with her.
As it turns out, Lord Draco was sitting on his usual spot at the dining table. He was in deep thought. When Hermione neared him, he stood up and regarded her with his usual nonchalance.
"You asked for me, my lord." Hermione began. Rose took the time to bow to Lord Draco before she went off to the kitchens.
"Aye, I did." Draco replied and pulled out her chair for her. Once she was seated, he went over to his side and sat down as well.
Hermione waited for what he had to say.
"Lady Hermione," He began, looking at her closely. "I must tell you that Mathilde has been called to do her duties as a midwife in a nearby town. She leaves today and would be gone for a few weeks."
"Oh." Hermione said, not knowing where this conversation was leading to.
"Now, because of this, I am asking you if you could take charge of her duties and run the castle."
Hermione stared. Me? In charge of the castle? She thought. "But my lord, you are here... and I cannot simply take over-"
"I am very well aware of that." Draco interrupted. "But seeing as it is my duty to train my men in the lists, I cannot be in charge of the household in this castle. As that is only for women."
"But my lord..." She dropped her voice. She ignored his last comment as other matters were pressing at the moment. "You know very well that I do not know how to run a castle, considering what I told you a few days back... unless you have forgotten."
"I have not forgotten and I have kept that in mind." Draco said flatly. "As I do not have any choice..."
She knew she should have been honored by the fact he chose her to run the castle the only way she knew how, but she felt as if he simply chose her because he was that desperate for a housekeeper. She thought about her situation for a moment. On one side, she would so like to be useful and not seem like a burden upon the servants of the castle. She would learn firsthand about medieval life. She would also get to know the lives of other people as well.
On the other hand, she felt that Draco was simply telling her this because he had no other choice. She had been told by Rose that Draco had no cares for women, in any social rank. She was also told, in confidence, that Draco had proclaimed one day in anger that women were absolutely worthless.
The blood pounded in her ears. He was simply turning to her and telling her to run the castle because it was simply logical to do so... and he had no faith in women whatsoever. Feeling the determination well up inside her, she looked back up at him with the fire blazing in her eyes.
She was going to prove to him that this was no ordinary girl... and she had the future's experiences and the intelligence to run the castle the best way she knew how.
"I accept, my lord." She declared.
"So you do." Draco replied. And without further ado, he got up and bowed slightly to her. He proceeded to make his way to the inner bailey in his usual unhurried stride.
Hermione let out a breath in anger. She would show him; she would show him that she was capable of running this castle, with his help or no. Feeling the surge of adrenaline within her, she pushed back her chair and made her way to the kitchens, where undoubtedly, Mathilde would still be in.
Pushing at the doors, she was greeted with the rest of the servants of the castle. They were all seated at the crude wooden table at the middle of the kitchen, talking amongst themselves. When she entered though, all conversations stopped and all stood up to greet her.
"Please..." Hermione said quickly, "Please sit down..."
"Lady Hermione-" Rose said.
"Please, no more Lady Hermione. Lord Draco seems to have put me in my place." She interrupted, smiling at them. "Where is Mathilde?"
"Here, my Lady." Mathilde said, coming out from an opposite entrance of the kitchen. She had her bag with her.
"Mathilde!" Hermione exclaimed, rushing over to where the woman was and throwing her arms around her neck.
"My Lady..." Mathilde said, laughing at the exuberance and underlying helplessness Hermione had shown. " I think I know."
"You do?" Hermione drew back. The strong façade had left her and she was searching desperately for answers.
"Aye... it seems that Lord Draco has not changed his ways."
"What does he want, Mathilde?"
"Ah, I do not know. It is possible that he had given you this task because there simply no other choice, but I believe that he has good intentions of giving it to you." The old woman said kindly.
"Then it is true then, he has no belief in women?"
"Aye, it is true."
"Then what must I do? I feel that he's discarding me..."
"Oh no, I know in my heart that he did not intend to do that, despite what he might be showing." Mathilde paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts. "I believe that you can change him, however, my lady."
