Ok so here it is...this is the newest chapter in the greatest story ever...lol yeah right...but here it is anyway...
Disclaimer: Not and probably never will be mine...but theres always a chance...
More Potions and Dreams
Draco was sent back to Paris to finish the mission they'd started. It wasn't easy to capture the Ministry member but Lucius managed it. Draco watched as his father set the trap and lured in the man. Eventually they were back at their hotel room where Lucius tortured the man to death. Draco stood there and watched, looking unfazed. He wasn't concentrating on learning to become a Death Eater but instead was wondering who could possibly be relaying information to the Light.
He wondered if it was Hermione. Could she be contacting them somehow without a wand? Or was she sending notes out in the dark of night when Draco wasn't awake, or was she possibly using Floo powder? All these things were possible without a wand, but would she risk it?
Or maybe it was Severus. He had been working for Dumbledore before Voldemort's disappearance. He might be playing both sides again. Draco couldn't rule anyone out. He would have to investigate everyone that has access to important information.
After the man was dead Lucius told Draco to pack his things. It was around two in the afternoon the next day. Draco was eager to leave the room and Paris in general wanting nothing more than to get back to his home.
"Aren't we going to clean and dispose of the body?" Draco asked.
"No. There is no need. All we must do is leave the hotel room and be sure to put a Dark Mark above the building. Death Eaters don't try to hide their crimes when they've finished. In fact we delight in the papers noticing them. That is why we put up the mark. The only time the crime should ever be hidden is when it hasn't been completed." Lucius instructed.
Draco listened and remembered but he really didn't care. Being a Death Eater was not high on his list. He hated the idea and wanted nothing more than to tell his father and the Dark Lord that he refused. But thanks to the silly prophecy Draco was roped into it. He had no way to get out; therefore he knew he'd better learn these things.
After they left the room and the hotel building Draco watched as his father stuck the tip of his wand out the limousine window and whispered the words. The amazing green mark shot into the air making muggles and wizards a like screech in terror.
Draco watched, as wizards kept their hands close to their pockets ready to defend themselves if need be. Muggles just ran thinking it some sort of explosion. The car started and Draco was on his way back to England.
"When you complete your missions the first thing you must do is report to the Dark Lord. He wishes to know when all missions are completed the moment that they are. Do you understand?"
"Yes father." Draco said robotically.
Draco remained silent for the rest of the car ride. They were heading to a point where it would be safe enough to Apparate. Lucius was continuing with his work, organizing things as the car moved steadily down the streets. Draco stared out the window wanting the car to move faster. He wanted to go home. He didn't want to spend any more quality time with his father. He wanted to spend sometime in his house relaxing and sleeping through the entire night.
Hermione's eyes blinked open as a bit of sunlight showed through the curtains. It was falling right across her face making it hard to sleep and painful to open her eyes. But not even a second after she opened her eyes the sunlight was shadowed by a figure standing beside the bed.
"Draco?" Hermione asked, her blurry vision making it impossible to see who it was standing there/
"No dear, he's still away." Came the voice of Narcissa.
"What's happening?" Hermione asked softly finding that her throat was incredibly sore.
"You have a bit of a cold dear. The Dark Lord sent for me to care for you while Draco was away. He'll be back soon though. Don't you worry."
"I'm so hungry but the thought of food makes my stomach turn." Hermione said.
"You should be fine in a few days." Narcissa said softly. "Now tell me your symptoms."
Narcissa whipped up something to make Hermione feel better before leaving the room to let her rest. Hermione sipped at the potion hoping it would take the ache from her body. She wanted nothing more than to fall back to sleep but it seemed that wasn't what was going to happen.
She turned and looked out the window, sitting the small goblet on the night table beside her. The sun shone brightly outside and she could hear all the wonderful sounds through the glass. She wanted to be outside enjoying all the beauty but she was sick and condemned to the bed. Her brown eyes stared at the puffy white clouds as they floated past the window. She made out shapes in her imagination but none as clever as when she was younger.
