T R A I N E D T O S I N | dramione

Eleven

The liquid sunk into her tongue and she closed her mouth, scrunching her face at the bitterness. It was around mid day and Hermione felt hopeless. All she ever did was was stare out the window and now she had been deprived of that too. She replayed the conversation in her mind, analysing and watching the women's expression as she spoke. She lingered on one sentence in particular.

"If you hadn't cast a Reparifors spell, you could have lost the ability to walk entirely."

Hermione had been almost unconscious, spasming uncontrollably on the floor which left her in no shape to cast a spell such as a healing one. Especially not as precise as it had to have been done to work. The only person capable was Malfoy.

The room was illuminated with a bright blue haze as the sudden crack made Hermione jump, her heart rate spreading up. Topsy entered the room. She seemed more reserved and Hermione observed her. "Master has sent me incase you will be needing anything." She played with her hands as she stuttered worriedly on her words. "A book would be brilliant." Hermione said hopefully and Topsy began to shuffle on her feet. "Mmm Topsy thinks the Mudblood will be allowed a book." The elf disappeared for a few seconds before she returned, reaching out her feeble fingers towards Hermione.

Hermione lightly pinched the spine of he book and Topsy quickly backed away lowering her head. She seemed to be slightly scattered and skittish, faded purple spots littered across her body as she hugged herself with her thin arms. "Well Topsy will be going now." There was another crack and once again, Hermione was alone. She was so lonely. She gazed down at the book, surprised she was allowed it and not expected to paper cut someone to death.

Hermione read until the sky began to dim outside her window and her room grew dark. Her eyes strained, scanning across the words that had become almost impossible to read, bleeding into the pages as the darkness began to swallow it into shadows.

The door clicked before swinging open. Draco walked in tray resting lightly on his right palm as he clutched the key in the other. She had grown to hate the sound the key made. He backed into the door to close it. "Why are you sat in the dark?" He flicked on the light as he began to approach her. "I can't walk." She said dully as the answer should have been obvious, keeping her eyes glued to the now visible book pages. Draco didn't speak as he set the tray down lightly on the dresser beside Hermione before turning to leave. "Can you call for Topsy?" Draco paused in front the door, hand hovering over the handle for a second before he spun around.

"The elves are preparing my meal." Hermione wasn't surprised that the Malfoy's had more than the standard one elf. "Just tell me what it is you need and I can get it." The thought of using the bathroom under her current state of immobilisation hadn't occurred to Hermione and the thought of Malfoy possibly having to assist her made her stomach turn. She almost felt sorry for herself and she gnawed at her lip. "Granger, spit it out." Draco's voice was harsher now and Hermione's throat felt dry as she attempted to speak. "Can you take me to the bathroom, please?" Her voice cracked as she spoke and Draco's jaw visibly tensed as he averted his gaze to the floor.

He was quiet for a while before he answered. "Okay." He approached her and Hermione felt her stomach twist with anxiety. Neither of them spoke as Draco pulled the duvet off of Hermione and reached down. He slid his right arm under her back and gently cradled the back of her legs with the other. Hermione wrapped her arms tightly around the back of his neck and he picked her up. He smelt of spearmint and he began to carry her towards the bathroom. She had forgotten how tall he was when he ducked his head lower so it nearly met her stomach in order to fit under the door.