Hermione looked doubtful. "What makes you think that I can?"
"Ah, it is but my maternal instinct. I've taken care of him since he was but a baby." Mathilde smiled. "Go and show him change. Do what you feel is right... it will come out for the best, my lady."
Hermione thought about it. This was obviously very hard to do, but as her intellect and true attitude kicked in, she knew that she would not back down without a fight. Finally, she nodded to Mathilde. "I will do what I can, Mathilde."
"I wish you luck, Lady Hermione. Do not fret though, I will be back soon, I promise." Mathilde said and Hermione hugged her once again.
"Thank you." Hermione said.
"No, my Lady. It is I who would be thanking you when you change his mind. After all, if you succeed, you will achieve what I have been trying to accomplish ever since I've aided in his growth."
"What is that, Mathilde?"
"To overcome the pain and learn to live again."
And with that, Mathilde smiled at Hermione and the others and walked out of the kitchen using a back door. A soldier was waiting for her to accompany her to the town a few miles away.
Hermione turned to the rest and smiled at each and every one in the room. "Well, since we're going to be working together, I would like to get to know you all."
* * *
Over the next three days, Hermione had taken charge over the whole castle. She oversaw the cooking, the cleaning and all-over change. She'd aided in the cleaning up of the servant's quarters and the soldier's lodging as well, muttering all the time on how they were able to live in such conditions before.
The Great Hall was tidied up and cleaned from top to bottom. The stained glass windows sparkled after they were given a good wiping and cleaning. The tapestries changed and laundered. The garden and stables were also given the same treatment of onslaught.
Hermione found out, that Mathilde had tried to do the same a long time before, but she was unable to continue. Lord Draco had hindered her.
True to fashion, Hermione refused to join both Lord Draco and Sir Goyle during mealtimes. When Goyle asked her why during dinner the day Mathilde left, Hermione simply answered that it was not her place anymore to dine with them. After all, and this she directed to Draco who was looking at her with a blank expression, a woman had no place in the ranks of men.
*
Goyle turned to Draco and gave his friend a glare as they sat by the fire in the sitting area of Draco's tower. It was after dinner, after Hermione had told them that she would not be joining them during mealtimes.
"What have you done, Draco?" Goyle asked.
"I have done nothing, what are you talking about?"
"Nothing?!" Goyle exclaimed. "You practically told her that she was no more than a servant!"
"I needed someone to take charge over the castle. I never told her that she was now a servant!" Draco retorted.
"You could have been more tactful, Draco..." Goyle hesitated. "I thought you wanted to make her stay."
"Isn't that what I am doing?"
"For God's sake, Draco! There are other ways of making a woman stay!"
Draco thought for a moment. "I said that in madness."
"Madness?" Goyle repeated. "You are now in denial that you said that you wanted to make her stay in here?"
"Aye, I am." Draco replied. "It was merely the effect of the wine."
"Wine?" Goyle repeated, incredulous. "I know you, Draco. You drink in moderation. You keep a clear head... there is no possible way that you would say something like that without you knowing it and you meaning it!"
"Why are we even talking about this?" Draco snapped, rising up from his chair. "She means nothing to me..."
"She means something to you, Draco. Only you deny it, only you think that she does not. But she does." Goyle said. "Like it or not, refuse it or no, she's changing you... she changed you!"
"She has done no such thing." Draco said stubbornly.
"Yes she has!" Goyle said getting up on his feet and looking at Draco levelly.
"If you care about her so much, if you believe in her that much, then maybe you should go and woo her for all I care, seeing as she's more at ease with you!" Draco rejoined.
"I could do that... but I won't." Goyle replied calmly. He was breathing heavily after his outburst. "And you know why?"
Draco did not answer.
"Because she's already taken with you."
Draco looked at his friend in shock. After a few moments, he sat back down on his chair and simply stared into the fire.
