A/n: Hey guys.ü

I'm really glad you liked chapters 17 and 18.ü

Well, here's Chap 19.ü

Hoped you like it too.ü

Take note of the timing of everything though.ü

So you'd get what will happen next.ü

By: Aningme

Chapter 19

Dilemma: The Sequel

Harvey sat restless in the security office, staring at the screens. It had been hours and hours since Draco slept in his bedroom. He wanted to check up on him but, on the contrary, was ordered not to disturb him. He sighed at the screens and just wished he had a screen for the masters. But of course, who would want to put a security camera in your own room? There were privacy rules, of course, and top of the line security gadgets and systems were installed, programmed, and activated to operate even without the help of an operator. Alarms and laser beams were hidden away from the sight of any intruder. And any accidents, explosions, and also oral codes could activate red alert back ups into motion. He checked on his main computer on the systems and assured himself for the millionth time that everything was on set and running. Nothing could harm his master in any form or in any way.

But why was worry still lurking behind him and choking him? He was sure to put the Sober up in sight for him. Also a glass of water. He's sure he'll be taking it. He always hated feeling the hangover after a night of alcohol.

He'll be taking it and then a shower, and come right down for his late lunch.

He glanced at his wrist watch reading two thirty, thinking of preparing meatballs and buttered prawns in case he wakes up.

But before he could stand from his seat and walk off to the kitchen, he suddenly caught movement from one of the screens, the one for the main gate.

There she was, Hermione G. Malfoy, standing in front of their main gate.

He leaned over and stared at her, not knowing the smile slowly taking form on his face.

"Uhm… excuse me?" With a look on her face, he knew she was dead nervous. "May I come in?"

He waited a beat, then pressed a button. "Good afternoon, Hermione. How nice of you to visit."

"Harvey. Good to hear from you." She smiled so pleasantly at the intercom. "How are you?"

"Why don't you come in so I could tell you?" The gate's locks suddenly unlatched themselves, slowly opening for her.

She took a bracing breath and stepped in, walking through the implausible garden.

She didn't hurry upon walking down the curves of the pathway. The breeze was so cool, almost carrying a fresh aroma. Compared from the busy streets outside, Draco seemed to manage to build another world inside the walls of his fortress. She couldn't see any imperfection the way the trees stood on their ground, emitting a hospitable air around her. The shrubs, blooming with different kinds, colors, and scents of flowers contributed upon giving the plot a whiff of color and life. She slowly planted her feet on the ground, feeling every friction of stone and shoes. She took another deep breath, calmly this time, smelling the fresh green grass, before going up to the steps to the front door.

Harvey stood there, a pleasant greeting awaiting her. "It's indeed a pleasant surprise."

"I was alone in the apartment. Thought I'd drop by to say hi." She replied and smiled. The cool breeze calmed her nerves. But the warmth of the foyer pleased her overwhelmingly. "How are you?"

"Very well. I'd say I expected a normal day to go to waste of boredom. But your visit certainly proved me wrong."

"I'm not disturbing something, am I?"

"Certainly not." Harvey smiled. A smile that surely didn't reach the eyes. "May I take your coat? It's pouring now, isn't it?"

"It will be in a minute. Seems like we'll have a cold spring."

"No. I'm sure it's just because of the after winter air." Harvey pointed out, neatly hanging her coat on a hook. "Would you like some refreshments?"

She watched him run a hand through her coat, straightening it perfectly, checking for any dirt, or stains that he could clean.

But behind his poise and amazing grace, she could see that something was troubling him.

"No, thank you. I'm fine." She muttered and stared at his face. "Harvey?"

"Yes, Hermione?"

She frowned at herself, suddenly not knowing what to say. "I know I should have called first before I dropped by."

"It's no trouble at all."

"Well, I just want to know if he's..."

"He's in the master's bed room. I believe he didn't plan on going to work today. He cleared his schedule for the whole week." Enough time for you and him to talk. He smiled again, politely. "Would you like to see him?"

She would have been excited if she was visiting another time.

But, for most unfortunate moments, she was standing in front of the master's bedroom, her brain cells going wired.

She wouldn't have gone back if it weren't for Ron. She wouldn't have gone back if it weren't for her thoughts screaming at her.

But here she was, still as a corpse, staring at the door that separated them.

She sucked up one big bracing breath, reaching for the knob and entering the room. It was surprisingly dim, the window shutters hindering the permeating soft afternoon sunlight that was nearly dominated by the thick clouds. She felt the coolness of the air pumping from the room temp regulator. And as she looked around, she managed nothing but gape.

The sudden expansion of the room from the narrow doorway almost took her off balanced. It was precisely four times bigger than the guestroom she stayed in before, which she thought was already unnecessarily huge. There were exquisite wooden carved tables and chairs just across a sliding door heading for a terrace with a promising view. The golden brown console fashioned a mix of antiquity and modern trends with its superb curves and details, holding a portable set of machines she couldn't name. Sofas were also set on a corner, surrounding an efficient, and yet stylish, modern steel and glass coffee table with a huge flat screen in front of it. A complex set of computers and multiple screens with a black leather seat dominated most of another corner.

