When Malfoy wants a Witch

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Chapter 14 - Healing

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Lucius was already at the floo, calling the Healers.

White froth bubbled out of Hermione's mouth as she twitched madly on the floor.

The Healer who was called in stared at the blond heir convulsing in huge bed and the brunette witch twitching on the floor with white foam bubbling out of her mouth every so often.

“They should be taken to St. Mungo's now!” Lucius ordered, stomping his foot and glaring at the useless witch who just gaped at his only son and his daughter-in-law to be.

The Healer trembled as she raced to Draco's side and poured an anti-convulsant potion down his throat.

Draco's body stilled, and another Healer scooped him up and carried him into the floo to the hospital.

“Die Ferret,” Hermione said, twitching madly. "Die Ferret."

Tears rolled down Draco's cheeks. "I AM SCUM!"

“Do something about this!” Narcissa ordered the confused Healers.

Hermione giggled as she was placed in a bed.

Draco's body was still.

"The ferret died," she said, taking a male Healer's hand at the hospital, and she laughed. "You're CUTE!"

“Miss Granger!” Lucius tried to chastise her.

Hermione began to choke and cry looking between Lucius, the male Healer, and Draco.

Narcissa held her baby's hand as tears poured down his cheeks and he continued to mumble about being unworthy.

"Contact Master Severus Snape at once," Lucius demanded, grabbing the 'cute' Healer's robes and shoving him out of the private room.

“I want my cutie!” Hermione whined.

"He is lying in that bed there!" Lucius said, pointing at where Draco lay still except for the shallowest of up and down movements.

“That is Ferret!”

"He is your sweetheart!" Lucius snapped, and his lip curled up.

"But you are ever so much more cute!" Hermione said, grabbing Lucius' bum.

“Let go of me!”

Hermione pouted as Lucius pulled out of her hold.

“Hehe, the Ferret is dead!” Hermione giggled gleefully.

"What do you need?" Severus bellowed as he walked into the hospital room with his shirt partially unbuttoned and Remus following behind him holding Severus' robe, and trying to button his own shirt.

“Why did it take you so long?” Lucius grumbled.

"None of your damn business," Severus said, as he blushed, and he took the robe Remus held out to him.

Remus looked at Severus with big eyes.

“You must tell me what has happened to them,” Lucius demanded.

"I haven't the foggiest," Severus said, as he walked over and touched Draco's forehead. "Though I suspect it is a dark curse."

Remus walked forward and hugged Hermione.

"Remus, the ferret is dying," Hermione whispered conspiratorially in his ear. "Makes me happy." She giggled.

“Hermione, don't say that. Draco is a sweet boy.”

"He is DYING!" Hermione whispered again as she snuggled Remus. "And his father is mean to me."

“He is your fiancé,” Remus reminded her.

“If he dies, I will be free!” Hermione giggled madly.

Severus walked over to Hermione and moved the lit tip of his wand back and forth to look into her eyes with the light shining brightly.

"Shit," Severus said.

A purple opalescent cloud hung in Hermione's eyes.

“What is it?” Lucius asked, worried about his son and his son's fiancée.

“Damn Riddle!” Severus murmured.

Suddenly, Hermione let out and ear piercing scream and began to bleed.

"Give her a calming draught," Severus said. "I must get to brewing the only potion that will stop this spell. It will take three days of non-stop brewing."

“I’ll help you, Severus!” Remus promised and took Severus' hand.

"Thank you," Severus said, looking deeply into the golden eyes of werewolf. He leaned in closer to the wolf.

The wolf dared to peck Severus' cheek.

The dark magic was slowly nibbling on Draco's life force. His only strength were the memories of his love. Of her beautiful smile, the way she laughed, how she nibbled on even a regular quill when she was really concentrating...

"It would be best for her to be put in bed next to Draco. He needs her close," Severus said. "Remus and I will go and brew the potion that you need. We shall return as soon as it is brewed."

Severus stalked through his lab, his robes billowing. He didn't know Draco and Hermione had been under the influence of Voldemort's spell. He kicked his desk and swept the fourth year essays to the floor.

“Severus, are you alright?” Remus asked, seeing the dark man so distressed.

