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Lost in the Music	By : Daydreamer Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 23799 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not Own Harry Potter and I make no Money from writing this story.

Chapter List
- 24
- 25
- 26
Chapter 25: A cruel Reminder

It turned out that Fate did have something else up her sleeve, Hermione mused from her seat in the hospital wing. Hermione viciously wiped at the lone tear that fell down her cheek as she looked down at an unconscious Draco. He lay unmoving and lifeless on the rigid, unyielding cot. It was ill-fated that Fates next move was a cruel reminder that things were still not right with their world. It was a violent reminder that their fight was just beginning, a prompt that if their love was to survive, they would have to overcome the obstacles and prejudices that faced them, all for the future they wanted.

A small sob escaped Hermione’s throat, she’d long given up fighting the ache that threatened to rip her apart, she’d been inconsolable at first, her friends and the staff had given up trying to remove her. She refused to leave Draco; she didn’t want him to be alone. She looked over her boyfriend’s pale frame, the cots blankets and Draco’s clothes caked in stains of his blood. The horrors of the day’s events were still fresh in Hermione’s memory. She carefully climbed onto the cot crawling beside Draco. The scene replaying in her head leaving a bout of fresh emotional scars, as she rocked Draco’s limp form back and forth in her arms.

******

Draco, Hermione, Ginny and Blaise were departing from the Slytherin table with the intentions of inviting Harry, Luna, Ron and Pansy on a picnic. This was Hermione and Ginny’s idea, stating to the two boys that Harry and Ron were a large part of their lives and that if they wanted to have a future with them, they would have to make an effort. Of course the two boys agreed, they didn’t like the two Gryffindor boys, but they knew that if they wanted to have a future with the two girls their hearts desired, they would have to comply, much to their displeasure.

Draco instinctively took Hermione’s hand as they began walking toward the Gryffindor table, the couple were lost in the other’s eyes as they made their way through the students, the gentle murmuring of the students talking suddenly faded away, the sound of hissing and groaning filling the air, suddenly Draco’s hand clamped down around Hermione’s small one, her hand was held in a vice like grip as Draco doubled over in pain. Hermione immediately turned to face her boyfriend, her amber globes overwhelmed with concern as she kneeled over his frame on the floor.

“Draco!” she cried, as Draco finally pried his hand from hers, the throbbing sensation of pain encasing her hand, the red mark darkening showing the bruise that forming underneath her skin.

“Drake, Are you okay?” Blaise asked as he pulled Ginny to him, his body taking a protective stance around the red headed girl as he prepared to protect her from an unknown enemy source.

Ginny’s blue eyes were wild with fear as she looked around the great hall at her fellow students. The hall had fallen deadly silent as everyone looked over to the Slytherin table, a few students’ gazes flicking to the head table as their eyes rested on the hissing form of Professor Snape. Ginny noticed that many of the students from the table they were previously sat at were doubled over in pain, residing in positions much like Draco’s. Every single one of the hissing students clutched violently at their left arms, where Ginny knew the dark mark, scared their innocent flesh.

The atmosphere in the room portrayed each of the student’s feelings…Fear. Each of their faces contorting at the scene that played out in front of them, rendering each of them helpless. Hermione raised her gaze from Draco when she heard the distinct sound of people running in her direction; she looked up to find, Harry and Ron running towards them. Pansy followed them, as she held on to Ron as if he were her life line, her eyes glinted with unshed tears as they portrayed her fear at the terror she knew so well.

“We must go now!” Snape called to the room in his low baritone voice. Draco nodded his head in response.

“Hermione, I love you. Just remember that!” he said, he placed a chaste kiss on her lips before he disappeared into thin air, leaving Hermione reeling and sobbing. The rest of the students watched on as Snape disappeared followed by the majority of Slytherin house.

“Draco, Draco!” Hermione screamed frantically, Harry and Ron both held her close as the rest of her friends stood on in shock, Blaise held Ginny’s face into his chest, as she cried for her best friends distress.

“Shhh, it’s okay Mione” Harry whispered, his voice low in an attempt to comfort and sooth her, unfortunately it did nothing to placate her.

