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Chapter Twenty Four: Unlikely Solution.
Draco had barely been asleep when the door banged open, slamming against the wall, and someone came crashing in. The disturbance wasn't so much an annoyance but sparked his defensive reflexes. His wand was out, he leaped from the top bunk, and he rammed the intruder into the ladder of the bunk bed parallel.
"Hermione's dying!" Ron Weasley screamed at him, not noticing the wand stabbing into his throat threateningly.
Without hesitation, Malfoy was off. Sprinting out of the room, through the horseshoe corridor, and bursting into the medical wing so quickly he barely remembered the journey. Not that it mattered as he approached Granger's bed.
The witch was fitting, her mouth foaming, choked breaths occasionally breaking through the effervescing saliva. Every time someone tried to turn the witch over to free her airway, she expelled half-conscious moans of pain, gargling. They soon forgot that idea. No one in the Order of the Phoenix knew what had happened, and were too frightened of hurting or to doing more damage to the girl.
"What happened?" Draco growled as he snatched bottles of potions from the store cupboard, trying to anticipate what would be needed.
"Harry gave her some painless potion." Ginny explained. Ideas sparked in his mind, the most thoughtless one occurring. He knew how rash Gryffindors could be and wanted to roll his eyes at the idea.
"How much?" He couldn't believe the possibility that Potter could be so stupid enough to give her too much. Both boys had taken enough of that liquid for Quidditch injuries to know the required dosage. Exceeding the recommended measurement could be fatal. But he was aware it was a very real possibility too.
"I gave her the vial you left!" Harry yelled as if it was Draco's fault. It made the blonde want to hex the other wizard into oblivion.
"That would have been bloody alright it you had waited a few hours first, I only just gave her some an hour ago! You dimmed witted fool! She's overdosing, you thoughtless prick!" Picking up a small sweet wrapper, he grimaced at the antidote and what reaction it would cause but turned to the awaiting Order sternly. Lifting his head, he snapped out, "Anyone who is not necessary, leave!" Curious as to whether they'd really listen to him, the Death Eater, the intruder. For their Golden Girl, would they?
When no one immediately moved, surprisingly, the Weasley matriarch snapped to attention and ushered everyone out. While she shooed and yelled orders, he picked up the basin and opened the foil wrappings. Once everyone barring Mrs Weasley and Ginny had left, he heaved the witch up, ignoring her pained whimpers.
"You're going to make her vomit it up, aren't you?" The younger witch sighed sadly and pulled back her best friend's hair.
"Yes." He replied curtly as he held the convulsing witch's mouth open and held the orange half of the pastille, poised to drop it in. Mrs Weasley grasped the basin in front of Hermione ready. Sweeping his eyes quickly over the scene, he let go of the sweet into Granger's awaiting, frothing mouth.
"Come on, Hermione, swallow, please." Ginny muttered hopefully as the curly haired witch choked on the putrid pastille. In response, Molly rubbed Hermione's back, akin to how a mother may do her child. But Malfoy knew their encouragements were wasted, the puking pastille would be enough. Working her jaw to cause the sweet to crumble and tumble down her throat, he counted several seconds.
Granger's throat convulsed under Draco's hand and she heaved into the basin, spewing half-digested potions. Ginny turned into her friend's hair, pressing her own lips together while her mother murmured reassurances to the puking witch. Without thinking, Malfoy's hand fell to Granger's and held it gently.
His actions were not unnoticed entirely. Molly glanced over at the pale wizard in intrigue. This boy had bullied her children mercilessly for years at Hogwarts, and yet, here he was. Caring for his victim as if it was nothing. It made her wonder what is motivation was, and if he had an ulterior motive. If he dared to hurt any of her family, she would bring the wrath of the famous Weasley temper on his head.
Once Hermione had emptied the contents of her complete stomach and continued dry heaving, he forced the second half of the pastille down her throat. Forcing her to chew it thoroughly, so not to choke again, before laying her back down. Her head lolled tiredly in his direction and a pained smile ghosted her lips.
"From now on, no one gives her anything unless I say so." Draco grumbled and walked away. He couldn't believe the idiocy in the Order, how they had survived this long was a mystery to him. It was basic healing and potions practice.
It seemed ironic how a skiving snack box sweet had saved her. But it was always the little things that mattered. Instead of complicated potions or intricate wand work, a simple pastille stopped her from dying over an overdosing. After everything the girl had been through, she could have been killed by an accidental overdose by her best friend. But Draco couldn't find the mirth in Potter's mistake; it had nearly killed the girl who changed everything for him and his friends.
Scowling, he began another batch of potions, knowing he shouldn't sleep even if he could. Mrs Weasley instructed Ginny to tell the others Hermione was better but not to come. Her daughter was reluctant to leave her with Malfoy but left with a warning glance shot his way. He ignored all the witches as he chopped a rat's tail.
"Thank you." Molly suddenly said and he raised his head in surprise, hidden by an empty mask. Nodding in recognition, he turned away again. He could never understand Gryffindors. He was their enemy, yet they trusted him to care for their precious princess and thanked him. It was a foreign concept to him.