{ 22 }
{ Hermione POV }
I have become accustomed to nightmares. Re-living the worst moments of my life every night as I sleep is routine.
Tonight was different somehow. My dreams were convoluted. Disjointed. Confusing. But they were not nightmares, per se. Just…odd.
My eyes opened at three o'clock in the morning and I could not get them to close again. My brain was wide awake and would not stop. Random images from my dreams kept popping into my mind, and none of them made sense.
Draco and I, walking down a deserted corridor, our footsteps leaving prints in the dust on the floor.
A garden, with a large fountain in the middle and trellises of roses in rich red and pure white overhead.
A portrait of a snake, wrapped around a colorful bird. The bird, a phoenix, was injured. A tear leaked from its eye.
Draco, standing in front of me in black dress robes. A white veil covered my face. Our hands clasped together, a symbolic rope wrapped around our wrists while the Minister spoke "…husband and wife…"
After fifteen minutes or so, I gave up and rolled out of bed. Careful not to make any noise, I snuck out of the dorm room and took a long shower, taking my time under the steaming hot water.
Even so, by four o'clock I was dressed in my favorite pair of jeans and a heavy brown sweater. Technically, it's Friday morning, a school day. I should be wearing my uniform, I suppose.
Really, though. What's the point? It isn't like I will be attending any classes.
In the last four days, I have barely even seen anyone aside from Draco. I have eaten breakfast early, skipped lunch and eaten dinner late. I've spent each morning in the restricted section of the library, and each afternoon and evening on the third floor reading up on wards.
Or kissing Draco.
It's better this way, for everyone. No one is missing me around the castle, I'm sure.
Hell, aside from a few vague questions Monday night from Harry, no one has even asked me why I'm not in class or where I've been spending my time. Everyone seems to assume the rumors are true, that we were suspended from class for the week and everything will be back to normal on Monday.
That is alright. I like the solitude. When it is just Draco and myself, I don't have to be on guard. I don't have to worry so much about what everyone else is doing around me. I don't have to pretend to be something that I'm not.
Like normal.
The common room was dark and silent as I passed through. I stepped through the portrait hole into the corridor beyond and listened as the door clicked shut behind me.
I was halfway down the stairs between the sixth and fifth floors before I even realized what I was doing. Even then, my feet kept moving.
Then suddenly the fifth floor corridor loomed in front of me. My feet stopped. My heart rate doubled. A tingling sensation crawled down my spine.
My eyes probed the darkness of the corridor. I searched for any hint of shadows moving on their own. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my anxiety under control.
What in the fuck was I thinking? Leaving the common room in the middle of the night, alone?
Someone is there, somewhere, watching you.
I didn't dare move. I barely even breathed.
I don't know how long I stood there before I came to the conclusion that I can't do it. I won't do it.
Gryffindor bravery be damned.
I backed up until I was pressed against the wall. My breaths were coming in short gasps. Pain lanced through my chest with each inhale.
My eyes darted up the stairs, back towards the common room.
I could go back.
I could.
Except, going back up the stairs would mean turning my back on that corridor. Just the thought had me gasping for air.
Fuck!
I forced a breath. Then another.
Damn it, Hermione. Think! You can't just stand here having a panic attack. You are an easy target right now.
Fucking do something!
Right. Something. Anything.
Send Draco a message.
How pathetic am I that I need my boyfriend to come rescue me from nothing but empty shadows.
The shadows aren't always empty.
A cold chill worked its way down my spine. I swallowed hard around the sudden lump in my throat.
No. No they are not. I learned that lesson the hard way.
I shook my head quickly and backed even further away.
I slid my coin out of my pocket and flipped it over and over in my hand.
Would he be awake yet?
Possibly. I get the distinct feeling that he does not sleep much more than I do.
Still, I don't need to call on Draco. I can take care of myself.
Right?
Right. Of course you can. So why are you still just standing there?
I squeezed the coin in my fist. Yes, I am pathetic. Extraordinarily so.
I brought my wand up and tapped the coin.
" Are you awake?"
I didn't even wait for a response before I sent my next message. Before I could talk myself out of it.
" I need you." See. Fucking pathetic.
But each breath is getting harder and harder to take. And seriously, that one shadow just fucking moved.
I gripped my wand tighter as the coin warmed in my hand. I didn't even read it. I couldn't peel my eyes away from the darkness long enough. Still, a small sense of relief brushed across me. Not much, not enough to quell the building panic attack.
