Don't Fall to the Enemy

Part Seven

Knock! Knock!

"Madam Pomfrey, there's someone at the door! Would you like me to answer it?" called Hermione.

"No, I'll get it." She walked to the door. In walked Annie Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasly. Annie had a tray with some food. So did Harry. Harry gave his tray to Malfoy. Annie headed over to Hermione and put the tray on her bedside table.

"Hey! How are you feeling?" Annie asked, setting box wrapped in a piece of paper from the Daily Prophet. It was rather thick.

"Well, I have taken three aspirin, two pain relievers, and a foul potion. Is that enough of an answer for you?" She set Across Enemy Lines on top of the package Annie had brought. Harry and Ron walked over. Harry sat in the only other chair on the other side of her bed. Ron tried to sit on the bed, but accidentally sat on Hermione's ankle, started, and stood up abruptly.

"Here," Annie said, handing Hermione her tray.

"So, Hermione, um, how do you feel?" asked Harry.

"She's taken three aspirin, two pain relievers, and a foul potion. Is that enough of an answer for you?" Annie said, mocking Hermione. Harry laughed. "What? Those are her exact words!" It had been a while since they had arrived and Draco had polished of all his dinner and was working on dessert.

"Hermione, eat," said Annie. She had eaten a little, but insisted she was full

"I'm done."

"Okay. Here. I was down in Hogsmeade today. I thought you would be finishing Across Enemy Lines soon, so I got you those." Hermione ripped off the Daily Prophet article ("Alan Wicher, New Minister of Magic!") to reveal the next to volumes of the Enemy Series.

"Thank you, Ann! This is great!" She set the books on her table and thanked her. Then she and Harry left. Ron alone stayed. "Go away, Weasly."

"No, Hermione. I need to talk to you."

"Leave me alone."

"Why? What did I do to you?" He sat down in the chair Harry had been sitting in.

"Uh, let me see? Look at me, Weasly!"

"I didn't mean to."

"You didn't mean to? How can you not mean to do something like this? Tell me Weasly." He didn't answer. He just looked away. "I knew it. You don't know. You don't want admit you did this to me on purpose. Now, can you leave?" He walked out without another word.

Part Eight

Draco was woken in the dead of night to the sound of someone crying and throwing up at the same time. He looked over to the bathroom. The light was on. He could hear Madam Pomfrey snoring in her room. He pulled himself out of bed, took his crutches, and walked to the bathroom. Hermione was lying there, tears streaming from her eyes.

"Go away!" she said through her tears. Then she threw up again.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked, sitting himself on the floor and setting his crutches up against the wall.

"Go away!" Hermione said again.

"C'mon." He grabbed his crutches, and helped her get up. She was still sobbing when he set her in her bed, and sat down. Before he knew what he had done he had asked Hermione what was wrong and she had told him everything. EVERTHING. Then he had drifted off to sleep and for the strangest reason, had a dream that he and Hermione were married.

Part Nine

Draco woke to the sound of someone's voice and to the feeling he was on a ship in a storm.

"Wake up! Wake up!" Madam Pomfrey shook him awake and made him go get dressed. He saw Hermione sleeping peacefully in her bed. The past night's events flooded over him. She had gotten sick, he took her to her bed, then she poured out her soul to him. The strange thing was, the only thing he remembered her telling him was 'And I'm in love with you.' Then he had fallen asleep.

"Madam Pomfrey-"

"She'll be joining you later today. She needs her rest."

"Okay." He walked out and headed toward the Great Hall for breakfast. When he walked, everyone stared at him. He hobbled in uneasily, grabbed some toast, and went to sit by the lake for a nice long, self-talk.

Part Ten

Hermione woke up. The hospital wing was dark.

"Madam Pomfrey what time is it?" she asked, rubbing her eyes and feeling around for her prefect badge.

"One. Why?"

"Oh," answered her, not bothering to tell her why.

"I'm having you stay here another night, but you can go back to your lessons tomorrow."

"Okay." She took out Across Enemy Lines, and read some of the end again.

"Many times and so many more to come, my love," he replied joyously, sobbing happily into her hair.

That was her favorite part. Absolutely. Suddenly she found herself in the story itself. But it wasn't real. It was a dream. Her eyes opened and reality engulfed her. No happiness beyond reason. Just hurt. Hurt, and hungriness. She had smelt food. That is what had woken her up. Draco swam into focus. He was sitting next to her bed, holding a tray of food that was much more satisfactory than the night before had had.

Part Eleven

"Hullo." She smiled kindly. She coughed, and he got up to get her some water. She noticed when he walked, he didn't need his crutches, like he had the night before. There was just something on his ankle.

"Here's some water."

"Thanks." She began eating. Ahhh, real food!, she thought, the taste of good, cooked food bringing a smile to her face.

"Is it good?" he asked. Hermione nodded. "Good. There was something I wanted to ask you."

"Yes?" she asked, putting her empty tray on the bedside table.

"Well, there's a trip to Hogsmeade this weekend. If you feel up to it, maybe you could come with me."

"Of course I'd like to come. It's kind of you to ask." Then, as there was no one else around, he kissed her then and there. Hermione blushed, pleased he had done so. Madam Pomfrey came out and took her tray but before she Hermione called, "Madam Pomfrey, I think I'm, uh well enough to go back to Gryfinndor Tower tonight!"

"If you're sure. Mr. Malfoy, would you walk her up to the tower, please."

"Of course." So he helped her get out of bed and she hobbled out, Draco carrying her bag.

"Draco, why did you kiss me?" He turned away for the first time all night.

"Hermione the truth is-"

"Do you like me the way I like you?"

"Yes."

"Really?!"

"Yeah. Well good night."

"Good night." And now it was her turn to surprise him. She leaned up and kissed him, then walked into Gryfinndor Tower without another word. Draco just stood there, thinking about how it had felt when she had kissed him. He had only kissed her on the cheek. She had kissed him on the lips. This had to mean something didn't it?

Part Twelve

Draco walked silently back to the Slytherein Common Room, and slumped down in a chair. Had he done the right thing by asking Hermione out? Yes, it was only a Hogsmeade trip, but it was a whole day with just Hermione to talk to. That was good. He would get to know her better. Soon he had drifted off to sleep thinking of things he would ask her and things they would do.

"Ahhh! Geoff!" Draco yelled. "Who do think you are?" He got up and was staring at an ashen faced Goyle. "You can sit down now. I'm going to breakfast." He took his bag and walked huffily out of the portrait hole. When he eventually got to the Entrance Hall he nearly knocked someone over.

"Oh, sorry!" He was looking into eyes. Sea blue, sparkling eyes. Hermione was smiling at him and then she kissed him again. He walked slowly into the Great Hall, enjoying the tingly feeling on his lips. He smiled and waved at Hermione, whose eyes glittered as she waved back.

Part Thirteen

"Hermione, who are you waving to?" asked Harry. He took a sip from his goblet.

"No one." She was smiled at Draco and served herself some sausage. When she had finished she didn't even wait for Harry and Ron. But Ron chased after her.

"Hermione, where are you going?" he yelled. He halted. She was talking to Malfoy. This was BAD.