Witches, Wizards, and Muggles alike,

How do you all think this is going? I hope this chapter makes things a little more exciting. Let me know what you think! I'm not quite sure yet how Ron will play out in the next few chapters… but I'm excited for it! Happy Monday!

Love,

Locomotive

Chapter XII

SweetSlytherinPrincess

With each step that they took, Draco became more and more infuriated. Every time a quick movement resulted in a pained groan, he wanted desperately to make Pansy pay for what she had done. He knew from the start that she was a bit off her rocker, but the night he told her off he hadn't imagined this would be the result. It was his fault in the end… but Hermione was a far better witch in every respect. Pansy was more or less a blooming idiot in his eyes. Her spells had been powerful, but no doubt blindly fueled by her rage - rather than any sort of refined skill.

They trudged up the stairs, Hermione's strength growing weaker as they neared the Head Commons. Why the hell did it have to be so high up? Malfoy cursed, and quickened their pace to catch the correct staircase before it changed its direction. Finally they had made it, and Hermione let out a sigh of relief.

"Pixie Puff." Draco said. The door swung open and he rushed hurriedly inside. He made his way over, and set Hermione gently down in one of the loveseats. He rushed, waving his wand quickly allowing flames to burst into life within the fireplace. Once again he found himself preparing tea. This time one of his own concoctions. Something his skill in potions class had equipped him to make. With ease, he added a few specific herbs to create a rather potent pain reducer. He didn't make it too strong, and added a few sprigs of mint and a bit of lemon to make it a bit more palatable. As the water boiled, he turned to Hermione, who sat slumped in the chair with a pained scowl on her face.

"Sit up, now." He said softly, pulling her into a more upright position. She cringed. "Do you want to go to the infirmary?" He questioned. She simply shook her head and he sighed.

"Well we have to assess the damage." He reached forward and pulled off her magenta scarf, immediately seeing an array of burns from where the sparks that had met her bare skin. He cursed, tilting her head up to get a better look. With a shake of his head he began to work apart her coat buttons. With a gasp she lifted her hands to push his away, a blush creeping up her face.

"Oh get off it Granger. If my intentions were anything other than helping you, you would know. Now knock it off." He shooed her hands and worked the rest down, gently pulling the dirtied white coat off of her. He tossed it to the side with a quick 'scourgify' incantation. As the coat landed, it was returned to its pretty pure-white state. Hermione's head snapped up.

"You can do wandless magic?" She gasped. He hushed her and turned her to the side so she could lay back.

"Is it your stomach?" He asked, cautiously grasping the hem of her blouse and pulling it up, stopping at her ribcage. She nodded in pain, and her face grew to a bright red.

He cursed, looking down at her belly. Her whole middle had transformed into an ugly mess of black and blue. The bruises were darkest where they had met bone, her ribcage practically outlined by royal colored skin. As were her hipbones. Her middle was the most worrisome, however. The bruises most unusual. Taking the shape of colored dye when dropped in water, swirling and wispy… rather than a typical bruise.

"Well, bruises aren't a difficult fix. But it all comes down to if you have any internal damage." He said, returning her blouse to its proper place as the water began to whistle. He moved from her side and added his special mixture of herbs to the boiling water. A few minutes later he poured the liquid into a small cup, its color a strange misty purple. He added a spritz of lemon, and handed her the tiny cup.

"Drink up." He said sternly. "It's not the most delicious but you will feel better. Sleepy, perhaps. But better." She took the cup from his hands and brought it to her lips, blowing on it gently until it was safe to drink. The second the liquid hit her tongue she gagged, pushing the cup away from her face with a scowl.

"I said drink it." He demanded, moving towards her and pushing the cup to her lips once more. She drank, her forehead scrunched in distress. But soon it had disappeared, and he set the cup aside. With a sigh, she lay her head back. Her eyes glazed over, as if she were daydreaming.

"How do you feel?" He asked, quirking a brow.

"I feel alright." She said, closing her eyes.

