((I hope you all like. Please review!))Chapter 15
Kiss Me
Days went by slowly. Draco wasn't sure how long he'd been visiting the hospital. All he knew was that he would go to class and come back to St. Mungo's at the end of the day; sleeping on the uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room all night. No one at school asked him where he would go every night. McGonagall knew, and that was all that mattered. In the time he'd been staying at the hospital, he'd seen many people coming and going. In all the years he'd known her, he didn't know Hermione was loved by quite so many. Now, though, that he loved her himself he could see why. Even in terrible shape she had a big heart.
As the days continued to pass, Draco stayed in the waiting room. He never went in to see Hermione. As to why that was, he was not sure. Mostly, he figured he was scared of seeing her again; afraid it would hurt some more. In reality, it was because he was afraid in general. He was finally in love and she was dying. That frightened him. After all, if loving someone meant they would leave you, then what was the point?
Ginny would come and go almost as often as he would. The only difference being that she actually went back to the school to sleep. Whenever she would see him, she would try to talk him into joining her in Hermione's room. He declined each time. Some excuse would pop up in his head, giving him an out. He would take it. Despite that, Ginny continued to try every day. She wouldn't push; didn't feel the need. She knew that he would do it in his own time. Merlin, she just hoped that it would be before Hermione actually...
It was just too painful to even think the word.
Finally, one day Ginny had enough.
"Draco, this is crazy! You need to go see her!" Her voice was as low as she could keep it in the quiet waiting room.
Draco just shot her a confused expression before crossing his arms over his chest. He still wasn't ready, damn it! What if he went in there and acted like a bumbling idiot!? No, he wasn't ready.
Ginny nearly stomped her foot in frustration. Normally she wouldn't bother him. She'd greet him, ask him to join her, and then go on her merry way. Today, however, was different. Hermione was different. Not only was she skinnier, but she didn't have any strength. Bloody hell, she could barely sit up while Ginny was in there. Her eyes were starting to sink in even deeper than they were before. Even speaking had seemed like a great challenge to her. Hermione was really sick now; no sugar-coating it. After Hermione fell asleep, Ginny excused herself from the room to give Draco an earful.
Ginny's best friend was disintegrating right before her very eyes and there was nothing she could do about it. She needed to take it out somewhere and Draco was the perfect pawn.
Staring at him with determined and stern eyes, Ginny crossed her arms much like him and stood there. The two started an apparent staring contest. Draco was used to glaring at people for long periods of time. He knew he could stick this out for as long as was necessary. He wasn't ready, and he refused to be rushed because the youngest Weasley thought it was inappropriate for him to wait any longer. Ginny, however, knew she would win. Maybe she wouldn't win the staring contest, but she would win with him going into the room.
"You want to know what I don't understand, Malfoy?" Her voice was low, dangerous.
He raised an eyebrow, but didn't reply.
"I don't understand how you can just sit there every single day and watch people come and go from Hermione's room. I don't understand how you can just sit there and not go in yourself. You know she's dying; you know she only has a little time left. And yet, you sit there. You never move until you need to report to the school. You're a pathetic fool and you know what?" She took a step forward, leaning down to place her hands on the arms of his chair—making their faces an inch apart. "I don't understand how you have the balls to say you love Hermione when you can't even be with her when she needs you the most."
Draco's face fell as he heard her words. At first he couldn't speak, couldn't move. Finally, he managed to thaw himself out. Unexpected anger bubbled up inside him as he stared at the white tiling on the floor. Not only had Ginny Weasley invaded his life, but now she was in his business. This was his busy! What right did she think she had? Right, so she's best friends with Hermione Granger. And, she may also know what she is talking about. But, all in all, that didn't mean anything. He was still his own person and could damn well make his own decisions!
Ginny, getting fed up, turned to walk away. "I'm going back to the school. Hermione's alone right now. Be a bloody man and go see her. She doesn't have much time left."
Watching her retreating back, his hands began to shake. He needed some bloody air! His feet slammed to the floor in long strides. If Ginny thought she could tell him what to do, she had another thing coming. He would go see Hermione in his own time. Not hers or anyone else's! So, he stomped through St. Mungo's, earning several glares from Healers and receptionists. He just glared in their direction and continued to walk, eager to floo out of the cramped place.
"Draco, just where do you think you're going?"
Draco halted in his footsteps just as he was about to step up to the floo. That familiar voice caught him off guard, eliminating his anger. Turning slowly, his mouth dropped as he looked at the woman in front of him. "What are you doing here?"
She raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her hips. "Is that any way to talk to your mother?"
