Visited Upon the Son

Disclaimer: I live in Texas, not Scotland, so I am obviously not JK Rowling. I’m

just playing with the wonderful characters that she created. I promise that I will put them

back the way I found them when I’m done!

AN: Here’s the next chappie!! Thanks to all who reviewed. As always, please R&R.

My muse loves the attention.

Visited Upon the Son

© SparkyCSI

8. Explanations

When Draco awoke, he found himself lying in a hospital bed. He groaned groggily as he

realized that Hermione had stupefied him without a wand. Merlin, I never want to piss

her off when she has her wand!

His groan had alerted Madame Pomfrey to his now alert status and she bustled over to him.

“Mister Malfoy. Are you okay?”

Draco sighed inwardly at the obvious question, but decided to answer her anyway. “Other

than a splitting headache and a new appreciation for wandless magic, yes, I’m fine.”

The Mediwitch smiled at his jab. “What exactly happened?”

“Hermione was having a nightmare. I reached over to her to put a cold rag on her head and

she yelled out the stunning spell and I flew across the room. That’s the last thing I

remember.”

Madame Pomfrey nodded. “I’m shocked to hear that she managed that spell while completely

unaware. I didn’t believe that it was possible.”

Draco nodded his head slightly, the pain still persistent. “She isn’t the brightest witch

of her age for nothing.” He groaned softly as another surge of pain hit him.

Madame Pomfrey heard his gasp and quickly grabbed a pain potion. “Here you go. This should

stop your head from hurting.”

Draco gratefully swallowed the potion and the effect was almost immediate. The pain in his

head slowly decreased until it was gone. Sighing in relief, he walked over to Hermione’s

bed. She looked less feverish and was sleeping deeply. She looked peaceful, unlike the

Hermione that Draco was used to seeing. “How is she?”

Madame Pomfrey sighed. “I gave her a potion for her fever, so that has decreased. She is

sleeping deeply and hopefully that is giving her body a chance to heal. It’s all up to her

now. Why don’t you go back to your quarters? You should be able to resume your classes

tomorrow. Professor McGonagall is temporarily taking over Ms. Granger’s classes until she

is well again.”

Draco nodded and reluctantly left the hospital wing. He was still trying to puzzle out what

Hermione had been dreaming about that caused her to hex him. He kept going over it in his

mind, trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together, but nothing was coming to his mind.

Frustrated, that evening he decided to ask McGonagall about it.

He walked towards her office and bumped into her coming down her stairs. “Professor!”

“Yes, Draco.”

“I have a question. Hermione was in the middle of a nightmare when she stunned me. Do you

have any idea what her dream would have been about?”

McGonagall sighed, knowing that Draco would be asking tough questions. She decided to

answer with the truth, but without revealing the woman’s secrets. “Yes, I know what the

nightmare was about, but it’s up to her to reveal her secrets to you.” She looked at the

younger man, wanting to give him a warning about what he was to face. “I must warn you, she

has had to endure some terrible things. Be patient with her, Draco. She doesn’t trust

easily.” With her warning imparted, she turned from the stairway and continued on her

journey.

Draco watched her walkway, not really understanding her meaning. He turned back towards his

quarters, trying to solve the mystery in his mind.

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The next day, Draco was frustrated not to be able by Hermione’s side. Thankfully, Madame

Pomfrey had offered to give him regular updates, so that kept his frustration down to a

manageable level. He was still extremely relieved when his last class was over.

He rushed to the hospital wing and found Hermione still sleeping. He looked, concerned, at

Madame Pomfrey. “Shouldn’t she have woken up by now?”

The Mediwitch smiled. “Normally, I would say yes, but her reserves have severely been

depleted. She might awaken today or it could take a couple of days. I’m fairly certain

that it will take close to a month for her to completely recover.”

Draco looked at the Mediwitch. “Why are her reserves so depleted?”

Madame Pomfrey looked at him, regret in her eyes. “That’s for her to tell you.”

That was the last straw for Draco. “Damn it! Why in the bloody hell won’t anyone tell me

about my fiancée? She is obviously sick and dealing with personal problems! Why won’t you

tell me what’s wrong?” he exploded.

