The Given Choices

*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter Nine *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"You need to wait in my office, Remus. I know you are worried but she needs time. If she wants to talk, I'll send someone for you. Now, she should be waking any moment by what Poppy said. Go and take Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter with you," the words of Dumbledore came through as she slowly began to awake but had not opened her eyes.

After hearing the doors open and close, she let out a heavy sigh and looked up to find the headmaster watching her. "Good afternoon, Miss Granger. You gave all of us a good scare. But I am glad to see you awake at last."

"How long was I asle- uncons- whatever," she stated frustratingly as she draped her arm over her eyes.

The old wizard chuckled as he sat in the chair next to her bed in the infirmary. "About forty-two hours from the time Mr. Malfoy found you and brought you here."

At that, Hermione sat up in her bed so fast that it made her head start to pound. Slowly she lay back down as she asked, "Where did you and Draco find me? Where was I?"

"You were found unconscious near the doors of the library when Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Zabini were exiting it. Mr. Malfoy carried you here as Mr. Zabini ran to retrieve Severus. Now, don't you worry at all. No one but Remus, Severus, and I know your secret but we have a feeling that she does know. Everyone else was told that you must have been over doing it, which is quite easy to believe," Albus admitted as he pulled out a small box of sugar-covered jellies. "Poppy had to threaten all of your dear friends within an inch of their lives if they did not leave last night. It was quite a sight, seeing Miss Weasley hold both sets of boys; Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley and then Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Zabini. That would've been a good show but too many causalities I'm afraid."

"Ugh. Don't remind me at that problem too," she sighed, as she just wanted to stay there and be left alone for the rest of the school year. Maybe for the next year as well.

The headmaster looked over to her with a gentle smile and a knowing twinkle in his eyes. That alone was infuriating to the young witch. He popped some candies into his mouth and tucked the candy back into his light-blue robes. "I have a feeling you are not in the mood to talk but you will be at some point. My door is always open for these types of problems but know that Remus will also want to talk more at some point. I'll tell him that when you are ready that you will contact him. These things take time, which is very understandable."

"You may stay here until dinner begins and then you could go back to your dormitory, while everyone is eating. But it might be a good idea to send word to those who are concerned that you are fine but just need some time. All concerned should be able to respect that. And if you wish to miss tomorrow's classes, I will send word to make absence approved."

He stood up and patted her on the shoulder as he began to walk away. Once Dumbledore was near the doors, Hermione spoke just loud enough for him to hear, "Thank you, Headmaster."

Madam Pomfrey made her eat something and then take another short nap but woke her in time to get back to her dorm while everyone was in the Great Hall. Once in the safety of the room, Hermione remembered what Dumbledore mentioned about letting those who were worried that she was okay. She sat down and wrote similar notes to Harry, Ron, Ginny, Zabini, and Malfoy that she was physically fine but just needed some time to deal thing some private issues.

The letters were addressed and left for a house elf to deliver. She changed into a comfy pair a shorts and a plain tee shirt to sleep in. With a similar note posted to her bedpost like the ones to her friends, Hermione closed the curtains, placed a spell to keep them closed and to keep the noises of her dorm mates out. Underneath her pillow she pulled out the Charms book she received for her birthday as she pushed her troubles out of her mind for the moment. After reading several chapters, sleep found its way back to the trouble girl.

The next morning, she awoke well while everyone else was in their classes. On her bedside table sat many notes with her name on them but decided to read the notes during breakfast. After a quick shower and a change into her clothes, she went down to the kitchens where Dobby happily got her a plate of fresh fruit and a couple pieces of toast. With food in hand, Hermione sat back on her bed and ate as she opened her notes.

The first one she read was from Ginny:

Mione,

I have to say I was very scared when Ron told me that Draco had brought your body to the infirmary. Of course, I knew he was not responsible but it was hard as hell to keep the four of those prats from going at it when they saw each other.

Anyways, I don't know what happened during your talk with Remus but I figure that had to do with your fainting. No, I don't think the boys figured that out. They were to busy blaming each other (and themselves silently!)

I am here for you as soon as you are ready to talk about it, Hun.

