On Borrowed Time

On Borrowed Time

Chapter 02 - The Vial, the Dagger, and the Dragon (September 1, 1996 continued)

After they have had their first dinner of the term, the trio made sure their things have been sent to their rooms before settling themselves in.

But before Hermione decided to show Harry and Ron her schedule, she decided to change out of her uniforms and into much more comfortable clothes.

"Hermione!" shouted Harry impatiently from below the staircase. "I want to see your schedule. Come on now!"

"Hang on, will you?" answered Hermione back as she jumped into her T-shirts. "Will you at least give me a few minutes to look over myself?"

The miniature grandfather clock by her dresser chimed. It was almost nine in the evening. After checking her reflection twice, she headed out to meet Harry.

"Hey, love," he whispered as he kissed her on the cheek.

"Hi. Where's Ron?"

"He's already at the Common Room. Let's go before he decides to throw his class schedule into the fire."

In the Common Room they sat beside Ron on the couch by the fire before arguing over their schedules for the school year to come.

"I think you have classes more than all my fingers and toes combined, Hermione," whined Harry wide-eyed as he looked over her schedule. "I have never seen have as many classes as you did our second year. Déjà vu, anyone?"

"Of course!" shouted Ron. "You've got the Time---"

"Tell the whole world, why don't you?" whispered Hermione as she and Harry clapped their hands over his wide open trap.

"But Hermione?" giggled Harry as they both let go of Ron. "Where is HARRY is that schedule?"

"HA!" laughed Ron loudly. "No offence, Harry. I know you did defeat the Dark Lord when you were a baby, and you are considered a hero now since you finally defeated him, but I don't think there should be a class in your name."

"Shut up Ron," growled Harry angrily. "I was not a hero nor will I ever be one. And I prefer not to discuss Him, the events in my life that involved Him or what I am thought of as." Harry suddenly got up from his seat and turned to face Hermione.

"Never mind, I am going upstairs now. Goodnight, Ron. Goodnight, Hermione" He gave her a quick kiss on the lips before heading up the Gryffindor dormitories.

Hermione slapped Ron on the shoulders a few times before yelling at him.

"How many times did I tell you NOT to talk about Voldemort?"

He shivered. "Could you NOT say His name?"

"I would say His name on purpose as to remind you NOT to talk about Him in front of Harry."

"But if you say His name, then Harry will be reminded of Him."

"Just shut it, Ron," as she slapped his arm one last time before getting up. "I would slap you till you turn blue but I desperately need to get something from the library."

"The library? You might as well live in that place! It's not even the first day of term and already you're heading there."

"Unlike you, Ron, who prefer to have an empty cranium, I actually prefer to exercise my brain. I will see you and Harry tomorrow. Goodnight."

*****

Hermione headed out of the Portrait of the Fat Lady, went through the moving staircases and down to the library. She took her usual route, but when she reached the corridor that lead straight to the library, she noticed a ripped piece of green cloth lying on the floor. She picked it up, wondering where it came from as touched the elegance of the fabric. Though the piece of cloth was small, it obviously looked intricately textured and yet it was soft and smooth to the touch. Hermione was about to rub it across her cheek when she suddenly heard someone wince not far from where she was standing. A few paces towards the direction of the voice led him to a doorway which she knew led to the room which Harry and Ron called the "Mirror of Erised Room" because that was where the two boys found the mirror years ago. Though it was now considered a restricted room, Hermione's curiosity took over and she eventually reached for the handle. She looked for any signs of Peeves and when she realized that the coast was clear, she pulled the handle and entered the room.

As Hermione slowly opened the door, she heard someone shuffle. This startled her a bit so she hurriedly grabbed her wand and pointed it towards the middle of the room. She heard a light scuffling from behind the curtains and pointed her wand towards it before speaking.

"I know someone is in here. Show yourself."

"No," someone whispered in a weak grating voice. "Leave me in peace."

"If you don't get out, I will be forced to tell a teacher that someone is here."

"Leave!"

By that time, Hermione had figured out whom the voice belonged to. She knew it was Draco Malfoy, but she did not know whether to run for her life or to confront him. Hermione tried to make a decision as she talked as to either approach Draco with caution or just leave.

"I don't know what you are planning right now, but I want you to get out from behind the curtains, with your wand in your pocket."

