Paper Moon

by Black-Diamonds and Beck
 
 

Chapter 24
Fluttering Truths / Awaiting Fate
 

"Draco!" Hermione screamed, not caring about the annoyed glances from people walking by.
Draco struggled to breathe, and what little breath he had came in short gasps. Sweat and tears
mingled on Hermione's face as she desperately attempted to find what was wrong with Draco.
No spell she could think of gave her an answer. She turned towards Harry and Ron, who
stood looking shocked, scared and nervous at the same time.

"He hasn't been hit by any curses!"

One hand held Draco's own pale, limp hand, and the other felt urgently for a heartbeat in
Draco. All she found was a fluttering, almost as if there were a thousand butterflies in his
chest. Hermione turned to the other two and told them about Draco's condition. Ron
stepped forward, his face grim.

"Hermione...I've read about this somewhere. it's called um...ventricular fibrillation. We...
we have to do something soon for Mal- er, Draco, or he'll..."

"Die." Hermione whispered. Her grip on Draco's hand was so tight, her knuckles had
turned chalky white. Ron's hands twisted together nervously. In the past, both he and Harry
had laughed over Draco's dying, saying how great it would be. However, now when they
were faced with reality, he regretted their comments.

"Um...Hermione, I...we need to get him to a hospital right away."

She nodded, knowing the truth in his words. Wiping the tears from her eyes, her face
assumed a look of cold determination, devoid of any emotion.

"Excuse me," she approached a middle-aged muggle. "My friend...." she paused, "Well,
he's dying...can you help us?"

The man looked shocked, but quickly nodded and picked up the still figure of Draco.
He walked to the hospital quickly, followed by Harry and Hermione, and last of all Ron.
When they finally reached their destination, Draco's life was slowly flickering out of him.
He was rushed to the emergency department, where anxious doctors whispered over
him, performing unknown procedures.

Hermione sat quietly, looking silently at the floor. Her face had a look of almost
frightening blankness, apart from her eyes, the only part of her that showed her deep
sorrow. While Harry went to the bathroom, Ron walked up to Hermione and sat next
to her.

"Are you all right Mione?" Ron asked.

She looked up, tears pooling in her eyes.

"He called me that, you know?" She told him. "That was his nick-name for me. Oh Ron!
What if he never wakes up? What he he's never there for me again? Oh Ron, what if he
dies!?" She buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably into them. Ron wrapped
his arms softly around her shoulders and pulled her to him.

She didn't resist, resting her head on his shoulder while she sobbed into his neck. Ron was
well aware of this, and he couldn't help feeling guilty, but it seemed to be calming Hermione.
After about five minutes, Hermione's tears had ceased, but she didn't remove her head
from Ron's shoulder, as they awaited the verdict on Draco Malfoy's condition.
 
 
 


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Chapter 25


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