Let's Remember It All
CHAPTER TWO – Awakenings
"'The only female member of the Golden Trio is in St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, though her condition remains a mystery to the wizarding community.' Writes Rita Skeeter, reporter for the Daily Prophet. 'I can reveal, however, that the Healers of St Mungo's seem to be unable to determine the reason for the catatonic state Miss Granger is currently in. Rumours are flying about 'self-induced' comas, and that Miss Granger's 'illness' is a publicity stunt to attract attention due to the public's lack of interest in the Trio.'"
"That bitch!" Ron broke in. "I can't believe she's making up rubbish about Hermione again!"
Harry, who had been reading aloud from the newspaper, looked up at him and blinked. "Well, you'd better believe it, 'cause it's here, plain as day."
Ron sighed and sank into the chair opposite Harry. He looked over at Hermione's motionless form and sighed again. "Why won't she just wake up?"
It was dark by the time he dared to go in. He had been sitting in the waiting room since nine that morning, but it was at least eight o'clock by the time he plucked up the courage to go in.
He stood in the doorway for a while, his arms hanging limply by his sides and the flowers he had brought fell to the floor as he saw her.
Her face was as white as the sheets she lay on, and her hair was fanned out around her head like a halo.
Malfoy seriously considered turning back there and then, but something drove him forward. He walked slowly towards her as though in a daze, and stood at her bedside, gazing at her.
'I did this. I couldn't save her. I stopped. I did this to her. I'm the reason Hermione Granger is lying in a hospital bed, unable to move. I did this.'
The tears were falling more freely now, and Malfoy's throat was beginning to clench.
"Granger," he began. "I just came to say… I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I'm sorry I'm not strong enough to tell people that it was my fault, and I'm sorry it's taken me this long to say this to you." He sniffed, and put his hand over hers.
It felt strange, but he wanted her to know he was sorry. He cared not for her, but for the fact that she might make him a killer.
'That's not what I am.'
O O O
The first thing Hermione felt was the touch of his hand. It was so warm next to her icy ones; it felt like a breath of life.
She knew it was him.
"I love you. I always have, and I always will."
O O O
"Malfoy? What have you-" Ron broke off, staring at Hermione, hope dawning on his face.
"I love you. I always have, and I always will." Hermione sighed, and her fingers closed over Malfoy's hand.
"She spoke! She's alright! Harry? Harry, get in here!" The red-head raced out the door in search of his friend.
Malfoy was left standing by Hermione's bed, his hand underneath hers. "What did you say?" He asked.
But there was no answer.
O O O
Hermione awoke the next morning. She called somebody in and calmly asked them why she was here when she had a Charms class to be in.
The nervous Healer was just coming to the end of her stuttered explanation when Harry and Ron burst in.
"Hermione!" They cried delightedly. "You're back!"
"Where did I go?" She replied, smiling and allowing herself to be hugged.
"So, how're you feeling?" Harry asked. "You shouldn't be too bad, there's absolutely nothing wrong with you." He grinned. "Though we must congratulate you – you've had the Healers completely stumped. They said they've never not been able to wake someone up before."
She smiled wanly. "So… what happened?" She asked nervously.
"You don't remember?" Hermione shook her head. "You fell. From… high up." Ron explained hesitantly.
"High up? But I hate heights!" Hermione exclaimed.
"We know. That's why we were…" The two exchanged dark looks. "Surprised."
"You were… somewhere… that was… unexpected." Harry finished.
"You were on a broom, Hermione." Ron blurted, looking stricken. Hermione was speechless.
"I was on a broomstick?" They nodded. "But I hate them!"
"That was what we said. And you got a little… touchy." Harry looked at her warily, as though expecting her to explode. "You stormed off, and next thing we knew, Malfoy was carrying you into the Entrance Hall and muttering something about-"
"Malfoy?" Hermione interrupted. "Malfoy carried me in?"
"Er, yeah. We thought it was a bit funny at the time, but we were a bit preoccupied with you, to be honest." Ron said.
"You're sure it was him?" She eyes him suspiciously.