But I knew, if he responded that meant he saw my message. He would come. I have no doubt. He's probably already on his way.
The coin warmed my hand yet again.
Tell him where you are, you idiot.
Wait. That shadow just moved again.
It took every ounce of concentration for me to tap the coin and send a final message.
"Fifth floor."
Blood pounded in my ears. Blackness invaded my vision, creeping in on the edges.
I heard something. Footsteps, maybe. Someone is coming. Running. Fast.
Draco.
Down the corridor something moved. Shifted. The shadows were pushed back as a bright light formed. As it moved closer, I pressed myself against the wall and held my wand in shaky hands.
As it neared, the light took the form of a cobra.
" I'm on my way." Draco's voice came through clearly, sending an instant wave of relief crashing through my body.
He's coming. He'll be here any minute.
Thank Merlin.
"Hermione?" He materialized out of the shadows only seconds after the patronus delivered his message.
His face swam in front of my eyes, concern etched into every line.
"Watch yourself," I managed to gasp. "Someone is there. Or something. It moved. The shadows…they moved."
I know I'm not making sense. Every gasping breath hurts. And now I'm not even sure if I saw what I thought I saw.
His head turned and he looked down the empty corridor he had just walked through.
"Breathe, Hermione." His arm wrapped around my waist.
I took a breath. It was shallow and forced. It burned all the way through my lungs. It wasn't enough.
My eyes darted around, scanning the darkness, the shadows.
Where did it go?
"I'm here. You are safe."
I shook my head violently. One hand gripped his shirt. The other was wrapped around my wand so tight I'm surprised the wood didn't shatter in my grip.
"No. It's watching me. I can feel it." My voice was a rough whisper.
His hand rubbed against my back in small circles.
"Okay. Let's get out of here, then." His hand drifted down my arm. "Do you have a broom in your bag?"
What an odd question. Of course I have a broom. I may hate flying, but still. You have to have a broom, right? Otherwise it would be like trying to be a witch without a wand.
He was already reaching into my bag before I nodded my head 'yes'. A moment later, he was pulling my broom from inside the bag.
It wasn't anything fancy. You wouldn't want to play quidditch on it or anything like that. Still, it is steady, dependable, and I trust it to get me from A to B without any mishaps.
Draco practically snorted when he saw it. I would have scowled at him. If I wasn't so terrified that something would attack me from the shadows at any point in time.
He mounted the broom first, then put his arm around my waist as I sat in front of him.
"Hold still," He muttered. Then he tapped the top of my head and cast a disillusionment charm. He repeated the action on himself, making both of us invisible to prying eyes.
In the back of my logical mind I knew that I was overreacting. A panic attack, nothing more. The moving shadows I saw were nothing more than a trick of my eyes and my mind. There was no real danger.
I know that Draco knew that, too.
And yet.
And yet, he did not make me walk down that hallway. And yet, he hid us from view, so if someone was watching me, they wouldn't know where we went.
He lifted off the ground so gently, I barely even knew we were moving.
"Breathe." One word whispered against my ear. Then we were falling through space.
I closed my eyes and gripped his hand.
No more than thirty seconds later, we stopped and my feet touched the ground.
My eyes fluttered open. It took me a moment to adjust to the dim lighting and realize we were standing in the office on the third floor.
Draco had already closed the door and warded it behind us before dropping the disillusionment charms.
I watched him with wide eyes. No one had followed us. And even if they had, they are now locked on the other side of that door.
He thought of everything.
"Breathe." He reminded me again as he guided me into the sitting room. Again, he closed the door, locked and warded it.
My hands are shaking. Hell, my whole body is shaking.
He gathered me in his arms, pulled me against his chest. Only then did I take a deep, gasping breath.
"That's it. Breathe." His hands spread out across my back. "You are safe."
Now. Now I am safe.
I took long, slow breaths, inhaling deeply before blowing the air back out in measured counts of four. A trick my Aunt taught me when I was staying with them.
By the time I could breathe normally again, we were sitting on the couch in front of the fire. Draco had his arm around me, holding me against his chest. My legs were draped over his. His other hand was on my calf, slowly moving up towards my knee, then down towards my ankle in a soothing pattern.
"You know you're my hero, right?" My voice sounded rough, gravelly.
He chuckled, his chest rumbling beneath my ear.
"No one has ever accused me of that before, I'm sure." He pressed his lips against my forehead.