"I've caused this. Hermione is lying in St. Mungo's twitching because of me," Severus said, covering his mouth and closing his eyes. He hadn't cried since Lily stopped being his friend. He hadn't deserved her betrayal of him. But if Hermione stopped being his friend, he did deserve it. He had been killing her.

“It's not your fault, Severus. It's some mysterious magic doing that…” Remus said and stroked Severus' fine hair.

"It is," Severus whispered leaning into Remus. "I gave her the potion which when combined with that spell is causing her to go mad."

“Did you know of the spell before hand?”

"No, but I sold the potion to Draco," Severus said, sighing as he felt Remus nuzzle him a moment.

“What was the potion for?”

“It was a love acceptance potion, which would've made her see that Draco loves her dearly. It was to clear her mind and open it to Draco, and only Draco."

“That's not too bad, isn't it? It was not to force her, right?”

Severus didn't answer, just put his hand on the arms that were wrapped around him.

"We should get started on brewing the healing potion."

“What did Draco pay you for that Potion? You should give that back to him.” Remus said as he enjoyed being close to Severus.

Severus didn't answer as he set up the cauldron.

He would not give back Remus! Never!

"Severus, I need to tell you something," Remus said scuffing his shoes. "I don't want you to be angry."

“I promise I won't get angry at you,” Severus said, looking at the werewolf and cocking his head to the side.

"Ireallylikeyou," Remus muttered, blushing as he scuffed his shoes.

“What did you say? You have ear worms?”

"I really like you." Remus looked up at Severus with big golden brown eyes begging him not to laugh. "I know you would never like me, Severus. But I really like you and wanted you to know."

Severus' eyes turned as big as saucers. Had the wolf liked him all along? “For how long have you liked me, Lupin?”

"Since I was fifteen," Remus said. "Please don't hate me."

“Why did you not tell me this then?”

Remus turned away. Now Severus would start laughing at him.

"Because it was so obvious that you were in love with Lily. I know you aren't possibly inclined to like me back as I like you!"

“I loved Lily as a friend. I know I am not attractive enough for anyone to love.”

Remus gasped, "You are very handsome. You are brave and good and brilliant and cunning."

Severus laughed. “Handsome? The lab's fumes have gotten into your head too much.”

"I like your hair, and your eyes. Your mouth is divine and your voice. It makes me melt."

Severus turned towards Remus and took his face in his hands. “Look me in the eyes and stop saying nonsense.”

Remus grabbed Severus' robes. "I mean every word!" He shoved his lips against Severus' and licked them gently.

Remus wanted to growl. Severus tasted like tea with just a hint of lemon.

Severus shoved Remus against the wall and took over the kiss. It was everything he had imagined. Both men moaned as their tongues danced together.

Severus pulled back reluctantly. "We really need to start the potion." He panted heavily as he touched Remus' face.

“So you like me, too?” Remus asked, his breath catching.

"We need to brew, Dear Wolf," Severus said, filling the cauldron with water.

“When we finish, will we kiss again?”

"A bit more than that if you are up to it, my Wolf," Severus said, staring at Remus as he still stood where Severus had shoved him against the wall.

“Anything you want, Severus. I've wanted you for so long,” Remus said and held his breath as he watched Severus remove his outer robes, then the white shirt.

***3 days later***

Severus walked into the hospital with Remus at his side and looking at him with glassy eyes.

They both had been brewing non stop, just catching a little respite in tender kisses.

Narcissa looked up with teary eyes from where she sat on Lucius' lap as Severus walked into the room.

“How are they doing?”

"Draco suffers cruelly," Narcissa said, moving to her baby.

Hermione giggled a little.

"Dead Ferret."

Then she twitched and her hand reached for Draco's.

Severus put the potion vials on a table and took out his wand. “I will cast a protective shield around me and the two so that the volatile magic does not fade or interfere with anything.”

Severus reached forward and plucked a hair from Draco's head.

Draco squirmed away. "My witch."

“DEAD FERRET!” Hermione screamed again.

Tears poured down Draco's face as he began to writhe in pain.

Severus levitated Hermione up.

