Let Me Help You

DracoxHermione

Rated NC-17

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling

Let Me Help You

Chapter 18

Madame Pompfrey sighed as she finished feeding Draco Blood Replenishing Potions and a Sleep Draught. Yes, he was already unconscious, but he needed to stay asleep for the healing to work properly. She ran her wand over him once more before turning back to Professor Snape and the young witch sitting by Draco's bedside.

"Well, he's stable now and may have to stay here for another day or two," Madame Pompfrey said. "I've never seen something like this happen within the school before. Do you know exactly what happened for Mr. Malfoy to sustain injuries like this, Severus?"

Professor Snape didn't answer at first, but then he said, "Let's just say that he was caught up in a duel of sorts that he was provoked into."

The MediWitch hummed in disproval and said, "That isn't allowed in the school unsupervised, and whoever did this should be reported to Albus. Did you see who did this to this boy?"

"I didn't," Snape answered.

"What about you, Miss Granger?"

Hermione shook her head up at the older witch before turning her attention back to Draco, holding his hand in hers as she gazed down at him worriedly. Madame Pompfrey hummed again before turning back to her colleague saying, "Well when you find out who did it, alert Albus would you please, Severus. This cannot go without some sort of punishment. Now if you will please, both of you leave him be for now and maybe you will have time to come back before visiting hours are over."

Snape nodded and told Hermione to follow him out of the Hospital Wing. Hermione left reluctantly, but not before laying a kiss on Draco's forehead. The two of them left the Hospital Wing and Professor Snape said, "Miss Granger, head back up to the Gryffindor Common Room and find out all you can about what else Mr. Potter has learned from the book you gave me. Then come down to the dungeons to let me know what you have found out."

"Don't worry, Professor. I have more than that to say to Harry at the moment," Hermione replied before running off towards the Seventh Floor.

Harrry had just finished telling Ron and Ginny about what had happened in the bathroom and what he had done by the time Hermione made it to the Gryffindor Common Room. Though Ron and Ginny didn't like Draco in any way, shape, or form, they couldn't believe what Harry had done. He had used a Dark curse and nearly killed him, something they didn't think their friend would ever do, though Ron's shock quickly wore off into indifference.

Hermione stormed into the Common Room and yelled, "Harry Potter!"

"Hermione," Harry said turning to face the brunette.

"What is wrong with you?! Don't you know what you've done?!"

"Yes Hermione, I know. You don't have to yell at me about it."

"Someone has too! You could have killed him!"

Ron scoffed and mumbled, "If you ask me it would probably do everyone a favor. He is a Death Eater's spawn after all."

Hermione whirled around on the red haired boy and yelled, "Shut up, Ron! I can't believe how nonchalant you sound about what Harry did!"

Ginny stood up and asked, "Why are you so mad about it, Hermione?"

"Why aren't you upset about it? Someone almost died!"

"And what about what would have happened to Harry? If Malfoy had died, Harry would be expelled and his wand snapped, possibly even go to Azkaban."

"And you think that's worse than a fellow student dying?"

Harry looked at Hermione and asked, "Hermione, why do you care so much about what would have happened to Malfoy? And you want to tell me why you did what you did in the bathroom when you arrived with Snape?"

Ron frowned in confusion and asked, "What were you doing there, Hermione?"

Hermione looked back and forth between Harry, Ron, and Ginny, trying to think of something to say that wouldn't give away that she had strong feelings for Draco. However she couldn't think of anything and she suddenly remembered that Harry was there when she began to try and calm her boyfriend down in a calming, loving way. Instead of answering the questions Hermione huffed in frustration and turned around leaving the Common Room altogether. She had made it all the way down to the Second Floor when she heard Harry calling after her.

Turning to face him she asked, "What is it, Harry? What could you possibly want now?"

Hurrying down the stairs Harry reached her and grabbed her hand saying, "Come with me."

Harry led Hermione down the stairs to the First Floor and out onto the school grounds, all the way down towards the Great Lake. Stopping next to it but hidden from any lingering students he said, "Alright Hermione, tell me the truth. What is really going on? Do you…do you like Malfoy?"

"What?" Hermione said wide-eyed.

"You've been acting strange lately, especially in regards to him. I know you probably think I haven't noticed, but I have. You apparently care about Malfoy a lot and if I didn't know better, I'd say you were in love with him, especially after what I witnessed today. You called him 'love' after all."

The brunette said nothing at first, but then she said, "Before I answer that, tell me this. What all did you learn from that Half-Blood Prince's book? Any other Dark curses I should know about that you've learned?"

Shaking his head Harry said, "No, nothing like that. The Sectumsempra curse was the only one. Everything else was easier ways to get through Potions; shortcuts if you will. There were extra things hand-written in it, but it was in a language I couldn't understand or decipher."

Hermione nodded and let out a small sigh of relief. There was nothing else her friend had learned that could be detrimental to himself or someone else. But even so she was still so scared and worried about Draco's condition that she couldn't help but be upset and angry with Harry for it. She understood that he too was dealing with things, assisting Dumbledore to help try to find ways to take down You-Know-Who, and that he was also expecting her support as she had supported him through all their years together. It was hard trying to support Harry in his endeavors to take down the Dark Lord, as well as support Draco in his attempts to carry out his tasks for the evil wizard.

Feeling she was now at a crossroads and suddenly overwhelmed by her predicament, Hermione couldn't help but do one thing at the moment: cry. Tears weld up in her eyes and spilled over onto her cheeks. Before she could stop it, a sob escaped her mouth and she covered her mouth with one hand and hugged herself with the other. And within seconds the brunette was full on crying.

Harry was a bit startled by his friend's sudden change in emotions, but that didn't stop him from wrapping his arms around the girl and holding her close providing her comfort. He helped her to sit down on the ground, him sitting with her and holding her as she cried. He wasn't sure how much time had passed but it didn't matter to him. Despite the fact that Hermione was crying into his shoulder staining it with her tears, he still felt good being able to hold the one girl he cared most about in the entire world.

After a while Hermione stopped crying and was just sniffling a bit. The grip she had made on Harry's shirt loosened a bit and she just continued to lay against her friend, finding comfort in him. Harry rubbed up and down her back before asking softly, "Feeling better now?"

"Yes," Hermione answered. She pulled back a bit and hugged Harry saying, "Thank you for letting me cry on you for a bit."

"No problem, Mione," Harry replied returning her embrace.

Hermione sighed and pulled away from Harry, about to suggest that they head back inside, but was very surprised when she felt a pair of lips press against hers almost passionately, lips that belonged to her friend Harry Potter.