Ch. 24

Draco's POV

I decided to stop and get some food for us before going back to Hermione's apartment. I figured some pizza might cheer her up since she seemed to love it so much, and found the place that had delivered it to us before when we moved her into the apartment.

As I was waiting for them to complete the order, I sent a text to Hermione letting her know why I was going to be a little late and then sat silently in the corner of the restaurant as I waited. Harry's words came back to me about considering she and I to be together already, and I was still stunned by this.

Hermione and I hadn't really talked about what we were yet. I didn't want to push it because I knew she was still somewhat recovering from the breakup, but at the same time she lately seemed to have been perfectly fine with how we were progressing. I knew this wasn't just a rebound. But I still had no idea exactly what we were. Hermione always told people we were seeing each other, which was true, I guess. Plus, the thought of asking her to be my girlfriend just seemed rather juvenile and awkward. Something about the entire process made me feel like it was something that should have been done in school, instead of when we were in our twenties. But that was probably just my feelings on it.

Of course, I would have really liked to make things official between us finally. But apart from the awkward clunkiness that I felt about the idea of asking her to be my girlfriend, there wasn't really a way to become official otherwise. The next step after that would be engagement, and that was certainly out of the question for now.

I sat up, realizing what I had just thought. I hadn't really thought about marriage with anyone else. Though I hadn't really seen any girls after leaving Hogwarts because none of them were up to my standards and I just wasn't interested in relationships. But it's different with Hermione; everything just feels so...right. Like I'm finally where I'm supposed to be in life.

Two pizza boxes were set on the table in front of me and I paid, fumbling a bit with the money. I was still having some issues getting used to muggle money but was trying to learn so that Hermione wouldn't have to buy everything when we go out to muggle places. I smiled at the thought of how much I had changed myself for her as I walked out and rounded the corner to go into the alley and apparate.

I landed in her apartment, still smiling as I set the pizza boxes down and looked around. The smile disappeared though as I realized she wasn't anywhere to be found.

"Hermione?" I called out, looking around.

There were a few moments of silence that made my heart jump, but then I heard the call back, "I'm here!"

I sighed and went back towards the right where I heard her voice coming from, looking into the rooms. She wasn't in the bedroom or the study, and I started to worry a bit.

"Where are you?" I asked, taking another look into the bedroom.

"I'm, uh..." She trailed off and then stuck her head out of the bathroom door in her bedroom. "I'm in here."

I smiled, noticing that she had a bit of a worried look on her face. "Everything alright?"

She nodded but bit her lip nervously. "I'm just...having some difficulties putting the salve on my back."

I stared at her, realizing now why it was only her head that was in view. She blinked at me and we just looked at each other quietly for a few moments before I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat and asked, "Do you...do you need help?"

After a few moments, she nodded and disappeared back into the bathroom. I stood there for another few seconds before forcing myself to walk forward towards the bathroom door, hesitating before entering it.

Hermione was avoiding my eyes and holding her arms firmly over her bare chest, which in other circumstances I probably would have focused on if it weren't for her injuries that were in plain view now. They formed a swirling pattern, starting down at her left wrist and circling up around her arm and torso. The gashes covered her upper chest and continued down her ribs, fading slightly at her right side. It really looked like someone had tried to pull her left arm off, and that her body tried to hold everything together.

I finally met her eyes and she was silent, an uncertain expression on her face as she said, "I was able to get everything else, I just need some help with the parts of my back that I couldn't reach..." 

I nodded and she turned around, nodding towards a bright blue open container on her countertop before turning her head forward. I thought I saw the tips of her ears turning pink but I was focused on the gashes across her back.

Sighing, I grabbed the container and quietly started tending to her wounds, trying to suppress the anger and frustration that was trying to take over. I couldn't let my emotions get the best of me right now; I needed to be strong, if not for her sake then for mine.

"Were you able to get all of my cases?" She suddenly asked in a quiet voice, making me jump.

"Yes, Jenn retrieved them," I said. "Oh, and she also said that Weasley has been banned from your floor, so he will never be able to show up to your office again."

"That's good," She said in a light tone. 

"And Jenn sends her love," I continued. "She says to get better soon because it's odd not having you there."

"I knew I should've gone in," She sighed. "I'll go in tomorrow."

"No, you're staying here this week and healing," I stated. "That was our deal; you'd get to still work this week if you stay here."

"I don't remember ever formally making a deal with you," She said as she looked over her shoulder at me. 

I raised an eyebrow at her. "You're not getting out of this. I will stay here the entire week as well if I have to, to make sure you don't go in."

"I thought you were going to do that anyway."

This caught me off guard. I stared at her and she immediately turned red before looking forward again. "Nevermind."

"No, what?" I asked, rubbing more of the salve into her back.

She shook her head. "It's nothing. I just thought I heard you say earlier that you were going to stay and help. I just assumed that you meant you would be staying overnight too. I don't know why I assumed that."

"Do you want me to?" I asked curiously.

She didn't answer. I smiled slightly and said, "If you want me to stay, I will. Besides, depending on how often you need this applied, I might as well."

"You don't have to," She said quickly. "I know it's a lot to ask and-"

"Hermione," I interrupted, laughing quietly. "It's fine. I want to take care of you and make sure you're alright, and if staying here until you're healed does that, then I will gladly do it."

She tilted her head down but nodded. I smiled to myself and set the container back on the counter. "I think I got all of it."

"Thank you," She said quietly. "I just need to wrap them now."

"Do you need help with that too?" I asked.

Shaking her head, she stayed turned away from me. "I should be able to get it."