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Song suggestion: Stitches, Shawn Mendes.
Chapter Twenty Three: Dismissal.
Watching Potter was revolting, Draco decided, to freely throw your emotions around in front of everyone was a weakness. Sneering at the rambling Gryffindor, he leaned over Hermione. Noting that she looked tired and weak, but it was only the potions taking effect. With so many magical substances mixing with her blood, she'd experience tiredness, sickness, and dizziness. Much as if she had drank too much firewhiskey over a long night. Producing the air of a professional Healer, he looked down at the weary woman.
"Granger." He called her attention to him and she faced his way. Due to caring Hermione for many days, he'd all but grow immune to her appearance. Her veins were protruding, the blackness giving her usually sun kissed skin a grey pallor. Though her eyes never opened, the scarred lids twitched as if she could see him still. The bruising had all but disappeared and the cuts were covered in aged scabs that would soon reveal the healed flesh underneath.
"Mal-foy?" The curly haired witch croaked and Potter moved to get her some water.
"Don't." He warned and an eyebrow rose above rounded glasses at him.
"Why?" Draco wanted to slap the man for question him. Hadn't he learned that I know better by now? Malfoy wondered before rolling his eyes at the boy.
"She's only going to vomit it back up." Stating it plainly seemed to shock the Gryffindor. Giving him an unpleasant reminder that his nemesis was in charge now. The Slytherin merely ignored the other boy and turned back to his patient, "Granger."
"Yes?" She replied, trying to cough to clear her throat.
"You've screamed yourself hoarse; I'll to see if I can do something about that other than silencing you." He was puzzled that he found her faint smile at his teasing pleasing, "How are you feeling otherwise?"
"Strange." Hermione sighed, "The room…it's not solid. Side effects, I presume?"
"Well done, Granger." Smirking at the intelligent witch, he noticed her lips purse and throat heave. Acting quickly, he accioed a basin, and pulled her up in time to be sick. She groaned before Malfoy laid her back down and scourgified the bowl. Leaving it on the tray with the empty vials, he summoned a facecloth next and dampened it, "Little warning next time, eh Granger?"
"Mmm…" The witch hummed as he placed the, now folded, cloth on her forehead, "Where is everyone?"
"Hermione?" Harry chose this moment to interrupt.
"Harry?" Her face broke into a tired smile and she held a hand out. As the Chosen One snatched it up, Draco turned away and spelled his used potion kit to clear itself up. Several concoctions bubbled on the desk but wouldn't need tending to for a while. Rubbing his face, he stepped away from the bed and happy reunion.
"I'll tell the others she's awake then." Malfoy spoke to thin air as the Gryffindors began chattering happily, though he could see Granger's strain beneath the façade, "Oi, Potter."
"What, Malfoy?" The mop haired wizard snapped.
"Watch her temperature. Get me if you need me." He offered his help reluctantly as he strode out.
It felt strange to leave the room for any length of time now. His mind seemed to constantly worry over Hermione's state when he wasn't around her. Blaming his newly surfaced conscience, he walked into the library, which also served as a living room, knowing most Order members could be found here during daylight hours.
"Malfoy?" Ginny Weasley stood and stared at him intently, along with everyone else in the room.
"She's awake." Draco said simply. He wanted to warn them to leave her alone, but it was futile as they all hurried packed up whatever had been occupying them and left.
Not waiting for them to clear out, he turned on his heels and down the corridor, remembering the instructions left to him about the dormitories. As he pushed into the boys', he found Pansy and Blaise talking quietly over a book.
"Draco?" Pansy was the first to notice him in the doorway. He nodded and went to sit with his best friends. Glancing at the book, he realised while the Order may be in hiding, no one could neglect their studies. Granger probably ensured that, he thought.
"Granger's up." Shrugging, he peeled off his shirt and trousers, "I'm going for a bath then bed, so if you could clear out." With that, he exited into the bathroom tiredly.
"He's not sleeping again." Pansy sighed after her subdued friend. He used to be so boastful and loud, now he was nearly as serious as Blaise.
"It's not like he can knock himself out for a few hours when Granger needs him." Zabini reasoned. He knew Draco often had to reach the point of exhaustion to sleep, unless he was aided by potions or alcohol. It was sad but true, the nightmares everyone suffered was enough for anyone to lose sleep over. But Draco had seen more, done more, for a lot longer. It left a mark on him, definitely. Blaise briefly wondered whether the Order kept firewhiskey in the kitchens to help Draco get some meagre sleep he desperately needed.
"I know, but I worry about him." He was dragged from his musing by Pansy's, "Maybe we could slip him some slee-"
"Don't even think about it Pans, Draco will kill you and it may well kill Granger too. Do we really need any more problems?" As a typical Slytherin, his best girl friend wouldn't stop until she was completely satisfied, but he had good reasoning to warn her off her current plans. Granger was all that was keeping the three in the Order, if she died on Malfoy's watch or because he neglected it, they'd be six feet under, "Come on, we can study in the library." Together, the two Slytherins wandered out, not realising they'd been overheard.
Malfoy decided he'd keep watch of anything Pansy or Blaise gave him from now on, there was no telling what they would do if they thought it right to do.