Disclaimer: JKR owns the characters and the original plot. I'm just continuing my version of the rest of the plot!
Hermione sat up shaking. She got up and ran to her bathroom, retching into the toilet. Trembling she stood to examine herself in the mirror. What she saw wasn't pretty. There, looking back at her through haunted eyes was a sick, quaking girl who couldn't handle her nightmares. The fact was, they weren't nightmares. They were reality coming back to haunt her. She bent over, emptying her stomach. Her clothes were sticking to her body, drenched with sweat as she once again struggled to stand.
Get a grip! You're a healer, not some stupid little teenager. You did your job, there was nothing else you could do, she told herself.
Yes there was, said a nasty little voice at the back of her head. You knew a way to cure it... you still do.
Hermione shook her head, flushing the toilet and washing her face and mouth. She shed her clothes and stepped into the shower, turning the water on hot, letting it fall over her as she stood there, trying forget the nightmares that had been bothering her since the first death. Hermione finally stepped out of the shower, her skin rosy from the heat. Getting changed for work, Hermione walked into her kitchen and stood there, staring at a photo on the counter. It was of her graduation. Harry and Ron were on either side of her, wearing their robes also. They were all smiling and waving, teasing Hermione on her valadictorian speach. Ron had approached her later to tell her that he was proud of her. She picked up the picture, frowning. So much had changed since then. Hermione had become more secretive, especially towards Ron, and her friends had noticed. She set the picture down. The fact was, that day when he had told her that he was proud of her, she hadn't wanted to let him down. Telling him that she had lost more that one patient would prove that she had. She wiped furiously at her tears, grabbed her bag and disapparated.
"You look like shit." Hermione ignored him as he sat down in front of her. She continued to write down certian things before putting the papers away. She then took out her wand and waved it at a filing cabinet close by. The drawer opened and a file floated out, landing in front of her.
"I took the liberty of collecting your file." Malfoy just stared at her. She rolled her eyes and opened it, glancing over the papers carefully. "There's not much to look at is there?"
"Malfoys don't get sick." She raised an eyebrow.
"Decided to break the chain, didn't you?" The man glared at her.
"Let's just get this over with." She nodded, took the file and led him to a room.
"Take off your shirt," she commanded, spreading out the papers on the counter and taking out a quill. He complied, taking of his shirt. However, he decided to have some fun and tossed it onto her head. She turned around slowly, pulling the thing off.
"You're a sick man, you know that?" Malfoy smirked.
"You still enjoy the view." Hermione snorted.
"Just lie down." When he did she started to wave her wand over his chest again, explaining somethings to him.
"I'm going to be draining you."
"Draining me?" She nodded.
"One of the effects of the Caronas Curse is a large sack growing inside you. The sack contains puss. I need to drain it periodically before it explodes itself."
"What happens then?"
"You won't die, but you're brain will shut down all motor skills, leaving you paralyzed. It's also painful..." Malfoy remained silent, going over the information given to him. Hermione sighed.
"Do you know that you're being followed?" Malfoy chuckled.
"By Aurors? Yeah I know. They make it pretty clear that I'm being followed. Why?" Her face grew worried.
"Malfoy, they know you're sick. Luckily for you, they aren't allowed in here, but the press is. If the press catches wind that their Golden Deatheater is sick, their going to be all over this place."
"That's why we're not going to tell anyone." Hermione frowned. "For someone who might die, you seem pretty calm about it." Malfoy shrugged.
"I've seen plenty of death." Hermione remained quiet, not wanting to comment on Malfoy's slightly revealing remark. For the second time, Malfoy sat up before Hermione was done.
"You promised me that if I came back, you'd be able to help me." Hermione shook her head.
"I said I'd try." He slammed her into the wall, his fingers curling around her small throat. He leaned in, his face extremely close to her. She grabbed his hand, trying to pry him off. Her eyes were watering as she gasped for breath.
"I don't care! Do I look like I care!" She countinued to gasp, words evading her as she struggled to break free. He ignored her whimpering.
"I held up my end of the bargin. I suggest you hold up yours, Granger." He let her go, walking over to the door. Hermione slid to the floor, holding her smarting throat. Her head was pounding with pain.
"She's a muggle, isn't she?" Hermione whispered. Malfoy froze.
"What?" Hermione finally looked up. What she saw was fear.
"That person you were found with... she was a muggle..." She saw his shoulders sag and she knew she had hit the nail on the head. She got to her feet and walked over to him. "Malfoy..." He didn't move. "Malfoy." Nothing. She gulped. "Draco?" He flinched and looked up at her. "What happened?" He looked around, focusing on anything but her.
"I guess I'm alot like Weasel aren't I?" Hermione ignored the nickname and touched his shoulder.
"Draco, what happened?" He finally looked at her and sighed. He moved back to the hospital bed and sat down.
"I didn't know it would get so far... I was in the city, looking for an easy night and then she comes along." He chuckled. "I didn't know she was a muggle. She was in a magical area. I later found out that she was with her brother. A muggleborn." He said the word with such disgust that Hermione thought he'd throw up, but he continued. "We talked, and I grew attached to her. She seemed of high breeding, she knew alot about our world." She held down her temper, knowing that exploding on him would do no good.
"When did you find out?"
"About two weeks after we started dating." Hermione couldn't help but smile.
"And you didn't notice that she didn't have a wand."
"Well, I really wasn't paying attention to those details..." Hermione watched him struggle with himself.
"Is she ok?" He nodded.
"I was able to get her to a muggle hospital. Filthy places." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"What happened after that?" Malfoy began to laugh. Something that scared her.
"You know the funny thing. I don't regret any of it." Hermione didn't like the way this was going.
