Saving the Enemy

Chapter 18

Hermione

    Hermione has been staring at the papers on Draco’s bed for days now trying to decipher what they mean. They Minister readily agreed to her plan and sent Harry to give her the papers. She is only trying to find another flaw in the person’s plan who attacked Draco. Hopefully a known alias. They had slipped up before that led her to the man beside her who has yet to open his eyes. Hermione knows she should be sleeping more, but she can’t because every time she shuts her eyes she hears his screams, sees his pain, feels her heart breaking further and further as hope fades.

    It has merely been a week but with the medical advances in the Wizarding world, it should not be taking so terribly long. There should have at least been a sign by now.

    Hermione sighs before putting the papers down, gently rubbing her eyes before looking at the blonde asleep in the bed. She leans back in her chair, still holding Draco’s hand. She hasn’t had the heart to leave him yet, knowing she looks and smells like a mess. However, a few spells have helped, if only a bit, eliminating the need to leave Draco.

    “Hermione?” Harry calls out to her. Hermione quickly turns and throws herself into his arms, refusing to weep anymore.

    The black haired boy holds her tight, feeling the sorrow and worry oozing off of her, knowing that her mind is working overtime to distract herself, make her feel like she is somehow saving the boy on the bed.

    “They said he should be waking up soon but not knowing when, Merlin, Harry it's killing me,” she rasps, clinging to Harry's robes desperately. Harry has to pull away soon so he can look at her. Her eyes have dark circles, bloodshot from lack of sleep and excessive tears. Her clothes are wrinkled and worry lines are appearing again on her face. She is slowly becoming the shell of herself that was existing before Draco came into her life. Even though Draco used to torment them, he has to hope the bloke will wake soon, for Hermione’s sake.

    “Hermione, your healer needs to see you for your medication. She said it is the last time you need to take it,” Harry smiles at the bushy haired girl, her hair in a bun to extinguish the need to take care of it. Hermione tries to smile back but it comes out as more of a grimace.

    She follows Harry away from Draco, the only time she allows herself to leave him because she knows he is getting checked on as well.

    Her healer is waiting for her with a shot, needing to put the medication in her blood so she can fully recover. She takes the slight pain with ease, but a sudden commotion in the room next to hers has her heart racing.

    She bolts out of her room only to freeze at the voice. That voice.

    “No!” They scream, “Hermione, I need to see her. I need to know-”

    “Sir, we cannot allow you to visit Ms. Granger. She-”

    “What? Is she dead? Is she...oh Merlin, no, no, no, no. It should have been me. I should have died. Not her. No, no, no!”

    “Sir, calm down,” the healer urges, but to no avail.

    Hermione is broken out of her trance, seeing red at the thought that they are letting him believe she is dead. She hurries in towards his voice. Towards Draco’s voice, he's awake. He is thrashing against the healer’s grip but he's awake, he's fine. Hermione’s heart sails in relief.

    “Draco,” she says quietly, still unsure if this is real. He hears her, instantly stopping his thrashing to slowly turn his head towards her, almost as if he is in disbelief as well.