GWTPT 17
AN: Hello again, dear readers. I hope you all had a great holiday. There are a lot of new readers following this story. I would love to hear how you found it and your thoughts.
Also, I am curious - do you read using the app or on a browser? The app is being glitchy for me for some reason. I am editing and reposting this chapter because I did not receive a notification that it posted. If you have already seen this chapter, none of the content has changed and I apologize for the duplicate notification.
{ 17 }
It was still dark outside when my eyes snapped open. I lay perfectly still, as I tried to determine what had woken me. For once, it was not a nightmare. It was something else. A noise. A movement. Something.
My eyes darted around the darkened room, looking for anything that would have caused me to wake so suddenly. Hermione was lying next to me on the couch, her back to my chest. She had her arms curled over her head almost protectively.
After several long seconds, when my heart had just started to return to normal and my eyes were drifting shut once again, she curled further in, groaning, followed by a gasping breath. Somewhere between a whimper and a sob came next.
That was it. No doubt. That was the sound I heard that woke me. She must be having a nightmare of her own.
"Hermione?" I spoke quietly as I ran my hand up and down her arm. "Are you awake?"
"Shhh!" Her hands covered her ears and she whispered, "Too loud."
The room was completely silent.
"What's too loud?" I matched her whisper. I'm still not sure she's awake.
Her breaths were coming in short gasping puffs.
"Migraine." A single word that sent a cold chill down my spine. "The pounding in my head. The music. Your voice. My voice. Too. Fucking. Loud."
"What can I do?" I sat up slowly, careful not to jar her as I moved.
"My bag. I need my bag." She groaned as she also sat up. Immediately she dropped her head into her hands and clutched at her hair. "Oh God."
Suddenly she lurched forward and stumbled to the bathroom. She collapsed to the floor and wretched into the toilet.
"Shite." I stood awkwardly in the doorway. My own stomach turned as she emptied the contents of hers.
I felt completely helpless. Useless.
When there was nothing left, she laid her head against her arm and sobbed quietly. I took a tentative step closer. Then another. I kneeled next to her on the floor. I pushed her hair back from her face and muttered a cleaning spell.
Her face was ashen. Her skin was cold and clammy. Tears leaked from the corner of her glassy eyes.
"I need to get you to Pomphrey." I spoke as quietly as possible.
"No." She blinked. "Too late."
Her breaths were slow and shallow. What did she mean, too late?
"My bag." She blinked again. It was the only movement she made. Otherwise, she was completely still. Even when she whispered, she barely moved her lips. "There is a box of medicine in my bag."
Her bag was lying on the bathroom counter. I set it on the floor next to her.
"Open it."
I stared at her for several seconds, not sure I had heard her right. When she didn't move, I nodded my head and focused on the bag. I opened it slowly and looked inside. I felt my lip curve up in a smirk at what I saw.
"You are fucking brilliant, Granger." I huffed out a laugh. "Did you know that?"
I turned back towards her. Her mouth had lifted on one side. Just barely. Just enough.
I turned back to the bag. Inside there were drawers that were individually labeled. As I ran my hand over the labels, they enlarged and lit up enough that I could read them. One of the drawers was labeled 'migraine medicine'.
See. Fucking brilliant.
I opened the drawer. There were several containers inside, but only one box. I lifted it out of the bag. As I did, it enlarged to its normal size, which was rather small. It nearly fit in the palm of my hand.
Her hands were shaking as she took the box out of my hand and fumbled with opening the end of it. My hands covered hers. It took a second or two before she relented and let me take have it. I opened the end and emptied the contents into my hand.
"What the hell is this?" It was something I had never seen before, and the question came out before I could even stop myself. It looked like a card with six little pockets made into it. Four of those pockets were sealed. Two of them were open and empty.
She sighed and took the small contraption from my hands. She pealed the seal from one of the pockets. It took her several tries with her fingers shaking the way they were. Underneath the seal, there was another layer. She used her fingernail to punch through the foil. Then she turned it over and a small round pill dropped into her other hand.
"Water." She whispered.
Right. I looked in her bag once again and grabbed a bottle of water from the drawer labeled 'food and drink'.
