Sighs
Chapter 1
Hermione sighed. Again. In fact, this would be around the 5th time she'd sighed in the past 2 minutes. But she had good reason to sigh. That reason was currently sitting across the room from her, intent on sucking the life out of her friend Lavender through her lips. She sighed again, when Lavender moaned, quietly, but loud enough for Hermione to hear in the practically deserted Common Room.
A month previously, Hermione had broken up with her boyfriend. Now, said boyfriend was the one acting like a vacuum cleaner with her friend.
She sighed again. Then, a hand fell on her shoulder.
"Hey…You OK?"
She jumped. Turning she found herself looking into blue eyes.
"Hey. You startled me, is all. I'm fine."
He raised an eyebrow. And threw her a look that said 'Right. And I'm in love with MALFOY."
"Right. If that's so, then why have you been sighing like you can't breathe. Or you've decided to SIGH instead of BREATHE. Neither of which I think would be characteristic of the Hermione we know."
She grimaced, and stuck her tongue out.
"Who asked you? And besides, why aren't you over there with Luna, making like you need to share air. And spit."
He grinned,
"Because she said she wouldn't let me do either of those things if I didn't come over here and find out what's wrong. You know, having a lone girl sighing every 10 seconds sort of kills the mood."
Hermione glared at him. And then reached out to tousle his hair. No significant feat, as he had grown several inches over the previous summer.
"Sure Ronnekins. Whatever you need."
"HEY! I told you not to call me that. EVER AGAIN."
"So you did. Ronnekins. Now. Leave me alo…"
A shadow fell across her table.
"Are you two arguing AGAIN? Don't you two ever get tired of it?"
For a second, all three smiled. For a second, everything was right in the world. And for a second, Hermione was happy once more.
Then reality set in.
"Hi guys! How's it going?"
Lavender.
"fine."
"yeah, it's ok…"
Ron and Hermione shared a look. Ron motioned towards Harry with his eyes, and Hermione turned. Harry looked extremely uncomfortable, his head turned away.
"Harry."
Hermione looked up at Harry.
"Hermione."
Harry took in her face. It was still the most beautiful he had ever seen. Then he looked away.
"What am I? Chopped liver?"
Ron was still grinning. He looked around the room to see if anyone had caught his use of a Muggle joke. The grin fell off his face when he caught sight of Harry and Hermione. Harry was staring off into space and Hermione looked like she wanted to cry. Which was strange because Hermione had been the one to end the relationship.
"Hmm…never mind. Hey Hermione, I need your help to find a book in the library." Ron grimaced inwardly. 'Wow. That's not overused at all.' Then he shrugged, "I mean, I don't really like to go in there very much. It's all dank and dusty. Makes me sneeze. I swear, I'm allergic to mold. And dust. So. Hermione, you coming? Please? Don't make me do this alone!"
Hermione stiffened, but she smiled at Ron,
"Yeah. Let's go. I wouldn't want you to endure that torture alone."
This time, Harry flinched. Even Ron was struck dumb. Last semester, Hermione had spent 4 days in the grasp of Voldemort and his followers. She was tortured and left to die. Alone. She was rescued by Snape and Malfoy, who found her in the woods. Harry hadn't even been to see her when she came to.
"What did I say? It was a joke! You know, 'ha ha, that's funny'?" She grinned and walked out the door. Ron stumbled after her.
Neither heard Harry turn and whisper "I'm sorry."
Hermione was walking so fast that she managed to turn a corner and lose her footing. She was saved, once again, by a certain sliver haired, slate eyed young man.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!"
Hermione smiled up at Malfoy, and disentangled herself from him.
"Sorry. I'm just, you know. Having a bad day."
"What's Potty done now?"
"I told you not to call him that! And it wasn't anything that he did. Well…Not entirely. It was more something I said."
Malfoy looked intrigued. Of course, he was certain he was about to hear something incriminating about Potter. And he was ALWAYS intrigued when it came to that. He hadn't changed completely.
