Disclaimer: I will never own Harry Potter, any plots, nothing.
They had taken her to St. Mungos, while Draco was sent to a special ministry office for safe-keeping 24/7. They had defeated him, the deatheaters, and the wizarding world could breathe again. It was safe again. Nothing to worry about. Everyone could go back to normal. But after tragedies like this one, is there a normal to go back to? They soon realized that they could never erase what had happened from their minds.
Bright lights shone from above her as she opened her eyes slowly. She felt her body becoming frantic while she was trying to realize where they had taken her. Hermione covered the sheet over herself and turned her head to find two ministry workers sitting at the opposite end of the room, making sure not to make eye contact with her.
Hermione felt her bottom lip trembling but quickly stopped herself. She didn't need anymore pity, "I'm sorry, but could you please tell me where I am?"
The two looked at each other uncomfortably, neither one wanting to talk to her. One though spoke up. He cleared his throat, and ascended from his seat. Hermione watched as he stumbled his way over to her, and it hit her why they were so jumpy. They use to work for Harry. She looked to her hands so she wouldn't have to face them.
"Ms. Granger, you're in safe hands. We decided St. Mungos would be appropriate. None of us knew about well –" He paused momentarily before clearing his throat once more, "The baby. Or the conditions that Malfoy put you in."
The lump in her throat was increasing. With her head still to her hands, she nodded, "And, well where is Draco? He is alright isn't he?"
The two men looked at one another in confusion. They had no idea why she wanted to know, or what her reaction would be, but they were too afraid to ignore her.
"He's being held in the ministry."
Hermione lay back down slowly and rolled on her side, "How long have I been here for?"
The other man spoke up this time, "Two days. The doctors said that things finally got to you. The exhaustion and the trauma. Viktor should be back this evening."
"Where is he?" She asked almost absently.
"Well, um," The man stepped forward and knelt beside her bed to face her, "He's testifying."
This came as a complete shock. Hermione sat up and stepped from her bed, grabbing the robe that was put out for her. "No," She started for the door, "He can't be on trial yet. He can't, it's not possible."
As she opened the door, John grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him.
"Get off of me," She hissed.
He let go but didn't back down, "Ms. Granger you can't go. It's our duty to keep you here in our care. Now get back in bed and if you don't want to sleep anymore one of us would be glad to get you something to eat."
She was stunned. Did they not care what she had been through in these months? The pain that she was forced to feel? She placed her hands on her hips, with a sneer just like Draco's upon her lips "Do you not have the decency to take me to his trial? To let me see them put him away!"
The men were afraid the patients would hear her yelling, John once again stepped towards her and placed a comforting hand on her back, but she quickly slapped it away, "I told you not to touch me."
As she crossed them both to look out the window they watched her cautiously. When they knew her before she had been through what she had she was no where as timid, and forceful as this. She was sweet, and kind. Nothing occurred to them of why she was the way she was now. Yes, that she had been through things that they couldn't even imagine. Yes, she had lost her baby. She had the right to be bitter, but not like this –
"I want to be taken to see him," She said as she continued to vaguely stare out the window.
"Viktor?" Geoffrey asked.
Hermione shook her head, "Malfoy."
…
"She asked to see him?" Viktor felt as if the breath was leaving his body slowly. Something was wrong with her, and it frightened him, "That's all she asked for?"
John nodded, "Nothing. She wouldn't eat, she wouldn't sleep. She just stared out the window. We couldn't touch her, talk to her, nothing; without her screaming."
Viktor slumped in his chair and ran a shaky hand through his hair, "We can't let him see her. He'll kill her, or attempt to. And I know she wouldn't want anyone around."
"Seeing him is out of the question," John spat.
"Do you know what she's been through? I saw her while she was under him, and I don't blame her for this. I don't blame her one bit. If she wants this, then we have to do it. No questions asked. She knows what kind of person he is, and even though I can't possibly think of one reason she needs to see him, I can understand that she isn't herself."
John and Geoffrey nodded, before leaving Viktor in the lobby alone. Viktor couldn't think straight. Not after the first trial today, and even though they had won the first battle against Draco, Viktor knew that the former dark lord had tricks up his sleeve. The chances were one in a million, but Draco would find some way to beat the odds.
That's not all that was bothering him.
Hermione was.
Ever since they had taken her back something had been wrong. She was even weaker. Not only physically, but mentally. Things were messed up inside her head, and Viktor was afraid that they were not able to be fixed. How could they be fixed? Viktor wanted to help her in anyway he could, but he wasn't going to risk something going wrong.
