Chapter 4
“Where’s Hermione?” He said the moment he was within range of the red haired wizard sitting alone in the Hogwarts dining hall.
His mouth was full of food and when he spoke it came out as jumble of sound. “What?”
“I said, where’s Hermione? She’s not here. She’s supposed to be here.”
“Er, right.” He frowned and looked Draco up and down. “What the hell is it to you?”
Does this oaf not understand English? “Just tell me where she is.” He said in a low voice, looking at Weasley in a way that he hoped conveyed the violence he was starting to feel if something had happened to the witch. “She said she would be here, she’s not. Tell me why.”
“Fine. She’s with Harry.”
“With him where?”
“Why does it matter to you?”
“Where, Weasley. Now.” He gritted.
The two stared at each other for a moment before Draco seemed to win out.
“I dunno.”
“You don’t know?”
“Are you going to repeat everything I say?”
Draco was going to hurt him.
“Why don’t you know where Hermione is?”
“Uh, because I’m not her keeper.” He sneered and Draco met his with his own.
“And evidently not a good friend either.” He turned to leave but stopped when Weasley blabbered again.
“Oi! I’m I plenty good friend. You don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s not my fault if Mione didn’t show up for class.”
“What do you mean she didn’t show up for class?” His heart started racing. What if something had happened to her?
“You good mate?” A hand clapped him on the back from behind and Draco turned away from the idiot to see a familiar face.
“Fine.” He answered shorty.
“What are you doing over here?” Blaise asked with a brow raised. Draco respected Blaise so far. He was mediocre at best at transfiguration, but from what he’d observed, Zabini was adept in charms and potions. Additionally, he was someone his father had kindly told him to ‘not fuck everything up with’ which meant his Gringotts account was significant, and he could be useful. He was also a manipulative prick of his peers, something Draco found supremely entertaining seeing as he was never involved. Being a Malfoy on top of from another school, had certain privledges.
“Looking for Granger.” He glared. “You seen her?”
“The mudblood?” he asked casually and Draco’s blood boiled but he refused to show it. Blaise pinched his lips and made a tsking sound as he looked around the room, “Naw, I haven’t. Oh wait!” he slapped Draco on the chest and it required a significant amount of effort from him to keep from hexing the wizard. “Shite. Yeah, I didn’t see it but apparently, she had a fit in the hallway before Moody’s. Girl just collapsed out. Parkinson said it was a bit dramatic too but,” he laughed like he hadn’t just made Draco’s heart stop beating. “we all know Pansy’s a bit of a bitch when it comes to her. So,”
“Where is she?” Draco gritted.
“Granger or Pansy?”
Draco didn’t answer, he just raised a brow and stared until Blaise continued.
“Right. Hospital Wing I’d guess.”
“Perfect.” He immediately turned and left.
“You know you’re a bit of a prick, sometimes?” Blaise called out behind him.
“Yeah, so I’ve been told.” He said over his shoulder as he walked out and met Theo in the entryway.
“So? Where’s she gone?” he asked hopefully as he matched Draco’s pace. He’d been too nervous to go in when they saw Weasley alone. He knew his friend had feared his sister was snubbing them after just declaring them friends. Draco was both relieved and terrified knowing she had not.
“She’s in the hospital wing.”
“What? Is she okay?”
“I don’t know. Weasley was useless and Zabini barely gave me information.”
“Do you think she…” he trailed off and Draco stopped walking and faced him.
“I don’t know. But there’s no use fretting about it until we know for sure, so don’t worry until we have to.” Theo nodded and they started walking again. A part of Draco wished someone might give him that advice right now, what could only be described as panic was gripping him from the inside out.
The moment they were through the doors Draco wasted no time on pleasantries. “Where is she?” he asked as he saw Potter pacing in the isle.
“What do you want?” he snapped and moved to stand in front of a bed. As they came around him Draco’s eyes landed on the pale frame of Hermione. She looked sickly, her face was white, her eyes close, even her hair seemed to have lost some of its life. The instinct to kill whoever did this to her flooded his veins.
“What happened?” he ignored the idiotic question Potter had asked and moved to step closer to her.