Love from your best girl friend,

Gin

The next was from Blaise:

G.,

I, of all people, know how much you love the library but fainting as your trying to reach it is a little too much. Really, I think your fixation of hardcover books is reaching a new extreme.

Hope you are feeling better and not reading a book but resting.

Just know that I am around, if you need anything.

Z.

Then Ron's note was next in the pile:

Mione,

I hope your doing all right. I don't know what ferret-boy and his quiet sidekick did but they'll pay when we find out. Don't worry; those Slytherins aren't that cunning to pull the wool over our eyes. Well, gotta go finish my essay for tomorrow.

Love,

Ron

P.s.

Harry is getting really worried about ... everything. Just though you should know.

The next note was from her boyfriend, Harry:

Mione,

First of all, I hope you are feeling okay. I don't believe that you are overloaded because ... I don't know I just don't think it's that. I haven't gotten a wink of sleep since you were placed in the infirmary. I don't know why Malfoy and Zabini found you but ...I don't think they had anything to do with it. Okay, maybe I have a slight feeling they did but I know you trust them to some degree.

Second, I am sorry for overacting with Malfoy but it's just that I don't like the idea of you being friends with him. And it seems like you are and I am just afraid he'll make a move on you. I love you, Hermione. The thought that he could take you away from me just makes me feel so ... scared.

If I have anything to do with your 'personal issues', please forgive me and just let me make it up to you. I don't know what I'd do without you, Mione.

With all my heart,

Harry

At that point, tears where streaming down her face as she read the last note that was from Draco:

Hermione,

I really don't know what to say. This is my sixth attempt or so Blaise says since I've hit him with each crumpled up attempt. So, I am just going to write whatever comes to my mind. So, yes, you have been warned.

That night when Blaise and I were leaving the library and found you knocked out on the floor. Truly, we found you that way. If we had done it, then I wouldn't carry you to the ward and Blaise wouldn't have retrieved Professor Snape. Please, Slytherins are cunning not stupid... Okay, I take that back. Blaise and I are NOT stupid but the rest of our year is.

I noticed that you weren't at dinner that night but I figured you were reading in the library and simply did not keep track of the time. That's why Blaise and I looked there after dinner. But the youngest Weasley mentioned, as we waited to hear how you were, that Lupin had dinner with you to have some kind of talk with you. If something during that talk bothered you, you could possibly talk to me about it since I am a good listener. I am currently trying to ignore my former-best friend, Blaise, he laughs about me being a good listener. But I am, if it's important and I am sure it is, if it got you this upset.

Okay, I need to wrap this up so I can kick his scrawny arse.

Draco

Hermione put the letters under her bed as she thought over the last two of them. Her heart told her that she loved Harry but she wasn't sure it was the forever love yet. But she pushed that to the side. She packed her bag with a quill and some parchment, Hermione decided that she could get some work for next week done. All her assignments for the current week had already been done and ready to turn in.

With her book bag on her shoulders, she headed towards the library, her mind drifted back to Draco. The feelings on that young man made her mind completely confused. A part of her wanted to just go back to the way it was. It just was so simple to ignore him. But there was something inside her that would miss him. Of course, he was very good looking but it was more than that.

The library was empty except for Madam Pince, who simply nodded as she entered and found her regular table. She pulled out her things as she continued to think. What was it about Draco Malfoy that made her want to befriend him and Blaise Zabini? The two very intelligent guys from Slytherin were the types she should especially look out for. But just because they were in that house, did it make them bad people?

Draco had seemed to change and she had never known Blaise that much but he seemed nice enough. Yet, could she trust them? No, not completely. She trusted them enough to be alone in the same room with herself and Ginny but not too much more than that. This was still a tentative friendship and it would take time for more trust. Neither appeared to rush her into a friendship or anything else. The fact Draco was worried about her that night and went to find her meant a lot to Hermione; however, the fact earlier that day, they ran into Lucius Malfoy and he called her lovely. Something just didn't seem right.

Hermione's head was starting to hurt again as her thoughts started to run in fast motion. She got up and decided some nice little reading would help. With Hogwarts: A History under her arm, the pressure started to release and calm down again. The thoughts about certain Slytherins could wait for another time.