Chapter 10- Feedback
It was cold enough to make my whole body shiver. My eyes inched open slowly. Blackness was all I could see. I sat up, sluggishly. My brain was all fuzzy and my mouth was so dry that I could barely swallow. I could feel my hair tangled and matted to my head. I was wearing the same clothes I'd worn to classes, however long ago that was. I got to my knees and felt the ground with my bare fingers. They came up with grit and dust, but I could tell the floor was similar to the dungeons near the headmasters office.
I remembered killing Voldemort and I could hardly believe it. What happened after that though?
It came instantly now that I was trying to recall it. I'd fainted after telling everyone I cared about that I'd killed Voldemort. Why was I here and not in the hospital wing, or somewhere getting medical care? I'd been tortured and almost murdered! Surely, Dumbledore wouldn't get rid of me for his reputation. I may not think the best of him, but I always thought students were first on his list of priorities. I couldn't think of any other explanation.
"You're thinking very loudly over there, Granger."
I tensed, waiting for pain to come, but the room stayed silent.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
My jaw dropped in astonishment, as I suddenly recognized the deep masculine voice. "Malfoy!"
"The one and only." He said sarcastically and I heard him move closer to me. I shifted away at first but realized he couldn't hurt me. Another lovely perk from Life debts. It was still too dark to see anything, even his pure white hair.
"Why is it so dark?"
He didn't answer so I guessed he just didn't know, or didn't want to answer.
"I guess it would be stupid to ask if you have your wand?" I wanted to hit my head over and over again until I learned to stop being stupid. I could do wandless magic!
"No, but I don't need it."
"Granger- don't!" But I'd already tried to light the room. A painful zap ran through my right arm and traveled straight into my head.
"Son of a bitch!" I gasped as the pain intensified.
"I tried to tell you." He said smartly. I could imagine the smirk on his face. The pain was receding and I should have checked for the wards.
"How did you end up here?" I asked curiously.
"Dumbledore's gone insane. Completely off his rocker. I think potter will do something about it though. You should have seen his face when he stunned you and tried to say that you'd been confunded into thinking you'd killed the Dark Lord." He said with a sarcastic chuckle. I didn't miss that he hadn't directing answered my question, but I thought it didn't matter at the moment.
I assessed the wards and cautiously took down the layer that was repelling wandless magic. I did the same for the wards that were guarding the door and apparation.
I lit the room and covered my eyes.
"Bloody hell, Granger. Warn a bloke would you!" Malfoy hollered and I laughed in spite of the current situation.
I stood up, ignoring the painful spasms leftover from the torture curse. I didn't think there was any way to stop it.
"What's wrong with you?" Malfoy asked, in a more serious tone.
"Nothing, are we the only ones here?"
"Yea, but we cant leave. Dumbledore may be mental, but he's still a genus, and a powerful one."
"I'm more powerful. Plain and simple. Come here, we're going to apparate."
He looked confused and outraged, though I couldn't understand the latter.
"I'm not going to apparate and then die from the pain we get!"
"Malfoy, I've disabled the wards. They cant hurt us." I assured him, and he relaxed. I took his hand, thinking it was funny how his were still perfectly pale where mine were covered in dirt. Pure and muddy, alright.
I took us too my parents house. We obviously couldn't find Harry or Ron, but I wanted to know if my parents were alive or dead. I could barely remember how he said it, but I know he's done something with them.
Malfoy started to ask me where we were but I silenced him before he got two words out. I crept up to my house and pushed the front door open.
Blood. There was so much of it. Was there really that much blood in the human body? My stomach churned sharply and everything I'd ate spewed onto the floor at my feet. My mother's feet were a few inches away from her legs. They'd been detached.
My stomach turned again and I vomited all over myself.
"Scourgify."
I whispered the spell and watched the mess I'd made vanish. It didn't move anything else. I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and shuddered. I could only see my mother and I dreaded looking for my father. I'd always been a daddy's girl. I was always closer to him than my mother.
I shook off the hand and ran through the house searching for any sign of my fathers body.
"Hermione…we should go."
I spun around ready to hex him, but he looked so frightened that I just kept walking. A thud came from the linen closet and I walked towards it slowly. It swung open and I gasped when I saw my father bound and gagged, but alive. He looked shocked to see me, but with second he was free of his restraints and in my arms.