Potter pushed him back. “What do you want?” he gritted. It was admirable, he thought, that Potter wanted to protect her. He had no idea how deeply the same instinct was ingrained in Draco’s soul.
“I want to make sure she’s okay. Now move.”
“No. She needs rest. There’s something wrong.”
“I swear to Merlin and Morgana you need to get out of my way.”
“No.”
“Fine,” he reached for his wand “petr—”
“Draco!” Theo cut him off. “Don’t. Potter, please. Let him. I—I understand you have no reason to trust us, but please, just tell us what’s wrong with her?” Theo's eyes were red and his expression desperate and Draco hated it. He hated showing any kind of weakness, but when he turned back to the other wizard, it seemed to have worked.
“Fine. You can see her. But I want an explanation.” He answered hesitantly, looking between them.
The moment he relented Draco was overcome with the need to hold his witch. He wasn’t even in control of himself as he lunged forward and brought her into his arms as best he could.
“Malfoy don’t—” Potter started but Draco wasn’t listening. He couldn’t listen because the second his hands made contact with her bare skin, he was overwhelmed with pain. Excruciating pain that made him want to cry out. He felt his knees give way as his head ached like it was burning and he collapsed on top of her.
“Draco?” someone was shouting. “Dra…”
--- --- --- ---
“I have never seen something like this.”
“What? Surely you must have, Professor. You have to—you have to help them!”
“Mr. Nott, I don’t know what you would like me to do. We cannot touch them.”
“So, you’re just going to leave them?”
“Why, yes.” An old voice chuckled. “They seem rather content to me.”
“That’s barbaric sir! You can’t! Hermione she’s—”
“Looking healthier every second, Mr. Potter.”
“No! She’s—”
“Awake.”
Hermione opened her eyes and for the first time in weeks there was no pain in her head. Just an odd weight over her…she froze, wide-eyed.
Because the weight she was feeling was that of a tall boy. A boy who was laying on top of her. A boy who seemed to be completely asleep. A boy who she couldn’t help but notice smelled incredible. And a boy who was actually Draco Malfoy. What the hell?
She probably would have jumped out of her skin if it weren’t for the pile of blond resting on her chest. He was frowning as though deep in serious thought, even in his sleep, and for some reason the image made her smile to herself a little. Or not. Someone cleared their throat and Hermione looked up to see two boys and her headmaster watching her.
“Mi!” Harry cried, his face flashing from angry to relieved. He jumped to move towards her but as he did, something seemed to collide with him and he flew back.
She could have sworn she heard the Theo mutter “Idiot.” while smirking, before his face straightened as he looked back at her with so much worry in his eyes.
“Boys, boys.” Dumbledore chided and Hermione didn’t know what to make of the amused look on his face. “It’s good to see you again, Ms. Granger.”
“Uh, you as well, Professor.” She said awkwardly, and something jolted in her lap. Hermione looked down to find Draco slowly moving. His head tilted back and the moment his eyes met hers they went wild. He quickly jumped away from her but lost his balance. Hermione was sure he was going to fall off the small hospital bed, but instead something seemed to catch him, and he sat up, staring at her.
“I—” he started at the same moment Hermione worried “Are you okay?”
“What just happened?” he asked.
“Um…I don’t actually remember.” She winced. Godric, whatever was wrong with her was embarrassing.
“You don’t?” A voice cut in and Hermione realized Harry was frowning at her, from across the room.
“No, Harry what happened?”
“Hermione, you passed out before we could even get to class.”
“I did?”
“Yes and you were muttering things in your sleep and when you woke Hermione…you scared the shite out of me.”
“I’m sorry, Harry. I didn’t mean to I—” she reached out to gesture for him to come but her hand hit something. Something hard and invisible. “What is that?”
“Ah, yes. I believe that is the creation of your friend, Ms. Granger.” Dumbledore grinned and Hermione felt like she was on the outside of a joke. What was happening? Were they trapped?
“Me?” Malfoy asked, looking as confused as she felt. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Ah,” he said, raising a finger, “But you did. You see when you went to Miss Granger, it seems that you cast a shield around the two of you ensuring that no one could come in and cause harm.”
