Hi Everyone. I just wanted to thank those of you who have been reviewing my story so far. It is great to hear your feedback and comments!
Chapter 5
Hermione POV
Hermione would have noticed the pregnant pause that followed her question if she had not realized that Malfoy had called her Hermione. As in, not "Granger", not "Mudblood", and not anything else that insulted her muggle descent. Hermione. It's as if he is a completely different person. No Draco Malfoy in his right mind would ever call me by my first name. It makes me seem too normal to him or something. Hermione couldn't stop staring at the confused boy who was holding her so close to him. He was staring right back at her as well. Malfoy wore an expression of utter confusion. It was as if he was analyzing her. As she watched, she recognized a look of understanding growing in his eyes until the glimmer took up his whole pupil and he let out a silent gasp. It was so silent that if she had not been staring at him, she would not have noticed.
"M-My angle?" stuttered Malfoy after a long awkward pause, "What do you mean?" Hermione could tell that he had just made an astonishing discovery in his mind, but however much she yearned to know what it was, she knew he would never tell her. She decided not to push it and respond to h is long awaited response.
"I mean," she started, "after five and a half years of doing nothing except tease me and insult the fact that I'm muggle-born, you decide that you will be kind and carry me to the Hospital Wing? That doesn't seem like the Malfoy that I have known for all this time. The real Malfoy would have laughed at me and left me on the ground with my foot caught in the stairs. To reword my original question, why are you doing this?"
"Well, um...I just...I feel...Malfoy men, however unpleasant we may be, try to reverse things that have happened because of us. I knocked you over because I wasn't aware of my surroundings, so I am helping you recover by taking you to the hospital wing." Draco looked at Hermione hopefully as if pleading that she accept this excuse.
"Alright then, Malfoy. If that is your true intention, why don't you start walking?" Hermione enjoyed the blush that spread across Malfoy's face when he realized that instead of making his way towards the hospital wing, he had been in one stationary position the whole time they had been talking. Instead of responding, the boy turned quickly on his heel and made his way up the staircase towards the large oak doors that stood between them and a line of white beds and Madame Pomfrey. No matter how hard she tried, Hermione couldn't stop thinking about what Malfoy had said about his family's values. He has never worried about reversing his bad decisions before. He wasn't the one who tried to help Hagrid with Buckbeack's trial or fix Harry's broken nose at the beginning of the year. The opposite, in fact. He stood by and made fun of it the whole time. What has changed? With this question came the answer that Hermione already knew. His mother. I guess she really is dead. That's the only explanation to why he is acting this way. Hermione didn't feel comfortable enough bringing this topic up with the new and improved Draco Malfoy, so she clung to his neck in silence on their journey up to the Hospital Wing.
When they arrived, Draco set Hermione down on her bed and immediately ran off. She barely had time to say an awkward thank you before he was out the door. Madame Pomfrey just shook her head at the boy's behavior.
"That's a shame, that is. I could have helped that poor boy with what he's been going through. I'm sure I have some calming potion that could have helped with his emotions." mumbled Madame Pomfrey under her breath more to herself than to Hermione.
"What did you just say?" questioned Hermione. She was almost sure of what she had heard but wanted some confirmation. Without another word Madame Pomfrey bustled to her potion closet. This new piece of evidence further proved Hermione's guess. The Malfoy family had indeed experienced a loss. An overwhelming sense of sadness flooded her as she thought of what Draco's life would be like now. The family he had left consisted of Death Eaters who wanted him to join the ranks. That wasn't something to look forward to during Christmas break or summer vacation. I wish that his family could just be a little more caring. It's no secret that Lucius Malfoy doesn't care much for his son. If Draco was shown more love, maybe he would be a better person.
Madame Pomfrey returned to Hermione's bedside with a bottle of green liquid. The witch whipped out her wand and performed a few simple spells on the girl.
"Just as I thought. It's a badly sprained ankle. I can fix it, but it will still be weak so you'll need to stay in here for an extra day."
Hermione took a dose of the foul smelling potion, but soon realized the effects of her hospitalization. "But that means that I am going to miss all my classes for two days. How will I catch up?"
"Relax, my dear. If what Professor Dumbledore tells me is true, you're already a month ahead of all your classes. I'm sure if you're still worried Mr. Potter and Mr, Weasley can bring you all of the work." soothed Madame Pomfrey. "I will alert them that you're in here and make sure they bring your things."
Hermione sighed and stared longingly out the window. She would give anything to be studying under the shade of a tree by the lake. Anything would be better then being cooped up in here for a day and a half. She knew her only visitors would be Harry and Ron and that their visits would consist of Quidditch talk and asking her for answers to homework questions. Oh well. They are my best friends. I can't even imagine a world in which we are not together. Harry's my best friend and Ron is sort of my friend who may be something more. I love spending time with them. Sometimes, though, I think I deserve something more then them. Someone who can talk with me about the things that I like rather than the things that they like. Someone who I share interests with.
With another glance out the window, Hermione took a sleeping pill and drifted off into a sleep filled with images of white ferrets in shining armor and enemies that became friends.