11«Complicated

The school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was finally coming to an end, and summer vacation was just around the corner. The only thing students had to worry about now was final exams.

Hermione was constantly proving to everyone that she was already prepared to take the finals right then and there, while Harry, Ron, and Justine struggled trying to study everything they had learned that year.

“I hate the end of the year!” Ron complained as they sat outside Hagrid’s hut.

“I never liked ‘em much either,” Hagrid admitted. “O’ course that wer before everythin’ happened.”

“Well, these can’t be as hard as they were at my old school,” Justine said turning the page in her notebook. “I failed one of them, but luckily they let me take it over. I’m just not a good tester, you know?” She placed her notebook down next to her as she searched for something in her bag.

Hagrid smiled and then looked at his watch. “Blimy! Gettin’ a bit late, there. Got to run fer now. Have a good night and all.” The large, hairy man quickly walked off towards the school.

“I guess we should be getting back too,” Harry said closing his notebook and standing up.

“Right,” Ron agreed doing the same. “Don’t want to be late for dinner!”

The others laughed as they all got up to leave for the Great Hall.

It wasn’t long after dinner started when a loud boom of thunder could be heard from outside. Lightning lit up the night sky, and large raindrops pounded against the windows.

Everyone basically ignored the storm, and ate happily while trying to forget about the terrible exams that were in only a few days.

At the end of the meal, Justine walked with her friends back towards the Gryffindor common room to play a game of witchcrafting cards. They were currently laughing at a joke Ron had made when Justine heard her last name being called from behind.

She turned around to see Draco Malfoy walking up to her carrying something in his hand. For a moment her heart leapt out of her chest, thinking that he had decided to forgive her for what happened. But her hopes soon sank when all he did was hand her the object he carried.

“I have no use for this anymore. Take it back,” he said rather rudely.

Justine looked down at the cracked glass in the frame. He had returned her Christmas gift. “But…” A strike of lightning flashed down and a sudden boom was heard. “Oh my God!” She said.

“Its just bloody thunder. Get over it.” He started to leave when she started again.

“My notebook is still outside by Hagrid’s hut! Damn it!” She quickly ran down the hallway towards the nearest exit.

“Where’s she going?” Ron asked looking at Draco.

“That idiot girl’s going outside!” Malfoy said as he jogged to catch up to her.

“In the storm?” Hermione asked.

“And it’s a full moon out,” Harry said following Malfoy. “There’s bound to be something out there at this time of night!”

Potter’s statement struck Malfoy hard. His legs broke into a run as he called after Justine. He had stepped on something that crumpled like glass under his foot. Hermione stopped to pick up the wrecked picture frame.

Justine got to a pair of doors and she pushed them open. She ran quickly, holding her arm above her yes to shield out the rain. She was pretty certain that she could see a light from Hagrid’s house shinning in the near distance. She’d grab the notebook and run right back; or so she thought.

Just as she got to the logs where they had been sitting earlier, a loud growl came from the trees. Justine looked up to see a pair of dark yellow eyes looking at her hungrily. She froze in terror, not even trying to figure out what was looking straight at her.

She slowly turned her foot and ran, but her foot slipped from the wet grass. The beast ran out of the trees behind her and was about to jump on her, when a loud and bright blast came hurling towards the monster. It was hit directly in the stomach and fell to the ground.

“Who’s there?” Justine called out; her soaking wet hair falling into her face.

“Damn it, Justine, what the hell are you thinking!?” Draco yelled.

“Shut up, why do you care?” She yelled just as loudly back at him.

They both shut their mouths and looked up to see the werewolf like creature getting to its feet and making its way back to them. “Run!” Draco yelled as he pulled Justine to her feet.

The beast had jumped and bit Justine’s leg just as she was standing up. She let out a scream of pain that could be heard from the school.

“You bastard!” Draco yelled as he punched the beast in the face, making it fall to the ground. “Rictusempra!” He shouted, his wand firing another blast at the werewolf. He kept saying the charm over and over until finally the monster yelped out and ran back into the woods.

Justine sat on the muddy ground watching in shock as Draco saved her life. He quickly turned to her and picked her up without saying a word. He carried her in his arms; his legs jogging quickly back to the school. Justine’s arms were wrapped around his neck and her face buried in his robes.

Malfoy ran through the opened doors of the school, where Potter and the others, (who had only followed him halfway outside), came in behind him.

Draco placed Justine on the floor as he knelt down next to her in exhaustion. He looked down at her bloody leg and then at her agonizing face. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t say anything to her because of his lack of breath.

“What’s going on?!” Professor McGonagall’s voice yelled as she, Snape, and Dumbledore jogged up to the four students.

Harry started to explain, but was cut off by Gryffindor’s head teacher’s voice when she noticed Justine’s leg and Malfoy’s exhausted face.

“You will all explain later,” she said. “We must get Miss Tidewater to the Hospital Wing immediately!”

Harry and Ron had already knelt down next to her and helped her up. It was obvious on her face that she was feeling very weak and sick. She was getting paler by the minute as they tried to keep her from walking down the hall.