Narcissa popped in and out a few more times but other than that she was mostly alone. When Narcissa was in the room she would try and carry on a conversation but her throat would prevent anything longer than a few sentences. When she was alone however things were dismal. She wanted company, even if she couldn't talk.
She would drift in and out of sleep, the slightest sound rousing her. She continually stared out the window watching the world go on without her. Sometimes she was covered with sweat from the heat of the fever and other she shivered from the cold. She felt like she was growing worse rather than better. During the times when her fever spiked and she grew hot, she welcomed sleep.
Draco and Lucius arrived at the safe point and emerged from the car. They walked into the house and went directly to the Apparation point.
"Now just Apparate to the Dark Lord's mansion." Lucius instructed. Draco merely nodded before waving his wand.
He reappeared in the foyer of the mansion. Another Death Eater, who was there to escort him and his father to the Dark Lord, greeted him. He walked along behind the man in silence wondering why he even had to attend. He hadn't been apart of anything only stood watching. What use could he be?
They arrived before a door and watched as the other Death Eater opened it. Draco straightened himself as he followed his father into the room. It was the same study that Draco had been in many times before but this time he knew it was much more important. He knew it would be a big mistake to take this meeting lightly because everything was riding on it.
Voldemort sat in his usual chair, sipping his tea. Draco watched as the man's eyes trained themselves on his father then moved swiftly to focus on him. The red orbs glowed eerily but they only stayed focused on him for a moment before being trained back on his father.
"My Lord the mission is complete. We gathered all the information that you requested." Lucius said bowing his head as he handed over a folder.
"Well done Lucius. I'm pleased with the speed in which this mission was carried out even after the incident. You will stay here and I will give you your next assignment. But first I must speak with Draco."
Draco wondered just what he would have to do now. The last time he'd spoken to the Dark Lord he'd been given a mission that he found would be impossible to do. But he rose and followed the Dark Lord from the room. When they reached the hall the wicked man turned and looked down at Draco. His red eyes were burning into Draco's making him feel nervous.
"She woke up this morning. She was asking for you, or so Narcissa tells me. I suggest you go to her. Report back to me with any information that may incriminate her as the traitor." Voldemort said.
"Yes my Lord." Draco said and started down the hall toward the Floo Grate.
Draco knew that Hermione would be everyone's first suspect. She was his first suspect as well. But something inside him told him that it wasn't her. She was annoying and stubborn but not stupid. People were always watching her. She was hardly ever alone. She would never risk her life just for information that probably didn't even make sense to her.
But he had to do what he was told. He reached the Floo Grate and grabbed a handful of powder from the holder on the mantle. He threw it into the flames and watched them change from orange to green. He walked in and called out his destination. When he landed he stepped out and dusted himself off. He heard footsteps up stairs in the hall.
"Hello? Who's down there?" called his mother.
"Mum it's me." Draco said walking out into the hallway. He looked up and there stood his mother looking over the banister at him.
"Draco your home."
Narcissa started down the stairs and rushed up to hug her son. She was smiling her eyes twinkling with happiness. Draco smiled back at her when they parted.
"How is she?" Draco asked.
"She's fine. She has a high fever and her throat is sore but she should be fine in a few days. I think she's got the flu." Narcissa said softly.
"Is she awake?" Draco asked.
"I'm not sure but she wants to see you so go up. I'll stay here." Narcissa said giving her son a little push.
Draco went up the stairs towards their room. He hoped that she was awake and that her throat didn't hurt too much to answer some questions. He had to get the information back to the Dark Lord.
He entered the room and walked over to the bed where Hermione was restlessly sleeping. Her head was moving from side to side and her eyes were shut tight. She looked like she was having a nightmare. Draco placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her gently.
Her mind was scrambled. The day and time were a blur. She couldn't remember where she was or how she'd gotten there. All that she knew was that Narcissa had been taking care of her. So when she opened her eyes Hermione expected to see Narcissa standing there above her smiling down, but that wasn't what she saw at all.
Draco was there perched on the edge of her bed like some fallen angel. His body was hallooed by the light of the day falling in through the partially open curtains. His crystal blue eyes were staring down at her with curiosity and just a hint of concern. He was a sight for sore eyes.
