Chapter 76

Draco’s head  shot up when monitors started beeping like crazy and nurses came rushing in. ‘What’s happening?’ Draco asked, looking over at Hermione with a panicked face. ‘Get him out of the room.’ one of the nurses yelled. A nurse took his arm and dragged him away. ‘No! I’m not leaving her!’ Draco yelled. ‘Please, come with me, you can’t do anything for her and you’ll only be in the way for the healers.’ the nurse said. Draco turned to look at her with tears in his eyes. The nurse was quite young. Around the age of 20 maybe 25. Her brunette hair fell  over her shoulder in a long braid. ‘Come with me.’ she said in a soothing tone. Draco slightly nodded. He let the nurse pull him after her before she closed the door behind them. ‘Come on, we’re going to get you something to drink.’ she said with a small smile. ‘I want to stay here.’ Draco said. ‘Okay, but please go to the waiting room.’ she asked. Draco nodded and followed her. ‘What happened?’ Draco asked after he sat down in a chair in the waiting room. The nurse sat down next to him and sighed. ‘I don’t know. She was stable since the moment she got here. I don’t understand what just happened. Her heartbeat quickly raise and then all of a sudden dropped.’ she explains. ‘Will she….’ Draco trailed off. ‘I can’t say.’ the nurse said giving him a sympathetic  look. ‘I’ve seen you sitting next to her bed every single day since she got here.’ the nurse said. Draco nodded brushing a hand through his hair. ‘I figured you’re her boyfriend?’ Draco nodded again. ‘Must be something amazing you’ve got there together.’ the nurse said staring at nothing particular. ‘I don’t even want to think about a life without her.’ Draco said. The nurse gave him a small smile. ‘I’m Hailey.’ she said offering him her hand. ‘Draco.’ he said shaking her head. ‘Now tell me something about her. What’s she like?’ Hailey asked. Draco chuckled. ‘She’s amazing. She has such a good heart. She’s sweet and kind. She’s beautiful in and out. She’s always there for you, no matter what time it is. She always wants to help people. She would even sacrifice herself for someone…..’ Draco trailed off. ‘Is that why she’s here? She sacrificed herself for someone?’ Hailey asked. Draco nodded. ‘She jumped in front of me before I could even act on the curse that was coming my way.’ Draco bit his lip. ‘What curse?’ ‘The killing curse.’ Draco said. Hailey widened her eyes. ‘But how is it she’s still alive?’ Hailey asked silently. Draco shook his head. ‘I don’t know.’ he said quickly wiping a tear away from his cheek. ‘But I’m just hoping she’ll stay with me, stay with us and doesn’t give up.’ Draco said. Hailey slightly nodded, still shocked by the fact that the girl she had been looking after, the first girl that was totally her responsibility, after she had finished her internship, the start of her career in this hospital and this girl was assigned to her. And now she heard that the girl had survived the killing curse. This girl was a wonder on her own. ‘Hermione Granger.’ Hailey whispered. Draco looked up at Hailey. ‘Hermione Jean Granger.’ Hailey whispered looking at the wall in front of her. And then she gasped. ‘Hermione Granger!’ Hailey said looking over at Draco. ‘Yes?’ ‘She’s one of the Golden Trio!’ Hailey said. ‘She is…..’ Draco said. ‘How did I not notice it before?’ Hailey said to herself. ‘I don’t know? But is it important information to do your job properly?’ Draco asked. Hailey looked at him and shook her head. ‘Of course not, I’m sorry.’ she apologized. ‘It’s okay.’ Draco said. ‘Draco? What’s your last name?’ Draco shook his head. ‘Malfoy, isn’t it?’ Draco sighed and then nodded. ‘Did you know you two have been a hot topic in all the tabloids?’ Hailey asked. Draco looked up at her. ‘What?’ ‘Yes! I’m so stupid! How did I not notice it were the two of you before!’ Hailey said. ‘Wait a second, I’ll be right back.’ Hailey said getting up and rushing away. Draco frowned. Was this girl crazy? The only thing he cared about was Hermione. ‘Oh Hermione, please, please don’t give up.’ Draco silently begged. ‘Here look.’ Hailey said coming back with a little stack of tabloids. Draco frowned and took one of the stack as Hailey sat down. At the front page he saw himself and Hermione on King’s Cross station. ‘What’s this.’ Draco said flicking through the pages until he found the right page. “It looks like there is a new romance at Hogwarts. And I’m not talking about the famous Harry Potter with his girlfriend Ginny Weasley. No I’m talking about the only girl in the Golden Trio. Hermione Granger has found herself a man after she arrived back at school. And not just any man, no it’s Draco Malfoy, former Death Eater. He walked away before the Wizarding War ended and You-Know-Who was killed by Harry Potter. But what does Miss Hermione Granger see in Mister Draco Malfoy? A source told us that Hermione and Draco are definitely a thing. They walk into the Great Hall together, holding hands and are even seen snogging each other multiple times. The source also explains that Draco seems to have changed a lot since the Wizarding War. Will this little fling last? After all Hermione Granger had a relationship with Ron Weasley, the last one of the Golden Trio. But they broke up after a few weeks when school had started. Why? No one knows. We’re hoping Hermione Granger watches her back, because you never know with those Death Eaters. They all should be locked up in Azkaban. Well are there any “Dramione” fans out there? Let us know and send us a letter.” Draco read. Draco sighed. ‘This is the most recent one with the two of you in it.’ Hailey said handing him another copy. Draco took it and opened it at the right page. “Apparently one of the Golden Trio has been taken hostage. No one knows where Hermione Granger is and who might have taken her. A source told us that she was last seen in Hogsmeade having a butterbeer with her friends and boyfriend Draco Malfoy in the Three Broomsticks. That was before George Weasley, an older brother of Ron and Ginny Weasley asked if she could come with him. She left the Three Broomsticks with George Weasley and didn’t return. Her boyfriend Draco Malfoy and her best friend Ginny Weasley started to get worried after she had been away for one or two hours so they would go and see if they could find her. Minutes later Ginny Weasley stormed into the Three Broomsticks and told her friends and boyfriend Harry Potter that Hermione Granger was gone. They all left in hurry and probably went off to Hogwarts to speak to Headmistress McGonagall. People are speculating that the Ministry is going after the poor girl. But will she ever be found? And if she’ll be found, in what state will she be?” Draco rolled his eyes and shook his head. ‘People really read this junk?’ Draco asked. Hailey blushed. ‘No offence.’ Draco said. ‘None taken.’ Hailey said. ‘Would you like to have them?’ Hailey asked. Draco looked over at her. ‘I saw in her document that she had lost her memory a few months ago after an accident at Hogwarts. If she wakes up, well we don’t know in what kind of state she’ll be in. Perhaps she’s lost her memory again and maybe even more then the last time.’ Hailey told him. Draco sighed. ‘Maybe it could help her fresh up her memory a bit after a long time of rest?’ Hailey suggested. ‘I’ll keep them, thank you.’ Draco said. Hailey nodded. ‘But please tell me that you don’t believe everything they say in those tabloids?’ Draco asked. Hailey shook her head. ‘But they’re fun to read.’ she shrugged. ‘Can I go back to Hermione?’ Draco asked. Hailey looked over at him. ‘I’ll go take a look, okay?’ Hailey asked. Draco nodded and Hailey got up and walked away. Draco sighed and looked down at the tabloids that were now lying next to him on the seat where Hailey had just been sitting. He huffed. ‘Why would people even want to read that rubbish.’ he thought. Hailey stayed away for quite some time and Draco started to get really worried in the meantime. ‘Draco? Why are you sitting here?’ Draco looked up and saw Fred coming his way. ‘Why are you out of bed?’ Draco asked. ‘I was bored so I figured why not take a little stroll through the hospital, perhaps pull a few pranks on the staff. Chat with that really pretty nurse.’ Fred shrugged. ‘What are those?’ Fred asked looking down at the tabloids next to Draco. ‘Hailey brought them.’ Draco said. ‘Hailey? But that’s the pretty nurse I told you about!’ Fred said. Draco rolled his eyes. ‘She’s nice.’ Draco said. Fred smiled. ‘I know, I’m thinking of asking her out.’ Fred winked. ‘You’re a patient.’ Draco said. ‘Not after tomorrow I’m not.’ Fred smirked. ‘But why did she bring those?’ ‘Apparently Hermione and I have been a “hot topic”.’ Draco shrugged. Fred laughed. ‘Sure thing. I overheard the nurses talking about the two of you and how cute you were together.’ Fred smirked. ‘But why are you sitting here?’ Fred asked. ‘Something’s wrong with Hermione.’ Draco said. ‘What?’ ‘All of a sudden the monitors started to beep like crazy and nurses and healers ran in and I was escorted out.’ Draco said. ‘Hailey said something like “she was stable from the moment she came in here, but all of a sudden her heartbeat raised and then dropped”.’ Draco said. Fred frowned. ‘She’ll be alright, Hermione is a fighter, she has always been one. She won’t give up.’ Fred said. ‘What if she’s giving up right now? Like you said she has always been a fighter.’ Draco said. ‘What if she has given up? What if she’s tired of fighting?’ Draco asked. Fred just wanted to open his mouth when Draco saw Hailey coming back to him from the corner of his eye. ‘Hey you! You would be coming by my room!’ Fred exclaimed. ‘And?’ Draco asked. ‘I’m sorry.’ Hailey said.  ‘What!’ Draco exclaimed getting up and running out of the room and towards Hermione’s. He stormed in and saw Hermione was alone again in the room. She was lying there, with her eyes closed and the monitor showed that she was stable again. ‘Oh Hermione!’ Draco breathed as he took her hand in his and gave a kiss on the back of her hand. ‘I thought you were gone.’ Draco said. ‘I’m sorry Draco! I was talking to Fred, not you! Hermione is stable for now.’ Hailey said rushing into the room, followed by Fred. Draco took a deep breath in. ‘It’s okay.’ Draco said. ‘What do you mean, “she’s stable for now”?’ Fred asked as they both stopped in front of Hermione’s bed. ‘We can’t tell if she’ll stay stable after what just happened.’ Hailey said. ‘She was gone for a few seconds before her heartbeat returned again.’ Hailey explained. ‘Will she ever wake up?’ Fred asked. Hailey shook her head. ‘I don’t know.’ she sighed. ‘Oh dear, it’s crowded in here.’ a woman with the same hair colour as Hermione said from the door. ‘Mrs Granger?’ Draco asked. ‘That would be me.’ she smiled. ‘And you must be Draco? It’s so nice to finally meet you.’ Mrs Granger said with a smile on her face as she offered him her hand. Draco shook it before Mrs Granger looked around at the other two faces. ‘Fred, isn’t it? Or are you George? Can’t keep the two of you apart from each other.’ Mrs Granger chuckled. ‘Fred.’ Fred said giving her a smile. ‘Must’ve been easier when everyone thought I was dead.’ Fred joked. Draco shook his head. ‘Too soon?’ Fred asked. ‘You think?’ Draco said. ‘Hailey, how are you dear?’ Mrs Granger asked. ‘I’m fine thank you Mrs Granger.’ Hailey said. Mrs Granger nodded. ‘But I’ve got to tell you something.’ Hailey said. ‘Oh dear, what is it?’ Mrs Granger asked. ‘Could you come with me to the hallway?’ Hailey asked. ‘Of course.’ Mrs Granger said following her off to the hallway.

