Life without danger is a waste of oxygen

Draco kept on running until he could no longer run, and then he stumbled into the castle and into Sergeant Larkin's office and collapsed.

He felt Larkin lift up his head, and then he breathed a very strong smell of...

"Whatthefuck! Get that away from me! What is that?"

"Ammonia," Larkin replied. "You're soaking wet mi'boy. Here are some dry robes. Change!"

"That sounds like an order," Draco replied.

"Unless you'd rather I stripped and changed you." Draco leapt to his feet and changed. "Sit down lad, here." Larkin gave Draco a mug.

"What's in it?"

"It's a brew."

"A what?"

"Just drink the bloody thing."

There was silence between them.

"You're here because of her, aren't you?" Larkin asked. Draco nodded slowly. "Talk."

"He says I'm not good enough for her, because of my...my past. She's all I can think about though, all the time, everyday."

Larkin sighed. "It's Hermione, isn't it?"

"Yes. It's complicated, though."

"I know. She's with Ron and they've been friends forever."

"It's more complicated than that."

"You know, I was in a similar position to you once."

"Yeah?"

"Yes. You want to know what I did?"

"What?" said Draco, trying his best to sound as uninterested as possible.

"I told her how I felt, and then I waited."

"For how long?"

"That doesn't matter."

"Of course it does."

"No, it doesn't. The point is, if you're meant to be with someone, you will be. If you really love her, you'll wait."

"What if we're not meant to be together, and I just think we are?"

"You'll know if she's the one. There'll be no question about it."

"I know."

"Then that's all there is to it. Off you go now, lad."

**********

Later on that night, when Hermione left the Room of Requirement, she expected Draco to be in the common room. Finding that he wasn't there, she guessed he was in bed already, and so she went to sit down on the sofa to relax. Hermione picked up her Transfigurations textbook and began to read.

After about an hour, she heard a loud bang. Draco was lying on the floor next to the table, clutching the back of his head. 'Please don't see me, please don't see me, please don't see me,' he thought.

Hermione jumped up and ran over to him.

"Draco, what's happened? Are you okay?"

"Tripped over the damn table. It's nothing." Draco bit his bottom lip to help with the pain.

"I think you've hurt your head. Move your hand, let me see."

"No, I'm fine," Draco protested. The pain was getting worse in the back of his head. He bit down on his lip, causing it to bleed. The taste of his blood almost soothed the pain, somehow.

"That was not a question." Draco removed his hand, and Hermione saw his precious platinum blond streaks were covered in blood. The blood ran down his neck, coming from a deep cut in the back of his head.

"Draco, we need to get you to Madame Pomfrey immediately."

"No! I said I'm fine."

"You can't leave this. It's a very deep blow; I think it may even have cracked your skull."

"What, are you a mediwitch now or something? Wait, you've been training, haven't you? You do it. Fix me!" he ordered.

"Draco, I really don't know much. I need to take you to Madame Pomfrey. She won't ask any questions."

"No! Hermione Granger, you are the smartest witch I know. Now either fix me or lose me!" Hermione stared deep into his cold grey eyes for a moment and saw fear. She took out her wand.

"Osseous." The blood vanished and the deep wound slowly closed up. Hermione watched the pain in Draco's eyes. "If I haven't done it properly you could still have an infection; it could be serious."

"I trust you."

"Then tell me what happened. Walking into a table would not have done this."

"Ask no questions and you'll get no lies."

"Draco, this is serious."

"Hermione, please, not now. In case you haven't noticed, I've got a bit of a headache."

"Fine, make your little jokes. You've lost a lot of blood."

"I need Blood-Replenishing Potion."

"I know what you need, but I'm just not sure I'll be able to get it. Draco?" Draco had passed out on the floor.

Great. Hermione tried to lift him but he was too heavy. She decided to use magic instead. "Mobilicorpus." Draco's body levitated into the air and Hermione directed him into his room and onto his bed. Now to get the potion. If I get caught and lose my Head girl badge, Draco will be in SERIOUS trouble. She made her way quietly out of the dormitory and over to the hospital wing. It was empty and dark but Hermione knew where Madame Pomfrey kept the key to the supply cupboard. She grabbed the potion and made her way back quickly to her dormitory.

