Saved By Malfoy Unedited

Chapter 31

What was that? Ten chapters? Well... enjoy!

Draco (three days later)

I had been careful about what I say to Hermione. She fully recovered but her mind was still in a bad condition.

She woke as soon as the sleeping droughts wore off, every time from a nightmare. She was once more afraid of sleeping droughts. I only let her take showers and the door had to be cracked. I checked on her every two minutes.

I knew this bugged her, but her health was more important to me than her comfort.

I looked over at her sleeping form. She should be walking up any minute now. This is the time the sleeping drought usually wears off.

Just as I expected, she shot up in the bed. She was breathing hard so I rubbed her back. She wrapped her arms around me and relaxed.

I was going to try something the book said today. I had to help her completely relax and try to talk to her. I needed her to tell me what happened, in her words. She had to say it. That was the hard part. I can't look into her mind. I needed her to talk about it.

I had a plan. I was going to take her to the garden again. I would sit by the pond with her and try to talk. I hoped this would work.

~*~*~

When I offered to go the the garden she was excited. I smirked at her and we walked into the forest.

~*~*~

We got to the garden in about an hour and we roamed around for a bit. She was smiling the entire time and every once in a while I'd hear her laugh.

As it got later we ate the dinner I packed and sat by the pond. I hated to ruin her happiness so quickly, but I had to do it.

"Hermione, what happened the other morning?" I asked.

She stopped eating and looked at me.

"You already know," she said before eating again.

"Yeah, but I want to know your side of the story, in your own words," I told her.

"You saw-"

"I just want to know how you would put it and what caused it to happen," I cut in.

She shifted uncomfortably.

"I don't like talking about it," she said.

"I just want to help you," I told her.

She sighed and laid back in the grass. I followed her lead.

"I don't know," she replied.

"Please," I pleaded.

I slipped my hand in hers. She let out a shaky breath and nodded.

"Al...alright," she said. "I guess it started when I escaped... Ron told me they would have killed me, and I'd never feel pain again..." I held her hand tighter. "Instead, he sold me... and last time we were here, the nightmare, it was about him... the first time I escaped. He told me I'd never escape before... stuff," she shuttered and i knew what she was talking about.

"The other night... err morning I had another nightmare. He was telling me all the same things but they were in a different order. He told me to escape I die and never feel pain. Being me... I knew he was right, so I got out of bed... I kissed you, thinking it would be my last... and well, you know from there."

I was surprised when there were no tears. She was looking up at the sky, still really relaxed. I scooted closer to her and kissed her forehead.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you more," I replied with a smirk.

"I love you most," she said with a bigger smirk.

"Yeah, well, I love you most-er-er," I replied.

"Ha! I win," she laughed.

"Uh huh," I replied. "Keep thinking it."

She rolled her eyes and looked back at the sky.

"Do you know any constellations?" She asked.

I pulled her closer and started to point out all the ones I knew.

~*~*~

I sifted and felt the grass scratch my face. Hermione shivered next to me. I yawned and sat up.

We were still by the pond but it was the morning now. It was a beautiful sight. Birds chirping, the sun bright on the surface of the pond, pure beauty.

I looked over at Hermione. This was the first time she slept peacefully without a sleeping drought. I pulled her close and rested my head by hers. I rubbed her arms in an attempt to warm her.

A small smile etched its way into her lips. I couldn't keep the smile from my face. She shifted a bit and buried her face in my neck.

"I love you," I whispered.

She was lightly snoring.

~*~*~

After a while, I felt Hermione shift. She pulled back and looked at me. She smiled.

"How did you sleep?" I asked.

She cuddled up to me.

"Best sleep ever," she replied.

I smiled, pushed her back a bit, and kissed her. I didn't let it last long in case it reminded her of old memories. I really didn't want her to freak out on me.

"We better head back, mum will think we're doing stuff," I told her. 

She nodded and we stood up. She linked her hand with mine and we set off into the forest.

~*~*~

Hermione released my hand before we were in the yard. We walked into the house to see a very angry aunt.

"Where have you been?" She asked me, venom rich in her tone.

"The forest," I replied.

"Lair," she accused.

"No I'm-"

"It was her wasn't it?!" She asked, pointing at Hermione.

"I don't-"

"She tried to escape and you went after her!" She yelled.

Panic crossed Hermione's features. Nothing I could say would change my aunt's mind. Everything else sounded like an excuse.

"Why you filthy little-" she slammed Hermione against a wall, "-Mudblood! You think you can run-" she punched Hermione's stomach, "-from us?!"

I couldn't do anything but hope Hermione would be okay as my aunt beat the living snot out of her. After a bit Bellatrix drew her wand and used the cruciatus.

It was a long, long time before she stopped. She was much more relaxed when she walked away from Hermione.

I lifted Hermione off the ground and quickly took her to my room. She was bleeding a lot and wasn't conscious. I thought fast and remembered the spell Theo told me.

"Tempus Sanandi," I said.

I was shocked when the wounds stopped bleeding and closed. I cleaned the blood and started to heal the bones my aunt had broken.