11 days later….
"I told you not to just rush in… I told you to keep your head about it!!"
Draco looked down at his blood soaked arm and lovely six-inch gash to go with it. He didn't mean to rush in, but he couldn't help it.
"I know, Granger, but when I found the little pink ribbon… I just couldn't help myself… were running out of time."
Hermione sighed as she continued to clean up his arm. The cut itself was rather deep but the bleeding had slowed, allowing her to clean the wound.
"I know, I know, but we still have 19 days before the moon is full enough to perform the ritual and we need to be careful. I was under the impression that we were trying to stay alive."
Hermione pulled out a needle and held it over the flame of a candle. The wound was too deep to leave open and she would have to sew it the muggle way due to the fact that they were in the emergency house and didn't want their signatures tracked back to where they were hiding.
"This is a prime example why they don't let healers work on their own family members or law enforcement work on cases that involve relatives… people tend to lose their heads and get themselves and/or others killed."
I said I was sorry, Granger." Draco stated in an irritated voice. He was getting sick of listening to her bitch about it when he had already admitted that he fucked up.
"You'll understand some day when your kids are in danger." He added.
Hermione gripped his arm a little tighter and didn't answer his little jab.
"Just shut up so I can finish with your arm." She spat
Draco rolled his eyes and held still as she started to push the needle into the tender flesh. She remained silent as she worked, hoping that the needle hurt.
Five minutes later, Hermione put the last stitch in his arm, wiped the area once again with alcohol, stood and left the room before Draco could even mutter a thanks.
He watched as she walked to the door, punching the wall on her way out. What did he say to piss her off? What did he do to piss her off? He apologized didn't he?
Then Potter's voice ran through his head, 'cant have kids…cant have kids… You'll understand when your kids are in danger..'
He wanted to smack himself. He had forgotten that Granger was sterile… shit.
0000000000000000
Ron sat at the small table across from Harry with a frown on his face.
"Why would you want to go and do that?" Ron whispered as he looked around, "Do you even realize the repercussions? What people would say about us?"
"So we just let it go." Harry asked in an annoyed voice as he rubbed his hands over his face, "You read the damned book, you know what was done to her… Don't you think we owe her the peace going public could bring her?"
Ron sighed and took another swig of his Whiskey, "It's been along time, Harry, what's done is done and nothing will undo the damage. If we go public and say we were wrong, it could effect us in a negative way and I've got too much to lose."
"And while you're worried about what you will lose, A person, a friend that we ruined, will never get a moments peace when she has already lost too much."
Ron frowned again, "Why risk it? She already told you to bugger off and I was even worse than you were… I just don't see losing everything or giving ourselves a bad rep when she wants nothing to do with either of us."
Harry pushed himself away from the table. He was glad he was getting out of the Weasley family. They all liked the perks that they got when he married into the family, so much so that they forgot the people that helped along the way… Hermione included.
"You know, Ron, I figured you would be able to get over yourself to help out a girl you once loved, a girl that risked her life over and over again only to be hurt worse then either of us. I should have known, I should have known that you wouldn't give a rats ass."
"Harry, I –"
"I don't want to hear it." Harry hissed, "I'm going to make this right, I cant even sleep properly knowing that Hermione is being treated like crap when she was only trying to do what we were… trying to survive."
Harry then turned and made for the door. He needed a drink but he would be damned if he had one with Ron.
Ooooooooooooooo
"GRANGER! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?" Draco called as he walked the wooded area around the house. It had been three hours since she Hermione had walked out and had yet to return.
"COME ON, GRANGER, YOU CANT STAY OUT HERE ALL NIGHT."
Again he was met with silence.
Draco walked for close to an hour before he finally spotted a small figure curled up in the fetal position next to a tree. He walked closer, using caution not knowing what kind of mood she was in but quickly relaxed his movements when he realized she was asleep.
Her hair covered half of her face, her bloodied knuckles remained exposed and against the ground where he was sure the infection would set in quickly and it the other hand, a white folded paper remained clutched between her finger.
His first thoughts were suicide. She was already in the frame of mind where her life meant nothing and the paper clutched in her hand could very well be a suicide note… but why would she leave him a note?
Draco shook his head and dropped down to his knees next to her. He checked to see if she was breathing and once it was determined she was, he tried to wake her up.
He gave her a gentle push but she didn't move. He tried calling her name, but nothing, so he decided to read the paper… Maybe she ate something that could allow her to die slowly.
He was able to remove the paper easy enough and sat back against the tree to read it. He was expecting the paper to be anything other then what it really was.
Patient: Granger, Hermione Age: 18Height: 5' 4" Weight: 78 lbs
Illness: Severe bruising, emaciated, three cracked ribs upon initial examination.
Notes: Patient was found after five months of captivity. Initially appeared to be suffering Severe malnourishment, various physical injuries, including some internal injury.
Notes after initial examination:
Upon examining the patient, She appeared to have mostly brusies, small lacerations made from a knife or other sharp instrument and some scarring around her thighs and buttocks area, possible burns. The patient also appears to have a small crest tattooed below her hair line on back of her neck.
Genital exam: Patient has small lacerations around vaginal opening and Anus, small scars from previous injury are present but there appears to be different stages of healing, leaving me to believe she has been sexually assaulted numerous times.
Internal examination: Upon internal examination, Patient appears to have suffered several events where she received punctured lungs that were magically healed. A ruptured spleen, also magically healed. The patients Uterus and ovaries also appear to be missing.
Other notes on patient:
Ms. Granger should fully recover from her injuries within a few days due to treatment. Patient was informed about her sterilization and seemed to handle it well. Patient appears to be depressed and frightened but I believe that can be fixed with Muggle medications.
Draco folded the paper back up and shoved it into his pocket before scooping up the heavily sleeping girl and carrying her back to the house despite the pain in his arm. Once inside, Draco took her to the small bed and tried to lay her down but at some point, her fingers had clutched to his shirt and wouldn't budge.
"Granger… let go so I can go to sleep." He whispered
Hermione heard him and opened her eyes, "Sorry" she muttered before dazing back off.
Draco nodded and made his way over to the lumpy couch. He planned on getting an early start the next day in his quest to find Abby.