An Unexpected Twist of Fate || Dramione

CHAPTER 46 - A Love Untamed

A/N 

Sorry for the slow updates!! Finals have started and it's hectic... Anyways, I'll try my best to update as often as I can! (Also, I'm suffering major writers block at the moment...)

Hope you like the chapter - It's a really long one...

 MAJOR DRAMIONE FEELS AHEAD!

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As the days went by, Draco began to grow weaker. At first the change was but slight - barely noticeable - but with each agonizing day that passed, it grew stronger and stronger up until the point where he could no longer attend school. Both Dumbledore and McGonagall had become increasingly worried about the young boy's appearance. Bruises had begun forming around his ankles and wrists, and the occasional shots of pain that ran through his body were becoming more and more common.

He spent his days lying in the infirmary bed, looking like death itself. Nightmares invaded his sleep. Nights consisted of constant twisting and turning as he dreamt of people hurting Hermione. In his mind, her body was pale and lifeless – one could even go as far as to say she looked corpselike.  

There wasn't much that could be done, he just had to endure it. 

By now, a week had passed since the death of Hermione Granger and the search for her missing body had ended. No one could find it. Even the ministry had shown some mercy. The marriage law had yet again been delayed and the deadlines were extended, much too the appreciation of both professors and students alike. It was a dire time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

A funeral had been held a few days after her death; it was beautiful. Hermione's Gryffindor mates and Luna Lovegood delivered beautiful speeches and even Draco stood up to say a few words. Tears were of abundance at the event but still the memory of Hermione Jean Granger managed to bring a few shy smiles to the faces of those who loved her.

Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore watched Draco like hawks with worry and anxiousness flooded in their gaze. They'd have thought Draco would have...uhm...died by now. Going this long without one's soulmate is unheard of. It is said that once a soulmate dies, the other will slowly start to fade as well so that the two could be together in another life. But here he was, sickeningly weak and paler than usual, yet alive – barely so, but still alive.

By the 8th day after Hermione's death, Draco started forming bruises on his upper left arm and jaw. They were like real bruises, painful and tender to the touch, standing in complete contrast to his skin. One night he had woken up to find that his lip had begun bleeding throughout the night as if he'd been hit. It wasn't long before McGonagall and Dumbledore began to get suspicious, questioning the impossible.

Had Hermione really died? 

Surely, given that Madame Pomfrey confirmed the death of their fellow student, Draco would have gone as well by now. Hermione's body was still missing so they had less proof to her death and further proof pointing to the possibility that she was indeed alive.

After long consideration, the two confused professors decided to talk to the three children. Ginny, Harry and Draco were called to the headmaster's office later that afternoon. They would solve this mystery no later than by the end of the day.

At 18:00 sharp, three students entered Dumbledore's office with glum looking faces, eyes red and swollen from endless nights of crying.

"Yes, professor?" Ginny asked as the three took their seats in front of the headmaster's table. Dumbledore shuffled his feet under the desk anxiously and looked at the three intently, his gaze linger on Draco a little longer than the others. It was then that Dumbledore noted the new bruises - ever growing and more painful each time a new one popped up and painted his once marblelike skin.