It's true, though. He is my hero. He rushed to my side in the middle of the night. Hell, he is still wearing his pajamas! He didn't mock me or downplay my fears. Instead, he protected me.
Just like last weekend, in the Forbidden Forest. When he apologized to Hagrid for my sake. Then he saw Buckbeak and he was terrified…but his first instinct was to protect me.
No one's first instinct has ever been to protect me.
I can't deny it any longer. He makes me feel something. Something good.
Something like hope.
Something like happiness.
Something like love.
"Well, I am." I cupped his face with my hands. I searched his eyes. I want him to know that I am one hundred percent serious. "You are my hero, Draco. Thank you. Thank you for taking care of me."
My lips brushed against his.
"We take care of each other."
He's right. It seems lopsided sometimes, but we do take care of each other. I know, without a single doubt, if he had called on me for help, I would have done the exact same thing he did.
I laid my head on his shoulder and inhaled deeply. My heart is finally back to normal. The anxiety, the panic from earlier was gone. In its place, I feel weak. Exhausted. A migraine is starting. The pressure behind my eye is building.
"You smell like the forest after a rainfall." I have no idea why I said that. My mouth seems to have a mind of its own, because I continued with, "I spent months camping in forests. I love that smell."
He huffed a short laugh and pulled me a little closer.
I stayed there for a few more minutes. Until I convinced myself I had to get up and take my medicine before the migraine got worse. I released a deep sigh, then pulled away. Draco watched, but didn't say anything as I stood, collected my bag and retreated into the bathroom.
The first thing I did was take my medicine before the throbbing pain behind my eye got any worse. Then I stood in front of the mirror with my hands resting on the sink. I just stood there, staring into my own eyes.
I don't know how to feel about what just happened. Embarrassed. Anxious. Disappointed in myself. I am so fucking pathetic. Seriously, how the fuck did I survive a damn war when I can't even walk downstairs at Hogwarts by myself?
I took a shaky breath, splashed some cold water on my face and returned to the sitting room.
I found Draco half asleep on the couch. His eyes struggled to stay open.
"Come on." I held my hand out to him. When he wrapped his fingers around mine, I pulled until he stood in front of me. I led him into the bedroom.
As we settled on the bed, side by side, he draped his arm across my waist and pulled me back against his chest.
"Are you alright?" He asked quietly against my ear.
My hand settled against his. I laced my fingers over his.
"I am. Because of you."
His lips brushed against my temple.
"I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to find you or I would be too late." He pressed his lips against my neck and pulled me back a little closer. "I don't know what I would do if something happened to you."
The raw emotion in his voice took my breath away. My hand squeezed in a quick pulse against his.
"It was just a panic attack. I would have been fine." I swallowed around the lump in my throat. That was most likely true.
Probably.
"Always trust your instincts, Hermione." He turned me around to face him. His fingers skimmed across my cheek, over my jaw and cradled my neck. "You sensed danger. Better to assume it's there and then it isn't than to assume it's nothing, and it is."
I searched his eyes for a long moment. He was serious. He didn't think I was just scared of shadows.
"In other words, better safe than sorry?" My lip tilted up on one side.
"Exactly." He leaned in and captured my lips in a searing kiss.
Gods, I love this man.
My heart stopped at that.
Fucking hell. I really do.
When the fuck did that happen?
"Just so you know…" I cleared my throat and tried again. "You were perfect, Malfoy. My knight in shining armor. Or in quidditch pajamas."
I smirked at him. His pants had little golden snitches all over them. And his shirt had the Slytherin quidditch team logo on the front and "Malfoy - Captain" on the back.
"I was in a bit of a hurry, you know." He huffed a short laugh.
I leaned in and kissed him again. It did not take long at all before his tongue was down my throat and his hand was under my shirt.
A moan slipped from my lips only to be swallowed as he sucked my tongue into his mouth.
Fucking Hell.
My head fell back and I took a much needed breath. Draco kissed my neck, right where it meets my shoulder. He sucked the skin into his mouth and ran his tongue over it.
Fuck!
I moaned out loud that time. The sound of raw desire. His fingers gripped me tighter and he buried his face in my shoulder, inhaling deeply and obviously trying to get himself under control.
I can feel the hard proof of his arousal pressed against my leg and my panties are soaked through.
A very large part of me doesn't want him to stop.
I want… more.