Madame Pomfrey looked at him. “Mr. Malfoy, please contain yourself. I understand that you

are frustrated, but I can not break a confidence. I believe that if you will be patient,

then Ms. Granger might tell you what’s going on.”

Draco looked down, ashamed that he had lost his temper. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

The Mediwitch smiled and left him alone. He pulled a chair up to Hermione’s bed and sat

down. He looked at the sleeping woman and picked up her hand. “Hermione,” he said. “It’s

Draco. I wish I knew what was going on with you. I want to help you, but you’re going to

have to let me in.” He sighed and began to softly stroke her hand, unconsciously.

He sat there for an hour, just holding her hand, and then he felt her hand move. He looked

at her face, he noticed her eyelids fluttering. “Hermione?”

“Draco?” she rasped.

“Yeah. How are you feeling?”

“Awful. What happened?”

Draco smiled. “Trust you to get right to the point. I came into your room and you were

sick, so I brought you to the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey said that you have pneumonia.”

Hermione squinted as she opened her eyes. “Oh. What time is it?”

“Dinnertime on Wednesday. You slept the majority of yesterday.”

Hermione just looked at him, a feeling edging towards her conscious. “Did we argue

yesterday?”

Draco looked away from her, not sure he wanted to embark on her nightmare when she had just

woken up. He drew in a breath and tried to temporize. “Not really, you weren’t really

awake. Although remind me never to make you mad again.”

Hermione looked into his eyes and realized that he was trying hard not to say something.

She opened her mouth to ask him what was wrong, when Madame Pomfrey came in.

“Hermione! You’re awake.” Madame Pomfrey quickly brought over a potion. “Here you go.

It’s a Pepper Up potion. It should help you get back on your feet. I must warn you, it

will be a long recovery due to your recent…difficulties.”

Hermione nodded her understanding. “I know.” She took the potion that the witch offered

her and quickly drank it. She felt an immediate effect from the potion and with more energy

sat up. The Mediwitch smiled at her and then bustled back to her office, wanting to give

the couple time.

“Hermione?” asked Draco. “What happened Monday?”

Hermione sighed. “I went to see Isabelle Rutherford. She refused my petition, so I guess

the wedding’s on.” She sighed again, this time in resignation.

Draco looked at her with uneasiness in his eyes. “Would it really be so bad to marry me?

I’m nothing like my father,” he asked softly.

Hermione closed her eyes at the mention of Lucius and felt an icy fear surround her heart.

“I know, but…”

“But what?”

Hermione opened her eyes. They were filled with pain, fear and an emotion that Draco did

not recognize. “I’m not ready to tell you that. Can you give me time? This isn’t easy for

me.”

Draco thought for a moment, going over the conversations he’d had in the previous days.

Finally, he nodded. “I can. Just let me know when you are ready. How did you end up

sick?”

Hermione managed to laugh weakly. “I was stupid. After talking to Rutherford, I walked

around London in the cold rain. I should have known better.”

Draco smiled. “I expected more from the brightest witch of our age. But then again, I

can’t complain since I got to hold you in my arms.”

Hermione blushed bright red at his insinuation. She lowered her eyes and stared down at

their entwined hands.

Draco noticed her shyness and gently raised her head, so that he was staring into her eyes.

“I know you need time, but how about we go on a real date. Say the first Hogsmeade weekend

in two weeks?”

Hermione thought for a moment and knew that it was going to take a series of small steps to

try to overcome her fear. She felt encouraged that he was willing to give her space. She

looked into his eyes and smiled. “It’s a date.”

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The following day, Hermione was going stir crazy, cooped up in the hospital ward. She had

reread her new copy of Hogwarts: A History from cover to cover and had been reduced

to doodling on a piece of parchment that Madame Pomfrey had given her. She was sighing in

boredom at lunchtime when Neville walked in.

“Neville!” she exclaimed in excitement. “How are you?”

Neville smiled. “I’m good. It’s nice to see that you are feeling better. I heard that you

have to marry Malfoy.”

Hermione nodded. “Yeah. I’m still trying to process that. Who are you going to marry?”

Neville smiled. “Luna Lovegood.”

Hermione smiled, remembering how well the two had worked together in her and Neville's fifth year.

“Really? Good for you. I think that she is perfect for you.”