They all hurried into Madam Pomfrey’s hospital wing. The nurse gasped in horror when she saw the sight of Justine. “What in the world happened?” She said hustling over to the bed where the boys set her down gently.

“She was hurt outside,” Harry said.

Madam Pomfrey examined her. Justine’s eyes were having a lot of trouble staying open. In fact, she was starting to see double of everything and everyone. Colors were hard to determine, and the voices seemed to be getting farther away as she felt her body get extremely hot with sweat.

“She’s going to pass out,” the nurse said. She pointed over to a basin and cloth in the corner. “Someone get that filled with water and bring it here.”

Hermione did so and set it on the small table next to Justine’s bed. Madam Pomfrey told her to dab it across Justine’s face gently, while she looked at the blood seeping out of her wounded leg.

“It looks she was bitten,” Professor Snape pointed out.

“She was,” Draco said behind everyone.

“You have a lot of explaining to do,” Professor McGonagall told him.

Madam Pomfrey looked closely. “It was a wereman,” she informed them.

“A wereman?” Harry asked, not quite sure what that was.

“Yes. Its similar to the werewolf, only a wereman is a wolf that turns into a man. The forest is loaded with them.”

“So you’re saying that she’ll turn into one of these things now?” Draco asked sounding concerned, which surprised his classmates.

“No, Mr. Malfoy,” she replied moving over to a cabinet with medical supplies. “Only a werewolf has that sort of power. A wereman’s bite drops poison into its victim’s bloodstream. It’s most often known to be fatal, I’m afraid, if not treated properly.”

Professor Dumbledore took a step forward and looked at Justine over his half-moon glasses. “You will be able to cure her, Madam Pomfrey?”

“I should be able to. And it seems the poison has already started its affects. She’s out like a candle.” Sure enough, Justine was fast asleep, moaning a bit as she turned her head slightly.

“All right, all of you out so I can work,” the nurse said as she moved around the bed and pointed towards the door.

They all left, Malfoy having to follow the teachers and explain the circumstances. However, on his way, Harry stopped him with his words. “Why’d you do it, Malfoy? Don’t you hate her now?”

Malfoy turned to him for a moment. “I don’t think it’s any of your business, Potter, what I think or do.” He walked on after the teachers ahead of him.

Later that night, Draco returned the hospital wing to check up on Justine. He really didn’t understand why he felt he had to after what she did to him. But he knew that if something happened to her, he’d be heartbroken.

Madam Pomfrey was very surprised in deed when young Malfoy came into the large room. She nodded in agreement to let the sixth year see her, but only if he keeps his mouth shut.

Malfoy pulled up a chair next to Justine’s bedside and watched her sleep with frustration. She seemed to have gained a high fever and she looked very uncomfortable lying there. “Will she…live?”

“Hard to tell, really,” Pomfrey replied putting away the gauze tape. “Its up to her now whether she’ll live or die. But I think that you’re support may help. Its just a shame she doesn’t know you’re here.” The nurse looked at him for a moment and then walked away to close the area for the night.

Draco looked back at her. “Justine…” he said under his breath and reached out to touch her hand that lay on top of the sheets. He picked her hand up and rubbed the top with his thumb, until his head started growing heavy enough to lay it down next to her hand. “Please don’t die…” Soon he was asleep, a single tear escaping his eye and falling on her hand.

«««

Exams had already started. Justine still lay in the hospital bed, not once waking up for the past two days. The good news was that her fever had gone down considerably, but the bad news was that there was still a chance that she could lose the battle.

Draco Malfoy only left her side to take his tests. He wasn’t even seen by his friends in the Great Hall since this all happened. Usually Crabbe or Goyle would bring him food, or even Potter and his little group. They were all utterly impressed with his behavior. Even his former lover Pansy Parkinson had seemed very impressed with his loyalty towards the muggle-born.

It was morning. The sun beamed brightly through the windows of the Hospital Wing. Draco was fast asleep in his chair, being slouched down, his legs stretched out and his arms crossed over his chest. It was obvious that he had been very tired, but didn’t care because his Slytherin colored tie was hanging out of the sweater just about completely untied, and his hair was in all different directions, not in its usual slicked manner.

Justine, in fact, was starting to finally come around. She could feel her body again and started to notice the brightness of the room, even through her closed eyes. She opened them slowly, bringing up her hands to rub her eyes from being closed for so long.

She could feel that her body was extremely weak, but she was able to focus her eyes on her surroundings. She looked over to the table next to her and noticed the water basin and cloth, and then something that she didn’t expect to see. A red rose.

Wondering silently to herself, she turned her head when she heard heavy breathing. A smile spread across her face when she saw Draco Malfoy sitting in the chair. He was totally out, and almost seemed as if he was going to slip right off the chair.

Madam Pomfrey walked in just then and noticed her patient’s opened eyes. “Ah, I see that you’ve passed the dangerous part of your illness,” she said with a pleasing smile. “And I’m sure that young Malfoy here will be happy to know the same.”

“How…long…has he been here?” Justine asked in a whisper.