He walked over toward the bathroom. "Narcissa, if you would please assist me."

Narcissa got up from her seat and rushed to Hermione's side.

Severus slowly lowered her into the tub. He carefully began to fill the tub with steaming hot water adding the potion with Draco's hair added to it into the water. The water glowed a soft purple.

"Hermione will need one week away from Draco to fully experience this potion. It is going to remove all her memories of him and all the dark magic. She will start fresh with him."

“Will that help her overcome the dark magic?” Narcissa asked, looking at the pale young woman who giggled a bit from time to time before her face would turn sad and troubled.

"She is having a hell of a cleansing."

"How do you know?"

Severus didn't answer. He wouldn't tell anyone he designed such a spell.

“I trust you, Severus, to do the best for her. She is your friend, am I right?”

"Yes, my dear friend," Severus said, petting her hair.

"Lucius and I will tend to your son now."

"Don't you need a hair from Hermione?" Narcissa asked.

"No, that would be bad."

“Why?”

"Because then Draco would have his memories of her erased. It is entirely possible that she will never come to love him even in her normal state. Draco deserves to be prepared for that."

“I understand. What do I need to do to help her?”

“Just watch that she doesn't get below the water. Keep her from drowning. She must stay in the potion till I come back. It will keep a pleasant temperature all the time.”

Narcissa nodded.

Severus stalked back into the room where Draco was crying.

"Stop your sniveling!" he barked as he conjured a tub.

“Hermione!” he cried.

"Be nice, Sev," Remus said, touching his arm.

"Lucius pick your brat up."

Severus pointed his wand at the tub and water filled it from the tip of his wand. He began to carefully add the potion to the water.

Lucius picked up his struggling son and cradled him to his chest.

“Put him into the water, so that he is submerged, but watch that he doesn't drown,” Severus ordered.

Lucius put his lifeless son into the water, holding his shoulders to prevent from drowning.

“He will need about half an hour or more. Once you see the water turning clear, remove him from the tub.”

Draco thrashed a little in the water.

"Hermione," he called. His voice sounded hollow and empty. "Hermione. Please come."

A mad laugh echoed in the bathroom that would have chilled even Bellatrix Lestrange’s black heart.

"Shhh," Lucius said, smoothing back his son's hair. "It will be alright. She will be yours. Everything will be fine."

Draco writhed madly, splashing water everywhere. It took all of Lucius' strength to hold him in the water.

"Why isn't she here?" he moaned.

Lucius dipped his son's head under the water for a moment.

“DIE FERRET!”

"SCUM! SCUM!" Draco shouted from under the water.

Lucius jerked the boy up and patted his back to expel all the water.

Severus rolled his eyes at Draco. "This is all your fault," Severus said, and he smacked Draco's face lightly.

“It's not the boy's fault!” Lucius argues. “It's all Riddle's fault!”

Severus rolled his eyes again, and he walked into the bathroom where Hermione was giggling about feeding ferrets to hippogriffs.

“Will she get better?” Narcissa asked nervously.

Severus resisted saying that Hermione's suggestion wasn't a half-bad idea for the crybaby in the next room.

“AVADA FERRET!”

"She'll get better. But as soon as she is done with her soak. She must go to the Spa. She can't see Draco. Hermione, that wasn't nice."

“HIPPOGRIFFS EAT FERRET! LA LA-LA!"

"Yes, too bad they don't eat nasty little know-it-alls too!" Severus snapped, and he cast a silencing spell on her.

Narcissa still looked nervous “What if she doesn't recover?”

"She will. You think I can't cure a little dark curse?" Severus snapped. "And stop your cringing. Hopefully the little chit will be more manageable once her memories of Draco are removed."

Narcissa stroked the young witch's face and prayed to all the deities she knew that what Severus was saying was true.

Severus glared daggers at her imagining one cutting her long blond hair off before he stalked back to where Draco was having a fit.

“NO love for me!” Draco sobbed and wrestled himself out of his father's grip, his head going under the water again.

Severus stalked over to the tub and reached under the water and snatched a handful of the boy's hair.

"You're very unlovable right now," he said, and he dunked Draco under the water for a moment.

