Hey guys. You guys are so great with the reviews and story alerts and stuff! Makes my insides happy:) I realize that their relationship is going rather fast, but Draco is a veela, and he needs to be mated to her, even if they aren't married. Sorry, because I mean no offense to all of you who believe in the whole sex after marriage thing. Anyways, hope you like the next chapter.
Hermione's eyes narrowed as she locked eyes with the slimy redheaded bastard that had cheated on her. He stared guiltily back at her, then dropped his eyes to the floor, not before giving Draco a short glare, which was gladly returned. Choosing to ignore her oaf of an ex, Hermione turned to Mrs. Weasley, giving her a big hug and whispering some comforting words to her. Ginny was the priority here, and Hermione was going to give her best girl friend the full attention of her large family. Mrs. Weasley then bustled over to the bed where Ginny laid, plumping her pillows and such. Ginny huffed, scrabbling with her mother, trying to fend off her good natured fussing.
"Oof! Mummmm! Stop it, I'm fine! No, my pillows are fine! I just fell down the stairs, I'm absolutely fine. They're going to do the replacement surgery with the baby shortly, so you lot can't be here." Ginny said this, addressing all of them, glad that they had come, even if she pretended to be annoyed with them. Hermione smiled, her eyes sparkling, then gently took Draco's hand and led him out into the hall with her, though not before giving Ginny a careful hug and a good wish for her surgery. With that, they went into the main waiting room, determined to wait out Ginny's surgery and be there for her to make sure everything went okay for her and her baby. As they settled down into the uncomfortable plastic waiting room chairs, they grasped hands subconsiously, not even looking at each other it seemed so natural. Hermione, naturally was worried about her best girl friend, but Draco's grip on her hand soothed her, as he rubbed his thumb in circles on the back of her hand comfortingly. Hermione, tired from the stunning events of the past 24 hours, began to feel drowsy, and Draco's consoling presence didn't help her oncoming tired-ness. Slumping her head onto his shoulder, she closed her eyes and drifted into dreamland.
When Hermione woke, she realized something at once. She was alone in the waiting room, not a soul was there with her. She was confused to extremes, for she was positive that she had fallen asleep on Draco. The other pressing matter was the fact that since there was no one else in the room, they must be somewhere else. Like with Ginny! Her friend must be out of surgery. She bolted up from her uncomfortable chair and to the counter where the blond receptionist should have been. Hermione groaned in annoyance and impatience. Looking around the room, she spotted a silver bell on the desk before her. Eagerly, she rang it, and was suddenly startled when a different, older witch apparated behind the desk immediatly, looking ruffled, clothing and hair askew. She had a matronly look about her.
"Is Ginny Weasely out of surgery yet?" Hermione asked excitedly, but with a nagging at the back of the brain that wondered where Draco was. She couldn't feel him in her mind, it was like there was a wall up. It worried her, but she needed to see Ginny first. Then she'd worry about her veela. The woman was looking through the papers on her desk, which Hermione noticed were constantly changing, from the patients in the hospital changing states and places.
"Why yes, she is. Her family is in there with her now. You can head on in, sweetheart." The woman smiled cheerily, and Hermione was glad for the change from the moody, ill tempered and huffy blonde woman from before. Smiling in thanks, Hermione walked past the desk towards the door she had entered before. However, the woman stopped her midstep, and laughed.
"Oh, she's out of surgery, so she's been moved to the recovery ward, now." She said in an efficacious tone of voice. She gestured to another hallway and gave Hermione simple directions, which Hermione absorbed quickly. She thanked her and went down the hall she was directed, and easily made it to the room the receptionist had told her. Softly, she knocked on the oak wood door. The door opened almost immediatly, by a relieved Mr. Weasley. She then saw Ginny, resting on the hospital cot, looking content. Hermione smiled largely, knowing by the aura of the room that all was well with the baby.
"Hey Mione." Ginny said in a happy, but tired voice.
"Hey Gin. How'd the surgery go?" They both spoke in quiet tones, for two different reasons. One was that there was a tired, calm vibe to the room, but the other more prominent reason was that Charlie was sleeping soundly in the armchair in the corner of the room.
"Perfect. We are all set to continue where we left off," she said, rubbing her bandaged stomach with a smile. Hermione smiled, then turned to Harry with a questioning look. Now that her main worry was taken care of, she could delve into the pressing matter of Draco's disappearance.
"Harry, have you seen Draco? I can't seem to place him."
Looking puzzled, Harry replied,
"No, I haven't. The last time I saw him he was with you in the waiting room."
"This is ever so strange! Where could he be?" Hermione was getting increasingly worried about him. Just then, she felt a nagging pulling sensation, and the beginnings of a headache in her mind. The pull nagged her to go out the door, so bidding her adopted family a quick goodbye, she followed it.