"Which would be…?"
Hermione told Draco what she had seen, and what she had been doing. Draco replied that he wasn't surprised, and that they were both "stupid ignorant fools."
But he had a very different reaction when she told him of what she had said. He looked shocked and then very angry.
"How could you say something like that to him! It wasn't his fault that he wasn't there to save you! He was…crap."
"He was what?! NOT THERE?! MAKING OUT WITH A GIRL SOMEWHERE? ONE OF HIS FANS?!"
"NO! HE WAS HELPING US TRACK DOWN MY FATHER! HE DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE INJURED, OR THAT YOU'D RETURNED!"
Hermione was taken aback. Draco Malfoy defending Harry Potter?
"It wasn't his fault Hermione. He didn't do it to hurt you! You KNOW he would have come to save you if he knew. It's what he does, remember?"
"It didn't save Sirius."
Draco looked stricken. Harry and Ron had arrived, just in time to hear what she had said.
"Shit."
Hermione looked confused, and turned around. Where she promptly threw her hands to her mouth and turned pale. "I'm…I'm…Harry…I'm so…"
"don't. Just…don't. I understand now."
With that, Harry turned away and started running. He didn't see Hermione slump to the ground and start sobbing uncontrollably.
Harry was furious. 'How DARE she?! What, she thinks that I killed Sirius? That I have a Hero complex? That I want to be the Boy Who Lived?' He paused and looked around. He had stormed off blindly, and was now outside the castle grounds. 'Good riddance. I have Lavender now. Who needs her anyway?' He scowled. He felt like hurting something.
"Hey! Harry! Wait up!"
Ron.
'Wonderful. Just what I need. Someone to tell me what an idiot I am for storming off like that. I wish Voldemort would attack already. Then maybe I can kill him and this can all be over.'
Harry paused, and let Ron catch up.
Panting, Ron reached Harry.
"Hey mate! Thought you'd never stop!" Catching the look on Harry's face, Ron hurriedly spoke, "Don't worry. I'm not here to scold you or anything. What she said was really unwarranted, and you are completely justified to be out here, really annoyed with her."
Harry was caught by surprise. Ron had always sided with Hermione, especially when it came to issues with him. Ron and Hermione had dated, early in sixth year, but broken it off after they both realized it was like dating a sibling. Not exactly kosher. But they had remained close, and Ron was extremely protective of his adopted sister.
"You're not? Good. Cause if you were going to, I'd have to punch you. Or Hex you." Harry dropped his scowl, and settled for looking peeved. "I can't believe she thinks that! If I had known…" He trailed off.
Ron looked over at his friend. Harry had changed over the past few years. He was bigger, taller, and stronger. Voldemort wouldn't know what hit him if he challenged Harry.
"Look, I know you would have come if you had known. But in all fairness, she IS rather distraught. You know, being tortured and all will do that to a person." Harry had regained his scowl, and Ron hurried to defend himself, "but that doesn't justify what she said! Look, let's go smack around some bludgers. Work off some steam. Whaddya say?"
Draco did not have very much experience with females, much less ones that were crying. So he did what he does best, "Oh, for the love of…Stop crying!" Straight and to the point. Unfortunately, it was the wrong thing to say. Especially to Hermione, who looked up at this, and spoke.
"Petrificus Totalus"
Draco jumped to the side, just barely avoiding the hex, and yelped.
"HEY! I'm trying to help here! Don't petrify me for trying to help!"
Hermione managed a watery laugh at that, and muttered,
"You're not doing a very good job. You're supposed to comfort the person, not yell at them."
Draco had the decency to look chagrined. And apologetic.
"Sorry. You know how I am with people. And crying girls are NOT my forte. Screaming ones, yes, but not crying. I haven't had many of those around me. In fact, I try to avoid them."
Draco found himself trying to avoid a flurry of hexes this time.
