A/N: Sorry again for the delay, but I'm almost sure now I'll do it once a week. I hope you like it!
Chapter XIV
I fell asleep next to her. She was tired, and scared, but still had that sense of duty and loyalty that seems to come with all gryffindors. After she stopped crying, we talked for almost an hour, before I noticed that she was too silent. For someone who got attacked that morning, Hermione slept peacefully enough.
She was turned facing my left side. I ended leaning on the headboard of the bed, and she was by my side a little shrunken because of the size of the bed. I tried to take a nap, but the moment I closed my eyes my brain began to work frantically.
And so immersed was I in my thoughts, that I didn't even heard when someone got in the infirmary. Not until they started speaking.
-Ron I really think you should calm down. She just got attacked, and I'm sure there's a good explanation for it.
-Potter, I don't think he's breathing at all.
-He will get over it Zabini.
-I think you shouldn't be so sure Potter. But he had to know sooner or later, it's not like it's all the school talked for the last months or something.
-Theo, you're not helping here.
-Wasn't planning to.
Then they were silent, and I was really tempted to open my eyes and get a good look at Weasels face. I can bet money on it that he is as red as his hair. It's a shame Hermione rolled to her side after falling asleep. It would have been even better it she was still hugging me. I couldn't control the smirk on my face.
-WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS MALFOY DOING HERE?
Now I know the guy is stupid, but his girlfriend almost got killed and is finally resting and the idiot have to go shouting. I opened my eyes this time, and glared at Weasley. He was fuming. Then I glanced at Hermione and noticed that as impossible as it was, she was still sleeping. Tough her face was contorted on a frown, and she shifted closer to me.
That made Weasley move and he walked all the way to the bed. I looked at him again and shoot my most smug smirk, and at the same time dropped my left arm around Hermione, making her move until her face was on my stomach. I'm sure Pomfrey dropped something on that juice she demanded Hermione to drink after I got there. Must be a sleeping potion.
-Weasley, long time no seem. Can't really say that I'm glad you came though.
-Malfoy, get out.
Potter came into view, then Blaise and Nott. Zabini was trying, and failing miserably, to contain a snicker, and Theo was openly smirking, and his eyes darted from me, to Weasley and then to Potter, as if he was trying to decide who would raise the first wand.
-You see Weasley, I think Hermione wouldn't like that, she is really comfortable right now.
I saw his hand get in his pocked, and that made Potter move to his side and grab his arm. All the while looking at me.
-Ron, you really should calm down.
-How do you expect me to calm down Harry?!
-The guy has a point Potter. I don't think you would be calm if you have found your girl in bed with another guy.
Potter glared at Nott, and Weasley tried to grab the latter, but was restrained by the boy who lived.
-Zabini I really think you and Nott should talk with the Headmistress.
-What, and lose the show?
I chuckled at the outraged face he made. This got their attention back to me. Potter was still grabbing the Weasels arm when he started talking to me.
-Malfoy, you should be sensible and get out.
My eyebrows rose and I looked disbelieving at him. That's new, now Scarface thinks he can make me do what he wants?
-Sorry Potter, I'm really fine here.
-You bastard get away from her!
-RON!
We all looked to the small girl in the middle of the room. Ginger stood with her arms crossed and a fierce glare on her face. Then she walked until she was at my right, and bended over me to get some loose lock of hair from Hermione's forehead. Then she looked at me with a concerned face.
-Is she alright? She cried didn't she?
I sighed and glanced at her. I knew she was worried, it was a wonder she was gone for that long.
-She's fine, I think Pomfrey put something in her drink to relax her. You know how she is. She's trying not to worry anyone, but she's scared Gin.
Ginger actually looked surprised for a moment after I said her name. Thinking about it, that's the first time I did.
-She told us that she was fine, and that it was just a scratch, but I knew it shook her.
She turned and smiled to Potter, before looking to Blaise and Nott.
-I think you two can go now. Luna wanted to talk to you Blaise. You should go with him Nott.
-Fine, I got it. They want their private time Zabini. I was starting to get bored, Potter won't let anything fun happen.