“Where did he go?” she asked Harry and Ron, the two boys looked to each other at this question, before they looked back at her with a sad smile on their faces.

“You know just as well as we do, Mione.” Ron said sadly, he didn’t like Malfoy, but he knew from his friends reaction that she cared deeply for him, now wasn’t the time to make a snide comment, even he knew that. Hermione sobbed even harder at Ron’s comment, she knew that he was right, she did know where Draco had gone, but she desperately didn’t want to admit it.

The sound of a voice clearing commanded the attention of the great hall, the students all looked up expectantly at the headmaster who was currently standing from his chair at the head table. The halls faint murmurs were silenced when he raised his hands. His usual cheering expression was replaced with a sad, apprehensive and concerned expression, which was so unlike the headmaster.

“Miss Granger.” Dumbledore said turning to face her. “Please instruct all your prefects to escort all first year students back to the safety of their houses. All other students are to remain seated to await further instructions.” He said.

Hermione relinquished her sadness and anger, she attempted to repress the fear and worry that threatened to make her crumble before the student body. She was head girl! She was meant to be an example to the rest of the students, it was her responsibility to ensure that they were safe, she couldn’t let this stop her from doing her job, and she knew Draco would tell her the same thing. She rubbed at her eyes, removing the tears that hung on her cheeks and eyelashes. If she couldn’t remain strong, what chance did the students have?

She stood from her kneeling position on the floor, her posture straight, becoming the head girl everyone knew her to be.

“All prefects please align yourselves at the far wall and await further instructions!” she shouted, she watched tentatively as the remaining 6^th and 7^th prefects moved to the appointed wall. Her friends made their way towards the wall with the rest of the prefects. Once all the prefects were there they remained silent, waiting diligently for Hermione’s next command.

“Prefects, when I give the say so you will make your way into your house group. Once you are sorted you are to stand at the head of your house table, where you will register all the first year students. Once everyone has been registered you will escort the first years up to your house common room. When they are settled and safe you will make your way as quick as possible back to the hall. Is that understood?” she said to the group of students. The students nodded their heads in affirmation.

“Please sort yourselves into your assigned houses.”

The students began shuffling amongst themselves as Hermione held out her hand to catch four rolled up parchments; each of them secured with the Hogwarts seal. Hermione knew that the parchments held the names of the first year students of each house. Once the shuffling had stopped and each of the prefects were situated at the top of their corresponding house table, Hermione walked passed her group of prefects handing the list of names to one student from each house, before she addressed the hall again.

“All first year students, on my say so you will make your way to your assigned prefects, where you will be registered and then led back to your dorms. You are not to stray from your group, and you are to remain within your house until you are told otherwise.”

She gave one last look to the prefects before she motioned for the first years to stand up and make their way to the prefects.

Once each of the four appointed prefects had confirmed each of the first years on their lists, Hermione signalled for them to leave the hall, each of them walking in single fashion as they made their way through the large oak doors. Hermione watched as the mass of students broke up as they each went their own way at the end of the hall.

Hermione sighed; she hated putting on a front. Inside she was fretting and panicking about Draco, she desperately hoped the he would be okay. Draco had only just come into her life and she desperately hoped that no one would take him from her. She couldn’t imagine her life without him, they had only been an official couple for less than a day and already she knew that her life would be nothing without him by her side.

Hermione was roused from her morbid thoughts by a hand resting on her shoulder; she turned to find Michael Wolfe, a 7^th year Slytherin staring intently at her, a sad smile formed on his thin pale lips. Hermione was surprised to see him standing there, she had been sure that he was within Voldemort’s ranks; Hermione argued however that considering he hadn’t disappeared with the rest of the students he couldn’t be one. She felt guilty for having categorised him as one.

“Wolfe?” she inquired softly.

“Look Granger, Draco will be okay. He’s a fighter and he’ll fight. He’ll fight more so now, knowing that he has you to come back to. You will keep him fighting, you’ll keep him going. Try not to worry.” He said sincerely, Hermione nodded absentmindedly as she fought to keep the tears at bay.

