One Love

Chapter 14

"Who the hell is Draco Malfoy over here?" the mediwitch asked in a tired yet frustrated tone.

"I am" he replied.

"Oh, so you are Draco, Lucius Malfoy's son. That Granger girl is your girlfriend or what?"

Draco blushed red but replied confidently, "No, you are mistaken Madam, we are close friends"

"Whenever we perform a spell or use some potion she flinches and murmurs your name. Anyway, she's not gotten any better. We have no idea when she will recover; she is still unconscious but can feel the presence of you people. Go and meet her one by one. I don't want any crowd in the room."

She said and left swiftly.

"You all can go, I will be visiting her at last, and I will take my time" Draco merely whispered but all of them heard it. Only if it was some other day and Hermione was healthy, then Harry, Ron and Blaise wouldn't have left any chance to tease him, but not today. Pansy knew what his best friend was feeling, he was starting to fall for Hermione, but she made no attempt to make him realize this because she knew that he was not going to admit this any soon. She just walked over to where he was sitting and sat beside him. He simply put his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. His best friend was always there when he needed her. After Narcissa, Pansy was the only woman who supported and understood him in his dark time.

"She will get well soon, won't she?" Draco asked her, opening his eyes.

"Yes, she will" she smiled and reassured him.

Harry was the first to enter her room. Ginny and Ron were standing outside, watching the utter sadness in Draco's eyes. Along with Pansy, Blaise was also aware of Draco's feelings. Ron went after Harry came out, Blaise comforted Ginny and Harry. After Ron, one by one, Ginny, Blaise and Pansy went inside the room. Harry and Ron were so upset but they didn't cry in front of everyone, but when they visited her, perhaps they couldn't bear what they saw in front of their eyes. It broke them and they couldn't hold back their tears, their best friend lying their looking lifeless. When they came out, their eyes were bloodshot and still, some tears were brimming in their eyes.

"How is she?" Draco asked Ron.

"Unconscious... looks like she is sleeping with bandages covering most of her body," he said sadly.

Finally, it was Draco's turn to go inside her room. He was scared. He opened the door with his pale hands and entered the room. What he saw was really horrible to him. He was a death eater earlier but he never saw someone like this. He felt intense pain when he looked at the witch, his witch. Just like Harry and Ron, he also wasn't able to control himself from bursting into tears. He intertwined his hand with hers but she was so cold. She didn't squeeze back like she always did, and this killed him from inside. She was pale due to potions and medications, simply could've mistaken for a corpse. Tears were falling from his continuously, and he made no attempt to stop them.

"Please, please be alright" he wept. But she gave no response.

"Remember what we promised Hermione? We'll stay together, no matter what! How come you can do this to me?" he merely whispered. His voice was shaky and he felt like his heart rose to his throat. He remembered a memory from his peaceful last year in Hogwarts.

Draco was sitting near the black lake, his elbows on his knees and fingers intertwined, in deep thought.

"Malfoy? Malfoy? Where are you? Malfoy?" he heard someone looking for him at a distance. She was Hermione.

He heard her calling his name. But he didn't try to answer her. Her voice became louder; she was close to approaching him.

"Oh Lordy, here you are! I was looking for you in the whole damn castle. Come, it's time for evening patrol, and then we will go to three broomsticks, I want to drink butterbeer today" he listened to her every word but didn't reply. She grabbed his hand tried to drag him but she stumbled back, Draco didn't get up. He didn't leave her hand and asked her to sit, "Sit with me for a moment, please"