¿Mixed Chemistry?

Chap

He could have watched her sleep longer. But he knew he had to get her to somewhere safe. He looked at his watch. It was a quarter after four. The glowing embers of the fire were almost out. It would be light soon.
He looked into the trees. He shut his eyes. He knew what he had to do. He would need to get to Hogwarts.
He looked over at her again. He watched the rise and fall of her naked chest as she slept.

He pointed his wand at her and waved it. Her clothes magically appeared on her. He did the same for himself.
They needed to move. He moved in close to her. She was beautiful, he thought. He shook his head. What the hell was wrong with him? Why was he feeling this way for a muggle witch; the very one that he had joked with Crabbe and Goyle that he would never be caught dead with?

He grew a bit annoyed at himself. He jabbed her side with his wand; maybe a bit too hard. She gasped in pain.
“Get up,” he said sternly as he pointed the wand at her.

She slowly got to her knees and almost tipped over. Draco caught her. She leaned against his chest.

She looked up at him and suddenly pushed away from him. She turned away still on her knees. She put her hands behind her head.

He looked at her curiously, “What are you doing,” he asked slightly annoyed, still pointing his wand at her.

“You’re going to execute me,” she said softly as she turned to look at him.

“Get up,” he just said, a little less commanding.

“You had your fun last night,” she fought back tears. “You can kill me now.”

“My fun?” he asked a little taken aback.

She looked at him, her eyes glossy, “You raped me and . . . “

“Raped you?” he interjected, a little defensively.

“Seduced me, had sex with me . . . “

“Made love to you?” he suggested.

She looked down. You had sex with somebody you didn’t intend to see again. You made love with somebody you thought you were going to be with for a long time.

She turned to face him. Her large brown eyes searched his grey ones. The tip of his wand brushed against her chest. It was as if he could feel her heart pulsing through the wand.

She touched the tip of his wand and held it to her chest. “You did it once before. All you have to do is say two little words, Draco.”

He hated that he liked the way his name sounded when she said it. He shook that feeling off as he finally realized what was going on.

“It was a suicide mission, wasn’t it,” he pulled the wand away. He cupped her chin with his left hand.

“I wanted to kill you; all of you,” she said, not looking at him.

A tear rolled down her cheek. She touched his forearm that he had wrapped up. Her hands removed the makeshift bandage.

She looked down at the figure of the skull. He watched her run her finger over the mark. The wound had scabbed over. He winced, although not in pain. He pulled his arm away.

“Here’s your chance, Draco,” she looked up at him again, her cheeks wet. “You can kill the muggle; the filthy Mudblood!”

His eyes narrowed. His wand hand shook.

“Be true to your mark, Draco,” she said pulling his forearm into her chest. The end of his wand grazed the soft part right under her chin.

“That’s what you do. You kill witches like me. You can kill me now,” she said in a soft voice, “Please.”

He found his voice but it sounded shaky, “You are insane, Granger.”

Her shoulders shook. She lost her composure. “My name is Mrs. Weasley,” she cried, grabbing onto his shirtfront.

He brought her into his chest, rocking her a little, hoping to calm her down. He shut his eyes as he felt her shudder in his arms.

“Sh,” he said gently, placing his wand into his back pocket. She closed her eyes for a moment. “Ronald can’t have you back just yet, Hermione.”

She looked up at him. Why was he doing this? He could have killed her three times over by now.

“We need to get you to Hogwarts,” he said looking down at her.

“Hogwarts,” she said, feeling weak, “Hogwarts.” Then she collapsed into his arms.

There was no way she would have been able to move on foot. His father’s men had almost beaten her into a pulp. He picked her up and began the trek to the castle on foot, knowing full well, that he wouldn’t be able to use magic until he reached school grounds.

* * *

She still slept in his arms as they reached the edge of the clearing. The rainy skies cleared. Dawn was set to come and he knew this. He saw the gamekeeper’s house to his right.

He apparated them into the main foyer of the castle just outside of the Great Hall. The halls were empty given the early morning hour. He sprinted up the staircases up to the hospital wing. He entered a hall full of empty cots. The infirmary was empty; no Quidditch injuries, or potions mishaps to care for.

He walked into one of the private rooms where he found who he was looking for. The head of the infirmary, Madame Pomfrey was busy setting up bandages and swathes and trying to keep the poltergeist Peeves from messing up her work.

“Madame Pomfrey,” Draco’s voice seemed small and childlike.

“Mr. Malfoy,” Madame Pomfrey turned, startled. “You are prohibited from these grounds! Peeves, call the professors.”

Draco ignored her, “Can you help her?”

Madame Pomfrey realized that he had someone in his arms. “Dear Merlin,” she said as she touched the young lady’s face, “Hermione.”

The nurse quickly directed Draco to one of the cots. She quickly examined Hermione. Draco suddenly realized how exhausted he was. He took a seat on the stool next to Hermione’s cot.

Professor Snape was the first professor Peeves was able to inform. He was setting up his potions room, already in his signature black cloak.

He didn’t need to look up to know that the rascally poltergeist was there, “Peeves, get out of my dungeon!”

“As much as I would like to oblige you, Professor, someone needs your help,” Peeves said sincerely.

