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Chapter 7/./ A Turn For the Worst

I stood, staring at the balcony where the girl had departed from for the longest time, before turning to the book. I nearly shut it, but my curiosity got the best of me. I flipped it open to the first page.

Voldemort killed them...

I could tell it went on, but I couldn't read anymore. Clever witch. She had cast a quite advanced charm on it to make it impossible to be read. I could've cast the countercharm, of course, but I felt wrong, invading her privacy like that. But again, my curiosity caught me offguard. I flipped the book open to nearly the middle, just before the pages grew empty. Something about Potter caught my eye, that she had forgotten to charm. Or something. I read it, and I didn't stop to think. I shoved the journal back into her desk, cast a locking charm on it and went in search of my little friend.

When I finally found him, he was snogging with one of the Ravenclaw quintuplets outside the castle.

"Hey, Malfoy," he called.

"Hey, Potter, can I talk to you?" He nodded, standing and coming over to where I was standing in front of the doors.

"What do you-" he started, but stopped short as my fist connected with his jaw. "You son of a bitch!" he shouted, from his position on the ground where he was feebly rubbing his jaw. "What's your deal?"

"You stupid prat," I hissed. "Stay away from Hermione Granger. Consider this your warning."

"What the hell is going on here?" Cassandra. I smiled sweetly at her.

"Oh, nothing, dear. Just giving Potter what he deserves. Oh, and don't worry, you'll be getting yours as well." I stalked off, leaving Potter nursing his jaw, and Cassandra to wonder what I had up my sleeve.

To tell the truth, I really had no idea. I just knew that I was tired of waiting around for something to happen. I was tired of these idiots hurting my Hermione.

Wait... where had that come from?

I went to the Hospital Wing, to wait until I formed a new plan of action. Madame Pomfrey nodded at me as I made my way in, and I headed over to where Hermione was. She still wasn't awake, but I guess that was best. I sat there for nearly an hour, before Pomfrey came in.

"Mr. Malfoy, it's nearly dinnertime. You really must be going now." I sighed, nodding. "She'll be awake within a week, Mr. Malfoy, if her condition stays stable. That's all I can tell you."

"Thank you." I left the wing quietly, not intending to go to dinner. I did not want another brawl with Potter at the moment, not before I had a plan. I headed back to the dormitory, but instead of going up to my room, I went into hers. It was nicely decorated in the Gryffindor colors. Her desk was perfectly neat, her bed made. Everything was so perfect... It was hard to believe, at times like this, that her life was so.. not perfect. I sat on the chair by her desk, examining it. There was a small gold frame, that was placed down, so I could not see the picture. I lifted it up, and saw that it didn't move. In it was Hermione and what I assumed to be her family. She was tall, and still had her brown hair, so it must've been the summer before the war. She was holding a little baby in her arms who was grinning at the camera. Her parents had their arms wrapped around her, and it was so sweet that I felt a pang of... jealousy? Pity? Guilt? It had not been my fault her family had died, and yet.. I felt guilty for her losses. A baby sister that she must have loved so much. Something shifted behind the photo, catching my attention. I could tell that it was a piece of muggle notebook paper. Beyond that, I knew nothing else. I carefully pulled the back off, pulling the paper out and reading it.

Hermione Granger
175 Sunset Avenue

I wondered for a moment why Granger kept her address hidden behind a photo of her family. I sighed, knowing that wondering would do me no good. I started to put the slip of paper back, but then an idea struck me!
Of course! I could go to her house. I could learn about her past, to unlock the mystery of her present. It was so simple, and yet so amazing. But how? How could I get out of Hogwarts without permission? And then another idea struck me, just as hard. I smirked.

Why leave without permission, when I could get permission?

Classes began the next day, boring as usual. But I found myself humming with excitement. Every professor was surprised at my new hyper behavior, and when I cornered Dumbledore after dinner, he just smiled at me mysteriously.

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy? What can I help you with?"

"Before Ms. Granger's horrible accident, Professor, we had planned to ask if we could go into Mugge London to collect a few items for the Halloween ball. She had had a great idea to have a muggle Masquerade, and well, we needed muggle things."

"Why, that is magnificent idea, Mr. Malfoy. So how can I help you?"

"I was wondering if, during the Hogsmeade trip this coming Saturday, I could go ahead into muggle London to pick up what we need. I believe it would be a very pleasant surprise for when she awakes from her... slumber." He smiled softly.

"Of course, Mr. Malfoy."

"Thank you, Professor!"

"Not a problem. Good night."

"Good night, professor," I said, practically skipping with glee. Things were suddenly looking up.