As they both put on their clothes without a word, only their shallow breaths breaking the silence, Draco watched her out of the corner of his eye. She was magnificent, a work of art that he had never taken the time to look at until a few years ago.
"You know, you'll have to tell him sometime," He remarked as he straightened up her always neat desk.
"I – well," She stammered, "I wasn't planning on telling him anything."
This infuriated Draco. Scowling, he slammed his fist on the table, causing her to flinch, "But I thought you weren't going to move farther with him! You said—"
"I didn't say a thing," She hissed, trying to keep her voice down, "This isn't because I care for you, or anything of the sort!"
He sat up from his desk and crossed towards her. Grabbing her delicate wrist he lifted them above her head and slammed her against the wall, "You're bored. You wouldn't be coming to me if you weren't. But that's not all Hermione. I've seen it ever since we were seventeen," He paused with a menacing smirk plastered upon his lips, "You love me, and don't you dare lie."
She tried looking away only to feel his hand turn him back to face him. It hurt her to stare into his eyes, because she felt so much more with Draco than she did with Harry.
Choking back a sob she nodded, "Even If I do you know this can't go any farther. Draco I'm getting married, and that's the end of this. Whatever we've had for these years, they have to be put aside! Yes, I love you so much, to the point where I can't breathe when I'm away from you, but Draco you weren't meant for me. I was meant to be with Harry. Understand, please, Draco."
He pressed his body against hers even more, and dug his nails into her wrist. But she didn't flinch, nothing, it was a game of power. If she broke, Draco wouldn't let her live it down. So she bit the inside of her mouth, kept their eyes locked, and didn't say a thing until Draco was tired of playing his game.
Realizing what she was trying to do he gave up on that and trailed kisses from her forehead to her neck. Sweet, soft kisses that were foreign from his lips, until he bit down on the flesh of her neck breaking the skin. As a scream left her lips Draco bit harder and placed one hand over her mouth to keep anyone from hearing. She bit down on the inside of his hand just as hard as he was biting her, but he didn't let up until a tear fell down her cheek.
"I'm sorry, Hermione," He whispered as he wiped away the tear with the pad of his thumb, "But I'm not ready to lose you."
"Do you think that I'm ready?" She asked as she wiped away the blood from her neck.
They both jumped at the sound of a knock at her door. Hermione frantically kissed Draco goodbye and pushed him away when he wanted more. And as they let go he apparated from her office. Hermione took in a deep breath and tidied herself up before she ran to the door and turned the knob to find none other than:
"Harry!" She said with a false smile upon her face, "I knew you'd be able to make lunch."
Viktor paced in front of her wringing his hands, "Why, Hermione? Why do you need to see him so badly? He's not in his right mind, and neither are you for that matter!"
"Viktor don't you dare talk to me about not being in perfect health! But I need to see him, and that's the least you lot can do for me!" She shouted.
Viktor looked around the hospital hallway before placing his hand on her shoulders, "You'll be committing suicide if you go in that room."
"He wouldn't touch me," She retorted.
"And how do you know Hermione? I'm sure he's angry about this, and the fall of his empire. You are the perfect person to take it out on."
She moved away from him and faced the wall, "Then let him."
In his years of knowing her, she had never been so passionate and so stupid about something. Throwing his hands up in the air he crossed over to her, "If you want this, then it's your call."
Hermione nodded.
"We'll take you over tonight. But you promise one thing, you won't do anything to jeopardize us putting him away."
"I swear."
…
No one was happy about letting her see him. They were worried. The minister had a few choice words about the whole thing, but in the end he decided she could go under the supervision of Viktor, and a few of his closest officials. Someone had informed Draco about it, and he wasn't happy either. In fact he refused her, but in the end he decided that it would be in his favor to see her.
It took them two hours to get to where he was being kept. A secret compartment locked up in the deepest parts of the ministry. Below ground, it was cold, and damp all the time, almost like Draco's own dungeons, but with much more security. Cells almost like Azkabans.
Hermione shivered as she walked along with the men and stopped when she saw a man in a black cloak standing in front of a wooden door. An ordinary looking wooden door, but Hermione was smarter than that. She knew all about them. The curses, the counter curses. She nodded at the man before looking back.
"I want no one in there with me."
The all looked at one another before Terrence Ulong stepped forward and shook his head, "Ms. Granger, you don't call the shots."
