Hold On (A Dramione Fanfiction)

14. The Best Wing-Man One Could Ask For

Hermione was happy for Ginny and Harry. She really was. At least, that's what she tried to convince herself. Not that she didn't want them to be happy together, but she was jealous of what they had. Someone to rely on, and to have by their side for the rest of their life. Hermione wanted that.

November passed rather quickly. During this month, Blaise and Luna also got engaged, just as Neville and Hannah. This made Hermione's thoughts even darker than before and she desperately clung onto something: her work.

If her friends noticed her spending less and less time with them, they never said a thing. Sometimes, Hermione thought Luna was looking at her with worried eyes and Harry was trying to talk to her alone, but she always made sure to escape their questions. She didn't want to distract them from their wedding planning.

She didn't see Ronald much during this month. It seemed that wherever he went, Ariane was at his side. The girl didn't make an effort to talk to Hermione and chose to ignore her during their class with a snobby attitude. That surprised her because Ariane had been very friendly before.

For her future husband, he was seemingly avoiding her. Not that she minded that much. Other than her work, Hermione's mind had been invaded by thoughts of the mystery boy from the two balls. She couldn't help thinking of his face and the way his eyes held her stare with such an intensity... She often let herself daydream about what could have been if it hadn't been for the stupid law.

*****

"Thank you, Madam Pince. I'll bring them back to you tomorrow," Hermione told the old librarian who grunted in response. She nudged the library's door open with her foot because her arms were fully occupied with a pile of books that went an inch above the top of her head.

She tilted her head, trying to see where she was going. Hermione knew she should have used a spell, but Madam Pince had already put a dozen books in her arms before she had been able to get her wand.

Sighing, Hermione started walking back towards her dorm. "Make way, make way, please move" she kept muttering to curious students who stopped in their tracks to stare at her. They quickly continued walking when she glared at them.

"Hermione?" Ariane asked. She had an amused look in her eyes and her arms were crossed. "Do you need some help?"

"I'm fine, thanks!" Hermione replied, smiling painfully. "Just go to the game, I'll be able to go back to my room."

"You aren't going to see the Quidditch game? It's Hufflepuff against Gryffindor," Ariane told her while she blocked Hermione's way.

She groaned. "I have to catch up with some homework and the boys will tell me everything. Don't worry about me. Could you move, please? I just have to take these stairs to get back to our dorm."

Ariane stepped and flashed her a tight smile. "Sure. Have a good revision!" She walked past her.

Hermione nodded and as she took a step forward, she tripped on something and fell forward. She stumbled down the stairs, the books flying in front of her. Hermione felt the cold and sharp stairs graze her arms and she screamed in pain while protecting her head.

She suddenly stopped moving and just laid on the floor. The world was spinning and she couldn't breathe, it felt as though a thousand needles were being pressed on her sides. Taking a painful breath, she tried to sit back up. She heard her name being called from far away but didn't pay any attention to it. Her vision was being obscured, and her arms soon couldn't hold her, as she fell backward.

"Damn, Granger," she heard the person who caught her say. "I haven't seen someone fall from these stairs since Blaise five years ago."

She normally would've jerked away from Malfoy's hold, but given the circumstances, she rather let herself go. Her body slumped back and unwillingly let her eyes close. "I may not be taking Healer classes like you, but I definitely know you shouldn't be closing your eyes. I'll take you to Madam Pomfrey, hang on!"