“You actually sound serious,” Professor Snape said turning to the ghost. “What’s wrong?”

“Madame Pomfrey needs your help in the infirmary. Young Master Malfoy’s in there.”

Professor Snape quickly stopped what he was doing and set off for the infirmary, not even waiting to see that Peeves was on his way to find another professor. Professor Snape was fearing the worst. The Malfoys were Death Eaters, a dangerous lot. He knew from his own experience. He used to be one.

Professor Snape reached the infirmary in record time. He headed quickly toward her office and stopped at one of the private rooms. There he saw the blonde headed young man; his former student.

He entered to see his long time colleague administering care to a young lady lying on the cot. He came in for a closer look.

“Merlin, Draco,” Professor Snape was taken aback as he recognized the young woman as another former student, “What have you done?”

Draco couldn’t answer him. The Potions professor had always liked this young man. He was opportunistic and ambitious. But this may have been his downfall today.

“I’m sorry, Draco,” Professor Snape said as he pointed his wand at him.

“I understand, Sir,” Draco just said.

The black clad professor waved his wand and Draco’s wrists were bound. Professor Snape took the wand from the young man’s back pocket. He didn’t struggle. He just sat watching Madame Pomfrey check over her patient, hoping that she would be able to help her. Professor Snape offered his help to the cagey old nurse.

Professor McGonagall gasped as she too entered the private room. Hermione looked lifeless as Madame Pomfrey doted over her. Professor McGonagall looked over at the young man who was now tied up, aghast.

“Come with me, Mr. Malfoy,” she said almost in shock. She accepted the wand that professor Snape handed over to her.

Draco Malfoy stood up and followed his old Transfiguration professor as if in a daze. ‘What had happened that night?’ he wondered to himself.

The witch led him out of the infirmary and into the hall. He knew where she was leading him. He looked down at his hands.

“You’re disappointed in me, Professor,” he said as he followed the older witch.

“Your choices are yours alone, Draco,” she said still walking briskly, trusting this young man not to injure her. She stopped abruptly in front of the entrance to the headmaster’s office. She muttered something under her breath and it opened. She turned to her former student, “Now it appears Hermione will be paying for them.”

She didn’t need to say a word. He trudged up the stairs behind her. Professor Dumbledore leaned against the front of his desk looking grim. He nodded at his fellow professor as she handed him the young man’s wand. Draco sat in front of the headmaster, quite unsure of himself as the witch nodded towards the old wizard before leaving.

“These are grave times, my boy,” professor Dumbledore said calmly stroking his long beard as if he already knew what had happened.

“You’re going to kill me aren’t you, Professor,” Draco said looking up at him.

Professor Dumbledore looked his former pupil up and down before he spoke, “No Draco.”

The old wizard raised his own wand and pointed it at Draco. Draco’s heart felt like it was going to leap out of his chest. But professor Dumbledore only touched his wrists to remove the binds. Draco was stunned.

“It was an honorable thing you did; bringing Hermione here,” the wizened wizard said calmly as he returned the young wizard’s wand to him.

Draco looked down. It was the first time he had felt ashamed. “How honorable was it, Sir, to allow her another chance to get attacked?”

“I have a feeling you’ll have a big part in that, my son,” Draco heard him say as if he were forecasting the future.

“I can’t protect her, Sir,” Draco said softly; even if I wanted to, he thought to himself.

Professor Dumbledore placed his hand on the younger wizard’s head. “I’ll trust you’ll do the right thing eventually, Draco.”

“Do you think Madame Pomfrey . . . Do you think she’ll be able to save her?”

“Madame Pomfrey is a very powerful healer.”

“Are you going to stop me from leaving here?” This was the farthest thing from Draco’s mind as he held his wand in his hand, turning it nervously. “My father will be wondering about me.”

All he wanted to do was stay until he knew Hermione would be okay. But he knew he couldn’t do that; for all their safety.

Professor Dumbledore just looked at him serenely. “Then you should go quickly before it turns light outside.”

Draco looked up at the old wizard. A tear rolled down his cheek. Professor Dumbledore placed his hand on the young wizard’s head. Draco took in a breath as the older wizard nodded for Draco’s exit.

Draco walked quickly down the everchanging staircases, pausing briefly as he hit the final step near the main foyer. He looked upwards toward the entrance of the hospital wing. He breathed deeply as he took his wand into his hand.

Draco apparated to the door of his father’s manor. Appearing a bit disheveled, he took in a breath and waved his wand. An identical shirt and trousers now graced his form. He ran his fingers through his hair trying to compose himself. He looked at his watch. It was already five thirty. He entered the manor; but all he could think of was her.

“Good morning, Draco.”

Draco was surprised to see his father already up and about. But he regained his composure. “Father, you’re up rather early,” Draco said calmly.

“Where have you been?” he asked with a raised brow.

Draco took in breath. He rubbed his injured forearm. “Watching the vultures pick every last piece of flesh off the,” he paused, swallowing, “off of the Mudblood’s carcass.”

“Good,” his father put his arm around his son and led him to breakfast. Draco was afraid he’d notice him shaking.

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A/N: Okay, what do you guys think so far?