Disclaimer: I'm trying something different.
Hermione stood there over Draco's sleeping form. She had given him some dreamless sleeping potion and was now taking notes on his progress. He had been moved immediatly after she had got to him, two junior Healers were dealing with Conway. Hermione would occasionally look up from her work, observing the blonde with worry. He looked peaceful, though he wasn't smiling. She stopped, her mind racing back to the conversation in her office. She frowned and touched Draco's hand.
"I'm so sorry..." She held his hand, closing her eyes as the tears came again. She jolted slightly when someone knocked at the door. She kept her eyes on Draco.
"Come in," she called. She heard the door open and two pairs of feet walk in. She knew who it was immediatly. "If you two have come here to question me for more information on Draco's condition then your making a very bad mistake."
"Draco?" She heard Ron whisper. She finally turned around.
"Haven't you two done enough?" Harry stepped forward.
"Hermione, look-"
"No! You look!" She pointed to Draco. "Look at him! He's weak! He's unarmed! Are you two so willing to risk everything that has been our friendship just to put him on trial! He's not the man you think he is!"
"He's a deatheater!" Ron countered. She glared at him.
"He's more like you than you think..." she whispered. Ron advanced menacingly.
"Don't you ever compare me to him. Ever."
"Hermione?" She whirled around to see Draco reaching out, trying to find something familiar. She took his hand.
"I'm right here." He smirked suddenly.
"Is that Weasley I hear? Potter?" Hermione turned slightly to face them.
"Yeah... there here?" Draco let out a laugh.
"What's it like?" Both men frowned.
"What's what like?" Harry asked carefully, glaring at the man. Draco turned his head to see them.
"To know that your best friend's helping out your worst enemy." Harry didn't answer his eyes traveling back to Hermione. She shifted uncomfortably then turned back to the blonde.
"I'll be just outside. If you need anything, I'll be here." She leaned in and to everyones surprise kissed him on the forehead. She then turned and walked to the door, opening it and waiting for Ron and Harry to exit with her. Once in the hall, she turned to them, wait shifted to one foot. "Look, I'm doing what I feel is right... If you two don't like that fine." Harry looked over to Ron then over to Hermione. They had both seen things that had gotten to them. Mainly the attitude Hermione had towards Malfoy.
"Hermione... We said some things..." Hermione held up her hand, stopping him. She then pulled her arms around herself, as if sheltering her from the wind.
"Harry... I think the best thing for us all is if you two just leave me alone for awhile. I have enough to think about... and I don't need you two to complicate things." Ron stepped forward.
"Hermione." She backed up, turning to Draco's room.
"Just go." She then disappeared into the room, leaving Harry and Ron feeling worse.
"What are you thinking about?" Hermione asked, taking in Draco's pensive expression. He turned to look at her, reguarding her for a minute.
"Her... I'm thinking about her..." Hermione sat up from the chair she was in.
"What's her name?" He smiled.
"Tori... it's Torince actually, but I call her Tori." Hermione smiled slightly.
"What's she like?" Draco propped himself up, eyes turning back to the window.
"She's a little like you. Smart, mothering, beautiful..." Hermione blushed at the latter. Draco calling her beautiful wasn't something she was expecting. He turned to her, smirking.
"She's not as forward as you are... not as aggressive."
"I'm not aggressive." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Oh, please. I've seen you and Weasley fight more than enough times to know how aggressive you are... Tori's more gentle. More innocent..." Hermione frowned.
"A complete opposite of you." Draco gave a sharp laugh.
"Yeah exactly. I'm evil and extremly hostile while she's the innocent one."
"That's not what I meant, Draco."
"I know what you meant," he snapped. Hermione's jaw clenched together. Knowing that she wouldn't continue he did.
"Haven't seen her in at least three weeks."
"You don't see each other often." He shook his head.
"Not since..." he drifted off, leaving the rest dangling. Hermione stood up and crossed the room.
"I'll do what I can..." He looked down at their clasped hands.
"I'm still going to die..."
"What are we doing here anyway?" asked a cloaked figure in a deep voice. Another figure turned to him.
"We're waiting." A woman. The man groaned.
"We've been waiting for hours." Someone shushed him, pointing to the door. It opened and in walked another cloaked figure, two others following. The figure stopped in front of the crowd and waited until the hum died down.
"Good, now. What's the report?" Another figure stepped forward.
"Parkinson, sir." the man stated. The leader nodded and the man continued. "Draco's been spotted again, sir. He was leaving St. Mungos."
