Say Something

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

For the next few days, Draco hadn't spoken a word to Hermione. What was there to say anymore? It wasn't clear whether she wished to be saved or not. It's frustrating not being able to help, especially when she was so indecisive about it. But Draco still stayed at her flat, only leaving in the early morning to fetch breakfast or see Mr. Bott at the hospital when Hermione was still asleep. Although lately, Draco had begun to get the feeling that Hermione knew of his whereabouts. Once, he heard a door close just as he came back from the hospital. And another time when he checked in on her sleeping body, and her fake breathing became noticeable.

As Draco sat in her living room reading the Daily Prophet, she approached him. "Malfoy? Can I speak with you?"

He set down his paper, "Of course." she moved next to him. "I want you to know, I'm okay with you leaving if you wish to."

"You need an aid to be with you."

"No, you know that's not true. We're two people under one roof, and not once have we talked in a few days."

"And what happens when I do leave? Are you going to hide in the shower again?"

"I'm better now. I can feel it." She didn't look better. Her skin was still pale and he could hear her labored breaths. It terrified him to think that in just a few weeks, she could be bed ridden. "Don't lie to me, Granger. I don't need that," he said.

"What's the point in helping me anymore? What's done is done. So just please, just let me live the rest of my days alone."

"You and I both know you don't want that." Her eyes betrayed her, she was reluctant. She knew what she wanted, but for him it was hard to tell. He continued, "You do know what's going to happen, right?"

"I'll go blind...."

"And?"

"...deaf."

"You're breathing is already bad and it will only get worse."

"I'm at my end," she uttered in disbelief, "And no one is here for me. Not even my parents."

"We could always-"

"Reserving the spell will only wake them up long enough to see their daughter die. Now, do you really think that's what they need to see?"

Draco was speechless. They both were. Hermione stood up to leave, but Draco grabbed her arm and pulled her into his arms. "Don't give up, Granger. I haven't given up on you yet." she breathed erratically into his neck and whispered, "Maybe in another life, Malfoy, we could have been different." He let her go and she kissed him softly on the cheek just once before she stood up and left him to his thoughts.

________

The next morning, Draco arose early to go to the hospital. He was going to ask for an early return when suddenly the front door opened and Hermione came in. "Granger, what are you-"

"I've been thinking," she said as she shut the door behind her, "About what you said. I don't have much time left, but I won't give up until my heart stops. Which is why..." She pulled a parchment from her pocket. "I got permission from your boss to go to Australia. I'm going to see my parents."