"HEY! Watch where you're aiming! HEY! Whoa! PROTEGO!" Finally coming to his senses, Draco erected a shield and sat behind it waiting for Hermione to calm down.
Which she did after about 5 minutes.
After which she promptly passed out.
Draco sighed.
"May I ask what all the activity was this morning in the hallway outside the Gryffindor common room?" Dumbledore directed this question towards Draco, and his eyes twinkled as he awaited the response.
"Ah. Yes. Well, Potter, Weasley and Granger were apparently having an argument INSIDE the common room, and decided to take it OUTSIDE. Granger ran into me and explained what the argument was about. She had just said something about how Potter's Hero Complex didn't save his godfather and Potter and Weasley had just come into hearing range. Needless to say, Potter was less than pleased and stormed off. Weasley followed him. Strange that. Usually he takes Hermione's side. Huh. Anyway, I tried to comfort her and ended up saying the wrong thing and on the wrong side of her wand. She then proceeded to try and hit me with all the hexes in the universe."
Dumbledore studied at the young man standing before him. Draco Malfoy had changed over the years, and while he may not have always had the best intentions, he wasn't one to lie. He also looked extremely nervous, or anxious, Dumbledore couldn't decide which.
"Well. Thank you for clearing that up. I hope that nothing was damaged or injured too badly?" He smiled when Draco shook his head.
"Good. Now I'm sure you are anxious to see Miss Granger, so I will send you on your way. If you happen to see Mr. Potter or Mr. Weasley, I would appreciate it if you sent them here." Draco nodded, "Well then, I thank you for your succinct appraisal of the situation. If anything else develops, I trust you will let me know?"
Another nod, and Dumbledore sent Draco on his way. He summoned a cup of tea and waited for the other parties to arrive.
"Hey. I'm sorry for what I said earlier." Draco sat next to Hermione in the Hospital Wing. He received no reply, as she was asleep, but continued anyway. "They're both idiots. I mean, come on, leaving you with ME? Right. Bloody, stupid wankers, the both of them. It should be THEM here, talking to an unconscious person, not me. You've corrupted me!" He gave a wry smile, and leaned back in his chair. 'I wish these things were more comfortable.' Draco shrugged and sighed. 'I wonder when Potty and the Weasel will get here. If they get here. Potty might not, but Weasley? He thinks of Hermione like a sister! I bet he'd kill me if he saw me here."
"I was just wondering anyway. Why DID you break up with Potty? I mean, you two were the golden couple of Hogwarts! Everyone thought you'd be together forever! Well…almost everyone." Draco contemplated that for a moment.
"I told you not to call him that."
"Hey! She's awake! Well, now. It's about time."
"Where's my wand? I want it so I can hex you."
Draco looked amused as Hermione glared at him. Hermione didn't like the fact that her Death Glare wasn't working, so she glared harder.
"That won't work you know. The person you're glaring at has to be afraid of the person glaring in order for that to work. I have a wand. You don't. I'm not scared."
Hermione gave up with a sigh. She didn't have the energy to glare at anyone right now.
"I told you not to call him that."
Draco grinned.
"What? Potty? Why not? It should be his nickname! It's shorter than the Boy Who Lived, and it fits better too!"
Hermione tried another death glare, but Draco didn't falter.
"I'm sorry for what I said earlier. About the whole stop crying thing and avoiding crying females."
Hermione nodded and sighed.
"Want some food? I can probably get a house elf to bring something up for you."
"Ah, you're awake! Good. Mr. Malfoy, I'm going to have to ask you to excuse us, as I must perform some tests on Ms. Granger. Why don't you get her some food. She must be hungry."
At Hermione's nod, Draco turned and walked out.
"I'll be back. Don't go anywhere."
Hermione nodded and turned back to Madam Pomfrey.
Draco sighed. Again.
