I Can't Do This - Chapter 15

Ron was pacing the room, his skin glowing brighter than a ripe cherry. His red hair was a complete mess for the man had been clawing at it for the last hour absolutely overwrought with anger and an obvious sense of foreboding anxiety. Ron had never been one to hide his emotions. When he was mad, he would let the world know by how hard he stomped his feet and the ever-changing colors of his skin. When he was sad, he was sad enough to alert the people around him, not so much through tears but through his voice. One could say that he had Hermione's emotions in a man's form.

Harry had always been the calm one of the trio. Even though he was the one with the weight of nearly every endeavor the three of them faced on his shoulders, he had the poise and grace to handle the situation without outward emotions taking over his every form. Harry was, of course, taking that poise in full stride at that moment simply sitting on the couch with a solemn, almost sad look about him ignoring Ron's consistent movements in front of him.

Draco, all the while, remained silent having been that way since he revealed to them what he had told Hermione moments before she had, literally, crashed into his arms, fainting. Draco had spent an hour simply sitting with her, attempting to wake her from her unconscious state, but she was out. He figured it was time to tell Potter and Weasley, but only them. He wanted to give Hermione the choice of telling the rest of the clan knowing it was her decision to make. Potter and Weasley, though, were fair game. He needed them to know for the simplicity of actually needing their help. If he was going to save Hermione, he needed the two of them.

"How could...how in the bloody hell could this be happening?!" barked Ron, in a voice loud enough to wake the dead (Dead yes, but not my beautiful angel still unconscious upstairs, thought Draco grimly). "I mean we have to do something. We need to kill him!"

"I already told you that killing him without her drinking that potion will do nothing. She has to be bound to him by his blood before he can be put to death," said Draco in an annoyed tone. Draco may have been reformed and a softer side of him had emerged in these last years, but his temper was still hot. His Slytherin mannerisms were never going to leave him entirely and one thing that every Slytherin hates is repeating one's self.

"I recall you mentioning that Malfoy, but you never told me why," snarled Ron facing him with a glare.

"Weasley I'll give you some credit and assume that you, perhaps, are smarter than I thought you were back in our ol' school days. So looking back at those school days, what four creatures occupied our castle that, oh I don't know, managed to walk through walls and invade private matters that they knew they should not?"

"The ghosts," uttered Harry in a soft voice without looking toward either of the two men.

"Yes, the bloody ghosts. If she does not drink that potion than he is free to come back to haunt her whether it is through ghost form such as that or whether it be through the mind. He'd drive her mad!"

Ron let out a heavy sigh as he began, "But her drinking the potion would–"

"Would bind him to her allowing her mind to be free to fight against that. It would be...it would be the equivalent of granting permission. He would need a password in death to haunt her so she would be the one in control," said Draco smoothly, happy that the two of them had finally managed to see eye to eye on an intellectual level (somewhat at least). "She'll forever be bound to him on some level considering death eater marriages are...well the marriages are forceful in more ways than I can even say or want to think about. However, by her drinking that potion, that puts her on the same level as him. She has the control. She'll be able to fight him and win. Everyone will get the old Hermione back."

"Then we're going to do it. I don't bloody well care what it fucking takes, but I'm going to make sure that the man dies." Draco was surprised to hear those words. It wasn't the actual words, but the fact that it was Harry who spoke them in a voice that he had rarely ever heard before. He expected to hear that from the Weasley bloke considering, as they all knew, Ron let his emotions get the better of him. It was Harry who was always calm and collected. His rage though was seeping through worrying not only Draco, but Ron as well. Both men had rather shocked expressions.

"Look Potter, we're going to save her. I can't allow her to live a life like I did. I wouldn't wish that on anybody and I refuse to allow that to happen to me again. I can't lose her so I have to save her."

"Well we better do it fast. If you're right, which I believe you are, then we must act swiftly." Harry's voice was so dark that it was still managing to unnerve Draco. Where the hell is the Potter I've grown to hate? At least that Potter has some control. "Do you have a plan Malfoy?"

"I have an idea which will lead to a plan," stared Draco noting the loss of hope fading behind Harry's green eyes. "It would take a little bit of time which I know we're short on. It would require Hermione...Merlin I hate to say it, but we'll have to babysit Hermione."

"Babysit?" Ron and Harry had uttered the word astonished and in unison. They were not sure if they had heard Draco correctly. Draco nodded at them confirming it.

"You know Hermione, sadly, even better than I do. While she may be a complete and emotional wreck at this point in time, she is reverting back to who she use to be. The Hermione that I went to school with was ferociously independent and brilliantly cunning. She will do whatever the fuck it takes to end this as fast as she can."

"Hermione is smarter than that," mumbled Harry.

