Disclaimer: Please see previous chapters.

Stolen

A/N: Another fast up-date. Thanks for reviews last chapter and welcome to all the new readers! I almost did not include the 'kiss me' scene even though I loved writing it, but I'm glad to see so many people enjoyed seeing them have a flirtatious moment. To everyone: thanks for reading!

Chapter 19: As Promised

As promised, right after classes, Hermione and Draco headed straight to the hospital wing to demand to see Neville. By then, of course, the school was buzzing, stares following them all over. Their faces were splashed on the front page of Witch Weekly and were the highlight of the social page of the Daily Prophet. Their kiss, clutched hands, and phony words were circulating all over the castle.

She should not have been surprised to see that they were misquoted and said quotes taken out of context, but she was still appalled. She let slip out an indignant gasp at the breakfast table before a sharp nudge in the ribs from Draco signaled her to turn it into a dry laugh. The article was topped with a picture of the two caught kissing and holding hands over the table along with a title in large black letters that read: "Unlikely Love".

"When I spotted the happy couple they were all smiles, sitting quietly together in lovely café near Hogwarts, where they both currently attend school and are in their final year. The school's controversial decision to house the married and betrothed students together has raised many concerns along with eyebrows, but, the fresh, charming pair contest that they have never been doing so well in their studies. Their professors maintain their claim. In fact, Headmaster Severus Snape calls them both "excellent students" with very different strengths and styles that allow them to assist each other a great deal. As for being separated from their friends by this new housing order, Miss Granger affirms with a chill that "True friends do not abandon you." Evidently, she has called off all ties with her former friends, most notably the famous Harry Potter, in the light of her new situation. However, it is unclear whether this decision was made by her at their lack of support or on their part in discontent. Fellow students at the school collaborate having not seen the usual group of friends together at all since Miss Granger accepted the Malfoy proposal this summer. Indeed, she is quick to point out that "Harry Potter's political opinions are hardly my concern."

Just what are those opinions, and how unsavory could they be to end their friendship? Or was it jealousy?

Just three years ago, when Potter participated in the Triwizard Tournament, it was widely rumored in various news articles that the two were romantically involved. Not long after, Harry was devastated by Hermione's ending of their relationship when she fell in love with the 

celebrated Bulgarian seeker Victor Krum (also a contestant). Viktor was unavailable for questioning on the matter and apparently has not been heard from in some months. He has not been spotted publicly since his appearance at the couple's stupendous engagement party at Malfoy Manor (article and other interview with couple in August 18th issue). It seems this young witch can charm almost anyone with her quick wit and perfect smile, but was it truly jealousy that turned Potter against his friend and led him and his cohorts to "abandon" her or was it she that ended their friendship when said political opinions became too eccentric?

It appears that while the Malfoy family is entranced with its newest member and appeals to purebloods everywhere to reconsider the possible benefits of such a bond, Harry Potter and his unwed, pureblood friends, Ronald Weasley and Neville Longbottom, seem to be less enthusiastic. Checking records, it is shown that neither Potter nor Longbottom put in a request for their friend's hand, while another friend, Mr. Ronald Weasley (brother of Fred and George, Weasely's Wizard Wheezes) did so and was rejected in lieu of Mr. Malfoy. This aroused my suspicion, but Hermione and Draco would not comment as to whether they had been secretly involved before the law was passed. Their mysterious smiles across the table they share reveal much more than words.

This happy new couple seems to shine as a sparkling example of exactly what the minister hoped to achieve through this bill. Either they acquired freedom to be together in a world that once saw a "mixed-blood bond" as unspoken taboo, or they learned to love each other by breaking down the barriers of racism and their own pre-misconceptions. While they claim not to have gotten along at first and that they were "polar opposites", the groom-to-be now professes that they "cannot keep their eyes of each other," and Miss Granger (soon to be Malfoy) that her husband-to-be is "Everything…and more." Like a modern Romeo and Juliet "this new alliance may so happy prove to turn their households rancor to pure love.'"

It took all the strength she could muster not to slam the paper down on the table, but she managed. Only just. "Widely rumored"? It was she that had started the whole thing! How could that woman warp things so mercilessly? Really! Harry and her involved? He, Ron, and Neville opposed to muggle-born marriage protection act? Victor… Romeo and Juliet? What the bloody hell?