It looked like it took every bit of energy she had to take the bottle from my hand and place it against her shaky lips. When she was finished, she handed the bottle back to me and resumed her position, leaning her head on her arm across the toilet seat.
I picked her up off the floor. She whimpered as she laid her head against my chest. I carried her into the bedroom and settled her on the bed. She curled up on her side.
I sat on the edge of the bed until her breathing evened out and she fell asleep. Only then did I dare to take a deep breath and release it.
Hours earlier the bed had felt too intimate. We stayed on the couch, watching the fire until we eventually fell asleep. Now, the bed looked inviting. I am dead tired, and that momentary scare followed by taking care of Hermione, had drained what little energy I had left.
I settled on the mattress next to her and pulled the blanket over top of both of us. I watched her for several long minutes.
How did we get to this point? Granger and I, sleeping in the same bed.
I have no idea.
When I opened my eyes again, there was rain falling outside. Gray light shone through the curtain of water, indicating that somewhere behind the rain clouds the sun had risen.
Hermione was sleeping beside me, but I could tell she had been up at some point. Her hair was still damp from a shower and I could smell fresh strawberries from her shampoo.
I left her there and took my own shower. I suppose I need to start carrying around my own bag of supplies so I'll have fresh clothes with me at all times also.
Or you could ask her to keep some of your clothes in her bag. She has plenty of room.
Her bag was still on the counter. Her box of muggle medicine was still sitting next to it. The strange contraption that held the medicine was lying on top of the box. There were four empty pockets now rather than three.
According to my watch, it was still early. Hermione was still sleeping and my stomach was telling me to eat.
I wonder if I can go to the Great Hall for breakfast, swing by the dungeons to collect my homework, and make it back up here before she wakes up?
I thought it over for a few minutes and decided it was worth the chance.
I moved swiftly through the castle. The corridors were empty. I went straight to the Slytherin common room, and then to my shared dorm room. My dorm mates seemed to all be having a lie in. All of their curtains were still pulled tight around their beds.
I changed my clothes quickly and gathered my bag. I might as well work on homework while she is resting.
My next stop was the Great Hall. This early on a Sunday morning the Hall was practically deserted. That was perfect. I transfigured a napkin into a small box and filled it with a small variety of food. Eggs, bacon rolls and fresh cut fruit. I put a stasis charm on the box to keep the food warm and put it in my bag.
The few occupants of the Hall paid me no mind when I left only a minute or two after arriving.
"Mr. Malfoy."
I had just started up the steps on the main floor when I heard my name being called out behind me. My feet froze. My heart as well.
"Professor Bones." I turned slowly to face the Defense professor, otherwise known as my probation officer working for the Ministry. Tracking my every move. Reporting back to the Powers That Be on the Wizangamot. This woman literally holds my future in the palm of her hand. My eyes met hers.
"I need to have a word with you, if you please." She motioned to an office across the way. Though it sounded like an invitation, it was anything but. I had no choice but to follow.
The door slammed behind me.
Will they let me say goodbye to Hermione? Before they cart me off to Azkaban?
I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat.
"Do you understand the parameters of your probation?" She raised her eyebrow and glared at me.
Fuck me.
"Yes." My heart is thudding in my chest so loud that I'm sure she can hear it. I stared at the wall right behind her.
"One of your classmates informed me that you did not return to your common room last night."
I kept my gaze solidly on the wall.
Do not confirm or deny. Do not even acknowledge the accusation. Just breathe.
"I find this doubly interesting as there was a certain Gryffindor witch that did not return to her common room last night either."
She walked around the front of her desk and leaned against it, directly in front of me. She crossed her arms over her chest and watched me.
"The parameters of your probation clearly state that you are to follow all school rules."
This is it. The end of the road.
"Are you sending me to Azkaban, then?" My eyes locked on hers. I'm not playing these games. We both know I broke curfew, and it isn't the first time.
"Have you ever read the official policy on curfew, Mr. Malfoy?" She smirked at me. There was a glint of humor in her eyes. She handed me a scroll of parchment, which I took reluctantly.
I skimmed through the text twice. It seemed straightforward enough to me. I felt like I was missing something, though. Especially with the expectant look of amusement on the professor's face.
I read through it again, word for word until I got to the very last sentence.
These regulations apply to all underage students.