"Yes. It seems to have worked. You're going to be a bit sleepy…." He laughed softly, and lifted her blouse once more with no protest. He studied her bruises carefully… it didn't seem as though there was any internal damage other than deep bruising. It would be a painful for a while… but there wasn't much of a choice. He grabbed his wand and waved it in small circles around her middle. She starred at him with lidded eyes as the bruises slowly faded. After a few moments of repeated incantation, her belly was as smooth and creamy as it had always been.

"It's still going to hurt… depending on how deep your bruises went. But I will keep making you tea and you'll be able to make it through the weekend. Alright?" He glanced at her, receiving no response but a sleepy smile. He let out an exasperated sigh, and took the seat beside her. The flames warming him.

"Why didn't you just give her a good one? She was unscathed. I know your skill. Hell, I experienced it not long ago…" he asked her, looking at her sideways. Her expression a bit dazed, her cheeks flushed.

"Well… I couldn't exactly blast her to hell considering I'm Head Girl. Oh the trouble I would be in."

"It would have been justified, I'd say."

"Just because you say it, doesn't mean that how it will be." She giggled. He smirked.

"Most of the time, it is." He retorted, turning to face her. "Look, Granger. I'm sorry that all this happened. I won't allow it again. Understand?" She tilted her head with a sleepy smile and nodded. He sighed and stood suddenly, realizing she wouldn't be useful for any type of intelligible conversation much longer.

"Come on then." He said, reaching down and lifting her from the couch. She giggled softly and wrapped her arms lazily around him, nuzzling her face in the crook of his neck. He stiffened, quirking a brow. Her soft breath causing a shiver to run down his back.

"I think I made that tea a bit too strong." He grumbled, making his way to her room, pushing the door opened with ease and moving to lay her in her bed. She slumped down into her pillow with s sweet sigh, snuggling into it immediately. With a shake of his head he grabbed a hold of her feet and worked her boots off, setting them carefully in proper order on the floor beside her bed. Her arms were splayed about and she was beginning to make soft sleepy snores. With a roll of his eyes he lifted the blanket up over her, leaving his hands beneath it as he unhooked the top of her jeans. She made no movement, so he continued to carefully pull them down and slip them off her feet. The whole time cautious to keep the blanket over her. Once they were free and folded them nicely and set them next to her boots.

"What a child." He laughed, tucking the blankets in gently around her before quietly padding out of the room as her snores grew in volume. He shut the door with a soft click and returned to the common room just as a nervous rapping started against the main door. He cursed, rising from his seat and making his way over to the door, opening it widely to reveal a rather exasperated looking Ginny Weasley.

"Can I help you?" Malfoy said curtly, blocking the entrance with his tall, sturdy body.

"Where is Hermione? I need to speak with her."

"She is sleeping."

"Well I will wake her then. It's important." Ginny said, pushing her way forward. Malfoy stood his ground.

"No you will not. She won't be bothered." Ginny narrowed her eyes and him and stepped back with a huff.

"Look Malfoy. You don't understand. Ronald is furious. He got her owl and is planning a trip here immediately. She needs to know!"

"Who cares if he is coming? That information can wait." He said with an annoyed tone.

"Listen to what I am saying! She told him, Malfoy! She told him she chose you over him." Ginny pleaded. Malfoy blinked in surprise.

"Did she now…?" A smirk crossed his face as he pondered this, and Ginny gave an infuriated groan.

"Yes! Things are not going to be pretty, and I know she won't be able to handle it all!" She pushed forward again but Malfoy still did not budge.

"Well, little Weasel. I appreciate the information. But being that she is recovering, I can't let you in. I will handle it. I do believe it is my duty now? Isn't it?" He smiled wickedly, and Ginny raised her hand in an attempt to scold him, but Malfoy shut the door promptly.

Almost immediately Ginny began to shout, her tiny fists beating loudly against the dark wood. Malfoy cursed and threw the door open once more, his wand at the ready.

"Silenico." He said softly. Ginny's voice was quieted, and he shut the door once more.

Malfoy returned to his favorite seat once more, pulling the chair to face the flames. So the Weasel was paying them a visit? Malfoy threw his head back and laughed. Now he knew how she really felt. And now he felt that she was rightfully his. Malfoy did not lose. And he would not allow anyone to get is his way. Especially not the good for nothing Ronald Weasley.