At the same time, I am scared of what more entails.
I held him tight. As tight as he was holding me. And we stayed like that until our breathing evened out.
I didn't push him to keep going this time around. I've pushed past enough boundaries for one night already.
I think he understood that, without me having to say a word.
I slowly relaxed into the mattress. The events of the early morning hours took their toll on me. My eyes drifted shut and I slipped into a light sleep.
Right before I slipped into darkness, he brushed his lips across my forehead.
Perhaps I was already dreaming, because I could have sworn I heard him whisper against my ear, " Goodnight, Love."
{ Draco POV }
I opened my eyes to weak sunlight filtering through the windows. I'm not sure how I had managed to go to sleep after Hermione woke me in the middle of the night.
I need you.
Those three words, sent to me at four o'clock in the morning, had made my heart stop.
When I found her on the fifth floor, she had been on the brink of a panic attack, barely holding herself together. Waiting for me to get there before she fell apart. Convinced someone was there, watching her.
I couldn't bring myself to discount her intuition. I've felt it, too. Alone in the Slytherin common room. The distinct feeling of being watched.
As I lay beside her in bed, I took a deep breath, inhaling her strawberry scent. My favorite scent in the entire world.
Her eyes fluttered open. It took her a moment to focus on me. When she did, her lip tilted up in a small smile.
"Good morning." Her voice was still thick with sleep.
"Good morning." I brushed my lips against her forehead.
A quick glance at my watch told me that I had already overslept. Breakfast was being served and Arithmancy would be starting within the hour.
I rolled over and sat up on the edge of the bed.
Wait. What time is it?
I checked my watch again.
"Fuck." I muttered it out loud. This can't be happening.
"What's wrong?" Hermione stood and stretched her arms over her head. The sweater she was wearing lifted just enough to reveal the creamy white skin of her stomach.
I shook my head quickly. Now is not the time to be distracted by my beautiful witch.
"I don't have any clothes to wear." I glanced down at the quidditch pajamas she laughed at only hours earlier. "I am certainly not wearing this to Arithmancy."
"Don't worry, Malfoy. No one gets to see you all tousled like this but me." She winked at me. Then she held her hand out. She had a small smile on her face, so I took her hand and let her pull me along to the sitting room, then to the bathroom.
Her bag was there, lying on the counter. She opened it and started rummaging through one of the drawers inside. After a few moments she pulled out the bag of toiletries I've been using, a towel, and a uniform. One of my uniforms, actually.
"How?" My eyes darted from the Slytherin tie in her hand to her eyes and back again. "These are mine."
"Of course they're yours." She huffed and rolled her eyes. "You didn't think I would give you one of Harry's uniforms, did you?"
I raised my brow and waited for her to answer the question. How the hell did she get one of my custom tailored uniforms, and how long has she been carrying it around in her bag?
"You left it here a couple of weeks ago." She smirked at me, then. Her head tilted to the side and her hip popped out. "I was waiting to see how long it would take you to realize it was missing."
Well played, Granger.
I slid my arm around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss.
"You are a lifesaver."
She rolled her eyes and pushed me away playfully.
"I guess we're even then." She laughed as she returned to the sitting room and left me to clean up and get ready for class.
I still need to hurry. Having clothes to wear is a definite plus, but my bag with my homework, books and supplies is still in the dungeon.
Hermione was in the sitting room with a book open in her lap. She lifted her eyes to meet mine.
"There is a mug of tea and an apple on the table. I don't think you will have time for breakfast."
She always thinks of everything. I picked up the tea and took a sip. Three sugars and cooled to the perfect temperature. I expected no less.
"Thank you." I leaned down and kissed her quickly. I really do need to hurry. "I'll see you after class."
"I'll be here." She gave me a small smile and returned to her reading.
I checked my watch once more as I lowered the wards on the sitting room door, then on the office door. I have roughly ten minutes to get to the dungeon, collect my bag, and get back up to the sixth floor for Arithmancy.
I'm not sure how I pulled it off, but I made it just in time. As soon as I sat down, exhaustion settled in. I barely slept last night, and that was before I had to rush to the fifth floor. It's already catching up to me, which does not bode well for the rest of the day.
Class went about as well as could be expected. The calculations that Vector reviewed went right over my head. I made the notes, but when I tried to perform the operations, something wasn't right at all.
"Everything alright?" Theo asked as I packed my bag.