“Thanks, Michael.” She choked out; he nodded at her before retreating back to his table. Hermione was stood numbly in the hall watching as the students huddled in their friendship groups. She watched as they comforted each other, and Hermione found herself wishing her own friends were with her, instead they were on their prefect duty, leaving her alone and falling apart so publically. She began to feel faint and light headed which only caused her to sway slightly in her heels. Suddenly she felt another set of hands on her shoulders, only this time she turned to see Daphne Greengrass and Millicent Bullstrode, looking down at her.

“Hermione, come sit with us.” Daphne said softly, pulling on her hand gently. Hermione nodded, but remained in the same position.

“Look Granger, We haven’t spoken much, well actually we haven’t.” said Millicent. “But Draco is one of our own, and you are his girlfriend, that therefore makes you one of us. Now you can come with us or we can drag you.” She said sternly but not unkindly. This time when Hermione nodded her head, she managed to put one foot in front of the other, until she was perched on the wooden bench.

A few moments passed before the prefects returned to the hall, they each began to sit at tables, regardless of the house. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Blaise and Pansy all rushed over to the Slytherin table where Daphne and Millicent propped up Hermione’s shock induced form. Having had the time to let her emotions over run her logic her body had gone into shock at the sudden loss of the man she loved, she knew that whatever was happening wasn’t good, and that there was a high chance that Draco was in peril.

“Students, it is with regret that I inform you that what you have just witnessed was a mass summons for a meeting with You-know-who. It would seem that something is happening within the that dark side, it is unfortunate that I have no knowledge of this meeting, and therefore I do not know of the plan. It concerns me that not one of the spies knew of this meeting either. Be that as it may I request that each of you is on guard for a possible attack. You will be forbidden from leaving the castle. Please make your way back to your houses, please try to remain calm and if anyone should see anything suspicious please alert a member of the faculty or a prefect. That is all.”

With that Dumbledore sat back down and observed as the students shuffled and began to make their way to their houses.

“Hermione” Harry said looking at his best friend. “I don’t want you to be alone, how about you come to Gryffindor tower?” he asked quietly.

Hermione shook her head, she didn’t want to go to Gryffindor tower, she wanted to be somewhere where Draco could find her when he came back, because he would be coming back.

Ginny looked at Hermione and shook her head “No Harry, she needs to go to her own common room, she’ll want to wait for Draco.” She said stating exactly what Hermione had been thinking. The students surrounding them nodded in understanding, “We’ll come with you okay, we’re not leaving you.” Ron said. Hermione nodded before she moved from her position leant against Daphne.

-----

Hermione stumbled towards the portrait that hid the head dorm; she was flanked by Harry and Ron, who supported her on either side ensuring that she didn’t fall over. Blaise and Ginny followed them, concern etched on each of their faces as they watched Hermione stumble and sob incoherently, to their surprise, Pansy, Daphne and Millicent had all followed suit, until the eight teens were concealed within the head dormitory.

Ron and Harry set Hermione down on the cream chaise as the tears fell silently down her tear stained face. Ginny immediately sat next to her best friend pulling her into a hug, Hermione’s tears wetting the yellow summer dress that Ginny was wearing, not that she cared. “He’ll be okay, Mione.” Ginny said playing with Hermione’s hair; she brushed her hand over her friends golden locks until the sobbing calmed. Ginny in the meanwhile leant against Blaise who placed a delicate kiss into her hair.

Ron sat down on the matching cream sofa, with Pansy sat flush against him; they were both staring intently down at their hands as Ron traced shapes and figures into the palm of her hand, the small ministrations calming Pansy slightly. Ron didn’t know what the history was with Pansy and the death eaters, but he knew enough from what Blaise had said the previous night, he knew that if Pansy wanted to tell him, she would when she was ready. He knew for sure however the effect the mass departure had, had on her. She’d frozen on the spot when the hissing started the fear and terror so apparent in her eyes, Ron couldn’t believe how vulnerable she looked, and then the tears were forming. He could hear Hermione screaming and he knew he needed to help but he needed to have Pansy with him, he wouldn’t, no; he couldn’t leave her, not like that. Now she looked a little more at ease but Ron knew that she was trying to be brave, much like everyone in the room.

