Chapter XXXIII
The first thing that I could remember was the pain. My head bloody hurt so much I almost wished to not have woken at all. Then I realized that I must be lying on something soft, because it was comfortable, and very different than the floor I was in moments ago. Very slowly I tried to open my eyes, one at a time.
The place was very familiar, at least I remembered the sealing from somewhere. The pain in my head intensified, and I closed my eyes again, moaning when I realized that moving my neck made it even worse.
I stood there for a couple of moments, before trying again. I glanced at my sides, and realized why the place looked familiar. For some reason that I couldn't really grasp at that time, I was in the Hospital Wing at the castle.
In my mind when a person died he should probably go to some nice place, or something good. And to my greatest luck I was send to Hogwarts again. Just what every student would love. To spend the rest of eternity in an infirmary.
Before I could continue in my self pity, someone called me from deeper into the room. I turned my head again, enduring some great pain, and stared into the face of Pomfrey. Now I was really disturbed. The last time I knew she was still alive.
-Mr. Malfoy, it's good that you are awake. Your friend has just gone to the classes.
Nothing was making sense. The only person that I could truly call a friend was Blaise, and he was alive, that I was sure of.
-What friend?
. He was really worried you have been sleeping for quite some time.
-What are you talking about?
A look of worry crossed her face for a second, it was brief but made me even more uncomfortable with the whole situation. She turned and walked to a cabinet and got out of there two vials, then walked back to my bed and opened the smaller one, that had a pale green color.
-Does your head hurt?
-Yes.
-Drink this. The taste is not the best, but it will make the throbbing go away.
It was vile, but almost instantly I could feel the pain subsiding. She closed the vial again, and grabbed the other one.
-This one you should take once a day for a week, in case the blow had caused any other problems with your memory.
-What blow? Can you tell me what happened? I thought I was dead, I mean, am I not?
She shook her head and smiled, before turning and heading to the cabinet to put the green thing back there.
-I'm afraid you're quite mistaken . You are indeed alive. It was just a fall. Miss Granger brought you here three days ago, saying the two of you were discussing in the stairs, you lost your footing and ended up knocking your head on the ground. I was beginning to get worried when you didn't wake for so long.
-Wait a moment. You mean I never left the castle?
Now she looked quite concerned.
-Not that I know of.
-And I suppose Blaise isn't the Headboy.
-No.
-And the Death Eaters that were still not captured?
-Some are still free, but the Aurors are working on it.
I can't believe it was all a dream. It was so real, everything seemed like reality. I felt things there, you're not supposed to have so many emotions and feelings when you dream. I was almost inclined to think that this was in fact a dream, but if so I should have been dead.
-Mr. Crabbe, was he found yet?
-Oh, I almost forgot. Yes, just yesterday. And Mr. Potter and Weasley were there too. They almost got Yaxley, but he managed to escape. Professor McGonagall just announced it at breakfast today.
Well some things certainly were my imagination. She got that worried look again, and I noticed that my head stopped hurting. Very slowly I managed to sit up, I was afraid if I moved too fast the pain would come again. She stood at some distance, and was observing me, I assume, to see if something out of the ordinary would happen.
When I was sure that the throbbing wouldn't come back, I stood up and started looking for my robe. I had to make sure that it was all a dream. I had to find Blaise, and Nott if possible, and Hermione. How am I supposed to talk to her after everything that happened? She probably would think I'm crazy if I start talking strange things, and with reason, if this was indeed all part of my imagination.
-Madam Pomfrey, I'm well enough to go.
-You should probably lay down a little more Mr. Malfoy.
-I'm fine. I'll drink the potion, and my head don't hurt anymore. I'm already late to the classes, and I have three days worth of essays to do.
-Do not worry about that. The Headmistress said you could be dispensed of the classes for the day when you woke up. You could talk with the professors, I'm sure they will understand your predicament.
-Thank you, but I must go now.
She looked really surprised now, and I had to hide a smirk at seeing her eyebrows raise and her eyes widen. After grabbing my robe and putting it on, not forgetting to get the potion and finding that my wand was at the small table next to my bed, I exited the place and started walking to the direction of the Transfiguration class.
I waited for some time at the door, until I could hear people grabbing their things and chairs moving. A moment later students were flowing out of the room, and I raised myself a little to try and spot Blaise. He was usually one of the firsts to get out, and I didn't have to wait much to see him.
I just had to wave my hand twice to get his attention, and I could see the shocked look on his face before he started walking to me. I motioned to him to follow me, and he raised a brow before doing so. We were silent until I found an empty classroom and closed the door.
-Draco, what is it? You disappear one day and the next thing I know, you're in the Hospital Wing, with Granger none the less, dead to the world, because you slipped and banged your head. If I wasn't so worried for you I would've laughed. Are you all right? Shouldn't you be lying down or something? You were out for three days.
-Blaise, can you stop making so many questions? You will make my head start hurting again.
-Sorry that I was worried. You know, that's what people do when their friends don't wake up for three bloody days, in case you didn't know.
I sighed. One thing haven't changed, Zabini was still the same emotional freak as always.
-I'm fine. Now I have to ask you something. Have you been talking with Luna Lovegood?
-Wait, what?
-You heard me Blaise.
-Are you crazy Drake? I think you should go back to the Hospital Wing.