Shaking his head to remove all traces of surprise, he walked up to her confused. "Fine, I'm sorry, Mother. May I ask you why you are here?"
Her light laugh vibrated around him. It was a small tone, almost like tiny bells. "I came to see my son. Last I checked, he was in a bad place and I felt it in my heart. So, I have come to help."
"You already told me you couldn't help." His voice was tired, stretched. They really didn't need to continue this same old song and dance.
Sighing, Narcissa linked her arm through her sons and patiently began walking with him to the waiting room he had just abandoned. Draco went without complaint. For one, he was much too curious to just walk away. Secondly, his heart never really left the room. His emotions just made him throw a temper tantrum. There was no doubt that he would have returned within moments. Narcissa sat in one of the ghastly green chairs, motioning for Draco to sit next to her. When he did, she looked around.
"I must say, these hospital waiting rooms never did have taste. I'd bet the rooms are at least a little nicer." She sarcastically flicked at the distasteful seat next to her.
Draco just looked at the tiles of the floor. "I wouldn't know. I haven't been to any of the rooms here."
Narcissa nodded, looking at the floor as well. She was never good at comforting others; including her son. "Would that include our dear Miss Granger?"
He didn't nod; didn't reply. He just continued to stare at the tiled floor.
Again, she nodded. "I suspected so."
"Why are you here, Mother?" His voice was cut, short.
Somewhat shocked at his tone, she looked up at him surprised. However, it soon turned to sadness. "I'm here to help you, like I said."
"And, like I said," he turned his cold, grey eyes on her. "You said you couldn't help."
Narcissa sighed, fingering the hem on her black skirt. "I may not be able to cure her cancer, but I can help save you."
Draco snorted. "And how are you going to do that? Besides, what makes you think I need saving?"
She shot him a disbelieving look. "Draco, darling, the woman you love is down the hall in her death bed and you haven't gone to see her once."
He opened and closed his mouth multiple times, not knowing what to say. "That does not concern you."
"Yes, love, it does."
"Why?"
"Because you are my son. I love you, Draco, and I will not sit by and watch you destroy yourself." Her voice was getting higher.
Draco stood and began to slowly pace. "And what the bloody hell makes you think I'm destroying myself?"
Slamming her purse onto Draco's abandoned chair, Narcissa stood and grabbed Draco's face in her hands. She wanted to shake some sense into his stubborn head! "You're destroying yourself by not seeing her, Draco!"
"I'm not ready to see her!" He shouted, trying to step away from her hands.
She held on tight. "Yes, you are. You just refuse to."
Draco shook his head, feeling his emotions that he's kept bottled up start to crack. "That's not tr—"
"Stop lying to yourself, Draco!" She smoothed back his hair. "Ever since I married you father I have not known love. The mere fact that you have it in your grasp gives me hope. But, it hurts me that you won't reach out and take the chance!"
"It's not that simple, Mother!" He started to shake his head.
"Yes, it is!" Tears brimmed in her eyes as she saw her son's face contort with the obvious pain he was holding back. "What are you so afraid of?" she whispered, his face still in her hands.
Draco felt the doors he locked his emotions in crumble. The first choked sob of many flew out of his throat. Hot, fresh tears spilled from his eyes. "She's dying, Mum." He stared into his mother's own tear filled eyes. "Hermione's dying, Mum, she's dying!"
As he collapsed into a sobbing heap on the floor, Narcissa went down with him, holding him in her arms like she used to when he was a little boy. For the first time in many years, she finally got to hold her son; finally got him to open up. It just broke her heart that it was because of this. It was almost impossible to find the person meant for you. Draco finding it was the one thing she'd been wishing for all his life. Narcissa never wanted her son to end up like her heartless, cold husband. No, she wanted him to live a happy life without darkness. And now, he would know a big part of that darkness too early. After all, nothing in the world hurts worse than losing the person who completes you.
Nothing.
Hermione was writing when Draco walked in. With her bed acting as a chair, her head was bent over and her hand writing furiously. Part of Draco wondered what she was writing, but the majority of him was just struck by the sight of her. Ginny really hadn't been exaggerating about her failing health.
As she wrote, he examined her closely. Her skin was extremely pale and thin, sticking to her bones like plastic. She was so skinny her bones could be seen quite easily, from what he could see. Even her usually full of life hair was limb, flat against her head. Her sunken eyes stood out even more over her prominent cheekbones. Nothing about her screamed life anymore; even those brown eyes seemed to not hold any spark. His heart squeezed as a scary thought ran through his head. Her death was close… and he almost didn't come see her.