Harry paced back and forth in front of the blazing hearth muttering to himself, looking at the people in the room every now and then. Daphne and Millicent looked on uncomfortably; they hadn’t known what they were doing when they had approached the head girl, only that she needed a friend. And in that moment they had taken it upon themselves to make sure that she was okay. She was Draco’s girlfriend and he loved her that they knew just from watching the two of them interact during breakfast. They felt that it was their duty to ensure that the object of his affections remained in one piece for when he got back.

If he got back.

******

Draco landed outside Malfoy Manor awaiting the arrival of his peers and professor with bated breath; he’d been the first to apparate away from the safety of Hogwarts. The sheer anxiety and pain of being summoned in such a mass calling had been so strong that it had rendered everyone in agony. That had never happened before. The Dark Lord very rarely called all of his followers, unless something was occurring, and Draco dreaded what he would find upon entering the manor, after all it had to be big for everyone to be summoned.

Snape landed soon after Draco, the professor looked at the younger boy with anxiety.

“God father, what’s happening?” Draco said as he winced at the heat the mark was emitting throughout his arm.

The elder man shook his head. “I wish I knew Draco, your guess is as good as mine.” He said regretfully. It was true he had no idea why everyone was being called, but he had a bad feeling about it. He didn’t have time to dwell on it however when students from his house began appearing in front of the large silver gates.

Vaisley was visibly shaking from the fear of what lay ahead, it was incredibly distressing for the young teen, who proceeded to vomit his breakfast up on the green pasture of grass, that resided next to the gates.

The rest of the students stood there watching, attempting to keep their own breakfasts down.

“Professor. We don’t have our masks or robes.” Nott said finally tearing his eyes away from the teen.

Snape nodded his head “I am aware of that Nott, I shall get us some before we enter to see our lord.” Nott nodded his head in understanding.

The crowd began hissing again when their marks began to sting more prominently. “Come, he summons us now, we are taking too long for his liking. Vaisley, pull yourself together boy.” He said as he walked to the gates with Draco by his side.

******

The group walked into Malfoy Manor to be greeted by the house elf that Draco knew to be called Lissy.

Lissy opened the door, her big blue eyes falling on the now master of the House.

“Mister Draco, Sir. Yous been asked to comes home.” The elf said in a sweetly high pitched voice. Draco nodded his head.

“Hello Lissy, Yes I have been summoned, Please can you direct me as to where my lord is?” he asked the tiny house elf.

Lissy nodded “Mister Draco, Lissy can do that’s for you, Lissy wants to help her master.” The elf said, leading the group to the large ball room. Draco thanked the elf and dismissed her before turning to his God father.

“Hold still for a moment while I get the robes.” Snape drawled, he disappeared in a flash before reappearing just as quick, several dark robes hung over his arm. Each of the students took a robe and the corresponding mask, dressing in the typical death eater attire. Once each of the students was beyond recognition, Snape led the group into the dark and dimly lit ball room.

Each of the students kept their gaze solely on the hard wooden floor as they crossed the room to the door that the meeting resided behind. The doors granted them entry, automatically opening to reveal the room full of people dressed in the death eater robes. They each walked, taking their places amongst the crowd watching as Snape made his way to the foot of Voldemort’s throne. He proceeded to kneel before the snake come man before he was granted to stand and take his place to the right of him.

The room was eerily silent as they awaited their lord to tell them the reason for their summoning. Each of the death eaters seemed to be anxious; the usual excitement that Draco had witness coming from the older members was nowhere to be seen today.

Finally he spoke.

“You may be wondering why I have asked you all here today.” He said with evil smile, his red eyes glinting in the flicker of the wall lights. No one spoke, they knew it was unwise to say anything unless they were actually addressed by name, that was unless they wanted to be hurt.

“It has come to my attention that we have been neglecting a certain aspect of our plan, or rather a certain someone.” He said looking over the crowd of followers.