"Fine." I sighed to myself. I will need to ask Hermione to help me with this later.
"Right. Pull it together, mate. We've got the first game of the season tomorrow morning. You better be more focused by then, or we don't stand a chance against Potter."
Fuck. He's right. That is tomorrow.
"I'll be on it. Don't worry." I ran my hand through my hair and followed him out of the classroom. We split there, though, as he headed to Transfiguration and I returned to the third floor.
I was stopped halfway there by Tristan.
"Draco!" He ran up to me and stopped. I almost walked right over him. "You weren't at breakfast this morning."
"No, I wasn't. Did you need something?" I tried to sound bored, but there was an urgency in his voice that had me concerned.
His eyes darted around quickly to see if anyone else could hear him.
"The thing is, I'm supposed to take my flying test on Monday, and…well…I was hoping you could help me?" He looked up at me with sad, hopeful eyes. "I'm kind of dreadful at it, and the other kids…they were laughing at me…and Mum said I should ask you because you are a good flyer."
I groaned internally. The old me would have told the kid to piss off. I could almost hear Hermione in my ear, telling me that he's family and he's asking for my help and so on.
I sighed.
"Sure. When?"
"I have a free period at four?"
I let my head fall back. Four o'clock would work just fine. I could use it as a warm up for quidditch practice.
"Alright. Meet me on the pitch at four."
His whole body relaxed and he smiled.
"Thanks, Draco." He turned around and ran back down the hallway, headed to his next class.
[ - ]
Hermione was still sitting in the same chair, reading the same book. She had a mug of coffee and a chocolate scone sitting on the table beside her.
"Is class over already?" She looked like she was surprised to see me. That book must be quite interesting.
"It is. I hate to admit it, but I might need your help with the homework." I picked up her scone and broke it in two. "I didn't understand a word of it."
"You can have that. I already ate one." She smirked at me before taking a drink of her coffee.
I leaned over the back of her chair and read over her shoulder.
" There is a certain type of wards that can be embedded into parchment. These wards are meant to only allow a certain person or persons to be able to read whatever is written."
"That sounds promising." I moved to sit beside her.
"Right? Listen to this." She flipped the page and started reading out loud. " For the intended recipient, there will be a sense of warmth, almost an inviting feel when they near the parchment. For all others, there will be just the opposite. They will feel coldness, a clear warning to stay away. If they persist, they could experience physical illness or even death as a result."
Bones' words of warning came back to me.
You could die.
I swallowed hard. Yes, that sounds like what we could be dealing with.
"Does it say how to break them?"
"Of course not." Hermione rolled her eyes and huffed a short laugh. "Pretty sure Professor Bones only gave us the names of books that don't include how to break wards."
She could be on to something. We've read half of the books on her list, and though we have learned about several different types of wards, not one of the books had discussed how to break them.
"Maybe it's time we start looking for books that are not on Bones' list?"
She marked her page, then closed the book and put it aside.
"You read my mind, Malfoy."
My eyes blinked slowly. Without intending to, I sank into the cushion as another wave of exhaustion came over me.
"Are you alright?" Hermione's hand settled against my forehead and rested there for a moment.
"Fine. Just…tired. And starting to get a headache." It took effort to force my eyes open.
Hermione was searching through her bag. She extracted a vial and handed it to me.
I held it in my hand and lifted one eyebrow as I waited for her to explain.
"Pain relief potion for your head."
I blinked a couple of times.
"You don't carry pain relief potion." She told me that she doesn't keep it in her bag because she can't take it.
She tilted her head to the side. Her lip quirked up on one side.
"I stocked up." She lifted her shoulder and let it drop. "Do you want it, or not?"
I held her gaze for a moment, then I took the potion. Almost immediately the headache subsided.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. That feels so much better. The bone deep exhaustion remains, though.
"Thank you."
"Of course." She took the empty vial and stored it back on her bag. "Why don't you go lay down? We can go to the library this afternoon."
That is a good idea. I'm exhausted.
"Alright. Yeah." She held her hand out and pulled me to my feet. "Don't let me forget, I have to meet Tristan at four. He asked me to help him learn how to fly for his test on Monday."
She paused, turned to look at me. Her eyes blinked. There were clouds behind her eyes. Or maybe I imagined that.
Her smile seemed a bit forced.
"That was very sweet of you."
I huffed a short laugh.
"I think you're making me soft." I put my hands on her waist and rested my forehead against hers. My eyes drifted shut.