"Hermione, this isn't supposed to be the Spanish Inquisition. Malfoy brought you in, looking paler than he normally does, if that's possible, put you down and set off some sort of alarm or something with his wand. Dunno what happened to him after that…" Harry trailed off. "But he told us afterwards that you'd been flying really high and had fallen… but he stopped you about a foot from the ground with a Hover Charm. That's why no-one could figure out why you wouldn't wake up, since you didn't actually hurt yourself…"
There was silence for a minute or two as the three thought their own, individual thoughts.
"Harry, what's the Spanish Inquisition?" Ron asked.
Hermione didn't sleep well that night. It was almost as if she could hear the silence of the hospital echoing through the hallways has the patients slept.
All except one. Hermione stared at the sliver of dark sky she could see for what seemed like eternity, but every time she remembered something, it slipped away before she had time to recall any details.
She was also waiting.
She didn't really think he would come, but she hoped he would nonetheless.
Somewhere in the bowels of the hospital a door snapped shut, and then all was silent once again.
O O O
He knew there was no point in coming here. It was past midnight – everyone was asleep.
He crept along the corridor towards her room and peered through the inky blackness to her bed.
It was empty.
Instead, Hermione was stood by the window, her glassy eyes reflecting the stars and her knuckles white from clutching the window sill so hard.
He walked into the room and stopped.
"Thankyou for saving me." Her voice startled him. "Harry and Ron told me what you did. Thankyou."
"Oh. I didn't really, I mean, you've been asleep for so long… I thought, well, I don't know what I thought… but I was afraid that you'd never wake up." Malfoy had to bite his lip to prevent himself from saying, 'Because you could have so easily made me into a murderer.'
She turned to look at him and stumbled. He caught her and set her down on her bed. "I'm sorry; my muscles aren't used to having to move so much. It takes me an age to walk from my bed to the window." She laughed humourlessly. "Makes me feel quite useless!" She smoothed the bedclothes on her bed and he shifted his weight from foot to foot.
"Earlier, well, you said something to me. Something that I wasn't expecting." He started, awkwardly.
"Oh?" Hermione looked up at him, her eyes wide. "What did I say?"
"Well… you told me… that, well, you said you loved me." He said. She blinked. "Needless to say, I was somewhat surprised. And I just wanted some peace of mind…" He paused for a moment, before, "Did you mean it?"
"Yes." She replied immediately. "I always have. And I-"
"Always will. You said." He finished her sentence with a cross between a grimace and a blush. "Well, thanks, I guess."
There was an awkward silence while Hermione went back to staring out the window and he stared at her. After a minute or two, Malfoy turned to leave.
"Thanks again." She said, without turning around.
"For what?" He whipped round, eyes blazing and fire in his voice. "You keep thanking me but I didn't do anything!"
Hermione turned to face him slowly. "You saved me! Without you, Harry and Ron would be attending my funeral, not sitting at my bedside! I will never be able to repay you for this!"
"No! You don't understand! You saw me flying high and you followed! If I hadn't been up so high, you wouldn't be like this!"
"Malfoy, you stopped me from hitting the ground. This – whatever it is – is not your fault. The Healers said the most likely situation is that it's due to stress. And that has nothing to do with you! The accident was probably a trigger-" Malfoy attempted to cut in but Hermione continued more forcefully. "-which was also not your fault! Harry and Ron…" She trailed off as he sank into one of the chairs positioned by her bed.
"But… I nearly killed you!" He said into his hands.
"No, you didn't!" Hermione replied in earnest. "You saved-"
"That doesn't matter!" He shouted, jumping from the chair. "It's what I've got to do!"
"What is?" Hermione asked in a quiet voice, clenching her hands to stop them trembling.
Malfoy took a deep breath. "I've got to kill you. That's my task. And I can't do it. I'm not a murderer. I'm not my father."
He sat back down and for a few moments Hermione couldn't speak.
"I know you're not." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh yeah?" He challenged. "Maybe this will change your mind." He raised his left arm and allowed his sleeve fall back to reveal…
The Dark Mark.
Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from screaming.
He looked up at her and laughed drily. "That's been most peoples' reaction."