"I have no need for a woman. And I am damned sure that women have no need for me." Draco said.
"And you will return to what you said before, that women are worthless?"
Silence.
"Well, all this quarreling is exhausting. I will bid you goodnight, Draco." Goyle said, turning to leave. He opened the heavy wooden door to Draco's room. But before he stepped out, he left Draco with one final say. "I would only hope that you would change your mind, Draco... before she comes out suddenly and you are caught off guard. I have no doubt that she has some feeling for you Draco. I also have no doubt you have some for her as well; but I can only wish that you would stop denying what's right in front of you."
And with that, Goyle left, shutting the door behind him and leaving Draco to his thoughts and another sleepless night by the fire.
*
It was on the fourth day of Mathilde's departure that Hermione finally proved exactly what she was worth.
It started as a beautiful sunny day. Hermione had contented herself with tending the garden. She always loved to water the plants and flowers everyday and learn how to care for vegetables. She, of course, had some help from the appointed castle gardener, Warren, who was a bright young lad and who truly cared for growing plants and such.
It was in the middle of this tending that Hermione heard a shout coming from the bailey. She stood up from her crouching position and strained to hear more. Then, all became in uproar from the inner bailey. Hermione, feeling that something had gone terribly wrong in the training, dropped the gardening tools and ran towards the sound. When she got there, all the men were crowding over something, or someone. Fearing an injury, Hermione raced towards the men and pushed her way in.
Fortunately for her, once the men realized that the she was there, they made way and let her survey the damage. Hermione gasped when she saw him. She'd expected that someone had been injured, but she didn't expect Draco himself to be at the receiving end of this little mishap.
He was sitting on the ground, his hand clutching at his left side, near the abdomen. He was presumably gritting his teeth, in order not to cry out in pain. Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth when she realized that blood was profusely flowing from beneath Draco's hand.
"What happened?" Hermione demanded as she knelt down beside him and looked at him closely.
"A mishap in training." He said through clenched teeth.
"Give some room, give some room." Goyle's voice rose above the murmurs. Hermione looked up and smiled at him, grateful for his presence. He smiled back and continued to remove the men from crowding.
"Don't you use armor?" Hermione asked.
"I didn't think I would need it." came Draco's reply.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "Lie down." She told him.
"I do not need help coming from a woman."
"Well you're going to get it anyway. Lie down!" Hermione ordered. He glared at her for a second then unwillingly let her lay him back. He was still clutching his side.
"Remove your hand." Hermione ordered. He was about to say a protest but she interrupted him. "If that wound gets infected and you get fever, do not blame me when you die! Remove your hand."
"What would a woman know about nursing a wound." He muttered.
"More than you know. So are you going to remove your hand or do I have to pry it out?" She glared at him as he did as well. But then, he finally backed down and removed his hand from his side. Blood was still flowing, but Hermione presumed that it wasn't as much as a few minutes ago. Draco's gray tunic was soaked.
Hermione took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She would have to find out the extent of his wounds, but in much better conditions. "Sir Goyle?" She called out, looking up.
"Aye, Lady Hermione?"
"Can you carry him back inside?"
But before Goyle could come up with an answer, Draco interrupted them. "I don't need anyone to carry me. I can walk fine by myself."
"But, you're..." And Hermione was talking to thin air when Draco stood up with ease and began walking towards the castle. She let out a frustrated breath then stood up and followed him. Goyle followed as well.
Draco still walked in the unhurried fashion he was used to walking; he wasn't even clutching his side anymore, much to Hermione's amazement. But the amazement quickly wore off as she hurried to match his pace.
"And where are you going?" She asked him as he went through the open doors of the entrance hall.
"To my room." Draco replied.
"Oh no, you're not!" Hermione said as she stepped right in front of him and blocked his path. He stopped in annoyance and she crossed her arms over her chest. "You are going to go to one of the spare rooms and you are going to stay there until I get you cleaned up."
