A/N: I'm so glad some of you have stayed with me since Chapter 15 – I thought I may have lost all readers! Thanks so much for the feedback; it makes me so happy.
Enjoy!
Hermione trudged up to the castle from Hogsmeade in a dire mood. Her leg ached terribly, and as a result of this she had considered staying longer in the warmth of the cafe but she could almost feel her bed drawing her in and so she made the decision to make her way back. She held onto her hip the whole way back, with the mindset that if she massaged it gently, the pain would subside. Psychologically or not, it was helping.
With a slight wheeze and a heavy limp, she managed to walk through the entrance of the castle an hour before curfew. As she turned the corner into the corridor towards Gryffindor Tower, she heard bickering and pulled back, not wanting to be in an awkward situation. She recognised the voices of Malfoy and McGonagall and frowned. The argument did not seem to be resolving, and Malfoy's voice was getting increasingly louder.
McGonagall handled the angry Slytherin incredibly well and stayed calm. "Draco, I'm afraid I need a little more time. Not many people have applied for the role, and who I choose is, of course, of paramount importance."
Hermione furrowed her brows and wondered whether they were talking about Head Girl. Draco interrupted her thought processing, "Well, it's bloody difficult, Professor! I just don't have enough time to do rounds, meetings with the prefects and other duties on top of revision for my N.E.W.T.s, they're not called 'Nastily Exhausting' for bloody nothing! Granger and I would have split the work but she's gone and left so what in Merlin's name am I supposed to do? Can't you just pick anyone?"
"You know full well that I can't just "pick anyone". This is a very important decision. I won't speak any further with you until I find someone." She promptly walked off.
Malfoy crossed his arms, glowering at the back of the Headmistress until she was out of sight. Hermione realised that she would not be able to cross the corridor without bumping into Draco.
"Oh, bloody hell." He muttered as he caught sight of her stumbling out of her hiding place. "So, what did you hear?" He used his long stride to catch up and join her.
"Enough." She sighed, "You know, I could probably help out whilst she finds someone to replace me. If it's too difficult for you to handle everything."
"Everything's fine. I can handle it." He said with spite. He glanced at her lame leg, "You shouldn't be doing too much, anyway. Is it playing up?" After the scene with Mike, Hermione felt glad that someone was concerned, even if it was Malfoy.
"I've come from Hogsmeade. It's chilly and a steep climb but once I'm in bed I'll be okay. You don't need to come with me, Malfoy, I'll be fine."
He considered it. "No, I should, you know. Make sure that what happened last time doesn't occur again. We don't want your Weasel friends finding you at the bottom of the Gryffindor steps in the morning."
"I see. Thanks." What was he doing?
"In Hogsmeade on your own, then?" He mumbled after a while, observing her thoughtfully.
She debated the answer to this, and then wondered why she had hesitated. "No, I wasn't. I was with Mike."
Hermione watched the muscle in Malfoy's jaw flex, tighten and relax. "Did you have a nice time? Where is he now?" He peered around, as if looking for Mike to unveil himself behind us.
"We were having a nice time until I told him about the cancer." Malfoy began to slow down and so automatically she did too. "He kicked off, told me that I was wasting his time if I wasn't going to be here in a few months. I suppose it's true really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone when I'll be dead soon?"
Malfoy's nostrils flared and he flinched. "You believe that bastard? You're supposed to be the clever one, Merlin, Granger! Why not try making the most of the last few months you have left? Where is he now?" His hands curled into fists.
"He left after I told him. That's why I'm alone. Malfoy, what are you-"
"Is he fucking serious? What house is he in?"
She hesitated, "Hufflepuff."
"Bullshit! I thought they were deemed caring."
"Obviously not to people that have a life-threatening illness." She muttered sadly and began to make her way towards the Tower.
After darting his eyes around angrily, Malfoy blocked her path and put his hands on her shoulders. "Granger, he can't do this to you." His face was so close to hers she could scrutinise the lines on his lips and the sharp nature of his jawbone. "What exactly did he say to you? What has he brainwashed you into thinking?"