“Step forward young Mister Malfoy.” He said looking in Draco’s direction.

Draco gulped, as he tried to calm his rapidly beating heart that threatened to explode within him.

He stepped forward towards the throne which Voldemort resided in once again.

Draco kneeled at the foot of the throne, showing his complete submission towards the thing he called a lord. As he kneeled on the hard cold stone floor he could feel the aggressive push within his mind, Voldemort. Of course he liked to probe his followers, Draco knew that, but he’d barely had chance to erect a shield around his memories of the last few weeks before he was in his mind. It wouldn’t do if Voldemort knew of his true alliance with the light, but more importantly Draco couldn’t risk the evil twisted being, knowing of his love for Hermione.

He could feel him searching around his mind, not looking for anything in particular, but ransacking and carelessly discarding memories from the carefully sorted compartments in his mind. The pressure was building in his head the longer he spent in it, until it was gone. Draco quickly searched his mind looking for an intruder but came up that Voldemort had indeed left his mind; nevertheless Draco kept the impenetrable shield erected in the back of his mind, one couldn’t be too careful.

“Draco” Voldemort hissed down at him. “You have been absent for many meetings, this displease me. I have high hopes for you, yet I worry that you will turn out like your father, and therefore may need the same punishment.” He said, the room of people laughed at the sadistic joke.

“Is that what you would like, Draco” he hissed down at the blonde boy.

Draco shook his head. “N-no My Lord.” He said, keeping his gaze cemented on the floor.

Voldemort gave a bitter laugh.

“No I suppose you do not wish to meet the same demise as your father. Your father was a coward Draco. He never truly understood what an honour it was to reside beside me, he abused his power yet never completed his tasks to my satisfaction.” He said as he pondered to himself.

“Draco, I wish you to inform me of the whereabouts of Harry Potter, he is in your classes at Hogwarts is he not?” he asked.

“Yes My Lord.” He answered dutifully.

“And what of the Blood Traitor and Mudblood?” he asked again.

Draco felt sick at the idea of Hermione being brought up, it wasn’t an irregular occurrence, but things had changed since the last meeting he attended, he was now hopelessly in love with the girl the man before him wished to murder.

“The blood traitor does not have the intelligence to be in the same classes; however the mudblood is in the majority of my classes.” Draco tried to add disgust to his voice, to emphasise his dislike of mudbloods as expected, however he felt incredibly ill.

It seemed as though Voldemort bought his added disgust.

“I wish you to tell me information about the ‘golden trio’” he said laughing at the name of the three students.

“What do you wish to know My Lord?” Draco asked again from his kneeling position, he could feel his limbs starting to cramp from the position but remained still nonetheless.

“Everything! I do not wish to give you questions I wish you to tell me everything you know on the matter.” He said looking at him through his snake slit eyes.

Draco hesitated, in the last few weeks he’d been so wrapped up with everything that he hadn’t even considered spying, why should he when he didn’t want to harm Potter. Potter was his only hope of killing the masochistic snake before him.

“I’m waiting Mister Malfoy.” Voldemort said tapping is long scaly fingers on the wooden armrest of his throne.

“Potter hasn’t been busy, he’s no longer with the blood traitor girl, he and the headmaster have meetings but that is all I know” he said wincing involuntarily, he knew that the information he had said would do little to impress the Lord.

The hall fell into silence again.

“I am disappointed with you Draco, I expected more from you. Consider this gift, character building and encouragement to not displease me again, as you have tonight.” He said with a toothless grin.

“CRUCIO!!” Voldemort yelled, his wand trained on Draco’s kneeling from

The rest of the death eaters watched on, half in awe half in sickness and disgust, the familiar sound of Bellatrix LeStrange’s cackle could be heard echoing around the room as each of the death eaters eyes were trained on the shuddering and jerking form of the youngest Malfoy.

