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A Wonderful Caricature of Intimacy	By : AnasellaEmm Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 75947 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter related characters, places and themes belong to J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury and Scholastic.

A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews! I know you are all as frustrated as Draco and Hermione are, but patience is key!

Also, a huge thank you to the lovely readers who nominated me at the Dramione Awards! I am so flattered and it truly made my week! I think voting starts in April, so if you have a livejournal account, I think you can vote! Also, I�ve resurrected my old livejournal account and if you have one, you can add me by following the link in my profile and you can get updates on the progress of this story and other stories. I�m still such a newbie at the whole livejournal deal, but I�m slowly getting the hang of it again.

The chapter title comes from the song: �Love is You� by Chrisette Michele

Chapter 12: Holds Me Tight When No One�s Around
Draco awoke a few days after dinner in the company of the DMP with the worst headache he could remember having. It made his head throb and his wrists ache and his stomach churn and his fingertips feel cold.

What the hell is wrong with me?

The light strolling in through the windows was torture on his eyes, so he placed the covers over his head and groaned as the movement made his whole body ache. It was a Saturday, thank the heavens, so he wouldn�t be going into work, nor did he have to get up early� but he still had to deal with his wife and child. Drat.

�Are you going to get up today?� he heard Hermione�s voice say through the covers. �It�s almost noon.�

Noon?!

�Go away,� he rasped gruffly. Speaking, it turned out, wasn�t a good idea. The effort it took to talk started a series of throaty coughs he couldn�t seem to stop.

�Are you ok?� Hermione asked, her voice muffled through the layers of blanket.

Of course I�m ok, I always cough up a testicle in the mornings� keeps the blood flowing.

He coughed again in response, holding his aching head when his dark sanctuary was suddenly stripped away and Hermione stood over him, a concerned look on her face. �That cough doesn�t sound good��

The light! It burns!

�You look paler than usual,� she murmured.

He tried glaring at her, but the effort of that also hurt. He decided instead to curl up into a ball and curse her silently. He was so weak� and everything ached!

He felt her warm hand on his forehead and he didn�t even have the energy to push her away... her touch was so soft, though, and so damn comforting in his pain!

�God, you�re burning up,� she said, her hand on his cheek. �Stay here. I�m going to get my wand.�

Stay here? Where the hell would I go in this state?

He hadn�t realized he was shivering until Hermione came back and drew the covers up around him and started her mini-medical check with her wand.

�You definitely have a fever, Draco� forty degrees,� she sighed, feeling his face again.

�S-so cold,� he stuttered, his teeth chattering and his whole body shivering.

�Oh, you poor thing,� she said softly, her hands still so warm against his face. �I think you have the flu. Does any part of your body ache?�

He nodded and started coughing again.

�Yes, I definitely think it�s the flu��

�Daddy! Why are you still sleeping?� Zane�s voice said from the door.

Draco groaned and drew the covers up over his head again.

�Zane, sweetheart, you need to go back to the living room. Daddy is very sick and you could get very sick too if you get near him.�

�Oh no!� he said with the completely serious child-emotion of concern. �Daddy is sick? He needs to go to the Healer and they can give him medicine and he�ll be all better!�

�Thank you, Zane. That�s a good suggestion. Now, hurry on to the living room and I�ll be there soon.�

The quick steps of his son�s retreat were a good sign. He brought the covers down slightly and managed to open an eye. �Is he gone?�

She nodded and jumped back when Draco shot out of the bed and practically ran to the bathroom. She heard the retching sounds of him throwing up the contents of his stomach and instantly went after him.

Thankfully, he had made it to the toilet and was now lying slumped against it, groaning and clutching at his stomach. She walked to the sink and grabbed a small towel, soaking it in cold water and then kneeling down next to her invalid husband, wiping his face with it. �Are you done throwing up?�

He nodded weakly, his eyes closed as he leaned into her warm touch. �S-so c-c-cold,� he repeated.

�I know, Draco,� she murmured, caressing his cheek with one hand and cleaning up with her wand in the other hand. �Let�s get you back into bed.�

He allowed her to help him up off the floor, internally angry at his weak self for having to depend on her. Upon reaching the bed, he promptly collapsed on top of it and drew the covers around him firmly. �Why� why is it s-so c� c-old?� he grumbled.