I read it again.
My lip curled up on one side and relief washed through my body. All underage students.
I am not underage. Neither is Hermione.
"Very interesting reading." I handed it back to her.
"I thought so, as well." She smiled at me, rolled up the parchment and slid it back into her robes. "I'm sure you'll understand when I ask you to keep what you've learned between yourself and Miss Granger?"
"I understand." If the entire eighth year class realized they were not subject to the curfew rules, there could be trouble for the professors.
"And it would be best not to abuse this information any more than necessary." She raised her eyebrow.
"Of course." That would draw attention to the fact that we were not following curfew rules.
"I want to be very clear with you." She tilted her head to one side. "I have been watching you closely this year. What I have observed is the opposite of what my expectations were. Therefore, I'm inclined to give you a little bit of slack. Just be careful you don't hang yourself with it."
That damn lump was in my throat again. I swallowed hard. I didn't realize anyone was paying attention enough to notice that I'm not the same person I used to be. Except for Hermione, of course.
"Thank you, Professor." I cleared my throat. "I appreciate the confidence."
She raised her brow. Her lip tilted up on one side.
"Confidence might be a step too far." She laughed. "Let's say it's more of a tentative willingness to entertain the notion that you are not an evil git that deserves to be locked up for the remainder of your life."
I released a short laugh as well. That sounded more realistic.
"I'll take it." I stood and held my hand out to her. She eyed it for a few seconds, then clasped her hand around mine.
I nodded my head once, then turned to leave. I had my hand on the door when she stopped me.
"Aren't you curious, Mr. Malfoy? I would want to know who reported me."
"No need." I shook my head as I half turned back towards her. "It was either Tracey Davis or Greg Goyle."
Greg had distanced himself from me as much as possible since I started seeing Hermione. He thinks I'm nothing but a blood traitor. Any influence I once had over him is long gone.
And Tracey is a vindictive witch. I wouldn't put it past her at all.
"Very astute observation. You might consider a career in magical law enforcement someday."
"Right." I laughed. "Can you imagine?"
"Don't sell yourself short. I imagine you will accomplish anything you set your mind to."
I stared at her for a long moment. Pride started to swell in my chest. That was a hell of a complement, especially coming from someone like Bones. I left her office with my head held a little higher.
I made it to the second floor before I was stopped again. Potter was standing there, waiting for me.
"Malfoy." His arms were crossed over his chest. His wand held tightly in his right hand. "Where is Hermione?"
Imagine that. Two days ago he didn't give a rat's ass.
"Why do you want to know?"
He took a step closer to me, in what I can only assume was meant to be intimidation.
"You asked me to keep an eye on her. Then she disappears from the castle. Where is she? Is she alright?"
Anger boiled through me at the absolute nerve of this wanker.
"If memory serves you refused to believe me, let alone help me." I sneered at him, my lip curling up in disgust. "What changed?"
His nose wrinkled in distaste.
"Unfortunately, I think you were right." The sour look on his face told me that he despised admitting that more than anything. "I kept an eye on her Friday like you asked. She was…quiet. Withdrawn. Not herself at all. Neville tried to talk to her. She snapped at him and told him to mind his own fucking business."
He ran his hand through his shaggy hair and rolled his neck back with a deep sigh.
"Yesterday, at Hogsmeade, she seemed more like herself, but she was still just…off." His sharp green eyes returned to mine. "Then we returned back to the castle and she vanishes. Never came back to the common room last night, and still isn't anywhere to be found. So I'll ask again. Is she alright?"
Harry bloody Potter. I've never liked him. Probably never will. My first instinct was to tell him to fuck off.
Ultimately, though, Hermione does need him. Even if she won't admit it.
That doesn't mean I have to make it easy on him. Git.
"It's amazing what you can see when you are paying attention, isn't it?" I looked down my nose at him. "For example, does it seem like I'm worried about my girlfriend at the moment?"
He cringed when I called her my girlfriend. I smirked in response. Then I took a step closer, crowding him against the wall.
"That irks you. Doesn't it? Knowing that she wants to be with me, of all people."
He moved fast. So fast, I never saw it coming. In a heartbeat he had grabbed me and shoved me against the wall with his wand at my throat.
