Forbidden Fruit

Aftershocks

(TW: Vomit) 

Draco was still awake late into the night. He was looking at Natalia just taking in every inch of her features. Her ink colored hair resting against the pillow. Her long eyelashes that curled effortlessly. He noticed how white her cheeks were. They usually had a tinge of pink just on the apples of her cheeks. Her small sun freckles that had multiplied because of the trials. She was beautiful. Draco shook his head and sighed. "I hope you can hear me.. I hate seeing you like this. This isn't you. How is this fair? Why is it that whenever Potter is involved someone dies or gets hurt? Yet, he leaves scotch free. Cedric is dead and you're...you're like this because of him. How is that fair?" In that moment, Draco's deep hatred for Harry grew. Draco felt so helpless. His mind stirred with endless questions. Had he been there would this have happened? Had he help you train for the trials, would you have been more prepared? His thoughts spiraled like that for the next few moments. He held Natalia's hand a little tighter. "I just want you to know that I'm right here. I'll be here by your side until you wake up. Even after you wake up, I'm sure you'll need help getting around until you can get your strength back. Can you believe that Pansy told me not to help you? Not to even come and see if you were alive? She said if I went down to be by your side that her and I were over. I knew Pansy was quite selfish and self-centered, but...I dunno. Don't feel like us breaking up was your fault or anything. I chose to be here. I just thought you would want to know." Draco continued talking to Natalia. He was being much more honest knowing that she wouldn't remember any of this conversation. He eventually scooted his chair closer to Natalia's bed and fell asleep in his chair with his hand still holding hers. 

I stirred in my sleep. I blinked my eyes open. I slowly glanced around at everything. I went to pull the mask on my face down, but my hand was being held down. I looked over and it was Draco. He was sleeping soundly at my side. The pain hit me like a ton of bricks. Fast and all at once. I winced at the pain. Draco turned his head blinking awake. "Natty..you're awake.." He sat up immediately. "Oh my Merlin! You're awake!" he smiled and leaned closer. "Are you in pain?" I nodded and spoke "Yeah". My voice was very hoarse. "Let me see if I can grab one of the night nurses. I'll be right back." He let go  of my hand and stood from his chair. He slipped through the curtain and walked down the hall. A few moments later a nurse walked in with Draco. "Hello sunshine! How ya feeling, dear?" I shook my head "not good. I feel like I'm gonna be sick.." The nurse grabbed a small trashcan and I shoved my face into it. Draco pulled my hair back gently. The nurse walked out for a moment. I vomited a few times and Draco rubbed my back gently. The nurse came back with a cold, damp cloth, a cup of water, and a mint. "This is normal, just let it pass" she said handing Draco the rag. He placed it on the back of my neck as I retched once again. I finally felt like it was over. The nurse took the trashcan and put it at my side on the floor. "I'm so sorry" I said to her. "Oh, this is nothing, dear. I've seen much worse, don't you worry about that." Draco let go of my hair and sat back in his chair. The nurse handed me the water. I swished some around and spit it into the bucket. I drank what was left. I took the mint that she had and held it in my mouth. "Okay, are you feeling dizzy at all?" The nurse asked. "A little" She nodded "How about your ears, are they ringing any?" I shook my head no "not right now, no." She nodded "and the pain? scale of one to ten, ten being the worst pain you've ever been in." I thought for a moment "Erm..I guess like a 6 right now. But it feels like it comes in waves. It's not constant. It comes out of nowhere." She nods "I'll give you something for the pain." She opened a locked cabinet and came back with another cup of water and two small pills. "This should help for a few hours." I took the pills and thanked her. 

A few days had come and gone and it was time for me to pack up my things from the hospital wing. People from all over the school had stopped by dropping off flowers, cards, and treats to lift my spirits. Ron, Hermione, and Harry all stopped by when Draco was in class. Harry sat on the edge of my bed with Hermione. Harry held my hand and got teary-eyed. He apologized profusely for getting me wrapped up in the mess of the third trial. I assured him the best I could. I never blamed Harry, even though I knew Draco did. I was incredibly lucky that night. Had Cedric not moved quick enough or had Voldemort realized I was still alive, I wouldn't be here. Not without Harry. Ron was cracking jokes to put a smile on my face. Must take after his brothers in that way. Hermione was just relieved that I had no injuries that wouldn't heal with time. They each gave me their addresses for the summer, begging me to write to them as to stay in touch. Hermione asked where I was staying for the summer, but I had been so busy that I forgot to really ask anyone. I told them not to worry about my whereabouts and that I would find a place to go. Over the last few weeks, Draco had become incredibly protective through the rest of the term. Walking me to every class, keeping me by his side as often as he could, constantly checking in to make sure I was feeling okay, and even sneaking into my dorm at night to stay over. Draco asked me to officially be his girlfriend and made it a point to tell everyone that we were together. We went on a few dates, but we both had full plates with finishing the term and taking our O.W.L.S. Draco invited me to stay with him and his family over the summer. I told him many times that I didn't want to impose or make him feel like he had to invite me. I also didn't want to be some charity case to his parents. I wanted to be a girl they respected. I figured me staying there the whole summer wasn't a good idea. I finally stumbled upon the owner of the Three Broomsticks. She needed full time work over the summer. I explained my situation to her and she agreed to let me stay in a room above the Three Broomsticks in exchange for work. I happily obliged. 

My room was packed up and ready to head to Hogsmeade for the summer. Draco knocked on the door and entered with a smile. "Hey" he said with a bittersweet grin. "I guess this is it..." he said closing the gap between us. He lifted my chin gently with only his finger. I smiled and kissed him. "It's only for the summer. We'll be back here before you know it." He cupped my face in his hands looking into my eyes. "What?" I asked smiling at him. "Just trying to memorize every inch of you before I leave." I nodded "I have just the thing!" I left his grasp and reached into my handbag. I pulled out a camera and walked back to him. "We'll take two. We can each have one for the summer." He nodded with a small grin. He knelt down slightly to get in frame. I held the camera out and Draco tickled my sides as I clicked the button. The picture printed out of the bottom. It was a gorgeous photo starting with us looking at each other and ending with me laughing with Draco. "That's the one I want" he says gently taking it. He stares at the photo for a moment and then puts it in his jacket. "One more!" He nods as I stretch my arm out again. For this one, Draco cups my face, we both illuminate with a smile and he kisses me. It prints out and I look at the photo a moment making sure it turned out okay. It was perfect. I stuck the camera and the picture in the front pocket of my bag and turned back to Draco. "I guess this is goodbye?" I asked standing in front of him. He looked down at me and nodded. My eyes pooled with tears, but I kept them at bay. "I just want to say thank you...for everything you've done for me this year. It meant everything. Hogwarts isn't Hogwarts without you..."  Draco pulled me in for a hug one last time. "You're such a softy. I'm starting to think you do have some head damage." I laughed which made a few tears fall, but I didn't mind. They weren't really sad tears after all. Sometimes grief is just all the love we've never expressed. Even though we aren't really mourning, there is this sense of grief that was looming over Hogwarts. You could feel it all around the castle. It seemed dimmer in a way. Like the light was leaving. The same feeling you felt after an earthquake. The aftershocks are what really get you.