I grabbed Draco and held my father. We apparated to the infirmary of Hogwarts. Madam Pomfrey wouldn't refuse to treat anyone no matter what they'd done.
"Hermione? I thought you'd been cap- on my, bring him to the bed right here." She said hastily. I laid my father on the bed and turned away. Malfoy was looking green, but otherwise unharmed.
"You're such an amazing person, Hermione."
I smiled a bit at that, but I knew he didn't really mean it. He blushed as soon as the words left his mouth and avoided looking at me. Maybe he did mean it?
My father had fallen unconscious a few second after he'd seen me, but I expected that. He was going to be fine, but I felt so angry about my mother and he might not even remember what happened to her. How was I supposed to tell him his wife, my mother was dead? Murdered, no less.
Hands settled on my shoulders. I stiffened at the warm heat radiating from them. My heart raced and I couldn't will my body to relax.
He moved to my ear, "Why so tense, Hermione?"
I shivered, then flushed with shame. My mother was just brutally murdered, how could I possibly think about-
His unfairly talented mouth kissed the base of my throat and my body dropped all pretenses and spun around to kiss him. Maybe I needed a break. I just needed to stop and do something for me just this once. My father was sleeping and madam Pomfrey would take care of him. I apparated us to my own room, our lips still connected.
"Draco….." I whispered, trying to form a coherent sentence. He wouldn't have that and pulled my muggle shirt over my head before dropping me onto my bed. He kissed me roughly and made to pull my pants off. I didn't stop him. I could have, so easily, but I needed this. I couldn't live without it for another second. I pulled his shirt off and suddenly our clothes were in various places around my room.
His skin was like fire against my chilled body. He didn't waste any time joining us together, which I appreciated. I was here for one thing. I assumed he was too. His lips trailed down my neck, the valley between my breast and then he kissed round each. All the while, thrusting into me with a speed so slow that I thought I would die if he didn't go faster.
He finally did, probably as fed up with it as I was. He was panting my name and I was almost screaming his. It felt so real. His mouth met mine just in time to swallow my scream as we fell into ecstasy together.
He rolled off me, gasping heavily, and I sat up. What was wrong with me! One second I was crying because of my mother's death and the next I was living I up with ….Draco Malfoy. I hastily pulled on my clothes, not caring that he was watching me very intensely. It wasn't as if he hadn't seen it all anyway. I pulled my hair away from my face, hating that I smelled like sex. I didn't have time to shower and I was to scatter- brained to try and spell myself clean at the moment. I chanced a glance over at Draco and froze. He was still laying there, on full display, watching me with dazed eyes. My body heated infuriatingly and I apparated away before I could make more of a fool of myself.
My father was still sleeping and I smiled just a bit at how peaceful he looked. Until I had to inform him of his dead wife, that is.
"He'll wake in the morning." Madam Pomfrey said softly. I nodded, unable to speak. The doors to the infirmary opened and Harry and Dumbledore walked through.
"Miss Granger….I owe you an apology. I was letting my love for Harry blind any care I had for any other student. I sent you to your death without regret, and I'm sorry. Harry and I know that you deserve to be recognized as the one who killed him." Dumbledore said sadly. I was happy he understood and I expected that had been the reason all along.
"I'm sorry headmaster, but you and Harry will be taking credit for killing him. I don't want that kind of glory. It's all yours."
It was cruel of me, because I knew Harry hated his fame most of the time, but I wouldn't take it from him this time. I couldn't handle it and I would probably hurt more reporters than anything.
"Alright Hermione. It's not like I don't deserve it." Harry said and then noticed my father laying on the hospital bed.
"Hermione what happened?" He asked in shock.
"He killed my mother and I found my father alive in a closet at our home. He'll be alright." I whispered softly.
"How was she killed?" Harry asked incredulously. A pang went through my chest. Why would he ask such a thing?
"I think I need some rest." I said and with one last look at my father I apparated back to my room.
Draco was still there, though he was asleep. I pulled on my nightclothes and climbed into my bed next to him. I laid my head on his chest, taking in his warmth. He stirred but slept on and I joined him in sleep. I knew I needed it.
A/N: It's been longer than ever between updates. You can blame writer's block and laziness along with a failing math grade that desperately needed my attention. I hope to update on a more regular schedule from now on. As of now there arent more than five chapters left if that many. Review and let me know how you liked, or hated, this chapter!