After they were out, ginger lunched herself on Potter, and he hugged her. I was a little sick from witnessing Potters goofy smile and his smitten face. Ginger has the big savior of the magical world at her mercy. She would be such a good slytherin.
-Ginny, can you please explain to me why the hell Malfoy is here?
Her face was still on Potters shoulder, but I'm sure she just rolled her eyes. When she released Potty, she got in front of her brother and hugged him too, but this time it was quick.
-Hermione asked to talk to him, she was a little distressed.
-Why him?!
-Come out of it Ron, they're friends and you know it.
-I thought it was a phase, and she had come to her senses. And why are you defending him?
He pointed a finger at me and shoot her a disapproving glare. It was almost comic. Who would have thought ginger would actually get on my side? I sure didn't.
-We came to a truce.
-Ginny he's Malfoy!
Her face began to get a little red, and it amused me that even being smaller, thinner and younger than Weasley, she still looked more scary than he ever did. She fumed and looked back at Potter. The latter was at the end of the bed, suspiciously silent.
-Harry, help me here.
Potter signed and glanced at me. He had that worked out look on his face, like someone that hadn't slept in a long time. Now that I think about it, he looks a lot older, even if it's being just a year since I last saw him. He took a long breath and this time his voice was more demanding, but held a tone so worried that it surprised me.
-What happened Malfoy?
Ginny and Weasley stopped glaring at each other, and changed their attention back at us. It was a little unnerving to be in a room surrounded by gryffindors.
-Some time ago Blaise told me his mother was looking for something to buy, and she saw my father in an alley.
-What?! I told you we couldn't trust him Harry, he is working with his father in this. He's hiding him.
Potter just held up his hand in a motion of silence, and Weasley got quiet. It amazes me how much Potter changed. He's more professional now. But I can't say anything for Weasel.
-I told him his mother was still unstable because of the war, and that it was just a blond man. My father died Potter, how do you expect me to believe in something like that?
Scarface frowned, but didn't say anything, so I took it like he wanted me to keep talking.
-Lucius wasn't an Animagus, and no one would have helped him to get out of there.
Weasley shifted and I could hear he whisper.
-I'm sure you would.
I ignored him and began to trace circles on Hermione's back. She tensed for a moment, but then relaxed.
-Blaise wanted to talk to you, but I told him you had I guy to get, and it was nonsense to tell the Aurors about it. He didn't want to, but kept quiet.
The room was silent for a few minutes. Weasley was glaring at me, and I'm sure he thinks I'm just faking being innocent. Ginny was looking at her feet, so I couldn't see what her face looked like. Potter was another story. He was tense, and I can just bet he was pondering what to do with me. His eyebrows were so close together that you could think he just had one. I just wanted to get out of there.
-Malfoy, I don't think you should have neglected that information, but I understand your point. We're trying to get the assassin for a long time, too long in fact. I don't know if he could be your father, and I really don't want to think about what can happen if it's really him, but we can't put away the possibility. And I'm sorry to say this, but you have to come with us.
My breath hitched when he said that, and all I could think where Dementors. Even if they aren't guarding Azkaban anymore, I couldn't help it. The fear, the cold, the helplessness, it all come at that moment. Even Weasley looked surprised. Ginny walked to Potter and put a hand on his arm.
-Harry, I know you don't trust him, but this time isn't his fault. He didn't leave the school more than one time, and that was to go see his mother. He almost didn't receive letters, and they are all from his mother. Hermione is with him almost all the time. You can't just arrest him. He's not so bad, infuriating and a jerk, but…
That surprised me more than anything that day. I knew we were in good terms and all, but I was sure she wouldn't do something like that for someone like me. Ginger likes to surprise me. Then I realized that she was watching me, and I was a little outraged by that.
-How do you know about my mother?
She didn't even look back at me when she answered.
-Hermione.
It hurt more than I thought it would to think that after all, Hermione still don't trust me. I know she had all the right not to, but it still hurts.
-Harry?
Her voice was so small that I almost couldn't hear.
-I'm not arresting him Gin. I don't trust him, and I can't say for sure that he isn't involved. The problem is that I need his help.
That is a phrase I never thought I would hear Potter say to me.