With you in my Arms

11. You are asleep!

Draco had managed to distract his healer long enough as for him not to notice, that he only drank half of the Sleeping Draught. As he was alone again and waiting for the darkness of sleep to claim him, he was wondering, how long he would be sleeping this night.

He found out soon enough. It was still rather dark around him as he awoke the next morning. Somewhere in the depth of his mind he still remembered something about having a rather strange dream. Something about a young boy with light blond hair and deep dark brown eyes. He had been calling out for his father. Where had his father been? Where had his mother been? Why did Draco feel like crying, as if he had lost something, he had never known he had?

A rather muffled sob caught his attention. He opened his eyes only a fraction, just enough to be able to peek through his lashes. There was somebody sitting next to his bed. Somebody with a mess of brown curls. His heart skipped a beat. There she was.

He gazed at her for a long while, his eyes halfway open now. There were tears rolling over her cheeks. Why was she crying? Wait, didn't the note say, that she was crying all the time? Seems it was right. Why though? What was the reason?

He realised that she was muttering under her breath, in between sobs.

"Why? Why has it to be you of all people? Why?"

He quickly shut his eyes as she was raising her gaze towards him. He shivered as he felt her tender fingers on his own cheek. They lingered on his blushing skin, having him pray she wouldn't notice. She didn't. Hermione was yet again silently sobbing.

He was debating with himself, if he should let her know, that he was awake or not, as he felt her soft lips on his. He froze in terror.

'Don't move! You're asleep! You're asleep! You're asleep!'

He repeated over and over in his mind. Willing his hands to stay under the covers, his eyes to remain shut and his mouth not to try and kiss her back.

As fast as her mouth had found his it was away again as well. He nearly groaned at the loss. Memories of him kissing her slowly, deeply, full of wanton filled his mind. Why did she have to kiss him, when he was forced to pretend to be asleep and absolutely oblivious of her sweet touch? Had she kissed him the other nights as well?

He heard her sigh.

"Why do I love you? Why has it to be you?"

His heart nearly stopped at her confession.

'She loves me?'

He was thunderstruck and his breath hitched in his throat. It sounded like he had been gasping. He good physically feel her gaze on himself. He tried to breath slowly. In-out, in-out, in-out... Was it working? He wasn't sure.

"Draco?"

She used his given name and he felt himself shuddering. That had been a bad idea! He would never be able to pretend to be asleep, if she kept this up for much longer.

A strand of hair was brushed from his forehead.

'Please, Merlin, let her not know, that I am awake!'

He heard a door open and footsteps approaching.

"Hermione?"

"Hm?"

There seemed to be a rushed movement on her part. She must have been leaning over him.

"Are you okay?" It was Nico's voice.

"Yes. I am fine. Just a bit tired." Her voice sounded tired.

"Has anything happened?"

"No. He has been asleep like all the other nights."

"Good." There was a small pause. "Hermione, there is something, I wanted to talk to you about."

"Okay, what is it?"

"It is concerning the father of your child."

There was an audible cough, as if she had got something down her windpipe that wasn't supposed to go that way.

"What about him?" Her voice sounded strangled.

"We had problems in the past, when our night watch was pregnant and the husband was objecting to the working hours. You are not married, are you?"

She shook her head.

"No, I am not. You don't need to worry about any disapproving husbands in my case."

"So, the father is okay with you working here during the night?"

"It's none of his business. This is my life."

The tone of her voice made it clear, that she would see to him needing the professional help of a colleague should he decide to pursue this conversation any further.

"Right."

'None of his business? How can she say that!'

Draco would have loved to join the conversation, but as he was officially still asleep, he didn't get the chance to do so.

Hermione sat back down with rustling robes and Nico left her.