"Draco." She said softly the tiniest grin appearing on her lips.
"How do you feel?" He asked her reaching out to touch her forehead.
"Hot." She said her voice cracking. "My whole body is hot."
"Your fever is really high. Why isn't my mum in here?" he said standing to head to the door.
Hermione lifted a heavy arm and stopped him. She didn't want to be left alone. Now that he was finally back she wanted him to stay. She was afraid to be alone in the house without him especially in such a weak condition. Draco turned back to her and her arm fell to her side unable to be supported any longer.
"Don't leave yet." She whispered. Her throat was beginning to hurt again.
"But I'm going to get my mum. She can give you a potion." He said glancing at the door again.
"No. There aren't any." She said softly. Draco looked confused at that statement.
"What do you mean there aren't any."
"Fevers have to break on their own or you break the mind." Said Narcissa from the doorway. "But we can move her into a cool bath."
Narcissa crossed to the bathroom and went inside flicking on the lights as she passed. Draco heard the water turn on. His mother was drawing a bath for Hermione. He turned back to her and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"Where were you?" she asked in a harsh whisper.
"On a mission with my father. But don't worry about it. I won't be going on any more missions." She closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. He watched her for a moment longer before standing to see if the bath was ready yet.
"Bring her in Draco." His mother said when he peered around the corner of the door.
He headed back to the bed and pulled back the comforters. He watched Hermione open her eyes looking up at him confused. He slid his hands beneath her and lifted her up. She was so warm in his arms that he almost felt uncomfortable holding her. He carefully maneuvered into the bathroom and over to the large tub.
"Should we take her clothes off?" Draco asked not wishing to have his mother there if it came down to that.
"Just the clothes, but leave on her undergarments." His mother said. "I'll let you to alone. Just take her out when she starts to get feel cold."
His mother than stood and left the room. Draco sat Hermione down on the toilet seat and helped her take off the shirt and shorts she was wearing. Then he helped her stand and sit down in the tub. She gasped at the coldness and shivered a bit but she stayed seated leaning against the back.
"Why does it seem that every time I get better from something, something else comes right along?" she said turning to face him.
"Just unlucky I guess." He said and she smiled softly. She closed her eyes and rested her head.
After almost fifteen minutes in the bath Draco helped Hermione out. He handed a towel over to her then went into the other room and grabbed some clothes for her to change into. She smiled at him as her head popped out of the top of the shirt he was pulling down.
"Thank you for being so nice." She said giving him a weak hug.
Draco held Hermione gently. Her embrace was no longer uncomfortable because he'd figured her out. He understood how Hermione worked and knew that she was an emotional person. And now that she was his wife it was appropriate for him to hug her.
When they parted Draco helped her back to bed. Her body wasn't as fiery as it had been, but he knew by touching her arm that the bath had only helped cool her for a short time. The fever needed to break soon or she would be in serious trouble. How did muggles do this without even a touch of magic?
Hermione snuggled under the covers as Draco stood there above her. She gave him a small smile, almost as if to say she was glad he was there, before she closed her eyes and attempted to rest.
The fever didn't break until almost four days later. Draco remained at the house on call to help his mother at any moment. Narcissa and Draco both were worried that Hermione wasn't going to pull through the fever. She was beginning to hallucinate and was having terrible nightmares from the sickness. Narcissa seemed the most nervous, constantly checking Hermione's temperature and vital signs.
When the fever finally broke things got less hectic and uncertain. Hermione's body was no longer sweating and pale. She stayed awake longer and her nightmares ended. She no longer hallucinated but she was still very tired. There was a chance that the fever would return but Draco was going to make sure that it didn't.
"There's a large chance of a relapse Draco. But I'm positive that it will never be this bad again." His mother had said softly. Draco and his mother were standing at the end of the bed talking in whispers as Hermione slept. Draco kept turning to look over at her, staring at her.