Draco was consumed with pain, it was so intense, he kept trying to tell himself that it wasn’t actual physical pain that it was all inside his head. But the pain rendered him useless, it felt as if white-hot knives were piercing every inch of his skin, the pressure was building in his head, the feeling as if it were surely going to burst with the pain; Draco bit down on his lip in an attempt to contain his screams, his teeth digging into the tender flesh. Draco was aware of the bitter metal taste filling his mouth from his teeth piercing the skin and drawing his own bloods, it made him feel violently sick. If he had given a voice to the pain that over took his body he knew he would be screaming but he knew that wouldn’t do, the screams of pain only appealed to Voldemort’s twisted humour and encouraged him.

Draco wasn’t sure how long he had been held under the curse, but it felt as if his body had broken a few bones from the involuntary thrashing around on the stone floor. Draco wheezed trying to regain his breath, he knew from the pain there was at least one broken rib. But Draco wasn’t sure, his head was spinning and reeling from the curse. He shifted back to his kneeling position once again, aware that Voldemort was now addressing the room, his focus no longer on him… for the time being at least.

“I have called you here, my loyal servants because I have become restless, we are stronger that the light side. We can win this war, mere children cannot defeat me, I am undefeatable. Tonight we plan, we plan to rid the world of the meddling old fool that is Albus Dumbledore, we plan to invade Hogwarts, we plan to win this war once and for all and rid our world of all those who are less than pure.” Cheering could be heard echoing around the room.

“As it stands I believe that Mister Malfoy deserves a task to prove his loyalty to our cause, it is a great honour to be entrusted with this task, Draco. You shall not fail me; if you do you shall forfeit your life. However, it will not come as quick as you would like, you will be tortured until you beg me to take your life, and even then death will not come for you. Is that understood?” he said looking back at Draco.

“Yes, my Lord I understand.” Draco said huskily.

Voldemort rose from his throne to circle Draco’s kneeling form, another sadistic smile gracing his inhuman facial features.

“Mister Malfoy, your task to help our cause win this war, a mission that you yourself have to carry out because I have entrusted you with it is… to kill Albus Dumbledore.”

Gasps could be heard around the room as Voldemort looked to his followers, “My dear friends it is true, Young Mister Malfoy here will kill the stupid fool that guards Harry Potter. Once he is dead I will have access to kill the child and I will be free to reign over the wizarding world and rid it of filth.” Cheers erupted in the room once again.

Draco fought the urge not to be sick, he couldn’t kill Dumbledore, he was his chance at a better future, Dumbledore was protecting him the best he could and now it was his mission to kill the man that was trying to help him, this wasn’t right.

“However Draco, because of your poor performance I feel it is necessary to encourage you, to ensure we get the results I desire, don’t you think?” It was a question Draco knew that, but he also knew that it was a rhetorical question, and therefore he refrained from answering.

Draco breathed deeply knowing what was coming, a repeat performance. He didn’t have the strength, he was used to being exposed to the Cruciatus curse but Voldemort was particularly liberal with his use of it, his intent was strong, it was usually to maim and hurt his followers however occasionally the curse had been strong enough to kill. Draco was aware of what happened when a person had an increased exposure to the curse, you only had to think of Neville Longbottom’s parents to know what it did to a person. He cringed knowing that it was his aunt who had inflicted it upon them.

He attempted to prepare his body for the excruciating pain he knew would be coming, but even his mental preparation could help him.

“CRUCIO” he felt the pain surge through his body before he heard the curse being cast, the pain stabbed at every part of his body. Every nerve ending was stimulated with pain as he curled up, his hands digging at his own flesh in an attempt to stop the pain. Draco could hear Voldemort laughing, watching the display. He could hear his own screams, this time round, he couldn’t stop the screams that tore through his tightly clenched teeth, and just like he knew would happen, it only encouraged Voldemort even more.

The pressure in Draco’s body was unbearable, he felt as if he was going to explode if the pressure didn’t find a source to leave. He was distinctly aware that blood was now pouring from his nose, a red stream of liquid pooling on the floor, covering him in the ruby red substance. His hands, face and arms had deep gashes on them from where his neatly manicured nails had pierced and cut his pale flesh grasping and gouging at the skin in an attempt to fight against the curse.

