Dragon's Kiss

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Draco managed to get himself down the narrow, slippery, stone stairs without falling, reaching Hermione in seconds. She was out cold. He shivered as he sat down n the stair, thinking about what was probably best to do for her. Taking her to the Hospital Wing would be best, he mused, feeling the sharp wind whistle through his thick hair. But how to get her there? Figuring that the least time spent wondering and the more time spent taking her Madame Pomfrey would be better, he quickly devised a plan, hoping he wouldn’t encounter Potter and the Weasley girl on his way.

He stood and gathered Hermione in his arms, leaving her books on the stair. Carefully he made his way up the stairs, pushed hard on the front doors, and found himself in the entrance hall. Draco wasted no time, heading straight up the marble stairs and then making a sharp left, reaching the doors labeled "Infirmary". He paused at the door, trying to figure out how to open it when his arms were full. The question was answered for him when he was nearly bowled over by a brusque Professor McGonagall, her witch’s hat almost falling off as she struggled to righten herself.

"Mr. Malfoy, what on earth is in your arms?" the harried professor snapped. Malfoy looked at her, surprised. Isn’t it obvious? Stupid Gryfinndors. Then he took a better look at Hermione and realized what McGonagall was saying. Hermione was a mess of sodden robes and thick hair, her eyes shrouded by one arm, her hand hanging limply. He hadn’t really picked her up very well, so she was sort of falling out of his arms, and the end of her robes dragged on the ground. "I mu- Good Lord! IS that Miss Granger?" Malfoy didn’t even have time to answer before the doors to the Hospital Wing were opened and he was shoved inside, McGonagall’s hand at the small of his back.

"Poppy?" the professor called. "Poppy?" The chubby nurse hurried out of her office, looking tired. She started immediately into action when she saw Hermione, taking the limp girl from Draco’s arms and laying her in a bed.

"Now, now then." She said. "What happened?" Draco set about explaining.

"We were in an argument, and then she got up, and slipped on the outside stairs."

"Classic Slytherin-Gryfinndor, I presume?" You presume to much, Draco thought irritably.

"No," he answered. His eyes strayed to another bed, where a red-haired Weasley was lying, looking ashen, eyes closed. Malfoy turned back to Madame Pomfrey. "More of a lovers spat."

The nurse whirled around. "Oh really?" her eyes gleamed, and Draco smiled mentally. It’ll be all over school just in time for red over there to wake up, he thought with satisfaction.

"Yes," he replied to the nurse gravely. "Most unfortunate." He bowed his head. Madame Pomfrey clucked in sympathy.

"Well, your fight being a, as you say, ‘lovers spat’," she said. "It well…changes things."

Draco choked. "Changes things? What the hell do you mean, it changes things?"

Madam Pomfrey frowned slightly, as though trying to recall some long lost piece of lore. "Well…If I recall, if a lover is injured during a fight with a loved one, the loved one must prove themselves worthy to the injured one, and thus the spell is broken."

"That’s it?" Draco asked. Doesn’t sound so hard…I mean, we really aren’t in love so.…no problem there.

"No…not quite," Madam Pomfrey replied, her face puckered as she struggled to find what was missing from her description. "A moment, Mister Malfoy. Let me consult my book." She hurried from the room, and came back toting a huge and ancient volume, brown and cracked, it’s spine almost falling apart. The cover of the book read : Magicus de Adamo. Draco raised his eyebrows. Madam Pomfrey said nothing to him, flipping through the yellowed pages hurriedly, pausing with an occasional "No, that’s not it," or "Aha here it-…no." Several minutes passed- the grandfather clock in the corner of the hospital wing read 5:36. Draco said nothing- he was quite interested in this "spell" that the old nurse was ranting about.

Finally, after much searching, Madam Pomfrey found what she was looking for. "Ah…" she said, her voice sounding eerily like Professor Trelawney’s. " Here it is: The Dragon’s Kiss. One of the older spells in magical history." She lifted the book from Hermione’s nightstand, and staggered over to one of the chairs.. She sat down heavily, balancing the book in her lap, and flipped to the bookmarked page. Draco followed suit.

"The Dragon’s Kiss*" the head nurse began. "Is one of the worst spells out there, for if the one you love is injured before he or she knows of your love, you, and only you, are the one who can save them. You must prove yourself worthy of their love, and when you have broken that spell, the girl or boy whom you love will love you unconditionally. It is a very strong spell, and yet also a very strange spell. There is one catch, however. If you do not prove yourself worthy by the next full moon, your love will stayed sealed in darkness for all eternity."

The room was silent. Draco stared at the older witch in front of him. " All eternity? What the hell is this crap? Do they die?"

Madam Pomfrey closed the book with a snap. "They will not die, Mister Malfoy," she announced, her voice taking on it’s usual businesslike tone as she stood up and dusted off her robe. " They live forever, sealed in your unproved love."

"But I don’t love her!" Draco said, jumping up.

"Then why did you tell me it was a lover’s spat," Madam Pomfrey turned around. "Mister Malfoy, listen to me. You have a week and a half to break that spell. I don’t care how you do it, or if you don’t love her, or if you are, deep inside, harboring some feelings for her. I do care that you save that girl. It is essential- to her, and to you." The clocked chimed 6;00". "And that," Madam Pomfrey said, her hand waving in the general area of the clock,." That represents that visiting time is over. Good day Mister Malfoy." And Draco suddenly found himself alone in the hallway, staring at the heavy wooden door that stood between him and Hermione.