Chapter Nine

He smiled quickly at her and looked back down at the book. Hermione stared back into the liquid. Blaise read for a moment, pointed his wand at the cauldron, and then spoke. "Is quisnam imbibo is vadum non vigoratus is mos subsisto in eternus poena suus mens mos abolesco quod suus tergum mos exuro in abyssus."

Hermione looked back up at Blaise and then all the color drained from her face. The severity of the incantation had not hit her until now. And now might be too late.

His eyes had grown dark.

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Blaise was completely still. Hermione almost had trouble speaking. No one else seemed to notice that something was gravely wrong. They all seemed to be relieved that that spell had gone right and the potion had turned clear like it was supposed to. Hermione slowly moved around the table, pulling out her wand.

She silently moved towards Draco and grabbed his arm, not knowing what else to do. He jumped at the strength of her grip and was about to tell her off when Hermione put her hand over his mouth. The others looked at Hermione with unreadable expressions. Hermione nodded in Blaise's direction. Pansy, Juliette and Freddie grew wide-eyed and began to back away. Hermione removed her hand from Draco's face. He just stared at Blaise with a blank look on his face.

He turned to the others. "Go…get out of here," he whispered. They didn't hesitate. The Slytherins turned and quickly shuffled out of the room. "You too!" Draco said to Hermione.

"I'm not leaving," she said firmly.

"You don't know what you are dealing with Granger. Leave…leave while you can," he said urgently. The room began to tremble.

"I'm not leaving him!" Hermione almost shouted.

The room jolted. Hermione almost lost her balance and toppled into Draco. They fell over. It seemed like an earthquake was hitting the room. Everything was shaking. Books fell off the bookcase, the pictures tumbled off the mantle, and dust and bits of small rock were falling from the walls and ceiling. Hermione recovered herself and turned around. Draco stood up and pulled her to a standing position. The floor shook beneath them. The book Blaise was holding fell from his hands. His eyes had gone completely red.

"Hermione! GO!" Draco yelled. A rumbling sound filled the air.

"I am not going to leave him like this Draco!" she shouted back.

"Stubborn bi---" Draco began.

"Now is not the time Malfoy!" Hermione said. She darted back around the table and almost fell again. She room was shaking with more force by the second. Blaise had laid his eyes on Draco and his gaze never faltered. Hermione reached out her hand out and made to touch Blaise's arm.

"Damnit Hermione…" Draco pulled out his wand before Hermione could touch the transfixed boy. He cleared the table of the cauldron and books. Within the second, he pointed his wand at Blaise and yelled, "Incarcerous!"

"Draco! NO!" Hermione yelped.

The spell however, did not even reach Blaise. The blue jet of magic had barely left Draco's wand when Blaise held up his hand. The magic seemed to halt in midair. The rocking of the room increased with such ferocity that Hermione fell again, hitting her head on the side of the table. Her head spinning, she looked up at Blaise. Within a moment the blue light burst into a hundred little specks and Draco was sent flying across the room. He hit the floor with a loud thump and groaned. He stood up, clutching his stomach. He pointed his wand out again, muttering something under his breath.

"Don't try that on me Malfoy."

A deep, cruel voice rang out from Blaise's lips. It was so unlike his normally comforting and pleasantly intense sound.

Draco's eyes grew wide with fear. Draco grabbed his wand and tried to stand up with a moan. He again pointed his wand at Blaise, "Immobulus!" he yelled. The spell simply scattered in different directions and hit the walls. Blaise swept his hand to one side. Draco doubled over and flew into the wall. Hermione heard something crack. The lights went out. Hermione whispered, "Lumos," and crawled over to where Draco was lying. She pulled him up by the shoulder and the room jolted again. Draco held onto Hermione as they both nearly slammed into the wall. Blaise had taken two steps towards them. Hermione's eyes glistened with tears.

"Get down," Draco shouted, holding her arm. Hermione didn't move. Draco sent two spells flying at the same time, neither reached Blaise. Suddenly, he was yanked from Hermione's grip and sent flying into the ceiling. He fell back down with a thump. He had been knocked unconscious. A window shattered.

