Chapter 13
 

Draco woke up before Hermione. He kissed the top of her head and gently rolled her off him. She stirred, but then fell back asleep. Draco dragged himself to the edge of the cave. The blizzard had stopped! He turned back to Hermione.

"Hermione....Hermione, wake up!"

"Ugh....what? What happened?" Hermione got up groggily. Draco beckoned her over.

"The storm's stopped!" Hermione smiled and kissed Draco.

"Should we try and get out?"

"I don't know how long it'll last though. " Draco looked worried. "And I can't go far with these legs of mine."

"I'll go for help." Hermione volunteered. Draco shook his head violently.

"NO! I won't have you going out and risking your life for mine. I'm...I'm just not worth it, 'Mione." Hermione turned his face so he was facing her, her eyes blazing.

"I don't want to hear that thought pass your lips or enter your head ever again Draco Malfoy! You are not worthless, no matter what you did in the past! You're worth everything to me, and I'm going to get help!" She kissed him fiercely then got up.

"Hermione...this doesn't seem like a good idea." Draco pulled himself over to her. "What if the storm blows up again?"

"Then I'll be careful!" Hermione pulled on her coat, then wrapped Draco up in a blanket. "There. You'll be much warmer. Now I'm leaving the food with you, in case....in case I'm gone longer than intended."

"Hermione....it should be me going out there-" Draoc started to protest.

"Stop Draco. Before you get one sentence further. You can't get anywhere on those legs of yours. Now I'm going." She kissed and hugged him good-bye, then started off.

*****

Ginny, Pansys, Tomaso, and Mark reached town by noon. They trudged up the stairs to Pansy and Draco's apartment, where the boys flopped down on the bed, and Ginny and Pansy made coffee.

"We should go back out there." Ginny said. "Hermione and Draco are still out there somewhere."

"We should also get some rest." Tomaso argued. "We can't go out looking for people when we're tired. We wouldn't be any help to them, capisci?"

"I understand, but at least we should start soon, who knows when the next blizzard could hit?" Ginny protested.

"Exactly. Which is why we must wait Ginny." Mark said gently. "What if we went out there now, and another blizzard came up? We must wait."

"No." Pansy said, handing out the coffees. "I'm going now. Is anyone else coming?"

"Pansy, cara, just think about it, please? I don't want you lost." Mark pleaded. Pansy was steady in her decision.

"I'm sorry...but I know I won't be able to sleep, knowing that Hermione and Draco are still lost. Now, who's with me?"

"I'll go." Ginny volunteered, much to Tomaso's dismay.

"Well, if a girl is going to risk her life, than I shall too." Mark said galiently, and stood next to them, one arm around each. All three looked at Tomaso. Tomaso sighed.

"I'm in too."

*****

.....But outside Draco's cave....the wind was beginning it's slow, mournful howl, and Draco shivered....

o0o0o0oo0o0o what's gonna happen?

Katie

gah Katie!
PAMS!! PAMSOID!!
XOXO,
Tara
:malfoy:+:hermy:

EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Mustttttt...get....more...post...NOWWWWWWWW!

Loved it!
.:Adrienne:.

Chapter 14
 

Hermione walked as fast as she could in the deep snow. She could hear the wind howling from far off, and knew the storm would be there soon. But she just had to try. For Draco....and for herself.

She floundered in the snow for awhile, unsure of her direction. Then, she saw the lights of town. Elated, she found the energy to move faster.

"...hermione.....draco....." Her ears perked up. Was that....Ginny's voice? Nah. Hermione shook her head. Must be the wind. "Hermione...Draco!" That was them!

"HERE, I'M OVER HERE!" Hermione screamed over the rising voice of the wind. "GINNY! I'M HERE!"

"...I see her...!" Ginny's voice became stronger as the gap decreased in sixe. Finally, she could see her. Hermione ran to Ginny. "Hermione! Thank God!" The fell into each others arms, crying with relief.

"Where are everybody else? Mark, Pansy, Tomaso?" Hermione asked breathlessly.

"They're coming! But...where's Draco?" Ginny looked around. Hermione's eyes filled with tears. "He didn't...."

"No! He's not...gone. But his legs are in really bad shape. We think they may be broken, but we can't tell....they're numb and frozen. Oh Gin..."

"That's ok Hermione. The guys can carry him back. Let's go find him." Hermione led the way back to the cave as the wind picked up more, and snow began to fall.

*****

Draco watched the snow fall faster, and his heartrate increased. What if Hermione never came back? What if....she didn't make it back into town?

He started to panic. He didn't want to be here anymore. He wanted to go home. Almost at the point of hysteria, Draco dragged himself out of the cave. He fell in almost seven inches of snow. He floundered for awhile, then lay there, unable to move, unable to protect himself from the violent storm ahead. He soon lost conscienceness, and let the storm cover him up.