The only person she saw who seemed pleased at all was Draco. He was so proud of his tact, in fact, that he gloated obnoxiously the entire day. It was sickening just to be around. As for the looks on Harry and Ron's faces, she dearly wished that she had never glimpsed them at all. Was it her imagination, or did Flitwick too give her an odd look when he passed out their tests? What was wrong with everyone? It wasn't as if her acting was all that good. Couldn't they read through her answers and spot the truth? She supposed she should be proud of their success, like Draco, but she only felt queasy. What's more, she was quite concerned if Neville had seen it and what he would think when the pair of them appeared in the hospital wing.

The answer to her question was soon revealed. It took some convincing, but Madam Pomfrey ultimately agreed to let the two in for a quick visit once they led her to believe it was of some secret, great importance that they speak to Neville. Hermione didn't exactly consider what they said a lie as she was certain Dumbledore would indeed have wanted her to visit her friend. The healer's adamancy regarding Neville's privacy and rest was not out the ordinary, but something about its unique intensity worried Hermione. She was further unnerved when the older woman told them they could visit a while if they promised not say anything about how he looked to anyone, and warned them quietly upon entering not to gasp it would upset him. Two pairs of eyes grew wide. Hermione's stomach was near her throat as they approached Neville's bed around which the curtain was drawn. Why would they gasp?

"Longbottom, you have visitors. Very enthusiastic visitors." At this, she threw them both a glance.

"Harry? Ron?" The eager voice called from behind the curtain.

"No, Neville," Hermione answered nervously. "It's me."

"Hermione?" he exclaimed. The curtain opened on the side and, feeling all was as it should be, the healer made herself scarce. "It's good to finally see you!" he declared.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and reached over to pull the curtain completely open.

"Brace yourself." Neville's kind voice warned.

"Oh, Neville," she attempted to reassure him. "I'm sure it can't be that ba-"

It was. Against her will, her hand rose to cover her open mouth. Behind her, Draco audibly winced.

Neville's face was almost entirely covered in bandages so it was difficult to grasp just what the damage under those bandages might be. A fresh and particularly nasty scar ran down his uncovered eye with two others parallel to it not quite as deep. His face was thinner and of a more pallid hue than Hermione had ever seen it. His coloration was almost cadaverous and made her feel like covering him with loads of blankets and giving him something piping hot to drink.

Thinking that was not at all bad idea, she moved to do so, bustling about like Mrs. Weasley. She managed to begin to brew him some tea while fetching him some more blankets. He took them gratefully and without protest. She then felt his forehead and saw one bandage was almost entirely saturated with blood. She insisted upon changing it. Pulling the old one away revealed the ghastly wound underneath. It was bloody, some fresh and sticky, some dry and caked. Part of the skin stuck to the cloth and pulled away with the cloth as she carefully removed it. He winced.

"Sorry," she offered, feeling very much so. The eye underneath was utterly gone, but scar tissue was forming along with scabs. Once the bandage was removed, she pressed gauze to the wound 

to keep blood from coming forth again. It still had not healed. Apparently, magic healing was not doing as was expected here. She was reminded of another time when such a thing had happened, when Mr. Weasley had been attacked by that snake in fifth year and the venom kept him from healing properly with magic. He had experimented with muggle-medicine, stitches to be exact. It gave her an idea. She looked cautiously around. Other than Draco still lagging quietly behind on Neville's bandaged side, there was no one in the room.

"I'm going to try something, Neville. Is that okay?"

"Go for it. I trust you. Besides," he laughed darkly. "You can't make it much worse, can you?'

He coughed a wet cough that did not sound promising. It seemed that whatever had attacked him had been venomous and it was making him sick. Draco handed him the cup of tea Hermione had prepared without prompting. "Thank you," Neville coughed in reply. Then he saw just from whom the cup had come.

"What is he doing here?" Neville immediately wanted to know, his attention called to Draco's presence.

"Well, he-" Hermione began.

"I'm here to wish you well, you great buffoon." He answered for her.

"Draco!" she reproached.