It seems I struck a nerve.
"I swear to God, Malfoy. If you hurt her, I will…"
"What?" I flipped my own wand around and pressed it against his side. "What are you going to do?"
His eyes flashed. I could tell it was taking every bit of control he had to keep from cursing me.
"Face it, Potter. She chose me. And there isn't a damn thing you can do about it." I shoved him away from me. The satisfaction of cursing him would not be worth the aggravation of going to Azkaban.
"You aren't good enough for her, Malfoy."
Isn't that the truth. Still, she seems to think that I am. And she slept in my arms last night.
"I never claimed to be." I shoved his shoulder with my own as I pushed past him and continued up the stairs.
I was setting the food out on the table when I heard movement behind me.
"Is that breakfast?" Her voice was quiet but carried across the otherwise silent room.
I turned to find her leaning against the doorway to the bedroom. She looked better than she had in the middle of the night. Still pale, but not ashen. More tired than in pain.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yeah. I could try to eat." She rubbed her hand across her stomach.
I didn't ask her how she was feeling. I could tell she was still off. I pulled her chair out for her, then I sat in the opposite seat.
We ate in silence until Hermione cleared her throat.
"You can talk now. The worst of it is over." She ate slowly, taking small bites. Despite her assurance that the worst was over, she still spoke quietly. Above a whisper, but definitely not normal volume.
"What was that medicine you took last night?"
"It was a muggle medicine for migraine relief called rizitriptan." She nodded slowly. "Migraine disease is rare among wizards, so there has never been a potion developed for it. Most rely on pain potions, but I can't take those."
She pushed her hair back behind ears. I watched her for a minute, waiting for her to continue.
"It helps, though? You seem better, but not at the same time."
She took a sip of tea. I waited. Thirty seconds passed before she met my eyes.
"It works, usually, but it leaves me feeling exhausted. Slow. Numb." Her eyes blinked closed. Her words were slurred together. She might just fall asleep in her food at this rate. "I don't take it unless I have to."
"Like last night?" Obviously.
She lifted her eyebrow then returned to her food.
"What did you mean, when you said it was too late to go to Pomphrey?" That had been bothering me. Is it ever too late to go to the hospital when you are in pain?
"I just meant it was the middle of the night." She lifted her shoulder and let it drop. "There really isn't anything she can do to help me, so I only go to her if it's during the week and I can't function enough to go to class. Mostly, I just take my medicine and keep going."
"So, if it were tonight, you would have let me take you?" I'm trying to understand her logic, but it really is not making sense.
"Probably not." She huffed a short laugh.
Stubborn. That's the only word for it.
I have more questions, of course. I want to understand what causes her to have these migraines in the first place, if there is anything she can do to prevent them, and how I can help when she has them.
I'm also curious. When she was in the hospital a few weeks earlier, Potter had stated that he didn't know what was wrong with her. Weren't they together during most of the war? Surely he would have witnessed her in one of these episodes. Right?
Despite all of these questions that were swimming around in my head, she looked like she might fall asleep in her eggs.
"You should lay back down. Get some more rest."
She didn't argue with me. She merely nodded her head and shuffled back to the bedroom.
"You don't have to stay here. I'll probably just sleep all day." She mumbled as she was settling against the pillow. Her eyes were already fluttering shut.
I pushed the hair off her forehead and brushed my lips against her skin.
She was already asleep.
I have no intention of leaving her alone.
I watched her for a few more minutes before I went back to the table and finished my breakfast.
I sat at the table with my arithmancy homework and notes spread out in front of me. The morning was gone. Cold rain continued to fall outside, and Hermione continued to sleep in the bedroom.
I tried to focus on the figures in front of me. Something wasn't making sense, though. I started over three times and still couldn't find the correct solution.
"What the fuck?" I mumbled to myself in frustration.
"You are forgetting to change your signs." Hermione's voice carried softly across the room. I turned with my eyebrow furrowed. How would she know that?
"Where?" I snapped at her. She came up behind me and put her hands on my shoulders, before sliding her hands down my arms and leaning her head against my shoulder.
A shiver ran down my spine.