His eyes were tightly shut, he could feel the tears stinging at his eyes, but he wouldn’t let them fall, he didn’t want them to see him cry, that would only add to the humiliation, after all this was humiliation. Suddenly the pain stopped, well the pain that the curse inflicted, his limbs ached, he stung and he was bleeding quite rapidly, the pressure having found a way out after all.

Suddenly he was aware of a shadow hovering over him, he didn’t look up, he didn’t care who it was, he was however aware of the pain that shot through his torso, his arm, legs and head. The pain in rapid succession as the figure kicked every exposed part of his body, Draco tried to curl up as tight as possible to prevent further kicks, but the kicks only became more powerful. When they stop Draco could barely move, there was more blood, more pain and less he could do about it. All he wanted to do was go home to Hermione, Hermione, just keep thinking of Hermione he kept telling himself.

“Have we come to an understanding, Draco?” Voldemort hissed.

“Y-yes my Lord.” Draco whimpered from the pain, his jaw probably dislocated or broken from the impact of the kicking.

“Good. I trust you will require no more encouragement?” He hissed again.

“No my Lord” Draco answered again.

“Then you are dismissed.” He said flicking his scaly hand in Draco’s direction.

“You are all dismissed.” He said staring down intently from his throne, before vanishing in a cloud of black smoke.

The sound of pops from apparations could be heard following the snakes departure, leaving a few stray death eaters, the crowd of students and Professor Snape.

“Draco, you must apparate back to Hogwarts. Can you manage that?” Snape said lowly, Draco nodded his head.

“I will meet you there, before taking you to the infirmary, where to do intend to apparate to?” he asked rushing, watching as one by one the students disappeared.

“H-head dorm” Draco managed out.

Snape nodded his head. “Go, I must wait until everyone has gone before I follow, I shall not be long Draco, remain strong.” With that Draco fumbled for his wand and apparated to the safety of Hogwarts.

******

Hermione was exhausted, she wasn’t aware of how long Draco had been gone, just that he had been gone too long. She felt ill knowing that he was with the man that hated her so much, the man that wanted to kill her kind.

Ron and Harry had tried to comfort her the best they could, in all the years they had known Hermione they had never seen her break down like this, in fact it was very rarely they saw her cry. She had cried only occasionally during the first year, mainly when she was referred to as a mudblood by Malfoy.

How times had changed she was no longer crying because of Malfoy, no, now she was crying over him.

In all honesty it unnerved them to no end to see their normally strong friend falling apart in their arms. The rest of the students could only look on in sadness, despair and pity.

After what seemed like hours Hermione gave in to the exhaustion that lingered over her head, she passed out into a fretful sleep clutching at both Harry and Ron’s chests. Her clasp was strong, and it proved difficult for the two boys to pry the small hand of them, but when they succeeded they lay her form down on the chaise and transfigured a blanket for her out of a nearby piece of parchment.

Harry began pacing back and forth, Millicent made a joke about him wearing a hole in the plush white carpet, but unfortunately under the circumstances no one laughed. Pansy was now perched on Ron’s lap her hands having found their way around his neck, holding him close, as he played with a loose strand of hair. Blaise help Ginny in a similar fashion, only Ginny’s head rested against Blaise chest, the rhythmic beat of his heart lulling her to sleep, as Blaise stared deeply into the flickering flames, his brow furrowed together, waiting.

Millicent and Daphne sat quietly looking from the couples to the sleeping girl, to the pacing boy wonder, both of them questioning how they ended up here and how their lives had changed so much.

Suddenly a crack was heard startling all eight of the teens, the noise was loud enough to wake both Hermione and Ginny, who looked disorientated.

Then out of nowhere Draco fell unceremoniously into a heap on the floor, the blood still pouring, now staining the once white carpet crimson, he moaned loudly at the impact.

Hermione was on her feet instantly running over to her boyfriend, holding his bloody form.

“Merlin, Draco!!” she screamed holding him tightly. “Somebody get Madam Pomfrey, Now!” she screamed at the students who were frozen in horror, no one moved. “It’s going to be okay baby, it will all be okay, I’m here.” She whispered stroking his bloodied hair from his badly bruised and swollen face.