And then Wednesday,the day after next, they were looking down. The Ravenclaw quintuplets were at it again. I walked into the Great Hall to be greeted with complete silence. I narrowed my eyes, looking over the Slytherin table, but everyone turned away as I met their eyes. I sat down at the table, where I always sat, and everyone cowered away from me, moving towards opposite ends of the table. I saw Potter and his precious quintuplets smirking at me from the door as they went to sit down. I rolled my eyes, grabbing a banana and leaving. When I reached the stairs, Lavender caught up to me.

"Malfoy, is it true?" Her eyes were shaded with fear.

"What in the world are you talking about, Lavender?" I tossed the banana into a random trash can that appeared out of nowhere.

"What they're saying in there, Malfoy, is it true?" She asked, following me as I walked on. I stopped, suddenly angry at her lack of words.

"Well, considering I have no idea what they're saying in there, I couldn't tell you if it was true or not!"

"Everyone's saying you're the one who hurt Hermione." My heart sank. I growled deeply, angered so severely with those meddling... witches.

"No, Lavender, it is not true. I would never do anything to hurt her, how could you believe that?" She shook her head.

"I know I shouldn't have believed them, but they were so convincing, Malfoy! What was I supposed to do?" I growled again.

"Not believe them?" I started towards the Hospital wing to check up on Hermione, but stopped short. "You know what, Brown? You can make it up to me." Her face brightened.

"How's that?" I shook my head.

"I don't have time to explain it all now, but meet me, with Parvati, outside the Gryffindor common room at 11 tomorrow night." She nodded, heading back towards the Great Hall. "And tell everyone it's not true!" I shouted after her. She grinned my way, nodding. I didn't have enough time to go to the Hospital wing, so I went instead to my first class, deciding to visit her during lunch.

But the day just got worse.

"Hullo, Madame Pomfrey." She nodded. "How's Hermione doing?" She flinched, and I suddenly got scared.

"She's.. well, Mr. Malfoy, I'm afraid she's taken a turn for the worst"

"She's not.. she's not"

"No. NO! She's not dead, Mr. Malfoy, but I'm afraid if this strange cold she's taken to doesn't give out soon, we're going to have to send her to St. Mungo's... And she may not be able to return here." I sighed.

"Wow." She nodded.

"You can see her, if you want.. But she looks a fright, Mr. Malfoy"

"I understand." Pomfrey shook her head, muttering that sounded amazingly like "young love" as she led me to Hermione. I turned to question her, but she had already left. I looked back at Hermione and was shocked. She still had not awoken, obviously, and her pale skin had a translucent gleam to it. I sighed, pushing away the urge to take her hand.

"What can I do?" I whispered softly, to no one. "How can I save you?" Her breathing, which had been short and labored when I came in, seemed to calm and become deeper. Her black hair was fanned out around her face on her pillows, and I found myself wondering, not for the first time, why she had dyed it in the first place. And then, I wondered if anyone else but me had been in to see her. I assumed that no one had. The more I looked at her pale face, the deeper the feeling grew that I needed to collect the revenge she was too sick to take at the moment. No longer able to fight my urge, I grasped her hand gently. I looked at it, and noticed all the scars on her arms. They were an odd shade of purple, not completely healed by magic. Proof of just how deep she'd cut herself.

But, I wondered, did she cut herself? Or was she attacked?

I wished I could ask her, and get an honest answer, but I knew I could not. I resolved to put my vengeance into action as soon as possible. I let go of her hand, setting it softly beside her, and stood up to leave. I turned back however, as I heard a soft moan.

Her eyes were open slightly, and her hand was barely off the bed, reaching towards me. She struggled to open her mouth, as though she wanted to say something. As quickly as it had come, however, it vanished, and as her hand hit the bed,her eyes slipped close yet again. I looked back to the door to see Pomfrey standing there with wide eyes.

"Wow, Mr. Malfoy. That's the most she's responded to anything." I raised my eyebrows, amazed, and looked back at the unconcious girl on the bed. "I suggest you spend more time in here, Mr. Malfoy. I'll excuse you from all of your classes tomorrow, if you like." I smiled.

"Of course. Anything to help 'Mione." I was as shocked as Pomfrey looked at how easily the nickname slipped out of my mouth. "Erm.. well, I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow, Madame. Good day," I said, hurrying off to my next class.

A/N: Another chapter! I'm updating a lot... Chapter 8, however, may take slightly longer than previous chapters to get up. Never fear, it will be up beforetomorrow night (hopefully). yay! And now, to soothe your curiosity until next time...
Preview:

I reached the Gryffindor portrait at 5 minutes after 11. Lavender and Parvati were standing there, shifting nervously, as though they did not expect me to show up. They grinned as I approached them, and I returned it wholeheartedly.
"Okay, girls, are you ready for some revenge?" My grin turned evil as I leaned in to tell them my plans.

Okay, I know it's short, but I'm winging it, so take what you can get!
Happy fanficcing, and review!