Uncomfortable silence filled the room. She waited a few more seconds for any activity behind the curtains. Hermione watched as Draco quickly pulled the curtains open, revealing himself to her, and started to kneel. In one quick motion, he crumpled to the floor and stayed there for quite sometime.

She rushed towards him, panicking and screaming.

"What happened? Malfoy?" There was no answer. "MALFOY!"

Draco was obviously unconscious. His eyes hands were flailed lifelessly to his sides and his eyes were glazed over. Out of panic, Hermione shook him as to wake him. He was not responding to her voice at all. Hermione wondered what had just happened so she looked at his hands. Both his hands revealed some things Hermione did not notice when he fell to the floor. Draco's long-sleeved sweater was torn up to the elbows, revealing a Dark Mark which Hermione thought had been there for years. Covering the Dark Mark was a sheet of dried blood and some was still trickling down his wrist.

He was taking very shallow breaths and he was turning blue. When Hermione got closer to listen to his heartbeat, she got a whiff of something that reminded her of asphodel in the infusion of wormwood. Then, it all made sense: Draco had just drunk the Draught of the Living Death.

"Help! Someone, please! HELP!"

*****

"It was all so sudden. I saw this piece of torn cloth on the floor and heard a voice. I followed it and ended up in the room. I heard him shuffling, told him to come out and then when he did, he fainted in front of me. I screamed for help but when no one came, I ran to library and then... and then---" Hermione burst into tears in Harry's arms as she tried to recall what happened to Professor Dumbledore, their headmaster.

The minutes that passed after Hermione ran for help went by so fast. All Hermione could remember was that she led Madame Pince to where Draco lay and then followed him as he was rushed towards the infirmary. In addition, before she knew it, he was declared dead due to the poison he ingested along with the loss of blood.

She could not get over the feeling of helplessness. Harry tried to comfort her by rubbing her back and hugging her, but voices of guilt in her head taunted her. If only you got there minutes earlier, they screamed. Or maybe if you screamed loud enough, someone could have heard you. You could have at least run fast enough.

Hermione knew deep inside that it was not her fault at all that Draco died trying to commit suicide. But she cannot help but think that she was as guilty of being an accessory to Draco's death as the poison he drank and the dagger that pierced his skin.

It took a warm drink and a couple of minutes to calm her down before Dumbledore walked towards her.

"I would like to speak with you privately, Miss Granger."

Hermione stared at him in wonder, for he seemed imperturbable about what had just happened. She nodded her head weakly towards Harry who in turn gave a big hug before leaving the room.

"The loss of Mr. Malfoy seems to have affected you greatly, Miss Granger."

"Seeing someone just die like that, thinking that you could have done something, could still stir the emotion of one's mortal enemy or friend."

Dumbledore paced around the room before turning back to her.

"I am apologizing right now for what I am about to say, Miss Granger. I would really hate to ask you to do something especially since you still seem to shaken up about what had just happened."

"What is it, Professor?" she asked right before a sniffling fit.

"You know that I would not normally do anything with the Time-Turner that would change the events of history. Mr. Malfoy may not be the best of people but I think he was just a lost boy. But that does not mean he should have been a lost cause. He was torn between himself and the path that his father had chosen for him. I know he is not an evil boy, as many of you would think. He deserves a second chance and I think we should give him that. What I am proposing you do, Miss Granger, is to prevent Mr. Malfoy from killing myself."

"Professor, do you mean you are asking me to turn back time and get to Draco before he tried to commit suicide?"

"Yes, Miss Granger. I would like you to go back in time a few minutes before he drinks the poison."

"I don't think I am the best person for the job, Professor. I think someone else would do a much better job. And Malfoy will not listen to me. He detests me."

"Let not looks deceive you, Miss Granger. Draco will hear you out, I am sure of it."

"But Professor---"

"I can't think of anyone else who could prevent this from happening, Miss Granger. But if you prefer to keep things the way they are or someone else to do the task, I will respect your decision."

Hermione felt like she was suddenly placed in this pedestal. She felt like she was one of the Fates, powerful yet unable to decide. And as much as she feared that she would fail her mission, Dumbledore did not give her much choice. She did not want the guilt of just letting things the way it is on her shoulder the rest of her life. She took the Time-Turner out of her pocket and held it close to her heart.

"I will do it, Professor."

"Thank you, Miss Granger. A two clicks will do it," he said. "You know what to do."