Another crack was heard, which indicated the arrival of someone else. She looked up to see the towering form of her potions professor.

“Please Professor, you have to help him.” She cried indignantly.

Snape was on the floor kneeling next to him pulling him from her arms.

“Potter, Floo Madam Pomfrey this instant, tell her I need emergency assistance and that I cannot bring him to the hospital wing he is in much too volatile condition to be moved.” He snapped.

Harry moved instantly to the fire, sticking his head into the flames relaying the message to the medi-witch. Momentarily the woman stepped out of the flames, brushing soot off her white apron; she carried a handful of supplies.

“Oh dear Merlin, what happened here?” she said rushing over to where Snape was, running his wand over Draco’s unconscious form. Snape quickly explained the situation before she began to cast diagnosis spells.

“What of it Poppy?” Snape said to the witch. She shook her head sadly.

“Severus, the poor child has practically every rib either broken or fractured. He has a broken nose and jaw, internal bleeding. His right femur has been snapped; he has metacarpal fractures to both hands, severe blood loss as well as several lacerations. On top of that I believe he has concussions from the fall.” She said quietly, she tried to keep it between them but the room was so quiet that each of the students heard.

“We can heal several of the wounds now, and possibly stop the bleeding, however we need to get him back to the hospital wing immediately. The headmaster needs to be contacted as well.” Snape nodded.

“Parkinson, Bullstrode and Greengrass, get the headmaster immediately, inform him of what has happened and direct him to the hospital wing. Weasley, Potter please get Miss Granger, we need to get Mr Malfoy to the infirmary now.” The boys nodded their heads. “Don’t just stand there, Now!”

Harry and Ron pried a screaming Hermione from Draco, she was crying and covered in his blood, fighting against them as they restrained her. She watched on in anguish as the medi-witch and Snape levitated him out of their common room toward the infirmary. Hermione broke free from their grasps following them, never once leaving Draco’s side, Harry and Ron following behind.

Ginny and Blaise were left in the common room, Ginny was staring fixatedly at the large pool of cerise blood, the colour draining from her already pale face. Blaise held her close to him, as she began trembling.

“I’m so glad that’s not you.” She said finally, her voice no more than a whisper.

Blaise kissed her head “I know, kitten. I know. I right here, I’m okay.” He hugged her tighter than he had. In that very moment he needed to convey everything he was feeling for her. He kissed her softly yet passionately hoping that she would know. A single tear fell down her cheek as they parted the kiss, her blue eyes shining with the unshed ones. Blaise brushed the lone tear away before kissing her once more.

He pulled Ginny from the blood pool, directing her away from it as they made their way passed it to the portrait. Blaise paused a moment before reaching for his wand and casting a powerful scorigify, removing the blood from the carpet, before they made their way to the infirmary.

******

Hermione stroked Draco’s still bloody hair, they were able to heal all his wounds, after they had forced potion after potion down him. He had needed several vials of blood replenisher, bone healing potions and pain potions before they could begin casting. His body had been smothered in bruise and swell reducing paste and the wounds had been closed, but Draco still hadn’t awoken from his almost catatonic state.

Hermione desperately wanted to rid Draco of all the blood that marred him, but unfortunately they were no longer able to use magic around him, for the fear of unbalancing him. He’d been exposed to so much magic that the headmaster had been concerned that the more magic that happened near him, the more it would harm him. Hermione had tried her best to sponge him free of the blood, but it still clung to his sleeping form. Hermione couldn’t work out if the blood was really there, or whether it had just been impaled in her memory, much like Lady Macbeth.

She kissed Draco’s cheek softly before she perched on the edge of the bed holding him tight, willing the darkness to consume her.

It was hours until sleep finally found her.

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

A/N: I apologise profusely for the delay, however my assignments have to take pride of place at the moment, which is a shame, I don’t like to keep you all waiting. But unfortunately with the increased amount of work for my degree I will be limited to updating once a week, I hope that’s okay?

Anyway, I hope the new chapter was worth the wait. What did you think, Please let me know.

Love D xx
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Lost in the Music