“The entire time. If you don’t remember, I hear he was the one that saved you from the wereman. Brave boy. Bad sometimes, but brave nonetheless. Just like you had with him at the beginning of year, he hasn’t left your side. Although he did leave to take his tests, but other than that, he’s been here. No wonder why he’s so exhausted. I’ll have someone take him to bed right away.”

Justine smiled and wanted to reach out to him, but she didn’t feel like she had any ounce of strength in her body. She just watched him sleep contently. “Draco…” she whispered, never expecting to see him move.

Grayish-blue eyes started to open and focus on the face that stared at him. He immediately finished waking up and looked at her. But he wasn’t in time enough to talk to her at all. Her smile started fading away and her eyes started to close slowly, staying focused the whole time on his face.

“Justine!” He said sitting up straight.

“She’s fine,” Pomfrey said coming up. “The poor things just as tired as you are. She won’t be able to stay awake very long for a little while. She just needs rest. And so do you. I suggest you head up to bed young man before your next test takes place.”

Draco didn’t feel like arguing. Bed did sound very good at the moment, and all he wanted to do was sleep. He felt better knowing that she was out of danger now, and he could sleep easy. He stood up and gave one last look before he exited and headed down to the dungeons to Slytherin.

«««

Another day came and went. Justine was almost fully rested, and much of her strength returned thanks to Madam Pomfrey’s Restful Remedy. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were now taking the chance to see their friend, telling her all about the exams and anything she missed.

“And Potions wasn’t as hard as we thought,” Ron told her.

“I never expected it to be,” Hermione replied.

“Oh, get over it!” Ron said crossing his arms. “Anyway, Justine, did you know that Malfoy was here the entire time you were asleep?”

“That’s what Madam Pomfrey was telling me. But why?” She said, leaning back against the pillows.

“He wouldn’t tell us. He claims that there’s no reason, but we all think its because now he’s the one feeling guilty,” Harry said taking another one of Berti Bott’s Every Flavored Beans. “Yuck, salt flavored.”

“Better than the one I just had,” Ron said cringing at the thought of eating another earwax-flavored bean.

Just then, someone had cleared their throat behind the group. They all looked over and saw Draco Malfoy in his normal Slytherin attire. Justine stared at him, as he did to her. The other three agreed amongst themselves to leave, although Ron still didn’t like the idea of leaving Justine with Malfoy.

When they had left, Draco walked up to the end of the bed. He had his hands in his pockets and he started to avoid direct eye contact with her. “You’re feeling better I assume.”

“Yes, thank you.” Justine pointed to one of the chairs next to the bed, but Malfoy refused. “Draco, I just wanted to thank you for saving my life again. I was just wondering why.”

He shrugged in a rude sort of way. “Who knows.” He started to feel uncomfortable. He had no intentions of making up with her, yet a part of him was lecturing him to go to her.

“So,” Justine said, trying to get a conversation going. “Any plans for the summer?”

“No.”

“Oh.” She wanted to explain about the past to him so much, but she was so scared that he wouldn’t listen. Then again, there was only a few days left of Hogwarts, so there might not be another opportunity.

Her fingers played with the edge of the sheet lying over her legs. “Draco, about what happened…”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” He looked at her without any visible emotion. “We both screwed up, and that’s that.” He took a step back. “I’ve got things to do. Feel better and all.”

“No, Draco, please don’t go!” Justine said moving so she could stand on her own two feet. The sudden pain from her wereman bite caused her to trip into the bed next to her. “Please,” she said. He only stopped to watch as she stumbled over to him. She put her hand on his arm, but he pulled away.

“Its over,” he told her coldly. “Now I know why it’s not worth getting involved in a serious relationship. It’s worthless in the end.”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you know that I loved you more than anything?”

His face frowned. “Obviously you don’t love me as much as you say, otherwise you would’ve told me before we got too involved. Look, things are too complicated right now, and I don’t want to deal with it.”

Tears started to form in her eyes. “Draco…I don’t want to lose you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Tell that to your friends. They sure don’t think so, now do they. And I’m starting to think they were fairly accurate for once.”

Malfoy started to move away, but Justine, in an attempt to follow, tripped again. Draco’s hands caught her arms quickly and kept her balanced. The feeling of her in his grasp gave him that feeling deep in the pit of his stomach that he was having trouble ignoring. All he wanted to do was kiss her, but he’d be going against what he promised himself.

Her eyes frantically searched his face. She was just praying to the heavens that he’d forgive her and give her a second chance.

The next thing they both knew, they were locked in a passionate kiss. Draco’s arms embraced her, and she held onto the back of his robes tightly.

Draco came back to his senses and pulled away, sorrow in both their eyes. He picked her up and placed her to sit down on the bed so she wouldn’t have to hobble her way back when he left. Without a second look back, Draco Malfoy left Justine in the hospital wing. When he turned the corner out of the room, he paused and thought for a moment, looking over his shoulder. His heart ached tremendously as it did when they were at her house. He quickly pushed the thought away when he saw Potter and the others coming back.