*THWACK*
"Nice one Harry!" Ron watched as the bludger soared off into the distance. The way that one was moving, it wouldn't be back anytime soon. Another crack brought his head around, and he caught the last images of Harry hitting a bludger so hard it shattered. Powdered would probably be a better word.
"Whoa." Ron stared at Harry, who floated downwards. He followed suit, and soon they were in the locker room, putting their gear away.
"Man. I've never seen anything like that! You completely destroyed that bludger Harry! You killed it! That was amazing!"
"Yeah. I guess I did."
Ron looked over at Harry. He looked drained, tiredand something else. Something Ron had never seen in Harry. He looked old.
"Hey. You ok?"
Harry looked up. "Yeah. I'm alright." He slammed his locker and walked out. Ron hurried after him.
"Let's go see where Hermione is. I hope she's ok."
"Well, well, well. Look who it is. Potty and the Weasel. It's about time. Dumbledore wants to see you." Ron and Harry turned and found Malfoy staring at them. Contempt literally rolled off him. "And after you're done there, you can go and visit Hermione in the Hospital Wing."
With that, Draco stormed off. 'serves them right. Neither one deserves to have a friend like Hermione.'
Ron and Harry stared, mouths open. Ron recovered first.
"Harry? Hey, mate, Dumbledore wants to see us. OI!"
Harry jumped, and turned to look at Ron.
"Was that MALFOY? Did he just call Hermione…Hermione? What's going on?!"
Ron looked as confused as Harry, but replied, "Maybe we should go see Dumbledore first. He'll have some answers. He always has answers." Ron took off towards The Headmaster's office.
Harry sighed.
"Ah Harry, Ron, welcome! Lemon drop?" Professor Dumbledore stood up as the two boys entered.
"No, thank you Professor."
"No, thanks."
"Hm. Pity. So. I assume you are here because Mr. Malfoy told you what has happened?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other. It wasn't fair! How could one man know the answer to everything! Harry was the first to reply.
"Sort of. He said you wanted to see us. He also said Hermione was in the Hospital Wing. We were wondering if you could explain any of this."
Dumbledore nodded and considered his words. He wasn't sure exactly how much Harry and Ron needed to hear. Finally he spoke, "Yes. There was some activity in the Gryffindor hallway this morning and I had asked Mr. Malfoy what had happened. He mentioned an argument between you and Ms. Granger. One that she ended with a mention of your godfather."
Dumbledore watched Harry carefully for his reaction. He was not disappointed.
Harry exploded.
"She accused me of causing Sirius' death! She told me I had a Hero Complex, and insinuated that I wasn't there to rescue her, and that I WANTED to leave her to be tortured! I'm not sure what Malfoy told you, but it was a lie! I never wanted any of those things! I…I…"
Harry appeared to run out of steam and sat down. Ron took over.
"She accused him of everything he's hated! She basically told him to go to hell and stay there! I don't know how Malfoy twisted it, but she had NO right to say that Harry was responsible for Sirius' death!"
Professor Dumbledore looked at both of them. Harry had his head in his hands, and Ron looked, well…peeved.
"Mr. Malfoy told me nothing but the truth of what he saw. You two were having an argument…" Ron looked like he wanted to interrupt, and Dumbledore held up a hand. "I know that you disagree, but please, wait until I am finished. There was an argument, he did not say who started it. He was the one who brought this to my attention, and he was summoned here because he was found at the point of a disturbance this morning. Several alarms had been set off because of spells being cast. Mr. Malfoy explained that he had been the target of the spells, which were cast by Ms. Granger, for something he said."
Harry and Ron looked up and saw that the Headmaster was serious.
"I trust Mr. Malfoy and do so because I know that Ms. Granger was brought to the Hospital Wing by him. He has since remained there, watching over her. I am sure that you all have your reasons for arguing, but please, do not let it escalate to the point of spells. I am sure that Ms. Granger is sorry for the things she said, and I am sure that you have it within your power to forgive her. Now. You are anxious to see her, and I understand she is awake. Try to keep out of trouble from now on, hmm?"