�It�s just a symptom of your feverish state,� Hermione assured him. �I�m going to see if your parents will watch Zane today because I don�t think I have it in me to take care of the both of you and make sure he doesn�t get sick as well.�

�W-wont you g-g-get s-sick?� Draco asked, surprised that his brain still worked through all the aching.

�I had a flu vaccine a while before we got married, so I�m fine for the time being,� she said. �I�m going to give you some fever reducing potion and maybe some pain reliever if I can find any.�

�G-go t-take Zane� parents� house,� he panted, exhausted from the efforts of throwing up before. �M-medicine l-later.�

�Stay in bed,� she ordered. �I�ll help you into a different shirt and then I want you to stay in bed. I�m leaving the rubbish bin right next to you if you need to throw up again.�

He mumbled something back at her. It could have been a curse word or a note of gratitude, or it could have been gibberish. The fever was making it harder to understand him.

She helped him into another shirt, worried at how warm his body was, yet still he shivered. She wrapped his blanket around him tight and brought over her own blanket from her bed and draped that over him as well.

His eyes were closed by the time she left the room, a cold sweat on his hairline and his teeth chattering.

Zane was seated on the ottoman in the living room, his eyebrows furrowed and his skinny arms crossed over his chest. The minute he saw Hermione he jumped up and ran to her, hugging her around her legs. �Is Daddy going to die?�

�No, no, Zane. He�s just very sick,� she said, kneeling down to pick up the troubled child. �In fact, you�re going to go over to Gamma and Gampa�s house so that you won�t get sick, too.�

�But Daddy is going to be here alone?!�

�No, I�ll stay and make sure he takes his medicine.�

�Promise?� Zane asked, his arms around her neck and his wide silver eyes looking at her with the utmost trust.

�Yes, I promise,� she smiled softly. �Now, you�ll be a good boy for Gamma and Gampa? You might have to spend the night at the manor.�

�Gamma lets me sleep in Daddy�s room when he was a little boy, just like me!� he told her as she set him down and walked over to the grate. She threw in some floo powder, calling out the Malfoy manor, Narcissa�s name.

�Hermione, dear!� Narcissa�s smiling face appeared in the green flames. �It�s been simply ages since we�ve talked!�

Hermione raised an eyebrow. �But we spoke a few days ago.�

�Simply ages!� Narcissa laughed.

�We can�t all be social queens, Narcissa,� she replied with a joking lilt. �But, I�m afraid this isn�t a leisurely chat. Would you mind watching Zane today and possibly keeping him overnight? Draco has come down with something horrid, the flu, to be exact. I don�t want Zane catching anything.�

�Oh, my poor baby,� Narcissa murmured, her graceful features forming a worried look. �Of course, I don�t mind watching Zane. Would you like me to owl the family Healer?�

�That�s actually a great idea. I was wondering how I was going to get him over to St. Mungo�s. He can barely move.�

�I�ll owl him right this instant. I�ll send Lucius over to fetch Zane. You�ll be staying with Draco?�

Hermione nodded.

Narcissa smiled. �Thank you, dearest. You know that you don�t have to, seeing as how you�re not being paid to take care of him. If it�s too much of a hassle, I�ll come over and do it myself.�

�No, it�s alright. I can keep an eye on him. I already promised Zane,� Hermione said with a shrug. She was a self-sacrificing person by nature, but she had no idea her charity encompassed the likes of a bed-ridden Draco Malfoy.

�Then I thank you again, Hermione,� Narcissa said, a small smile on her face as she studied her faux daughter-in-law. �You sure you�ll be fine?�

�I�m trained in the event of a child getting sick in my care. How hard could it be to watch over a sickly adult? True, he�s usually whiny and irritable without being sick, so it might intensify while he�s feverish� but there are always silencing charms.�

Narcissa laughed quietly, jotting down the note to the family Healer. �He was actually quite a good patient when he was younger. Never said a word when he would have to take the nasty potions and never cried when he�d get his immunizations. I mostly think he was terrified if he showed weakness that his father would be disappointed in him, but I made sure he knew it was perfectly normal to be weak sometimes. Listen to me babbling. Go tell Zane to get ready and I�ll send Lucius right over. Thank you again, dear. Ta-ta!�

Hermione said goodbye and shut off the floo connection. She turned to Zane who had been listening over her shoulder. �Gampa is coming to get you.�

�You�re gonna take care of Daddy, right?� he asked one more time.