"I-"
"And don't tell me that just because I'm a woman, that means I don't have any part to play in here..." She fumed. "It is precisely because I am a woman that I play a huge part in making sure you're not going to get sick because of that wound."
"This is just a scratch." Draco argued.
"Oh no it's not! And don't even think you're getting away with that. I know a deep wound when I see one and you've lost a whole lot of blood." Hermione retorted. "And you're going to lie down in one of the spare bedroom's beds and you are going to let me take care of you... And not a word from you until I get you fixed up. Understand?"
She was intimidating to say the least, most of the servants watching the whole exchange were shell-shocked when they saw the wrath Hermione was emitting towards Draco. Even Goyle winced at the tone she was currently using.
But Draco simply raised an eyebrow.
"Come on and get yourself to that room..." Hermione ordered. "Or do you need Sir Goyle to carry you, my Lord?"
When he started to protest yet again, she cut him off. "Don't push me, my Lord. I'll drag you to that room myself if you continue to be this stubborn."
When he still refused to move, despite her attempts of stepping aside and letting him pass, she almost turned and gave up. Almost. She tried yet again.
"Draco..." She said in a small whisper so that only he would hear. "Please... please... just go to that room."
He looked at her then. Her eyes were pleading and she was breathing hard from the outburst. And to everyone's surprise, he walked towards the circular stairs.
Hermione let out a sigh of relief. "Rose!" She called out after she ordered Goyle to follow Draco up the stairs.
"Aye, my Lady?" Rose answered back.
Hermione came near Rose and breathed out the instructions. "Go and get clean cloths and bring them up to the spare bedroom. Also, get clean water, boil some if you have to... I do not want any chance of infection in the wound."
"Aye, Lady Hermione." Rose said, turning to leave.
"Oh and Rose?"
"Aye?"
"Go and get a needle and a thread, put it in a pot of clean water and boil them... Leave them there, until my say."
"Yes, Lady Hermione." And she quickly set out to get what Hermione asked her to prepare.
Hermione's mind raced as she hurriedly walked up the stairs towards the room Draco was now in. She was wracking her brain for the things she'd learned during her Health classes in high school. She knew that every thing had to be clean and sterilized. Especially since the wound was so near (and probably in) Draco's internal organs. She had to make do with the conditions presented, but figured that boiling was as good a sterilization as any.
As she entered the room, Hermione saw that Draco had laid down on the bed, his hand was back at his side. She knew he was trying very hard not to show any signs of pain or suffering.
"Incredible." She muttered as she went over to his left side. It only took one look and he obediently removed his hand for her to look at the wound.
"What is, Lady Hermione?" Goyle said, he was at the foot of the bed, watching the two if them.
"That he can go through all this pain and still not acknowledge it." She replied.
"It's just a scratch." He spoke up, his voice tired.
"Whatever you say, my Lord." Hermione said. "Now, are you going to cooperate or do we have to go through that whole scene again?"
"Do what you must..." He said. And Hermione smiled at him.
"Thank you." She straightened up and rolled up the sleeves to her navy blue day gown.
It was time to show them all, especially Draco, what a woman could do.
Chapter 7: Some Adjustments
Over the next week, Hermione was settling into medieval life. She was learning how to live in the conditions it presented to her. The using of the garderobe, (which took a little getting used to) the puttering in the kitchens from time to time and watching Cook, cook. She also learned her way around the huge castle - and made little touches to adorn her room.
She took some flowers from the garden, after asking Draco's permission of course, and placed them in a vase and set it on the small table on her bedroom which she had appropriated as a desk. She continued to write, however. The quills and parchment took a little getting used to and sometimes, when she came down to eat; both Goyle and Draco would look in wonder why she had ink stains on her fingers and some on her dress.
Clothing was still being lent to her by Rose and Mathilde. Although, Mathilde had come up with a few yards of cloth and was set on making new gowns for Hermione to wear.