*****

"There's the cave! DRACO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?" Hermione shouted when they reached it. She ran inside the cave, but she couldn't see him. "Ginny....I can't find him!"

"It's a small cave...where could he go?" Ginny was beginning to get nervous. Hermione was practically crying.

"I don't know...he's hurt, what if some wil animal-"

"...mione...." A muffled voice floated near the cave.

"I found someone!" Mark's voice echoed in the cave. With a small cry, Hermione leapt to the front of the cave. where Mark and Tomaso were digging out Draco, Pansy desperately trying to revive him.

"Hermione, he won't wake up!" Pansy called, and Hermione's heart almost stopped.

"Is he breathing?" Hermione cried out.

"It's very faint, but I can feel a pulse. Let's get him to town before the storm really sets in!" Mark and Tomaso hoisted Draco between them, and the six of them made their way to town.

*****

....only one of them knew that Draco's heartrate was slowing down...and he urged the group to go faster....but he didn't have much hope....none of them did....

gah Katie! DRACO, HERMIONE, PANSY AND GINNY ARE WIZARDS! WHY WONT THEY USE THEIR POWERS!
kids these days! tut, tut.
PAMS!! PAMSOID!!
XOXO,
Tara
:malfoy:+:hermy:

NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING NO DYING

DYING IS BAD!!!

*hopes draco is ok*

Pams!!
.:Adrienne:.

But will he die?

Well, kids don't think when they're in a panic!

Hmmm......*says nothing*

Katie

I have to kno what happens!!! Plz PAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 15
 

...Draco was rushed to the muggle doctor as soon as they arrived in town. Pronounced too big a case for him to handle alone, the group escorted Draco to the best hospital they knew.....St. Mungo's....

*****

Hermione paced outside Draco's room. Ginny and Tomaso were asleep on the waiting couch, and Pansy and Mark were getting coffees for everybody. They were in a special unit, for magical healing remedies only. Wizards with cases too big for muggle doctors were brought here. Draco's room was next to a man with a severe case of hypothermia.

Mark and Pansy came back and passed coffees around. Hermione was filled with nothing but regrets.

"There should have been something I could have done...." Hermione moaned to herself. "Must have been something..."

"The doctor just pparated here, he should be with you shortly." A nurse walked by, and gave them a reassuring look.

"Apparating!" She wailed. "Why didn't I think to apparate? If we had apparated, Draco wouldn't be as hurt as he is-"

"Hermione, you're not helping yourself." Mark came over to try and steady her. "None of us thought to Apparate. We were all too busy trying to think clearly. You can't blame all of this on yourself cara."

"Hermione Granger?" A Healer's head stuck out of the door.

"I'm she." Hermione said immediately.

"Come in please." Hermione walked though the door, trembling.

The room was painted a bright white. Draco's bed was by the window. White curtains covered the view, which led out onto the London streets. Hermione rushed to Draco's side and grabbed his hand. The Healer gently pried her loose.

"Please, Miss Granger. Now...he's in very serious condition. His heartrate is slowing at an alarming rate. He...he might die."

Hermione didn't seem to hear. "Did you hear me, Miss Granger?"

"Oh, no I didn't. I was thinking...about something else. Just that one time....in school. I punched him in the face once. Never thought I'd care about him. What were you saying?"

"Mr. Malfoy....is in serious trouble. His lungs are terribly weak, and his heart can't seem to pump enough blood to his body. Both legs are broken, and still numb. It's going to take alot of potions to save this man's life."

"How...how is he still alive?" Hermione gasped, finally realizing what the Healer was saying.

"He's been fed intraveniously. But that won't save him, Miss Granger. The best thing we could do for him is....pull the plug."

"You mean....kill him?" Hermione fainted dead away.

*****

"You mean...kill him?" Hermione's words came though the door. Pansy heard the thud of Hermione's body hitting the floor.

"Nurse! NURSE!" The Healer called out, and Pansy woke up Ginny.

"Ginny! Hermione needs us!" Ginny awoke in a flash and ran into the room with Pansy. She gasped when she saw Hermione on the floor, but they managed to move her to another bed, an empty one next to Draco.

"Healer Deschain, what happened?" Ginny asked, fearful.

"I....healing Mr. Malfoy isn't going to be easy. I suggested a safe way of ending his life and she fainted."

"Of course she did! Killing Draco would kill her!" Pansy cried out, outraged.

"We're not pulling the plug on Draco. Not when he still has the will to fight." Ginny said quietly. "We've worked too hard, come too far to give up now."

Katie

woot! go Katie! loved it!
PAMS!! PAMSOID!!
XOXO,
Tara
:malfoy:+:hermy:=BETTER STAY ALIVE :poke:

OH MY GOSHHHHHHH!