�Yes,� she assured him again, walking to the door when she heard Lucius�s quick knock. �Go get Rosie and then you can go with Gampa.�

Zane scurried off to fetch his dinosaur while Hermione opened the door to her father-in-law, who must have apparated. He gave her a forced smile when she opened the door and she gave him a real one, just to tick him off a bit.

�Hello, Lucius, please, come in,� she said, sweeping her arm towards the living room.

He bowed his head slightly and walked into the room, his robes sweeping behind him in a pompous fashion. �Where is Zane?�

�He�s getting his dinosaur,� she replied. �How have you been?�

He raised a flaxen eyebrow at her and feigned a look of disinterest. �I�ve been quite well, thank you. And yourself?�

�Fantastic. Married life is oh so wonderful,� she gushed, holding back a laugh at Lucius�s sneer. �You still don�t like me?�

�I don�t like anyone,� he replied. �So, don�t feel too special.�

She smiled at that and realized she was slowly breaking into his shell.

�Gampa!� Zane screeched, running into the room with Rosie clutched to his chest. �Daddy is sick and I have to go to your house to stay all day and then sleep there.�

�Your grandmother has something planned for you. So, if you behave like a good boy, you�ll get your surprise,� Lucius said, offering his hand to the little boy. �Say goodbye to your step-mother.�

Step-mother? Why do people keep calling my mummy that? Gampa is so silly.

�Bye, Mummy! �Member, you have to take care of Daddy so he can get all better!�

She reassured him for what seemed to be the twentieth time and gave him a kiss before showing him and grumpy Gampa out. Closing the door behind her, she walked back to the bedroom to find the mountain of blankets still wrapped around Draco.

�Draco?� she called quietly, not sure if he was sleeping or not.

�Mmm?� he replied in a low groan.

�Are you awake?�

�Yes, everything hurts,� his feeble voice came from beneath the pile of linen.

A spear of sympathy tore at her insides as she approached the bed and pulled the blankets down a bit to see his face. Placing her hands on his cheeks to see if the fever abated, she was dismayed to find that he seemed even warmer.

�You�re simply burning up,� she mumbled, worried about the flushed look on his face, the pinker than pink cheeks, and the sallow look to his eyes. �Your mum owled your family Healer, so he should be here soon.�

He nodded meekly and leaned closer to her touch. She couldn�t find it in her heart to leave him, so she sat down on the edge of the bed and stroked his sweat-soaked hair out of his face.

He was vulnerable and at her mercy and she was at a loss. Her maternal instincts urged her to cave and wrap her arms around him, bringing him into her embrace� but her rational side warned her that her feelings were starting to betray her. She was getting closer and closer to feeling more than neutral feelings for her husband. The second bank note hadn�t even been cashed yet, and already she was way in over her head.

The knock at the front door drew her out of her reverie and as she got up to answer it, she felt Draco�s hand wrap around her wrist to stop her. He was looking at her with the most defenseless look she had ever seen on him. �Where are you going?� he whispered.

�I�m going to let the Healer in. I�ll be right back,� she said.

The fever was turning him delirious, because his next word made her breathless. �Promise?�

He sounded so much like Zane that she stared at him in shock for several seconds before gaining the use of her brain back. �Yes, I promise I�ll be right back.�

She quickly left the room, rubbing her wrist where is searing hand had grasped. She opened the door to the elderly Healer standing on the other side.

�Mrs. Malfoy, Healer Claredon at your service,� he introduced.

�It�s nice to meet you,� she said with a smile. �Come in and please, call me Hermione.�

�Now, Narcissa told me that Draco might have the flu?� he said, walking with her to the bedroom.

�Yes. His fever is forty degrees, his body aches, he has nausea and vomiting, a very rough-sounding cough, and I think that�s it.�

The Healer nodded. �It does sound very much like he has the flu. I�ll just have to give him a quick once-over with my diagnosis-wand.�

They made it to the bedroom and Hermione quickly crossed to the bed, waking Draco up, since he had fallen asleep in the few seconds she was gone. �Draco, the Healer is here.�

�I don�t want to go to school,� he mumbled.

�I think the fever is making him a bit confused,� she explained.

�It�s quite alright. I don�t need him awake to give a diagnosis,� he said kindly. He passed his golden wand over Draco�s sleeping form and nodded when the color changed.