"I just want to go to sleep, Malfoy. I just want to forget all about it." He leaned back, his thumb tracing the bags under her eyes. His breath fanned her face lightly and her desire to go to bed was pushed further back by the need to feel something else, again. The tips of his shoes tapped hers as he moved closer. One of his hands found its way to the small of her back, pulling her in. Drawing her body towards his. They were so exposed in the middle of the corridor, but neither cared.
His face drifted towards her tiny features, which he was sure were getting lesser as she withered away – the illness taking little parts of her until she was gone. She placed a cool hand on his chest. He thought for a moment she was stopping him, but her fingers grasped at his shirt and pulled him closer. Their lips, millimetres apart, were almost touching. "You okay?" He whispered, against her mouth.
She nodded, her lips parting slightly as his crashed against hers. "Granger," he gasped, his voice was muffled, and she didn't relent. His hands were everywhere, all over her, he was sure this wasn't allowed in such a public area. Her hands wound themselves into his hair, grabbing at blond tufts gently. The modest pain was pleasurable, coming from her tiny fingers. He relished the moment. He needed more of this; this was what he needed. He needed her. This revelation, as he kissed her with such frustration, hit him like a ton of bricks. It winded him. He pulled back.
The expression on his face was enough for Hermione. His eyes wide, Draco looked intoxicated.
She felt exactly the same.
"Ginny, there's something I should tell you. Please don't ki—"
"We can do that later! Look, we need to get you ready." Hermione had decided to stay at Hogwarts over the Christmas holidays; to save any heavy travelling that would exhaust her. So, McGonagall had decided that it would be beneficial for her parents to come to Hogwarts themselves and spend a day with Hermione. She wondered whether McGonagall didn't think she would make it through Christmas, so was bringing them over to say goodbye, but either way, she was pleased. They would be arriving with Hagrid soon. "Remember your hair a few years ago? It's so much easier to style now, 'Mione." Ginny looked at her in the mirror and smiled warmly. "How was the date with Mike? You never got to tell me!"
Hermione relayed the story to Ginny, the same way she had told Malfoy. She didn't quite get the same reaction. "Are you sure he said it like that?"
Hermione was horrified, "he made it damn clear, Ginny!"
Ginny was clearly rooting for Mike. "I just want you to be happy. Maybe he didn't mean what he said. What had he been drinking?"
"Tea!" Hermione pulled away from Ginny's hands on her hair and looked at her directly, not through the mirror. "You can't be serious? He was revolting to me. I'm your best friend, Ginny, and you're taking his sides! Even Malfoy—"
"Malfoy what? You told Malfoy?"
"He was there to walk me to the common room; because somebody had left me alone to walk the entire fucking journey up to the castle in the snow, with a tumour on my fucking leg!" She looked at herself in the mirror, and noticed a red tinge to both of their faces.
Ginny seemed to acquiesce with a huff. "I'm sorry."
They sat in silence for the rest of the hour, occasionally exchanging words when Ginny required a hair product from the desk in front of Hermione.
Hermione wondered while they were both frustrated, it would be best to tell her about what she and Malfoy had been doing. She didn't think Ginny could get much angrier. "I should tell you something else. It's been eating away at me."
"Okay, what is it?"
"Gin, you have to promise not to be upset with me. I won't be able to cope with you angry at me."
Looking wary, she answered with a steady "okay...".
"The night I brought my stuff to our dorm. Malfoy and I... we, well, we kissed. And it was stupid, and out of the blue, and so impulsive but it was... good. I felt something that I've never felt with anyone before, not even Ron; I know it sounds clichéd, Gin. It felt like he cared. Not even Mike cared. Malfoy did." Ginny looked at her through the mirror again, this time without a warming smile but with a soft glare. Her face hardened as Hermione did not deliver the punch line. Time went on, and neither spoke. Hermione felt hands drop from her head as Ginny pulled open the door and strode out.
Without her friend, Hermione finished her hair and touched up her face. She made her way down the steps and acknowledged Ron.
"Ginny just ran out and slammed the door behind her, Harry's gone after her. What's happened? She looked like a bloody beetroot!" Ron paused. "Do you want me to take you down? They must be here by now."
She shook her head to both questions and gave Ron a quick peck on the cheek. Looking startled, he opened the door for her and grinned. She pulled him to her and gave him a tight hug, their arms wrapped around each other. "Thank you, Ron. For everything. Thank you." She felt the tears in her eyes surfacing and wiped at them vigorously. One last look at the common room, and she stepped out.