"Do you know where he was headed?" The man started to tremble for some reason.
"Draco knew we were on to him. Lost us in Muggle London." The man screamed in pain, the curse so sudden the rest of the crowd jumped.
"I don't want excuses," drawled the leader. "I want to know what my son is up to." On other figure stepped forward.
"There is a way, sir."
"Well."
"The Mudblood. She could help." Behind the mask, Lucius smiled.
"Good."
"Hermione?"
"Ginny."
"Yeah. Over here." Hermione walked over to her fireplace and found Ginny's head. She kneeled down.
"Hey. What's wrong?"
"I was going to ask you the same question. Oh Hermione! You must feel horrible. Harry and Ron just told be what happened! After which I cursed the both of them. Oh Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed, sympathy radiating off of her. Hermione shrugged.
"I'm fine now... I just don't want to deal with those two right now."
"With good cause! I can't believe they would do that to you!"
"I'm fine really," she insisted. The redhead looked doubtful but quickly changed the subject.
"Soo... Draco Malfoy?" She said it in such a way that Hermione had a strange feeling that she was asking about the article.
"No! I am not sleeping with him! Draco is my patient and nothing more."
"Draco?" Ginny asked, eyebrows raised. Hermione let out a fustrated sigh.
"He's not the same guy we knew at Hogwarts, Ginny. He's changed."
"Really. How?" Hermione shook her head.
"I can't tell you." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Oh come on Hermione. You can't hold all of that information about that particular guy in forever. You have to tell someone, something." Hermione looked doubtful.
"I don't know."
"I promise I won't tell anyone. Hold on a tick." Ginny's head disappeared for a moment then reappeared.
"What did you do?" Hermione asked. Ginny smiled.
"Locked the door and put on a silencing charm. Now spill." Hermione sighed.
"Fine... I'll tell you something... Malfoy's married."
"WHAT?" Hermione glared at her.
"Keep it down." she sighed. "He's married to a muggle." Ginny gasped.
"Really!" Hermione nodded.
"You need to keep it quiet, Gin. Draco doesn't want people to know." Ginny nodded, seeing Hermione's expression. She was quiet for a moment, before talking again.
"You should be careful, Hermione. Malfoy might not be a deatheater anymore, but I know Malfoy senior isn't going to like it once he finds out that his only son and heir is seeking the help of a muggleborn." Hermione sighed.
"I know. That's what scared me the most when I saw the paper." Ginny frowned.
"Be careful." Hermione offered her friend a smile.
"I'll be fine..."
A/N: I must admit, the past two chappies were from the mind of coconut girl! Thanks for the inspiration.
ronandmion4ever: Don't worry! Hermione's gonna get through ok!
Reader of Canon FF: I'm back BABY! YEEEEEHAAAW! Sorry, I'm just very excited!
Wesker888: Don't worry. Things are about to heat up for Hermione.
Coconut Girl: Harry does know that Skeeter isn't reliable. A picture, however, does say a thousand words. Hermione was caught with Draco! It's hard to explain that position.
Quidditchplayersdoitbest: I love cliffies also.
Sorry. I was having some technical difficulties. The responses ar all weird.
Chapter Tease:
...He pinned her against the wall, his lips searing hers. He plunged his tongue into her mouth, causing her to moan. He marveled in the way her body felt against his. He hated her. Hated her for being what she was. For making him feel the way he did when he was around her. His hands dove under her shirt, running up and down her back, taking in every part of her greedily. He moved to her neck, biting down hard on her soft skin. She pulled away, gasping.
"Draco!" He growled at her, pressing himself firmly against her, asserting the dominance he felt. His lips moved up and down her luscious flesh, his hands taking in every curve and dip. He hated it. Everything. The loathing he felt for her suffocated him. He began to unbutton her shirt, his lips once again burning hers in a battle he knew he would win. She struggled against him, trying to pull away. He knew she was losing. She would always lose. Finally she gave in, letting him pick her up, her legs wrapping around his slim waist. He carried her to the bed, laying her down. He felt powerful. Strength rippling through his muscles as he kissed her. Their breathing became labored as they struggled to maintain some sense of reality. Soon all that could be heard was the rustling of bedsheets and the soft sound of clothing as they were shed haphazardly. Draco knew in that moment he loved her. As he held her body close to his, he loved her. He loved the way he hated her and he hated the way he loved her. It was a vicious cycle that he wouldn't trade for anything. As they reached a climax, the dominance broke out and he claimed what was his. He wouldn't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow would figure itself out...