A/N : Hello! It's me again. I am really sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. I have been really busy lately so please forgive me. *waves a white flag* But hey I hope to make it up to you amazing people with this long chapter. I think the next post will be by next week.

Disclaimer : It belongs to J. . Of course you know that.

And Away. We. Go...

I Won't Kill Him

"No, Hermione. You can't..." – Draco went over to her bedside, blinking back tears. Madam Pomfrey, I'm sure you can do something. Please save her. Please..." – He was literally pleading.

Harry and Ron were exchanging shocked looks. They knew Draco had become more cordial towards the Golden Trio and other Gryffindors but the way he was acting now was more than just cordial. It seemed as though he loved her. But that was an outrageous idea. Very laughable indeed.

Looking at the Malfoy heir's pathetic condition, Pomfrey spoke up – "Mr. Weasley, I need you to go and call the Headmaster immediately. The password is Lemon Sherbet. And Mr. Potter, I will require your assistance." She was about to assign a task to Draco too but seeing him clutch Hermione's hand made her decide otherwise. That boy has suffered too much. – She thought.

Ron nodded and sped off towards the door while the mediwitch along with Harry started looking into cabinets and drawers for a certain potion.Kingsley had to inform the Ministry about all this and so, he left. Normally, he would not have bothered about it but this was THE Hermione Granger. Exceptions have to be made for an exceptional person.

Hermione pulled Draco towards her, embracing him tightly with one arm. "It's alright Draco. It's alright. Anyone who takes birth on this Earth has to die. Sooner or later."

Harry must have heard this for he started searching faster and muttering something like – "I won't let this happen."

Draco, on the other hand, shook his head vigorously – "No. Now is not the time for you to go! You can't give up hope. Come on, what happened to that Gryffindor courage? You just cannot give up. Think about your friends, Hermione. Think about all the people in the world who love you. What will they do? Think about me, how will I live?!"

"Bloody Hell! What are you saying, Malfoy?!" - Ron spluttered, with his face's colour matching his hair's. Perhaps, he had entered just in time to hear Draco's last statement. Hermione opened her mouth as if to say something but just then, Madam Pomfrey entered with Harry, carrying a vial with dark red liquid.

"Hermione, drink this. Please." – The mediwitch stated with finality, extending the vial towards her. Hermione took some minutes to empty the bottle, but at the end when she lowered it, the potion was gone.

"What was that?" – she grimaced.

"A potion to try and stop the internal bleeding and reduce the pain." – Madam Pomfrey replied. Just then, a shuffling sound was heard and she rushed out of the cubicle, drawing curtains behind her. They could not risk Hermione's existence being known to any student. But it was not an injured student like she had thought. It was the Hogwarts' Headmaster – Albus Dumbledore accompanied by Professor McGonagall and another man in healer robes. The mediwitch released a sigh of relief and pulled up the curtains again.

"Remember Wadden, you cannot talk about this to anyone." – Dumbledore was heard warning the man.

"Who is this person, Albus? So much of secrecy..." – the words died in his throat and he gasped out loud when his eyes fell upon Hermione. The man called Wadden was a tall man wearing dark blue robe with crimson linings which Draco knew only the senior healers at St. Mungo's wore. His hair was grey with age and his blue eyes reflected his knowledge and experience from behind the dark-rimmed spectacles he sported. "This cannot be... I mean how...we took her for dead...Hermione Granger?"

"Now I am certain that the conditions do make sense?" – Dumbledore smiled crookedly.

"Who is he?" – Harry asked, entering the area.

"He is Wadden Smith. Exceptional healer and also a great potions master."- Dumbledore explained. "He is the only one who agreed abide by my conditions. So, he will be tending to Miss Granger."

"What conditions?" – Hermione asked. Always the curious one. Draco thought, smiling.

"Oh just that I could not talk about this with anyone. Also I will be obliviated immediately if I make any attempt on the contrary." – Smith stated. "As if I was going to defy the great Albus Dumbledore."

"Can we just focus on the task at hand?" – Ron spoke up. He finally said something that was useful. Draco himself was getting restless. The so-called Healer was talking to Dumbledore as if they were meeting for a movie and was making no effort of examining Hermione's injuries.

"Oh yes, of course Mr. Weasley." – Smith immediately took off into action and performed a series of tests on Hermione.

"Outrageous!" – He gasped after sometime. "Cruciatus curse used almost everyday. Broken bones. Um...Mental torture. The lady sure has determination and courage. Not everyone would be able to survive this kind of treatment."

"I am really sorry, Miss Granger but can you please tell me how they tortured mentally?" – He continued shakily.

"Why do you have to know that? What use –" Draco started shouting but was silenced when Hermione spoke up.

"Fenrir Greyback." – Her voice cracked a little, but still carried hatred and malice.

"Did he?" – Draco gritted, balling his fists.

"He tried but I fought him. I was punished for that." She did not have to tell them what Greyback had tried to do. His reputation spoke up pretty well for him.

Draco got up and was out of the cubicle in three strides. "Greyback." – He spat out. He picked up a tall glass bottle from a nearby table and threw it against the wall with all his might. Thankfully the infirmary was empty. Then, he stood there trying to demolish the wall with his bare fist. All the while muttering obscenities in all the languages he knew. He just wanted to get his hands upon that filthy creature and then beat the shit out of him. All he needed was the location. Just a bloody location.

Sometime passed before the Healer, followed by McGonagall, emerged from the cubicle. Professor McGonagall thought of talking to Draco but decided otherwise when she saw him drive his fist into the wall again – his knuckles bloody. She just ushered Healer Smith out quickly. As soon as they were out, Professor Dumbledore came out and looked at the mess in front of him.

"Madam Pomfrey is not going to be very happy about these blood stains." – He said, walking over and gesturing to the wall which Draco had been punching.

"I assume you have been imagining this unfortunate wall to be Greyback?" – He mused aloud.

Draco landed another punch as an answer.

"I will take that as a yes."

"Leave me alone." – grunted Draco.

"I would do so. But Miss Granger has requested me to bring you inside. So you should let me heal your hand." – Dumbledore stated. Draco, hearing Hermione's name, cooperated. "Would you kill Greyback if you could lay your hands on him?" – Dumbledore asked while muttering the healing spells. He remained quiet for some reason and spoke only when he was about to enter the cubicle.

"Killing Greyback directly would be too less a punishment for what he has done." – Draco said without turning back. " I will make that thing wish for death."