Always and Forever.

Curse.

It took a week for Hermione to recovery, that too only partially. She was going to be diagnosed today for lingering curse in her body. They all were happy for her, but at the same time, in the other room, Estella was yet to awake. A week had passed and no change as such was there about her. She was still unconscious, but Healer Joseph didn't said that she was in coma, which was relief for them all. Harry had yet to meet her, his decision so much weighed down on him that he couldn't find courage to go and meet them, to console them. Hermione hadn't asked him about Estella's condition, as her answer was always answered by Andromeda. Everyone was worried about her, well except the Weasley parents. They were content that Hermione was ok. The door of Hermione's room opened and her Healer incharge came in. "Hello Miss. Granger. How are you feeling today?." He enquired about her health, "I'm fine." Hermione replied in low voice. "Hmm. We will see to that right about now." He pointed his wand to her head, and muttered a charm along with a complex wand movement. After 20 minutes of studying her diagnosis, he furrowed his eyebrows and said, "Well there are no permanent damage done to you, but I still recommend to take the potions I'll prescribe. You have to take it twice a day, for a month. Following the month you can feel dizziness, or even upset stomach. Then after a month I suggest you come again for your checkup." He smiled down at her, and gave the potions to them. "Umm. Healer?." Hermione started but realised she didn't knew his name, he again smiled and said, "Healer Matthew." "Healer Matthew, can I go and meet Estella now?." Her request was meet with a glare from Weasley parents and Ron, but a small smile from others. "Yes of course. But be cautious, while you walk. You can experience dizziness." And he left them. Hermione looked at George and said, "Will you take me to her?." Not even asking Harry or any other person, George came infront of her bed and took her hand. Gently easing her out of the bed, he held her, in her dizziness. "You should rest Hermione Dear. You can meet her when she's awake." Molly said, to which Hermione and her elder sons' threw her a dirty look, and George proceeded with helping Hermione out of the room. They reached Estella's room, and Bill knocked. They heard a shuffle and after a minute, Sirius opened the door, and took a step back, allowing them to enter. Till then, no one who was with Hermione had seen Estella, they were all stunned into silence. Estella was still joined with tubes and wires on her body, but now her scars and bruise marks were diminished, but still clearly visible. Hermione left George's hand and took slow steps towards Draco, who was still on the side, holding Estella's hand. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she asked in gentle voice, "How are you Draco?." Draco in reply just looked at her, and then both of them nodded after few minutes. "She will be fine." Hermione said while squeezing his shoulder. "How are you?." Draco asked her, she shrugged and Bill told them what the Healer had told them about Hermione's health.

After an hour, everyone was still in Estella's room, Hermione on her other side, Harry and Weasleys on one side, Malfoys and Sirius on other, silently conversing with each other. Hermione was stroking her hand, absentmindedly, when they heard Estella gasp suddenly. She started convulsing violently on the bed, Sirius called for Healer Joseph, while Draco and Harry both went into protective mode, trying to restrain her movements but to no avail. She was shaking badly that even bed started to creak due to the force of it. Healer Joseph entered along with Healer Matthew and told them all to back off. He took a potion and injected it in her, after a moment or two she relaxed back, and the healers started fussing over her. Her Healer incharge casted a series of diagnosis on her, and the other one, was making sure her blood pressure was normal for the readings. "That's uncommon. Was she subjected to Cruciatus Curse before this?." Healer Joseph asked them, and they all nodded at his question. "Mr. Malfoy, she has a scar on her arm and back, you know about them, right?.,' recieving a nod from both Lucius and Draco, he proceeded, 'Well they are from cursed dagger, we have to take that curse out. Otherwise, I'm afraid she will slip into coma. And that too for a very long time.' after a pause, he finished saying, 'or that can be the cause of her death, if she didn't woke up." Hermione and Narcissa gasped, and Lucius asked, "What happened to her?. And how exactly will you remove the curse?." "She had a seizure, her current potions which is used to allow internal injuries to heal, counteract with the curse, and it affected her. I want to say that, we know someone who is experienced in this, and can remove the curse from her body. If you allow me, I can bring him in and we can finish the procedure." Draco and his father exchanged looks and nodded. "Very well. Then I should inform Mr. Burke. Excuse me please." Healer Joseph said and went back, with the other Healer in tow. Estella was having small spasm every now and then, and that was bothering both Draco and Harry. "Love." Draco's voice was so low that only the person he was speaking to, could only hear him talking. "You will be fine. I promise. I'm so sorry for breaking my promise to keep you safe. Forgive me please."

After two days, Healer Joseph came in the room, which slight smile. "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Bruke is here, and will take out the curse from her body. But only 1 person apart from the Healers, can stay with her. So decide who it's going to be. And we will start after 15 minutes." Looking at each other, Sirius said in a stern voice, "I will be with her.' when he saw that the boys were going to protest about it, he held his hand and continued, 'And no arguments about this. I think some of you have to sort your priorities right.' looking pointedly at the Golden trio, and Draco, 'Go on now, I will be here." Sighing in defeat, all of them got out of the room, and Healers entered the said room. After a minute or two, a bright light emitted out from the room. For 10 minutes nothing happened, and Draco along with his father and Harry, became restless. Hermione felt the people getting blur, she was having a dizzy moment, and tried to conceal it but Draco noticed and took hold of her, much to the surprise of everyone. Grabbing her firmly, he led her to her room, and sat her on the bed, giving her disappointed look. "You know, you overwork yourself?." He asked her, with a fake glare. Pouting slightly, she looked down and said, "I wanted to be there for her. I know she hasn't woken up yet. But I want to be there when she does." Shaking his head at her, he said in low voice, "I believe you. But I think it's upto Esty, who will be in her life now. As for your boyfriend, he made it clear, by his actions. So did you. Now rest here, till she will be ok. Got it?." Shaking her head, she tried to stand up but Draco raised his eyebrows and gave her a hard look, and she slumped back on the bed. "Promise me you will let me in, when she wakes up?." She asked looking at him with hope. Smiling, he nodded and kissed her forehead, "Sleep Miss. Know it all.' smirking slightly at her, when she huffed, 'I promise I will let you in. Sister." And he left the room, after tucking her in her bed and giving her sleep potion.

When he exited Hermione's room, everyone looked at him, with slight frown. "Where's Hermione?." George asked, being a mediator between both groups. "I took her to her room. She's sleeping." The men all looked at him with wide eyes. Hermione had been very stubborn about sleep potion, she had directly refused to take it and had been with Estella every minute from the time she had stepped in her room. She didn't wanted to rest, saying that Estella will need her, and here she was, taking sleep potion from the person who hasn't slept himself from the day they have bought both the girls to the hospital. "Thanks Mate." George said in appreciation, and they all went back looking at the door of Estella's room, apart from Weasley parents who went to be with Hermione. After two hours of pacing outside the room and in anticipation of what is taking them so long, finally the light stopped emitting, alerting the others. They heard a shuffle from the room, and out stepped the Healers and the other person, Mr. Bruke. The new face was slightly pale, from all the spell work and gave a nod to Lucius, "She needs to be taken care of. Apply the given salve, and within a week or two the scars will be faded but still etched within. They are permanent but now will only be scars, nothing more than that. Take care." and he left with others. Draco immediately went inside and claimed his spot, looking up at Sirius, he noticed he was also a little pale. Malfoys and Weasley brothers' came in, and after a moment or two, Healer Joseph also came and said, "Now that the curse is lifted, it's just a waiting game. She should be awake within a week." Running a diagnosis on her, he left them.

It was indeed a waiting game now.