You've guessed it...the movie is, indeed, Just Like Heaven

Chapter Four

It was the next day that he found himself outside the joke shop run by the Weasley twins. Fred and…the other one, whatever his name was. Was it Greg?

Hermione was standing next to him staring at him sternly. She motioned to him in a sweeping gesture. "This really does bring back memories," she said, not without humor, referring to his petulant stance.

"Never mind the fact that they're Weasley's! But, please, let's not forget the beating I took in fifth year because, really, I'm not up for a repeat performance…," he whispered urgently, furtively glancing from side to side making sure that he wasn't drawing any attention, all the while regretting his decision to follow Granger.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "They're not the type to hold grudges though. They're much too easy-going to hold grudges. That's why they're perfect!" He planted his feet resolutely. "Oh for Merlin's sake, you're being childish!"

He stared at her, clearly not amused. He adopted a high-pitched voice. "My name's Hermione Granger and I'm the smartest witch of all time." He snorted. Voice back to normal, "This is the worst idea I've ever heard! You're just trying to get me killed! Since you can't hit me, you'll find someone else who can!"

She looked as though she were keeping herself from laughing. "Don't be so dramatic! Just trust me!"

He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Said the spider to the fly," he mumbled. He didn't know why he was acting this way. He just couldn't help it. It was her. It had to be her. He felt like he was eleven again. She must bring out the worst in me.

She huffed. "Enough of this," she exclaimed, frustrated. She eyed him thoughtfully and then took him completely by surprise. She rushed him. Rushed into him, more like.

It was like he was plunged into icy water. She was trying to possess him! He tried to shake her out, but to no avail. He was having trouble controlling his limbs. In fact, he watched in horror as his legs slowly started shuffling him toward the opening of the shop. He fought against her trying to keep himself from inching to the door.

"Stop it!" He yelled. And was promptly slapped by his own hand. Realizing his mistake by yelling, he glanced anxiously around at the eyes now turning his way. Whispering, "Granger, you're making me look crazy!"

Then he watched, wide-eyed, as a wobbly leg lifted itself from the ground and was about to take a step. He concentrated, but he couldn't bring it back in place. It was then she took a firm hold and she raced him unsteadily through the door of the shop, the bell announcing their arrival. He promptly collapsed to the floor when she stepped out of his body.

He sat fuming watching as she dusted herself off and smoothed her shirt. He almost sighed in pleasure when the warmth filtered through his body. He was about to stand when two figures moved before him casting a shadow over his body.

"Look, Fred, it's Draco Malfoy," a twin exclaimed. "Wasn't it nice of him todrop in and say hello?"

"Why, yes, it was, George," said the other. "It's nice to see he was able tolower himself into visiting our humble shop!" The twins exchanged devilish grins.

He shot a quick look at Hermione who was looking rather proud of herself. He managed to stand with great dignity. "Some very rude person outside pushed me. I'm sorry to have disturbed you."

"I can't imagine why anyone would want to push you," one twin said, straight-faced. Hermione and the other twin snickered.

"Nice one, Fred."

"I think I'll just leave now." Hermione shot him a pleading look. He sighed wearily. "Actually, I just have a quick question." The twins looked at him expectantly. "I'm looking for Hermione Granger. You wouldn't happen to know where I could find her, would you?"

All humor vanished. "Oh, that can't be good," he heard Hermione say.

The one he thought to be Fred spoke up. "Why do you need to find her?" Ok, clearly he was suspicious. George narrowed his eyes. …they both were.

Thinking fast, "Well…She and I made a bet. I lost—about 8 months ago, actually. I've just been delaying in paying up, so I figured I'd settle my debt and get it over with." Hermione was nodding encouragingly.

"I doubt Hermione gambles. This is Hermione Granger we're talking about." Hermione threw Fred a nasty look.

But Fred had a point. "I think she wanted to prove me wrong more than she wanted not to gamble." That sounded good. Plausible, even. He almost smirked when it looked like they believed him.

"You probably won't be able to see her for a while." George was frowning. "Maybe you can give us whatever it is and we can pass it along."

He, too, frowned. "It's kind of personal. I would rather deal with her in person."Because I'd like to get rid of her spirit.

Before he had even finished his sentence, they were both shaking their heads. "Can't happen. We pass it along or nothing." Time to break out the theatrics.

He adopted a concerned frown. "Nothing's wrong with her, I hope…" Hermione was giving him a weird look. If he dyed his hair purple,that's the look he would receive.