"Draco!" Hermione called. She moved towards him, wand drawn, all the while weary of the other, approaching boy. "Rennervate!" she yelled as the room jolted once more. Draco stirred, but couldn't stand. He pulled his hand out from underneath of his, his breath coming out in raged rasps. Hermione almost guessed what he was going to do and wanted to stop him. However, she was flung into the wall behind her by a surge of energy that had come from Blaise.

Draco tried to stand. He looked at Blaise with conviction in his eyes. "I'm sorry," he muttered. He pointed his wand at Blaise one last time. "Avada Kedavra!" he yelled.

"NO! Draco!" Hermione screamed. A blinding green light filled the room. Hermione covered her face, the light was too bright. "Blaise…" she let out a sob as she lowered her arms. The room was still shaking. The lights flickered and dimness filled the room. Hermione squinted. Blaise was still standing there. Alive. Draco was on the floor, squirming. He was under the Cruciatus Curse. He yelled.

"Blaise stop it! You're hurting him, Blaise!" Hermione screamed as she moved towards Blaise. He had finally reached Draco. He reached down and grabbed his throat and pulled him into a standing position. Blaise's eyes were glowing red.

"You shouldn't have done that."

Draco choked. He writhed in Blaise's grasp. Hermione pulled out her wand.

"Levicorpus!" she thought. Blaise dropped Draco, and was yanked into the air for a moment. He didn't stay there though, as he should have. He merely did a spin and landed back on his feet, his eyes now on Hermione. The room jolted again. "Nox," she whispered. Her light went out and she stumbled forward. Draco was out cold.

"Relashio!" Blaise yelled. Hermione felt heat consume her body as she flew into the wall. She knocked into the stone and fell to the floor in the crumpled heap. She put her arms out and stood up again.

"Blaise! Blaise stop it! You can stop this! Don't let it control you!" she yelled as she backed into the wall. He was walking towards her. She felt herself hit the ground.

"Stupid wench. Do not tell me what to do."

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her up. His grip was painful. A tear slid down her cheek.

"Blaise…you're hurting me…" she whispered, looking in his eyes. She wanted a sign, and sign of the blue comforting eyes that held her only hours before. But there was nothing. Just the vicious red eyes that were controlling him now. She wanted to get through to him, make him stop.

"Ha, ha, ha. Do you think I care, Mudblood?" He threw her across the room. He walked over and picked her up again, this time gripping her upper arm and pining it to her side. Hermione swore that he was going to break her arm. The room jolted once more and shaking grew harder.

He had gone too far. Hermione didn't know what to do. "Blaise, please! Please…" she pleaded.

He pulled her up higher; she was an inch from his face. "Please…" she whispered. She tried to bring up her other hand to touch his face but he grabbed her wrist. She couldn't do anything else, she kissed him. For one second, she kissed him. And then she was flying across the room and hit the ground with a thud.

Before she blacked out, she saw him fall to the floor. His eyes were open and slowly turning back to blue. But he was gone, his mind was somewhere else. He hit the ground, and she passed out.

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Everything was cold. Hermione lifted her head up and looked around. It was pitch black. She couldn't see anything. She felt dizzy. She sat up. A cold breeze touched her cheeks. She felt something trickling down her face. She reached up and wiped it away, immediately recognizing the feeling of the blood. She patted around for her wand.

"Lumos!" she whispered hopefully. Hermione sighed in relief as the tip of the wood lit up. She crawled forward and grabbed it, holding it above her head. She still couldn't see. Somebody coughed, and Hermione started.

Someone was standing behind her. Even the glow from her wand was barely enough to see the silhouette of the figure. She felt the figure move. A hand brushed her arm. She was pulled towards the body. She realized that she was crying.

"They're gone…They can't be gone…" she heard herself whisper.

"We can bring them back." It was a male. He tilted her face upwards. Blue eyes.

"No…we can't. You know that. Don't give me false hope. Please, don't…" Hermione broke down.

"Don't cry. Everything will be fine. I can bring them back for you," he cupped her chin and pulled her forward. His lips touched hers for a brief moment. "I will do this for you."

Hermione stared into the eyes of the mysterious person. She suddenly became conscious that they were outside. A pale light was beginning to take over the grass and trees surrounding them. She looked around quickly. Hogwarts grounds.

"You can't…it would destroy you! I can't lose you too," she said. But it was too late the figure was fading. He put out his hand.

"I love you."

"Don't leave me! Please! Don't do it! NO!"