I studied his features to see if there was any glimpse that he could be hiding something. But he was looking at me like I had grown another head, and I know Blaise pretty well by know to see when he's not telling me the whole truth. I sighed, it was just a bloody dream!
-No, it's nothing. I just had this crazy dream while I was out. My father is still alive in Azkaban, right?
-Yes, at least I haven't heard anything that said the contrary.
We stood there, in the middle of that empty room for some time. No one said a word, and I was immersed in my thoughts. I knew the moment I talked to Pomfrey that it was a high possibility that I had dreamed it all, but it still hurt all the same.
The thing is, I was kind of happy there. We had people trying to kill us, I know, but there were people that cared. Even if I loathe myself for thinking this, even Weasley and Potter weren't so bad. And I had Hermione.
What am I supposed to do now? I still have feelings for her, even if it was my imagination that put us into that dream, I can't get the fact that I loved her out of my head. And she still probably despises me. That thought hurt more than all others.
I was so into my mind that I didn't see Blaise moving to stand next to me. He looked concerned, as ridiculous as it was.
-You know, Granger asked for you today. I was kind of surprised, she seemed even worried. Did the two of you talked?
I stared back at him and tried to remember what I was doing before I blacked out. But it was still really vague, and I couldn't grasp the memory.
-I'm not sure. I think I may have talked with her in the library.
-Well, that's good. You should apologize.
I could feel my browns furrowing and I tensed.
-What are you talking about?
-I know you liked her Draco. Now is the perfect time to say you're sorry. You don't have anything to lose saying it.
-Probably a few limbs.
He chuckled and smirked at me. For a moment I thought that I could try, I could make it work. He moved to turn back to the door, and stopped at the doorframe.
-Where are you going?
-I have potions now. You should come too.
-McGonagall said I could take the day out.
He looked at me from over his shoulder, and motioned with his head for me to follow him. I frowned and he rolled his eyes.
-Granger will be there.
-Are you trying to get us together? I thought you didn't like the Golden Trio.
-I'm not a fan of Potter, much less Weasley. But that girl has something, and you don't find someone that can curse the Malfoy's heir ass every day.
-My name is not the most liked nowadays.
-Please spare me the self pity. You know what I meant, now get here and come with me to class. Besides, it's been really boring here without you.
I smirked. Blaise has a gift for knowing what to say to people, so they do what he wants, that even I am envious of.
-I knew you missed me.
I ended going with him, and when we entered the class I could hear the whispers until the new professor entered the room. The whole time I spend trying to look at Hermione, and making sure she didn't noticed it. I had to plan a way of getting her alone.
The class ended and I waited for Blaise, because he started talking with a girl from Gryffindor. But patience isn't one of my best traits, and I was almost leaving him there, when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
I looked back and down and almost jumped in surprise. It was Hermione! And she didn't look displeased or like someone have made her talk to me, in fact she looked almost glad, and that surprised me even more.
-It's good to see you're fine.
For a moment I was just so glad she was talking normally with me that I almost forgot to reply.
-Hum… Hello Hermi- I mean, Granger.
When I misplaced her name I could see her brow raising, in that manner similar to McGonagall's that almost made me smile.
-It's fine, you can call me Hermione.
This day was turning better than I imagined.
-Well… If you don't mind … I mean, you don't have to. I know I don't really deserve it.
-You don't.
I cringed at the tone of her voice.
-Look, I know this is not the place, and I meant to talk to you somewhere with less audience, but I don't really know if you would ever want to look me in the face again, so might as well do it now.
We were whispering, but some people that were passing through the door started to notice that Hermione Granger was actually speaking with me, and we weren't throwing hexes yet. Suffice to say that people were starting to look at us, and some even pointed. They couldn't hear what we were talking, from the back of the class where we were, but that might have just made them more curious.
-I know that what I did was wrong, and that you didn't deserve to be called that name, and that I was a prejudiced git, and you have every right to not direct a word at me for the rest of your life. But I think I owe you an apology, and a really delayed one as it is. I don't know if you will believe me or not, but I don't have much to lose now. All I have is my mother, and I plan to right the wrongs that my family have committed, and make her life easier, even if I have to humiliate myself. She's the only one that ever loved me, and I owe my life to her, and to Severus. I can't really say to him how grateful I am, but I can try with the others. So Hermione, I'm deeply sorry for everything I made you go through, and even if you can't forgive me, which I will comprehend, I just want you to know that I'll blame myself for the rest of my life, for what I did.
I took some air, and dared to look her in the eyes. She was so surprised that it made me smile a little. I already miss her, even if she is standing right in front of me. I miss what we had, even if nothing of that was real.
-But if you find it in your heart to forgive me, and I don't know anyone better than you to do something as extraordinary as that, I would like to begin again.
Her lips moved, and she was about to say something, but thought better of it. She sighed and looked me in the eyes.
-What do you mean?
-I mean that it would be my pleasure to get to know you Miss Granger.
I raised my hand, and for a moment my heart seemed to stop. I have never been so nervous since the time I had to kill Dumbledore. She didn't move, and I started to put my hand back, when all of a sudden she grabbed it. My eyes rose again, and to my complete astonishment, she was smiling. Not yet my smile, but at that moment I got some hope that maybe I could get to see it again.
-You changed Malfoy.
-Draco.
We were still holding hands, and I couldn't help but smile back at her.
-Well, it's only fair.