"Sorry," he sighed reluctantly. With a resigned sigh he began a somewhat forced, brief monologue. "Sorry you aren't well. Hope you don't croak or anything. Here," With that, he thrust a small, wrapped gift at the boy in bed. Neville looked at it, thunderstruck, as if it were an alien object. Draco looked at him as if he were an alien. "It's for you, you great dote, aren't you going to take it?" he asked after holding out his hand awkwardly for a whole minute.

"For me?" Neville inquired, puzzled.

"Yes, for you," Draco spat, annoyed. "It's –your-get-well-gift." He said loudly as if Neville were hard of hearing. Hermione rolled her eyes at them.

Neville took the package cautiously with a glance at Hermione as if to ask, will it explode? She gave him an encouraging nod. He opened the paper to find a small, crystal ball with smoke swirling inside. Neville wasn't the only one to start in surprise. Hermione was impressed by the gesture too. What's more, Draco had come up with it himself. It was a Remebrall just like the one Draco had taken from him in first year.

"Hey thanks!" Neville cried.

"Don't mention it." Draco told him. "Really. Don't." Both Neville and Hermione smiled. Draco stared uncomfortably at them, feeling tremendously out of place, and then politely moved to window to pretend to be interested in the view.

"Here Neville," Hermione offered, pulling his attention from Draco whom he had been gazing at oddly. "Let me try this." She had summoned a bag from her room, one she always carried but had rarely used over the years. Draco recognized it as her first aide kit. She had used it on him before after one of their battles. She extracted a small, black bottle of peroxide, some cotton balls, a tube of antibacterial, healing salve, and some Oragel. First she cleansed it with peroxide. He must have expected it to sting because he half gasped and bit his lip in anticipation, but he felt nothing as the clear solution bubbled over his flesh. He sighed in relief and gave her a weak smile in thanks. She gave one back briefly, but her faced turned intent again as she refocused on her work. Carefully, she rubbed the two salves together, one for numbing the skin the other for healing, and applied it gently with cotton balls to the wound. Finally, she placed fresh bandages over everything.

"Well," she sighed, surveying her work happily. "You're done. We'll see if that does any good."

"Thanks Hermione. It's good to see you."

"Oh!" she exclaimed in realization. "I almost forgot. This is from me."

"A managorath plant!" he exclaimed as Hermione produced her gift. "It has strong healing properties hidden in the root! Amazing. Thanks Hermione."

"You're welcome."

"Maybe this will help." He suggested

"Help?" she asked softly.

"I'm afraid the bite is making me ill. Madam Pomfrey is sure she can cure me, she just doesn't know how yet." He laughed halfheartedly. Hermione sat down next to him, a concerned frown on her face.

"Neville, what happened?" Draco's head twitched at this, clearly he was listening even though he pretending to be watching the grounds and giving them their space.

"Well," he said slowly, squinting in concentration as he tried to recall. "It's hard to remember."

"Try." She said gently, taking his bandaged hand. Half a lopsided grin showed through the mask of bandages on his face. Draco's eyes shifted coldly over their enfolded hands.

"I was outside after hours," here he shook his head, as if berating himself mentally for his recklessness. "Stupid."

"Neville, everyone's been outside after hours, but not everyone's been a-a-" she stopped, waiting for him to explain if he had been attacked as she somehow suspected.

"I was walking, away from Hagrid's cabin where Harry had asked me to go for the D.A., and I didn't hear anything at first. That's what's weird. I didn't hear anything, not one thing. Then, all of the sudden there was this awful roar, not a roar exactly, more like a snarl. Only, it didn't come before the pain, but it hit at the exact moment. It-it was horrible." He struggled to find words that would describe the feelings he had felt, the pain, the fear. Unable to hit upon any that would do it justice he just fell silent for a moment, giving her a significant look laced with suffering. There was no need for him to articulate it because Hermione already began to understand the experience he'd had; for she had a similar one, and, though she had tried to push thoughts of it away, like corpses in water they began to surface, draining her complexion until she was scarcely darker than Neville.

