Chapter 14
Hermione let out a tiny sigh as she stretched as she woke up in the familiar white walls of the Hospital wing. She kept wishing that she wouldn't spend each morning waking up in the uncomfortable bed that she had still not grown accustomed to. She had been here for about a week, and was getting seriously sick of it. She knew that she had been well enough to leave the wing for the last several days, yet didn't due to the wonderful Madam Pomfery, who seemed intent on keeping her until Hermione was seventy.
"Sleep well?" a voice asked from the red armchair that she could only assume had been conjured up. Madam Pomfery did not like for her prisoners to have too much company. She turned her head about ninety degrees to the left to see none other than Draco Malfoy sprawled over the chair. His hair was tousled, and his tie loosened around his shirt that had a few buttons undone. She could see a bit of his pale, yet muscular chest. At the sight, her breath hitched slightly, but not enough for him, or anyone else to notice. She knew that he had spent the night. It was lucky for them that the curtain to the bed was drawn; no one could see in, nor could they see out.
Draco had been skiving off on most of his classes on the pretenses of being ill. He had told his Slytherin buddies that he needed time to recover from the battle that he had fought valiantly in, but their side, the Dark side, had unfortunately lost that round. He had received a letter from his father, congratulating him on his individual success, for Voldemort now viewed him as one of his own prized possessions. While Hermione was pleased that he had done well and would be able to guarantee his role as a spy, she was not relieved by this news. If anything, it stressed her out, thinking about how much more danger he could be in, and the potential dangers he could face if his charade was found out.
She knew that if Harry and Ron were allowed, they would be joining her as well. They spent most of their little free time with her. However, because of the recent attacks, Dumbledore had decided that he needed to do more to prepare the Chosen One than simply show him some memories. They had been going through potential Horcruxes for ages; however, first they needed to guarantee that Voldemort had actually created them to begin with, . Ron however, was far behind in his school work. While taking a week off of school was no big problem for Hermione, for she was already weeks ahead in her schooling. However, for Ron to have to get through the week without Hermione to provide aid for him was a challenge.
"You didn't have to stay here all night you know," she mumbled sleepily before giving him a smile. Ever since the night that she had been attacked, she knew he felt guilty, but no matter how much she explained that it was in no way his fault, he simply would not hear of it.
"It's okay, I wanted to," he said, unconvincingly. She looked at him, searching his eyes for anything that could give away that he was feeling internally.
Hermione attempted to sit up in the bed before wincing in pain. While she knew that she would no longer have any after effects of the curse. That didn't mean that she wasn't still sore from the pain that she had endured.
He immediately got out from his chair and sat on the edge of the bed. He placed his hand upon the small of her back and another one her hand worryingly. She laced her tiny fingers through his before looking up at him reassuringly. He was growing fast into one of her good friends. She was grateful for his company, and was also glad to have him by her side. She wasn't entirely sure why, but she adored having him be so protective of her. While Ron and Harry often were, it was different.
She now viewed the two of them as brothers, even Ron. She figured that any feelings she once had for the ginger-haired boy, was because of uncertainty. He was always there, but he wasn't quite brotherly as Harry was. So she had confused the feelings. But something about Draco did not fit into that brotherly shaped mould that Ron and Harry fit so perfectly into. And while she couldn't quite classify him into the different groups she had established for the people involved in her life (family, teachers, friends, acquaintances) as she did with everyone else she met, she was more than content not filing him away just yet.
"Draco, I'm okay; just a little sore," she said as his eyebrows furrowed, with a prominent crease building upon his brow.
"Hermione, you should just rest. Don't over exert yourself; just spend one more day in the wing," he pleaded with her softly.
Before Hermione could argue, the curtains opened rapidly with a swish. Hermione looked up, as Draco jumped away from her rapidly.
"Unfortunately Mr. Malfoy, even I have to allow my patients to leave here eventually," the woman said, in a tone they were not used to. The pair of them looked up to see Madam Pomfery staring at the two of them with a seemingly knowing glance. However, she did not say anything. Instead, she had a vile of a potion in her hand, and poured a tiny amount into a cup. She handed the cup embellished with a simple pattern, to Hermione.
"For the pain," the Healer said pausing slightly. "I can't stop it entirely, however I can make some of it go away."
As Hermione sipped the potion, Draco protested. "Can't you keep her here until she's better?" Draco asked the woman before them.
The woman gave him a smile; it was a smile that older women often gave children who didn't quite seem to understand the way of the world. Hermione knew it all too well, for she hated being on the receiving end of that smile.