“What? But that’s not possible. I—I remember everything that happened. I came here, Potter wouldn’t let us in, and then when I touched you…” he turned to Hermione, “Everything in my head hurt.”
Hermione couldn’t keep from grabbing his arm, “You felt it too?”
“Yes?” he breathed.
“But you remembered?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m confused.” Harry said, drawing their attention out of their—literal—bubble.
“And isn’t that the best thing to be in this world?” Dumbledore smiled curiously. He clapped his hands together once, “Now, seeing as no one is in any danger, I feel as if I am no longer needed here.”
“What? But sir, Hermione, how do we?”
“Oh I'm sure they'll figure it out, Mr. Potter.” He said mysteriously and Hermione gaped as she watched him walk away.
“Hermione, I” Harry said softly, and he reached out to her before hitting the mysterious wall again. “Would you mind?” he snapped, glaring at Draco.
“I didn’t do anything!” the boy next to her protested.
“Obviously you did, and I’d like you to remove it now.”
“I don’t know how.” He gritted and Hermione noticed his jaw ticking as his frustration grew.
“I don’t give a shite what you know, Malfoy. Now take down your shield and get away from her!”
Something flashed in Draco’s eyes and when he opened his mouth to speak all of the lights in the room flickered. “Hey!” she said quickly, leaning forward to grab his arm and attention. His eyes snapped to hers and she realized there were strange specks of blue mixed in with the usual grey in them. There was also a panicking quality that she desperately wanted to rid him of. “I’m alright. You’re alright. We’re alright, Draco. It’s okay.”
He stared at her and the lights continued to flicker but Hermione didn't look away. After a moment it all seemed to click and he gave her the slightest of nods, she smiled slightly back. She could practically feel it as the muscles in his arm relaxed under her grip and slowly everything around them seemed to calm as Draco watched her.
“Merlin’s Beard, it is you.” She heard Theo breathe and when she looked at him he was watching them both with an odd expression.
“What?” Harry snapped, still fuming. Hermione wanted to hug her friend and scold him at the same time for his rudeness.
“What are you talking about?” she asked but Theo seemed to be in his own head.
“I mean I knew there was always a chance it wasn’t. That maybe we were wrong, that you were…”
“Theo.” Draco warned and grabbed Hermione’s forearm. “Don’t.”
“What’s going on?” She asked but neither of them seemed to hear her. Draco’s expression was fierce and determined and Theo looked desperate. “There was a chance of what, Theo?”
“Draco it’s her. You can’t deny it. No one has ever been able to do that except her.”
“Theo.”
“Draco, what’s going on? Tell me, please.” She pulled on his arm, “I'm sure I could help.”
“Who’s able to do what now?” Harry blurted.
“Draco’s soulmate.” Theo answered. “She’s the only one who’s presence calms his magic.”
Something in Hermione’s stomach dropped and felt ugly. Of course someone as beautiful as Malfoy would have a soulmate. The weight of his hand around her arm felt like it burned now and she pulled away from him immediately.
“Granger—”
“So who’s his soulmate?” Harry asked, interrupting Draco.
“My sister.”
“Theo.”
“I thought she was dead.”
Hermione thought she saw him wince but then Theo just looked at her, “she’s not.”
“Theo.”
“So who is she?”
“Hermione Granger.”
What?
“THEO.” Draco shouted, looking panicked but Theo wasn’t looking at him. He was just looking at Hermione.
“What?” Hermione blanched.
“Nine years ago my sister was kidnapped while her murder was staged. But she didn’t die. We all thought she did but no, she’s been here the whole time. Hermione is Emmeline. Hermione is my sister. Hermione is Draco's so—"
Hermione screamed. She wasn’t even in control of it but it felt like someone had lit her on fire and her head was blacking out. Fuck fuck fuck, it had never hurt quite like this before and she couldn’t see but she could feel tears falling down her face. Someone was saying something but she couldn’t make out the words because all she felt right now was pain. And then everything went dark.
--- --- --- --- ---
“HERMIONE!” he shouted, trying to get her out of it.
She was screaming. She was screaming and there were tears starting to fall from her face. She was in pain and Draco didn’t know what to do. And then she collapsed against her pillow with a horrible expression painted across her face and Draco was frozen. He looked to Potter who was her best friend for help, but he was just gaping.