"I want her to be with me," Draco whined.

“Are you sure he needs to be under the water so much?” Lucius asked.

"It's good for him," Severus said, dunking Draco again. "He's screaming less."

“Severus, don't be so harsh to the boy! He's suffered enough.” Remus said gently.

Draco's eyes opened as he was dragged up by his hair again.

"Let go of me!" Draco demanded, smacking the potions master's hand gripping his hair. "That hurts! Let go right now! Or I'll see to it you're in jail!"

Severus shoved Draco under the water one more time.

“Ah, seems it is working alright.”

"Are you trying to kill me?" Draco demanded as he looked around the room.

“Where's Hermione? What did you do to her?”

"Hermione'll be fine," Remus said, smiling at the blond. "But for everything to go perfectly..."

“What? Where is she?” Draco said, wrestling away from Severus' grip and jumping out of the tub allowing water to fly everywhere.

“I need to see her!” Draco said and pushed away Remus.

"You can't," Severus said. "She is having all her memories of the unpleasantness and you wiped away. You will start clean with her."

“I need to see her...to know if she is alright. Please?”

"You must wait a week," Severus said, and he has his wand out ready to bind the boy if he became a problem.

"A WEEK! That is FOREVER! I shall see her now!" Draco demanded snottily shoving his hair back and standing up straight and proud despite his nudity.

“Son, maybe you should listen to Severus,” Lucius said softly and offered Draco a bathrobe.

Draco took the robe and wrapped it around himself.

"But FATHER...the greasy git probably has some wicked plan for her!”

"How did you ever guess?" Severus purred as his eyes glinted like onyx in firelight. "Remus and I were planning a threesome. We thought how would it be to be with a woman once? We'll let you watch and throw confetti!" Severus' tone turned hateful, cold, and low as he spoke.

Draco run and punched Severus hard. “You will not talk like this about my fiancée! Ever! Is that understood?”

Remus tackled Draco knocking him to the ground and growling loudly as he held the boy down.

"You will never hit Severus," Remus said, and his eyes were almost totally golden in his rage.

“He took away my fiancée!”

"He is giving you a fresh start with her. He is making sure she won't feel guilt for the way she has treated you. He is curing her of the curse with which you were cursed. He cured you. You were going to die. He saved your life and you hit him for his acerbic nature. You will never hit Severus again!" Remus was growling loudly.

“Fine, I won't hit him if he gives me my witch back!”

“You will have your witch in a week, is that understood?' Remus growled.

"I will see my witch now!" Draco cried, struggling. "How do I know you haven't killed her?"

"Well, there's no way of knowing," Severus said and smirked, then turned to walk into the adjoining room.

"You yellow BASTARD!" Draco yelled, wriggling under the heavy man pinning him down.

“Behave, boy!” Remus said, his eyes gleaming dangerously.

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When Severus entered the room, he saw that the young witch was motionless in the water.

“Cissa, I have booked you both into the Grande Priory spa for a week. You should keep an eye on her.”

Hermione sighed and turned with a relaxed smile on her face.

“But it's a witch-only spa. Draco will be devastated.”

"Yes, and it's unplottable. Draco is not to see her for the whole week. It could cause her a mental breakdown." Severus thought he could rub his hands together with glee. The little brat broke his nose and called him a git.

“But Draco will suffer,” Narcissa protested.

"Good," Severus snarled as he looked in the mirror. "He can send her presents anonymously. He needs to learn to control his temper."

A uniform clad elf popped into the room. “You ordered pick up to the Grand Priory?”

"Yes, these two ladies, right there," Severus said, gesturing to them.

"As you wish Master Snape," the elf said, and it winked them away.

Severus returned to the other room, where Remus had the little git tackled.

Severus straightened his robes and brushed himself off.

"Can you have your wolf release my son?" Lucius asked, crossing his arms.

“Remus, this will be enough.”

Remus rose with great dignity and walked to Severus' side.

Draco rolled to his stomach and clambered up. He rushed into the adjoining room.

"Where is SHE?" he demanded storming out.

“She is in a safe place. With your mother.” Severus said sternly.

"Why did Cissy have to go?" Lucius asked, and he frowned.