He switched from concerned to embarrassed. "I mean, it's not like I care or anything," he scoffed. "I was just wondering, that's all."

Fred and George exchanged looks. Their eyes held mischief. "Ok, Malfoy, you win. We'll tell you where she is—you know, because you don't care and all—and don't think we're doing this because we like you! We're doing it to irritate ickle-Ronniekins."

"Here, here!" cried George.

Hermione clapped her hands in joy and stared at him in wonder. "Your talent for lying is almost scary."

He smirked, feeling very smug. A foreign feeling came over him just then. He felt a lightness in his chest. He could only speculate that this is what do-gooders, like Potter, felt like.

He wasn't surprised they directed him to St. Mungo's. Both he and Hermione were making their way by foot since Hermione couldn't apparate.

"So, it's to be St. Mungo's with me," she sighed. "I guess I should be grateful I wasn't lost in the last battle, lying in some field where no one could find me."

"Way to stay positive, Granger."

She glanced at him. "You know, I almost remember everything. Everything except what happened to me. It's like this fleeting memory at the back of my mind." He didn't know how she was feeling. Hell, he couldn't think how he would feel in this situation.

"You can't remember because that would be too convenient. It seems the world means for us to work these things out the hard way and not come by them too easily," he replied, sardonically.

She turned her laughing eyes to him. "That's sadly accurate. And, coming from you, it's slightly funny."

Crossing his arms, he turned to her, "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, come off it. You know very well that you came by things quite easily during our years at Hogwarts." She raised a brow in challenge.

"Fine!" He would never be able to win with this one. "But I know better now, don't I? Life's lessons learned the hard way." The conversation was growing entirely too serious, and he didn't like the direction in which it was headed.

It seemed she felt the same way. "Learned hard? Or hardly learned?" She chuckled at her own genius.

"Har, har, Granger. You're a regular riot," he deadpanned. He was secretly glad though. It seemed she always knew how to avert disaster. "And, by the way, what was with jumping in my body back there? It was completely unnecessary!"

She huffed. "You were being your stubborn self. I had to get you to move somehow."

"You made me look like a bloody lunatic in front of all Diagon Alley!" He did have his dignity. He was pretty sure that's all he had left.

"That's your own doing. You could have just gone in the shop, but, no, you had to throw a tantrum right there in the middle of the street."

He drew himself up to his full height and stared down his nose at her. "I assure you, Miss Granger, that Malfoy's do not throw tantrums."

"Oh, stop that, you look ridiculous." Apparently, one couldn't intimidate Hermione Granger.

They continued the rest of the trip in a surprisingly companionable silence. He looked around to make sure he wasn't noticed by any Muggles and slipped inside the abandoned store front that was the entrance to St. Mungo's. He made his way to the private wing the twins had informed him of. He asked the nurse to see Hermione Granger stating that he was a family friend and was given her room number. He turned to make his way to the room and saw the spirit of the woman in question float through a door down the hall. He strode quickly in her direction. Arriving at the door, he saw that it was the correct room and went inside. What he saw when he entered were two women. Two women that were the same woman. One was lying comatose on a bed looking pale and close to death while the other was looking morosely down at the body.

He moved to stand awkwardly on the opposite side of the bed. He didn't know what to say. "Wow, so there you are…"

She examined herself, forehead crinkled in thought. "I don't look good, Malfoy." He silently agreed.

"You don't look that bad, Granger. There's just not a lot of sunlight in this room. Once you get better and you have a little time in the sun, you'll look good as new," he assured her.

She glanced up at him and her eyes softened. "Nice try," she smiled. "Just do me a favor and take a look-see at the chart and tell me what it says."

He located the chart at the foot of the bed. He quickly skimmed the page. "It says you were treated for a common hex, but that you're still recovering from unknown internal injuries."

She frowned. "Internal injuries?" She paced away from the bed. She whirled around. "The explosion!"

This time his concern wasn't an act. "What explosion," he asked slowly, afraid for the answer.

"When you were out on retrieval missions with Ron and Harry," he took the time to sneer in disgust, "they were bringing in a Death Eater and he broke free. I don't recall who it was…it just happened so fast. He grabbed a wand and hexed as many people as he could. I got caught when I was crawling for my fallen wand. The next thing I knew, everyone was running to him trying to contain him, and something just exploded. There was this massive explosion and it sounded like the walls were crumbling down on me and then everything went black." He grimaced at the unpleasantness of it all.

"So, what is unknown about these injuries? Seems like something they would be able to fix in a second." He sounded frustrated even to his ears. He realized he was frustrated for her.