"Here. This should be a negative reciprocal." She pointed to something on the parchment. My eyes were focused on her, though. She tilted her head towards me and realized I was looking at her instead of the problem. Her eyes sparkled with amusement. She raised one brow. "Malfoy? Focus."
"Focus on what?" I was staring at her lips. She leaned closer, indulging me in a long, slow kiss. She had been eating her sugar quills again. The sweetness lingered on her lips.
"Maybe I should just go back to bed?" She laughed when she pulled away. "I didn't mean to distract you."
"Hmm. Perhaps you should stop sitting next to me in class, then." My arm snaked around her waist and pulled her down on my lap. "You have no idea how distracting you are."
"How distracting I am?" She bit into her lower lip and looked up at me through her eyelashes. "What about you?"
"Me? I was sitting here, minding my own business, working on homework." My hand skimmed absently across her outer thigh.
"Exactly." Her cheeks tinged pink and she averted her gaze. She cleared her throat and clasped her hand over mine. Hard.
Too much.
As soon as she relaxed her grip, I moved my hand to her waist which had proven to be safe territory. She released a sigh.
"Let me get this straight. I distracted you by studying?"
She shrugged her shoulder.
"I just came in here to get something to drink. And yet, somehow I ended up here." She gestured towards our current position. Then she leaned forward and kissed me quickly. Before I could even process her lips against mine, she pulled away and stood.
My hand caught hers.
When her eyes met mine, her lips tilted up on one side.
"I thought you wanted me to stop distracting you?" Her voice was tinged with amusement.
"I'm not sure that's even possible." I tugged on her arm until she sat back down across my lap. "You don't have to be anywhere near me to be distracting."
Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. Her breath caught in her throat. I stared into her hazel eyes and I wondered if she had any idea how much she means to me.
I briefly entertained the thought of kissing her again, but then she released a deep sigh and leaned her head against my shoulder.
I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. My arm wrapped around her waist and slid over the phoenix on her arm to settle against her shoulder. My lips skimmed across her forehead.
"How are you feeling?" I asked after a long moment.
There was a long pause. She drew small patterns against my chest with her fingers.
"Better." She almost sounded convincing. "Tired. I won't have the energy to do much more than lie around today. You don't have to stay here with me. If you have things you want to do, you should go do them."
My hand glided back and forth over her shoulder. My other hand rested against her knee.
"This is as good a place to study as anywhere else." And I have no intention of being away from her until I have to be. "I did have an interesting morning, though. I didn't have a chance to tell you when we were eating breakfast."
She didn't respond, though she did tilt her head back so she could look at me.
"I went to my room to get my bag. Bones stopped me on my way back."
She raised her brow and waited.
"She's the one that reports back to the Ministry, if I am following my probation or if it should be revoked."
Her whole body froze. Her hand gripped my shirt. She didn't even breathe.
Suddenly she straightened. Her eyes searched mine. I could see panic starting to set in.
"You explained to her, right? That the stairs never came back?"
"I didn't have to." My lip curled up on one side. "I wasn't in any trouble."
She stared blankly at me for a long moment. Slowly, her grip on my shirt relaxed. She blinked and took a deep breath.
"Explain."
"The curfew policy clearly states that it applies to all underage students." I smirked.
I waited for her to react. She just stared at me. She blinked a few times, but she didn't seem to understand the significance. She wrinkled her brow in confusion or concentration. My eyes searched hers, looking for anything besides the blank stare.
"Hermione, I'm of age. So are you. That policy does not apply to us."
She blinked several times and shook her head.
"Wait. What?" Her eyes widened and her lips lifted up in a smile. "Are you serious?"
"Bones was the one that pointed it out to me. She asked me to keep it between us and don't use it often enough to draw attention to the fact."
She was quiet for a long time. Long enough that I started to wonder what was going through her mind. Finally, she released a deep sigh.
"Oh, thank God!" She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me. I held her for several long heartbeats before she pulled back. Then she smacked me in the back of the head.
"Ow! What was that for?" Okay, it was not a hard smack, but it still took me by surprise.
"Don't scare me like that!" She scowled at me and moved quickly off my lap. I could see a hint of humor in her eyes, though.
I smirked as I watched her turn and lean against the table. She crossed her arms over her chest.
"You aren't going to get rid of me that easily, Granger." I leaned back in my chair and fought the urge to smile.