And in the middle of it all, a huge platform elevated and held a king size bed, royalty and extravagance emitting from it. Silk and top of the line cloths covered it, and the side tables bragged the stylish lamps and picture frames it held.

She stepped up and studied a frame, holding a picture of her lying by the grass, a big smile carved on her lips. Beside it was a picture of her friends: Ron, Ginny, Seamus, and Neville, all posing in wacky positions. There was also Relina, so cute and angelic, a doll by her hand, and an innocent smile playing on her lips.

But from all of that, she stared at the silver frame, its contrast of mild gray, black, and white, with his face serene and calm, and his crystal eyes set on something the range of the camera couldn't reach. It was such a plain picture, so discreet. But the way his eyes flicker in a still picture, his tousled hair fall across his cheeks, his white shirt loose around his neck, and the way his hand casually rest by the arm of the cream sofa chair, displaying their wedding ring, caught her eyes. She took it and studied it, his face, his features…

She ran a finger over the picture before she caught herself. The sudden quickening of her heartbeat almost came naturally to her. Her stomach did a butterfly dance and her eyes seemed to latch itself on his face…

It actually took her a moment before she pulled herself together and return the frame back to the table.

From the gleaming floors to the glass sky dome ceiling, the room was nothing but a beauty.

But then, the ruffled bed sheets and the shattered glass on the floor suddenly disrupted her mind from amazement to worry. And looking closely, she noticed a blue pill lying by the floor, near the shattered glass. She picked it up and studied it.

A Sober Up? She thought and frowned. She looked around, hoping to find Draco, and found a door adjacent to her. Hearing a soft sound behind it, she thought it was the bathroom and slowly walked over to it. Reaching to knock, she found it partly open, the sound of water sprays coming out of it.

"Draco?" She called out, waiting for a response that didn't come. "Draco? Are you in here?"

Another room bloomed of cream marble and Irish glass before her. The yellow lights softly enlightening it perfectly complimented the whole room. Flowers and greenery potted nicely filled the room with color and grandeur. Glass pictures and engravings demanded awe from who ever stared at it.

Butbeyondbeauty and grandeur, her heart stopped at the sight she saw by the tub just across from her.

There he was, sheet white, soaked wet, and unconscious.

She opened her mouth to call out his name. But the shock of it choked her, only letting her feet drag her to him. She quickly reached for towels, reached for the water knob, and shut the water sprays from soaking him further. She didn't hesitate to take her shoes off and step into the tub with him.

It only took two soft beats under her fingers to let her remember to breathe again.

"Draco… Draco…" She chanted, her voice threatening to break. "Draco, look at me. Look at me." She demanded, but got no answer. "Damn it. What the hell were you thinking?" She touched his forehead, burning hot from fever, and rushed to wrap the towels around him. "You're burning." She mumbled, pulling his torso towards her. She cradled his face, feeling the heat steaming out of his neck, and stared at him.

His skin was turning bluish gray from the cold. His lips were purple. His body was shaking, and pained moans escaped his lips.

Thoughts suddenly screamed at her, overwhelming her.

He could have drowned if the drainage was closed.

He could have been frozen to death if he stayed like this for a moment longer.

He could be gone if I came a second later...

"Don't you die on me!" She was sobbing. "Malfoy… you can't die!" She kept on pushing. Her chest was heaving. "Draco… Draco, please… Please breathe…" She held his face. He was still not breathing. "Draco… please… Don't leave me…" She stared at his face. His lips were turning pale...

"Oh God…" Emotions ravaged her, shook her. She choked a sob and held him close, her arms wrapping around him tightly. Tears were stinging her eyes. She felt her world shake under her, fall apart before her.

Her only defense was to hold him. Just hold.

"You…" She whispered in his ear, sobs choking her words. "It was you…"

He moaned softly, his breathing ragged and shallow.

I don't want to hurt you, Draco.

You are hurting me right now!

"I'm so sorry…" She cried, holding him close.

I love you Hermione Granger… And I'll make you fall in love with me again if you need me to.

"I shouldn't have left you…" She murmured; her voice suddenly soft. "Please forgive me… I was so selfish… I only thought about myself…" She buried her face in his wet hair, taking him in. "Please… Please come back to me… Come back…"

His body suddenly tensed, his breathing suddenly hitched. He didn't know where he was, and his head throbbed painfully, almost cracking his skull open. He tried to move, but somebody was holding him still.

He opened his eyes, and felt the arms holding him close, its warmth taking him in.

"Her… Hermione…" His voice cracked, deep and weak. But as realization dawned over him, he slowlylifted his arms around her too. "I'm okay… I'm okay…"

She held him still for a moment, composing herself, steadying herself. She willed heremotions toquiet down, and ignored the fear shefeltjust like she felt when they were on the lake...

"How can you die when I saved you once!" She kept hitting his chest. "Draco! Come back!" She was furious. "I can't lose you, you bastard! COME BACK!"

Her voice was still echoing in her head. Her heart was still racing in her chest.But, she leaned back to take a good look at his face andrested her hands over his cheek, caressing them.

And, surprising him, she smiled.

"C'mon. Let's get you out of the water."

A/n: Haha.ü Weird isn't it?

Well, just check out the next chapter.ü