Hermione's breath hitched as she bolted upright. Her side hurt with such intensity she felt tears forming in her eyes. No sooner had she opened her eyes, than she was forced to clamp them shut again. The bright sunlight streaming in from the windows shocked her. It was morning. Slowly she opened her eyes. She reached up her hand to rub her eyes and felt the rough sheets that belonged to the hospital wing. Well, at least now she knew where she was. She looked around and sighed.

Harry and Ron were sleeping in two very uncomfortable looking chairs next to her bed. Harry turned a little; only to have his head hit the armrest. He jerked awake. He looked around stupidly for a moment, before his eyes rested on Hermione. He yelped in relief. He stood up and walked towards her. She smiled wearily at him as he put his arms around her and hugged her as if he was never going to let go.

"We thought we lost you," he whispered. Hermione pushed him away gently and looked at him, not able to find the right words. Harry pulled her back into the hug and held her for at least two minutes. Hermione had tears streaming down her face as she came to realize how scared they must have been when they found her.

"How long have I been…you know?" she asked finally.

"Three days," Harry said as he pulled away.

"Three days!" she said, shocked.

Harry nodded. "Don't cry. Please don't cry. We've had enough of that. Ginny, me, Ron, Hagrid, Professor McGonagall…"

Hermione laughed through her tears. "Professor McGonagall? Are you serious?"

"She came to see you. I think she wanted to cry but didn't."

He stood up and shook Ron awake.

"Wha---Whasgonon? What is it?" he said urgently as he sat up. "Hermione!" He jumped up and hugged her.

"Hi Ron," she smiled into his shoulder.

"How are you feeling?" Ron asked after he released her.

"I'm not sure. My side hurts and my head is kind of throbbing, but other than that I feel okay," Hermione responded, leaning back into the pillows.

"Oh good! You're awake!" Madam Pomfrey bustled into the room, holding a bottle and a spoon.

"Good morning Madam Pomfrey," Hermione said freshly.

"Good morning indeed. I've had to force feed you medicine for three days! Thank goodness you are awake! I will leave this here then, and go notify Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. Everyone was very worried about you. You are very lucky, Miss Granger, that you were found when you were. I suggest you thank Miss Weasley for coming to check on you three nights ago," the nurse said and left the room.

"Ginny found me?" Hermione said, picking up the bottle.

"Yeah. You and him…" Harry pointed across the room.

Draco was lying unconscious on the bed in the corner of the hospital wing. His hair was tousled across his forehead, his face paler than usual. He was shaking slightly, as if he was having a bad dream. There was a cut from his left eyebrow to the top of his cheek and several large bruises visible on his arms because of the short sleeves of the dressing gown. There was another cut that curved from the base of his neck to his back, but only a bit of it was visible. Hermione felt a tear fall down her face.

"He tried to protect me," she said quietly, looking at her hands. Both Harry and Ron stared at Hermione and gaped at what she had just said.

"He tried to protect you? Malfoy? Against what? I mean, what happened Hermione? Everyone thought you two were the cause of the damage," Ron said the last part very quietly.

Hermione's breath hitched. "Blaise…" she said inaudibly.

"What?" Harry said.

"Blaise! Oh my goodness…where is he?" Hermione said, trying to get out of bed. She doubled over in pain. She was crying from the pain and realization.

"Hermione!" Harry and Ron said in unison. Harry caught her and put her back on the bed.

"No Harry! Stop. Where is Blaise?" Hermione said sobbing.

"He is fine Miss Granger. Please refrain from standing," a voice came from the doorway of the infirmary.

Hermione turned around. "Professor Dumbledore!"

"How are you Miss Granger?" the old man said calmly. He walked over to the trio, his white hair glistening in the bright sunshine. Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey followed in his stride.

"I'm…fine. I'm fine. I was just…he's alright?" she choked.

"Yes, yes. He's fine. A little upset naturally, and a bit confused, but he's fine. However, you will not be able to see him for now. You have to remain here. At least until you are well enough to walk properly," Dumbledore said, standing at the foot of the bed.

"But, Professor, my schoolwork? I will fall behind immensely! I can't stay here! Please!" she said quickly.

Dumbledore chuckled. McGonagall stepped forward. "You will be exempt from all class work and homework, in all of your classes. Professor Snape was particularly hard to convince, but in the end I managed to get him to give in. Until you are released, you will receive an 'O' on all assignments."