After his mother held him and told everything would be alright, he got the courage to finally see her. It wasn't her keeping him away at all. It was just him. He was scared that if he saw her everything would become real. He would really love her and she was really about to die. So, with short and frightened footsteps, he'd managed to walk into her room, standing by the door waiting for her to notice him.
It took her quite some time, but she finally did. When her eyes met his, she smiled. "I was wondering when you were going to make it here."
He forced himself to smile back. All he could seem to think about was how a simple smile could make her face stretch and almost look painful. "Sorry it took me so long."
Still smiling, she flinched slightly as she shifted in his direction; her left hand clutching her side lightly. "I knew you'd make it here when you were ready."
His heart started to race as he took another step towards her bed. It didn't pass his attention that she had to lay against the back of the bed in order to sit up. "You were waiting for me?"
"Yes." She sighed, her eyes filling with tears. "I was."
Draco could sense the double meaning in her words, but refused to dwell on it. He was there to see her. He was not there to cry any more. He would do that… later. Instead, he crossed the small room and sat in the recliner next to her bed. "Where are your parents? I thought they would never leave?"
She gave a small laugh, one that made her cough for a second. "I told them to get some fresh air. Mum and Dad have been sleeping here since I got admitted. It was time they took a break."
He nodded, unable to look at her face. Instead, he resorted to staring at the white and blue knitting of her wool blanket. Due to her frail and skinny form, he was betting it was to keep her warm. He felt the tears forming again as she placed her shaking hand under his chin. Tilting his face to look at her, she gave a small smile again, but didn't say anything. She was going to let him do that talking first.
Swallowing a sob, his voice cracked when he finally managed to speak. "Hermione, I…" He couldn't finish.
Understanding, she nodded. "I know."
They looked into each other's eyes for the longest time. Draco couldn't seem to form words as he felt his heart slowly breaking. And then finally, after several minutes of silence, he managed to force out the words. "I love you."
Her smile was growing smaller, but it still managed to reach her tired, pain-filled eyes. In all the years she's lived, Hermione never thought love was going to happen to her. Studies and a career were all she saw in her future. And now, as she laid in her small bed dying, she was glad she lived long enough to love and be loved by someone. It made her weak heart flutter and her eyes tear. And to think, it was with the most unlikely person in the world.
"And I love you." Her voice was small, warm.
Letting the tears fall, Draco leaned forward and kissed her cold lips. It wasn't a kiss full of fire. No, it was a kiss that was full of love; and that made it the best kiss he ever had—and quite possibly the best he'd ever have for as long as he lived. Leaning back, he rested his forehead against hers with his eyes closed. He needed to feel next to him. Hermione Granger was suddenly and wonderfully so real next to him that he couldn't break away. So much pain was filling him that he didn't know what to do or to say.
Hermione's eyes were also closed as she breathed in his familiar scent. If there was one thing she wished she could take with her, it was his scent. Her heart ached, but she felt like she had done what she was meant to do. She no longer felt like she was missing out on something in life. Perhaps this had been her reason all along; to find love. Or maybe it wasn't her at all. Maybe she was just meant to help Draco Malfoy to love once and for all.
"Draco?" Her voice was growing weaker. "Can I ask something of you?"
Lifting his head, he nodded vigorously. "Anything, love."
Shifting, she picked up the stack of parchment she had been working on for days. Handing them to him, she sighed. "Can you please take this to Percy Weasley at the Ministry? He'll know what they are."
Nodding, he grabbed the papers and made to put them aside for later.
Hermione shook her head. "No, now, please."
"What? Why now?" He didn't want to leave her side ever again.
"It's important. Please?" Her voice was soft and hard to hear.
Sighing, he stood. "I'll be right back, love. I promise. It'll be a quick trip. You won't even miss me."
"Can I have one more favor before you go?"
He nodded.
"Kiss me?" She gave a small smile, full of love and humor.
Chuckling, he slid forward and kissed her thin lips again. As he stood again, he smiled. "Don't fall asleep."
Hermione gave a little laugh as he practically ran out of the room. Her heart ached as she listened to his fast paced steps. Oh, she wished she could have told him. But, how do you tell the love of your life something like that? Instead of berating herself, she kept repeating the same thing in her head over and over. It's all for the best. He would forgive her someday… Sighing, she finally gave into what she's been holding off. She was telling the truth when he asked if she was waiting for him; for she truly was. And now, after finally hearing his voice and seeing his beautiful face, she didn't have to wait anymore. Deep down, she had no regrets, but did wish this happened differently…
She wished he had known that was their last kiss…