"Go lie down, softie. Before you fall over."
Right. That was the plan.
She guided me to the bed and pulled the blanket over my shoulders. I was asleep before she pulled the blinds over the windows.
[ - ]
The library, which is normally deserted this time of day, was packed with first years. They were everywhere.
Two Hufflepuff girls nearly walked right into Hermione. I snaked my arm around her waist and pulled her out of the way just before she tripped over them. They didn't even apologize! They just kept right on like nothing had happened.
"Draco. You can let go of me now." The annoyance in her tone was obvious.
Was she annoyed by the rowdy ankle biters that had invaded our space, as I was? Or was she annoyed that I pulled her to safety, rescuing her for the second time today?
"What if I never want to let you go?" I leaned closer and whispered into her ear.
I could hear her rolling her eyes at that cheesey line. She huffed a short laugh.
"So you want to stand here, surrounded by gawking twelve year olds?" She placed her hand over mine, then she pressed on the soft spot beneath my thumb. Hard. As soon as I flexed my hand, she grabbed it, twisted my wrist around and easily stepped out of my grip. It took all of five seconds and she was free.
She turned back towards me and smirked before resuming her path to the restricted section.
I shook my hand and flexed my fingers. How the Hell had she done that? Weeks ago, she had offered to show me these defensive techniques she learned over the summer. I will need her to show me that one.
We stepped through the iron gate and closed it behind us. Leaving us, thankfully, alone in the restricted section.
That long nap followed by a late lunch was exactly what I needed. My head feels clear again. And now that I am thinking clearly again, I can tell that something is bothering Hermione.
She's hiding it well, whatever it is. But she is anxious. I can tell in the way she taps her fingernails against the bookcase as she reads the titles of various books. Or every now and then she pulls her fingers through her hair and grips it tightly.
I observed her like that for awhile. An hour or so after we began our search, I couldn't take it any longer. I have to leave soon to meet Tristan, and she obviously is not going to just tell me what is wrong.
I stepped up behind her and put my hands on the bookcase to either side of her, caging her between my arms.
"What is going on in that brain of yours?" I asked against her ear.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then she turned to face me.
"Nothing." She attempted a small smile, but it fell flat. I raised my brow and waited. After a long moment, she cleared her throat.
"I'm just a little nervous about this afternoon. But don't worry. I'll be fine."
This afternoon? What is happening this afternoon that she would be worried about?
My stomach dropped as I suddenly realized…today is Friday.
"Fuck me." I dropped my forehead against hers. "I completely forgot."
She has her appointment with Edinfield at four. And I promised Tristan I would meet him at the same time.
She slid her arms around my neck.
"It's okay. You fought off shadows for me last night. I can handle Edinfield on my own today." She brushed her lips against mine. "I'm fairly certain he is harmless."
"But you are still nervous about it." I feel horrible for putting her in that position. "I can cancel. Tristan will understand."
"Don't you dare. He is your family and he needs your help. He wouldn't have asked otherwise."
He is your family.
That may be true…but she is so much more. Surely she knows that?
"Are you sure?" I don't like it.
"I'm positive. Go. Impart your mad skills on your cousin." Her lip tilted up on one side. Not quite a smirk.
[ - ]
As four o'clock neared, we left the library. At the staircase, we stopped. My fingers were interlaced with hers.
"Are you sure about this?" I had to ask her one more time.
She rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Yes."
She's lying. I know it. She knows it.
She is also stubborn enough to go through with it anyway. And I don't have a choice but to let her.
"I'll see you when practice is over?"
She chewed on her bottom lip. For a few seconds I thought she would say no.
"Of course. Go. Have fun." She stepped forward and kissed my cheek quickly. Her fingers squeezed around mine, just a quick pulse of pressure. Then she stepped back.
Her eyes met mine for a heartbeat or two before she turned around and walked away. She didn't look back as she walked up the stairs towards Edinfield's office.
I released a deep sigh when she turned the corner and disappeared.
She'll be fine.
Probably.
It took physical effort to turn and walk the opposite direction, down the stairs to the ground floor.
[ - ]
AN: Phew. I know. It's been a minute. Sorry for the wait. I am so ready to get this chapter posted so I can start editing the next one.
A little bit more from Hermione's POV this time. Draco came to her rescue, but now she has to face the mind healer on her own. We'll hear from her again next chapter.
As always, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Until next time.
mezy