"I don't want to be rid of you, Malfoy." She rolled her eyes and laughed. "I think that's the whole point."
Warmth flooded through my veins.
"Well good. Because I don't want to be rid of you, either." I rolled my eyes just as she had. I almost missed the dark cloud that passed over her features. She averted her eyes and stared at the ground.
What the hell was that about?
"I figured, after this morning, well, sooner or later you'll realize I'm never going to be…normal." She fidgeted with her hair and stared at the ground.
My mind raced as I tried to figure out what happened this morning that she thinks would be a deal breaker for me. I came up empty. Nothing abnormal had happened. Had it?
"What happened this morning?" I leaned forward and put my elbows on my knees with my hands clasped together in front of me. My brow furrowed as I tried to understand.
"Right." She scoffed. Her hands tightened into fists. "Like you don't remember the migraine that woke me up in the middle of the night and ruined everything."
My eyes widened at the anger in her voice. She rubbed her temples and turned around, walked across the sitting room and stared out the window.
I sat stock still, frozen in place momentarily by the sudden turn in the mood of the room. What had been light and playful was suddenly dark and gloomy.
Darkness.
Demons.
Fuck.
I took a deep breath before crossing the room and standing behind her. I put my hands on the windowsill to either side of her. I inhaled her strawberry and vanilla aroma.
"The Demon is lying to you again." She tensed. Her fingers dug into the flesh of her arm. "Nothing can ruin what happened last night. Not for me anyway."
She sighed and shook her head.
"You cleaned up my vomit, Draco." She ran both hands through her hair, gripping it tightly.
"You came apart in my arms, Hermione." I dipped my head and placed a kiss on her shoulder. "You slept in my arms. Last night was easily one of the best nights of my life."
She released a shaky breath and leaned back against me.
"For me, too." Her eyes fluttered shut and she swallowed hard. I kissed the skin at the base of her neck. A shiver ran down her spine.
"Next time, we are sleeping in the bed, though. My neck still hurts from sleeping on that couch." I placed another kiss just below her ear.
"Next time?" She huffed a short laugh as she turned around and leaned against the windowsill.
"Exactly." I leaned my forehead against hers. "Sooner or later, you'll realize that I don't give a fuck about normal. I want you."
Her breath caught in her throat. Her hands were shaking when they settled against my waist.
My heart was thudding against my chest.
Merlin and Salazar.
What the fuck is this witch doing to me?
"Draco." My name escaped her lips as a harsh whisper. Her eyes searched mine.
I pushed her hair back and cupped my hands around her face. Slowly, I leaned in and brushed my lips against hers. With a deep sigh, I took a step back. It took every bit of willpower that I had. I can tell she still isn't feeling great, though. And I don't want her to think that I'm only interested in one thing.
"What are you doing?" Her brow furrowed. Her hands stayed gripped around my shirt, preventing me from leaving.
"Stopping while I'm ahead." My lips tilted up on one side. "Besides, I think you've distracted me long enough."
She took a step closer, filling in the space I had just created between us. She released my shirt and wrapped her arms around my waist while resting her head against my chest.
It reminded me of the first awkward hug we had shared in this very room weeks ago. I put my arms around her and pulled her in even closer.
My life has changed so much since that day. Since the beginning of term. Since the end of the war.
"Alright then." She took a step backwards and inhaled deeply. "Let's work on your Arithmancy."
Right. Arithmancy.
For the rest of the afternoon we worked on homework. With Hermione's help, I finally figured out what I was doing wrong in the arithmancy calculations. From there, I completed an essay for charms, a theory assignment for potions, and translated a fable from ancient runes.
The rain outside continued throughout the day, a steady stream of water flowing past the windows all day.
Hermione was true to her word. She had said she wouldn't have much energy all day, and she was right. She napped off and on as I completed assignments. Mostly she lay on the couch in front of the fire. Occasionally she would get up, wander to the table to see what I was working on, then go back to the couch. As the day wore on, she seemed to become more and more alert.
With a hefty sigh, I completed the runes assignment.
"Fascinating, isn't it?" She sat next to me and pulled the book over so it was in front of her on the table.
"Hardly." Have I mentioned I hate translating runes?