Draco was still lying unconscious on the bed, so she carefully lifted his head and put a couple of spoonfuls of potion into his mouth. After a while, his eyes began to open.

"Hermione?"

"Yes, Draco?"

"Thanks." Draco fell off to sleep and Hermione stayed for another hour, just to make sure he was okay. She sat stroking his hair until she could no longer keep her eyes open. She longed to curl up and sleep next to him, but she knew she shouldn't, so she left and went back to her own room.

**********

Hermione woke up to a beautiful smell. She got up and pulled on her dressing gown, leaving her room to find the source of the smell.

"Draco?" she called out.

"Morning. How do you like your pancakes?"

"I don't know," came the groggy response. "How's your head?"

"Never been better. Here." He thrust a plate at her with a pancake on. Hermione nibbled the end of the pancake cautiously. "It's not poisonous."

"You got up early just to make pancakes?"

"I didn't make them. The house-elves did."

"What?"

"Well, that's what they're for."

"You're unbelievable. Are you ready to tell me the truth about where you got those injuries from last night?"

"I already did."

"I'm not stupid. I risked getting into big trouble for you last night. I stole from another person. I think I deserve an explanation." After a few moments of silence, Hermione knew it was pointless and stormed out.

**********

The trio silently filed into Transfigurations after breakfast, aware of McGonagall's bad mood.

"Class, take out your books," she snapped. "There is something I need to attend to. Begin reading at page 286 where we left off. Harry, please come with me." Hermione's hand shot up into the air. "If you've already finished, amuse yourselves sensibly until I return." The Professor left with Harry.

Draco looked over at Hermione. Her head was bent over a scroll and she appeared to be making notes on things the class wouldn't be learning until later in the year. Across the room, Ron was also watching Hermione instead of concentrating on his work.

Draco whispered something to the Slytherins in the room and they all burst out laughing, looking indiscreetly at Ron. It was childish, but Draco didn't care.

Ron went bright red and kept his head down, pretending to ignore the other Slytherins. A few minutes later, Draco whispered something else, causing more laughter and pointing in the direction of Ron.

"You got something to say, Malfoy?" asked Ron, slowly getting to his feet. Draco ignored him. "I didn't think so, ferret boy!"

"What did you call me, Weasley?" Draco rose to his feet also.

"Ferret boy," Ron repeated, slowly.

"I'd be careful if I were you. Someone in your position cannot afford to make comments like that." The class began to slowly lean in so they wouldn't miss anything.

"Boys, really," Hermione interrupted. "Professor McGonagall has trusted us. I really don't think we should do anything that might jeopa..."

"Yes, well, I'm surprised someone in your position can sit still for so long. I thought you enjoyed bouncing."

"Well, if there's a choice between that and sitting next to you, the answer's obvious. I'm surprised Hermione has put up with you for so long."

"Hermione now, is it? What happened to Mudblood and Granger?"

"Oh, I leave the derogatory names to you and your family now. It's more fun that way."

"Oh, you want to talk about families now?"

"Draco, Ron, please. Head Boy and prefects should be setting an example," Hermione said, frantically trying to regain order.

"Yes, families, you know, people who buy you presents on birthdays and Christmas. Or perhaps send you grotty old hand-knitted items that can barely pass as jumpers," Draco smirked, looking around at his fellow Slytherins for approval.

Hermione inhaled loudly at this, before exclaiming, "Those are Weasley jumpers, Draco, and I happen to like them!"

Ron ignored her and continued. "Those jumpers are made out of love, Malfoy. My parents don't need to buy me off."

"Well, that's lucky for them because it's not like they can afford to. Tell me, why would anyone have so many kids if they were that poor?"

"I'd shut my face if I were you, ferret boy!" The class ohhhed in anticipation.

"Or what?" Draco drawled.

"Okay, I think we all need to go back to our seats and continue with the lesson," Hermione said, again trying to regain order in the classroom.

"Or I might just take a page out of old Moody's book," Ron said.

"Oh, please. First of all, it's 'leaf'. You don't take a page, you take a leaf. And second of all, don't threaten me, Weasley, because I guarantee you'll lose."

