The Death Eater and the Heroine

Chapter 17

Madam Jeffers, the replacement nurse, tutted. "Not yet at Hogwarts and already battered up? Dear me! Hogwarts students these days! When i was at school, this would never had happened. Willow dear, do fetch the healing salve, Skele-grow, dittany and bandages." She looked at the wounds and shuddered. "Extra, extra bandages."

Willow rushed around, collecting everything with her specially permitted training wand, and lowered them down in front of Madam Jeffrey. She started applying salve and potions and spells while Willow bandaged them up. Hermione stirred and opened her eyes. She immediately let out a moan of pain. "Wha... What happened?"

Willow shushed her gently. "Shh... go sleep sweetie, just rest..."

"Sleep... mmm... Draco..." Hermione mumbled, drifting off. Willow administered a dreamless sleep potion, and applied more bandages. Madam Jeffers shooed the 2 boys out, and turned to Willow. "We need more time if she wants to arrive looking even semi-normal."

Willow grinned shyly and pulled out a small globe on top of an hourglass. "Would this work?"

Madam Jeffers smiled.

************

Harry tried to calm Ron as he paced. Ginny was now sitting with Hermione, and Ron was ranting about how "Malfoy, that bloody bastard, he's trying to steal Hermione and break her heart! Hermione's MINE!!! She always will be!! She called his name in her sleep!"

Harry rubbed his aching temples. "Ron, calm down. She'll be fine!!! And Malfoy's too busy with sticking his tongue down Pansy's throat to do any thing!!"

Ron groaned. "I just don't like it."

******

Willow turned the time-stopping rest place a few times. The room spun, and they were still in the same place, but none of the clocks were working. Everything on the train (except them) had stopped with time. They got to work quickly.

A long time passed, and Hermione was healed. They sped up time again and Hermione woke up with a great shuddering gasp. She yelped at the shocking loss of most of the blinding pain. Willow giggled and hugged her. "We fixed you! Well, most of you." She helped Hermione sit up while Madam Jeffers bustled around collecting potions for Hermione to drink. There was one for internal bleeding, a few for bruising, one for the broken bones, one for the wounds and one for infection.

Hermione took the potions. "Can I mix them together in one potion drink?"

Madam Jeffers nodded. "Yes, and you can take it with pumpkin juice and butterbeer, never firewhiskey though!"

Hermione stared at her. "I don't do firewhiskey. Can I go now?"

Madam Jeffers checked the clock. "Oh yes you can. You should, it's nearly time to change into your robes. Be careful of your injuries and don't do anything strenuous!!"

Hermione smiled. "Thank you!" She hurried off.

Hermione made her way down the train, trying to ignore all the whispers and stares. She peered in the compartments, looking for Ron, Harry and Ginny.

"Mione! Over here!" She heard Ron shout. She turned around to see Harry, Ginny and Ron poking their heads out from a compartment, waving. Ginny brandished Hermione's bag. "Better get changed, we're nearly there!"

Hermione took the bag gratefully. "Thanks Gin, lets go get changed." She yanked Ginny's hand and they headed towards the girls toilet to change. A head of black greasy hair whipped by. It was Pansy, followed by Draco. Pansy looked like she wanted to hex Hermione, but Draco was there, so she settled for a "Watch your back, Mudblood Bitch!" And stalked off. Draco mouthed "Sorry!" and followed sadly.

"Wow! Did Pureblood High-and-mighty Malfoy just apologise to down-to-earth muggleborn Hermione Granger?" Ginny stared at her disbelievingly. Hermione shrugged. "I guess so."

Ginny gaped at her. "I guess everything is possible. Now let's join Harry and Ron for dinner in the hall before they eat everything."

The 2 of them got into a carriage, but the carriage didn't move as they weren't fully loaded. Hermione groaned. "Everyone's gone and now we'll have to wait for the train conductor and the teachers!!"

"Hello Hermione, Ginny." A dreamy voice floated over. Hermione turned to see Luna and her eccentric quibbler collection walk over and sit down in the carriage. Neville followed her over, grinning with relief at seeing them. He sat down next to Luna, who smiled dreamily and held his hand. Hermione squealed in her inner self at seeing her OTP get together. She started thinking of Ron and realized they were off to Hogwarts. She smiled happily. This would be a normal year, Hermione was sure of it.