Draco walked up the stairs when someone said his name. Draco turned around and saw it was Luna who came walking over to him with little skips between her steps. Draco frowned, she didn’t look the same, she didn’t look like herself. Luna stopped in front of him before she spoke up. ‘How are you?’ she asked. ‘I’m fine, how are you?’ ‘I’m okay.’ she answered as they both started to walk again. ‘How’s Hermione?’ Luna asked. ‘Stable.’ Draco said. Luna nodded. ‘Is there anything I can do?’ Luna asked. Draco shook his head. ‘Nobody can. It’s just waiting for her to wake up.’ Draco said. ‘Are you really okay Luna? No offense but you seem quite down.’ Draco said. Luna shrugged. ‘Is it because of what happened?’ Draco asked. Luna sighed and nodded. ‘You know it’s not your fault right?’ Draco said. ‘If I would’ve watched my back she might be here.’ Luna said. ‘Don’t be so ridiculous! It could’ve happened to anyone! Rodolphus is a horrible person, it is his fault.’ Draco said. ‘You’re practically the last one to blame! He wanted to kill me, Hermione jumped in front of me! If it’s anyone’s fault apart from Rodolphus, it’s mine.’ Draco sighed. ‘You couldn’t have predicted that she would jump in front of you.’ Luna said. Draco gave her a small smile. ‘If it’s not my fault, than it’s definitely not yours.’ Draco said. Luna sighed. ‘Have you visited Hermione in the hospital?’ Draco asked. Luna shook her head. ‘Why don’t you come with me tomorrow?’ Draco suggested. Luna looked up at him. ‘I don’t know….’ she said. ‘You’re coming with me, you can talk to her, tell her how you feel. I’ll just wait outside, leave you with her, no one will disturb you.’ Draco said. Luna nodded. ‘Okay.’

Draco waited outside the door as Luna was talking to Hermione inside. He wondered what she would say to her, but he knew she had to be alone to talk to her. It would help Luna, free her mind a bit, get rid of some of her thoughts that would’ve made her crazy. He knew it worked for him, talking to Hermione, telling her his worries. And the thought that she could hear him but just couldn’t talk to him helped. He knew this was probably not happening and she couldn’t hear or process everything he was saying, but just thinking she did process his words made him not lose hope. Fred was already gone home. Draco heard him say to George that he had asked Hailey out and she had happily said yes. George had said something about “has been dead for over a year and the moment he’s back he gets a girl” Draco had chuckled before he wandered off to Hermione’s room. He had told her all about that day, about Fred leaving the hospital and going home. About how Harry, Ginny, Ron and all the others were doing, about the fact that Luna would come and visit her, he had brought Romeo and Julliet and read it to her. It had started to become a daily routine for him. Waking up, getting some breakfast, going to classes, going to the hospital and when he got back he made a part of his homework. He noticed the teachers weren’t really bothered by his unfinished homework, they just let him be. All of a sudden the door was jerked open and Draco could just find his balance before he would’ve fallen to the ground. He turned to see Luna looking at him with widened eyes. ‘What is it?’ ‘She squeezed my hand.’ Luna breathed. Draco rushed into the room and looked down at Hermione. ‘Mione, can you hear me?’ Draco asked taking her hand. ‘If you do, squeeze my hand.’ he said desperately. He looked at their hands, but nothing happened. ‘Please Mione, if you can hear me, squeeze my hand, just a little squeeze.’ Draco said. Luna stood on the other side of the bed and looked down at Hermione. ‘I swear she just squeezed my hand!’ Luna said. ‘I believe you.’ Draco sighed. ‘But it could’ve been a muscle tightening or something.’ Draco said. ‘I’m sorry.’ Luna said and just at that moment Draco felt a slight movement in his hand and a few seconds later a slight squeeze. ‘Mione?’ A slight frown appeared on Hermione’s face before her eyes slowly opened. ‘Get someone.’ Draco said looking up at Luna. Luna nodded and ran off. ‘Hermione, can you hear me?’ Draco asked. Hermione’s eyes slowly travelled over to Draco. ‘Who’s Hermione?’ she silently asked.