A/N: Hey all! Sorry for the wait; it has been fairly hectic! SPECIAL thanks to hermionehp904, who has given me a great idea for this chapter (even if it was unintentional)! It's been great talking to you :) and thanks heaps to everyone who reviewed/alerted/favourited my story! There are only a couple of chapters to go!
Chapter 22
Hermione was bored. Draco had been sent home by Mrs Weasley; he was told that he smelt bad and looked terrible, which caused Draco to leave immediately. He had not slept properly for days, and he was almost withdrawing into himself. He was quiet, and always looked concerned. On occasion, Hermione saw him look guilty. Hermione had been in St Mungo's for three days, waiting for her broken ribs to heal, and the magic that had been drained from the fight to be restored. She felt more than ready to leave. Although she had enough visitors during the day, she felt almost claustrophobic in her small white room. But the entire time, Draco never left her side. He was mostly quiet, saying that he thought she needed her rest. Hermione needed, and wanted, the noise and chaos of the Burrow. The Healers only let two people at a time into her room, which wasn't enough for her.
A knock on the door pulled Hermione out of her boredom.
"Hermione? Are you awake?" Harry's voice was heard.
"Come in, Harry."
He walked into the room with a bright smile. Hermione smiled in return as he leant down to give her a hug.
"So, how are you?" he asked, sitting on the chair next to her bed. He looked at her in his special way; as her older brother, looking protective, but comforting.
Hermione smiled. "I'm completely fine! These Healers are not letting me go anywhere, which is so very frustrating! I miss the Burrow, and having everyone in the same room at the same time."
"I understand. Remember all those times I was in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts? Madam Pomfrey never let me leave. I think she was rather fond of me, in the end." Harry said with a smile.
Hermione chuckled. She shook her head as she remembered all of the times she and her friends took over the Hospital Wing. Her smile faded as she thought of Draco. He had become quieter while sitting next to her. He was withdrawing into himself, becoming the person he was at the beginning of the year, and it scared Hermione. She didn't want to lose him; but she didn't want to scare him further away by talking to him about it. She looked at Harry, contemplating.
"Say, Harry, could you do me a favour?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, Hermione?" Harry asked, warily.
"I fear Draco is... Losing himself again. Ever since the attack, he has become quiet, and almost lost. He has barely spoken to me, and I fear that he feels guilty. I've seen it on his face when he thinks I'm not looking. Could you please try to talk to him? I don't want to push him away."
Harry sat in silence. "I'm not too sure that's a good idea... Hermione, maybe he just needs a bit of time to adjust to the fact that yes, he loves you, but yes, there is a risk to you. He has lost most of the people he loved as he grew up, and he probably fears for you too. Just give him some time, okay?"
Hermione sighed, but nodded.
Harry stood in the kitchen of the Burrow, thinking hard about Hermione's worries. He could see what she meant, and understood what she feared, but he didn't know it Draco realised what was going on in his own head. Harry sighed, and then walked upstairs.
Draco was sitting on his bed with his head in his hands. He knew that he should return to Hermione, but he dreaded going back. He would have to pretend that everything was ok, because that was what she did. He knew that she wanted to ask him questions about the attack, and most probably about Marietta, and he couldn't face that yet.
Footsteps heading towards his room pulled Draco out of his thoughts. He looked at the door and saw Harry put his head through.
"Hey, mate. Can I come in?" he asked.
Draco nodded.
Harry walked in, and sat on the chair by the window. He looked out at the snow covered fields, silently. Draco waited patiently. Finally, Harry sighed and turned to him.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Draco frowned. "I'm fine."
Harry nodded absently. "You've been quiet lately." He hoped that this would get a reaction. And it did.
"Quiet? Why the hell do you think I was quiet? My fucking girlfriend is in the hospital. She is lucky to be alive! I watched as she was attacked again and again by some psycho bitch and crazy stalker! No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't protect her. I should have been able to. Seeing her on the floor, broken, was the worst thing I had ever seen, including from the war. If she wasn't with me, she would have had a normal, happy Christmas. Instead she is stuck in this box of a room, taking a dozen different potions. I couldn't stand losing her, Harry. I've lost everyone else, and I refuse to watch her die." By the end of his rant, Draco was breathless.
Harry was silent for a moment. "Are you going to break it off with her? I think that is what she's worried about the most."
Draco jerked his head to look at him. "Break it off? Wait, did she tell you to talk to me? Did she not even have the courage to talk to me herself? She just sent her bloody bodyguard to do her bidding!"
Harry's hackles rose. "How dare you? She asked me to make sure you were okay! She was only worried that you were going to blame yourself, and become that shadow that you were at the beginning of the year. She wanted to talk to you, but I told her not to. I thought you just needed time to sort yourself out. She's just concerned okay? Give her a break, Draco."
Draco was annoyed, barely listening to what Harry was saying. So, Hermione was concerned. That's fine. But he had been sitting by her side for three days; why had she not opened her mouth and spoken?
"I'm going to go see her." Draco mumbled, and he disapparated, leaving Harry sitting there, fuming.
"Hermione!" The door crashed open. Hermione woke with a start, sitting up and rubbing her eye.
"Draco?" She asked hoarsely.
He stood in the doorway, looking angry.
Uh oh. Harry must have said something. "What's wrong?" she asked hesitantly.
"What do you think is wrong?" he sneered, giving her the look that she loathed.
"Don't look at me like that, Draco." She said sharply. "Talk to me."
"Why the hell did you send your bloody lapdog to me? Why couldn't you have asked me yourself? What -?"
"Draco." She interrupted. "Calm down, okay?"
"I won't." He said stubbornly.
Hermione glared at him, and he relented with a sigh. He sat down on the chair next to her bed.
"The only bloody reason I said nothing was because I knew you would react like this! And I also hoped that you could speak to me. I wanted you to trust me, and let me know that you were okay. But you didn't, and I kept waiting. So it's not my fault I wanted, or needed, some reassurance, Draco."
He was just sitting there, in stony silence. "I cannot believe you are scolding me. Get off your high horse, Hermione, and look at this situation from my point of view for a minute. I have lost everyone I loved, one at a time. So forgive me if I reacted a little strongly to nearly losing you too!" his voice had raised considerably by the time he had finished speaking, and he had stood up.
A healer rushed in. "Excuse me sir, I must ask you to keep your voice down, this patient needs her rest."
Draco scowled. "Fine. I'm leaving anyway." And without a backwards glance at Hermione, he left.
A/N: Damn Draco! I'm excited! I'm turning 18 tomorrow, on the 18th! Anyways, please leave me a review, and let me know about this chapter!