“Do something!”
“What?”
“Do something! Anything! Last time you touched her and she got better! Do SOMETHING!” he shouted.
Draco knew his face was white. He was terrified. His witch was in pain and if he caused her more he would never forgive himself. But Potter was right. She had gotten better. So he wrapped his arms around her and everything in him began to burn until…nonono
“Dragon, pass me that.” His flower stuck her hand out expectantly from where she sat across the carpet.
“No!” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. She couldn’t make him if he didn’t want to. Draco was tired of people making him do things he didn't want to. But Emmy just raised an eyebrow—Draco didn’t know how she did that! He’d tried all week ever since she first showed him that trick but she said it was a secret. He was going to find out anyway, if he asked enough, she would tell him.
“Why not?”
“Because.” He stuck his chin up. This game was dumb, and Emmy always made him play with the weird doll things while she got to use her stuffies.
“Because why, Dragon?” she asked, and then she crawled over to sit right in front of him. “Please?”
Well poop. That wasn’t fair. He couldn’t very well tell her no when she sat in front of him like that.
“Fine.” He pouted though because mummy said he had to be nice to Emmy, but she didn’t say he couldn’t pout.
“Dragon, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing!”
And then she grabbed his hand! Gross, Draco was holding a girl’s hand! If Tree were here, he would definitely tease him for this. But…he wasn’t here and…holding Flower’s hand was actually kind of nice, it did make his tummy all squirmy though which Draco didn’t like, but he did like holding it.
“Is it your dad?”
What!
“No... What do you mean?” Did Emmy know? Draco didn’t think he wanted Emmy to know about when his father got mad. It wasn’t bad, he always fixed him before he could leave.
“He was yelling at Papa last night in his office. I overheard when I came down for Bunny. Did he yell at you too?”
Yes, “no.” he said, snatching the stuffed animal away from where she had been playing with it. Emmy was being nosey and it was making his nose hurt funny thinking about it.
But she seemed to know he was lying because she jumped on him in a hug. “Oh Dragon, don’t cry!” He wasn’t going to—oh, his eyes were crying then. Big tears and he couldn’t stop them. And he didn’t know why. He was a grown up his father said, he shouldn’t cry. Malfoys don’t cry. It was just that father had been getting more angry lately and mummy had been getting sadder and Uncle Reggie didn’t come back last month and—and…and it all bubbled out.
“Emmy I’m scared.” He whispered in case father could hear. Malfoys didn’t get scared he said.
She squeezed him tighter though, “But I’m here Dragon. And I won’t let anything bad happen.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Draco woke up gasping for air. What the hell was that? Who was ‘Uncle Reggie?’
Draco didn’t have an uncle. He had two aunts, one who was deranged and one he was supposed to pretend didn’t exist. He would have remembered if he’d had an uncle. Furthermore, he remembered that day, that moment. All of his visions of the past were memories, clear ones, and that was not how his conversation with Emmeline had gone. And Draco would remember how that night had gone, because it was the last time he’d seen her before…
--- --- --- ---
When Hermione wakes up, it’s not morning and she’s not in her bed in Gryffindor tower. She’s in the hospital wing and it’s the middle of the night and she’s rather shocked when her eyes open to find something heavy laying on top of her—no. Not something, someone. Because Draco Malfoy was asleep and laying across her and his arms were wrapped almost protectively around her waist.
A part of Hermione knew that she should probably scream. But this was the first time in weeks that she hadn’t woken up with a migraine and as it seemed, Malfoy was a rather comfortable companion. He was completely passed out with his head resting on her chest, and that furrow that always existed between his brows was gone. She wondered for a moment what he was dreaming about; was it something wonderful? Hermione hoped it was. His face was so serene in his sleep. Like someone had peeled away all of the darkness that haunted him in the day and left him blissful in the night. Hermione was struck, not for the first time, by the realization that Draco Malfoy was beautiful.
And he was warm. While she knew the smart move would be to call for Pomfrey or wake him up, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. In fact, rather than moving away, she found herself burrowing into his figure. Content as he sleepily tightened his arms around her and she drifted back to a peaceful sleep, holding her Dragon.