Neville blushed. “Yeah. She’s a little odd, but she’s very nice.”

Hermione laughed, remembering the younger girl’s penchant for saying the most outrageous

things. “Do you know who else got betrothed?”

Neville shook his head. “I have no idea. I’ve been so busy trying to grow the Louisiana

plant that I haven’t even looked at most of my post.”

“Oh,” Hermione said in disappointment. “I really want to hear what everyone has to say.”

Just as she said that she was interrupted by Ginny and the twins.

“Aunt Mia!” Both children ran over to her and gave her a hug. “Are you sick, Aunt Mia?”

asked Jamie.

“Yes, Jamie. I am.”

“Why?”

Hermione smiled, used to the children’s unending questions. “Because I was very stupid and

walked around in the cold rain without an umbrella.”

“Oh. Why?”

Ginny decided to take matters into her own hands before they were caught up in a never

ending set of why’s. “That’s not your business, young man.”

Jamie nodded slightly at the rebuke. Ginny conjured up a colouring book for both kids and

set them on the floor to play.

“Hi, Ginny,” said Neville.

Ginny smiled. “Hi, Neville. I hear you and Luna are engaged. Congratulations!”

“Thanks.” Neville got up. “I’d better go back to my classes. I’ll see you later, Mia.”

“Bye, Neville. Thanks for coming by.” Hermione turned her attention to Ginny. “Okay.

What’s going on?”

Ginny laughed. “Nothing. I figured that you would be going stir crazy once McGonagall told

us that you were confined to the hospital wing.” Her expression turned serious. “How are

you?”

Hermione smiled. “Coping. It helps that Draco has been nothing but sweet. He’s the one

that brought me to the hospital wing. I was obviously was very sick since I don’t remember

anything until waking yesterday.”

Ginny raised her eyebrows. “You don’t remember hexing him?”

“I hexed him?” Hermione asked in confusion.

Ginny nodded her head. “McGonagall said that you were having a nightmare and he reached

across to lay a cool cloth on your forehead. You Stupefied him.”

“I did what!” she exclaimed. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

Ginny shrugged her shoulders. “Have no clue.”

Hermione tried to digest that information, but decided to move the conversation away from

her. “So?”

Ginny looked confused. “So what?”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “Who are you marrying?”

“Oh, that.” Ginny tried to draw out the suspense. “Well…”

“Ginny, if you don’t tell me, I will hex you into next year.”

Ginny laughed. “It’s good to hear the old Hermione again.”

“Ginny,” Hermione growled.

“Fine. Fine. I’m marrying Lee Jordan.”

“Really?”

Ginny blushed. “Yeah. We went out on a date Sunday night. I can honestly say that it was

one of the best dates that I’ve ever had. We just connected. We talked for hours and he

even doesn’t mind about the twins. Actually, he was rather excited about the twins.” Ginny

and Hermione laughed.

“That’s good to hear,” said Hermione. “What about Fred and George?”

“Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell, respectively.” Ginny shrugged her shoulders. “I hope

that they know what they are getting into. The twins can be a little…I don’t know the

word.”

“Rambunctious?” asked Hermione.

“Yeah. That explains them perfectly. I really hope that they can put up with them.”

Hermione looked at Ginny. “So how is Molly doing trying to plan three weddings?”

“Four.” Ginny rolled her eyes at Hermione’s look of confusion. “Come on, Mia. Did you

honestly believe that Mum was not going to try to plan your wedding, too?”

Hermione shook her head. “I honestly didn’t even think of that. At least I don’t have to

marry him until before the next school year. It gives me time to work on my issues. But, I

don’t want to talk about that now. What kind of wedding do you want?”

Ginny smiled and the two women began to talk about her upcoming wedding.

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AN: Thanks for the reviews!!!

Jldcat-Thanks! I’m glad you like it so far!!

Skydancer-It would throw a wobbly into the plot, but Hermione is Muggleborn, so she’s not

going to deal with it the magical way. Besides, it’d kill all the drama!

Paigeey07-He definitely needs the love! Thanks for the review!

Magical Heather-I don’t know either! It’s a toss up at this point about who I’m being more

mean to. (:D)

Please read and review! My muse needs the inspiration!