"Mr. Malfoy, as much as I wish I could keep her here until she her health has been completely restored, I cannot. The beds are much needed in the Hospital wing. Every day several students are always coming in as a result of duels in the corridors, with their injuries being of varying levels. I need to make sure that all of those students are taken care of, and I am sure Miss. Granger can heal the same way in her own bed, which I am sure she much prefers, over the beds here," she said.
Hermione looked up at the woman in surprise as she handed over the cup. She had no idea that the animosity between the students of the school had been so bad. While she knew all too well that the prejudices of the outside world were slowly seeping their way into the school, it was beyond what she had thought it to be.
She felt the pain begin to lessen, and some of her strength began to be regained. Madam Pomfery handed her the vile of the potion before giving her instructions on restrictions on taking the potion and how frequently she should be taking it.
Draco left the Hospital wing first. Hermione counted thirty long seconds before following out after him. The two of them could not be seen together, not now after everything the world was going through. They were on opposite sides of this war and they knew it. So they could not be seen together, or it would break the status quo.
They had decided that the two of them would meet up in the Room of Requirement with Harry and Ron, after each eating some breakfast, to go over the next steps in their plans against Voldemort. While Hermione could have eaten the meal offered by the Hospital, she wished to get out of there as soon as possible. Thankfully, it was a Saturday, so the boys would not be in class. They would most likely be still in their beds, cuddled up under their blankets, or in Ron's case, with Lavender Brown. As she made her way up the Gryffindor steps, she mentally prepared herself for any sights she may face upon entering the room. Thankfully, by now she had years of experience on walking into the boys' room, and hardly anything would surprise her anymore.
She paused outside their door, and contemplated knocking. Deciding against it, she opened the door, and found the four boys still in their beds, without any sign of getting up anytime soon (or Lavender even being in the room).
She sat on Harry's bed and spoke in a soft manner, "Harry," she whispered. She waited for a reaction; any sort of indication that he had heard her and planned to get up. After a few moments, it had become blatantly obvious that she wasn't going to get one.
She shook him slightly while murmuring his name once more. He stirred and his eyes began to twitch.
"Ginny," he said in a dream-like state. She smiled upon hearing this. Secretly, she had been rooting for the two of them for years. But Harry was not about to notice her anytime soon. Hardly anyone ever recognised the sister of one of their mates. So she had told the girl to go and get some experience and date around a little. It would give her a chance to explore herself, without waiting around for a guy who hardly noticed her.
She shook him, only slightly harder this time. "Harry, wake up," she said, speaking in a louder tone.
"Wasapening," he said startled, as he sat up. His hair was dishevelled; more than she thought was possible. He grabbed his circular glasses that she knew he was completely blind without.
As he recognised her, he brought her into a tight embrace. "Hermione!" he said gleefully. "They let you out of the wing," he said, while nearly squishing the life out of her.
She smiled to herself, "Harry, do you think you could loosen your grip slightly?" she asked, gasping slightly for air.
Harry's outburst had woken the other three occupants in the room. They sat up groggily at the noise as their eyes squinted, trying to get accustomed to the light shining in through the window.
"Hermione?" Seamus asked, as he made an attempt to cover his half naked body back up. She knew that he had been wearing his knickers to bed, but also knew better than to look.
"Morning, Seamus" she said cheerily, as she looked away from him and his current state of undress.
"They let you out of the hospital?" Ron asked, while making a bad attempt to sit up in his bed. As he finally managed to, he looked at her, as surprised as everyone else had been that she had actually been let out of there.
"Mmhm, now get your butts out of bed. I'm starving, and I want to talk to you guys about a couple of things," she said, a bit secretly.
If either Dean or Seamus had suspected that something was up, they did not say. They had long learned that the trio would always have some secret, and that it was generally better not to ask them what it was about.
"If you guys are going to leave, then please do," Dean said as he buried himself further inside his blankets. Hermione rolled her eyes as both Ron and Harry jumped out of bed. Thankfully for her, neither of the boys were half-dressed. While she didn't have feelings for either of them, it hadn't meant that she still wished to see them like that.
She looked around awkwardly, realising that the boys needed to change in order for them to be able to leave, "Right then," she said. "I'm going to wait outside for you guys," she said as she hastily left the room.
Draco waited in the Room of Requirements for the 'Golden Trio', as they were often called. He was worried still for Hermione, and could not help it. The words that Madam Pomfery had fed him in an attempt to soothe his mind had not worked. He did not care what Hermione said, it was his fault that he had suffered under the Cruciatus Curse. He should have been able to protect her, yet he couldn't. It was a wonder that Potter, Weasley, and the rest of their side did not think so as well.
