Author's Note: Well I'm sorry for the gap of time between updates (college man) and I hope you enjoy this next chapter, and I apologize in advanced for any feelings you might have from this possibly maybe?
The Missing Piece Chapter Thirty One
Day: 76
"Hello, hello, hi, yes um, I need to see Draco Malfoy? I—I brought him in two hours ago—" Hermione cut herself off, having no idea what to say, and being fully aware she sounded unsure and disoriented. She had just apparated a block away from St. Mungo's, and walked straight into the lobby. She didn't want to make a commotion like she had the last time she apparated directly in the lobby, as it was unnecessary. She tried to act as calm and collected as possible, but it proved to be hard as her nerves were spiking out of control. How was he? Was he still there? Was he alive and recovering? Was he in intensive care? She refused to think he was any worse. The Healer turned to one of her colleagues, who then disappeared in a room to check the records. Hermione impatiently tapped her fingers against the desk, looking around agitatedly and was relieved to see the woman come back to inform her that Mr. Malfoy was staying in room 507A.
Hermione murmured a word of thanks and practically jog-walked down the hall in search of a lift. Once she found it, she ventured inside with impatience and anticipation, clicked a small number five, and was on the fifth floor in a matter of seconds. She turned right and went down the hallway, checking the numbers on the doors. 511, 510, 510A, 509… she stopped once she hit room 507A. She couldn't explain the hesitancy that had suddenly overwhelmed her. Now that she was actually there, what would she see if she turned the knob? What if he was in worse condition? Thankfully, a healer opened Draco Malfoy's door from the inside, smiling sadly at Hermione and interrupting her thoughts.
"Miss Granger?" The woman spoke in a soft voice, shutting the door quietly behind her. Hermione affirmed it was she, and the healer continued. "Please know we are trying the best we can—" The healer cut herself off after she saw Hermione's petrified face. "Everything is fine with Mr. Malfoy," She added quickly. Hermione calmed down a bit. For an instant she thought her worst nightmare was going to come true. She definitely wasn't ready to face a loss as great as Malfoy's death, and she wasn't sure she could bare it. Hermione clung onto every word the Healer had said thus far as if her life depended on it. "His injuries are very severe. It has taken us very long to stabilize him, but we have done it, and he has been okay up to this point. Please understand that it's going to take a very long time to heal him, and… understand that with injuries like this Miss Granger, it is very possible his body may just give up at any point."
"There must be something you can do. Something, anything…" Hermione began, feeling the hot, silent tears already streaming down her face.
"We have our absolute best healers working on him nonstop. Please realize that his life is valuable to us as well. We do not give up on our patients, but it's important to realize that we can only do so much. The rest depends on him. The Magic we perform on him can only go so far. There are stronger types of magic that can heal him, and those depend on him entirely." Hermione was reminded of Dumbledore for a split moment, particularly when the healer spoke that last sentence. She knew exactly what she meant and knew that the healer was correct: only the will to live would keep Draco Malfoy alive. And perhaps another type of magic as well…
"He needs me. May I see him?" Hermione uttered suddenly. She felt slightly better now that her mind had a task to work on, a goal to attain.
"Yes, but I must warn you that his appearance may shock you, so be prepared to see many tubes and marred features." The healer replied. Hermione murmured a sincere thank you and turned for the door as the healer walked away.
Hermione took a deep breath to steady herself, and turned the knob.
The hospital room was relatively small, and cozy. The walls were a baby blue, a similar shade to the wall color of Hermione's living room. On Hermione's left there was a decent sized window, which most likely had been magically altered to display faraway mountains and a beautiful lake landscape. A slight breeze swept the room as well, originating from the window and blowing soothing cool air to the entire room. There was a large plant in the left hand corner of the room next to the window as well, adding some green to the room and giving it a more home-like atmosphere. On the right side of the room was a pair of wooden chairs, which were placed on either side of a small wooden book case. There were only about five books on each shelf, and a slight layer of dust covered the stop of those books like a blanket. The far wall was taken up by machines and tubes which were operated by magic. It was the only part of the room which clashed with the other objects. Those tubes were hooked up to the hospital bed which occupied the center of the room, and was very large. In the center of that hospital bed, where all the tubes led, laid Draco Malfoy.
