The Dragon of Hogwarts

The Dragon of Hogwarts

Chapter Eight: Shocked Out

"A baby?" she asked in disbelief.

"No, a kitten. Yes, a baby," he snapped.

She glared at him.

"You're not helping."

Hermione's head was pounding again. It hurt so badly, that for a moment she thought she might be sick.

She slowly walked over to his bed and gently lay down, being careful to not jar her head.

Blaise stopped pacing and looked at her in concern.

"Hermione? You don't have to do this," he told her.

She blinked up at him.

"I can't think right now, my head hurts," she confessed.

He walked over to her and placed a hand on her forehead.

After a few minutes, he pulled his hand away and glared down at her.

"When was the last time you ate?" he demanded and she got the impression that he already knew the answer to that question.

"I had some toast for breakfast..."

"You have to take better care of..."

"No. You don't get to lecture me about this!" she cried sitting up.

"I've had a lot of shocks today," she went on, defensively.

He held up his hands in surrender.

"Okay, let's just go to dinner. We can finish this later when you've had time to think."

She nodded and then winced at the pain that made her feel like her head was splitting in two.

"We have the staff meeting tonight. I was planning on telling Professor Dumbledore about what happened to me," she said, massaging her temples.

Blaise opened his mouth as if to say something, but just shut it again and shook his head instead.

"Let's go."

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Hermione didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or scream as she surveyed the faces that were looking expectantly at her.

The Headmaster looked hopeful, while Professor McGonagall looked sympathetic. Professor Snape was scowling at her and Blaise was looking at the floor.

"So, you already know everything?"

"Yes, my dear, have you made a decision?" Dumbledore pressed.

"I, I don't... uh..."

She wanted to run, but they were all standing between her and the door.

Hermione glanced desperately at Blaise, but he still wasn't looking at her.

Just when she thought she'd faint from stress, Professor Snape cleared his throat.

"Perhaps Miss Granger should see Poppy about her injuries," he commented as if he were bored with the whole thing.

"Miss Granger, it would certainly put our minds at ease if you told us your decision first," Dumbledore encouraged.

She felt anger surge through her at that.

"You've known that Blaise and I are mates, and that I was kidnaped and tortured over the holidays for weeks and didn't tell me! And, you want me to put your minds at ease?" she demanded, her voice turning shrill.

The looks she was receiving now were a mixture of guilt and concern.

"No, I think it's past time I got this taken care of," she sneered, lifting her shirt just enough to expose her black and blue stomach.

Dumbledore flinched like she'd slapped him and McGonagall gasped in horror.

Snape rolled his eyes.

"Well, if this meeting is over, I have lesson plans to finish," he said.

"I'll walk you to the hospital wing," Blaise said, moving to take her arm.

She stepped away from him.

"I need to be away from you for a little while," she told him quietly.

He frowned, but stepped back.

McGonagall sniffled and Dumbledore sighed.

Snape gave them all a disgusted look.

"I'll take her. Come along Miss Granger," he said and walked out the door before anyone could protest.

Hermione sent one last glare to the Headmaster and hurried after Snape.

Snape never said a word to her as they walked to the infirmary. He didn't even stop walking or acknowledge that she was even there when they reached the door.

"Gee, Thanks Professor," she said, spitefully.

He just kept walking, black robes billowing out behind him.

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Poppy had been horrified at the sight of her battered body.

Hermione had been stripped down to her underwear, and pushed into a bed. The nurse then left for the dungeons in search of Snape. There was a special potion that Hermione had to take before Poppy could begin healing her.

Hermione sighed and tried to make herself comfortable. It was very warm and as she was the only one there, she allowed the thick blanket to fall to her waist.

Exhaustion from the day's events finally caught up with her, and she drifted off.

Her dream was a sweet one. She was lying on a blanket in the middle of a forest. It was a lazy afternoon, and the warm sun was streaming through the trees. Blaise was there, playing with Jason. She smiled at the sound of her brother's giggles as Blaise tossed him in the air and caught him.

The door to the infirmary slammed open, and she came awake with a start.

"Madam Pomfrey? I tried that cream, but it..." Draco broke off with a gasp when he saw her.

Hermione quickly pulled the blanket up over herself, but he'd already seen everything.

She glared up at him, bracing herself for the torment he was sure to unleash.

Hermione was surprised to see him turn and run away.

A few seconds later she could hear him retching from the bathroom across the room.

What was it now? Couldn't she have two minutes of normalcy today? It wasn't enough that she was mated to a dragon shifter and would have to have a baby! No, she had to run into Draco Malfoy who was acting completely out of character.

"Are you okay?" she asked him as he walked unsteadily out of the bathroom.

He was shaking slightly and had gone paler than normal.

"I should be asking you that," he mumbled, slowly making his way toward her.

She raised an eyebrow at him.

"I feel fine," she said.

He gave her a skeptical look.

"No really, I'm under a pain vanishing spell and as soon as Poppy returns with the potion she needs she'll heal me. I'll be fine."

Hermione wasn't sure why she was trying to reassure him, but it looked like he needed it.

He just stood there, staring at her while absently rubbing his arm. It was unnerving.

"Just what are you doing here anyway?" she asked.

He blinked and then pulled back his sleeve to show her his arm.

She gaped at the angry welts.

"How did that happen?"

His eyes narrowed.