Dumbledore smiled at the boys and they exited the room. When they were gone, he turned to Fawkes.
"I believe I am getting too old for this, my friend. This castle is also old, and I fear that my time is coming up. Voldemort will make his move soon, and if those four people do not resolve their differences, we may not win this battle."
Fawkes looked at the Headmaster, and tilted his head.
Albus Dumbledore sighed.
Harry and Ron skidded to a stop in front of the Hospital Wing doors. They opened them to find a sight neither one was prepared to see: Malfoy sitting peaceably in a chair next to Hermione's bed, talking with her quietly.
Harry bristled. Ron scowled. Both marched over to her bed. Well…perhaps STOMPED is a better word.
"Malfoy. What are you doing here?"
Harry glared at Draco.
"He's here because I want him here. He's here because he brought me here, and I want him to stay."
Harry and Ron gaped. HERMIONE wanted MALFOY to stay!?
Draco smirked.
Ron's fist hit Draco's smirk. Ron's fist won.
"What have you done to Hermione!? What did you do?!"
Draco was flat on the floor.
"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY!"
Ron looked up. And immediately wished he hadn't. Hermione was in full Death Glare mode. She also had her wand out.
"HOW DARE YOU IMPLY THAT HE'S DONE SOMETHING TO ME! HE'S DONE MORE FOR ME THAN YOU HAVE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS!"
Ron paled.
"You know, I should hex you back to the Burrow! Maybe I'll tell your mother what you did! Hmm? Would you like that?"
Ron shook his head.
"Well. I suppose not. Now. Apologize to Draco."
Ron went red.
"NOW."
"Sorry."
"Ah, it's no problem. I suppose I'd had that coming."
Harry and Ron gaped. Again. Draco Malfoy not taking advantage of Ron? What? WHAT? WHAT WAS GOING ON!?
"There. Now. Shake hands."
Ron stuck his hand out without thinking. Draco shook it and then moved to sit down in his chair.
"Potty…Potter! What are you doing in my chair!?"
Harry looked confused.
"Oh. Sorry."
Harry stood up and looked over at Ron. Ron was rooted to the spot, not moving.
"Ron? Mate? HEY! RON!"
"WHAT!? THAT WAS MY EAR!"
Hermione giggled.
All three boys turned and stared. Hermione didn't giggle, she laughed. Harmione and giggle in the same sentence was the same as saying Hermione and procrastination in the same sentence. It just didn't happen.
"I'm sorry! That was funny though! Sorry. Look, Draco, thanks for staying with me, and helping me, but I think I need to talk to Harry and Ron alone. I'll see you later okay?"
She smiled at Draco and patted his hand. Draco smiled back and nodded.
"Potter, Weasley, see you around. Don't do anything stupid."
They nodded and Harry sat down. Ron went in search of another chair.
"So."
"so."
Harry and Hermione stared at each other. They kept staring at each other until Ron returned.
"Well, what is this? A staring contest?"
Wonderful timing. Ron is the master of timing.
"What?"
"No, No. Harry and I were just…"
"right."
"So, mind explaining why you tolerated Malfoy just now? And you CAN tell us the truth. We won't tell him."
Hermione Death Glared both of them. And both paled.
"I didn't 'tolerate' Malfoy. I like him. He's a friend now. And he WAS the one to rescue me, if you remember."
Ron winced at this, and Harry stiffened.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me. I'm sorry I failed you. I failed you, I failed Sirius, I failed my parents, I've failed everyone. I'm sorry."
Hermione froze.
Seeing an opening, Harry continued,
"It's too late for sorry, I know, but I had to say it. I know it won't make up for all the things I've done; it's just a word…"
"I don't care."
Hermione flipped over in her bed, leaving a shocked Ron and speechless Harry behind her.