Always

17

Early the next morning the next week, Ron, Ginny, and Harry were in the hospital wing sitting next to Hermione. They had skipped breakfast and had permission to skip classes that day. This had been their routine for the past week. Still, Hermione showed no sign of improvement. They were all starving and super tired, but no way were they leaving Hermione. Besides, they didn't mind all that much. They would rather be hungry than be apart from Hermione. Madame Pomfrey, however, did mind. She would rather them eat and be with Hermione.

"Danish?" she offered the trio. They all took the danishes gratefully.

"Thank you," Ginny said. The danishes were delicious. Madame Pomfrey had taken the liberty to take one of the magical plates that automatically refill, so the trio wolfed down on a variety of warm pastries.

"Where is she!" Draco bellowed, marching into the hospital. 

"Shhhhh!" Madame Pomfrey hissed. A memory had just appeared on the screen. It was the day in the library.

"Well, well, well, Potter," Dream Draco spat, coming around the corner. "A beautiful, heartfelt apology. You have truly moved me," he said sarcastically. "And as for you, Granger," he spat at Hermione, advancing on her, "you told me you wouldn't tell anyone and that includes the Weasel and The Boy Who Lived." He drew closer to her. She jumped out of her seat, and he pinned her against a bookshelf. "You're a liar, Granger. Nothing but a dirty, muddy liar," Draco hissed into her ear. Hermione whimpered. That last line seemed to echo throughout the room.

Dirty. Muddy. Liar. Dirty. Muddy. Liar. Muddy. Liar. Dirty.

Draco looked on in horror. Ginny grabbed his hand. At first, he flinched away from the contact, but then he decided he liked having something to hold onto. Ginny tried to meet his eyes, but he was too ashamed to look at her.

"Draco," Ginny whispered. "It's okay. It's always hard the first time." Draco looked up into her eyes and nodded. Then he turned back to the screen.

"Draco, cut it out!" Hermione cried.

"Let her go, Draco!" Harry exclaimed, his wand at the ready. Draco turned around slowly and chuckled.

"Oh, are you gonna cast a spell on me, Potter? I'd like to see you try," Draco spat at Harry. He momentarily let go of Hermione as he quickly blocked spells coming from Harry.

"Hermione! Run!" Harry yelled, even though they were in a library. Hermione stood there frozen, looking at the monster of a boy that she thought loved her.

"Expelliarmus," Draco muttered under his breath. With a flick of his wand, Harry's wand flew across the room. Draco stormed off. Harry ran over to a sobbing Hermione. She stood there, frozen, her shoulders shaking and tears streaming down her face.

"Hermione? Did he hurt you? Are you okay?" Harry exclaimed, trying to get her attention.

Hermione only managed to shake her head. She was numb with pain. Her heart felt like a boulder. Harry extended his arms out to her, and she walked into them. He hugged her tight.

"I loved him."

The memory faded out. Draco got up to leave, embarrassed of what he just saw, but Ginny pulled him back down.

"The best thing you can do for her right now is stay with her. Talk to her. Hold her hand. Let her know you're here. We'll give you a moment." Ginny said gently, getting up. "C'mon boys. Let's go." Ron and Harry reluctantly stood up. Harry and Ginny started to get up and walk away, but Ron hesitated and turned to face Draco.

"You know, she talked about you. When we found out about you and her, I mean. She cried when you broke up. I don't know why I didn't notice it before. She had been so happy lately, but I....I never thought to ask why." Ron took a deep breath and turned to Hermione. 

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't notice. I'm sorry I've been so caught up in my own world that I didn't notice anything that was happening to you." Ron walked away and Draco scooted his chair closer to Hermione's bed. Something else flickered onto the screen, but this was different. It was more blurred, but it was also crystal clear at the same time. Madame Pomfrey rushed over and whispered something.

"Fears," she breathed. Draco understood. These were her deepest fears. Something flashed onto the screen. 

She was getting kicked out of Hogwarts. She had failed all of her classes. She was being obliviated of all her memories of the wizarding world. 

The screen flashed white.

Hermione sat alone in the courtyard. People walked by and snickered at her. She had her head in a book. She stared longingly at the other girls. They stood in clumps and whispered, occasionally looking over their shoulders at her. Words like 'bossy', 'know it all', and 'ugly' carried across the courtyard in the wind.

The screen flashed black this time. Voices echoed throughout the hospital.

"You are so ugly!" one voice said. "Nobody likes you!" another one boomed.

At first, it was only one voice at a time, but soon they air was muddled with insults.

"You don't deserve to be here!" "Why would someone want to be friends with you?" "You're a failure." "You are a monster." On the screen, Hermione was being pushed away by Ron and Harry.

The screen cleared and Draco looked up at Madame Pomfrey.

"That's what she's afraid of?" Draco asked. Madame Pomfrey nodded, jotting down something on her clipboard.