Beyond Us (Dramione)

[14. The Impossible Task]

Hermione woke up to the sound of birds singing followed by a soft knock on a door. She sat up in bed almost immediately, reaching over to grab her wand. When her hands grasped nothing but the blanket, she turned her head and saw that she was not in the clinic anymore.

Where was she?

"Where am—"

"Granger, are you awake?" Draco entered the room looking fresh and clean, his hair damp from a shower.

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows and leaned back into the pillows. "D, Draco?"

"What's wrong?" He asked, walking over and sitting down on the bed. "What's going on, Granger?"

She flinched away from his touch and shook her head. "N, no, this isn't real." She whispered as she hurriedly got off the bed on the other side. "Where am I?"

"Hermione, what are you saying?" Draco asked carefully as he slowly got up from the bed. "We're home,"

Hermione looked at Draco, scanning him up and down. "No, you almost died, Draco." She said, walking around the bed and standing in front of him. "You almost died in my arms." She explained, placing her hands on his arms. "We were at the clinic—"

"Hermione, what are you talking about?" He asked sternly, grabbing her shoulders gently and staring into her eyes deeply. "I'm okay, I'm not hurt."

"You're not?" She asked, her eyes wide and wet.

"I'm okay, I promise. And you're safe, too." He said, pulling her into a hug.

Hermione frowned as she nodded into his shoulder, hugging him back. "It was all a dream?" She asked, pulling away from him. "I was so scared,"

Draco smirked and nodded. "It's okay, you're okay. I won't let anything happen to you,"

Hermione nodded slowly and sighed out. "It felt so real ..." She stated, walking back to the other side of the bed. "It was just a dream ..." She whispered, walking over to the window and looking out. It was morning and the sun was brighter than ever. With her back still facing him, she closed the curtains. "Draco,"

"Yes?"

"I –" Before Hermione could say another word, she heard a pained groan. Quickly turning around, Hermione's eyes grew wide when she saw Draco collapsed on the floor with a pool of blood surrounding him. Her eyes locked with a man in black, wielding a knife with a wicked smirk.

"I told you, you're next." The ominous stranger said, charging towards her.

Hermione screamed and shut her eyes. A second later, she felt someone shake her shoulders urgently. When she opened her eyes, she jumped up in her seat and fell off. Groaning, she got up from the ground and looked around.

She was back at the clinic.

It was just a dream.

She got up slowly with a groan and looked over to see Draco looking up at her with concern.

"Bad dream?" He asked quietly.

Hermione pressed her lips together and nodded.

"What was it about?"

You died. Hermione couldn't bring herself to say it. She simply shook her head and forced a tight smile onto her lips. "It was nothing serious," she reassured him and sighed deeply, crossing her arms across her chest. "Uh, how are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling better," Draco replied, casting her one last wary look before staring at the curtain. "I want to leave but I guess that isn't an option, huh?"