Hermione never spent more than a few minutes with Draco, except during mealtimes. He was always too busy with the training in the lists. She knew that it shouldn't bother her, but it did. Understandably, most of the times, she was in the house. Draco simply refused to let her out into the inner bailey without Rose, Mathilde, Goyle or himself by her side.
A handful of broken bones, cuts and bruises from the men in training was enough to let Draco know that Hermione alone outside would be a complete disaster. She was too distracting. And that in itself was dangerous.
And so, she contented herself with simply staring out the window of her bedroom and look at the garden.
"My Lady?" Came a tentative and small voice from the entrance to her room. Hermione turned to look and saw that Rose was standing at the doorway, her eyes downcast.
"What is it, Rose?"
"Lord Draco has asked you to come down, my lady. It seems that he would want to speak with you about something". Rose supplied.
"Oh..." Hermione said, nodding and following Rose out of the room. As they walked down the stairs, Hermione wondered why he would want to speak with her.
As it turns out, Lord Draco was sitting on his usual spot at the dining table. He was in deep thought. When Hermione neared him, he stood up and regarded her with his usual nonchalance.
"You asked for me, my lord." Hermione began. Rose took the time to bow to Lord Draco before she went off to the kitchens.
"Aye, I did." Draco replied and pulled out her chair for her. Once she was seated, he went over to his side and sat down as well.
Hermione waited for what he had to say.
"Lady Hermione," He began, looking at her closely. "I must tell you that Mathilde has been called to do her duties as a midwife in a nearby town. She leaves today and would be gone for a few weeks."
"Oh." Hermione said, not knowing where this conversation was leading to.
"Now, because of this, I am asking you if you could take charge of her duties and run the castle."
Hermione stared. Me? In charge of the castle? She thought. "But my lord, you are here... and I cannot simply take over-"
"I am very well aware of that." Draco interrupted. "But seeing as it is my duty to train my men in the lists, I cannot be in charge of the household in this castle. As that is only for women."
"But my lord..." She dropped her voice. She ignored his last comment as other matters were pressing at the moment. "You know very well that I do not know how to run a castle, considering what I told you a few days back... unless you have forgotten."
"I have not forgotten and I have kept that in mind." Draco said flatly. "As I do not have any choice..."
She knew she should have been honored by the fact he chose her to run the castle the only way she knew how, but she felt as if he simply chose her because he was that desperate for a housekeeper. She thought about her situation for a moment. On one side, she would so like to be useful and not seem like a burden upon the servants of the castle. She would learn firsthand about medieval life. She would also get to know the lives of other people as well.
On the other hand, she felt that Draco was simply telling her this because he had no other choice. She had been told by Rose that Draco had no cares for women, in any social rank. She was also told, in confidence, that Draco had proclaimed one day in anger that women were absolutely worthless.
The blood pounded in her ears. He was simply turning to her and telling her to run the castle because it was simply logical to do so... and he had no faith in women whatsoever. Feeling the determination well up inside her, she looked back up at him with the fire blazing in her eyes.
She was going to prove to him that this was no ordinary girl... and she had the future's experiences and the intelligence to run the castle the best way she knew how.
"I accept, my lord." She declared.
"So you do." Draco replied. And without further ado, he got up and bowed slightly to her. He proceeded to make his way to the inner bailey in his usual unhurried stride.
Hermione let out a breath in anger. She would show him; she would show him that she was capable of running this castle, with his help or no. Feeling the surge of adrenaline within her, she pushed back her chair and made her way to the kitchens, where undoubtedly, Mathilde would still be in.
Pushing at the doors, she was greeted with the rest of the servants of the castle. They were all seated at the crude wooden table at the middle of the kitchen, talking amongst themselves. When she entered though, all conversations stopped and all stood up to greet her.
"Please..." Hermione said quickly, "Please sit down..."
"Lady Hermione-" Rose said.
"Please, no more Lady Hermione. Lord Draco seems to have put me in my place." She interrupted, smiling at them. "Where is Mathilde?"
