AN: It feels so long since I posted, so I'm so sorry for the delay. Real life gets a little hectic at times with assignments and work, so thank you for keeping with my fanfictions, I really appreciate it. Particularly, I want to thank; I was BOTWP, for reviewing. Every writer appreciates reviews, so thank you, reviews help me continue.
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Chapter Thirty Three: The Waiting Game.
Three days.
Three days Granger screamed and writhed and spewed blood all over her pale bedsheets. The Order could barely contain her agony. Two Members had to watch over her constantly, spells wearing off nearly as quickly as they were cast. And yet, she was still miraculously alive. Their tireless vigilance keeping her heart from beating to a deathly beat or her shrieks turning into drowning gurgles. Malfoy knew without them all, Granger would have surely died as her body fought the vicious curse with vengeance.
Potter stood across from him, looking exhausted and strained between spells, as Malfoy poured potions down Granger's throat or quickly prepared yet another concoction. Draco would have said something snide about the uselessness of Potter's presence, if it wasn't for the fact Potter had saved his life three days earlier.
During Granger's first curing throes, her Magic was frantic. Crackling and disorientated. It manifested itself in sharp sparks, causing fires and spoiling potions. He had accidently inhaled one of these spitfires in his distracted stated and fell to his knees. Her Magic was trying to find a place to inhabit, since Granger was expelling her Essence as if it repelled her very Soul that Dark and Light Magic were within her. But in doing so, it was trying to take over Draco, attempting to drown his own Essence out and replace it.
As he tried to cough the spark back, he registered a figure rushing into the Infirmary, wand poised in war bred practice. Upon taking in the chaotic scene, they darted into the Potions' cupboard, clattering about in a panicked state. Within seconds, they ran out again, heading straight for the destructive Witch causing all the havoc.
A black veil had drawn itself over Malfoy's sense for a moment, before he felt a deep wrenching from within him. Granger's Soul had finally recalled its Magic Essence. The static atmosphere dimming considerably around him. As he'd blinked open his eyes, he saw Potter stood awkwardly before him, a bottle of Calming Draught held loosely in his fingers.
"Don't just bloody stand there Potter, she won't last long!" He'd growled, before scrambling to the Potions' cupboard.
"What have you done to her, Malfoy?" Harry demanded as other Order Members arrived, flushed and waving their wands anxiously.
"Nothing, you imbecile!" Throwing a fierce glare at the ungrateful prat, Malfoy had gathered every potion he believed useful, "Dark Magic doesn't take too kindly to being eradicated!"
"You're curing her?" His eyebrows had risen over his glasses sceptically.
"Dark Magic cures are rarely better than death." Lupin pointed out helpfully, nodding at Hermione, "She'll be in Hell to be cured."
"Of course she will be, did you not listening during Defence against the Dark Arts or Potions, Potter?" Malfoy sneered, "Whoever is good with Potions, for Salazar's sake, make yourself useful." Several Members had stepped forward, along with Blaise and Pansy, who'd slipped in behind everyone else, "Everyone else, keep her contained."
Surprisingly, everyone quickly found a task during this tumultuous time. Two of the back hospital beds were converted into Potions' benches, while those more competent at Charms had stood ready to defend and protect Granger. Pansy and Blaise had been pleased to find no one argued with Draco. They knew that should one person question him now, question his clear abilities, he would fix them with a tortuous punishment. When he rarely came within this unhinged state, one that had personified as the War had progressed in recent years, his emotions were uncontrollable. Everyone with the slightest insight into these episodes, which was fair few, knew to tolerate him until he was no longer a threat.
All the residence had worked until the sun had long set and exhausted started to slip into mistakes. One by one, Members collapsing in their positions and were escorted to bed by someone as equally drained. Every ounce of their power had been poured into keep Hermione contained and alive.
Shaking off the memory, Draco debated whether to cast a spell to comatose Granger once more or see how far she could cope, as she began to violently twitch in pain once more. Slowly, but surely, her symptoms were lessening. Spells were taking longer to be less effective and she appeared to have seconds of lucidity before she would begin fitting and shouting again if someone wasn't quick enough with their Charms. It was all about watching and waiting for the Witch to response at this moment.
"Malfoy?" Potter awkwardly spoke for the first time since they had begun their watch.
"What is it, Potter?" Malfoy flicked his glare to him.
"How much long until she's healed?" His backbone seemed to be regrowing and Malfoy attempted not to roll his eyes at his bravado pretence, "It's been three days."
"I'm well aware of that fact, Potter; patience never was your virtue." Sneering at the Wizard, he shook his head in annoyance, "What? Can't you function without the brains of the Golden Trio guiding you?"
"Sod off Malfoy." Harry narrowed his reciprocating glare, "As if you're not worried about her too."
"Ha! I'm not worried." He indicated lazily with his wand, "It seems I know Granger better than you, because I know she's not going to let a little Dark Magic kill her, yet."
"You're such a pretentious prick. You think you know it all because you specialise in Dark Arts. It takes the Wizard to know the Magic, wouldn't you say Malfoy?"
"Pretentious? Is that your piteous attempt to goad me into conversation, because you like to hear the sound of your own pathetic voice? Boy Wonder can't sit in silence for too long before trying to exercise his presumed superiority?"
"Your-"
"Stop arguing." A faint, gravelly voice moaned between them, causing both boys to lean over the Witch.
"Hermione?" Harry touched her hand lightly.
"Harry." Her chest began to spasm with painfully caught breath, as blood kissed tears ran down her cheeks, "It hurts, there's so much pain!" An ear splitting scream burst out of her chest and Draco quickly flicked his wand, causing her to slump once more.
Closing his eyes against the images of Granger twisting and agonised crying, Draco stepped away. Striding over to the potions bubbling across the room, he forced his mind to focus on the task at hand. Saving Granger.
"Two days." He finally said, to Harry's surprise, "And we need more Potions supplies." Harry nodded in understanding and squeezed Hermione's hand. Two more days.