DRACO

NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO WAKE UP!

*sigh*

NEED...MORE...SOON!

PAMS!

Love
.:Adrienne:.

Aww man I missed a lot!
No, Draco, please don't die! Hermione, get up soon! Nobody else faint! Bad things are happening...

*hides* :toilet: :hide: *tries to write while in hiding from Tara*

Not now, because I have to get off, but soon, I promise!

:hmm:

OK, I'm going away this weekend to Virginia. So the next post should be either tonight or on Monday, ok? You guys are going to have to sweat it out!

Katie

Yikes! Sneak Peak!:

Draco stirred in his bed. He opened his eyes but the light was too bright, so he closed them. He gave a low moan, and realized that Hermione was above him. Hermione...he loved her so much. He should tell her that.

Hermione didn't notice the slight movements. She thought Draco was still catatonic. The battle was over. Hermione's hand trembled as she reached for the IV. This is for the best....right? She thought as tears ran down her cheeks.

"Just do it 'Mione. I can't bear-" Ginny stopped as she saw Hermione's pained look. "This is the best we can do for him."

o0o0o0o what's going on??? Wait for the next post to find out!

Katie

yaykes :( yea...better stay alive! better hang on! dieing is no good... :(

pamspamspamspams


Alda :fish:

Katie, DRACO BETTER NOT DIE!!

OK, I shall try to post now, cause this fic is more desperate than my others. So this one's first, ok guys?

:lol: Someone can't speak right, she's so upset!

Yikes! I'm going to get eaten!

POST NOW!

Katie

Chapter 16
 

A few days went by with no relief in sight. Draco slipped further and further away into nothingness. Hermione was inconsoluble. She refused to leave his bedside and held his hand constantly. One day, however, Healer Deschain came in with bad results.

"Mr. Malfoy....has slipped into a coma." Ginny buried her face in her hands. Hermione kept staring at Draco's face, her expression unchanging. "We...we don't have much hope for him."

"Hermione?"

"Yes Ginny?"

"Maybe....maybe we should e-end his life. After all, few wizards who go into coma's come out."

"But....but what if he comes out? He can still come out, right?" Hermione asked desperately to Healer Deschain. He shook his head.

"We should have pulled it days ago. As a result, he's sunk so deeply that I don't think we can pull him out."

"There must be something you can do!" Hermione cried out. Healer Deschain thought hard for about a minute.

"Well....we can always try electroshock."

"What's that?" Ginny asked, fearful.

"We just zap him with a certain wattage of electricity. It could always act like a stimulant and wake him up."

"Let's try it." Hermione said firmly. Her jaw quivered.

*****

Draco was floating on waves of nothing. He felt like he was sleeping, but he could hear voices. One, thankfully, was Hermione's. He tried to tell her he was ok, but he couldn't. It was like he couldn't move.

Then, he felt pain. From his world of peace came a world of pain. It felt like electricity had replaced his blood and was running through his veins. It felt like forever, then it stopped. Draco felt himself being lifted from his sleep.

*****

"It didn't work." The Healer's voice was breaking up in Hermione's mind.

"Then....then maybe it's time. We can't hold onto him forever." Ginny put a hand on Hermione's shoulder. Hermione looked in Draco's face. She saw nothing. Was that a twitch? No, catatonic people don't twitch. It was just hope, she told herself. "Hermione, just do it."

Hermione willed herself to reach for the plug.

*****

Draco stirred in his bed. He opened his eyes but the light was too bright, so he closed them. He gave a low moan, and realized that Hermione was above him. Hermione...he loved her so much. He should tell her that.

*****

Hermione didn't notice the slight movements. She thought Draco was still catatonic. The battle was over. Hermione's hand trembled as she reached for the IV. This is for the best....right? She thought as tears ran down her cheeks.

"Just do it 'Mione. I can't bear-" Ginny stopped as she saw Hermione's pained look. "This is the best we can do for him."

"I-I know." Hermione looked at his face.....one last time. She started to tug....then felt a hand close over her own. She looked down. It was Draco's hand!

"Her...mi....one....what...are you...doing?"

"Oh my God." Hermione breathed and collapsed on Draco, crying and kissing him. Ginny started to weep as well. They had come so close....Hermione had been right all the time.

Only a few more chapters left people!

Katie

yay! *parties like a rockstar*
DRACO'S ALIVE!!
Katie, I love you! lolz!
GREAT POST!
PAMS!! PAMSOID!!
XOXO,
Tara
:malfoy:+:hermy:=aww!

YEA! I'm loved AND not dead! Good thing Draco's alive! *wipes sweat off forehead* That could have been ugly....

Miracle, Lisa, Miracle. And thank you!

Katie