"Here, my Lady." Mathilde said, coming out from an opposite entrance of the kitchen. She had her bag with her.
"Mathilde!" Hermione exclaimed, rushing over to where the woman was and throwing her arms around her neck.
"My Lady..." Mathilde said, laughing at the exuberance and underlying helplessness Hermione had shown. " I think I know."
"You do?" Hermione drew back. The strong façade had left her and she was searching desperately for answers.
"Aye... it seems that Lord Draco has not changed his ways."
"What does he want, Mathilde?"
"Ah, I do not know. It is possible that he had given you this task because there simply no other choice, but I believe that he has good intentions of giving it to you." The old woman said kindly.
"Then it is true then, he has no belief in women?"
"Aye, it is true."
"Then what must I do? I feel that he's discarding me..."
"Oh no, I know in my heart that he did not intend to do that, despite what he might be showing." Mathilde paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts. "I believe that you can change him, however, my lady."
Hermione looked doubtful. "What makes you think that I can?"
"Ah, it is but my maternal instinct. I've taken care of him since he was but a baby." Mathilde smiled. "Go and show him change. Do what you feel is right... it will come out for the best, my lady."
Hermione thought about it. This was obviously very hard to do, but as her intellect and true attitude kicked in, she knew that she would not back down without a fight. Finally, she nodded to Mathilde. "I will do what I can, Mathilde."
"I wish you luck, Lady Hermione. Do not fret though, I will be back soon, I promise." Mathilde said and Hermione hugged her once again.
"Thank you." Hermione said.
"No, my Lady. It is I who would be thanking you when you change his mind. After all, if you succeed, you will achieve what I have been trying to accomplish ever since I've aided in his growth."
"What is that, Mathilde?"
"To overcome the pain and learn to live again."
And with that, Mathilde smiled at Hermione and the others and walked out of the kitchen using a back door. A soldier was waiting for her to accompany her to the town a few miles away.
Hermione turned to the rest and smiled at each and every one in the room. "Well, since we're going to be working together, I would like to get to know you all."
* * *
Over the next three days, Hermione had taken charge over the whole castle. She oversaw the cooking, the cleaning and all-over change. She'd aided in the cleaning up of the servant's quarters and the soldier's lodging as well, muttering all the time on how they were able to live in such conditions before.
The Great Hall was tidied up and cleaned from top to bottom. The stained glass windows sparkled after they were given a good wiping and cleaning. The tapestries changed and laundered. The garden and stables were also given the same treatment of onslaught.
Hermione found out, that Mathilde had tried to do the same a long time before, but she was unable to continue. Lord Draco had hindered her.
True to fashion, Hermione refused to join both Lord Draco and Sir Goyle during mealtimes. When Goyle asked her why during dinner the day Mathilde left, Hermione simply answered that it was not her place anymore to dine with them. After all, and this she directed to Draco who was looking at her with a blank expression, a woman had no place in the ranks of men.
*
Goyle turned to Draco and gave his friend a glare as they sat by the fire in the sitting area of Draco's tower. It was after dinner, after Hermione had told them that she would not be joining them during mealtimes.
"What have you done, Draco?" Goyle asked.
"I have done nothing, what are you talking about?"
"Nothing?!" Goyle exclaimed. "You practically told her that she was no more than a servant!"
"I needed someone to take charge over the castle. I never told her that she was now a servant!" Draco retorted.
"You could have been more tactful, Draco..." Goyle hesitated. "I thought you wanted to make her stay."
"Isn't that what I am doing?"
"For God's sake, Draco! There are other ways of making a woman stay!"
Draco thought for a moment. "I said that in madness."
"Madness?" Goyle repeated. "You are now in denial that you said that you wanted to make her stay in here?"
"Aye, I am." Draco replied. "It was merely the effect of the wine."
"Wine?" Goyle repeated, incredulous. "I know you, Draco. You drink in moderation. You keep a clear head... there is no possible way that you would say something like that without you knowing it and you meaning it!"