Ron reached for his wand but it was too late; Draco had already hexed him. There was a large squeal from Pansy and Hermione as Ron shrunk down into a...

"You turned my boyfriend into a guinea pig!" Hermione shouted. Before she could say anything else Professor McGonagall came back.

"Class, I do apologise, but I have been called away urgently. You may all leave early and I should hopefully have returned by next lesson." She turned and left.

Hermione opened her mouth to continue shouting at Draco, but he was gone.

"Neville, where did he go?" she asked.

"He sneaked out behind McGonagall. Here, take Ron." Neville handed the loudly squeaking guinea pig over to Hermione.

"Umm, hi baby," she said. "I'm really sorry about this. You're probably hungry. I have an apple in my room, and then we'll go and find Malfoy. I'll kill him!" Ron began squeaking even louder, his nose twitching up and down.

Hermione took him out of the classroom and through her portrait.

"Wait here." She put him down and ran over to her room to fetch the apple.

Hermione came back down to find Draco sitting on the sofa, holding Ron in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

"Give me back Ron, now!" she demanded.

"Ron? I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're holding him in your hand."

"Oh, Fluff?"

"What?"

"That's what I named him. Like it?"

"I'm not playing games with you. Finish the spell!"

"Okay, but you owe me. I'm thinking you, me and the Jacuzzi in the prefect's bathroom. Locked door, of course," he replied, blowing a long puff of smoke straight into Ron's face. Ron bit him fiercely on the forefinger. "Ah," Draco screamed. "You little bitch!" He threw Ron onto the floor."

"Draco Malfoy, you end this spell right now!" Hermione said, looking fierce.

"Finito," said Draco. "The little vermin bit me."

"It's no more than you deserved, Draco," Hermione replied, very matter-of-factly.

"You're still calling him Draco after this?" asked Ron. Hermione looked at Ron, and then back to Draco, and then back to Ron again. "Fine!" Ron stormed out.

"Well, thank you very much!" declared Hermione.

"What did I do?"

"You turned my boyfriend into a guinea pig and now you've made us argue."

"Is that all?"

"No. Why did you do it?"

"He started it."

"Listen to yourself. You sound like a child."

"He was about to try and turn me into a ferret again." Hermione suddenly had an incredible urge to laugh. The corners of her mouth began twitching. "Think this is funny do you?" he asked, getting angry. Hermione simply threw back her head and laughed, unable to control herself any longer.

"You didn't see yourself bouncing up and down. It was hilarious." Draco crossed his arms and began to pout. He couldn't stay mad long though, as Hermione's laughter was so infectious.

"So, does that mean you're not mad at me anymore?"

"You still have to apologise to Ron."

"No way."

"Come on, just two words."

"Fine, I'll say I'm sorry. I won't mean it though," he added.

**********

Ron had stormed outside, hurt, angry and humiliated. After a while, he saw Hermione and Draco making their way towards him.

"What are you doing with him?" asked Ron.

"Be nice, Ron. Draco has something to say," Hermione said.

"Fluff, I mean Weasley, I'm sorry if I offended you."

"Call that an apology?" asked Ron. Hermione elbowed Draco in the ribs.

"Ow. It was completely insensitive of me to turn you into a guinea pig, and then to re-name you."

"And?" Hermione prompted.

"And I'm sorry I blew smoke in your face."

"Really?" asked Ron, pleasantly surprised by Draco's new demeanour.

"No," said Draco.

"You see what he's like, Hermione?" asked Ron, staring up indignantly.

"Well, weren't you about to hex him?" she pointed out.

"Yes, but that was different."

"How?"

"He started it."

"Grow up, Ron. I blame both of you for not listening to me in the classroom when I told you to stop. Now, I want you to both shake hands."

There was no way that Draco wanted to shake his hand, and he could see Ron felt the same way. However, he also wanted to impress Hermione, so Draco put on a false smile and held out his hand.

"Forget it," Ron said.

"Ron, don't be so mean. Draco is really trying here," Hermione scolded him.

Ron eventually stuck out his hand after realising what Draco was up to. 'Fine. Two can play at that game,' he thought. The two boys shook hands.

