Chapter 4

"And what makes you call on this fine evening? Another prank call, perhaps?" Malfoy asked sarcastically.

"Look, Malfoy, I really need your help." Harry ignored the sarcasm.

"With what? Besides, why would I help you anyway?"

"I need you to come and and help me and Hermione."

"Psh, why would I help you and that Mudblood? Get that weasel to help help you."

"Ron betrayed us and so did Ginny. And don't call her a Mudblood!"

"Fine, oh overprotective one. What can I do about your problem?"

"Just listen to me. I need you to come to the Weasley house because I am locked in Ginny's room. I can't unlock it because I forgot my wand, so I need you to bring your wand and get me free so we can help Hermione."

"Fine," Draco drawled with with an exaggerated sigh.

They both hung up. Harry still couldn't decide if he could trust Malfoy but in this situation, he had to.

Two hours later

Harry was curled up in the corner, avoiding Ginny's bed. He was very tired and wanted to go to sleep, almost drifting off when he heard the front door open with a creak. He could hear footsteps coming closer, and then there was a bang just outside the door.

The door opened and there stood Draco.

"Thanks, Malfoy," Harry said in relief as he started to hurry down the stairs to the room where he knew Hermione was.

Draco stood there in confusion. "What am I meant to do, and where is Hermione?"

As Draco came downstairs, Harry anxiously replied, "She's in there, Ron put the Body-bind on her!"

Draco's eyes widened. "Weasel did WHAT?" Hearing about Ron's treatment of Hermione killed him. He had gradually developed a strong crush on her and had always respected her, but never showed it due to fear of his father and all the other Slytherins he was surrounded by.

Now spurred on by concern for the poor witch, Draco burst the door open and rushed in, finding a bruised and bleeding Hermione frozen on the floor.

Seeing her condition, he sank down beside her, despite Harry's presence."What did he do to her?" he whispered under his breath, distraught.

Composing himself, Draco turned to Harry. "Call St Mungo's," he snapped, checking her pulse and finding it not as strong as he had hoped. Harry looked sadly at Hermione before sprinting to the fireplace and Floo-calling the magical hospital.

Moments later two Mediwizards had arrived with a stretcher. They carefully levitated Hermione into it and told the boys, "One of you needs to come the hospital with her to explain and make decisions."

Draco lunged forward. "I'll do it!" Before Harry could do more than blink, one of the Mediwizards reached out, placed a hand on Malfoy's shoulder and Disapparated with him. The other followed with two hands balancing the stretcher as it vanished with him.

Harry stood in shock for a few minutes before he got a text from Draco. "Sorry Potter, I think you need to rest and recover. I'll make sure that Hermione is safe and recovers well. She's stable now but she's not awake yet. -D."

Harry was as confused as ever, but he shrugged it off and took Draco's advice, Apparating straight back to his room at Grimmauld Place for a well-deserved nap.