"Why are we even talking about this?" Draco snapped, rising up from his chair. "She means nothing to me..."
"She means something to you, Draco. Only you deny it, only you think that she does not. But she does." Goyle said. "Like it or not, refuse it or no, she's changing you... she changed you!"
"She has done no such thing." Draco said stubbornly.
"Yes she has!" Goyle said getting up on his feet and looking at Draco levelly.
"If you care about her so much, if you believe in her that much, then maybe you should go and woo her for all I care, seeing as she's more at ease with you!" Draco rejoined.
"I could do that... but I won't." Goyle replied calmly. He was breathing heavily after his outburst. "And you know why?"
Draco did not answer.
"Because she's already taken with you."
Draco looked at his friend in shock. After a few moments, he sat back down on his chair and simply stared into the fire.
"I have no need for a woman. And I am damned sure that women have no need for me." Draco said.
"And you will return to what you said before, that women are worthless?"
Silence.
"Well, all this quarreling is exhausting. I will bid you goodnight, Draco." Goyle said, turning to leave. He opened the heavy wooden door to Draco's room. But before he stepped out, he left Draco with one final say. "I would only hope that you would change your mind, Draco... before she comes out suddenly and you are caught off guard. I have no doubt that she has some feeling for you Draco. I also have no doubt you have some for her as well; but I can only wish that you would stop denying what's right in front of you."
And with that, Goyle left, shutting the door behind him and leaving Draco to his thoughts and another sleepless night by the fire.
*
It was on the fourth day of Mathilde's departure that Hermione finally proved exactly what she was worth.
It started as a beautiful sunny day. Hermione had contented herself with tending the garden. She always loved to water the plants and flowers everyday and learn how to care for vegetables. She, of course, had some help from the appointed castle gardener, Warren, who was a bright young lad and who truly cared for growing plants and such.
It was in the middle of this tending that Hermione heard a shout coming from the bailey. She stood up from her crouching position and strained to hear more. Then, all became in uproar from the inner bailey. Hermione, feeling that something had gone terribly wrong in the training, dropped the gardening tools and ran towards the sound. When she got there, all the men were crowding over something, or someone. Fearing an injury, Hermione raced towards the men and pushed her way in.
Fortunately for her, once the men realized that the she was there, they made way and let her survey the damage. Hermione gasped when she saw him. She'd expected that someone had been injured, but she didn't expect Draco himself to be at the receiving end of this little mishap.
He was sitting on the ground, his hand clutching at his left side, near the abdomen. He was presumably gritting his teeth, in order not to cry out in pain. Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth when she realized that blood was profusely flowing from beneath Draco's hand.
"What happened?" Hermione demanded as she knelt down beside him and looked at him closely.
"A mishap in training." He said through clenched teeth.
"Give some room, give some room." Goyle's voice rose above the murmurs. Hermione looked up and smiled at him, grateful for his presence. He smiled back and continued to remove the men from crowding.
"Don't you use armor?" Hermione asked.
"I didn't think I would need it." came Draco's reply.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "Lie down." She told him.
"I do not need help coming from a woman."
"Well you're going to get it anyway. Lie down!" Hermione ordered. He glared at her for a second then unwillingly let her lay him back. He was still clutching his side.
"Remove your hand." Hermione ordered. He was about to say a protest but she interrupted him. "If that wound gets infected and you get fever, do not blame me when you die! Remove your hand."
"What would a woman know about nursing a wound." He muttered.
"More than you know. So are you going to remove your hand or do I have to pry it out?" She glared at him as he did as well. But then, he finally backed down and removed his hand from his side. Blood was still flowing, but Hermione presumed that it wasn't as much as a few minutes ago. Draco's gray tunic was soaked.
Hermione took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She would have to find out the extent of his wounds, but in much better conditions. "Sir Goyle?" She called out, looking up.
"Aye, Lady Hermione?"