Hermione felt her face and posture sadden upon the sight of the man who looked on the edge of death. His face was gaunt and sunken. His complexion was a pale one, and although Hermione secretly thought Draco Malfoy couldn't get any paler, he had. His skin was like that of Morgan's, very thin and almost translucent. His face however, was peaceful. His eyes were closed blissfully despite the bulky tube protruding from his mouth, probably helping him breathe. Hermione dared herself to step closer to him. His eye lids were a shade of purple, as well as under his eyes. Only his lips managed to retain a slight shade of pink that they used to. Draco's bright, white blonde hair had also managed to lose a bit of shine and acquired a dullness to it now. It was a very sad and heartbreaking sight to behold for Hermione. She managed to pry her eyes from his face and bring them to the rest of him. She immediately noticed all the bruises and cuts on his body, some in the process of scarring, and closing up. There were bandages on the most severe ones, with green ooze coming out of them. Hermione recognized this green ooze to be sanatis cicatrotum, a concoction to help the skin heal severe wounds. His body seemed thinner as well, and Hermione realized probably how hard it had been for the healers to stabilize Malfoy.
A sudden feeling overwhelmed her, and she could no longer bear to look at him. She turned away and stifled a sob, trying to compose herself. She had no idea how she was feeling at the moment, whether it was sorrow, pain, misery, longing, or all of the above. Reminding herself that she had come for a reason, she took a deep breath, her respiration hitching in the process, and grabbed a wooden chair next to the book case and brought it over next to Draco's bed. She looked out of the window across the room for several seconds, imagining herself to be Draco Malfoy and waking up to the view.
"Hello, there." She whispered softly to the blond male on the hospital bed as soon as she gathered her courage to look away from the window and into his closed, nearly translucent eyes. "Draco." She whispered. Hermione was half talking to herself, and half talking to him. She quite liked the way his name sounded on her lips, and she whispered it several more times, never really appreciating the name and all of what it meant to her until now. "I don't know if you can hear me, but… I know you're in there somewhere. I do know where you are physically, but mentally… I miss you, okay? I need you. I've always known that, I guess, but now I need you more than ever. I can't picture life without you, Draco Malfoy." Hermione broke off, tears rolling down her cheeks, and a knot in her throat so great she could barely articulate. She looked down at her hands, which were intertwined together on her lap, and then back up to the hospital bed. "Please fight. Please don't give up. Don't give up on me, don't leave me, please—I don't think I would be happy ever again if you left." She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her breath hitching in the process. Hermione then shook her head, not happy with her train of thought.
"I'm being so selfish, Draco. I'm so sorry. A book I read once talked about death, and how it's a very selfish thing to mourn. It's true, though. We as people mourn for our loss, for the hole that is created by that loss. We rarely cry for someone else's loss, for someone else's death. We cry and become sad for selfish reasons. 'Funerals are for the living,' another book said. Draco, they're right. If you leave me, you'll never miss me, or miss life. You'll cease to exist. I, however, will have to miss you, and miss your life. I guess what I'm saying is, I'm sorry. Only Merlin knows what you're going through, and if it's too much… I don't blame you. But please fight. Because I know that if you live, you will have much to live for. You'll have me, I'll do and be anything or anyone for you. I'll always be there for you. I can cook you pumpkin pie on a snowy evening when there's nothing better for us to do but cuddle and stare out the window of our home. I'll let you deal with your house elf your way. I'll always be there when you wake up, and when you go to bed. I'll sing you to sleep. I'll read to you, outside, under the stars, by the light of your wand. I'll go on picnics with you, I'll do anything. If you live, I'll do that and even more Draco. But if you choose the other way, I won't be angry. Really. Yes, I'll miss you, your voice, the way your hair shines in the sun, the way your lashes gracefully sweep your eyes when you blink. The way you strut about in your high and mighty glamor. I'll miss arguing with you about rights and wrongs. I'll miss all those nights, where we would just talk about anything that came to mind. I'll miss learning about you, and having someone to trust completely. Someone to talk to, who cares about me if I'm having a bad day. I'll miss all the memories we had. Maybe I'd visit the pensieve if you leave.
Remember when we first started working together? How we couldn't stand each other? And here we are. Who would have thought? Not me. You always seemed too absorbed in your own life, so selfish and spiteful. Who would have known that same boy could become a man who I would come to see as the most beautifully selfless man in the world? Remember the first kiss we shared? Remember, when we first started falling in love? Slowly… then, it was like pouring rain. Merlin, I'm also so very sorry that if you leave, I could never tell you what I'm telling you now. I just want you to know, that… I'm sorry for hurting you. I do feel guilty, even if I may not show it. When I first woke up without any knowledge of who you were to me… I can't imagine how much I must have hurt you. I can't imagine you waking up and thinking once more that I am a revolting muggle born. Everything we had built together was gone that day. And I never thought about how selfless you were in staying by me, even though I hated you. You knew, deep down, I still loved you. And you never gave up until I remembered. How could I ever repay you for that? How can I ever take away that pain that must still linger from those days? I can't." Hermione took a huge breath, wiping even more tears from her cheeks. She felt stupid for talking to herself, but found it therapeutic, in a way. She half hoped that Draco could hear her, and half hoped he did not. What would he think if he heard her? She let out another sob, failing to stifle it. Hermione reached her hand over and finally willed herself to touch Draco's hand, which felt chilly and soft under her warm fingers.