"Your boyfriend did it on the train," he sneered.

She sighed and leaned back onto her pillow. She was too tired to even pretend to be shocked by something else today.

"Well, no cream or potion is going to work. He's the only one who can heal the wounds he causes." She informed him, closing her eyes.

"Look, I said I was sorry for breaking your arm and I haven't said or done anything to you, Potter, or Weasley since. It's been five months, can you get him to heal it for me?" he whined.

She opened her eyes and studied him for minute.

"I'll ask him to do it, Malfoy, but I can't promise that he will."

Before Draco could respond, Poppy returned and shooed him out.

"Is it a good idea to encourage him when you're mated to someone else?" Poppy asked. Hermione nearly choked on the potion.

"Is there anybody in this castle that doesn't know?" she demanded.

The nurse just smiled at her.

An hour later, Hermione was as good as new, and she felt much better.

Before she left, Poppy informed her to stop by Friday after classes for a physical.

"What for?" she asked, confused.

"Well, we need to make sure that you're nice and healthy before you get pregnant, don't we?"

Hermione ran all the way back to her dorm.

She was not surprised to find Blaise waiting for her in the common room.

She felt a warmth flood her at the sight of him and suddenly her whole predicament didn't seem so upsetting anymore.

He looked very nervous, and his nails were bleeding because he'd bitten them so much.

"That's a nasty habit, you know," she said, and began walking to her room.

"Hermione..." he began, but she talked over him.

"You'd better break that habit before the baby comes," she called over her shoulder.

They fell onto her bed when he pounced on her.

Hermione melted into his kiss and stroked his tongue with her own when it slipped passed her lips.

She was startled by a splash of wetness on her cheek, and her eyes flew open in surprise.

Blaise was crying. She held him close, and he clung to her, burying his face in her neck as his body shook with silent sobs.

One of her hands stroked his back while the other ran through his silky hair.

"You really didn't think I'd do it," she murmured in awe.

He didn't say anything, just pressed closer to her.

Several minutes passed before he was able to lift his head.

She wiped away his tears, and brought his head down to hers for another kiss. It quickly turned heated, and she could feel him harden against her thigh.

Hermione gently but firmly pushed him away.

"We're not done discussing this yet. But, I wanted you to know that I will do it," she said.

He smiled at her, and then lowered his mouth to her ear.

Hermione groaned as he nipped and licked his way down to the hollow of her throat.

"Blaise? I don't think I'm ready to do this tonight..." she trailed off as he latched onto her collar bone.

"Did Poppy heal you?" he asked, and she noticed the small gold flecks that had suddenly appeared in hie eyes.

"Yes, and that reminds me. Don't you think it's time you healed Draco? It's been five months."

"No."

"Why not?" she asked.

"He broke your arm."

She sighed in exasperation.

"It was accident."

"You want me to heal him?" he asked, thoughtfully.

"Yes."

"I'll heal him, if I can see you," he said, finally.

"See me what?" she asked confused.

"You said Poppy healed you. I want to see," he said, tugging on her shirt.

"Blaise, I'm not ready..."

"We won't. Not tonight anyway. I just want to see you."

"And, you'll heal Draco if I let you?"

"Yes."

"Okay," she agreed, and swallowed nervously.

He smiled at her again.

She raised her arms and allowed him to pull her shirt over her head.

He began running his hands over her naked skin, as if he had memorized where every bruise and scratch had been. Hermione was mesmerized as she watched his large, rough hands glide over her smooth skin.

Blaise moved his hands up her body and stuck his fingers under the band of her bra, then slid them around to her back. She gasped as he unhooked the bra and pulled it away from her. Her cheeks flushed as he gazed hungrily at her breasts.

The embarrassment quickly left her when he covered them with his hands, and began to gently caress her. Hermione moaned and arched into his touch, gasping as he took a nipple into his mouth.

It became too much for her, and she pushed him away again. "Okay, Blaise. You've seen," she said, panting.

He claimed her lips once more before reluctantly crawling off of her bed.

She grabbed a pillow, and hugged it to her chest as she sat up.

"When?" he asked her.

She didn't have to ask what he was talking about, because she was thinking the same thing. "Um, Poppy is giving me a physical Friday night, maybe this weekend?" she asked.

He nodded and leaned down for one last kiss. "Goodnight, Hermione," he said.

"Goodnight, Blaise," she called back as he left the room.

She got out of bed and pulled on a nightgown. Her mind reeling as reality began sinking in. What was she going to tell Harry and Ron? What was she going to tell her parents?

Hermione stared at her reflection in the mirror, and stretched the gown out at the waist. Even if she got pregnant right away, she'd only be about four months along when she graduated. Surely she could hide it 'til then.

But then what? Blaise had never mentioned anything about marriage. She'd have to bring it up. Her parents loved her and would support her no matter what she decided to do with her life. However, they would be extremely disappointed if she had a baby out of wedlock. She wondered what Blaise's parents thought of the situation? Had their situation been similar?

Hermione dropped the gown and sighed in frustration. These were all major things that needed to be discussed, before they bonded. She'd draw up a list tomorrow and try to find some time to go over it with him before the weekend. They'd also have to let Dumbledore know.

Hermione determinedly pushed everything out of her mind as she crawled into bed. Even so, sleep was a long time coming.

End Chapter 8