Hermione's mouth dropped. Harry and Ron gaped. "Thank you Professors! Wow…I don't know what to say," Hermione said disbelievingly.

"Lucky!" Harry and Ron hissed at her jokingly. Hermione looked at them in mock superiority.

"If there is anything you find you need during the school day, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley are permitted to take one period off per day to come and spend time with you. I understand that you may get very bored, and I know that Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, well…I knew they'd give me a hard time about it, so there," McGonagall said, a smile playing across her usually stern face. Harry and Ron whooped in glee.

Hermione laughed and her eyes fell on Draco. Her smile faded. "How is he?" she asked Madam Pomfrey, motioning the boy.

The nurse looked at his sleeping form. "He'll survive, amazingly. He was put under many severe spells at once. The Cruciatus Curse he was under was surprisingly powerful. But it was ended before it could do permanent damage. However, the wound on his back will be painful and take time to heal. I'm sure he will always have the scar," she told Hermione. "Drink your medicine!" The nurse left.

"Good day Miss Granger, and you two," McGonagall said, "Take care of her."

Hermione smiled as the other two Professors exited the hospital wing.

"I am taking Potions off every day…" Ron said, easing back into the chair. Hermione laughed.

"I second that mate," Harry consented.

"You missed a Quidditch game, Hermione," Ron said suddenly.

"What? I did? Who was playing?"

"Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Lucky for them none of their team members were playing. I was kind of hoping it would be Hufflepuff and Slytherin, seeing as their Seeker was well…but then I found out what happened…"Harry said.

"Oh," Hermione said in a quiet voice. "Who won?"

"Hufflepuff amazingly," Harry said, laughing a bit. "I should go get Ginny. I promised I'd get her if you woke up. I'll be back soon." He stood up and left the room.

Hermione leaned back into the pillows again and closed her eyes.

"We were really worried Hermione," Ron said gently.

"I'm sorry. I don't know…I don't know what to say," she said, opening her eyes.

"What happened?"

"I don't know Ron…" Hermione sighed. "I really don't know. One minute everything was fine and the next…well…have you seen our dorm? It's all so confusing."

"HERMIONE!" Ginny ran into the hospital wing and to her side. She threw her arms around Hermione's neck.

"Ah…ow!" Hermione breathed.

"Oh…sorry! How are you! Are you okay! How do you feel! Is anything broken? Have you had your medicine?"

"Ginny…Ginny…GINNY!"

"Huh?"

"Calm down. I'm fine. I feel a little dizzy, I don't think anything is broken, and I am about to take the medication. Just breath!" Hermione said as Harry and Ron laughed.

Hermione reached for the bottle again.

"No, don't move. I got it," Ginny said. She opened the lid and poured the dark syrup into the spoon.

"I need water," Hermione murmured.

"Ron, go get some water!" Ginny snapped. Ron looked at his sister for a moment, but then stood, walked to the other side of the room, and filled one of the goblets from the pitcher of water on the medicine cabinet.

"Here Hermione," Ginny said. She took the cup from Ron and held it ready.

"Blachkk! This is disgusting!" Hermione coughed. She took the water and drank deeply.

"Don't you two have Quidditch?" Ginny said suddenly.

"Oh damn! Yeah, we do. Do you mind Hermione?" Harry said.

"No! Of course not. Go to practice!" Hermione said.

"Alright. We'll stop by later then…" Harry said, and he and Ron left.

Ginny sat down. "Need anything?"

"No, I'm fine, thanks Ginny. Really. I'm just tired."

"Oh. Alright then. Well, I will come back later. You sleep! Goodness knows you need it. I'll visit when Harry and Ron do later tonight. I'm glad your okay Hermione," Ginny said, standing up and squeezing Hermione's hand. She squeezed back.

As soon as Ginny left, Hermione felt a heaviness fall on her chest. She wanted to see Blaise. She wanted Draco to wake up and for him not to be hurt. She wanted her pain to go away. She shivered and pulled the blankets over her shoulders. Soon she faded into sleep.

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Some Weirdo: Aw, thanks so much! I'm so glad you liked it! I'm really very flattered.

LillyFan78: Thanks as well to you! I'm glad that you liked it.