Abyss

Abyss

She had already cursed him with every little curse she knew, but as she had no wand, nothing she said ever had any effect on him. Stupid ferret, the minute we jump out that window, we're as good as dead... oh, if this is how I am going to die, then I think I much prefer Pansy's Avada curse than this!!! Falling to my death while in the hands of a ferret... Idiot, idiot Malfoy! If we ever get out of this alive, I swear I'm going to make you pay!

Hermione shut her eyes tightly as the window got closer and closer. She had to hand it to him thou; the ferret boy was stealthy, and fast. Not to mention insane. Oh, my God! He's going to jump... that's it, he really lost it... oh my God, we're going to die!

He kept his hold on her waist, but he did remove his hand over her mouth as he reached the window, and jumped. She peeked, saw the ground rushing towards them in an unbelievable speed, closed her eyes again, and screamed.

Only this time, there was no sound that came from her open mouth. It was as though her throat had constricted permanently because of confusion, fear, panic. She felt tears on her eyes again, and she twisted and clutched at the arm that held her, as if that mere action alone was going to save them from falling to their deaths. Any moment now, they were going to feel the impact of the fall. Any moment now, they were going to lie on the ground, broken bones, bloodied bodies, and all... Tears finally leaked out of her eyes as she imagined how their bodies would look like, lying there, all mangled and so very dead...

Just then, the feeling of falling stopped. Draco's whole arm dug excruciatingly on her waist, and for one full moment, she thought that he had permanently crushed and damaged her internal organs. In one, solid moment, she felt as though she couldn't breathe properly, and vaguely wondered if she would die due to suffocation. Hermione wasn't sure if the next thought was relevant, but the fact that his arm had probably marred her skin permanently did manage to cross her mind.

But when she gained the ability to breathe normally, albeit rather painfully, she opened her eyes, and saw that the ground was still below them, but not as frighteningly far as before. Of course, falling from that height would still cause them injuries, but not as severe as that of the height earlier. They both were suspended, caught on... something. But as she looked up, Hermione saw that it was Draco's hand that stopped them from their descent. His hand, holding tightly on a branch of one tree, saved them both. He clutched at that branch as though their very lives depended on it, and the truth of the matter was...it did.

And it was then that she noticed that he donned on a painful expression on his face, his own eyes closed, his mouth thinned to a single line. Upon her closer inspection, she found out that his hand was bleeding terribly, as if what he had managed to catch was a sharp twig or a pointed piece of wood.

"Malfoy," she said softly, her voice strained. Hermione's eyes were round and big as she stared up at his face, as she watched his expression with no small amount of pity. "Malfoy, you have to let go of me."

At those words, he opened his eyes. "Idiot girl," he breathed, and she felt his whole chest shift as he spoke. "Do you know what would happen to you if I dropped you?"

She glanced at the floor below them, but she was mindful of her actions for any other sudden movement would only serve to aggravate his already wounded hand. "I would fall," she admitted in a low tone, "but it's not that high. I'll live."

"No."

At that word, she sharply turned towards him, and later regretted her action as he hissed painfully. Their bodies swung slightly as they moved. "Now who's being the idiot?" she asked him, her tone severe. "You saved me, and I don't know why you did, but the least I could do in return is to not add my weight to yours as we're hanging here. Your wound must be deep as it is, my weight would only--"

He smirked at her, the distressed expression on his face temporarily swept away. "I would admit that you're not as light as a feather, Granger," he said low. "But I'm not letting you go."

She frowned at him. "Stupid, stubborn Slytherin..." she said beneath her breath. And then, something dawned upon her. Hermione lifted her hands off his arm and then reached backwards, her palms feeling around his waist.

"What are you doing?" Malfoy demanded at her actions.

She could tell t he was uncomfortable with her touch by the clipped tone of his voice. "Looking for your wand," she retorted. Finally, she found the piece of useful wood she was looking for. Hermione took it from the waist pocket of his pants, pointed at the ground, and called out a spell that would soften it momentarily. A thin glow emanated from the tip of the wand struck the ground. She looked up at him again. "Now you can let go, and we both won't be hurt."

He looked doubtful. "Are you sure? It's still a long way to fall--"

"Then how come you didn't think of that before you jumped out that window?" she hissed at him.

Draco glared at her, before he allowed his grip around the branch toosen. They felt the sensation of falling towards the earth again, but before she could feel the ground, he twisted them so that he would feel it first.

Hermione landed on top of him as a result of his move. He was now lying on his back with her on his chest. Quickly, she lifted herself off his body, and looked at his face. "Malfoy?" she called to him. She tried to ignore the worried feeling she had when she saw that his eyes were closed. Was he hurt?

He finally opened his eyes, and he blinked as he looked at her. "Granger?" he asked. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she retorted, quite startled at the question and the fact that he asked it. And then, she whispered, "Are yinsane?"

Draco snorted as he straightened himself. "I must be," he said as he stood up.

Hermione stood up as well. "You do realize that you've just killed Pansy, didn't you?" she asked him seriously.

He stared at her grimly, and didn't say anything in return.

That was Hermione realized that she was only wearing a nightgown. The air had a certain chill in it, as though it were basking in the coldness of death and destruction that was happening inside the castle. She shivered, and he saw it. But he didn't do anything about that, and for his lack of gallantness, she was thankful, because she honestly didn't know what to think anymore if he offered her his robes as well.

Draco then flinched as he moved his hand. Upon seeing this, Hermione looked around her, and spotted his wand lying just by the roots of the tree. She dashed for it, and grabbed it. She looked at him to find out that he was staring at her with a clearly offended expression on his face.

"You're going to curse me, after I saved you?" he muttered through clenched teeth. "Is this the thanks I get, after I risked my--"

She pointed his wand at him, and that effectively silenced him. "No, you prat," she said. She took steps towards him until she was in front of him. She reached for his injured hand. "I was meaning to heal this for you," she told him. And with that, she tapped his wand against his skin, and watched as the wound mended itself.

He looked at his hand, and then back at her. "Why?"

Hermione shrugged. "Because I thought it was only fitting that I heal you after you saved me," she said softly. "I do know how to express my gratitude, opposed to what you may believe." And then, she fixed him with a steady glare. "But I guess the real question here is why you did, when you could have just left me to die."

"I don't have to explain anything to you,&uo; he said firmly. Draco thrust his hand out to her. "Give me back my wand."

She clutched at it tighter. "Why?" Hermione repeated her question.

He glared at her, his silver eyes glinting dangerously. "You have a lot of questions, Granger, and I don't have time to answer them all. Now, if you want to live, then give. Me. My. Wand."

She took a step back. "Why? Did you just save me from Pansy so that you can kill me yourself? Is that the reason, Malfoy? Do you hate me that much?"

Draco cursed, and then charged at her. In moments, he had her pinned against the bark of the tree, his hands trapping hers, his wand falling aimlessly on the ground beside them. His face was full of intense emotions that were frightening to behold. He was so close to her that she could feel the heat of his breath against her own skin.

"Why do you always want to know everything, you silly little girl?" he snarled. "Fine then. Do you want to know the reason why I saved you?" He released her, grabbed his wand, and said, "It's because I don't hate you at all."