A/N: Hi All, I know updates for this story have been sporadic at best, and I have nothing to say in my defense save for the fact that I'm half way through college and recently married and my priorities have realigned themselves. That being said, I still love writing and I'm going to attempt to get back into this story, I hope you all enjoy and I appreciate all rating and reviewing.
Something More
Chapter 7: Beginning the Search
"If you had been anyone else…" The man behind him rolled his grey eyes. "You'd hex me within an inch of my life", Draco Malfoy drawled, "I know." Hermione looked up from her place in Severus' arms, too emotionally spent to even consider how things must appear to outside eyes. However, Draco's presence seemed to calm her, and she recovered herself, albeit shakily, a few moments later. Draco knelt beside her and took the hand closest to him.
"We'll find out who did this, Hermione, I promise you." Draco glared at the ceiling, "and when we do I'll forego the wand and murder him or her with my bare hands…just for you." He shared a meaningful look with Severus. I think we should take her to the hospital wing, Madame Pomfrey might have something in her stores that would help her slee-".
"No!" Hermione's declaration echoed off the walls. "I won't sleep, I can't." "Miss Gra-Hermione you must sleep. No one can survive without proper rest." Hermione gave him a dark look, "you'd be surprised what I can survive without." Severus didn't respond for a moment. It was true, he didn't, this woman had survived unspeakable horrors, second only to the ones she was currently facing.
Draco spoke up, "Hermione, love, you have to sleep, maybe we can give you a stronger dose of dreamless sleep potion or something." Hermione appeared to be considering that. She looked hesitant, but nodded slowly, understanding that her choices in this matter were limited if she wanted to survive more than a few days.
Hermione wasn't sure her knees would hold, but she made to stand anyway. Both men rushed to accommodate her, placing themselves under each arm. Draco put his other hand on Severus' shoulder. "I'll take her, you need rest if you're going to start researching a cure tomorrow. Severus glared at his godson, there was no way he was going to relinquish Hermione, not in her fragile state.
He glanced down at Hermione, she was gazing at Draco with an expression he couldn't discern, but the warmth in her eyes made him flinch as foreign pangs of jealousy coursed through his system. He felt trapped, to argue with Draco meant revealing too much of himself, not to meant trusting someone other than himself to care for her.
His pride won. "All right", he ground out, "but do be careful." His condescending tone rankled with Draco, the younger man understood, perhaps more than Severus himself. With his back turned, Draco didn't notice the look of longing on Severus face, and given the circumstances, that was probably a good thing.
Draco cradled Hermione against his chest, and she rested her head there, feeling as safe as she could under current circumstances. "Draco?" she murmured in a tiny voice. It broke Draco's heart. "Yes, Hermione?" She looked at him hesitantly, "am I going to die?" They reached the hospital wing and found Madame Pomfrey mysteriously absent. He found an empty room and laid Hermione in the nearest bed.
Draco laid his hand against her cheek, "no Hermione, you're not going to die, you're going to live a long, full, beautiful life. You're going to find someone and get married, you're going to have little bushy haired know-it-all babies, and most importantly you're going to teach lots of little Gryffindors how to love books and hate Slytherins." He tweaked her nose, "I promise."
A/N: I know its short, but I'm easing back into it. Thanks all! R&R