She stepped towards him, "Tonight I do. If you want this to work, I call all the shots."
Viktor held Terrence back and assured him that everything would be fine.
Hermione, pleased, looked towards the cloaked figure again, "I'm ready."
As he opened the door, she took in a deep breath and started for the dark chamber only lit by a single torch. She saw his silhouette before anything else. When she heard the door behind her she looked at him and sighed, "It wasn't his baby."
She watched him turn to her, but he didn't say a word.
"Draco we were together the month my baby was conceived. Harry and I hadn't even touched one another yet."
It came as a shock to Draco, and rarely things caught him off guard. He stood up and crossed towards her, and pulled her weakened frame against him. Hermione tried pushing away, but his strength hadn't left him, "I could fucking kill you right now, Hermione."
"You can't, and you wouldn't."
Draco pushed her away and threw his hands up in the air, "So when did you make this miraculous discovery, love? When you fainted? Or did you know all along."
She crossed her arms over her chest uncomfortably, "No I didn't know all along. And I came here to tell you that I'm going to get you out of here."
He scowled as he advanced on her, "Oh is that so? Tell me what are you going to do? You're the victim remember? I'm against you, you against me."
Her lips ran along his jaw line as she shook her head, "Wrong."
For the longest time he fought her, but when he couldn't take it anymore his lips met hers in a passionate kiss. He pushed her up against the damp wall, but she could care less. Finally she didn't feel grief anymore, she felt nothing. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she broke away and clasped his face in his hands, "I didn't realize all of this until now, I didn't remember, Draco."
He was catching his breath, but understood, "I'll be put in Azkaban, it's definite. But until we think of something to get me out you are going to live at the manor, understood?"
She nodded.
Draco made a move to continue, but she pulled away and absentmindedly walked to the other end of the room. He watched her curiously, until she sunk to the ground, and placed her head in her hands, "I loved him you know, and don't you ever think otherwise."
He started to approach her but she put her hand out to stop him, "Don't."
There was no stopping him though. He leaned down beside her and turned her head to face him. There he found those eyes that showed all the emotions she kept inside, and this time they were full of tears. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers, and this time there was no conflict. She gave in, just as she had always done. And nothing was going to stop her from loving him now. They continued to mesh together, their lips in perfect sync before Draco pulled away to catch his breath with is forehead pressed up against hers, "He couldn't have given you what I did, and you know that."
She took in a ragged breath and clenched his neck at his painful words.
What broke her trance was the knocking on the door. She jumped in panic and looked at Draco who didn't seem to be bothered at all.
"Hermione!" Viktor yelled from outside the door.
She didn't answer; instead she grabbed Draco's hands and pulled him up from the floor. Without a word spoken she took in a deep breath, and put on her facade of being the helpless victim and as the doors opened, letting in the light from the outside, her hand whipped across his face. Draco glared at her with a smirk hidden somewhere in the scowl on his lips. She was the smartest witch he had ever come across.
"And don't you ever, ever touch me again you sick bastard," She hissed as she was escorted from his cell.
John stepped forward towards the blonde, and shook his head in disgust, "Haven't you learned your lesson, Malfoy? We only have to deal with your antics for a couple of more days until you're sent to Azkaban."
Draco shrugged, "I would watch my words."
"Is that so?"
A dangerous smirk made his way onto his face as he stared at the official, "Yes."
"Malfoy, do you have any sense left in that head of yours? This wasn't anyone's idea but hers, and you jeopardize ever seeing your precious love again. So what did you try to do this time? Kill her for turning you in? She had every right to, and if it wasn't sooner we might have all given up."
"Trust me," Draco said with a cocky drawl, "The Hermione you were looking for is dead."
"Excuse me?" John said in confusion.
"You'll see."
John pushed Draco towards his cot in fury before exciting the cell and slamming the door behind him, leaving Draco to himself once more. Two goblins had to curse it again, making sure that everything was right or else they would have hell to pay from the Minister. Hermione stood looking at the door still pretending to be distraught. A sad frown lingered upon her lips. They all were too ashamed to look at her, each feeling pity upon the poor victim.
Hermione had to walk away before she started to laugh. Not one followed her though; all knowing that she just needed time to herself.
Viktor on the other hand knew something strange was going on. He realized it the day she decided to stay with him. He noticed it in the way her skin no longer glowed, or her hair had the same curl or color. Everything about her had changed.
If he only knew.
Authors Notes: You guys are the best.
Thank you for your support.