A/N: Wow… I think that I've gone crazy with the fact of how many people read my story. I hope that you all think that it's a good story. I for one think that it could've done and been better. Enjoy!
Chapter 13 – Searching, Falling, Realizing
Hermione was wandering the streets of Hogsmeade in confusion. She sat herself down and thought to herself, what is the world is happening to me? She paced herself a bit to get back to the school as quickly as possible. She scurried around without much care for most of the students were out or staying in to get some sleep.
When upon entering she looked at herself from the clear glass. Her hair was frizzy from the unusually high humidity, eyes tired and face puffy. "Candy snappers," and went in.
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"What the hell is happening to me!" she cried out, slamming the double doors against the wall.
"Miss Granger, may I ask why you are here and not at the interview?" he asked.
"The interviews over. Finite, gone, finished. I want to know why I am acting – so – weird!" her hands flying everywhere, legs tapping the floor, mouth pouting, face red and hands sweaty.
Dumbledore had walked over to her in a more serious manner and asked, "Are you by any chance allergic to any magical ingredients?"
"Um… I dunno, why?" she asked, eyes getting heavier by the second.
"You must drink something!" Dumbledore cried out. He had went to a cupboard and got out a yellow liquid and handed it to Hermione.
"Drink this. All of it… it will make you feel much better,"
She tipped the bottle over and suddenly her whole world had gone lopsided. Her eyes faintly closed and she fell to the floor.
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"Hermione," someone whispered in her ear. "Hermione! Are your there?"
Hermione had opened her eyes to see a brush of red hair and green eyes looking at her. Ron and Harry had their faces right above hers to see every detail. They were probably only 2 inches apart.
"Um… where am I?" she asked. She stood up to see where she was at, seeing that she was laying down the whole time.
She was at the hospital wing, the night had entered and the stars could be seen from the large windows.
"You were out for a pretty long time," Harry commented. He got out of her way to let hr see how many people were there.
Quincy and her blonde hair were sleeping silently near the bed next to Hermione's while Ginny smiling was seated right beside her. Ron and Harry were standing opposite to the two girls and saw that Malfoy was sitting at the far end, near the exit/entrance.
"Couldn't let him get near you 'Mione," Ron said. "What if that ferret tried to do something while you were out?"
His head was bending and hair messed up. The clothes that he wore earlier had needed an ironing badly.
"Why didn't you let him near me?" Hermione asked, her voice was hinted as sad and angry. But just a bit.
"Do want him near you?" Ron cried out, loud enough for Malfoy to hear. Quincy even stirred a little.
"Shh! Ron you dufus! Why did you do that?" Ginny asked.
"Sorry about that Gin," Ron apologized.
Draco had lifted his head up, saw Hermione had woken and left.
"Am I ok to leave now?" she asked Harry, apparently ignoring Ron for what he did.
"Yes, Miss. Granger," a voice came from behind. It was Dumbledore.
"You must be careful now. You were allergic to the strand of ractar, the main ingredient in radar," he said.
"I never knew that you could be allergic!" Ron replied.
"There have been a few,"
"If I may interrupt sir, but I would rather that I leave," Hermione said.
With Madame Pomfrey's permission and Dumbledore's, Hermione had been allowed to get dressed and leave. She hurried franticly through the corridors and rushed into the room.
Panting Hermione shouted, "That Weasley harassed you into not seeing me didn't he!"
Malfoy was sitting at the table, frowning at a question in the Herbology book. He turned around to face her, a frown turned into obvious annoyance.
"Honestly, who would let me touch a girl that's unconscious?" he asked himself. "I don't blame that poor boy. He was worried about you,"
"I know that Malfoy. It seemed as if he had worried enough as to talk to me in such a loud voice as if I was going deaf," she joked.
Noticing that her humor wasn't working she replied, "He had no right to do that," She paused for a moment before going on, "You were worried about me weren't you?"
He turned and nodded. "Who wouldn't be? I would be as dumb as a stick if you had gone out for good,"
Hermione took a seat next to him. "You don't have to hide the fact that you like me,"
"I'm not hiding anything. What would I find?" he asked quickly. His pale face had become a bit flushed and pink.
Hermione laughed. "You look like Ron when he's embarrassed!" she covered her mouth from the hilarious similarity. "Draco Malfoy I have never seen you in such a state!"
"Don't you go comparing me to that poor bloke!" he cried out. He twisted his head back to his notes and started scribbling franticly.
"Malfoy, confess that you like me!" Hermione shouted.
He stood slowly. "I" He stopped and started again. "I had a letter," he replied silently.
"A letter?" Hermione asked, puzzled at why he would bring something up at a time like this.
"Yes, a letter,"
"It was from my father. That Pansy must have spilled something or else he wouldn't have given me a letter," he replied.
He put his hands in his pocket and drew out a piece of parchment. There were burn marks on the edges as if someone had tried to burn it but then put out the fire instantly.
"Why in the name of Merlin would he give me a letter out of the blue, am I right?" he exclaimed. "It's not to just 'drop a note' saying Oh how are you Draco? Doing fine I suppose, being the Head Boy. No," he said, imitating a voice. "I was made Head Boy. I had to earn it so that I could lead the plan for the Dark Lord," he replied.
He held up the paper that was in his hand and gave it to Hermione.
"You don't have to read it if you don't want to," he said. "But with that look on your face I say that you're curious. Not in a bad way of course, but never the less," he drifted off.
Hermione opened the letter slowly and carefully. She opened up and flinched at the sight of the first word.
YOU! I had plans for you Draco. I don't want you to disappoint me ever again. I had heard from the father of Pansy Parkinson himself that you were with a filthy mudblood? I have never heard such a barbaric thing in the history of wizardry. I have told the fellow of the Death Eaters to keep an eye on you. The preparation of the Dark Lord is almost complete. There is no time for you to be with anyone other than your full respect and duty plus honor to the Dark Lord. If I hear of any foolishness from anyone else I will have your wand snapped!
Tears were in Hermione's eyes as she finished the last sentence.
"How could anyone do that to their own son!" Hermione said. Her knees were kneeling in pain and her eyes were shut.
"I knew you would feel this way…" he started
"It's inhuman!" She cried out.
"Can you at least try to get up and let me explain?" he asked gently.
They gotten up and sat at the maroon couch near the fireplace, legs crossed, arms linked casually.
"Look," he began, "I didn't ask for this,"
"Who would?"
"Nobody,"
"So why can't you stop it?"
"Because! That man screwed with my father's head from the beginning!" he cried out in sudden outburst.
Hermione slowly started to say, "Its okay Malfoy, we all have problems. You just – have to deal with them so that people don't get in your way,"
She leaned her head on his shoulders and they had stayed there, cuddling for the rest of the night.
A/N: Sorry it was so short. I just needed to get the point written down. The bus transit strike is on so we have 2 hr delays in our school yah! I'll try and make it longer next time. Review! Please and thank you.