"I think they were dark- there was more then one you see- and big. I could hear more then one and feel its weight pressing on top of me. They looked like shadows, no glowing eyes or anything. Utter darkness the whole time." She shivered. "Are you alright, Hermione?" he asked concernedly as he noticed her condition, but quickly lost whatever else he was going to say in a coughing fit that shook his body deeply.

"Neville?" she asked, worried. He tired to wave her off, protesting he was fine though coughing so hard he couldn't actually say it. She called the healer. Madam Pomfrey urged them out. Rather than return to their dormitory to study, Hermione waited outside for her to pass by in order to insure the opportunity to ask what she needed to know away from Neville's company. As the healer came bustling by just as Hermione had predicted, Hermione pounced, accosting her with questions.

"What's wrong with him? Why isn't he getting better? What attacked him?"

The woman sighed exasperatedly and paused in tracks for a moment to answer. "Miss Granger he is injured and ill; that is what is wrong with him. He is getting better its just taking time, and as for what attacked him, once we figure that out we'll be able to go about curing his internal ailments. However, since no one got a good look at it, including mister Longbottom, the chance of that is somewhat doubtful. In the meantime, I am caring for him to the best of my ability. Any more questions or can I return to my patient?"

"Thank you." Hermione turned on her heel and headed onward swiftly. A confused Draco followed, shaking his head.

"What's going on Granger?" he finally asked, bringing her out of her thoughts. "Is-"

"Is what?" she asked.

"We didn't really address this, but is- not that I care, mind you- is something going on between you and Longbottom?" She stopped in her tracks. She first gave her a stern look and asked if he was serious. He was. Then, she just cracked up. She was practically cackling, her eyes watering. Draco looked around embarrassedly to see if anyone was witnessing her lunacy.

"I'm s-sorry." She gasped out. "I just can't believe you just asked me that. Not that I'm saying that I wouldn't date Neville!" she clarified strongly. "But no, we are not and have never been involved, nor have and Harry for that matter. That was entirely Skeeter's invention, both times for publicity. You know how that woman is."

He nodded as if he did not care, but something in her told her that was not entirely true. "So that's it then?" he asked in an attempt at causally.

"Yes, that's it."

"And Weasley?"

"Well," she answered slower, taking her time with this one. "We've never been together."

"He did propose to marry you though."

"Well, I said no."

"Because you had to."

"Even if I didn't-"

"What would it have meant if you had said no?"

"Well, under normal circumstances I would never have said yes."

"So you're not in love with anyone?" he asked, almost sheepishly. Draco Malfoy sheepish? She must be mistaken. Clarifying he added with haste, "I need to keep a very accurate list of people who want me dead." He said thoughtfully as the two walked on again. She laughed lightly.

"No. I'm not in love with anyone. I take it as Pansy drugged you and Morrissa called you a blood traitor there are only dozen or so girls I need to watch behind me for then?"

"Couple dozen." He agreed nonchalantly. She laughed again. "So, er, where exactly are we headed?" he asked.

"The library, of course. I've just had an idea." In the past, when she an idea suddenly occurred to her and she would race off to the library, Harry and Ron would know what had happened and where to come find her. It felt odd to have to explain her sporadic fleeing to the bookcases. "You don't have to come with me." She stopped in mid-step and addressed him considerately, as he was unfamiliar with her custom.

He looked bemused. "Why wouldn't I come with you?"

"Well-" she stopped. There in that hallway something else occurred to her. It didn't really matter what Harry and Ron used to do. Draco was not Harry and Ron, and that meant some things were going to be different with him than with them. Actually, mostly everything was going to be different. While she missed her friends, it might not be so bad to have some company among those dusty shelves. She smiled. "Come on then." She added more seriously, "I think I have an idea of where to look for what attacked Neville. Something he said triggered my memory and I-"

A shout across the entrance hall cut her off. The voice from which it issued was strikingly familiar but the vehemence it held made it indistinguishable until she turned and saw Ron coming towards them. He was positively livid.

"YOU!" he bellowed.

"Ronald I-I can explain-" Hermione began, assuming it was something about the article, something she had said. But it wasn't Hermione who was thrown across the floor, or her whose mouth was soon bleeding. Draco got to his feet quickly, wiping blood from his lip. Instinctively, Hermione went to him to make sure he was alright. Then, she angrily turned to face her friend.