"I meant the story." Her lips tilted up in a small smile. "The phoenix and the serpent."
My eyes settled on the colorful flesh of her arm. The phoenix rising from the ashes.
"It's not realistic at all. The serpent saves the phoenix' life? We both know the serpent would have killed the phoenix the first chance it had." My fingers skimmed across her arm, outlining the creature that was permanently embedded in her skin.
"I am almost positive that is the entire point." She let her fingers drift across the runes printed in the book.
I didn't bother to contradict her. To me, the story was tedious and boring. If she liked it, who am I to tell her she's wrong?
"We should go downstairs for dinner." I don't want to leave our solitude, but enough people have noticed our absence already.
She nodded in agreement and started gathering her belongings back into her bag. We both knew we wouldn't be coming back here tonight. This time as we approached the main stairwell together, a set of stairs moved into place, allowing us to leave the third floor behind.
As we descended the steps, a figure appeared on the landing below.
Potter.
His eyes locked on mine. Hard. Cold. He glared at me. Had he been there since this morning? Waiting for us?
Hermione saw him a moment later. She hesitated, her steps faltering.
"Harry. What's wrong?" She looked back and forth between us, trying to figure out why we were shooting daggers at each other.
"Off the top of my head, I would say you, dating the spawn of Satan." His lip curled up in a sneer.
She blinked a few times.
They stood like that for several long moments. Their eyes were locked together as they each waited for the other to back down. Finally, Hermione took a deep breath, let her head fall back, and released it slowly.
"I get it, okay?" Her voice sounded tired. "I've been a mess since before the final battle. You're worried about me. You think I'm making bad decisions. Etcetera, etcetera."
"Something like that." He ran his hand through his hair revealing the lightning bolt scar on his forehead. He stepped forward and grabbed her hand. "I love you. You know that, right? You are the sister I never had."
My eyes narrowed and I glared at the dark haired menace for several heartbeats before I turned my focus back to Hermione.
She was frozen, rigid. Her eyes were locked on the hand that still circled her wrist. She blinked several times. She drew a shaky breath, then stepped back, pulling her arm free from his grasp.
"I love you, too, Harry. You are the…" she stopped, squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath. "You are like a brother to me."
Not the brother she never had. Not anymore.
"I won't lie and tell you that I'm fine. I'm really not." She turned away from him and put her arms around my waist. I slid my arm around her waist and kissed her forehead. She looked up at me and smiled. "I can say that I have hope that one day I will be, though."
I searched her eyes for the part that she wasn't saying. She has hope because of me. There was that damn warmth flooding my chest again.
"You will be." I told her, low enough that she could hear but Potter probably couldn't. He didn't need to hear it anyway.
"We will be." She leaned forward and kissed me.
"Oh, Merlin!" Potter groaned. "Seriously, no one wants to see their surrogate sister snogging their enemy. It's just not natural. It's….creepy."
Hermione laughed against my lips.
"Maybe you shouldn't lie in wait and ambush us in the corridors then." I turned and smirked at him. Then, being the bigger man that I am, I held out my hand.
It wasn't the first time I had done so. When we were eleven, he made it a point to humiliate me by rejecting my friendship in front of the whole class. This time, it was only the two of us and Hermione.
She held her breath, waiting to see what he would do this time around.
His eyes darted back and forth from me to her, then back again. Finally, he sighed. Then he reached out and grasped my hand.
It wasn't a declaration of friendship. It was an acknowledgement that Hermione needs both of us. It was a truce of sorts.
Hermione hugged me a little tighter. Gods, the things I would do for this witch.
I should probably be worried about that.
AN: Migraine disease is no fun at all. *Sigh* At least Hermione had Draco there to help her. For anyone that is wondering, when Draco tells Hermione about the curfew policy and she doesn't get it until he explains – sometimes during a migraine attack, things that should be obvious are difficult to understand. You know you should be able to comprehend something, but you just can't connect the dots. For me, that feeling of confusion is sometimes as bad as the migraine pain itself.
So anyway…no one is in trouble for missing curfew. Draco and Harry agree they still don't like each other, but they have a truce of sorts for Hermione's sake.
Feel free to leave me a review and let me know your thoughts.
Until next time.
-mezy