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Chapter 3: Denial:

Draco went through his day and tried to ignore the sinking feeling that was in his gut. He knew he should have tried to stop Granger from her little rendezvous that she had planned tonight. Maybe he even should have gone with her, but every time he let one of these thought enter his head, he would rationalize the fact that he had no prior relationship with Granger. She wasn't his responsibility. Why should he have to worry about her, or even look out for her? It was hard enough to take care of himself. He wasn't her bloody keeper.

He went to work that day still thinking about her safety. He went into his office at Malfoy Enterprises and told his assistant to make sure he wasn't bothered at all. He wanted all meetings cancelled. He didn't want to take any messages or receive any visitors. He sat at his desk and put his head down on his arms. While did he feel guilty, dammit? She could take care of herself.

It was apparent he wasn't going to get any work done today. He got up and told his assistant that he was going home, and was not to be contacted in any way, shape, or form. His assistant tried to motion to Malfoy that there was someone waiting for him in the outer office, but Malfoy was too preoccupied to pay attention to the signs the man was giving him. Malfoy turned to leave and surprise of all surprises, Harry 'stupid wanker' Potter was standing in the flesh before his very eyes.

He tried to walk right past him, but Potter stood up and said, "Malfoy, I'm here on official Ministry business. We need to talk."

"Let's talk and walk then, because I was just heading home," Malfoy snapped.

"Its ten o'clock in the morning," Potter exclaimed, "you put in a long day at work, aye?"

"Cut the crap and tell me why you're here," Draco said, running his hand through his hair. Draco headed toward the lifts with Potter by his side.

As the lift doors closed, Potter said, "The Ministry has reliable information that your life may be in danger."

"So?" Draco said.

"So, I need to let you know that the Ministry is offering you protection, if you should want it," Harry answered.

"No thanks," Draco said as he walked off the elevator.

Harry walked in front of Draco, and put his hand out to stop him. "Don't you even want to know what all of this is about, Malfoy?" Harry inquired.

Since he already knew what it was about, he just told Potter, "Not particularly. Now, if you'll excuse me Potter, I need to get home."

He left Potter in the Entry Hall of Malfoy Enterprises, looking aghast, and he apparated home.

He spent the rest of the day meandering around his apartment. He put up some extra protection charms, and other such nonsense. Mostly, he just did little things to keep himself busy. He wished he knew how to get a hold of Granger. Not that he had changed his mind; he still wasn't going with her to meet this informant. He merely would like to get a hold of her, if he could.

The morning passed into afternoon, the afternoon passed into evening. When the evening finally succumbed to night, Draco was beside himself with worry. Damn Granger. He was sitting on his sofa, trying to read a book, when the clock on his mantle chimed ten times. It was 10:00 o'clock. It was time for her meeting. He tried to read his book again, but when he realized he had read the same paragraph for the fifth time; he threw the damn book down. He went to go make himself a drink. He went out to his patio and sat down on a lounge chair. The stars were very bright tonight. He wondered if Granger could see the night sky wherever she was.

Draco woke up with a start. He hadn't even realized he had fallen asleep. What time was it? He walked through the patio doors into his living room, and looked at the clock on the mantle. It was 12:38 am. Her meeting had to be long over. He should have told her to contact him when she was done, so he would have known if she was okay. Instead, the last thing he said to her was 'don't ever contact me again'.

He decided to go on to bed. He walked to his front door to make sure it was properly locked, and that all anti-lock charms were in place. As he approached the door, he heard a small cry. Like the cry of an injured animal, or maybe the cry of a dove. He pulled out his wand and slowly opened his door. Granger!

She was lying on his doorstep in a heap. She was on her side, with her back up against his door. He quickly pulled her over the threshold, and shut and locked his door. He turned her over; and what he saw almost made him throw-up. She was almost unrecognizable. If it weren't for her hair, he wouldn't even have known it was she. Her face was beaten and bloodied. He left arm looked like it was barely still attached to her body. She had lacerations and abrasions and bruises everywhere. He was afraid to lift her, but he didn't want her to be on the cold marble of his foyer any longer than she had to be.

He levitated her to one of the guestrooms and called for one of his house elves. He told the little elf to contact Draco's personal healer, and have the man summoned to his flat immediately. He reminded the elf to be sure to open the floo in the living room so the healer could enter. He didn't know if he should call Potter or not. For the time being, he wouldn't. As he was waiting for the healer to arrive; which he knew would be soon, (considering he paid the man such a high monthly stipend) he decided to try to check to make sure she was still alive. From the looks of things, that possible outcome was dubious at best. He leaned over her, and that was when he saw it: a note, pinned to her blouse, addressed to him.

He took a deep breath in, because he was afraid to remove the note. First, he was afraid of hurting Granger. Second, he really didn't want to know what it said. He plucked up the courage, removed the note, and read the damn thing.

To Draco Malfoy, Death Eater:

This is just a taste of what's in store for you. We didn't kill her, because she's not a pureblood. But we wanted you to know that we're serious. We'll rid the world of all Death Eater scum. You'll be next. And we'll not leave you alive, as we did her. You will die. We're coming for you.

Remind Granger that she'll be next, if she doesn't cease interfering in our business. Also give her our gratitude for killing Dolohoe. One less Death Eater for us to kill.

You have been warned. Until we meet:

The Mud Ones

Malfoy felt a constriction in his chest. He read the note once more. He wanted so badly to throw it in the fireplace and destroy the blasted thing, but he thought better of it, and decided he should put it somewhere safe. He opened the top drawer of the bureau in the guestroom and put it safely inside.

His servant told him that the healer had arrived. Draco ran to the fireplace in the living room to meet him. He showed the man to the guestroom. When the healer entered, he took one look at the woman on the bed, and turned to look at Malfoy. "What happened?" the man implored.

Draco told him he really didn't know. The healer insisted that he had to take her to St. Mungos immediately. He said that she was injured beyond what he could handle. Draco knew if he took Hermione to the hospital that too many questions would need answered. He shook his head no, and told the healer to do his best, but she must stay where she was. He asked no questions, and got to work. He said many healing charms, and at one point, he asked Malfoy to step out of the room.

It was almost an hour before the healer left the bedroom. He told Malfoy not to move her. He gave him several vials of potions, with instructions on when to give them to her and how often. He said he would return in the morning. As the healer started to go, Draco asked, "What all did they do to her?"

"Do you really want to know?" he asked Draco.

Did he? Did he really want to know? He decided that no, he really didn't. Not right now. Not yet. He shook his head no and shook the man's hand. Draco went back into the guestroom and pulled a chair up next to the bed. She looked more like herself, at least. However, that wasn't saying much, as she still looked marred and wounded.

Around four in the morning, she started to stir. Draco, who had not fallen asleep, not even once, jumped immediately out of his chair. He leaned down on the bed, gently, not wanting to cause her any discomfort, and said, "Hermione?"

She merely moaned, and then was silent once more. He sat back down in the chair. What they hell was he supposed to do now?

(Coming up: Draco tries to heal Hermione, one way or the other.)