Granger's Wolf

Stay

Hermione wanted to leave, and he was angry. She probably missed Weasley, and the thought made his insides burn with jealousy. He had always envied Potter and Weasley for their close relationships with her. Draco knew he shouldn't feel that way, he knew that this was how things would end; but he couldn't help feeling disappointed. He wanted her to stay, but he wanted her to do it because she wants to, not because she wants to repay him.

He knew that what he had said was wrong on so many levels, but he was hurt and had wanted to hurt her in return. He knew she didn't mean to upset him, knew that it was only natural for a bloody self-righteous Gryffindor to want to fight, but he was raised to hit back hard. Draco knew he had to apologize, but the slap –though well deserved – stopped him, and so he avoided her for five days. For five long days, Draco hadn't seen her beautiful light brown eyes or heard her soft, calming voice. He missed her, he even missed that nest on top of her head she called hair, but he was still a prideful Malfoy.

It was the full moon again. He was in pain and about to transform. Draco was on his way out of the cottage when he started transforming, and it was quite the effort for him to get out; he didn’t want to be near Hermione.

The moment he was out, he felt pathetic for considering her well-being; she was about to leave. And because they were both the luckiest on Earth, his transformation had completed before she left, and he attacked her. And he was so angry at her.

His anger was translated into a more vicious attack than they were both used to. She had her wand, but her curses could do so little to the enraged wolf. The worst thing was that Draco was fully aware of what he was doing, but lacked much needed control over his actions.  She lost her wand during her resistance and was utterly helpless, not that the wand was of any use. She reached for a twig on the floor and tried to hit him with it, but he snatched it from her and stabbed her stomach instead. He felt the twig as it went went deep inside. She went still, and so did Draco.

Finally he took control over his werewolf self and moved away from her. Draco could see more and more blood oozing from the wound, forming a little pond on the ground. She looked dazed and was gasping for breath. She was dying.

Draco couldn’t heal her because he didn’t trust himself anywhere near her, and he couldn't use his wand in his state. He racked his brain for a way to help Hermione without going near her or using a wand, but couldn’t find any. She stopped gasping and went unconscious. Her skin was deathly grey. He was panicking. Then he remembered Baloo, his elf. It would be very risky to call him from the Manor where The Dark Lord and the important death eaters were residing, but he was willing to risk it. Anything to save her.

He tried to call the elf by his name, but it came out as a howl; the wolf’s mouth muscles were made only for tearing and eating. He kept trying, and nothing came out but howling. The blood pond was getting bigger and her skin paler.

Finally, he managed a howl that was as close as possible to "Baloo", and with a crack, the elf was bowing in front of him, ‘Young Master.’

Then he noticed Hermione, ‘Miss Granger is not well, sir?’

He ushered his head frantically toward her, and Baloo understood.

Baloo was levitating Hermione into the cottage when Draco ran as far from the cottage as he could; he didn’t want to lose control again and hurt them.

After many hours, feasting on many animals, and killing two snatchers, the full moon finally ended. He transformed – very painfully –back. He accio-ed his wand and cast a disillusionment charm on himself, fearing snatchers, and limped back, crying.

As soon as he was back at the cottage, he removed the disillusionment charm and went into her room. She was still unconscious and very pale. Baloo was cleaning the blood when Draco asked, ‘How is she?’

‘Miss is badly hurt. The tree was in too deep. Baloo took it out and healed the wound, but Miss will stay in bed for Baloo doesn’t know how long.’

Heart clenching, Draco nodded, ‘Thank you, Baloo. You will stay with with us in this cottage for now.’

Baloo bowed, then noticed Draco’s injuries, ‘Master needs medical attention. Baloo will –

‘No. you are to stay with Granger and –

‘But Master –

‘That is an order.’ said Draco, feigning a stern face.

Baloo bowed once again, but looked reluctant. Draco loved Baloo, he was his favorite elf. They were very close for so long. They used to play together when he was young, Draco would chase him around the manor with his broom. He told him about everything, even about his feelings for Granger. Draco never approved of the way his father treated the elves and tried to keep Baloo out of his father's way, but failed occasionally. He shuddered as he remembered what his father had once done to Baloo, and pushed the memory away.

Draco left Hermione's room with a heavy heart, and tears in his eyes. No wonder she wants to leave, he thought. He hated himself for constantly hurting her. He had daily nightmares about himself killing her. She would wear that panicked expression she did every time he transformed, and it killed him. She would scream until she couldn't any longer, and would bleed till she went white as a sheet. He had developed insomnia ever since his visits to her cell. Draco had many nightmares before, but hers were the most difficult to handle.

Draco dealt with his injuries from his wild night, and thought about what he would do next. He wanted her to stay and he had two options: to accept her help, spend more time with her, and free his mother; or to refuse, let her go back to the Weasel, and free Narcissa on his own. Draco was selfish, he wanted more time with her, but she made him want to be noble. He didn't know what to do anymore.

He never hated her as he used to claim. In his first years at Hogwarts, he was taken aback by how she proved everything he was taught wrong. She was a mudblood and she was intelligent. She was a mudblood and she was a powerful witch. She was a mudblood and deserved her magic. She was a mudblood and was a better person than his father, whom he had nearly worshiped back then. It was hard for him to accept that at first, but when he did, when he finally saw her for who she really was, a brilliant witch whom he fell in love with, he couldn't do anything about it because he was too deep into the darkness.

She stayed unconscious for three days, and Draco never left her side. Everyday, Baloo brought his meals to her room, tended to her and Draco's injuries, then he and Draco talked quietly. Draco watched her closely. He never had the chance to look at her for that long. He noticed that she looked thinner than usual. Her hair – though really frizzy – was very soft to the touch, and had many golden highlights. That made him love her hair even more. She had high cheekbones. Her eyes were large and had long, dark lashes. Baloo caught him staring more than once and smirked, Draco blushed.

Draco was reading the Daily Prophet that Baloo brought him when he heard hurried footsteps.

'Miss Granger is up!', Baloo squeaked excitedly.

Draco threw the Prophet away and ran to her door, then realized how stupid that was. He cleared his throat, 'Are you okay?'

She nodded, but wouldn't look at him.

Draco had no idea what to do. He didn't want her to be upset. He wanted to apologize for calling her a mudblood and for hurting her, and beg her to stay with him just a little longer, but it was all so hard.

He swallowed his pride and stammered, 'I'm sorry. For injuring and insulting you. And I accept your help – if the offer is still on, of course.'

She was quiet for a while, then smiled, 'it's on.'