She was led down a winding maze of corridors, not knowing where she was going, just following her instincts. When she finally came to a halt, it was in a non descript hallway, white paint and white tiles, just like any other. There were just a few doors along walls, but one in particular called out to her. With a growing apprehension, she approached it, placing a hand on the cold handle. With a heaving tug, the door fell open, revealing dark drizzle. It was an exit to an alley behind St. Mungo's. The pull, and the pain in her head grew stronger, when all of a sudden, she heard an agonized yell come from further down the alley. Rushing towards the disruptive noise, she was horrified when the next sight came into her range of view. There was the unmistakable platnium hair, and she spotted Ron cowering behind a dumpster, the real problem lay with the circle of dark men around Draco.
Draco was on the ground, writhing in pain, and he let out another scream. The biggest man was the one wielding the wand, which was Crucioing her love. Without another thought for her safety, Hermione let out one of the loudest shrieks she had ever made, and ran towards the big unidentified man. She had the element of surprise, and she landed on the mans back without much trouble. In his startlement, he broke the curse on Draco. This was good and bad at the same time. Good, because Draco was out of harm's way for the time being. Bad, because now all of his attention was on her, and only her, as was the rest of the men.
Hermione gulped, and then the struggle began with gusto. The man she had a hold on started bucking around like a rodeo bull, and Hermione grabbed onto his hair to hold on. The other men were through with their surprise and were throwing spells that were just barely missing the quickly moving pair. Hermione's grip on the man's sensitive scalp enraged him, and with a burst of inhuman strength, he threw her off his back, and she landed hard on the ground.
She landed with a crunch and she cried out. Her wrist was broken from the fall. The giant man hulked above her, a leer on his face. He reached down and touched her face, to which she shuddered, but was unable to move away from. Then he spoke, in a low, growly voice.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the mudblood extroidinare, here to protect her blood traitor boy toy. Well, we can still have some fun, can't we, darling?"
Hermione gave a shriek of indignation, then relaliated fiercly.
"No, sir, I don't believe we can. I would move that hand if you want to keep it, though."
For his large paw had reached out again, and was about to touch her breast. He paused for a brief second, then called back to one of the other men,
"Stun her."
Before she had time to react, she was immobile and panicking in her own mind. Quick as lightning, his hands reached out and caressed her curves. She was about to pass out from the fear.
Just then, behind all the other men, where Draco lay forgotten, he stirred. Then opened his eyes to the one sight a veela fears and despises the most. Another man touching his mate, with her injured. Quick as a whip strike, he pulled out his wand, and silently stunned all the men except the one touching Hermione. Her eyes were closed tightly, as is she was trying to imagine she was somewhere else. Silently stepping around the prone bodies of the stunned men, he approached the man from behind, fury building within him.
He hit the hulking man in the side of the head with a powerful punch, and as he fell began kicking and punching every in of him he could reach. The man quickly fell unconcious, but Draco didn't stop hitting until his rage was calmed a bit. With one last distainful kick to the ribs of the bloodied, unconcious man, he turned and searched for Hermione. He spotted her on the ground, still petrified, eyes open now and darting wildly around. With a wave of his wand, he unfroze her. As soon as she was free, she gave a strangled cry and fell forward, shaking. Just before she hit the ground, she was cought by a strong set of arms and gathered up into him. She was in a state of shock. That man had been going to RAPE her! She collapsed into sobs, unable to believe what had almost happened.
"Shhh, shhh, it's alright sweetheart, you're safe now, it'll be okay, I'm her." Draco's soothing, comforting voice assured her. She buried her face in his neck and let her tears fall freely, and herself be calmed. Finally, her tears dried, but she still dry sobbed and shook in Draco's toned arms. Stroking her hair with one hand, and rubbing her back up and down gently with the other, he stewed about what had just happened. They were sitting on the cold, wet cobbles of the alley, and finally, when Hermione had calmed down to just shaking, he stood up. She clutched at his shirt, still on the ground, but he shushed her and then scooped her up into his arms like a child, safe. She snuggled into his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest. Part of him glowed inwardly at all the close contact and her need for him, but the other, larger part was distressed for her obvious unhappiness. He walked over to the door that was still standing open from when Hermione had exited through it, and went through it into the hall. He set Hermione against the wall, and then sat next to her, gathering her up into his embrace once again. Her broken wrist throbbed erratically, and noticing her discomfort, Draco cradled her hurt joint gently, as if she were to feel the slightest bit of pain it would be the end of the world. It felt better immediatly. Sniffling quietly, she melted into him, and sighed, feeling safe for once.
Outside, a spiteful red head glared into the darkness, frustrated by the way the event had ended. Pulling out his wand, he grabbed an old plant pot from the dumpster he had been hiding behind for the entire event.
"Portus," came the whispered incantation, then he gathered up all of the stunned and on one occasion beaten men, making sure they were all touching the portkey. Then, just as the last man touched the pot, a flash of ice blue light lit the alleyway, and the pot and men were gone. The man smirked grimly. He hadn't wanted Hermione involved, he didn't want her hurt, he loved her. But that ferret would get what was coming to him, sooner rather than later.
Hello again! Just thought I'd let you know that Ron is obviously a little OCC, so don't be surprised. Also, I was thinking about getting a beta, so if you think I should, or you know someone good, PM me or review with a comment or suggestion. Thanks again, and hope you enjoyed it!
-nababy123