Ron looked at her anxiously and then recovered. "Say hi to your parents from me!"
As she walked away, she stole glances at Ron who was looking at her from the Gryffindor threshold with a confused look on his chubby face.
She wanted to keep everything minimal.
Hermione found her parents in the Dining Hall. She recognised Malfoy on the Slytherin table reading the Daily Prophet. How very convenient for her. Harry and Ginny were laughing with her family (and Hagrid), Ginny stood slightly back as Harry did the talking with Hagrid's voice booming every now and then. Ginny was clearly still annoyed at her. Had she told Harry?
"Hi, Mum. Dad." She gave them both passionate hugs. Her concerned mother looked at her affectionately.
"How are you feeling, sweetheart?"
"Okay, thanks. Could you just excuse me for a minute? I need to go and speak to someone. I'll be back in five." Hermione strode towards Malfoy, she felt confident until he looked up. His face staring at her, his mouth almost wavering into a smile. She sat next to him and felt Ginny's gaze boring through the back of her head. "Granger, so I spoke to that bastard Mike-"
"Malfoy, I just want to thank you for all your help." He frowned, his mouth half open. "And for not telling anyone. Everything else, it was... it was really nice. You've been a great friend." She saw him visibly stiffen. She went in for a hug. She brushed her lips against his cheek subtly. "I hope the new Head Girl is adequate." Her voice trembled. "I'm sorry." She knew she would cry as she walked away, so she made the choice to go the long way back to her parents and friends to compose herself.
"Harry, Ginny. Can I have a minute?" She led them towards the corner of the room. They looked puzzled, as did all the others she had spoken to. She had expected this. "I just wanted to say a huge thank you to both of you. You have been the best of friends. I can't thank you enough." She didn't want to go over the top, they would suspect something. "I love you both, greatly. Don't forget that." She tried to sniff back the moisture in her eyes. Turning away, she squeezed both of their hands.
"Hagrid, thank you for bringing my parents up safely." Hermione Granger gave her last hug to him, barely managing to hold onto his large frame.
Spending the day with her parents was lovely, she had taken them down to the village and around all the shops, which they were truly fascinated about. She lastly led them to the lake. The trio sat on a bench overlooking the vast expanse of water, Hermione in the middle.
"This is a great view." Her father pondered.
"Isn't it? It's nice for reading, when I want to get away from things." They both looked at her.
"Oh, Hermione. We've missed you so much. How is your leg feeling?"
She knew her mother didn't like to speak much of it, so she smiled and nodded. "It's been fine, Mum. Don't worry, honestly. And I'll be home soon! A few more months and it'll be Easter." Hermione wanted to give her mother hope, and suddenly felt grief fill her chest. It tightened. She couldn't bare it any longer. She couldn't cope with having them here any longer. "Don't you think it's getting dark? You'll want to be getting home before it's too late!" Feigning happiness, Hermione laughed. "You know how Dad's driving is at night."
Her mother looked at her father and nodded, "good idea, darling." She looked at her watch, "oh! Hagrid said he'd meet us at the station in ten minutes! We'd better be going."
"Do you know the way?"
"There are signposts, we'll be fine. But will you? Come with us and Hagrid could escort you back to the castle."
"I like to come out here at night, the boys will join me later." She hated lying to them. She resented herself. "You should go." She wrapped her arms around her mother and gulped back the tears. "I love you, Mum."
"I love you too, sweetie. Stay in touch."
She did the same with her father and told her she loved him. "Oh, you've always had your heart on your sleeve, haven't you munchkin?" Hermione couldn't hold them back, she felt a tear trickle down her cheek onto his shoulder. Luckily, they didn't notice at all. Internally, she was screaming at them to notice, grasping at any chance for them to stop her. Please.
"We'll see you soon, darling!" Waving, they walked away. Hermione shook her head.
She gasped for air. She felt breathless as her body wracked with sadness. She turned towards the water. Everything in her body hurt.
She slipped off her shoes.
The water was cool on her feet.
Hermione Granger felt numb.
A/N: All will make sense in the next chapter if you haven't guessed what's happening! Please leave feedback!
Love,
Eve