Narcissa watched the display carefully. She knew just what was happening, even if Draco didn't. He was falling for her. He would probably deny it to the death, but Draco Malfoy was falling for Hermione, the Mudblood. He was worried for her, concerned with her health though he claimed it was because of the prophecy, but Narcissa could see through the act.
"I have to question her today Mum. If I don't get some answers to take to the Dark Lord I'll be punished. I'm not going to get a beating because of her stupid health." He said putting on his best annoyed face.
"She should be awake and well enough later on Draco. Just let her be. Things will be fine in a day or so."
Narcissa left the room and her son. She walked down the hall to the room she was occupying as she took care of Hermione. She opened the door and gasped. She hurried inside and shut it behind her locking the door as well. There in a chair sat the same figure from the forgotten wing of Malfoy Manor. Shrouded in a black cloak, it's face shrouded.
"Why have you come here?" Narcissa asked in a panicked voice. "If you're spotted the whole plan could be ruined. The Dark Lord would murder us both."
"The sickness will wear off soon, but another dose of the potion is needed. She will get sick again, Narcissa, and we can't risk her dying. I've decided to change the dosage. Give her smaller amounts more often. Smaller doses more often will help her system adjust to it quickly. There will be one more round of sickness that is just as terrible as this one, but after it ends she will be able to stomach the potion."
"When shall I give her the next dose?" Narcissa asked perching herself on the bed.
"This afternoon. It must seem as if she has relapsed. But remember a smaller dose."
"But Draco has to question her tonight. The Dark Lord is becoming impatient."
"Let him question her. He knows as well as Voldemort that the girl is not the snitch. She has nothing to hide."
A small withered hand reached out from beneath the folds of the black cloak. It clutched a bottle that it handed to Narcissa. Narcissa knew it wasn't the potion that she'd been giving Hermione.
"It's a pain relief potion. The girl is in more pain than you know Narcissa. Give her only a little bit of this for it is powerful."
Down the hall Draco was standing, still staring at Hermione. She was peacefully sleeping wrapped tightly in the sheets. He could see her tank top clinging tightly to her body. The sheets revealed her long shapely legs. Draco turned away. He couldn't think about her like that. They were married but they were still enemies.
Draco turned away and sat himself down at the desk. He could hear Hermione breathing evenly behind him as he reached into the stack of parchment and slid one sheet toward him. He pulled the ink and quill forward as well and prepared to write a note.
He was writing to the Dark Lord. The note was to tell him that Draco was going to question his wife that evening and would promptly appear before him with the results. Draco sent out the note in the fire knowing it would reach Voldemort the quickest that way.
He put away the ink and quill, leaving the desk just as he'd found it. Hermione was still sleeping peacefully, something he thought was good. The longer she slept the less he had to deal with her. While she was sleeping he knew just where she was and where she wasn't. He could trust that she wouldn't end up escaping or anything of that sort because she was always right where he left her.
Draco rose from his seat in the chair and walked to the door to their bedroom. He looked out into the hall and saw no one out there. He knew that there were people all over the house, people that were there for his father who had decided to remain there in place of Macnair who was out on a mission. He was the person who stayed in the room with Hermione while both Draco and his mother were away.
Most of the time Lucius sat at the desk and wrote letters and notes on the many things that flew through his twisted mind. Most of the time she was asleep and was no trouble but there was once the day before that Hermione had caused his father to leave the room in an uproar.
She had been sleeping when Draco left and sleeping when he returned two hours later. He had gone to investigate some things while his mother had gone to retrieve potion ingredients from Diagon Alley. Lucius was left in the bedroom with Hermione until they returned.
When Draco entered the bedroom however his father was pushing past her. His wand was almost completely out of his staff as he growled angrily. His blue eyes were icy cold as he took on last glance at his son, his blonde hair tossing about.
Draco entered the room again closing and locking the door behind him. He walked to the closet and grabbed a set of clothes that were a little more comfortable. He piled them together on the end of the bed and then turned to the bathroom. He was planning to take a shower. Then to sit and read until dinner.
Hermione however in the other room was not having a good rest. She was having a nightmare, one of the worst she'd ever had. Her eyes moved about frantically beneath the lids as her muscles began to twitch. She whimpered softly in her sleep a sound that would bring tears to the eyes. As the shower turned on Hermione cried out.
