Feeling weak, Hermione moved to return to bed. She had taken only two steps before her legs gave way. Hermione gritted her teeth in pain. The stabbing pain in her side would not subside. She steeled herself against the hurt, determined to make it to the bed without the help of Draco.
She thought back to the night of the battle. The Order of the Phoenix had found the Death Eaters attacking the home of one of their own, Neville Longbottom. It was their way to attack them one by one, and flee when the Order arrived. In the ensuing battle, Ron had been hit by the Crucio curse. Hearing his cries of pain, Hermione had turned away from the witch who had been attacking her, only to feel a blinding pain strike her back.
When she had awoken, she was lying in a hospital bed at St. Mungo's. She opened her eyes to see Ron and Harry dozing in chairs beside her bed.
"Good morning," she had whispered, only to see both boys startle awake.
"Hermione," Ron cried, leaping to her side. "Hermione my love, I am so sorry I wasn't able to protect you." He began to sob.
"I'm fine Ron," She replied. "I'll rest up and join you guys soon." Sadness washed over Harry's face.
"Not soon Hermione. Bellatrix Lestrange hit you with an unforgivable curse. You've been paralyzed from the waist down. Dumbledore is working with Snape now, trying to concoct a potion to revive the nerves that she injured within your spinal cord. Dumbledore feels that it would be best if you went underground while you recuperate. The Death Eaters know that you have been seriously wounded, and would not hesitate to take advantage and kill you. You are far too vital to this effort, and to us, to allow anything to happen to you."
"Who is going with me, since I am unable to walk?" Hermione inquired bluntly. There was no point in dwelling on what had happened, she just needed to know the plan of action, and she would determine what to do from there.
"Draco Malfoy," said a strong voice. Albus Dumbledore walked in and smiled at Hermione. "Just like you to go straight to the questions Hermione, even when injured."
"Malfoy? You want to entrust Hermione to Malfoy?" sputtered Ron. "With all due respect sir, don't you feel that it would be better if-"
"No Ronald, you are much needed here. Draco has the necessary skills at potion making as well as medi-witch training. He is also well versed in the dark arts, and knows how to deflect many of their curses. He will be able to care for her aptly."
"Professor, what if I don't want Malfoy to accompany me?" Hermione asked desperately. She could handle being sent away to heal; she could not however handle being sent into hiding with Malfoy.
"I'm afraid you don't have much choice in the matter Miss Granger," Dumbledore replied. "You will be transported by muggles tomorrow, as your condition renders portkeys and apparition quite impossible"
They were able to concoct the healing potion after several weeks, but she had been warned that it would be a long and painful recovery, as her limbs had atrophied from disuse.
This is how Hermione found herself on the floor. She had overextended herself today. Oh, how she wished that it had been Ron that had been sent with her to heal. Forcing herself back onto her feet, she steadied herself. Keeping one hand on the chair, she urged one foot to move in front of the other and fell again, the chair toppling and striking her temple.
Hearing the commotion, Draco rushed into the room to find Hermione unconscious on the floor. He slid his arms underneath her and carried her to the bed. He began to check her vitals, knowing that she had indeed pushed herself too far that day.
"Why won't you let me care for you Hermione?" He whispered emotionally, tears cascading down his cheeks. "If you will not even ask me for help, how will you ever learn to love me?"