�You are right, Mrs. Malfoy, he does indeed have the flu. I don�t think this will be a long-lasting illness, though, just a twenty-four hour ailment. I want you to give him a cough suppressant potion and an analgesic potion that I�ll give you. Make sure he stays warm as long as he feels cold and when the fever starts to subside, don�t let him cool down too fast, even when he says he�s feeling hot. You can use a cold compress when he complains of being too warm and I�d make sure he stays on a liquid diet until he starts feeling better.�

She nodded and stored everything he said in her massive memory bank. �Is there anything else?�

�No, I don�t believe so. There�s not much of a chance that this will worsen. He will be fine by the end of the weekend if you follow my advice. But, in the case that his fever doesn�t disappear, or he gets worse, don�t hesitate to owl or floo me immediately.�

Hermione nodded, a tight feeling in her gut at the possibility that Draco could get even sicker. But the Healer assured her that it was nothing serious.

�Thank you so much, Healer Claredon. I�ll keep you updated on his progress,� she said, walking him to the door. Before he left, he gave her the potions she would need to give Draco and his contact information in case she couldn�t reach him by owl.

Once he had left, Hermione went to the kitchen to fill some glasses with water, orange juice and to grab a piece of fruit for herself, since she knew she wouldn�t have the chance to really eat anything. Wiping down the counters quickly before going back to the bedroom, Hermione felt a sudden apprehension eat at her. She hoped she wasn�t making a mistake by staying here with Draco, tending to his frail self, letting her compassion lead her down a path that could prove perilous.

Don�t sweat this, Hermione. He is still an infuriating git� why, only yesterday he told you that he didn�t like the way you made the beds when he damn well knows that he can make his own freakin� bed.

Oh, but now he�s lying there, shivering and sweating at the same time, confused and hallucinating with fever, depending entirely on you�

Don�t feel sorry for him! Stop that! If you feel empathy for him, then that will lead to things you don�t want happening!

But how can I not feel for him? He�s sick in bed and�

And he�ll be back to his usual annoying self in no time.

Ok, then I�ll just guard my emotions, that way, nothing bad can happen.

There you go! Don�t let him get under your defenses. Men are tricky that way. They are the more pathetic gender after all�

Hermione shook her head to dislodge the clashing thoughts. She must be going crazy, talking to herself in her own mind� arguing with herself in her own mind.

Peeking into the room before walking in, she saw Draco still sleeping, the blankets still wrapped around him. She walked to the bed and was surprised to find him on his side, his eyes open, staring sullenly at nothing. �You promised to come back,� he said in a raspy voice.

�I just went to get you some water and some juice,� she said, placing the drinks and medicine on the bedside table. �The Healer said you have the flu.�

�The Healer came?� he asked, clenching the blankets in his fists to draw them closer to him.

�Yes and he says you�ll be better soon. You have to take your medicine, though.�

He nodded and tried sitting up in bed, grimacing when Hermione reached out to help him. �It still hurts.�

�What still hurts?� she asked, her eyebrows furrowing as she looked him over.

�Everything,� he said. �It aches more than it hurts.�

She smiled softly and patted his hand as she reached over to grab the cough suppressant and analgesic. �Take these and then you�ll need to rest. I don�t want you out of this bed until your fever has gone down.�

With her help he gulped down the potions and took a greedy sip of water. She helped him back to a lying position and felt his forehead. �The medicine will take a while to work.�

He closed his eyes and nodded. �Will you stay with me?� he asked.

Damn� how can I say no?

�Yes, I�ll stay. Just get some sleep.�

�It�s still so damn cold,� he mumbled.

�I could apply a heating charm, but once your fever abates, we don�t want to keep it going. Just use the blankets for now.�

As she moved to stand up, Draco�s hand reached out to grab her arm. �Stay� please. I can�t stand the cold� it�s too much like� like�� he tried saying.

�It�s too much like what?� she asked, bringing her hand to wipe the hair from his face.

�Like� dungeons� Slytherin,� he rasped.

She didn�t know what to say to that, confused as ever. �What do you want me to do?�

�Just don�t� leave,� he murmured, half-asleep.