Draco was oblivious to the struggle in the next room. Hermione was crying in her sleep, trapped in a nightmare. She was seeing herself being chased through an old deserted building. She was being chased by figures in black she assumed to be Death Eaters.
She ran barefoot through the dirty old halls of this building that reminded her of a school. She knew they were right behind her but she couldn't run any faster, she'd fallen and cut her foot badly. Even if she could run faster they'd find her because she was leaving behind a sparkling trail of blood. Every step was utter hell sending ripples of pain through her body.
Tears were streaming down her face as her running slowed. She couldn't run anymore. She crouched down and crawled to a small cupboard that she slid into. The bloody trail ended in the center of the hall outside. As she lay in the cupboard she prayed that it would throw them off.
Every single part of the dream was being portrayed in that bed. She was currently curled up on the bed as if she were actually in the cupboard. Her breathing was coming in short breaths now as her whole body trembled. In the dream the Death Eaters had reached the end of the trail and were searching everywhere for her. They'd over looked the cupboard, figuring she was too large for it.
Soon the hall outside was empty. She couldn't risk staying in that cupboard because soon they'd come back and check it. But she couldn't go out there either because her foot would leave a trail as well. Hermione was trapped and she knew it. Tears were still flowing freely as she tried to keep from sobbing. It was when she heard a new voice that she was completely silent.
Heavy footsteps moved up the hall toward her. She pushed the cupboard doors open slightly and saw a man approach the end of her trail. He was dressed in all black robes and his hair was dark. She knew immediately who it was. That detestable voice muttering lowly. The commanding sound to it. It could be none other than Snape.
"She's here somewhere you imbecile. Find her!" he barked at another man.
Hermione knew now that there was no chance of escape. Snape was smarter and more cunning that the others. He'd do anything to find her and she was right there under his nose.
Draco got out of the shower in a cloud of steam. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it about himself as he moved before the mirror. His hair was slicked back as it had been all those years ago but he would soon run a brush through it and put it back to normal. He used his hand to wipe the dew away from the mirror so he could look at himself but as he did he heard sounds coming from the bedroom.
He walked over and opened the door to see Hermione curled up in the fetal position breathing quickly. He face was shimmering from the tears that were streaming from her eyes. He turned about and hurriedly pulled on underwear and pants before leaving the bathroom to investigate.
"Hermione what's wrong?" Draco asked but when he reached her he realized that she was still asleep.
He shook her but she didn't wake. He tried it again only harder but still nothing happened. He sat down on the bed beside her and shook her one last time but she was still sleeping, caught in whatever awful dream she was having.
He pulled her into his lap so he could look into her face. He opened her eyes but her eyes were rolled back. Her body was still scrunched as if it were impossible to straighten out.
"Hermione!" he cried his face close to hers.
Nothing happened as he figured. She was in such a deep sleep that she couldn't be awakened. But he would wake her up; he was determined to get her healthy again. She needed to be healthy.
He laid her back down and went to get his wand. Hermione was being as quiet as she'd been earlier but something was different. He saw her seem to cringe away from something. He turned away and hurried into the bathroom where he'd left his wand.
Hermione had been cringing, for in her dream Snape had noticed the doors open and looked right at her. She was cringing because she knew that she was caught. Once the other Death Eater moved away Snape turned and entered the room where she was hiding. He shut the door behind himself trapping her in there with him.
He kneeled down and pulled open the cupboard doors. He smirked his evil smirk down at her.
"Hello Miss Granger."
Ok so you guys know the drill...I post you read then review...no go on...go...lol
Oh and I have an announcement...On of your own...(reviewers I mean) Has posted a movie on YouTube about my story...I happen to enjoy this movie alot...and am proud of it...though I had no part in it's creation...I'm just happy that my story could be the basis for something so cool...I think everyone should check it out...I think if you type in this...http/ might work...if not just try searching for it...it's called That Fateful Summer: Narcissa's Secret...let the creator know what you think...thanks...