"What happened, Draco?" He looked into her eyes.
"I married her."
"Mum?" Molly looked up to see Ron standing at the door. She smiled. She hadn't seen her son in so long.
"Ron! Come in! Sit down. What are you doing here?" He sat down on a stool across the counter from her. She sat down and handed him a cup of tea.
"I wanted to talk to you."
"About?" He sighed.
"It's about Hermione." Molly frowned. She knew enough about their relationship to know that something was wrong.
"What did you do?" Ron rolled his eyes.
"Dammit mum. Why is is that everytime I mention Hermione someone always assumes that I've done something?"
"Because you usually have!"
"Well, I haven't... she's just been acting funny lately."
"Do you know why?" He snorted.
"Hermione doesn't tell me anything anymore..." Molly felt her heart swell with sympathy for her youngest son. Ron had been having problems dealing with the fact that Hermione no longer talked to him about things anymore. He had seen her whispering to Harry on a couple of occasions, but he knew she was hiding things from him.
"Hermione probably has a good reason." Ron shrugged.
"I don't know... maybe I'm just overreacting."
"Overreacting on what?" They turned to see Ginny walking in, levitating some groceries. Placing them on the table she sat down beside Ron. "What are you overreacting about?" Before Ron could stop her, Molly answered.
"He's concerned about Hermione." Ginny smiled.
"Hermione? You're always overreacting when it comes to her."
"She's been acting funny lately Ginny. You've noticed!" Ginny frowned.
"Sure I've noticed, but I don't know anything. She doesn't talk to anyone about things anymore."
"I've seen her talk to Harry." His sister rolled her eyes.
"Harry? Harry doesn't know anything. All she talks to Harry about is you." With that Ginny left the room, leaving a stunned Ron behind.
Hermione swore, sucking on her burnt thumb when she heard the door. Muttering about Crookshanks under her breath she walked over to the door. Opening it she gasped. Before her was a beautiful arrangement of lilies.
"These are a little heavy, 'Mione." Came the muffled voice that she knew so well. She grinned and opened the door wider, letting Ron pass through. He entered the kitchen and placed the flowers on the counter, vase and all. Hermione followed him, eyes glued to the lilies.
"Ron," she gasped. "They're beautiful." He smiled.
"I though you could use some cheering up. You seemed glum last night." Hermione turned to him, grinning. She pulled him into a hug, resting her head on his chest.
"Thank you. Really..." He held her closely, enjoying the moments they didn't spend yelling at each other. They stayed like that for a while, silent as they tried to pull together the words they so desperatly wanted to say to each other. Pulling away, Hermione looked up at him, gazing into his amazing blue eyes.
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Ron smiled, his stomach taking the time to grumble loudly. She burst out laughing, moving to the pasta on the stove.
"I'd say that was a yes!"
"That was amazing, Hermione." Ron praised, sitting back on the couch. Hermione walked out of the kitchen and plopped down beside him, curling her legs under her. She turned her body to face him.
"Why thank you!" Ron smiled.
"You've got something on your nose." Hermione blushed, rubbing her nose. Ron burst out laughing, amused by her efforts to get rid of the invisible nusance. She finally realized there was nothing there and puffed up, mockingly.
"Ron!" He continued to laugh.
"That was so funny," he gasped out, mimiking her puzzled expression as he rubbed his nose. Hermione glared at him.
"Well, for that, Mr. Weasley, you will be punished." He smiled.
"How's that?" She lunged for him, tickling his sides.
"Like this!" He continued to laugh, trying to fight her off. They ended up tumbling off of the couch, Ron straddling Hermione. Surprise took over as the two took stock of their new situation. Ron smiled.
"I've got you now!" He then dug his fingers into her sides, loving the way she squrimed giggling.
"Ron stop! I give up! Stop!" He stopped, but he didn't move from his position on top of her. The expression on his face sobered her up completely. His eyes moved from her eyes to her lips, causing her breathing to become shallow. He leaned down, their noses were now touching and she could feel her heart pounding and hoped that he couldn't hear it. His breath mingled with hers as he drew closer, their lips barly touching.
DING! DONG! Ron jumped up as if he had been burnt, leaving a dazed Hermione on the floor. Blinking, she looked over to the door then up at Ron. He was looking anywhere but at her, a red flush creeping up his face. She held out her hand.
"Could you help me up?" She asked queitly, her voice still raspy from the lack of oxygen she had been taking in while they were on the floor. Ron took her hand, immediatly letting go once she got her balance. She glanced up at him and then walked over to the door. Opening it she found a little old woman scowling at her. The woman's demenor worsened when Ron came into view.
"If you two are going to shag, I suggest using the Silencing Charm. There are others who live here who don't want to listen you two go at it all night." With that the old lady started down the stares, muttering about young people and rabbits. Hermione froze, shocked by the woman's implication that her and Ron were sleeping together. She finally turned around to see Ron. The blush was gone, replaced by a sheet of white. Hermione bit her lip.
"I am so sorry. She's alway's like that." Ron shook his head, grabbing his coat.
"It's fine... I'd better go." Hermione frowned.
"Now..." Hermione could see that he was embarrassed beyond belief and wanted to be out of there as soon as possible. He moved past her, careful not to touch her.
"I...um... I have an early day tomorrow." She nodded, understanding his need to leave.
"Yeah... I'll see you later."
"Saturday." Hermione frowned.
"Saturday?" He nodded.
"Family Night at the Burrow remember." He began to leave. "You're family." With that he disapparated. Hermione closed the door, letting her head rest against it. What just happened?
A/N: This is unusual for me but I just had to continue. Don't expect this often.