She looked thoughtful again. "Maybe I'm just not waking up after the treatments. Which could be because my spirit and body are two separate entities...I need to get back in there." She tried entering her body every way she could think of only to find herself standing on the outside again. It wasn't working despite all her best efforts. With a cry a frustration, she stopped. "What am I not thinking of?!"

He didn't know what came over him, but he stepped closer to the bed and reached out and touched her body's hand. He looked up as she gasped. She had lifted her hand and was staring at it. "Do you feel that?"

She looked up, excited. "I do! I really do…that has to mean I'm connected in some way, right?"

They both smiled, he still touching the hand of her prone body. It was in that instant that he, too, felt connected.

Then, they heard voices growing closer. Two voices. Two very familiar voices. He snatched his hand back hastily…and then took a few steps back distancing himself. Wouldn't do to have Potter and the Weasel see him hovering over their friend.

Harry and Ron stepped through the door. At the sight of him, they stopped immediately, expressions darkening. They didn't notice Hermione's spirit looking at them affectionately. The whole thing was enough to make him sick.

Harry stepped forward. Slowly, he said, "Malfoy…what are you doing here?"

He cleared his throat. "The Weasley twins informed me of where I could find Miss Granger here, and I thought I would stop by and see her." He could hear Ron grumbling about 'no good brothers'.

Harry's forehead wrinkled. "Why would you want to come and see her? It's Hermione."

Hermione crossed her arms. "I'm not sure whether I should be insulted or not." He sent an amused look her way.

However, he was still under intent scrutiny. "I was just curious. I wanted to see how she was fairing after I heard about the explosion."

Ron growled. "Come to get a good laugh, eh?"

"Now, now, Weasley. You know I'm a changed man. Since we're friends now, I thought I would take an interest in your life." He motioned to the bed. Hermione giggled.

Ron sputtered. "Malfoy, we are not friends!"

He took on a hurt pout. "Awww…now what am I to do with the 'I'm friends with Ron Weasley' shirt…"

Harry actually laughed. The tension in the room seemed to dissipate. "Ok, fine, Malfoy. You've seen her, and now you should probably leave." His expression grew serious. "She's not responding to any treatments," he moved to Hermione's bedside, "they think we should let her go."

There was no disguising his expression of horror. "What?! No, you can't do that! What do you mean 'let her go'?"

Harry glared at him. "Look, it's hard enough as it is! We came to terms with this a month ago, and we don't want her to suffer through anymore of those potions they keep feeding her." Harry glanced at Ron despondently. "We're her best friends, and we can't keep doing this to her."

Hermione was openly crying. "But I'm right here. Please see me," she begged. But they continued to be unaware of her presence.

He glared right back at Harry. "I thought you two were supposed to be Gryffindors," he spat. "She's lying right there and you're giving up on her!" He was furious. Hermione was, for all intents and purposes, standing two feet away, and they were 'letting her go.'

Ron chimed in then. "Don't you dare say we gave up! We had to deal with this the moment we got back from our last mission! Do you think this was an easy decision for us? Because it wasn't!"

He felt an overwhelming sense of panic rising in his chest. "Wait! What if I were to tell you that her spirit is standing just mere feet away from you," he pointed to Hermione. "She's here with us! We just need to find a way to reunite her spirit with her body." There was a pleading note in his voice he hoped they heard.

Their expressions darkened again. "That's not funny. You've had your laugh…"

Hermione looked to have a sudden thought. "Ask them how else you would know that Padfoot gave Harry a Firebolt," she said, urgently. Genius, Granger!

He asked them the question, but the Wonder Boys took a menacing step forward.

"It's a good thing we're in a hospital, Malfoy…that way you don't have very far to travel," Harry said.

Hermione let out a cry of frustration, her hands curled into fists. "What is it with boys and fighting?!" She huffed. "Just leave, Malfoy. You're not going to change their minds. Not today," she sighed wearily.

He put up his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine, keep your knickers on—I'm leaving." He strode to the door, but turned at the threshold. "But don't say I didn't warn you." And with that, he closed the door.

He travelled a short ways and leaned against the wall to await Granger. He didn't have long to wait. "Ready to go?"

She smiled slightly. "Thanks for all your help, but I think I should stay here with my body."

He frowned. "Are you sure? I don't feel right leaving you with no one here to see you."

Her eyes turned sad. "I can't think of anywhere else I should be." He wanted to shout that she should be with him back at their flat, but he refrained.

He watched as she walked back into her room. His frown deepened. Now what am I going to do…