"I've hurt you so much. I have. And even though I finally realized I love you, and remember everything, I still can't erase that fragment of time that I wanted nothing to do with you. And I can't let it go, Draco. I can't. Because I remember how much you love me, and how much I love you, and everything we've been through, and the amount of time we spent together, and I know the pain you went through and it hurts me to think that I was the one who caused it. And not only that but the fact that because of me Crowley took you hostage! And that got you here. I got you here. I am the reason why you're here. How can I live with that, Draco? At least, if you choose to go, I can't hurt you. No one can. And that's a comforting thought, apart from the fact that I'll never get to touch you again. You'll be safe. And I'm okay with safe. I'm also okay with living. It's your choice, Draco Malfoy. No matter what—I will always love you for it."
Hermione continued to absentmindedly stroke Draco's hand, trying to keep her sobbing to a minimum, but failing. She had nothing more to say. It was all up to him now. She had poured all her feelings out and was feeling physically exhausted as a result, but a great weight was lifted off her shoulders at the same time. She thought she heard a soft knocking, but once she heard the sound of the door handle being turned, she automatically removed her hand from Draco's to wipe her tears. She was still in the process of doing so once the door opened but she stopped once a healer poked her head in apologetically.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but I have to replace the patient's bandages and perform a routine check-up." The healer excused herself, entering the room fully now. Hermione nodded, wiping her hands on her robes to dry them off.
"Yes, of course." Hermione replied, and quickly walked past the healer, exchanging a slight smile with her, and left the room. Hermione felt a bit disoriented and lost once she left the hospital room. She had no idea what to do next, or where to go, or who to go to. She found herself walking to the end of the hallway, and down the stairs. Step by step, she climbed down the nearly deserted set of flights down to the lobby of St. Mungo's. She barely noticed that on the third flight of stairs down, she began to feel a warm, comforting, and happy feeling. By the time she noticed, the stag patronus was halfway through his message.
"We've got him. Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada. Use your coin."
A sudden, new drive overcame Hermione and she immediately ran down the stairs as soon as the message made sense. The warmth and comfort of the patronus had gone once the message had been delivered, but she had so much incentive of her own that it no longer mattered. Harry had Crowley. This time, there was no failing. She entered the lobby and made a right, to the hospital's designated apparition room that Hermione had never used. There she thought of the address, and turned on her heel. Once she landed in Cranbrook, Canada, she pulled out the Ministry of Magic standard issued coin, which came about since her fifth year at Hogwarts, but since has been adapted to ministry uses, and pressed a finger to it. The coin was automatically activated as a portkey, and she felt herself being pulled by the inanimate object to Harry's location.
"He's in there. We've already surrounded the premises. The place is small enough that not many aurors need to enter with us. We've been watching him long enough to know there's only two of them with him, and we're relatively certain he thinks we can't find him here." Harry did not miss a beat in filling Hermione in. The very second she landed on his left, he began informing her of the situation.
"You, me, Peterson, and Emerett." Hermione whispered back in reply. She was formulating the team of aurors in her mind, pulling the best two aurors to come along with her and Harry.
"Good." Harry affirmed. He turned to his right and pointed to two Aurors, Peterson and Emerett, and pointed to a small shack which was about fifty feet in front of where the team of Aurors and Hermione stood, hidden by trees in a small wood. "Let's go. Attack Plan Cloak 5."
In procedure with the attack plan, the newly formed team of three Aurors and Hermione pulled out their wands and proceeded to place a disillusionment charm on themselves. Once done, they all walked forward, hidden by the charm, and entered the shack, while the Aurors remaining on the outside covered the shack from all sides.
Inside, the team of four held their wands at the ready, prepared for anything. The shack was small and abandoned. Hermione didn't think any more than four people could fit in it at a time. She began automatically scanning the floors and wands for hidden magical entrances. In about fifteen seconds, she had found what she was looking for. She signaled for the Auror's attention and pointed to the far wall, to a well hidden entrance along the floor. Both Harry and Hermione got to work on trying to open the door, taking turns rattling off opening spells, from the most simplest, to the most complex. Harry suddenly stopped, placing one hand on his chin in a pensive gesture.
