LUST | dramione

10 | vulnera sanentur

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C H A P T E R  T E N | vulnera sanentur

spell. heals victim.

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THAT MORNING, they are awakened by a rapid knocking, not by Hermione's eerie dream. She must've fallen asleep again.

Narcissa begins shouting for Draco, and in their dazed state, they hurry to be presentable. By the time the door bursts open, the pair are sloppily pulled together in the clothes they'd worn the day previous.

Narcissa doesn't even bother looking toward Hermione. She instead keeps her focus firmly on her son just a meter away. Behind her is Astoria Greengrass, who does happen to acknowledge Hermione.

Before she can escape the room, Astoria grabs her tightly by the arm, pulling her close enough so that she can whisper a threat into her ear.

"Come near my fiancé again and I'll end you."

Hermione pulls away, revolted by the acidity in Astoria's voice. Of course she cannot blame her but it doesn't make the pill any easier to swallow. She enters the hallway, hoping to sneak into her room, unnoticed by anyone else but the appearance of Narcissa Malfoy has drawn quite the crowd to fill the corridor. She hurriedly directs her eyes to floor before her as she races into the sanctuary of her room.

It's obvious that she won't be leaving anytime soon so she takes the time to redress into clean clothes and take down some of the coursework she's accumulated. By noon, she is starving and just as she closes a book on potionwork, Pansy knocks at the door.

"Want to get lunch? I'm buying," she says as if Hermione needs any more persuasion.

The pair head out of the castle and down to Hogsmeade without much interruption, just the occasional sharp whisper and lingering stare. They arrive at a new restaurant on the main street of the small town. It's called Brusseau's; it's a hole-in-the-wall pub-style place serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a full bar. The dark oak walls, thick curtains, and dim lighting give the restaurant a very Slytherin-feel to it.

They order their lunches and as they wait, Pansy brings up an unexpected topic.

"Has Draco confided in you lately about being in some sort of trouble? He's been so distant the past few months. I'm worried, actually." Her voice trails off and her dark eyes study Hermione's face.

Hermione sips from her drink, needing a moment to collect her thoughts. She trusted McGonagall with the truth, why not Pansy? Perhaps she could even help.

She sets her glass down and leans closer to the other woman.

"What do you know about the werewolf community?"

Pansy thinks on the subject for a moment before responding. "Not much, I suppose. Why? Are you telling me he's a werewolf?"

Her shrill voice draws a couple of stares but she pays them no mind. She is concerned for her friend, nothing more.

"Not yet but Fenrir's pack is looking for revenge after Lucius got him thrown in Azkaban. I'd go to Kingsley but I'm actually convinced that he may be working with them." She explains the woman at the Ministry, the letter with the vibrant wax seal, and the subsequent Obliviate spell placed on her. This leads to her discovery of Lockheart and the vampires at Mungo's.