Hermione's head was pounding. It felt like a million house elves were jumping around in her brain. She laid there for a moment with her eyes shut, trying to remember what had happened. She'd had an attack, she remembered, in front of Malfoy. And he'd walked away. He was probably halfway to Russia by now. But she could feel that she was laying in a bed so she knew someone had found her, but who? She gingerly opened one eye, then the other and immediately recognized the white walls of St. Mungo's and the bright red mess of hair next to her bed. Ginny Weasley dozed quietly in the chair next to Hermione's bed with James tucked next to her in an enchanted cradle that rocked back and forth. Hermione smiled at her friend and her son. Not wanting to wake them she tried to sit up but gasped when the pain in her head began again. Her gasp woke Ginny who sat up with a start.
"Hermione, you're awake!" She cried. "Are you okay? Are you in pain? I'll get your Healer. I'm so glad you're awake!"
Before Hermione could answer Ginny rushed out of the room and returned a moment later with the healer.
"Erin, it's so good to see you!" Hermione greeted her healer. Erin was one of the best healers St. Mungo's had and, when she'd begun working there after she moved to London from the United States, they'd become good friends.
"It's good to see you too," Erin replied with a smile. "Though it'd be nice if you visited the emergency wing as a friend rather than a patient."
"I have a concussion, don't I?" Hermione asked, cutting straight to the chase.
"Yes," Erin replied. "But a very mild one. You're lucky, you were brought up here so quickly, we were able to heal you right away."
"How did I get here?" Hermione wanted to know.
"Your intern, Linda," Ginny told her. "She alerted the emergency wing to your accident and they came running."
"That's probably the first thing she's ever done right," Hermione murmured. "Where are the boys?"
"Harry and Ron? They're escorting Malfoy back to Azkaban," Ginny replied.
Before Hermione could say anything, Erin asked, "Malfoy? As in Draco Malfoy?"
"The one and only," Ginny said rolling her eyes.
"Why is he being taken to Azkaban?" Erin queried.
"Because he's the reason Hermione is here in the first place?" Ginny replied confused. "I mean, he attacked you, didn't he?"
"NO!" Erin and Hermione shouted at the same time then looked at each other in surprise.
"Malfoy is the reason we got to Hermione in time," Erin told Ginny. "When Hermione hit her head on the door, she ended up with a huge gash on her head. She was bleeding pretty heavily when we found her. If Malfoy hadn't alerted Linda to what happened, Hermione could have bled out."
"Oh my god," Ginny gasped throwing her hand over her mouth. "But Malfoy is the one who pushed you into the door, isn't he? I mean he was covered in your blood."
"No," Hermione told her. "I had an episode, completely unrelated to Malfoy. He was covered in my blood?"
"When I got there he was holding his hand to your head," Erin told her. "I didn't realize that on probation you aren't allowed your wand."
"No, you aren't," Hermione said. "You're limited to other magic, like the Floo or a portkey. Gin, he hasn't done anything wrong, you need to have them bring him back. Now."
"But how?" Ginny asked, jumping out of her seat. "Harry and Ron took him two hours ago, I don't know how to get in touch with them."
"Find Blaise," Hermione told her, but wince as her head began to pound furiously. "He'll know what to do. Malfoy is his client, tell him I sent you, then tell him everything."
"Where do I find him?" Ginny asked, frantically gathering her things.
"What time is it?"
"A little after 4," Erin replied.
"He's in his office until 4:30pm," Hermione told Ginny. "The advocates' offices are on the same floor as the Wizengamot at the Ministry."
"The Ministry? Got it. Can I leave James here?" she asked, looking at Erin.
"Of course," Erin said. "No safer place than in the middle of a hospital."
Satisfied that her son would be taken care of, Ginny rushed out of the room.
Another flash of pain hit Hermione and she winced out loud.
Erin looked at Hermione and realized she was in pain. "Here, drink this," Erin told her. "It's just a pain potion."
Hermione took the vial and gulped it down. The pain subsided almost immediately but a heavy feeling started to take over her body.
"Not just pain potion," Hermione slurred as her eyes began to close. "Need to do rounds."
"No, it wasn't," Erin confirmed. "And no you don't. What you need is to sleep so that your head can finish healing. Ginny will make sure Malfoy is okay and I'll call Luna in to do your rounds. Rest, Hermione, just rest."
Erin's words were the last thing Hermione heard before the darkness took her and she fell into a dreamless sleep.
A/N: Okay, let me explain Erin the American, another original character. The whole reason I got in to reading Dramione and ever had the confidence to write Dramione was because of a former co-worker and good friend; her name is Erin. For being the person who got me into fanfiction and for encouraging me to write, the least I could do was name a character after her. Thanks Erin, this is for you! :)