With a weary sigh, she realized he wanted her to be with him in the bed� her body providing the human comfort that was known to be a great nurse. Her mother had always told her that a mother�s touch was always better than any medicine a doctor could give. Well, in this case, an illusory wife�s touch. Admitting defeat, she climbed into his bed, and bit back a startled gasp when his arm dragged her to him. �Better?�

He nodded weakly and was soon breathing heavily, his arm clamped firmly around her waist, absorbing her body heat. Hermione lay staring at the ceiling, her hand idly stroking the strong, pale arm wrapped around her waist. His body was inhumanly warm, due to the fever and Hermione could feel sweat gathering on the side that was held close to him.

Why did she have to be so selfless? Why did she have to be so noble and altruistic?

And why did he have to be so pitiably helpless? In this state, he was preventing the brick-defenses she was trying to put up around her feelings� around her heart. Damn. Double damn. Or, as Zane would say: double dan.

Double dan, indeed.

-------------------------------------------

Why is it so effing hot?! Merciful heaven, why are there so many fucking blankets on me?!

Draco groggily opened his eyes, his head aching softly and his body on fire. His shirt and pants were sticking to him with his sweat and before he could throw the mountain of sheets off of his person, he froze in realization that he wasn�t alone.

Hermione was sleeping next to him, her face nuzzled against his neck and her hand resting on his arm around her waist.

What the hell is going on?

He inched the blankets off of his seriously warm body and tried his hardest not to wake up the sleeping woman in his arms. When was the last time he even had a woman in his bed?

He looked at the bedside table and saw the phials of medicine and tried to recall what had happened. He couldn�t construe what had been fever-riddled delusions, dreams or reality.

He remembered throwing up� he remembered being cold� but after that, it was all pretty fuzzy. How did Hermione end up in his bed? Not only that, but how did she end up cuddled next to him, her breath soft against his neck.

Feeling a cough about to come on, Draco turned his head and tried to suppress it. It didn�t work, but only made the cough stronger when it came out. He felt Hermione startle out of her slumber, as she jumped up and bumped into his chin.

�Oh, I�m sorry,� she said in a sleep-husky voice. �Are you ok? How are you feeling?�

He put up a hand to slow down her inquiries, at least until he could finish coughing. He wiped at his eyes once he was through and looked at his wife, sitting next to him in bed, her hand on his back a worried look on her face.

Why does she have to be so nice and caring? I liked it better when she was an annoying little wench.

�I�m fine,� he nodded.

�How are you feeling?�

�Very warm,� he smiled slightly. �My head only hurts a little and I�m not shivering anymore.�

She reached up and felt his forehead and cheeks. �You�re not burning up anymore, but you�re still warm.�

�Did Zane leave?� he asked.

�He�s at your parents�. They�re going to keep him overnight.�

�Ok, and why are you sleeping in my bed?�

Hermione stiffened at this and raised her chin. �Because you were freezing and you wouldn�t let me leave.�

Draco raised his eyebrows at this, but kept quiet. Try not to get ill again� next time you might shag her and have no recollection.

�Thank you, then. For everything,� he mumbled.

�You need to take some more medicine and I think I�ll make you some soup,� she said, getting out of the bed quickly and leaving him alone in the room.

He lay back on the bed, running his hand through his damp hair. His wrists were starting to ache again and his headache was slowly increasing in intensity.

But none of that really mattered as he thought about what had just happened. Hermione had taken care of him when she could have easily left him to his own devices. He was a grown man and he had been sick before without anyone taking care of him� but she had stayed and had helped him, kept him warm, cleaned him up after his mortifying episode with the toilet and his vomit.

He groaned and turned to his side, the side where she had slept next to him. His sheets now smelled like her� he�d have to wash them immediately or he�d never get another wink of sleep again. He was just glad he was too sick to have woken up aroused, sleeping next to her warm, feminine body.

She was getting under his skin� under his emotional barricades. She was showing him nurture and compassion and he was eating it up like some beaten puppy. He would have to work harder to keep her at a distance, to make sure he didn�t start to feel something for her more than a fake-husband should. This was only a business relationship and he was sure they both knew a real relationship between them would never work, especially with Zane in the picture, depending on them to be the rational adults.

It would be tough with his abstinence and their convoluted relationship, but he would weather through the sexually frustrating storm.

Too bad something was coming up that would break through both their barricades� Narcissa�s annual Spring Soiree was to be held in a fortnight and as her son and daughter-in-law, they had no choice but to attend.

Little did they know that the Soiree would irrevocably change their distant, platonic relationship for good.
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A Wonderful Caricature of Intimacy