"Ron! What are you doing?" she asked, taken aback and highly aggravated with his uncalled for violent outburst.

"What am I doing? The question is: what are you doing with this monster?" he asked angrily, pointing an accusing finger at Draco.

"Monster? Ron what are you talking about?" she asked him.

"He attacked Neville!" came another yell from somewhere not far behind Ron. Harry was also heading their way, looking every bit as furious as his best mate.

"No! No, he didn't." she honestly protested.

"Of course he did Hermione." Ron argued, Seamus behind him. "Neville was outside just after dark. When we last saw him leave the castle he was in one piece. After that, well, you should jut see what filthy rat did to him! Makes me sick."

"But it was not him!" Hermione grew red in the race, outraged by their jumping to a spiteful conclusion rather than reaching the most logical, productive conclusion.

"How can you defend him? You should go have another look at Neville, just lying there, wheezing and coughing up blood."

"We did go on see him." She snapped back, defensively.

"You did? Then you should- Wait a minute. 'We'? You mean both went and saw him?" he demanded.

"Yes. Together." She defied them. They glared.

"How could you take him to see Neville?" Harry wanted to know.

"He wanted to wish him well."

"I'm so sure that's true." Ron spat sarcastically.

"And he did not attack him Ron." She reiterated firmly.

"Then what did?" asked Harry. "The day Neville was attacked Draco was nowhere to be seen." Eyes were on them now. The same eyes that had read the Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly, eyes everywhere that were watching carefully with ears listening eagerly. All were waiting for her to make a mistake, to slip and fall to her death.

"I don't know. But it couldn't have been him. He was with me."

"The whole day?" Ron asked skeptically and loudly.

"The whole day Ronald!" she answered, her resolute voice echoing in the hall that was full of people and yet silent save their bitter debate. "And we can prove it. We were in the paper."

"Oh yeah we say the paper!" put in Seamus venomously.

"But what about night? The attack happened at night Hermione. How do you know where he went after that day?" Harry reminded her.

"We were together then too, Potter," a voice behind her sneered. Draco had spoken up at last. Hermione cringed; for she dearly wished he had not. His single sentence had caused half the hall to gasp, many to laugh, her face to turn even redder for quite a different reason, and Ron to come to a complete and utter speechless halt.

Harry had no response for that, no verbal response at least. Instead, he leapt on Malfoy without warning, hitting him hard in the face. Why were the boys acting like this? She tried to separate them as they slugged each other, but was continually pushed aside. Her spell to separate them was deflected by Ron. The crowd was going mad, turning into a cheering, chanting, and jeering mob. She didn't want Harry to get hurt, but she didn't want him to hurt Draco either. She was torn. It had to end. Hastily she dove in between the fighting bodies.

"Hermione MOVE!" Harry shouted in warning, fist drawn back like a serpent and ready to strike.

"But Harry he's innocent!" she objected tearfully, pleading with him to see reason, but he was enraged. He was beyond reason.

"I DON'T CARE!" he burst irately. How could he say something like that? Harry, her friend, the one who believed in giving people second chances and not assuming guilt until it was proven. She could not help it. Without her consent her hand flew up and struck him forcefully across the face with a snap. She gasped at the same time as Ron. Harry paled considerably and instinctively grabbed her wrist. Draco looked at her as if she had gone mad. Seamus swore loudly. Everyone fell silent again. All hung still, actions and thoughts suspended, poised in the soundless air, tension mounting, until, seemingly out of no where, a fist collided with the side of Harry's face powerfully, tossing it aside. He fell to the ground, pulling Hermione to her knees before he released her. Draco had punched him. With a roar, Ron ran forward, lunging at Malfoy and leaping over Hermione and Harry. Her eyes widened. Draco braced himself for the blow.

Snape's voice echoed throughout the hall. "Weasley! Potter!"

A/N: Just a wee bit of a cliff hanger. This chapter was a good deal shorter then last time, but very important. What did you think of Rita Skeeter's article? Tell me what you liked, what you didn't, and what you are wondering about now. Review! The next chapter I loved writing. There is a flashback that will explain something many of you have been wondering about and a very important realization… Remember, the more reviews the faster you can see what happens next!