He awaited his next orders from Voldemort. The last letter from his parents did not reveal any more plans that were in store for him. So he knew that in the meantime, he was to work on his plan to destroy Dumbledore. Yet he had no idea of how to find a way around actually killing him. Dumbledore probably had some sort of plan on how to save him, but if he did, Dumbledore did not say. He wished the old man would just tell him of his plans for once, yet he did not see fit to share.
He watched as the trio made their way into the room, and closed it behind them.
"Malfoy," Potter greeted in a tone that had no animosity. It was strange for the boy to take a pleasant tone with him, but he supposed that after everything, it was hard to hate the other.
Weasley of course, had no problems in showing his despise as the ginger glared at him.
"Weasley," he greeted in the same tone that Potter held with him, much to the dismay of the boy he was greeting.
"Draco," Hermione said with a smile, as she embraced the boy. He smirked slightly as Weasley glared at him with even more ice in his eyes.
"So, Potter, I was wondering what the next course of action was," he said casually as the four of them took a seat.
"Actually, I'm not quite sure," Potter confessed. "Dumbledore and I are looking heavily into trying to find a way to bring down Voldemort, but it's proving to be quite difficult."
"And the Horcrux search?" Draco asked the boy. He watched the three pairs of eyes widen as they looked at him with matching stunned expressions. He knew that they were surprised that he had known about it.
"Who told you?" Weasley asked with a glare. "How do you know Malfoy? Have you been eavesdropping on conversations you shouldn't have heard?"
He replied calmly, "My father. I've known for a while, as I am sure you have as well."
Weasley seemed to calm down a bit, but Granger looked up with him, with much intent sparklingly through her soft brown eyes.
"Do you know of any other Horcruxes by any chance then?" She asked him, with much hope.
He shook his head, "I know of a few possible relics that it could be, but not any for certain."
The three of them looked slightly disappointed, but the look quickly left their faces once Draco added the next part.
"I can look into it though," he said. "I'm sure that He is beginning to trust me more and more, and eventually he will reveal his secret to me. And once he does, I can feed you the information. It just might take a while for him to trust me to that extent. However, in the meantime, I can make sure that I pay attention to any objects that he seems to value above the rest," he added.
Potter smiled at him. It was a weird gesture on his part, but Draco assumed that he should be getting used to it, now that the four of them were getting on much better terms with each other. Weasley, on the other hand, wrapped an arm around Hermione, as if to protect her, and shot him a wary look. Hermione, who still looked slightly pale since the attack, lay her head down upon his chest. Draco frowned as he watched, but he knew that there was nothing he could do. She was barely his friend, and even with that, he still did not have a claim upon him.
Draco watched, as Ron got up suddenly and said, "Well, if that's all then I have somewhere that I need to be." Harry stood up, and held a hand to Hermione, who shook her head.
"I have a few more things that I need to talk to Draco about," she said softly, and his heart began to race. While Ron looked disappointed, Harry merely shrugged. The two boys made their way away from the room, as Hermione slumped down a little lower on her couch.
"I never got to thank you," she said in a gentle manner. Her hair was still a bit messy as it usually was over the years; however it had settled down over the years, to a point where he found it near endearing.
"For what?" he asked, in a near whisper. He had done nothing that deserved her being thankful.
She smiled at him, "Draco, you warned me not to go, and I still went in spite of that. Yet you never got angry at me for that. Instead, when I was harmed, you didn't blame me, but yourself. And Draco, whether you choose to believe me or not, it up to you. However, I don't blame you. Not now, nor did I ever. But I do owe you a thank you. You spent so much time with me in the Hospital wing; even though I am sure you had far more better things to do with your time. Yet you stayed by me, making sure that I was okay. And I think that I probably would have died of boredom, had you not," she said.
Draco stared at her, unsure of what to say. He had never thought of it like he was giving up his time to be with her. Instead, he viewed it as a chance to get to spend time with her. He wanted to be with her there, and he in no way had even considered it to be an obligation. As he pondered these thoughts, trying to make heads from tails, he came to a conclusion. It was a conclusion that probably would have driven him to declare that he was going mad any other year before this, but now, he didn't view it that way; he couldn't. Because he knew that he would be mad if he failed to see her in this light. So as he closed his eyes, and allowed his other senses to take over, he came to the anything but unsettling conclusion that he had feelings for Hermione Granger.