"Can you carry him back inside?"
But before Goyle could come up with an answer, Draco interrupted them. "I don't need anyone to carry me. I can walk fine by myself."
"But, you're..." And Hermione was talking to thin air when Draco stood up with ease and began walking towards the castle. She let out a frustrated breath then stood up and followed him. Goyle followed as well.
Draco still walked in the unhurried fashion he was used to walking; he wasn't even clutching his side anymore, much to Hermione's amazement. But the amazement quickly wore off as she hurried to match his pace.
"And where are you going?" She asked him as he went through the open doors of the entrance hall.
"To my room." Draco replied.
"Oh no, you're not!" Hermione said as she stepped right in front of him and blocked his path. He stopped in annoyance and she crossed her arms over her chest. "You are going to go to one of the spare rooms and you are going to stay there until I get you cleaned up."
"I-"
"And don't tell me that just because I'm a woman, that means I don't have any part to play in here..." She fumed. "It is precisely because I am a woman that I play a huge part in making sure you're not going to get sick because of that wound."
"This is just a scratch." Draco argued.
"Oh no it's not! And don't even think you're getting away with that. I know a deep wound when I see one and you've lost a whole lot of blood." Hermione retorted. "And you're going to lie down in one of the spare bedroom's beds and you are going to let me take care of you... And not a word from you until I get you fixed up. Understand?"
She was intimidating to say the least, most of the servants watching the whole exchange were shell-shocked when they saw the wrath Hermione was emitting towards Draco. Even Goyle winced at the tone she was currently using.
But Draco simply raised an eyebrow.
"Come on and get yourself to that room..." Hermione ordered. "Or do you need Sir Goyle to carry you, my Lord?"
When he started to protest yet again, she cut him off. "Don't push me, my Lord. I'll drag you to that room myself if you continue to be this stubborn."
When he still refused to move, despite her attempts of stepping aside and letting him pass, she almost turned and gave up. Almost. She tried yet again.
"Draco..." She said in a small whisper so that only he would hear. "Please... please... just go to that room."
He looked at her then. Her eyes were pleading and she was breathing hard from the outburst. And to everyone's surprise, he walked towards the circular stairs.
Hermione let out a sigh of relief. "Rose!" She called out after she ordered Goyle to follow Draco up the stairs.
"Aye, my Lady?" Rose answered back.
Hermione came near Rose and breathed out the instructions. "Go and get clean cloths and bring them up to the spare bedroom. Also, get clean water, boil some if you have to... I do not want any chance of infection in the wound."
"Aye, Lady Hermione." Rose said, turning to leave.
"Oh and Rose?"
"Aye?"
"Go and get a needle and a thread, put it in a pot of clean water and boil them... Leave them there, until my say."
"Yes, Lady Hermione." And she quickly set out to get what Hermione asked her to prepare.
Hermione's mind raced as she hurriedly walked up the stairs towards the room Draco was now in. She was wracking her brain for the things she'd learned during her Health classes in high school. She knew that every thing had to be clean and sterilized. Especially since the wound was so near (and probably in) Draco's internal organs. She had to make do with the conditions presented, but figured that boiling was as good a sterilization as any.
As she entered the room, Hermione saw that Draco had laid down on the bed, his hand was back at his side. She knew he was trying very hard not to show any signs of pain or suffering.
"Incredible." She muttered as she went over to his left side. It only took one look and he obediently removed his hand for her to look at the wound.
"What is, Lady Hermione?" Goyle said, he was at the foot of the bed, watching the two if them.
"That he can go through all this pain and still not acknowledge it." She replied.
"It's just a scratch." He spoke up, his voice tired.
"Whatever you say, my Lord." Hermione said. "Now, are you going to cooperate or do we have to go through that whole scene again?"
"Do what you must..." He said. And Hermione smiled at him.
"Thank you." She straightened up and rolled up the sleeves to her navy blue day gown.
It was time to show them all, especially Draco, what a woman could do.