"It got her caught once before. It was her curiosity and need to end dear ol' Aunt Bella that got her caught in the first place. We would not be here if it weren't for her lack of composure in situations like that. What makes you think she won't act in haste?"

"I DON'T KNOW!" roared Harry who completely lost it. The man threw himself back into the couch, hard, and placed his hands over his face. He removed his glasses and rubbed his face in an attempt to calm himself. He mildly did for the next time he spoke, he spoke calmly.

"I just want my friend back. I want Hermione back."

"I understand mate and I do too. We'll do this together and...of course with a lot of help from Hermione. I do believe that she is still the brains in all of this."

Harry started to laugh with Draco while Ron continued to glare at the man. He found himself calming and before he knew it, he laughed along with them in spite of himself.

Hermione's bronzed eyes opened up to her dismay for she immediately felt a headache pounding behind her eyelids. She placed a trembling hand over her eyes shielding them from the light in the room. Her body was sore, but she could not place why. She actually couldn't place how she got there altogether. The last thing she remembered was sitting around the Weasley living room, running out into the snow, and—

Oh yeah, that. What am I going to do?

She sucked in a large gulp of air as she rose up on her elbows which were frail and rather weak. Her body wanted to collapse, but she refused to let it. She wanted to talk to Draco and figure out what they were going to do. It was as though he read her mind for at that particular moment, he walked in with a concerned look written all over his lovely face.

Upon realizing that she was awake and attempting to sit up, he raced over to her sliding down on his knees by the bed. His hand immediately was thrown on her chest pushing her down gently.

"Angel you need to lay down," he whispered making her lean back on the pillow. Her body was too weak to fight against his administrations so she gave in allowing herself to relax against the soft material behind her head. She felt weak and out of control, two things that Hermione did not like to feel.

"What happened?" she asked already knowing the answer.

"You fainted. You scared me to bloody death."

"Sorry," she mumbled looking away from his stare, "I guess that it was just kind of a shock." Draco nodded at her.

"That's understandable Hermione. Just don't do it again.," he said flashing her that Malfoy smirk she once hated so much. She couldn't bring herself to understand why considering now she found that smirk simply irresistible.

"How long was I out?"

"Only a few hours. I figured that it was partially because of the shock and partially because of...well I do believe that I did exhaust you last night." She eyed him making him smile.

"You are always going to be an arrogant prat, aren't you?" Draco nodded at her. "Well at least you can admit it now. Where is everyone else?"

"Most of them aren't here. The oldest brothers I think are at work and so are the those twins. I think their parents are at the Ministry discussing a few things over with the Minister himself. I'm pretty sure they're discussing your divorce. Potter, Weasley, and the SheWeasley are downstairs."

"You know, they have names," said Hermione.

"Well aware Angel and I'm working up to that," he replied giving her a small smile. He leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead instantly relaxing her. She breathed in his scent, that sweet smell of apples overcoming her senses, as his silvery hair brushed against her skin. When he pulled back, she reached her hand to his face and stroked his cheek endearingly. He smiled before placing a tender kiss on each of her slim fingers.

"What am I going to do Draco? I have to kill him and...I can't do that." Draco sighed placing a hand to her warm cheek preparing for the tears to bubble over.

"Hermione, love, I need you to listen to me. I need you to listen to me very carefully," he whispered placing both hands on the side of her face forcing her to meet his eyes. His icy eyes were glued to hers capturing her very soul in that instant. "I need you to remember that I'm always going to be a Slytherin which means that I'm one of the most selfish people in this world. Now I fell in love with you and after last night, well," he said smiling all the while. Hermione rolled her eyes before looking back at him, but Draco noticed that she smiled in spite of herself. "Well I think it's safe to say that you're mine."

"I could agree with that," she murmured looking almost shy.

"And I'm yours," he stated still holding her face in his palms.

"Most definitely," she said gently.

"Now since I am that selfish, I refuse to let you go. I will do whatever it damn well takes to make sure that nothing happens to you. I swear to you, in the name of Merlin, that you're safe."

There they went. The tears that he knew were going to fell dripped from her eyes in heaps. The tears attempted to reach further than the upper part of her puffy cheek, but Draco prevented this. He kissed each tear away tenderly caressing her flushed face. When he let up and looked into her eyes, he was mildly, yet happily, surprised when she reached up and kissed him passionately. He removed his hands from her cheeks wrapping them gently around her neck, hot to his touch.

Upon pulling away and leaning back into the pillow, she smiled up at him melting his heart. Merlin what did I do to deserve this? She is so much better than me. She is so bloody perfect.

