The Consequence Of Power

Draught Of Living Death

Draco and Hermione waited for Dumbledore to return with who knows what to save Rhiannon. "I need to use the lavatory, I will be back" Hermione sat up and walked out of the room. He looked over at Rhiannon, her skin was still cold to the touch, he had to remove his hand a few times so it didn't freeze. With each second that passed, Rhiannon looked worse. He didn't understand how she could still be living from how frail she looked, she looked like a skeleton. He felt useless just watching her slowly fade away, he didn't know what was happening to her, he was certain she would be dead by morning. "Who do you think did this?" Hermione asked as she walked back over to her, time was going so fast for him, it just felt like she just left "What" He flinched at her words, bringing him out of his thoughts "I said who do you think did this?"
"Oh, I have no idea" Hermione sat there and picked at her nails. Dumbledore interrupted their conversion as he walked back into the room "This should work, wiggenweld potion, it will cure her" He walked over with a large dusty vile "Are you sure?" Draco stood up "Yes, you need to put it on your lips and kiss her, can you do that Malfoy?" He grabbed the vile from him with no hesitation and popped it open, he poured some onto his fingers, rubbing his lips with the minty liquid and passed the vile to Hermione. He walked over to Rhiannon and put his one knee on the bed, leaning down, lowering his face to hers, he put his hand on her cheek and admired her face for a second before kissing her. After a few seconds, he felt the warmth come back into her skin and she was less pale. He stopped and just looked at her, she wasn't waking up "You said it would work!" He started to panic "Give it time Malfoy" He looked back at her face "Rhiannon?" He said softly as he rubbed her cheek with his thumb, her eyes started to slowly open "Draco" She opened her eyes and he backed up, letting her sit up "What happened to me?" She asked "Someone slipped you a potion somehow, draught of living death," Hermione said "What is that?"
"It is a potion that makes the person who drank it sleep forever, almost like you are dead"
"That explains it, it was terrible, I was in so much pain, not just physical but mental pain, it was like I was stuck in my nightmares and it kept playing over and over" Rhiannon wiped her eyes "Rhiannon, do you know who did this to you?" Dumbledore asked "No"
"Do you want to find out?"
"Not really, I know I can find out with my powers, but I simply won't"
"Rhiannon, they need to be stopped," Hermione said "Hermione, it's fine"
"Very well, If you find out who did it, come to me and they will be dealt with" Dumbledore leaves. "Rhiannon, why don't you want to know who did this?" She sat down on her bed "Because I have greater worries than that, I feel so much better, we need to get that book now" Hermione and her look at each other "Rhiannon, you should rest, we can do it tomorrow"
"No, I am fine, I was just resting, we will do it now....and Draco why did Dumbledore not even care you were back?"
"Well, Granger here helped me out and told him why I need to be here"
"Oh really? and what did you say" Rhainnon laughed and looked over at Hermione "I told him that Draco belongs here and that he shouldn't split you two up, you need each other"
"Thank you, Hermione, did Draco say thank you?" She glared at him "Yes Rhiannon, I did" He smirked "Good...can you give me and Hermione a minute please"

*

"Of course" He kissed her "I will wait outside" He walked out of the Hospital wing "What is it?" Hermione sat on the bed with her "It was Pansy"
"What? She did this?" Hermione's jaw hit the floor in disbelief "Yes, I didn't want to say anything in front of Draco or Dumebldore, so please don't tell them"
"How do you know?"
"Well, in my "sleep", I could still think somehow and I saw her do it when she fell on me in the Great Hall"
"Oh my god, why would she do such a thing"
"It's Pansy, she wants me dead because she thinks it is my fault Draco was taken out of the school, just imagine how she will react to me and him being in a relationship now"
"It won't be pretty that is for sure, maybe you and him should keep it on the down low. What will you do now that you know it was her?"
"I have no idea". Hermione helped her stand, she grabbed her book bag and they walked out of the Hospital Wing "Everything alright?" Draco asked as he grabbed her hand to hold, she looked up at him and smiled "Yes" All three of them walked to the library. As they walked to the library, she did a lot of thinking in her coma state. How will everyone react to her and Draco dating? how will Pansy try to kill her next? Was it even a good idea to let Draco love her? he had too much on his plate and now he had to deal with her problems, again. She loved him so much, more than words could describe, she was just scared he would eventually give up on her. They got to the library
"I will make sure it's secure" Hermione bolted in "Hey, are you feeling okay?" Draco asked as he travels his hand to her cheek "Yeah, just tired"
"How is that possible, you have been sleeping for hours"
"I know, it didn't feel like sleep, it was the opposite of relaxing"
"Did you see anything that upset you?"
"Yes, a lot of things, things I don't want to say" He looked down but he lifted her chin with his thumb "Hey, whatever it was, I promise it is okay and I'm always going to be here for you, okay? forever and always"
"Forever and always" She smiled and he leaned down and kisses her, the butterflies entered her stomach, she missed that feeling, that feeling of how much care she had for him, how much she loved kissing his lips and feeling how much love he had for her. "Okay, it is all clear....oh, sorry am I interrupting something?" Hermione crossed her arms, catching them kissing, she covered her eyes from how weird it was to see this "Sorry Granger, you better get used to it, I don't mind public spaces" He winked at Rhiannon, hinting he would be down for any sort of fun, even in public. They walked into the library and she instantly headed to the restricted section, she scanned the books, looking for the horcrux book, but it was impossible to find anything in here, books flying on each side of the room which spooked her
"Hermione can you shine a light over here" Hermione grabbed her wand "Lumos," she said, pointing her wand to where she was "It's over here" Draco pulled out a fairly large book that was at least 500 years old it seemed, it had never been touched. She walked over and grabbed it "Thank you" She stuffed it into her book bag "This should help with what we need to do to stop Voldemort.
"Wait, does this mean I get to actually be a student here again? I can sleep in my dorm?" Draco said "I guess you do yeah"
"I like the secret room better though, I might just sleep in there, to be honest"
"Yeah and if we want to spend the night together, we won't be found"
"Ew, I'm going to call it a night, I will see you tomorrow Rhiannon" Hermione started to walk away "Wow, I guess I don't exist to Granger" Draco laughed, raising his voice so Hermione could hear "You too Malfoy, see you tomorrow" She shouted back as she kept walking "Now that we are alone, I must ask, how are we going to do this, you know, me and you?" Draco asked "Well, could be public about it and act like we have always been a thing or we could hide it until everything goes normal, like after taking down Voldemort and the death eaters"
"I don't think I could keep it hidden, I have kept my feelings a secret for almost a year, I can't bear another minute being away from you"
"Draco, you will always see me, we just can't be romantic around others, not yet anyway"
"If that is what you want, I will agree, I won't force you to do anything you do not want to do" Draco put his hands on her waist "I know, that's one of the things I really like about you, you understand me, more than anyone could. You truly care for me don't you?" He moved closer to her, pulling her body to his "Rhiannon, I would rip out my heart and tell you to study it and you would see how much love I have for you" Her eyes begun to tear, hearing those words made her scared she would hurt him by how complicated she was, but she was so weak for him. She couldn't help but allow him to love her.