"Because I said so," Severus snarked.

Lucius didn’t like to be separated from his wife for long. His bed would feel so cold.

"Now that that is settled, I will go home!" Severus said.

Remus took Severus' hand.

“How can I contact her?” Draco asked, desperate.

"Anonymous presents, no pictures of you," Severus said, before he stepped into the fireplace holding Remus' hand and the two vanished.

“But where to?” Draco whined as Severus vanished.

Lucius picked up a scrap of paper. ‘Grand Priory Witches' Spa, it read.

“I think I have the answer for that, son.”

Draco snatched the paper.

"But that is witches only!" he moaned.

“I guess that's why Severus chose it. Let's go home son. You need to hatch a plan if you want to woo her.”

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Hermione sat up and looked around the two bedroom suite. She put her hand down and rubbed the luxurious smooth silk sheets. Beautiful paintings of flowers and landscapes decorated the walls.

But where on Earth was she?

"Hello, my Dear," a soft feminine voice greeted her.

Hermione looked around, her vision still blurry.

She felt the bed depress to her right, and rubbed her eyes to clear her vision as she looked over at who was next to her. She gasped as she looked at a very gorgeous woman.

“How are you, Darling?”

"Fine, but where am I? And who are you?"

“We're at the Grande Priory Spa. I am Cissa, your fiancé’s mother.”

"I don't remember any fiancé," Hermione said, and she shook her head to rid it of the man she had dreamt of the prior night.

“The Healers said it would happen. But don't worry. Just relax...”

"But where is my fiancé? Isn't he worried about me? Why isn't he here to talk to me himself?" Hermione blinked back tears.

"So many questions. This is a witch’s spa. He is worried sick. He would be here if he could, but for your healing that you need to be separated from him for a week."

“Why?” Hermione asked, still crying. “What happened?”

“The doctors think the memories are gone for good. You don't want to remember.” Narcissa wrapped her arms around the crying witch. She rocked her back and forth gently.

"Ma'am, we have a delivery for Miss Granger," a young woman said as she stuck her head through the door after knocking.

Hermione gasped as the double doors were thrown open and more than a dozen witches each floating four or five vases of gladioli of all colors were brought in.

The witches arranged the vases of flowers around the room, and then the final witch entered with a huge Tigger toy and a letter tied to his leg.

"Tigger," Hermione cried, and she reached her arms out for the enormous plush toy.

She untied the letter from the toy's leg and ripped the seal.

Dearest Princess,

I hope you understand why I can't be with you. Because of such, I hope you will accept one bloom for every minute I spent thinking of you last night.

My heart aches every moment we are parted, Love.

Forever yours,
D.L.A.M.

Hermione sniffled a little when she read the note. He was so romantic!

"What does it say?" Narcissa asked, wrapping an arm around the younger witch's shoulders.

Hermione hugged the parchment to her chest.

She looked up and saw all the witches were standing there waiting to hear what was in the letter.

“He misses me very much.”

"Aw," all the witches sighed.

Hermione smiled and hugged the Tigger. She had seen one like this in the Disney store but she couldn't afford to spend so much for a toy.

"Who is your friend?" Narcissa asked, rubbing her shoulders.

“It's Tigger. It's a character from a Muggle book.”

“It looks very cute. I like plush toys too.”

Hermione smiled at Narcissa and reread her letter from "D.L.A.M."

She wondered what was the first name of her fiancé. And how did he look like? How old was he?

"What is my fiancé’s name?" Hermione asked.

"I can't tell you that now, my Dear."

“Why not?” Hermione pouted.

"It is all part of your healing process. But I promise you will meet him in precisely six days, five hours, twenty-two minutes, and seventeen seconds."

Hermione perked up a little.

Narcissa stuck out her watch and showed it to Hermione. "My husband sent me this. To remind me of when I shall again be with him. It always tells me exactly when I will see him again. Very fancy, really."

Hermione liked the older witch. She was a nice woman. Hopefully her son was just as nice.

A young woman knocked on the door.

"It's time for your facials and mud bath," the witch said with a smile.

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Well, there is Chapter 14. Hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a review.

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