A Future Uncertain

Chapter 22: Help

His arm was still sore, but nothing like when she was actually carving into it. Just a numb pain. He had never been so glad to get away from Hermione. Not even when they were younger.

Draco and Hermione left on pleasant terms. At least, that's what he wished he could say. She wouldn't answer any of his calls the next day. She was being unreasonable.

So, he laid in his bed, waiting to be delivered back to his universe. He thought back on the whole stay. It wasn't what he expected.

He could feel himself being pulled back to his time. It was as easy as shutting his eyes.

Except... something was different.

Draco screamed a four-letter word.

His mother's hands were on his cheeks in an instant. "Draco? Draco, are you alright?"

"Mum- What? Why aren't my eyes healed? Have they found Hermione?"

She made a grab at his hands, but he pulled away. He wasn't in the mood to comfort anyone.

"Nothing yet."

"Honey?"

Nothing had gone his way since Hermione had left him for Blaise. He was at his wits end, consumed by emotions he hadn't had since the war. If he had thought he wasn't in control then, all he needed to do was meet this version of himself. Controlled by a love he wasn't completely sure was directed at him.

His time in the future only made that abundantly clear. He wasn't who Hermione thought he was. She still had this painted image of an upstanding guy in her head. And he never once felt like that. Even if she didn't understand who he was, he still loved her. And he needed to save her. That was still the goal. Seeing her choose someone else didn't change that fact.

"I can't do anything if I'm useless-"

"You're not-"

"When will I have my eyesight back? They said three days, didn't they?" Draco smacked his mother's hands away again. "Why is everyone so useless lately?"

"Draco, honey, these things take time."

"When are they expecting them to be done now?"

"Well-"

"Well what?"

"It should be soon."

He slammed his hands down on the mattress. Draco grabbed a fistful and rubbed his hand on the fabric.

"Have you seen Blaise?"

"Once. He came to see if you were well again, but he left quickly. I think... he seemed off... like he- "

"He did. I already know he did."

"Why would he do something so stupid?" she asked. "And over a Mud- Muggle-born?"

Draco shrugged, ignoring her slip up. "Because he likes Hermione too. He might even love her."

His voice was filled with a sorrow Narcissa hadn't heard from her son before, but she remained tight lipped. She felt sorry for her son. It was his first love, of course he would be upset about it, but she would rather Blaise get to Hermione first. She didn't hate her. She just wasn't right for her son.

She regretted bringing Hermione into their home in the first place. She didn't offer them the protection they had hoped for, and worse, she had taken her son's heart.

His mother let out a long sigh. "Well, right now you are in no condition to do any sort of fighting."

Draco didn't feel like arguing. He could duel the halfwits blind. He would. Because no matter what, if she didn't get away from where ever she was now, she would never be the same.