You Wouldn't Know

Hermione landed with a thud on the ground. The ground was hard and dirty and Hermione stood up immediately brushing herself off. She squinted, looking around in the dark, trying to figure out where she was. The soiled ground, smell of evergreens, and sound of nighttime animals lead her to believe she was in the Forbidden Forest. What am I doing here? She searched her pockets for her wand, but came up empty handed. Where is my wand? By now, she was scared. She was all alone in the Forbidden Forest, at night, without a wand. What a predicament I have gotten myself into! She shivered as the cool night air swept her bare arms. Forgot my cloak I guess. She bravely pushed herself forward, determined to find a way out of the forest.

* * *

Draco sat there, long after Harry left, still holding Hermione's hand. He didn't know what else to do. Several times, he fell asleep, hand still clutched in his, and ended up on the floor. Madame Pomfrey stopped by several times. Trying to persuade Draco to get back into bed, but he didn't budge. Now was one of those times again. Madame Pomfrey walked briskly behind him, cleaning up and putting away medicine. But instead of the usual "Mr. Malfoy, please get back into bed", she gave him a rather helpful piece of advice.

"If you are going to sit there until she wakes up, I suggest you talk to her, try to wake her up. She's in a critical condition, she could go anytime now. If she gives up on her thoughts, she will go physically. So talk to her," Madame Pomfrey told him, encouraging him. Draco looked at Hermione and then back at Madame Pomfrey in a confused sort of way. "Oh come on, Mr. .Malfoy, she isn't dead! She needs you the most now!"

Madame Pomfrey walked away, back into her office, closing the door behind her. Draco watched her go in, and then he turned back to Hermione. He watched her in her sleep. Nothing had changed. But Hermione's sleep now seemed troubled. As compared to the normal sleep she had before, now her eyelids fluttered and sometimes she cried out in her sleep. As he was watching her, she gave a small whimper. Draco decided he had to try to comfort her. Here goes nothing...

* * *

Hermione had now been walking for what seemed like forever. She noticed the small clearing ahead of her. The same small clearing she had seen four times already. Don't give up Hermione! Hermione trudged on ahead, but not much closer. Suddenly, she tripped on a root and landed painfully on the ground. She sat there, clutching her ankle, silent tears running down her cheeks. Come on Hermione! Keep going! Hermione hesitantly tried to move her ankle, but upon even touching it, she cried out in her pain. She scooted herself so that her back was leaning against a tree, letting the tears flow. It's hopeless. I'll never get out of her. And just as she was about to give up, a silvery mist appeared in the darkness. Hermione wiped her tears and watched in fascination. Then, standing on the ground, the misty figure of Draco appeared.

"Draco?" Hermione said, amazed. He nodded at her. And then he spoke.

"Hermione, if you can hear me, don't give up! You have to get out of this! Everyone needs you out of this! Keep going Hermione!" With that, he walked forward, kissing her softly on the cheek. At his kiss, suddenly the pain in her ankle was gone. Then, he disappeared, leaving Hermione by herself again. But now, Hermione was determined to get out. She hastily pushed herself, walking straight ahead.

* * *

Draco finished speaking with Hermione, ending it with a kiss on the cheek. Surprisingly, after this, her sleep was normal again. She wasn't squirming or whimpering anymore. Surprising... But as he watched her, completely still, he couldn't fight the guilty heaviness in his heart. It's my fault she is in this. If I hadn't brought her with me, she would be, well, moving. And what if she... He couldn't even finish his thought. The guilt was already bad enough as it was. But what he really couldn't believe was that he might never see his true love again. Now, against all odds, he had found someone he truly loved, and who might love him back, and he had put her in a coma. He stared down at her and whispered to the silence of the hospital wing, "I love you".

* * *

Hermione wandered around aimlessly around the forest, having no idea where she was going. She now back at that same clearing and she tired from walking. Her legs hurt and she was tired. She dropped down on a decomposing log, putting her head in her hands. How will I ever get out of here? Then, a familiar voice sounded throughout the forest softly but clearly. "I love you..."

She picked herself up again. She couldn't give up. Not ever. She needed to see him again. But as she mentally pushed herself forward, she heard another familiar sound, this one not as pleasant. Behind her, she could hear a low growl. But she had heard this particular growl before. She already knew what it. But she slowly turned around, hoping against all hopes that she was wrong. Unfortunately, she wasn't.

* * *

Draco watched her sleeping, but now once again, she was tossing and turning, and letting out some whimpers. Draco squeezed her hand a little tighter, hoping it would comfort her. But she continued her troubled sleep. Draco watched her, hoping it would go away. But when it didn't, Draco released her hand, running over to Madame Pomfrey's office. He entered without even knocking and began speaking.

"Madame Pomfrey, Hermione... She won't stop moving and whimpering... She just doesn't look very good!" Draco said worriedly. Madame Pomfrey quickly got up from her desk and ran over to Hermione's bed.

"Oh dear! She's going!" Madame Pomfrey said frantically.