"Feel up to coming downstairs?" he asked searching her eyes for the truth which she often liked to hide. He knew that she wanted to be down there with them for it would be a time for them to discuss future plans. She, unlike him, did not worry about her body which was physically exhausted. He wanted to find a solution with her, Potter, and Weasley, but not at the expense of her health. Her eyes couldn't lie to him which was why he was staring at her with such intent.

"I'll be fine."

Her eyes weren't lying.

Draco helped her up and walked with his arm around her back down into the living room which was warm and comfortable, the smell of peppermint overwhelming the house.

"What smells so good?" asked Draco taking Hermione over to the yellow couch near the fire.

"Ginny's baking her specialty and my personal favorite," said Harry with a look of glee on his face. Hermione snickered to herself noting that Harry looked eleven all over again.

Draco leaned back next to her, only after he was sure Hermione was comfortable, and placed an arm behind her sitting placidly on top of the couch. He planted a gentle kiss on her temple before turning his attention back to Ron and Harry.

"So any ideas?" asked Hermione sarcastically.

"Millions 'Mione, but none of which seem practical as you would say," snapped Harry in a playful tone. Hermione smiled at him looking down at her fidgeting hand. Her smile grew as she saw Draco wrap his large right hand over her two small ones. She loved how he had the ability to make her feel so small, so safe. It was different from the way Alan made her feel; small and weak.

"Well I guess I'll just have to run back into the castle and slit his throat in order to get his blood," said Hermione with a hint of defiance in her. Draco and Harry both started to chuckle lightly, more at her rather than what she said.

"That's not a bad idea," said Ron tilting his head halfway talking to himself. Hermione rolled her eyes at him.

"I was joking Ron."

"I'm not. Go back into the castle and get his blood. You know where everything is in there."

"She's not going back in there by herself," growled Draco in a low voice, filled partially with annoyance and partially with perplexity.

"I didn't say that she had to," quipped Ron with a grin.

"Ron I was there for five years. Since then they have surely cast other charms and cloaking spells over it. You won't be able to see the bloody thing."

"You're right. Harry and I won't be able to see it," began Ron looking quite proud of himself, "but somebody else may be able to."

All attention fell on Draco who shot Ron a look which held a mixture of irritation and respect. While the he was frustrated with the thought of even thinking about allowing Hermione to go back into the castle, he was impressed that it was Weasley who had even thought up the idea. Bugger me.

"You are technically still a death eater. You could take Hermione in there. She'd be the brains and you'd be the muscle." Hermione bit her lip, chewing it, as though hope was filling her very soul.

"Weasley that is where you're wrong."

The hope dwindled in Hermione's face as she turned towards Draco. He smiled before he muttered, "You forget that she has a good right hook."

Hermione smiled.

Alan was walking around the Ministry for, what felt like to him, the thousandth time. He had questioned so many people about her. Them, fearing for their own safety at his harsh approach, told him the truth. They just did not know.

He, however, had made the mistake of crossing the wrong person on one occasion. He had passed Seamus Finnegan in the hall, one person who just happened to be working on his divorce case. It took some effort to evade him. He finally had to knock a candle over which landed on his cloak giving him plenty of time to get away. Alan knew that he had to be more careful from that point on.

He was walking through the corridor which led to the exit finding that the day's search had been pointless, when he stopped himself. He heard the minister's voice and the name 'Hermione' uttered. Alan crept himself towards the wall and listened in on the conversation between two men and a woman.

"Surely there must be some way to get this enacted quicker," said Molly Weasley with an uneasiness in her voice.

"I'm afraid that I'm doing everything in my power. Being Minister does not give me full authority. Where is the girl anyways?"

"She's safe. I'll just tell you that."

Alan sighed realizing that he wasn't going to get anything out of that conversation and there was no way that he could strike on them like that, not in the center of the Ministry. The Weasley couple knew where she was or at least was putting up that cover. They would surely be easier to get to than The-Boy-Who-Lived and his side-kick friend.

A/N: Alright well I finally finished this chapter. Thanks you guys for being so understanding about my finals. I just really had to study and finish up an essay so this story had to come second I'm afraid. However, I'm on break now so I'll be focusing on this story as well as another I just started to write today! Don't worry--I'll still be focused on this one. The other one is worlds different from this one though so I'm excited about it. It is, of course, a Draco/Hermione fic. Would you guys expect anything less than that from me?

"I Can't Do This" is a song by the band Plumb. It's a Christian rock band, but I love them. I go to a Catholic school, but my best friend is a hardcore Christian so she got me hooked. What can I say? It's a great song though about someone who can't do something...unless she gets some help. That is precisely Hermione's problem.

READ AND REVIEW!!! If you can read it, then you can review it.

Iris is the work of fanfiction. The characters belong to J.K. Rowling, but the featured story is mine.