"Good," Hermione beamed at them both. "Now we've missed lunch and if we don't hurry we'll be late for Potions, too."

The three made their way to the dungeons, Hermione happily and Draco and Ron grudgingly.

"Granger, Weasley, you're late!" snapped Snape as they entered the room. "Twenty points from Gryffindor," he paused for effect, "each."

"But sir, class starts at two and it's two now," Hermione protested.

"And how do you propose class is to start at two if you only reach the classroom by two?" he replied icily.

"Malfoy's late too!" exclaimed Ron.

"Is he really? I must not have seen him. The ginger straw you call hair must have blinded me slightly. Get to your seats before I take off more points."

Needless to say, Ron spent the rest of the lesson with an angry glare on his face. He sat grumbling to himself about favourites and how life was unfair.

**********

The next day, Draco walked into the common room to find Hermione staring absent-mindedly out of the window.

"Galleon for your thoughts?" he asked her.

"Galleon? I thought the saying was 'Sickle'."

"I'm rich. I pay in Galleons. Don't change the subject."

Hermione sighed. "It's my parents' twenty-fifth wedding anniversary this Saturday and they've asked me to come home for the party."

"Lucky you. We'll all be here studying while you're out enjoying yourself."

"Not really. I can't stand some of my parent's friends; they treat me like I'm five years old."

"It's still better than being here for the weekend."

"I suppose. I could ask Ron to come."

"Take that blundering idiot to meet your parents?" Hermione raised her eyebrows at him. "What I meant to say is, take me instead."

"What?"

"Well, I'm a Malfoy."

"And that has exactly what to do with my parents?"

"I'm charming and adorable. To put it simply, they'll love me."

"A bit full of yourself today, aren't you?"

"Full of myself? I can guarantee your mother will pull you aside and tell you how much she loves me. Your father will love me too. What sport is he into?"

"Rugby, I guess."

"Rugby?"

Hermione laughed. "Draco, you know I have to ask Ron to come. He is my boyfriend."

"Fine, let me know how you get on with that," Draco sniggered. There was a knock at the portrait. "That's probably him now." Draco walked over to the door to let Ron in. "Now's your chance."

"Chance for what?" asked Ron.

"It's my parent's wedding anniversary this weekend and I wondered if you wanted to join me," Hermione said.

"Join you for what?" asked Ron, staring anywhere in the room except for Hermione.

"Join me at the party they're having."

"Oh, umm, I really would love to..."

"Why do I sense a 'but' coming along?"

"Well, it's just that I have loads of work to do this weekend."

"You've never cared about school work before, Ron."

"I know, it's just this assignment's really important. I'm sorry."

"Fine, whatever."

"I just came over to wish you luck before your medi-exam and to arrange what time we'll see you in Hogsmeade later."

"I don't know whether I'll go. I have a lot of work to do," Hermione pouted childishly.

"Okay, maybe I'll catch you later then," Ron said before leaving. As soon as he was gone, Hermione looked up at Draco.

"So, when's our train leaving?" he asked her smugly.

"There are conditions, Draco."

"Name them."

"You must be on your best behaviour while you're there."

"Of course."

"You must never tell Ron or anyone else that I took you."

"Okay, I'll try not to."

"Not good enough."

"Okay, I won't tell anybody."

"No kissing or inappropriate touching. You are accompanying me as a friend and nothing else."

"Now where's the fun in that?"

"Draco!" Hermione gave him a warning look.

"Fine, we're just friends. I'll even buy the gift."

"Gift?"

"Don't tell me you were planning on showing up at a silver wedding anniversary with no gift."

"Well, I've never bought them anything before," Hermione replied sheepishly.

"Go and take your exam, and good luck for it, not that you need it. Meet me inside the Hog's Head at three."

"The Hog's Head?"

"Three Broomsticks will be packed, but it's up to you."

"Hog's Head it is. See you."

**********

Hermione's medi-exam flew by. There was a theory paper and a practical assessment, both of which Hermione felt extremely good about.

On returning to her dorm, she found a large bunch of white roses with a note attached to them:

Congratulations on becoming a medi-witch.

D

Hermione grabbed her cloak and made her way to the Hog's Head to meet Draco.