"Perhaps it's like in Riddle's cave… here." He brought his wand to the palm of his hand and moved across it. The wand broke the skin and blood trickled from his palm. Hermione smiled, thinking Harry was onto something, and that it might actually work. Sure enough, once Harry pressed his hand to the spot Hermione had pointed at earlier, it began to open. What they saw was now a dark staircase, leading downward. With Harry first, and Hermione bringing up the rear, they went down the stairs, wands illuminated so they did not fall.
The stairs seemed to be endless. The straight path down seemed to add to the effect, as there were no corners to anticipate. But after what seemed like an endless and indeterminable amount of time, they stairs began to grow less steep, and they reached a wooden door. Crowley was behind those doors. Overtaken with that thought, Hermione immediately raised her wand, and the Aurors stepped back to avoid the blast.
"Bombarda Maxima!" Hermione shouted, the explosion from the spell resounding loudly in her ears and making her stagger back a bit from the impact. The door had been blown apart, however. Hermione could tell by the amount of rubble and dust clouding the air, but she didn't dare breathe or open her eyes until the dust cleared. Once she felt it did she opened her eyes to find Crowley, wand poised and ready for battle, with two Death Eaters on either side.
"STUPEFY!"
"CRUCIO!"
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS"
Shouts of spells emitted from every single mouth at simultaneous times, erupting in a small, but fierce battle. Hermione's senses were very acute at that moment, deflecting and reciprocating each and every spell thrown at her. Adrenaline pumped through her veins which pushed her further. Three was no match for four, and soon Harry's team of Aurors and Hermione had captured Crowley's guards and sent them to the Ministry of Magic via the portkey coins. Crowley was persistent, despite him being outnumbered and he continued to shoot killing curses but was no match for four duelers at once.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Hermione shouted, her spell hitting Crowley in the head, causing his whole body to freeze and fall to the ground like a piece of wood. "You're under arrest under the Ministry of Magic for attempt to evade arrest, assault, murder, torture of innocent people and plotting against the Ministry of Magic. We hold the right to veritaserum and any other methods of questioning. Harry, take him out of my sight."
Day: 77
"Any sign of life?" Harry asked, popping his head through the door of Draco's hospital room.
Hermione shook her head for the third time that day in reply to the same question. She knew he wouldn't wake up just yet—if he chose to do so. But she still had hope.
"Hang in there. Will you be at the Weasley's dinner, though?"
"Yeah, sure. Oh, Harry? Have you talked to Molly? Is Ron—"
"Yeah actually, they released him from the hospital a couple weeks ago while you and Malfoy were being held, and I was looking for you guys… He's been living at home since. Apparently he's fine, just can't remember the last two years… with Lucy dead I doubt he'll ever get that back."
Hermione looked down and nodded, twiddling her thumbs. She felt extremely guilty for the loss of Ron's memory. She didn't wish what she suffered through to anyone and there was her best friend going through the same thing. Especially when the reason for his memory loss was trying to protect her memory in the first place. Hermione mentally added Ron to her growing list of guiltiness.
"It's not your fault, Hermione. He'll be okay." Harry said with a consoling look toward her. "I've got to go testify for Crowley's case. Don't forget you're due at the Ministry as well."
Hermione smiled weakly and nodded. She did not and would not forget the chance to testify against Crowley and see him tossed into Azkaban. Harry quietly closed the door, leaving Hermione to her thoughts.
"We captured him, Draco." She her dead looking love. "I brought him in. I locked him up and filed his case. I filled everyone in on what was going on, and he's due to go to Azkaban soon. I have to go file my official report though soon. Probably in three days. Hopefully you'll be… sorted out by then. I mean it though, no matter what you choose, I will understand. I love you. Just, please pick quickly because I can't stand the uncertainty and stress of this. But I guess it's only fair after what I did to you."
Hermione sighed, looking past Draco and out the window.
"Ron's better though I guess. He lost two years of his memory and that's my fault. He's going to go through that confusion and frustration and fear I did. It's terrible, and I feel terrible too. If you were conscious I know you'd tell me it's not my fault, like Harry did but I still feel the guilt eating away at me. He tried to protect me. I'm grateful but at the same time… Well, at least Ron won't wake up with a new girlfriend he was never aware of. Anyways, I just… that's all that happened so far." Hermione began to rise from her chair. "Keep fighting, love. I love you."
She walked toward the door, allowing a few tears to escape her eyes before she wiped them away and opened the door.
A/N: What will Draco Malfoy choose? Oh man... I still haven't decided yet I keep putting it off because it's hard to choose. Both are equally possible. Anyways, please leave me your thoughts/reactions/opinions/criticisms! Reviews really make me feel good and motivate me to put off my homework to write the chapter instead of putting off the chapter to do homework(: Also happy last day of September hooray sweater weather yay.